Who among us hasn't been tempted to curse an ex or summon a little extra luck? But in case you're seriously considering it, black magic is serious and not to be messed with.

Traditionally linked to evil, black magic's roots stretch back to ancient civilisations where shamans and sorcerers tinkered with spiritual forces. In medieval times, alchemists who couldn't turn lead into gold sometimes dabbled in the darker arts instead—because why settle for base metals when you can summon demons?

Across cultures, from the voodoo practitioners in Haiti to the necromancers of ancient Egypt, black magic unapologetically serves the practitioner's whims, often at others' expense, making it the go-to for those seeking power without the pesky moral considerations.