Contained in Sloane MS 3851 is a collection of charms, rituals, and operations for calling angels, summoning visions, detecting thieves, conjuring devils, scrying in stones, and using plant, animal, and mineral materiato work sorceries of enchantment, protection, lust, and healing.

This collection is held to have been assembled by one Arthur Gauntlet, an early modern cunning-man, not as an archive of spells and occult oddities to collect on a shelf but as a working repertoire of his magical wares, sorcerous services and cunning trade secrets. This grimoire is thus a testament to the professional magical practice of a seventeenth-century London cunning-man.

In this class, contemporary cunning man and historian of magic Dr Alexander Cummins will lead us in exploring the myriad prayers, conjurations, and charms: from the unbewitchings of curse-reversal and hex-breaking with certain herbs and gestures to the consecration of a washing pot for blessing healing waters; not to mention imbibing the blessings of the psalms, bargaining for knowledge and power with devils, and the many many arcane uses of apples in works of both romance and more aggressive seduction.

Along the way we’ll consider how these practical operations relate to the treatises of occult philosophical inquiry and consideration that Gauntlet also copied into his working-book, and more broadly and deeply what it means to pick up these workings again hundreds of years after they were committed to this spellbook.

Finally, we’ll consider some means of approaching the spirit of Arthur Gauntlet himself through his works – offering some notes of caution as well as advice for those seeking to approach or deepen their work with the Cunning Dead.

About the Presenter:

Dr  Alexander Cummins is a contemporary cunning-man and historian of magic.  His magical specialities are the dead (folk necromancy), divination  (geomancy) and the grimoires. His published works include Nazarth:  Pillars of Gladness (Hadean Press, 2022), An Excellent Booke of the Arte  of Magicke (Scarlet Imprint, 2020) with Phil Legard, The Starry Rubric  (Hadean Press, 2012), A Book of the Magi: Lore, Prayers, and Spellcraft  of the Three Holy Kings (Revelore Press, 2018) and several chapbooks and  anthology contributions through Three Hands Press, Hadean Press and  Scarlet Imprint. He is a frequent speaker on the international circuit,  co-hosts the podcast Radio Free Golgotha, and is a founding editor of  Revelore Press’ Folk Necromancy in Transmission series. Dr Cummins’  work, classes, and services can be found at www.alexandercummins.com and in thecauldronblack.com class archives.

THIS CLASS IS ONLINE ONLY! The class link will be emailed to you in your registration confirmation. The class recording link will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days of the conclusion of the class and will be available to you for 30 days after the conclusion of the class.

By purchasing this ritual you agree to the following Non Disclosure:

This Agreement is between The Cauldron Black (“OWNER”); and the Purchaser (“RECIPIENT”). WHEREAS, OWNER has developed through substantial effort, research, time, and expense certain inventions, design concepts, methodologies, technical know-how, copyrightable material and trade secrets directed and related to this class.  (“INFORMATION”); WHEREAS, OWNER desires to disclose the INFORMATION on a confidential basis to RECIPIENT.  The OWNER wishes to maintain the confidentiality of the INFORMATION and the protection of OWNER'S intellectual property rights. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the  mutual promises, covenants, and conditions contained herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:  I. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION A. OWNER agrees to disclose  INFORMATION to RECIPIENT for the purposes of an online class.  B. RECIPIENT agrees to receive such INFORMATION and to refrain from  copying, disclosing, using, selling, or offering for sale any and all of said INFORMATION. RECIPIENT agrees to keep confidential and refrain from disclosing any and all of the INFORMATION, and to take all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or  use  of any and all of the INFORMATION.  Failure to uphold this NDA may result in legal action.