Fri, Oct 23
|Online Class
Cunning Libraries: The Magic Books of Early Modern Folk Magicians with Dr Alexander Cummins

Time & Location
Oct 23, 2020, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Online Class
About the Event
The libraries of cunning-folk - those local village wizards and wise-women of the early modern British Isles - ranged considerably from scraps of spoken and written charms, to a single imposing personal grimoire to heaving shelves full of magical tomes. The magics contained in such books ran from pious prayers to more suspicious "black magic", and from the techniques of folk magic and witchcraft to (streamlined versions of) ritual conjurations of angels, devils, and the dead.
Such folk magicians employed a wide range of ephemerides, conjurations, and experiments. The sources they commonly drew on included potent astrological, alchemical, and nigromantic know-how. From Reginald Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft (an accidental best-seller which provided intricate details of the rituals of which it so disapproved) to (psuedo)Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy - which collected a variety of instructions on divination and spirit conjuring - there was a wealth of printed as well as manuscript sources upon which these practitioners cut their eager teeth and worked their craft. Undoubtedly the most prized texts upon their shelves were the working-books: the collections of spells, recipes, formulae, and correspondences gathered on the fly by enterprising and experimenting folk magicians.
The "average" cunning-man and cunning-woman's reading material still presents substantial understanding and use to modern practitioners looking to understand our magical forebears and their days and ways better. In this talk, contemporary cunning-man and historian Dr Alexander Cummins will offer us a tour of such libraries, and present some key findings about the nature of magic, community, and knowledge along the way.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Alexander Cummins (@grimoiresontape) is a professional diviner, consultant sorcerer, and historian of magic. His work focuses on grimoires, divination, and folk necromancy. He co-hosts Radio Free Golgotha, and can be booked for talks, workshops, readings, coaching and consultation at www.alexandercummins.com/. His recorded classes can also be obtained from The Cauldron Black archives.
THIS CLASS IS ONLINE ONLY! This recording will be available for 30 days after purchase.
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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.
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Cunning Libraries Registration
$30.00
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