Grimoire magicians have always conjured their spirits to work a variety of sorceries; but along with putting their extant arcane tomes to work they have also attempted to conjure spirits to bring them even more secret works of occult wisdom and magical operations. Magical practitioners of the early modern British Isles also had a particular set of spirits they called up to deliver books of magic: the ghosts of the dead.

In this class, contemporary cunning-man and historian of magic Dr Alexander Cummins will offer a survey of pre-modern operations experimenting with where the conjuration of spirits to deliver grimoiric texts and techniques meets the folk necromancy of working with tutelary shades. 

Along with offering a grounding in the practices of early modern grimoiric magic and an awareness of pre-modern British ghostlore and ghost history, this class’s investigation and analysis will enrich our understandings of when, how, and why ghosts have been deliberately conjured, as well as a deeper appreciation for the techniques of conjuring spirits to deliver magical knowledge and spiritual power.