The infamous Grimorium Verum is not only a demonological catalogue of spirits, or a handbook instructing how to conjure and pact with these spirits, but a treasury of ‘Supernatural Secrets’: spells, rituals, talismans, and charms to be empowered and employed in collaboration with the Verum’s spirits towards a range of purposes and effects.

This four-part series of class recordings presents analysis and practical notes for not only performing such operations found in various goetic manuscripts – concentrating on (but not limited to) those of the Verum family of texts – but also adapting these techniques to our own more specific ends; considering the underlying craft-logics and working ethos underlying their efficacy and experimentation.

In the course of this investigation, we examine how the spellworks of these nigromantic  ‘Secrets’ can be best analysed, implemented, modified, and tailored to our own practices and needs, as well as how we can work by both implicit and explicit pacts with our potent spirit familiars and allies to further empower and extend the effectiveness of such charms, rites, and amulets.

Finally, we consider both historical and practical examples of how wider crafts and works of folk nigromancy have been incorporated into and out of goetic magic with these spirits, and explore how we may draw on broader and deeper traditions and mechanics of spellcraft in our work with these good devils of the Verum.  

The four sessions of this course series break down as follows:

Session 1: Labora, or, Approaching Spellwork
In which we overview traditional source-texts for charms, talismans, and workings from various goetic collections of ‘Natural and Supernatural Secrets’ – including Jake Stratton-Kent’s True Grimoire, Joseph H. Peterson’s Grimorium Verum and the Clavicula Salomonis de Secretis, various editions of the Grimoires of Pope Honorius, and other such sorcerous working-books and anthologies of spellwork – to discuss helpful frameworks of operational typologies for approaching and applying them. We consider the necessary tools and conjurational techniques that empower these rites in collaboration with our spirits, and present options for framing, initiating, directing, and managing such rites of spellwork. In summary, Session 1 covers:

·       Overview of Sources
·       Typologies of Operations
·       Necessary Tools
·       Opening Rites of ’Craft & ’Work

Session 2: Materia, or, Talismans & Objects
In which we consider the multifaceted virtues and applications of ingredients, substances, and materia magica for creating, consecrating, and wielding the enmattered components of spellwork: from the scribing and deployment of sigillated papers, seals, and textual charms; to the framing and employment of magical images; and of course the cunning assemblage of sorcerous bundles, amalgams, and fetishes. We also explore a range of goetic techniques for deploying, activating, and focusing these empowered objects and nigromantic talismans. In summary, Session 2 covers:

·       Sigils & Seals
·       Assemblage-Bundles
·       (Goetic) Images
·       Activations & Deployments

Session 3: Immateria, or, Rites & Charms
In which we breakdown fundamental conjurational techniques of galvanizing and manipulating the affective virtues of our spellwork, through careful study and application of the underlying sorcerous principles and craft-logics which empower our nigromancy. We examine the means, appeals, prosody, and contexts – as well as the actual “barbarous” contents – of magical speech acts and spoken charms; as well as analysing the embodied spellcrafts of gestural actions, stance, cardinal orientation, and the physicalities of cunning directives. We survey and explore the locative and spacial virtues of such works performed at crossroads, circles, thresholds, graveyards, and other chthonic haunts. In summary, Session 3 covers:

·       Spoken Charms & Speech Acts
·       Gestures & Actions
·       Locations & Orientations
·       Sorcerous Craft-Logics

Session 4: Artificium, or, Experimental Spellcraft
In which we put all of these studies together to develop and more deeply engage in our spellcraft itself: refocusing on various options for (re)applying underlying mechanics of experimental sorcerous actions to tailor and adapt our cunning works, based in these traditional methodologies and means. We consider best practices around collaborative divining and consulting with our spirits in order to adjust as well as empower our rites, to develop more particular tools and innovative approaches, and even to solicit the patronages of these spirits to empower both ceremonial and folk magical operations drawn from beyond the typical goetic corpus… In summary, Session 4 covers:

·       Applying & Re-directing Underlying Principles
·       Divinatory Consultation with Spirits
·       Powering Other Spells with These Devils
·       “New” Tools & Traditional Innovations

By purchasing this course series, you agree that you understand that no part of the material dictated or provided throughout the duration of the course may be reproduced, distributed, or used in any other form (neither electronic nor mechanic, including photocopies and recordings), without the direct and written consent of the instructor, Dr Alexander Cummins.