The sixteenth-century text known as the Cambridge Book of Magic is found in Cambridge University Library MS Additional 3544 and attributed to one Paul Foreman. It is formed of 91 ‘experiments’ of magic – ranging from conjuring angels and demons to divining the future, inflicting harm on enemies, locating and returning stolen property, hunting for magical treasure, gathering herbs, and consecrating various instruments of the magical arts.

Examination of such a work highlights how not all grimoires presented themselves as systematic protocols of actions with a strictly defined list of spirits, but rather often took the form of these self-assembled tomes of diverse spells, rituals, charms, and secrets. This presentation also examines the way these operations are nevertheless intertextually related in the apparent service magic of the compiler.

This class-bundle includes: 

An illustrated lecture of two hours duration
Lecture slide-deck
Bibliography of further recommended study on grimoiric magic

A full table of contents of the lecture itself runs:

•        History & Context
•        What Makes A Grimoire?
•        Working-Books
•        A Typology of Entries
•        Instructions
•        Tools & Consecrations
•        Spiritwork
•        Divinations
•        Sigils & Charms
•        Operations
•        Closing Remarks
•        Experiments

By purchasing this class recording, you agree that you understand that no part of the material dictated or provided throughout the duration of the presentation 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.