Arts of the Night invites the reader into a history of the practices of witchcraft by focusing on Mesopotamia as the possible cradle for the arts and crafts popularly assigned to what we name as ‘witches’. In this book it is suggested that witchcraft is a poetic reality that pertains to humankind at large. The work had as its working premise the six volumes of ‘Magic and Witchcraft in Europe’ edited by Ankarloo and Clark (published by Penn State University Press) but grew soon enough out from this framework. It is my hope that by tracing the history of witchcraft from Mesopotamia and to modern days to provide a greater sensitivity for what the Craft might be by presenting the various practices and philosophies that molded the wise Arts. It is my hope that this tome will heighten the awareness of the Wise Arts being originally a traditional vestige of the great mysteries. In our corrupted world, marked by all forms of traditional deviations, I present this work in the hope that it can aid a little bit to restoring the Craft to its rightful place and order.
The Cabula/Temple Meia-Noite da Encruzilhada will arrange for its yearly workshop of Quimbanda from 7 th of September to the 11 th of September 2022 . The workshop will this year also cover Umbanda , hence we will make a workshop under the greater umbrella of ‘ macumba ’. The workshop will be held in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais on a Farm located in the midst of the forest, 100 km from the airport Guarulhos in São Paulo. In this workshop we will offer traditional Umbanda baptism and we will offer the first initiatic step in the ladder of Quimbanda , what is often called vinculação , a ceremony working on the same level as a baptism that aims towards establishing a true and strong bond with your Exu and Pomba Gira. These initiatic steps will be followed by a full Gira (drumming) where also the spirits of Umbanda will be celebrated as we move from these spirits of forest and wisdom towards Exu and Pomba Gira during the celebration. These important parts are mediated by se