CULTUS SABBATI: Provenance, Dream and Magistry

The Sabbatic Craft is a name for a Nameless Faith. It is a term used to describe an ongoing tradition of sorcerous wisdom, an initiatory path proceeding from both immediate vision and historical succession.

In a historical sense, the Sabbatic Craft is usefully set against the background of both rural folk-magic, the so-called Cunning-craft, and the learned practices of European high ritual magic. The medieval and early modern magical observances of cunning-men and wise women were broad and varied in form, but invariably rooted in pragmatic deeds of healing, love-magic, wortcunning, curing and cursing. Where the practices of cunning-folk overlapped with those of the high ritual magic traditions, the calling of angels, the apparatus of astrology, and Latin incantations were integrated into the magic of the everyday. Notably, these rituals, spells and formulae employed the idiom of the predominant religious culture, namely Christianity, often melding folk religiosity in a seamless blend unique to each individual practitioner. Although ritual magicians and cunning-folk alike used Christian formulae in their praxes, one could argue that this religious language was naturally the timely idiom of narration for magical rites. However, beneath the shifting of language and culture, the immemorial methodologies and tools of magical ritual - the spirit-evocation, ritual circle, wand, knife, sigil, cord, knot, charm, starry aspectation, flora and fauna, invocation, exorcism and so forth - remain more or less constant.

An important dimension of magical and folk religiosity was the oneiric or dream realm. Peripheral areas of European folklore retain vestigial myths which relate the oneiric location of witch-meetings, fairie convocations, and the nocturnal flight of the Wild Hunt. Merging with Christian theological conceptions the background of folk belief assisted in the formation of the stereotypical witch ritual we know as 'The Witches' Sabbath'. From an esoteric perspective it is considered that the Sabbath is the astral or dream convocation of magical ritualists' souls, animal selves, and a vast array of spirits, faeries and otherworldly beings. It is considered that the true location of the Sabbath is at the Crossroads of waking, sleeping and mundane dreaming, that is, in the state of True Dreaming - the realm in which the Lady Moon, the nocturnal sun, illumines a world beyond the reach of the uninitiated.

The teachings of the cunning-folk have come and gone for the most part from modern European culture, but here and there fragments of lore have been passed down to the present-day. In instances where the custodians of lore and ritual have been ardent students of the magical artes, the fragments have coalesced to establish streams of self-conscious tradition. Where two or more of these streams conjoin a river is born, and thus it is that the present-day Cultus of the so-called 'Sabbatic Tradition' emerges.

Cultus Sabbati is a body of magical initiates who practise both solitary and collective rituals, whose lineal tradition/s descend, in both oral and textual forms, from surviving 19th century cunning-folk and ritual magic practice. It is not claimed that we practise the very same rites, spells and so forth of the 16/17th century cunning-folk, for it is the very nature of these things to change their form and manner. One must remember that rituals are ensouled with practise, that spirits as well as men and women pass on and teach the Arte Magical. As the generations pass, some lore remains constant, some does not - it changes, evolves and adapts according to time, need, and insight. In the last century the streams of custom and oral tradition have flourished in small circles of ritual observance, and in being passed from generation to generation, the simple teachings of rural magicians have grown, coalescing with their longevity to establish traditions with rites of initiation and formal induction. Readers here are well-advised that the Cultus Sabbati is a closed circle and according to long-standing custom, those who ask for entry are refused. Initiation is by invitation only. Where the spirits so will it, a path shall be found.

The circle of the Cultus Sabbati holds dear the spells and customs which generations past have bequeathed. The use of psalms, biblical divination, oral customs of ritual praxis have remained with us, merging amidst a greater body of lore, some old, some new - yet all constant in vivification from the timeless wellspring of dream. For as time passes, the circle hearkens to the spirits patron to its heritage, and through dream and spirit-mediumship the circle fleshes itslef and moves forward. The authenticity of our work does not rest in antiquity, it is active through present and on-going vision.

A defining feature of the Cultus is its specialised use of the mythos of the medieval and early modern European Witches' Sabbath as the basis and idiom for its rituals and practices. This is not simply an indwelling of the past or human contrivance, but rather a spirit-taught reification of the Sabbath's potent oneiric reality in an ongoing tradition of magical practice. The whole complex of imagery that is the Witches' Sabbath is esoterically understood as the atemporal reality of our ritual. When perceived anew through praxis, dream and spirit-mediumship, the myriad motifs of the Sabbath yield new wisdom and serve as wholly apposite cyphers for the teachings of oneiric flight, atavistic transformation, wortcunning, divination, ritualisation, dual observance, spirit-worship, and so forth. Sabbatic symbology has thus been utilised to encode and narrate the teachings accumulated and still developing in our tradition. Dreaming and the mutual translation of dreamt ritual and ritual-as-dreamt form the basic rationale and context for our work. The active discourse between initiates and our spirit-patrons inspires and motivates this dreaming. This is demonstrably manifest in the magical artistry of individual initiates, whether through text, ritual performance, song, tapestry, crafsmanship, or image.

The present context of this exhibition may perhaps give some glimpse into the aesthetic dimension of the Sabbatic Mysteries as articulated by different individuals. Each artist has a unique vision. Here the images must speak of themselves, as their spirits so will. Be open to the portraits of dream and spirit, and see both what you make of them and they of you. Where the spark of vision leaps, where inspiration is communicated..... the path strays anew. So mote it be!

The Artwork of Andrew Chumbley

The Artwork of Daniel Schulke

Xoanon Publishing was founded in 1992. It operates as a vehicle for the manifestation of textual works originating purely from within the Circle of the Sabbatic Craft Tradition. Xoanon is essentially therefore the publishing gateway for the inner magical activity of Cultus Sabbati. The aim of Xoanon is literally its own name. Our Work intends the reification of living magical eidola: the incarnation of visionary and dream-begotten grimoires, the talismanic embodiment of spirits in text and image, and the transmission of lore from mind unto mind.

The inception of Xoanon brought forth Andrew Chumbley’s Azoëtia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft, a magical text embodying the sorcerous arcana of the Witches’ Sabbath. Also titled ‘The Book of the Magical Quintessence’ Azoëtia is a refractory clavis, arising as a luminous point from the Voidful Circle, cast forth in magical time as a voice from the Ancient Winds, yet perpetually risen anew as the Daimon of the Logos. A decade after its first fleshing, the Azoëtia was released in a second Sethos Edition in 2002, named for the presiding spirit of the book, revised with additional materials not present in its forbear.

In 1995 our purpose was assisted by Fulgur Limited by the design and release of Chumbley’s Qutub, or The Point. A cipher of the persistent Arcana of the Opposer interpenetrating magical history, it served as the exoteric origination-point of the specific magical vehiculum known as ‘Crooked Path Sorcery’, whose ultimate forms were manifest through Chumbley’s privately-published Dragon-Book of Essex. As with the Azoëtia, the grimoire Qutub fulfilled, by virtue of its eidolic attributes, the inner lumen of its presiding genius. Midwinter 2008 saw the release of the second edition of this seminal work, marking the thirteen year of its first printing.

Eight years after its founding, Xoanon Publishing was forged anew in Summer 2000 by Andrew Chumbley and Daniel A. Schulke, its intent to serve as the Way of the Logos for the Cultus Sabbati, manifest wholly by the hands of its brethren. The first crystallisation of this new empowerment was Chumbley’s ONE: The Grimoire of the Golden Toad. ONE is a magico-poetic explication of the East Anglian toad-bone Rite, as performed by the author. The incepting Triad of copies emerged as black incunabula inset with the flayed skin of the Toad itself, binding the telesmatic function of the Book with its power as a Granary of Words.

2001 saw the release of Schulke’s Ars Philtron, a sorcerous potion-formulary borne of the witch-praxis of Furnace, Cauldron, and Cup, and the Octrigan Mysteria of its eroto-alchymic arcana. The book was released in the expanded ‘Codex Vasculum’ edition in Autumn of 2008, and serves in part as a modern emanation of the remnants of cunning-folk lore which form a historical strand of the Sabbatic Cultus.

Schulke’s Viridarium Umbris, or Pleasure-Garden of Shadows came forth in 2005 as an enchiridion of Midnight’s Eden, the primordial plot wherein Heaven’s Power was first given unto Woman by the Fallen Host. The Viridarium is a volume of occult herbalism, magical plant-lore and praxis, a ‘Grimoirius of the Woodwose’ weaving the earthing of Angelick Light with the rustic wisdom of the Seirim. It stands as the second book of a triad of works treating arcana of herbs and trees in Wise-Craft, unfolding as an upwelling of the sap from Al’Thuba, ancient Tree of the Great Serpent.

Each book manifests in several distinct physical forms or guises according to the genii which incepted it, and its enumerated mysteries. These varied ‘Masques of the Book’ are echoed in the materials which comprise their function as magical vessels, certain of which possess additional formulae or teachings. The Sethos Edition of Azoëtia (2002) is one such manifestation, having a limited ‘Behena’ edition shadowing forth the presiding daimon of the book through a ritual transmission entitled Liber Sa-Bapho-Mitr or “The Rite of Amethystine Light.” Likewise, the special edition of Ars Philtron - Codex Vasculum (2008) contains the additional text Liber Gannath Aur-Ka-Zia, or “The Vineyard of the Resurrection”, relating an arcanum of the Sabbatic Transmutation of Wine. Other books have assumed forms yet more obscure, such as the ‘Monadic Transmission’ series, issued in handwritten editions of one, or the shadow-books of the Agraphia.

Here follows a list of our titles, past, present, and in preparation. Customers wishing to reserve copies of our available or forthcoming titles should write to Xoanon at either of the addresses given further below. Customers on our private subscribers' list will receive advance notice of all publications. All cheques should be made payable directly to: 'Xoanon Publishing Ltd'.

Azoetia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft.

Written and illustrated by Andrew D. Chumbley. A complete recension of Sabbatic theory and praxis, relating the Three Great Rites of Ingress, Congress, and Egress, together with a detailed exposition of the 22 Letters of the Sorcerer's Alphabet. This work was originally published by Xoanon in 1992 in a limited edition of only 300 copies. A new edition of Azoetia, The Sethos Edition, with approx. 40 illustrations was published in 2002.

Qutub: the Point.

Written and illustrated by Andrew D. Chumbley. (First Edition published by Fulgur Ltd for Xoanon). This work treats of the Arcanum of the Opposer, a magical formula of the Crooked Path concerning the Powers of Self-overcoming. The book consists of an arcane poetic text in 72 verses, a detailed commentary in critical prose, and a substantial glossary of esoteric terms and names. The whole is illustrated throughout with calligraphic and sigillic depictions of the Opposer's composite mysteries. Published in 1995 in an edition of 500 standard copies, 36 deluxe copies in quarter morocco and slip-case, and 5 copies in full morocco for private distribution, this first edition has sold out in entirety. The second edition, published Midwinter 2008, is currently available.

The Grimoire of the Golden Toad .

Written by Andrew D. Chumbley. This unusual grimoire was published in 2000, marking the cusp of the old and new chiliad. It treats of the Traditional East Anglian ritual of 'The Waters of the Moon', the solitary initiation of the Toad-witch. Because of the highly specialised nature of this ritual practice, only 77 copies were issued. This edition was hand-bound in gilt-stamped black faux leather. An additional 3 copies in full black calf-skin inset with toadskin panels were distributed privately for initiatic use. All copies were accompanied by hand-painted toadskin talismans and accompanying card talismans adorned in gold, silver and bronze sigillation. This book was sold out in a matter of days, and second-hand prices have been seen in excess of £1500. A reprint of this 'Black Book' is at present most unlikely because of the implicit ordeals of the ritual and its patron daimon.

Ars Philtron

Written and illustrated by Daniel A. Schulke, Verdelet of the Cultus Sabbati. This important work treats extensively of Wortcunning and Sabbatic-alchemical gnosis as manifested through the medium of potion-making. Its text treats of the eight principal Sabbatic-alchemic philtre types, their pharmacoepia and formulation. Evocations to aspects of the Sabbatic Guardians Lilith and Cain are also given to empower the revelation and reification of Philtre-Arcana. This work was published in 2001 in a limited edition of 144 copies, hand-bound in earthen-hued cloth with burgundy end-papers, and signed by the author. Each copy of the book is unique, containing a full-colour frontispiece of one of a series of 24 paintings of the Sabbatic-Alchemic Temple, backed with one of six evocations to Cain or Lilith. Further to the standard edition, a deluxe edition for private distribution consists of 9 copies only, each hand-bound in gilt-stamped green leather, and accompanied by the complete set of 24 colour paintings. Due to its scarcity and interest in this sold-out work, Ars Philtron was re-published in 2008 as ‘Edition Codex Vasculum’ in expanded form and is currently available from Xoanon.

Azoetia: Sethos-Behena Edition.

Written by Andrew D. Chumbley. Published on May 15^th, 2003 the edition was limited to 77 copies only, with silver stamping on black boards and slip-case, and black-on-black endpapers. Each copy is accompanied by an eight-page text in plain card covers, entitled 'The Rite of Amethystine Light', hand-produced and signed by the author; also a small talisman hand-painted in walnut ink on oriental snakeskin paper. From the perspective of the author, the ritual serves to complete the foundation of the Azoetic phase of magical work 1992-2003 and to open the way for the Draconist Path ahead.

Viridarium Umbriis: The Pleasure-garden of Shadows.

Written and illustrated by Daniel A. Schulke. An extensive grimorium of Wortcunning concerning the Secret Knowledge of Trees and Herbs as delivered by the Fallen Angels unto Man. Principally concerning the sorcery and gnosis of the Greenwood, the Pleasure Garden proceeds from the threefold Arbours of the Wise: Paradise, Wilderness and the Hedge. Published in 2005, the book was bound in two editions: a standard hardbound in sage-green, limited to 576 copies; and a Deluxe edition in brown goat, limited to 72 copies and accompanied by the additional text “The Epistle of the Tree”.

The Draconian Grimoire: The Dragon-Book of Essex.

Written and illustrated by Andrew D. Chumbley. This is a Compleat Grimoire of Crooked Path Sorcery, distilled from the many years of practice accomplished by 'The Column of the Crooked Path', an inner sodality of the Cultus Sabbati. This substantial work expounds the sorcerous ethos and praxes of the Crooked Path ritual system. Contents include: a cycle of 10 extensive Mystery-rites, each accompanied by adjunctive solitary rituals and detailed commentaries; texts relating the intricacies of Sabbatic ritualisation; an extensive body of stellar lore and ritual; the Sorcerous Formulae of Number; together with detailed exegeses of the Quadriga, the covine-type of the Crooked Path, and the inner grade structures operative within its ambit. This work is intended as an entire resumé of the ancestral and ophidian components of Traditional Sorcery and Sabbatic Gnosis.

A private initiatic edition of ten copies, each of three volumes, was published circa 1998, having 1200-plus pages. At present, it is intended that the outer edition of this work will be published in the next two-three years. Published in a single volume-format in a special limited edition, each book will be produced to a very high standard. The price as presently estimated will be in excess of £350 per copy.

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Customers wishing to place their names on our subscriber list or wishing to reserve copies of forthcoming titles should write to XOANON at

PO Box 556

Macclesfield

Cheshire

SK10 9FF

England

or

1511 Sycamore Avenue

PMB 131

Hercules

CA 94547

USA

XOANON: VOX BAETYLA