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





X O A N O N P.O. Box 1821, Chelmsford, CM1 3UE, England

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. 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. This is 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. This first edition was soon sold out and second-hand copies can now reach prices in excess of £250.
N.B.: A new edition of Azoetia (The Sethos Edition) with approx. 40 illustrations is scheduled for publication in 2002/3; see below for further details.

Qutub: the Point.
Written and illustrated by Andrew D. Chumbley. (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. This work was published in 1995 in an edition of 500 standard copies, 36 deluxe copies in quarter morocco and slip-case (each with a hand-drawn talisman by the author), and 5 copies in full morocco for private distribution. This work has sold out in entirety.

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 £350. A reprint of this 'Black Book' is at present most unlikely because of the implicit ordeals of the ritual and its patron daimon.

(N.B. An additional essay by Andrew D. Chumbley, entitled 'The Leaper Between', treating of the Toad-bone amulet's historical usage in folk magic, can be found at www.the-cauldron.fsnet.co.uk)

Ars Philtron
Concerning the Aqueous Cunning of the Potion and its Praxis in the Green Arte Magical
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 the 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 (original price £40 per copy). 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. This work has now sold out completely. Second-hand prices are presently £200+.
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 a complete set of 24 paintings.

Forthcoming titles

Azoetia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft (Sethos Edition)
Originally published by Xoanon in 1992, Azoetia or 'The Book of the Magical Quintessence' has become one of the most sought-after new magical works of our time and may be regarded as the foundation text of the Sabbatic Craft Tradition in its present phase of work. Azoetia is comprised of three main parts: an exposition of preliminary magico-aesthetic formulae with detailed descriptions of working tools; the full text of the Sabbatic Rituals of Ingress, Congress, and Egress; and an eleven-chaptered Grimoirium detailing the arcana and composite practices of the Sacred Alphabet - the twenty-two lettered code of sorcerous principles underlying the practical spectrum of the Arte Magical. The entire work intends the reification of traditional British cunning-craft praxis according to the spiritual vision and artistry of a contemporary initiate.
The Sethos Edition is comprised of a newly revised text (approx. 400pp.) together with additional formulae and around 45 illustrations, many previously unseen. The work is to be published in three editions:- a standard edition of 484 numbered copies hand-bound in gilt-stamped hollen-green cloth, priced at £40.00 ($60) per copy (currently available); a deluxe edition of 44 copies, quarter-bound in fair goatskin, with gilt-stamped cloth and slip-case, priced at £70 per copy (now sold out); and a special edition of eleven slip-cased copies in full goatskin for private distribution only. (Please add £3.00/$4.60 P + P per copy ordered). The deluxe and special editions will be accompanied by a talismanic text for the Conjuration of Sethos, the Patron Daimon of the Book; each signed by the author. Xoanon, Sole Publisher of Cultus Sabbati, is very proud to invite you to participate in this new and long-awaited edition.
Whilst we can at this present time (December, 2002) guarantee the purchase of our standard edition, we kindly request that customers respond as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment due to possibilities of over-subscription. Please note the costs given above apply to subscriber/pre-publication orders only; after publication - should copies remain available - the cost of the standard edition will be increased. We therefore encourage interested parties to place reservations in advance.
In all cases where confirmation of an order is desired, please enclose an SAE. Issue date is now confirmed for February 2003, subject to circumstantial variations in hand-binding and private production.

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. Details of cost, etc, pending.

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 Cultus' inner circle, 'The Column of the Crooked Path'. 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. Being the fruit of a decade of concentrated praxis in the Cultus' inner circle, 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. This private edition stood at around 1200-plus pages. At present, it is intended that the outer edition of this work will be published in the next two-three years. It is intended that it will be published in a single volume-format in a special limited edition, each produced to a very high standard. The price as presently estimated will be in excess of £100 per copy. If you wish to reserve a copy of this important work please notify Xoanon directly and your name will be placed in advance on our list of subscribers.
The Draconian Grimoire is intended as the second volume in a trilogy of Sabbatic Grimoire texts, the first of which was 'Azoetia'. Intermediate works by Andrew D. Chumbley are intended as adjunctive and commentorial, or as specialisations.

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

P.M.B. 476, 1271 Washington Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577, U.S.A

OR

P. O. Box 1821, Chelmsford, CM1 3UE, England.

Xoanon: Vox Baetyla