Date: Monday, February 6th
Time: 7pm
Admission: $8

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The links between love and magic, of enchantment and sympathia, have long been considered by poets, philosophers, and magicians alike. The very word for a spell or charm comes from a Latinate memory of song (cantare), but also evokes the glamours, attractions, and allurements of falling in love with something…

In this lecture, contemporary cunning man and historian of magic Dr Alexander Cummins will explore the variety of occult theories and magical practices that seek to grasp the harmonies of love, exploring how people across history have resorted to spiritual and sorcerous strategies for finding, keeping, and mending their romances. In the course of this exploration, we will consider remedies of the ancient world, through to the love sorcery of Shakespeare’s day, all the way up to various techniques and ingredients of modern folk magics.

Such investigations will consider occult psychological ideas about the elemental Humours, as well as spiritual notions of the passions and their effects, and both magical and physical mysteries of the heart. As we examine the benefic works of fostering and flourishing romantic love, we will also consider a few more aggressive and downright violent applications of seduction magic: from aphrodisiacal herbs to conjuring matchmaking spirits to more forceful bindings, leashes, and so-called “erotic malefic” workings. In considering how “bad love magic” harms, this lecture seeks to inform and encourage how students may better observe, understand, and apply harmonious love magics in their healing and helping of themselves and others.

Dr. Alexander Cummins is a magician, diviner, historian, and poet whose work focuses on magical books, demonology, geomancy, and folk magic as well as love divination and enchantment. His doctoral research centered on magic and the emotions in the pre-modern world.