I received this book a long time ago before I began studying Correllian Wicca. Prior to that time my interests leaned more toward a left hand path instead of the center line I now try to balance on.
If you
are drawn more to the twilight hours then Gothic Grimoire by
Konstantinos may be right up your alley.
From beginning to end the author shares his love and respect of the
night mysteries with such poignant passion that it is almost tangible. As this book is somewhat of a “Volume II” to
his title Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark it bypasses the basics
and takes you right into advanced techniques and concepts. Everything from self-initiation to advanced
conjuring is covered with a healthy dose of mythology and lore sprinkled in.
Overall
I felt as though I were learning information from a capable and qualified
source. The subject matter, while I am
sure is uncomfortable for some, was fascinating to me. His personal experiences and indeed his
personal Grimoire are right there in the text, exposed to the reader. He did not shy away from delicate topics and
where appropriate included words of warning and disclaimers.
Upon
completing the book I was definitely compelled to not only attempt some of the
techniques therein but also to read its companion novel, Nocturnal
Witchcraft: Magick After Dark, which I did. Konstantinos was able to express his values
and beliefs without sounding condescending or superior in any way.
Had I
been the author of this manuscript I would have included a chapter discussing
some of the more popular “Dark” deities and their properties/origins. He makes a lot of reference to God/Goddess
but does not include any appreciable examples of them, choosing instead to refer
to them as Dark Gods or Dark Ones.
Energies raised by invoking the Norse Hel would be quite different than
working with the Egyptian Set and I feel the differences should have been
discussed and carefully noted.
Though
the book is written as an advanced guide to nocturnal magick he includes basic
rites for each of the eight Sabbaths which I found to be very helpful in
understanding the night witch’s connection to not only the wheel of the year
but the cycle of existence as well.
“Celebrating the Wheel of the Year is how a Witch strengthens his or her
link with the magickal currents that flow through our world.” (Konstantinos,
pg.25) He goes on to explain that the
rites contained in the chapter are his own versions and that they can be
adapted and changed as much as necessary so long as the Sabbaths are
honored.
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| Konstantinos |
In an
attempt to gain as much from the text as possible I opted to attempt one of the
rituals it contained. I chose the
Nocturnal Servant as described in Chapter 11.
The rite reminded me of a story I had read from Hebrew folklore where a
Jewish craftsman convinced his rabbi to teach him how to bring a clay golem to
life through faith and magick. The spell
outlined by Konstantinos was a bit more modern and of course contained a
well-placed warning. “Your servant’s
actions are, for all the universe knows, your actions. Use this being for evil, and evil will come
to you.” (Konstantinos, pg.116)
Rather
than go into great detail I will simply state that, while the spell allows for
a complete moon cycle, the tasks I set my servant to completing were completed
within a week.
I
learned through internet research that Konstantinos lives in New York where he
has been a paranormal researcher for the last fifteen years. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and
technical writing, both of which show in the ease of which his texts are read
and comprehended.
I would
recommend this book to a select few, as I could see it frightening some and
giving others (who may purposefully ignore the warnings) access to dangerous
information that they aren't ready to respect.
But for those who can use it in a mature manner I believe it is a
wonderful book for not only understanding the “darker” side of magick but also
to help in understanding that you cannot have one without the other: light
without the dark, dark without the light.
Both paths must tread together, whether or not they choose to
acknowledge one another.
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