Stolen Power: The Witch, the Devil, and Bestial Rites of Transgression

The black cat, toad, and the hare. Creatures long allied to the figures of both Devil and Witch. In this presentation we will explore the mythos and folklore of these animals, and their significance in witchcraft and  magic. Further we will discuss their appearance in some of the most taboo and transgressive rituals known in folk magical traditions. Specifically the rites of acquiring the toad bone, the rabbit’s foot, and the black cat bone.

Through this cross comparison we’ll uncover a ritual transmission which spans both time and continents. Revealing the secrets of shapeshifters, conjurors, gamblers, and horsemen in order to reveal a legacy of bestial witchcraft and stolen power through ritual fetish.

About the Presenter:

Matthew Venus is a folk magician, artist, writer, and witch located in Salem, MA. He is the co-founder of the Salem Witchcraft &  Folklore Festival and the owner and lead apothecary of Spiritus Arcanum,…