‘Coscinomancy is a form of divination utilising a sieve and shears, used in ancient Greece, medieval and early modern Europe and seventeenth century New England, to determine the guilty party in a criminal offense, find answers to questions, etc.’
 
The paired works of cutting away confusion and winnowing the truth. The cunning detection of thieves and the determining of guilt. The cutting of possibility into choice. By accuser and advocate, by St. Peter and by St. Paul– the arguing saints at the foundation of the Church – a two-headed judge’s balance of witnesses is weighed.
 
The folk magical divinatory practices of ‘turning’ the sieve, shears, or both have been remarked to be found all across the ancient world, and located by some scholars and plenty of practitioners in the present in a variety of forms.
 
In this illustrated class, contemporary cunning-man and historian of magic Dr Alexander Cummins explores the magics and mysteries of coscinomancy – the divinatory arts of working sieve-and-shears – from both pre-modern historical exemplars and analyses to contemporary scholarship and practice: examining everything from survivals of ancient Greek basket divination to the cut-up magics of William Burroughs.
 
By the winnowing lattice and closing blades of Atropos, we turn to the truth of things…
 
About the Presenter:
Dr Alexander Cummins is a contemporary cunning man and historian. His magical specialities are the dead (folk necromancy), divination (geomancy) and the grimoires.His published works include An Excellent Booke of the Arte of Magicke (Scarlet Imprint, 2020) with Phil Legard, The Starry Rubric (Hadean Press 2012), A Book of the Magi: Lore, Prayers, and Spellcraft of the Three Holy Kings (Revelore Press 2018) and contributions to collections by Three Hands Press, Hadean Press and Scarlet Imprint.He is a frequent speaker on the international circuit, co-hosts the podcast Radio Free Golgotha, and is a founding editor of Revelore Press’ Folk Necromancy in Transmission series. Dr Cummins’ work, classes, and services can be found at www.alexandercummins.com
 
THIS IS A CLASS RECORDING
This class recording link will be included in your order confirmation email. Please download the attached PDF to access the class recording link. You will have access to the class recording in perpetuity.
 
By purchasing this class you agree to the following Non Disclosure:
This Agreement is between The Cauldron Black (“OWNER”); and the Purchaser (“RECIPIENT”). WHEREAS, OWNER has developed through substantial effort, research, time, and expense certain inventions, design concepts, methodologies, technical know-how, copyrightable material and trade secrets directed and related to this class. (“INFORMATION”); WHEREAS, OWNER desires to disclose the INFORMATION on a confidential basis to RECIPIENT. The OWNER wishes to maintain the confidentiality of the INFORMATION and the protection of OWNER'S intellectual property rights. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the  mutual promises, covenants, and conditions contained herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: I. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION A. OWNER agrees to disclose INFORMATION to RECIPIENT for the purposes of an online class. B. RECIPIENT agrees to receive such INFORMATION and to refrain from copying, disclosing, using, selling, or offering for sale any and all of said INFORMATION. RECIPIENT agrees to keep confidential and refrain from disclosing any and all of the INFORMATION, and to take all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or use  of any and all of the INFORMATION.  Failure to uphold this NDA may result in legal action.