Ravens, and Kings, and the Other, Oh My! - On; a Cunning Approach to Ethics | Dr. Alexander Cummins

Today we are celebrating the Season One finale of the podcast with a special guest and a beautiful conversation weaving fiction, cunning, and ethics all into one pot and serving it up to you all as a hearty stew to warm the soul. This week I am welcoming Dr. Alexander Cummins, contemporary cunning man and historian, onto the podcast where we chat a bit about what one can learn about magic and ethics from reading the outstanding work of fiction Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke. Al provides great insight and wisdom to the unpacking of this tale, by bringing his knowledge and understanding of the dead (folk necromancy), geomancy, and grimoire traditions to the table. This conversation does a lovely job on talking about so many things, like ravens, angelic language, melancholia, and doorways, but still centers on building an underlying awareness of respect, responsibility, and mutual understanding with ourselves and the world we all share. What can we learn about Kingship from the study of ravens? What does the history of treasure hunting teach us about magicians and cunning people of yore? How can a study of the four humors inform a more holistic approach to the care of self and others? All this and more, on today’s episode of SaturnVox.

To find more from Dr. Alexander Cummins, please check out and follow him on Instagram here. His published works and contributions to collections by Three Hands Press, Revelore 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 – such as divination, consultation, and coaching – can be found at www.alexandercummins.com. Folks can sign up for his Friends of English Magic mailinglist here: http://eepurl.com/dCQvOj. With respect to some of the things we discussed within the episode, Dr. Cummins also has a whole class-bundle (lecture recording + primary source scans and resources such as bibliography, etc) on necromantic dream incubation (including the onyx ring!): www.alexandercummins.com/talks/cousinofdeath

To find more on SaturnVox, check out their instagram and twitter @saturnvox, or, visit their website saturnvox.com.  If you want to support the show towards goals of better equipment, merch, and bonus material, please check out the Patreon at www.patreon.com/saturnvox.

Original Music by Jules M Dooley, traditional astrologer and sound artist. Follow his experiments with astrology + sound + ai visuals on IG: @glitches_in_the_night_sky

Show Notes 

Dr. Cummin’s interlinked blog series on JS&MrN and historical magic: The Rain Shall Make A Door

Liz Berry's poem, Birmingham Roller

Salem Symposium