Conjure Codex 5

Conjure Codex V is dedicated to Jake Stratton-Kent, without whose vision this series would not exist.

This Conjure Codex brings to a close the first volume of the series; it was never our intention to theme the issues by colour, but that is what happened and so it is fitting that our final number is the black of moonless midnight. Jake Stratton-Kent was not only the driving force behind the Conjure Codex, but he has also been a pioneer in changing our perception of what used to be known as black magic—the magic of spirit conjuration, of speaking to the dead, of pact-forming and offering, of demons. His work with the True Grimoire and his seminal Geosophia: The Argo of Magic forever altered the landscape of contemporary goetic practice. With Jake at the helm, Conjure Codex began in 2011 as a means of facing and overcoming misconceptions surrounding spirit practice, and has since fulfilled its brief of breaking new ground in presenting inter-related material from a range of traditions. Conjure Codex V showcases that new ground with essays by some of the leading scholars and practitioners working today. It is our great privilege to bring to you this black issue, and we thank all of you for carrying the work forward.