The Night Has a Naked Soul: Witchcraft and Sorcery Among the Western Cherokee

by Alan Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick (American Indian studies, San Diego State U.) explores the occult world of the Western Cherokee, expounding on previously collected documents and translating some 40 new shamanistic texts never before disclosed to outsiders. Texts in the native script of the Sequoyah syllabary deal with matters such as divining the future, protection from enemies, destroying the power of witches, and purifying the soul. For scholars interested in indigenous folk beliefs and the role of transformational language in ritual performance. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Courtney Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Kilpatrick’s fascinating book, “The Night Has a Naked Soul” is the perfect companion for James Mooney’s “Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” and Frans M. Olbrects’ “The Swimmer Manuscript”. These two monumental works based on the extraordinary work of the ethnographer James Mooney have captured most of what has been written about the ancient Cherokee culture and its witchcraft and sorcery. Dr. Kilpatrick’s book brings out more insight into the Cherokee culture, this time from a Cherokee’s perspective. Dr. Kilpatrick, being Cherokee and raised in Cherokee society has a personal understanding of this subject and has the unique advantage of his parent’s voluminous work collecting original works by Cherokee. By presenting this work as an anthropological study, it is more than just a translation of important texts, it is an insightful examination of the psychology, logic, and language of Cherokee witchcraft and sorcery.

[Dragonflydreamer68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely interesting. thought provoking book, learned some things I didnt know.