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

By Alan Kilpatrick

Book Overview

In a work that spans nearly two centuries, anthropologist Alan Kilpatrick explores the occult world of the Western Cherokee, expounding on previously collected documents and translating some forty new shamanistic texts that have never been disclosed to outside audiences.

For over a hundred and fifty years, the Cherokee Indians have been recording their medico-magical traditions in the native script of the Sequoyah syllabary. These texts, known as idi: gawe' sdi, deal with such esoteric matters as divining the future, protecting oneself from enemies, destroying the power of witches, and purifying one's soul from all forms of supernatural harm.

As one of the few scholars able to translate the discourse, Kilpatrick underlines the critical role of transformational language in the ritual performance. His book challenges conventional wisdom about Native American folk medicine, witchcraft, and sorcery by introducing a new body of shamanistic thought and by placing this thought in the context of growing anthropological literature on indigenous folk beliefs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815605390
• ISBN13: 9780815605393
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Rare look into secretive practices

Alan Kilpatrick is the most recent in a short list of scholars (from the likes of James Mooney and Hans Olbrechts to Kilpatrick's parents Jack and Anna) to explore the magical practices of Cherokee "shamans". I use the word "shaman" loosely here and Kilpatrick addresses the reasons why by explaining the different cultural conceptions that non-Cherokee often group under that rubric (often undeservedly so). Kilpatrick offers an excellent examination of the context of these texts from an anthropological perspecitive while being concomitantly sensitive to his Cherokee heritage. Others have said Kilpatrick is condscending and patronizing in his attitude . . . I've re-read this book again and just do not see the justification for this statement. I think he does a good job at turning the anthropological "lens" upon his own heritage to give it an honest investigation. Moreover, he leaves it to the reader to issue final judgement on the veracity of these practices and texts. Right where it should be. He is also very cognizant of the fact that the terms "sorcery" and "witchcraft" are culturally loaded. So he offers a nuanced examination in an effort to translate the seriousness of these texts for a predominantly non-Cherokee audience. Overall, this was a fascinating read. The anthropological examination is informative and accessible. The texts themselves are very poetic and are worth reading for this quality alone. And the first person accounts of encountering current practitioners leaves the reader with a lot to think about. For anyone interested in learning about these oft misunderstood beliefs and practices I highly recommend this book. For continued reading I also recommend Walk In Your Soul : Love Incantations of the Oklahoma Cherokees and Run Toward The Nightland : Magic of the Oklahoma Cherokees

The Night Has A Naked Soul

Cherokee mysticism was seldom whispered about in the outside world until James Mooney began his scholarly research in 1891. And there had been no comprehensive study of Cherokee supernaturalism since until Alan Kirkpatrick undertook this study. This is an excellent source book which examines in depth the Cherokee sacred formulas, the idi:gawé:sdi, which have been largely hidden and almost forgotten by this generation. Kirkpatrick discusses shamanic text which serves to cloak the spells in a "secret language whose meanings can only be deciphered by those who have the key and thus are initiated into the code." Some of the spells discussed include those for divining, for poultice making, to counteract evil thinkers, to forget the dead and to trap night walkers. I must add that these spells are considered "ritually dead" and can only be revived by observing certain well-guarded ceremonial purification rites. This is not a story book with a well constructed plot and a breath-taking ending. Rather it is an "instruction manual" geared to those on the Medicine Path who need help understanding the Way.

A very interesting look into Cherokee beliefs

Even though this book was a requred text I was really surprised to see that Native Americans have beliefs in witchcraft. The book is really worth the purchasing and was really worth my time. Kilpartick made a hard subject simple and easy to understand.