Family: Ranunculaceae

Genus: Aconitum

Related genera: Anemone, Aquilegia, Delphinium, Helleborus, Pulsatilla, Ranunculus

The poisonous plant genus Aconitum consists of at least a hundred different species and has an array of legends and folklore attributed to it.

Sometimes called ‘Queen of Poisons’ or ‘Plant Arsenic’, similar to how arsenic is considered a ‘King of Poisons’.

A distinction sometimes found concerns the names Monkshood and Wolfsbane. Some argue the original Wolfsbane is the white or yellow-flowered species Aconitum lycoctonum whereas the blue flowering Monkshood, Aconitum napellus is probably the better known of the two species and it is frequently found in medieval monastery gardens. The two species contain different poisons, which are however similar in effect.

Mythology and History

The Greek word akónitos is composed of ak = pointed and kônos = cone, an akon being a dart or javelin, perhaps a reference to the use as an arrow poison. Theophrastus suggests the name derived from the town of Aconæ (today assumed to be near Karadeniz Ereğli in Turkey). It may also have been named after Mount Akonitos in Pontus (Asia Minor), where the plant is said to have grown from the spittle of Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of Hades, when the folkhero Heracles drew up the beast from his infernal abode. Homer (800 bc) gives the first account of this myth in the Illiad. Eight centuries later Ovid embellishes the story in Metamorphoses VII where he describes the plant’s origin and tells of Scythian sorceress Medea who attempted to poison Theseus with aconite. Aconite features also in Metamorphoses VI; Athena sprinkles Arachne with aconite upon which she is transformed into a spider (VI, 129ff.). Ovid also writes aconite was called ‘flintwort’ or ‘stoneherb’ by farmers of the region, because the plant grew on barren rocks. Pliny the Elder also assumes the name aconite was derived from aeonæ = rocks, on which the plant was found to grow. Besides, Cerberus is first mentioned by Hesiod (800-700bc), who describes the dog as fifty-headed and being the offspring of Typhon, the largest and most deadly of all creatures and Father of all Monsters, and the she-viper Echidna, Mother of all Monsters. Hence in Greec mythology Aconite is of monstrous origin.

Aconite is also called hecateis after the goddess Hecate, to whom it is sacred. Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, is associated with shape-shifting, e.g. when called upon as Lycania. In connection with witchcraft aconite is also thought to have been used by Thessalonian witches in flying ointments and by medieval witches, who mixed the seeds into hallucinogenic ointments. Amongst Germanic tribes it is reported to have been used by the Berserkers when they transformed into ‘werewolves’. Aconite is said to cause a sensation on the skin of wearing a fur-coat or feathers and may induce  hallucinations of transformating into different kinds of animals. Indo-European culture holds the name Luppewurz (old German luppi = deathly juice/poison/spell). Similar also Latin lupus = wolf. The Greek byname lycoctonum means wolf-killer, referring to its use in poisoned wolf baits, hence also the English name Wolfsbane.

Dioscurides distinguishes two species, Akoniton lycoctonum is noted to be an anodyne in eye medications, and was used to “kill panthers, wolves, and other wild beasts” (see also Virgil), and Aconitum napellus (monkshood), also poisonous and used to “kill wolves”. (De Materia Medica IV. 77, IV. 78) The name napellus comes from Latin napus = a small turnip.

Pliny the Elder also refers to the herb as ‘plant arsenic‘, and dedicates chapter 2 of his Natural History to the “most prompt of all poisons”, which he claims was also an antidote to scorpion poison. In the same context he mentions the White Hellebore (Veratrum album) as an antagonist of aconite. He goes on to describe the use of aconite and hellebore as pardalianches = pard-strangle.

Being one of the most poisonous herbs native you Europe aconite has also a long history in poison murder. Pliny mentions Calpurnius Bestia, who killed his wifes in sleep by touching their genitalia with his finger, which were smeared with aconite root extracts. According to Pliny aconite was thus also called thelyphonon = female-bane or ‘woman killer’. Aconite brought in contact with the mucuouse menbranes of female genitalia would cause instant death! He assumes yet another name, scorpio, was based on the curved shape of the root resembling a scorpion’s tail.

In Germanic folklore aconite was sacred to Thor, the god of thunderstorms and lightning, as the name Thor’s Hat indicates. In German the plant is commonly called Eisenhut and Sturmhut = helmet, as well as Mönchshut = monk’s hood. Less known German names are Venuskutschen or Venuswagen = venus wagon; quite a contrast, suggesting female and aphrodisiac attributes! however, the names are often simply based on various interpretations of the shape of the flowers. More related to the plant’s poisonous effects are the German names Würgling, indicating death through asphyxiation, and Ziegentod, referring to deaths of goats that accidentally ate of the plant.

Aconite has long been used as an arrow poison in hunting and war. Arrow heads were dressed with aconite as well as the shafts, so that an enemy who drew an arrow from the body of a wounded comrade would be poisoned too. In India aconite was mixed with other poisons and applied to arrowheads, so that the targets would rave mad and poison more people by biting them. Aconite’s use as an early biological war weapon extends also to poisoning the enemy’s water and food resources, e.g. the Romans used it as such. Roman Emperor Claudius died of Aconite poisoning in year 54.

In India aconite is sacred to Shiva, the God of All Poisons. According to legend the essence of all poisons spread from the whirling motion of the Ur-ocean or ocean of milk (samudramathana) when it produced the holy cow. The gods were frightened and ran to Kailash, where Shiva sat meditating, and asked him for help. Shiva took the poison in his hand and drank it. His wife Parvati feared for her husband and choked his throat so that the poison eventually would get stuck and upon which his throat turned blue. Because of this Shiva is also called Nilakantha = blue throat. Through his deed Shiva saved all beings from becoming poisoned. Only a tiny bit of the poison had dripped from his hand which until today flows in the veins of the blue aconite and other poisonous plants. Another version of the story tells of Shiva having turned blue from consuming all the poisons in the world. In his likeness Aghoris consume poisonous Shiva-associated plants (e.g. Aconitum ferox, Cannabis indica, Datura metel, Papaver somniferum) and other poisons (cobra venom, quicksilver, arsenic) in order to experience the divine consciousness of Shiva. Advanced practitioners consume a smoking blend of Cannabis indica and Aconitum ferox (called vatsanabha or bish) root. The Saradatilaka Tantra describes Shiva in His Nilakantha aspect: “He shines like a myriad of rising suns, he wears a shining crescent moon in his long entangled hair. His four arms are adorned with snakes. He has five heads, each with three eyes, he wears a tiger skin and is armed with a trishula.”

Aconite appears in Christian iconography as a symbol of death and it is the symbol for toxicity in European nature. It was a classic in Christian medieval monastery gardens and there exists a fictional account of its use by Christian monks in Gustav Meyrink’s novel, The Cardinal Napellus. The story is about a brotherhood named the ‘Blue Brothers’, who believed that Cardinal Napellus, the founder of their order, had transformed into the very first Aconite plant and all further aconite plants havd derived from him. Aconitum napellus is featured on the order’s coat of arms and the monastery garden is a huge aconite field, planted by neophytes after admission into the order. In the story these neophytes sprinkle the plants with the blood that flows from their scourging wounds. “The symbolism of this ritual of blood baptism lies within the planting of the human soul inside the Garden of Eden and fertilizing the plant’s growth with the blood of men’s desires.” The members of the order are described to be using the plant for inducing hallucinations or gaining higher consciousness: “When the flowers vanished, we would collect the poisonous seeds, which resemble small human hearts and according to the secret doctrine of the order depict the seed of faith, of which is written that it lends the power to shift mountains, and they would eat from it. Like the dreadful poison changes the heart and brings men to the liminal point between death and life, so the essence of faith was meant to transform our blood – to become a miraculous force within the hours of gnawing death torment and ecstasy.” (Meyrink 1984).

Different Aconite Species & Gallery

Monkshood
Aconitum napellus
Native to Western and Central Europe, tall, helmet-shaped, purple-blue flowers, dark green foliage

Chinese Aconite, Fu Zi, Herbst-Eisenhut
Aconitum carmichaelii
Native to East Asia, bright blue flowers, traditionally used in TCM

Indian Aconite, Bish
Aconitum ferox
Native to India, particularly West-Bengale (Darjeeling Hills), flowers of varying color from blue-purple to pale white, yellow or pink; contains large amounts of Pseudoaconitine (nepaline), considered the most poisonous plant in the world

Wolfsbane, Wolfseisenhut
Aconitum lycoctonum
Native to Europe, yellow or white flowers, two subspecies:
1. Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. lycoctonum
2. Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. vulparia, also called Fuchseisenhut in German

Lamarck’s Aconite, Yellow Monkshood, Northern Wolfsbane, Pyrenäen-Eisenhut
Native to Europe (Alps, Carpathia) and Northern Asia, yellow flowers, two sub-species:
1. Aconitum lamarckii
2. Aconitum anthora

Columbian Monkshood, Western Monkshood
Aconitum columbianum
Native to Northamerica, blue flowers

Medicinal & Toxicological

Poisoning: Aconite poisoning is said to cause a feeling of wearing a fur or a feather coat. Smelling on the flowers is irritating to the nasal mucosa, causing them to swell up. The herb in full flower is reported to emit fumes that cause temporary loss of sight. If ingested aconite produces an acrid bitter taste. It is poisonous to goats and swine, but is said to have stimulating effects on horses. Because it makes a horse fiery horse traders would feed their horses aconite prior to offering them for sale.

Touching the leaves or root have been reported to cause symptoms of poisoning. Aconite brought in contact with an open wound on the finger is reported to have caused pain in the whole arm and may effect the entire cardiovascular and respiratory system.

Acute aconitine poisoning causes a tickling and burning sensation followed by paralisation of the tongue and mouth and disabled speach. It may also cause a hallucination of ants crawling all over the fingers, hands and feet, followed by uncontrolled spasms and paralysation of the face muscles and a cold feeling, as if ice water would run through the veins, since aconitin stimulates the body’s low temperature receptors. These symptoms are followed by a decrease of all receptive functions, paralysation of arms and legs, dyspnoe, seeing green, vertigo, ear whistling, trigeminus distress, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and incontinence. Increasing dyspnoe and cardial dysfunctions may ultimately result in death through heart failure and or respiratory failure. Depending on the dose death may set in as fast as within an hour. Aconite does not effect the cerebral functions. The patient may fall into a coma only during the very last stage or remains clear of consciousness until the last second, as in strychnine poisoning.

Treatment is mainly supportive. All patients require close monitoring of blood pressure and cardiac rhythm. The stomach is emptied by tube or a non-depressant emetic. Gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal must happen within 1 hour after ingestion. The major physiological antidote is atropine, which is used to treat the bradycardia. Other drugs used for ventricular arrhythmia include lidocaine, amiodarone, bretylium, flecainide, procainamide and mexiletine. Cardiopulmonary bypass is indicated if the symptoms are refractory to treatment with these drugs. Successful use of charcoal hemoperfusion has been claimed in patients with severe aconite poisoning.

Historical antidotes are atropine and digitalis or strophanthin, injected subcutaneously in maximal dose. Alcohol, strychnine, and warmth have also been employed in the past, but are of course overcome today.

Medicinal Uses: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Aconitum carmichaelii, Fu Zi, is used to treat “coldness”, general debility, and “Yang deficiency”. Used are the root (Tubera Aconiti, Radix Aconiti, Aconiti tuber) and herb (Herba Aconiti, Aconiti herba).

Toxic Dose: 0,2 g cause symptoms of poisoning, 2 mg are said to be lethal. The dried herb is tenable for one year. One report cites skin-contact with the leaves picked with barren hands caused tickling, numbness and effects on the circulatory system. Indian Aghoris smoke the herb in tantric rituals. There are no reports about dose.

All parts of the plant are poisonous. The highest concentration of poison is in the root and seeds.

Other

According to Christian Rätsch the nectar of the flowers may produce a psychoactive honey.

Sources

Wikipedia English, Wikipedia German
Aconitum spp. Information
Pliny the Elder, the Natural History, Book XXVII, 2.2.
Dioscorides, De Materia Medica IV. 77, IV. 78
Hesiod, Theogony
Ovid, Metamophoses VII
Homer, Illiad 8
Plants of Greec Myth
Aconite Poisoning
Aconite in the Encyclopedia Britannica
Christian Rätsch, Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen
Gustav Meyrink, Le Cardinal Napellus

Fotos by Wiebke Rost

Download Info-PDF

Aconite Roots in glass tubes

Finally I could find fitting glass vessels for the remaining Aconite roots! These are tubes with a flat base and a natural cork stopper for sealing. They are 16 cm in height and perfect for herbal fetishes. A seal hand-inked on a cleansed piece of laid paper and info about the Aconite herb is included with each root fetish. – SOLD

Prices: € 10 for the one to the left, € 19 for each of the other two

Shipping: € 5,50 for registered mail international

For ordering write to info@teufelskunst.com

High John the Conqueror is a legendary folk hero of Afro-American traditions. He represents freedom, strength, sovereignity and above all cunning. It is believed that by rubbing the root named after him his spirit can be contacted and petitioned for help in different matters concerning the struggle for a better life, love, wealth and good luck in gambling. The root is said to come from a species of Morning Glory (Ipomoea), either Ipomoea jalapa or Ipomoea purga. They are usually round or egg-shaped, of a dark brown color and have a shrivelled surface (because of this they have been compared to the balls of dark-skinned men). The root plays an important roll in many lines of Afro-American folk magic and often greater value is placed on the shape of such root than on its size or weight. When used in spellwork, the root must be whole and sustained with libations of alcohol, anointed with oils or offered tobacco (as if you would be giving these offerings to the actual folk hero).

The roots offered here come from an established American supplier. I have been thinking long whether to take them into the Teufelskunst store and finally decided yes, they definitely belong here too! Some of these I am making into charms wrapped in red silk, together with Devil’s Shoestring root. They can also be bought single by those who wish to make their own charms or use them for magical oils. Sometimes also a pair of two equal looking roots is used. Above is a photo of all High John the Conqueror roots currently available (prices for single roots, root pairs and vials as given).

For ordering write to info@teufelskunst.com

PS: I am still waiting for the photos of the English Easter Yew Wands. I appologize to those who had already reserved one. Photos may come by the end of the month (when the wands have been resurrected from their graves).

Devil thy name, Trickster at the Crossroads of Midnight
Come forth, Corpse-pale Eidolon of the Osseous Field
Ever-poised in thy Goat-black Cowl that shrouds Mortality,
Master of the Passage ‘twixt Wax & Wane do I seek.
Thirteen times Widders around the Tree do I turn
Here, sheltered ‘neath the boughs of your Faithful Kin:
The Cypress and the Yew, I do lay the Furrow of Mortality
Wherein the Maw of Void makes sweet the promise of Annihilation
And sundry veils rent so rouse the Blessing of Certain Death.

Saviour thy name, Leveller at the Cross of Midday
Convoke here, Golden-toned Christ of the Paradise Found
Ever-steady in meagre Lamb-white Fleece that cloths Eternity,
King of the Pathway of Virture & Vice do I hunt.
Thrice times halved ‘til the 3rd day the loaf do I break
Here, knelt ‘neath the married beams of the Rood:
Transference & Transcendence, I do raise the Ridge of Eternity
Wherein the Gates of Heaven make bitter the dreams of Man
And all sinful debts settled so pay the Boon of Life Eternal.

13 Wands, harvested from 13 old Yew trees on the Midnight leading into Good Friday, under the light of the waning moon. Due payments of libation, bread and blood have been served to the guardian of the ghoulish yet immensely beautiful trees. For three days and nights the bread is being broken to them and their wood prepared. Each wand is then  cleansed in the waters of the sacred Heathen Spring of Avalon. Finally braids taken from the red cloth of the crucifix put out on the Good Friday and the white cloth draped over the cross to symbolise the resurrection on Sunday are bound around them.

The wands are not carved or varnished and can be crafted and shaped further by those who do not have access to this special type of Olde Yew wood from trees, which have been guarding the graves and crossroads of life and death for centuries. There are alltogether 10 wands available for sale:

• 5 wands with a braid of 2 red 1 white – the Wands of Harrowing
• 5 wands with a braid of 2 white 1 red – the Wands of Hallowing

Attached to the end of each wand is also one tail-feather of a Raven, the Prophet of Man and the Oracle of Hades, gathered through a beautiful specimen found during a sojourn in the Forest, a gift from the Sylvan Realm. A satchel of Yew needles and bark will accompany each wand, with a hand-numbered label.

*

The Yew is the Man in Black at the Crossroads, the Patron of the Souls kept in She’ol and also of the Ancestors. It is also the tree of Dark Resurrection and thus sometimes the Man in Black is viewed crucified to a Yew arbor.

The wands are a kind offer by woodwose, wanderer, sorcerer, word cunner and friend Ash Nostro Morg.

Info, pictures and prices will follow after Easter. Only one wand per customer.

Pre-ordering via info@teufelskunst.com

Download and spread

Wooden Boxes, Hand-Branded and varnished

We have expanded our Seed contingent and offer now seeds from over 50 different plants. As a special offer you can now buy a beautiful hand-branded and varnished wooden box containing seed-samples from over 40 plants we currently have in stock. Along with the box you also receive sowing instructions for each herb, illustrated with our unique plant seals. If you think that is just too much you can also get the wooden boxes in smaller size with seed samples from at least 22 different plants.

The same seeds can also be purchased with a sigil-adorned Cardboard-Box. Printed sowing instructions are included here as well.

• Wooden Box with seeds from over 40 plants: 66€ + shipping*
• Wooden Box with seeds from 22 plants: 44€ + shipping*
• Cardboard Box with seeds from 22 plants: 38€ + shipping

*Only few available at a time

For more special offers check our Seeds Collections or view the A-Z list of available seeds including prices on single seed portions.

Order via info@teufelskunst.com

Note: Wooden boxes are currently sold, but new ones are on the way…

Solar Incense

This Incense has been composed during the course of several nights. It contains a blend  of Solar Herbs (a selection of the herbs, spices and flowers pictured above) combined with Frankincense Aden. The herbs have partly been hand-picked from the garden and the wild, were left to dry slowly and have been blended with an equal amount of Frankincense Aden (Boswellia carteri). Burn this incense for Meditation, Centering and Concentration. For best results burn ca. 3-4 teaspoons on hot coals and then air the room thoroughly (for at least 1 hour). Your room will then be filled with a very pleasant scent for several days and you will feel its healing and uplifting effects on your body and mind.

Content: 60 ml

The Incense can be ordered with a Hand-Sewn Cloth Bag with Sun Seal. Comes with short introductions to each herb and info on the Frankincense used.

Price per portion (without cloth bag): €6 + shipping
Price including cloth bag with Gold Seal: €15 + shipping
NEW – with Info Booklet: + €1

- CURRENTLY SOULD OUT (more is on the way)

Custom-Made Incense Blends & Powders

We will mix you almost any Incense Blend or Powder customized for your needs, in large and small quantities. May it be incense for personal use at home, incense pouches to sell along with a publication of yours or large incense amounts needed for a performance. We will assist you.

The prices for our services will always stay fair and reasonable. However, you must consider that we too have costs and it takes time to carefully compose an incense that is later supposed to actually add the right vibrations to your ritual or meditation. In addition we care about presentation. You can have your incense delivered to you in a simple labeled plastic bag, hand-sewn and marked cloth bag, box or jar.

Consider always that shipping costs will be influenced by weight and size. Jars or glass vessels weigh more, must be packed extra-safe and take more space than a flat bag or box.

View also the A-Z list of all herbs, resins and spices we currently have available. If anything you are looking for is not listed there just ask!

For ordering write to info@teufelskunst.com

QUTUB, by Andrew D. Chumbley, Xoanon Publishing, Second Edition
Price: €200 + Shipping

LIBER FALXIFER I, Leatherbound Edition, Limited to 30 Copies
This copy has a minor flaw on its cover, which arose during the manufacturing. It does not affect the value or inside content of the book, but due to this we offer it now for a much lower price than what is charged for instance on Ebay.
Price: £1200 (ca. €1450) + Shipping SOLD

FALCIFER, Lord of Darkness – The Deofel Quartet: Vol. I (manuscript), by Order of Nine Angles
Price: €100 €80 + Shipping

Contact info@teufelskunst.com

LIBER FALXIFER I, Leatherbound Edition, Limited to 30 Copies
This copy has a minor flaw on its cover, which arose during the manufacturing. It does not affect the value or inside content of the book, but due to this we offer it now for a much lower price than what is charged for instance on Ebay.
Price: £1200 (ca. €1450) + Shipping   – SOLD

   
FALCIFER, Lord of Darkness – The Deofel Quartet: Vol. I (manuscript)
by The Order of Nine Angles
Price: €100 €80 + Shipping

Contact info@teufelskunst.com

More in our Literature section

CM VÆNVS OBSCVRA

Artist & Occultist

First Part

I have gotten in touch with CM about a year ago and since then we have been talking randomly in messages exchanged via Facebook, traded art-prints for seeds and lastly figured it would be time for an interview.

In our conversation beside the art two topics are of major concern to him: one are his plants and the other his cat. Whereby the cat is of the greatest importance and he often expresses the fear his cat could suffer accidental poisoning via the venific green. So there we have the first of a row of conflicts my interview-partner has to deal with. But let us start with the most important thing first…

XA: How is your cat doing?

CM: Hi! A good question to start with! The cat is doing fine, thank you! Well, first of all, it’s not only my cat, it’s my girlfriend’s cat. It became mine also after I moved in at her place. Cats do what they do best and that is living their lives to the maximum, living off us while having fun. I think that the cat is the perfect animal. I wish my human condition could be replaced by the cat condition.

I don’t worry about her anymore, concerning the plants. Some of the poisonous plants grew already and she’s not interested. I was just freaked out when I saw her nibbling Cayenne leaves and such but now, after she has her pot with fresh sprouted wheat and other grains, the problem is solved.

XA: And how are your plants doing?

CM: The plants are doing well, most of them. I’m happy that the Yauhtli sprouted and that I got rid of those damn mites and the fungus. They were destroying my roses and the mint. After treating them, they recovered.

Some of them though, were not so fortunate. Because I had no experience with plant diseases and pests, I lost my Daturas to the mites. Luckily, I have a backup and that is all the different variety of Datura seeds from TEUFELSKUNST. Then, after getting rid of this problem, I over-watered them and the roots rotted away. I guess you learn much from plants. Not only as a matter of Biology and wortcunning but they can be a good analogy for the situations you deal with in life. You must learn when to sow the seeds at the right time. Too much water or too little can ruin your harvest. And speaking of harvest, one must always gather it’s fruits. That’s the purpose, isn’t it?

I’m currently gathering my small harvest from the balcony. Sage, lemon-balm, mint, hot chili peppers, et cetera. The tobacco seems to be late. This stresses me a bit.

Teufelskunst Seed Set

XA: I have to agree there and am glad to hear. Now, would you also tell me how you are doing these days? I mean since you temporarily deleted your Facebook from one day to another and declared your art history… what happened?

CM: I just got sick and tired of this whole Facebook business. All these social networks and this internet life are so useless most of the time. I believe that internet must be used for communication and exchanging ideas, thoughts, music, artwork and alike with people that matter to you or to be updated on certain things you are interested in, in my case arts and music. And especially with Facebook, most of the things there are bullshit. 90% of it is bullshit. And this bullshit is wasting my time. I reactivated my account soon after that because it’s a good way to promote my work. MySpace was a lot better back then.

That was Facebook. And about the blogs, well, after a long period of stagnation, especially with HATRED ENGINE GRAPHICS, I just got mad. HATRED ENGINE GRAPHICS is my other artistic project that is dealing with Metal and Punk themes but in the same time dealing with rip-offs and a bunch of assholes. And wanting to save my sanity I decided to stop these artistic manifestations. To stop them, not destroy them. This was a temporary decision. Both HATRED ENGINE GRAPICS and VÆNVS OBSCVRA are alive and well.

vaenvs-obscvra.blogspot.ro

XA: But are you not an artsy-fartsy drama-queen?

CM: Artsy-fartsy? No, not at all. I rarely see myself as an artistic person whatsoever, let alone artsy-farsty. It happens rarely when I get caught up discussing about art with a handful of people. I am still studying for my Masters Degree so I am unfortunately in contact with a lot of fartsy people that I hate so much. They are only fartsy and less artsy.
Drama-queen? I am the Drama King! So much hate and anger. That’s how I am. It’s all fueled by external factors, such as artsy-fartsy people. Don’t get me wrong here. I have nothing against people who are eccentric or whatever they want to be. Everybody is allowed to do whatever they want but after bumping into the fartsy people I talk about, you would want to stone them to death also.

XA: Well, but lets us rather talk about your art now. Why do you do art? Who inspires you?

CM: Wow! This is a tough question. Why do I do art? I don’t know if I can answer this question, not that I don’t want to but I don’t think I can. Maybe you will find the answers to this one in the same answer I will give you about who inspires me. But I should start with what inspires me. Ever since my early childhood I had some very powerful feelings and experiences. Nature had a strong influence on me. Loved it. Loved the woods, rivers and lakes, gardens, the animal and plant kingdoms. I still do! I believe that Nature is Satan’s Church. A place where you can learn much, where you can learn to see the Truth or maybe where you don’t see the Truth but where all the Illusions slowly dissolve. The wild is a rough place, violent and unforgiving and in the same time calm and peaceful. It is alive and sincere, not like human nature and it’s society that is a copied, cyclic pattern which is rotten and filthy.

I created since my early age for the same reason I create now – to see my own thoughts and feelings in front of my eyes, that come from an unknown source. Most of my artistic manifestations have no exterior influences. They just come from my Subconscious. Basically, most of the things I materialize on paper are done for my own sake. I don’t do this for anybody else. I can’t explain this mechanism. It’s probably working in the same way a bird is building it’s nest.

The external factors, like music and books contributed only in small amounts and mostly on the way I work, the techniques and not the concept itself. And other external factors are a few artists. One of my favorites is THEODOR KITTELSEN. His work is amazing! I found out, after all these years that we were born on the same day. A strange coincidence from an artist that is my number 1, no?

Another favorite of mine is DENIS FORKAS KOSTROMITIN. He was not an influence, because I discovered him recently but I can surely identify myself in his artworks. This man has a special Spirit!

Border by CM Vaenvs Obscvra, Poetry by Ash Nostro Morg

XA: What have been your experiences thus far when doing artwork for others, e.g. bands? How do you deal with the situation if someone tries to rip you off?

CM: I had nice experiences with bands and people I have worked with/for. The guys from TRIAL (Sweden) are really cool people and I enjoyed the collaboration. I will always be ready for them. Another memorable person to work with was JEREMY CHRISTNER from LUX FEROUS PRESS. His payment for my art was his art – Knowledge. This is what I enjoy working for rather than money that isn’t much anyway but it seems that even that is a lot for some. Many think that art comes for free and that my services are something they can abuse.

I did logos, full front cover designs and many more for bands that in the end refused to pay. I had some situations that I had to wait for their payment for a year after doing them a logo, front cover and back cover for almost nothing. And they are not the only ones. What I can do in these cases is denying them the right to use my artwork and after that hopefully someone else will use it. Check out my blogs and you can read more about these cases there. The only thing I regret is that I can’t send my fists through my emails to these bastards. So, this is one of the reasons I wanted to stop my artistic projects. But, no! I won’t give up!

Design for Lux Ferrous Press

XA: Is your latest work, “As Wolves among sheep we have wandered”, a pun on the black metal scene? And what’s next after the wolf on top of evolution?

CM: “As Wolves Among Sheep We Have Wandered” has nothing to do with Black Metal. It is something more profound based on change that a person is going through in his life. Be it social or spiritual. The wolf is a well known symbol, an archetype, so is the sheep. Nothing comes after the wolf. I only posted this artwork as some sort of a preview of it. After it will be uploaded in HD and then broken down to individual pieces the message will be clearer.

XA: I like the style of As Wolves or your Rune Totems. There is a certain clarity in those, a fine combination of graphite drawing, ink and symbolic color use. In the first Totem picture ice melts with fire within the Thurs-rune. In the second the same rune is colored fiery red, flames arise from a broken skull and a sword burns with the fire of Múspell. Will the entire series be about the Thurs and can you tell a bit more about the context of these Totem drawings?

CM: The colors used there are the symbols of fire and ice, yes. In the first “Rune Totem” design I wanted to represent the forming of the Giant Ymir, when the ice of Nifelheim met the fires of Múspell. Both of them were the lands of the Thurs – fire Thurs and ice Thurs. Also, in the same picture the death of mankind is represented by the inverted Mannaz runes.

The second “Rune Totem” design is also about the Thurs, but this time it’s Eggther in particular. The giant who joyfully sings on his own burial mound, knowing the coming of the inevitable Death of all things.

The whole series will be about the Thurs or other dark gods from the Germanic traditions. Although only 2 of them are finished, 5 more will be done and the series will be complete.

Rune Totem II

XA: You also sent me prints of the DRACO LOQVITVR series, which consists of a number of black and white illustrations inspired by the Demonic entities of the Goetia and the bone chapel of Kutna Hora, combining demon seal with realistic drawings of bones. Apart from looking decorative and being a nice addition to any wall, is there something more to these or do they really just ‘speak for themselves’?

CM: I don’t think that the “DRACO LOQVITVR” series would look nice just on any wall. The subject is dealing with the occult, the Divine. I bet that there would be a lot of people that wouldn’t hang such things on their walls and after telling them that the designs are about Death, Demons, blasphemy, et cetera, they wouldn’t want to hear another thing about them. Same happened to my teachers from the university. They were anything but excited when they examined them. And that’s what I wanted to achieve in the first place. These weren’t meant to be appreciated by anyone, just by a handful of people. I never liked or believed in art that was for everybody or for the masses. Artwork should upset the majority of people. It should be irritating. Yes, it is inspired by the Goetia and so am I. It is so fascinating and strong!

Just as this feeling touched me when I created DRACO LOQVITVR, this energy that was raw, unaltered by thought, this is how I would like the viewer to experience them. I guess they speak for themselves and nothing more needs to be said.

(Here I get interrupted and have to take care of orders…)

Second Part

XA: Apologies!

CM: No problem! I think it’s good that a person is busy and has lots to do. This is my opinion, otherwise, having nothing to do and no schedule will make life boring and senseless. At least this is how I am.

XA: Thanks for your understanding! Now we have talked of art-schools and the way that teachers and normal people would look upon your work. You say art must be upsetting to the majority of people. However there is a growing amount of ‘dark artists’ out there and the internet has become a prolific place for all sorts of more or less interesting and/or provocative works called ‘art’. In addition art seems to be flourishing in a way the world has not seen before. There are millions of artists and thousands of them are pretty damn good at drawing or painting etc. Is that something that you care about and how do you set yourself apart from those?

CM: I think that art must be upsetting for most people just as music should be. It’s like MTV versus the Underground scene. That music circus, that garbage is for the majority, the herd. The Underground is for a select few who appreciate and truly cherish and polish those jewels. Or another example – tourism. Most people visiting a country will want to see the same old cheesy places but, a passionate traveler will chose the best places that are filth free, more organic and silent. They want a taste of culture. I believe it’s the same with art. Art is not for everybody. It’s never meant to be like that. I believe it must be like a punch in the face or a cold shower sometimes. I prefer to see the work of a war photographer than Communist influenced “art” like “Mother with her child” or “Still life with flowers”, if you know what I mean…

I honestly don’t care much about what is happening in this category. If there is something worthy, it will catch my attention. I don’t want to point fingers or to criticize because I believe that those who are really passionate about art, be it “dark” or not, will eventually get their reward for what they did. I believe in hard work and passion and that is what sets one from another apart.

XA: On the other hand some galleries and art collectors seem to foster old hands and many talented youths may never be able to pursue an art career. E.g. I heard of Berlin galleries not acquiring new work because they rather rely on the works of already established artists, favoring known over unknown names. How is it in Romania?

CM: I am so glad that you asked this question! In Romania it’s the same. The answer is in the question you asked here. I had my exhibition not long ago and guess how many of my teachers showed up? None! And because of these old farts the youth have no chance. Do you know what they sell in those art galleries of theirs? Garbage! Imagine, a simple, plain crucifix for an absurd price. Why? Because it has the brand of the place and the artist?! This disgusts me. Can’t believe that Berlin has the same problem also!

Why is a teacher considering his student competition? Shouldn’t they be proud of their learners achievements?

XA: Hence it is nice to see photos from your recent exhibition on your blog! Perhaps this is a sign that young talents like yourself will know to help themselves and make old ones soon look even older… Which brings us to the end of this interview and the question, what is next?

CM: It is wonderful! I am so happy and satisfied! All I have to say for those young talents is that they should never ever give up. Hard work is the best solution for everything. And please support each other! What is next? I don’t know but, I can tell you that the blood and the sweat is the way to go.

XA: In any case I wish you the best of luck and success! Last question, considering the many possibilities in this digital age, do you still draw by hand or what techniques do you use for creating your images?

CM: Thank you! Everything I draw is ink or graphite. I rarely use Photoshop. And especially the bones, they are 100% ink.

XA: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and greetings to Romania…

CM: Thank you also! It’s been a pleasure and thanks for this opportunity! May you harvest the Fruits from the Tree and let the others gather the rotten ones from the ground!

Interview given to Teufelskunst, September/October 2012

Answers and pictures © CM Vaenvs Obscvra. All rights reserved.

“The Hemlock is certainly an ophidian sukkubi: coiling around the senses and fogging all reason: a deadly naiad who entices you and whose kiss tightens itself around you to constrict your breath and steal your life away. A beautiful and terrible Queen.”

To the initiated Poison Hemlock is on the other hand also a strong ally in the battle against all archonic suppression. The above roots are availabe for purchase. Prices on demand.

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Also available are recently harvested roots of Aconite. The roots are 7-13 cm in length, straight, curled and some forked, for making talismans or usage in powders and potions. Price varies from 5-15 €, depending on root size and shape.

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Gallow’s Oak for crafting: fine pieces of mossy-grown Gallow’s Oak wood to be crafted into  talismans. The wood is part of a trade with an English practitioner. More to be revealed about this later…

Further fresh Male Fern Root, Mandrake Talismans, Seeds of Poison Hemlock, Mandrake and Poppy and some anorganic ingredients such as Sulfur and Iron Oxide can now also be bought from us.

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Latest additions to our Fetish section: Green, Green/Black, Aged Bone and Bloodred Skull-Candles

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Coming up next: Interview with Occult Artist VÆNVS OBSCVRA

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Teufelskunst Fetish-Candles and Talismans in ‘action’:

Special Thanks to Cyril Helnwein for the terrific pic!

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Contact: info@teufelskunst.de