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

by Alan Kilpatrick

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.

178 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Courtney Miller]

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]

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

[Jewel Carrie Parker]

Excellent book on the differences between witches and conjurers in Cherokee culture!