Seven Crossroads of Night: Quimbanda in Theory and Practice

In Seven Crossroads of Night, Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold sets forth the foundation for Quimbanda in theory and practice, presenting a blueprint for the themes that generate the variety of ways Quimbanda can be approached. 

Quimbanda is a Brazilian cult of sorcery that has been preserved in different modalities – either as a secret cult, a necromantic cult, or as an open, religious tradition. Formed of indigenous, African, and European streams of wisdom and sorcery, this unique cult of Exu and Pomba Gira is safeguarded by these amazing entities in diverse ways across Brazil. Remaining strong in their own power, these unique entities represent the mystery of the crossroad, the voice of the graveyard, and the force of life that generates endurance, direction, and honour through the lessons given from life itself and the ancestors.   

Though Quimbanda has flourished in the world during the last decade, with the flow and spread of the cult of Exu and Pomba Gira comes questions, misinformation, and confusion along with the fertile ground for its growth. In such a landscape it is good to have waymarks to follow and a map which reveals the lay of the land in the world of these powerful spirits. Frisvold, a resident of Brazil since 2003 who has dedicated the last three decades in study and initiation of cults of sorcery, wisdom, and cunning craft guides us though the intricacies of Quimbanda, offering a simple and effective guide to work with Exu and Pomba Gira.

The sewn bound hardcover edition is printed on 90gsm Munken Premium white paper, with printed Spanish marbled endpapers and covered in Windsor Bishop black cloth with red gloss foiling on cover and spine and black head and tail bands.

CONTENTS

Exu Welcomes All
by Humberto Maggi
Chapter 1: The Origin of Quimbanda
Chapter 2: True Quimbanda
Chapter 3: On the ‘Fundamento de Quimbanda’
Chapter 4: On Hierarchies
Chapter 5: The Syntax of Quimbanda
Chapter 6: Quimbanda Spirits     
Chapter 7: On Possessions
Chapter 8: A Quimbanda Cosmology
Chapter 9: How to Understand Exu
Chapter 10: How to Understand Pomba Gira
Chapter 11: The Realm of Quimbanda
Chapter 12: The House of Exu
Chapter 13: Working Macumba
Chapter 14: To Bind Desire
Chapter 15: Murderous Sorcery
Chapter 16: Works for Gain and Money
Chapter 17: The Fat Evil Eye
Chapter 18: Quimbanda and Healing
Chapter 19: Spirit Houses
Chapter 20: Living Quimbanda
Chapter 21: Calunga
Appendix I: Approaching the Entity
Appendix II: The Kingdoms of Quimbanda
Bibliography

Seven Crossroads of Night: Quimbanda in Theory and Practice
Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold
978-1-914166-13-6 (Hardback)
229mm x 152mm
978-1-914166-14-3 (Paperback)
229mm x 152mm
978-1-914166-16-7 (Epub)
204 pages
Published May 2023.