The Western Gate

The Craft of Tubal Cain
Kenneth Johnson
Crossed Crow Books

Header Illustration~ Allegory of Music and TubalCain -Andrea di Bonaiuto da Firenze (c. 1343 – 1377)

The emphasis on personal growth as determined by “Cultis Sabbati” , I reference Andrew Chumbley, lay in personal Gnosis, the unique and personal path one creates and the self sovereignty, for want of a better word, of ones own station. Subsequently Cultus Sabbati created their grimoires telling everyone how to perform etc. What they’re saying is, Be Free, and here’s the book of ‘rules’ to follow to be so. Maybe I’m wrong, I don’t trust any organisation/coven/society, likewise, I don’t trust myself limited by my own prejudgement and experience. The clan of Tubal Cain, likewise promoted self gnosis… and say they are of a forgotten and aged witchcraft et al….. So don’t trust this review, or any opinion.

In light of the forthcoming book by Shani Oates ~ Tubelo’s Forge which casts light on the Clan of Tubal cain and the whole of Robert Cochrane’s Gnosis/Praxis and misdemeanours I bought this book, as background source. Mostly, I must add with apologies, because like anyone who writes books from this path viz. “Traditional Witchcraft” as espoused by CofTC, their writings, in my lowbrow defence, are so perfumed with rich valance and unnecessary weighty scholarship that, for the reader who is not a masochist the whole text becomes abstruse to the point of disinterest. I’ve even bored myself writing that sentence.
In another world and to quote my peers and loves, Never Mind the Bollocks, here’s the “(insert content- without the bollocks)”.
Thus! !…. I bought this book beforehand, because its like those Lleweyn – How to books. Its easy, a browse, a flick and nothing to tax the already cats cradle of neurons in the brain. It would be a foundation somewhat, a synopsis no less.
I hoped this book would serve as an introduction, and another outlook to Robert Cochrane and the CofTC theme, who in contemporary circles keep using the term, ‘Traditional Witchcraft’ as applicable to them. Which annoys me. What is tradition on the Isle of Skye may not be the same in Essex, or Devon, Or the landscape forged in my dreams and thus ‘astral wanderings’> I fully accept the notion to craft the shoe for the way your path has fallen. But one clog does not fit all. And those who speak in such a way that us plebs and proles should be expected to doff our cap and be in awe are little more than… clever clogs in my mind. And, we should at best mock them, or to counter the intellectual mastery of a dictionary by physical reciprocity -spit on them. Ah… I’ve degenerated into vile mudslinging now. Apologies.
Robert Cochrane, working class, from West London (Like the Sex Pistols, … I knew there was a link between all this punk imagery.) He, Robert from Hammersmith ! was, allegedly a blacksmith, of course he was, and thus, his personal path would be centred around that Craft, and who better than the earliest mention of a Blacksmith in history/fable/legend~ Tubal-Cain. Tubal Cain from the middle East. Not Wayland Smithy~ from the English poem Waldere, viz Völundr. or indeed Gofannon, nor indeed Vivianne/Nimue of the Lake… for who crafted Excalibur? No these traditional and local luminaries would not do, Nor from ‘down the straight Roman road‘ ~Vulcan who crafted the chariot that would reach the sun, but didn’t abuse it, unlike Phaeton who stole it and was subsequently blasted into a billion pieces. No ! Good ol’ working class local Rob, clothed himself with the story of Tubal Cain. Well as a metaphor you understand. Tubal Cain, …from the middle east became the figurehead for, ahem, Traditional Witchcraft.
But, back to this book, !~ ‘The Craft of Tubal Cain’ gives a potted history and lots of side salads of parallel and bolted on views. One minute we read of The Oak King and then perhaps it will throw in Hecate, and a sprinkling askewed Wiccanry and some seasoning of rebellion let’s mention that other Cain~ (Tubal Cains ancestor) ! who killed Abel. Him, Cain. Oh, And imply, likewise, a descendance from he that was expelled, outcast and pariahed to all witches et al. I am being deliberately provocative, poking the wasp nest.
Hold on a minute ! … and to belittle myself and my argument, there is not a single traveller on this path who has not in the same manner conjured a list of ingredients to add to their bubbling cauldron pot. Within all these ideas, there is a theme, a common archetype being the imagery. This is never really made clear, too many advocates of CofTC want to wield their pen to write with posturing flair I beg to offer, the ideas become like a jigsaw, there can never be a common theme in ‘traditional’ witchcraft because we are not all common.
The arte true and the grimoire of Traditional Witchcraft is thus;-
A Blank Book, a pen, now you fill in the rest by any means or ways. By art, poetry, experience as a diary, thoughts, dreams, etc.
Even Monkeys have been shown that they know the properties of local plants that they need to self-heal, to bring up bad food, to stop bleeding etc, they don’t need to know what plants on the other side of the world work equally well. It’s because it’s local, and therefore traditional.
Anyway, I digress and wayfare, and am a hypocrit as I too have dabbled and delved into all manner of comparative esoteria, I still do, we all do, but we are free travellers and not allied nor bound by the shackles of a brethren and its mysterious and veiled dogma.
How to remember to dreams, sigils and runes, meditation, titbits of information included within the book, brief, outlines and much that you’ve probably read elsewhere in more detail, which makes me yearn, YES !!! here comes the rub, for more insight, more info, more detailed examination from the likes of hey, Shani Oates.

Do we actually get to understand the Clan of Tubal CAin, or Robert Cochrane in this book? not really. And here’s the irony. Cochrane never wrote down his rituals, he believed in the praxis as being taught orally. Like the Druids. I and others, hereditary and “Traditional~LOCAL” wholeheartedly agree.
Everything therefore handed down and now being written regarding this work is third hand or at worse, mercenary from his followers ( how can you be called a follower if you do not heed the direction of the shepherd?)
Kenneth Johnson’s book is ok, though not as good as say, The Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel Jackson. It certainly isn’t even fit to be an introduction alongside the grimoires;- Azoetia and The Dragon Book Of Essex, which despite my finger poking, mocking and ridiculous posturing of inverted snobbery~ I’m a cockney geezer an we don’t talk like that mate, So Fuk ’em, are essential reading. Even from the point of view of curiosity.
I’m not sure I actually want to know about The clan of Tubal CAin now, but am sure the forthcoming Tubelo’s Forge by Shani Oates ~ Anathema Press may prick my curiosity again, albeit in the same manner as speculative wizardry and imagining what the Druids would do. But Robert Cochrane was an operative Blacksmith ~ He forged a wonderful shoe for others to follow, and we can but pretend and emulate.

Painting in text: TubalCain by James Jacques Joseph Tissot 18336-1902