"When the essence of the shadows and darkness empowers you, yet you don't feel evil, you are good-dark," writes Konstantinos (Vampires; Summoning Spirits), as he calls believers to the practice of Nocturnal Witchcraft. Konstantinos writes for people primarily within the Wiccan tradition who feel at home with the night and lunar energies. He reiterates throughout this manual, however, that to draw one's strength from the energies of the night is not at all the same as intending to do dark deeds. In fact, this guidebook might be regarded as a fundamental Wiccan primer save for the fact that Konstantinos turns to night-based rituals and primarily, but not exclusively, to the pagan pantheons of Egypt, Greece and Sumeria to harness good human desires to the yoke of such deities as Hypnos (Night Personified), Pasht (Dark Moon), Nanna (Full Moon), Kali (Protection), Persephone (Descent and Rebirth) and Annubis (Underworld and Death). His ceremonial instructions are clearly described, but the book's chief flaw is that readers must recognize themselves as "good-dark." They are imprecisely beckoned with not much more to go on than "Do you dress in black? Favor silver jewelry? Does being surrounded by the shadows, by the essence of the night, appeal to you?" For those readers self-identified with the night—whatever that means—his text may offer just the words they have been waiting for; others will find it as obscure as its subject matter. (Feb.)
