Bastiaan van Rijn is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. His current project focuses on the connections between spiritual tourism and alternative history. Before that, he wrote on the various ways in which Western individuals have tried to scientifically prove life after death since the late eighteenth century. His book, Afterlife Research, appears later this year.

Sarah and Bas have both been previous guests on the platform, Sarah in a roundtable discussion with Dr. Cavan McLaughin on her research into Reality Shifting, and Bas in E 43 about Mesmerism and Afterlife Research. They’ve joined me this time together to discuss their joint article, “Understanding Reality Shifting as a New Online-based Spiritual Practice.”


In Part One of this episode, we’re exploring the fascinating world of Reality Shifting—a practice where individuals use ‘scripting’ and intention to move their consciousness to a Desired Reality. But this isn't just about internet subcultures; it’s also an examination and critique of our current reality and how we view what is Real vs what is Fiction. We discuss how Shifting acts, not as escapism, but as a form of serious play, where personal narratives create new facts in an era of 'fake news' and 'deep fakes'.

PROGRAM NOTES:

Understanding Reality Shifting as a New Online-based Spiritual Practice
Intentional Transformative Experiences...

IDENTITY AND BELIEF An Analysis of the Otherkin Subculture


Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea
 

As a thank you for your incredible support, this interview is being released as a free bonus episode for both my dedicated Patreon members as well as my YouTube community. Happy Yule!

In this insightful conversation, I sat down with Rufus Harrington, a psychologist and long-standing practitioner of the craft, who currently serves as a trustee for the Doreen Valiente Foundation.

This interview traces the life and spiritual impact of the woman widely known as the "Mother of Modern Witchcraft." We begin by exploring Rufus’s own journey into Wicca and how his professional background in psychology provides a unique lens through which he views the evolution of the pagan community.

The Heart of the Conversation: Who was Doreen Valiente? We dive into a biography of this pivotal figure, moving beyond her titles to understand her as a poet, a researcher, and a spiritual revolutionary.

The Gardnerian Connection: Rufus distinguishes Valiente’s contributions from those of her contemporary, Gerald Gardner, highlighting how her poetic voice and ethical framework shaped the Craft as we know it today.

The Foundation’s Mission: Rufus discusses the vital work of preserving sacred artifacts, rare writings, and the personal legacy of a woman who sought to bring the magic of the old world into the modern era.

Spirituality in Practice: From the "Charge of the Goddess" to her scholarly research, we discuss the enduring resonance of Valiente's work and why it remains "alive" for practitioners in the 21st century.

Whether you are a long-time practitioner or simply curious about the history of modern spirituality, this interview offers a deep dive into the stewardship of a legacy. Rufus shares personal reflections on his role as a trustee and offers guidance on where seekers can find authentic resources to further their own studies.

PROGRAM NOTES
Home | Doreen Valiente
Books by Doreen Valiente (Author of Natural Magic)
Natural Magic: Valiente, Doreen: 8601404398032: Amazon.com: Books
THE ATLANTIS BOOKSHOP | The living history of magic
Home - Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
Lifting the Veil: A Witches' Guide to Trance-Prophesy, Drawing Down the Moon and Ecstatic Ritual: Farrar, Janet, Bone, Gavin: 9780719831621: Amazon.com: Books
What Witches Do: A Modern Coven Revealed: Farrar, Stewart: 9780719831539: Amazon.com: Books
Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches: The Founding Book of Modern Witchcraft, Containing History, Traditions, Dianic Goddesses and Folklore of Wicca: Leland, Charles Godfrey: 9781985818026: Amazon.com: Books
High Magic's Aid - Kindle edition by Gardner, Gerald . Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Books by Vivianne Crowley (Author of Wicca)
Books by Patricia Crowther (Author of Lid Off the Cauldron)
John Belham-Payne Founder of the Centre For Pagan Studies – Centre For Pagan Studies
John Belham-Payne – Gardnerian Wicca

Music & End Production: Stephanie Shea

This month’s guest is author Graham St. John, who joined me to discuss his new book, Strange Attractor: The Hallucinatory Life of Terence McKenna.

Terence McKenna remains one of the most enigmatic voices of the psychedelic counterculture—equal parts philosopher, performer, and visionary. In this episode, we explore McKenna’s mythopoetic “stoned ape” theory, his radical take on shamanism, the ‘teacher’ Mushroom that leads one to the ‘indwelling of the Goddess’, the mysteries of DMT and the “machine elves,” and his controversial Timewave Zero vision of history and hyperspace that embraced the I Ching and the Mayan calendar ‘2012 phenomenon.’

Beyond psychedelics, McKenna was also fascinated with alchemy and Gnosticism, and while figures like Crowley, John Dee, and Gurdjieff were not embraced by McKenna, Graham nevertheless calls him a “psychedelic occultist”—a thinker whose visions of transformation resonate with centuries of esoteric tradition, even if McKenna probably would have resisted the label. Along the way, we unpack the tension between his cult of personality and his desire for academic legitimacy, and consider the legacy he left for today’s psychedelic and occult communities.

Unfortunately, I experienced some technical difficulties with my podcasting equipment, and the sound quality is not up to the normal standard. Luckily, my brother Daniel, who does the editing for the podcasts, was able to work his engineering magic and was able to salvage the file and clean up the audio the best he could. I hope this isn’t too distracting and that you’ll enjoy this discussion!

PROGRAM NOTES:

Find Graham St. John:

Graham St John, anthropologist, cultural historian and author. Researcher of EDM cultures, Burning Man, psychedelics, biographer of Terence McKenna. Founder of Dancecult journal. Edgecentral

Publications | Edgecentral
Strange Attractor

Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

My guest this month is Dr. Bastiaan van Rijn.

Bastiaan is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. During his PhD, he has investigated how practitioners of different movements in the nineteenth century tried to scientifically prove life after death exists. The outcome of this project is the book Afterlife Research (forthcoming), as well as several open-access articles. Beside this, he is also interested in playful approaches to religion and divination in the contemporary West. His newest project centers on spiritual tourism.

This interview takes us into the fascinating world of Mesmerism—also known as animal magnetism—and its enduring influence on the boundaries between science, mysticism, and spiritual inquiry. Bastiaan gives a brief bio of Franz Anton Mesmer, who in the late 18th century proposed that an invisible fluid flowed through all living beings, capable of healing and revealing hidden truths. Though controversial and dismissed by many, Mesmer’s ideas sparked a lineage of thought that continues to shape contemporary conversations about consciousness, healing, and the legitimacy of scientific inquiry.

We discuss how Mesmerism blended science and mysticism, influenced public perception, and laid the groundwork for practices ranging from hypnotism and New Thought to modern-day energetic healing. Bastiaan’s own research picks up this thread, tracing how the experimental impulse to make the invisible visible evolved into afterlife studies, somnambulism, and psychical research.

From there, we dive into Bastiaan’s dissertation, which examines the emergence of a “scientific culture” in afterlife research—one grappling with empirical inaccessibility, unreliable intermediaries, and skeptical resistance. Through case studies of three spiritual animal magnetizers, Bastiaan uncovers how different strategies were used to stabilize claims and navigate the tension between belief and method.

Ultimately, this conversation invites us to rethink what counts as scientific, Bastiaan invites us to consider not just what these researchers claimed to find, but how they tried to find it, as well as how experimental practices in esoteric and spiritual domains contribute to broader dialogues about religion, and the unseen dimensions of human experience.

What emerges is a rich, transhistorical culture of inquiry—one that challenges our assumptions about science, religion, and the boundaries of legitimate knowledge.

PROGRAM NOTES

Find Bastiaan:
Bastiaan Benjamin Van Rijn - University of Fribourg
Bastiaan van Rijn | LinkedIn
Instagram

ResearchGate – all research
[PhD Diss.] The Experimental Culture of Afterlife Research: Attempts by Spiritual Animal Magnetizers to Prove Life after Death | Request PDF
(PDF) Chapter 9 Building a Typology for Intentional Transformative Experiences: Louis- Alphonse Cahagnet’s Experiments with Magnetic Somnambulism and Hashish
Bastiaan van Rijn (0000-0003-4247-9198) - ORCID

Other Resources:
1784: The Marquis de Puységur and the psychological turn in the west - PubMed

The seeress of Prevorst; being revelations concerning the inner-life of man, and the inter-diffusion of a world of spirits in the one we inhabit : Kerner, Justinus Andreas Christian, 1786-1862 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Investigations of psychic/spiritual phenomena in the nineteenth century: somnambulism and spiritualism, 1811-1860

A Republic of Mind and Spirit – Wonderful history of Metaphysics in the USA

🕯️ MESMER 🕯️ (1994) Watch FULL MOVIE subtitled in English (ALAN RICKMAN, AMANDA OOMS)

 

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

My guest this month is Dr. Markus Davidsen.

Markus Altena Davidsen is university lecturer in the sociology of religion at Leiden University, the Netherlands. His work on fiction-based religion includes his PhD dissertation “The Spiritual Tolkien Milieu” (2014, cum laude), several articles on Tolkien spirituality and Star Wars-based Jediism, and the edited book Narrative and Belief: The Religious Affordance of Supernatural Fiction (Routledge, 2018). His other research interests include method, theory and research history of the study of religion and religion education. Currently, he is developing a new curriculum and didactical approach for the school subject worldview and religion in Dutch secondary education.

In this episode, Markus discusses the concept of fiction-based religion- a term he coined to describe spiritual movements rooted in fictional narratives like Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. He distinguishes fiction-based religions (FBRs) from traditional religions by highlighting their lack of historical truth claims and their embrace of narrative as a source of spiritual authority.

Markus traces the roots of FBRs to earlier movements like Rosicrucianism, noting how mythic storytelling has long served as a vehicle for spiritual exploration. He shares insights from his research into Jediism and Tolkien-inspired spirituality, examining how these communities construct rituals, ethics, and cosmologies from fictional texts.

The conversation also explores the motivations behind FBR engagement, from identity formation to aesthetic and existential meaning.

Drawing on Tanya Luhrmann’s concept of interpretive drift, Markus reflects on how belief can evolve through practice, suggesting that ritual and engagement may precede conviction.

Regarding Huizinga’s theory of Homo Ludens, Markus highlights the three kinds of human practices – work, play, and ritual, where play and ritual seem on the surface to be similar, but the difference is: with play, one knows they are playing ( “fiction-contract” as taken from Theatre Studies) whereas ritual might look like play, but it is based on assumptions that the entities actually exist (“actuality contract”). This lens helps frame fandom as a potential site of faith, where “belief” can emerge through ritualistic, creative engagement.

Finally, the conversation turns to his current project, Nieuwe werelden openen (“Opening New Worlds”), a pedagogical initiative that uses narrative and perspective-based inquiry to help students explore existential and societal questions. He reflects on how his FBR research informs this work, bridging imaginative engagement with educational practice.

PROGRAM NOTES

Markus Davidsen - Leiden University

Markus Altena Davidsen publiceert boek voor docenten levensbeschouwing - Universiteit Leiden

2014 The Spiritual Tolkien Milieu: A Study of Fiction‐based Religion (full text)

Narrative and Belief | The Religious Affordance of Supernatural Fictio [Book]

Markus Altena Davidsen - Universiteit Leiden [Articles]

Handbook of Hyper-real Religions | Brill

Photo Markus Davidsen by Arash Nikkah

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

Tjalling is a PhD researcher at the Center for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (HHP), based at the University of Amsterdam. His research interests include intermediary beings, magic, alchemy and Paracelsianism, and the reception of these subjects in (early to late) modernity. He investigates these topics from an environmental perspective as well as through social categories like class. His doctoral project entails an environmental reception history of the concept of elemental beings from the sixteenth to the early twentieth century, through its manifestations in magic, alchemy, literature, mining and agriculture.

In this episode, we explore the shifting terrain of magical contact—where spirits, nature, and power intersect. Drawing from his article “Encounters, Evocations and Elemental Beings”, we’ll trace the philosophical and esoteric implications of two very different modes of engaging with the unseen: Paracelsus’s reverent encounters with elemental beings, and Dr. Rudd’s ritual evocations. Along the way, we’ll unpack the role of monsters, the ethics of spiritual mediation, and the deeper question of whether esotericism must rest on a singular, perennial foundation—or whether it can evolve, diversify, and apply to new contexts like ecology, psychedelics, tulpas, and even extraterrestrial contact. This is a conversation about relational knowing, cultural consciousness, and the future of interdisciplinary esoteric research.

I have one correction to mention beforehand; Tjalling made a mistake in his wording when he mentioned the text De Meteoris (which comes up in the discussion), in his haste to explain the temporal trajectory. In all texts before De Meteoris elemental beings have souls. They are soulless from De Meteoris onwards, but that text lacks the possibility for elemental beings to acquire souls through marriage. The Liber de nymphis introduces that, and thus fulfills the implications of reciprocity and immanence (the “seeking out” or initiation of contact) that are absent from De Meteoris.

PROGRAM NOTES

Correspondences Journal

Volume 12, no. 1 (2024)

Encounters, Evocations and Elemental Beings

Primary Source:

A Book On Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and Salamanders, and On The Other Spirits (Paracelsus, Henry E. Sigerist) | PDF

Secondary Sources:

The Monsters of Paracelsus | Beasts, Humans, and Transhumans in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

[Abstract] Cultural History Of The Four Elements

Contact Information:

Tjalling D. Janssen - University of Amsterdam

Instagram

Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

 Interviews with Bob Cluness and David Metcalfe can be found in the Rejected Religion Patreon Library. www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion 

All Music by Daniel P. Shea 
Production by Stephanie Shea

My guest this month is Dr. Matteo Polato.

Matteo is a researcher, sound artist and videogame developer. He works as Senior Research Assistant at the School of Digital Arts of Manchester Metropolitan University, where he has completed his PhD on the roles of sound, vibration and resonance-based processes in contemporary occulture and paranormal practices. His artistic practice spans from electroacoustic composition to free improvisation and psychedelic rock, in solo and with bands such as Mamuthones and Cacotopos. As Yami Kurae – with Jacopo Bortolussi – he develops experimental games inspired by psychogeography and occultural practices. He is co-founder of D∀RK – Dark Arts Research Kollective at MMU, and co- artistic director of the association for experimental music research Centro d’Arte dell’Università di Padova.

Matteo’s recent article in Revenant Journal dives deep into the sonic and atmospheric dimensions of the paranormal documentary series Hellier. From Reddit threads to academic conferences, Matteo’s journey into Fortean soundscapes is as unexpected as it is fascinating.

Matteo recounts his initial encounter with Hellier and how its unique approach to paranormal investigation inspired him to analyze it academically. Unlike typical ghost-hunting shows, Hellier emphasizes experiential and atmospheric elements, which resonated with his interests in sound studies and Fortean phenomena.

Matteo’s article shifts the lens from why paranormal entities emerge to how sensory experiences (especially sound) create a sense of supernatural agency. He uses Hellier as a case study to explore this dynamic, drawing from sound studies and concepts like: the eerie, affective atmospheres, & agency and attunement.

Matteo argues that sonic interactions and “listening ecologies” are central to how Hellier portrays paranormal phenomena. He explains how sound is not just a medium but a method of engaging with unseen forces. Examples from the series include:

• Ritualistic listening sessions
• Use of the Estes Method vs. traditional EVP
• Ambient silence as a communicative space

Hellier stands out by blending folklore, psychology, ritual, and media theory. Matteo emphasizes the importance of this holistic method, which allows the investigators to explore the paranormal not just as spectacle, but as a lived, felt experience.

Whether you're a fan of Hellier, curious about the intersection of sound studies and the supernatural, or just love a good mystery, this episode will tune you into a whole new frequency of thought.

PROGRAM NOTES

Revenant Journal

Revenant

The Atmospheric Forteanism of Hellier and the Role of Sound in Recent Practices of Paranormal Investigation : Revenant

DVRK:

https://www.instagram.com/dvrk_mcr/

DVRK Editions Label:

https://dvrkmusic.bandcamp.com/

Videogame stuff:

https://yamikurae.itch.io/

Mamuthones Band:

https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/0JeuJ0H0Q54p6kTuHJSCIA

D∀RK: Dark ∀rts Research Kollective (@dvrk_mcr) • Instagram photos and videos

Yami Kurae (@yami_kurae) • Instagram photos and videos

Instagram

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

My guest this month is Dr. Mariano Villalba. Mariano is a postdoctoral fellow in Spirituality and the Arts, in collaboration with the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice, the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, and the Warburg Institute at the University of London.

Mariano specializes in esotericism in Colonial America, contemporary Latin America, and early modern Spain. He completed a joint PhD in religious studies at the University of Lausanne and the French l’École Pratique des Hautes Études- Paris Sciences & Letters University.

Mariano serves as the editor in chief of Melancolia, an annual journal dedicated to the study of esotericism in Latin America. His methodology combines a global history perspective on Colonial America with a decolonial approach, intersecting themes of race, gender, and imperialism to analyze modern occultism in Latin America. His new research project will focus on “Occult Movements and Mexican Mural Art: What Role Did Occult Movements Play in Mexican Mural Art During the Interwar Period?”

In this episode, Mariano and I explore his groundbreaking research into the overlooked women of the Mexican muralist movement. Building on his earlier work, Mariano dives into the rich, complex history of Mexican muralism—an artistic revolution born from post-revolutionary ideals and dominated by the towering figures of “Los Tres Grandes.”

But beyond the celebrated murals of Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros lies a hidden narrative: the women artists whose contributions were marginalized or erased. Mariano introduces us to several of these remarkable figures, focusing in particular on María Izquierdo and Sofía Bassi. He shares insights into their lives, artistic themes, and the esoteric influences that shaped their work, while unpacking why their legacies remain in the shadows compared to contemporaries like Frida Kahlo and Leonora Carrington.

This episode is a compelling journey into art history, gender politics, and the mystical dimensions of creativity. Dr. Villalba also discusses the goals of his current project and how listeners can engage with the research on his online platform.

An editing correction: Just a note to correct a mistake made during the interview: In the discussion about Frieda Kahlo’s parents (a German father and a Mexican mother), Mariano mistakenly states that (María) Izquierdo was the daughter instead of Kahlo. There was a slight mix-up here as Mariano was comparing Frieda Kahlo and María Izquierdo. So please be aware of this when listening.

PROGRAM NOTES

Mariano Villalba | Center for the Study of World Religions

Occult Mexican art | Explore the Occult in Mexican visual art

About Gender & Visual Arts | Discover Women's Insight — Occult Mexican art

About Esotericism & Muralism | Explore Mexican Art — Occult Mexican art

Muralism and Mexican Identity: Rediscovering the Esoteric Visions of Post-Revolution Female Artists: Q&A with Mariano Villalba | Center for the Study of World Religions

Occult Movements and Mexican Mural Art | Center for the Study of World Religions

The Visionary World of Sofía Bassi | Center for the Study of World Religions

Fundación | Sofia Bassi

Esotericism, Gender, and the Legacy of a Mexican Artist | Center for the Study of World Religions

Mariano Villalba - Harvard University
 

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

My guest for the month of June is Ike Baker.

In this episode, I’m joined by occultist and esoteric educator Ike Baker for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about his new book, Ætheric Magic. Geared toward both beginners and advanced practitioners, the book offers a full system of magical practice rooted in elemental, celestial, and alchemical principles—with æther as its central, unifying force.

We begin by exploring Ike’s background and what led him to develop this system. He shares his working definition of magic, and how he explains its function and value to skeptics and newcomers. From there, the conversation moves into subtle body theory and the nature of energy, with clear and thought-provoking distinctions between terms like soul, spirit, aura, and astral body. Drawing from sources like Egyptian metaphysics and Kabbalistic models, Ike breaks down how these ideas interact and where the ætheric level fits in.

We also discuss the Tria Prima—Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury—and their sonic and energetic dimensions. Ike explains how certain tones, vowels, and vibrations can be mapped to the body, awakening deeper levels of consciousness and energetic flow. Along the way, he highlights historical thinkers who contributed to the broader understanding of ætheric energy, from Eliphas Lévi to Mesmer.

There’s much more covered in this interview than can fit here—so if you’re curious about the deeper currents flowing beneath esoteric practice, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

PROGRAM NOTES

Ike Baker

https://ikebaker.com/

AEtheric Magic: A Complete System of Elemental, Celestial & Alchemical Magic by Ike Baker, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Aetheric Magic, by Ike Baker by Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD. - Issuu

Arcanvm - YouTube

Arcanvm Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Arcanvm Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Home - Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

Her research focuses on analyzing, deconstructing, and contextualizing Middle-Eastern mystical traditions, alongside Western esoteric practices.

As a performer, she utilizes her research to decipher, translate and perform the mystical Persian poetry of Rumi, Hafez, Nasimi, and others.

Additionally, as a Tarologist, she synthesizes her research and performance to engage in the transcendental art of divination, offering insights drawn from both Eastern and Western wisdom traditions. (taken from www.safamirror.com)

In this interview, Safa first shares a bit about her background and how she came to work with Tarot. Her work is grounded in Jungian psychology and synchronicity, and she shares her perspectives about this dynamic system. She then explains in more detail her three categories of readings: Tarot, Hafez Reading, and Tarot Divination, and the ideas behind the use of these three. 

Safa then moves on to talk in detail about Hafez, a Person Sufi lyric poet and mystic, and how she uses the poetry of Hafez in her special readings. 

Safa offers online readings, as well as on-location readings in Amsterdam. Please see the program notes for more information. 

It was a joy to talk with Safa about her work and to gain new insights. I hope you enjoy this conversation! 

PROGRAM NOTES

Safa Mirror Information

Safa Mirror

Safa Mirror (@safamirror) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook

Safa Mirror - YouTube
Warburg Institute Video: Thoth Tarot Guided Tour of the Original Paintings at the Warburg Institute - YouTube

Readings & Workshops:
Stores – Black Moon Botanica Amsterdam
Ektara Heart

Recommended Works:

The Book of Thoth - The Libri of Aleister Crowley - Hermetic Library
The Tarot Index | Sacred Texts Archive

Mary K. Greer's Tarot Blog | "Tarot helps you meet whatever comes in the best possible way."

Amazon.com: The Tarot Architect: How to Become the Master Builder of Your Spiritual Temple (Audible Audio Edition): Lon Milo DuQuette, Mary K. Greer - foreword, Tim Fannon, Tantor Media: Books

Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth: Dore, Jessica: 9780593295939: Amazon.com: Books

“Renderings” (not translations) of Rumi: Rumi | Coleman Barks and Rumi | United States Maypop Bookstore

and… translators to avoid: Daniel Ladinsky



Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea



 

My guest for the month of June is Dr. Tristán Kapp.

Tristán is an interdisciplinary researcher, writer, and speaker specialising in comparative religion, esotericism, secularism, and conspirituality. His work examines new and alternative religious movements, secularism, and the intersections of religion, politics, and sexuality. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Pretoria, where his thesis explored sex magick as post-theistic spirituality across Eastern, Western, and African esotericism. He also holds an MDiv (focused on Systematic & Historical Theology) and BDiv (focused on Dogmatics & Christian Ethics).

As an advocate for the normalisation and destigmatisation of secularism, alternative religions, and marginalised spiritualities, Tristán engages in public education, media commentary, and community support. His insights have been featured in podcasts, news media, and academic conferences worldwide.

He is also the founder of Alterity Counselling, a virtual counselling practice supporting individuals from diverse spiritual and non-religious backgrounds across the globe. His non-profit advocacy with the South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA)—as an executive member, spokesperson, and interfaith officer—along with his community paralegal work, informs his approach to research, activism, and counselling.

In this interview, Tristán discusses portions of his captivating dissertation, titled, “Secret self-knowledge: considering sex magick as post-theistic spirituality in Eastern, Western, and African Esotericism.” Highlights of this engaging discussion include:

-        Tristán’s ideas about a ‘post-theistic spiritual practice,’ that distances itself from an external deity and moves toward a non-traditional or non-religious spirituality, with creativity in terms of co-existence between the divine and the individual;

-        The underrepresentation of Eastern and African regions with regard to esotericism;

-        The negativity surrounding sexuality and the expression of it, including taboos and fetishes (drawing for example on Foucault);

-        The inclusion of Conspirituality in this discourse, and how it relates to the notion of the Self;

-        Examples of Eastern esoteric sexual practices and what these offer with regard to knowledge of the Self;

-        The issue of colonialism and slavery as it relates to Africana esoteric religions;

-        How sexuality and the Self are understood in both African Traditional Religion and the Sangoma Tradition;

-        The syncretic expressions of the African diaspora as found in African-American Conjure or Supernaturalism;

-        The notion of ubuntu, that states a person is a person because of other people;

-        His conclusions after all of his research and his future endeavors.

PROGRAM NOTES

Dissertation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386987710_Secret_self-knowledge_considering_sex_magick_as_post-theistic_spirituality_in_Eastern_Western_and_African_Esotericism

📩 Contact: tristan@paganrightsalliance.org

🔗 Website: http://www.drtristankapp.wordpress.com

📚 ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tristan-Kapp-2

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristankapp

🎧 Podcast Fundraiser: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/voices-of-the-other-my-podcast-fund
 

Tristán’s Research Interests:

• Christofascism & Religious Nationalism – Christian nationalism, conspirituality, and Afrikaner right-wing extremism

• Esotericism & Contemporary Spirituality – Occult traditions, new religious movements, and alternative spiritualities

• South African Secularism & Religious Freedom – Marginalised belief systems, policy, and advocacy

• Decoloniality and Whiteness in Post-Apartheid South African Religion & Religious Education

🔍 Current Projects:

🎙 Voices of the Other – Podcast (Fundraising campaign underway)

📄 Academic Research – Christofascism & religious nationalism in post-apartheid South Africa | Afrikaner witchcraft & boererate | Occult Crime and Moral Panics in South Africa

Tristán is available for guest lectures, media appearances, and research collaborations.

All Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

Acousmatic Crossings presents some of the artists creating in this space today.  We have received a plethora of works, some from artists well established in this realm, many from artists new to me, all bursting with an intrinsic and untaught ability to transport you, the listener beyond the fields you know.

If you choose to explore these zones, there is only one simple prerequisite, a prerequisite that all of us have access to.  And that is to simply use your cognitive imagination.” 

During the course of our conversation, Michael generously offered to curate a list of creators and albums for us to explore. Please find a selection listed below in the program notes, along with several journal articles and essays taken from the Metapsychosis Journal. 

The full curated list will be put in a separate post on Patreon as it is very long! You can find it at: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion. 

PROGRAM NOTES:

Michael Eisenberg | Metapsychosis

Acousmatic Music as a Bridge to the Mundus Imaginalis | Metapsychosis

Acousmatic Music as a Divine Map | Metapsychosis

Acousmatic Crossings:

Acousmatic Crossings | Metapsychosis

Acousmatic Crossings: Cinema for the Ears—and An Epiphany of Spheres | Metapsychosis

And, if any of these connect, why not follow the series over at the Metapsychosis Journal? Here is a link to the landing page that will be updated every two weeks as new pieces by artists who have submitted their work are published: 

Acousmatic Archives | Metapsychosis

Micheal is always available for chat, questions, love letters (or hate mail) and can be reached at meisenberg307@gmail.com . If you’d like to leave any comments on the pieces published over at Metapsychosis, you can be assured that he'll respond fairly quickly.

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

In this discussion, Veronica shares her background and inspiration for her research into modern shamanism. We talk a bit about the terms shamanism and animism, as these are somewhat contested within academia, and Veronica shares how she is using these terms in her work. She explains what questions she was asking at the outset of her project, and also the surprising additions that arose once she started interviewing her participants. 
Veronica also notes the interesting data that she gathered regarding topics such as gender, identity, “lived religion,” and ecology. 
As Veronica has her own experience within the concept known as a the holistic milieu (referring to a broad and diverse spiritual landscape that encompasses various New Age and alternative spiritual practices; often contrasted with traditional religious institutions, as it focuses on personal spirituality, self-development, and holistic well-being rather than formal doctrines or organized worship), she found she was able to relate well to the experiences of her participants, and this aspect has led her to consider continuing her research using the method known as autoethnography. This is a qualitative research method that combines autobiographical storytelling with ethnographic analysis. It allows researchers to use their personal experiences to explore and critique cultural beliefs, practices, and social phenomena. Veronica talks about other scholars in the field who have been using this method, and how it is becoming more accepted within academia. 

If anyone has any questions or comments for Veronica, please post them here or contact me via email and I can pass these on to her. She welcomes further feedback and discussion! 

Veronica was also very kind to share some references for futher reading; please see this below. 

PROGRAM NOTES

References:

Olivia Cejan: "Arts and Crafts Divine" is her dissertation utilizing autoethnography and pedagogy to write about a secret society group. 

Talk at Copenhagen Conference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g2qvGcy5pY&t=524s

Corrine Sombrun: 

-Her institute: https://trancescience.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oDs10hUy6E

Trailer to her movie; English subtitles

Ted Talk:English subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0kIECFi0U

https://amara.org/videos/Tcvokh51yb2Y/en/1543652/?tab=revisions

Another interview with English (Google)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syy4MTHAfF4

Alice Ahern: Phd Cork Ireland, studying shamanism and pop culture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCeV7MLtFc

Youtube talk:  "The Reclamation of Feminine Wisdom in the Irish Neo-Shamanic Milieu"

 

Traditional Religions view on Nature Religions:

https://fore.yale.edu/Event-Listings/Religions-World-and-Ecology-Conference-Series/Religions-World-and-Ecology-Archive

https://fore.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/annual_review_environment.pdf

Bibliography :

Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1972.

Harner, Michael J. The Way of the Shaman. 10th anniversary ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990.

Harvey, Graham. Animism: Respecting the Living World. Kent Town: Wakefield Press, 2005.

Harvey, Graham. Shamanism: A Reader. London: Routledge, 2003.
Jenkins, Willis. u.a: “Religion and Climate Change”, Annual Review of Environment and Resources 2018 (43), 85-108.
Kaza, Stephanie. “The Greening of Buddhism: Promise and Perils”, in: Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology, Oxford 2006, 184-220.
Kraft, S, T Fonneland, and J Lewis. Nordic Neoshamanisms. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. Nordic Neoshamanisms | SpringerLink
Laack, Isabel (2020) “The New Animism and Its Challenges to the Study of Religion”, Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 1-33.
Lewis, I.M., Ecstatic Religion | A Study of Shamanism and Spirit Possession | I.M.

McGuire, Meredith B. Lived religion: Faith and practice in everyday life. Oxford University Press, 2008.
Puca, Angela. Italian Witchcraft and Shamanism: The Tradition of Segnature, Indigenous and Trans-Cultural Shamanic Traditions in Italy. Leiden; Brill, 2024.
Saler, Benson. Conceptualizing Religion: Immanent Anthropologists, Transcendent Natives, and Unbounded Categories. New York: Berghahn Books, 2000.
Shelton, Dinah (2015): “Nature as a legal person”. In: Vertigo (Hors-série 22).DOI: 10.4000/vertigo.16188.

Taylor, Bron Raymond. Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010. 

Dark Green Religion – Professor Bron Taylor
Znamenski, Andrei A., The Beauty of the Primitive: Shamanism and Western Imagination | Oxford Academic


 

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion
www.rejectedreligion.com

Her article, ‘The Myth of Family: Friendship and Sexual Impropriety in the Feminist Occult Grail Narratives of Mary Butts’s Armed With Madness’ was published in leading literary journal English Studies (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0013838X.2023.2291909). Sue’s current research is centered on literary evidence for occult communication with non - human intelligences/spirits and the cultural impact of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 20th century Britain that continues today.  

Sue runs Owl House Seminars (www.sueterryacademic.com/courses-events)

online and in person, from weird fiction to ghosts, occultism, ley hunters, UFOs, urban high strangeness, witchcraft and practical skills in tarot and numerology. Sue welcomes invitations to speak at events and is thrilled to return to ‘Rejected Religion’.

On July 7th 2025 she is co-producing The Third Florence Farr and the Magical Imagination Conference in London, with Caroline Wise, author and esoteric publisher (Starfire Books), at The College of Psychic Studies South Kensington (https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/special-events/esoteric/florence-farr-and-the-magical-imagination/?id=5551)

Meeting people to talk about weird stuff is one of Sue’s most favorite things. 

In this interview, I talked with Sue about her dissertation, “Occult Modernism and the Radical Reform of the Family: Female Empowerment in the Magical Fiction of Four Women Writers, 1890-1940" in which she writes about Florence Farr, Mary Butts, Sylvia Townsend Warner and P.L. Travers. (We didn’t have enough time to cover Travers, sadly, but Sue will be coming back in the future to do so!)

Sue shares some of her research findings surrounding Farr, Butts, and Townsend Warner. In doing so, Sue beautifully emphasizes the important work of each woman, and their significant contributions. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and my apologies for the delay in getting this uploaded!

PROGRAM NOTES

Main titles mentioned in this interview:

Florence Farr, The Dancing Faun The Dancing Faun - Florence Farr - Hermetic Library

Mary Butts, Armed with Madness #15 - Armed with madness, by Mary Butts - Full View | HathiTrust Digital Library

Sylvia Townsend Warner, Lolly Willowes Lolly Willowes : Warner Townsend Sylvia : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive


Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

My guest this month is Mike Fiorito. An Adjunct Professor of English at City Tech (CUNY), Mike is a freelance journalist and author of several books: For All We Know, Mescalito Riding His White Horse, Falling from Trees, The Hated Ones, Sleeping with Fishes, Call Me Guido, Freud’s Haberdashery Habits, and Hallucinating Huxley. 

Mescalito Riding His White Horse received the 2024Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Award in Spirituality. 

Falling from Trees received the 2022 Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Award in Short Stories. 

For All We Know, his UFO themed science-fiction novel, published in May 2024.

Mike’s new book, UFO Symphonic-Journeys into Sound, was published February 1st, 2025. 

UFO Symphonic: Journeys into Sound explores the profound connection between music and the mysteries of existence. The book delves into music as a form of complex communication and a potential bridge to other realms. Through personal accounts and stories from experiencers, Fiorito examines the symbolic language of sound, dreams, and high strangeness. It invites readers on an extraordinary journey into the unknown, raising thought-provoking questions about the role of music in connecting past, present, and future.

In this discussion, Mike and I talk about his latest book, and Mike shares several anecdotes from different people that Mike interviewed. Some highlights from this conversation include:

-          the concept of “The Harmony of the Spheres” that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the cosmos and the spiritual journey of the soul; the main idea of which is that the cosmos is ordered by mathematical principles, and that planets and stars move in harmony with these principles, producing a kind of eternal music;

-         How the stories Mike shared bring up a lot of ideas related to the notion of ‘tapping into’ a larger system (that we might call consciousness, or cosmos; additionally, it seems to be suggesting a type of mind-universe alignment;

-         Joshua Cutchin’s story about creating a new narrative that combines folklore and UFO phenomena; and the connection between paranormal phenomena and death (which lines up beautifully with a book we read for our prior Patreon book club meeting -- Dr. Jeff Kripal and Whitley Strieber’s book, The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained. In the Dedication, Whitley Strieber notes that his wife Anne said, after carefully reading and organizing the numerous letters that they received, that the UFO experiences all had something to do with death, too.);

-         Sebastiano De Filippi’s section, who also discusses similar ideas to Joshua’s about music in his work as a conductor;

-         Concepts such as entanglement and tulpas; and much more!

PROGRAM NOTES

Mike Fiorito Author

UFO Symphonic-Journeys into Sound : https://a.co/d/g1vsfHa

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

"The real vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: a research note towards comparative ethnography"

"Life Among the Vampires" (THE ATLANTIC, October 31, 2015)

Vampire Fictions and the Conflation of Violent Criminality with Real Vampirism: A Practical Overview

John Edgar Browning - Wikipedia

Amazon.com: Dracula: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions): 9780393679205: Stoker, Bram, Skal, David J., Browning, John Edgar: Books
Dr. John Edgar Browning (@jedgarbrowning) • Instagram photos and videos


All Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea


 

Dr. Sinclair is the author of Things Happen (2024), Scansion in Psychoanalysis and Art: The Cut in Creation (2021), The Pathways of the Heart (2021), and Switching Mirrors (2016).

She is the editor of Psychoanalytic Perspectives on the Films of Ingmar Bergman: From Freud to Lacan and Beyond(2023), as well as the Rendering Unconscious: Psychoanalytic Perspectives book series.

Dr. Sinclair co-edited The Queerness of Psychoanalysis: From Freud and Lacan to Laplanche and Beyond (2025) with Elisabeth Punzi and Myriam Sauer, as well as Outsider Inpatient: Reflections on Art as Therapy (2021) with Elisabeth Punzi, On Psychoanalysis and Violence: Contemporary Lacanian Perspectives (2019) with Manya Steinkoler, and The Fenris Wolf vol 9 (2017) and The Fenris Wolf vol 11 (2022) with Carl Abrahamsson. 

She is a founding member of Das Unbehagen: A Free Association for Psychoanalysis, sits on the International Advisory Board for the journal Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society, and is Editorial Advisor for Parapraxis Magazine.

Vanessa and I talk about her upcoming course with Morbid Anatomy, “The Cut in Creation: Exploring the Avant-Garde, Dada, Surrealism, Modern Art, Noise Music, and Performance Art through a Psychoanalytic Lens.” This course will be taking place on Sundays, from May 25- June 15, and all classes will be recorded for those who can’t make it to the live class for whatever reason.

As the Morbid Anatomy website states: 
Drawing on the theories of a variety of psychoanalysts, including Freud, Lacan and Laplanche, the course will explore the long and rich relationship between psychoanalysis and the fine arts – from painting and music to poetry, collage, photography, film, and performance art, including the use of technology and body modification to explore aspects of identity, gender and sexuality. Through immersion in the work of these artists and psychoanalytic ideas, participants will walk away with a better understanding of the transformative process inherent of the act of creation itself, especially when used as a powerful disruption of narrative, and hopefully feel inspired themselves to create! 

In this discussion, Vanessa gives a sneak peek into each of the four parts of the course. Some highlights are: 

• talking about the inspiration for the course;
• outlining the events that led to the creation of psychoanalysis as well as the avant-garde movement;
• expanding on the historical backdrop – what was happening during these years that created this paradigm shift;
• looking at the years leading up to WW1, and what was taking place then, focusing on psychoanalysis and the avant-garde art scenes;
• focusing on surrealism and later developments in experimental film, followed by some discussion on the Beat Poets, and outlining how these three are interconnected;
• focusing on the birth of pop art, and art as it moved from the galleries to the streets, as well as performance art that included the body as an important vehicle/tool of expression.

PROGRAM NOTES:

Vanessa’s website (with all links): 

Dr Vanessa Sinclair

Morbid Anatomy Course:
The Cut in Creation: Exploring the Avant-Garde, Dada, Surrealism, Modern Art, Noise Music, and Performance Art through a Psychoanalytic Lens, Led by Vanessa Sinclair, PsyD, Begins May 25 — Morbid Anatomy

Selected Works:

Amazon.com: Scansion in Psychoanalysis and Art (Art, Creativity, and Psychoanalysis Book Series): 9780367567262: Sinclair, Vanessa: Books

Amazon.com: The Queerness of Psychoanalysis: 9781032603827: Sinclair, Vanessa, Punzi, Elisabeth, Sauer, Myriam: Books

Podcast Rendering Unconscious:

Podcast – Dr Vanessa Sinclair

Instagram:

Instagram

Robert Frank, 

Me and My Brother (1968)

Me and My Brother (1968) - IMDb

Music, Editing and Video Production: Stephanie Shea

The Patreon page offers much more content as well, including a book club that meets 4 times per year via Zoom. If you are interested in esoteric topics, please check it out!  www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion 

~ Many thanks, Stephanie

Dr. Jeff Howard is a scholar of occulture and esotericism. He works as Associate Professor of Games and Occulture at Falmouth University in Cornwall, where he specialises in the occult and games. He is the author of two monographs Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives (now in its second edition) and Game Magic: A Designer’s Guide to Magic Systems in Theory and Practice. He translates theory into practice as a core team member of Apocalypse Studios, where he consults on worldbuilding and systems design. He is also the creator of “Howard’s Law of Occult Design,” published in 100 Principles of Game Design. Howard has presented on games and the occult at a variety of international conferences, including Berlin Occulture, Trans-States, and ESSWE9. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at Viktor Wynd’s Last Tuesday Society, where he has spoken about folk magic and folk games. Howard studies Sabbatic Craft at the intersection of the Left Hand Path and the Typhonian current. Through his scholarship and creative practice, Howard is an ambassador for the power of play as a transformative and transcendent practice.
[ Falmouth University Website]


In this interview, Jeff shares his background as a “technomage” and talks about his understanding of ludomancy and the history of the concept. With regard to classic role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, he discusses the effects that the moral panic known as the ‘Satanic Panic’ had on gaming and game developers, not only during the ‘peak’ years but also in later years. 

Jeff also talks about ‘magical’ or ‘occult’ games that have been inspired by various forms of media, including the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre, as well as how the motivations and attitudes of players have changed over the years. 

On an historical level, Jeff gives some examples of games that are based on occult groups/traditions. He also talks about how he approaches his own game design with occult practices as a starting point, and gives some examples of games that people could look into, should they be interested. 

Lastly, Jeff expands on his concept of ‘playful occulture’ as the basis for an upcoming monograph, and shares a bit about an article he co-wrote for RENSEP, titled "To Reveal the Hidden Kingdom of Eld: Andrew Chumbley, the Cultus Sabbati, and Imaginal Space in Cornwall” that can be found on the RENSEP website for members. (Just a reminder: RENSEP membership is free of charge for Tiers 3 and 4!) 

PROGRAM NOTES

Game Magic | Putting the Magic Back in Magic Systems (website with all links)

Game Magic Book | Game Magic

Quests | Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives | Jeff Ho

100 Principles of Game Design

Arcana: A Ceremonial Magic Simulator (Updated 2021) | Game Magic

Jeff Howard - YouTube

Left Hand Path of Game Design

Dr Jeff Howard

Jeff Howard - Ludomancy: Games as Occult Practice in Between States

Jeff Howard (@gamemagicarcana) • Instagram photos and videos

homo_ludens_johan_huizinga_routledge_1949_ : Johan Huizinga : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Making Deep Games by Doris C Rusch | Goodreads

Passage: a Gamma256 video game by Jason Rohrer

Kult: Divinity Lost | KULT

Books by Jack Vance (Author of The Dying Earth)

Moorcography.org – Moorcography.org: The Michael Moorcock Bibliography

Earthsea Cycle Series by Ursula K. Le Guin

The 9 Quantic Gamer Types - Quantic Foundry

ich.io

DriveThruRPG - The Largest RPG Download Store!

Steam Search

Cultist Simulator – Weather Factory

Home - Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices


Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea


 

Liana also discusses her research that deals with the 17th century Maltese inquisition, in particular the trial of Sellem the Moor, a Muslim enslaved person who was accused of being a magician. This work is part of a larger volume called Magic in Malta, and Liana examines this trial on three interconnected levels, and is a down-to-earth, practical example of how magic was being used by people at this time. 

Be sure to check out the program notes for links to all of the articles discussed in this episode. I hope you enjoy! 

PROGRAM NOTES

Liana Saif | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu

"What is Islamic Esotericism", Correspondences, Vol. 7, issue 1 (2019)

The Past and Future of the Study of Islamic Esotericism

Magic and Divination Lost in Translation: A Cairene in a Maltese Inquisition

A Preliminary Study of the Pseudo-Aristotelian Hermetica: Texts, Context, and Doctrines

Research: Dr. Liana Saif - HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents


All Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

https://www.instagram.com/amyhale93/     

Chasing the Supersensual | Amy Hale | Substack

Magic in Contemporary Art, Ep. 1 – Lecture & Discussion | Treadwells
Home - Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

Blogs - RAW

Ithell Colquhoun | Strange Attractor

Sex Magic – Abrams Books


Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

Note: The full episode can be found at my Patreon page, www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion, and can also be purchased for a one-time fee. 

Conjuring Creativity: Art & the Esoteric #3 ‘Inhabiting Esoteric Ecologies’

MKII, 71 - 75 Powerscroft rd., Lower Clapton, London, E5 0PT

                                              15-16/3/2025

In this month's Spotlight, I'm joined by guests Geraldine Hudson and Ben Jeans Houghton from the Conjuring Creativity Conference.

Geraldine is an interdisciplinary artist, art educator and curator. Participating specifically at the intersections of site, ecological communion and otherness regarding the relationships between magic/folklore/myth, the female body and our more than human world.

This manifests as performance, sculptural installation, short film, text, soundscapes and participatory workshops. Working alchemically with materials which are often site/time dependent such as earth/clay, ash, human hair and plant matter.

She has exhibited and curated widely in Europe and beyond, whilst speaking on the relationship between magic and art at conferences such as ESSWE, Trans - States and Occulture. She is a previous board member of Fylkingen in Stockholm, founder of project space Konstapoteket and a founding member of the Magickal Aktivist Artist group NKK in Sweden. She is currently studying towards her masters in fine art at Goldsmiths, UAL.

'I enact rites, actions and pilgrimages which then feed back into an exhibited practice, choosing to engage in an art making which is often cyclical, mystical or site sensitive, engaging in embodied acts of connection whilst attempting to align with cosmological time. I utilise my own esoteric practices and knowledge as a conduit between the public 'spectacle of art and reconciliation with the other, claiming magick as a technology of selfhood' . 

Ben Jeans Houghton is a multidisciplinary Artist and Astrologer, working in sculpture, installation, film, drawing, poetry, essay and performance. Through these media he explores magic; the art of transformation, its methodologies, technologies, agencies, implications and praxis, from astrological, animistic, gnostic and philosophical perspectives.

Ben has exhibited internationally in Africa, Germany, Greece, Japan, South Korea and the USA and in the UK with organisations such as CCA - Glasgow, Workplace Gallery - Gateshead, Gymnasium Gallery - Berwick, Bloc Projects - Sheffield, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Gateshead, Generator Projects - Dundee, Whitstable Biennale - Whitstable, BFI - London, Circa Projects - Newcastle, NGCA - Sunderland and Channel Four - UK.

Geraldine and Ben talk about the upcoming third edition of the Conjuring Creativity: Art & the Esoteric - ‘Inhabiting Esoteric Ecologies’ Conference is taking place this month, in London, on the 15th and 16th of March. They give some background about themselves, and Geradling discusses what led her to organize the conference several years ago in cooperation with Dr. Per Faxneld.

They also talk a bit about the lineup this year, and what some of the topics will be, as well as why events like theirs are so important for the larger community of people involved in ‘the esoteric’.

It was a pleasure to talk with them about their work. Please see the Notes below for more information about the conference and the artists.

PROGRAM NOTES

Conjuring Creativity: Art & the Esoteric #3 ‘Inhabiting Esoteric Ecologies’

MKII, 71 - 75 Powerscroft rd., Lower Clapton, London, E5 0PT

                                              15-16/3/2025

This two day interdisciplinary conference brings together practitioners, scholars and artists who all have a shared interest in the fields of occultism and esoteric methodologies.

This upcoming edition intentionally focuses on the entangled relationships between magick and the more-than-human, exploring how esoteric, occult and mystical strategies are being utilised within and alongside contemporary art to recognise, repair and re-member our innate relationships, to our earthly ecologies, spirits, pan-species kin and the unseen companions who inform and inhabit our terrestriality. 

* NOTE about Tickets: there are have a limited amount of weekend tickets and single day tickets available at the door in the morning.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON A SLIDING SCALE FROM: 

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/conjuringcreativity  

https://www.instagram.com/conjuring.creativity

www.conjuringcreativity.org

Music: Stephanie Shea

Video Production: Stephanie Shea/ Rejected Religion

In this discussion, we first look at Georges Bataille and his interpretation of the Acéphale. Bataille (1897-1962) was a philosopher and intellectual, interested in surrealism, and anti- fascist, who, in 1937 founded two groups with the goal of exploring how combinations of power and ‘the sacred’ were at play in society. The first group was called the College of Sociology that gave lectures (exoteric group); the second group was Acéphale, an esoteric ‘secret society.’ Additionally, a public review by the same name, whose emblem was a headless man, was published in 1936. Ayesha talks a bit about this Acéphale emblem and what this represents, including remarks about the connections to Aleister Crowley’s concept of The Abyss; the notion of receptivity, and the difference between the ‘magical’ and ‘mystical’ currents.
 

Moving from Bataille to George Balanchine, the famous choreographer who co-founded the New York City Ballet Company in 1948; Balanchine is probably most known for his plotless ballets and minimalism, and has a famous quote, “Don’t think Dear, just do!’ Ayesha shares how are she is linking these two figures and the concept of the Acéphale. She is currently thinking about how the meditative state is the artist’s state as well.

Ayesha then expands on her 2023 article, “The League of Endarkenment: Hakim Bey and the Way of Disappearance into Nature” talking about “Endarkenment” and how this fits into this same area of headlessness, the mandrake, and disappearance.

Lastly, taken from her paper abstract, Ayesha talks more about what she means by “the open fluidity of no-mind”  and “the performance of headless meditation.”

*Note 1: I mistakenly say ‘Endarkment’ instead of ‘Endarkenment’ (my apologies!); plus, around the 29:00 minute mark, the name ‘D.T. Suzuki’ is unfortunately cut off due to audio issues. Please find more information about Suzuki in the program notes below.

*Note 2 (Not Ignoring the Elephant in the Room): Peter Lamborn Wilson, who wrote under the name ‘Hakim Bey,’ was a controversial figure, and unfortunately, rumors have arisen surrounding some of his writings regarding NAMBLA. Accusations were made by a particular website (run by one person, a fellow anarchist) against Wilson, and due to the nature of the internet, damaging assumptions were made. This article A Tribute to Peter Lamborn Wilson - The Brooklyn Rail is a collection of testimonials, and discusses this matter in more detail, giving much needed context.

PROGRAM NOTES:

Ayesha Adamo | Student | The People of Rice | Rice University

Ayesha Adamo | Rice University - Academia.edu

Instagram

Ayesha Adamo

https://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty-research/programs-and-centers/program-evolution-spirituality#:~:text=The%20Program%20for%20the%20Evolution%20of%20Spirituality%20%28PES%29,also%20prepares%20students%20for%20ministry%20in%20these%20mov (More information forthcoming regarding this program and how to join remotely!)

It Takes a Lunatic | Officiële Netflix-website

ORGCHAOSMIK - GUSTAF BROMS

D. T. Suzuki: A Biographical Summary - Association for Asian Studies

What are Superfluids and Why Are They Important?
Is 'Perpetual Motion' Possible with Superfluids?

Ayesha’s article in The Fenris Wolf (#13) is forthcoming; I will post a link (on Patreon) when it becomes available.

Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

In 2011 he established the Liminal Analytics: Applied Research Collaborative to focus on building multidisciplinary lines of communication through applied scholarship, digital media, and social network development. 

David’s work has appeared in Oxford University Press and other peer reviewed anthologies. He was a research assistant for the University of Chicago under Dr. Hussein Ali Agama focusing on archival research, and he is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Windbridge Research Center’s Threshold: Journal of Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies.

I originally had asked both Dr. Diana Pasulka and David to join me for this episode, but due to scheduling conflicts, Diana had to decline. (I am eager to talk with Diana at another time, however!) 

In this episode, David talks a bit about his background and his interest in the broader topic of ‘anomalous phenomena,’ and how this led him to meet Dr. Diana Pasulka and become involved in planning the course “Beyond the Stars” with her. This groundbreaking course explores the history of UFO/UAP phenomena, specific case studies, the main research traditions, and also how religion and esotericism are linked to this phenomena. The course also delves into the related areas of consciousness studies and theories of synchronicity/coincidence. 

David also shares his reflections/takeaways regarding the course and the participants, the gradual shift in attitudes surrounding this type of phenomena, and what he thinks is ‘the bigger picture’ regarding anomalous experiences. 

We also go on a few related tangents regarding memory, false memory syndrome, owls, and how popular culture absorbs and transmits ideas about high strangeness. Everything is connected. 

PROGRAM NOTES

David Metcalfe:

https://davidmetcalfe.wordpress.com/ 
https://uga.academia.edu/DavidMetcalfe/Papers 

https://www.academia.edu/92502645/Knowing_Others_The_New_UFO_Esotericism_of_D_W_Pasulkas_American_Cosmic_ 

Dr. Diana Pasulka:

https://dwpasulka.com/ 
https://www.academia.edu/89404115/Introduction_Believing_in_Bits_Digital_Media_and_the_Supernatural_ 

“Beyond the Stars” Course Information:
https://dwpasulka.com/courses/ 


Other References:

https://www.societyforuapstudies.org/ 

https://www.dukeupress.edu/in-and-out-of-this-world 

https://impossiblearchives.rice.edu/ 
https://impossiblearchives.rice.edu/ufo-and-impossible (It seems the registration is closed for this conference as the attendee limit has been reached.)
https://thesolfoundation.org/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlWCeD3J0zVb4KSeaeDNdw 

Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

https://www.deanradin.com/

https://www.cognigenics.io/

https://noetic.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@InstituteofNoeticSciences

https://www.rensep.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@rensep

https://www.instagram.com/ionsonline/ 
https://www.instagram.com/rensep_official/

Photo Credit: Jordan Engle @ Lens & Soul
Theme Music & Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

The full episode can be found at my Patreon page; it can also be purchased for a one-time fee: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion 

Whose mirage fluttered like a host.

Voracious for glory, greedy for danger,

I roamed the horizons of al-Kulab,

Watching time level mountains

In its search and its hunger for me.

And I saw the sparrows swiftly approach,

Bolder than the onrushing wolf.

They spread in the tree of my youth.

I heard the flock in my branches

And was caught on their beaks and claws!”

– from Arrakis Awakening by the Princess Irulan (Herbert 1978, 228)

Dr. Tara Smith:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-b-m-smith-phd-fhea-306418192/

“The Anthropocene in Frank Herbert’s Dune Series”, Foundation 140, 50.3 (2021): 62-74. The_Anthropocene_in_Frank_Herberts_Dune.doc

Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea
The full episode can be heard at my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion, or can be purchased for a one-time fee. 

The first being that I’m offering a special 75% discount on the first month’s membership for all Patreon tiers! This offer lasts until the end of February. Use the code RRDINER75 for the discount.

And on the topic of the RR Diner, there’s also news about a change to my Patreon Tiers 3 and 4:  

The content of Tiers 3 and 4 has merged, and Tier 4 is now the RR Diner Book Club! The Club will meet 4 times per year (February, May, August & November) and the price for Tier 4 has been lowered to $17.50 as of January 1st. This price includes all the content from Tiers 1-3 plus the Live Zoom meetings for the Book Club. I’ve already announced the first book over at my Patreon, which is The Super Natural:  A New Vision of the Unexplained by Whitley Strieber and Dr. Jeff Kripal!!

Plus, I'm overjoyed to announce that both authors have agreed to join me for the Live Zoom Meet in February!! We are in the process of finding three potential dates that will be listed via a poll on the Patreon page for Tier 4 members to vote on. That information will be following soon. For now, you can start reading!

Additionally, you can view two free content videos – one about Sidereal Astrology & How to Understand Natal Charts, the other about a new book called _Void Machines_ by Dr. Christian Greer and Dr. Michelle Oing. This art collage book is about 'Talismanic Frequencies of Peak Experiences.' Those videos are free to watch at my Patreon page, my website or my Vimeo channel.  

I’m also excited to announce that I will be collaborating with the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices, otherwise known RENSEP. I will be hosting and moderating some very special conversations between scholars and practitioners throughout the year, called “Spotlight with RENSEP -- Esoteric Crossroads: Scholars Meet Practitioners.”  This content will be available for everyone, and we hope this will promote engagement between the two platforms, as well as offering new topics and opportunities for learning and discussion.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the first Scholar-Practitioner Conversation in early 2025!

Lastly, the new content for January has been delayed due to unexpected internet stability issues that are preventing me from recording interviews. However, I’m hoping to have things fixed well enough so I can get back to work at the end of this week, and start posting again soon.  

Thanks for your patience!

I’m looking forward to an excellent new year!  

www.rejectedreligion.com 

www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion
Discount code:  RRDINER75

https://vimeo.com/user220298192

Music: Daniel P. Shea

https://www.instagram.com/_restingwitchface/

Monster Theory Resources:

https://ieas-szeged.hu/downtherabbithole/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Barbara-Creed-The-Monstrous-Feminine-2007.pdf

https://archive.org/details/monstersincloset0000bens

https://www.amazon.com/Celluloid-Closet-Arthur-Laurents/dp/B001NI5C6U

https://archive.org/details/religionitsmonst0000beal

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203361894/philosophy-horror-noel-carroll

https://revisesociology.com/2016/09/21/foucault-surveillance-crime-control/

https://medium.com/deterritorialization/jacques-derridas-specter-s-of-marx-and-the-concept-of-hauntology-reflections-on-deconstruction-2eb687322a69

https://academic.oup.com/fs/article/59/3/373/638853

Films and Shows Mentioned (Selection):

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ The Substance

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23468450/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt  Longlegs

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14966898/ Late Night with the Devil

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/  Stranger Things 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5040012/ Nosferatu 2024

Renee Vivien:

https://allpoetry.com/Renee-Vivien 

https://youtu.be/3dUc17ut3as?si=KJ9ZDCBFct00eQuj Spotlight with Brennan Kettelle 2021

Rosaleen Norton:

https://www.witchofkingscross.com/about-new/ 


Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea

End Production: Stephanie Shea

Mentioned by Peg:

Documentary Hail, Satan? https://youtu.be/27RtJp-rhHk?si=1IEizfm8d4xCVvV5 (trailer)

Agatha, All Along https://youtu.be/R9pXbNz6Vbw?si=WDEc8Q3Lb-92pNlB (trailer)

AHS: Coven  https://youtu.be/ra8aQ-CfKVw?si=J9W74jUct4dNJcPm (trailer)

Film Realm of Satan https://youtu.be/7ANZCk97F7Y?si=L7rC4VStmYo_NkrL (trailer)

Find Peg Aloi here:

https://x.com/themediawitch

https://themediawitch.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7lfIuXsQmI (Podcast)

Works:

https://www.amazon.com/New-Generation-Witches-Witchcraft-Contemporary/dp/0754657841

https://www.amazon.com/Carnivale-American-Grotesque-Critical-Essays/dp/0786448164

The Witching Hour: How Witches Enchanted the World (forthcoming)

Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea

Bernd-Christian Otto (b. 1976) is a scholar of religion. After gaining his PhD in 2009 at the university of Heidelberg (Germany) with an extensive study on the conceptual history of magic, Otto pursued his academic career at various universities, among them Heidelberg, Erfurt, Bochum, Leipzig, Erlangen (Germany) and Bergen (Norway). Otto is co-founder and permanent fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies ‘Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices from a Global Perspective’ at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (www.cas-e.de); he is a board member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (www.esswe.org); and he is co-founder, trustee and scientific director of the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (www.rensep.org). Otto's research focuses on magic and esotericism, where he combines different methodologies such as conceptual history, discourse analysis, social theory, ritual studies, qualitative interviews, participant observation, and practitioner-scholarship. His book publications include "Defining Magic: A Reader" (Routledge 2013), co-edited with Michael Stausberg; the duograph "Magical Manuscripts in Early Modern Europe: The Clandestine Trade in Illegal Book Collections" (Palgrave MacMillan 2017), co-authored with Daniel Bellingradt; and the anthology "Fictional Practice: Magic, Narration and the Power of Imagination" (Brill 2021), co-edited with Dirk Johannsen.

Andrea Centore holds a master's degree in Translation Studies from the University of Mons-Hainaut (Belgium), and a master's degree in Religious Studies from the University of Amsterdam. His research explores the intersection of Jewish and Islamic esotericism through the perspectives of intellectual and global history, with a particular focus on Kabbalah and Sufi lettrism. In addition, Andrea has engaged with texts from a wide range of esoteric traditions including Islamicate occultism, strands of Western esotericism, and Nāth Tantric Yoga. He is the co-founder and managing director of the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP), where one of his key aims is to foster a more systematic dialogue between the academic community and esoteric practitioners. Andrea is also an entrepreneur in the professional services sector. 

We take a look at the website, and the different options available to the members. Not only are there blog posts and research updates available, but members can also take part in study groups and take part in livestreams with scholars and practitioners alike (titled “ask a scholar” and “ask a practitioner”). Another great opportunity is the ability to meet new people, forming connections with other members to foster communication and learning, growing one’s own network of contacts in the process. RENSEP has also just launched an open-access, peer-review journal, too, called Praxis-Knowledge!

RENSEP is a fantastic place to share and learn with other people with similar interests, and is one-of-a-kind with regard to online communities that offer grounded, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed research and a wonderful platform for practitioners to engage with scholars and others who share the same interests.

Bernd and Andrea have also very generously offered a 50% discount on membership for all viewers/listeners of Rejected Religion! Use the promo code RR50 when signing up at www.rensep.org!

Patreon members also receive special discounts --

Tiers 1& 2 get 70% off on membership, and Tiers 3 & 4 get a FREE membership!

This is a fabulous opportunity to join and start learning about esoteric practices, with access to information and resources that usually only are available to those within academia!

Members can find their promo codes on the Patreon page. Rejected Religion | Illuminating the Obscure | Patreon

My thanks to RENSEP for making this possible!

Theme music & video production: Stephanie Shea of Rejected Religion

In closing, we also explore occulture and the cultural impact on all of this a bit, specifically how these ideas are played out in shows like X-Files and of course, my favorite, Twin Peaks.

NOTE: Around the 1 hour 13 minute mark, I mistakenly say "accelerators" instead of "accumulators" when talking about Wilhelm Reich's orgone accumulators. My apologies.

Alongside this work, Aaron has recently co-edited the volume Modernity and the Construction of Sacred Space, which is available in open access on the De Gruyter website. You can find his latest article on Rudolf Steiner "Esotericism against Capitalism? Rudolf Steiner’s Reform Pedagogy as a Site of Resistance" in volume 14 (no. 2) of the journal Approaching Religion, which is also published open access.

Rejected Religion | Illuminating the Obscure | Patreon

To access my previous discussion with Aaron about UFOs, Steiner and Hynek PLUS more relevant links to the topic, please follow these links:
https://rejected-religion-introductory-episode-1-what-do-i-mean-by.simplecast.com/episodes/rr-podcast-e24-p1-dr-aaron-french-us-from-the-future-magic-technology-rosicrucians-steiner-new-age-ufos

https://rejected-religion-introductory-episode-1-what-do-i-mean-by.simplecast.com/episodes/rr-pod-e24-p2-dr-aaron-french-us-from-the-future-magic-technology-rosicrucians-steiner-new-age-ufos

Dr. Aaron French
(99+) Aaron French | Universität Erfurt - Academia.edu
Aaron J. French (uni-erfurt.de)
(99+) Modernity and the Construction of Sacred Space | Aaron French - Academia.edu
(99+) Esotericism against Capitalism? Rudolf Steiner’s Reform Pedagogy as a Site of Resistance | Aaron French - Academia.edu

David Grusch Congressional Testimony videos: Bing Videos
UAP Task Force AARO: AARO Home

Dr. Diana Pasulka
Amazon.com: Encounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligences: 9781250879561: Pasulka, D. W.: Books
American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology: Pasulka, D.W.: 9780190692889: Amazon.com: Books

Dr. Jeffrey Kripal
Amazon.com: How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else: 9780226833682: Kripal, Jeffrey J.: Books

Spacekind Foundation: SPACEKIND.ORG
"Overview Effect": The Overview Effect: It will transform how you think forever (youtube.com)

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

This hour-long audio clip is a collection of excerpts from a three-hour long conversation with guest Eliott Edge that can be found on my Patreon page. A new option of a one-time purchase is now available as well, if you'd like to listen to the whole episode! Please visit my Patreon to learn more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/rr-patreon-tier-111609568 

As listed on Eliott’s website bio, he "is a critically-acclaimed author, artist, and international speaker. Eliott has published and presented through The Institute of Ethics and Emerging Technologies, The University of Melbourne, Stevens Institute of Technology, Anthology Film Archives, The C.G. Jung Center, The Fenris Wolf, The Museum of Computer Arts, VRTO, Block Seoul, and Disinformation. His work has been included in university curricula as well as cited in Masters' theses and Doctoral dissertations. Edge’s interests include cyborg anthropology, simulation theory, media theory, consciousness and psi research, liminality, psychoanalysis, psychedelics, western occultism, contemporary folklore, as well as AI, culture and film criticism. Edge is a member of Das Unbehagen: Free Association for Psychoanalysis, and a Media & Arts Advisory Board member for The Lifeboat Foundation."

In this discussion, Eliott shares his insights and views surrounding the work of Thomas Campbell, a former NASA physicist who specialized in technology development and complex-system risk analysis for both government and industry. In addition, for more than 50 years, he conducted scientific, drug-free research into altered states of consciousness. Out of this work came My Big TOE, or Theory of Everything,  a scientific model of reality based on the insight that consciousness is fundamental to all existence.  Eliott is currently working on his own book that discusses Campbell’s simulation theory, which posits that our idea of reality is actually a virtual simulation. According to Campbell, consciousness is the fundamental basis of what we consider reality, and the physical universe is a virtual construct created by this consciousness.

In our discussion, Eliott talks as well about another simulation theory called the ‘ancestor simulation hypothesis’ and the problems associated with this. We also talk about how paranormal, or supernatural experiences such as out-of-body experiences, remote viewing, ghosts, UFOs, etc., play into this concept. As Eliott is not only interested in the scientific side of the story, he also talks about how occult practitioners, such as those found in ritual magick and chaos magick, as well as religious practitioners from any path can also benefit from learning about Campbell’s work. He explains everything in a down-to-earth manner so that anyone from any walk of life can understand the principles.

Eliott Edge
writing | Eliottedge
OddEdges - YouTube
Eliott Edge and Tom Campbell in Conversation Part 1 of 2 (youtube.com)
Eliott Edge and Tom Campbell in Conversation Part 2 of 2 (youtube.com)
Home | Testing the Simulation Hypothesis (testingthehypothesis.com)

My Big TOE (my-big-toe.com)
Tom Campbell - My Big TOE (my-big-toe.com)
My Big TOE Trilogy : Thomas Campbell : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Experiential Expanded Consciousness Meditation Programs and Research – The Monroe Institute
The Monroe Explorer Tapes - YouTube
Explorer Series: Compiled Audio Files (1-32) : The Monroe Institute : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea
 

Former director Prof. Dr. Wouter Hanegraaff opens by giving a background of the Centre - what led to its foundation, who founded it, the inspiration for it, and his role in the Centre. Current director Dr. Marco Pasi continues by sharing his own history with the Centre and the present-day activities, and both share their insights regarding the achievements and challenges the Centre has experienced in the past 25 years.

Congratulations to all those involved in the formation of and contribution to this esteemed group!

Many thanks to both gentlemen for their time and collaboration.

This video was produced by Stephanie Shea of Rejected Religion in collaboration with the HHP Centre. For more information about the Centre and its activities, please visit the website - https://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl/.

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

Copyright September 2024

Charlotte and I met in 2022 at the Visionary Medium Conference in Copenhagen. I was intrigued by her presentation there and was eager to talk with her more. Although it's been two years since we last spoke, I am happy to offer this interview for you now.  

Some highlights:

With regard to Charlotte's 'process,' she explains that she is hyperaware of everything happening around her, and is trying to make sense of things as well as trying to see patterns that could help her operate in reality (or realities). However, with her art, she "switches off everything" although her brain is working on an unconscious level while she is creating. She then has to decipher what the meaning is afterwards. As she calls herself an 'intellectual packrat' she finds inspiration in culture of all forms, as well as in nature.  

Referencing her sculptures known as 'spirit houses,' she states, "in terms of spirit, ...things of spirit want nothing more than to be recognized." The objects Charlotte creates act as a place of recognition, as well as a place for the spirits to play, or rest, for example.  

Speaking about her recent work as artist-in-residence, Charlotte shares how her earlier work that focused on the 'dance' of magick and art developed into new explorations into animism and memory, the latter being the place of life force, in her opinion. Acknowledging memory is part of her artistic process.

In closing, Charlotte shares how her work as a writer differs from that as an artist, and also shares her ideas of how 'the liminal' plays a role in her process in general.  

You can find Charlotte at the following links:

Website: Charlotte Rodgers (squarespace.com)

Instagram:  Charlotte Rodgers (@charlottejrodgers) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook:  Facebook

Music: Stephanie Shea

In this interview, Phil talks about the tricky area of methodology when it comes to scholars who are also magickal practitioners, and the reasons why he chose autoethnography as his primary research method. He also explains the background of the term and how the method has developed from a narrative-only approach to one where analysis is also utilized. Phil then talks about some important points and insights that arose while he was doing field recordings, and more about his developmental process as a magickal practitioner throughout the years as a “creative seeker”, which relates to how paths of practice develop as a consequence of experience and appraisals of those experiences. This also includes identity construction and performance, and how experiences shape one’s sense of identity.

Note: The full interview with Phil is available on Patreon, with a 7-day free trial, should you be interested. If you enjoy my content and would like to support my work, please consider checking out my Patreon page (as there is much more content to come over there) and consider subscribing. 
Rejected Religion | Illuminating the Obscure | Patreon

PROGRAM NOTES

Dr. Phil Legard
The Occultural Orpheus: Exploring Creative Seekership through Analytic Autoethnography (leedsbeckett.ac.uk)
(99+) Phil Legard | Leeds Beckett University - Academia.edu
(99+) Imaginative Listening and Porous Practices: Expanding the Boundaries of Esoteric Musicology | Phil Legard - Academia.edu
(99+) Inner-Sense and Experience: Drone Music, Esotericism and the Hieroeidetic Field | Phil Legard - Academia.edu
(99+) The Bright Sound Behind the Sound: Real-World Music, Symbolic Discourse and the Foregrounding of Imagination | Phil Legard - Academia.edu
Music | Hawthonn (bandcamp.com)
𝖕𝔥𝔦𝔩 𝖑𝔢𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡 (@larkfall) / X (twitter.com)
Hawthonn (@hawthonn) • Instagram photos and videos

Works Referenced:
Esotericism and Criticism: A Platonic Response to Arthur Versluis (wouterjhanegraaff.blogspot.com)
1887_3160767-What is wrong with Pagan Studies_.pdf
A-Methodology-of-the-Imagination.pdf (mythcosmologysacred.com)
Writing the self into research: Using grounded theory analytic strategies in autoethnography | Published in TEXT (scholasticahq.com)
Hildegard Westerkamp - Kits Beach Soundwalk (1989) (youtube.com)

Works by Hawthonn used in the interview:
32:15 - Dream Cairn from the album Earth Mirror

Rejected Religion Theme: Daniel P. Shea

Additional music: Stephanie Shea
 

In this interview, Tara discusses how there is a lacuna in the area of Religious Studies when it comes to researching the relationship between religion and tabletop games. Her work demonstrates that Warhammer 40k encourages players to talk and think about religion. We discuss the game and its influences, as well as the role of 'play' in Tara's research, which suggests that there is more imagination and interactional thought about religion than was previously presumed. As this is a work in progress, Tara also discusses her different approaches and her interests in broadening her research scope.  

NOTE: Two corrections in this interview --

At 0:22:06, Tara says that the Emperor is keeping the Warp open and this is how he dies. This is incorrect. The Emperor does not die while keeping the Warp open; instead, he is mortally wounded while fighting his son Horus. Later on, in his "in between" state, he helps to keep the Warp pathways navigable while on the Golden Throne.

At 0:49:15, Tara mentions there are 7 books in the Horus Heresy Series, but what was meant is the Siege of Terra which is a subsection of the overarching series. The Siege of Terra has 8 books (with the last book split into 3 volumes); the entire Horus Heresy has 64 books. 

Find Tara at:

https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/people/tara-smith

https://hds.academia.edu/TaraSmith

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

In this very engaging conversation, Mike starts by talking about what inspired him to write this book, and then we jump into discussing several of the major psychedelic groups he discusses in his book. A few highlights of our interview: The Native American Church and their struggle to receive legal permission from the United States government to use peyote in their rituals; how non-indigenous people also tried to gain this legal permission for their own churches; the highly eventful life of Timothy Leary and his engagement with LSD, and his later League for Spiritual Discovery; the forerunner to satirical groups such as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, the Neo-American Church; the introduction of ‘crisis response’ help with the use of LSD by the Church of Naturalism; the switch to the use of legal drugs by the Church of the Tree of Life; the success of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church with the Rastafarians, and the downfall of the Church after the group became too highly involved in drug trafficking; and the complicated efforts to profit commercially from the use of entheogens by the present-day Ayahuasca Healings group.

PROGRAM NOTES

Works by/ co-authored by Mike Mariancci:
Psychedelic Cults and Outlaw Churches: LSD, Cannabis, and Spiritual Sacraments in Underground America: Marinacci, Mike: 9781644117071: Amazon.com: Books

Eerie California: Strange Places and Odd Phenomena in the Golden State: Marinacci, Mike: 9781579512514: Amazon.com: Books

California Jesus: A (Slightly) Irreverent Guide to the Golden State's Christian Sects, Evangelists and Latter-Day Prophets - Kindle edition by Marinacci, Mike. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Weird California: You Travel Guide to California's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Volume 7): Bishop, Greg, Oesterle, Joe, Marinacci, Mike, Moran, Mark, Sceurman, Mark, Sceurman, Mark: 9781402766831: Amazon.com: Books

Email Mike Marinacci: psychedelic.cults@gmail.com
Instagram: Mike Marinacci (@psychedeliccults) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

OTHER LINKS
God on High: Religion, Cannabis, and the Quest for Legitimacy: Cozad, Laurie: 9781498504041: Amazon.com: Books

Psychedelic Intersections: Cross-cultural Manifestations of the Sacred Conference 2024, February 17, 2024 | Center for the Study of World Religions (harvard.edu)
YouTube Channel: (12) HDS Center for the Study of World Religions - YouTube

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea

 

Sue Terry has an MA from the University of Surrey where her dissertation was _The Magician Goes Further: The Occult Oblique View in the Short Fiction of Mary Butts_. Sue is now a PhD candidate at Surrey researching feminist occult modernist novels of the 20th century, and she is teaching open access courses in "Literature and the Weird" through her new venture Owl House Seminars.  

Sue co-founded the Magickal Women Conference in 2018 and after almost five successful years as director, she stepped down in January 2023 in order focus on her doctoral research, on Owl House Seminars, and her writing on the fiction of Alan Garner, which is destined to become a book.  

In this interview, Sue begins by talking about her rich history with the Magickal Women Conferences. We then move the conversation to her new venture, and Sue gives us a sneak preview of several upcoming seminars that she has planned. She then shares about her PhD research that investigates female literary responses to occult ideas and practices, and we close with an interesting look into her research and writing about the author Alan Garner.  

Sue is a wonderful storyteller and I found this discussion fascinating and extremely engaging!  

PROGRAM NOTES

Sue Terry Esoteric Academic (sueterryacademic.com)
Sue Terry (@suemetro) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
Facebook
OwlhouseSeminars (@OwlhouseSeminar) / X (twitter.com)

Magickal Women Conference
Making Magic Happen — Magickal Women Conference

Jeffrey J. Kripal, PhD – J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion – Rice University (jeffreyjkripal.com)
Alan Garner | The Booker Prizes
 

Theme Music: Stephanie Shea

Simulacra and Simulation (The Body, In Theory: Histories of Cultural Materialism): Jean Baudrillard, Sheila Faria Glaser: 9780472065219: Amazon.com: Books
Selected articles about philosophers mentioned in E28:
Gilles Deleuze (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Félix Guattari - Wikipedia
Jean François Lyotard (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Hyperstition Primer (edith.reisen)
The Weird And The Eerie [PDF] [3ufdj9jsm190] (vdoc.pub)
Applied Ballardianism | Memoir from a Parallel Universe
#ACCELERATE: The Accelerationist Reader | libcom.org

Slender Man stabbing - Wikipedia

(99+) Speculative Fiction | Aren Roukema - Academia.edu
“Book Zero” through the Years in: Aries - Ahead of print (brill.com)
Chapter 12 “Cthulhu Gnosis” in: Fictional Practice: Magic, Narration, and the Power of Imagination (brill.com)

Intensive Care (album) - Wikipedia
Watch Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God (HBO) | TV Shows | HBO Max

NOTE about audio: At this time, I am recording at a temporary location due to extensive home renovations. Unfortunately, the building in which I'm located is also undergoing renovations. I had attempted to work around the noise, but sadly, I wasn't aware that wood floors were being sanded at the same time I was recording. The audio is therefore not optimal; I did my best to edit out the noise, but apologize for the (at times) poor audio quality. 

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea
Other Music: Stephanie Shea
 

Simulacra and Simulation (The Body, In Theory: Histories of Cultural Materialism): Jean Baudrillard, Sheila Faria Glaser: 9780472065219: Amazon.com: Books
Selected articles about philosophers mentioned in E28:
Gilles Deleuze (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Félix Guattari - Wikipedia
Jean François Lyotard (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Hyperstition Primer (edith.reisen)
The Weird And The Eerie [PDF] [3ufdj9jsm190] (vdoc.pub)
Applied Ballardianism | Memoir from a Parallel Universe
#ACCELERATE: The Accelerationist Reader | libcom.org

Slender Man stabbing - Wikipedia

(99+) Speculative Fiction | Aren Roukema - Academia.edu
“Book Zero” through the Years in: Aries - Ahead of print (brill.com)
Chapter 12 “Cthulhu Gnosis” in: Fictional Practice: Magic, Narration, and the Power of Imagination (brill.com)

Intensive Care (album) - Wikipedia
Watch Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God (HBO) | TV Shows | HBO Max

NOTE about audio: At this time, I am recording at a temporary location due to extensive home renovations. Unfortunately, the building in which I'm located is also undergoing renovations. I had attempted to work around the noise, but sadly, I wasn't aware that wood floors were being sanded at the same time I was recording. The audio is therefore not optimal; I did my best to edit out the noise, but apologize for the (at times) poor audio quality. 

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea
Other Music: Stephanie Shea




 

Dell is particularly concerned with the cultural reception of Swedenborg, and he notes that Swedenborg's influence is varied, but overwhelming. This influence is seen in all forms of cultural life from the 19th century onward, in areas such as art, literature, poetry, and music; but also in the political sphere, including public planning, cooperative societies, and women's rights. Dell shares his own research into Charles Augustus Tulk, who was keen to implement Swedenborg's ideas onto social issues, as well as other figures who were also inspired by Swedenborgian thought. 

PROGRAM NOTES

Dell J. Rose: Research: Dell J. Rose - HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)
Dell Joseph Rose – Swedenborg Society

Selected works by Emanuel Swedenborg:
Arcana Coelestia volume 1 (swedenborg.com)
Heaven and Hell (swedenborg.com)

Swedenborg Foundation: Swedenborg Foundation - Explorations of spiritual love and wisdom inspired by Emanuel Swedenborg

Karl Herman Vetterling ('The Higher Buddhism in Swedenborg'): 5db21a82014ef811ec8a2232_Herman Vetterling.pdf (webflow.com)
Thomas Lake Harris (Swedenborg ideas eventually transmitted to Japan): American Communities and Co-Operative Colonies : Hinds, William Alfred : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Alfred Deakin (Australia): Alfred Deakin | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au)

Charles Augustus Tulk: Microsoft Word - lines_swedenborg.doc (ucl.ac.uk)
Swedenborg’s Influence – The Swedenborg Project
Charles Augustus Tulk 1786 - 1849 | Sue Young Histories


Theme music: Daniel P. Shea
Other music: Stephanie Shea


 

Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Gadamer, Hans-Georg | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (utm.edu)
Hermeneutics: Gadamer’s Hermeneutics - Northwestern University Press

Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Derrida, Jacques | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (utm.edu)

History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (University of Amsterdam): HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)

Theme music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea

He is now writing a book entitled William Blake and Allen Ginsberg: Romanticism, Counterculture and Radical Reception.

PROGRAM NOTES

Dr. Luke Walker:
academia.edu page: (99+) Luke Walker | Home - Academia.edu
Twitter: Luke Walker (@DrLukeWalker) / Twitter

Selected Articles:
(99+) Tangled Up in Blake: the Triangular Relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Allen Ginsberg's Blakean Albion | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion's 'underground' | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Psychedelic Romanticism: Ginsberg, Blake and Wordsworth | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) 'One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain Poetics | Luke Walker - Academia.edu

William Blake Archive: The William Blake Archive
Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's 'The Nurse's Song': Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's "The Nurse's Song" - YouTube
Mike Goode, 'Blakespotting': (99+) Blakespotting | Mike Goode - Academia.edu

Allen Ginsberg: The Allen Ginsberg Project - AllenGinsberg.org
'Wichita Vortex Sutra': Allen Ginsberg: Wichita Vortex Sutra (chriscander.com)

Bob Dylan 'Tempest': Bob Dylan - Tempest (Official Audio) - YouTube
'Rough and Rowdy Ways': I Contain Multitudes - YouTube
'Subterranean Homesick Blues': Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official HD Video) - YouTube

OTHER RESOURCES:
patti smith: official site
Home - Kae Tempest
John Higgs – Author of Love And Let Die, William Blake Vs The World, Watling Street and The KLF


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea

He is now writing a book entitled William Blake and Allen Ginsberg: Romanticism, Counterculture and Radical Reception.

PROGRAM NOTES

Dr. Luke Walker:
academia.edu page: (99+) Luke Walker | Home - Academia.edu
Twitter: Luke Walker (@DrLukeWalker) / Twitter

Selected Articles:
(99+) Tangled Up in Blake: the Triangular Relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Allen Ginsberg's Blakean Albion | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion's 'underground' | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) Psychedelic Romanticism: Ginsberg, Blake and Wordsworth | Luke Walker - Academia.edu
(99+) 'One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain Poetics | Luke Walker - Academia.edu

William Blake Archive: The William Blake Archive
Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's 'The Nurse's Song': Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's "The Nurse's Song" - YouTube
Mike Goode, 'Blakespotting': (99+) Blakespotting | Mike Goode - Academia.edu

Allen Ginsberg: The Allen Ginsberg Project - AllenGinsberg.org
'Wichita Vortex Sutra': Allen Ginsberg: Wichita Vortex Sutra (chriscander.com)

Bob Dylan 'Tempest': Bob Dylan - Tempest (Official Audio) - YouTube
'Rough and Rowdy Ways': I Contain Multitudes - YouTube
'Subterranean Homesick Blues': Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official HD Video) - YouTube

OTHER RESOURCES:
patti smith: official site
Home - Kae Tempest
John Higgs – Author of Love And Let Die, William Blake Vs The World, Watling Street and The KLF


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea

Facebook: Trans- States | Facebook

Instagram: Trans- states (@trans_states) 

Twitter: Trans- States (@Trans_States) / Twitter

Cavan McLaughlin: 
Academia.edu: (99+) Cavan McLaughlin | University of the West of England - Academia.edu
Monad Journal: Monad: Journal of Transformative Practice | Peer-reviewed open access multimedia journal (monadjournal.com)

Facebook: Cavan McLaughlin 

Instagram: Cavan McLaughlin (@cavan.mclaughlin)

Twitter: Cavan McLaughlin (@cavanmclaughlin) 

 Theme music: Stephanie Shea

Dr. Aaron French academia page: (99+) Aaron French | Universität Erfurt - Academia.edu
email: aaron.french@uni-erfurt.de
Aaron J. French (uni-erfurt.de)

Hussein Agrama: Secularity, Synchronicity, and Uncanny Science: Considerations and Challenges (omnilogos.com)

The Basement Office -The UFO Lie: Shocking truth of Pentagon AAWSAP program: https://youtu.be/6XD4gQS_-qY

Allen Greenfield: Amazon.com: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: 9781718645356: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: Books

J. Allen Hynek & Jacques Vallee: Hynek and Vallee - The Edge of Reality (1975) | PDF | Unidentified Flying Object | Ufology (scribd.com)

Barbara Marciniak Bringers of the Dawn (1992): Bringers of the Dawn | Book by Barbara Marciniak | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)

Michael P. Masters: Amazon.com: Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon: 9781733634069: Masters, Dr. Michael P: Books

Mark O'Connell (biography J. Allen Hynek): The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs: O'Connell, Mark: 9780062484178: Amazon.com: Books

New York Times Article: Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Diana Pasulka: American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology: Pasulka, D.W. (amazon.com)
 

Information regarding Rudolf Steiner's planetary stages of evolution and Vulcan: Vulcan - AnthroWiki

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

John Greenewald's The Black Vault: The Black Vault - Document Archive - The Black Vault

Hellier Experiments Information: 
'Estes Method': The Estes Method: How the Groundbreaking SB7 Spirit Box Experiment is Changing Paranormal Investigation (weekinweird.com)

'God Helmet': God helmet - Wikipedia


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Additional Music: Stephanie Shea

Dr. Aaron French academia page: (99+) Aaron French | Universität Erfurt - Academia.edu
email: aaron.french@uni-erfurt.de
Aaron J. French (uni-erfurt.de)

Hussein Agrama: Secularity, Synchronicity, and Uncanny Science: Considerations and Challenges (omnilogos.com)

The Basement Office -The UFO Lie: Shocking truth of Pentagon AAWSAP program: https://youtu.be/6XD4gQS_-qY

Allen Greenfield: Amazon.com: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: 9781718645356: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: Books

J. Allen Hynek & Jacques Vallee: Hynek and Vallee - The Edge of Reality (1975) | PDF | Unidentified Flying Object | Ufology (scribd.com)

Barbara Marciniak Bringers of the Dawn (1992): Bringers of the Dawn | Book by Barbara Marciniak | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)

Michael P. Masters: Amazon.com: Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon: 9781733634069: Masters, Dr. Michael P: Books

Mark O'Connell (biography J. Allen Hynek): The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs: O'Connell, Mark: 9780062484178: Amazon.com: Books

New York Times Article: Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Diana Pasulka: American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology: Pasulka, D.W. (amazon.com)
 

Information regarding Rudolf Steiner's planetary stages of evolution and Vulcan: Vulcan - AnthroWiki

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

John Greenewald's The Black Vault: The Black Vault - Document Archive - The Black Vault

Hellier Experiments Information: 
'Estes Method': The Estes Method: How the Groundbreaking SB7 Spirit Box Experiment is Changing Paranormal Investigation (weekinweird.com)

'God Helmet': God helmet - Wikipedia


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Additional Music: Stephanie Shea
 

Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots - 
Amazon.com: Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots: J. Christian Greer, Michelle K. Oing, J. Christian Greer: 9798985917307: Amazon.com: Books
Ebay: Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots | eBay
 

Dr. Michelle K. Oing -
Academia.edu: (99+) Michelle Oing | Stanford University - Academia.edu
Instagram: ~*unofficial histories*~ (@speculativearchaeology) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Dr. J. Christian Greer -
Academia.edu: (99+) J. Christian Greer | Stanford University - Academia.edu
Instagram: Dr. JCG (@angelheadedhipstersarchive) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
Website: dr. J. Christian Greer (jchristiangreer.com)



Artwork: J. Christian Greer

Theme music: Daniel P. Shea
Other music: Stephanie Shea

 

We then delve into the topic of legitimization of ritual magical practices within the context of Christianity from the 1200s-1500s. In this time period, most magical texts were considered heretical by the Church, forcing magicians to try to legitimize the use of these manuscripts. We look in particular at the views of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim and his attempts to restore the reputation of magic as a divine art.  

Our conversation then leads to different magical texts, focusing on the Liber Iuratus Honorii, or The Sworn Book of Honorius as it relates to Andrea's own research into ritual spaces. We also use Andrea's article to discuss these concepts in more detail, especially why space is such an important part of the magical ritual. 

PROGRAM NOTES

Andrea Franchetto -
Andrea Franchetto - Stockholm University (su.se)
(1) Andrea Franchetto | Stockholm University - Academia.edu
(1) Andrea Franchetto | Facebook
Andrea (@andrewcrnf) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
Research Master Thesis: content (uva.nl)
Imaginal architectural devices and the ritual space of medieval necromancy - ScienceDirect
 

'Magic' -
(83) General Introduction to 'Defining Magic: A Reader' | Bernd-Christian Otto and Michael Stausberg - Academia.edu

(1) Magic (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2nd Edition) | Bernd-Christian Otto - Academia.edu

Patterns of Magicity: A Review of Defining Magic: A Reader | Asprem | Correspondences (correspondencesjournal.com)

(64) « Astral Magic and Intellectual Changes (Twelfth-Fifteenth Centuries). “Astrological Images” and the Concept of “Addressative” Magic », dans J. Bremmer et J. R. Veenstra (dir.), The Metamorphosis of Magic From Late Antiquity to Early Modern Period, Louvain, Peeters, 2002, p. 167-187. | Nicolas Weill-Parot - Academia.edu

(83) Contemporary Ritual Magic (Chapter 39, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu

(83) Intermediary Beings (Ch. 64, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu

(83) Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (2015) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu
(1) Better than Magic: Cornelius Agrippa and Lazzarellian Hermetism (2009) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu
(1) Lodovico Lazzarelli and the Hermetic Christ: At the Sources of Renaissance Hermetism (2005) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu

Grimoires -
Liber Juratus Honorii, or the Sworn Book of Honorius (esotericarchives.com)
The Sworn Book of Honorius and the Christian Reception of Angel Magic* - Docest

Speculum Astronomiae | Detailed Pedia
Ars Notoria: the Notory Art of Solomon (esotericarchives.com)
Picatrix (The Aim of the Sage) of pseudo-Majriti (summary) (esotericarchives.com)

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea

 

Selected Bibliography Ralph Tegtmeier/ Frater U:.D:. (provided  by Mr. Tegtmeier):
Amazon.com: High Magic: Theory & Practice: 9780738704715: U.:D.:, Frater: Books
Money Magic by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)
(99+) Practical Sigil Magic - Frater U.D | EmMa Cold-Hag - Academia.edu
Sex Magic by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)
The Magical Shield, by Frater UD by Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD. - Issuu
Where Do Demons Live by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)
Amazon.com: Living Magic: Contemporary Insights and Experiences from Practicing Magicians: 9780738766799: U.:D.:, Frater, Budenbender, Axel, Eilenstein, Harry, Knecht, Josef: Books
Dark Star Magick - Posts | Facebook (A Fall Like No Other)

Other Selected Frater U:.D:. References:
Models of Magic (chaosmatrix.org)
Frater U:.D:. - [ChaosMatrix.org]

Chaos Magic:
Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic: Carroll, Peter J.: 8601404697678: Amazon.com: Books

Selected Academic References:
(99+) Chaos Magick | Colin Duggan - Academia.edu
(99+) Perennialism and Iconoclasm: Chaos Magick and the Legitimacy of Innovation | Colin Duggan - Academia.edu
(99+) The Illuminates of Thanateros and the Institutionalisation of Religious Individualisation | Bernd-Christian Otto - Academia.edu
 

Contact Ralph Tegtmeier/Frater U:.D:. Ralph Tegtmeier | Facebook

Theme music: Daniel P. Shea
Other music: Stephanie Shea

 Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. 

 


REFERENCES 

1. Celestial/astronomical magic 

- Ninian Nijhuis (99+) Western Sidereal Astrology: From Ancient Babylonia to the Modern West | Ninian L Nijhuis - Academia.edu

 - Nicholas Campion Astrology | 67 | The Occult World | Nicholas Campion | Taylor & Franci (taylorfrancis.com)

 - Wouter Hanegraaff (see in particular pp.392-395) New Age Religion and Western Culture – Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought | Brill

 2. Witchcraft
Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements - Oxford Handbooks

 3. Spiritualism 

- Egil Asprem (99+) The Society for Psychical Research (Chapter 24, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu 
- Cathy Gutierrez The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Catherine Albanese A Republic of Mind and Spirit (yale.edu)

 HBO No One Dies in Lily Dale - No One Dies in Lily Dale (2011) - IMDb

 4. Spirit Art 
5. Spirit Photography 

- Tessel Bauduin (99+) The Occult and the Visual Arts | Tessel M . Bauduin, PhD - Academia.edu

- The Spiritual in Art The Spiritual in Art, Maurice Tuchman | 9780896596696 | Boeken | bol.com

Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future | The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation

welcome - Georgiana Houghton

 6. Theosophical Society 
- Olav Hammer The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Catherine Albanese A Republic of Mind and Spirit (yale.edu)

- Wouter Hanegraaff New Age Religion and Western Culture – Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought | Brill

 7. Ritual Magic(k) 
Golden Dawn: 
-Francisco Santos Silva William Wynn Westcott | 24 | The Occult World | Francisco Santos Silva (taylorfrancis.com)

Samuel Liddell Mathers | 26 | The Occult World | Francisco Santos Silv (taylorfrancis.com)

- Robert Gilbert The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

 Ordo Templi Orientis & 
8. Agape Lodge No. 2: 

- Christian Giudice The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Nicolas Goodrick-Clarke The Occult Roots Of Nazism : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

- Nicolas Campion The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Manon Hedenborg White (99+) From Chorazin to Carcosa. Fiction-Based Esotericism in the Black Pilgrimage of Jack Parsons and Cameron | Manon Hedenborg White - Academia.edu

Amazon.com: The Eloquent Blood: The Goddess Babalon and the Construction of Femininities in Western Esotericism (Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism): 9780190065027: Hedenborg White, Manon: Books

- Hugh Urban (99+) Magia Sexualis | Hugh Urban - Academia.edu

9. Mankind United
Mankind, Unite! | Lapham’s Quarterly (laphamsquarterly.org)

Mankind United Index (sacred-texts.com)

California cult : the story of "Mankind United" : Dohrman, H. T : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 10. Satanic Panic 

- Philip Jenkins (pp.221-241) in  Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements - Oxford Handbooks

 - Jesper Aagaard Petersen The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Jeffrey Victor The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Christopher Partridge The Occult World (routledgehandbooks.com)

- Joseph P. Laycock Dangerous Games by Joseph P. Laycock - Paperback - University of California Press (ucpress.edu)

- Peter Bebergal Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll: Bebergal, Peter: 9780399174964: Amazon.com: Books

 Theme music: Stephanie Shea

In this interview, Ninian and I discuss sidereal astrology, and how it differs from tropical astrology (the system that most people in the West are familiar with). Ninian shares the history of astrology and of these two systems; why these systems became separated (with tropical astrology the most popular form in the West, and sidereal astrology in the East); and how sidereal astrology made a 'comeback' in the West via Cyril Fagan and others.  

Ninian also shares her personal journey and views with regard to astrology, her research interest on an academic level, and how she uses sidereal astrology together with Jungian psychology in her own work.


RESOURCES

You can find Ninian at https://niniansiderealastrology.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niniannijhuis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninian.nijhuis

Academia.edu: https://uva.academia.edu/NinianNijhuis

Ninian's article about Western sidereal astrology: https://www.academia.edu/50008714/Western_Sidereal_Astrology_From_Ancient_Babylonia_to_the_Modern_West

From her website:https://niniansiderealastrology.com/2021/11/19/what-is-western-sidereal-astrology/

If you are interested in the academic study of Western Esotericism, and would like to be kept up-to-date on current lectures, courses, conferences, books, podcasts, etc., please check out -

https://www.instagram.com/amsterdamhermetica/

or https://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl/

or https://www.facebook.com/amsterdamhermetica

Theme Music: Stephanie Shea

REFERENCES
Dr. Dylan Burns - 

Did God Care? Providence, Dualism and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy : Did God Care? – Providence, Dualism, and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy | Brill

Co-editor: Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies Online (brill.com)

AncientEsotericism.org :: Network for the Study of Esotericism in Antiquity | A Thematic Network of ESSWE

HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)

Academia.edu page: (99+) Dylan Burns | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu
Selected Articles:
(99+) Apocalypses amongst Gnostics and Manichaeans | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
(99+) Providence, Creation, and Gnosticism According to the Gnostics | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
(99+) Weren’t the Christians Up Against a Gnostic Religion? G.R.S. Mead at the Dawn ‎of the Modern Study of Gnosticism‎ | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
Ancient Esoteric Traditions: Mystery, Revelation, Gnosis | Dylan M. Bu (taylorfrancis.com)


Other Resources:

The Secret Book of John (Apocryphon of John) (gnosis.org)
Gnostic Society Library: Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments (gnosis.org)
Gnostic Society Library: Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments - Bruce Codex (gnosis.org)
Nag Hammadi Library (gnosis.org)
The Dead Sea Scrolls
(99+) The gnostic bible | Constantin Gherghinoiu - Academia.edu


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea

Photo Credit Dylan Burns: Jeff Berlin Green
 

In Part One, Dylan begins by sharing the Gnostic story or revelatory myth that takes place in four acts, so to speak, and the evidence of this story found in texts such as the Nag Hammadi codices. We then move the discussion to the definitions of the terms 'gnostic', 'gnosticism', and 'gnosis' and why these terms are somewhat controversial in the academic realm. 

REFERENCES
Dr. Dylan Burns - 

Did God Care? Providence, Dualism and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy : Did God Care? – Providence, Dualism, and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy | Brill

Co-editor: Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies Online (brill.com)

AncientEsotericism.org :: Network for the Study of Esotericism in Antiquity | A Thematic Network of ESSWE

HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)

Academia.edu page: (99+) Dylan Burns | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu
Selected Articles:
(99+) Apocalypses amongst Gnostics and Manichaeans | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
(99+) Providence, Creation, and Gnosticism According to the Gnostics | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
(99+) Weren’t the Christians Up Against a Gnostic Religion? G.R.S. Mead at the Dawn ‎of the Modern Study of Gnosticism‎ | Dylan Burns - Academia.edu
Ancient Esoteric Traditions: Mystery, Revelation, Gnosis | Dylan M. Bu (taylorfrancis.com)


Other Resources:

The Secret Book of John (Apocryphon of John) (gnosis.org)
Gnostic Society Library: Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments (gnosis.org)
Gnostic Society Library: Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments - Bruce Codex (gnosis.org)
Nag Hammadi Library (gnosis.org)
The Dead Sea Scrolls
(99+) The gnostic bible | Constantin Gherghinoiu - Academia.edu


Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea

Photo Credit Dylan Burns: Jeff Berlin Green
 

Coptic Magical Papyri Website (podcast link available there): Coptic Magical Papyri (uni-wuerzburg.de)

Facebook page: Coptic Magical Papyri | Facebook

Podcast Episode - Appalachian Mysteria: Mared and Karen: The Magical Plate Decoded: Appalachian Mysteria: Mared and Karen: The Magical Plate Decoded on Apple Podcasts

About Mared & Karen: About Mared & Karen | WVU Coed Murders

Books and Scholars Mentioned: 

Dr. Bernd Christian Otto (magic): (99+) Bernd-Christian Otto | Universität Erfurt - Academia.edu

Damon Zacharias Lycourinos (magic): (99+) Damon Zacharias Lycourinos - Academia.edu

Zora Neale Hurston (anthropology): Zora Neale Hurston

Michael Cecchetelli: The Book of Abrasax: Cecchetelli, Michael: 9780990568728: Amazon.com: Books

Jake Stratton-Kent: The Headless One — HADEAN PRESS (hadeanpress-eu.com)

Hans Deiter Betz: (99+) The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation, including the Demotic Spells | Roy Kotansky - Academia.edu

Charles Wycliffe Goodwin: (PDF) Fragment Of A Graeco Egyptian Work Upon Magic Download eBOOK (bookarchive.net)

Sir James Frazer: goldenbough.pdf (templeofearth.com)

Allen Greenfield: The Complete Secret Cipher of the Ufonauts by Allen Greenfield (goodreads.com)

 Music: Stephanie Shea

Christian's  academia.edu page: (99+) J. Christian Greer | Harvard Divinity School - Academia.edu
Instagram: @angelheadedhipstersarchive • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Alex Owen's The Place of Enchantment: The Place of Enchantment: British Occultism and the Culture of the Modern, Owen (uchicago.edu)

Marco Pasi's 'The Modernity of Occultism': (99+) The Modernity of Occultism: Reflections on Some Crucial Aspects | Marco Pasi - Academia.edu

Christopher Partridge's 'Occulture is Ordinary' + handbook: Occulture is Ordinary (Chapter 6) - Contemporary Esotericism (cambridge.org)

Theodor Adorno's 'Theses Against Occultism': Ralph Dumain: "The Autodidact Project": T.W. Adorno's "Theses Against Occultism"

John Carter, Sex and Rockets  (Jack Parsons): Sex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons: Carter, John, Wilson, Robert Anton: 9780922915972: Amazon.com: Books

Adam Gorightly, The Prankster and the Conspiracy (Kerry Thornley): The Prankster and the Conspiracy: The Story of Kerry Thornley and How He Met Oswald and Inspired the Counterculture: Gorightly, Adam, Robert Anton Wilson: 9781931044660: Amazon.com: Books

Kenneth Grant 'Typhonian Trilogies Series': Typhonian Trilogies Series by Kenneth Grant (goodreads.com)

Austin Osman Spare at Hermetic Library: Austin Osman Spare - Hermetic Library

Thee Temple of Psychick Youth (TOPY), Thee Psychick Bible : THEE PSYCHICK BIBLE (archive.org)

Christopher Partridge (editor), The Occult World: The Occult World - 1st Edition - Christopher Partridge - Routledge Bo

Other scholars mentioned in this episode - 

(Theosophy) (99+) Mriganka Mukhopadhyay | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu

(Thelema) (99+) Manon Hedenborg White | Karlstad University - Academia.edu

(Kenneth Grant) (99+) Henrik Bogdan | University of Gothenburg - Academia.edu

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea





 

 Instagram: 

Jonathon O'Donnell (@demonologian) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
Brennan Kettelle (@_restingwitchface) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
@the_art_of_distraction • Instagram-foto's en -video's

 Facebook: 

Jonathon O'Donnell | Facebook
Brennan Kettelle | Facebook
Tommy Cowan | Facebook

 Academia.edu: 

S. Jonathon O'Donnell | University College Dublin - Academia.edu
S. Brennan Kettelle | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu
Tommy P Cowan | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu

 Theme Music: Stephanie Shea

Michael's personal interest in Theosophy plays a large role in his own research into the spiritual dimensions of abstract art.  

This discussion includes Michael's personal opinions and research about the history of spiritual movements as they relate to the category of modern abstract art, as well as his own personal background as an artist and spiritual 'seeker.' We also discuss his essay regarding metaphysical art, where he explains his ideas about the two cateogories of art, and his own work with a pendulum. We also talk about Jack Burnham's ideas about kinetic art, then move to a discussion about the condition of the Theosophical movement today, including his own opinions about whether or not today's artists feel comfortable expressing their own spiritual questioning as it is reflected in their art. Plus much more!

PROGRAM NOTES

Michael Carter -