Carl Abrahamsson's Blog, page 11

Waking up to a world of magic

Travel is one of the most enriching experiences one can have in life. It opens our eyes to different cultures, traditions, and exciting ways of life. It makes us wake up to a world of magic beyond our own. And what better way to embark on this journey than with a group of like-minded individuals? 

Would you like to join us?

Vanessa and I are avid travelers and we believe that group travel is not only fun but also allows us to create unforgettable memories together. We have been fortunate enough to visit some of the most beautiful and magical countries in the world – Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, Portugal, Colombia, Switzerland – just to name a few. Each place has left an indelible mark on us, from stunning landscapes and rich history to delicious cuisines and warm hospitality. But more importantly, it has taught us valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us.

One thing that Vanessa and I have realized through all our travels is that there’s nothing quite like experiencing the magic of these places first-hand. And for us, that magic has come from immersing ourselves in various forms of local religious, spiritual, musical, and ritual expressions. Whatever your own magical practice is, you can always learn new things to add to your bouquet.

Traveling with a well-organized tour group means having knowledgeable guides who can provide insider tips while ensuring your safety at all times. This takes off much of the stress associated with planning every detail of your trip alone – leaving you free to soak up every moment without fretting over logistics.

Moreover, group travel also allows for cost-saving opportunities such as shared accommodations or bulk discounts on activities – making your dream destinations more affordable. Plus, with planned itineraries and the perks of group rates, you get to experience a lot more in a shorter period compared to solo travel.

But perhaps the greatest benefit of group travel is the lifelong friendships that are formed along the way. By sharing extraordinary and magical experiences, you create bonds that go beyond superficial small talks and extend into deeper connections based on mutual interests and passion for exploration.

Moreover, as experienced travelers ourselves, Vanessa and I understand the need for personal space and time during trips. That’s why we will make sure our itineraries leave plenty of room for self-exploration or relaxation without any pressure to participate in every activity. And remember, we always focus on the magic!

Would you be interested in traveling with us?

To make this possible, please take this two minute survey so that we can see where you would like to go most of all. It will greatly help us create a perfect experience for us all to enjoy together.

Take the survey right here.

Remember: traveling is not just about visiting beautiful places; it’s literally about waking up to a world of magic, immersing yourself in different cultures, creating lasting memories, and forming meaningful connections. And what better way to do this than together with like-minded spirits?

Vade Ultra!

Carl (& Vanessa)

Travel with us – the Video!

Want to travel with us? Vanessa and I are planning a group trip under the umbrella of ”Waking up to a world of magic” together with ace organizer Trova Trip. We’re thinking Bali in March or April next year (but could also be other places – let us know what YOU would like). Interested? Please fill in the two minute survey on my Trova Trip page. Thank You!

https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/carl-7lcth

Not only will we get to know each other better in an enchanting environment; we will also offer suitable lectures and workshops for maximum energizing magic and inspiration. It will be an unforgettable experience!

Fill in the two minute survey and let’s make this journey happen!

#trovatrip #wakinguptoaworldofmagic #occulture #vanessasinclair #carlabrahamsson

Come travel with us!

Want to travel with us? Vanessa and I are planning a group trip under the umbrella of ”Waking up to a world of magic” together with ace organizer Trova Trip. We’re thinking Bali in March or April next year (but could also be other places – let us know what YOU would like). Interested? Please fill in the two minute survey on my Trova Trip page. Thank You!

https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/carl-7lcth

Not only will we get to know each other better in an enchanting environment; we will also offer suitable lectures and workshops for maximum energizing magic and inspiration. It will be an unforgettable experience!

Fill in the two minute survey and let’s make this journey happen!

Notes on an imaginary prequel

When you make a film, it is nothing more or less than a straight projection from your own psyche. Whether the film is poetic or straightforward in form, it is a formulated expression/excretion designed to seduce the viewer into acknowledging the value of your creative psyche.

This process or dynamic became almost an obsession for me after I had finished my first “real,” feature-length movie: “Silent Lips” (2016). Seeing my own vision in such an abstracted (yet highly concrete) form was in many ways life-altering.

The process of making the film was fairly uncomplicated (if we completely disregard practical, logistical and financial issues): I wrote a story, which turned into a script, which turned into filmed sequences, which were then edited together. My urgency in telling the story somehow created the necessary agency in the execution. I seduced, swayed and paid, so that my own emotional (tunnel) vision somehow became a collaborative effort.

After some time, I revisited the form. I basically butchered what I felt was still my own essential vision, but which was in fact other people’s formal vision. I edited the film down by 42 minutes (!), added new music and (re)released the film as “My Silent Lips” (2019).

When I now could watch this bizarre psychosexual drama in a form I could no longer escape from (as I was “pleased” with it), it left me utterly curious about what would happen next in the storyline… I wanted very much to make a sequel. Open endings are rarely happy endings.

I believe psychoanalysis is an efficient method for getting to know yourself, and for untying certain hampering knots. But I also know that creativity could be seen as a compensation for (perceived) neuroses, and that resolving said neuroses may hinder the flow of these quite magical visions and ideas. Superstitiously, I believe it’s better for some people to make art as a therapeutic or analytical method – as long as you not only “excrete” in your particular formulation (which can be highly manipulative or deceptive) but also take the time to evaluate/analyze what you’ve actually created.

This I have done with “My Silent Lips.” I’ve re-watched it several times, and yes, I do wonder about the origins of the story and its inherent (a)morals. A young Swedish woman is lost in the Balkans. When provoked (by rape, violence, verbal abuse, transgression) she somehow merges with a “monster man” who very violently solves her problems – and thereby of course creates more problems.

I feel an empathy with the woman but not with the monster man. Or…? Is this really the case? I certainly see the necessity for the inevitable violent catharsis. For strange reasons that I believe go beyond mere “cinematic” solutions, I made this brute force a more or less integrated part of the protagonist herself.

Each film is a strange spell that keeps on weaving new webs of either fascination or disdain – all impossible to escape. I more or less immediately set to work on a sequel, right after “My Silent Lips” was finished. But at that point, quite some time had passed, and I failed in generating the needed enthusiasm from the key players/actors.

What to do? Well, there’s another kind of sequel, and it’s called a “prequel.” I set to work on what had happened before the first part had even begun. But even this would be somewhat complicated without the necessary cast (unless I’d completely re-cast the film). So, what to do as an intellectual filmmaker? Well, you go into meta-mode of course. You make a film about the making of a film. You make a self-conscious prequel to an actual process that includes the film proper, and also the sequel that will very likely never see the light of the screen; thereby covering all grounds and dimensions.

In this film, I’m present and talking to some of the actors and other participants. “How do we make this film?” A very intriguing process. Literally intriguing. Because I noticed quickly how the responsibility for the scenes of pain and violent transgression in “(My) Silent Lips” I had now moved over to others! As if justifying the presence of the terrible and violent scenes by attaching them to someone else. And weaving it all into further layers of (justifying) fiction by making me encounter (and solve) new challenges of filmmaking that weren’t really there in the first place. For instance, in this film I have to have sex with wealthy older ladies in order to finance the film, and they frequently comment on how well-endowed I am. This is of course some kind of fantasy hogwash compensation (again) but it does belong in the film simply because it belongs in the film.

Making these kinds of neurotic “auteur” films I feel needs a large dose of anti-inhibition. Every little morsel of bizarre impulse needs to be integrated in the “real thing.” I’m not saying certain things can’t be edited out (after all, in the end, the film itself decides – not the filmmaker). But one must dearly value the “neurotic impulse” (that is, “creativity”) even on the most minute level.

In some mysterious way, this new film is already finished. It’s yet another psychosexual, black-and-white, meta, palimpsestic oeuvre excretion of utter make-believe; a pleasurably painful suspension of both belief and disbelief. I love this film very much, as it is in so many ways exactly the pre/sequel to “My Silent Lips” that I desired and needed to make.

If the film gods permit, I might one day even make this film, and show it to you.

This text is an excerpt from my new book Inbetween the Lines – Essays on Occulture, Magic, and Seductive Zombie Strippers. You can get your own copy of the book

HERE

The film My Silent Lips can be viewed on Substack, in the

FILMS SECTION

Vade Ultra!

Carl

On Legalise Freedom Again

I’m on the most recent episode of the Legalise Freedom podcast talking about my new book INBETWEEN THE LINES – ESSAYS ON OCULTURE, MAGIC, AND SEDUCTIVE ZOMBIE STRIPPERS (and many other things):

https://legalise-freedom.com/shows/carl-abrahamsson-the-re-enchantment-of-reality-magic-materialism-and-the-future-human

The book is available here:

https://amzn.to/3R5SZOq

In his easy-going style, best-selling author Carl Abrahamsson roams through inspiring topics like magic, occulture, art, and psychology, and also shares from his vast experience of working the magical system of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth (TOPY) in general, and with the ”cut-up” technique specifically. There are also essays dealing with literature and film, ranging from Aleister Crowley, Ingmar Bergman, and on to Ed Wood Jr.

Specializing in topics and people that have changed our culture in hidden ways, Abrahamsson’s essays are inspiring guides on your own journey to individuation, and to a new way of looking at and appreciating culture.

In the book: 0. Introduction, 1. In League with the League, 2. Anima Mundi, 3.The Magic of Dreams, 4. Secrecy Exposed, 5. Occulturation & Epistemology, 6. On Source Magic, 7. Magick 101, 8. Talismans, 9. Climb the Heights, 10. Forcing the Hand of Chance, 11. Anatal Digilog 23, 12. Cut-Ups & Upper Cuts, 13. Cut-Ups & Magic, 14. “Practice Makes Perfect”, 15. Cinematic Visions, 16. Notes on an Imaginary Prequel, 17. The People Eaters, 18. Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!, 19. Orgy of the Dead, 20. A Touch of Vitriol, 21. The Devil’s Footprint, 22. Acknowledgments & Sources

”Carl is not only among today’s leading occult writers and artists, but is, in fact, one of this generation’s most vital public intellectuals.” – Mitch Horowitz, author of Modern Occultism

“Carl changes our means of perception – turning a straight line into an intricate spider’s web of possibilities and impossibilities combined. He performs magick; he concretises meaning and brings forth revelation into his carefully focused vision.” – Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, artist

“Carl’s work always brings you to the edge of reality, asking you to peer through the veil and question if said reality even exists.” – Gabriela Herstik, author of Sacred Sex: The Magick and Path of the Divine Erotic.

“Carl Abrahamsson is a rare voice of lucidity in the complex world of magick. He explains the most profound and esoteric knowledge in a way that just keeps the pages turning and the ideas flowing.” – Kendell Geers, artist

Trapart Books, 2024. 260 pages, 6 x9”. Available in paperback, hardback, and e-book editions.

#legalisefreedom #occulture #carlabrahamsson

Occasional Occultural Observations

I have no idea why I’ve always had some kind of publishing venture going on in my life. Sometimes it’s been a side hustle, and sometimes a full-time job. But it’s always been there: publishing books as a pathology of sorts. In a way, I think it comes from DIY backgrounds integrated in post-punk- and industrial sub-cultures: if you want your stuff out there, you make it happen by self-publishing.

As I have had some of my books published by other publishers, this has obviously not been a stern or rigid attitude. In fact, I would love if all my books were published by others. But I am simply too productive, and so I’m happy to combine these paths into one well-greased highway. And, as most of you know, I do publish books by other authors as well.

Financially this has not always been the best choice. Because in the ecstasy of discovering not only your own ideas but also those of other great authors, you tend to forget that marketing should probably constitute half of the investments and work efforts. If you basically just want to make books – like I do – you will soon find yourself in a quagmire of hard (and boring) work and bad consciences. But… when you do get a new book in your hand, it is undoubtedly a special feeling, regardless if it’s your own work or someone else you’ve published. Perhaps those moments make it worth the while? Ask me again on my death bed!

Also, on an even deeper pathological level, there is that Occulture aspect. When you produce material that inspires other individuals to individuate, and leak previously unavailable material into the mainstream, it is a great feeling of existential satisfaction. That transcendence is key; we need to step out of our playgrounds and play in other ones. If we only write for our own environments – as within academia – it really leads nowhere but esoteric ass-kissing. There will be no epiphanies or useful strategies for survival, but merely a pointless regurgitation of already quantified data.

I do believe disseminating occulture is important work in troubled times like ours. There needs to be more magic out there; whether traditional or experimental, people need to turn on really quickly and get into a SOURCE MAGIC kind of mind frame. Building from the epistemological gnosis of shamanic techniques and attitudes, and then reaching out in whatever micro-steps you can. It may make a difference in the big picture, or it may not. But unless you actually try, will you ever fully know?

This is the time in history when we have to leave the imbalanced faith in dogmatic religions on one hand and scientism (and its patrons) on the other; if we don’t, the collapse will come sooner rather than later. I certainly don’t want to be a party pooper – I love a good party! – but the heavily depressed state of the world and its overwhelmingly colorful compensations keeps writing on the proverbial wall in bigger and bolder letters.

As for me, I humbly offer The Fenris Wolf as a collection of thoughts and ideas that may seem disparate and eclectic, and hope it will fall into good soil. It certainly has so far. Being literally open-minded and then nurturing and caring for whatever epiphanies come popping up might be the most important work there is for a magician today. 

Occultural publishing often faces a struggle to be taken seriously in mainstream circles. The unconventional subjects, unconventional methods, and unconventional authors can sometimes lead to skepticism or dismissal. However, it is crucial to remember that the value of publications like The Fenris Wolf lies in their ability to challenge prevailing paradigms, provoke thought, and open doors to new realms of understanding. While it may take time for the broader audience to embrace and appreciate these works, the impact of occultural publishing can be profound for those who engage with it earnestly.

Some may argue that our pursuit of occult or occultural knowledge is nothing more than a manifestation of our own vain pathology – a desire to be seen as the gatekeepers of hidden truths. While it is true that a certain level of ”ego” is inherent in any creative endeavor, we maintain that our motivation stems from a genuine desire to explore the mysteries of existence and share our findings with those who are equally curious.

Perhaps, in the end, the true meaning of my work as an occultural publisher lies not in the accolades or the meagre financial rewards, but in the journey itself. Each book I publish is a step into the unknown, a glimpse into the depths of human consciousness, and a testament to the enduring quest for knowledge and understanding.

As I continue to navigate the woes and wonders of occultural publishing, I remain steadfast in my commitment to shining a light on the hidden corners of our world. For in the words of Aleister Crowley, “The key of joy is disobedience,” and Trapart Books will continue to disobey the conventions of the mainstream in our pursuit of the extraordinary.

Want to tag along? Please visit the Trapart Books web site here. Also, if you prefer to buy books via Amazon to save on postage costs, there is a direct link on almost all of the product pages.

In times like these, reading a book and nurturing a thought is an act of defiance. Make sure to read a good one.

Vade Ultra!

Carl

New Berlin show

Berlin! Don’t miss Antinomian, a great new group show curated by our dear friends Håkan & Annsofie Jonsson of Hugsten. Opens May 25. More info here:

https://www.studio-baustelle.org/exhibitions-events

It’s the first time I exhibit a Pathography Picture!

#studiobaustelle #antinomian #vanessasinclair #carlabrahamsson

A place for all my films

I have now collected my best films in one very easy go-to place:

https://thefenriswolf.substack.com/t/films

Come see documentaries about #antonlavey #kennethanger #genesisporridge #peoplelikeus #charlesgatewood #gustafbroms #freddiewadling #larssundestrand and some great trippy art films, as well as my first feature film so far: #mysilentlips AND MORE TO COME!

For a measly $9 a month you will finally be happy, and you will genuinely support independent filmmaking. THANK YOU!

Cut-ups and magic class begins

Beginning this Sunday the 19th of May, Vanessa and I host another four session class on the Cut-Up technique and its relation to magical practice. Sign up HERE. See you on May 19th, 26th, June 2nd, and 9th. It’s going to be great!

The cut-up method was originally discovered by Dada instigator Tristan Tzara. In his 1920 manifesto To Make a Dadaist Poem he teaches us how to create what he called “accidental poems” by cutting words from a newspaper, putting them all into a hat, shaking the contents, and pulling them one by one to create poetry by chance.

At the Beat Hotel in Paris in 1958, creative partners William Burroughs and Brion Gysin rediscovered the cut-up method and elaborated upon it, moving from wordplay to audio recording, film, painting, collage, and further iterations. Gysin and Burroughs had been immersed in the magic of Morocco when they spent time with Paul and Jane Bowles in Tangier, and began to see the magical aspects inherent in their cut-up methodology.

David Bowie collided with William Burroughs and integrated the cut-up method into his way of writing song lyrics. A master of cutting up identity, Bowie played with the performative aspects of persona, gender, and sexuality.

Collectives such as Crass and Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY) experimented with cutting up behavior and expectations through their “life as performance art” philosophies, challenging norms put upon them by parents, family, and society. TOPY intentionally wove magical elements into their creative practices, pulling heavily from the methods of Aleister Crowley and Austin Osman Spare, while idolizing Burroughs and Gysin as creative, magical masters.

TOPY ringleader Genesis P-Orridge harnessed the Third Mind work of Burroughs and Gysin and took their ideas even further, in a project coined Pandrogeny, through which Genesis and he/r other half Lady Jaye Breyer underwent a series of surgical, chemical, behavioral, spiritual, and psychological procedures to break down their individual identities and come together more fully as one. In this life as performance art endeavor, the pair challenged ideas of difference between self/other, man/woman, and even life/death.

In this class, Dr. Vanessa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamsson will review the history and evolution of the cut-up method over the past century. They will demonstrate how to apply cut-up techniques to a variety of artistic mediums, and participants will be encouraged to create, bring in, and share their own works of art (if desired, not required). A wonderful thing about the cut-up method is that it can be applied to whichever medium you enjoy. Words, images, sounds, video, fashion, and performance art may all be cut-up and rearranged to create something new and unexpected.

They will also be joined by Karin Valis, who will talk about AI and its potential use in cut-us, and vice versa. Karin will be present on class/lesson number 4 (June 9th).

Anyone can harness the magical and creative potential of the cut-up method. Even if you don’t have any experience with the creative arts or magical practice, the facilitators of this course will walk you through the basics, and show you fundamental ways you can begin a creative and magical practice through work with the cut-up method. There will be plenty of time in class to share and to ask questions.

Dr. Vanessa Sinclair is a psychoanalyst, artist, and occultist based in Sweden, who works with people internationally. She hosts of the award-winning podcast, Rendering Unconscious. Her books include Things Happen (2024), Psychoanalytic Perspectives on the Films of Ingmar Bergman: From Freud to Lacan and Beyond (2023), The Pathways of the Heart (2021), Scansion in Psychoanalysis and Art: The Cut in Creation (2021), Switching Mirrors (2016), and Outsider Inpatient: Reflections on Art as Therapy (2021) with Elisabeth Punzi.

Carl Abrahamsson is a Swedish author, publisher, and filmmaker. His books include Meetings with Remarkable Magicians: Life in the Occult Underground (2024), Source Magic (2023), Codex Nordica (2022), Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan (2022), Different People(2021), The Devil’s Footprint (2020), Occulture (2018), Mother, Have a Safe Trip (2016), and The Fenris Wolf series. His films include Reseduction (2022), My Silent Lips (2019), Lunacy (2017), Sub Umbra Alarum Luna (2016), and the An Art Apart series. His publishing company is Trapart Books, Films and Editions.

Together they host the Psychoanalysis, Art & the Occult series of events, dedicated to exploring the intersections and integration of psychoanalytic theory, the creative arts, occult practices, and folk magic traditions. By inviting psychoanalysts, philosophers, artists, writers, and occult practitioners from a variety of theoretical orientations and worldviews to discuss their work, personal experiences, and areas of research interest with one another, dialogue is opened up between practitioners in fields of study that traditionally rarely engage with one another though often operate in similar and complementary ways. Join them at Patreon!

SIGN UP FOR THE CUT-UPS & MAGIC CLASS HERE!

Thank you! Vade Ultra!

Carl

Pre-order The Fenris Wolf 12!

NEWSFLASH! The pre-ordering for The Fenris Wolf 12 is now active. It is a MASSIVE tome of Occulture & Delightenment, so make sure to get your copy right away:

https://www.bygge.trapart.net/?s=The+Fenris+Wolf+12

This issue of The Fenris Wolf contains material about topics as diverse as Thai folk magic, performance art as ritual, the psychedelic aspects of Umberto Eco’s work, an interview with Vicki Bennett/People Like us, an excerpt from Val Denham’s autobiography, the power of wishing, trickle down metaphysics, conspiracy theories, Satanic comics, the history of Anton LaVey’s classic ”The Compleat Witch”, the ”Russian Embassy” of hippie era San Francisco, fictional wizards, Oscar Wilde, Freud & the Occult, Covid, planetary myths, Pan, individual vs state, gnosticism, the origins of the movie Freaks, the magic of dogs, shamanic clan activation, JG Ballard, AI language models, the work of Genesis P-Orridge, Yantras and art magic, Crowley’s views on reincarnation, the magic of The Purple Rose of Cairo, conspiracy myths and film, an elegy for John Balance, and much more!

Delivered to you via the bright minds of Carlos Abler, Vicki Bennett, Jesse Bransford, Gustaf Broms, Aki Cederberg, Henrik Dahl, Val Denham, Gordon Djurdjevic, Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold, Kathelin Gray, Mitch Horowitz, Gary Lachman, Dave Lee, Ana Leorne, Anders Lundgren, Miguel Marques, Julio Mendes-Rodrigo, Peggy Nadramia, Alexander Nym, Devin Person, Robert Podgurski, Charlotte Rodgers, Derek Seagrief, Vanessa Sinclair, Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, Lionel Snell, Billie Steigerwald, Jack Stevenson, Thomas Bey Williams Bailey, Tom Banger, Frater U.D., Karin Valis. Also, magical poems by Gabriela Herstik, Freek Wallagh, and art by Hagen von Tulien!

6 x 9”, 422 pages. Cover art by Val Denham. Available in paperback, hardback, and signed hardback editions. (The e-book will follow.)

Order your copies right away so you’ll get the book as soon as it comes out. Get ready for a mind-blowing occultural extravaganza!

The book will ”ship” end of May, and you will be the first to get it!