Carl Abrahamsson's Blog, page 12
May 2, 2024
A review of a great book
Muses No More: Portraits of Occult Women is a comprehensive and insightful book written by Shetland Island-based author Ùna Maria Blyth, and published by Hexen Press. This captivating work delves deep into the lives and legacies of seventeen occult women who have left a significant mark on the world of witchcraft and the occult. Through meticulous research and engaging narratives, the book sheds light on the diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and contributions of these remarkable women.
The book is structured into two distinct sections: Portraits and Practices. In the Portraits section, readers are introduced to a diverse array of occult women such as Margot Adler, Doreen Valiente, Marjorie Cameron, Sybil Leek, Madeline Montalban, Rosaleen Norton, Mirra Alfassa, Maya Deren, Pamela Colman Smith, Maria de Naglowska, Annie Besant, Leila Waddell, Moina Mathers, Sojourner Truth, Marie Laveau, Biddy Early, and Isobel Gowdie. Each chapter provides a deep dive into the personal stories, challenges faced, and achievements of these influential figures within the realm of witchcraft and the occult. The narratives offer a glimpse into their beliefs, practices, and the impact they have had on shaping the occultural landscape around them.
Where some of these ladies are well-known to me, there are a few new acquaintances, and that is always a great thing. After reading Blyth’s book, my personal favorite remains the wonderfully mysterious Maria de Naglowska, who really knew a thing or two about sex magic.
”Unable to obtain a work permit, Naglowska lived in a hotel in Montparnasse and gave lectures on Satanism and sexual magic at cafes, swiftly gaining something of a following (possibly including William Seabrook, André Breton, Georges Bataille and Man Ray).”
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall, or a guest with a glass of wine, on a soirée like that!
Moving on to the Practices section, the book offers a treasure trove of rituals and practices inspired by the spirits of these women. From banishing rituals to divination exercises, the book provides a hands-on guide for readers to connect with the wisdom and energy of these magical ladies. The rituals cover a wide spectrum of topics including spell-work, tarot readings, spiritual exercises, and more, offering readers a practical and experiential journey into the world of various occult practices.
The de Naglowska-inspired ritual suggests working with/in the meeting point of inner and outer sounds. That kind of intersectional and transcendental magic based in the senses is not only intelligently structured but also extremely powerful.
”The sex magical practices she describes are potent in part because of the manner in which they challenge deeply ingrained patterns of shame. Shame is, ultimately, a problem of the head. The following exercise helps us to overcome the problematic nature of our shame-brains by engaging with the head in a new way: as a vessel for sound. This is somewhat in tune with Naglowska’s own practice of sitting in Church and hearing the sounds, the liturgy for example, but without engaging with them.”
The introduction of the book recounts the personal experiences and transformation of its author as she delved into the occult world, emphasizing the importance of shedding light on the voices of women often overlooked in occult history. Having integrated the archetype or spirit of Lilith, Blyth confesses to having,
”looked in the mirror and didn’t recognise this bold new face slyly jeering at me. This was terrifying, of course. Thrilling? Naturally. The whole thing didn’t last long; it was more of an acute than chronic possession situation. But something had shifted and my fingertips buzzed & hummed. I was ready to scrabble around. And so I began my career in the occult. Don’t all of our stories begin with a haphazard possession?”
Overall, Muses No More: Portraits of Occult Women serves as a long overdue celebration of the often overlooked stories and contributions of women in the occult environment(s). By presenting a blend of biographical portraits and practical rituals, Blythe’s book aims to inspire readers to explore the rich tapestry of occult traditions led by these extraordinary women. It invites us to delve deeper into the histories, practices, and legacies, offering a unique and enriching experience for those interested in the mystical and esoteric realms of knowledge.
I also want to mention that the book has beautiful illustrations by one of my favorite artists, Luciana Lupe Vasconcelos.
I can foresee this book becoming an absolute staple title in any serious occult library, and it makes me curious about what will come next from the Shetland Islands!
You can order the book right HERE.
April 29, 2024
23rd Mind TV is back on track
Get ready for an information-dense post… We have a new episode of 23rd Mind TV out, in which we talk about current projects and events, like Vanessa’s book talks in the US, and new Trapart book releases. Check it out:
Also, today I write about the mythological force of spring in the latest Magic Monday post at Vanessa’s and mine Patreon. See you there:
Here’s what’s mentioned in this episode of 23rd Mind TV:
Carl and Vanessa: https://www.patreon.com/vanessa23carl
Rendering Unconscious: https://www.patreon.com/renderingunconscious
Join Vanessa Thursday, May 2 at Bar Nancy, Miami, 4-7PM for book launch and signing: https://www.instagram.com/barnancymiami/
Join Vanessa, Ad Vat & Jason Haaf Saturday, May 11 at Quimby’s Bookstore, Brooklyn, 6-9PM for Trapart Books extravaganza book launch and signing:
Keep up with PsychArtCult:
… At Morbid Anatomy: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/events
https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes
May 19 our online class on cut-ups begins! https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/harnessing-the-magic-and-creative-power-of-the-cut-up-method-a-la-william-burroughs-david-bowie-genesis-p-orridge-led-by-dr-vanessa-sinclair-and-carl-abrahamsson-beginning-may-19
June 16 FREE online book launch for Vanessa’s Things Happen and Ad Vat’s Spiral of Objects: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/events/2024/6/16/online-event-artificial-human-companions-doll-kink-goth-amp-fetish-clubs-with-dr-vanessa-sinclair-and-ad-vat
Beginning July 7, Carl’s class on the magic of Anton LaVey: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/into-the-devils-den-and-back-an-introduction-to-the-magical-system-of-anton-lavey-and-the-church-of-satan-taught-by-carl-abrahamsson-beginning-july-7
September 8, Carl’s Online Lecture · Ed Wood’s “Orgy of the Dead” – a Stereoscopic Look at a Classic of Occult Cinema: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/events/2024/9/8/online-lecture-ed-woods-orgy-of-the-dead-a-stereoscopic-look-at-a-classic-of-occult-cinema-presented-by-carl-abrahamsson-hosted-by-dr-vanessa-sinclair
Beginning September 15, Carl’s Online class on Occult Cinema: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/the-magic-of-occult-cinema-with-carl-abrahamsson-hosted-by-dr-vanessa-sinclair-beginning-september-15
Books Mentioned:
It’s Magic Monday Every Day of the Week by Vanessa and Carl: https://amzn.to/47ztvi9
We May Need To Call On Our Cosmic Friends (Magic Monday, part 2) by Vanessa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamsson: https://amzn.to/3ttB7ol
Spiral of Objects by Ad Vat: https://amzn.to/3H39RQB
Can I see your niche? by Jason Haaf: https://amzn.to/4aTBucL
This Is the Strangest Life I’ve Ever Known: A Psychological Portrait of Jim Morrison by Dr Ana Leorne: https://amzn.to/44Aa6Od
The Interlocutor by S. Alfonso Williams with collages by Vanessa: https://amzn.to/3UhIvfQ
Things Happen by Vanessa: https://amzn.to/3UC8a47
Inbetween the Lines: Essays on Occulture, Magic, and Seductive Zombie Strippers by Carl now available! https://amzn.to/3xQoVQ6
Rendering Unconscious the book is back! Expanded edition, volumes 1 & 2: https://amzn.to/4b5oGz8
Check out the brand new Trapart website!
Check out Highbrow Lowlife, Carl’s indie record label.
New album with Pete Murphy MAGIC CITY! Check out Pete’s bandcamp:
https://petemurphy.bandcamp.com
Rendering Unconscious:
http://www.renderingunconscious.org
RU170: STEVEN REISNER PRESENTS “CRAZY LIKE A FOX” AT THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH http://www.renderingunconscious.org/alphabetical-list-of-guests/
Vanessa’s collages and DIY CDs are available at Trapart Unique Works at Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrapartUniqueWorks
Vanessa is The Last Mutiny Girl on Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad:
Follow Vanessa Sinclair: https://www.instagram.com/§rawsin_/ https://twitter.com/rawsin_ https://www.tiktok.com/@drvanessasinclair23
http://www.drvanessasinclair.net
Thank you for your interest.
Vade Ultra!
Carl
April 25, 2024
A brand new book
It seems I have a new book out. Read on, people!
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 x 9”. Available in paperback, hardback, and e-book editions.
April 18, 2024
The Mask and the Mirror
I was recently on “The Mask and The Mirror” on YouTube, talking with the lovely Lena Korkovelou about my thoughts, ideas, and books. It’s very refreshing to talk to someone who has so accurately read my material – and appreciates it! Thank you, Lena!
This is a long talk but it’s filled with angles and insights that will definitely inspire you on your journey… Enjoy!
Another recent podcast favorite is my talk with Jove Spucchi at Occulted.
To check out more podcasts and interviews with me, please visit this page.
I love doing podcasts, so please feel free to approach me if you have one. You can write me via my website or through other social media platforms. Thank You!
April 15, 2024
D-generation, and a short story.
I just received this wonderful release: D-GENERATION #1. It’s a full color book with texts and photos about the great ”sonic sourcerer” Genesis P-Orridge. I have a text in there, remembering our experiences together in recording studios from 1989 and onwards to 2018. It was fun to write, and coincided very much with work on my autobiography Meetings with Remarkable Magicians (due out in October – pre-order HERE!)
There are texts by Lawrence Burton, Dave Farmer, Alice Genese, Chris Low, Stephen Mallinder, Jack Sergeant, Chandra Shukla, Nick Soulsby, Jordi Valls and the great editor himself: Kevin Thorne.
The book also comes with a CD with music by The Apostles, Chandra Shukla, Nanavesh, Ov Stars, Rapoon, Retirement Community, Tone Generator, Val Denham, we be echo, and … Cotton Ferox!
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this release? It comes HIGHLY recommended… Get your own copy HERE!
I decided to contribute a Cotton Ferox track not with Gen actually, but rather a poppier track recorded with great singer Elisabeth Punzi back in 2010 (I think). It’s called ”The Sun of Man” and I think it appealed to me in this Gen-inspired context of eternally present Thelema and Individuation. We are not ”sons of men” nor Mansons (!), but rather individual suns in our own solar systems. Realizing that is nothing less than full-on sourcery!
https://cottonferox.bandcamp.com/track/the-sun-of-man-featuring-elisabeth-punzi
It also inspired me to write a little text, which I present here for the first time. It is a story about a ”composite” magician character who had been asked by some friends to give them advice about their own lives. They wanted him to teach them how they could live more meaningfully, looking for technical clues and strict rules. He said he would be happy to help them if only they were willing to listen carefully and follow along with what he told them. The he laughed – at their expectations. He explained that there was no one right way to do things; instead, each person had his or her own path, unique in its own way, but still fundamentally similar because we all share certain values and beliefs. This meant that everyone needed to find out exactly what worked best for themselves – and then stick with those strategies until they became habits. This is what he told them…
Sonic Sourcerers Resound/Rebound
I want to talk about the power of conscious immersion. I want to talk about how it is necessary to choose carefully when immersing yourself in culture. I want to talk about indulgence and quality, which are important keys to living a good life, but especially so when consuming culture. What is really meaningful to you? How can you make sure that you’re not wasting your time? What do you need to be aware of as you engage with the world? What does it mean for something to be “meaningful”? And what is “indulgence” anyway?
I have learned much from my years working within the field of magic. In fact, I have become quite proficient at creating illusions. But even though I now know how to conjure up anything imaginable, sometimes I feel like I’m missing something. Even though I understand why people fall prey to scams and frauds, I still don’t fully appreciate just how deep-rooted such deceptions are in society today. So when someone comes along offering me a chance to learn something new, well, let me tell you, I jump at the opportunity!
You see, every day brings us closer to death. Every breath brings us closer to dying. If you look closely enough, you might notice that even breathing itself is a kind of illusion. As long as you hold your breath, everything seems fine. But once you exhale, suddenly nothing makes sense anymore. You need to immediately inhale new… life force.
Now imagine being able to breathe forever. Imagine having complete control over your body. Imagine feeling safe knowing that no matter what happens next, you won’t ever lose consciousness again. Now think back to how often you’ve heard stories about people going through terrible experiences and coming out stronger than ever before. Why shouldn’t we strive to achieve these kinds of outcomes ourselves? Isn’t it worth trying?
Well, yes, absolutely. It sounds wonderful. But what exactly does ‘trying’ mean? Where should I start? And where will I end up? Is there any guarantee that whatever method I adopt will actually produce results? Will I be able to enjoy myself while doing so? Or will it simply leave me feeling drained and empty inside? Here begin the pitfalls of the Occult shenanigans of symbol-worship rather than genuine individual cultural indulgence.
You’ll never know unless you try. All I can promise is that it won’t hurt too badly. But yes, there are always risks involved whenever you attempt to change things around. Sometimes the results aren’t always what you expected. Sometimes you’ll fail miserably. Sometimes you’ll succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Regardless of whether you win or lose, however, remember this: No matter how bad things seem, no matter how hopeless things appear, no matter how difficult things turn out to be, always keep moving forward. Always seek out ways to improve yourself. Never stop learning. Keep pushing yourself past your comfort zone. Never settle for less than greatness.
We must agree that we are talking about something very special. We’re dealing with something called ‘culture.’ Culture isn’t just a collection of facts and figures. It doesn’t exist purely for academic purposes either. Instead, it exists to serve humanity. To enrich our lives. To provide guidance and inspiration. In order to do that, we need to be inspired ourselves. How? Well, by simply indulging in culture that resonates with us. If it resonates, turn it up. If it doesn’t resonate, just turn it off.
And finally ask yourself this: are you able to listen to the silence any longer than it takes to realize how much you have to share yourself?
April 8, 2024
Rendering Unconscious, Expanded
Released today is Vanessa’s great anthology Rendering Unconscious. It was originally published in 2019 and quickly sold out. Since then Vanessa’s been working so hard on the award-winning podcast of the same name. We thought it could be great to reboot the book, and Vanessa has added a lot of new material to it. So much so, that we decided to publish it in two volumes.
So here it is, Rendering Unconscious – Expanded Edition! Read on for more info:
In times of crisis, one needs to stop and ask, “How did we get here?” Our contemporary chaos is the result of a society built upon pervasive systems of oppression, discrimination and violence that run deeper and reach further than most understand or care to realize. These draconian systems have been fundamental to many aspects of our lives, and we seem to have gradually allowed them more power. However, our foundation is not solid; it is fractured and collapsing – if we allow that. We need to start applying new models of interpretation and analysis to the deep-rooted problems at hand.
Rendering Unconscious brings together international scholars, psychoanalysts, psychologists, philosophers, researchers, writers and poets; reflecting on current events, politics, the state of mental health care, the arts, literature, mythology, and the cultural climate; thoughtfully evaluating this moment of crisis, its implications, wide-ranging effects, and the social structures that have brought us to this point of urgency.
Hate speech, Internet stalking, virtual violence, the horde mentality of the alt-right, systematic racism, the psychology of rioting, the theater of violence, fake news, the power of disability, erotic transference and counter-transference, the economics of libido, Eros and the death drive, fascist narratives, psychoanalytic formation as resistance, surrealism and sexuality, traversing genders, and colonial counterviolence are but a few of the topics addressed in this thought-provoking and inspiring volume.
This is an expanded edition of the highly successful original Rendering Unconscious book, and is published in two volumes.
Vanessa Sinclair, Psy.D. is an American psychoanalyst, based in Sweden, who sees clients internationally. She is the author ofThings Happen (2024) and other books, and co-editor of On Psychoanalysis and Violence: Contemporary Lacanian Perspectives (2019) with Dr. Manya Steinkoler. Dr. Sinclair also hosts the award-winning Rendering Unconscious podcast, addressing the state of psychoanalysis and mental health care, politics, the arts, culture and current events. She is a founding member of Das Unbehagen: A Free Association for Psychoanalysis, and arranges psychoanalytic conferences internationally. For more information, please visit:
www.drvanessasinclair.net www.renderingunconscious.org
VOLUME ONE:
Vanessa Sinclair New Editor’s Introduction
Vanessa Sinclair Old Editor’s Introduction
Sinclair & Abrahamsson Conversation about R.U.
Marc Strauss On Violence
Gavriel Reisner The Absent Feminine
Alison Annunziata Love as War in the Digital Age
Kendalle Getty Poems
Gerald Sand The Horde Mentality
White-Davis & Kotay Racial Oppression & Health
Luce deLire Baltimore
Jason Haaf Nineteen Six
Chiara Bottici The Mass Psychology of Trumpism
Brad Evans Poems
Emma Lieber Bellowing Presidents
Shara Hardeson Try to Remember
Elena Petrovska Selected Poems
Jill Gentile Hate Speech
Greg Stevens Dancing with Hate
Hilda Fernandez-Alvarez On Object Loss
Marie Brown Aberrant Salience
Craig Slee Creeping Mortality
Amy Gaeta Selected Poems
David Lichtenstein Das Unbehagen
Vanessa Sinclair Duchamp, Dada & Psychoanalysis
John Dall’aglio Founding a Psychoanalytic Society
Punzi & Johansson Freud’s View of Femininity
Liza Beth Paap A Letter
Matthew Oyer Wounded Dramatization
Buffy Cain Après-Coup
Claire-Madeline Corso Inheritance
Daniel Deweese A Future Non-Understanding
Julie Futrell Re/envisioning the Feminine
Isik Baris Fidaner The Scissors of Semblances
Benjamin Y. Fong Assholes
Wayne Wapeemukwa Parallaxes of Oedipal Violence
Sergio Benvenuto The Other than Brother
Tom Bland Delirium
Germ Lynn Blackout Poetry
Vanessa Sinclair Screen as Mirror
Alois Sieben Auto-Dreams
Peter Milne Greiner No Castle Poems
Andrew Daul The Terminal Basin
VOLUME TWO:
Vanessa Sinclair New Editor’s Introduction
Vanessa Sinclair Old Editor’s Introduction
Critchley & Evans The Theater of Violence
Manya Steinkoler “Let them Eat Fake!”
Damien Patrick Williams Better than This
Dwight Turner Being Black
S Alfonso Williams Equilibrium
Angelo Villa The Only Gateway
Gabriela Costardi Jouissance as a Political Category
Jamieson Webster Falling
Álvaro D. Moreira The Fall Of The Subject
Julie Fotheringham By Accident and Desire
Matthew Oyer Notes on Kairos
Jessica Datema Blind-Sightings of Black Swan
Olga Cox Cameron A Terrible Beauty is Born
Katie Ebbitt Selected Poems
Juliana Portilho The Aesthetic Experience
Trevor Pederson The Economics of Libido
Bob Samuels Culture of Catharsis
Meredith Friedson Poems
Steven Reisner Little Hitler
Léa Silveira On Body, Knowledge and Truth
Adel Souto Poems
P. A. Morbid Excerpts
Patrick Scanlon Lacan Kepler Freud Copernicus
Júlio Mendes Rodrigo Gnothi Seauton!
Scott Horowitz Poems
Chiara Bottici The Excluded
Gregory J. Stevens An Intersubjective Ethic
Emma Lieber Dear Jill, Dear Chris
Katy Bohinc Airplane Poems
paul aster stone-tsao Poems
Gherovici & Seltman The Unconscious Is the Last Activist
Vanessa Sinclair Cut-up Poetry
Andrew Daul Poems
Erin L.K. Beautiful Boy in Black
We are also offering a set of both volumes in hardback, signed by Vanessa. A great addition to any psychoanalytic library. Check it out HERE!
Please don’t forget to visit the Rendering Unconscious website with info about and links to all the podcast episodes.
And please also join Rendering Unconscious’s Patreon HERE.
And… Always more good stuff at the TRAPART site.
Thank you!
Vade Ultra!
Carl
February 26, 2024
Talk in Prague coming up!
I will be talking to Nicolas Ballet about the life and work of Genesis P-Orridge this coming Thursday, Feb 29th. More information about this very special event can be found here:
https://www.dox.cz/en/whats-on/industrial-culture-and-the-figure-of-genesis-p-orridge
On rendering Unconscious with Mitch Horowitz
In conversation with #mitchhorowitz and #vanessasinclair about the need for a limitless search, and the books ”Meetings with remarkable magicians” and ”Modern Occultism”
#occulture #carlabrahamsson
February 24, 2024
A great conversation on the Occulted podcast
I’m on the amazing #occultedpodcast with ace #jovespucchi talking about magic, creativity, the importance of occulturation, and meetings with remarkable magicians!
#occulture #occulturation #innertraditions #carlabrahamsson
A “Source Magic” event coming up
See you soon at Watkins Online, I hope! 100% SOURCE MAGIC!
#watkinsbooks #innertraditions #sourcemagic #occulture #nicholajdemattosfrisvold #carlabrahamsson
