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Source Magic: The Origin of Art, Science, and Culture
• Offers a “magical-anthropological” tour from ancient Norse shamanism to the modern magick of occultists like Genesis P-Orridge
• Looks at how human beings are naturally attracted to magic and how this attraction can be corrupted by both religious organizations and occult societies
• Examines magic as it relates to psychedelics, Witchcraft, shamanism, pilgrimage, Jungian individuation, mortality, and the literary works of Beat icons like Burroughs and Gysin
Since the dawn of time, magic has been the node around which all human activities and culture revolve. As magic entered the development of science, art, philosophy, religion, myth, and psychology, it still retained its essence: that we have a dynamic connection with all other forms of life.
Exploring the source magic that flows beneath the surface of culture and occulture throughout the ages, Carl Abrahamsson offers a “magical-anthropological” journey from ancient Norse shamanism to the modern magick of occultists like Genesis P-Orridge. He looks at how human beings relate to and are naturally attracted to magic. He examines in depth the consequences of magical practice and how the attraction to magic can be corrupted by both religious organizations and occult societies. He shows how the positive effects of magic are instinctively grasped by children, who view the world as magical.
The author looks at magic and occulture as they relate to psychedelics, Witchcraft, shamanism, Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY), the panic rituals of the Master Musicians of Joujouka in Morocco, psychological individuation processes, literary “magical realism,” and the cut-up technique of Beat icons like William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin. He explores the similarities in psychology between poet Ezra Pound and magician Austin Osman Spare. He looks at the Scandinavian Fenris Wolf as a mythic force and how personal pilgrimages can greatly enrich our lives. He also examines the philosophy of German author Ernst Jünger, the magical techniques of British filmmaker Derek Jarman, and the quintessential importance of accepting our own mortality.
Sharing his more than 30 years of experiences in the fields of occulture and magical anthropology, Carl Abrahamsson explores ancient and modern magical history to reveal the source magic that connects us all, past and present.
• Looks at how human beings are naturally attracted to magic and how this attraction can be corrupted by both religious organizations and occult societies
• Examines magic as it relates to psychedelics, Witchcraft, shamanism, pilgrimage, Jungian individuation, mortality, and the literary works of Beat icons like Burroughs and Gysin
Since the dawn of time, magic has been the node around which all human activities and culture revolve. As magic entered the development of science, art, philosophy, religion, myth, and psychology, it still retained its essence: that we have a dynamic connection with all other forms of life.
Exploring the source magic that flows beneath the surface of culture and occulture throughout the ages, Carl Abrahamsson offers a “magical-anthropological” journey from ancient Norse shamanism to the modern magick of occultists like Genesis P-Orridge. He looks at how human beings relate to and are naturally attracted to magic. He examines in depth the consequences of magical practice and how the attraction to magic can be corrupted by both religious organizations and occult societies. He shows how the positive effects of magic are instinctively grasped by children, who view the world as magical.
The author looks at magic and occulture as they relate to psychedelics, Witchcraft, shamanism, Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY), the panic rituals of the Master Musicians of Joujouka in Morocco, psychological individuation processes, literary “magical realism,” and the cut-up technique of Beat icons like William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin. He explores the similarities in psychology between poet Ezra Pound and magician Austin Osman Spare. He looks at the Scandinavian Fenris Wolf as a mythic force and how personal pilgrimages can greatly enrich our lives. He also examines the philosophy of German author Ernst Jünger, the magical techniques of British filmmaker Derek Jarman, and the quintessential importance of accepting our own mortality.
Sharing his more than 30 years of experiences in the fields of occulture and magical anthropology, Carl Abrahamsson explores ancient and modern magical history to reveal the source magic that connects us all, past and present.
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Published April 4, 2023
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About the author
Carl Abrahamsson
50 books52 followersCarl Abrahamsson (b 1966) is a Swedish writer, publisher, filmmaker, photographer and musician. He has written extensively about "occulture" – how occultism and hidden ideas interact with our general culture (literature, cinema, music, art etc). Abrahamsson also writes fiction and journalism. He is the editor and publisher of the annual magico-anthropological journal The Fenris Wolf, and the founder of the publishing company Trapart Books.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 10, 2023
This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 04/10/2023.
Carl Abrahamsson, and I mean this as the highest of compliments, is a giant occult nerd. As proof, I offer this review of his latest book, “Source Magic: The Origin of Art, Science, and Culture.”
Abrahamsson takes what he calls a “magical-anthropological” look at the history and evolution of magic and its integration with culture as a whole. So, what does that look like? It is a beautiful hodge podge of just SO MUCH. Norse shamanism, psychedelics, occultists like Genesis P-Orridge, William S. Burroughs, Osman Spare, pilgrimages, an amazing exploration of the British television series “The Prisoner”, mortality, and more. “Source Magic” examines how humanity is naturally attracted to magic and the consequences of magical practices. He shows how religious groups can take advantage of our attraction to, and desire to seek out, magic.
Carl Abrahamsson continues to share first hand experiences and researched observations for those curious seekers.
Carl Abrahamsson, and I mean this as the highest of compliments, is a giant occult nerd. As proof, I offer this review of his latest book, “Source Magic: The Origin of Art, Science, and Culture.”
Abrahamsson takes what he calls a “magical-anthropological” look at the history and evolution of magic and its integration with culture as a whole. So, what does that look like? It is a beautiful hodge podge of just SO MUCH. Norse shamanism, psychedelics, occultists like Genesis P-Orridge, William S. Burroughs, Osman Spare, pilgrimages, an amazing exploration of the British television series “The Prisoner”, mortality, and more. “Source Magic” examines how humanity is naturally attracted to magic and the consequences of magical practices. He shows how religious groups can take advantage of our attraction to, and desire to seek out, magic.
Carl Abrahamsson continues to share first hand experiences and researched observations for those curious seekers.
August 30, 2023
Carl Abrahammsson is a treasure trove of esoteric knowledge, existing in that glorious territory where underground music and weird art and the occult are all one in the same thing, and his writing is always an absolute joy to read. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2024
I found this by accident.
A lot to absorb here. Good stuff.
A lot to absorb here. Good stuff.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews