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Postmodern Magic: The Art of Magic in the Information Age
Fresh ideas for the modern mage lie at the heart of this thought-provoking guide to magic theory. Approaching magical practice from an information paradigm, Patrick Dunn provides a unique and contemporary perspective on an ancient practice.
Imagination, psychology, and authority-the most basic techniques of magic-are introduced first. From there, Dunn teaches all about symbol systems, magical artifacts, sigils, spirits, elementals, languages, and magical journeys, and explains their significance in magical practice. There are also exercises for developing magic skills, along with techniques for creating talismans, glamours, servitors, divination decks, modern defixios, and your own astral temple. Dunn also offers tips on aura detection, divination, occult networking, and conducting your own magic research.
Imagination, psychology, and authority-the most basic techniques of magic-are introduced first. From there, Dunn teaches all about symbol systems, magical artifacts, sigils, spirits, elementals, languages, and magical journeys, and explains their significance in magical practice. There are also exercises for developing magic skills, along with techniques for creating talismans, glamours, servitors, divination decks, modern defixios, and your own astral temple. Dunn also offers tips on aura detection, divination, occult networking, and conducting your own magic research.
264 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 30, 2017
The book starts off with a seemingly novel premise, but it rapidly becomes clear this is just a bait and switch to get marginal skeptics to read a bunch of staid New-Agey clap-trap by putting a cute, intellectual seeming twist on the underlying assumptions. Perhaps the author really takes it seriously, but it just comes off as a lame excuse.
The level of discourse is rather unsophisticated ("gee whiz, I read about this and that and realized it was pretty neat, and you should try it, too, but be careful 'cause it's REAL"), which might be forgiven if it didn't crank the pretension dial to eleven by including the word postmodern in the damned title, and then simply devolve into a laundry list of quotidian popular magic tropes divorced from their [supposedly] traditional contexts. The usual suspects of the Golden Dawn Lite crowd are all here; but Dunn treats these magical artifacts, beings, and practices so superficially that it reads like an outline or digest in places, and he doesn't bother to actually link them with the presumed thesis of the book, but somehow still manages to neuter them with its background radiation. It might be better titled A Survey of Magick for those Without the Stomach for It.
The book has nothing to do with information theory or the sociology of technology, virtually nothing to do with postmodernism, but crucially nothing to do with serious occultism, religious practice, or practical philosophy or psychology. This is more like a LARP handbook than a guide to genuine ritual. It is pure saccharine consumer spirituality cloaked in the dreary self-effacement of a bankrupt academic fashion. What could go wrong? It is like the Spice Girls wandered around the moors looking for fairy folk and then inadvertently gave them pox blankets. Even if you believe that there is something redeeming to the theory or the techniques, this book is woefully inadequate as thesis, apologia, or guide. Those disposed to this sort of thing would be better served by going to the source documents from which the author paraphrases most of his content.
The level of discourse is rather unsophisticated ("gee whiz, I read about this and that and realized it was pretty neat, and you should try it, too, but be careful 'cause it's REAL"), which might be forgiven if it didn't crank the pretension dial to eleven by including the word postmodern in the damned title, and then simply devolve into a laundry list of quotidian popular magic tropes divorced from their [supposedly] traditional contexts. The usual suspects of the Golden Dawn Lite crowd are all here; but Dunn treats these magical artifacts, beings, and practices so superficially that it reads like an outline or digest in places, and he doesn't bother to actually link them with the presumed thesis of the book, but somehow still manages to neuter them with its background radiation. It might be better titled A Survey of Magick for those Without the Stomach for It.
The book has nothing to do with information theory or the sociology of technology, virtually nothing to do with postmodernism, but crucially nothing to do with serious occultism, religious practice, or practical philosophy or psychology. This is more like a LARP handbook than a guide to genuine ritual. It is pure saccharine consumer spirituality cloaked in the dreary self-effacement of a bankrupt academic fashion. What could go wrong? It is like the Spice Girls wandered around the moors looking for fairy folk and then inadvertently gave them pox blankets. Even if you believe that there is something redeeming to the theory or the techniques, this book is woefully inadequate as thesis, apologia, or guide. Those disposed to this sort of thing would be better served by going to the source documents from which the author paraphrases most of his content.
June 15, 2016
I awaited an interesting and sophisticated take on magic but was rather bored by the practical stuff and didn't often agree with the sophistry. Dunn spends a considerable amount of time on theorizing about magic, thus explaining his "symbolic" model, derived from classic postmodern linguistics. This is in and of itself not a bad thing and certainly even necessary considering the close connection of magic with symbolism and language. Additionally it is way better than attempting to connect anything to (quantum)-physics and the like. Yet for his particular approach in this book, I have two objections: 1. I disagree with the apparent complete removal of relevance of the signified, putting the whole emphasis on the significant instead. Although this is rather a philosophical problem for specialist, it leads to the second, more serious critique: 2. In a book for beginners I consider introducing a basic working-system/"magical map" like the three-world-model to be more apt than specualating about different paradigms, deconstructing till disablement and rather ecplaining away than explaining anything as a result.
On the practical side I was a little bit irritated by the structure, promoting rather to the end techniques of stillness and thus wantonly underemphazising them as well as providing only very few techniques of visualization/imagination &c, i.e. the stuff that makes your training. The linguistic background gives the whole thing a feeling reminiscent of chaos magic and its rather casual treatment of tools and moods of operation, reducing the whole question of success to personal aesthetics. During the whole book he rather jumps between a symbolic model and one with spirits (which I favour). His language is educated while understandable and he certainly speaks out of experience which seems to have come a t him with ease. For most folks this stuff takes years of practise without big results, a point which should be covered by an introduction as well as the importance to read widely in academic historical, anthropological, philosophical... literature.
Apart from this problems this book has for the at least little bit advanced some interesting vistas on theory and practice as well as some spot on advice and remarks. The bibliography is also helpful. More like 3,5 stars but still slightly disappointing.
On the practical side I was a little bit irritated by the structure, promoting rather to the end techniques of stillness and thus wantonly underemphazising them as well as providing only very few techniques of visualization/imagination &c, i.e. the stuff that makes your training. The linguistic background gives the whole thing a feeling reminiscent of chaos magic and its rather casual treatment of tools and moods of operation, reducing the whole question of success to personal aesthetics. During the whole book he rather jumps between a symbolic model and one with spirits (which I favour). His language is educated while understandable and he certainly speaks out of experience which seems to have come a t him with ease. For most folks this stuff takes years of practise without big results, a point which should be covered by an introduction as well as the importance to read widely in academic historical, anthropological, philosophical... literature.
Apart from this problems this book has for the at least little bit advanced some interesting vistas on theory and practice as well as some spot on advice and remarks. The bibliography is also helpful. More like 3,5 stars but still slightly disappointing.
June 13, 2012
This is an excellent book. If you are looking for an empowering book on magic, I would highly recommend it. I have read quite a few books on magic over the years and I always got hung up on symbols. Either I didn't have the required supplies or the suggested working didn't feel right for some reason. The result was that I didn't get much work done. Dunn's semiotic web paradigm teaches you to create your own symbol system and removes those barriers. I tend to always have the supplies I need because the things I use resonate strongly with me so I naturally have them around. when I do need supplies, the things I need also resonate strongly with me, so I am excited and motivated to get them. My workings no longer have uncomfortable elements because I design them myself. This book has given me the tools to do all this. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt blocked or frustrated in magic.
October 20, 2023
An interesting and ambitious book. Dunn's later work shows evolution as a magical thinker, but this work is still worth the read.
September 20, 2008
Most of this book is not what I would call "postmodern." The "information paradigm," the semiotic web, the interpretation of magic as symbol manipulation, and the exercises for creating one's own symbol system are significant and make this book worth reading.
However, the rest of the book doesn't differ much from other introductory magical texts in that the author presents "the way it should be done according to me" without explaining why or even connecting it back to the original thesis. Although "because it works for me" is not a reason actually admitted in most other introductory texts, it is still an insufficient explanation for a book that makes the claims this one does.
The author is inconsistent in his treatment of existing symbol systems. He writes that symbols have no inherent meaning, only that which you assign to them, and therefore you can make any symbol mean whatever you want. He cautions that some people call this "cultural imperialism" but he won't give his thoughts one way or the other. Yet later on he decries the perversion of the Norse Futhark runes from their strong and beautiful warrior culture into a happy shiny farce.
I'm glad I borrowed this from a friend. I almost couldn't finish it. Get it used or from the library and read the first couple of chapters. The rest isn't anything new.
However, the rest of the book doesn't differ much from other introductory magical texts in that the author presents "the way it should be done according to me" without explaining why or even connecting it back to the original thesis. Although "because it works for me" is not a reason actually admitted in most other introductory texts, it is still an insufficient explanation for a book that makes the claims this one does.
The author is inconsistent in his treatment of existing symbol systems. He writes that symbols have no inherent meaning, only that which you assign to them, and therefore you can make any symbol mean whatever you want. He cautions that some people call this "cultural imperialism" but he won't give his thoughts one way or the other. Yet later on he decries the perversion of the Norse Futhark runes from their strong and beautiful warrior culture into a happy shiny farce.
I'm glad I borrowed this from a friend. I almost couldn't finish it. Get it used or from the library and read the first couple of chapters. The rest isn't anything new.
January 23, 2019
The art of magic in the Information age
Postmodern Magic is innovative and insightful approach aiming to demystify common misconception about mages and rituals and make them practical and simple for common understanding to lay people, as well as to the individuals who are keen to practice this art.
Postmodern Magic is innovative and insightful approach aiming to demystify common misconception about mages and rituals and make them practical and simple for common understanding to lay people, as well as to the individuals who are keen to practice this art.
December 27, 2010
I love Dunn's approach to explaining so many aspects of magic. His ideas on symbolism and the symbiotic web are well worth the read and have made me think.
September 8, 2020
There's a two star review on here that says this book is like Derrida writing a grimoire. I'm giving it four stars because I generally agree -- it's like Derrida writing a grimoire.
I do have a few issues with it. I think the text is often organized with less emphasis on being useful and more emphasis on finding ways to remind you how smart and worldly the author is. I think the politics are dated and not great. I also think that in a book called "Postmodern Magic," the "Postmodern" aspect gets picked up and dropped seemingly at random. The exact same chapter talks at length about how language is an arbitrary web of symbols with meaning defined by use, then a few pages later complains that the Lesser Key of Solomon is misusing the word "pentacle."
Overall, though, I think it's a really solid text. I appreciate how much it covers, and it does a good job of pointing you towards other works for a more in-depth approach to whatever elements interest you.
I do have a few issues with it. I think the text is often organized with less emphasis on being useful and more emphasis on finding ways to remind you how smart and worldly the author is. I think the politics are dated and not great. I also think that in a book called "Postmodern Magic," the "Postmodern" aspect gets picked up and dropped seemingly at random. The exact same chapter talks at length about how language is an arbitrary web of symbols with meaning defined by use, then a few pages later complains that the Lesser Key of Solomon is misusing the word "pentacle."
Overall, though, I think it's a really solid text. I appreciate how much it covers, and it does a good job of pointing you towards other works for a more in-depth approach to whatever elements interest you.
January 19, 2025
Upon reading some books, you feel as though the writer pulled the ideas from your mind. “That is the book I would like to have written!” Other books, this being an example, leave you with an aftertaste. “If I wrote a book, I hope it doesn’t sound like that”. Another reviewer stated it best, this book does not know if it should be a breezy digest of magic or a more advanced praxis manual. The writing is not bad, the tone is rather condescending. I’m glad that this was not the first book I read in this vein. Luckily we have Lon Milo Duquette, Steve & Alan Moore, and Naag Shivanath to get started.
October 5, 2025
You can get more useful information and techniques elsewhere. I was expecting an adaptation of old methods into the modern age of technology, and although there was little bit of that, it was mostly just rehashed techniques you will find in any other book of the same theme. I don't blame the author though I just think this attempt was made a little too early as this book was written in the early 2000's when internet-fused culture was still in its infancy. No one really knew just how interconnected things were going to get, or how to properly manipulate the web of cyberspace in ways that seem commonplace today.
March 20, 2021
An interesting presentation of the author's idea of using the information model to explain magick via the action of symbols, communication, and the semiotic web rather than via energy or spirits. However, I don't feel the author did a good enough job explaining why the use of "information" as a model is really superior to others or what makes it better to describe magick in terms of "information" as opposed to anything else. The remainder of the book was fairly straightforward Magick 101 material covered through the lens of the information model.
June 19, 2023
I admit it took me years to finish this book. Ended up having to reread it from the start a couple of months back. Nothing against it; just my own waxing and waning interest.
I find it very juicy in terms of exciting ideas to try. I don’t agree with or believe everything in it, but I find it quite sensible for a book on magic. (My standards are low though and I am not interested in the scholarly side of occultism) And since I don’t really jive with correspondence lists, the idea that you can choose your own symbols is liberating.
I find it very juicy in terms of exciting ideas to try. I don’t agree with or believe everything in it, but I find it quite sensible for a book on magic. (My standards are low though and I am not interested in the scholarly side of occultism) And since I don’t really jive with correspondence lists, the idea that you can choose your own symbols is liberating.
October 22, 2021
Despite a few points of contention, this books proves an invaluable read. In particular, the authors points on symbols and the overall subjectivity of magical practices strike a definite chord with me. I definitely see myself referring to this resourceful volume again.
May 2, 2019
Let me say that I really wanted to enjoy this book. About half way through it started to bore me, and as I carried on to the end, I realized it was because I wasn't learning anything useful. This half-assed "information paradigm" is far better expressed by Jung and his theory of symbols and the collective unconscious. A lot of this felt like it was trying to make chaos magic more accessible by watering it down and throwing in his own paradigm.
The final chapters and appendixes are encouraging, and makes me think he's on to something. But the majority of the book did not live to that low threshold.
The final chapters and appendixes are encouraging, and makes me think he's on to something. But the majority of the book did not live to that low threshold.
August 28, 2024
A fine work on magic. It is easy to read and includes a lot of material. A great book to start. An even better book to get motivation to leave the armchair.
It is one of my top ten books on magic.
It is one of my top ten books on magic.
Read
March 18, 2018I didn't read the whole piece, only a few chapters and then I lost the book. Now I cannot find also my notes about it, even I clearly remember I wrote some of the exercises in my notebook. That was the most occult thing about this book, otherwise nothing witchy at all.
Nevertheless I continue to think about it. It was a surprise to me to read about the creation of the magic systems and to realize that that is basically the description of the process we were doing at every Art school/course I was attending. We didn't called it "the magic spell" or "the glamour", no, we just said: "symbols", "methaphors" etc. And the whole process was more on the subconscious level. The teachers didn't tell us what is the power of our thoughts, of our intention etc. About the INFORMATION. But I think - everybody, who has been into production of so called Art (visual arts, literature, theatre etc., also the fashion, journalism and content producing on the web), know what I am talking about. Actually those creative-destructive daemons are quite scary until the moment you realize how to use your imagination for a real MAGIC with beneficial impact and for higher purposes. Knowing more about such kind of magic can be truly useful to maintain the healthy psyche while working with symbolic fields.
For getting into the real Postmodern Magic I highly recommend to read Erik Davis book TechGnosis: Myth, Magic & Mysticism in the Age of Information
Nevertheless I continue to think about it. It was a surprise to me to read about the creation of the magic systems and to realize that that is basically the description of the process we were doing at every Art school/course I was attending. We didn't called it "the magic spell" or "the glamour", no, we just said: "symbols", "methaphors" etc. And the whole process was more on the subconscious level. The teachers didn't tell us what is the power of our thoughts, of our intention etc. About the INFORMATION. But I think - everybody, who has been into production of so called Art (visual arts, literature, theatre etc., also the fashion, journalism and content producing on the web), know what I am talking about. Actually those creative-destructive daemons are quite scary until the moment you realize how to use your imagination for a real MAGIC with beneficial impact and for higher purposes. Knowing more about such kind of magic can be truly useful to maintain the healthy psyche while working with symbolic fields.
For getting into the real Postmodern Magic I highly recommend to read Erik Davis book TechGnosis: Myth, Magic & Mysticism in the Age of Information
August 22, 2008
Still reading this one. Some really great information so far.
April 28, 2009
A very useful book with interesting techniques and experiments. I only gave it a four because it is a little on the dry side.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews