Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic

by Phil Hine, Grant Morrison (Foreword by)

Prime Chaos continues the exposition of the fastest-growing school of modern occultism--Chaos Magic. The author presents simple, yet effective techniques for becoming proficient in practical magic, including an exhaustive breakdown of the possibilities offered by ritual magic, sorcery, invocation, possession and evocation. The resurgence of interest in magic has led to a new interest in magical groups, and Phil Hine brings a wealth of experience in groups to an exploration of the advantages --and disadvantages--of working magic with other people. Prime Chaos also explores some of the lighter --and darker --aspects of modern occultism, and presents new ideas for developing magical techniques for the 21st Century.

Genres: Occult, Magick, Nonfiction, Magic, Witchcraft, Spirituality, Religion

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Phil Hine is an author and occasional lecturer on a variety of occult & related subjects, when he gets time away from producing print & digital magazines & IT Management. He edited an acclaimed Pagan magazine - Pagan News for five years.

Reviews

[Nik Maack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's face it, I'm never going to finish this book. While I want to enjoy chaos magic, I find it all so cerebral and poorly described. It often reads like libertarianism with a mystical bent. Be whatever you want to be. Try all ideas. Oh, and control the world with magic, maybe.

I really want to like this stuff. It just feels like it should be easier to read.

Here's an example of what's annoying. Flipping to a random page...

"Timing. There are several considerations which relate to the Timing of Ritual. Firstly, there is the question of 'When is the best time to perform a ritual?' From a purely practical level, you should perform a ritual when you know you're not going to be disturbed, for example, by children, flatmates, neighbours or people dropping by. This in itself may require alterations in your faily schedule (getting up earlier or going to bed later) which may help the ritual in becoming significant, as something special."

This paragraph, which points out the obvious so annoyingly, could be rewritten in one sentence: "Plan your rituals so you won't be disturbed in the middle of them."

The whole book is like that. I have to read 5 pages which could be summarized in a paragraph.

I find chaos magic types are so paranoid about telling people what to do and what to think, that they're overly vague. I was hoping for more stories of actual events in the real world. The subtitle to this book is "adventures in chaos magic". So describe some of the adventures! Stop writing the same self help book over and over again.

Instead we get something close to: when performing a magic ritual, be sure you have flossed and brushed your teeth first, as something stuck between your molars may be an irritant half way through your ritual.

Blah.

[Janaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of the material here feels dated in a way that is inevitable for a text which explores the cutting edge of any cultural current, this seminal text on chaos magick is still worth the read. Written in a pithy, fragmented style designed to pack a lot of ideas into a small number of pages—that feels reminiscent of the early 90s zine culture this book emerged in—some of Hine’s rumination still feel very relevant today. His short section on memes and word viruses feel startlingly prescient in the age of QANON, for example (for further reading on chaos magick, QANON, political maneuvering and Trumpism, I highly recommend Gary Lachman’s “Dark Star Rising”). I especially appreciate Hine’s candid and intelligent discussion of ritual and theatre and using magick to hack one’s own brain.

[Scooter Washtub · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is magickal practice stripped to the core. No magickal wars, no elaborate rituals- the caveat? War, ritual, flowery rhetoric, it's there for a purpose. Frou and flim-flam are how an adept controls the universe. Deception, theatrics, lies, bald lies, and statistics of the modern adept- this book doesn't forget that.

[Merlyn Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this fantastic grimoire for the modern magician. Takes the mystique away from practical chaos magic and shows you how to build a solid framework for creating your own rituals practices.
Excellent start for the beginning magician.

[Astral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the process of chaos magic, a bit dramatic at times...but well worth the read. (Plus a fantastic intro by Grant Morrison)

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting, if only to get an insight into some of the people I know.

I wish Grant Morrison would stick to non-fiction.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another must read for persons interested in Chaos Magic. This was my second time reading through Prime Chaos, and it was every bit as good and informative.