Carl Abrahamsson, a prominent figure in the realm of occulture, reflects on his journey through the occult underground in a presentation originally written for the Occulture conference in Berlin, 2025. He shares insights from his life, which has been heavily influenced by various artistic and magical movements, as well as notable figures like Aleister Crowley, Anton LaVey, and Genesis P-Orridge. Abrahamsson discusses his experiences with different magical orders, including the Church of Satan and the OTO, and emphasizes the importance of individual intuition and creativity in the practice of magic and culture.
He introduces his recent works, including “Meetings with Remarkable Magicians” and “Introduction to Occulture,” highlighting the need for practitioners to articulate their experiences and ideas in ways that academics can understand, thus bridging the gap between esoteric knowledge and mainstream culture. He elaborates on the concept of “occulturation,” the process by which hidden knowledge becomes manifest in culture, and advocates for a focus on individual empowerment and the transformative power of creativity.
Abrahamsson also critiques the academic approach to magic, arguing that while it can help validate the field, it often fails to capture the essence of magical practice, which is inherently creative and deeply human. He concludes by asserting the necessity of personal authenticity and the importance of sharing knowledge and inspiration, positing that true magic lies in the continuous unfolding of one’s self and the embrace of individual freedom.
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Carl Abrahamsson, a prominent figure in the realm of occulture, reflects on his journey through the occult underground in a presentation originally written for the Occulture conference in Berlin, 2025. He shares insights from his life, which has been heavily influenced by various artistic and magical movements, as well as notable figures like Aleister Crowley, Anton LaVey, and Genesis P-Orridge. Abrahamsson discusses his experiences with different magical orders, including the Church of Satan and the OTO, and emphasizes the importance of individual intuition and creativity in the practice of magic and culture.
He introduces his recent works, including “Meetings with Remarkable Magicians” and “Introduction to Occulture,” highlighting the need for practitioners to articulate their experiences and ideas in ways that academics can understand, thus bridging the gap between esoteric knowledge and mainstream culture. He elaborates on the concept of “occulturation,” the process by which hidden knowledge becomes manifest in culture, and advocates for a focus on individual empowerment and the transformative power of creativity.
Abrahamsson also critiques the academic approach to magic, arguing that while it can help validate the field, it often fails to capture the essence of magical practice, which is inherently creative and deeply human. He concludes by asserting the necessity of personal authenticity and the importance of sharing knowledge and inspiration, positing that true magic lies in the continuous unfolding of one’s self and the embrace of individual freedom.
https://thefenriswolf.substack.com
https://anartapart.substack.com
https://www.patreon.com/vanessa23carl
https://www.carlabrahamsson.com
Welcome to Rendering Unconscious – the Gradiva award-winning podcast about psychoanalysis & culture, with me, Dr Vanessa Sinclair. https://renderingunconscious.substack.com
RU355: TODD MCGOWAN ON PURE EXCESS: CAPITALISM & THE COMMODITY
https://renderingunconscious.substack.com/p/ru355-todd-mcgowan-on-pure-excess
Rendering Unconscious episode 355.
Rendering Unconscious welcomes Todd McGowan back to the podcast! He’s here to talk about his new book Pure Excess: Capitalism and the Commodity (2025). https://amzn.to/4lV4m9b
Todd McGowan teaches theory and film at the University of Vermont. His books include The Impossible David Lynch (2007), Emancipation after Hegel: Achieving a Contradictory Revolution (2019), Embracing Alienation: Why We Shouldn’t Try to Find Ourselves (2024), and Pure Excess: Capitalism and the Commodity (2025).
McGowan contributed a chapter “The sex in their violence: eroticizing biopower” to the anthology On Psychoanalysis and Violence: Contemporary Lacanian Perspectives (Routledge, 2019) edited by Vanessa Sinclair and Manya Steinkoler. https://amzn.to/4nKklsi
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Thank you.
Carl Abrahamsson, a prominent figure in the realm of occulture, reflects on his journey through the occult underground in a presentation originally written for the Occulture conference in Berlin, 2025. He shares insights from his life, which has been heavily influenced by various artistic and magical movements, as well as notable figures like Aleister Crowley, Anton LaVey, and Genesis P-Orridge. Abrahamsson discusses his experiences with different magical orders, including the Church of Satan and the OTO, and emphasizes the importance of individual intuition and creativity in the practice of magic and culture.
He introduces his recent works, including “Meetings with Remarkable Magicians” and “Introduction to Occulture,” highlighting the need for practitioners to articulate their experiences and ideas in ways that academics can understand, thus bridging the gap between esoteric knowledge and mainstream culture. He elaborates on the concept of “occulturation,” the process by which hidden knowledge becomes manifest in culture, and advocates for a focus on individual empowerment and the transformative power of creativity.
Abrahamsson also critiques the academic approach to magic, arguing that while it can help validate the field, it often fails to capture the essence of magical practice, which is inherently creative and deeply human. He concludes by asserting the necessity of personal authenticity and the importance of sharing knowledge and inspiration, positing that true magic lies in the continuous unfolding of one’s self and the embrace of individual freedom.
https://thefenriswolf.substack.com
https://anartapart.substack.com
https://www.patreon.com/vanessa23carl
https://www.carlabrahamsson.com
