OCCULT HUMANITIES 2025

I’m always eager to attend this event which combines great speakers, art, and a variety of vendors — as well as the usual NYC attractions: a bit of art with Stephanie and a chance to catch up with Katja (not to mention a couple of quite good restaurants!). It was a relatively mild weekend, too, which made wandering all the more comfortable. In addition to the fine slate of speakers, there were unexpected folks I was delighted to see like Amy Hale, Susan Aberth, and Lilith Dorsey, plus I met Heather Carlucci who also attended Occulture, which meant I already knew someone when I arrived in Berlin — a definite plus!

One of the real draws this year was Matt Marble‘s I Hear Strange Music, a selection of objects from the American Museum of Paramusicology, inspired by the Poughkeepsie Seer, Andrew Jackson Davis. If you don’t already know and follow Matt & AMP on IG you are missing out on great stuff. If you have any interest in the intersections between music and the metaphysical, he pursues just about every possible combination from mediumistic music to deep listening, Theosophy, and the intertwining of social justice movements with music. The gallery did not disappoint and I took advantage of most breaks to spend some time there.

It’s no wonder that tickets sell out in a trice: Pam Grossman and Jess Bransford continue to assemble a great slate of presenters. If I had to choose a fave it might be the panel with Hilma’s Ghost (their mosaic at the top of this post) and Edgar Fabián Frías (video below) but honestly I enjoyed every panel (which reminds me I need to get to this exhibit Jodi Wille spoke on).

So little time! So much to do!