Content caution for apparently genuine harm of toads, alas. Alas, despite an early appearance by the Tarot deck Marseille there is no more sign of them, but there is pin-sticking magic and black masses, oh yeah. This seems surprisingly dark for the time and in such a lush production. Well, partly: costumes and sets for…
Tag: occult
TABI Tarot MidWinter Conference
Excitement builds for the TABI Midwinter Tarot Conference: what a great line-up of speakers — and I’m not just saying that because I’m one of them! I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of different approaches to the cards and the theories behind them, as well as having a chance to talk about an overlooked…
Occult Humanities 2025
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…
Sound & Vision: Cunning Folk Magazine
The new issue of Cunning Folk Magazine is out and includes a piece by me on medieval magic and sound as well as a wide range of fascinating work by other folks that will doubtless charm and inspire you. As usual: we are really in a golden age of beautiful little magazines that bring together…
Occulture
How to describe the phantasmagoria of experiences that was Occulture? It may take a couple posts. Long story short: I’m really glad I went. I was very happy with the responses to my talk and met lots of people who were excited to talk all things Leonora Carrington. And yes, the good news is my…
Irreverent Tarot 14: The Painted Caravan
This episode offers a flip through the rare mid-20th century tarot guide, The Painted Caravan by Basil Ivan Rákóczi (1908-1979). Although born in England, he was inspired by his mother Charlotte May Dobby’s Irish heritage and his father Ivan’s Hungarian history, including claiming his parents were married according to ‘Gypsy’ traditions. However, he grew up…
By the Hand of Sabazios!
The Hand of Sabazios! This ritual relic pops up here in there in archaeology from Asia through Europe. A cult which began in Asia Minor, Sabazios was quickly appropriated by the Greeks and then Romans, often appearing beside Hermes and Pan. These bronze hands were probably used in both altar niches and processions, where they…
L’Étoile
Now in the shop: L’Étoile! Do you see the Star? Egyptomania was rampant in occult circles of the 18th and 19th centuries. This Star Card is adapted from Les XXII Lames Hermètiques du Tarot Divinatoire (1896) by R. Falconnier, illustrated by M.O. Wegener, son of the Swedish-born French photographer, Otto Wegener. Now that the Tower…
Fundraiser: Occulture
Thanks to the monumental skills of Stephanie the Queen of Everything, I now have a Threadless store with merch to sell! First up a LIMITED TIME OFFER for fundraising TOUR MERCH to help pay my way to Berlin for Occulture where I will be spreading the gospel of Leonora Carrington, of course! You can get…
CFP: Divination, Witchcraft, and The Occult
Call for PresentationsDivination, Witchcraft & the Occult *SPECIAL TOPIC*Popular Culture Association Conference8-11 April 2026Atlanta, GA, US The broad interest in divination, witchcraft, and the occult has been part of popular culture for centuries. Scholars’ discomfort with the topic is often palpable: they tend to focus on intersections that feel more legitimate, e.g. legal ramifications (laws…