Most magickians fall afoul of depression at some point in their lives. It comes with the territory for individuals who consistently push the boundaries of consensus reality, descending like a numbing cloak to paralyse otherwise brilliant minds past the point of complete inertia. Perhaps it is a direct result of living lifestyles which enhance our … Continue reading Black Dog Blues
Paganism
A Historical Divide
Anyone with an interest in the history of both Neopaganism and the wider magickal movement should understand just how deeply people who claim to control unseen forces are mistrusted by the mainstream. Even before the days of the organised church those with a calling that could be considered mystical were doomed to be ostracised by … Continue reading A Historical Divide
Nine Tips For New Occultists
The following blog is designed for those younger magickians who are just setting out on their first spiritual journey. It covers some often overlooked social aspects of the occult lifestyle, as well as identifying a few of the mental stumbling blocks that can get in the way as well. It is based on almost two … Continue reading Nine Tips For New Occultists
Aleister Randi LaVey
Like many chaotes I am by nature a rebel in the truest sense of the word. I believe in nothing, trust no one and consider very little to be set in stone. That said while I understand the rationale behind holding a sceptical mindset, having spent a couple of years assisting with the Anomalistic Psychology movement … Continue reading Aleister Randi LaVey
October Rust
I am always melancholy around my birthday. Perhaps it comes from edging past forty, but my thoughts inevitably turn to darker things as October rolls around. This year I am doubly troubled, as my natural nihilism coupled with the stresses and strains of already being unwell during the greatest modern pandemic since the Spanish Flu … Continue reading October Rust
Internet Kids
There is a running joke among many occultists about the so-called internet kids, an eclectic group of less experienced magickians who boast strong ties to pop culture. Suffering from some form of retrograde amnesia the ever judgemental wizards from Generation Hex seem to forget that back in the early 2000's they themselves were the new … Continue reading Internet Kids
Esoteric Accelerationist Manifesto
This unapologetically adversarial article will no doubt prove highly divisive, and Five of Swords Esoteric Magazine should be applauded for accepting a submission that larger publications would likely never touch. As for why this manifesto even exists, it is the result of witnessing decades of both stagnation and cannibalisation within the Occult and Neopagan movements. … Continue reading Esoteric Accelerationist Manifesto
Remembering David Farrant
In truth I take no pleasure in writing obituaries despite my more necromantic interests placing me in the perfect position to do so. To my mind every death among the pitifully few people who fully embody the heart and soul of modern magick stands as a massive loss to our wider movement, as well as … Continue reading Remembering David Farrant
A Current Meme
Five of Swords Esoteric Magazine is a passion project created by a small group of bleeding edge magickians, offered free in PDF format via drop box links posted on various social media platforms. Designed to showcase some of the more advanced ideas within the modern occult diaspora, this article was actually right at the front … Continue reading A Current Meme
Approaching Lilith
The following article is the second of a two part series I penned on the dark goddess Lilith for Spiral Nature, seen by many as the premiere outlet for occulture in the digital age, which went live in September 2018. Approaching Lilith was presented for subscribers only, while the much more general prequel Understanding Lilith … Continue reading Approaching Lilith
