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Dear Nick,
Whilst not strictly Beat-focussed, it might be worthwhile taking a look at the autobiography of Robert Irwin (the writer, not the
artist): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoirs_of_a_Dervish
-in which he talks about his involvement in 1960s UK counter-culture, and the associated magical, mystical and unorthodox religious
currents therein.
See also his wonderful novel ‘Satan Wants Me’ (Dedalus 1999) which, if memory serves, features a thinly disguised Process Church,
and a ceremonial magic(k)al order.
Best wishes,
Christopher
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Nicholas Campion
Sent: 10 October 2014 17:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Magic and the Beats
Hi Ethan,
Yes, very helpful thanks.
Perhaps I should explain for everyone what my book is about.
It’s a dual history of the idea of the Aquarian Age the New Age from the late 18th c up to the 2012 Maya Calendar affair.
One idea that has always perplexed me is the claim that the ‘New Age Movement’ is a ‘post 1960s’, ‘post counter-cultural phenomenon’.
This idea is reinforced, for those who believe it, by the general editing out of the esoteric, magical and occult from many regular accounts of the 1960s. I
need to put that content back in, in order to complete my narrative.
There is clearly a huge scope for historians of magical, occult and esoteric matters, and many important studies to be conducted.
Best wishes to all,
Nick
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ethan Doyle White
Sent: 10 October 2014 17:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Magic and the Beats
Hello Nick
Although probably on the periphery of the subject that you are looking into, it may be worth examining the occult ideas of Genesis P-Orridge; P-Orridge was influenced by the Beats and was quite good friends with a few of them, most notably William Burroughs.
P-Orridge is of course a prominent occultist too, who has been influenced by the likes of Aleister Crowley and Austin Osman Spare, and who was a figurehead behind Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth, as well as an influence on Chaos Magick. Various books and a
few academic papers have been published on P-Orridge and their influence within the industrial music scene, which you might wish to delve into as part of your research.
Also of potential interest would be some of the work of David Bowie, who has exhibited an interest in Crowley, the Golden Dawn, and the Qabalah in a few of his lyrics, and who also made use of Burroughs' cut-up technique.
Hope that might be of some help.
Best, Ethan
Ethan Doyle White MA
http://ethandoylewhite.blogspot.co.uk/
https://ucl.academia.edu/EthanDoyleWhite
> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:54:24 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Magic and the Beats
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Brilliant - thanks!
>
> Nick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicholas Crowe
> Sent: 10 October 2014 16:15
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Magic and the Beats
>
> What a great subject! I see the beats more as mystics and Buddhists. Might
> be worth reading works by the tangential Beats: Brion Gysin certainly wrote
> a lot on magic (see Here to Go Planet R 101 by Terry Wilson).
>
> The Adding Machine: Collected Essays by Burroughs might also be worth
> checking out, although Burroughs might have liked to think himself more as a
> scientist (depending of course on how you define what a scientist is). I
> know Burroughs was a fan of Condensed Chaos by Phil Hine.
>
> It will be good to read about your findings!
>
> Very best
>
> Nicholas
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicholas Campion
> Sent: 10 October 2014 14:48
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Magic and the Beats
>
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone done any work on interest amongst the beat writers (I am
> particularly interested in William Burroughs) and magic (Crowley, for
> example?)
>
> All ideas appreciated.
>
> Nick
>
> Dr Nicholas Campion,
> Director, Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, Programme
> Director, MA Cultural Astronomy and Astrology Senior Lecturer, School of
> Archaeology, History and Anthropology, University of Wales Trinity Saint
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