Mitch Horowitz, a historian and esoteric scholar, dives into the intriguing intersections of magic, consciousness, and the anomalous. He discusses the impact of emotional investment on psychic phenomena and explores the ethics of magical practices like chaos magic and sex magic. Mitch provides insights on how rituals can function as experimental interfaces with the unknown. He also delves into the fascinating concept of backwards causation, challenging conventional views on time and reality. Join this thought-provoking conversation that encourages a serious approach to magic as a methodology of intention.
01:12:59
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Magic and New Thought Defined
Magic is best understood as causative ritual that invites even non-believers to try it.
New Thought emphasizes thought causation where imagination is a creative force shaping reality.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Emotion Fuels Magical Effects
Engage emotional stakes to increase chances of ESP or magical effects.
Emotional investment or crisis can be key, but exceptions exist.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Create Safe, Expectant Ritual Spaces
Perform rituals with trusted friends or alone to avoid uncomfortable forced intimacy.
Cultivate hopeful expectancy in group settings to foster anomalous experiences.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Supernatural', Graham Hancock explores the mysterious transition in human history when advanced skills and symbolism suddenly appeared. He delves into the world of shamanic experiences, hallucinogens like ayahuasca and DMT, and the similarities between ancient cave art and modern UFO lore. Hancock's journey takes him from the painted caves of prehistoric Europe to the Amazon rainforest, where he participates in shamanic rituals to understand the origins of human consciousness and the nature of reality. The book is underpinned by the latest scientific research and offers a provocative and fascinating exploration of human history and consciousness.
Communion
Whitley Strieber
In 'Communion', Whitley Strieber recounts his 1985 close encounter experiences at a secluded cabin in upstate New York. The book is divided into segments where Strieber describes the events that led him to believe he was being taken by 'visitors', his attempts to understand these experiences through hypnotherapy and medical evaluations, and the gathering of witness accounts from other self-proclaimed abductees. The book remains timely, exploring the idea that something unknown is happening to people, which has not been fully studied or understood. Strieber's account is both riveting and thought-provoking, making it a significant work in the realm of UFO and alien abduction literature.
Occult America
Mitch Horowitz
Paul Michael Garcia
Practical Magic
Mitch Horowitz
The Miracle Club
Mitch Horowitz
In this episode of Cosmosis, Jay Christopher King sits down with historian and esoteric scholar Mitch Horowitz for a wide-ranging conversation about magic, consciousness, and the anomalous. He is the author of numerous books Occult America, The Miracle Club, and Practical Magick, Mitch is a singular voice who bridges the academy, pop culture, and the esoteric underground with rare clarity and rigor.
Together, they explore:
The convergence between magical practice and parapsychology
Ritual as an experimental interface with anomalous phenomena
The significance of emotional investment and “skin in the game” in psi effects
Chaos magic, sigils, and how to test magical practice for yourself
Ethics in magic and the overlooked power of reciprocity
Sexual transmutation and sex magic as tools of transformation
The strange reality of retrocausality and backwards time effects
The cultural blind spots of mainstream science and skepticism
Mitch’s pivotal experience editing The Super Natural with Whitley Strieber and Jeff Kripal
This episode offers a powerful invitation to take magic seriously—not as superstition, but as a methodology of intention, experimentation, and meaning-making. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or an experiencer just starting to make sense of your reality, Mitch’s grounded, historically informed approach opens new doors.
🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:
How magical frameworks might stabilize or map high-strangeness phenomena
What it means to “test” magic—and why your results might come dressed in the unexpected
How to reclaim personal agency in the face of ontological shock
TIMESTAMPS 04:55 Diving into the Conversation with Mitch Horowitz 05:20 Exploring the Intersection of Magic and Ufology 23:01 Mitch Horowitz's Journey into Magic 26:51 Ethics and Practical Magic 37:08 Introduction to Sil Magic 37:51 Origins and Practice of Sil Magic 39:30 The Role of Climax in Sil Magic 41:26 Anarchic Magic and Deity Petition 43:55 Exploring Sex Magic 48:48 Sex Transmutation Techniques 52:19 Backwards Causation and Time 01:06:10 Parapsychology and JB Rhine's Experiments 01:11:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Cosmosis [Formerly The UFO Rabbit Hole] 
