

Episode 48: David Lee
19 snips Aug 23, 2025
David Lee, a chaos magician, author, and educator, dives into his long journey within the chaos magic community. He discusses how psychedelics and Robert Anton Wilson shaped his magical practices. David shares insights about egregores and how the internet, including AI, serves as a breeding ground for these entities. He also highlights the transformative power of connected breathwork in resolving emotions. Plus, get ready for some intriguing thoughts on personal mysticism, as he teases his upcoming humorous sci-fi novel about talking dogs!
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Origin Story Of UK Chaos Magic
- David Lee recounts joining the early chaos magic scene in Leeds and forming the first IoT group in 1980.
- He describes meeting Peter Carroll and Ray Sherwin at a local shop that fostered weekend gatherings and experimentation.
Pragmatic, Experimental Magic
- Lee describes chaos magic as “magic for science kids,” merging pragmatic experimentation with belief shifting.
- He valued testing techniques practically rather than adopting literal religious beliefs.
Illuminatus Shaped His Worldview
- Reading Illuminatus shifted Lee's thinking and gave permission to use multiple reality models.
- The novel showed magic could coexist with ordinary professions and everyday life.