Are academics in the study of magic and esotericism trying to tell practitioners what to believe, or is this a misunderstanding of what academic research actually does?

Is Litha really an ancient Pagan festival, or is its history far more fascinating?

What is shadow work, really? Is it therapy, initiation, political reclamation, or a commodified self-help trend?

This episode offers a critical examination of the question of “the most ancient forms of magic” by interrogating the category of magic itself as a historically contingent and analytically unstable concept. Rather than assuming magic as a universal or transhistorical phenomenon, the discussion situates ritual practices within their specific social, cosmological, and epistemic contexts, beginning [...]

In this episode, Dr Angela Puca unpacks one of the most fascinating questions in the study and practice of magic: how does magic actually work? Drawing on both historical and contemporary scholarship, she explores the six major explanatory models: the spirit, psychological, natural or energetic, information or cybernetic, sociological, and transcendent or mystical frameworks. Each [...]

In this episode, we explore the complex and often uneasy relationship between science and magic. Rather than asking whether magic is “real,” we examine why scientific methods struggle to capture the essence of magical practices, and whether such validation is even desirable. From questions of measurement and philosophy to issues of cultural autonomy and demystification, [...]

Who was Saint Cyprian: a holy bishop, a legendary sorcerer, or both? In this video, I explore the enigmatic figure of Saint Cyprian through the lens of history, folk magic, and grimoire traditions. Drawing on academic sources and rare magical texts, we trace the evolution of his legend from early Christian writings to the Black [...]

In this video, I explore the magical dimension of Bruno’s thought—an aspect often overlooked or dismissed in favour of his more fashionable reputation as a forerunner of modern astronomy. But Bruno was no mere proto-scientist. He was a visionary who believed that the universe was infinite, ensouled, and fundamentally magical—a living network of correspondences that [...]

Is magic inherently evil, or is this a cultural construct shaped by power, religion, and philosophy? In this video, we explore the historical and theological framing of magic as ‘evil,’ from ancient texts like The Book of Enoch to the European witch trials and the controversial ideas of Aleister Crowley. We’ll examine the concept of [...]

Dive into the fascinating history and practices of necromancy in this academic exploration! From its origins in ancient Greece and Mesopotamia to its role in ancestor veneration, divination, and ritual magic, this video traces necromancy’s evolution across cultures and its moral and theological implications. Discover its ambiguous standing in history, its portrayal in classical texts, [...]

Join me as we unravel the enigmatic history of Baphomet, a figure that has fascinated and mystified across centuries. From its medieval origins in the trials of the Knights Templar to its profound reinterpretation by 19th-century occultist Eliphas Lévi, this episode explores how Baphomet evolved into an icon of mysticism, balance, and duality. Discover its [...]