#tactical magic

But, the level of unease provoked by such symbolism pales in comparison to the insignias used by the military’s drone operating units, which have exalted the images of demons and the four horseman of the apocalypse. In his editorial notes on the translation of the Goetia—a grimoire believed to be written by Solomon the King but most likely penned in the 17th Century—the famed occultist, Aleister Crowley, elucidated the 5 main categories of favors that an invoked demon can bestow upon its host: 1) obtain knowledge; 2) destroy enemies; 3) understand the voices of nature; 4) obtain treasure; and 5) heal sickness, diseases and ailments. Drones are certainly giving demons a run for their money in the first two departments. And, it could certainly be argued that #4 comprises much if not all of the motivation for two wars in oil-bearing regions of the world. But if the national response (or lack thereof) to the enormous threats posed by global climate change (sea level rise, droughts, floods, hurricanes, and the like) is any indication, our so-called leaders have yet to invoke any demons from the third category

Look, I'm interested in perception and how people perceive the world, how reality, on the one hand is consensual and on the other it is illusionistic; how people feel incredibly disempowered by the way signs and language are manipulated around them. I want to empower people.

While magical thinkers experience a range of failed and successful actions, wishful thinkers fail to act at all. In the absence of clear information, magical thinking allows us to creatively apply our understanding in action. It enables us to assess reality both as we are told it is and as we experience it ourselves. And greater still, it empowers us to shape the materials and forces in the world around us in order to truly unleash the creative and magical power of the multitudes.

So where does this keen analysis get us? For starters, we become less inclined to take things at face value. While some would say this is a skeptical or even cynical approach to the world, we prefer to think of it as riddled with opportunity.