# occult — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 7 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover occult. Page: Feed: --- ## [Night Flights and Spirit Battles: The Benandanti](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/night-flights-and-spirit-battles) _2026-08-08 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ Magic is all about energy. Being a good witch means directing that energy toward the protection of those we love. ## [30.9: The Goddess Hour vs. Church Secrets](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/8/7/309-the-goddess-hour-vs-church-secrets) _2026-08-07 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Church Secrets interrupted our friends at the Goddess Hour during a live performance at our theater. See if you can help solve the puzzles he created to keep them from performing their Moon Bath ritual. To view the full picture and play along, visit our website. https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/8/7/309-the-goddess-hour-vs-church-secrets [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a70c69156553b23fa30a08a/1785775775432/goddess+hour.mp3) ## [What is a Khabs and why is it in your Khu?](https://xagick.substack.com/p/what-is-a-khabs-and-why-is-it-in) _2026-08-06 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ This article problematizes the relationship of the living being to its core truth. ## [30.8: Happy Science (Part Two)](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/7/24/308-happy-science-part-two) _2026-07-24 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ In the second part of our discussion about Happy Science, we consider the group's doctrine and lore. How did humanity make its way from Venus to Earth and which spirits have manifested when in our midst to guide us on the spiritual path? What is Happy Science's view of the apocalypse and the triggers that might bring one on? [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a4e6fd178fc7309b04183b3/1783525336012/happy+science+2.mp3) ## [The Exhilaration of a Completed Project. The Grief of Saying Goodbye.](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/the-exhilaration-of-a-completed-project) _2026-07-18 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ To know my dissertation will be turned in soon and to expect a framed master’s degree in Magic & Occult Science on the wall above my desk is to accept the end of what has objectively been one of the best years of my life. ## [30.7: Happy Science (Part One)](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/7/10/307-happy-science-part-one) _2026-07-10 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Kofuku no Kagaku or Happy Science was one of the most popular new religious movements in Japan in 1980s and became a major rival to the deadly Aum Shinrikyo organization. Its founder, Okawa Ryuho, claimed to be an incarnation of the Buddha and published volumes of predictions channeled from various spirits from the higher worlds including Nostradamus. These predictions became best sellers in… [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a4afaf26ce18921299135ab/1783298813426/happy+science+1.mp3) ## [Sacred Autobiography](https://xagick.substack.com/p/sacred-autobiography) _2026-07-07 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ the so-called soul's code ## [What the Hell Are We Doing?](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/what-the-hell-are-we-doing) _2026-07-04 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ The arts & humanities are under attack yet again. I’m sick of pretending they have no economic value. ## [Made With Bones!](https://blackoctopus.org/#zero) _2026-07-03 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [30.6: Sex, Snakes, and Japanese Demons](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/6/26/306-sex-snakes-and-japanese-demons) _2026-06-26 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Over a thousand Japanese legends were collected into thirty-one volumes around the turn of the first millennium. Rob selects three stories to share that shed light on the folklore and values of medieval Japan. [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a32ebebc131d013004e3861/1781722098121/japanese+tales.mp3) ## [One platform, from silicon to agent (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/9Ur6fi0DmY3D) _2026-06-26 · **Sponsored**_ Serverless inference plus Inference Router to optimize cost and latency at scale. ## [Why Get an MA in Magic & Occult Science?](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/why-get-an-ma-in-magic-and-occult) _2026-06-18 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ Because magic is storytelling and storytelling is magic. ## [30.5: Anime and Evangelion](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/6/12/305-anime-and-evangelion) _2026-06-12 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Neon Genesis Evangelion (as it's known in the US) drew on Western religious themes including the story of Adam and Lilith, the imagery of the cross, and the concept of angels in order to tell a story based in psychological exploration and existentialist thought. Rob sits down with Mimms and try and make sense of Hideaki Anno's world famous series. [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a234336ada08a3c9fa38165/1780695954580/neon+genesis.mp3) ## [Mercury](https://blackoctopus.org/#mercury) _2026-06-10 · Black Octopus Journal_ Here is a shot of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury in the skies of Whittier , California I took tonight on a whim with my iPhone . ## [Debt](https://blackoctopus.org/#debt) _2026-06-06 · Black Octopus Journal_ Ah, Debt ! ## [The Hierarchy of Knowledge in the "Margarita Philosophica"](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/the-hierarchy-of-knowledge-in-the) _2026-06-05 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ In the historical present, education has been de-valued and knowledge that exists outside the purpose of maximizing profit is considered ‘worthless.’ It hasn’t always been this way. ## [30.4: The Pure Land (Part Two)](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/5/29/304-the-pure-land-part-two) _2026-05-29 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Pure Land Buddhism made its way from India to China and then Japan where it has become the country's most popular religion, specifically the Shin variant developed by the "shaved fool" Shinran. [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a0efe39257eaa6ddedd9679/1779367521116/pure+land+2.mp3) ## [Natural Landscapes and the Otherworld: The Importance of Setting in Storytelling](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/natural-landscapes-and-the-otherworld) _2026-05-23 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ How important are natural landscapes in the process of creating narratives about witchcraft? ## [Community, The Hobby Killer](https://blackoctopus.org/#community) _2026-05-20 · Black Octopus Journal_ Community . The word itself just gives me unwanted anxiety. ## [ALT-lantis](https://xagick.substack.com/p/alt-lantis) _2026-05-18 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ Working Creatively With Pseudo-Historical Occult Lore ## [30.3: The Pure Land (Part One)](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/5/13/303-the-pure-land-part-one) _2026-05-15 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Pure Land Buddhism is the most popular religion in Japan and is often regarded as parallel to Christianity in many wyays. In this episode, we uncover the origins of the Pure Land Sutras in India and trace their journey to China where they grew into a set of rituals. [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/6a0528ed10d15a6a09704211/1778723100341/pure+land+buddhism.mp3) ## [8.1% APY Plus Free Stock (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/dhMIY9yEZCJG) _2026-05-15 · **Sponsored**_ Claim 8.1% APY and up to $1,030 in SK hynix and Nvidia stock. ## [Web Server](https://blackoctopus.org/#server) _2026-05-10 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [Need Some Guidance on a Story About the Occult? Let’s Chat!](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/need-some-guidance-on-a-story-about) _2026-05-04 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ Friends and colleagues, ## [30.2: Shingon or Japanese Esoteric Buddhism](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/5/1/302-shingon-or-japanese-esoteric-buddhism) _2026-05-01 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ The goal of estoteric Buddhism is to achieve a sudden spiritual awakening through the use of secret rituals which might include mantras, gestures, or the visualization of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and other deities, in the case of Shingon using one or both of a pair of powerful and elaborate mandalas. These techniques are passed down through a guru or teacher which is what gives them their esoteric… [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/69f1e3f1f18f846ae2410107/1777460274907/shingon.mp3) ## [Crooked Essays on Will](https://xagick.substack.com/p/crooked-essays-on-will) _2026-04-23 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ (The following post is a crossover with Octopusyarn. We’ll begin with a series of his probes which he calls “Follow the Resistance,” and end with a couple of my own explorations…) ## [Book of Thoth](https://blackoctopus.org/#thoth) _2026-04-19 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [What Can Be Gained From the Study of Monsters?](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/what-can-be-gained-from-the-study) _2026-04-17 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ Horror writers and fans alike might want to learn about Monster Culture and its long-standing relevance to the practice of storytelling. ## [30.1: Shinto or Japan's Ancient Spirits](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/4/17/301-shinto-or-japans-ancient-spirits) _2026-04-17 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ Shinto is the name assigned to Japan's native religion before the arrival of Buddhism. In this episode, Rob explores the legends of the kami including the story of the kamikaze, the origins of sumo wrestling, and the purpose of Japan's many shrines. [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/69dee2969454b07f02c77ed4/1776214737084/shinto.mp3) ## [The LAM Statement](https://blackoctopus.org/#lam) _2026-04-10 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [Fender 6G15](https://blackoctopus.org/#6g15) _2026-04-10 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [DeArmond M-75T](https://blackoctopus.org/#m75t) _2026-04-06 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [Play Both Sides Of The Lie (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/dzDwx5VoA9um) _2026-04-06 · **Sponsored**_ Two operatives, one manufactured war — uncover the Complete Truth after both campaigns. ## [Terminal Puss](https://blackoctopus.org/#terminal) _2026-04-04 · Black Octopus Journal_ Nerd ALERT ! ## [29.8: Murder for Resurrection](https://www.occultconfessions.com/episodes/2026/4/3/298-murder-for-resurrection) _2026-04-03 · Robert Thompson · Occult Confessions_ William Burke and William Hare murdered sixteen people in the space of about a year in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Burke was thirty-six and Hare twenty-one-years old. Many of their victims were plied with alcohol until they passed out and then Hare lay on the body as Burke closed the mouth and nostrils in a fairly novel method of killing that came to be called “burking.” They then transported… [Listen](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a581936010027b2d1d6befe/t/69ced6bca758fd471f882c34/1775163134174/Anatomy+Murders.mp3) ## [Large Hadron Collider](https://blackoctopus.org/#lhc) _2026-04-03 · Black Octopus Journal_ My little joke about the L arge H adron C ollider in my last post made me think about ... well, the L arge H adron C ollider at CERN ! ## [April Fools' Day](https://blackoctopus.org/#fools) _2026-04-01 · Black Octopus Journal_ I hate April Fools ' Day, especially online. I usually avoid the internet that day, or at least the sites I frequent. The whole thing just makes me cringe . I really hate the pranks and the fake stories that inevitably flood my feed . Maybe it’s that split second when I almost fall for it, and the irritation that follows when I realize, two paragraphs in, I’ve wasted time on something that was… ## [Your Characters Need Real Problems](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/your-characters-need-real-problems) _2026-03-30 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ A problem a character can walk away from is a story an audience can walk away from. ## [Cleve Backster](https://blackoctopus.org/#plants) _2026-03-27 · Black Octopus Journal_ Coming off the Radionics train and after rewatching the Duncan Laurie segment from Disinfo TV, I was reminded of Cleve Baxter's plant communication experiments, which fascinated me as a kid and still fascinate me today as a connoisseur of sound . ## [Radionics](https://blackoctopus.org/#radionics) _2026-03-26 · Black Octopus Journal_ I remember stumbling upon Radionics in the late 80 s early 90 s. I was fascinated at the time by the devices and the mixture of Electronics , Medicine, Metaphysics and art which today kind of reminds me of the artwork on Death by Audio effects pedals . ## [The Liquor Store](https://blackoctopus.org/#liquor) _2026-03-23 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [The Fool's Journey](https://blackoctopus.org/#tarot) _2026-03-21 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [Christabell](https://blackoctopus.org/#christabell) _2026-03-21 · Black Octopus Journal_ Sometimes a performance doesn’t need explanation, just a focused, uninterrupted listen. That’s exactly how this rendition of “Sycamore Trees” from Twin Peaks feels, performed here by Chrystabell . ## [Rosaleen Norton](https://blackoctopus.org/#norton) _2026-03-20 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [Webcams](https://blackoctopus.org/#webcams) _2026-03-20 · Black Octopus Journal_ Remember when webcams became all the rage back in the early ’ 90 s? I started thinking about that because it turns out I am actually running something with very similar functionality to how they were used back then, which I’ll get back to later. ## [Ouija](https://blackoctopus.org/#ouija) _2026-03-17 · Black Octopus Journal_ ## [The Alchemical Bachelor Party of the Rosy Cross](https://xagick.substack.com/p/the-alchemical-bachelor-party-of) _2026-03-15 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ I. ## [Loch Ness Monster](https://blackoctopus.org/#nessie) _2026-03-15 · Black Octopus Journal_ Do you remember how, in the ’ 70 s and early ’ 80 s, the Loch Ness monster was everywhere? People were reporting sightings , books were being written, sonar teams were conducting searches, news reports and TV specials were airing, and even Spock was talking about it on In Search Of . ## [The Bride: Or, a Modern Lilith](https://jessicahobbs.substack.com/p/the-bride-or-a-modern-lilith) _2026-03-14 · Jessica Hobbs · The Gasp with Jessica Hobbs_ I wrote a paper for grad school on how the Bride of Frankenstein is our culture's modern-day representation of Lilith. Maggie Gyllenhaal's new interpretation gives her the voice she deserves. ## [Friday the 13th](https://blackoctopus.org/#friday13) _2026-03-13 · Black Octopus Journal_ Happy Friday the 13 th! ## [I Want to Believe](https://blackoctopus.org/#believe) _2026-03-07 · Black Octopus Journal_ For some reason I got the itch to buy a sticker of the “ I Want to Believe ” poster that Mulder had hanging in his office on The X-Files . When I started looking around, I noticed every version of the sticker was slightly different, which had me pretty confused. ## [Noise](https://blackoctopus.org/#noise) _2026-03-05 · Black Octopus Journal_ My mind gets distracted easily. I can be working on something and hear a conversation across the room, or something on a podcast I have running in the background or even an excellent part of a song and slowly my attention will drift over to that noise instead of the noise in front of me that I need to focus on. This makes listening to podcasts and music while I work a bit difficult at times. ## [On Janus](https://xagick.substack.com/p/on-janus) _2026-01-11 · Layman Pascal · \* Xagick \*_ The Archaic Future of Sacred Calendars