Carl Abrahamsson - Occulture. The Unseen Forces That Drive Culture Forward with a foreword by Gary Lachman published by Park Street Press

Carl Abrahamsson (b.1966) is a man of many alleways, venues and talents to his career spanning from 1980's till now. Sweden born, started off with fanzines "Acts of Interstellar Torture" and "Lollipop", studied filmmaking, has been active in music with projects such as White Stains, Deform Project, Sinnelag, Understen, Cotton Ferrox. Worked with self-founded record labels such as Psychick Releasein the 90's. Published and edited "The Fenris Wolf" - an occult jurnal. Worked as a freelance lecturer, editor, writer, graphic designer, advertising since 1990's. In 2012 he founded TRAPART films, books and editions.
Carl's approach that embraces different approaches somehow relate to diversity of the topics of his essays in this volume handsomely published byPark Street Press.
21 chapters which were essays published in various periodicals or lectures delivered during different events. What striked me first is that Carl has predominantly quite a down-to-earth approach which is something that induces certain style of transparence and clarity in terms of describing the aspects of the occult culture. He is both psychologically and anthropologically savvy enough to present the reader with a tableaux - a set of a conondrum that is yet to be solved through private research and individuation process reserved to intimate study and an inspiration to seek out for more. With an intellectuall prowess he is actually a very intuitive writer.
As well as the creative approach, his choice of themes, troupes, topics is also quite interesting - Comparative study between Aleister Crowley and Rudolf Steiner, the life's work of Paul Bowles, the similarities between psychoanalitycal process and ritual magic, the fable of Golem in post-modern culture to name just a few. It's condensed, multi-faceted, both entertaining and educative with a touch of personal stories.
It's a pleasure to read essays that are both demystifying, they are written in a truly free thinking mode that invites your own input, encourages it from the point of view where all the platitudes and traps of magical, cliquey thinking have no place.
But most of all, Carl's book holds a very clear and distinctive message - a message of encouragement to steer away from soulles, digital monoculture of now to open yourself to sublayers of realities that can help us to rejuvenate into the kaleidoscope of emotions, self-integrating trip to express our own voice.
Thank you
Photo of Carl by Vanessa
Carl's website