#ChaosMagic

[itsmarkjudgelove]

[purechaoswitch]

Digital Community: A Case Study in Enchantment – The World of Tumblr

Welcome, wanderers of the mystical web. As you step into the crimson glow of this space, I—the Pure Chaos Witch—invite you to unravel the threads of an enchanting digital realm: Tumblr.

Tumblr is a unique platform, like a cauldron filled with creativity, individuality, and community. It is considered a place where creators and dreamers come together to share their work, spark ideas, and form unbreakable bonds that go beyond the ordinary.

After centuries of living and a lifetime of mastering chaos magic, I have gathered some valuable insights about the world and the community on Tumblr, which I have summarized in this post. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your spellbook and start taking notes, people ~~

The Veil of Anonymity: Pros and Cons

Anonymity on Tumblr serves as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows users to express themselves freely without fear of judgment, fostering honest feedback and reducing social pressure on various topics. This veil can be empowering, enabling individuals to share their deepest thoughts and creations without revealing their true identities (Metraux, 2022).

However, this cloak of invisibility can also be misused and enable harmful behaviors. The option to send anonymous messages, for instance, has sometimes been abused, leading to instances of cyberbullying, trolling and spreading misinformation (Omernick and Sood, 2013). Moreover, artists may find their work stolen or republished without due credit, as anonymity can obscure the trail back to the original creator.

Casting the Circle: The Power of Digital Communities

A digital community is not unlike a coven - a sacred space where like-minded individuals gather, united by shared purpose and passion. The magic of Tumblr lies in how it brings together diverse voices into one single vibrant and creative community. From fan art to political discussions, it offers a safe space for us to create our own personal havens within the vast expanse of the internet (McCracken, 2017).

But the real question is: What makes Tumblr so distinct from other platforms? It must be the ethos of co-creation. Unlike traditional social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram, Tumblr encourages reblogging, remixing, and reimagining content - an infinite loop of shared spells that amplify their power (Katrin Tiidenberg, Natalie Ann Hendry and Abidin, 2021).

The Evolution of Tumblr: A Brief Chronicle

Since its launch in 2007, Tumblr has evolved significantly. It began as a platform for microblogging and sharing multimedia, fostering a distinctive culture centered on creativity and fandoms. Over the years, features like reblogging and tagging were introduced, making it easier for users to engage and explore content. A major turning point in its evolution came with the rise of fandom culture, where Tumblr became the go-to hub for fan communities to thrive, collaborate, and share their passions.

(e.g., Supernatural, Sherlock, or Harry Potter fanbases).

However, policy changes, such as the 2018 ban on adult content, led to shifts in user dynamics and community structures (Sybert, 2021). Despite these changes, Tumblr continues to be a vibrant tapestry of diverse communities, adapting and evolving with the digital tides.

The Scarlet Insight: Lessons in Empowerment

As a witch, I see Tumblr as a grimoire - each post a spell and each tag a rune. The platform thrives on the interplay of voices, where one person’s musings become the spark for another’s inspiration. Here, collaboration becomes empowerment, and anonymity offers great safety to express the unspoken (Nixon and Düsterhöft, 2018).

In this sacred digital space, the balance between individual expression and communal engagement fosters a unique kind of energy - a reminder that in unity, there is strength.

#BlackLivesMatter campaign or LGBTQ+ representation.

And, here are some notes and tips for our brilliant Tumblr creators (only if you are ready to start practicing magic on this platform *wink):

Tags: Think of tags as sigils. They guide others to your posts and make your content discoverable. You shall use them wisely.

Visuals: A picture paints a thousand spells. Accompany your words with captivating images or gifs to evoke a mood :)

Community: Engage, reblog, and interact as much as you can!!! The more you weave into the tapestry, the brighter your thread will shine.

As we walk hand in hand on this treacherous road, let us remember the core of Tumblr’s enchantment: the celebration of diversity, creativity, and unbridled passion. This is a space where magic thrives, and each of us is a sorcerer of our own making.

Until next time, or next week, my fellow mystics.

Your beloved chaos witch.

References

Katrin Tiidenberg, Natalie Ann Hendry and Abidin, C. (2021). Tumblr. Cambridge Medford, Ma Polity.

McCracken, A. (2017). Tumblr Youth Subcultures and Media Engagement. Cinema Journal, [online] 57(1), pp.151–161. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/44867867.

Metraux, J. (2022). How Tumblr Helps Youth Continue to Be Seen and Heard - JSTOR Daily. [online] JSTOR Daily. Available at: https://daily.jstor.org/how-tumblr-helps-youth-continue-to-be-seen-and-heard/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [Accessed 20 Jan. 2025].

Nixon, P.G. and DüsterhöftI.K. (2018). Sex in the Digital Age. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Omernick, E. and Sood, S.O. (2013). The Impact of Anonymity in Online Communities. 2013 International Conference on Social Computing. doi:https://doi.org/10.1109/socialcom.2013.80.

Sybert, J. (2021). The Demise of #NSFW: Contested Platform Governance and Tumblr’s 2018 Adult Content Ban. New Media & Society, p.146144482199671. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444821996715.

[revenant-coining]

Chaosmagic

[pt: Chaosmagic /end pt]

[IDs: 2 rectangular flags with 21 horizontal lines. sizes in this order from top to bottom: 2 medium, 1 thin, 4 medium, 1 thick, 1 thin, 3 medium, 1 thin, 1 thick, 4 medium, 1 thin, 2 medium. the 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, and 19th lines are straight while the rest are wavy. colors in this order from top to bottom: light brown, pale brown, red, dark brown, light brown, red, brown, light brown, pale brown, orange-red, red, orange-red, pale brown, light brown, brown, red, light brown, dark brown, red, pale brown, light brown. in the center of the first flag is a dark brown spiral-like symbol outlined in red. End ID]

requested by anon

Chaosmagic: a gendermagic subterm; a gender connected to chaos and magic, chaos/chaos-like magic, controlling chaos through magic, etc.

Etymology: chaos, magic

edit: accidentally recoin of this (link), please view these as alternative flags!

@radiomogai , @imawanokiwaaa

[ID: a red line divider outlined in yellow. in the center is a red feather outlined in yellow. End ID]

[waybackwanderer]

ChaosMagic.Com -- Main Menu Dec 2002 Archived Web Page 🎃

[mirroribis]

Ketamine. 

Okay, full disclosure on my first dosage experience. It wasn’t what I thought it would be at all. It wasn’t until the end of the treatment that I started to get that I should just let it do the work and stop trying to control the experience. I was trying to guide the experience, but the experience should have guided me. Next treatment I’ll keep that in mind. 

I don’t feel that different.

But this did happen in my art unconsciously afterwards, which is a lot less dark than the stuff I’ve done lately. 

Note the hidden Ain.

[el-abracadabrante-lobo-gris]

Intent sigils galore.

[saturnquartz]

Good ol’ sigil magic 🪄🥳

[mutualhaunting]

Weaver's Feast • 2023

My final degree show installation based in the field of Hauntology. This peculiar character is inspired by the self-righteous archetypes of Judith, Salome, Varo and Kali. With a background in chaos magic, I am interested in unearthing personal and cultural memory, questioning current systems of oppression and how they came to be, weaving stories and sensitivities.

[aeternum-lupus]

shooting my shot at trying to find the guy I’ve had dreams of for 10+ years

 So I've always had very realistic, like prophetic dreams, and they're really weird because rather than being reoccurring dreams they're like a different day but the same people are in them and they remember/reference previous dream memories. I've always believed in soulmates specifically because of this-  

 As far back as I can remember, I'm talking like 6 years old, I've been having dreams where I'm with this one person. It started out just friendship/ casual passing interaction like kids at school, but there was always a feeling of like "this is my mate" even then. I've been dreaming about him at least once a year literally my whole life, and I've like casually watched around to see if I'd meet him in real life but I haven't, and I've always been a little embarrassed to publicly announce that I'm looking for my dream guy lol.  

 I think it's about time I really try finding him though, it's been at least 12 years. He has straight black hair, around 5'7"-5'9", I think he's white/Latino, at one point when I was like 12 someone else called him Scarlet so his name could be something like that, and he might be a wolf therian. I'm well aware that this sounds like I'm just trying to be weird about trying to find a hot guy to date but I'm not, everything I said is true. I also am extremely interested in knowing, if I find him, if he had the same dreams and the details of this, like did we both dream the same dream at the same time? This could get so weird :0 

I plan on doing some communication spells, including trying to make more frequent connections through dreams and lucid dreaming so I can tell him information to find me, I’m not just blogging into the void and hoping someone answers lol.

[emilyinscaris]

#actionfigures #hasbro #marvellegends #vincentvangogh #vangogh #vangogholivetrees #marvelactionfigures #scarletwitch #scarletwitchactionfigure #marvellegendsscarletwitch #wandamaximoff #wandavision #avengers #marvel #mcu #marvelcinematicuniverse #toyphotography #toygram #multiverseofmadness #chaosmagic #thescarletwitch #scarletwitchfigure #brujaescarlata #avengersageofultron #elizabetholsen #doll #dollcommunity #dollcollection #dollcollector #dollstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CoxdV75jy92/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[betweenzone]

The Magicians of Perception: Grant Morrison, Robert Anton Wilson, and the Power of Reality

In the world of nerd culture, there’s a fascinating intersection of philosophy, pop culture, and magic: the question of how much control we really have over our perception of reality. Two figures who explored this concept in groundbreaking ways are comic book writer Grant Morrison and author-philosopher Robert Anton Wilson. Both are icons in their respective domains and creative pioneers who invite us to reimagine reality—and maybe even shape it ourselves.

Robert Anton Wilson: Reality Is What You Make of It

Robert Anton Wilson, best known for his Illuminatus! Trilogy, wasn’t just a cult author—he was a philosopher who developed the concept of Reality Tunnels. His work explores how subjective belief systems shape the way we see the world.

The Reality Tunnel

According to Wilson, a Reality Tunnel is the unique way each individual perceives the world, influenced by:

• Cultural and social conditioning

• Personal experiences

• Conscious and subconscious beliefs

This means there’s no such thing as objective reality—only a subjective version of it that each person constructs for themselves. Wilson encouraged his readers to question their Reality Tunnels and experiment with altering them.

The Coin Experiment

One of Wilson’s famous exercises, featured in his book Prometheus Rising, illustrates how perception can be deliberately trained:

1. Set a goal: Decide that you will find a coin on the street.

2. Focus your attention: Keep this goal in mind as you go about your daily life.

3. Document the process: Record how many days it takes until you find a coin.

The result? By focusing your attention on this specific outcome, your brain starts prioritizing clues in the environment that would otherwise go unnoticed. The experiment demonstrates how our focused perception can shape our experience of reality.

Grant Morrison: Chaos Magic and Superheroes

While Wilson gave us the theory, Grant Morrison showed us how to put it into practice—especially in the realm of pop culture. As one of the most influential comic writers of our time, Morrison brought concepts like Chaos Magic into works such as The Invisibles, Doom Patrol, and All-Star Superman.

Kathmandu and the Revelation

In the 1990s, Morrison had a transformative experience in Kathmandu during a psychedelic state. He claims to have been visited by beings who explained to him the nature of reality: it’s malleable, a construct shaped by consciousness. This revelation became the foundation of The Invisibles, a story about anarchism, magic, and resistance against cosmic oppression, often called a “manual for Chaos Magic” by fans.

Magic Through Stories and Symbols

Chaos Magic revolves around the idea that symbols and rituals can be used to influence the subconscious. Morrison practices this through:

1. Sigils: Encoding desires into symbolic representations and “programming” the subconscious to achieve them.

2. Stories: Creating narratives in his comics that not only affect readers but also himself—a magical interplay between fiction and reality.

The Connection: Reality Tunnels and Chaos Magic

Both Robert Anton Wilson and Grant Morrison argue that reality isn’t fixed but constructed. The difference lies in their approaches:

• Wilson invites us to explore the mechanics of our perception through experiments like the Coin Experiment.

• Morrison demonstrates how creative practices like rituals, stories, and symbols can actively shape our Reality Tunnels.

Their shared belief is that we are not passive observers of reality but active participants in its creation—a concept that resonates deeply with the nerd community.

Becoming the Architect of Your Own Reality

What Wilson and Morrison teach us is both philosophical and practical: reality is a playground that we can shape and reshape. So why not start today? Try the Coin Experiment:

1. Set the goal of finding a coin on the street.

2. Stay focused and attentive.

3. Track how long it takes to achieve your goal.

You might not just discover a coin but also unlock a new awareness of how much control you have over your own perception. Welcome to your own Reality Tunnel—and happy experimenting!

—-

If you enjoyed this article, you might also appreciate exploring the music of Betweenzone. Their unique sound complements the themes discussed here. Consider listening to the following tracks:

Image Credits for the Blog Post

1. Grant Morrison, Photo by Marco Annunziata, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source on Wikimedia Commons.

2. Robert Anton Wilson, Photo by Scott Liddell, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source on Wikimedia Commons.

[fracturedcoven]

“Chaos doesn’t choose sides—it simply consumes.” ✨ Step into a world of shifting magic, ancient secrets, and an untamed legacy.

[little-laughing-alligator]

A bit of inspiration 🍓🦇

[waybackwanderer]

8 Colours of Magick Dec 2002 Archived Web Page 🎃

[setnakh]

https://fratersetnakh.etsy.com/listing/1605407195/frater-setnakh-fraternitas-occultum-logo

[nocturnalcomis]

A new magick experiment: the construction of a well of souls (yes, I loved Indiana Jones as a kid). Initially for the purpose of charging/feeding the disc; afterward, using it as a means of feeding the servators and the creation of other entities.