#ChaosMagic

[purechaoswitch]

Breaking the Fast Fashion Curse

Welcome to another week of digital sorcery, my fellow mystics! Today, we are brewing a potion to break the fast fashion curse - the one that makes us believe we need that $5 Zara top (that will unravel faster than our self-control at a sample sale).

How Social Media Fuels Overconsumption

Social media influencers have become the high priests and priestesses of fashion, weaving their digital spells to dictate what’s “in” and what’s so last season. With a single Instagram post or TikTok clip, they can turn an obscure clothing item into an absolute must-have. Think back to the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge, where millions attempted to replicate her signature pout only to end up with bruised, swollen lips. Now, shall we replace lips with fashion, and you get the fast fashion formula: see it, want it, buy it before it disappears into the abyss of forgotten trends.

Nowadays, influencers promote micro-trends that fast fashion brands online like Zara, H&M, and Shein churn out at lightning speed, leading to a loop of impulse buying, fleeting satisfaction and eventual waste (Bruns & Burgess 2011). This cycle pushes consumers to chase trends rather than develop a personal style, creating a never-ending cycle of overconsumption. For illustration, a viral top seen on a celebrity today will likely be discarded next month, either because a newer trend has taken over or because the low-quality garment has already fallen apart.

The Dark Side

And behind every $10 dress is a hidden cost. The fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions (Maiti 2025) and dumps millions of tons of clothing into landfills every year. Beyond the carbon footprint, textile production is also responsible for massive water consumption and pollution, with toxic dyes and microplastics contaminating rivers and oceans. Additionally, let’s not forget the human cost and workers, often underpaid and overworked, are trapped in unsafe conditions (Clean Clothes Campaign 2023). The tragic Rana Plaza collapse back in 2013 (which killed over 1,100 workers) is a haunting reminder that cheap fashion comes at a price.

As consumers, it’s easy to be tempted by cheap prices and trendy pieces, but every impulse purchase contributes to an industry built on environmental destruction and worker exploitation. Is the true cost of fast fashion really worth it?

Slow Fashion Movement Saves The Day

Fortunately, not all influencers are fueling the fast fashion frenzy. A growing number of ethical influencers and activists are challenging the industry’s wasteful ways and encouraging people to think twice before they shop. Campaigns like #WhoMadeMyClothes are pushing brands to be more transparent about where and how their clothes are made, while influencers like Venetia La Manna are calling out companies for greenwashing as known as the practice of making misleading sustainability claims to appear more ethical than they actually are (Henninger et al. 2017).

Even luxury fashion houses like Chanel and Christian Dior have started integrating sustainability and eco-friendliness into their marketing, pledging to use eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods. However, are these high-end brands truly embracing change, or just using clever PR tactics to maintain their image? While some have made genuine progress such as investing in recyclable fabrics and carbon reduction initiatives (Prada), others still operate within a system that prioritizes exclusivity and mass production over true sustainability (Kapferer & Michaut-Denizeau 2014).

Breaking The Cycle

Consider this your invite to the slow fashion coven. You actually have more power than you think in this story. Every time you choose to buy a clothing piece, it’s like casting a vote for the kind of fashion world you want. Will you support the dark, destructive magic of fast fashion, or will you channel your inner good witch and support ethical, sustainable practices? Here are a few actions that you can consider taking:

- Thrift and upcycle instead of buying new.

- Invest in quality pieces over fast fashion hauls.

- Hold brands accountable—ask #WhoMadeMyClothes.

- Repeat outfits with pride (because fashion spells should last longer than a TikTok trend).

So… go forth and make fashion magic that heals rather than harms. The next time you’re tempted by a cheap, trendy piece that you know won’t last, pause, breathe, and remember the spell we’re trying to break. Choose differently, and encourage those around you to do the same. Together, we’ll weave a new fashion future, one stitch at a time.

References

Bruns, A & Burgess, J 2011, ‘The use of Twitter hashtags in the formation of ad hoc publics’, 6th European Consortium for Political Research General Conference.

Henninger, CE, Ryding, D, Alevizou, PJ & Goworek, H 2017, Sustainability in Fashion: A Cradle to Upcycle Approach, Palgrave.

Kapferer, JN & Michaut-Denizeau, A 2014, ‘Is luxury compatible with sustainability?’, Journal of Brand Management, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1-22.

Maiti, R 2025, ‘The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion, Explained’, Earth.Org, viewed 26 Feb 2025.

[nocturnalcomis]

Coming back...again

I am almost finished with grad school. I never expected my time in the north to be so crazy and full of changes!

As an update:

I am no longer Buddhist. I found that, even though I agreed with some philosophy (Madhyamika is the superior philosophy on the nature of reality), the ethics did not resonate. I am one of those people who believes that retributive justice is owed to anyone who is wronged in proportion to the nature of the wrong...if society and strength do not seek to make things fair, then adjudication by means of magick should be sought.

I have not talked about the nature of my paganism on here and how my vision of the earthly gods were more centered in the Norse pantheon... Well, I am a Gothi, that is a heathen priest-- I was chosen by my little group and trained with a Gothi to learn what I needed to learn.

I have found that Heathenry and Chaos Magick function quite well together. Part of me thinks about deleting the older parts of the blog, BoS...but it is fascinating for me to see how I have changed over the years and arrived at this point in time.

As a final little fact, while I will never reveal my face, I will say that coming to Massachusetts from Virginia was quite the change. I do not like the greater Boston area...but I would have been stupid to stay in the Mountains and skip out on an opportunity to go to Harvard...for free. If you wondered why I keep saying that I am coming back, but then school kicks my ass, that is why. IVY League Grad School is hard yo.

[itsmarkjudgelove]

[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 🎃

[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.

[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.

[purechaoswitch]

Reality (my playground) TV and Social Media: Fame and Fandom

Welcome back, fellow mystics, to another week of … digital sorcery. This time, let us cast our gaze upon one of the most addictive and chaotic realms of modern entertainment - Reality TV. Once a guilty pleasure, now a global phenomenon, reality TV has evolved from simple on-screen drama into an interactive, ever-expanding universe fueled by social media. Whether it’s the glamorous competition of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the survivalist grit of Beast Games, or the culinary chaos of Hell’s Kitchen, these shows have turned everyday people into celebrities and viewers into active participants.

Keeping Up with Reality TV in the Social Media Age

Reality TV is no longer just something we passively watch, it is something we experience (Yes, I just gave you a reality check). The Kardashians, for instance, built an empire that extends far beyond television. From their early days on Keeping Up with the Kardashians (KUWTK) to their dominance on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, the family has blurred the line between reality TV and digital influence. Kylie Jenner’s billion-dollar beauty empire, born from the show’s success, is proof of how social media can extend reality TV fame into real-world fortune (Stefanone et al., 2010).

And it’s not just the Kardashians. RuPaul’s Drag Race has also catapulted queens like Trixie Mattel and Bianca Del Rio into stardom, with massive followings on YouTube and Instagram. Contestants are not just competing for a crown; they are building PERSONAL BRANDS. Notably, the show thrives on its online fanbase, where every lip-sync battle, shady comeback; and the iconic catchphrase (“Not today, Satan!”) becomes meme-worthy content (Brennan & Gudelunas, 2017).

Audience Power in Reality TV

Social media has given audiences the power to shape reality TV narratives, making them more than just passive viewers. In Squid Game: The Challenge, fans took to Twitter and TikTok to passionately debate the fairness of eliminations, speculate on contestant strategies, and share conspiracy theories. The online buzz became so intense that it influenced how Netflix marketed the show mid-season (Chen & McCabe, 2022).

Similarly, Hell’s Kitchen viewers do not just watch Gordon Ramsay’s legendary insults, they turn them into viral memes, immortalizing his fiery reactions. Fans of Beast Games have also taken it a step further, recreating its most intense physical challenges on TikTok. This proves that reality TV shows today are just as much about audience participation as it is about competition (Hill, 2014).

“Liveness” and the Digital Public Sphere

One of the most powerful elements of reality TV is its “liveness”, which is the feeling that anything can happen in real-time. Live episodes, social media voting, and audience-driven eliminations add a layer of unpredictability that keeps fans anticipating or glued to their screens. RuPaul’s Drag Race capitalizes on this perfectly, with live-tweeted reactions, instant Instagram polls, and fan Q&As with contestants, turning every elimination into a major internet event (Thi et al., 2024).

(@dogboy678 on Reddit)

Moreover, shows like Love Island took this way further by letting fans vote on who stays or sashays away, literally shaping the show’s outcome through social media. This kind of direct engagement gives viewers a sense of ownership (?) over the narrative, making them feel as if they’re part of the reality TV experience rather than just watching from the sidelines (Deller, 2019).

Reality TV is a Lifestyle!!!

Reality TV has blurred the line between entertainment and personal branding. “We don’t just watch reality TV anymore—we create our own.”

TikTok influencers, YouTube vloggers, and Instagram personalities are essentially producing their own unscripted reality shows every day. Reality shows like Beast Games have even inspired viral challenges where fans attempt similar physical feats, making the transition from screen to social media seamless (L’Hoiry, 2019).

Even former contestants use their reality TV fame to transition into social media careers. For example, contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race launch makeup brands, Hell’s Kitchen winners become celebrity chefs, and Squid Game: The Challenge players amass millions of followers overnight. The Kardashians mastered this playbook, proving that reality TV isn’t just a career, but also a launchpad for global influence (Wood & Skeggs, 2011).

The Future of Reality TV: Social Media’s Next Superstar

As social media and reality TV continue to merge, the possibilities are endless. Will we see reality shows in the Metaverse? Will AI-generated contestants dominate our screens? Only one thing is certain - reality TV is no longer confined to television. It lives, it breathes, and it evolves within the digital public sphere, shaping conversations, creating memes, and keeping audiences enchanted 💅🏻🧚🏻

So…. I wonder what your favorite reality show is, and how you engage with it on social media? Drop your thoughts below, I would love to hear 🧞

Until next time or should i say next week (?), my reality-warping mystics.

References

Brennan, N & Gudelunas, D 2017, ‘Drag Culture, Global Participation and RuPaul’s Drag Race’, RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Shifting Visibility of Drag Culture, pp. 1–11.

Chen, A & McCabe, KT 2022, ‘Roses and thorns: Political Talk in Reality TV Subreddits’, New Media & Society, p. 146144482210991.

Deller, RA 2019, Reality Television : the Television Phenomenon That Changed the World, Emerald Publishing, Bingley, England.

Hill, A 2014, ‘Reality TV Experiences’, A Companion to Reality Television, pp. 116–133.

L’Hoiry, X 2019, ‘Love Island, Social Media, and Sousveillance: New Pathways of Challenging Realism in Reality TV’, Frontiers in Sociology, vol. 4, no. 59, pp. 1–13.

Skeggs, B & Wood, H 2011, Reality Television and Class, Palgrave Macmillan, London ; New York.

Stefanone, MA & Lackaff, D 2009, ‘Reality Television as a Model for Online Behavior: Blogging, Photo, and Video Sharing’, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 964–987.

Thi, L, Thi, T, Tra, T, Phuc, LH, Thanh, T & Thi, T 2024, ‘Why Youth Continue Watching Reality Shows on Social media? a Case Study in Vietnam’, Media Asia, Taylor & Francis, pp. 1–15.

[little-laughing-alligator]

A bit of inspiration 🍓🦇

[setnakh]

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

[waybackwanderer]

8 Colours of Magick Dec 2002 Archived Web Page 🎃

[obscurian]

[PT: Chaosmagic

A gender in the gendermagic system that feels like chaos magic, or is related / connected to chaos magic, or to both chaos and magic.

Chaoswizard

A gender in the genderwizard system that feels like a chaos wizard, or is related / connected to chaos wizards / wizards who perform chaos magic, or to both chaos / chaos magic and wizards. /end PT]

Double coining post !!

Chaosmagic

[ chaos + (gender)magic ~~ chaosmagic ]

A gender in the gendermagic system that feels like chaos magic , or is related / connected to chaos magic , or to both chaos and magic .

[ flag ID : a rectangular flag with a complex pattern of wavy and straight lines , the colours on the flag are : black , greyish forest green , greenish light grey , muted yellow , and magenta . in the centre there's a black swirl-like symbol that resembles the concept of magic , it has a muted yellow outline . end ID ]

Chaoswizard

[ chaos + (gender)wizard ~~ chaoswizard ]

A gender in the genderwizard system that feels like a chaos wizard , or is related / connected to chaos wizards / wizards who perform chaos magic , or to both chaos / chaos magic and wizards .

[ flag ID : a rectangular flag with a complex pattern of wavy and straight lines , the colours on the flag are : black , greyish forest green , greenish light grey , muted yellow , and magenta . in the centre there's a black wand symbol with some sparkles around it , it has a muted yellow outline . end ID ]

Coined by the prince 👑

[ PT : Anyone can use the terms that the charming has coined , but ke asks to Please DNI if any of these aply to you: racist, sexist, ageist, antimogai, antiliom, BaB, ableist, transmed, transcum, fujoshi, radfem, terf, proshipper, anti-agere, antifurry, NSFW blogs, (NO)MAP, zoophile, necrophiliac, incestuous or supporter of those who act on these types of paraphilias. end PT ]

[el-abracadabrante-lobo-gris]

Intent sigil(s).