Thelema NOW! Guest: Tom Banger on Harry Smith

On this episode of Thelema Now!, host Harper Feist speaks with Tom Banger, contributor to the new book The Occult Harry Smith: The Magical and Alchemical Work of an Artist of the Extremes, edited by Peter Valente. Tom offers unique insight into the esoteric dimensions of Harry Smith's life and work—exploring his deep engagement with alchemy, hermeticism, and ritual practice. Known for his experimental films, obsessive collecting, and avant-garde mysticism, Smith lived at the crossroads of art, magic, and madness. Tom unpacks how Smith's creative output wasn't just inspired by occult ideas—it was occult work in itself. Tune in as we discuss Smith's magical worldview, his influence on countercultural currents, and why his visionary legacy still challenges and inspires occult thinkers, artists, and practitioners today. (There's also a lot of cool punk rock talk too!!) 

On this episode of Thelema Now!, host Harper Feist welcomes musician Ailise Blake for a deep and evocative conversation about creativity, ritual, and the transformative power of sound. Ailise's work merges haunting melodies with esoteric inspiration, crafting sonic landscapes that explore magic, identity, and the sacred in everyday life. Together, they discuss how artistic practice can serve as a path of initiation, the role of intuition in composition, and what it means to bring Thelemic ideas into modern music. Tune in for an inspiring blend of art, philosophy, and the occult — where every note becomes an invocation. Listen to Ailise's music on her website which includes a video. 

In this special episode of Thelema Now!, host Harper Feist engages with artist Gast Bouschet, whose haunting, alchemical works blur the boundaries between ritual, landscape, and transformation. Because speaking is physically painful for Bouschet, this episode takes a unique form: a reading of a text conversation that unfolded between Harper and Gast on Instagram. Bouschet's words—brought to life by Frater Acher—reveal deep reflections on art as a living current, the role of resistance and decay in creative process, and the interplay between spirit and matter. Through this intimate exchange, listeners are invited into Bouschet's shadowed yet luminous world, where the borders between the seen and unseen dissolve. To see Gast's work, visit his website or Instragram page.

In this illuminating episode of Thelema Now, host Harper Feist welcomes renowned esoteric scholar and author Christopher McIntosh to discuss his latest book, The Call of the Old Gods: My Occult Journey on the Pagan Path. Drawing on decades of scholarship in Western esotericism, McIntosh explores how ancient deities continue to speak to the modern world, offering insight, connection, and a sense of sacred purpose in our disenchanted age. The conversation weaves through themes of mythology, personal gnosis, the revival of Pagan traditions, and the enduring presence of the gods in contemporary spiritual practice. Harper and Christopher also touch on his previous work, his experiences in the esoteric world, and how The Call of the Gods reflects a lifetime of mystical inquiry and devotion. Whether you're a practicing Magickian, a lover of myth, or simply curious about the divine voices echoing through time, this episode is sure to awaken your inner seeker. Find out more about Christopher McIntosh at his website https://ozgard.net

Thelema Now Episode: Richard Kaczynski – Friendship in Doubt, Crowley, and the Magic of Connection In this wide-ranging and engaging conversation, host Harper Feist welcomes back renowned Thelemic scholar Richard Kaczynski to discuss his latest book, Friendship in Doubt. Together, they explore the complex web of relationships surrounding Aleister Crowley, the role of loyalty and betrayal in spiritual movements, and how personal dynamics can influence magical work. The discussion doesn't stop there—Harper and Richard dive into Crowley's early work The Sword of Song, unpacking its philosophical underpinnings and literary flair. They also touch on the practice of Magick itself, including its evolution and application in both historical and contemporary contexts. Whether you're a seasoned student of Thelema or just curious about the people behind the philosophy, this episode is full of insight, scholarship, and a few surprises. Tune in and get inspired!

If you are someone who enjoys Tarot - then do we have an episode for you! In this podcast, host Harper Feist talks to Christophe Poncet, who has just published Down Here.  Down Here is the first of a meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated three volume work, The Tarot of Marsilio by Christophe Poncet; a landmark inquiry into the origins of the Tarot de Marseille. Listen as Christophe discuss the orgin of Tarot de Marseille and the surprising findings of his research. 

The lovely Deja Whitehouse talks to Thelema Now host Harper Feist about her latest book, "The Lady and the Beast: The Extraordinary Partnership between Frieda Harris and Aleister Crowley." Deja and Harper discuss Frieda Harris's life, her Thoth Tarot collaboration with Crowley, and her struggles as a woman at time when women had few choices and even less rights. Check it out! You can find out more about Deja Whitehouse at her website.  

 In this Thelema NOW episode, Harper interviews Joseph Peterson, about "Mysteriorum Libri Quinque: Dr. John Dee's Five Books of Mysteries." This book from the 16th century, remains to this day one of the most important core texts of occult literature and a comprehensive guide to Enochian magic, encompassing language, symbolism, rituals, and practical techniques. This deluxe Weiser Ankh edition is a compilation of John Dee's secret spiritual treatises and was prepared from the original manuscript (preserved in the British Library) in Dee's own handwriting. These secret writings were discovered long after John Dee's death (c. 1609); they had been tucked away in a hidden compartment of an old wooden chest and were remarkably spared from destruction—uncovered only a few years before the Great Fire of London in 1666. In these five secret treatises, John Dee, one of the most renowned scholars of the Elizabethan era, records in minute detail his research into the occult. Joseph discusses working with damaged manuscripts, Dee's Biblical references, and Divine Revelation. They also mention Esoeric Archives, which you can access here. Check it out!

Thelema Now's Harper Feist talks with Barry William Hale about his latest work, Arcana Arcanorum by Robert C. Stein. The book is a comprehensive exploration of Aleister Crowley's holy book, Liber Arcanorum. In Arcana Arcanorum, Robert C. Stein presents an initiate's perspective into the system as a whole. He further explores in depth the significance of each individual sigil and its corresponding name. Complementing this analysis, Barry William Hale offers a series of 22 mesmerizing drawings, each piece ingeniously merging the upright and averse spirit of each tarot card into a single, unified form. Together, the engrossing artwork and penetrating analysis uniquely honors and unveils the mysteries of the holy book.     Now available for purchase at Ingram Spark.      Barry William Hale's 231 artwork from this book, along with a number of other pieces, will be featured in an upcoming VR title "Arcanorum 231" available to wishlist on steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/744690/ARCANORUM_231/