The Chaos star is a spoked device with eight equidistant arrows radiating from a central point. It was originally devised by the fantasy author Michael Moorcock as a symbol of chaos (infinite possibility), and has been adopted as a symbol of Chaos Magick. Its current rounded shape was devised by occult author and chaos magician Peter Carroll.
“The Chaosphere is the prime radiant or magic lamp of the adept – a psychic singularity which emitteth the brilliant darkness.It is a purposely created crack in the fabric of reality through which the stuff of chaos enters our dimension. Alternatively, it may be considered as a demonstration of the axiom that belief has the power to structure reality.” – Liber Null & Psychonaut
What is it? These books cover that, the history of this approach to magic, and more! Check them out!
I’ve also included a few books that aren’t necessarily chaos in description, but have a wholly postmodern bent. I hope you find something you like!
Liber Null and Psychonaut, by Peter Carroll. Classic book of chaos magick. I consider it required reading for almost anyone interested in the occult. Even if you have no love for chaos magick, do give it a read, just to understand how influential Carroll is, and why.
Liber Kaos, by Peter Carroll. Another Carroll classic! Written primarily for students of Carroll’s magical order, the Illuminates of Thanateros, this book gives a full curriculum that might be followed by the budding chaos magician. If you’re interested in the philosophical underpinnings of chaos magic, this is a good book for you, too.
Practical Sigil Magic, by Frater UD. This unusual book focuses entirely on sigilization techniques. It borrows a lot from Carroll, and quick googling will tell you that the author’s relationship with him and his order was quite colorful. Offers many innovative ideas for sigilization. Worth a read!
Hands-On Chaos Magic, by Andrieh Vitimus. Knowing some of the people involved in the creation of this book, I’m a bit biased towards it. That said, even if I didn’t know them, I would still recommend it. It’s especially interesting to read alongside Liber Null and Psychonautin order to see how the chaos “current” has developed over the years.
Pop Culture Magic 2.0 by Taylor Ellwood. There aren’t a lot of books on using pop culture symbolism in magick, but this one is nearly perfect. The author writes in a highly erudite, literate fashion, while still being accessible to newbies. Many useful resources cited, as well, so prepare to branch off a bit while reading it.
Pop Culture Magic Systems, by Taylor Ellwood. Another work from @teriel, this one covers the do-it-yourself aspect of pop culture occult techniques, and building your own system. Definitely recommended for the chaos-minded, and anyone intersecting magick and pop culture.
Instant Magick, by Christopher Penczak. This book covers simple, quick magick without tools, and goes in-depth about the theory behind a results-oriented magical practice. Beginners will like this book, but it is best read slowly and while completing the exercises in it.
City Magick, by Christopher Penczak. While some long for agrarian times past, many witches inhabit urban landscapes. This book takes an innovative and very results-oriented approach to urban spirit interaction and magick. Recommended even for beginners, and obviously, any urban witches.
I hope you found something that interests you on this list! I’ll be posting more installments in this series of book recommendations, organized by topic. You can find all the ones so far here, under my #annobib tag. Also, if you buy the books via the links above, I get some pocket money which I will not spend on Red Bull energy drinks.
“[High Magic] Is that which occurs when there is no impediment to the direct magical effect of will, no barrier to direct clairvoyance and prescience, and no separation between the magician and any form of rapport or consciousness he chooses to enter into. For most people the portals of High Magic are open at a few peak moments in a lifetime. As the magician progresses through his training the momentum he acquires will force open the gates to the miraculous more often. No procedures are given here for the five conjurations of High Magic. High Magic represents the point where technique gives way to intuitive genius and each must intuit the key to unleashing such powers for himself.”
— Peter J. Carroll, Liber Kaos (York Beach: Weiser Books, 1992), 160-161.
Occult Aspects 