This Podcast is a Ritual

From d20-powered fireballs to point-and-click quests, magic is an essential ingredient in many games, while games themselves offer some intriguing ideas about the practice of actual magic. Thankfully, Dr. Jeff Howard is a scholar of games and occulture—as well as the author of "Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives" and "Game Magic: A Designer’s Guide to Magic Systems in Theory and Practice"—so he's well equipped to patiently explain the rules and help us find the wisdom within these magical systems.

Tune into Dr. Jeff Howard's vibrations at: https://www.falmouth.ac.uk...

From Q to the Great Gazoo, the Wizard calls upon a variety of extra-dimensional imps and tricky ideas to illustrate this meta-archetype, laying the groundwork for even more magic to come. Featuring Batman's biggest fan, hot-rodding teenagers from Dimension X, and even more delightful (and somewhat irritating) invoked entities.

So come along dum-dum and join the Patreon where you can hear this full bonus episode and plenty of other tricksterish, whimsical, wizardly bonus episodes.

Listen to How to Summon an Interdimensional Trickster:

https://www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual/posts/how-to-summon-172975539

Join the...

If you've been feeling lately like life is an unfair game, you're not alone. And game designer, author, and anti-fascist scholar Max Haiven knows why. In his latest book, The Player and the Played: From Gamed Capitalism to Twenty-First Century Fascism, Haiven uses games to explain how financialized capitalism recruits us into our own exploitation, seeing ourselves as "players," rather than people, who would be winning and succeeding... if only someone wasn't cheating us!—and how fascist politics takes that justified anger and directs it away from precisely the people and institutions who are rigging the game and reaping th...

Using chance to make choices has a long magical history, from complex divination systems to mythologies that imagine the gods gambling and throwing dice to determine human affairs. By taking a simple coin toss as our starting practice, we can learn to let go of the heavy burden of contemplation and let the fates take a more collaborative role in our decision making process.

So flip a coin and learn whether you should join the Patreon where you'll find the full bonus episode where I share the rules to Coin Night, a fun simple group game that...

In the tiny fishing village of Rif, out on the coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland, you'll find an unlikely cultural hub: The Freezer. Built in a former fish freezer, this hostel / performing arts venue is the work of Kàri Viđarsson, a local Icelander who left his village and returned having changed... only to change the cultural landscape of his community in the process.

Tune into the Freezer's magic (or book a stay!) at: https://www.thefreezerhostel.com/

The Freezer also provided a home to the Wizard and 50 other artists thi...

Sometimes things suck. Sometimes we feel bad, can't get what we want, or just plain don't know what to do. And that's hard. But there's a cultural narrative that often makes it way worse, the insidious idea that "it shouldn't be like this." That somehow, feeling this way is a personal failure. That's why the Wizard is here to remind you that sometimes things really do suck! And it's okay to feel bad! And you don't even gotta feel bad about feeling bad. And sometimes, remembering that can help us feel better...

...and if you'd like to...

Magic can be a lot of work. But does it have to be? What if there was a way to use magic, not to bend the world to one's will, but to transform reality into an open field of possibility? Thus, life's stage becomes a board on which we can enjoy a myriad of complex and fascinating games, all experienced through the strange and delightful mode of being known as "Play.

This episode builds on the metaphysics laid out in What's the Point? (theory), What is a Person? (theory), and What is Power? (theory) but it can...

The Wizard has arrived in the Netherlands and is ready to embark on his quest to become "Amsterdam's #1 Wizard," but first, he has to figure out what the heck is going on in a strange land where everything feels odd and unfamiliar. Thankfully, these are the moments magic was made for so he's putting himself in places of possibility and letting divination lead the way to the "slightly better" reality that awaits just on the other side of that "oh no, what am I even doing here?!" overwhelm that greets every traveler when they step out of the familiar...

Aidan Wachter, author of Six Ways, Weaving Fate, and Changeling, joins the ritual for a spirited discussion with the Wizard about the lively world we live in and how magic can help us better align ourselves with the many allies, ancestors, and more mysterious entities who seem to take in interest in our particular plane of being.

Tune into Aidan's magic at: https://www.aidanwachter.com/

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

As the moon slides in front of the sun while Icelandic clouds obscure them both, the land grows dark and the Wizard takes a moment to reflect on art, creativity, festival culture, and how to create truly radical structures in a world eager to commodify and capitalize on whatever novelty is left to discover. And with these final thoughts, the Portal closes, one ritual comes to an end, and a new adventure begins...

Learn more about The Portal at Iceland Eclipse: https://icelandeclipse.com/the-portal

For more THIS PORTAL IS A RITUAL, check out:
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Good things come to those who wait. As the Wizard wades deeper into the THIS PORTAL IS A RITUAL's many mysteries, he continues to encounter new understandings about himself, his fellow participants, the power of pranks, Iceland's unique magic, and what this experience is, was, or just might be.

Learn more about The Portal at Iceland Eclipse: https://icelandeclipse.com/the-portal

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

THIS PORTAL IS A RITUAL descends deeper into madness as the Wizard navigates eternal day, dive bombing birds, organizational challenges, and the unavoidable messiness of interpersonal dynamics, all while doing his best to delight in the discord and play in the imperfections and obstacles that, in their own weird way, open the door to even greater opportunities.

Learn more about The Portal at Iceland Eclipse: https://icelandeclipse.com/the-portal

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

Why did the Wizard go through the Portal? To get to the other side! And all jokes aside, the Wizard is currently in a literal, metaphorical, and deeply magical portal which is a multi-week artist residency for the Iceland Eclipse festival that will usher him into a new reality in Amsterdam when he emerges on the other side. But the Wizard is far from the only traveler moving through this portal, so you're invited to follow along with this adventure and the many wonderful weirdos we'll be meeting along the way in this special mini-series: THIS PORTAL IS A...

America's #1 Wizard is taking the leap and embarking on a magical quest to relocate to the Netherlands and become Amsterdam's #1 Wizard. To honor this momentous occasion, we're looking back at the magic that got us here, revisiting the "What is a Quest?" episode that kicked off last year's This Podcast is a Quest mini-series. And then stay tuned for our new This Portal is a Ritual mini-series, beginning next week!

For more on the magic that emerged from this episode, check out:

The Invocation - https://www.patreon.com/posts/invocation-144989332

The Leap...

Magic has long trafficked in fantasies of power and control. This is the tantalizing idea that there are certain secrets one can master that will raise a person above their peers and allow them to command angels, devils, and assorted deities. Of course, we have also seen this cautionary tale play out across fairy tales and other works of fiction, and it rarely ends well, so here the Wizard offers a novel approach to Power: One based in relation, rather than domination. This episode provides explicit instructions for invoking Power politely and includes a full step-by-step ritual you can...

Before the Wizard reveals his magical praxis for working with the various Powers-that-be, he felt it important to take a moment to address the elephant in the occultural room: Fantasies of control. These seductive messages touch on deeply rooted—often unconscious—anxieties and try to sell a fantasy of power, perfection, and control that promises to resolve all issues. But rather than seek a magic of domination and will, the Wizard suggests we might find greater rewards in a magic of relationship and chill...

...and what better way to relate than subscribing to the Patreon so you can...

Something brought you to this moment. A long sequence of personal choices and cosmic chance collaborated to bring you to this exact moment. But why? That's a question the Wizard explores at length in this new installment of Wizardry in Theory and Practice, digging into the what's and why's of the life shaping forces we call "Power."

This episode builds on the metaphysics laid out in depth in What's the Point? (theory) and What is a Person (theory), but it can absolutely be listened to on its own. And these ideas will be expanded on as an...

The Wizard is on the move, somewhere between Here and I-Don't-Know-Where, so it felt like the right time to take a little walkabout within the concept of "wandering," and it's conceptual sibling, "wondering," and see where we might arrive... 

...which, while wizardry is concerned with far more than mere destinations, if you wish to arrive at the actual episode, you'll need to wander over to our Patreon to hear it in full!

Listen to How to Wander Like a Wizard: https://www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual/posts/how-to-wander-161359969

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/t...

How do we practice becoming a Person? Doing his best to evade the usual traps of self-optimization, the Wizard offers a humble contemplative practice designed to help us see ourselves—not as perpetual projects—but as vast and complex patterns which emerge across space-and-time out of an intricate web of relationships. Thus, to aid us in our quest to discern our own Person, the Wizards lays out a magical ritual known as the Seven Point Program to Become a Person.

For more on the ideas explored in this episode, check out

What is a Person? (theo...

Before we get into the practical magical follow up to What is a Person? (theory), the Wizard wanted to acknowledge the paradoxical problem of trying to be a better person and how the Cult of Optimization seeks to prey on our collective anxieties with an endless barrage of advice, tips, and self improvement schemes, when perhaps we might have a slightly better time letting all that go to bask in our own imperfection instead.

If you're imperfect and tired of trying to deny it, join our imperfect Patreon and listen to the episode in its entirety!

If you're reading this, you're probably a person. While this word is regarded in everyday language as something simple, straightforward, and basically synonymous with "human being," the Wizard wants you to examine your assumptions and re-consider the concept of "person" as he reveals it to be something sranger, with far greater magical significance...

This episode builds on the metaphysics laid out in depth in What's the Point? (theory), although it can absolutely be listened to on its own. And these ideas will be expanded on as an actionable magical practice in the forthcoming episode, What is a...

Despite our bests attempts to "calm down" or "stop panicking," anxiety rarely responds to such strategies, so here are all the Wizard's magical secrets on what actually works, gleaned from years of lived experience as an anxious person as well as countless sessions with clients helping them move past the discomfort of chronic unease that is all too common in this Age of Anxiety.

If you struggle with anxiety and are ready to try something different, join the Patreon to listen to the actual episode in its entirety.

Listen to How to Alchemize Anxiety: https...

David Bajramovic, aka the Recovering Overthinker, is an existential explorer, taking the wisdom of pioneers like Carl Jung, Rollo May, James Hillman, Friedrich Nietzsche, and other deep thinkers and presenting it for a modern audience in ways that are not only accessible, but actionable, as we all face unprecedented levels of technological distraction and dopamine addiction which can make it hard to feel aligned with one's own true will.

Joining the ritual for an illuminating conversation with the Wizard, David shares about his own journey out of anxiety, overthinking, and self sabotage and tell us about the...

The Wizard addresses the current AI discourse from a variety of unusual angles, digging into our lost utopian dreams, extremely valid capitalist critiques, and problematic pearl-clutching moral panic as we all confront this tidal wave of technology that, whatever you think of it, is certainly upending everything! 

But of course, all of that is in the actual episode while this is but a mere amuse-bouche, so come on over to the Patreon to dig into the main dish!

Listen to How to Feel About AI: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157546367

Join the ritual: w...

Performance artist, witchdoctor, and sci-fi religion world builder M. Dudeck steps into the ritual for an imaginal exploration with the Wizard, digging into what it means to envision wilder, weirder tomorrows and the magical and artistic tools we can wield to bring them into being. M. is a multidimensional multimedia artist whose work bridges graphic art and ritualistic performance to explore "xenotheology," the queer alien religion M. channels through its art.

Tune into M. Dudeck's vibrations at: http://religionvir.us/

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

The Wizard is about to turn 40 and currently discovering the wonders of aging like... crippling back pain! Thankfully, he's still a wizard and was able to turn this pain into a profound and powerful revelation that he's here to share with you. Hopefully, you've got a steel spine and a relaxed and zen-like calm about everything you do so you'll never need to deal with healing back pain, but for all the aging mortals out there doing their best to navigate this Age of Anxiety, may these words be thy medicine!

But this is just a preview...

The quest continues as the Wizard ventures even deeper into the Unknown, taking that bold step over the edge to embark on a new chapter of magic, wizardry, and This Podcast is a Ritual by moving to... well, you'll just have to listen to the episode to find out where the Wizard is going next!

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

And for the other episodes mentioned in this episode, be sure to check out:

Just Foolin' (live from MaybeItsFate): https://www.patreon.com/posts/127845885

The Invocation: https://www.patreon...

The Wizard is in transition and working on an episode about where he's moving and what comes next... but it turns out moving really takes it out of you! And that makes it difficult to sit down and do deep creative work like write and record a podcast episode about moving. Which is very meta.

So instead of fake the funk and push out something that wasn't quite ready, the Wizard pulls back the curtain on what he's experiencing in his time of transition, hoping it resonates with you as we all continue to navigate this era...

The Wizard finally reveals the ultimate secrets of magic and provides detailed instructions on how to use them to manifest wealth, achieve success, and get everything you've ever wanted (and more!) 

Got a question for the the Wizard? Call the Wizard Hotline at 860-415-6009‬ and have it answered in a future episode!

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

The Wizard is moving and seeing as this is his final week in Avalon, the beloved house he's called home for the last 6 years, it only seemed right to let Avalon speak through him about what it means to take a magical approach to homemaking and honoring the spirit of the place where one resides. If you'd like to make your own home feel just a bit more magical, check out the full episode over on our Patreon.

Listen to How to Make a Home: https://www.patreon.com/posts/153940298

Join the ritual: www.patreon...

Settle in and take a sip with kava-tender Steven E.  Leszyk, author of Kava's Magical Roots, as we explore the ceremony surrounding this traditional Polynesian brew, its recent inroads into American culture, and the magical states its consumption can create.

Get a copy of Kava's Magical Roots at: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=WkCKUummqxq5DUsXss5V5RXIGB1bYfKY4dqkzuYy0fV

Tune into Steven's vibrations at: @cavevalleykava on Instagram

Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

The Magic of Meta (Hypnosis & Meditations) continues to get even more magical in our third chapter! This time, we're focusing on the practice and persistence that improves focus, creating a powerful personal ritual with countless benefits. This is also where we're working to develop "access concentration," or the level of focus necessary to really benefit from the deeper meditation practices we'll be getting into in our next chapter. And, again, there's bonus hypnosis session included to help you relax into this ritual and create that powerful consistency.

Listen to The Magic of Meta - Chapter 3: https://www...

From honored ancestors to long dead sages, real wisdom can be found beyond even the oldest elders in the land of the dead, a place one may prefer not to wander without a knowledgable guide. Thankfully, philosophy professor and practicing necromancer Kadmus returns to the ritual to help us hear the whispers of dead wizards, the topic of his recent book Learning from Legendary Practitioners: A Necromantic Journey into History, Myth, and the Practice of Magic.

Get a copy of Legendary Practitioners at: https://hadean.press/products/learning-from-legendary-practitioners?variant=51385765134677

Tune into Kadmus' vibrations at: @kadmus...

The second chapter of The Magic of Meta (Hypnosis & Meditations) is here! In this installment, we dive deeper into developing concentration and focus by learning to appreciate the moments of losing focus—all too often regarded as "failing" at meditating—as the actual skill we've honing! And there's a bonus hypnosis tape that will take you even deeper into that drifting, dreaming mind allowing your meditation to improve with the help of (un)conscious effort!

Listen to The Magic of Meta - Chapter 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/151679235

Got a question for the the Wizard? Call...

Tom Banger is an artist, writer, and occultural technologist whose wild life has wound its way through the counter cultural currents of punk rock, heavy metal, and magick. After receiving a serious medical diagnosis, he decided to face it the same way he's lived—with art, intention, and a gleeful anarchic spirit!Tune into Tom's vibrations: https://linktr.ee/tombangerJoin the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

The first installment of The Magic of Meta (Hypnosis & Meditations) is here! This is a new series of bonus content, released every other week on the Patreon, consisting of both a guided meditation AND a hypnosis tape designed to help you successfully implement a meta-magical meditation practice in your life and make your reality... slightly better! Learn more in this sneak peek and check out our Patreon for both the guided meditation and hypnosis tape.Listen to The Magic of Meta - Chapter 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/150538007Got a question for the the Wizard? Call the Wizard Hotline at 860...

We're all going to die and, unfortunately, this truth applies to parents and other legally intwined loved ones. Thankfully, Becky Robison, author of My Parents Are Dead: What Now?, joins the ritual to give us a guided tour of the bureaucracy waiting beyond the grave!Buy Becky's book, My Parents Are Dead: What Now?, wherever you buy books.Tune into Becky's vibrations: https://www.deadparentswhatnow.com/Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

Metta is a Buddhist concept ordinarily translated into English as "loving kindness." But beneath a surface some might dismiss as simplistic "peace and love" good vibes, metta meditation offers a deep set of practices for developing the capacity to understand one's state of mind, manage difficult emotions, and approach the world from a place of greater ease and peace. Join us on the Patreon to hear the full episode exploring this unique magical take on metta!Listen to What is Metta?: https://www.patreon.com/posts/149354409This episode is greatly indebted to the work of George Haas. Learn more by...

The ritual gets a little whacky as we're visited by Tyler Nacho, creator of the existential puppet show, Death to Realism, and the freaks only magazine Kill Pretty, as we learn how a playful puppet can not only help you find your own voice, but offer aid and guidance to tripping festival goers.Tune into Tyler's vibrations at: https://www.tylernacho.com/Got a question for the the Wizard? Call the Wizard Hotline at 860-415-6009‬ and have it answered in a future episode!Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

What's the point of magic? The Wizard finally answers this timeless question with an imminently practical, unbelievably powerful, and ludicrously simple hands-on magical ritual that you can do at home! As the Wizard lays out the steps required to put theory into practice, you'll find yourself manifesting a "slightly better" reality and connecting with the point of magic like never before. This ritual will change your life... if you let it!For more on the ideas explored in this episode, check out our previous episodes What's the Point? (theory) and The Invocation.Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual