Consensus Unreality

The first in a new series of episodes on the dizzying feedback loop of east-meets-west in the occult tradition. We open in an unlikely place: Sax Rohmer and his hugely popular, though now mostly rejected Fu Manchu novels. Why did Kenneth Grant choose Rohmer's Dope, alongside Richard Marsh's beloved gothic-exotic horror classic The Beetle, as reference texts for his monumental book The Ninth Arch? Was Fu Manchu born on a ouija board? Why did CU favorite Eugenia Macer-Story use the metaphor of Fu Manchu vs. the "lonesome cowboy" in her genius examination of the UFO phenomenon? Did any of those Theosophists ever really visit Tibet? The tension between so-called eastern and western mystical traditions may be the driving force of what we call occultism, and in this episode we lay the groundwork for a series which will investigate this concept in detail.  Join us on Patreon for this exclusive series, regular exclusive episodes, full archive, written content, printed journals and more.. https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality

In this interview with writer and artist Marianne Dages, we discuss her most recent artist's book Tales of Fort Denial, the influence of dreams on art and life, book arts and the book as talisman, quest narratives and grail literature, use of the Burroughs/ Gysin cut-up technique, other chance based compositional methods, and more.    Buy and read Marianne's work at: https://www.mariannedages.com   Exclusive Episodes, full archive, printed journals and more at: Patreon.com/consensusunreality   Intro Music by Treatment: https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/music

In this Patreondiumship + Patreon Preepisode on Enchated Travel, Garden Mythos and Current Readings exclusive pre-episode, we discuss Dave's recent trip through Appalachia, the Midwest and the Bible Belt, featuring mounds, haunted dolls, and bigfoot, plus Ben's recent thoughts on gardens and mind control, some books read of late, and much more in a classic freewheeling discussion. Then, in our main episode: an interview with return guest Evana Roman. We catch up on her mediumship practice, talk about the realities of hauntings and poltergeist phenomena, get into the metaphysics of psychic awareness, and discuss the relationship between dreams, poetry, and psychic awareness. And much more; it's a great conversation on a subject so often misunderstood.    Exclusive Episodes, full archive, printed journals and more at https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality   Evana Roman https://www.evanaroman.com/   Intro Music by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/music  

In this interview with filmmaker, Talking Weird podcast host, and flying saucer scholar Dean Bertram, we take a long overdue deep dive into the Shaver Mystery. Topics include: the foundational nature of the Palmer-Shaver relationship in the UFO mythos; Bertram’s documentary short on the subject, and his forthcoming Palmer/Shaver feature The Man Who Invented Flying Saucers; Shaver’s art, philosophy, and tragic later life; the thread of spiritualism and Theosophy throughout flying saucer culture; the subterranean world theme and its pre- and post-Shaver forms; the Maury Island incident; and tons more. A thoughtful and detailed conversation on one of this podcast’s favorite figures.   Dean's Midwest Weird Fest https://www.midwestweirdfest.com/ Join us on patreon for exclusive episodes and much more https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality Intro music by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/pond-life Consensus Unreality Merch https://consensus-unreality.printify.me/

In this long conversation with Willow Trueman of the Nonsense Bazaar podcast, we discuss the shifting nature of a paranormally- tinged life. The paths of synchronicity; talismanic use of embarrassment and narrative; hypnotic and sleep-walking experiences; the language of Flying Saucer literature; past lives and dream lives; Peter Pan; and tons more.  The first hour is free, but to hear the whole conversation and the odd turns it takes, as well as our entire episode archive, sign up for our Patreon! Much awaits you there Full Episode, all exclusive episodes, full archive and more at patreon.com/consensusunreality   Consensus Unreality Merchandise https://consensus-unreality.printify.me/ Intro music by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com

A brief missive from the upturned tortoise shell wherein a soup of syncs bubbles over. Audiobook vortices, the on-high writer writing the writer, and more reckless cosmic speculation.  Join at patreon.com/consensusunreality to access tons of exclusive episodes, full episode archive, written content, discord server, printed journal and more! Merch https://consensus-unreality.printify.me/products

UNLOCKED This was originally a patreon exclusive episode released on 10/13/2022 as part of our Saucers of Despair Series. We continue to release regular exclusive episodes on patreon as well as a printed journal, written content and more. Join up at www.patreon.com/consensusunreality In this third part of our Saucers of Despair series we delve further into Gnostic and Mithraic mysteries, the magic of boundary deities and markers, and identify the pilots behind the wheels of those Saucers— the Dark Gods themselves! Plus some film discussions: A  Dark Song, The Caller, Alison’s Birthday, and a bit of the new Hellraiser... Merch: https://consensus-unreality.printify.me/products Intro Music by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/pond-life

In this interview with artist and recent Orgonon resident Sarah Chait,  we discuss the life, work, and legacy of the great Wilhelm Reich, from  his early involvement with Freud and leftist organizations in Europe to  his landing in rural Maine and later prison time.  Contemporary Reichian therapeutic practices, cloudbusting, orgone  boxes, the tranquil surreality of summer at Orgonon, Reich's unique  relationship to American art and culture, and more! Plus:  bonus Patreon discussion with Ben and David on recent synchronicities,  the new Consensus Unreality print publication, and more! Full Episode, all exclusive episodes, full archive and more at https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality Consensus Unreality Merchandise https://consensus-unreality.printify.me/ Intro music by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/pond-life Outro Music by Aaron Dilloway https://aarondilloway.bandcamp.com/    

Testing connections along the fairy and astral-Theosophical to UFO pipeline... Yep,  still fully operational. NJ’s own W. Y. Evans-Wentz and his fairy faith research,  The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, C W.  Leadbeater’s astral scenery and non-human inhabitants, plus recent ufologick happenings and how they might be 21st century communications from elementals, ascended masters, or the ineffable unknown. As always, another head-spinner so we dove tailed the back-end with some TV talk. Hear the full episodes, unlock the full archive and tons of exclusive episodes, written content and more at https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality Merch: https://consensus-unreality.printify.me Intro song by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/pond-life

Unseen resonances, John Keel's early work, nefarious tendencies in the UFO subculture, and more in this conversation. Susan Lepselter's poetic-ethnographic book and John Keel's classics Jadoo and Operation Trojan Horse are consulted. Hermes fashions his lyre from a turtle. What's that mean for our turtle synchs? We discuss our newest exquisite corpse experiment and perform a new randonaut generation for the first time in a few years.  Hear the full episodes, unlock the full archive and tons of exclusive episodes, written content and more at https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality Merch: https://consensus-unreality.printify.me Intro song by Treatment https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/pond-life