Dark Star Rising

1. Trump's Success Rooted in Positive Thinking

“I am a winner,” he said throughout his campaign, and it seems he was right.

Belief in self. Donald Trump's unwavering self-confidence and certainty of success are deeply influenced by New Thought philosophy, particularly the teachings of Reverend Norman Vincent Peale. Peale's "power of positive thinking" posits that mental effort can directly influence reality, a core tenet Trump absorbed from a young age. This belief in the mind's ability to overcome any obstacle became a driving force in his career.

Mind over matter. New Thought, also known as Mental Science, emphasizes that "thoughts are causative," meaning our mental state can shape the world around us. This idea, rooted in ancient occult concepts and echoed in modern quantum physics and phenomenology, suggests that reality is not fixed but can be molded by focused intention. Trump's ability to "think big" and project an image of success aligns with this philosophy.

American tradition. Positive thinking has deep roots in American intellectual history, tracing back to Transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and philosophers like William James. James, a proponent of Pragmatism, explored "mind cure" methods and the "will to believe," arguing that a firm conviction of success is crucial for achieving goals. This "can do" attitude and focus on practical results are hallmarks of both American culture and Trump's approach.

2. Chaos Magick: Reality as a Malleable Playground

For chaos magicians and many other contemporary occultists, the internet serves the same purpose that the “astral plane” does for traditional magicians, as a kind of psychic ether that can transmit their willed intentions.

DIY magic. Chaos magick is a modern occult practice that rejects rigid traditions, favoring personal initiative, imagination, and a "do-it-yourself" approach to making things happen. Instead of relying on fixed rituals or symbols, chaos magicians use whatever is at hand, including elements from popular culture and the internet, to achieve desired outcomes. This flexible, results-oriented approach aligns with a postmodern sensibility.

Shifting reality. A central aim of chaos magick is to "shift the boundary of Achievable Reality," essentially creating reality through focused will and imagination. It views "consensus reality" as an illusion and seeks to manipulate the flow of events by "nudging" variables through magical acts. This perspective resonates with the idea that reality is fluid and responsive to mental intention, a concept also found in New Thought.

Postmodern occultism. Chaos magick is described as a "postmodern occultism" because it embraces the flux, fragmentation, and lack of fixed truth characteristic of the postmodern age. It thrives in a rapidly changing world where styles and beliefs can be mixed endlessly. Like postmodernism, it views truth and falsehood as mutable beliefs, making it comfortable in a "post-truth" environment where reality itself seems up for grabs.

3. Meme Magic: Internet Symbols Shaping Reality

Meme magic happens when something created on the internet bleeds into the “real world” and changes it.

Digital synchronicity. Meme magic is a contemporary phenomenon, particularly associated with online communities like 4chan, where internet memes are used as tools to influence real-world events. It operates on the principle that online creations can manifest changes in the physical world, akin to inducing synchronicity – meaningful coincidences between inner (internet) and outer (real) events. This views the internet as a collective "exteriorized" imagination.

Sigils and thought forms. In meme magic, internet images, symbols, or slogans function as "sigils" – magical symbols charged with intent to produce a desired outcome. When a meme like Pepe the Frog is repeatedly posted and imbued with collective desire (e.g., for Trump's victory), it is believed to gain power. This practice echoes the occult concept of an "egregore" or "tulpa," a thought form created and sustained by collective or individual mental energy.

Reality hacking. Meme magic reflects a desire to "break the reality barrier," demonstrating that online activity can have tangible effects offline. This playful yet potent approach, often rooted in cynicism and a rejection of mainstream norms, seeks to manipulate the "cosmic matrix" by exploiting perceived "glitches." The alt-right's adoption of Pepe and their belief that they "willed" Trump into office through meme magic exemplify this phenomenon.

4. Charismatic Leaders Share Traits with Gurus and Magicians

Charismatic leaders cast a spell over their followers in the same way that a magician casts one over those he wants to enchant.

Magnetic presence. Charismatic leaders, gurus, and magicians share a "special magical quality of personality" that allows them to immediately impress and influence others, attracting devoted followers. This charisma, derived from the Greek for "gift of grace," sets them apart and often leads them to be seen as superhuman or supernatural figures. They excel at controlling their self-image and performing for an audience.

Will to power. These figures often exhibit a strong "will to power," not necessarily over others, but as a drive for growth and overcoming limitations. However, this can easily devolve into a need for dominance over others, especially when coupled with narcissistic traits or a "Right Man" mentality that refuses to admit being wrong. This need for external validation can trap them at the "self-esteem" level of psychological development.

Reality distortion. Gurus and demagogues simplify complex realities into stark dualities (good/evil, us/them), offering followers a reassuring sense of certainty and purpose. They often rely on instinct over reason and can be unpredictable, keeping followers off balance. Their ability to project a compelling vision and make followers feel part of something larger fulfills a deep human need for meaning, sometimes leading to blind loyalty and disastrous consequences.

5. Steve Bannon's Link to Traditionalist Occultism

Talking about one of Putin’s “advisers”—Alexander Dugin—Bannon said that he “hearkens back to Julius Evola and different writers of the early twentieth century who are really the supporters of what’s called the traditionalist movement.”

Platforming the fringe. Steve Bannon, as Trump's chief strategist and former head of Breitbart News, played a crucial role in bringing the "alt-right" into mainstream political discourse. He explicitly stated that Breitbart provided a "platform" for this movement, which distinguishes itself from older forms of white supremacy through intellectual influences like Traditionalism. Bannon's own interests align with some of these radical ideas.

Traditionalist sympathies. Bannon's reference to Julius Evola and Traditionalism, particularly in a speech to a conservative Catholic group, highlights a connection between his political vision and esoteric thought. While Bannon's "economic nationalism" differs from Evola's aristocratic ideals, his apocalyptic rhetoric and desire to dismantle the existing system resonate with Traditionalist critiques of modernity. He sees a coming conflict between the Judeo-Christian West and "Islamic fascism."

Cultural warfare. Bannon's career, particularly in film and media, demonstrates a focus on "weaponizing" culture to achieve political ends. His documentaries and work at Breitbart aimed to shift the "Overton window," making radical ideas acceptable by attacking the "Progressive Left" and mainstream media. This strategy of cultural disruption and reality manipulation aligns with the aims of chaos magick and postmodern politics.

6. Julius Evola: The Warrior Against the Modern World

Evola contributed many articles to UR, under several pseudonyms, and one of the themes he came back to regularly was the magician’s ability to alter reality through the power of the mind alone...

Radical Traditionalism. Julius Evola was a 20th-century Italian esotericist and philosopher who championed Traditionalism, the belief in a primordial revelation and a subsequent decline of humanity, culminating in the decadence of the modern world. Unlike René Guénon, who advocated passive withdrawal, Evola promoted a militant, "warrior"-style Traditionalism aimed at actively opposing modernity and its values. He sought to embody the ideal of l'uomo differenziato, "one who is different."

Magic and will. Evola's early work explored the "science of the ego" and the magician's ability to shape reality through intense will and imagination. He saw the "absolute individual" as capable of being "unconditionally whatever he wants," a concept linking his thought to New Thought and chaos magick's focus on manifesting desire. For Evola, the acquisition of esoteric knowledge was inseparable from the acquisition of power.

Political engagement. Evola sought to influence politics, particularly Italian fascism, hoping to steer it towards a more "absolute," spiritual, and hierarchical form based on pagan Roman ideals. Although his influence on Mussolini was limited, his ideas on race, caste, and the rejection of democracy and individualism have inspired far-right movements in Europe and the alt-right. His concept of apoliteia, an active nihilism against the modern world, continues to resonate.

7. Synarchy and the Esoteric Foundations of the EU

Synarchy’s aim was a kind of United States of Europe, and some of those who had written about it suggested that it was an echo of this idea—and perhaps more than an echo—that lay at the foundation of the European Union.

Total government. Synarchy, meaning "total government," is an esoteric political concept originating with French occultist Alexandre Saint-Yves d'Alveydre, who claimed to receive its principles from the subterranean city of Agartha. It envisions a hierarchical, caste-based social order governed by universal principles and led by a spiritual authority, a stark contrast to modern democracy and individualism. This ideal aligns with Traditionalist critiques of the modern world.

Occult politics in France. Synarchist ideas circulated in French occult circles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influencing figures like Papus and potentially René Schwaller de Lubicz. Some accounts suggest a covert synarchic movement influenced French politics in the 1930s and 40s and may even be linked to the esoteric landscaping of Paris under President Mitterrand. This points to a hidden current of occult influence in political affairs.

EU connection. A controversial theory posits that the European Union has roots in synarchist ideals, specifically the vision of a united Europe under a centralized, hierarchical authority. While debated, the idea that an esoteric political philosophy could influence the formation of a major geopolitical entity suggests the potential for hidden forces or long-term ideological currents to shape world events, adding another layer to the complex interplay of occultism and politics.

8. Putin's Postmodern Politics and Reality Creation

...the kind of reality Putin and his “political technologists” have been busy manufacturing seems in many ways very much like the kind of shifting, transitory world that chaos magicians find appealing.

Managed democracy. Vladimir Putin's Russia, particularly under the guidance of Vladislav Surkov, has mastered a form of postmodern politics characterized by the deliberate blurring of truth and fiction, the use of "alternative facts," and the creation of a "managed democracy." This system employs the language and institutions of democratic capitalism for authoritarian ends, keeping the populace entertained and disoriented through media manipulation and political spectacle.

Cynicism as strategy. Surkov's approach fostered a climate of pervasive cynicism where belief in anything stable was derided, and the ability to be a "shape-shifter" was celebrated. This mirrors chaos magick's embrace of fluid beliefs and identities. By funding and promoting opposing political movements, the Kremlin created a simulacrum of debate, controlling the narrative while real opposition was marginalized.

Weaponized reality. Putin's administration has effectively "weaponized" reality itself, using television and media to create a desired narrative and manipulate public consciousness. This includes promoting conspiracy theories, fabricating news stories, and presenting Putin as a charismatic, almost magical figure. This deliberate construction of reality for political gain aligns with the core aims of both positive thinking and chaos magick – to make things happen by shaping perception and belief.

9. Alexander Dugin: Eurasianism and the War of All Against All

Alexander Dugin’s journey from teenage punk Soviet dissident to Putin’s geopolitical adviser, via waystations as neo-Nazi and Communist reactionary, could have happened only in Russia...

Ideological chameleon. Alexander Dugin, a key figure influencing Putin's geopolitical vision, embodies the "Russian Man" archetype – a complex, contradictory personality capable of embracing extremes. His career has seen him adopt and discard various ideologies, from neo-Nazism and Communism to Traditionalism and chaos magick, demonstrating a postmodern flexibility in belief akin to Surkov's political shape-shifting.

Eurasian vision. Dugin is a leading proponent of Eurasianism, a geopolitical theory arguing that Russia is not European but the center of a unique, land-based civilization destined to oppose the maritime powers of the West (Atlanticists). This vision, rooted in historical ideas and influenced by thinkers like Evola and Lev Gumilev, calls for a vast Eurasian Empire stretching across the continent, uniting peoples under a strong, collective, hierarchical rule.

Apocalyptic conflict. Dugin sees the current global situation as an inevitable, existential struggle between the decadent, individualistic West and the rising, traditionalist East (Eurasia). He views this as a "war of all against all," a necessary cataclysm to end the reign of Western liberalism and individualism. Dugin actively seeks to accelerate this process, believing that "active metaphysics" and the power of thought can help bring about this desired apocalyptic transformation.

10. The Occult War for the Soul of the World

Are Order and Chaos gearing up for a magical battle that will change the political landscape of the world? Is some kind of occult war on its way, or has it already begun?

Reality is malleable. A central thread connecting the seemingly disparate elements discussed – New Thought, chaos magick, meme magic, charismatic leaders, Traditionalism, postmodern politics, and geopolitical visions – is the shared belief that reality is not fixed but can be influenced or even created by consciousness, will, and collective intention. This challenges the conventional, rationalistic view of an objective, independent world.

Beyond the human. Some figures, like Evola and Dugin, suggest that the current global conflicts involve more than just human actors, hinting at the influence of "superhuman entities" or occult forces in shaping political events. This perspective frames the struggle not merely as a clash of ideologies or nations, but as an "imperceptible war" waged in a "subterranean dimension," potentially involving egregores or other non-physical entities.

The stakes are high. If reality is indeed susceptible to manipulation through collective belief, focused will, and symbolic action (memes, rituals, propaganda), then the stakes of political and cultural conflicts are higher than conventionally understood. The rise of figures and movements employing these methods, from Trump's positive thinking and the alt-right's meme magic to Putin's reality-bending politics and Dugin's call for global conflict, suggests that an "occult war" for the nature of reality itself may be underway.

Last updated: May 16, 2025