Consensus Unreality

In this episode, we have a look at the strange history and figures of Martinism. How does a secret society form, survive, or change over the years? Pulling on one thread leads to many others: enlightenment and reformation era mysticism, French occult revival titans, gnostic transmissions, and paths towards a true theurgy.

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality

Consensus Unreality T Shirt

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Intro Music by Treatment

https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/treatment-ep

Outro Sounds by LXV

https://lxvlxv.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hPsIMuL2e8gJ0CvjoVYTY

For the CU 2026 Halloween special, Ben and Dave each list 10 (give or take) horror films: favorites, overlooked obscurities, classics, outliers. A sister episode to last year’s list of esoteric films, this one approaches horror as a genre, a transcendent aesthetic experience, and a tradition often rooted in the occult and paranormal, even if not explicitly. 

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

Purchase a limited CU T SHIRT

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Intro Music by Treatment

https://treatmentforu.bandcamp.com/album/treatment-ep

Outro music by LXV

https://lxvlxv.bandcamp.com/

In this Patreon exclusive, Hekate visits the podcast! A discussion on the goddess of the crossroads, some syncs around her, and her strange role in magical circles. Plus: Arthur Machen's occult detective tale "The Shining Pyramid," more fall horror movie talk, Mothman and John Keel, and much else!

CU T SHIRT

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Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

From her role as Jack Parsons' Babalon to her many connections in Hollywood and the art world, Marjorie Cameron is one of the most infamous but misunderstood figures in 20th century occultism. In this episode, we trace some of her life's strange arc, including her role in the film Night Tide, her friendships and collaborations with Curtis Harrington and Kenneth Anger, her art and poetry, and more. 

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality

CU T SHIRT

https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/

In this episode Dave and Ben chat on the highly influential esoteric writer and activist Ida Craddock. We converse on her influence on more well known figures in 20th century occultism and her role as both an esoteric innovator and public figure on the frontlines of free speech and the women's rights movement in the US at the turn of the 19th century. We consider other examples of spectral consortium and also continue our 2026 Fall Horror Review series and chat on a classic as well as a deep cut of the European variety, and not to mention some spirited recommendations as well.

CU T SHIRT

https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality

Consensus Unreality T Shirt

https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/

Dan is back! A third interview with Kentucky's great polymath: artist, composer, cherry tree reviver, and folklore collector (and experiencer) Dan Dutton. In a classic wide-ranging conversation, we cover everything from Appalachian ballad traditions to witchcraft, rare colors and their histories, and an artistic approach to the autumn-side of life. 

Intro Music by Treatment

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/consensusunreality⁠

Consensus Unreality "Other Ritual" T Shirt

⁠https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/⁠

What one Crowley throws to the curb is another Consensus Unreality's treasure! We talk two of the discarded disciples of the Great Beast, Frater Achad and C. F. Russell, with all of their bizarre interpretations of Thelemic literature and their own additions to occult culture, from the Choronzon Club to gematric decoding's of occult texts.

Plus: a bonus Patreon conversation on occult beefs, the Islands of Dr. Moreau, contemporary B movies, and more. 

Previously a Patreon exclusive episode, now unlocked on our public platforms. Join our Patreon for just $5 and access 2 exclusive episodes monthly, our full 6 year episode archive, written content, discord server and more. Plus: our Print Club Tier includes our Journal of Shells esoteric magazine subscription and other printed and recorded items in the mail. Its the best and only way to support the show.

https://www.patreon.com/consensusunreality

The mind behind the music and performance project Coteries, Erick Van Ficken, joins Dave again for a sprawling conversation on magic, ritual and living the many lives. Erick brings a great wealth of stories on new methods to scrying and divination, tales of urban exploration and antique picking and endlessly haunted zones. Another enchanted conversation, never to be missed!

https://coteries.bandcamp.com/

Intro music by treatment

Outro music by Coteries

In this Patreon exclusive, we talk time magick, double currents and hyperstition. We touch on the influential substrata of Frater Achad and the long reach of Time Magick as conjured by Nema, The Bate Cabal and others. Is it possible the ravings of Achad, once thought to be mad self indulgent revelations, were actually more in tune with something moving towards humanity? Join us as we begin to pull on this thread.. We also continue our horror film discussion series with 1978's The Evil and 2021's Strawberry Mansion. Journal of Shells 9 is complete and will be mailed shortly. If you aren't in our Print Club, switch over to secure a copy.

CU "Other Ritual" Shirt

⁠https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/⁠

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/consensusunreality⁠

Join Consensus Unreality on Patreon to unlock our full 6 year episode archive, 2 exclusive episodes monthly, written content and more + our Print Club Tier to access our Journal of Shells Magazine, exclusive to Patreon, mailed to your door with other printed and recorded items. Its the best and only way to support CU!

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/consensusunreality⁠

CONSENSUS UNREALITY "OTHER RITUAL" T SHIRT AVAILABLE NOW

⁠https://consensusunreality.bigcartel.com/⁠

In this episode we talk esotericism/ occultism in art. What sort of influence does a spiritual practice have on an artist, and what presence might it have in the work? How is it possible Theosophy plays such a huge role here, too? Remedios Varo, Hilma af Klint, Suzanne Treister, Harry Smith.. and the ones we forgot to mention.. *cough Cocteau cough*