Magic and the Occult in Contemporary Poetry

Magic and the Occult in Contemporary Poetry investigates the relationship between poetry and magic in the context of contemporary poetics. It traces the history of ‘magical poetics’ and the poetry of the occult to the present, in order to ask, in the context of contemporary US poetry, what potential there is for a magical poetics, or a poetics of the occult, today. The book argues that a magical or occult poetics offers a vital counterpoint to more mainstream poetic trends. It defines a magical or occult poetics in terms of the willingness of a poet to entertain a magical worldview for the purposes of writing poetry or the willingness to experiment with creative techniques and processes derived from magical or occult practices. It explores the allure of the poet as magician, the conceptualization of language as inherently magical, and the implications of adopting a magical perspective in poetic creation. It also delves into the specific creative techniques and processes central to magical and occult poetics, including the use of spellcraft, trance, divination, and ritual in the composition of poetry. Daniel John Pilkington is a poet, scholar, and artist, based in Melbourne, Australia. He teaches creative writing at the University of Melbourne. His research explores contemporary poetics, with a particular focus on the spiritual dimensions of poetry and its intersections with visual art.