Quenched in Power: The Work of Marcus McCoy and Troll Cunning Forge
Hello once again, readers. Welcome back to another week of reading through our blog. Our project now approaches its fourth month since launch, and we are eminently proud of both our work, as well as your own support. Your feedback and response has served as an impulse to continue diligently serving the community through our efforts – which are carried out entirely through volunteer work.
This week, we offer another feature which explores the work of a member of our community. In particular, one residing in the artisanal realm.
As a note, our site’s Artisans section can be found under the Community link in the heading menu.
This week, we feature the work of Marcus McCoy. Marcus is a blacksmith and occultist whose work serves as the confluence for a diverse stream of practices and teachings. Located in the North American region of Cascadia, Marcus is a uniquely situated artisan whose art embodies the crossroads of magic and material craft.
His work is carried out under the auspices of his own forge, Troll Cunning Forge. According to Marcus, Troll Cunning Forge encapsulates the “...principles of traditional blacksmithing lore, folk magic and real alchemy.
Troll Cunning Forge, which Marcus founded in 2017, will no doubt be familiar to many of our readers. What of his own background and inspiration?
Marcus’ principle areas of praxis and study include the folk smithing traditions of European magic, as well as the greater context of global magical traditions. This focus is combined with an emphasis on ritual process, necromancy, esoteric herbalism, and western alchemy.
Marcus counts Johannes Björn Gårdbäck as a teacher of profound influence, having shared and communicated with Gårdbäck on the Trolldom tradition of magic. While these practices do not take the primary role in Marcus’ work, his own degree in transpersonal anthropology has offered a number of contextual and cross-cultural approaches with which he engages the practices of Trolldom.
Marcus’ focus as a smith was also enhanced and inspired during a period of work with alchemist Robert Alan Bartlett. Marcus explains that Bartlett once demonstrated how astrological times can be locked into physical matter. For Marcus, this led to a moment of unique insight into the alchemical process of making magical tools within grimoire tradition.
A further element of this work was incorporated as Marcus began to utilize herbal quenches for his forged works, inspired by the material in Daniel Schulke’s Ars Philtron grimoire. This includes herbal quenches for apotropaic purposes, as well as praxis-specific quenches according to the purpose of a given creation.
For this blog, Marcus has graciously offered us photos of his recent work, and we are grateful for his assistance. Below, some photos of numerous works will highlight the power and beauty of these creations. Take a look:
As for the offerings of Troll Cunning Forge, Marcus features & displays many general-audience works publicly. However, he also accepts private commissions from a diverse number of practitioners, occultists, an ritualists. Many of his works themselves utilize a ritual process for creation – often drawing on the invocation of chthonic forces during the forging process.
As such, the conscious and directly intentional use of materials and timing is key: bone, flora, mineral, oil, and herbal components all function with astrological timings to work in direct relation to the purpose & creation of his works.
In the context of community-building, Marcus has been pivotal in developing and hosting a public occult forum at The Crypt in Olympia, Washington in the United States. The forum, called The Illuminates of Cascadia, meets to discuss selected topics and matters within occult life & practice. Meeting monthly, this unique group serves as a special forum for developing embodied relationships in the occult community.
Finally, we would be remiss to not make mention of Marcus’ work co-organizing the Viridis Genii Symposium. According to the organizers:
"The Viridis Genii symposium is an exploration of the greater mysteries of the Herbal Arte and how it manifests itself within all traditions, cultures and practices –the Craft of the Wise. Our desire is to move beyond the mundane and explore those mysteries in greater depth, fostering an environment where the green mysteries thrive, nourish and become one.”
The conference features — and has previously hosted — an extensive & diverse number of herbalists, botanists, environmentalists, and more. These guests present their work through numerous occult, esoteric, mystical, animist, and visionary lenses.
Marcus’ work with Viridis Genii has also extended into editorial work, serving as a co-editor for the symposium’s annual Revelore Press-published journal, entitled Verdant Gnosis. Marcus’ editorial efforts are shared with his partner, Catamara Rosarium, and Jenn Zahrt, PhD.
Currently, Marcus offers his works through an online store, and contact via this store will lead to channels for commissions. Marcus has also recently established a YouTube channel for displaying his works.
When one considers the important role of material tools such as the blade or wand in occult practice, one must also consider the importance of makers who create these works. Marcus serves his community in a singularly unique role, and stands as an eminent force in the creation of artisanal works for magical practice.
In turn, we offer our own gratitude to Marcus for enlivening and contributing to the occult community. We are once again grateful to Marcus for his provision of additional information & images for the publication of this blog.
Until we meet again readers, may your Beltane bring tidings of spring growth and blooming.
Thank you for your readership.
Sincerely,
– The Occult Library Staff