Findings from a Scavenger: Scavenged Rituals Feature
A warm welcome to our readers as our blog returns from a brief two-week hiatus. During this time, we’ve had a chance to rest our writing minds, and we thank you for your patience & understanding.
As summer draws near for our readership in the northern hemisphere of the globe, we no doubt expect that many will have a number of reading forays on their horizon. One of these may be the casual, intensive, or exploratory reading of periodicals: zines, journals, quarterlies, and small-press editions.
We at the occult library have a particular fondness for such publications, and we feel that they reflect particular tradition within the occult community. Zines have historically served as a subcultural means of expression and information dissemination. This is eminently true for the occult community, where zines hold a fond place in the hearts of many. A number of zinesters and small-presses engage in trade and barter, and they help constitute the reciprocal facets of the community.
Recall that The Occult Library maintains a running catalog of periodicals. Each publisher listing contains a list of publications and – where available – contents and images. We encourage our readers to explore, and widen the doors of periodical readership.
With all of this in mind, we’d like to feature a wonderful periodical which arrives in the form of a glossy zine. We are speaking of Scavenged Rituals, a zine examining comparative ritualism, encompassing occult, mystical, and esoteric expression.
Scavenged Rituals logo
While this scope may seem expansive, the zine’s creator and editor — known only as “The Scavenger” — has done a wonderful job of formulating a cohesive and authentic structure.
Printed and distributed quarterly, Scavenged Rituals contains work from contributors who “…discuss rituals from their diverse traditions and examine the meaning of their practice from their angle on reality.”
The zine commenced in spring of 2023 with a 52-page Vol. 1, No. 1 issue. With nine articles contained from scavengers such as Isidora Forrest, Rev. Erik L. Arneson, and The Occult Library’s own Daniel Yates, the publication represents a diverse range of thought and practice.
Scavenged Rituals Vol. 1, No. 1 cover.
This premier volume also set a musical feature into motion, as a flexi-disk vinyl containing a “phonographic audio ritual” was included.
Phonographic audio ritual containing work from Revel∴Keats Rosz
In nearly no time, the zine was being distributed at occult shops of renown such as Treadwells of London.
Before the Vol. 2, No. 2 edition arrived three months later, the zine was already making rounds in ritual and occult circles, spurning a number of engaged conversations and connections.
The Vol. 2, No. 2 edition, published that June, featured a slightly expanded format with larger pages — 56 in number. Many fascinating articles are found:
American Museum of Paramusicology director Matt Marble offers a feature on the magical listening elements of the Hausa community of West Africa. Antero Alli provides a work entitled, “Paratheatre: Experiments in Group Ritual Dynamics." Alex Wrekk poses a wondrous and curious question that frames so much of the publication: “What Even is Ritual?”
Music was once again included, this time expanded beyond the select limited editions containing flexi-disk vinyls. Every edition featured a QR code for streaming selected forms of ritual music.
Matt Marble’s article, “Hausa Techniques of Magical Listening.”
Two more subsequent publications, both further expanded to 76 and 78 pages, respectively.
In all, the publication does something uniquely special by interweaving cross-cultural currents, diverse ritual explorations, and experiential material. That it does so in a relatively compact publication speaks to value of quality over quantity.
Yet, despite this size, Scavenged Rituals can feel like one is opening a portal to the world entire. No doubt these articles — laden with their own depth and sincerity — will open the gates to further comparative study and trails of study for the reader.
Readers were delighted to discover that the January 2024, Vol. 1 No. 4 edition came with 3D glasses and accompanying illustrations. This issue featured a community member recently featured by The Occult Library in Troll Cunning Forge’s own blacksmith Marcus McCoy. The Scavenger recalls formulating the article with McCoy by “…watching him working his magic on metal and discussing what passes for magical fabrication these days.”
A 3D element was included in the Scavenged Rituals Vol. 1, No. 4 edition, complete with viewing glasses.
Testament to the renown that Scavenged Rituals has already accrued, The Scavenger even scored an interview with Kai Uwe Faust, vocalist of the storied pagan folk group Heilung.
In turn, what is perhaps most admirable about The Scavenger and their work is the way in which they have forged connections and examinations between the very traditions and experiences comparatively examined in the publication.
In an occult and ritual sphere community marked with so many spheres — some disparate — Scavenged Rituals works to strengthen bonds, opening the way for engagement and practice. To this we say carry on the incredible work.
More news, content lists, and images of Scavenged Rituals can be found via the zine’s website here. Thanks to Scavenged Rituals for the image permissions.
We thank our readers again for the opportunity to feature and offer our thoughts on these many members of our occult community. We look forward to further developing our site over the summer, and we can’t wait to share our progress with you.
As always, cheers and best wishes,
— The Occult Library staff