The Occult Rejects

The Occult Rejects

Occultists, Rejects, and Mystics trying to educate others about magick and occultism so others can figure out who they are and the world around them.

  1. The Mechanics of Magick- Breath as the Threshold: Religion, Occult Discipline, and the Brain on Altered States

    1D AGO

    The Mechanics of Magick- Breath as the Threshold: Religion, Occult Discipline, and the Brain on Altered States

    If you enjoy this episode, we’re sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we’ve got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.   Thank you and enjoy the episode! Links For The Occult Rejects https://linktr.ee/theoccultrejects Occult Research Institute https://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/ Cash App https://cash.app/$theoccultrejects Venmo @TheOccultRejects Buy Me A Coffee buymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejects Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejects Primary / traditional texts and core religious sources Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Access to Insight. Best primary source for Buddhist mindfulness of breathing.“Ḏekr / Dhikr,” Encyclopaedia Iranica. Strong source for Sufi remembrance, rhythmic repetition, posture, and breathing-linked practice.“Hesychasm,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Good general source for the Christian contemplative tradition of stillness, uninterrupted prayer, and the Jesus Prayer.“Saint Gregory Palamas,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Useful for the role of bodily posture and controlled breathing in Hesychast prayer.Crowley, Aleister. Liber E vel Exercitiorum. Primary text for Crowley’s explicit inclusion of “Pranayama – Regularisation of the Breathing” in occult training.Crowley, Aleister. Book Four, Part 1. Useful for Crowley’s statement that pranayama is useful in “quieting the emotions and appetites.”Historical / religious context “Prana,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Best short source for the deep Indian background: prāṇa, the five prāṇas, and breath as vital force.“Pranayama,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Best short source for classical Yoga: pranayama as the fourth limb aimed toward samādhi.“Hatha Yoga,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Useful for the force-oriented turn: bodily mastery, purification, and regulation of breathing.“Qi,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Good for Daoist and Chinese background: qi as psychophysical energy and breath-linked vital force.“Qigong,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Useful for qigong as a discipline combining movement, breathing, and mental concentration.“Are Kabbalistic Meditations all about Ecstasy?” in Hermes Explains (Cambridge). Strong academic source for Abraham Abulafia and ecstatic Kabbalah.“Classical Kabbalah, Its History and Symbolic Universe.” Useful academic source noting ecstatic Kabbalah’s breathing exercises, postures, and developed techniques.Neuroscience / physiology / altered states Ashhad, Kam, Del Negro, and Feldman. “Breathing Rhythm and Pattern and Their Influence on Emotion.” Annual Review of Neuroscience (2022). One of the best overview papers for the whole episode.Yackle et al. “Breathing control center neurons that promote arousal in mice.” Science (2017). Key source for the preBötzinger complex / calm-vs-arousal section.Schottelkotte and Dutschmann. “Forebrain control of breathing: Anatomy and potential functions.” Frontiers in Neurology (2022). Best source for cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and thalamus in breathing control.Krohn et al. “The integrated brain network that controls respiration.” eLife (2023). Strong review for respiration as part of a larger integrated brain network.Heck et al. “Breathing as a fundamental rhythm of brain function.” Human MEG work on respiration-modulated brain oscillations across frequency bands and brain regions. (Note: the specific MEG paper surfaced in earlier research as the respiration-modulated oscillations study; the review sources above are the strongest anchors for that section.)Zelano et al. “Nasal Respiration Entrains Human Limbic Oscillations and Modulates Cognitive Function.” Journal of Neuroscience (2016). One of the most important human papers in the whole script.Schreiner et al. “Respiration modulates sleep oscillations and memory reactivation in humans.” Nature Communications (2023). Best source for the sleep-spindle / memory-reactivation section.Zaccaro et al. “How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psychophysiological Correlates of Slow Breathing.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience / PMC version (2018). Best broad source for slow breathing under 10 breaths per minute.Shao, Man, and Lee. “The Effect of Slow-Paced Breathing on Cardiovascular and Emotion Functions: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.” Mindfulness (2024). Useful for the stabilizing-road section.Kozhevnikov et al. “Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation.” PLoS ONE (2013). Best source for vase breathing and inner-heat claims.Zhang et al. “Hyperventilation in neurological patients: from physiology to outcome evidence.” Useful source for hypocapnia, cerebral vasoconstriction, and reduced cerebral blood flow.Havenith et al. “Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness.” Communications Psychology (2025). The key modern paper for circular breathwork and altered-state onset.  Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. Now let me introduce the rest of the panel and guests.

    1h 13m
  2. The Rhythms of Consciousness: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma

    4D AGO

    The Rhythms of Consciousness: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma

    If you enjoy this episode, we’re sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we’ve got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.   Thank you and enjoy the episode! Links For The Occult Rejects https://linktr.ee/theoccultrejects Occult Research Institute https://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/ Cash App https://cash.app/$theoccultrejects Venmo @TheOccultRejects Buy Me A Coffee buymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejects Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejects 1. Patel, A. K., et al. *Physiology, Sleep Stages*. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf, 2024. 2. Jensen, O., & Mazaheri, A. “Shaping Functional Architecture by Oscillatory Alpha Activity: Gating by Inhibition.” *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience*, 2010. 3. Cavanagh, J. F., & Shackman, A. J. “Frontal Midline Theta Reflects Anxiety and Cognitive Control: Meta-Analytic Evidence.” *Journal of Physiology-Paris*, 2015. 4. Axmacher, N., et al. “Cross-Frequency Coupling Supports Multi-Item Working Memory in the Human Hippocampus.” *PNAS*, 2010. 5. Lacaux, C., et al. “Sleep Onset Is a Creative Sweet Spot.” *Science Advances*, 2021. 6. Horowitz, A. H., et al. “Targeted Dream Incubation at Sleep Onset Increases Post-Sleep Creative Performance.” *Scientific Reports*, 2023. 7. Caporro, M., et al. “Functional MRI of Sleep Spindles and K-Complexes.” *Clinical Neurophysiology*, 2012. 8. Ng, T., et al. “Bayesian Meta-Analysis Reveals the Mechanistic Role of Slow Oscillation-Spindle Coupling in Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation.” *eLife*, 2025. 9. Datta, K., et al. “Electrophysiological Evidence of Local Sleep During Yoga Nidra Practice in Young Male Volunteers.” *Frontiers in Neurology*, 2022. 10. Jensen, M. P., et al. “Brain Oscillations, Hypnosis, and Hypnotizability.” *American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis*, 2015. 11. Huels, E. R., et al. “Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness.” *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience*, 2021. 12. Ingendoh, R. M., et al. “Binaural Beats to Entrain the Brain? A Systematic Review...” *PLOS ONE*, 2023. 13. Páez, A., et al. “Sleep Spindles and Slow Oscillations Predict Cognition and Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease.” *Alzheimer’s & Dementia*, 2025. 14. Askitopoulou, H. “Sleep and Dreams: From Myth to Medicine in Ancient Greece.” *Journal of Anesthesia History*, 2015. 15. Pavli, A. “Asclepieia in Ancient Greece: Pilgrimage and Healing.” *Journal of Integrative Medicine and Research*, 2024. Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. Now let me introduce the rest of the panel and guests.

    1h 5m
  3. Crooked Ways and Cunning Words: Marshall the Witch of Southern Light

    5D AGO

    Crooked Ways and Cunning Words: Marshall the Witch of Southern Light

    If you enjoy this episode, we’re sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we’ve got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.   Thank you and enjoy the episode! Links For The Occult Rejects https://linktr.ee/theoccultrejects Occult Research Institute https://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/ Cash App https://cash.app/$theoccultrejects Venmo @TheOccultRejects Buy Me A Coffee buymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejects Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejects Marshall LinkTree https://linktr.ee/WitchofSouthernLight?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnwpWgpJKeCLQtx_LBwF_qc9iAo5qsO0HXmGwaSvK8ayZByU-5BuzREA9Xt0U_aem_re9ubaEs2b2e1VLg4NpTiA Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. Now let me introduce the rest of the panel and guests.

    1h 21m
  4. The Mechanics of Magick: Flicker Light and the Brain’s Hidden Geometry

    MAY 4

    The Mechanics of Magick: Flicker Light and the Brain’s Hidden Geometry

    If you enjoy this episode, we’re sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we’ve got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.   Thank you and enjoy the episode! Links For The Occult Rejects https://linktr.ee/theoccultrejects Occult Research Institute https://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/ Cash App https://cash.app/$theoccultrejects Venmo @TheOccultRejects Buy Me A Coffee buymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejects Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejects Bibliography / Show Notes Amaya, I. A., Behrens, F., et al. “Effect of Frequency and Rhythmicity on Flicker Light-Induced Visual Hallucinations.” PLOS ONE, 2023. Key use: frequency, rhythmicity, 10 Hz flicker, Klüver forms.Shenyan, O., Lisi, M., Greenwood, J. A., Skipper, J. I., & Dekker, T. M. “Visual Hallucinations Induced by Ganzflicker and Ganzfeld Differ in Frequency, Complexity, and Content.” Scientific Reports, 2024. Key use: Ganzfeld vs. Ganzflicker.Bressloff, P. C., Cowan, J. D., Golubitsky, M., Thomas, P. J., & Wiener, M. C. “Geometric Visual Hallucinations, Euclidean Symmetry and the Functional Architecture of Striate Cortex.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2001. Key use: form constants, tunnels, spirals, lattices, honeycombs, visual cortex modeling.Bressloff, P. C. “What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us About the Visual Cortex.” Neural Computation, 2002. Key use: Klüver form constants and visual cortex explanation.Mauro, F., et al. “A Bidirectional Link Between Brain Oscillations and Geometric Patterns.” Journal of Neuroscience, 2015. Key use: brain oscillations and geometric visual patterns.Hewitt, T., et al. “Stroboscopically Induced Visual Hallucinations.” Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2025. Key use: history and science of stroboscopic hallucinations.Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. “Hallucinations from Flickering Lights: What Happens in Our Brain?” 2024. Key use: standing waves / visual cortex explanation.Purkinje, J. E. Early 19th-century writings on subjective visual phenomena and flicker effects. Key use: historical scientific observation of flicker-induced visual effects.Klüver, H. Mescal and Mechanisms of Hallucinations. University of Chicago Press, 1966. Key use: form constants: tunnels, spirals, lattices, cobwebs.Epilepsy Foundation / clinical photosensitivity guidance. Key use: photosensitive epilepsy safety warning; flashing lights and visual patterns can trigger seizures in susceptible people.“Visually-Provoked Seizures: Consensus of the Epilepsy Foundation of America Working Group.” Epilepsia. Key use: safety, photosensitive seizure risk.Ofcom / broadcast photosensitive epilepsy standards and strobe-light safety cases. Key use: real-world risk from rapid flashing light in media environments.Extra useful context sources Gysin, B., and Sommerville, I. Dreamachine-related writings and documentation. Key use: 20th-century flicker device, art, counterculture, visionary technology.Huxley, A. The Doors of Perception. Key use: altered perception context, though not specifically flicker science.Lewis-Williams, D. The Mind in the Cave. Key use: cave art, altered states, entoptic imagery, visionary interpretation.Eliade, M. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Key use: older ritual technologies of altered states; use carefully as historical theory.Tart, C. T., ed. Altered States of Consciousness. Key use: broader academic framing for non-ordinary states.Vaitl, D., et al. “Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness.” Psychological Bulletin, 2005. Key use: general altered-state science framework. Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. Now let me introduce the rest of the panel and guests.

    1h 7m
4.8
out of 5
16 Ratings

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Occultists, Rejects, and Mystics trying to educate others about magick and occultism so others can figure out who they are and the world around them.

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