
We’re back and we’re wondering why all these robed figures around us are chanting the name of Cthulhu? Don’t they know that Lovecraft made him up? What do they expect to get out of this? Can they really call upon his power? And, if so, how can we get in on this sweet racket?
Main Topic: The Occult and Lovecraft
This is the second part of our look into the relationship between Lovecraft’s work and real occult practices. Last episode, we looked into how Lovecraft drew upon his superficial knowledge of the occult to add verisimilitude to his stories. This time, we’re exploring something far weirder: occultists who have incorporated Lovecraft’s work into their own practices.

Once again, Mike Mason joins us on our journey into mystery. His knowledge as line editor for Call of Cthulhu comes in especially handy when we delve into the gaming aspects of our topic. Which Call of Cthulhu scenarios draw upon occult traditions? What is the difference between the Occult and Cthulhu Mythos skills? How might we use the occult in our own games? And why is Mike chanting and pulling out that obsidian dagger?
Links
Things we discuss in this episode include:
Cthulhu Mythos Occultism
- Kenneth Grant
- Austin Osman Spare
- The Magical Revival
- Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God
- Cults of the Shadow
- The Typhonian OTO
- Strange Eons by Robert Bloch
- The Laundry Files
- Michael Bertiaux and The Voudon Gnostic Workbook
- Chaos magic
- Phil Hine
- Chaos International
- The Pseudonomicon
- Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan
- The Satanic Rituals
- The Simon Necronomicon
- The Esoteric Order of Dagon

The Occult in Call of Cthulhu
- Cthulhu by Gaslight
- The Society for Psychical Research
- The Golden Dawn
- Sacraments of Evil
- Dark Designs
- Masks of Nyarlathotep
- Day of the Beast
- Trail of Tsathoggua
- Poltergeist
- Ouija: Origin of Evil
- Occulus
- Shadows of Yog-Sothoth

Other Stuff
Songs
We sing to our old friend Amelia Faulkner in this episode, thanking her for joining our legion of Patreon backers. Amelia is a gifted and prolific author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. You can find more about her work on her website or Amazon page.

Reviews
We also share a lovely new Apple Podcasts review from listener Test Subject 86b1. If this inspires you to write a review of your own, whether on iTunes or anywhere else you might find podcasts, we would be delighted!
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