Explorations
Published: 22 February 2025
Contemporary Visions : Refiguring The Esoteric; The Transformational Act of “Making” Magic
Abstract –
This exploration examines the design and material culture of magical art, ritual practice, and esoteric objects. It includes discussion on the objects of both historical and contemporary folk traditions and occult practices such as votive offerings, building magic, and ritual deposits, and draws on the methodologies of bricolage and heuristic practices as a means of theoretical underpinning. The exploration also considers esoteric objects, artifacts, and folklore practices from Britain and Ireland and then re-examines these practices through the art and design of contemporary makers currently working in the UK. Taking a reflective approach to design history and using first-hand interviews and reflections on the methods of artists such as Lucy Wright, Sally Gilford, and Becky Brewis, this explorative paper will discuss how these modern makers are rethinking occult themes and redesigning esoteric artifacts from a personal and social perspective, whilst working towards a goal of community and connection for both themselves and their audiences.
Link to journal paper :
https://doi.org/10.1093/jdh/epae029
Epoch Magazine – Issue 13 – 2023
Special Issue – Folklore and Customs
Votives and Vows – Requests for Supernatural Aid Through Dedicated Offerings and Ritual Deposits
Extract – On 9 June 2023, I travelled to Mayo on a pilgrimage of my own. For me, this was a journey in search of articles of faith and ritual deposits in the landscape. It was also an exploration into how leaving a charm or a dedicated offering in a sacred place can be seen as a way of connecting with the supernatural, or of seeking good luck, healing, or protection. It followed on from a trip at Spring Solstice to the Rollright stones in the UK, to explore altogether more esoteric forms of ritual deposits in the form of magical ephemera, coins, and seasonal offerings. What would I discover from these different sites and the deposits left there? And would there be any similarities to the reasons why people chose to visit them and what they gained personally from these experiences?
Link to article :
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Peace Review – Volume 35, Issue 2 – 2023
Special Issue – Folklore Conflict and Peace
The Artist as Ritual Maker, Creatrix and Magical Healer: Symbolic Art-making and Participation for the Purpose of Cathartic Release
Abstract –
This paper will explore how ritual art making and symbolic engagement with magical, spiritual or faith healing objects could help participants to work through trauma and release unhelpful ways of thinking as a way of working towards personal peace. It analyses how cathartic release might be passed on from the artist to a future audience who may interact with ritually made art objects and asserts comparisons between ritual art making and the art therapies. Exploring elements from folklore, and historical ideas around sympathetic magic, and the use of materials and symbols associated with magical practice and how those elements can be reimagined in contemporary esoteric art works. Using examples of my own artwork created through enquiries into art-based research, practice based and participation research methodologies. I explore healing and trauma through the re-imagining of Goddesses, spirits and votives made to reflect cathartic release from unhelpful feelings or behaviours born from trauma experiences. Asserting that important contemporary issues around holistic wellness, and mental health issues can be positively affected by symbolic interaction with ritual healing objects through both creation, and audience participation.
Keyword – art therapy, ceramics, goddesses, healing, magical practice, faith healing, folklore, ritual art, spiritual healing, symbolic making, sympathetic magic, trauma, votives, personal peace
Link to journal paper :
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/WZCKG9ESU69GJ8N26EHQ/full?target=10.1080/10402659.2023.2190839
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Sarah Bellisario - Artist Creatrix 