‘Message From Thee Temple’: Magick, Occultism, Mysticism and Psychic TV
January 14, 2021 M. Dines, Matt Grimes
Genesis P-Orridge's Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY) was founded to catalyze individual development for those feeling different and dissatisfied. Psychic TV, formed in 1981 after Throbbing Gristle disbanded, produced a vast mixed media oeuvre over thirty years, collaborating with over thirty musicians, writers, artists, and philosophers. P-Orridge's awareness in occult and pagan ritual was integral to forming Psychic TV and TOPY, which became the magickal and philosophical wing of the band. Using Psychic TV's debut album Force the Hand of Chance (1982) as an investigative framework, this chapter analyzes Psychic TV and TOPY's multi-media texts, performances, rituals, and interviews to unpack the significance of magick, occultism, and ritual in asserting their 'cult'ural and philosophical space between music, performance art, and chaos magick.