Posted in Archive on March 18, 2026 by Occult Detective
Hello, Sleuths. Hope you’re well. I thought I would apparate in and let you know about some upcoming events and releases as we slide out of the first quarter of 2026. Let’s handle them in order, as things stand right at this moment…
March of the Magicians is a YouTube Reading Event all March long in which we read the writings of members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.. This year we are reading the works of Arthur Machen.
The 21st of March, my son, author Connor Landon Freeman, and I will be at the Bookworm Orchard booth for Spring Bazaar in Alexandria Indiana, at the Madison County Fairgrounds.
The 25th of April, Connor and I will both be featured at the Bookworm Orchard Signing Event and Grand Opening, located at the Boston Hill Center in Marion Indiana.
28th of April, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of it’s original release, Shadows Over Somerset is back in print, in trade paperback and hardcover.
29th of April, as part of the 20th Anniversary celebration, Keepers of the Dead, sequel to Shadows, is back in print in trade paperback and hardcover.
The First of May, Beltane and Walpurgisnacht, at long last, The Occult Detective Roleplaying Game, written and designed by Connor and myself, will be released in hardcover.
On YouTube, thoughout May, it’s Horror Mayhem, where we delve into the depths of horror fiction all month long, with an emphasis on works of less than 250 pages.
The 16th of May, Kim, Connor, and I will be set up at Beyond the Veil, which means Attic Pages will have a table full of vintage books to peruse. This event is held at the Miami County Fairgrounds in Peru, Indiana.
The 5th of June, I will be attending the premiere of Brandon Wright’s documentary The Mississinewa Triangle. I make a brief appearance in the film and will be there in support of the filmmaker. The film is being shown at Streaper’s Entertainment in Peru, Indiana at 7 and 9pm.
While I won’t be there in person, June 12th 7 13th is Howard Days, in Cross Plains, Texas. This is an event that I have longed to attend since its inception. Someday, I will. This year, I was nominated for a Black Lotus Award for my series of YouTube videos focused on Kirowan & Conrad. It’s my second time being nominated, the first being an essay I wrote about King Kull seven or eight years back.. While, I have to expectation of winning, it was my hope that, by being nominated, Robert E. Howard’s Occult Detective fiction might reach a broader audience.
The 22nd of August, Kim, Connor, and I will make our return to the delightfully spooky Hannah House for their 3rd Annual Paranormal Festival down in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On YouTube, we celebrate Cimmerian September, where we read the works of Robert E. Howard all month long. This year, I plan to read Howard’s Steve Harrison stories.
On YouTube, it’s Occult Detective October, where we read Occult Detective tales all month long.
The 17th of October, Kim, Connor, and I will be back at the Miami County Fairgrounds for the 8th Annual Paraunity Convention.
And there you have it, my confirmed appearances for the remainder of the year. Keep an eye on this space as I am sure to be adding events as we press forward.
“Psychology destroys the mystery, this kind of magic quality.” — David Lynch
Magick is not merely a trick of the mind or a playful illusion conjured by human perception. It is a fundamental aspect of the universe itself—a language spoken through the archetypes that serve as the very blueprint of reality. These archetypes are not fleeting symbols born of psychology, but the living, breathing forces that underpin the fabric of all that is.
Imagine the universe as a vast, complex cathedral of cosmic energies, where each archetype is a divine architect—an essential being that shapes the ebb and flow of the world around us. These beings are the gods of magick and nature, not mere allegories or psychological projections, but real entities—powerful, autonomous forces that influence the course of events, the rise and fall of worlds, and the hidden currents that guide the unseen.
“Magic is real. And reality… it is magical.” — Aleister Crowley
Through magick, the practitioner seeks to attune themselves to these divine forces—invoking and working with them as preternatural intelligences by recognizing and collaborating with these fundamental energies that forge reality. The gods of magick are the primal energies of creation, destruction, transformation, and renewal—each archetype embodying a core principle that manifests across the cosmos.
To understand magick in this way is to realize that the universe is alive with intention and purpose. The archetypal beings are the custodians of this purpose, weaving the threads of fate and possibility. They are neither psychological illusions nor distant mythic relics; they are the backbone of existence itself—real, vital, and essential.
“Know that all of nature is but a magic theatre…” — The Upanishads
When one calls upon these beings, one is engaging with the very forces that carve the mountains, stir the oceans, and breathe life into the stars. Recognizing their reality empowers the magician to work with the universe’s true architects—those divine entities that sustain and energize the cosmic order. In this sacred dance, magick becomes a communion with the living gods of the universe, revealing the truth that beneath all illusion lies the unshakable foundation of archetypal power—alive, potent, and eternal.
You’ve heard the tale of my run-in with unnatural wolves in the haunted hinterlands of the Mississinewa. No? You can read it HERE. We’re coming up on the 40th anniversary of that night, which, gave birth to decades long research into shapeshifters in Indiana lore.
We were in the land of the Manitou, as later Miamis called it, that area along the Mississinewa where the spirit of the land was rooted.
Hoosiers like to joke and say, “there’s more than corn in Indiana.” Well, there certainly is…
This turned up a while back. I’ll just leave it there for you to chew on.
Have I really been at this 16 years? Without question, it has been a labor of love. For me, the Occult Detective genre, seen through the lens of fact and fiction, is an all-consuming passion. This year’s recipients are more than worthy of the acknowledgement.
These selections are based on media released in 2025. Obviously I couldn’t watch or read everything, so if you know of something that releases in 2026 that you think should be a contender for the 17th Annual Awards, or you have a release you would like me to review, please reach out to me at bob (at) occultdetective (dot) com or message me via my various social media accounts.
Occult Detective Bob Freeman presents SOMERSET, a paranormal series documenting Weird Trails Investigations’ exploration into the heart of high strangeness that lies in the ruins of a displaced town in rural Indiana. Beneath the tranquil surface of the Mississinewa Reservoir, something stirs — the ghosts of Somerset past, and the ancient spirits that call the Mississinewa their home.
Somerset, and its surrounding environs, is a nexus of the strange and unusual, the sacred and profane.
From haunted cemeteries and abandoned buildings to ancient ceremonial sites, mysterious cults, and pagan altars, Freeman and his colleagues uncover stories that challenge everything we think we know about reality. The Mississinewa abounds with tales of magic, UFOs, goblins, elemental spirits, shapeshifting wolves, and the dark stains of Indian witch wars and occult rituals performed far from prying eyes.
What is the truth behind the strange phenomena that continues to haunt Somerset, and what preternatural link is there between towns and counties that bear the same name?
This is far more than an investigation — it’s a descent into the depths of Indiana’s most guarded mysteries. The truth is out there, hidden beneath layers of history, myth, and shadow. But some stories refuse to stay buried.
Be careful of what you look for. You just might find it.
Posted in Current Events on September 24, 2025 by Occult Detective
I have watched with a growing sense of unease as the familiar spectre of the Satanic Panic reemerges—cloaked in new rhetoric and fueled by a potent fusion of fundamental Christian fervor and political manipulation. The latest incarnation of this moral hysteria seems less about genuine concern and more about consolidating power, marginalizing alternative spiritualities, and stoking fear among the unwary. At the heart of this resurgence lies an unlikely figure: Charlie Kirk, heralded by the Christian Right as a martyr for their cause, transformed into a rallying symbol in this modern crusade against the “demonic” influences they claim threaten American morality.
In a new book by Lucas Miles, titled Pagan Threat, the late Mr. Kirk makes some bold statements in the book’s foreword.
I have long observed the patterns that emerge when society’s darker fears are weaponized. The current climate echoes the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and ‘90s—an era marked by baseless allegations, moral panic, and the suppression of pagan and alternative spiritual communities. I know. I survived the Satanic Panic of my youth, and did so without compromising my beliefs. The thing is, today’s panic is more sophisticated and insidious, leveraging social media, misinformation, and political rhetoric to stoke fears of “wokeness,” “liberal decadence,” and “occult influence,” all cloaked as defense against evil.
What is most troubling in this new wave is the strategic use of the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a martyr in the narrative of spiritual warfare. For the Christian Right, Kirk’s murder serves as a powerful tool to galvanize their base. They portray him as a hero standing against the “demonic forces” of secularism, LGBTQ rights, and pagan spirituality—forces they equate with evil incarnate. This framing feeds into a broader narrative that positions traditional Christian values as under siege, and that any deviation from their strict moral code is a direct assault from the darkness.
This manufactured “battle” has serious repercussions for pagans, heathens, witches, mediums, and those practicing alternative spiritualities. Historically marginalized and often misunderstood, these communities now face renewed hostility fueled by this moral panic. Accusations of devil worship, mind control, and “sacrificial rituals” are recycled, threatening the very safety and acceptance of practitioners who seek only to explore the mysteries of the unseen. The danger is not just social—it’s existential. When suspicion and fear are whipped into a frenzy, violence and discrimination often follow.
And trust me, it won’t be long before paranormal enthusiasts and investigators are drawn into the line of fire.
The occult and paranormal community must remain vigilant. We know from history that such moral panics are cyclical, often driven by fear-mongering rather than facts. The rise of this new Satanic Panic must be met with more fervor than the last. Misinformation must be countered with truth, we need to educate the public about the diversity of spiritual paths, and, above all, stand united against attempts to demonize our various communities.
It is essential to remember that our power resides within understanding and awareness. What the grifters in this new movement are looking for is to divide, discredit, and destroy what it cannot comprehend.
We have to remain vigilant and respectful, stay rooted in truth, but stand firm against a fundamentalist frenzy that is based in fear and ignorance.
We have to be better than them. When they froth at the mouth. Smile. Stay calm. And be a shining example of what it means to be reasonable and not reactionary.
We can get through this: Stay aware, stay safe, and lean on your allies, of whom there are many.
Posted in Magick on September 19, 2025 by Occult Detective
Magick is a deeply personal and transformative art form rooted in the exploration of the hidden energies and symbolic correspondences that underpin reality.
Through its practice you are able to immerse yourself into the unseen forces of the universe—drawing upon archetypes, consciousness, and the subconscious—to effect change both inwardly and outwardly.
Magick is the process of aligning oneself with these deeper currents, through symbolic acts, meditation, and ritual, to access a higher level of awareness and influence, where you are intertwined with the mysteries of mind, body, and spirit.
The objective is to make a profound connection to the hidden fabric of reality. Through creative intent the magician can harness knowledge and spiritual insight, because magick, in its purest sense, is the art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will.
Magicians are just writers who, instead of scribbling their fantasies on the blank page, do so on the universe itself…
The premise of LAST WRITES is simple. Our guests face their final rest, but before Death claims them they are granted a few parting earthly pleasures, the memories of which will travel with them into the great unknown. What makes these questions appealing and insightful for me is that these are not necessarily our guests favorite things, but those they most want to experience one last time before they shuffle off this mortal coil.
TODAY’S DEPARTING
ROBERT RUBIN
I met Robert Rubin through his podcast, Magic.TV, and took to him right away. I had the pleasure of being a guest a few times and he always made me feel welcome. He is thoughtful and filled with an innate curiosity that makes him an excellent interviewer. He is also knowledgeable and ambitious. He is the founder of Mysterium Philippines, a talented cartographer, and an author. His interactions with Anubis is the subject of his next book, and I am eager to get my hands on it.
But beyond all that, he is also a father and from our many conversations, I know that he holds that title closest to his heart. And, as I have been mistaken for his father on multiple occasions, I wholeheartedly approve. There is nothing more important than being a loving and supportive mentor to our children, biological or otherwise.
But here we are at last. Rob is well acquainted with the God of the Dead, he who shepherds us into the afterlife, and to our door he has been led by Anpu himself, to the Occult Detective Mortuary where the Last Writes of Robert Rubin yearn to be spoken, across the sands of ancient Kemet.
LAST MEAL A Very hearty Mix of Persian And Mexican food.
LAST BOOK The Dresden Files latest release
LAST MOVIE Gladiator or Braveheart
LAST SONG Shout by Tears for Fears
FIRST PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET ON THE OTHER SIDE My Father and My Dog…
I appreciate Rob’s concise and direct responses. No question, just a straightforward retort. It says a lot about him and it’s a trait I admire in him. He knows what he wants and he aims to see it to fruition.
And, Rob has reminded me that we first met when he asked that I review his excellent book: Defensive Occultism: A Handbook to Occult Investigation and Supernatural Protection. The review is HERE.
And that brings us to today’s close. I appreciate you all for joining us as we indulge in these morbid conversations.
Until next time, I’ll be in the shadows should you need me.
The premise of LAST WRITES is simple. Our guests face their final rest, but before Death claims them they are granted a few parting earthly pleasures, the memories of which will travel with them into the great unknown. What makes these questions appealing and insightful for me is that these are not necessarily our guests favorite things, but those they most want to experience one last time before they shuffle off this mortal coil.
TODAY’S DEPARTING:
MARK BURFORD aka Field Lines Cartographer
I came to know Mark through Vayse, having appeared on a few episodes together. We even got to partner-up on 2024’s Vayse Hallowe’en Special, with us as co-hosts, but I’ll never forget our first “sit-down”. It was Hallowe’en 2023. Buckley, Hine, Burford, and myself gathered around a virtual campfire and shared spooky stories and we had so much bloody fun. It was one of those rare moments when bonds of friendship are forged in an instant.
I felt an immediate connection with him and getting to discover his music was such an unexpected delight. As Field Lines Cartographer, Mark Burford creates sonic landscapes, visceral and emotional. With sound, he paints on an astral canvas a wave of synthetic dream strands that come together to create a magical pocket universe. It’s the sort of music one hears in their mind when staring at Steve Ditko’s Doctor Strange art. It is the whale song echoing through infinite space, crossing dimensions, and interplaying with the very fabric of temporal reality.
He is one of my favorite people in this current manifestation, but the candles grow dim, as they do for all of us, when the shadows draw near. Mark has created strange and unusual pathways with his modular sorcery, but none so strange as the road that has led him to the Occult Detective Mortuary where his Last Writes await.
LAST MEAL My last meal would be a vegetarian samber curry: it’s probably my favourite thing, the spicy heat tempered with zingy lemon, full of lovely pulses & lentils, plenty of garlic & coriander. Accompanied with some perfect pilau rice & a garlic naan bread. If Death wants to take me, he’d better be ready for some spice.
LAST BOOK The last book is a really difficult one: do I opt for one final re-read of one of my favourites, or do I seize this last chance to explore something I’ve not gotten around to so far ? I think I’m going to choose the latter. Many good friends, people of excellent taste & opinion have told me I must read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Knowing the synopsis, it does indeed sound exactly like the type of thing I’d love – I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. So, one last chance, gladly accepted.
LAST MOVIE My last movie is a much easier one. I think I’ve seen Blade Runner 138 times (I’m kind of losing an accurate count now, obviously) so why not 139 times ? I absolutely adore every single thing about this film, the concepts & philosophical conceits & questions at the heart of it still make me think & are becoming increasingly relevant with every passing year. The score. I mean, Vangelis – what a soundtrack. It’s just beautiful. And then talking of beauty – just look at it: there’s still nothing that can hold a candle to the look of this film…it’s stunningly gorgeous, especially in the 25th anniversary Final Cut – digitally remastered & all the VFX tidied-up beautifully. And If I’m going out, well, is there a better role-model at your end than Roy Batty ? I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe…
LAST SONG The last song I’m going to hear ? Wow. This is kind of impossible… I think the only way to tackle this is a quick, gut-response kind of thing, not overthink it.
I guess there’s a kind of sweet-melancholy to your last moments, so I’ll go for my favourite song by one of my all-time favourite bands – Do Nothing by The Specials
Perfect to go out to & something I’ve been listening to since being a child, basically, something that reminds me of home.
FIRST PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET ON THE OTHER SIDE My dad. I sadly never got to say bye to him properly, he went downhill so fast, almost unexpectedly & so by the time I saw him again he’d already just slipped away, I must have missed him by an hour or so. So I can tell him ‘thank you’ & how much I’ve missed him from beyond the veil. I can picture him now, his arms wide open & that sparkle in his eye.”Wotcha, cock”‘ he’d say.
Heartfelt responses. My thanks to Mark for sharing his Last Writes with us. I never take these connections for granted and appreciate when our guests bleed for us.
The premise of LAST WRITES is simple. Our guests face their final rest, but before Death claims them they are granted a few parting earthly pleasures, the memories of which will travel with them into the great unknown. What makes these questions appealing and insightful for me is that these are not necessarily our guests favorite things, but those they most want to experience one last time before they shuffle off this mortal coil.
TODAY’S DEPARTING:
CHRISTOPHER PENCZAK
Anyone with an interest in witchcraft is well aware of today’s guest. Christopher Penczak is a renowned author, teacher, and practitioner of modern witchcraft and spiritual traditions. With a deep dedication to exploring and sharing the mystical arts, Penczak has become a leading figure in contemporary paganism and the Wiccan community. His works often blend ancient wisdom with modern practices, making esoteric knowledge accessible to beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
Penczak has authored more than twenty books, including The Temple of Witchcraft series, which serve as comprehensive guides for those interested in developing their spiritual path and understanding the deeper aspects of magic and mysticism. His teachings emphasize personal empowerment, spiritual growth, and the integration of spiritual practices into daily life.
In February, Weiser Books rereleased his groundbreaking work, Gay Witchcraft, for contemporary audiences. I discovered him through his 2002 release Spirit Allies which was a compelling exploration of the relationships between ourselves and unseen forces. I have always found him to be courteous and insightful, and I looked forward to his responses to these morbid missives I’ve put forth.
Now it’s that time again, so let us take care and snuff out the candles. Christopher has traversed many roads, both seen and unseen, but now his path has led him to the Occult Detective Mortuary and his Last Writes await.
LAST MEAL
Well assuming I am not trying to cheat death with bottomless fries or an unlimited salad bar, I think I would say Mongolian Barbecue. Before I was born, my parents spent a few years living in the Far East, including Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Our travels and adventures would take us often to a variety of Asian shops and restaurants. I remember a vacation in Hawaii where they introduced me to Mongolian Barbecue. There was an open air market with all sorts of little tourist shops and jewelry stores, interwoven with a greater banyan tree. Tucked way in the back was this delicious restaurant, but kind of a hole in the wall in terms of atmosphere. I remember being surprised that my parents, who liked a bit of fine dining on vacations, chose it. Essentially it was just a pick your own stir fry where they cook it in front of you, but not quite the Hibachi steakhouse experience. More low key. I’m a picky eater so to have the choice of exactly what you did and didn’t want was such a freedom when eating out, and the choice of all the spices and sauces made me feel like I was making some sort of magickal potion as a kid, always a draw for me. Years later, a local restaurant started up the same type of BBQ and a few years later went out of business. Later learned that it is actually Taiwanese and while not influenced by Mongolian cuisine at all, it comes from a myth of Genghis Khan’s soldiers cooking on their shields. I’d love to experience that again with a group of friends before I go to the great beyond.
LAST BOOK
While I’ve been on a big kick of queer romance books, I think for my last read it would probably be another round of The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. One of my favorite books despite ending on a cliffhanger, and a formative experience on doing your own thing and being your own self. While I have reread it several times, I always catch some new nuance to the story. While tragic in a lot of ways, the relationship with Lestat and his mother, Gabrielle, echoed some experiences with my own mother in the times of growing up, coming out, and getting involved in the occult with her. Perhaps we were not entering the Savage Garden together, but we were entering a whole new world together that utterly changed us, much like Gabrielle and Lestat becoming vampires.
LAST MOVIE
Movies are a tough one for me. While I retain what I read and what I listen to, usually, movies just pass through me as fun at the time, but don’t stick with me often. Favorites are fun trilogies like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, but for my last movie, I am going to say Bell, Book and Candle. While I don’t watch it often, it might be nice to watch Kim Novak one last time. I adore the old time movie star settings, but having it be Witches is what draws me in. And set in old time NYC. Who wouldn’t want to go to the Zodiac Club? Witch friends get on me about the ending, and I agree, but I still love the movie.
LAST SONG
Such a hard one as there are so many amazing songs that mean so much to me. While I am tempted to pick a Tori Amos song, I think I’ll be greedy with my time and pick a symphony, if the whole symphony can count as one song. I’m a huge fan of Igor Stravinsky, and have sung his Symphony of Psalms in choir. It’s dissonant and follows none of the rules of chord progression or harmony, like most of Stravinsky’s work, but sounds amazing and has such rich complexity to the arrangement of instruments and voices. When I’ve shared my love for it, a lot of Pagans are surprised I don’t pick his more Pagan work, like Rites of Spring or Firebird Suite. Perhaps it’s just because I studied Symphony of Psalms in greater detail, but that’s the one for me. While singing it live, I’ve never seen it performed live, and I’ve gone looking for it…
FIRST PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET ON THE OTHER SIDE
If we are looking beyond loved ones like my Mom and Great Aunt, who I would expect to be the first to greet me on the other side, but people we are “meeting” the first time while disembodied, I would say Andrew Wood. Andrew Wood was the singer of an early 90’s grunge band called Mother Love Bone that was a huge influence on me creatively, but also in terms of being a patron saint against overindulgence when I was in the music world, as he died from a heroin overdose. I did get to “meet” him at a really powerful graveside experience. When I was on tour for The Outer Temple of Witchcraft and in Seattle, I took a day out to find his grave and conduct a little seance, and we had a lovely chat, but to have a full on clear conversation with him would be amazing. I’d like to thank him but also talk about creativity and music and art.
What a truly magical experience. My thanks to Christopher for such thoughtful and intimate answers. As always we strive to get to the heart of the matter with this little morbid exorcise exercise.
Until next time, treat each day as it might be your last.
occultdetective.com 
