“One of the major themes I explore in my work at hyperRitual is the mediation of magic, especially through digital, electronic, and new media. Magicians often employ various artifacts to express their intentions or alter their states of consciousness: wands, cups, daggers, pentacles, drums, bells, incense, candles, cards, stones, and many other things might be interacted with in the context of a magic ritual or to communicate a magical idea. I believe we can interact with robots in these contexts, and that their animated and responsive natures allow for novel ritual designs and magical experiences. Here is an example that I recently exhibited.
So, here is my pitch: I want to write a book about robotic magic (robomancy). The first that I know of. Actually, more than that: I want to create a community of robomancy enthusiasts. I don’t want to write something people will read and say, “Wow, this is cool, but I don’t know how to build or program robots.” I want to make something that inspires magicians to make robots, and inspires roboticians to make magic, and that uniquely shows how to do each in the context of the other.
Now, while I love fine occult books, and have friends who write and publish them, I want to make a living, online book that needs not wait for a second edition because it is continually updated with new information, ideas, and designs. A book with (embedded, not auxiliary) multimedia including HD video; hyperlinks; file downloads; interactive programs; and integrated social media so readers can discuss and share their own ideas and works, all within the same cyberspace.
Thus, Robomancy.com, in two parts:
Robomancy in Theory and Practice (A TalisManual of RobotiCraft) will feature reflections on and applications in robotic thaumaturgy and theurgy including a variety of magical and ritual designs involving astral, virtual, and mechanical robots, and techniques for blending magic and robotics to help you create your own designs. In order to appeal to a wide audience including novices to robotics, the book’s examples will use free, open-source, and/or affordable technologies popular with amateurs and hobbyists. The book will be rife with links to supplementary resources, and will observe the principles of Open Sourcery while conserving some of the aesthetic, curiosity, and mystery of talismanic books and the grimoire tradition. All content will be licensed under Creative Commons to encourage re/distribution, adaptation, and, most of all, participation.
The Robomancers’ Guild will be an integrated social network including discussion forum, robomancer blogs (you can have your own!), and access to member swag, exclusive content, and special offers as a way of showing gratitude to participants.
The site is expected to go live at the end of this year (December 2012).” [via]
