The Relevance of Clive Barker’s Imajica to the Modern World - Magic

I’ll need to begin with the concept of magic because how Clive Barker deals with magic (and science) is very different to what we’re exposed to in more modern media, and an understanding of what he means is important for everything else.

Modern “magic” is seen as primarily a physical phenomenon, perhaps due to Arthur C. Clarke's most famous quote: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. This is most easily seen things like in Harry Potter, where most magic in the early books could be replicated scientifically. It is also apparent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where basically everything is explained by science, i.e. Iron Man’s armour, Thor’s and Hulk’s Strength and equipment. There are a few exceptions, like Dr Strange’s powers, but on the whole everything is still logical, rational and importantly for these outlets, well explained. Taking this idea to the extreme are the series of books by Brandon Sanderson set in his Cosmere universe. If you read his most recent book “Rhythm of War”, Sanderson has actually created his “magic” by extending the rules of our own physical universe. The principle of Ockham's Razor says that the most simple solution is the most likely to be true and indeed, finding a mathematical explanation of minimum complexity is what science is all about. But practically speaking, there is no reason more complexity and extra mathematical variables can’t be added into scientific theories. They would just be...pointless! Sanderson has masterfully included extra complexity on top of our scientific understanding of our own, real universe’s rules, and thus formed an extended science for his universe. These extensions to the real world are what he calls “magic”: Allomancy, Feruchemy & Hemalurgy, Surgebinding, AonDor are the terms his different characters use for their own local instances of magic, but they may as well be the name of in-universe scientific theories. Very beautiful work in its own right.

Clive Barker does not use magic in this way. He uses a much looser, ethereal description of magic, of which the mechanics are significantly less important than the metaphorical interpretation. His magic is much more closely related to how esoteric thinkers in our own recent history thought of magic, and continue to think in modern times[1]. Barker’s magic could possibly be described as mysticism; indeed, if one looks into the literature of modern wiccans, Satanists, Pagans and others, we find a belief system rooted in the idea of using the power of the mind, of focus and willpower, to transcend the rules of reality itself¹. Extravagant ritual, then, consisting of candles, incense, mantras and chants, even sex, are an inextricable part of the magical act, as the rituals act to open and focus the mind. The more rational of these practitioners believe that such rituals / spells are merely a form of positive mental attitude, like an extravagant meditation. The more esoteric practitioners believe that they are actually having a direct effect on the physical world by performing these rituals. Now, we can disagree with the ethics of these groups of we wish, but the philosophy is rich nonetheless. In my opinion, Barker’s magic goes towards the more esoteric Satanist side of things, with sex and human connection being an intrinsic part of the transcendent experiences Gentle and the other characters in the Imajica have. So much so in fact that Gentle, through the power of mind alone, is able to heal a universal rift and basically save the universe and everyone in it. Brandon Sanderson’s Second Rule of (Fictional) Magic states: “An author's ability to solve conflict with magic is proportional to how well the reader understands said magic.”. I think this is true in the case of Clive Barker’s stories, but this quote has too much of a practical, mechanical implication. I want to emphasise that the point of Barker’s magic is not in the mechanics of it at all, but in the metaphors he is able to craft by using it.

For example, he uses the idea of a “pneuma”, which is basically a physical blast of energy. A pneuma is created when Gentle (or anyone) channels their will through their own body, in Gentle’s case, his spit. Now, the reader should not be thinking “Oh, Gentle’s spit must have a condensed form of energy in it and, when he slams his hand into something, the specific frequency of vibration causes a resonance and releases the energy.”. No no no, much too literal. Gentle’s spit is a part of him, and so he is the source of the magic. His will is sufficient. But spitting itself is quite brutal, quite rude and quite abrupt and so the magical result is a blast. That is the metaphorical level Barker’s magic works on. Another example, when Gentle and Pie’Oh’Pah travel to the Fourth Dominion across the In Ovo, the travel is powered by Gentle’s breath. His breath is caught by Pie, who uses it to perform a spell to cross the void. the reader should not be thinking “Oh, Pie must’ve used the heat and kinetic energy in Gentle’s breath together with his DNA pattern to deconstruct their bodies, transport them across the void, and reconstruct them at the other side”. No no no. By passing his very breath, his life force, to Pie, he is trusting Pie with his life and his safety as they cross the In Ovo. This trust is what enables the travel, not some crazy pseudo-scientific justification.

The metaphor is clear in Barker’s magic; you, the living, thinking, wilful being are the source of magic. Not some ritual, or some technology, you. Your breath, your body, your soul. And that’s how magic works in Imajica. Just a final thought on this, Jesus is portrayed as being an ancient maestro in the story. The events of the Last Supper take on a very different meaning from this perspective, but I’ll let the reader ponder on that one.

¹ I will not directly cite any specific text, but if anyone is interested, I suggest The Lesser Key of Solomon (Anon), The Satanic Bible (Anton LaVey) and anything by Aleister Crowley as references. Also potentially look into the history of alchemy for the effective incorporation of magical thinking into science.

Bibliography

[1] Cusack, Carole M. et al. (2019). “The Sacred in Fantastic Fandom: Essays on the Intersection of Religion and Pop Culture”. McFarland. ISBN: 9781476670836