The structure of magic refers to the underlying principles and patterns that govern the use and effectiveness of magic. It is the framework that allows magic to work, enabling practitioners to harness and manipulate the energies of the supernatural world. One of the key aspects of the structure of magic is belief. Belief plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of magic, as one must have faith in their abilities and the power of magic itself. Without belief, magic loses its potency, and spells and rituals may not produce the desired results. In addition to belief, intent is another important element of the structure of magic.

Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking

Obsessive was, still is, my natural state, and I never wondered why. I didn’t mind, didn’t know that other people could feel at peace. I always felt like a raw nerve, but then, I thought that everyone did.

Writer and journalist Marianne Eloise was born obsessive. What that means changes day to day, depending on what her brain latches on to: fixations with certain topics, intrusive violent thoughts, looping phrases. Some obsessions have lasted a lifetime, while others will be intense but only last a week or two.

Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking is a culmination of a life spend obsessing, offering a glimpse into Marianne’s brain, but also an insight into the lives of others like her. From death to Medusa, to Disneyland to fire, to LA to her dog, the essays explore the intersection of neurodivergence, obsession and disorder, telling the story of one life underpinned and ultimately made whole by obsession.

Genres NonfictionMemoirPsychologyMental HealthEssaysAutistic Spectrum DisorderAudiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2022

About the author

In addition to belief, intent is another important element of the structure of magic. The intent behind a spell or ritual determines its purpose and outcome. Whether it is to heal, protect, or manifest a desire, the intent must be clear and focused.

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This was an interesting read. I found a lot of things to relate but mostly what struck me is how different neurodivergent brains manifest and how the way we grow up shapes the experience again. Fascinating, especially in a world which wants us neurodivergent women to have only one of two types of experiences. Either devastation or conquering.

This book was so disappointingly dull ? Kind of just the author rambling about their OCD but with no real point to it like the sort of word vomit you give when you meet a new therapist

I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley/Icon Books in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a fan (if that's the right word) of Marianne Eloise for a while - I feel like she was one of the first women my age I was aware of speaking about being autistic in a way I felt engaged with (as in aesthetically, on Instagram, and without it seeming like something that was a deeply distressing thing to be), so needless to say I was very excited to find out she'd written a collection of essays primarily centred around being neurodiverse and the good and the bad that comes with it.

The book didn't disappoint - it follows her obsessions (LA, the sea, Disneyland), her fears (fire, Medusa) and the ways in which autism, OCD and ADHD have affected her over the course of her life. I recognised a lot of myself in these essays - a deep commitment to vegetarianism, a grocery list of sensory issues, a brain that tells you you are responsible for everything around you and should you stop doing or not doing things Bad Things Will Happen. I too would have slapped another kid for mocking me about my dog dying! I too used to collect all my most prized belongings together certain if I didn't something terrible would befall my house! It's truly a joy to be able to read something like this and know other people also have weird brains and what that looks like for them.

Even if you don't deeply identify with the content of the essays, they're a really good portrayal of neurodiversity in an entertaining and enjoyable way, especially considering how much autism and OCD are misunderstood by neurotypical people. I'll definitely be picking this book up in physical form when it's out, and also the cover is gorgeous.

3 books 605 followers

I wrote a longform review here . Marianne Eloise is everything that's wrong with contemporary mental health culture: self-diagnosing and doctor-shopping, endlessly proud of conditions that have ruined countless lives, obsessed with the supposed romance and beauty of her perpetually boring journey of self-actualization and self-discovery, her vague mélange of symptoms and disorders coalescing into nothing that's medically comprehensible but somehow always leaving her looking like the most interesting girl in the world. I hope she grows out of it.

Not sure how to describe how I felt about this book; I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it?? I felt very seen by it, but a lot of the essays fell very flat for me and I wanted much more from them. Still, I’m glad I read it and it made think more critically about my brain.

Having OCD myself I was hoping this book would offer some useful information on the subject however this is a series of personal articles on the author’s condition and with autism. Sorry but I don’t care.

“it is not a crime to live so quietly”

This sweet memoir is so comforting and hopeful. Many aspects of Marianne’s story resonated with me: late autism diagnosis, obsessive nature, feeling held back by anxiety and yearning for a fresh start. There is a common thread throughout the essays of embracing who you are, learning to be gentle with yourself, and pursuing what brings you peace. Lots of interesting topics are explored along the way - I have a new found interest in Disney and a desire to research the Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

44 books 29 followers

I'm still reeling from the one-liner that ends the chapter about Medusa. We need more books like this.

I've given myself a bit of time to think about this book and, honestly, I hated it. I just don't think the author was ready to really tackle the issues she was trying to. I'm not trying to say the author owes the reader all the ins-and-outs of her trauma, but if you are writing a memoir focusing on your mental illness and neurodivergency, dancing around the real nitty gritty is pointless.

I related to this book but, frankly, her life just not interesting enough to hold-up an entire book. Or, at least, the parts she shares with us aren't that interesting. The same stories are repeated over and over with no new insight. I understand this may be in part due to the nature of the author's brain, but a bit of editing wouldn't hurt.

Overall, I found this book a massive disappointment and would have made for a far stronger blog post.

i feel so fortunate to have been able to read this ahead of its publication date next month; i've been a fan of marianne's work for a while and this feels like a brilliant expansion of events and moments i've seen her briefly allude to online over the years.
she writes so eloquently about her passions and her fears and though these experiences are very much uniquely her own, i related on so many levels and appreciated her honesty in sharing her stories in an open and, at times, vulnerable way.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review, with thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley.

Marianne Eloise is a journalist who is most well known for her commentary on music, TV and popular culture. I won't lie, I was originally drawn in by the title of this book. I enjoy memoir type reads and this book posed as an interesting look into the mind of a successful young adult with ADHD and ASD, and her experiences with her intrusive and compulsive thoughts throughout life. This book follows the fixations she has had throughout her life, stemming from a love for Disney and the whimsy a day at Disneyland can bring to an intense fear of death, tales of Medusa and the ocean. This collection of essays is split into three sections, following the author across the world, in and out of relationships and into different impacts her autism, ASD and chronic pain has had upon her life. This book is raw, vulnerable and even poetic in places. It's well written but it doesn't flow as well as I would have liked it to. Whether it is just how I understand a story, I enjoy a chronology or an identifiable order of some kind, but even with the essays being separated into three sections, I felt like it overlapped a lot in different places. The author has an incredibly engaging writing style, which I enjoyed, but I found myself feeling like the story was cyclical. Despite this however, I will say this book is so open. It definitely would be a comfort for people with similar experiences and it does eventually end on a hopeful note, not dismissing the difficult experiences the author had through their life, but ending on a note that those experiencing these thoughts are not alone in their experiences.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC

"When I was seeking diagnosis, I met with a different, thoughtless psychiatrist who told me: ‘a diagnosis isn’t a cure, you know’. I felt crushed that she would think I wanted a cure for the person that I had always understood myself as. Would I sometimes like to soften my sensory processing issues, wear anything other than cotton without having a screaming fit? Sure. Would I like to feel more restful, or be able to try new foods or deviate from my strict routine without a meltdown? Maybe. I’m not a fan of a lot of the physical problems , like issues with my joints or stomach , that come with being autistic, either. But there is so much in being neurodivergent that is who I am, and to cure the bad, the things that make life harder, would be to pull out the person I am at the root."

First things first: the opening chapter of this book was phenomenal. Marianne Eloise has a lighthearted, easily readable tone that is present all throughout the book and works really well when talking about mental health and neurodivergence. As a neurodivergent person myself, I found myself relating to the author a lot of the time - and when I didn't, her sense of humour and snide observations about the world around her made up for it.

However, as is the nature of essay collections/memoirs, varying topics brought with them varying levels of interest on my part - and as a result the reading experience had peaks and troughs for me. I also felt that at times the essays felt somewhat disjointed when viewed as a whole - for instance, cultural references that showed up time and time again were sometimes reintroduced from scratch.

Those two points aside, I really enjoyed this book and intend to buy a physical copy when it is officially released!

Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking (Hardcover)

This book is in stock at our warehouse and will be at the Raven within 3-5 Business Days, once they've shipped it to us.

Description

Obsessive was, still is, my natural state, and I never wondered why. I didn't mind, didn't know that other people could feel at peace. I always felt like a raw nerve, but then, I thought that everyone did.

Writer and journalist Marianne Eloise was born obsessive. What that means changes day to day, depending on what her brain latches onto: fixations with certain topics, intrusive violent thoughts, looping phrases. Some obsessions have lasted a lifetime, while others will be intense but only last a week or two.

Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking is a culmination of a life spend obsessing, offering a glimpse into Marianne's brain, but also an insight into the lives of others like her. From death to Medusa, to Disneyland to fire, to LA to her dog, the essays explore the intersection of neurodivergence, fixation and disorder, telling the story of one life underpinned and ultimately made whole by obsession.

About the Author

Marianne Eloise is a writer and journalist. She covers topics like TV, film, digital culture, neurodiversity, wellness and alternative music, for outlets including The Cut, the New York Times, Courier, Vulture, i-D, Guardian and more.

• Personal Memoirs
• Mental Health
• Psychopathology - Autism Spectrum Disorders

Marianne Eloise’s Uniquely Obsessive Inner World

In her debut book Obsessive Intrusive Magical Thinking, Marianne Eloise’s brings her "uniquely obsessive" inner world to light.

The first thing to know about writer Marianne Eloise’s debut, Obsessive Intrusive Magical Thinking, is that it’s not a self-help book. She didn’t anticipate having to specify that, but the collection of essays about obsessions through the eyes of an autistic woman with OCD and ADHD, has mistakenly been interpreted as a guide to living your best, neurodivergent life. While Eloise wishes she had all the answers, “I can’t even help myself,” she laughs nervously. But she’s trying.

In Obsessive Intrusive Magical Thinking, out July 19 in the U.S., Eloise deep dives into her obsessions across lyrical, often funny, prose. In three sections (obsessive, intrusive, and magical thinking), the essays are segmented by their subject matter and tone, oscillating from dark to light and back again. While some of the subjects of her obsessions may keep her up at night — the possibility of a house fire, her dog’s impending passing, Medusa — Eloise’s writing is consistent in her strong sense of belief, whether it’s in folklore, magic, or the pursuit of a peaceful life. Sprinkled with references to The O.C., Fall Out Boy, Greek mythology, and Joan Didion, the essays will leave readers feeling secondhand joy and maybe even encouragement to own their love for their own less-than-cool favorite things.

Through investigating her wormholes and intrusive thoughts Eloise sheds light on how she uniquely experiences the world. “Being autistic underpins literally everything about me, what I eat, where I go, who I’m friends with, what I’m interested in, what’s hard for me,” Eloise explains, “My biggest thing was that I wanted to get across in the book was that I have this brain, and because I’m autistic, this is how I view the world. Here are the good things about it.” She doesn’t speak on behalf of autistic folks everywhere, but hopes that telling her story through the lens of pop culture may help readers see autism differently. “Maybe if they had their own prejudices about what it meant to be autistic, maybe, it would help them to realize their assumptions weren’t right,” she says. “I am one person and we are all extremely different. When I talk to my friends who are also autistic, we have such different interests and needs. What’s helpful to one person is hell for me, which is why I never wanted to veer into self-help.”

Born in Leicester, a dreary city in the middle of England, Eloise now lives with her dog and fiancé in Brighton, a quaint beach town south of London. Over the past decade, she’s written about music and culture for New York Mag, The New York Times, i-D, The Guardian, and previously worked as a staff writer for Dazed. She began working on the book seven years ago while working a day job she hated; it was around this time that Eloise, (who received her OCD diagnosis at seventeen), began to wonder if she was autistic. Thus far she had categorized herself as “uniquely obsessive.” It was after a draft of Obsessive Intrusive Magical Thinking was completed, but before the pitch went out, that she received her official diagnosis after a multi-year journey with England’s “free, but sh*t,” National Healthcare System. The diagnosis only changed a few lines of the book's introduction, but for Eloise, it helped her understand how her brain works and who she is.

With the book’s deep intimacy, it can be hard to imagine there was a time when Eloise wasn’t as forthright about her obsessions. For a period in high school, “it got beaten out of me a little bit and I calmed down and pretended to stop loving things as much,” she says. She practiced reflecting on her obsessions and referencing the meticulous journal keeping of her youth in her zine series Emo Diary, where she pulls direct quotes from her teenage musings on Fall Out Boy. These diaries — albeit less of the Pete Wentz portions — came in handy while writing this essay collection; some essays begin with epigraphs from deeply personal entries and others were only able to be written by referencing periods she had tried to block out.

Now, Eloise speaks loudly about her obsessions. “This is a generalization and it’s a stereotype, but we [autistics] tend to be more earnest,” she says. “With that comes a naivety. I got bullied a lot growing up and even as an adult. I won’t know straight away because I expect the best from everyone at all times. It takes a long time for me to realize if I’m being used or ostracized, but it also means that I’m very open.” By surrounding herself with alternative music circles, she has found friends who are more open to earnest displays of love and fandom (think mosh pits) and participate in mocked hobbies (think Adult Disneyland lovers).

As her peers post memes about their goals of a smooth-brained existence, Eloise imagines that would be scary. Her focus is to position her brain to work with her, not against her, and bask in her heightened capacity to enjoy things whenever possible. “Sometimes I do wish I could switch it off. It’s something I struggle with a lot. But, if I’m going to have thoughts all the time, I do my best to try to steer them towards good things rather than bad thoughts by doing things I enjoy.” While still certainly not a self-help book, Eloise’s commitment to focusing on what she calls “life-affirming situations,”—seeing Lorde three times in a month, walking on the beach with her dog, riding The Haunted Mansion all afternoon—is inspiring. For an overthinker who mused for 270 pages about the complexities of obsessions, her ultimate sentiment is reassuringly simple. “You can’t have any control over the bad things that happen, but if you don’t try to have those little moments within what you can afford and achieve that are positive, then what’s the point?”

Intent is often expressed through the use of symbols, gestures, or spoken words, which helps to channel and direct the energy of magic. Timing is also a significant aspect of the structure of magic. Certain times, such as full moons or specific astrological alignments, are believed to enhance the effectiveness of spells and rituals. Practitioners often take into account the lunar phases, planetary movements, and other cosmic factors when performing magic, aligning their actions with the natural cycles of the universe. Another fundamental principle of the structure of magic is energy manipulation. Practitioners understand that everything is interconnected and that energy flows through all things. By tapping into this energy and manipulating it, magic users are able to effect change in the physical world. Techniques such as visualization, meditation, and energy work are employed to shape and direct the energy towards the desired outcome. Lastly, the structure of magic encompasses the ethical considerations and responsibilities that come with the practice. Many magical traditions uphold a code of conduct, emphasizing the importance of using magic responsibly and for the highest good. Ethics play a role in determining the intentions and actions of the practitioner, ensuring that their use of magic aligns with the principles of compassion, respect, and harmony. In conclusion, the structure of magic includes belief, intent, timing, energy manipulation, and ethics. These elements work together to form a framework for the practice of magic, allowing individuals to tap into supernatural forces and create change in the world around them. Understanding and harnessing the structure of magic is essential for practitioners to effectively and responsibly navigate the realm of the mystical and harness its limitless potential..

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