I guess we (or I?) need a general K-pop thread at this point.



I was already going to post this just because it has an insanely catchy chorus, but it happens to coincide with my theory about Aespa and hypnosis & Chaos Magick. In the case of Meovv, it's not occult, it's moreso mainstream eastern religion, with "samadhi" being a central concept.

The use of religious/spiritual/shamanistic/occult symbols and themes is so pervasive in K-pop, yet it's barely talked about, and I'm not sure why. Is it too obvious for discussion, is it taboo in some way, or is it just not what primarily interests people? I don't get it.

Anyway, in the first minute we get these lyrics (translated):

QuoteTry and catch up beyond the horizon
Soar high like a dragon
It's our magic purr

Followed immediately by literal spellcasting (earth-bending, essentially):

I finally found something by Chaweon Koo, who wrote a book called "Bewitched by K-Pop: What Modern Witches Can Learn About Multicultural Spells and Ritual Magic from South Korean Pop Music Idol Groups." She's described as a witch and "a writer of the intersection of pop culture, the occult, and futurism."

She gave a relevant talk here. Unfortunately the video expired, but the description remains. Crazy that we both reference Chaos Magick...

QuoteLiterally called "idols," these groups are also representatives of the most effective state-sponsored magic rituals of the last 30 years. "Soft power" has now become South Korea's most powerful export, through the leveraging of cutting-edge technology and the power of social media.

Whether inspiring North Korean teens to risk imprisonment by buying South Korean cosmetics worn by their favorite K-pop idol, millions of international Twitter fans to spam police websites during #BLM, or bringing Augmented Reality into the mainstream via hybrid digital-human idols like AESPA, K-pop is more than just music. How did South Korea, a small country technically at war since the 1950s, and considered a developing nation even in the 1990s, become a cultural zeitgeist for the world? And what can witches learn about powerful rituals from 3-minutes of a K-pop routine onstage? This talk will analyze several popular K-pop performances through the lens of Western occult traditions, Chaos Magick, and Korean shamanism, in order to reverse-engineer what makes K-pop such a formidable force of modern bewitchment.

Also came across this tweet from Twitter user flyingishh, roughly translated:

QuoteCan you talk about K-pop and how people are obsessed with their singers as if they are under the influence of drugs and violent with anyone who criticizes anything about them or their concerts? Because I started to get deeply involved with them and I felt that I was literally hypnotized and wasted 4-5 hours a day watching their videos.

I should also mention that a video from the Kess and Han Reacts channel reminded me to post about this topic, especially this exchange just after they watch the Armageddon MV for the first time:

Kess: It started, and I just went into a state...

Han: I literally felt like I was being hypnotized.

Kess: I actually promise you, if you asked me a question about what I just heard, what I saw, what they even look like, I don't even know. I'm pretty sure I 100% blacked out. I feel really unsafe. [She's joking there, but still interesting.]

From the moment I got into Aespa, the first thing I noticed was the excessive use of hypnotic hand movements in their choreography. In fact, hypnosis seems central to their vibe and aesthetic.



I hoped to post a YT video on what I thought was an obvious topic, but I can't find anything, so now I'm going to have to write this myself and sound a bit crazy.

QuoteThe term "Left Hand Path" (LHP) in occultism and esotericism describes a spiritual path that emphasizes individual self-deification, empowerment, and the breaking of societal taboos and restrictions.

Chaos Magick, a branch of the Left Hand Path, emphasizes personal power and manipulation of the chaotic energy of the universe.

I first learned about this when LPOTL covered Aleister Crowley, who (Henry argued) followed the Left Hand Path and believed hypnosis could be accomplished through the skilled use of simple gestures and hand movements. It was also argued on the podcast that persuading others to do your bidding was basically the same as the kind of "magick" that Aleister Crowley obsessively pursued.



Trump was one of their prime examples of a "magician" who had developed the practice of using excessive hand movements and gestures to successfully induce an actual state of hypnosis in his audience, bending them to his will.

I got used to Le Sserafim's choreography, which is flashy, athletic, and at times fully gymnastic, practically using the whole body at all times. Then I ran across Aespa, who were taking a very different approach. Their choreo is slower and heavier, but just as powerful, while they essentially conduct the viewer, their hands and arms often completely filling the frame.



Armageddon is an unceasing treasure trove of hypnotic sounds and imagery. There's the obvious hypnotic hand movements, this first one being an actual snake-charmer move...







But also so much hypnotic swaying and lateral head-bobbing.





So what does it all mean? Well, consider this a rough draft.

Bummer. Wonder if another possibility is that she did a short scene that didn't make the final cut.

Quote from: Find Your Magali on June 03, 2025, 03:48:30 PMI just saw that April Grace is in this. Very nice callback.

It's been refuted by fellow members who've seen screenings. She could be in there and just not very noticeable, but it sounds like it may be based on a lie or miscommunication.

More like The Sharts amirite?  Up top!

I just saw that April Grace is in this. Very nice callback.

Scrooby's own book in this pile is too expensive for Scrooby to buy. Good luck, all.

Lynch estate sale -- ye gods.  A Lynch fan's wet dream (if he has deep pockets, anyway).