The Butterfly Wheel
Hermeticism. Tarot. Kate Bush. Tarot. With these four words of power I was evoked to visible appearance in Hampstead, north London, to view a performance of “The Hermetic Marriage.” This was a music / dance piece created by The Butterfly Wheel, and staged at Pentameters Theatre. This, incidentally, is a tiny venue, with capacity for only sixty in the audience, mainly known for poetry and fringe theatre. The venue-owner told me afterwards that this was the first time she had taken a chance on a piece like this – but her gamble had obviously paid off, as the production had sold out every night of its three-week run.
This being more an immersive art experience rather than just a simple performance, I shall describe my experiences subjectively…
As I entered the auditorium, I heard the delightfully named Alice Ancient and Moon Child vamping ambient textures with synth and haunting vocals. These two ladies were positioned – with their band – stage right, dressed as high priestesses for the rite which was to follow.
Solomonic Seal
The place was daubed with occultish symbols, whilst on the floor of the central performance area was the Seal of Mercury from the Key of Solomon
A young man came up to me with a tray of lucky charms and asked me to pick one. I did so at random: he told me I had picked the Hand of Fatima, which wards off all evil spirits. “Oh, cheers!” I said. I tried licking it but it had no discernible effect.
As Jim Morrison was wont to say, “Is everybody in? Let the ceremony begin!” First came an invocation of Sophia – the four dancers, two male and two female, portraying Her plight as she is forced to surrender her baby to the corruption of the material universe. Meanwhile, behind everyone a rapid succession of images projected onto the back wall: pre-filmed sequences alternating with a multiplicity of symbols – satanic – masonic – alchemical – rosicrucian and more.
Throughout the evening’s performance, the dancers played the parts of the Philosophical King and Queen; of Cernunnos; of angels and devils fighting for the souls of mortal lovers, and ultimately the Sun and Moon themselves. Meanwhile, six musicians in total – the Butterfly Wheel and their accompanists, and two others who appeared for a sequence set in Hell upon Earth – played compositions which bore the influence of the aforementioned Kate Bush crossed with Patti Smith, Jim Morrison during his more poetic meanderings, Irish folk, blues and country.
At its conclusion, I figured from audience remarks saying “Ooh! There were a load of ideas to consider,” that they were all clearly bamboozled. Clearly however, the whole thing was a sophisticated and highly unconventional magickal operation – the overall theme of which was to manifest the Hermetic Marriage in actuality, and raise the consciousness of the Earth thereby.
Unfortunately, the current run at the Pentameters Theatre has now ended: however the Butterfly Wheel will be taking their show to the Berlin Pychedelic Festival next month.
Gong / Butterfly Wheel – Southend 28/09/26
Travelling through time and space to Southend in Essex, UK, where I assumed human form and went to Chinnery’s on the sea-front, to see psychedelic space-rock band Gong. The original idea to do so came about when my other half called me excitedly to watch a video on her YouTube feed of very strange people wearing pointy wizard hats singing a song about Astral Projection, saying she thought I would be interested in this sort of thing. I was impressed that she had developed a taste for early 70s space rock! By lucky hap, we later heard that Gong themselves were playing a gig at a venue not a million light years from our Wizard’s tower, so we manifested tickets accordingly.
The current line-up of Gong is made up of members who were all recruited by founder member Daevid Allen before his passing in 2015, and whom Allen specifically authorised to carry on the Gong name.
The nature of Gong’s music is that they played for over an hour, but I only counted about five separate songs! On this occasion they were a drums / wind instruments / bass / guitar line-up, but with the crafty use of digital delays and loop-units their sonic assault sounded more layered than one would first expect.
However, there was an unexpected bonus tonight. The support band came on featuring two female vocalists and creating an ambient / mystical / psychedelic type rock sound, at which the Sumner Family Brain Cell immediately activated. “Hang on, I know these people – it’s The Butterfly Wheel!” – a band I previously reviewed when they did their show The Hermetic Marriage in Hampstead. Gong had not announced who their support act was going to be, so I was particularly delighted to see them again.
The Butterfly Wheel incorporate influences of Alchemy, Tarot, and the Western Mystery Tradition generally into their lyrics. Amazingly, I managed to say hello to them after their set, and they still remembered me!
In summary, Gong are currently touring the UK and Europe from now until November – see here for a full list of their gigs, including links to buy tickets. Highly recommended (especially if you get to see The Butterfly Wheel with them as well).
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Tagged as Gong, Review, The Butterfly Wheel