I must admit that it took me a while to get around to actually reading Robert Ramsay’s The Engineering of Coincidence. This has more to do with my ever expanding book collection than any misgivings about the content, and once it reached the top of my pile I devoured it in a single sitting. Seeing as I am now on my third re-read it is safe to say that it hit the spot. Chaos magick is dogged by many unknowns, especially where the actual mechanics of manifestation are concerned, so to be offered such a fleshed out paradigm straight out of the box with very little need for adaption is a real gift to the art.

A slim, 113 page volume, The Engineering of Coincidence is thankfully free of most of the filler that seems to bog down similar occult texts on the topic. Conceptually rich and easy to follow, the narrative is divided into three broad sections. The first, Theoretical Magick, covers a basic overview of quantum physics, chaos theory and the individual timeline within the multiverse. That latter essay was the most illuminating part of the book for me, and helped offer a conceptual scaffold to my own occult exploration. It also leans into both parapsychology and the underlying importance of divination at times too.

The second, Practical Magick, is about exactly that, and discusses how to actually manifest the desired outcome within the bounds of the paradigm it has described. This relies upon sigils as a carrier wave in the quoted instance, though strongly suggests that it is but one example and not the only approved methodology available to the adept. The final section, Speculations, rounds out the volume with brief discussions on free will within a structured multiverse, the nature of dark matter, near death experiences and perhaps most interestingly the role of the orgasm in the creation of future life.

There is very little to critique here. Yes, the idea of physics being turned towards the occult has always been controversial. And also yes, the narrative does make some leaps of logic here and there. But when considered as a closed system it is more than convincing enough to drive action towards desire. As with much within The Weird, believing it makes enough sense to actually work helps to make it do so. My only complaint is one of branding. The cover lacks impact, and while it does fit the underlying concept of the work it has likely caused some within the Neopagan end of the community to pass on the purchase.

Aesthetics aside this should be rightly considered to be a foundational text for those at the more scientific end of the chaos magick spectrum. Though it was actually published in 2019 The Engineering of Coincidence beat out some very strong competition to be my top read of 2024, and still gets my highest recommendation even now. While it demands a certain level of understanding to get the most out of the examples provided, anyone with a basic, layman’s grounding in physics will be able to follow the broad concepts discussed within its pages. And when paradigm shifting that should be more than enough to see results.

Title: The Engineering of Coincidence: A Scientific Explanation of Magic
Author: Robert Ramsay
Genre: Occult Non-Fiction/Science Non-Fiction
Tradition: Chaos Magick/Parapsychology
Difficulty: Intermediate/Expert
Published: 2019
ISBN: 9781650399850
Score: 9/10