Human geography and the occult: Weird walks, writing, and re-enchanting the landscape
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article traces geographical writings on monstrosity, magic(k) and spectrality which have developed over the last three decades. By framing these various works as ‘occult geographies’ and ‘geographies of the occult’, we show how this work is both thematically and theoretically linked and impacts current and emerging lines of thought in human geography more broadly. Surveying a body of non-specialist writings on occult landscapes, this paper contributes to human geography by showing how these practices and writings inform experiences of environment, identity, and belonging, whilst revealing political tensions for those deploying occult terminology and phenomena in their human geographical accounts.
Source: Progress in Human Geography
Authors: Julian Holloway, James Thurgill
Institutions: Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,900
OpenAlex ID: W7124454394