Valentin Adler - Subtle Foundry

On wax seals (p1)

By Valentin Adler

August 26, 2026

I've recently become enamored with wax seals. Like, pouring molten wax onto a surface and (typically) impressing it with a metal stamp. Like most people, I've been distantly aware of them as the things that guard secret messages in historical dramas: the noble writes an important

magick Spare Crowley

What I mean when I say "magick"

By Valentin Adler

August 23, 2026

Let's say "reality" is the part of existence you can experience. Sometimes that's direct: you see, feel, hear something. Lots of times it's not; something just happens, and if you stumble across it or perceive it somehow, it becomes real for you.

How I came (back) to magick

By Valentin Adler

August 22, 2026

I started leaning into magick about the time America seemed to be collapsing, from my point of view. This sounds like hyperbole, but in my case it did feel that way. Feels that way, as of this writing. In case you’re trying to orient and place me on the

the 'chaos' in chaos magick

By Valentin Adler

August 20, 2026

People not so familiar with magick hear the term chaos magick or chaos mage and think, “woah, chaos.” That’s disruptive, chaotic, problem-causing, anarchistic, and so on. Sowing chaos. If this is you, I get it. I know how it sounds. But the idea of chaos magick and how

News

Coming soon

By Valentin Adler

April 08, 2026

This is Subtle Foundry, a brand new site that's just getting started. Things will be up and running here shortly, but you can subscribe in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date and receive emails when new content is published!