Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession — Occult Philosophy

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Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession

Name: Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession
Price: 18.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781578639076

✍️ Pagliarulo, Antonio

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$18.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Antonio Pagliarulo's work boldly expands the traditional understanding of sainthood, magic, and miracles, offering a profound spiritual guide for those who feel disconnected from conventional religious narratives. Drawing on his heritage of Italian folk magic and saint veneration, Pagliarulo reclaims spiritual allies for marginalized communities. This book serves not only as a directory of extraordinary queer lives now dwelling in the spirit realm but also as an empowering gateway into the practices of folk magic, spiritual co-creation, and mystical solidarity, inviting all to find their own sacred connections.

Pagliarulo, Antonio

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“In Queer Saints, Antonio Pagliarulo celebrates the miracle workers, visionaries, and radiant souls, whether they come from monasteries, abbeys, and convents or from concert stages, ballrooms, runways, the pages of activist history, or the bright corners of culture. These are the people who changed the world simply by refusing to be anything other than themselves.”

— Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch

“In magic, the broom is the line between the living and the dead. In religion, saints are the intercessors between the living and the dead. As a queer witch, it can be difficult to find representation in your magic because of the focus on the binary: male/female, god/goddess, living/dead, or queer/straight.”

— Amy Blackthorn, queer witch, high priestess, and author of Blackthorn's Botanical Shadow Work

“This book is not merely about saints but a whole practice that can be incorporated into any system. . . . I love [Antonio Pagliarulo's] approach, his take on the craft, and his saints. Anyone can practice these techniques almost anywhere, especially the illuminated inner altar, with minimal supplies that you most likely already have in your cabinets.”

— Melissa St. Hilaire, award-winning author of 30 Real Signs from the Afterlife

🏛 Weiser Books 📅 2026 📖 240 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781578639076

Fun Fact

Pagliarulo has crafted an essential, empowering guide for anyone seeking spiritual connection beyond dogma. Its greatest strength lies in its radical inclusivity, offering a vibrant pantheon of allies for queer individuals and those on the fringes. While traditionalists seeking orthodox guidance will be disappointed, this book excels at bridging folk magic with contemporary spiritual needs. It stands as a vital, affirming voice in the field of modern occultism and inclusive spirituality, inviting a richer, more personal relationship with the sacred.

📝 Description: Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession

Boldly redefining and broadening the meaning of sainthood, magic, and miracles. Everyone has patron saints, even the marginalized who may feel abandoned and removed from the tradition of saint veneration. Antonio Pagliarulo, author of The Evil Eye, grew up among Italian immigrants, practitioners of folk magic and saint veneration. A lifelong lover of saints, he seeks to bring their blessings to those who have long felt cut off from these traditions. Queer Saints is not only a compendium of queer people who have lived extraordinary lives, accomplished extraordinary feats, and who now dwell comfortably in the spirit realm; it is also a spiritual gateway that invites you to explore more deeply the power of folk magic and its practices, of co-creation, allyship, and mystical solidarity. Saints derive from many spiritual and religious traditions, not just Roman Catholicism. No canonization process is required for folk saints, also known as unofficial saints. Pagliarulo offers readers a wide range of saints that includes the traditional, such as Mary Magdalene, Francis of Assisi, and Hildegard of Bingen, as well as re-envisioned saints specifically for a queer constituency. These include Saint David Bowie, Saint Freddie Mercury, Saint Alexander McQueen, Saint Moms Mabley, and Saint André Leon Talley. Pagliarulo offers practical information on how to venerate them--from building altars to making offerings. Whether queer themselves, or people whose allyship or achievements are embraced by the queer community, queer saints are a new and needed paradigm for those seeking new paths to meaning. Both a primer on magical practice and a guide to radical transcendence and transformation, Queer Saints makes change and self-empowerment accessible to readers of all faiths and belief systems by spotlighting the transformative impact queer saints have had on our world and their burgeoning influence on our spiritual future.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Pagliarulo delivers a bold expansion of sainthood that resonates deeply with those seeking alternative spiritual lineages. The text successfully merges folk magic traditions with queer theology, creating a unique directory for marginalized communities. However, readers expecting strict academic historiography or traditional Catholic dogma will find this approach too unconventional and politically charged. It is not suited for those who prefer rigid doctrinal purity over mystical exploration. The work shines brightest as a practical guide for spiritual co-creation rather than a historical record, making it an ideal resource for practitioners of esoteric traditions seeking inclusive narratives.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking spiritual inclusion and those feeling alienated by conventional religious structures will find profound comfort in this empowering guide. Antonio Pagliarulo offers a radical re-envisioning of sacred intercession, specifically catering to marginalized souls who desire connection with spiritual allies outside traditional frameworks. By blending Italian folk magic heritage with queer identity, the book provides a directory of extraordinary lives and practices for mystical solidarity. It is essential for anyone interested in spiritual co-creation, offering a gateway to find personal sacred connections through the lens of modern intercession and magical practice.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you've ever felt spiritually adrift, excluded by traditional religion, or are simply seeking a more inclusive, magical approach to spiritual practice, this book is for you. It's an empowering resource for queer individuals and allies ready to connect with sacred intercessors.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Pagliarulo delivers a bold expansion of sainthood that resonates deeply with those seeking alternative spiritual lineages. The text successfully merges folk magic traditions with queer theology, creating a unique directory for marginalized communities. However, readers expecting strict academic historiography or traditional Catholic dogma will find this approach too unconventional and politically charged. It is not suited for those who prefer rigid doctrinal purity over mystical exploration. The work shines brightest as a practical guide for spiritual co-creation rather than a historical record, making it an ideal resource for practitioners of esoteric traditions seeking inclusive narratives.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. While drawing on some Catholic concepts, this book deliberately transcends denominational boundaries, exploring saints from various traditions and emphasizing that folk saints require no official canonization. It's for anyone interested in spiritual allies.

You'll discover a rich tapestry of figures, from traditionally recognized saints like Mary Magdalene and Francis of Assisi, re-examined through an inclusive lens, to unofficial folk saints and newly envisioned patrons specifically for the queer community, reflecting extraordinary lives and spirits.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Inclusive Holy Figures

This book profoundly redefines what it means to be a saint, moving beyond rigid ecclesiastical processes. It embraces figures from diverse spiritual traditions, including unofficial folk saints and those whose lives, though extraordinary, might be overlooked by mainstream institutions. Pagliarulo champions an expansive view where sainthood reflects a spectrum of human experience and spiritual power, making these figures accessible to all.

Magical Co-Creation

Pagliarulo intricately links the veneration of saints to the vibrant practice of folk magic. He presents saintly intercession not as passive prayer but as an active partnership in spiritual creation. Readers are encouraged to engage with these powerful allies, fostering a dynamic relationship that cultivates blessings, provides guidance, and manifests change in their lives through intentional spiritual work.

Queer Spiritual Reclamation

At its heart, this guide offers a much-needed spiritual home for queer individuals and their allies. By recognizing and celebrating queer figures as integral to the pantheon of saints, it affirms the sacredness of LGBTQ+ lives and experiences. The book fosters a sense of belonging and empowers readers to forge connections with spiritual patrons who truly understand and champion their unique journeys.

📜 Historical context

Pagliarulo’s work builds upon centuries of folk magic and saint veneration, traditions often existing outside formal religious structures. It particularly resonates with practices found in various diasporic communities, where saints are revered as accessible spiritual guides. By intertwining these ancient customs with contemporary queer spirituality, the book places itself in a lineage of reclaiming and adapting spiritual practices for marginalized voices.

📚 Glossary

Sainthood
Folk Magic
Intercession

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a figure, living or passed, who has inspired you deeply but might not be recognized by conventional institutions. How does their life embody a form of personal 'sainthood' for you?
Consider an area of your life where you feel marginalized or unheard. What qualities would a spiritual ally or 'queer saint' possess to offer you strength and guidance in this area?
How might you begin to integrate folk magical practices or intentional co-creation with a chosen spiritual ally into your daily routine, even in small ways?