Arcalogica?

A short introduction and plans for the future.

Hello, you beautiful and curious nerd.

If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself getting lost in a sea of browser tabs as you spiral down a long and winding rabbit hole. Before you know it, you’re thinking: “Wait… How did I get here? What was I doing? And what the hell did I just read?”

Sound familiar?

I like to attribute these little educational fugue states to insatiable curiosity (although ADHD might be the real culprit). Sometimes, when I find some wonderfully weird story and it resonates with me or inspires me to dig deeper, I sit down and write about it. That’s what you’ll find here.

If you’re a fan of sites like Atlas Obscura or writers like Bill Bryson, Malcolm Gladwell, Mark Forsyth, or Maria Popova, then stick around. This is the newsletter for you.

What does “arcalogica” mean?

Arcalogica is a word I coined that means “related to or discussing the arcane; studies or discourse about weird, cryptic, strange, esoteric, or obscure knowledge.”

Arcalogica is a plural adjectival compound of arca- (from Latin arcānus, from arc(ēre) “to enclose, restrain, ward off” as in arcane or arcana) + -log (from Greek -logos "word", “study”, or “discourse” as in mythology) + -ica (from Latin -icālis often used in forming adjectives, as in fanatical).

Arcalogica (ark-uh-loj-i-kuh):
Related to or discussing the arcane; studies or discourse about weird, cryptic, strange, esoteric, or obscure knowledge.

As someone who loves to study and discuss arcane ideas and stories, that makes me an “arcalog” (arcalogue) or arcalogist. An alternative form could be arcanologist or arcanolog, but I prefer the shorter term.

As a branch of knowledge or study, the term is “arcalogy” and is encompassing of many familiar branches of study, including esoterology (the study of the esoteric), enigmatology (the study of puzzles), cryptology, cryptozoology, and more.

What will you find here?

While I do love to read and write about the Occult, secret societies, magick, and other mysterious or mystic traditions, this newsletter will be much broader and cover a wide range of topics.

My interests are many and varied: art, philosophy, literature, science, mathematics, logic, psychology, religion, poetry, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, linguistics, history, archaeology, philology, music, architecture, and more.

Regardless of what corner of the human experience I examine, I’ll approach the discussion through the lens of someone interested in the secret, hidden, or mysterious aspects of these subjects.

For years now, I’ve been thinking of ways to share the exciting and often strange insights I dig up in my studies. This newsletter will serve as a repository for my thoughts on whatever wonderfully odd tidbit I’ve discovered that day.

My goal is to create something accessible: easy to read and fun to explore. I want readers to walk away from every post feeling inspired to dive deeper and discuss everything they’ve just learned with friends (and this community). I don’t pretend to have any formal training or special wisdom to impart, but I’ll do my best to entertain, educate, and engage your imagination.

Who am I?

My name is Josh. I’m a senior Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technology specialist for a consulting company based in Kansas City, MO. I work remotely from my home in Kentucky, where I live with my partner and our son. I have a Master’s in business and I’m preparing to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Science beginning in 2025-2026. I also have a long history as a musician, composer, sound designer, and podcaster.

At the time of this publication, I’m knee-deep in background research and planning for a non-fiction (PopSci) book I’m writing about the history of alchemy and its impact on our modern world. In the future, I plan to write a book about the role of human anatomy in occult symbolism and another one about infohazards and the nature of harmful ideas.

If you’re interested in joining Substack and creating your very own newsletter or joining future discussions, click the button below to sign up and support me at the same time with a referral!