Abracadabra: The Magick of Lady Gaga’s Spellbinding New Single

A Pop Invocation for the New Aeon & The Power of Speaking Words Into Reality

Feb 08, 2025

It’s easy to dismiss pop music as shallow. But Lady Gaga has never been an artist who creates without intention. From the start of her career, she has embedded layers of symbolism, storytelling, and transformation into her work, often blurring the line between performance and ritual. I’ve long suspected that Lady Gaga is secretly a magickal practitioner of some sort. While conspiracy theorists are quick to twist her work into poorly thought-out narratives, warping her songs and videos to fit their evangelical fearmongering against the occult and personal empowerment, they often are able to recognize that there’s esotericism being presented but unable to interpret it properly.

When I saw her latest music video for her single Abracadabra, I recognized that the song moves like a spell, structured with intention, carrying the weight of a true working, and calling for people to manifest our path forward as a collective. It’s also incredibly timely for what we are going through as a country and a world, and echoes much of the same ideas I’ve been sharing in my newsletters here on substack as well as on my social media platforms. What follows is merely my interpretation that I thought some of you might find interesting.

Lady Gaga's latest single, Abracadabra, is dominating the charts, and much like her previous single, Disease, marks a powerful return to her dark pop roots. The song blends haunting melodies with evocative lyrics, delving deep into the transformative power of speech. Taking its name from one of history's most well-known magickal words, Abracadabra isn't just a catchy hook, it's an incantation, a ritual, and a call to action. Gaga isn't merely singing about manifestation; she's inviting us to co-create, to step into our own power, and to shape reality with the words we choose to speak.

As reported by Heart, Gaga explained that the song is "about facing the challenge of life and the challenge of the night and finding the magic in it all." She elaborated, "When you have to face the world, the people around you, your life, your unique circumstances, your unique fabric in the world. And when you feel challenged with really showing everybody who you are."

In the song, Gaga refers to a lady in red, a character she also portrays in the music video. She revealed the significance of this figure, stating, "The lady in red is all of you that puts you to the test. Your internal monologue. 'Can you do it? Can you do it? Will you do it? Are you good enough? Can you handle it?'" This character embodies the internal challenges and self-doubt that many face, emphasizing the song's theme of overcoming obstacles to thrive rather than merely survive.

In this way, the lady in red could be a lot of things and I’m most tempted to say Babalon, “the scarlet woman” the force of liberation and spiritual ecstasy in Thelema. But I’m not certain that this is precisely who she’s referencing, though I could make a strong case of Crowley’s “Abrahadabra,” his reformulation of Abracadabra, being the word of the New Aeon in the Gematria of his book 777. But what does seem clear is that the lady in red in this song serves as an initiatrix at this crossroads, challenging and testing us.

The Magick of the Spoken Word

"Think of speech as a magickal tool, because it is. We have magickal terms that are closely tied to the idea of language, such as spells and books of spells called grimoires, which is related to the word grammar. 'Abracadabra' is a famous ancient spell that folk etymologists believe is either based on Aramaic for 'I create like the word' or Hebrew for 'I will create as I speak.' As you engage more and more in your development as a psychic witch, you will find that your words have power, even when you don't intend them to, and you will soon learn to exercise caution when speaking things out loud. There's a reason the message of many folktales and fairy tales is 'be careful what you wish for' when engaging the magickal. By treating the power of language as a tool you can ensure you are keeping the power of speech sacred."
— Mat Auryn, Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation

Lady Gaga's Abracadabra embodies this principle perfectly. The song itself is seemingly a ritual, layered with imagery of fate and the raw force of the spoken word. When she sings “In her tongue she said, ‘Death or love tonight,’” she’s presenting a choice, one that must be spoken aloud to be made real. If you’ve ever spoken words aloud and felt a shift, whether in your own energy, in the room around you, or in the way others respond, you already understand the principle at work. Ancient mystics weren’t just being poetic when they said the world was sung into existence. The concept of logos, the divine word as creative force, appears in everything from Hermetic philosophy to the opening lines of the Gospel of John in the Bible. The name Abracadabra itself has roots in Hebrew and Aramaic, meaning “I create as I speak.” This isn’t metaphorical. It’s metaphysical. When you vocalize something, especially with focused intent and feeling, you are literally altering reality.

The song's opening verse paints the image of a ritualist engaged in an act of celestial invocation, navigating the tension between higher and lower forces:

"Pay the toll to the angels
Drawing circles in the clouds
Keep your mind on the distance
When the devil turns around."

These lyrics evoke a journey of spiritual devotion, where the speaker calls upon divine entities, offering reverence, energy, or effort in exchange for guidance or favor. “Pay the toll to the angels” suggests an act of homage, a magickal transaction with celestial forces that requires something in return, be it focus, dedication, or an open heart ready to receive. This paired with the next line seems to be a reference to the macrocosm and the idea that the things we do and think here, effect the larger world and universe.

"Drawing circles in the clouds” elevates this invocation beyond the earthly realm, evoking the imagery of a ritual performed on a grand, celestial scale. Just as magicians cast protective circles to contain and direct their workings, this line suggests a boundary between the mundane and the sacred, a space where higher forces may be invoked with ambitious, sky-reaching intent. It could also be about creating sacred space for yourself in the midst of confusion, with clouds often representing something that obscures the truth. It could also be saying that the “angels” are also drawing their own circles in the clouds. Perhaps its a combination of these meanings. But focus is key. “Keep your mind on the distance” serves as a warning, an urging to remain unwavering in intent, ensuring that the vision remains clear and undistracted. This speaks to the discipline required in any spiritual or magickal practice. In working with forces beyond oneself, losing sight of the goal can be dangerous.

Then comes the moment of reckoning: “When the devil turns around.” Here, opposition, temptation, or an entity that seeks to challenge the working appears. This could be a literal adversarial force such as the current administration or the shadow self, the doubts, fears, or distractions that rise up when one embarks on a path of transformation. In occult tradition, to invoke higher forces is to invite resistance. The question is: will you falter, or will you stand firm in your ascent?

In the pre-chorus of Abracadabra, Gaga shifts from invocation to embodiment, guiding the listener through the delicate space between intent and manifestation. “Hold me in your heart tonight” suggests more than just longing—it’s about holding onto the vision, not just in thought, but in feeling. Magick isn’t just about speaking intentions; words alone are empty without belief, without sensation, without the pulse of true knowing behind them. For a spell to take root, for manifestation to move beyond wishful thinking, it must be felt deeply. My first two books, Psychic Witch and Mastering Magick, focus strongly on this.

“In the magic of the dark moonlight” invokes one of the most potent phases in magick: the dark moon. This is the moment before manifestation, where the unseen stirs, where whispered intentions are planted to take shape in the shadows before emerging into reality. Then comes the turning point: “Save me from this empty fight.” This isn’t a plea for rescue, but a call to release struggle and to stop pouring energy into resistance and step fully into the act of creation. It’s a lot like my last post about where we’re directing and using our energy. It’s about breaking free from arguing with people (with a lot of them online being bots and not actual people) that drain power rather than fuel it.

The chorus of Abracadabra is a cycle, a rhythmic chant that layers and builds like a spell being woven tighter with each repetition. The phrasing shifts from the recognizable Amor—love (Abracadabra, amor-ooh-na-na) to (Morta-ooh-ga-ga). Morta—death—mirroring the song’s central choice.

The Spellbound Connection: A Homage to Siouxsie and the Banshees

Adding another layer of depth, Abracadabra features a melody reminiscent of Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1981 single Spellbound, particularly in the verse referencing “a lady in red.” This is no coincidence, the song credits Siouxsie and the Banshees directly, acknowledging the influence.

The original Spellbound features the haunting lines:

"From the cradle bars
Comes a beckoning voice
It sends you spinning
You have no choice..."

These lines and Gaga’s Abracadabra share a deep thematic connection. Spellbound is about enchantment, about being drawn into something beyond your control. The beckoning voice is fate, or perhaps the will of another, pulling the listener into a spiral. “You have no choice.” Gaga, however, flips this dynamic on its head. In Abracadabra, she doesn’t just describe the power of outside forces—she forces a decision. “Death or love tonight.” It’s no longer about being caught in a spell; it’s about choosing whether to cast one. The tension between being influenced and being the one influencing is central to both songs, but where Spellbound focuses on the loss of agency, Abracadabra challenges the listener to seize it.

Hold the Vision. Speak the Future.

As Abracadabra builds to its conclusion, the choice is clear:

"Death or love tonight."

This is the ultimatum we face right now. It’s a reminder that every word spoken aloud is a choice. Every time we use our voices, we set something into motion. Every story we tell, every truth we name, every spell we cast is an act of shaping reality.

And right now, reality is under siege. We are watching an attempted coup unfold, orchestrated by men who want to reshape the world in their image. This is not just about politics; this is about narrative control. Those who understand the power of speech—who control the headlines, the algorithms, the messaging—are casting their own spell. And they are counting on you to remain passive, to let them dictate the terms of what comes next and to be overwhelmed and locked in fear.

Don’t let them.

Hold fast to the vision of the world you want to bring into being—while fighting to make it real. Don’t grow complacent. Prepare for the worst. Stay active in your resistance. And never forget—the mind is powerful, even more so for the magickal practitioner.

Positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means focusing intent. It means choosing words carefully, not to escape the truth, but to sharpen it into something undeniable. The future is still unwritten. The spell is still forming.

The crossroads are here. The voice is yours. Choose wisely.

Manifestation is not passive. It’s not about wishful thinking or hoping the universe reads your mind. It’s about clarity, discipline, and resonance. If you want to wield the power of your voice the way Gaga does in Abracadabra, you must cultivate it with precision:

Speak with Intention – Words are not empty. Whether you are casting a spell, stating an affirmation, or making a simple declaration, mean what you say. Feel it on an emotional level and with conviction.
Use Repetition to Strengthen Your Will – The most effective spells, prayers, and affirmations rely on repetition. It carves pathways into reality, reinforcing the chosen outcome.
Feel the Words in Your Body – Spoken manifestation is not just about sound; it’s about vibration. When you say something, feel it resonate. Let it take root in your bones.
Our Voices Matter (but only if we use them) - In Psychic Witch and Mastering Magick, I discuss the layers of reality we work with to manifest our magick. The last step always includes action in the physical to anchor it in this plane. A great way to do this is to use the Five Calls app (iPhone and Android). This phone app makes it easy to call your senators and representatives. Just enter your zip code, pick an issue, and it gives you a script—no guesswork needed. The phone numbers are clickable, so no manual dialing.

ACL-Blue Yarn

My husband Devin has launched his yarn-dyeing business, Hella Good Yarn—just as the country faces critical battles for civil rights. In that spirit, we’re offering ACL-Blue, a limited-edition semi-solid yarn where 50% of all profits go directly to the ACLU. This is more than fiber—it’s a stand against fascism, a way to craft with intention, and a tangible act of resistance. Every loop, weave, and twist of ACL-Blue helps protect fundamental freedoms. Let’s create something powerful together.

You can buy some here.