The Process Magazine: An Overview
Publication History (1967-1974)
The Process magazine stands as one of the most visually striking and intellectually ambitious publications to emerge from 1960s counterculture. Published irregularly from 1967 until the Church’s transformation in 1974, each issue combined sophisticated graphic design with provocative content exploring fundamental human experiences.
As part of the Process Church history, the Process magazine serves as an important archive of the era’s cultural movements. This publication also functions as an essential archive for those interested in exploring the counterculture of the 1960s.
Design Philosophy
Visual Innovation:
- High-contrast black and white photography
- Bold, experimental typography
- Striking cover designs
- Professional-quality production values
- Integration of text and image
Aesthetic Approach:
- Gothic and apocalyptic imagery
- Dramatic use of negative space
- Symbolic and esoteric visual elements
- Influences from advertising, art photography, and underground press
Editorial Direction
Each issue explored a central theme with contributions including:
- Theological and philosophical essays
- Interviews with cultural figures
- Photography and visual art
- Poetry and creative writing
- Cultural criticism and commentary
Major Issues & Themes
FEAR Issue
Theme: Psychological, spiritual, and societal dimensions of fear
Content Highlights:
- Analysis of fear as spiritual teacher
- Photography depicting fear and anxiety
- Theological perspectives on confronting darkness
- Cultural examination of fear in modern society
Visual Approach: Dark, claustrophobic imagery; faces in shadow; symbolic representations of psychological terror
Impact: This issue exemplified the Process approach of confronting rather than avoiding difficult emotions and experiences.
The Process magazine serves as an archive reflecting the diverse cultural landscape of its time, capturing the essence of the movements that shaped an era.
DEATH Issue
Theme: Mortality, transformation, and the afterlife
Content Highlights:
- Process theology on death and rebirth
- Cultural attitudes toward mortality
- Interviews exploring death awareness
- Photography of death imagery and symbolism
Visual Approach: Skulls, graves, memento mori; juxtaposition of death and beauty; transformation imagery
In its entirety, the magazine represents an archive of cultural expression, reflective of the zeitgeist of its era.
Impact: Challenged 1960s optimism with unflinching examination of mortality, yet ultimately presented death as transformation rather than ending.
SEX Issue
Theme: Sexuality, desire, and spiritual energy
This issue is an archive of perspectives, illustrating how cultural narratives were shaped during that time.
Content Highlights:
- Theological perspective on sexual energy
- Cultural critique of sexual repression and exploitation
- Essays on sacred sexuality
Visual Approach: Artistic, non-exploitative treatment of sexuality; symbolic and metaphorical imagery; beauty and darkness combined
Context: While 1960s counterculture embraced sexual liberation, the Process took a more disciplined, spiritual approach to sexuality.
LOVE Issue
Theme: Divine and human love, compassion, unity
Content Highlights:
- Christ as embodiment of divine love
- Reconciliation of opposites through love
- Practical applications of compassion
- Love as transformative spiritual force
Visual Approach: Softer imagery than other issues; light and shadow; faces in connection; symbolic representations of unity
Impact: Demonstrated that despite dark aesthetics and Satanic theology, love remained central to Process teaching.
VIOLENCE Issue
Theme: Destruction, necessary and unnecessary violence, transformation
Content Highlights:
- Theological perspectives on Satan as destructive force
- Cultural violence and its spiritual meaning
- Necessary destruction as precursor to rebirth
- Critique of meaningless violence
Visual Approach: Disturbing imagery confronting readers with violence; war photography; symbolic destruction
Controversy: This issue, particularly in context of Manson association, generated significant negative attention.
WAR Issue
Within these pages lies an archive of thought-provoking content that engages with deep philosophical questions.
In summary, the magazine serves as an invaluable archive, preserving the legacies of its contributors and the cultural movements they engaged with.
Theme: Conflict, opposition, and ultimate reconciliation
This magazine remains a vital archive for understanding the past and its influence on modern spirituality.
Content Highlights:
- War between spiritual forces
- Process eschatology and apocalypse
- Personal internal war
- Path from conflict to unity
Visual Approach: Battle imagery; opposing forces; symbolic representation of cosmic conflict
Special Features and Interviews
Charles Manson Interview: The controversial 1970 interview that would haunt the Church’s reputation
Mick Jagger Interview: Appeared in Process #3: Mindbending. Download here.
The Process magazine stands as an archive that reflects a unique chapter in the history of spiritual exploration.
Marianne Faithfull Interview: Appeared in Process #2: Freedom of Expression. Download here.
Salvador Dali Interview: Appeared in Process #1. Download here.
Cultural Commentary: Articles analyzing contemporary culture through Process theological lens
Member Testimonials: Personal accounts of transformation and spiritual journey
Design Legacy
It serves as a living archive of the transformative ideas that continue to inspire future generations.
Influence on Underground Press
The Process magazine influenced underground publication design through:
- Professional production quality that challenged amateur aesthetics
- Sophisticated integration of text and image
- Bold use of contrast and negative space
- Thematic coherence across entire issues
Contemporary Recognition
Modern designers and cultural historians recognize Process magazine as:
- Pioneering work in alternative publication design
- Influence on punk and industrial aesthetics
- Example of magazine as art object
- Document of 1960s countercultural sophistication
Collectors’ Market
Original Process magazines are now:
- Highly collectible items
- Valued for design and historical significance
- Studied by designers and cultural historians
- Preserved in special collections and archives
The Magazine’s Place in Process History
Missionary Tool
The magazine served as:
- Primary recruitment vehicle
- Introduction to Process theology for outsiders
- Demonstration of intellectual and artistic sophistication
- Revenue source through sales
Cultural Bridge
The magazine connected:
- Underground counterculture and mainstream society
- Intellectual discourse and street-level spirituality
- Artistic innovation and religious teaching
- Process theology and contemporary cultural concerns
Lasting Document
Today the magazine provides:
- Primary source documentation of Process theology
- Insight into member perspectives and experiences
- Evidence of the Church’s cultural sophistication
- Material for understanding 1960s countercultural spirituality
Explore the Cultural Impact of the Process Church.
Each issue acts as an archive of profound thought and artistic expression, making it a valuable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.
As an archive of the Process Church’s teachings and cultural relevance, the magazine offers readers insights into the spiritual and societal questions of its time.
The magazine serves as an archive for understanding the interplay between art and spirituality, showcasing how these themes are interwoven in cultural discussions.
Today, the magazine stands as an archive of transformative ideas, providing a comprehensive look at the beliefs that influenced its followers.
As a historical archive, it captures the essence of the dialogues that shaped faith-based movements.
Each issue serves not only as a magazine but as an archive that documents the evolution of spiritual beliefs and practices.
It serves as an archive for contemporary thought, bridging past experiences with current understandings.
It remains a crucial archive for those exploring the history of spiritual movements and their artistic manifestations.
The magazine acts as an archive for understanding the complexities of faith and creativity in a rapidly changing world.
As an archive, it offers a lens through which to view the interplay of art, culture, and spirituality that characterized the 1960s.
Ultimately, the magazine stands as an archive that continues to resonate with readers seeking insight into spiritual evolution.
This serves as a foundational archive for examining the intersections of culture and spirituality.