Carolyn Lovewell

Carolyn Lovewell (née Elliott) is an American scholar, author, and occultist. She is the author of the book Existential Kink which focuses on shadow integration as a means for creating positive change in the self. She obtained a doctorate in Critical and Cultural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Carolyn teaches applied occult philosophy through writing, lectures, online coaching, and as the priestess of Sleep Over Mystery School.

Writing
Known for her acerbic and sarcastic writing style, Lovewell is the author of multiple books, including Existential Kink and Awaken Your Genius: A Seven-Step Path to Freeing Your Creativity and Manifesting Your Dreams.

Existential Kink
Published in 2020, Existential Kink: Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power introduces Lovewell's meditation methodology known as "existential kink". Existential Kink uses the Jungian idea of the shadow to encourage introspection on repressed dark parts of the self and challenges the individual to consider how they might find pleasure in seemingly undesirable circumstances.

Existential Kink received positive reviews from the New Age crowd, as well as broader self help audiences. The book focuses on the role of power and fear, encouraging a practice called the "Deepest Fear Inventory" where participants record and state internalized negative assumptions about their desires to help dissipate them. Lovewell's approach of examining the unconscious assumptions in life has helped readers struggling with self sabotage. Examining pleasure gained from discomfort has been found to be a useful therapeutic tool. Lovewell's approach removes the power of the shadow by acting without guilt or shame.

Magical Work
Lovewell is the founder of the online magazine, Witch. She also runs Electric Yes, an online community teaching occultism and Lovewell's "existential kink" meditation methodology. Since 2022, Lovewell has hosted an in-person program called Sleep Over Mystery School, an immersive experience styled after Greco-Roman mysteries.

Personal life
Lovewell lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, David, and their two children.

In 2023, Lovewell announced on Instagram that she and her husband would both be changing their last names to Lovewell. She formerly went by Carolyn Elliott.