I used to be obsessed with Beckett, because I was obsessed with the void. Because Beckett was obsessed with the void, I was obsessed with Beckett. Obsession works with false correlatives. I was on to myself when I dedicated quite a chunk of pages to Samuel Beckett in my second doctorate dissertation 7 years ago.

The inspirational world is also obsessed with Beckett. Or, rather, with what the inspirational world decided Beckett’s words from his absurd Worstward Ho! are all about. Failure. As a human thing. Hallelujah. If only we can find someone who can validate failure for good. Beckett is so delicious.

You know the words, now a famous meme: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

I often come across Beckett’s lines in magical discourses on magical practice, from divination to cursing or burying your enemies: ‘Make mistakes, do it all wrong. It’s…