The Modern Merlin
Hello! I’m The Modern Merlin and I’ve been been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. I practice Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. I study and practice Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. I have a personal blog where I share Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! I give readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner-November/December 2024: The Sorcerer’s Guide to Winter Magick
In my neck of the woods, the early part of the winter weather season has come upon us, reminding us to slow down, and cherish time with family & friends. Many people don’t like winter, and personally, I am among them; I much prefer the warmer climate of Southern California, but alas, I am, for the time being, as they say, “stuck in Ohio”. Paganism’s interwoven beliefs and traditions concerning the colder months of the year are well documented and today many modern Pagans still imbibe those traditions, hearkening back to a time before the Church and the more organized religion we see today. Aside from the spiritual lessons and…
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The Modern Merlin’s Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius Survival Guide
Navigating Difficult Holiday Astro-Vibes, and More Cue the Star Wars Imperial March, as Mercury begins his backward spin in the sign of the archer, Sagittarius. Mercury has an interesting relationship with Sagittarius, as Gemini, one of the two signs Mercury rules, opposes Sagittarius, ruled by expansive Jupiter. We’re going to look at this interesting relationship, and how it all plays out with the usual Mercury Rx mayhem. Given that this transit occurs during the holiday season for many of us, there’s some precautions to take as well to make sure you’re prepared. Without further ado, let’s begin! Mercury and Sagittarius: A relationship built from two sides of the same coin…
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Book Review-The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies by Coby Michael
Book Review The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies By Coby Michael Publisher: Destiny Books 224 page E-Book Release Date; November 5th, 2024 The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies by Coby Michael was a much-anticipated book for me and I very happily chose it for review when my publisher offered it up. For those who don’t know, I am an avid Poison and Psychedelic Witch, and I work with many of these wonderful plant allies in my spiritual practices, whether it’s for necromancy, deathwalking, spells/magick/rituals, or anything else. They truly help me, and many others, connect to the current of…
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Book Review-Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book by Vanessa Lavallée
Book Review Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book By Vanessa Lavallée Publisher: Destiny Books 160 Page E-Book Release Date: November 3rd, 2024 Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book is a fascinating exploration and examination, both historically, and in a modern Neo-Pagan sense, of Goddess Archetypes that were present in many classical and middle eastern ancient Pagan cultures. Ancient Goddess Magic explores deities from Hittite, Sumerian, Babylonian, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek and other ancient cultures and their goddesses. Ancient Goddess Magic also draws parallels to planetary and star worship in these ancient traditions, noting that deities such as Ishtar, Aphrodite, Astarte and…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Celtic Fairies in North America by Morgan Daimler
Book Review Pagan Portals: Celtic Fairies in North America By Morgan Daimler Publisher: Moon Books 110 page E-Book Release Date: November 1st, 2024 Those of you who read my reviews, and columns, have probably figured out that I’m a huge fan of the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books. Pagan Portals are short booklets, usually no more than 120 pages, that focus on a topic, deity, practice or something relating to paganism and/or witchcraft. They’re excellent for beginners and advanced practitioners alike, and I always find myself coming back to them for inspiration and reference. That said, Celtic Fairies in North America is the perfect addition to my library of works on Fairies and the Fae. Fairies…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Mestra The Shapeshifter: Ancient Heroine of the Sacred Grove by Dianna Rhyan
Book Review Pagan Portals: Mestra the Shapeshifter: Ancient Heroine of the Sacred Grove By Dianna Rhyan Publisher: Moon Books 136 page E-Book Release Date: November 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: Mestra the Shapeshifter is another installment of the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books, and a favorite series of mine. Rhyan tells the story of Mestra from the literary sources that are available, and weaves these sources into a story of Mestra, from birth, to her eventual shapeshifting to flee the oppression of men wishing to marry her. She is the Heroine of the Sacred Grove, and can often be found in the forests, rivers and streams as a bird, an animal, the gentle breeze…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners by Lady Haight-Ashton
Book Review Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners By Lady Haight-Ashton Publisher: Moon Books 100 page E-Book Release Date: October 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners is the book I think many, especially women, in the United States could probably find benefit from reading. I don’t like to get political, especially in reviews, but the results of Tuesday really put the need for this book at a peak. Human rights to me aren’t political issues. I’m not sure I know where to begin; this book encapsulates so much divine rage from the oppression of women over the millennia (and…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Sulis: Solar Goddess of the Spring Waters by Rachel Patterson
Book Review Pagan Portals: Sulis: Solar Goddess of the Spring Waters By Rachel Patterson Publisher: Moon Books 106 page E-Book Release Date: October 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: Sulis is a continuation of one of my favorite booklet series for Pagans, and on a goddess that is getting more attention and her mysteries are once again being unearthed. Sulis is a goddess I got to know back in 2020 during the pandemic, and since she has appeared and reappeared at seemingly sporadic times in my life. Not much is known about her compared to other Celtic goddesses such as Rhiannon or The Morrigan, and much evidence of her worship has been lost…
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Deck Review-The Westwood Tarot by Yasmeen Westwood, Written by Kalliope
Deck Review The Westwood Tarot By Yasmeen Westwood, Written by Kalliope Publisher: Red Feather 78 card Gilded Tarot Deck with Full Color 254 page Guidebook, all come in a magnetically sealed decorative box shaped like a book Release Date: September 28th, 2024 The Westwood Tarot is your traditional 78 card Tarot deck, but is filled with colorful, vibrant and whimsical illustrations for each card. Instead of people gracing the card images, animals do, deepening their meaning and wisdom in readings. I have long been open to use of animal symbolism, omens and the like in divination, having practiced augury for some time now. To combine the wisdom of the animal and…
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner: Samhain 2024 Special Edition
Welcome to a day filled with frights, ghosts, spirits and spooky vibes. This is Halloween. This is Samhain. A sacred day of honoring our dead, our ancestors, and helping the dead with unfinished business move on. This is a time to celebrate the cycle of life, death and rebirth. It’s a time to cast witcheries; protective and baneful; beneficent and malevolent alike. Let your inner Witch out, because it’s our season! The Dead Roam Among Us As I write this, an eerie, cool, yet warm, wind blows, making leaves fall all around. It’s the breath of the spirits coming to visit us, whether with good intent or ill. This Samhain…
