The Modern Merlin
The Modern Merlin has 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. He is a Priest of Hecate, Diana, Hades, Lilith and Persephone. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices 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. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has also been investigating the paranormal for over 10 years and has a keen interest in researching various mythologies, cosmologies and folklore from around the world. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and he has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives 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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Book Review-Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the Allfather by L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller
Book Review Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the AllFather By L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller Publisher: Red Wheel 128 Page Full-Color, Fully-Illustrated Hardcover Release Date: April 7th, 2025 Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the AllFather is the perfect primer for those looking to learn more about the One-Eyed God; not only is it a mindful guide to learning more about Odin in myth, legend and even modern iterations, but it also gracefully handles the problematic past that American Heathenry and Norse Paganism in America have. The discernment present in so many contemporary Norse Pagan books is a sign of positive change, and that there’s a genuine movement…
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Book Review-Loki: An Illustrated Guide to the Trickster God by L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller
Book Review Loki: An Illustrated Guide to the Trickster God By L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller Publisher: Red Wheel 128 Page Full-Color, Fully Illustrated Hardcover Release Date: April 7th, 2025 Loki: An Illustrated Guide to the Trickster God is the one introductory book to Loki I wish I’d had when I embarked on my journey to know the (in)famous trickster deity. I myself am a Lokean, having devoted my more adventurous, mischievous habits and tendencies (I can be a real screwball, I won’t lie about it) to him, finding peace in the clown, that jester, part of myself. Loki is more than just chaos; sure, he can…
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Book Review-Tarot:Timeless Secrets of the Ancient Mirror by Natalie Labriola
Book Review Tarot: Timeless Secrets of the Ancient Mirror By Natalie Labriola Publisher: Wooden Books, LLC 58 Page Paperback Release Date: March 15th, 2025 Don’t let the small size of Tarot: Timeless Secrets of the Ancient Mirror deceive you; this 58 page book is jam-packed with everything you need to know about the Tarot at-a-glance. It’s aesthetically pleasing in terms of design, and has sections discussing the methodology the author uses to approach tarot (which is perhaps most common-a Jung psych-spiritual based interpretation). There’s also a short primer on the history of the Tarot and how it evolved from a playing card game, to a parlor trick, to real divination. Then, you’re…
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Book Review-Mastering the Tarot Tableau: Revisiting Predictive Accuracy with Tarot by Toni Savory
Book Review Mastering the Tarot Tableau: Revisiting Predictive Accuracy with Tarot By Toni Savory Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 144 Page Paperback Release Date: April 28th, 2025 Mastering the Tarot Tableau: Revisiting Predictive Accuracy with Tarot takes the common Euorpean approach to Tarot reading (which is different in many aspects), and brings it to American readers. Long have I yearned for a text in English discussing using Tarot in a more predictive fashion. More often than not, we focus on the more abstract, occult or obscure meanings of the cards, instead of looking at the literal picture they’re painting for us. Fortune telling systems such as Lenormand, Sybill Oracle, and…
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Deck Review-Wild Whispers Oracle: Messages from the Desert by Nat Girsberger
Deck Review Wild Whispers Oracle: Messages from the Desert By Nat Girsberger Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 44 Card Deck, 156 page Guidebook in a sturdy box Release Date: March 4th, 2025 Wild Whispers Oracle is a beautifully designed and illustrated deck that focuses on the sun’s position in the sky, rather than the lunar phase, which is a nice break from the typical lunar-themed decks that are common. The deck is structured to fit the Sun’s pattern of rising, setting and the different phases those happen at. Having this structure within the deck allows for different sets of cards to shed light on the different parts of the self through an illuminated…
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Book Review-The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality through Words, Magical Symbols & Sigils by Toby Chappell
Book Review The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality through Words, Magical Symbols & Sigils By Toby Chappell Publisher: Inner Traditions 338 page E-Book Release Date: April 8th, 2025 The Languages of Magic was on my “must-read” list and it did not disappoint! Toby Chappell delivers an examination into the magical world of language, semantics, sound, symbol and word. Magic, spells and incantations are have their root in the power of words; words change our perception, impact our reality, and most importantly, for purposes of this book, on our magick, too. Spells of the spoken kind are often incorporated into other ritual actions, which complete an objective. If we take the approach…
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Deck Review-Cries of the Souls Oracle by Isabelle Cerf, illustrated by Daphna Sebbane
Deck Review Cries of the Souls Oracle By Isabelle Cerf, illustrated by Daphna Sebbane Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 42 Card Oracle Deck with 138 page full-color guidebook in a sturdy and beautifully designed box Release Date: March 4th, 2025 Cries of the Souls Oracle is a beautifull illustrated, 42 card oracle deck that allows your dark side, your shadow, to speak. The messages are blunt, but not mean. This deck came to me at a time when I really needed to let my dark side speak; he was crying out for attention, for healing, for alchemy. That dark side contains untapped abilities that will allow you to move past the obstacles you…
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Book Review-The Sword of Song, Called by the Christians The Book of the Beast by Aleister Crowley, edited and annotated by Richard Kaczynski
Book Review The Sword of Song, Called by the Christians The Book of the Beast By Aleister Crowley, edited & annotated by Richard Kaczynski Publisher: Inner Traditions 407 Page E-Book Release Date: April 8th, 2025 I am so excited to present this particular book review to you. I often don’t announce it, not out of shame, but rather because his influence is so immense in my magickal and spiritual, even philosophical beliefs and practices, that I often neglect to recognize just where those views came from. To clear up any confusion, as I myself am feeling rather Crowley-esque today, I am a huge fan of Aleister Crowley’s work, in all of its contexts. I’ve heard…
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Spring, Beltane, and the Magick of Renewal: A Special Column from The Modern Merlin
Hello friends, and welcome to May! Happy May Day, and Merry Beltane/Bealtaine! After a short hiatus, I’m back, and will slowly be picking up the pace in my writing so as to not burn myself out. How often I’ll be posting this month is TBD, if I’m being honest, but I’m excited to be back! That aside, I’m excited to be sharing with you a unique perspective I’ve come to regarding Beltane. Beltane is, and always was, a fertility festival; there’s an energy of renewal in the air, and love, too. Culminating with the Solstice at Midsommer, this season is truly about life renewed, as the bees and various critters…
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Book Review-Lost Book of Spells by Fiona Horne
Book Review Lost Book of Spells By Fiona Horne Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 240 Page Hardcover Release Date: March 4th, 2025 Lost Book of Spells is a beautifully designed and illustrated spell-book that covers magical tips and simple spells and rituals for every facet of life-love, money, home, well-being and so much more! From tea recipes, ritual baths, candle spells and any other kind of spell you could think of, this book is jam-packed with practical, easily done spells that’s perfect for the beginner and advanced magickian or witch alike. Horne is one of those witches that just knows her stuff, and is kinda old-school like me. Her style and approach to…
