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-Boys Are Witches, Too! by Ted Enik & Shiloh Penfield
Book Review Boys Are Witches, Too! Words and Drawings by Ted Enik, Color by Shiloh Penfield Publisher: Red Feather Body Mind Spirit 34 page E-Book Release Date: August 28th, 2024 Oh how I wish these books were around when I was a child! This adorable picture book is great for young boys who have an inkling for Witchcraft, but need to learn their ABC’s as well. Boys Are Witches Too goes through the Alphabet, from A-Z, from Apple to Zodiac, helping young boys learn to read, write, and speak, while also revealing fun facts and mysteries about the Craft, allowing the young boy to get in touch with nature, his elders, and…
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Deck Review-The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot: Headless Horseman Edition by Nick Lawyer
Deck Review The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot: Headless Horseman Edition By Nick Lawyer Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 78 card Tarot deck with a 111 page guidebook, in a beautifully designed hardcover box Release Date: August 28, 2024 Let me start this review off by saying that, when the original edition of this deck was released, I was tempted to purchase it, but never did. In retrospect, I find it amusing that I didn’t, because this is a deck based off of one of my favorite pieces of literature, and the edition I’m reviewing dons the Headless Horseman on its’ cover, my favorite feature of this beloved folk…
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Book Review-Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads by Darragh Mason
Book Review Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads By Darragh Mason Publisher: Destiny Books 187 page paperback Release Date: August 6th, 2024 Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads is a book that wasn’t on my radar, but was more than enthused to select for review. As I’ve covered in my monthly column for October 2024, which can be found here, The Dark Man of Witchcraft is a figure not unfamiliar to me, having been a Luciferian, Setian and Satanist in previous years before finding my true path in Paganism, Witchcraft and the Crooked Path. The Dark Man defies all…
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner-October 2024: The Occult Truths of Baphomet and The Dark Man of Witchcraft
Before I begin this column entry, I would like to emphasize my appreciation for a book I’m working on for review, Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads by Darragh Mason. It has inspired me to get in touch with certain aspects of myself again, and allowed some powerful inner alchemy to be done. The Dark Man has been a presence in my craft from the onset, and I feel it’s time I add my contribution to the topic, especially as many works on the subject are being published by many well-known and respected publishing houses. Please keep an eye out for my review of Song of the Dark…
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Book Review-Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le
Book Review Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic By: Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le Publisher: Running Press Kids 114 Page E-Book Release Date: August 6th, 2024 Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll is a wonderful, witchy, and safe children’s book, geared towards pre-teens and teens. Night School for Young Mystics takes the younger reader on guided field trips outside, at night to develop their psychic and magical senses. Toll takes on the alter-ego of Night School’s instructor, Ms. Bea Marlowe, who guides the reader on their field trips. Ms. Bea begins with the basics…
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Book Review-Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future by Carmen Turner-Schott and Bernie Ashman
Book Review Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future By Carmen Turner-Schott and Bernie Ashman Publisher: O-Books 133 Page E-Book Release Date: August 1st, 2024 Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future by Carmen Turner-Schott and Bernie Ashman takes a more advanced astrological concept and placement, and puts it in laymen’s terms. You don’t need to know everything about astrology to understand the material in this book, as Turner-Schott and Ashman, two well-respected and renowned Astrologers, break down the basics of the signs, houses and planets, before even going into the Lunar nodes, their signs and houses. After the reader gets…
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Book Review-Celtic Tree Alphabets: Mystic Signs and Symbols of Ogham and Colebren by Nigel Pennick
Book Review Celtic Tree Alphabets: Mystic Signs of Ogham and Coelbren By: Nigel Pennick Publisher: Destiny Books 176 Page Paperback Release Date: July 23rd, 2024 Celtic Tree Alphabets: Mystic Signs and Symbols of Ogham and Coelbren by Nigel Pennick is as much an academic book on the Ogham and Coelbren alphabets used by Druids and Bards of Ireland, Wales and even Scotland, as it is instructional. Pennick doesn’t disappoint, and gives accurate information; instead of providing instructions, as other books often do concerning ancient alphabets and divination/magical uses, instead shows their uses and meanings, associations, and the like throughout history, inspiring the reader (as it did me) to learn and incorporate…
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Book Review-The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies by Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue
Book Review The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies By Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue Publisher: Bear & Company 265 page paperback Release Date: July 16th, 2024 The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies is a book filled with the wisdom of O’Donoghue’s Irish Celtic ancestry, weaving the use of entheogens like Mushrooms and Cannabis into a cohesive, animistic practice infused with witchcraft. The Silver Branch and the Otherworld starts off by covering basic theory and philosophy of O’Donoghue’s practices, even giving Wheel of the Year Rituals for the 4 Sabbats of Beltaine, Lughnassád, Samhain and Imbolc. O’Donoghue then moves the reader into…
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner-September 2024: As the leaves fall…
Photo Credits: Original Design, created on Canva by The Modern Merlin I’ve decided to do something different for my monthly column entry this month, inspired by watching the changing of the seasons outside my window and all around me. I’m lucky enough to live in a fairly tree-covered area, even in a somewhat more urban environment. Come with me on this journey, and be enchanted as we follow the seasons. Happy October Eve! As The Leaves Change, So Do We “The leaves are falling all around. Time I was on my way” -Ramble On, Led Zeppelin One of my favorite songs by Led Zeppelin, quoted above, is a liminal song in…
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Book Review-An Introduction to Magic: A Guide to Crystals, Fairies, Palmistry, Tarot and the Zodiac by Nikki Van De Car
Photo Credits: Stock Photo of An Introduction to Magic, courtesy of publisher An Introduction to Magic: A Guide to Crystals, Fairies, Palmistry, Tarot and the Zodiac by Nikki Van De Car is a 170 page book published by Running Press Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, of which I received an e-book copy. Beautifully illustrated, and packed with accurate, useful information for the beginner to magic, witchcraft and the like, this book covers the basics of what most Pagans and similar spiritual paths use and work with. The material is covered with easy to understand terms, and no jargon (especially the Astrological section). The crystal section covers the chakras, colors, etc.,…
