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-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…
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Book Review-Stars, Cards, and Stones: Exploring Cosmic Connections between Astrology, Tarot and Runestones by Kooch N. Daniels, MA
Book Review Stars, Cards, and Stones: Exploring Cosmic Connections between Astrology, Tarot and Runestones By Kooch N. Daniels, MA Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 192 Page Hardcover Release Date: December 17, 2024 Stars, Cards, and Stones is a beautifully designed and illustrated hardcover book that discusses the three most popular divination methods: Astrology, Tarot and the Elder Futhark Runes. Anyone looking to learn the basics of Astrology, and combine that information with Tarot and Rune wisdom, combining them for a unique and in-depth reading, either for oneself or for others. The author starts by examining basics of Astrology, the Zodiac, and the Planets, which is built upon in the…
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Book Review- Theurgy: Theory & Practice: The Mysteries of the Ascent to the Divine-Homeric Epics, the Chaldean Oracles, and Neoplatonic Ritual by P.D. Newman
Book Review Theurgy: Theory & Practice: The Mysteries of the Ascent to the Divine-Homeric Epics, the Chaldean Oracles and Neoplatonic Ritual By P.D. Newman Publisher: Inner Traditions 211 Page E-Book Release Date: December 5, 2023 Theurgy: Theory & Practice is a book that covers a complex subject that’s made even murkier by the numerous traditions that practice it, within the occult and magickal worlds. For those who don’t know, Theurgy is the act of ascent to, and union with, the divine, by whatever name(s) you may call it. Theurgy is one of the first ceremonial practices I learned, and has formed the backbone of my practices since I began my theurgical…
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Special Announcement from The Modern Merlin: My Hanged Man Era
Hello everyone, I hope you’re doing well and that the week, and month, are getting off to an excellent start for you. Mercury stationed direct, and Venus is up next in less than a week, so things are looking up Astrologically. Every year, I do a “year ahead” tarot reading for myself, laying out a card for each month, respectively. April’s card this year, for me, is the Hanged Man. For months, I couldn’t understand exactly what was meant by that card, until certain events occurred, and began becoming overwhelming, thus voiding any creative impetus I may have had left in the tank. These events have forced me to put…
