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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Deck Review-Oracle of the Phoenix by Christine Arana Fader, Illustrated by Elena Dudina
Deck Review Oracle of the Phoenix By Christine Alana Fader, Illustrated by Elena Dudina Publisher: Earthdancer 44 Card Oracle Deck, 126 Page Guidebook in a Sturdy Box Release Date: February 4th, 2025 Oracle of the Phoenix is a beautifully illustrated deck, with highly detailed and defined art on each card, and beautiful card backs, featuring a feather design and golden Phoenix in center. The Phoenix is my absolute favorite mythological creature, as they’re mentioned in mythology and folklore from all around the world. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome, Asia and the Middle East and Levant all have stories about the Phoenix-the bird that’s reborn and rises again from its own ashes.…
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Deck Review-The Stained Glass Tarot: An Illuminated Journey through the Cards by James Edward
Deck Review The Stained Glass Tarot: An Illuminated Journey through the Cards By James Edward Publisher: Destiny Books 78 Card Tarot Deck, 325 Page Guidebook, in a sturdy, magnetically sealed box Release Date: September 24, 2024 The Stained Glass Tarot: An Illuminated Journey through the Cards is, in a word, stunning. The deck itself features artwork that the pictures either I myself could take, or even from the publisher, just couldn’t serve justice to how exquisite these cards are. If you love the artwork in Catholic & Orthodox churches, as many mystics, pagans and spiritualists do, myself included, then this deck might just be for you. James Edward, the creator of…
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Book Review-Apparitions at the Moment of Death: The Living Ghost In Legend, Lyric, and Lore by Daniel Bourke
Book Review Apparitions at the Moment of Death: The Living Ghost in Legend, Lyric, and Lore By Daniel Bourke Publisher: Destiny Books 308 Page E-Book Release Date: December 3rd, 2024 Apparitions at the Moment of Death: The Living Ghost in Legend, Lyric, and Lore is a fascinating examination of just that: spirits that manifest at the moment of death, either for the person passing to the otherside, or those close to them. It’s a paranormal experience that many have had, and yet, it doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as I think it should in the States. I speak from personal experience that this phenomena has happened to me personally…
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Book Review-The Forbidden Knowledge of the Book of Enoch: The Watchers, Nephilim, Fallen Angels, and the End of the World by Harold Roth
Book Review The Forbidden Knowledge of the Book of Enoch: The Watchers, Nephilim, Fallen Angels, and the End of the World By Harold Roth Publisher: Weiser Books 203 Page E-Book Release Date: December 2nd, 2024 The Forbidden Knowledge of the Book of Enoch is not a book to take lightly, nor is it one that contains ceremonial magick and western occult influences, thanks to John Dee and Edward Kelly. So what is this book, then? Well, to understand that, we need to go back into history well over 4,000 years ago, and look at the different periods of history within Judaism, which is the religion that the Book of Enoch originates…
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Deck Review-Mini Tarot: Rider Waite Smith by Margot Robert-Winterhalter, Illustrated by Nicolas Galkowski
Deck Review Mini Tarot: Rider Waite Smith By Margot Robert-Winterhalter, Illustrated by Nicolas Galkowski Publisher: Findhorn Press 78 Card Tarot Deck, 103 Page Full-Color Guidebook in a sturdy, magnetically sealed box Release Date: September 24, 2024 Mini Tarot: Rider Waite Smith is a pretty straightforward deck, inspired in artwork and meaning by the tradition Rider-Waite/Smith Tarot deck that has become a staple to Tarot readers, scholars and collectors alike. One of the first decks I picked up was the traditional Rider Waite deck, and at times I still go to that deck for readings. This little deck is actually different in a few important ways: first, the over emphasis on lines…
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Stellium-March 2025: Vernal Equinox, Astrological New Year, International Astrology Day
Hello friends, and Happy Vernal Equinox, Astrological New Year, and International Astrology Day! For my Pagan friends and readers, I also wish you a blessed Ostara! Today is quite an eventful day, as is every Vernal (Spring) Equinox; not only is it the start of spring and the fertile season, but it’s also the beginning of a new astrological year, and it’s also when those who like astrology celebrate their favorite astrologer(s)! Instead of focusing on one part of astrology, I’m going to give you my interpretation, from an Astrological and Magickal standpoint, of why this day is so pertinent every year. From Astrological considerations, magickal perceptions, and other facets,…
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Deck Review-The Awakening Tarot: An Elemental Approach by Monica Bodirsky
Deck Review The Awakening Tarot: An Elemental Approach By Monica Bodirsky Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 78 Card Tarot Deck, 287 Page Full Color Guidebook, in a sturdy, magnetically closed box Release Date: March 28th, 2024 The Awakening Tarot: An Elemental Approach is a strangely beautiful deck that takes Tarot to its wild foundations in nature and daily life. The artwork is a bit macabre and fit for those who like the strange, quirky and different. The difference in artwork, card names and symbolism doesn’t subtract from the readability of the deck, either; instead, I would argue that it adds to it, at least for me, it did. I’ve been…
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Book Review-Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom and Psychedelic Initiation by Tricia Eastman
Book Review Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom and Psychedelic Initiation By Tricia Eastman Publisher: Bear & Company 316 Page E-Book Release Date: November 12th, 2024 Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom and Psychedelic Initiation by Tricia Eastman is the book I wish I had when I started my journey with Psychedelics and Cannabis for expanding consciousness, mysticism and other spiritual pursuits. Not only is Seeding Consciousness a manual of sorts, to reach initiatory experiences with the help of psychedelics such as psilocybin and other psychedelics, but these methods can also be applied to more subtle initiatory plants, such as cannabis, for those looking to start slowly with these experiences. Eastman draws upon a wealth…
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News and Notes From the Editor-March 2025: St. Patrick: Examining Myth, Fact and History
Hello friends, after taking a short hiatus from the more creative end of my writing, I decided what better day to start up again, than today, St. Patrick’s Day? Many Pagans, and rightfully so, are at the very least weary of St. Patrick; legend has it he rid Ireland of the snakes. The truth of course, is different; there are, and haven’t been snakes in Ireland since the last Ice Age, so where did the analogy come from? Many Pagans speculate that the snakes refer to Pagans and Druids, but the truth is, that is the propaganda from the Catholic church, wherein they made Patrick the face of conversion in Ireland. While…
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The Modern Merlin’s Blood Moon Eclipse in Virgo Survival Guide
Hello friends, I know I’ve been absent in terms of writing articles, but that is going to be changing soon; we all have to go on an inward journey, and work through life and its’ various hurdles. I’m back and ready to write all kinds of magical things, starting with this, right here, right now. That said, let’s get into the Blood Moon Eclipse in Virgo, and what it means from an Astrological, and Magickal standpoint. Blood Moons and Eclipses in Astrology, Mythology and History Throughout history, the sight of a blood red moon has brought with it fears of anger from the Gods, worries of war, famine, or death.…
