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!
-
Book Review-Crystals for Psychic Self Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding, and Magickal Protection by Nicholas Pearson
Book Review Crystals for Psychic Self Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding, and Magickal Protection By Nicholas Pearson Publisher: Destiny Books 340 page E-Book Release Date: January 7th, 2025 Crystals for Psychic Self Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding and Magickal Protection is a wonderful addition to anyone’s library, especially if they, like myself and so many others, work with crystals and gemstones for a myriad of reasons, especially self defense from magickal and psychic attack. As the world continues hitting hard, we as magickal folks must sometimes hit back. I’ve used crystals since the onset of my magickal and spiritual journey, and protection with them is one area I…
-
The Modern Merlin’s Corner-February 2025: Embodying the Divine Masculine in a Toxic Masculine Society
Hello, and welcome to February! I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful, and inspiring, Imbolc. We’re currently seeing the effects of toxic masculinity in our society-especially if you live in USA. Our leadership, to be blunt, embodies everything that the masculine energy has to offer in its shadow: greed, hatred, bigotry, intolerance, and more. While there are many who support this cult of personality surrounding the “FOTUS”, I believe there are many more who are opposed to him, including within the United States. As a male leftist, pagan, witch, sorcerer and mystic, embodying the masculine comes with a sort of taboo these days; many see anything masculine as simply…
-
Book Review-At The Borders of the Wondrous & Magical: Nature Spirits, Shapeshifters, and the Undead in the Never Ending Middle Ages by Claude Lecouteux
Book Review At The Borders of the Wondrous & Magical: Nature Spirits, Shapeshifters, and the Undead in the Never Ending Middle Ages By Claude Lecouteux Publisher: Inner Traditions 273 Page E-Book Release Date: January 7th, 2025 At The Borders of the Wondroud & Magical: Nature Spirits, Shapeshifters, and the Undead in the Never Ending Middle Ages is another wonderful addition to the body of Claude Lecouteux’s work, compiling folklore, magic, grimoires and more from many different periods of history, from more Archaic periods, to the Modern period, specifically as they spread throughout Europe. This book encapsulates a fascinating examination of spirits-where they be of land, of the dead, or something else…
-
The Modern Merlin Chats with Rachel S Roberts, Author of Wolf and Pagan Portals: Lupa
Hello everyone! I am so excited to present another author interview for you all! Rachel Roberts is another one of my favorite authors, and it was truly a pleasure to have a chance to talk with her! This interview is nearly two hours long, and split into two separate parts. We talk about everything Wolf, her books, and even go into Astrology, Starseeds, herbs, plants, crystals, deities and more, all relating to Wolves! Rachel Roberts Interview Pt. 1 The first part below, Rachel and I get into Wolves, and why we’re each drawn to them, and we discuss everything from deities, Starseeds, Astrology, Shadow Work, and more, of course all…
-
Stellium: An Astrology Column-January 2025: Introduction & First Column
Hello everyone, and welcome to Stellium, my new Astrology column! This is so exciting that I get to write about a subject that I’m not only well versed in, but also am continuously studying, learning and applying in new ways. Astrology is definitely a passion for me! This column is not meant to be instructional, as I will have one of those coming soon; rather, this column is where I come to express what I’m currently researching, learning and working on in regards to Astrology. The topics could range from the current one, Starseeds, to aspects, asteroids, natal chart know-how, and other odds and ends. For those who are looking for a…
-
Book Review-Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods by Kris Spisak
Book Review Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist and Witch of the Woods By Kris Spisak Publisher: Hampton Roads 208 Page E-Book Release Date: September 3rd, 2024 Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist and Witch of the Woods is a relatable, easy to understand (re)telling of Baba Yaga’s stories as they’re presented in Slavic mythology and folklore. Anyone wanting to learn more about the precarious Earth Mother should definitely give this book a read! Instead of focusing on magick & witchcraft workings with Baba Yaga, Spisak instead explores Baba Yaga through her various myths. Baba Yaga is a mysterious, and sometimes scary, Goddess to come into contact with; she’s the oldest of crones…
-
Book Review-Pagan Portals: Venezuelan Folklore: Spirits and Legends of the Dead by Alan U. Dalul
Book Review Pagan Portals: Venezuelan Folklore: Spirits and Legends of the Dead By Alan U. Dalul Publisher: Moon Books 96 Page E-Book Release Date: January 1st, 2025 Another Pagan Portals Book to add to my collection! This particular entry into this wonderful series of booklets concerns Venezuelan folklore, specifically centered around death, spirits and the supernatural. Through my studies of folklore and mythology of many different cultures, I’ve found that a lot of our legends tend to overlap. Venezuelan Folklore adds to the wealth of knowledge out there about Latin American spirituality, folklore and folk practices and beliefs. Aside from being a fascinating examination of these subjects, it also seems to be…
-
Interview-The Modern Merlin Talks with Coby Michael, Author of The Poison Path Herbal and The Poison Path Grimoire
In this interview, The Modern Merlin speaks with Coby Michael, the author of The Poison Path Herbal and The Poison Path Grimoire, and proprietor of The Poisoner’s Apothecary. For those looking for a review of Coby’s latest book, The Poison Path Grimoire, click here. Coby Michael is an occult herbalist and magical practitioner who teaches about the ritual use of poisonous and psychoactive plants. He is the author of The Poison Path Herbal and coauthor of Leo Witch. He owns and operates The Poisoner’s Apothecary, an online shop and education resource for those interested in the Poison Path and Dark Herbalism. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. You can find the link to his website below: The Poisoner’s Apothecary …
-
Book Review-Healing Plants of Renaissance Florence : The Development of Herbal Medicine in Florence by Angela Paine
Book Review Healing Plants of Renaissance Florence: The Development of Herbal Medicine in Florence By Angela Paine Publisher: Moon Books 296 Page E-Book Release Date: January 1st, 2025 Healing Plants of Renaissance Florence by Angela Paine is a fascinating exploration of the foundations and history of herbalism in renaissance Florence, as well as its applications that are known to be accurate. The information within is not only interesting for those with an interest in medicinal herbalism, and its history and development, but also those seeking to find potential homeopathic and natural remedies to everyday things like flatulence, stomach ache, cold & cough, fever and other issues. The herbs contained within this…
-
Book Review-Voudon Gnosticism: An Introduction to the Rites & Practices by Frater Vameri
Book Review Voudon Gnosticism: An Introduction to the Rites & Practices By Frater Vameri Publisher: Destiny Books 152 Page E-Book Release Date: July 9th, 2024 While taking a break for the Solstice and dealing with illness, I’ve had time to request & read numerous books, and this is one of the requests I was given to review! How I wish I had this book about 7 years ago when I first purchased The Voudon Gnostic Workbook of which I’ve owned several copies as I would attempt to work it, get frustrated due to lack of understanding (usually with cosmology and methodology) as I’m not exactly privy to all of the OTO material, only…
