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(The Lovers Card is from the artist Ciro Marchetti http://www.ciromarchetti.com/)**   We just passed Valentine’s Day, so this might be a good time to examine the Major Arcana card known as The Lovers. Before we begin, let’s quickly define and describe some terms. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of a person, an object, or a concept which can be…

Vocal Magick: The User-Friendly Guide to Your Most Adaptable Ritual Tool By Author Bill Duvendack   Mr. Bill Duvendack is a well-known astrologer, specifically an esoteric astrologer, psychic teacher, and author. With over 30 years of study and practice, he is well-versed on matters of which he writes. He teaches classes online webinars through Kepler College, and in person at shops in the Metro St. Louis area. He is also available for private consultations. Mr. Duvendack gives a brief history of what communication and vocal vibration are, without weighing down the subject. His writing style is straightforward. His writing is not dry, but witty and fun to read. Reading the…

Book Review – Crystal Skulls: Ancient Tools for Peace, Knowledge and Enlightenment     Published by Weiser Books, and written by Judy Hall, this 194 page book explores the origin, lore and metaphysical properties of crystal skulls in two parts. In the first part of the book the author covers the controversy pertaining to the authenticity (or lack there of) of when these crystalline structures were created, carved or machined. She says it best when she states, “But, as has been said, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” Then she continues by saying, “In talking about crystal skulls, departures from “truth” inevitably occur. But what is truth? Just…

(Leather Bound, Pentacle Journal by Samantha & Jason of Earthwork’s Journals, Home of the Handmade Journal on Etsy.)   My mum was a music teacher. A strict one at that. She had this way of showing her immense disapproval with a slight tut and a look away. You ask any music teacher, any teacher at all really if they know that their student has been practicing or not, and they can tell a mile away. “And you practiced every day?” Maybe that’s where I get it from. I’m a pretty good student. I take anything I study seriously (I make Hermione Granger look like a slacker) and I love to…

Peculiar things can happen when you raise teenagers… Our middle son, born on Halloween, is a bit of a dark horse, a deeply introverted child. As he entered the teenage years (he is 16) he turned monosyllabic. This is not uncommon in teenage boys. Some only grunt so I am fortunate that my son still uses words. However, he has turned dealing with parents into, what I have come to think of as, a multiple choice exercise. Whenever I ask him a question, he has a repertoire of five standard responses he selects from. Those responses are (in order of preference at his end): Uh-oh!! Oh-I-Dunno It wasn’t me!! Shifty!!…

Sigils, Ciphers and Scripts:  History and Graphic Function of Magick Symbols by M. B. Jackson Published by Green Magic, Somerset, 2013   Big thanks to Green Magic for sending me a copy of ‘Sigils, Ciphers and Scripts’ by M. B. Jackson to review. First of all, it’s a really beautiful book. Glossy black, A4, coffee table style; it’s certainly a conversation starter. The subtitle is History and Graphic Function of Magick Symbols, and I think it’s important to bear this in mind when reading the book. This volume is not a comprehensive break down and explanation of every single magical alphabet and symbolic system, as this would require a much…

Book Review – The Tarot Companion: A Portable Guide for Reading the Cards for Yourself and Others by Liz Dean OK – I am not a big fan of eBooks. I don’t have a tablet so I have to read them on my laptop and right there that causes certain problems. I have to sit at my desk – I have sit in my upright chair – I can’t be comfortable in my easy chair – I can’t read in bed – I most certainly can’t read in the tub – which I wouldn’t be able to do with a tablet, either. What can I say? I’m an old woman!…

The Witch’in Way     The Witch’in Way is a shop that offers magickal boxes based on and released for the Sabbat months. Occasionally, The Witch’in Way will release a theme box, as well. The boxes contain a variety of charming handmade and natural goodies to help you celebrate the appropriate Sabbat. Based in Halifax, Canada, The Witch’in Way has no problem shipping their wonderful items to the U.S.A. for actual shipping, no price gouging here! Knowing that a lot of the items in the The Witch’in Way Box are handmade we were curious to see what the items we would receive would be and the quality of them. When…

Northern Lore: A Field Guide To The Northern Mind, Body & Spirit by Eoghan Odinsson First, I’d like to say that I liked this book. At first it was a bit academic, a bit dry, but then the interesting stuff made an appearance. Eoghan was born in Canada and is also an award winning journalist. He has a Masters in Science from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and taught there for a time. Eoghan holds a black belt in Shito-Ryu Karate and taught the martial art in Canada and the U.S. It’s said that Odin gave up one of his eyes and hung himself upside-down from the world tree,…

  “Going Shamanic” is hosted by Jennifer Engracio on P.A.G.E.  Media Project’s blogtalk radio each month. The show focuses on how to integrate shamanism into every day life. Instead of relegating the spiritual aspect of ourselves to Sundays at church or weekend workshops, this show will support listeners in weaving ritual, prayer, magic, alignment with the Spiritworld and the Earth into their lives to enrich their experience of living. This month features Power Stories with Carell Mahel… A Reiki Master Teacher and Shamanic Practitioner, Carell is committed to working with others to empower them on their spiritual journeys.  She is currently collecting Women’s Power Stories for a book project. Carell is co-editor of this compilation.    …