What comes to mind when you think about the concept of magic? Do you remember a time when you believed in magic and then stopped? What happened? Did the world around you stop being magical or were you taught a new definition of what was “real?”

Maybe a better question would be what would it take for you to believe in magic now?

One of the definitions of magic is making the impossible possible through special, supernatural powers. If we look at the first part, making the impossible possible, you could argue that what each of us considers impossible is pretty subjective. In fact, you could say we all live our lives largely on what we believe is possible. The second part speaks of supernatural powers. All of us have intuitive gifts (supernatural powers) that we can choose to develop, recognize and focus when performing magic. Our comfort level with those innate abilities determines what we believe to be possible/impossible and natural/supernatural. As we open to the idea of magic being real, we have already taken a huge step in making the impossible possible.

Magic is about change. Change in one’s self and change in one’s environment. When you work with the forces of magic, you are choosing an outcome. You are evoking change in your life consciously and methodically. Each time you use your tarot cards, you are performing magic. When you open a deck of tarot cards and begin to shuffle, you focus your energies, intentions and thoughts into a paper deck of images. The seemingly random choosing of cards now has a special purpose: to ascertain the outcome of a predetermined question. You are peering into the unknown in an attempt to control it, understand it and alter it. Wisdom gained from self-awareness and reflection makes us forewarned and forearmed. Through careful study and practice with the cards whether it is path-working, meditation, spell crafting or reading layouts, our possibilities increased and our impossibilities decreased over time because we have connected with magic powers inside and outside ourselves. As 2006 ends, ask yourself what magic lies ahead for you in the coming year?

Donald Michael Kraig gives his own reasons for studying magic in his book, Tarot & Magic, along with information on using the tarot for pathworking, astral projection, ceremonial magic and much more.

Tarot Spells by Janina Renée is a great place to start learning how to perform magical spells using tarot cards. Her spells cover everything from finding lost animals to legal undertakings. The included spell is for creating successful outcomes in competitive situations.

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There are certain jobs, fields and other areas of life where competition seems to go with the territory. Some persons find competition stimulating and challenging, and others see no use for it and would prefer to have nothing to do with it. Whether you are among the former or the latter, this spell will help you stay on top of the competitive struggles that may arise in your life … When ready, lay down the Five of Wands. Look closely at the picture on this card. Does the illustration suggest excitement to you, or does it provoke a weary feeling? Think about the competitive factors that you are dealing with; examine your attitudes about competition.

Next, set the Chariot in place. Ask yourself what is necessary to enable you to be on top of your competition. Would a new course of action do the trick, or do you simply need the energy and wit to persevere on your current path? Would a change of situation or environment help? Or is it a change in attitude that is needed? Now study the graphic symbolism of the Chariot. The charioteer is clearly a person in control of competing forces. Know that you have the power within you to be the charioteer. Envision yourself in whatever situation it is that you need to be in control of, exercising the mastery of the charioteer while at the same time maintaining his calm composure.

Finally, set the Six of Wands — the card of conquest — in place. Picture yourself in the future, enjoying the ideal culmination of your efforts, whether it be success, victory, achievement or a peaceful retirement. Conjure up the feeling of elation that this would bring you and savor it.

After you have finished meditating on the cards and visualizations, carefully, and with as much feeling as you can, recite the following affirmation.

I call forth strength, wit and skill

for great is the power within me!

I feel my power!

I know my power!

I assert my power!

I savor my power!

I go forth to meet all challenges

for I am the master (mistress) of all.

I am above it all.

I am calm and in control of all.

And all challenges bring me victory and success.

So it is, and so shall it be!

Excerpt is from Tarot Spells by Janina Renée

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Magic is a great way to help you achieve your physical and spiritual goals in life. But why bother? There are other ways to achieve success in life (however you define that). I think there are two very deep and important answers to this question.

First, magic is a skill that everyone can develop to improve their lives. Because it deals with questions of spirituality, those who want to control or limit your spirituality also attempt to limit your access to change, your access to magic. But in spite of these limitations, magic is your birthright! You have every right in the world to accomplish everything you can and to become whatever you want to be. Magic can help you achieve this. All you have to do is practice.

The second reason to do magic has to do with the future. When you run, changes occur in your body. Adrenaline flows. Your heart speeds up. A group of chemicals known as endorphins are created, which function to make you feel better … By doing magic, you are making changes in your life that are physical and spiritual. These changes will alter your body. People will ask if you lost weight, got a new dress, had a facelift, etc. They won’t know exactly what it is, but they’ll know that you are different, and the difference is positive.

Excerpt is from Tarot & Magic by Donald Michael Kraig

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Congratulations to Shelia Hall, our March/April 2006 New Worlds Tarot Contest Winner! Shelia’s “Tarot Clustering” technique is a great way to deepen your understanding of the cards and, at the same time, focus on specific cards and readings whose meanings are not readily apparent.

Tarot and Clustering

Clustering exercises offer another creative way to work with the tarot. Some people have heard of a clustering exercise where you write down a main idea in the center of a piece of paper and then brainstorm by jotting down thoughts and ideas all around it. I incorporate clustering and tarot together. Working a clustering exercise is useful in several ways:

Beginners can use clustering while learning keywords.

When I first began studying the cards, I would write the title of the card down and then brainstorm for keywords, phrases and my personal understanding of the card. Later on, clustering helped in committing key meanings to memory.

We can gain insight by clustering on a card we may have trouble relating to.

Clustering helped if I had trouble relating to a card, whether it was when I first began to study the cards or when I began to do readings. I would work the exercise when I ran into the obstacle of relating the card to the question I had asked.

Clustering our first thoughts and reactions of a reading.

Clustering helped if I got stumped or drew a blank during a reading. By clustering my first thoughts/reactions, I received the initiatory guidance I needed to proceed with the reading, especially when the card didn’t seem to have any relevance to the question or card position.

Clustering can aide the study of the relationships
between cards.

It has helped in comprehending the relationships of cards in readings, whether the cards lay next to each other or two rows over. Correspondences such as numerology and astrology can be factored in.

To view the full winning exercise and try it out yourself, visit The Llewellyn Journal at the following link:

http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article.php?id=1179