<?/div> A friend of mine recently posed an impossible hypothetical question. If you had to choose to live your life enjoying just one of the following—books, movies, or music—which would it be? I thought about it for about a quarter of a second and said books, like it was a foregone conclusion. Books have always been my main muse, shaping my education, life path, and career. But, in letting the question sit for a bit, I realized that I was wrong. My answer is music. Movies entertain me. Books speak to me emotionally and intellectually. Music, however, has an absolutely pervasive quality that moves "me" completely, including all those parts of existence that can't be ...
In the last issue I wrote about water, so this time, nearly approaching the summer solstice, I thought it was only appropriate to write about fire. Fire. Both the word and the image bring so much to mind. It scorches. It desiccates. It smolders and burns. It sparks, it inspires, it enflames, and it emboldens. Like the other elements, it has its positive side and its fierce side. And yet, though water can be as dangerous as fire, we typically see water as a gentle, emotional, intuitive element; earth as fruity and abundant, solid and dependable; air as free, open, light, and thoughtful. So why does fire at first inspire thoughts of your house burning down? Just look at how quickly one ...
One of the questions I receive frequently via email and when I give workshops and lectures is "Where are the more advanced books?" The answer is a bit complex, because it deals with both economics and people's understanding of magick. First, many people think that what they see in novels, TV, and movies is an expression of the reality of magick. Fake magick in fiction is used to help advance the plot or elicit character development, but a lot of people believe it, not realizing that real magick requires study and practice. This leads to the problem of economics. You see, because of this misunderstanding, for a book on magick to sell decently, it must cover the basics. A book with ...
When it comes to what we eat, this country is in something of an interesting mess. The convenience and efficiency of the big stores seems to have triumphed over nutrition and taste, making food just another colorful package we shop for alongside toiletries, lampshades, and clothes. At the same time, something else is happening, proving that food means much more to us on a deeper level. Memoirs celebrating food and gardening are taking center stage in the bookstore. Enthusiastic chefs are glorifying food and becoming national celebrities. Organic, natural, and local are the new, chic pursuits, and they are winning us over—so much that we don't always know how to shop for food ...