I have conflicting views on spellbooks. One one level, I think they're fantastic. They give you a complete and simple ritual which can be powerful and effective.* On the other hand, they often imply that all you have to do is read some words, chant a spell, burn a colored candle, and Ta Da! the magick happens. Only for most people, it doesn't. In my experience, most people who try various simple magicks don't have much luck. I realize there will be some people reading this who will write in saying, "But it worked for me!" and that's fantastic. However, that's what's called anecdotal evidence. Merely because it worked for you doesn't mean it's going to work for everyone…or even for

Recently, James Ricklef asked several regular users of Tarot how they think giving readings with the cards actually works. He published the answers on his blog in two posts located HERE and HERE. In his posts he begins by sharing his own theory and that of Robin Wood. He also shares the beliefs of Rachel Pollack, Mary K. Greer, Thalassa, Julie Cuccia-Watts, Lon Milo DuQuette, Pamela Steele, Mike Hernandez, Joseph Ernest Martin, Robert M. Place, James Wells, Bonnie Cehovet, Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman, Lisa Hunt, Ferol Humphrey, Katrina Wynne, and myself (James even included a nice little drawing to make my theory clear). So here are 18 theories as to how the Tarot works,

In a recent post, Psyche gives some excellent information on how to give a Tarot reading. Specifically, she advises that the information the reader gives should be presented in a manner that is useful to the person receiving the reading. This sounds like it should be elementary information—if the information presented in a reading isn't useful, it's basically meaningless data. However, Psyche's idea is actually a rather advanced concept. In fact, it is often one of the most challenging aspects of giving a Tarot reading. The reader has to give up being centered on himself or herself and turn all attention to the client. The reader, in seconds, has to determine how to best convey

Two Lessons in Life In my previous post I shared how I performed some magick at a young age. Clearly, however, it was not the result of a truly trained magician. Unknowingly, I happened to have followed a pattern that equated with the practice of magick. It was unintended, natural, and successful. The second attempt that I remember didn't happen for another ten years. During that decade I spent time going to school, playing baseball, goofing with kids on my block (I grew up on a street named "Stoner Avenue." No, really!). I did all of the things a normal guy kid did. By the time I was 16 there were two important things I hadn't experienced. Danielle I met her at a youth meeting at my