Llewellyn Publications's Blog, page 74

The New Moon in Sagittarius occurs today, Monday, December 2, at 7:22 pm EST (12:22 am, Tuesday, December 3, GMT), at 11 degrees. New moons signify a new cycle, new beginnings, and rebirth.

This New Moon, along with the Sun (also in Sagittarius) will highlight the fiery Sagittarius qualities of optimism and adventure, as well as ninth house themes of knowledge and travel. This New Moon period is the perfect time to examine your self and your life: do you long to travel, especially internationally? Perhaps you will find yourself re-examining a religion you’ve left behind, or discover a new one. Maybe it’s learning that foreign language that you always wanted. Now is the time to initiate changes, and enjoy the optimism and sense of adventure you find in doing so.

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Alaric Albertsson, author of Travels Through Middle Earth, Wyrdworking, and the new To Walk a Pagan Path.

We are all familiar with the rhetorical expression, “Is your glass half full, or half empty?” The question, of course, can be answered both ways, illustrating how a given situation can be perceived in more than one way by different people.

When it comes to Pagan spirituality, we each have the choice of approaching life from either of these perspectives. Unfortunately, far too many people today are “half empties:” their focus is on what is lacking in their lives, rather than on gratitude and celebration of their blessings. Their Paganism is all about spell casting for gain: spells for a boyfriend, spells for a better job, spells for an A+ on next week’s history test.

There is nothing wrong with magic. I love magic, and I think that I am pretty good at it. For many of us, in fact, magic is an integral part of our Paganism. For Christopher Penczak, one of the founders of the Temple of Witchcraft, magic is the defining quality of his religious expression. But Christopher is nevertheless very much a “half full” person, and this is reflected in both the rituals he conducts and in his personal life. His magic is shaped by his “half full” perspective, emphasizing personal growth rather than gain.

Although the glass is both half full and half empty, how you perceive the glass influences how you will approach challenges in your life. A person who is focused on the glass being half empty will tend to be less successful. You probably know at least one person who complains endlessly about how hard it is to find a boyfriend or girlfriend, about how awful it is to be single. Without realizing it, this person is shouting out, “Nobody would ever want to date me!” And why would anyone? Most of us want to draw happy, positive people into our lives.

The person who sees his career as half empty does indeed have a lousy job, if for no other reason than his own attitude. Some jobs do not pay very well, and some have very little status (or even negative status) associated with them; but for the person who cannot find employment, any job at all is a “half full” position.

People who focus on the glass being half full tend to enjoy more success. The single person who wakes up each day with gratitude for his or her health, friends, and family is more likely to attract potential dating partners. The worker who perceives his or her job as an opportunity is more likely to be considered for a raise or a managerial position. Success is never guaranteed, but focusing on the empty portion of the glass is usually a guarantee of failure.

Of course we should always strive to improve our lot in life, but it is equally important to acknowledge that the glass is also half full. When we focus on and give thanks for our positive blessings, we are more likely to attract future blessings from the universe.

Our thanks to Alaric for his guest post! For more from Alaric Albertsson, read his article “As Within, So Without: Making Daily, Mundane Activities Spiritual.”

When I was very young, because of the death of my father, my mother, brother and myself were very poor. My grandfather had made a deal with the bank (they did that back then) so we could stay in our house until my mother was able to get her life together and earn money. Still, although we had a nice, small house, we lived in poverty for a long time.

I remember driving in our old, smelly (the upholstery was molding) Plymouth to the Fairfax district where my uncle worked in a butcher shop. I believe he probably gave us food for free or at a deep discount. I always hoped to get a piece of spicy, smoked meat known as a “schtickle for a nickle.” For me that was a great treat. My “new” clothes primarily consisted of hand-me-downs from my older brother. “Don’t worry,” my mother would say, as she rolled up cuffs on the legs of his—and now my—well-used jeans. “You’ll grow into them.”

My grandfather owned stock in several companies, including a small toy manufacturer named Wham-O. Once, after going to a stockholder’s meeting, he told me the story of a man who was working for a tire manufacturer, trying to come up with a stronger form of rubber. He applied heat and pressure in the forming of the rubber. When he was finished, he cut it into pieces to examine it. One piece fell on the floor and began bouncing all over. It was hilarious. He started tossing pieces of rubber all over when the head of the company happened to walk in. The man was immediately told to walk out and was fired.

He took the formula and method to Wham-O, and they nurtured it until they created the high-bouncing Super Ball. Still being made today, the Super Ball toy made its inventor a millionaire.

I used to tell this story all over. It’s what my grandfather told me. Wikipedia disagrees somewhat, but it makes a great story.

Another popular toy made by Wham-O was the “Hula Hoop.” This was a simple hoop made of plastic that you could spin around your waist, arms, legs, or neck. Although children had used metal and wooden hoops as toys for centuries, the lightweight, hollow, plastic hoop became a sensation. I desperately wanted one! Within a few months, knock-offs were being made and sold more cheaply by other companies. For a gift, I received a knock-off, not the real thing. I couldn’t think of anything worse and didn’t hide my disappointment from my mother, who had given it to me.

My mother had always had the attitude that quality, not name, was what mattered. The knock-off she had given me—and had probably saved for over weeks of time—was not what I had wanted. It was just as good as the genuine product, but it didn’t have the name or exorbitant price. Instead of being thankful and grateful for this wonderful gift, I was disappointed with what I didn’t receive.

A Magickal Understanding

There are a few magickal understandings that can been seen in this story. Let’s look at some of them:

The power of focus: If you spend all of your time focusing on obtaining something, that one thing is the only way to resolve your desire. Even if you obtain something decidedly better than your focus, you still may not be satisfied. Using all of that focus and energy directed to that focus can be harnessed to obtain your magickal goal. If, however, you do not expend all of your energies (in this case it would have been me earning some money to get the toy myself), your focus may not be complete and your magickal result unsuccessful.
The power of specificity: In magick, the more specific you are the more likely you are to achieve your goal. For example, if you want a book, describing the edition, condition, color, smell, how you’ll feel when you read it, title, author, etc. is more likely to help you achieve your result than magickally working to get “a book.” In this case I did work with specificity, but because I did not focus my energies on achieving the results, the power of focus and specificity was not successful.
The negative effect of having expectations: In many, if not most situations, our expectations are one of the key things that get in the way of happiness. We expect a boyfriend or girlfriend to behave in a specific way, but they do not.  We’re unhappy. We expect a new car, computer, toy, book, to do a certain thing (or set of things) and it doesn’t. We’re disappointed and unhappy. Expectations, especially those we don’t share with others who are involved, are often not met. This leads to unhappiness.

Some people might say if we don’t have expectations for the future, we have little or no reason to strive for something better. I would respectfully disagree. Merely having expectations for the future will not make them happen. Actually doing the work to make your desires come to fruition—mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, magickally—is far better, in my opinion, than simply hoping your expectations will come into being. When we have goals—manifestations of our desires—we can work for them.

In a discussion of expectations, here’s the important part: be satisfied and grateful for what you have today. If you want something different, create it! That’s the essence of magick. Simply having expectations that you should get something will constantly result in disappointment and unhappiness.

As I look back, I realize now—especially at this time of year—that I should have been more thankful and grateful for what I had and received, not ungrateful for what I didn’t have. I hope people reading this will understand what I’m saying. Be grateful for your families, for your homes, for your life, exactly as it is. As I like to say, “I’m grateful that my body temperature isn’t room temperature!” This does not mean you have to accept the current situation in the future. Magick and magickal methods can help you create a better life.

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for?

Black Friday

Immediately after Thanksgiving comes “Black Friday.” It’s called this because, in the U.S., it marks the beginning of a huge buying season. For many retail businesses, the income through the year has been negative, and they barely stay in business. They’re in debt or “in the red.” On the Friday after Thanksgiving, they earn enough money to finally move into profit and are “in the black.” That’s why this day is said to be Black Friday.

So what are you going to buy for gifts for the holidays this year? Jewelry? Electronics? Clothing? Perfumes? Something else?

I’d like to recommend something that isn’t as flashy as any of those things. I’d like to encourage you to give books.

Every time the person reads from that book, they’ll remember you gave it to them. When someone reads a non-fiction book, they increase their knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, something that cannot be taken from them. Years from now, the perfume will be used, the jewelry will be forgotten somewhere in a box, the clothing will have been discarded, and the electronics will be broken or obsolete. What is learned from books, however, goes on and on.

Naturally, I’d hope that you’d consider giving my own Modern Magick. I am very grateful that it remains the most popular, step-by-step course on magick ever published. 

If you don’t have the latest, 3rd edition, pictured above, I can tell you that compared to the previous edition it has 40% new material with new concepts, even clearer explanations and writing, new art, and a new lesson on the future of magick. If you don’t get this book I have written other books you might enjoy, too.

There are lots of books on the Runes. In one book on the Runes—from another publisher—the author admits he made everything up! If you’re looking for an accurate, basic book on working with the Runes, I strongly recommend A Practical Guide to the Runes by Lisa Peschel. 

This time-tested book that remains one of the most popular books on the Runes ever published.

There are so many great books on the Tarot, it’s difficult to know where to begin making recommendations. Barbara Moore’s Tarot for Beginners is wildly popular and for good reason. 

it’s clear, easy-to-understand, and easy to use. For more advanced work, see world-famous author, historian, and teacher Mary K. Greer’s The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals. 

Learning to interpret reversed cards is a challenge for many Tarot readers, even more advanced ones. This book provides great knowledge and understanding even for experienced Tarot readers. And if you’re looking for even more advanced work, perhaps seeking to share your Tarot expertise with others, see Christine Jette’s Professional Tarot. In it you’ll discover all the tricks and nuances to move from reading for yourself to reading for others or even becoming a professional reader.

You can learn about other books on Tarot by going to this LINK. Llewellyn publishes and distributes one of the largest and most popular selection of Tarot decks and kits in the world. Go to this LINK and click on the selections at the left to see what we offer.

When it comes to magick, I’m proud to say we offer one of the widest ranges of magickal topics in the world, including books on alchemy, animals & mythical creatures, Enochian magick, Gnosticism, the Golden Dawn tradition, grimoires, the Kabalah, ritual books, theory and technique, and more. Of course, I hope you’ll consider sharing my book with friends and loved ones. For those seeking rare, high-end, collectible and practical books, look at the wonderful books from Steven Skinner. Although any of the books from him would be a fantastic and usable gift, right now my favorite is The Goetia of Dr. Rudd. Beautifully hardbound, this book contains material not found in any other version of the Goetia, material vital to safely performing the evocation of spirits.

If you’re like many people, trying to get through Regardie’s The Golden Dawn can be daunting and confusing. If you want a good general purpose introduction to magick that will make Regardie’s book easier to understand, give my Modern Magick. If you’re looking for a specific introduction to the Golden Dawn system, I suggest giving Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero’s The Essential Golden Dawn. 

It’s currently the best introduction to the system available.

For all my Pagan friends, there is currently so much available it would be challenging to know where to start! So I’d suggest going to this LINK and selecting from the categories on the left.

Books are one of the few gifts that that can last forever—maybe the pages won’t last, but the knowledge will.

What is the best book you ever received as a gift?

What is the best book you ever gave as a gift?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sagittarius, The Archer

November 22 to December 22

Modality: Mutable

Element: Fire

Ruler: Jupiter

Keywords: Optimistic, adventurous, independent, restless, enthusiastic, careless

As a Sagittarius you are optimistic and enthusiastic, as well as an adventurous explorer. You enjoy searching for knowledge and truth, whether by physical travel or through books. Because you search for truth and justice, however, you can be at times too honest and forget your tact. Your ruling planet of Jupiter encourages your restless spirit, and helps you to often land on your feet.

Sagittarians are independent, which can make finding a lasting relationship a challenge, since you are adept at playing the field. You could find your soul mate later in life, or not at all; just be sure your mate understands your need for adventure. You could do well with a Gemini or another fire sign, but a relationship with a Virgo or Pisces has the potential to be difficult. Your family is near and dear to you, and though you are independent, like best to be at home and comfortable.

When it comes to careers, Sagittarians do well in service to others and enjoy a stable daily routine; once you’ve found a job that provides both, you are likely to stay put for years to come. As far as money goes, it is either feast or famine; you waver between being frugal and being extravagant, and must learn to be cautious regarding spending and saving habits.

You are interested in learning about others and, in turn, yourself.

For the year ahead:

Affirmation: Broaden your horizons—but stoke the home fires first!

With your planetary ruler Jupiter in Cancer (your eighth house of reincarnation) until the middle of June 2014, you can anticipate a boost in your bank account—though it can also increase spending. Be careful with your finances, and you should come out on top. This transit is a good time to review or re-evaluate your budget and spending habits. Jupiter then moves into your solar ninth house of knowledge and travel for the remainder of 2014, where you can expect new opportunities for learning and long-distance connections.
Uranus continues its transit through Aries (where it will remain until 2018). This long-term transit impacts your social life, with many opportunities for friends, family, and leisure.
Saturn continues its transit of Scorpio, your twelfth house of self-renewal. Expect to examine where you’ve come from in the past seven years, as well as where you are headed in the next seven. Are you on track? Health issues, whether for yourself or for someone close, may also be brought to the forefront.
Pluto continues to slowly advance in Capricorn (your second house). You may experience ups and downs in income, but will generally have the potential to increase your earnings so long as you are careful with budgeting.

“NCIS” has been on the TV for ten years. Most series are lucky to last half as long. Not only has NCIS survived, it’s currently the most watched TV show in America. “Bones,” like NCIS, is a police procedural show. It’s been on the air for eight years and its popularity ranks below the 40th most popular show. Personally, I like them both. They have quirky characters, aspects to the stories that go on over many episodes and even across seasons, twisting plots, and reasonable acting. Both usually have a killing or death in the first few minutes and spend the rest of their hour-long shows solving the crime. If they were on at the same time I’d have a difficult time choosing which to watch. As of this writing, Bones has just been switched to appear on Friday nights, traditionally a death knell for network TV shows.

So with these similarities, why is NCIS so popular while Bones languishes, banished to Friday nights? I think the answer may be rather simple.

Fiction, including the stories on TV, is not about events. Rather, it is about the characters, their conflicts, and how they change during the story’s events. The best stories are about the experience of the characters. We learn about who they are and identify with them. When they go through trying events, we go with them. When it’s resolved positively (the original concept of comedy, not laughs) or negatively (the original concept of drama) for the protagonist, we feel a sense of release known as catharsis. So how do we relate to the characters on a personal level?

NCIS: There is a clear family structure. There is a father (Gibbs), two sons (DiNozzo and McGee), and a daughter (Todd, then David, and now Bishop). The sons bicker as they, along with the daughter (in her own way), try to obtain the desired favor of the father. This is very clear. There is also an imperious grandfather (the Director) who occasionally makes an appearance, as well as the weird but delightful uncle (Mallard) and two cousins (Palmer and Sciuto). We can understand the interrelationships of this family.

Bones: This extended family is more difficult to figure out. The heads of the family seem to be Brennan and Booth, but at times it is her boss, Saroyan. Then there are the secondary characters, Hodgins and Montenegro (now married). They’re constantly trying to get the approval of Brennan and, to a lesser extent, Booth, but treat Saroyan as their boss. Next comes Dr. Sweets who can approve or disapprove Brennan and Bones working together, while at the same time he wants to get their love and approval. Mix that with a long list of interns who appear and disappear with no reason (although one is killed and another seemed to have gone a bit crazy and aided a cannibalistic murderer).

One show the audience loves and exhibits clear familial interrelationships. The other similar show is nowhere near as popular and has unclear familial interrelationships. Is this the key to the difference in the number of people who watch those shows? I can’t say if it’s the only key, but it may be one of the reasons for the difference in popularity.

Group Dynamics

Whether it is spelled out or not, all groups have structures and hierarchies. Some occult groups have claimed not to have any hierarchy (usually for philosophical reasons), but in my experience they simply ignore the reality of the hierarchies that actually exist. Some people are good leaders. Others are good followers. Some people do well in both roles. Those who are good at leading will naturally fall into that role, taking on more and more responsibility. Those who are good at following will naturally fall into that role, waiting for instructions on what to do. Those people good at both will fill in where help is needed. I refer to this as an “open hierarchy.”

Some people have condemned hierarchies, but I do not. Rather, I condemn fixed hierarchies where members cannot move from one level to another as their needs and desires and abilities dictate. In those cases, fixed hierarchies become more like negative caste systems, rather than fluid structures that allow people to fulfill and challenge their unique abilities.

When I was first initiated into a coven, I was told that the coven members should have perfect love and perfect trust for each other and be closer than a family. And that is one of the difficulties with many covens: members of a family have issues with each other. They may love each other, but they can also be deceitful, power-hungry, and may be willing to betray another member’s trust. Most of the covens I’ve been a part of that did not last long had an extended family similar to that of Bones. Most of the covens I’ve been a part of that continue for many years and are still around have a structure similar to that of NCIS, a clear family structure with parents and loving (if squabbling) siblings/members, as well as an open hierarchy that allows for people to challenge themselves and move beyond their current positions.

Most ceremonial magick groups I’ve participated with have a clear hierarchy. And that is where there can be difficulties. Most often there is a leader (or a small set of leaders) of the group. They follow what I call “Kraig’s First Law of Politics”: No matter how good a person is, when that person achieves a position of power, soon his or her main purpose is to maintain that power.

As a result, leaders of some groups end up seeing anyone who has, or develops, greater knowledge, ability, or popularity, as a threat. To prevent being overthrown, they give themselves fancy titles, claim they are the only ones who can provide the ultimate secrets, and eventually kick out of the order those considered threats (i.e., in any way disagree with them or refuse to bow to the leader’s authority). Time and again, people who are near the top of orders are forced out. Small cabals of members become “traitors” and are kicked out.

The father figure (who may be a woman) will have his or her way, and none may oppose them. Even if it’s a misperception on the part of the father figure, the belief that there are plots of opposition will result in a person being dismissed from the order.

I’ve seen such actions work the other way, too. One of the people near the top of a group I was in, and who had much popularity among some members, worked with their followers to topple the current leader. Even though the order had clear directions as to how any other person could become the leader, this person and their conspirators—who didn’t want to earn the position of leader—tried political moves to oust the leader. The Olympians overthrow the Titans. Sons get enough strength to overthrow their fathers. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. This is a very old and oft’ repeated story.

Your Group Dynamics

It’s nice to think that the coven or magickal order you’re entering will be entirely based on spiritual concepts, on perfect love and perfect trust, and on being closer than a family. The truth, however, is that it will also have people pushing and struggling to get closer to the daddy or mommy figure. Therefore, when you join a group, become aware of the group’s dynamics. Is it Bones, NCIS, or something else?

While I do believe that groups with fixed hierarchies (usually led and micro-managed by someone with a high-falutin’ title) are not the best, when you understand a group for what it is, you can still gain benefits from it. If the group you join is like Bones or NCIS, by understanding the group dynamics you can discover how to get along, learn, and spiritually progress with the group or coven peacefully and successfully.

In short, by understanding how families and groups work, you can improve your relationships and advance spiritually in within all such groups, no matter how much familial squabbling is present. Learning to stay out of the squabbling within your new family may also reveal how to stay out of squabbling within your birth family. This makes joining an occult group more than just a place to go to learn and do ritual, it makes your membership a true, life-changing event, one that can make family life, work life, and virtually any group situation easier, happier, and more successful (however you define “success”).

If you find this topic interesting you will also find the book Coven Craft, by Amber K, a great resource.

This post is coming out late because I was in Las Vegas giving workshops over the weekend.

Sometimes, in the most unlikely of places, I get an epiphany. In this instance my received information occurred in a most unlikely place: Caesar’s Palace…or rather, next to it.

I needed to get a replacement battery for my laptop, and one of the places that had it was in a high-end mall known as the Forum Shops that had been added to the Caesar’s Palace hotel and casino. 

Photo by Pedro Szekely under Creative Commons license

This giant, indoor mall currently has over 160 high-end shops and 11 gourmet restaurants. It brings in more money than any other mall in America—including Minnesota’s Mall of America, the largest mall in the country. It is said to have higher sales per square foot than the famous stores for the uber-rich in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive.

There are several reasons it brings in so much money. The first, of course, is the famous “location, location, location.” People come from all over the world to see this mall and spend money in its expensive stores. The mall is a hot spot for seeing celebrities as it attracts famous movie and music stars (I didn’t see any). There’s even valet parking for shoppers. Another reason is the ersatz beauty, allowing you to enter another world.

Most indoor malls look like, well, indoor malls. Here, through the use of lighting, paint, and plaster, you get the feeling that you have entered another world, a world of eternal sunset. 

Interior view of Forum Shops showing how it eternally appears to be a shopping center at sunset.

Photo by Jean-Christophe Benoist under Creative Commons license

Even if you don’t intend to buy anything there—and I quickly obtained exactly what I needed and then, due to time constraints, I left—it is a unique experience. I saw many people having their pictures taken to show their family and neighbors that they really had been there. With scenes like this:

Photo by Bert Kaufmann under Creative Commons license

it’s really easy to understand why this place is popular.

And that’s when a guy walked right into me.

I’m sure you’ve seen this same thing dozens of times. Someone is walking down the street, staring at his or her phone, totally oblivious to the world around them, and they walk into something…or someone. After being bumped into by a phone-staring tourist, I noticed there were several people who were totally ignoring the sights of the mall. As I drove away I noticed more people walking down the street, totally drawn away from reality into the false reality of their phones.

I remember when cell phones first hit the market. They were supposed to free you up and give you more time. Now, they’re so “smart,” they take away time, allowing addicts to stare at their messages and email in the desperate hope that something important will flash on its screen. I realized that I’d been to festivals and conventions where people had their heads buried in their phones. You could be talking with them while they look and then say, “One second; I just have to answer this message…”

If you’re a doctor, that conceivably could be true. Otherwise, you do not own that smart phone…it owns you.

Consider this: if your battery had run down, or if the phone hadn’t signaled you with a sound or vibration, and the result was that you didn’t answer that message or email RIGHT NOW, how would your life or the life of the person sending you that note, be different? What if the message to you were delayed by 15 minutes? What about a half hour? Instead, people walk down the street, staring at their phones, missing the world around them; missing out on the world around them.

In a previous post I wrote about what I call “Environmental Awareness,” by which I mean “being aware of things immediately in your surrounding area.” It’s also described as “being here now,” and focusing on what you are doing. This “living in the present, in my opinion, is an important part of magick. In my experience, people without environmental awareness tend not to be good magicians.”

I have nothing against smart phones or tablets. Before bringing them out to use them, however, at least take a moment to look around you. When you’re walking, put them away. This is far more the path of a magician that that of being controlled by a piece of plastic, metal, silicon, and glass. Curiously, even people I know who claim to be spiritual become oblivious to reality and ignore the world as they bury their faces in their phones. The next time you go into a restaurant, you’ll probably see two people at the same table, perhaps out on a date, looking at their phones rather than actually communicating with each other.

Magickal Freedom: The Weaning

Returning to observing the real world, the people in it, and improving your environmental awareness can be painful, but you can wean yourself from the hypnotic phone. This is not an original idea. I first came upon it (in relation to newspapers and TV news) in a small book called SSOTBME by Ramsey Dukes (pen name of Lionel Snell). Originally published in 1975 and one of, if not the first modern book to republish the art of A.O. Spare, it makes the suggestion that you try not listening to the news and always read newspapers one day later than when they are printed. You’ll notice the in spite of your not reading, listening to or watching the news, the world is in no worse and no better condition than they were the day before.

In my opinion, the world has speeded up since SSOTBME was first published 38 years ago. So I’m not suggesting you should ignore your messages for a day. What I am suggesting is that great magicians tend to live in the present moment. When doing magick, they do magick. When walking, they walk. When reading, they read. When cooking, they cook. When making love, they make love. By being focused on the present moment and living their lives to the fullest, powerful magicians are able to focus their energies, their interests, and their passions into achieving their desires.

So if your magick isn’t as successful as you would like, or if you would like to experience even more powerful magick, the method may be as simple as putting down the phone, becoming more aware of your environment, and living in the present.

 ***************
 Live Interview with me on “Pagan Propensities”

Tomorrow: Thursday, November 21, 2013

9:00 p.m. Eastern——6:00 p.m. Pacific

Tune in and listen: http://paraencountersnetwork.com

If you miss it at the time of the show it will be uploaded to YouTube by the next morning.

The 2013 USA Best Book Awards have been announced; two Llewellyn titles won awards and two more were finalists:

Discovering the Medium Within , by Anysia Kiel (WINNER, New Age: Non-Fiction)
Great Sex Made Simple , by Mark A. Michaels & Patricia Johnson (WINNER, Self-Help: Relationships)
The Magick of Flowers , by Tess Whitehurst (Finalist, New Age: Non-Fiction)
Living a Life of Gratitude , by Sara Wiseman (Finalist, Self-Help: Motivational)

Congratulations to our authors!

 

Located in Los Angeles and Phoenix, USA Book News (also the parent company of the “International Book Awards” and the upcoming “AmericanBookFest.com” site in 2014) is involved in numerous aspects of the publishing and entertainment industries.

Environmental Awareness

No, I don’t mean keeping track of the natural world and our impact upon it (although that is a good thing). Rather, I mean being aware of things immediately in your surrounding area. Perhaps you’ve been to a party or club where someone just keeps bumping into people and things. That person is not aware of their environment. It’s important to keep this awareness. I believe it’s a function of being focused on the present rather than having your attention in other places. Living in the present, in my opinion, is an important part of magick. In my experience, people without environmental awareness tend not to be good magicians.

For the most part, I have avoided leading magickal groups. This is not because of insecurity or incapability. I just happen to prefer working with people and helping people rather than being at the top of a hierarchy or some sort of leader. As I like to put it, I’d rather have friends who walk by my side than followers who walk behind me. This in no way is meant to disparage those who do lead; they play a vital and important part of occult groups of all kinds. There are some people who claim they can have groups that are totally non-hierachical, but in my experience natural hierarchies tend to form no matter what is done to prevent them. It’s my belief that the problem with hierarchies is not that they exist, but that people cannot move up and down those hierarchies at will.

Some time ago, I became very interested in Tantra. Most people think of Tantra as being “that sex stuff,” but actually, Tantra is wide variety of complete spiritual and magickal traditions. When I was first initiated into one Tantric group I was amazed that it included so many concepts that were both foreign and yet familiar to my Western magickal and spiritual training. I was eventually given parampara, the right to initiate into this group. I decided that I wanted to share what I had learned by initiating and bringing people into this Tantric tradition.

And so, I started to pass the word. Soon, I had several people seeking initiation and a group to practice with. Within six months we had an active group meeting and doing rituals in San Diego, California.

I loved that group. I put my heart and soul into it. I wanted to share what I knew. All members would have to do is study the information I laboriously created for them from the training I had received and practice the techniques. Naturally, I would also have liked them to help in the work necessary to set up and run our circle, communicate with members, buy candles and incense, etc. I hoped they would do it out of the love of the teachings just as I was doing it. I spent many hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars on the group.

My devotion prevented me from exercising my environmental awareness. It blinded me. As we Tantrics say, the dance of the goddess Maya blinds us to the reality of the world. I didn’t allow myself to see what was going on.

One day, it suddenly dawned on me:

Members weren’t reading the documents I had worked so long and hard on preparing.

Members didn’t practice the rituals.

Members didn’t try to understand the concepts and ideas.

Members had no questions because they hadn’t read anything on which to base their questions.

Members did no work for the group.

Nobody, other than me, brought candles and incense.

Nobody shared their out-of-circle Tantric experiences.

I came to realize the only reason they were there was because of me. By this time I had a bit of a reputation in the area, and people wanted to be involved with what I was doing…as long as it didn’t take them any extra time or cost them any money. It wasn’t about the group, it was about me. And that saddened me. So I came up with a solution.

At the next meeting I told everyone that I was working on writing a book (this was true) and I wouldn’t have time to lead the group any more. I gave the names and addresses of those who had taught and initiated me to the members who didn’t have that information already. I urged them to keep the group going and contact the people above me. I said that if they had any questions I’d be glad to answer them, but I couldn’t put the time, energy, and money into the group any more.

I only received a couple of questions. The group lasted a few more meetings and disbanded.

We should always be aware of our environment. Otherwise, we may be entranced by the dance of Maya and not see the truth.

Don’t Let Your Ego Confuse You

So I was teaching a class in San Diego. It was one of the classes that eventually became the basis for Modern Magick. At this time I taught series of classes and required homework be turned in which I would return to the students with my comments. I also offered to give a free Tarot reading to any member of the class. I would give the readings in private at the apartment I shared with Scott Cunningham.

This particular class had about fifteen students, including some of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. One of these women, whom I’ll call Belinda, was unbelievably beautiful. She did office work, but made extra money as a physical trainer, teaching aerobics. She had naturally blonde hair (although she claimed it was red) and almost violet blue eyes that turned down at the outside. She was also one of my best students, great with raising and directing energy and a natural instinct for how magick worked.

So she came over for a reading. The truth is, I was having a difficult time focusing. Scott was out for the evening and I was alone with an incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and talented young woman. The temperature in the living room seemed to be getting rather hot.

So, she asked for a general purpose reading rather than having a particular question. The first cards that came up indicated there was a new romance coming into her life. She was not really with anyone, although she did go on occasional dates, so she said this was good. She was looking for someone who shared her interests, including magick. I kept turning the cards, but I didn’t like what I was picking up. Normally, I interpret each card as I turn them over. In this case I didn’t want to. The message was coming through the cards loud and clear: she was going to have a boyfriend and lover who was interested in magick and who was a teacher. I had no doubt that the cards were indicating this new lover of hers would be me.

In one of the Tantric traditions I was later initiated into, there is an idea that there are five blockages to spiritual advancement known as kleshas. One of these is kleshas is the ego. In the Tantric tradition, the ego is not the same as our Western concept. It means a false understanding of who you are. If you were to write down all of your good and unwanted qualities, and then have some close friends or relatives do the same, where your understanding of yourself contradicts theirs, it is your ego, your false self-impression, that is getting in your way.

It almost seems like society is made to ruin our self-image. In the movies from our youth and into our formative years, only the gorgeous guys and girls became romantic partners. The truth, however, is that appearance is only part of what causes romantic interest. In real life we’ve probably seen any number of people we’d consider unattractive dating partners we consider unbelievably attractive. Even so, most of us not only have the “only gorgeous men and women become romantic partners” attitudes, we also have a belief that we don’t fit into that category. So here I was, a two or three, looking at a woman who was a nine-plus. She was way out of my league. The cards must have been wrong.

So I looked at the cards and tried desperately to see what they were actually saying. What I was seeing couldn’t be right. I apologized to Belinda, said I was tired, and that I wasn’t getting what the cards were trying to tell me. I told her I’d be glad to give it a try another time. She gave that bright smile of hers with her amazing eyes, and accepted my apology. However, she said she had some questions. I put away my cards and we talked and laughed.

Finally, it was time for her to go. We arose and she spread her arms for a hug. I gave her a nice, chaste hug. She hung on for dear life, looked into my eyes, and pulled my head in for a long, passionate kiss. We looked at each other for a long time and she asked me to call her tomorrow evening. We ended up becoming off-again, on-again lovers with a tempestuous relationship for years.

Normally, when we think of our ego getting in our way, it’s when we have too high of an image of ourselves. But our false ego can also get in our way by making us live in a box indicating that we have too low of an image of ourselves. Either one is a false representation of reality and keeps us from seeing truth.

***** I’ll Be In Las Vegas *****

Tonight and Tomorrow!
—Free Meet and Greet Tonight—

Tantra Magick Workshop & Ritual Tomorrow

Location:

Well of the Moon

2650 S. Decatur Blvd. Suite A02

Las Vegas, NV 89102

702-666-7200

Information: LINK

Meet & Greet: Friday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. Free!

Date:……………..Saturday, November 16, 2013

Time:…………….Workshop: 2:30–5:30……Ritual: 6:15 to conclusion

                  Besides myself, the workshop and ritual will be led by Shama Helena: a Life, Love & Sex Coach and Tantric Educator for the last 20 years in Los Angeles, she has helped thousands of lovers through personal coaching, lectures and workshops, books and articles and on Television and radio. She offers private sessions with individuals, couples, and people in alternative lifestyles, to empower, re-balance, and provide tools that enable, enhance and energize their lives to live more consciously and create their own Heaven on Earth.

See her website: www.thepleasureparadigm.com

                 TANTRA is more than “that sex stuff.” It is a complete spiritual system that includes everything from philosophy and psychology to divination and magick. Spiritualized sexuality is just one part of the system. On November 16 you’ll have a chance to learn about and experience Tantra and Tantric Magick.

Come out to amazing Las Vegas, Nevada, where you’ll learn practical techniques of Tantra. During the afternoon workshop, you’ll learn such things as:

 A brief history of Tantra
 Tantra as a Path of Pleasure
 The nature of real magick (as opposed to magic tricks)
 How to set up effective goals for magick
 Tantra and the secrets of Vibration
 The importance of compassion
 The chakras and their activation through sound, visualization, breathwork and movement

At the conclusion of the workshop there will be a brief break of about 45 minutes. During this time please have a very light meal. Fruits, grains and vegetables are preferred over meats and processed foods.

……………Please return promptly. Only those who participated in the workshop will be permitted to attend the ritual. During the ritual you will put what you learned into practice. Either come dressed appropriately (please wear white, especially a white shirt, blouse, or dress. You may then adorn with jewelry and makeup of your choice), or change once you have arrived. The ritual will include banishings, cleansing, traditional honoring of the gods and goddesses of Tantra, movement, and finally activation of the chakras leading to sending magickal energy to achieve your goal.

……………During the ritual we will be sitting on the floor. Please bring pillows or other items that will cushion and support your bottom and your back. If possible, bring a colorful flower from your personal garden as a gift to the deities. If you don’t have one, it will be provided. Bring water to drink.

……………Please note that although we will be raising energies often associated with sexuality, there will be no nudity or sexual contact. Finally, due to the size of the location, attendance will be extremely limited. You are advised to register with the payment for the class as soon as possible to guarantee a location. Here, again, is the LINK to contact.

The Minor Arcana of the tarot is divided into four suits, much like a deck of playing cards.

The suits are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. They are usually associated with elements, fire, water, air, and earth respectively, although some decks do reverse Wands and Air. Each suit contains the Ace – 10, Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Each suit focuses on specific areas of life or human experience.

Wands are associated with fiery passion, will, determination, career, and projects. It is an active energy, fast-moving and hard to contain. If not handled properly, it can burn wildly out of control. At its best, it is inspiring and uplifting and fuels our efforts and accomplishments.

Cups are associated with emotions, creativity, and relationships. It is a passive energy that can quietly flow into and around everything, coloring or obscuring our perception. At its best, it heals, cleanses, and connects.

Swords are associated with thoughts, ideas, problems and solutions, truth, and communication. It is an active energy that can be hard to pin down. It is associated with both thoughts and truth and while those are not the same, we can convince ourselves that just because we think something it is true, which can cause problems. At its best, it helps us see our situation clearly and find solutions to problems.

Pentacles are associated with money, finances, resources, health, and the physical world. It is a passive, heavy energy. It can be prone to stagnation and can kill the passion of Wands or muddy the feelings of Cups. At its best, it keeps us grounded in reality, making our day to day lives easier and more prosperous.

Understanding the suits will help make learning the cards easier.

Sasha Graham provides one of the best discussions on the suits (in the form of a guided meditation for each) that I’ve ever read in her book Tarot Diva.

A tarot deck has 78 cards. The cards are divided into sections, which makes learning them easier because the section a card is in shapes its meaning.

The sections are:

Major Arcana (22 cards)

Minor Arcana (40 cards)

Court Cards (16 cards)

This article focuses on the Court Cards.

The Court Cards are technically part of the Minor Arcana because they are found in each of the four suits of the Minor Arcana.

In each of the suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles) there are four cards that are like the royalty cards in a playing deck. A playing deck has a Jack, Queen, and King. In a tarot deck, the Court Cards are: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

These cards usually represent people, although sometimes the Pages represent messages and the Knights can represent fast moving events.

Some readers say the Court Cards always (or often) represent aspects of the querent (person getting the reading) while some say they always (or often) represent other people.

Many readers use the rank and the suit to decide the personality of the person represented. Often the suits are associated with sun signs. Most modern readers do not focus on literal gender but rather on feminine or masculine qualities that are present in all people regardless of gender.

 

Wands: fiery, passionate, charismatic people; Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

Cups: emotional, compassionate, creative people; Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer

Swords: intelligent, witty, logical people; Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini

Pentacles: practical, down-to-earth people; Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus

 

Pages: young, immature, or inexperienced people who are curious, sometimes students or those just beginning to learn something new and sometimes lacking in confidence

Knights: having some experience and lots of enthusiasm, knights are very focused on their goals, sometimes unaware of other things going on around them

Queens: are experienced and mature, nurturing, and giving. Their influence is focused on one-to-one relationships

Kings: are experienced and mature. Their influence is focused on community or groups

Because the Court Cards usually show a character either standing, riding a horse, or sitting on a throne, some readers find them the most difficult to read. However, using the rank and suit is very helpful. The images often include subtle clues as well. For example, the Queen of Wands is often shown with a black cat, representing her intuitive abilities. The Queen of Cups is shown gazing at a very elaborate cup, indicating her focus on emotions and relationships. The Page of Cups has a cup with a little fish jumping, a sign of a new, creative idea and curiosity. By looking at the speed of the Knight’s horse, you get an understanding of that Knight’s personality.

To learn more about Court Cards, check out Mary K. Greer’s Understanding the Tarot Court.