In celebration of World Tarot Day (May 25), I wanted to share some information that budding tarot readers may find useful. I have been offering public tarot readings for the past 6 years, and have been using the tarot for inner, spiritual growth and spellwork for many more. There are numerous resources available for those who wish to learn tarot, deepen their practice, or connect with other readers worldwide. Below are some links that I have found particularly useful.

Tarot Professionals is the best place to learn, develop and receive ongoing support for your Tarot as an absolute beginner or experienced professional with other students & professionals around the world. This is a full-time professional Tarot organization dedicated to supporting your Tarot studies and career. Membership gives you a range of innovative and modern Tarot courses, the worlds leading Tarot magazine (TarosophistInternational), video lessons and Tarot projects for you to take your Tarot to new levels. As a professional you gain valuable legal, business & marketing support. They also have a Facebook group. (Please note that membership in this group is by request only).

Aeclectic Tarot is a very useful website where you can browse through thousands of different tarot decks before you buy. Photos of cards from each deck are presented, as well as card meanings. Also offered are accessories such as tarot bags, boxes and jewelry.

Tarosophy Tarot Conventions take place around the world each year. This website provides info about upcoming tarot conventions in your area.

That’s Totally Tarot is a great tarot blog from professional reader Angelo Nasios. He has wonderful insights on tarot reading, YouTube instructional videos, and was awarded Tarosophist of The Year. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a no-nonsense, easy to understand way.

The Sacred Circle Tarot is the deck that I use. As soon I picked up this deck I knew it was for me. There are many things I like about this one: the imagery of Celtic landscapes and symbolism, keywords at the top of each card, elemental associations (Fire, Air, Water, Earth), and I love how the realistic-looking figures on the cards appear as though they may begin moving and speaking at any moment! This deck comes with a companion book that explains the meaning of each card, along with some helpful spreads, including one of my favorites, the Planetary Spread.

There are two other books that I have found personally helpful in my tarot practice. They are “Tarot For The Green Witch” by Ann Moura, and “A Magical Course in Tarot” by Michele Morgan.

　Happy Tarot!

Lumos, Blessed Be.

I finally have time to sit down and write about my latest magickal adventures, things have been a bit hectic! This past weekend I was at the Spiritual Holistic Expo, a local event that takes place twice a year, in the Spring and Fall. This was my second time at the expo, and I did fairly well, though I’m not sure I want to do this particular one again. Booth rentals are pricey, and it takes a bit of work just to break even. Plus, I was limited on the services I could offer, which I found a bit annoying, especially since I have regulars who come to me for those services (such as tarot readings). There are other expos and festivals in the area that are less expensive or restrictive, so those will get priority in the future.

On May 13^th, we returned from Laconia, New Hampshire, where we attended MISTI-CON, a Harry Potter convention that took place there. This is the fourth Potter convention we have been to. We had an amazing time, and it was wonderful to see our Potter family again. I am not fond of the terms “fandom” or “con” , as these are not typical conventions. They are organized by/for fans themselves, and are more like family reunions for us. Over the years, we have made many friends through Harry Potter, friends whom we now consider family. It is a close-knit, creative group of people whose lives have also been profoundly influenced by the story of the boy wizard. In fact, an entire community and sub-culture has been built around Harry Potter. Unless you are part of it yourself, it is difficult to explain. For many, it has become a lifestyle, integrating various themes, elements and concepts from the Harry Potter mythos into everyday life. It is eccentric and unconventional, but also highly creative and fun. MISTI-CON was an amazing experience, as are the HPEF gatherings. We prefer these smaller gatherings instead of the larger cons, as they are more intimate and meaningful. We are all adult fans, sharing our love for all things Harry Potter, through various creative outlets: presentations, artwork, lectures, music, fashion, academia, games, crafts, discussions, etc. The larger gatherings (such as LeakyCon) seem to be less about Harry Potter and more about celebrity fans and their fangirls, Potter off-shoots (such as Starkid), and other things that are only loosely Potter-related. Another MISTI-CON is being planned for 2015, and we will certainly be there.

My first book, The Boy Who Lived: Magical Spirituality in the Harry Potter Universe, was recently published (you can order a copy at the BOOKS link above), and will soon be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. At Misti-Con I presented a lecture based on the book, and sold nearly every copy I took with me. I will start work on my next book, Walking The Magick Path, later this Summer. I am brimming with inspiration and am already compiling notes for this one!

I am really enjoying the new CD from my friends at Paradise Music, entitled MOON SPELLS.

This CD contains music for each phase of the Moon, and comes with a booklet of spells from British witch Cassandra Eason. You can order a copy at THIS LINK.

In a few weeks I will be at an event called ARTIFEST, where I am doing Tarot/Oracle readings for the entire weekend, with a friend and fellow reader. This will be a fun event, as we are in the ‘Old World Renaissance’ section, which means I get to dress up and do readings in period clothing. Can’t wait!

The weather is getting warmer now, it has been in the 80’s the last few days. I am looking forward to the Summer months, Litha/Summer Solstice, and our yearly visit to the seaside. I am glad to see the Yarrow flowers cropping up along roadsides and in the fields. I will be gathering a bunch of it very soon for meditative and magickal work. The Yarrow plant began calling to me last Summer and I can sense it doing so again. I feel it is going to become a close plant ally. My next blog post will be about the magickal properties of the Yarrow plant.

This weekend we shall celebrate my partner Matthew’s birthday. We have been together for over 11 years now. Below is a recent photo of us.

Also this weekend I plan to do some magickal spring cleaning, sorting through my ritual items, re-organizing and getting rid of a few things. As my magickal practice has evolved, there are certain items I rarely use anymore and other items that I use more often. Some things will be passed along to friends so that I can make room for new magickal tools that more accurately reflect my magickal path as it is now. Our ritual room at home has become a bit cluttered, as it also doubles as a storage room and is in desperate need of re-organization. Some things I will be getting rid of are: old and damaged essential oil bottles, certain brands of incense that I rarely use, ripped/damaged magickal craft items that cannot be repaired, and a few broken, partially used candles. While I am a fan of recycling wax for candle-making, I prefer not to re-use wax from a candle that has already been previously used for a specific kind of magick. I always use fresh, new candles for each spell. The only candles I re-use over and over again are those I have set aside for meditation, deities or spirit guides. I have acquired several new magickal herbs that need to be properly stored and labeled, and I still have a ton of information to transfer from my magickal journals into my Book of Shadows. Geez, this is going to take awhile, but I like things to be organized.

I’m getting hungry now, and there is meatloaf in the oven. And, while I was the grocery earlier I found Pumpkin Ice Cream! In May! My spirit guides are smiling on me. Tonight I shall have comfort food and begin watching the last season of Hamish Macbeth.

Til next time…

Lumos, Blessed Be.

Spring has finally arrived, May is here, and it is wonderful to see the leaves returning to the trees, the flowers blooming, the green grass and warmer temperatures. Summer is not far off.

My first book, “The Boy Who Lived: Magical Spirituality in the Harry Potter Universe” was recently published, and I am quite happy with it. It is currently available on Lulu at THIS LINK, and in about 6-8 weeks you can also purchase it thru Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I would like to thank my friend Brian, for his invaluable assistance with formatting and helping it to look nice and professional.

May is a busy month for us, we have things going on nearly every weekend until the first week of June. After that, I want to take a break until Late Summer/Early Fall, when I would like to do more teaching and start working on my next book, “Walking The Magick Path“.

On May 1^st, we went to see the off-broadway production, Potted Potter with one of our close friends. We had seen it before in NYC and we loved it. This time, Potted Potter was here in town, performing locally for one-night-only, and we had the opportunity to see it again. The two talented and energetic British actors cover the entire Harry Potter saga, in comedic fashion, in just over an hour. It’s such a fun production, go and see them if you get the chance.

On May 2^nd, we attended the MyChoice Voice Awards, where the best blogs in the Lehigh Valley (the area of Pennsylvania where I live) are honored and recognized. This event is presented by the local newspaper, The Morning Call. I am happy to say that I won again this year, for Best Religion Blog. Two years in a row, not bad! I am grateful to everyone who voted.

May 4^th, (last night, in fact), was our Beltane ritual and celebration with the magickal community we belong to. Good food, some divination, stories of the faerie realm, and afterward it was so much fun to circle around the Maypole again with our friends and extended family. The Maypole is symbolic of the union between the Goddess and the God, a union that is reflected in the flourishing earth. It also represents the weaving together of the soul of man with the soul of nature.

In just a few days, we make the journey up to New Hampshire for MISTI-CON, a 4-Day Harry Potter conference for adult fans, with many fun activities planned: academic presentations, music, games, crafts, Quidditch and a costume ball, among other things. This will be the fourth Potter conference that we have attended, and they are especially magickal. We are anxious to see our friends again and re-connect with our Potter family. It is always a transforming and inspiring experience, and I always come back from these conferences recharged and refocused. I will be lecturing on my book, The Boy Who Lived, and taking several copies with me to sign.

May 18 & 19 I will be at the Spring Spiritual Holistic Expo offering Magickal Reiki treatments. Reiki (pronounced Ray Key) is a combination of two Japanese words ‘Rei’ and ‘Ki’ meaning Universal Life Energy. Reiki is an ancient laying-on of hands healing technique that uses the life force energy to heal, balancing the subtle energies within our bodies. Reiki addresses physical, emotional, mental and spiritual imbalances. I am a certified Reiki II practitioner, and developed Magickal Reiki, a combination of Usui Ryoho Reiki, Crystal Therapy, Chakra Healing, Meditation and Aromatherapy. At the expo, I will be doing half-hour sessions for 30$. Magickal Reiki is done in sacred space, within the boundary of a magick circle. I will also be offering a small selection of my handmade ritual and spell candles. I wanted to do Tarot/Oracle readings there as well, but apparently they “already have too many”. Oh well, next time.

June 8 & 9, however, I will be doing Tarot readings for the whole weekend, at an event called Artifest. A friend and myself will be the only tarot readers there, so I am looking forward to this a great deal. This will be my first time at this event, and I’m told we are in the “Old World Renaissance” section. It sounds like lots of fun! Look for some of my candles there too.

For more info about these events, click the Upcoming Events link at the top.

Lots happening this month!

One of the most magickal stones, Moonstone is a white, blue or opalescent feldspar with strong magical connections to the Moon and Lunar goddesses. It is a feminine stone, with receptive energy, and is linked to the element of Water. One of it’s more powerful qualities is it’s use in Divination. The energy of Moonstone aids divination practices, such as tarot, runes or crystal gazing. Place a few Moonstone crystals near your divination tools, particularly on or near the Full Moon, or wear Moonstone jewelry whenever doing readings for others. It helps to keep good energy flowing during magickal rituals, working well for those who plan their lives by the phases of the Moon. This crystal helps us access the unseen realms, and makes it easier to receive psychic information. It is an excellent crystal for meditation and creative visualization. Those who have strong psychic or intuitive abilities will find this stone very beneficial. On a deeper level, this crystal also helps us to focus within and examine our motives and emotions. Use Moonstone during a Waning or Dark Moon when doing meditations to explore the Shadow Self, and anything about yourself that you keep hidden from others. Since Moonstone is strongly linked to emotions and the Sacral Chakra, it’s energies can be utilized to help gently stabilize any strong emotions and allow peace and calm to take their place. Moonstone is linked to the astrological sign of Cancer, and the concept of the Mother. It is nurturing, healing and protective. Whether you wish to develop a stronger bond with your own mother, or connect with a Mother Goddess deity figure, Moonstone is of great benefit. Moonstone helps to relieve anxiety, tension and stress. It is worn to prevent headaches, nightmares and other sleep disorders. Placing Moonstone around your workplace can help ease stress on the job and promote a peaceful environment. It is reported to be a favorite among children and animals, especially cats. It has also been used for centuries in spells for fertility and love. Another magickal benefit of Moonstone is it’s protective quality, particularly for travelers. Place a few Moonstone crystals in your suitcase or vehicle to draw upon their protective energies, or wear a Moonstone bracelet. To activate the Moonstone crystal, leave it sitting outside overnight in a bowl of purified spring water, in the light of a Waxing Moon (between New Moon and Full Moon). As with any crystal, cleanse your Moonstone in purified water before using it in any kind of magick or ritual.

Lumos, Blessed Be.

Time seems to be moving by so quickly, and I seem to have so little of it lately to finish the things I need to, but I have accomplished much over the past few weeks. There are some exciting things on the horizon.

I recently finished another batch of spell candles, and most of this batch is already spoken for. I enjoy making ritual/spell candles, and I do it not only because it’s fun and creative, but also in service to Cerridwen, whom I feel has granted me this gift. I will be making several candles in the coming weeks, most will be offered for sale at the Holistic Expo in a few months.

My latest batch of candles.

The Spiritual Holistic Expo is presented here twice a year (every Spring and Fall), and this will be the 2^nd time I myself will have a booth at the Spring Expo. I will be offering Magickal Reiki treatments and selling my hand-made candles, ritual bath soaps and other items. This time around I am honored to share a large space with my good friend and coven-mate Amy, who happens to be a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. These expos are a lot of fun, and a great place to network and get to know other local practitioners and magickal folk. I was very successful at the last one, and am looking forward to the one in May. It’s also exciting to me that several friends will have booths there as well, offering their magickal/healing skills to the community. It really does seem a bit like Diagon Alley, exploring these expos, with so many magickal people roaming about: faeries, witches, shamans, etc, and there are so many things to discover. Crystals, tarot decks, robes & cloaks, all manner of healing modalities, music, herbs, singing bowls…you name it, it can be found there.

I also recently received official conformation from Misti-Con regarding the date and time of my lecture, Magickal Spirituality in the Harry Potter Universe. It is to take place on Sunday, May 12 from 2 pm – 3:30 pm. They’re giving me 90 minutes for this one, and I will need it, because I have a lot of information to share. I am putting together a guided meditation and creative visualization exercise to close the lecture with.

In other news, a few weeks ago the transmission on my car went out, and I was without a vehicle for a week. It cost a ridiculous amount of money to have it repaired, but I am driving again and it seems to be working fine. This is the 2^nd used car I’ve had since moving to Pennsylvania six years ago. I don’t know what it is with me and cars. I do take care of them, but something weird always happens to them. Which reminds me, we are now in Mercury Retrograde until March 17^th (I think), and this is a time that can have a negative impact on all forms of travel and communication. I will need to pay extra attention to my car until Mercury turns direct again. I have all sorts of ’safe travel’ enchantments placed on my car, but they will be of no use if I don’t take care of it.

My book is coming along nicely, though not as quickly as I’d like. Having it finished before Spring is optimistic, but I am certainly trying. I don’t have lots of free time on my hands. As much as I would love to make my living as a full-time witch, I am not so fortunate. Like a lot of people, I have to work a full-time job in addition to my other responsibilities. This means that I get most of my writing done on the weekends. I am doing my very best to have it completed by Spring, which is still a few months away.

It’s still a bit cold here in Pennsylvania. Tonight it is very windy, the windows are rattling, and there is a forecast for rain. I enjoy the rain, and love listening to it while relaxing by candlelight and the smell of incense wafting though the house. It is quite relaxing.

A few weeks ago my friend Sybilla told me about a British program she watches called Doc Martin. It is a comedy/drama about a London doctor who moves to a small village in Cornwall. The town has lots of fun, quirky characters and the big-city doctor must learn how to interact with these eccentric small-town folk. I ordered Season 1 on DVD and have fallen in love with this program. I will definitely get the rest of the series.

Well…I’m getting a bit tired now, and I need to wash some jeans for work tomorrow.

Stay Warm…Spring is almost here!

There are many ways to add extra power and strength to our spells and enchantments. Magickal knowledge has been passed down through thru the ages to help us do this. What many witches and other magickal folk refer to as “correspondences” are various colors, objects, scents, deities, oils, tarot cards, herbs, crystals or anything else that symbolizes our intended magickal outcome. I like to think of these items as arrows directed at a target. This process of using symbols is sometimes called “sympathetic magick”. In other words, these items have a sympathetic link to the desired goal. It is speculated that the theory of sympathetic magick was first developed in the late 1800’s by Richard Andree, as explained by Sir James George Frazer in his book, The Golden Bough. Frazer writes:

“If we analyze the principles of thought on which magic is based, they will probably be found to resolve themselves into two: first, that like produces like, or that an effect resembles its cause; and, second, that things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed. The former principle may be called the Law of Similarity, the latter the Law of Contact or Contagion. From the first of these principles, namely the Law of Similarity, the magician infers that he can produce any effect he desires merely by imitating it: from the second he infers that whatever he does to a material object will affect equally the person with whom the object was once in contact, whether it formed part of his body or not”.

Where the traditional correspondences we use today came from is a matter of debate. I believe they are culled from many ancient sources, including Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy, originally published in 1531. This is certainly where our ‘Planetary Hours’ came from, as I happen to own a copy of the Three Books, which contains a Planetary Hours chart.

So what does all this mean to you as a magickal practitioner? What it means is that there many tools at your disposal that you can use to add energy to your spells. The study of correspondences and sympathetic magick could literally take volumes, and a website all to itself, so for now we will focus on what are known as “Daily Correspondences”.

Each day of the week contains it’s own special magick and specific correspondences. Tapping into these energies when casting your spells will ensure greater success of your desired outcome. These correspondences have been used for so long because they work. While it is also true that some correspondences can be individualized or changed (as some of them can mean different things to different people), we must take care not to stray too far away from a system that has worked for so long, for so many. It is the “momentum of the past”, as Raven Grimassi writes, and I love this description. When you use the color Red on a Friday for love, you are connecting to the same flow of energy used by all other magickal practitioners of past and present who are also using Red on a Friday for love. That is a lot of energy to call upon!

Here are some of the traditional correspondences for each day of the week. There are many more that can be included in each category, but I will list just a few. I am not including the deities here, since I work with the same deities on a regular basis, and I’m not fond of calling on deities randomly just because it’s their day of the week. At the end of this article, I have listed other resources for further study.

MONDAY (DAY OF THE MOON) 

Colors: White, Silver

Planet: Moon

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Moonflower, Jasmine, Irish Moss, Myrrh, Sandalwood.

Crystals: Moonstone, Pearl, Clear Quartz

Oils: Myrrh, Sandalwood, Gardenia, Jasmine

Incense:Myrrh, Sandalwood, Jasmine

Tarot: The Moon

Other: Mirrors, white sand, white cotton clothing, water, divination tools (crystal balls, tarot decks, runes, pendulums).

Magick: To increase one’s intuitive and psychic skills, meditation and visualization, divination, astral projection, path working, journey work, spirit guide contact.

TUESDAY (TYR’S DAY) 

Colors: Red, Black

Planet: Mars

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Dragons Blood, Red Clover, Holly, Damiana, Cinnamon

Crystals: Red Jasper, Carnelian, Black Onyx, Black Tourmaline, Jet,

Oils: Dragons Blood, Ginger, Cinnamon, Holly, Musk

Incense: Dragons Blood, Pine, Musk

Tarot: The Hierophant

Other: dragons, fire, male symbol, masculine/male images, phoenix, blackthorn wood

Magick: bravery, strength of will, character, courage, resolving disagreements, manhood/male spirituality, male bonding, assertiveness, persistence

WEDNESDAY (WODEN’S DAY) 

Colors: Yellow, Orange

Planet: Mercury

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Lavender, Lemon Grass, Mint, Clover, Horehound

Crystals:Tree Agate, Fuchsite, Opal, Goldstone, Rainbow Moonstone

Oils:Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Amber

Tarot: Ace of Wands

Incense:Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, Mulberry

Other: parchment paper, phrenology head, sigils, numerology, throat chakra symbol, quills, pens, ink, writing instruments, tools used in creative endeavors

Magick: Communication, travel, expressing ideas, creativity, self-confidence, writing, singing, acting, painting, drawing, artwork

THURSDAY (THOR’S DAY)

Colors: Greens and Browns

Planet:Jupiter

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Cinquefoil, Hyssop, Sage, Oak Moss, Patchouli

Crystals: Aventurine, Tree Agate, Emerald

Oils: Oak Moss, Patchouli, Clove, Sage

Incense: Sage, Patchouli

Tarot: 4 of Pentacles

Other: Money, coins, photos of necessary material needs (home, vehicle, job), Thor’s Hammer, Runes, Norse symbols, drinking horn

Magick: Success, prosperity, employment, money, finances, images or symbols of trees, green man, stag, Cernunnos, antlers

FRIDAY (FREYA’S DAY) 

Colors: Reds and Pinks

Planet: Venus

Herbs, Flowers and Plants:Rose, Rose Petals, Rose Hips, Lavender, Dittany, Magnolia, Apple, Willow, Daffodil

Crystals: Rose Quartz, Diamond, Pearl

Oils: Hyacinth, Rose (Pure essential rose oil is very expensive), Lilac, Vanilla

Incense: Rose Musk, Jasmine, Lotus

Tarot: The Lovers

Other: Hearts, photos of loved ones, red ribbon, red candle holders, the female/venus symbol, red sand

Magick: Love, romance, sex, intimacy, relationships, friendship, family, restoring broken relationships, eroticism (both gay and straight), hearth and home, nurturing

SATURDAY (DAY OF SATURN) 

Colors: Black, Deep Maroon, Dark Purple

Planet: Saturn

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Belladonna, Hellebore, Wolf’s Bane, Datura, Yew (Note: These are highly poisonous and must be with used with caution). Non-poisonous substitutes are Comfrey, Elm, Pansy and Solomon’s Seal.

Crystals: Hematite, Black Tourmaline, Hypersthene and Onyx.

Oils: Ylang Ylang, Myrrh, Patchouli, Clove

Incense: Dragons Blood, Copal, Amber

Tarot: The Chariot

Other: X symbol, equal armed cross, broken twigs, shards of glass, iron nails, knotted twine

Magick: Protection, binding, banishing, removing harmful influences, confrontation, removing obstacles, issues of a threatening nature, deflecting harm　

SUNDAY (DAY OF THE SUN) 

Colors: Yellow, Bright Orange, Gold, Bright Red

Planet: Sun

Herbs, Flowers and Plants: Heliotrope, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Marigold, St. John’s Wort

Crystals: Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Clear Quartz

Oils: Heliotrope, Frankincense, Sweet Orange, Amber, Mistletoe

Incense: Frankincense, Sage, Juniper

Tarot: The Sun

Other: yellow flower petals, images of the Sun, deity images, yellow sand, pumpkin powder

Magick: Deity communication, seeking divine wisdom, enlightenment, spirituality, divinity, learning, chakra work, healing, bringing something hidden to light

These are some of the traditional magickal associations for each day of the week. So, what if you’d like to do magick for prosperity, but you don’t want to wait until Thursday? You could use the strength of Mars on a Tuesday, or remove those financial obstacles on a Saturday. If you can’t wait for the perfect day, just use whatever energies are present when you need them.

For further studies about magickal correspondences, I recommend:

*The Complete Magician’s Tables, by Stephen Skinner

*The Magician’s Companion, by Bill Whitcomb

*Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences, by Sandra Kynes

*Book of Witchery, by Ellen Dugan