I live in an area at the north east end of Los Angeles. Centuries ago, a monk at a nearby monastery noticed that the soil and climate were the same as his native Spain where his family grew olives. He imported olive seedlings, and within a few decades the area boasted the largest olive orchard in the world. It was said that it looked like a "sea of trees." Today, this area no longer has those olive trees, but it is named with a Spanish word meaning Sea of Trees. This is a very religious area with many Roman Catholics. There's a nearby graveyard where people often have picnics at the graves of their late relatives, a practice which seems to be popular in some Latino religious

Wow! The next two months are going to be very busy for me. I have several appearances in California, both in the south and the north. I hope to meet some of you at them. Saturday, January 15, 2:00 p.m. That's just a few days away! I'll be in North Hollywood, at The Green Man, giving a workshop on Instant Tarot Power. Great for beginners and experienced alike. Phone them at 818-985-2010. Thursday, January 27, 8:00 p.m. I'll be in San Francisco at Fields Book Store for a free talk about the new edition of Modern Magick, a question and answer session, and book signing. Phone them at 415-673-2027. Friday, January 28, 4:00 p.m. I'll be moving inland to Nevada City. There is a

In Jewish tradition, God creates by using words: "And God said, "Let there be light": and there was light." (KJV, Genesis I:3) In Christian tradition, God literally is a word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God." (KJV, John I:1) In magickal traditions, the correct pronunciation of words, and the way they are broadcast into the universe is a vital part of the process. Words of Power are meant to be "vibrated." The choice of words is important in formulating magickal goals. So in Judaism, Christianity, and magick, the notion of the use of words and the power of sound is central to the practices. From these three perspectives, words

Does magick really work? You graduated from UCLA. How can you believe in that stuff? These are questions I hear all the time. Modern society indoctrinates people to disbelieve in the possibility of magick. But the simple truth is, as many of you reading this already know, “Yes, magick does work.” The challenge, however, is that there are numerous variables in magick, ranging from your emotions to the time, and unless you know them and deal with them you may not achieve your intended results. That’s why it often appears that magick may not be successful. It’s like getting into a car, making sure the gears are in neutral, turning the key, and having nothing happen. Why? Maybe the