Everyone, whether they know it or not, has certain phrases or mottoes upon which they base their behavior. If you watch the TV show NCIS, it might be: "Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness." If you're like frontiersman and congressman Davy Crockett, you might favor his motto: "Be always sure you're right. Then go ahead." One of my personal mottoes is: Death doesn't begin when you stop breathing. It begins when you stop learning. I don't know if I heard it somewhere or it came from my higher self, but I do believe it's true. I spent many years learning, practicing, studying and teaching before I wrote Modern Magick. However, my life didn't stop then. For the past two decades I have

[NOTE: I'll have another post today about "Book X," as promised.] Patrick McCollum is someone you should know. He was first initiated as a Witch in 1966. He was first ordained as a minister of the Craft in 1971. He is the author of the book, Courting the Lady. I've met Patrick several times at Pagan events. He's not tall or heavily muscled. He's not a loud talker trying to monopolize the conversation. He seems like a gentle and kindly soul, ready to discuss his beloved faith or listen to you share your ideas. He seems like a meek and mild minister. But don't let his appearance fool you. Underneath that "meek and mild" exterior is a seemingly tireless and indefatigable warrior

I'm home from Pantheacon, and what a great event it was. I had a chance to talk with many eager attendees as well as with writers such as Deborah Blake, Lon DuQuette, T. Thorn Coyle and many others. In my workshop on "Future Trends in Magick" I made some comments about my Modern Magick and how, in fact, it was dated. Certainly it's not as dated as books from many hundreds of years ago. But there is a major difference between the ancient grimoires and my book. Their goal was simply to present what is. One of my goals with Modern Magick was to present magick—as it is practiced by people all over the world—in a modern fashion. The truth is the language that I used isn't that modern

I'm posting this from the lobby of the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California, where Pantheacon is being held. The entire hotel has literally been taken over by Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Thelemites, Golden Dawners, and magickal people of all levels of experience and direction. A few weeks ago I gave a workshop where I suggested that magickal people can disagree without being disagreeable, and that we can find strength and unity by accepting our widespread diversity. The thousands of people (and I'm being literal with that number) in attendance are proof that this is possible. I've given two well-attended workshops (well over 100 people in each) already. I've got one more to give later