I recently wrote a book about tarot spreads. It will be available in April. In it, I make what I think is a really good case for the importance of the design in which the cards are laid out on the table. That is, are they in a vertical line, a horizontal line, a square, a cross? I think that this matters. Some people disagree, on being one of my esteemed colleagues and the winner of the 2011 Tarosophy Award. Angelo Nasios, if you don’t know him, puts out excellent YouTube videos about tarot. Check out his channel, and in particular this video. I was able to get a review copy for him and ask him to review it (like he reviewed my Tarot for Beginners). I’m excited to hear his opinion

No, I don't mean the Batman. He was called the "Dark Knight." But I am talking about some similarities to the Batman. He had to deal with issues arising from watching his parents' senseless murder. He wants to follow a path that will prevent others from having to deal with the issues he did. In fact, he becomes so obsessed with his path that he becomes the archetypal loner, pushing away not just friends, but even companionship. He's like the Hermit of the Tarot, a shining light if others will follow. Few will. When most people start on a spiritual path, especially a non-traditional one such as the path of magick, it usually starts as a relatively minor interest. Eventually, that

On another forum I saw a question about spirits. The poster wanted to know how to do magick to get rid of a spirit that had linked with another person. The poster was worried that he would be working against the Wiccan Rede by forcing the spirit to do something it didn't want to do. You may have seen similar posts or heard questions like this. I have a few problems with it. What is a Spirit? My first question is what does this person think a spirit is? Today, some people (notably members of religious sects) put the blame for all their problems on spirits or demons. Are you an alcoholic? Are you broke? Are you unhealthy? Did you lose your job? Are some of your teeth missing? Did you get

Mars is the planet of energy, power, and assertion, and now that it is in retrograde motion (beginning Monday, January 23, 2012, it will be retrograde until April 13, 2012) we will spend the next few months examining our personal energy, how we are spending it and whether we have too much or not enough. Because Mars is in Virgo during its retrograde motion, this time will also be spent paying rapt attention to detail, with the analytic Virgo energy adding an element of meticulousness to our reflection. Mars also goes retrograde the same day as the New Moon in Aquarius, Retrograde periods don’t have to be scary (as I’ve often extolled about periods of Mercury retrograde); instead,