Lab mouse. Photo by Rama The techniques of magick are at the root of scientific procedures. You begin by seeing an issue (magick: formulate your goal). Then you design an experiment (magick: design your ritual) based on experience and protocols that limit unwanted influences on the experiment (magick: perform banishing). Next, you perform your experiments and document the results (magick: do the ritual and record it in your magickal record, diary, or journal). Finally, you observe over time to see if the results of the experiment/magick hold. This is the nature of good laboratory science/magick. Recently, I saw a great article that seems to unite the two. If you want to read the entire

This Full Moon in Pisces occurs Monday, September 12 at 5:27 am Eastern (9:27 am GMT) at 19 degrees. Full Moons represent the culmination of those things that were begun with the New Moon (in this case the August 28 New Moon in Virgo).  This Full Moon represents the work we’ve done in the past weeks to pay attention to ourselves and the Virgo qualities of health and wellness; these past weeks have been a time of personal transformation, both inner and outer. With the Pisces Moon opposite the Virgo Sun, we are called to see how the two signs work together; both signs are mutable and adapted to change, and also form a grand cross with the nodes of the Moon. Can we balance the work we've

Before I start I'd like to remind all my friends in San Diego (glad you have your lights back on!) that I'll be at Balboa Park, tomorrow, September 10, for Pagan Pride day. I'll be speaking on Past Lives at 11:00, so come out and spend the day. And next weekend I'll be coming to Las Vegas and I'll be giving three workshops. On Saturday the 17th I'll be giving workshops on Talismans and Amulets, and later on the same day I'll be revealing the Secrets of  Magical Evocation. On Sunday the 18th I'll be giving a workshop on Tarot & Magic. All the workshops will be held at Well of the Moon on Decatur Blvd. Their phone number is: 702-666-7200. For more details on these events, please go

Keeping your cards clean is mostly a matter of common sense. They are made of paper, so if they get sticky or dirty, wipe them with a very slightly damp cloth and then wipe them dry immediately. But when people ask about "cleansing the cards" they are not usually asking about a bit of jam or pizza sauce that dripped on their Ace of Pentacles. What they really want to know about is how to energetically cleanse the cards. When to Cleanse As with so many things tarot-related, there are no absolutes. Here are some points when some readers feel the need to cleanse or clear their cards: 1. after a very challenging reading 2. after many readings in a row 3. before using a new deck 4.