Two Llewellyn titles, Biting Back (Claudia Cunningham; Silver in Self-Help category) and The Return of Intuition (Kathryn Harwig; Bronze in the New Age [Mind-Body-Spirit] category) are IPPY  award winners! These titles were named as finalists in the 2011 Independent Publisher Awards, which are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. The 2011 Independent Publisher Awards (IPPYs) were revealed via an announcement on their website. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in New York on May 23. In addition, one book from Llewellyn’s Flux imprint (A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler) and one

Last week, I wrote about some very traditional ways to select significators HERE. Those traditional methods have their place and are used effectively by some readers. They never worked well for me. Here are two ways that I like to select significators, when I use them at all. Trust Tarot If I use a spread that has a significator position, I will sometimes simply shuffle the deck as usual and deal out the top card for the significator. I trust the deck to make sure the right card shows up for that reading. This is an easy method that reflects the philosophy that a tarot reading "works" because the right cards will turn up when needed. Mirror, Mirror This is a method that I like if I'm

In this blog I have repeatedly pointed to the difference between what I call "true skepticism" and debunking. When a person is a true skeptic, he or she simply holds a neutral position and requires proof before accepting or rejecting a theory as to why something occurs. For example, is reincarnation a reality? For a true skeptic, the proof that goes "beyond a shadow of a doubt" simply doesn't exist. That doesn't mean reincarnation isn't a reality, just unproven. It doesn't mean we cannot act as if reincarnation is a reality and make use of information gained from past life experiences in our current life. Indeed, I believe we not only can do so, but as a hypnotherapist find it to be a very

Many years ago there were two bookstores in Hollywood that I would frequent. One, just east of Cahuenga on Hollywood Blvd, was Gilbert's Books. This was a full bookstore that offered both new and used books. It also had a large selection of occult books, some of which were quite unusual and rare. I've heard that Israel Regardie used to quietly hang out there, listening amusedly to what some self-styled experts would say concerning those occult books. When going book shopping in Hollywood, I'd hit Gilbert's first. It was a slightly further trip than to the second store, but its prices on rare and used books were more reasonable. The second store, Cherokee Books, was also on Hollywood