title: The Magickal Life: A Wiccan Priestess Shares Her Secrets (Compass)
author:  Vivianne Crowley 
description: "Magic is not a prop or a crutch. Contemporary magic is an ethical practice that teaches us to attune ourselves to the creative forces of the universe and work in harmony with them," writes Crowley, teacher and author of Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennium and A Woman's Guide to Earth Traditions. Her background as a psychologist and management consultant is in evidence here, as her first-person prose is to the point, clear and organized. Aimed at rank beginners as well as mid-level practitioners, Crowley reveals magical procedures for chakras, crystals, healing, intuition development, divination focusing on Tarot, sacred circles and homemade incense. She also delves into broader topics such as the human desires for travel, sex, love and a healthy state of mind. Crowley distills much useful information in charts throughout relatively short chapters. She stresses that magic is " `natural' in the sense that it is about learning to use the hidden powers of the human psyche... [and] `natural' in another sense-it follows the laws of nature." Crowley also addresses sacred time and space in the pagan calendar, as well as the power of group magic. This volume doesn't cover much new ground in the field of Wicca, but Crowley's stories, down-to-earth approach and emphasis on personal responsibility should have wide appeal and provide a worthwhile gateway into an ancient practice. Quick pointers for practice at the end of each chapter drive home her messages. <br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  Bobbie Hodges
  
  > About the Author
  
  Deborah Blake is a Wiccan high priestess who has been leading an eclectic
  group, Blue Moon Circle, since Beltane 2004. She is the author of _The Goddess
  Is in the Details_ (Llewellyn, 2009) and _The Witch’s Broom_ (Llewellyn,
  2014), among others, and she has written a number of articles for Pagan
  publications.
  
  When not writing, Deborah manages the Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she
  founded with a friend in 1999, and works as a jewelry maker, tarot reader,
  ordained minister, and intuitive energy healer. She lives in a 100-year-old
  farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her
  activities, both magickal and mundane.
  
  > > > ![](Images/image00140.jpeg)
  
  > Llewellyn Publications
  
  > Woodbury, Minnesota
  
  Copyright Information
  
   _Everyday Witchcraft: Making Time for Spirit in a Too-Busy World_ © 2015 by
  Deborah Blake.
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
  matter