Author: Dorothy Morrison
Trade Paperback, 288 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn
Publication date: January 2003
ISBN: 0738701750
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Collections of spells seem to sell well, although they upset some in the Pagan community who feel that people who want spells should first have to study magick intensely and then create their own. I've never seen much logic to such an intense dislike of spell books. To me, it would be like having an intense dislike of home repair books because one felt that a person who wants to, for example, build some shelves should have to go through a carpenter apprenticeship first. That said, there are a large number of spell books out there, so it can be hard for a new one to bring something different and useful to the table.
As much as I like Dorothy Morrison's work, her Everyday Tarot Magic: Meditation & Spells doesn't really add much new or different to her excellent Everyday Magic. In fact, many of its 140 spells duplicate the effects of spells for similar purposes in Everyday Magic. They do have one unique feature, however, each spell uses one or more Tarot cards. This may help those who like the Tarot or who need a highly symbolic visual aid to focus on while casting a spell to be more successful with their magick. The spells given in this book are useful in everyday life. For example, there are spells for protection against accidents, dispelling nightmares, obtaining work, finding a parking space, preventing theft, making wise decisions, releasing anger, etc.
The first part of this book isn't a basic "how-to" explanation of magick as one might expect from a spell book aimed at beginners. Instead, it is an introduction to the Tarot. It is quite basic, but informative. The third chapter is probably the most interesting in the first part of the book. There the author combines numerology and the Tarot's major arcana by telling the reader how to use simple numerology to determine a Spirit card, a Lesson card, a Talent card, and a Year card for every year of one's life. The second part of the book is the already mentioned 140 spells. The book concludes with appendixes on the magickal uses of plants, stones, and colors/candles as well as three common Tarot spreads.
Everyday Tarot Magic: Meditation & Spells isn't a bad spell book, there just is not that much to differentiate it from the other spell books on the shelves. If you are looking for a book of simple spells for everyday life, wish to incorporate the Tarot into your spells, and are already familiar with the basics of spellcasting, this might very well be the spell book for you. Personally, while I do like the Tarot, I'll stick with Morrison's original Everyday Magic as the spell book I recommend to people without much knowledge of magick who are looking for simple spells for everyday life.
Reviewed by Randall
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