la Vie Sirene issue XVI - MIDSUMMER MAGIC by Siren School

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” “A little magic can take you a long way.”

Roald Dahl

Contents Wild Magic by Christina Scheiman .................. 3

Why we need magic & it needs us ................. 61

The Magic of Show & Tell - interview with cover bloke Charles Spratley ...................... 4

Omni Annex: online specialty courses ......... 62 Magic Beans Salad recipe ............................... 64

Island Dreams by The Mad Goddess ............. 10

One Wizard to Rule Them All? ........................ 66

When Magic Turns Chaotic by Ross Buzzell ............. 12

The Magic of Marcin ........................................ 68

The Magic Garden by DJ Piper ....................... 14

Finding Your Magic .......................................... 70

The Magical Heart by Diana Divine Light ....... 18

SysteMagic with JSD Johnston ...................... 72

The Magic of Asemic Writing by Linde Clark ...... 20

Magical Movies ................................................. 74

Stephanie Clemens’ book review of The Wysteria Society of Lady Scoundrels ...... 24

A.K. Mulford's The High Mountain Court reviewed by Stephanie Clemens .............. 78

Union by Bradley L. Miller ............................... 26

Siren Send-Off .................................................. 80

Under a Spell by Jacqueline Clemens ........... 28 Finding Magic in a Teacup by Cheryl Turner ....... 30 Morning Magic by Stephen Thompson .......... 34 Magic Cake recipe ............................................ 36 The Magic of Airplanes by Frank De Jauregui ...... 38 Eclipse Magic by Yvette Azen ......................... 40

The Magic Mirror says not to miss your chance to contribute to our upcoming theme anthology, cookbook, and next magazine issue

What is Magic by Charles Spratley ................ 44 Dinner with a Side … of Magic? by Bonnie Ramsburg .................................................... 46 The Magic of Theatre by Patricia Miller ......... 47 Witchcraft & Pop Culture by Christina Scheiman ... 48 The Magic of Science by Kimberley Morris ...... 53 Magical Things by Miss Merilou ..................... 54 Time Travel Time Division by Stephanie Clemens ...................................................... 56

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mag·ic

/ˈmajik/

noun: magic 1. the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. 2. a quality that makes something seem removed from everyday life, especially in a way that gives delight.

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Wild Magic by Christina Scheiman

The birds would always sing As you went walking through the woods. Flowers bloomed outside her door As if they understood. If she was melancholy The sky wrapped itself in grey, But the sunshine in her smile Could drive the clouds away. No one would believe you Unless they happened to be there To see your girl weave magic Like flowers through her hair.

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The Magic of Show & Tell with our cover gracer,

Charles Spratley

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When I first met Charles Spratley, he was gleefully helping in the kitchen at a beloved tearoom in a nearby town. The moment I heard he was conversant in matters paranormal, I was intrigued, but that was the extent of our interaction at the time. Years later we reconnected when he was engaged to give a ghost tour to our social group as part of a theme event. I’ve hung on his every word ever since.

Promo from Charles’ sold-out Houdini storytelling performance

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What are your favorite forms of magic, and what about them do you enjoy most? My favorite form of magic is what is called bizarre magic. Originally it was very dark but now focuses on magic that is based on storytelling and drawing people into an emotional journey. It can be funny or dark. What draws you to magic? My biggest draw into magic is the same as my historical tours, both regular and ghost tours. I enjoy sharing wonder and giving people a part of my world they can partake in and not just read about but experience. Who are your favorite magicians, and why?

After I rooked Charles into serving as la Vie Sirene’s first male cover model, I informed him he would be interviewed, as readers naturally would want to know about the person selected to represent the issue’s theme. He kindly answered my niggling questions as follows:

My favorite magicians are Howard Thurston and Harry Kellar. This is magic from the Victorian Age that really knew how to capture audiences without all the modern techniques that magicians use today. Their style of magic is classy, romantic and speaks of a bygone era. As you've studied magic and its practitioners, what has surprised you? What surprised me so much in my studies of magic is how some magicians were more showman

In what way(s) is magic part of your life? Magic is a huge part of my life. It helps me focus and communicate my ideas into a new medium of wonder.

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than actual magician. I myself, I suppose, am a bit of both. But then again, I never say I’m a magician or that I do magic. I tell a story…with some very visual aids.

❖ In the last couple of weeks, Charles has seen a dream come true after fifteen years of patiently working and waiting. He is now the caretaker of the historic Villa Montezuma, a Queen Anne Victorian house museum in San Diego. Keep up with his talks, tours, and caretaking activities via his Illusions of the Past site, Facebook, and Instagram.

What are the most unusual forms of magic you've encountered? The most unusual forms of magic are also sometimes the simplest. I’ve seen literally what someone would call a legit miracle and then spend months trying to wrap my head around it. Did I just see that? Did that really happen? The thin line between magic and paranormal. Who would you say is the most magical person you know? The most magical person I know? It sounds strange but guess what everyone…I’m a total introvert. All the magical people I know are dead. Any advice to others on how they can bring more magic into their lives? I can only give one piece of advice. It works wonderfully for bringing more magic to your life but also enhances your life in general. Realize your life is short, never say, “I will do something tomorrow.” Tomorrow may never come. I never practice for an event. I practice. Period. Live every day as if it was your last.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Interesting stories of the history of San Diego. Well researched and more thorough than the tourist presentations you hear at the actual locations. A must read for anyone who lives in Southern California.” —CJ from CA

Many people search to find a good – and true – ghost story in San Diego. It might surprise you to find that some tales you thought were true, may be created from misconceptions, distortions, and even made-up historic events. Find the scoop here as some of the ""truths"" of San Diego's most famous haunts are debunked and stories set straight via historical research. Just how haunted is the Whaley House? Was "Yankee Jim" really hung on the property. Piercing the Veil: Examining San Diego's Haunted History is available in paperback on Amazon. Signed copies available in person during the Tea Travellers’ Spirits of San Diego weekend.

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“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic — the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we’re alone.” ― Charles de Lint

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Island Of Dreams by The Mad Goddess

She stands on a cli Looking out at the sea Her love has been gone For een long years Every night she has spent On this very cli Praying to the Gods For his safe return home

Her body breaks the surface Of the icy cold water She ghts to stay up Gasping for air Her movements slow down She loses all feeling Swallowed by dense fog Her body oats on

Tir na nOg Island of dreams Pa ently waits For the coming of true love As her eyes slowly scan The deep, dark horizon A voice meets her ears That she cannot ignore She steps a bit closer To hear what he's saying And hears the words "I love you" As her feet slip away Tir na nOg Island of dreams Pa ently waits For the coming of true love

Again she hears "I love you" And her eyes u er open To reveal the face From which the words had come She looks into her true love's eyes Fearing that it is only a dream They embrace Fading into each other's arms Tir na nOg Island of dreams Has waited long enough For true love has nally come To rest upon its shores

www.linktr.ee/LifeWithSqueaky -10-

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When Magic Turns Chaotic by Ross Buzzell m u ta nt s ,” s h e re d u c e d t h e m u ta nt popula on from sixteen million down to a meager one hundred ninety-eight. If you haven’t read the House of M storyline, I’d check it out. WandaVision was heavily inspired by it.

Chaos magic—with the introduc on of WandaVision those who aren’t the biggest comic fans but follow the MCU (Marvel Cinema c Universe) are now aware of a new level of magic. There are di erences between the comic and silver screen versions of the abili es as well as the characters, but I want to cover how Wanda Maximo ’s magic di ers between the mediums.

In both, Wanda has a psycho c break while dealing with loss. While it manifests di erently in both pieces of media, it was interes ng to see what she was able to do to Westview. It shows the staggering level of her cinema c powers.

I’m sure many of you looked up the character right a er her show dropped on Disney+, but for those who haven’t, Wanda’s abili es are very diverse. In the comics she was a mutant un l it her story retconned in 2015 to her explain her superhuman traits as being the result of experimenta on done to her by the High Evolu onary.

Unlike in House of M, and pointed out by the character Agatha Harkness, the Scarlet Witch didn’t need to say a single word to manipulate reality, bend me, or alter probabili es ,and just like in the comics, she created her own children with Vision.

Her powers include spell cas ng, magic sense, and superhuman genes that give her access to chaos magic. She’s a nexus being (we likely saw the nexus in the show’s nale) which allows her to manipulate me and probabili es, warp reality, and teleport.

While there is crossover between the comic and the silver screen regarding the powers of the Scarlet Witch, I’m inclined to lean toward the fact her MCU counterpart is far more powerful than her comic book counterpart. She was able to alter reality to an undetermined scale without speaking.

While we’ve only seen a handful of these powers during her me with the Avengers, I’m sure we’ll see more of them in Doctor Strange in the Mul verse of Madness and even feel their e ects in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I’m eager to see how her powers progress into the mul verse of madness where I hope we get to see Chthon as well as the sources of chaos that exist just beyond the veil that’s been teased when Doctor Strange rst altered me when we rst saw him.

In the comics, Wanda’s powers stem from the experiments men oned above and are ampli ed by an Elder God. If you aren’t familiar with the king of cosmic horror, check out H.P. Lovecra as Marvel took inspira on from his Cthulhu mythos to create Chthon, the God of Chaos, all the way back in the mid 1970s. Between both of those beings imbuing parts of their power into her, the comic version of Wanda Maximo is one of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe. To get an idea of the level of power she holds, with just three li le words “No more

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When the only way out is through You fight like your life depends on it. He’s survived reality by keeping to himself. Now, the only way for Ray to survive may be to connect with others. Suddenly, those musty crypts and menacing werewolves don’t look so bad... He’s bound for an epic adventure filled with magical beasts, warring factions, and a leveling-up system out of this world. If only he wasn't given negative charisma points around women, he might have a chance. Survival means victory and defeat could mean the end – forever. For lovers of adventure, the dice rollers of chaos, and the unapologetic gamers. We can't promise it'll be safe, but we can promise you're in for one great journey.

Order on Amazon here

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The Magic Garden would explore the garden inside the tree circle the next time his mother did chores.

by DJ Piper Once upon a time, a young boy named Johnny lived with his mother in a small cottage in a sunny meadow beside a tall, dark forest. Johnny was a happy child and always smiled.

One evening, the moon came out early, and a soft breeze carried the scent of cooking hamburgers. Johnny’s mouth watered, and Scout’s ears and nose pricked in response. Johnny jumped up and ran to his mother.

“You’re the apple of my eye, Johnny,” his mother said.

“Mother,” Johnny said. “Someone is cooking hamburgers down by the tree circle.”

“What does that mean, Mother?” Johnny asked. “I’m not an apple.”

“No, Johnny,” his mother said. “There aren’t any hamburgers.”

“It means I love you very much.” His mother hugged him and leaned over to kiss the top of his head.

“But Mother, I smell hamburgers cooking.” “Yes, that’s what it smells like to you. It smells like a meaty bone to Scout. To a cat, it smells like catnip. To a horse, it smells like tall, green grass. Don’t believe your nose, Johnny. It’s a trick. Don’t go near the tree circle. And whatever you do, don’t ever, ever go into the garden.”

Johnny wanted to play but had no brothers or sisters. “Will you play with me, Mother?” “I wish I could, Johnny, but I must do chores. I need to clean the house and cook your dinner.” Whenever that happened, Johnny went outside and played with his best friend, his dog Scout. Scout helped Johnny explore the forest and play all the fantasy games his young master could think up. “Scout, let’s play over by the forest where the funnyshaped trees stand in a circle. There’s a garden planted in the middle.”

On another moonlit night, Johnny woke and heard voices. He ran to his mother’s room and knocked on her door. “Mother, I hear voices. Who’s talking? Do we know them? Are they here to visit?” “Go back to sleep, son. Don’t listen. It’s just the wind song of leaves rustling in the breeze.”

But his mother said, “Don’t go near the tree circle. And whatever you do, don’t ever, ever go into the garden.”

“But it sounds like it’s coming from the garden.” “It’s not your concern, Johnny. Go back to sleep.”

“Why can’t I go into the garden, Mother? The plants are so colorful.”

The next morning at breakfast, Johnny said, “Mother, I know I heard voices last night. Someone was in the meadow by the tree circle.”

His mother’s answer was always the same. “Don’t go near the tree circle. And whatever you do, don’t ever, ever go into the garden.”

“No, son. There was no one there. It was just the wind song of leaves rustling in the breeze.”

When Johnny was very young, he obeyed his mother. But, when he grew older, he wondered why his mother said that. “Why shouldn’t I? I can explore the garden and get back home before Mother even knows I’m gone.” Johnny decided he

One day, Johnny and Scout played outside while his mother hung clean laundry to dry on the clothesline. Scout barked and chased a squirrel into

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the garden in the middle of the tree circle. Johnny called and whistled, but his dog didn’t come back.

“Hello, Rosemary. I used to have a friend named Rosemary. She had eyes the color of your flowers. But she went away and never came back.”

As Johnny walked toward the tree circle to find Scout, his mother called, “Johnny, don’t go near the tree circle. And whatever you do, don’t ever, ever go into the garden.”

The evergreen shrub quivered in response to his words. Johnny heard a cat meow. He looked down at a fuzzy plant with jagged, heart-shaped leaves and lavender flowers. “Catnip,” the sign said. Johnny laughed. “I thought the catnip meowed.”

“But Scout chased a squirrel into the garden. I have to bring him home.” “No, Johnny. Scout knows his way. He’ll come home when he’s ready.”

Johnny saw a plant with two-foot-long leaves shaped like hearts. “Elephant Ears,” the sign said. Johnny laughed. “The leaves are shaped just like elephant ears.” A loud trumpeting sound startled him, and he backed up and bumped into something sharp.

But Scout didn’t come home. The moon was full that night, and Johnny couldn’t sleep because he was worried about Scout. The summer night was warm, and Johnny opened his bedroom window. A dog barked down by the tree circle. The bark sounded funny like it was echoing.

“Ow!” he exclaimed and heard a noise behind him. “Who was that?” He spun around but no one was there. He had bumped into a bush with shiny, dark green, pointed leaves and red berries. In front of the plant, a nicely lettered sign identified the shrub as “Holly.”

“Scout must be stuck somewhere. That’s why he didn’t come home this afternoon. I have to help him,” Johnny thought. So, Johnny climbed through his window and followed the barking.

“Hello, Holly. Sorry I bumped into you,” he said as a formal apology. His mother had taught him to be polite.

The moon slid behind a cloud, and everything was quiet as Johnny walked in the dark. When he reached the tree circle, the moon came out, and he heard barking and people talking. “Someone’s in the garden,” he thought.

Johnny walked along every path in the garden and examined the other plants. He stood face-toface with a “Black-eyed Susan” sunflower. A “Trout Begonia” had leaves spotted just like the trout that used to swim in the creek. A patch of tall, green grass was labelled “Timothy.” Red, pink, white, purple, and bi-colored flowers clustered above the “Sweet William” sign.

Instead of a fence, signs that said “Welcome to the Garden” surrounded the tree circle. Inside the ring of trees, rows of flowers, plants, and bushes grew in concentric circles around a large glowing boulder in the middle of the garden. Each plant was identified with a neatly lettered sign.

As Johnny reached the middle of the garden, the moon moved behind a cloud, the large stone stopped glowing, and the garden was quiet. Johnny wondered why that happened.

Johnny walked into the garden and followed the path between the trees and the first circle of plants. He passed a three-foot tall plant with brilliant blue flowers and needle-like leaves covering each stem. The sign said “Rosemary.”

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Johnny followed the sound of barking, but he couldn’t find his dog. He felt something touch his back. He pivoted and a dog’s head was sticking out of the trunk of the tree, panting and barking. The neatly lettered sign at the base of the tree said “Dogwood.” “Dogwood.” Johnny laughed. He looked at the dog’s face and patted its head. “My dog is lost. His name is Scout. Have you seen him?” The dog head whined and licked Johnny’s hand. There was a nicely lettered sign he had not noticed earlier. It was strange because the sign was there, but no plant was next to it. “Johnny-jumpup,” the sign said. Johnny giggled. “That’s my name.” It was late and dark, and Johnny was tired. He hadn’t found Scout, but he needed to get home and back into bed before his mother noticed he was gone. As he walked through the garden one last time, the moon came out, and the stone glowed invitingly. Maybe he should sit down and rest before he walked home. Johnny reached out and ran his fingers across the glowing surface.

When the full moon came out from behind the cloud, the garden was once again brightly lit. The large, smooth boulder in the center of the garden glowed. As he stepped forward to touch the stone, he heard voices and his dog barking.

Later that night, Johnny’s mother checked on her son and found his bed empty. His window stood open, and she knew he had crawled through. She went outside and began calling for him. As she searched for Johnny, she walked nearer and nearer the tree circle.

Johnny whirled around. “Scout, here boy! Where are you?” He heard more voices and turned around again. “Who’s there? I don’t see you, and I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

Johnny screamed a warning to his mother. “Don’t come near the tree circle, and whatever you do, don’t ever, ever come into the garden.”

He walked in the direction of the barking and tripped over a root sticking out from under a small bush. The sign identified the plant as a “Squirrel Arm.” He laughed because the hairy root did resemble a squirrel’s arm reaching out from under the plant.

His mother stopped and glanced around, but all she heard was the wind song of leaves rustling in the breeze.

He bowed politely. “Excuse me, Mr. Squirrel,” he said, then continued walking more carefully in the direction of the barking. The moon slipped behind another cloud. It was dark and quiet as Johnny walked between the plants. The cloud passed, and moonlight streamed into the garden. He heard voices behind him and swung around. But no one was there. He heard more voices. But everywhere he turned, no one was there. Then a dog barked excitedly.

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For more garden tales from DJ Piper, take her 6-lesson course Sluggery Basics: Raising, Training, and Showing Your Slug, offered complimentarily through the Academy of Omniosophical Arts & Sciences online annex.

Use this QR-code for the online course link. And look forward to a paperback version of the course coming soon!

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The Magical Heart by Diana Divine Light

There is no end to me I am so much more than you can see

Inside my heart life has no ending Inside my heart galaxies are expanding

There is no end to me I am more vast than all the oceans and all the seas

Inside my heart there is so much room to grow Everything I want to learn I already know

There is no end to me My heart is open and from it I want to share what I know of me

Inside my heart all I am is Free Inside my heart I am living my Destiny Daniel, my son, you were conceived inside of me You grew and I loved you and now you are free

Although my parents didn’t want to hear Who I am or why I am here I have a need to let one, someone, know Who I am and why I came here

Free to explore what is in you Free to explore and do what you want to do

My heart is vast unending for sure It has visions of before and after the physical me

What’s in your heart? Have you looked in there?

My heart can fathom other dimensions other terrains I walk alone here, it will not always be the same

Do you know how vast it is? Do you wander in there? Inside your heart there is more than in me I think that is how we are meant to be

My heart has broken into tiny bits Each bit of heart has eyes to see

Each generation has a better view Of who they are and all they can do

I see the vastness inside of me The vastness is bigger than all the skies

My heart is my doorway To Worlds I enter to play

It is so big it defies the whys

I stay in my heart and never look away Now that I am free within me I play

It is so big Nothing can explain

Sunrise is happening A Glorious New Day!

How much my heart can hold Will never be told © Dr. Diana Divine Light - used by permission

I just need someone to listen to what I know about me For I am so complicated and as simple as can be

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“Poetry is a kind of magic that very few can create and even fewer can truly understand and appreciate in all its glory.” ― Dennis Gabor

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The Magic of

Asemic Writing by Linde Clark

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Every time you write intuitively, that symbol remains individualized and magically disappears when you begin again. Because it is not a learned science, the form cannot be copied. You can write elongated, wide, bold, with fine lines or very small. With pressure, it changes the look of each symbol.

"Asemic" writing is a literary movement that began with Chinese calligraphers in (circa 800CE) containing a wordless, open semantic form of writing. Asemic means "having no specific semantic content" or meaning. Asemic writing is mysterious, in that it has an abstract form of no specific interpretation. It is left up to the individual to perceive it purely as abstract.

In the world of Mixed Media, artisans call this type of art, "Mark M a k i n g ”. I t i s a spontaneous filler of space when there is a void. The marks can be drawn over layers of paint and collage. Its popularity is growing exponentially as artisans promote their work and show t h e va r i o u s w a y s they insert abstract symbols onto their compositions.

In the art world, artisans use asemic writing, or in more modern terms, "intuitive scripting", to create the look of old world language. It often takes on a Hieroglyphicesque/Japanese symbol form, creating a language of a b s t ra c t i o n o n l y the artisan-writer can relate to. Again, it carries no specific linguistic meaning or translation; it is a faux language.

In the 1920s, Man Ray who was influenced by Dada, created his own work of wordless writing with a poem entitled Paris, Mai 1924. The writing, avant-garde; is nothing more than dashes on a page. Artisans and writers alike called it surrealism and automatic writing, and through the eras into the ’50s artisans and writers used this intuitive scripting in their works, and it remained a popular movement into the late ’60s.

Intriguing, in that it is not usually repeated, each framework of the lines is unique in and of itself. Its random intuitive style stays in that mysterious realm forever. There is no alphabet, only conceptualized line drawings executed by the artist and the pen.

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Historically,

perspectives, architecture and construction, so that gave me perspective skills—all the creative skills came naturally. I was asked by the head of the Interior Design program to helm and create the first Student Chapter Interior Design club on campus, thus making me the first president. The evolution came as I explored new materials and experimented to see exactly what I connected with on a deeper level. As it turns out, I love so many media, but my eclectic execution leads to an evolution that changes constantly. I have a passion for abstract painting using, for one, the "fluid" method. My art is kinetic, created by my own energy. My collection is called, "Poetry in Paint". I was often praised for my ingenuity until the world caught on to my technique. Now the style has taken residency in a highly saturated capacity. Albeit, once unique, now it's over done. But my passion remains.

Q&A with artisan & crafter Linde Clark— For four years the Ocademy’s Whimsicalidocious arts nonprofit has been searching for an artistic instructor with whom to partner in the offering of Crafternoon Tea activities. We finally found the right fit with Linde Clark. Here’s a little bit about her: What is your medium? I don't have just one medium. I experiment, teach, and design in all elements. Whether it's jewelry, metals, clay, wax, inks, paints, paper, fabric, and so much more. How did you get started in your current field? I've been a curious feline since the age of 5. I began a coloring career at 5 which led to creating my own furniture and fashions from recyclables for my dolls and doll house. I was the eldest of 5, so trips to the store or receiving gifts were nonexistent. I was forced to entertain myself, as my mother was very busy having babies. I began my art business, designing and teaching around 1997. It has evolved as the trends have changed, and I've learned more techniques, explored new media, resources, visited festivals and museums, which opened the door to so many artistic opportunities, then found a space to teach in a zen-like atmosphere, inviting art enthusiasts to learn new skills. Moreover, I developed the ability to create a business from my passions.

What is your goal for your work? To be respected, admired, and known as a unique, creative stylist in multiple media. What projects are you most enjoying right now? So many projects, especially Mokume Gane Jewelry: A Japanese technique where by you fuse layers of polymer clay together creating a myriad of designs. Once sliced and baked, those designs can be made into components of jewelry, beads, buttons, and any embellishment your mind will take you to.

How has your work evolved? Until I went to college in the ‘70s I was self taught. I went to two colleges (music and theatre arts) before going to Moorpark College where I studied fine art, interior design, psychology, child development, and art history. There I learned technical aspects of art, drawing, painting, spatial

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What projects are you most looking forward to next? Encaustic Wax Fossils: Paleontology. Elements of the ancient world. Wax carved Geodes and Mollusks.

and happy I feel a sense of freedom and peace. I love to write. I'm writing a book now called The Internal Journal. So that is a release in another form of art that I have a passion for.

How do your surroundings affect your work? 100%. I need my materials neatly around me for inspiration. I need positive energy around me, whether it's my own company in silence, music I love or positive, loving people to teach. The bottom line is being in a visual atmosphere of nature which equates to success and loving energy.

What would you like people to take away from your work? That she's unique. Different, an out-of-thebox thinker, creator. Passionate. Her self expression is exhibited in the style of her creations. Her love of her medium is clearly defined by her expression in color and design. She is not afraid of not being perfect. A little askew. That's eclectic. That's me.

How do your relationships influence your work? They don't. I'm able to separate that part of my life. My art is therapy and my escape from negative behaviors around me. I do not let one influence the other. I keep my circle small. Too many people result in too much chaos because I feel and love deeply. So I keep it to a minimum in order to keep my emotions in check and in control. My son is my greatest creation, and we have a bond that is undeniable. My best friend is like a sister, My family is a work in progress, and my small circle keeps me active and social. I love meeting new people, but my art and creating is where I'm happiest. People have their own agendas. New acquaintances are short-lived most of the time. As long as my son, my family, and best friends are well

What would you like to be doing ten years from now? I hope to see the day where my son has children so I can be a grandmother. Teaching my grandchildren to be free to think and speak for themselves. Be independent. Show them a creative world of opportunity. Show them love. What's your favorite aspect of the work you do? Sharing and learning more every day. What would you like people to know about you? To know me is to love me. What would you like your legacy to be? That I was a loving mother, kind, grateful, compassionate, caring, loving, humanitarian, and loved my son more than life itself. My motto: Never say never. Believe in yourself. Think of others first. Contact Linde via her Creative Collaborative Workshops group on Facebook or email her directly at Linde819 at aol dot com to book a class.

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Stephanie Clemens’ Book Review of The Wysteria Society of Lady Scoundrels Recently I sat down to read the book The Wysteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. It had arrived at my door in one of the many book boxes I subscribe to. This one was from an independent bookstore outside of Los Angeles that caters to lovers of all things romance. The box itself arrived right after I had a pretty invasive surgery, and the light blue and purple cover screamed whimsical and fluffy—which seemed to be the perfect read for my post-surgery brain. I’ll admit I judged the book by its cover, and not even an in-depth analysis of the cover, but a brief perusal that did, in turn, lead me almost completely astray. For this book was nothing like I expected. It was not the Victorian romance novel with lords and ladies going to balls and such, but a Romantasy at its finest. For upon opening the pages I discovered that the characters in this book are indeed lady scoundrels (I know, it should be obvious by the title). But they are not just any lady scoundrels, they are pirates! Again, I have read Victorian romances that have female pirates in them, but nothing like this book. The women do not pirate on ships, but have a special incantation that allows them to fly their own houses. And that’s only where the madness begins. Clout in the society depends on how many assassination contracts are out on you, the amount of mischief you have perpetrated, and more. The characters are fun and wacky with an assassin that’s not just an assassin, his target who can take care of herself, and her crazy hypochondriac aunt who believes the worst thing that can happen to a young lady is to get freckles. While the book was not what I expected, it was what I needed on my road to recovery. A madcap adventure and love story, it’s bonkers, whimsical, proper, and oh so strange. I want everyone to read and enjoy it, because it was just so much fun.

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“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” ― Stephen King

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UNION

by Bradley L. Miller A lonely Angel in a train depot A lost Lion in a magical land. An unknowing pair of souls predestined to link in an unbreakable union, To meet in an insignificant parlor to create a musical success of art, To find love in a moonlit park, surrounded by stars, and proclaim their love and devotion in an English castle. The Lion spirit and the Angel soul become one, With a love that extends beyond boundaries And touches people from mountain cafes to deserts of light. From temples of drama to the churches of music they bring love and hope to unwitting recipients and reveal a force of unopposable magnitude. The couple journeys to faraway places. They sail the ocean to a village of cobble-stone streets, They ride the air to a metropolis of art and culture And visit hamlets built on hills and olde English towns in an arid desert. They see magical sights in the most unlikely of places And marvel at the many new things they have yet to experience. Their souls mystically embody others To portray historical and fantasy characters along the way. A young boy yearning for acceptance, A sensuous woman triumphing over a malignant evil, Prisoners finding hope in a dungeon of despair, A mother and father, protecting their family in a Holland factory. In these magical travels, one thing remains. The Angel still looks to her Lion, The Lion always longs for his Angel. Both find power in knowing this certain truth. That they only need to look beside them, or within them, To find the wild passionate affection that binds them as one, forever.

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Being a fan of Patricia & Bradley Miller, I immediately saw “them” in Bradley’s poem Union. The Ocademy has wisely engaged them as commentators in the Omni Tales Chapter & Verse video series, and based on the comments below, you can see why: “These two are a hoot and a half. They definitely have some chemistry going on. Enjoyed it tremendously!” —Cheryl T. “I try and I try to focus on what she's saying but I can't help but be distracted by his adoration of her!!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I have absolutely NO idea what she has said. I like being single too much, but if I ever change my mind, I hope to meet someone who looks at me the way he looks at her.” —Erica G.

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Under a Spell

best to describe what I saw to my husband, but there were no words to truly relate the perfect perfection I saw. And the sensations bubbling up inside of me! A thrill never experienced before at this intensity. I did remember a time that I came close to this same sensation some 10 years earlier. Sadly, the cause of that thrill was now all but forgotten. As soon as we returned home from the day’s road trip, I ran to the garbage can next to my desk and retrieved a picture of the exact cause of my excitement. I’d received it the day prior, but carelessly tossed it aside as if it was impossible to include this in my life. I showed the picture to Robert. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t toss the picture back into the trash. I kept telling myself there was no way this beautiful, sleek, sexy vision could become a part of my life. But no matter how hard I tried to put the possibility out of my mind, I couldn’t. I was under a spell.

by Jacqueline Clemens

The year is 2016. The day, a beautiful sunny, blue sky type of day in Southern California (every day in Southern California is beautiful). My husband, Robert, and I are driving downtown in my little silver Mazda Miata convertible - top down, naturally. No destination in mind, just enjoying the sunshine and the cool April weather. We’re not really talking to each other, just listening to hits from the ‘70s on the radio. We love during our precious little time away from work to get out and take what we call a “road trip” on weekends.

Soon another week of work was done and we were back in my little silver Miata. This

Today’s road trip started out like every other road trip, until suddenly, out of my peripheral vision, I spotted the most beautiful, sleek and sexy sight I have ever seen in my entire lifetime! I yelled over the traffic noise for Robert to look, but it disappeared so fast he barely caught a glimpse. The vision disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. I was unable to get the vision out of my head as we continued on our travels. I tried my

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time instead of listening to music, Robert brought up the picture I kept looking at all week. “You know, what you have now is just a tweener. It’s worked for awhile, but now there is another. Another that has already found a place in your heart.” he said.

hometown and continued to drive. We drove for a little over an hour, finally leaving the freeway in Orange, California. A few moments later we pulled into the Mazda car dealership. I couldn’t believe my eyes, when I saw my vision once again right in front of me!

“But I have obligations to fulfill. It isn’t the right time. I just need to get over this. I’ll throw the picture away when we get home.” My reply didn’t convince him that I could ever forget. That night, he spent hours on the computer, not telling me what he was doing. I watched television, trying to get out from under the spell where I felt trapped.

There it was, a 2016 beautiful, red, sleek and sexy Mazda Miata! “It’s yours, if you want it,” my husband said. I looked at him with happy tears in my eyes, “Really?” “Your 2013 Miata was a tweener car. A temporary replacement for the 2006. It was a car for you to drive until you found another car you could love. This one is it. You are completely under its spell.”

The next day was Sunday, the day usually spent getting household chores done before starting another week of work. Instead of starting the laundry, Robert asked me if I wanted to go for a little ride. I thought to myself, “How nice, maybe we are going out for breakfast.” We got on the freeway and drove past all the restaurants in our little

A few hours later, we headed home. Top down, music playing. Yes, this car definitely cast a spell on me the first time I laid eyes on it.

The year is 2021. “A lot of things have come to pass in the last 5 years. But one thing has remained constant over the years. This beautiful, red, sleek, sexy Miata still has me under its spell,” I thought to myself as we sped off on another road trip …

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c i g a M g n i d Fin by Cheryl Turner Watching the dark amber liquid cascade from the spout of her grandmother’s teapot, Rebecca was nearly hypnotized. Her vision cleared at the movement of a hand. She blinked. She waited patiently as her grandmother added a little sugar and a splash of milk to the dainty teacup. Rebecca was fascinated by the way the creamy white and golden-amber liquid swirled together. Her grandmother silently stirred the concoction with a small silver spoon, then offered Rebecca the cup and saucer with experienced grace. No clinking. No clatter. Praying silently that she would not spill, Rebecca tenderly caressed the saucer. with her small hands. She carefully raised the saucer and lifted the cup to her lips. Glancing down into the cup, she could see herself looking back in a cloudy reflection. ‘It is just like a magic mirror,’ she thought to herself. Rebecca savored the delicious fluid as it passed over her tongue—she was suddenly transported. She had entered a space with no time. There was no worry in this place. She allowed herself to relax, and she drifted away for a short time. Before she even knew it, she had finished her cup of magical tea. She was aware that her grip on the cup had loosened. She gingerly sat the cup down in front of her and smiled at her grandmother who was watching from across the table. Marion smiled back at her and said, “You never even spilt a drop. Well done, Becca. I believe there will be many more teatimes for you and me.”

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p u c a e T in a Throughout Rebecca’s childhood there were indeed many more tea times with Gram. With each visit, Rebecca was allowed entry to her grandmother’s past through stories shared during their time together. It was as if visiting another realm. Her grandmother was proving to be more than just the woman who had raised her mother. She was witty and smart. She had a humorous side. She was adventurous and well-traveled. She was well-educated. She had a taste for fine things like beautiful crystal and china. At many of these visits, Rebecca arrived to find the table formally set with beautiful gold-veined stemware, delicate china place settings, gold plated flatware, and of course, linen napkins. These were her grandmother’s treasured possessions; each piece had a story behind it, and she was sharing them with Rebecca. These visits were magical. Without her being aware, Rebecca was being transformed, trained, and prepared for things to come.

found magic in a cup of tea, but usually she was alone with her tea. Nothing formal. Just her, her tea, and her dreams. She worried she would lose the enchantment she found in tea. Could the spell that was cast over her at age five be wearing off? When she went away to college, Rebecca found she was drawn to courses in business, banking, and marketing. She had no idea why, but she just had an aptitude for these things. Something nagged at her. Was it something her mom or dad had said? Then the light bulb came on. It was her grandmother! It was then that she realized how far ahead of her time Gram was. After all, she had been an executive of a small chain of grocery stores in the 1950s and 60s. She was a single mother raising a child in the 1930s and ’50s. She owned property and made her own way in life. Her influence on Rebecca’s life was undeniable. Her Gram had always dreamed of owning her own tearoom. This was a dream Rebecca shared. Rebecca reached out to her grandmother many times during her college years. She found her to be a great source of support and an amazing listener during the tough times. And of course, she found solace in a good cup of tea, even if it was in a chipped mug. To ease her guilty conscience over not seeing her grandmother as often as she should have, Rebecca promised herself she would have a proper teatime with Gram as soon as she graduated. They could discuss their dreams over a magical cup of tea. But was the magic waning?

As Rebecca got older, her visits to her grandmother’s house were fewer. Was she just getting too grown up for teatime? Try as she might, she couldn't get her friends to share the same enthusiasm for sipping tea. Their interests were in things like riding horses at the local stables, going to movies, shopping, and boys. ‘These things are good too,’ Rebecca thought. ‘I can visit with Gram anytime.’ But, always, in the very bottom of heart she felt a pang. ‘Maybe it’s guilt.’ She was still drawn to pretty things, like chintz teacups and sparkling crystal. Sometimes she would see things like her Gram had in antique and thrift stores. She had an inexplicable longing to buy them. ‘Someday, yes someday,’ she promised herself. She still

After graduation, Rebecca found work in a bank. Her grandmother’s teachings over tea came of great value as Rebecca worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position. During numerous phone conversations,

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Rebecca and her grandmother talked about the future. She appreciated her Gram sharing her experience with her. There were times during these conversations that Rebecca felt as though her grandmother was holding back, not sharing possibly all there was to every story. Rebecca always felt there was more to Gram than what was being imparted, but never had the nerve to ask. Even in conversations with her mom, Rebecca felt something was off. ‘What is it they were not telling me?’ she wondered.

Marion Brighttour, looking quite grandmotherly now, stepped out from behind the heavy, wooden front door. Memories came flooding back to Rebecca. “That front door! How could I forget about that?” she thought. “I was sure this cottage was enchanted when I was a kid” The door had a peep hole with a little door over it on the inside. A large black iron door handle and latch, well-worn with age, dominated the left side. Even though the door squeaked in protest with every opening and closure, the black iron hinges held it securely in place. Rebecca shook herself out of her reverie and hurried to greet her grandmother who was now standing on the terra cotta tile that covered the porch and courtyard. Her Gram gathered her up in her arms and Rebecca began to weep.

“Perhaps I’ll have time soon to share a pot of tea and spend some much-needed quality time with Gram,” Rebecca said out loud to herself. There was certainly more to Marion Brighttour than meets the eye, she just knew it. “Mental note to self; set up a tea date with Gram,” she said to herself as she pulled into a space in the bank’s parking lot. Now she was feeling better about not seeing her Gram often enough. She had satisfied her nagging conscience. She would satisfy her soul with a nice cup of tea and a quick call to Gram, as soon as she got inside.

They were inside now, seated at her grandmother’s beautiful table. The table was covered in a fine lace tablecloth and was set with all the finery Marion had collected over the years. Her grandmother was pouring from a teapot decorated with violets. Rebecca watched as the dark amber liquid flowed over the spout and into her favorite teacup. She was hypnotized. She had drifted off. She blinked to clear her vision. How long was I? …

Rebecca stopped her car at the curb in front of her grandmother’s house. Marion Brighttour had lived in this charming little early California, Spanish-style cottage for as long as Rebecca could remember. Nothing much had changed. A few more plants maybe, and the trees had certainly grown. Even the little fishpond in the fenced front yard was still there. Rebecca wondered if her grandmother still employed the same gardener. Someone was certainly taking good care of it. It looked lovely to Rebecca. And there it was, that pang of guilt! Seeing this home, unchanged, had caused Rebecca to regret the times she had put other things before her Gram. Gosh, how she had missed it. Shame overtook her, and she almost broke into tears. Thankfully, her melancholy was interrupted by the creaking of the front door.

Marion was smiling at her. Her eyes twinkled. For a moment, just for a moment, Rebecca believed she had been under a spell. Could there really be magic in that teacup? Or was that my imagination? Some questions are best left unanswered.

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Experience the magic of tea for yourself at

Southern California’s treasured tearoom

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Morning Magic by Stephen Thompso Magic heard the cr as it was painting the morning sky. Swiftly it swooped to the newborns bed and gently peered into its head The valleys and crags of grey matter were a playground of fast-moving light What a human would see doesn't matter; for Magic the patterns were bright It waited but a second observin then held out a brush of light. Colourful words of powe it painted across the drab landscape Then Magic went back to painting the sky and introducing the beauty of night The fast moving lights got stronger sometimes and jumped to run on the word and from these jumps mankind created music, words, and the arts Next time some writing or art or music awakens a chord in your sou tip your hat to the possibilities written by magic on a baby's awakening brain.

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“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” —Eden Phillpotts

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Magic Cake A flick of the wand (or wooden spoon), a sprinkling of fairy dust (okay, powdered sugar), and you’ll find yourself ready to dig into a toothsome treat worthy of the fae. It may not look like much, but this tried-and-true dessert known as magic cake truly has supernatural properties. Despite being comprised of a simple batter, when the final product emerges from the oven, you’ll be delighted to find it has magically separated into three distinct layers of sweet and satisfying yumminess. This Vanilla Bean Magic Cake with Blueberry Lemon Sauce recipe from TheInspiredHome.com is my favorite: INGREDIENTS

4. Beat yolks with sugar until visibly lightened and fluffy about 4 minutes. Add melted butter, vanilla bean paste, and flour slowly. 5. Add warmed milk and beat until combined. 6. Add egg whites to batter and fold or whisk them in. Batter will NOT be smooth and should be lumpy still. 7. Pour into greased baking dish. Bake for 50-70 minutes. 8. Ovens greatly vary so check at 50 minutes and gently shake the rack. If the center is unset and very wobbly it needs more time. The top may over brown before the middle is fully cooked so tent with foil on top if this occurs. 9. We have much better results with metal pans over glass and recommend them. The size is also crucial for layer formation so do not substitute with a larger or smaller pan. Cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve in small slices.

For the Magic Cake: • ¾ cup sugar • ¾ cup all purpose flour • 4 eggs room temperature • 2 cups lukewarm milk • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste • 1 stick of melted butter For the Blueberry Lemon Sauce: • ½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) • 1 teaspoon lemon juice • 1 tablespoon sugar DIRECTIONS For the Magic Cake: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 2. Grease an 8x8 baking dish (we prefer metal as it heats faster and creates more distinct layers in our testing). 3. Beat egg whites in a mixer with whisk attachment to stiff peaks (when lifted whisk out of egg whites the peak formed should stay straight up and not collapse at top). Remove from mixer and set aside.

For the Blueberry Sauce: 10. Bring blueberries, lemon juice and sugar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently until thickened to desired consistency.

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applicable excerpt from The First Crack by JSD Johnston, Tomo 1 parsa iii in Peyton Drake’s Omni Tale “Who can tell me what magic is?” Preceptor MacIvers asked, the resonance of his voice like that of someone who just swallowed a spoonful of peanut butter. Benn raised his gloved hand. “Who are you, little man?” “Benn Snodgrass, Dim Delta, first-level Aquis.” “Tell me what you know about magic, Benn Snodgrass.” “Magic: the supernatural power to influence events and translate matter using various spells, substances, and activating tools such as wands and charms.” “Very detailed description, Snodgrass.” Benn laced his gloved fingers. “I concur, Preceptor MacIvers.” “And absolute rubbish!” The class broke out in sniggers. “M.A.G.I.C. … Mental acuity gelds insidious codswallop, my friends,” the preceptor said, sweeping his hand in front of him as he spoke. “Mindlessness and guesswork induce codswallop … Meretricious abracadabra gesturing is codswallop! Anyone see a pattern here? … No one? … What about you in the back hiding his tuxedo.” Pete flinched at the tuxedo mention. “Umm, codswallop?” “Exactly! That’s what the idea most people believe about magic is – codswallop, mumbo jumbo, claptrap, malarkey, flummery, poppycock!” He pounded his fist on his desk in punctuation, causing those in the front row to jump. “You want to move things without your hands? You don’t need a wand for that. You only need a passing grade in Mentis Imperium, Preceptor Seeford’s mental arts class.” Some of the students chuckled, others simply dangled their jaws. “You want charms? Lyria Corden’s Manipulation and Espionage class will teach you how to charm your way in or out of any situation, no talismans required.” Benn raised his hand. “I believe the Manipulation and Espionage class was cancelled.” “Oh you’re right.” “I know I am,” Benn replied, his top hat sliding off the back of his head as he lifted his chin in unabashed egotism. “You can thank the rebels for that – killjoys! … What was I talking about?” “Codswallop?” said a tiny young girl carrying a doll that looked just like her. “Yes! Codswallop! Now, who among you is dying to learn how to initiate the metamorphosis of substances?” As hands raised, he motioned for the students to come closer. Chairs squeaked in sync as rapt listeners leaned forward. MacIvers shielded his mouth with his hand and whispered. “Crack open a pair of cackleberries, squeeze in the secretions of a bovine, mix those together with some ground wheat, toss in a few roasted cacao nibs and bake a cake!” A few of the students groaned in disappointment. Most just looked confused. Benn took notes—wearing his gloves. “Magic is real, fiddleheads,” the preceptor boomed. “And it goes on all around us every day. In this class, you will learn where to look for it, how to find the truth behind the illusion. We’re going to do some demythtifying and plenty of it, have no fear. Now who’s with me?!” No one made a peep. Pete raised his hand. “Yes? You have a question?” “No, sir, umm I was raising my hand to show I’m with you.” Preceptor MacIvers held his stomach and let out a big rumbling belly laugh. “Good man! What’s your name again?”

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The Magic of Airplanes by Frank De Jauregu I have always gazed upon the sky seeing airplanes with awe and wonder. I marvel how something so heavy and rigid can fly with such easy grace. They come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. Some small and nimble while others are massive and powerful. Their colors range from dark to bright but no matter what color they are, airplanes never look dull Like Aladdin’s magic carpet airplanes take me into the realm of breathtaking vistas. I have flown among sun-split clouds of azure and white. In bright blue skies above snow capped mountains. In sunset skies of dazzling orange and fiery magenta I’ve cast my gaze down to the street lit twilight below. Airplanes allow me to escape the bonds of earth. To feel the vibration of the engine and the movement of the air. In the airplane I feel the exhilaration of flight. I look down at earthbound people while I wheel above their mundane lives. In that moment I am free and immortal.

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“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” —This famed quote, often incorrectly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, was actually uttered in 1965 by American TV writer John Hermes Secondari

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☽ Eclipse

Magic ☽

by Yvette Azen

When the moon eclipses the sun, Darkness creeps to take over. Birds cease their song. The air becomes heavy. Anticipation blankets the crowd as Light flees the sky. Leaves act as pinhole lenses Projecting crescent-shaped images. A unisoned gasp from the crowd. Silence Unconditional love fills the space.

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Eclipse Magic

“As in the soft and sweet eclipse, when soul meets soul on lover's lips.” Percy B. Shelley

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AT LONG LAST, THE AGE-OLD QUESTION IS ANSWERED, WITH WIT AND WHIMSY NO LESS If you’re in SoCal on November 14, join the Ocademy’s Whimsicalidocious arts nonprofit for a Sock HoppiTea celebration with author Bradley Miller. Don’t forget to wear your socks and bring a pair to share with a child in need of such.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ "This was a delightful book that my kindergarten class really enjoyed! They stayed focused and loved all the characters! So glad the mystery of the lost socks has finally been solved!" —Anne M.

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Magic by Shel Silverstein

Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I 've had to make myself.

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What is Magic ? by Charles Spratley The turning of a coin in my hand becomes a journey into another world. A whisper into someone’s ear becomes a call into their subconscious and they bend just a bit towards my will and see what I want them to see. Magic, isn’t just in the air. It is in the mind, but most importantly in the heart. How many times have I placed the planchette on the table and watched my guests place their hands hesitantly as I called upon the deceased to use our energy to move the small piece of wood, knowing in my heart it will move? Magic isn’t just doves, cups and balls, and playing cards in an intricate fan. It can be, and those who practice that form of the art get my utmost respect and applause. But my magic is an emotional journey, a ride. As I move amongst my guests, it is story, connection, and perhaps wonder. I read their minds, decipher their thoughts and make the impossible real and tangible. An old glass from a distant hotel becomes a way to talk to the dead. A tarot card changes before their eyes and even an antique photo morphs into something that alters reality. Magic comes in many forms. It can impress, create awe, bring about laughter, and make people weep with joy. Magic, when done right, is a tool to reach up and help others see the gods of old. The oldest recorded tricks are, of course, cups and balls and the removal of a duck’s head and then reattaching it. These feats of the mystical arts go back to approximately 2500 BC. The first magicians were not playing a nightclub or the Vegas strip. They entertained kings and made people believe that the world wasn’t what they once thought it was. They proved the divine, made the impossible possible, and crossed over into the land of the dead to communicate with those gone long ago. Real magic doesn’t just bring applause, it makes us believe with a child’s eye and an open heart.

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“Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” Voltaire

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MAGIC? by Bonnie Ramsburg

My parents decided to take my younger brother and I to a restaurant in our area called The Spaghetti Warehouse. My brother is six years younger than I am, and at this time mom believes he was still in single digits when we visited, (he’s now in his late thirties) just to give you an age frame. It was literally a warehouse in the middle of our downtown! You walked in the front doors and were bombarded with color, an overabundance of noise (warehouse, remember? High ceilings) and wonders that you couldn’t imagine, like an actual railroad car in the middle of the building that had tables inside so you could eat in it! Oh, and the delicious smell of Italian cooking of course, enough to make your mouth water as soon as you walked in. As we were sitting there perusing the menu, we saw a well-dressed man moving among the tables, stopping every so often, chatting with the customers at whichever table he stopped at and interacting the most with the children that were in the party. We couldn’t gure out what was going on, but we de nitely heard the sounds of “Ohhhh! Ahhhhh!” and other sounds of wonder coming from those tables he stopped at. And it wasn’t just the kids either! My brother and I waited impatiently to see if our table would be one of the chosen and were extremely excited when it was! Turns out, the well-dressed man was a magician! He was going around to the tables and entertaining the guests with his magic act, choosing mostly tables with kids, but would sometimes go to an adults-only table. He was never at a table for more than ve or ten minutes, and unfortunately, I don’t remember all of the magic he performed, but there was one trick that no one in my family can gure out! He did this trick twice, once for my brother, then once for me. It involved rabbits—not real ones, oh no, that would have really made a mess! He used sponge rabbits. After showing us the rabbits, and that there were exactly two, he stuck them in our hand, one on top of the other, told us to squeeze our hand tightly closed, said some magic words, and nished up by telling us to open our hand. Which we did, and to our ever wondering curiosity and delight, there was a multitude of baby sponge bunnies spilling out of our hand along with the “parents!” And like I said, he did this twice, and we still can’t figure out how it was done! It’s a favorite memory from childhood. Some of the details probably aren’t correct because of the age and memory of the storyteller, but the magic trick is de nitely true! Oh, and a word to the curious—learn from my mistake and never watch TV shows that explain how magic tricks are done; unless, of course, you want to learn how to become a magician. But if you want to retain your innocence and wonder at magic tricks and such, it’s a bad, bad idea to watch those kinds of shows.

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DINNER WITH A SIDE OF …

The Magic of Theatre by Patricia Miller All of Life is Reflected on the Stage. Friendships begin in the most unlikely Places. Old Souls meet Again and Again … In the cool darkness of the Theatre My little Child comes out to Play. Shy at first, feeling her way gently, Discovering a world of Magic and Joy. She calls upon her secret self – with a Child’s willingness to share – her Gifts, her Talent, her Creativity, her Playfulness and Courage. To her Wonder, she meets Others who have come to Play and partake of the Magic; soft Lighting illuminates as they unveil precious Treasures to Share with this bright Company. Music adds its Harmony – a Melodic setting for expression – A kind of Prayer as she lifts her Voice in Song and knows sweet Longing, circling to Fulfillment. The Audience – Strangers at first, filled with Anticipation – add their Energy, bringing Gifts of Laughter and Applause to the Celebration. Sharing in their Delight, we weave a Magical Tapestry of Movement, Words and Song, creating a Bond as the Music carries its poignant Message to our Souls. ⭐ Softly quiet now, the Stage turns to darkness, the evening’s Playfulness draws to a close. The Child enfolds herself within me – Communing with my Heart – as we share the night’s Revelries. We have discovered kindred Spirits – Friendships that Unite us to a global Family – those who Joyfully share their Talents, their Passion, their Art. For when the Play is over, there are no Farewells – for us, no Final Curtain. Memories require only a sweet Adieu, until again we take a Magical Journey to this Stage.

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Witchcraft and Pop Culture: A Love Affair on the Silver Screen by Chris na Scheiman

In the United States, the concept of witches living among us is as old as our very na on. The Salem witch trials are regarded as the most famous condemna on of witches in the world, even though there have been numerous religious ‘puri ca ons’ throughout history that involved hanging and burning those convicted of witchcra . Today, Salem Massachuse s is seen as a historical site that tourists ock to every year, and is home to mul ple preserved historical loca ons, such as the Pickering House and Hamilton Hall, and museums dedicated just to the trials of 1692 and associated ar facts.

To the casual observer, pop culture has an infatua on with all things supernatural, spooky, and unexplainable. Our TV shows, movies, books, and art are lled with vampires, werewolves, and of course, witches. Witchcra has a long, storied history stretching back millennia to the earliest years of humanity. There are fun posts on Pinterest about how the Vikings supposedly considered mathema cs a type of witchcra , and thus their women were always in charge of household nances, and illustra ons on Instagram of women dancing in the moonlight in forests or on beaches.

The town of Salem and its unique history have inspired a mul tude of books, songs, TV shows, and movies, including the immensely popular Hocus Pocus by Disney. Disney has always been known for family-friendly content, being almost militant in their standards, so the crea on of a movie making light of evil witches back in 1993 was a bit surprising, and it did not perform well in theaters at the me. Hocus Pocus

The concept of the ‘digital witch’ o ering tarot readings, selling puri ed crystals, and crea ng resin smudge s ck holders has ourished in recent years. Where did this newfound glory in witchcra come from? Does our propensity for embracing the unknown in our media in uence our prac ce of witchcra or Wicca or paganism in this day and age?

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kept rolling out. We saw Elvira hit the horror scene and bring a sense of levity and camp to dark produc ons, and classics such as The Witches, inspired by the Roald Dahl novel, The C r a , P r a c c a l M a g i c , t h e p r e v i o u s l y men oned Hocus Pocus and more come to movie theaters. Even Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese anima on studio o f H a y a o M i y a z a k i , re l e a s e d K i k i ’s Delivery Service back in 1989, giving a child’s view of magic a bright perspec ve. Charmed, Bu y the Vampire Slayer, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch all came to our television sets in the ’90s, giving us magic, fashion, love troubles, and the always di cult concept of magical powers versus real life consequences.

Disney was not the rst produc on company to make witches seem familyf r i e n d l y i n m e d i a , however. The rst witch that America fell in love with was S a m a n t h a Stephens, the lead character in the charming B e w i t c h e d . Un l this point, there had been some books and a handful of small plays exploring the concept of witches who were mul dimensional, not simply horror characters driven by evil or greed. Bewitched was the rst widely accessible and popular program to show a woman with aspira ons and warmth who had access to magic but had to deal with how magic in uences everyday life. Samantha, in a way, was also an example of what we would consider a privileged individual learning to live without the trappings that made her life easier before she got married. The show was funny, relatable, and just quirky enough that most people did not have a nega ve response to the use of magic, as Samantha’s inten ons were portrayed as posi ve and innocent. Bewitched was a par cular stand out, though, a n d t h e n e x t w i d e l y recognized piece of lm involving witchcra took over 20 years to appear: The Witches of Eastwick.

Most of these representa ons of magic were not realis c in their portrayals. The Witches, Hocus Pocus, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and the ever popular Harry Po er series used simple versions of spells and magical cas ng that clearly don’t have an e ect in our universe (don’t get me started on nding a unicorn hair for a wand core). Other entries in this list, such as Charmed and Bu y the Vampire Slayer, took elements of Wiccan and pagan prac ces and u lized these elements in conjunc on with CGI and demonic en es appearing around every corner. As modern prac oners will tell you, there is not a set ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to prac ce the cra , but a book of shadows or book of spells, candle magic, and t h e m i x i n g o f p o o n s o r poul ces of herbs and minerals are very common in all aspects of prac cal witchcra .

The Witches of Eastwick had an all-star cast, including Cher and Jack Nicholson, and seemed to be the key to opening the door on witches in mass media at all levels. A er 1987, a ood of hits

ffi

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is now a beloved cult classic, and has hit a certain nostalgia level with younger people who weren’t able to appreciate it at the me.

The ’90s was a point of satura on for witches in pop culture, and this has not subsided in the past 20 years. The Harry Po er lm collec on is rated the 3rd-best grossing series of all me, and the top-selling book series of all me. The Witches of East End, The Magicians, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and now Wanda Maximo as the Scarlet Witch in Wandavision are poignant examples of how our love of magic, and witchcra in par cular, is not subsiding.

of being ‘seen’. However, my inclination towards these non-traditional religious studies was a closely guarded secret, even from my family, because I grew up and still live in a conservative Midwestern area that is not progressive in these matters. I do not mean this article in jest, I have the utmost respect for everyone who is on their own magical journey.

The key to nearly all of these movies, TV shows, and the books that inspire them is that the principle characters are almost all women. Witches are a character archetype that has persisted, showing women as being diverse, powerful, well-rounded individuals, even when other stereotypes are being perpetuated in other areas of media, such as the quintessential ‘Bond Girl’. When discovering or refining their powers, their potential seems endless, the limits nonexistent. No two witches go on the same journey, and the way they interact with their worlds, their loved ones, and the responsibilities they have to take on are a beautiful tapestry of what it means to be a woman. Being raised with these heroines has taught generations of women to embrace their inherent power and revel in time honored traditions of witchcraft and spiritualism.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

This is not a novel concept for me personally. I have ardently studied witchcraft, Wicca, and various pagan religions and practices since I was a preteen, and I took multiple years of Latin in high school to learn more about their religion and lifestyle practices. I have always felt that there is too much of an ‘other’ in the universe for us to name, narrow down, or explain, with science or with a singular religion. When I was growing up, there were strong, clever, badass women role models who happened to be magical that I was in awe of. The Charmed Sisters, Willow Rosenberg, Hermione Granger, and their counterparts filled me with a sense of empowerment and a feeling

It would be nearly impossible to list every witch we love (and some mes love to hate), so here’s an honorable men on for: I Married a Witch, Discovery of Witches, Death Becomes Her, The Good Witch, Yennifer of The Witcher, Evil Queen (or Regina) of Snow White & Once Upon A Time, Male cent of Sleeping Beauty, Ursula of The Li le Mermaid, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Howl’s Moving Castle, Salem, and all of the characters who charmed their way into our hearts.

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A Blessing Spell from Christina Scheiman While laying an offering of honey and flowers or tokens that make you happy on your altar

May luck find its way to me, Joy and light to follow me, Let this honey I pour sweeten me For all my days Blessed be!

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“Magic is just science that we don’t understand yet.” ~Arthur C. Clarke

“Science is always discovering odd scraps of magical wisdom and making a tremendous fuss about its cleverness.” ~Aleister Crowley “Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.” ~Terry Pratchett

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The Magic of Science by Kimberley Morris science-witch and appr entice alchemist

Magic and Science have always been uneasy siblings. What we don’t understand we tend to say is “magical” or “otherworldly” or “supernatural.” Then folk decide to really see why those things happen. Once we know the why, once we understand, it tends to lose that otherworldliness. It becomes ordinary. Normal. Just a part of the working of the world. But it shouldn’t. Both Science and Magic attempt to understand the world around us. They both try to manipulate the elements of matter to better explain how it all fits together. On a clear night, go outside and look up, even if you live in an urban setting. You can still see the moon. Now allow yourself to think about this: there is nothing between you and the moon, absolutely nothing for thousands and thousands of miles. Now imagine the other planets orbiting around the sun. Other than the odd satellite or asteroid, there is nothing between the Earth and those other planets. Now expand that awareness beyond our solar system to the next galaxy. And the next. And the next. Keeping with the theme, I’m sure you have heard the saying by Carl Sagan, “We are stardust.” Let’s break that down. Our atoms are made up of the bits from exploding stars, billions of light years away. The calcium in our bones, the iron in our blood, the water in our flesh, all came from somewhere else. We are connected to all other life on Earth at an atomic level. The elements that make up us, make up the trees, fish, the tomato plant you just put in the garden, that pebble you picked up on that beach vacation 5 years ago, the coworker that is forever forgetting to refill the copier with paper, all of it. We are connected. Science is just now starting to explore the edges of something witches and other sensitives have known for years. There is an energy that surrounds and connects all things. Most call this an aura. This energy can be felt, shaped, shared, taken, and given away, if you know how. Science is now starting to take note of this energy. It is what makes prayer and spells so effective. The supplicant or magic user is setting an intention, focusing the energy, and sending it out to the universe to deliver for its intended use. Science and Magic are not mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand. Without Magic, the first humans would not have sought to understand their world better, giving birth to science. Science is Magic, proven.

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Magical Things Something Old ~ Something New by Miss Merilou

Blue skies up above as I hop in the car. Buzzing as I turn the key. I'm out and going far. Finally excited to drive. The adventure begins. These are a few of my magical things. Feeling the warm sun and ocean waves crashing. Walks on the pier, seeing birds zipping and dashing. Beach time a plenty and kites flyin' on strings. These are a few of my magical things. Disneyland's open! Mickey and Minnie I've been missing. Small World. Star Wars. Haunted Mansion. I'm coming. Laughter of happy ones as fireworks stream in the sky. These are a few of my magical things. My phone ringing. Friends and Family a-calling. Parties and dinners. Afternoon teas without stalling. Connecting in person...Oh what possibilities this brings. These are a few of my magical things. Have to lockdown or to mask up, It can make me sad. But I simply remember these magical things and then I don't feel bad.

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“The magic is as wide as a smile and as narrow as a

wink, loud as laughter and

quiet as a tear, tall as a tale and deep as emotion. So

strong, it can lift the spirit. So gentle, it can touch the heart. It is the magic that

begins the happily ever after.”

~ Walt Disney

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Time Travel Crime Division The Adventure of Alex Granger by Stephanie Clemens First day as a detective, I smiled. It was hard to believe, but I, Alex Granger, passed my detective test on the first try. And this glorious morning I was reporting for the first time ever to the Time Travel Crime Division of the ATM Police Department. If you haven’t heard of the ATM, that’s good—you aren’t supposed to know we exist. But we do, and I really hope you can keep a secret, because I’m going to tell you just exactly who we are. The ATM is All Things Magical. There’s the ATM Authority; underneath them is the Police Department, and then there’s my division, the Time Travel Crime Division or TTCD for short.

slight pinch as the magic was extracted. Our magic was used to power almost everything at the ATM by taking a little bit from us whenever we entered or used specialized equipment. Then the doors to my workplace opened. It was like entering a different world. So many people, so many gadgets, and just a little extra sparkle to help get you through, since police work can be quite a drudgery. Making my way to my desk, I smiled at the congratulatory balloons that had to be from Tommy, my partner at the TTCD, tied to as many places as possible. I was surprised my desk was still on the floor since it looked like the home of an amusement park balloon hawker. I sat down, surrounded by my floating congrats!

Even though it was only 7AM, the sweltering heat of summer in Southern California was not subtle. What had been a nice couple weeks of the normal June gloom had turned into very bright, sunny, and hot, but beautiful mornings. I stopped by my favorite Taiwanese bakery and grabbed a potato cheese pastry. I was tempted to grab something for the others at the TTCD, but decided against it.

“Detective Granger, congrats are in order, but this is a bit extreme.” The Chief Inspector dropped a folder on my desk. “Your first assignment in your new post at the TTCD. We found a photo of a man checking his wristwatch in 1872. We need to find and arrest him for violating Section 11377 of the Anti-Time-Travel Code.”

Walking up to the ATM, you would never guess what happens behind the doors. The ATM looked like a used bookstore from the outside. Not just any used bookstore though, but one that specializes in rare first editions. I made my way to the back, not stopping to look around. The shop really did get in a lot of incredibly cool books. Once in the back, I held my hand up for the biometric scan and magic recognition to happen. I felt a

“On it, sir.” I said. I opened my work laptop, turned it on, and heard the hard drive whirl as the computer recognized my face and the operating system went into full gear. I felt the pinch of magical extraction again as I opened the department’s wizard-run facial recognition software. I began by

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looking at the man in the photo. He was a nondescript type with dark hair, dark eyes, and a light c o m p l e x i o n . Grabbing my glasses, I scanned the photo onto my laptop.

general population doesn’t know there are magical humans, past what they can explain away like the fortune tellers, magic performers, and meteorologists. The guy in the picture didn’t match any of our people on record, which meant we not only had a time traveler, we had wild magic. Wild magic was a danger to everyone. If this person wasn’t in control of his magic, there’s a good chance he had a record, of some sort, in the human world. So I ran the photo through the normal programs and got a hit. James Smith, age 32, brown hair, brown eyes, 6’2” and arrested for destruction of property a couple of years ago—all of which aligned with uncontrolled magic.

Before long I had art from multiple centuries listed as matches to the man with the wristwatch. There was a painting from 1631 by an amazing Italian female artist. One of very few paintings she did of a man. Her work was best known for her detail of the female form and vibrancy of colors used. In the next century, there was a painting by a British artist who preferred landscapes. This painting was one of the few portraits he painted, stunning in the details it included. After that, it was photograph after photograph after photograph starting with the one in 1872. He was spotted in a group of soldiers from World War I and in another from World War II. The next time the software recognized him was in a photo from a Vietnam War protest, then at Times Square in the late ’80s, back when the area was still rather sleazy.

I left the comfort of the office, heading out into the heat to find this guy. I jumped into my Jeep Wrangler and headed over to Central and Orange. Stopping at the address my computer gave me, I walked up to the blue Victorian farmhouse and knocked on the door.

The boss was right, we definitely had a time traveler on our hands.

The man in the picture opened the door. My magic source finder scanned him … and … nothing. The man standing before me was not magical at all. He was a normal human.

I ran the photo through the ATM database. Nothing—which couldn’t be possible. Every magical person was in the database. It’s how we kept track of magic, keeping it under wraps so the

“Alex Granger,” I said, holding out my hand to James Smith.

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“James Smith.” He responded, shaking my hand.

amazing. But I stopped here, because I ran out of fuel.”

I looked at him, perplexed as to how to continue. The ATM was supposed to keep things like the possibility of time travel secret from normal humans. But this man in front of me had been doing exactly that. Not only did I have no idea how he accomplished time travel, I had no idea how to broach the subject, especially since speaking about it went against everything I was taught I was supposed to do.

“So, you are a normal human, but from the future?” I asked. “Are you trying to find out if I have magic or not? Without asking if I have magic or letting me know that magic even exists?” “Um … yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” “Well Alex, the answer is no. I do not have magic. I built my time machine using the technology of my time. I am, as you said, a normal human.”

“Um … Mr. Smith, I was wondering if I could come inside. I would like to show you some photos.”

So many questions ran through my head, and I didn’t know if I should ask any of them. Technically, I had no business involving myself further, since James Smith was a non-magical human. The TTCD only policed magical humans. The laws only applied to magical humans. But had anyone ever considered there could be a normal person capable of time travel? Could you really call a person normal if they could time travel?

I flashed my badge, slowly enough that it looked official, but quickly enough that reading any of it would be impossible. “Come on in.” He let me into his house and led me into the living room. Sitting on his leather couch, I spread printouts of all the images of James Smith throughout history on the coffee table. Then I looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

“Do you mind if I ask some questions? Clearly, you are outside my jurisdiction, being both from the future and nonmagical. I wasn’t expecting this outcome when I drove over here.”

“These all appear to be you, Mr. Smith. And in this one here, you are wearing a wristwatch, creating a potential anachronism.”

“Of course. Ask away.” “Are there more time travelers?” This was the first concern in my mind, the more people jumping around the timeline, the more anachronisms that could not be fixed.

“Well Alex, can I call you Alex?” I nodded my consent. “I’m from the future. I’ve built a time machine. I’ve been checking out different important times and events throughout history to help me learn about them through experience, instead of just through books. And it was

“When I left, and the few times I’ve been back, I was the only one. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t more now. There just weren’t any when I was there. I

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tried to keep my research secret, especially since I didn’t know what would happen as I traveled through time. Thankfully, it appears you have to do something, with at least a little significance, to change the course of history. And undoing that, well, it’s a pain.”

“That’s interesting. I wish the bloodshed could have been avoided. It would be so different to live out in the open with magic.”

I wanted to hear that story, but at the moment I didn’t think I had the time. I needed to get this information back to the chief.

“I’m sure I do, but I’ve taken enough of your time.”

“The future is very different than life is today, in some ways better, others not so much. Do you have any other questions?”

I gathered my printouts, stood up, and nearly bumped heads with James. We walked to the door. Right before I stepped outside, I turned and said, “Be careful with your watch next time.”

“Okay, next question. In the future, do magical and non-magical humans coexist together and know about each other?”

“I will. I promise.”

“Yes, it took awhile, and there were some pretty bloody battles along the way. But eventually, magical humans realized they had weaknesses that were easy to exploit, and normal humans realized they had the skills to exploit those weaknesses. Once a balance was found, it was easier to work to maintain it.”

Getting back into my Jeep, I looked back at the house the strange man lived in, wondering what the chief was going to say. Trees provided a filtered view of the old house, with the sun reflecting off the leaves, sparkling in the distance as I drove away.

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“Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars?” ~Nora Roberts

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I often say that the best stuff in life is too big, too ineffable to be measured by the rudimentary 5 physical senses. You can't see Truth or Love, but you can certainly experience and feel the effects of these powerful forces, and you know in your bones they exist. That's what magic is like. It moves us beyond the realm of quantifiable rationality to a place of wonder where anything is possible, untrammeled by the constraints of atomic make-up, time, gravity, distance, speed of light, ocular sight, and so on. Magic breaks the laws of physics, and who doesn't love to see that happen? Think of the awe and elation we feel when witnessing an athlete break a record, a spaceship break out of our atmosphere, an artist break with convention to create something new and incredible. Magic enables imagination to take wing and caged spirits to soar. And while we need magic to feed our souls, the relationship is reciprocal. Where would magic be without us—without someone to appreciate it, practice it, applaud it, and yearn for it? Where would novelists be without readers, filmmakers without viewers? Like art, magic is intangible yet palpable, and it is a vital component of the human experience. I wouldn't want to live in a world without magic, and fortunately, as far as I can tell, I'll never have to.

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Why we need magic ... and it needs us

Omni Ocademy online for edification Omniversal Origins

DIY Aromatherapy

Naturim

course names

Pandemic Parenting

CARING FOR DRAGONKIND

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Dim Q Annex

courses & enrichment

The Elements

Squallix

Language

are links

The Paranormal

~ COMING SOON!

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Magic Bean Salad from TasteFullySimple.co

INGREDIENT • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and draine • 1 (8 ounce) can whole kernel corn, draine • 1 cup diced red, yellow and/ or green bell peppe • 1 medium tomato, choppe • 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and choppe • Juice of ½ a lim • 1-2 teaspoons Makin Magic Chicken Seasoning • 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder or chili powde • ¾ cup crumbled Mexican queso fresco chees

DIRECTION 1. In large bowl, combine all ingredients except c h e e s e . To s s t o combine. Salt and pepper as desired 2. Refrigerate up to 1 day. Toss with cheese when ready to serve 3. Makes 6 servings Make Ahead: Prepare step 1 and refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day ahead.

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“ You

should never hesitate to trade your cow for a handful of magic beans.” ~Tom Robbins

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One wizard to rule them all? People who possess the fan gene embody passions and beliefs that run as deep as the bowels of Caradhras; and neither their opinions nor loyalty are easily shaken. When it comes to the heavy hitters in magic lore, the faithful will defend their champion’s place on the leaderboard with every fiber in their wands. The following is a ranking of The Ten Greatest Wizards of All Time from AmazingStories, listed here in reverse order for fan-worthy dramatic effect.

9 ~Elric of Melniboné (Elric Saga)

10 ~ Prospero (The Tempest)

7 ~ Rand al’Thor (The Wheel of Time)

Michael Moorcock created Elric as a flawed hero. His tortured life provides him ample opportunity to show his abilities as both a sorcerer and a summoner. While he battles against both friend and foe, Elric must rely on his powers to keep him on top.

8 ~ Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files)

Jim Butcher created Dresden as a modern day wizard investigator. The quirky wizard patrols the streets of Chicago, solving crimes and saving the world from every nasty that lurks in the shadows. Harry must follow the rules of the White Council, which frequently prevents him from uncorking his full power. While there are more powerful wizards and forces in his world, Dresden applies his morality and cleverness to every situation. He always finds a way no matter the odds.

The Dragon Reborn is perhaps the greatest channeler to ever grace the series of books created by Robert Jordan. Rand is a hero reborn from legend to defeat the forces of evil. As he marches across the epic tale, he gradually discovers his powers and learns to use them against the enemy. His raw magical power knows no equal.

William Shakespeare placed Prospero on an island with his daughter Miranda, where he studied books of magic so he could protect his daughter. Prospero ultimately abuses his magical powers by attempting to control everyone and everything that crosses his path. In the end, he tries to fight off the power of the corrupting magic by drowning the books. The tale is one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays.

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Her Great Book of Records allows her to keep track of everything that goes on in Oz. Beneath her delicate beauty rests a wizard that even Merlin would hesitate to cross.

6 ~ Morgana Le Fay (Arthurian Legend)

Morgana plays the part of nemesis to both Merlin and Arthur in many of the tales. Her name implies that she originated as some form of fairy creature. Her magical abilities allow her to wreak havoc across the land. While her exact nature and role vary from story to story, Morgana always remains a powerful sorceress.

2 ~ Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)

Built in the image of Merlin, Gandalf travels around J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, meddling in the affairs of every kingdom and hero he runs across. While continually working to save the world from the forces of evil, Gandalf shows off his amazing knowledge of history and geography. Tolkien kept Gandalf ’s true power at the edge of perception rather than exposing it through a pyrotechnic display of big blasty spells. The mysterious ways of the wandering wizard make him iconic.

5 ~ Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter Books)

While the ultimate hero in J. K. Rowling’s novels is the legendary Harry Potter, Dumbledore represented the quintessential wizard in a world filled with wizards. Of the thousands and thousands of wizards sporting wands tucked under their robes, only Dumbledore struck fear into the heart of the vile and dastardly Lord Voldemort. His encyclopedic knowledge and ability to wield magic made Hogwart’s headmaster nearly invincible.

Those who know me are routinely forced to endure my sniveling over the Lord of the Rings, and especially the devotion of Samwise Gamgee. Even so, there is another fantasy relationship that tugs even harder on my heartstrings ~ that of Arthur and Merlin. As depicted by Colin Morgan, Merlin is my ultimate hero and makes me want to be a better human being.

4 ~ Yoda (Star Wars franchise)

Okay, I understand he is a Jedi and not a wizard, but some might argue he is a wizard. Through six films, Yoda provided a small glimpse of his amazing magical powers. One of the leaders of the wizard’s school known as the Jedi Temple, Yoda was the acknowledged master over all. With lightsaber in hand, Yoda was never defeated, even by Darth Vader and his sorcerous ways. The Jedi Master’s powers were so great, he even managed to cheat death once old age came for him. Yoda is truly a great wizard.

1 ~ Merlin (Arthurian Myth and Legend) The gold standard for wizards, Merlin exists in many tales, poems, films, television shows, and novels. He is one of the most frequently reproduced characters of all time. His powers and persona vary from tale to tale, but he always remains a pivotal figure in the storyline. Many consider Merlin to be the original and greatest wizard.

3 ~ Glinda the Good Witch (Oz)

Whether Glinda is known as the Good Witch of the South, as penned by her creator L. Frank Baum, or the Good Witch of the North, as portrayed in the classic film, she holds the title of the most powerful magic-worker in Oz. That is saying something with the green beauty known as the Wicked Witch of the West running around. The Great and Powerful Oz even asks her to teach him magic in some of Baum’s later stories. Also referred to as a sorceress in many novels, Glinda oversees the world and fights for the restoration of those destined to rule the land.

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THE MAGIC

MARCIN

Come for the Music. Stay for the Humanity.

A couple month back, I was minding my own business on Facebook when the platform “suggested” a music video for my viewing pleasure. Turns out the almighty algorithm was spot on. It was a cover of my all-time favorite song, Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. I didn’t expect too much since it was a performance by a solo guitarist, and I knew no one could match my ardor for Jimmy Page, my lifelong favorite guitarist and musician. A few minutes later, Sir Jimmy became my second favorite guitarist—a concept I never would have believed I’d entertain. So who on earth possesses the chops to have bumped my pre-teen idol off his guitar-hero pedestal? A twentysomething from Poland named Marcin Patrzalek. The virtuoso plays acoustic and flamenco guitar and made his mark by infusing his arrangements with percussion —tapping, scratching, thumping, bumping his guitar and basically playing what sounds like a multi-instrument ensemble to create nimble, technically clean, and altogether dazzling music. Immediately I looked him up on the artist-patronage site Patreon (I’m sort of a junkie when it comes to supporting artists on Patreon), and I was delighted to find he did indeed have a page. I pledged support on the spot, then went my merry way. A week or two later, I received a notification that Marcin was going to conduct a livestream (interactive video chat) for patrons. It would convene at a time when I would be going through my emails and messages and doing mundane admin work, so I decided to

participate in the patron activity for fun while working. I signed on, and everything was going swimmingly until something triggered one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve ever had. I had some sort of hybrid epiphany and total breakdown. Listening to Marcin play, what flashed through my mind was that I was witnessing what would be called true greatness. I have zero doubt Marcin will go down in the history books as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he were to be considered the most talented musician alive today. I later realized what made the experience so special. It wasn’t Marcin’s virtuosic technique or talent. Nope. It was his generosity, humor, and cool-dudeness. Not only is he a ton of fun to chat with, but he is truly supportive and enthusiastic when it comes to other musicians who join the Zooms to showcase their own musical talents. I’ve never seen such munificence. And you can tell it’s 100% genuine. Every music teacher (heck, every teacher, period) would be well-served by taking a page from Marcin’s book when it comes to praising, critiquing, and interacting with learners. I’ve since gotten over my fangirl gushing, but it has not dulled my enthusiasm for Marcin’s patron chats. I now look forward to them more than ever, as I know I’m going to have a wonderful time and have the happy opportunity to see Marcin encourage others to let their light shine. It’s a blast to cheer for the neophytes. For me, Marcin’s example shows not just what it means to be a fantastic musician, but a rock-star human being.

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The background shown is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Poland, simply known as Kielce Cathedral. Its interior is the primary location for Marcin's video of Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, my favorite of his arrangements. On this page I’ve listed a handful of Marcin’s videos (the names are hyperlinked) to offer a well-rounded sampling of the material and genres he plays, from classical to rock to rap, and original composition.

Led Zeppelin’s seminal Kashmir

Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre

Innuendo by Queen & Asturias by Isaac Albeniz

Storm by Marcin when a tween

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Finding Your Magic Who doesn’t want a little extra magic in their life—a dash of whimsy, a cache of reliable mojo they can call upon whenever needed? “But how?” is the question I’m asked most frequently when it comes to cultivating one’s own creative magic. Book sites are rife with self-help tomes that offer to-do-task advice as to how to go about getting in touch with the magical non-mundane core of our being: candle-lit bubble baths, wandering walks, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, yoga, Tao Cheng, chant, and so on. These are useful tools that can help us focus on things of the spirit and move us toward the zone we seek. But what do you do if you don’t have the resources needed (usually time or money) to invest in these tools? There are a few wands I keep on hand in my inner toolkit. One is a golden ruler. If I’m feeling snarky or put out, measuring the situation with the Golden Rule instantly shifts my perception and enables me to embrace other parties as comrades instead of adversaries. By far my #1 weapon in the battle with life’s trials and tribulations is gratitude. Moving mountains is child’s play for gratitude. Not only can it do anything, it does! When it comes to the search for one’s own magic, to me, the best way to find it is to look for it. The world is full of magical places and people and experiences. Music, the cosmos, and flowers continually remind me of this. And if you’re having a particularly difficult time finding what you seek, look through the lens of love. You’re sure to find magic beyond your wildest dreams.

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“ The m o m en t you d o ub t w he th er y o u c an fl y , y o u cea se f o rev er t o be a ble t o d o i t .” ~J.M. Barrie

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SysteMagic The practical side of make-believe by JSD Johnston

author of Peyton Drake’s 49-novella whimsical fantasy saga

New writers such as those in the Ocademy’s 10-month Author’s Journey program are routinely aghast when introduced to story structure. They consider it counterintuitive for a creative art, such as fiction writing, to be subjected to something as limiting as structure. They are further appalled to learn most of the structural beats (elements) are similar in the majority of stories on the market, regardless of medium. The same criteria goes for creators who conjure magical worlds, whether in books, films, or games. Structure and rules are the keys to cohesion and, yes, believability. The magic depicted in properties such as The Magicians and A Discovery of Witches involves spellcasting accompanied by intricate hand and finger movements. At Hogwarts, wands are indispensable tools and weapons. It doesn’t matter so much what system of magic is used. What counts is consistency within the laws of physics that rule the world of any given story. If there are no laws of physics, they can’t be broken, magically or otherwise. An author can’t get away with saying, “The cars in my story Autopolis can fly only when I want them to. I refuse to have my creativity squelched by rules.” The “because I say so!” shtick never worked when my mom used it on me, and it doesn’t work when it comes to fantastical world-building. When I decided to pen a tale that involved simultaneous travel through time and space, I made the deliberate choice to offer explanations of the science and make them as logical as possible. I opted not to rely on speculative future tech, but rather to go old-school analog. I employed the same rationale when creating a fantastical sport. I wanted it to be practical and understandable, even if implausible due to the woeful lack of mythical creatures that exist in the natural world today. One never knows how their explanations will go over with readers. Will folks nod their heads in comprehension or scratch their heads in confusion? The latest video by Chapter & Verse commentators Trish & Brad Miller addressed this very issue as they discussed Navigating Aquis, part five in Peyton Drake’s multi-installment Omni Tale whence derives the Omni Ocademy itself. Brad’s spoken comments about Spavel (space-time travel) made my week:

“At this point I’m going to stop the narrative because I do want to say something to the author here. Every time we’ve gone into Spavel class, every time we’ve gone into the abetment sessions and I read the theories, the science is sound. It took a lot of research to get into the actual theory of time travel including time and space travel. Squallix is a great game. It takes a lot of imagination putting together the rules and the mechanics of the game, and it’s all wonderful, but the actual science of time travel you put together is very impressive.”

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Cheriste som, Brad! Cheriste som.

Plans for Spavelskiff L.Z.

“Is there magic in this world? Certainly! But it is not the kind of magic written about in fantasy stories. It is the kind of magic that comes from ideas and the hard work it often takes to make them real. ” –Robert Fanney

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So much magic, If you’re looking for movies that feature magic, consider the following 12 top picks as listed by the discerning folks at ScreenRant:

Magic 11 - Willo Though it is unfortunately not a lm based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Wiccan, Ron Howard’s Willow certainly has its merits. The fantasy film stars Warwick Davis as a farmer named Willow who must babysit a child destined to defeat the evil Queen Bavmorda. On his journey, Willow masters his powers of sorcery, helped by brownies, fairies, and Val Kilmer as the swordsman Madmartigan. The newly confident Willow defeats Bavmorda and learns that good triumphs over evil, because this is a fantasy film after all.

12 - Now You See M Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson reunited after Zombieland to star in one of the most confusing movies in recent memory. Now You See Me revolves around four magicians who pull off elaborate heists as the Four Horsemen, in the hopes of getting into an order of “actual magicians” called The Eye. The lm features many great sleight-ofhand tricks and blink-or-you’ll-miss-it moments

The movie was not well-received at the time, but has since developed a cultfollowing. With a score from James Horner and effects from ILM, it’s a match made in fantasy heaven

The supporting cast features Mark Ruffalo as the FBI agent tracking the Robin-Hoodinspired Four Horsemen, and Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman in roles that surely made them a nice paycheck. While the performances are functional and the magical elements inspired, the script is inane and silly at best. Now You See Me is excellent popcorn entertainment, but signs of anything below the ashy surface are merely an illusion. We'll probably be able to say the same thing about the sequel fairly soon

10 - Practical Magi Let’s take a minute to forget that Nicole Kidman starred in that awful Bewitched adaptation from Nora Ephron. There was a time when she played a witch with a freshoff of Speed 2: Cruise Control Sandra Bullock, in the rom-com Practical Magic

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so little time. Barker wrote and directed the lm, about a man who can use pure magic called “The Puritan.” Detective D’Amour takes a case involving a murdered psychic before realizing there’s much more to the mystery than meets the eye. The lm bene ts from spectacular practical make-up and effects, and magic unique to Barker’s imagination

Musts

Though it’s not for the faint of stomach, Lord of Illusions is a great, darker magical lm with an intriguing premise and stunning tricks

8 - Hocus Pocu The Sanderson Sisters are one of the most beloved trios in cult cinema. Played by the talented Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Milder, and Kathy Najimy, the witches have one goal: to be young and pretty again

Based on a novel of the same name, Practical Magic is the story of two sisters with magical powers that come with a curse: any man who falls in love with them dies. There are plenty of spells and hexes to entertain the most hardened cynic. While the lm isn’t a masterpiece by any stretch, it uses magical elements to successfully tell a potent and enjoyable love story

Hocus Pocus is a great Halloween movie for kids of mostly all ages. Filled to the brim with extravagant costumes, silly spells, and buck teeth, it’s hard not to smile while watching the film. The performances are perfectly campy, though they work better for those with a bit of nostalgia. Fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Halloweentown won’t be disappointed. Viewers are also treated to Bette Milder performing “I Put a Spell on You” as an added bonus.

9 - Lord Of Illusion Clive Barker’s work varies from incredibly grotesque and horrific to mildly terrifying and still a little gross. His Hellraiser and Nightbreed rank among the best that the horror genre has to offer. One of his lesser known adaptations is the 1995 movie Lord of Illusions. Scott Bakula played Barker’s iconic Harry D’Amour in the film, marking the characters first appearance on the silver screen.

7 - Stardus Stardust isn’t just another lm about a trio of witches that want to stay beautiful. In Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel, there are also a pirate (Robert de Niro), unicorns, and a star personi ed as a woman (Claire Danes). The

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story involves a man named Tristan Thorn, played by Charlie Cox of Daredevil fame, who falls in love with the star and becomes master of his own destiny

Because Sophie is a duchess, and Eisenheim a peasant, their love is forbidden and Sophie is set to marry the despicable Prince Leopold. The lovers hatch a plan to use the powers of illusion to free Sophie from her arranged engagement and the city of Vienna of Leopold’s reign

Stardust’s supporting cast is spectacular, including Michelle P effer, Mark Strong, Peter O’Toole, Ricky Gervais, Ian McKellen, and Henry Cavill. The magic on display from Gaiman is colorful and imaginative, with strong world-building a n d c u t e c h a r a c t e r s . I t ’s l a r g e l y unfocused, but for a family-friendly magical experience, Stardust is ideal

The Illusionist features excellent scenes of magic that range from typical stage acts to summoning dead spirits. The CW planned to adapt a TV show based on the lm, but there have been no updates since 2014

6 - The Craf

4 - Labyrint

One of the most popular movies about witches since the 80s (there were a surprising amount), The Craft is notable for its realistic portrayal of the consequences of spell-casting. While any made-forDisney-channel movie about witches makes room for a morality tale, The Craft is not afraid to get dark, and stay there

An undeniable fantasy classic, Labyrinth combines the best that the 1980s had to offer. David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, fantastical puppets from Jim Henson Creature Shop, beautiful sets: the lm is a sight to behold The magic in Labyrinth could only come from the mind of Jim Henson. Character like Hoggle and Sir Didymus (the adorable fox-knight) are both incredible memorable and entirely practical puppets. In fact the only human actors in the fantasy world are Bowie and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah

Following the story of four high school girls with incredible powers, the movie features curses, spells, and more than one murder. This teenage coven is not to be messed with

The story, which follows Sarah on a coming-of-age quest to rescue her infant brother Toby from the evil Goblin King that capture him, is lled with magical beasts and wears its heart on its sleeve. It goes without saying that David Bowie is stellar; the lm would be nowhere without him. If you haven’t seen it, check out a midnight screening ASAP

The Craft is an absolute blast with fun performances and effects and a killer soundtrack to boot. Needless to say, it was a huge success, grossing $55 million off of a budget of $15 million

5 - The Illusionis Edward Norton and Jessica Biel couldn’t save this movie from being overshadowed by a superior 2006 lm about magicians. But that doesn’t mean The Illusionist is a bad lm; in fact, it’s quite good

3 - Spirited Awa Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is the tale of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in the spirit world. After her parents are transformed into pigs - a terrifying scene - by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro must work in her

Set in 19th century Vienna, the lm tells the story of the illusionist Eisenheim (Norton) and the means in which he will go to be with his true love, Sophie (Biel).

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bathhouse to free her family and return to the human realm

1 - The Prestig Though the lm features no real magic at all, The Prestige is far and away the most awe-inspiring lm about the craft. Christopher Nolan followed up his intro to Batman in Batman Begins by collaborating with Christian Bale once again in this 2006 lm

The English-language version on the lm was spearheaded by John Lasseter of Pixar fame. In Japan, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time, beating Titanic, and later won the Best Animated Feature Oscar

Superior to The Illusionist is nearly every way, The Prestige tells the story of rival magicians and their quest to pull of the greatest trick. Starring Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, and featuring David Bowie, there are truly dramatic and highly intelligent moments in the lm

Chihiro’s liminal journey through the spirit world is populated by shikigami (ghosts), dragons, witches, and No-Face, a creature the eats people. The stunning animation elevates the simple Alice-inWonderland story above other similar retreads. The lm is truly a magical work of art, and one of Studio Ghibli’s best

The twists and turns of the narrative are some of Nolan’s greatest and the many scenes of magic with sleight-of-hand and escape artistry rank far above most films with magicians. Caine’s speech about how magic works to trick the audience is still the best example of the art. Before checking out Doctor Strange, make sure to give this film a re-watch, or if you are seeing it for the first time, don’t look up the ending

2 - Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaba The only Harry Potter lm and book not to feature Lord Voldemort is oft-considered the strongest. From director Alfonso Cuaron, Prisoner of Azkaban was the rst of the 8 lms to feature the students of Hogwarts in clothes other than their robes. It also truly raised the stakes for the characters, crafting a much darker world than before

“I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. The very earliest people who made lm were magicians.”

The dementors and their deadly kiss, the peaceful giant Hippogriff, and a professor with a full-moon problem expand on Rowling’s already huge magical mythology. The casting of Gary Oldman as Sirius Black was an excellent decision, and the young Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint all see steady improvements in their performances It was dif cult to narrow it down to just one Harry Potter lm, but Cuaron’s won out for featuring some of the most spectacular magic moments of the series

—Francis Ford Coppola

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by A.K. Mulford reviewed by Stephanie Clemens I’m an avid reader and recently discovered that some mes authors want their books read before they are released. The author hopes reading their book will inspire you to start talking about it. Well, that’s how I got to read The High Mountain Court by A. K. Mulford, an indie author with a lot of fun content on TikTok. I nished The High Mountain Court in just two days because it is a fast-paced adventure, a summer page-turner that will bring joy to the hearts of high-fantasy readers. At least, it brought joy to my heart. The story centers on witches and fae and the power struggle between these two magical popula ons. The magic system is wellde ned without feeling like an info dump, a hard task to accomplish in the rst book of a series where the author creates the world for readers from scratch. I found the poli cs in the world intriguing, as well as the general world building of the di erent lands the characters travel through on their journey. Each region has its own dis nct sights, sounds, and culture. This book has an ending that kept me on the edge of my seat, gura vely speaking, and had me wan ng more. It’s a good thing the author has already discussed the second book in the series.n fact, she just did a cover reveal. I feel like there’s going to be some unexpected intrigue in the next books, which I wish were already wri en so I could read them now. If this li le bit doesn’t intrigue you, the fact the book uses the found family trope, fated mates trope, and one other trope that I would explain but—it would be a spoiler, and we can’t have that. The book comes out August 10th, and I hope you decide to pick it up, because I need someone other than the author to talk about it with.

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The High Mountain Court

“If you choose magic you will never be able to return to the life you once lived. Your world may be more exciting, but it will also be more dangerous. Less reliable. And once you begin to walk the path of magic, you can never step off of it.” —Neil Gaiman

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iren Send-Off {faces shown in the S at left are those of our original 2013 contributors}

It has been an unparalleled pleasure to return to la Vie Sirene after a six-year absence. When last we published an issue, the Academy of Omniosophical Arts & Sciences was a back-burner project of fourteen years standing. Actually, the term back-burner is a tad optimistic. The project wasn’t anywhere near the stove, nor the kitchen for that matter. Even further down the list was Naturim, the original language and alphabet I’d created at the turn of the millennium, intending to use them in a fantasy trilogy that remains in abeyance. I’ve toyed several times with the idea of doing a one-off magazine issue, and endeavored to do so a few months into the pandemic. I thought contributing to the publication might give people something to do and get their minds off the global madness. I was wrong. And nothing came of it. Now, the Ocademy is a going concern, despite the fact its launch never took place. The big rollout was scheduled for 20 March 2020. You get the idea. I chose to take the time I’d earmarked for sharing my new biz with the world and reallocate it to helping friends with small businesses to survive the year’s economic storms. Somehow, the Ocademy’s roots took hold on their own and, little by little, much of what I yearned to achieve is bearing fruit. I am more grateful than I can say and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Until next issue, cheriste som! ~Joy

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as quoted by Esperança in Peyton Drake’s Sea Dragon Saga

la Vie Sirene issue XVI - MIDSUMMER MAGIC

Articles inside

reviewed by Stephanie Clemens

Siren Send-Off

Magical Movies

Finding Your Magic

One Wizard to Rule Them All?

Witchcraft & Pop Culture by Christina Scheiman

Clemens

What is Magic by Charles Spratley

The Magic of Theatre by Patricia Miller

Ramsburg

Magic Cake recipe

The Magic Garden by DJ Piper

Finding Magic in a Teacup by Cheryl Turner

Morning Magic by Stephen Thompson

Under a Spell by Jacqueline Clemens

Union by Bradley L. Miller

The Magic of Show & Tell - interview with cover bloke Charles Spratley

The Magic of Asemic Writing by Linde Clark

The Magical Heart by Diana Divine Light