One of the driving passions of humans has always been their curiosity about what is to come. The unknown future intrigues with the possibility that ones situation will be improved and what dangers can be avoided. Systems to divine the future have been created by practically every culture on the planet in order to garner a glimpse of that undiscovered country we are headed toward. One of the most popular and widespread of these fortune telling systems is the Tarot Card deck.

The favorite fortune telling deck of the twentieth century has been the 78-card kabalistic imagery inspired deck popularized by Arthur Edward Waite with the illustrations drawn by the artist Pamela Colman Smith. Released in late 1909 this colorful and artistically rendered edition of divinatory cards quickly became codified in the minds of fortune tellers especially in the English speaking countries of the world. Regardless of rumor and unsupportable theories that the system originated from ancient Egyptian mysteries, history shows a quite different picture of the evolution of the tarot deck.

Numbers are an essential aspect of existence. They are a language unto themselves which is older than spoken language and have been shown to at least represent if not formulate everything in the universe. Numbers helped create the first languages and most of them had specific numerological values placed upon the letters that comprised them. Numbers can be used for simple mathematical counting all the way up to the most complex equations of physics.

As early as the sixth century B.C.E. the Greek mystic and mathematician, Pythagoras, had discovered a set of 'universal principles' within numbers. He was the first scientist to realize that 'The whole world is built upon the power of numbers'. It was through his studies on this universal constant that the system of Numerology was developed utilizing the basic 1 through 9 inclusively that is still used to connect us with the vibrational patterns these symbols are used as to express their occult connections.

After several thousand years of patriarchal domination and rule in both the secular and religious institutions of the world it is small wonder that belief systems are reemerging that seek to balance the duel nature of humanity. Especially in the realm of religious beliefs, the role given to women has for too long been one of servitude and unimportance. The rise of modern Witchcraft and the Wiccan movement can be seen as an attempt at regaining a natural equality between the genders.

Our modern culture, especially in Europe and North America, puts a high value on freedom of choice and equality for everyone. It is a natural extension of this philosophy that comes into conflict with the majority of the mainstream religions that have held sway across much of our history. As the idea of masculine monotheism spread its way across the planet, usually at sword's point, the cultures that accepted the divinity of the feminine aspect were destroyed and demonized.

As with any science there is the inevitable mathematical formula which is used to define certain facts and principles. The science of magic also contains a defining formula which is as important in its workings as the physicist's E=MC[2]. It is an equation which, when calculated correctly, will insure the full and proper conclusion to any magical effort. M=ICV[d] is at the root of all magic.

M=Magic. In order to calculate for that answer you begin with the first element 'I' which is Imagination. Without the ability to form an idea in your mind of what can be achieved through your use of magic you cannot even begin to hope for success in your efforts. Imagination pulls the ideas of what you can do from the depths of your mind. Imagination is the mental spark that allows one to dream and strive to rise above the mundane existence of the material world.

There are many ways to practice magic and not all of them travel the road of spiritual improvement that is prevalent in the Wiccan way. Sorcery is a much more materialistic form of magic that is involved more with realizing ambitions on the earthly plain.

While the sorcerer may accept and adopt a pantheon of godlike spiritual entities for their personal philosophy, they tend to consider themselves as already advanced spiritual beings themselves. These magic workers are generally more concerned with the 'self' than the 'all'. Their work tends more toward ceremonial and ritual techniques than the average witchcraft practitioner who can improvise their spells to a greater degree.

Sorcery is not particularly 'evil', although they are often misunderstood. The practices undertaken in Sorcery can be sometimes a bit disturbing to the Witch who seeks harmony. There is occasionally a bit of bloodletting in sorceress rituals and the focus on the self entirely is viewed negatively by the Wiccan community. However, Sorcery is primarily involved in getting the most of what one wants out of life. That in itself does not make it wrong.

Superstition as defined by the mainstream cultural dictionaries, is a belief that objects or occurrences hold a specific meaning even though there is no logical seeming cause for such belief. Superstition is often considered to be beliefs only held and practiced by those ignorant of the workings of the scientific world.

But what are some of these so-called illogical superstitions? Simple ones like bad luck to walk under a ladder are not so illogical if viewed as an old warning that something may drop on your head. Coming out of a building culture which often used stone to create their architecture should serve as enlightenment for the seed of this belief.

The ability to maintain a strong focus with a determined will is an essential aspect of spell casting. As an extremely effective focus for concentrating your will and intent is through the creation and use of a sigil. Basically a sigil is a symbol made up of a variety of geometric, pictorial or abstract designs which are used to signify a specific name or concept.

In the traditional medieval ritualistic and ceremonial magic systems sigils were used to represent the names of the various angelic and demonic spirits that were called forth in their work. The Lesser Key of Solomon for example lists dozens of sigils that represented the true names of many of the high ranking spirits of Hell and that through use of that 'true' name could gain a measure of control over the spirit. Other forms of kabalistic magic as well as ancient Jewish mysticism made great use of formalized sigils as a focus for the powers and entities they worked with. Often these 'names' were inscribed in talismans and magical tools to imbue a bit of the spirit of the named entity into the object.

Trees are some of the most important and magnificent life forms on our planet. Their roots break up stone and help hold the soil in place. Their leaves revert the carbon dioxide gasses we animal life forms exhale as toxins and absorb the carbon from it to release life-giving oxygen back to us. They product healthy and beneficial food for our consumption and the wood of their bodies can be put to more uses than can be easily measured. All this is just on the mundane material level.

On the etheric spirit level, the trees are a manifestation of the strongest of the Earth's magical energies. The auras of the trees can radiate on a vibrational frequency that can sooth the human spirit and bring it back into harmony. A portion of the spiritual energy of a tree can be retained in its wood or leaves for a very long time. This makes tree wood a very effective material for creating magical tools with. The wand is an obvious choice although a wooden handled athame will couple two forms of Earth energy into your tool.

There is power in words and a name especially can not only define the entity it is applied to but also to an extent give one power over that entity. This has been a knowledge tradition at least as far back as we have a recorded history. While it is likely a much older belief, the ancient Egyptians wrote of this power in names. According to even the most ancient of creation stories, the universe came into existence due to the divine source uttering its name.

In many aboriginal cultures it was customary to give a child a temporary name that could be used until they came of age. At this time either a tribal elder or Shaman would give the person their 'real' name which was not intended to be shared except with the person's most trusted loved ones. A 'use' name was provided for everyday mention and identification but, with it not being their 'real' name, could not be used magically to harm or control them.