Musing Mystical

✨ A Gathering Place for Magical Readers and Writers ✨

Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow, by Shannon Knight

Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow: Magickal Tools and Tarot to Confront Your Fears and Free Your Potential, by Shannon Knight
Weiser Books, 1578638925, 208 pages, December 2025

Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow: Magickal Tools and Tarot to Confront Your Fears and Free Your Potential by Shannon Knight is a wonderful introductory text for those looking to discover more about their inner world. This book blends depth psychology with tarot to lead readers in shadow work. The framework Knight shares guides readers through the process of engaging with their hidden, repressed, or disowned self-aspects in order to integrate them and unlock greater potential.

Knight, a trained therapist and tarot practitioner, grounds her work in both psychological theory and symbolic intuition. She explains shadow (“the parts of ourselves that we suppress, deny, or repress”1) as well as the golden shadow (suppressed strengths that can be reclaimed), and uses tarot archetypes as a mirror into the psyche. Each chapter mixes concept with practice, structured around clear explanation, tarot archetypes, exercises, and journal prompts designed to deepen self-knowledge and self-acceptance.

“By inviting our shadows to the forefront for a moment, we can decrease the unconscious power they may have over us. This process isn’t about silencing or banishing these parts of ourselves, but about understanding their origins and the roles they play in our lives and how they impact our relationships, actions, and thought processes.”2

Unlike many traditional shadow work books, this one utilizes tarot as a dialogue tool with the subconscious, helping readers frame internal themes through archetypes and symbolism rather than just theoretical text. For those magically minded, this is a very appealing approach, offering a chance to deepen your connection with the wisdom of the tarot in this process.

Knight begins the book by preparing readers for their shadow work journey. Once readers have techniques to utilize and a safe space to proceed, the next chapter delves into the roots of the shadow, explaining what the shadow is, how it is formed, and the relationship to mental health. Then Knight moves into the magical tools that can be useful for shadow work, including sigils, tarot, and ritual.

“By utilizing tarot for shadow work, we can uncover the hidden parts of us that lie within these archetypes and learn how to integrate, or assimilate, these shadows so we better understand ourselves and others.”3

The chapter “Identifying the Shadow through Tarot” is very useful for understanding both the dark and golden shadow meanings of the cards. For each Major Arcana card, Knight explains the dual shadow qualities and offers four reflection questions to further engage with the energy of the card. Then there’s also an explanation of the shadow of each suit. However, there’s no information on the Minor Arcana cards or how to really integrate them into tarot shadow work beyond working with the energy of the suit. This was one area of the book I felt was a bit lacking, as it doesn’t tap into the energy of the majority of the deck.

After this, Knight covers ancestral shadows, which teaches how to overcome generational shadow patterns. She only offers a small glimpse into this topic though– it could certainly be a whole book on its own–but it’s enough information to get the introspective wheels turning, adding dimension to this practice. The final chapters focus on integration of the shadow and exercises to engage the shadow work process.

Throughout the book, there is space to pause, reflect, and write down your thoughts. The inclusion of these “journal” pages makes this book a supportive companion for your shadow work journey, allowing you to record insights, emotions, and revelations directly alongside your reading. Sometimes, there’s even a rating scale where readers can gauge their feelings, offering even more introspective prompting. Additionally, there’s space to journal about tarot readings Knight shares right in the book too, making it a good place to record what comes through.

Knight then deepens this immersive, hands-on experience for readers by offering a six-week process of reflection, offering thoughtfully crafted prompts that guide you into meaningful self-exploration. Readers can pull cards for the prompts or simply journal their feelings. Each week focuses on a specific topic, ranging from vulnerability and shame to connection and support, and Knight designed it as five prompts a week, so there’s some room for reflection and integration. I love this because sometimes when I decide to do something every day but then accidentally miss a day, it becomes hard to get back on track. This design provides structure with flexibility.

One thing I enjoyed in reading this book is how Knight often references different psychological models. For instance, she likens the shadow to the “exiles” in the Internal Family Systems model and also explains concepts using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also draws from psychoanalysis too, teaching about the ego, id, persona, and other elements of these models. Despite a focus on magical tools, Knight does pack in a lot of psychological insight too, which I feel has the beneficial effect of transforming shadow work from mysterious and esoteric exploration into a tangible, practical psychological practice.

Another aspect of this book is how Knight introduces readers to the golden shadow. Shadow work can feel really daunting and dreary, but the reminder that within this landscape lives our golden shadow too is a motivator to do this inner work. I felt relief in knowing that I might find some positive attributes long buried within, pushed aside for too long, to radiantly recover and welcome back in my life. In this way, Knight shows that shadow work is not simply about healing what hurts, but about remembering the fullness of who we are. In embracing both shadow and gold, we step into a deeper wholeness where our truest selves can emerge.

Overall, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow is a grounded, engaging guide that encourages honest reflection and creative exploration for those interested in self-discovery, spiritual psychology, or tarot as a tool for inner work. Shadow work is often misunderstood as a journey only into our darkness, yet Knight teaches it is equally a path toward reclaiming the hidden brilliance within us. Her hands-on approach to journeying into the shadow realm invites readers to move beyond theory and into lived transformation. While I do think it could be more focused on tarot specifically, the exercises and psychological insight are useful in discovering hidden parts of the psyche and integrating them for greater awareness.

Sacred Mysticism of Egypt, by Fotoula Foteini Adrimi

Sacred Mysticism of Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka Initiation, by Fotoula Foteini Adrimi
O-Books,  978-1803417127, 296 pages, August 2025

“What happens when we consciously enter the vortex of etheric energy placed deliberately by the ancients? We might find that we are never the same. This book takes us on a journey through time and space, through dimensions and different realities, through self-acceptance and self-love, to lead us back into our infinite spirit, where the source of magic exists.”4

The quote above summarizes the intention of Sacred Mysticism of Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka Initiation by Fotoula Foteini Adrimi. This book stirs within the reader a longing for return to what is inherently known in all of our being–that we are more than our corporeal form defined by self-imposed limitations and continually seeking its true nature as a being of light and citizen of the cosmos. This book calls the reader back to that true nature and provides the tools and understanding that stimulate a deeper memory that we have done this work before. 

“Eons ago, a great civilization existed on Earth, in which human beings were aware of their spiritual nature. This civilization exists as soul memory and initiates deep longing towards harmonious spiritual living in a supportive community. The foundations of this extraordinary civilization were built on the spirituality of the Living Light, which provided the fundamentals for the Golden Times of ancient Egypt, described with the term Zep Tepi, “The Initial Time”5

This book is organized into twenty-one chapters and contained within three sections.  A page of references and an always helpful glossary conclude the book. The introduction provides insight into the way in which the book is organized and the “why” behind this choice:

“The ancient Egyptians loved the number three..the most famous of these trinities is Osiris as the Father, Isis as the Mother and Horus as the Child….. Ausir (Osiris) is the first king, The heart is the foundation of the Living Light teachings….In the first part of the book I talk about Creation and Un-Creation , the journey of incarnation into a physical self and ascension into the infinite spirit… In the second part, we meet the Teacher of the Living Light, the ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis or Iset… Finally, Horan (Horus) is the spiritual warrior, who meets and overcomes the forces of chaos that keep him stuck. In Part 3, we encounter Horan as the falcon who has mastered its flight in the physical and spiritual realms.”6

“Part 1: The Golden Times Foundation Teachings” takes the reader on a journey of the Egyptian cosmology and consciousness of their spiritual workings. The palpability of energy and self-awareness flows through the writing, each chapter embedded with the author’s channeled information, the Egyptian subtle parts/bodies of self and opportunities to explore through personal engagement the teachings. We learn that an important part of Egyptian spirituality was in cultivating the Sahu (body of spiritual light, we all are in our true form), embodying that Living Light and thus, becoming one with all of the cosmos and living in harmony. This section, in particular, lays a suitable foundation for the teachings moving forward through the text and does a nice job of coalescing the intention that Ancient Egypt was seeded by the wisdom of Atlantean adepts and the further connection back to the mysteries of the star system of Sirius. 

“Part 2: Initiation as a Channel of Heka” offers three chapters discussing three specific initiations: “Chapter 12: The Seven Gates of Awareness”, “Chapter 13: The Light of Atum”, and “Chapter 14: The Wisdom of Thoth”. In this section, the reader is introduced to the Egyptian concept of magic–HEKA.

“”the Living Light” energy that I and my guides refer to was known as HEKA, translated as “The Divine Invisible Power that rules all”. Another translation is “The mystical Divine power that creates the manifested world.””7

The chapters contained within this section provide the reader with examples of how the principles of awakening the Sahu (Living Light) are activated through initiatory practices. The rituals are gifted from the author and enable the reader to use them as a means of self-initiation on their path. The author’s own experiences are shared, laying the seeds for curiosity and deeper exploration for the reader. 

“Part 3: Mystical Esoteric Practices of Ancient Egyptian Spirituality” completes the journey of awakening the Living Light. The ethics of the work are called forth in the teachings of Ma’at (both as Goddess and principle of ORDER) and the importance of the time within the Duat (the Egyptian underworld) needed to emerge as the Living Light are some of the highlights.

“We embark on a journey of spiritual resurrection and rebirth. We follow Iset inside the Great Pyramid and meet our Divine spirit. We Astro-travel to the world of the dead and walk a journey of self-renewal. This spiritual work parallels what happens when we die, enter the spirit realms, and reincarnate. Like Ausir (Osiris), we reincarnate as Horan (Horus), the one who becomes aware of being the spirit in the body.”8

This section is filled with deep wisdom as well as rituals and spiritual practices that enhance and have built one upon the other in the reading of Sacred Mysticism of Egypt.

Would I Recommend?

If you are drawn to the mythos and practices of Ancient Egypt and are curious about the spiritual practices of this unparalleled civilization, Sacred Mysticism of Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka Initiation is definitely a read you will not be disappointed in.  Adrimi has taken very complex practices and ideologies and managed to write in a form that is both coherent and usable, creating imagery and energy flowing from page to page that is nothing less than divinely inspired. 

About the Author: Fotoula Foteini Adrimi 

Fotoula Foteini Adrimi, BA(Hons), MSc, is the director of the ISIS School of Holistic Health, an international school of healing arts, spiritual development, and inner transformation through vibrational energy work, enlightened teachings, shamanism, and meditation. She is part of the global network of Shamanic Teachers under Sandra Ingerman. Fotoula lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland, has taught in Germany and the Netherlands, and has led spiritual pilgrimages to Egypt. Her first book, The Golden Book of Wisdom: Ancient Spirituality and Shamanism for Modern Times, is an Amazon UK bestseller. You can learn more on her website.

Divine Feminine Gnosis, by Lee Irwin

Divine Feminine Gnosis: The Lesser and Greater Mysteries of Sophia, by Lee Irwin
Inner Traditions, 979-8888502532, 304 pages, December 2025

Within Lee Irwin’s Divine Feminine Gnosis: The Lesser and Greater Mysteries of Sophia is a challenge many books discussing esoteric topics face: the author must diligently walk the fine line between coherently communicating their ideas, experiences, and sentiments within the limits of language, with one hand, and gesturing toward the veiled dance of the deeper Mystery with the other. And the attempt to thread this needle in order to present the reader with a tapestry of divine feminine–i.e. Sophianic–wisdom is an even greater challenge due to the diversity of expression that such wisdom can take, as Irwin himself acknowledges.

The book is divided into two main sections: the Lesser and Greater Mysteries, which correspond to Praxis (practice, lived-experience, development of feminine values) and Sophiana (the hidden esoteric realities that ground and unify the expressions of feminine gnosis in one’s lived experience). While the latter half is certainly more abstract and metaphysical, it covers familiar Gnostic territory: Divine Union, the World Soul, Aeons, Rebirth, and how they connect to the lived-expressions of Sophia through the Body, Soul, and Mind as discussed in the first half.

At the outset, Irwin himself suggests that attempting to read the book in a typically “masculine” way: e.g. looking for precise, logical argumentation meant to arrive at a determinate conclusion, is not fitting for the content of the feminine gnosis. Throughout the text, Irwin takes great care to distinguish how the potentially limitless expression of Sophia–the divine source of this embodied, intuitive, and creative feminine type of knowing–differs from the masculine patterns that have dominated the religious and social institutions of our inherited past.

In a sense, because Sophianic knowing explicitly does not seek a final, closed formulation of beliefs, theory, or way of being-in-the-world, it seems difficult to provide any concrete examples of how divine feminine wisdom manifests in the world. Instead, Irwin relies upon the masculine/feminine contrast–using the distinction of what feminine gnosis is not like–along with repeated cycles of key descriptors to illuminate the topic.

Although Irwin’s presentation of the Lesser Mysteries is meant to reveal how feminine gnosis shows up in the world of our experience, this is especially where illustrating particular instances of feminine wisdom and/or practices that may open one to the grace of Sophia would be helpful for the reader. In lieu of this, Irwin presents iterations of generalized descriptions and “guiding principles” that often lack means toward practical application.

For example, Irwin writes, “The grounded praxis is simply to be loving and compassionate, to express care and concern that is heart-centered, in the most direct and genuine sense,”9 and “In post-traditional spirituality, what matters most is direct personal insights and how those insights contribute to a better, more mature world.”10 As a reader, I was left wondering: How do I become simply loving and compassionate? What is insight? How do we recognize and/or cultivate this capacity?

Irwin gestures at some practices which may help foster insight, such as meditation, soul-based education, creative projects, and dreamwork–indeed, Irwin’s only concrete example of a praxis is a simple, three-step process for dream analysis. Although the accumulation and refining of insight is one of the most frequent ways Irwin describes the ingress of Sophianic wisdom to lived-experience, this term does not even warrant a mention in the Index. Nor is insight differentiated from intuition, another key capacity for receiving Sophia’s gifts.

In the end, feminine gnosis comes down to some special way of knowing. Such knowledge is not based in abstract, rationalistic doctrines or privileged states of consciousness bequeathed by an (often patriarchal) authority or tradition. It is a “secret knowledge” (a common Gnostic trope) in the sense that it cannot be codified into language, emerging uniquely for each individual, and aimed toward the formulation and realization of certain qualities within both the individual, society, and Cosmos. E.g. inclusive equality of all beings and ways of life (people, animals, plants, minerals, angels, the deceased, etc.), mediated by mature loving relationships and guiding principles that foster universal well-being and the creative actualization of possibility awaiting exploration beyond the horizon of previous experience.

Despite the reservations I felt about Irwin’s style/structure, Divine Feminine Gnosis began to resonate on a deeper level over time, marinating with more exposure to the potentially inexhaustible ways Sophia weaves within the Mystery of Being. I urge readers who may be highly-analytic (myself included) to consider Irwin’s early guidance in how to read his book in the Preface and Opening (xi – 12). Personally, I found that pulling back and softening my focus on the text (even taking a break!) made reading flow far better, and without the feeling I was missing/losing content. 

I also found some of Irwin’s characterizations of “masculine” religions, wisdom traditions, etc. to be more abrasive, dichotomizing, and dismissive than necessary (not the most inclusive, holistic, respectful attitude, in my opinion). However, this emphasized that the revitalization of feminine Wisdom in our world cannot happen without disrupting the excesses of masculine patterns of thinking-being that grip us at individual and collective scales. For readers who may be more comfortable in these more masculine patterns (scientific, rationalistic, etc.), I found Irwin’s perspective resonated with contemporary cognitive science: e.g. McGilchrist’s argument that our brain’s left hemisphere (analytic, control-oriented) is playing the role of “master” rather than playing the emissary of the (holistic, relational) right hemisphere.

Irwin’s work was inspiring as it was illuminating, inviting a courageous openness to adopt a new perspective. Without this openness, I may not have persisted to the end of the book–and would’ve missed one of the most deeply resonant expressions:

“The incarnate world is the center of creation, not some lower level, but the very heart and soul of becoming as embodied life seeks to maximize our deepest potentials. We need physical life to actually reach maturity; we need the challenges and limitations as a means within which we can form and develop new structures and patterns of becoming.”11

Apothecary for the Afflicted, by Dr. Melissa Kim Corter and Stephanie Wicker-Campbell

Apothecary for the Afflicted: Shadow Work for Invisible Wounds, by Dr. Melissa Kim Corter with illustrations by Stephanie Wicker-Campbell
Muse Oracle Press, 1763586952, 200 pages, November 2025

Shadow work is a core yet often misunderstood part of the spiritual journey. It asks us to turn toward the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to hide: the fears, desires, wounds, and contradictions that live beneath our curated identities. Rather than something to be conquered or purified away, the shadow is a repository of truth. When approached with curiosity and compassion, it becomes a source of power, creativity, and self-knowledge. To engage in shadow work is to move beyond spiritual bypassing and into an honest relationship with the full spectrum of who you are.

Apothecary for the Afflicted: Shadow Work for Invisible Wounds by Dr. Melissia Kim Corter with illustrations by Stephanie Wicker-Campbell is an engaging read to explore the shadow within. Rooted in Jungian psychology, Dr. Corter has created a guide for readers to learn about shadow work and then confront and heal their own psychological wounds that are unconscious, repressed, or difficult to articulate. She blends depth psychology, archetypal energies of fairy tales, and thoughtful writing prompts to lead readers through eight motifs while delving into the underworld of psyche.

The chapters are structured in a way that moves readers through learning about the type of situations that often lead to an aspect of oneself being shadowed, reading a fairy tale that highlights the aspect of shadow, and presenting reflective questions at the end. Dr. Corter lays out the underpinning psychology in a way that makes it accessible to readers, acknowledging things like coping strategies, trauma responses, Jungian terms like “projection,” while also considering a broader viewpoint of shamanism, anthropology, and somatic techniques as well.

“We cannot transmute what we are not willing to witness. Nightmares, resistance, and the body all point to the buried consciousness, darkness as a form of invisible light. We are suppressing by intentionally stifling unmet needs and unfelt feelings. The shadow contains these suppressed aspects until they are dealt with.”12

Shadow work is tough. Not only can it be mentally, emotionally, psychically, and spiritually draining, it also isn’t always easy to find an access point into our own internal darkness; we’re keeping it neatly tucked away and buried for a reason! However, Dr. Corter’s approach brings readers right to the threshold and then holds their hands as they take a brave step into the liminal space of their psyche. She’s done a wonderful job of synthesizing information about the shadow to give readers the background needed to understand the shadow work process, while also crafting a creative way for readers to engage with the material presented.

One thing I really enjoy about the book is how Dr. Corter blends her professional background in both depth psychology and as Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. The names of the chapters (“Dismemebred”, “Poisoned”, “Decomposed”) reminded me of the reality of the physical aspects of death we often tend to look away from, just like it’s common to turn away from the darkness of the shadow. Thinking about how Dr. Corter has the courage to go into violent, tragic scenes somehow gave me the courage to face my own darkness, gruesome as that might be!

I also love the layout and illustrations done by Wicker-Campbell. The material can definitely get a bit heavy, bringing up past memories or fears held deep within, but the little skulls, candles, cobwebs and spiders throughout remind me that I’m wading into a realm of death in order to become more fully alive. The illustrations help ground abstract psychological work are an invitation to slow down, digest, and sit with complex emotional material. Additionally, the fairy tales being white text on a darker page helps me to switch my mindset when reading, making me more receptive to the story.

At the beginning of the book, Dr. Corter suggests creating a darkness journal to record your unfiltered, uncensored thoughts and feelings. While I journal a lot, specifically having a space for this writing feels like the invitation I needed to give more attention to what’s really going on within my psyche. And for those who aren’t ready to start their own darkness journal, there is plenty of space for journaling within the book itself in the section of writing prompts.

I was really moved by the “Numb: She Who Is Frozen”, which I happened to read in the midst of a blizzard (an apt reflection in nature). Sure, I would admit I’m not the most emotional person, but I often blame that on my Aquarian nature. But reading this chapter awoke a deeper part of me that realized it has been stuck in time, encased in ice, and unwilling to connect with others for fear of rejection. Dr. Corter’s identification of how this pattern often shows up, “these individuals are incredibly strong outwardly, yet the continued failed needs never being met and expressions never being honored wears them down, and they collapse within themselves”13 helped me to recognize these shadow traits.

The fairy tale for this section is Sleepy Beauty, and I resonated with Dr. Corter’s explanation for how this story is a reflection of the deeper wounding that occurs when we go numb, or put certain puts of ourselves to sleep for too long. After years of feeling silence was protecting me, I realized it was mostly a defense from acknowledging a deeper hurt. Dr. Corter’s words were a potent reminder of the need to speak out and honestly address where I’ve been hiding my true needs and feelings:

“Silence can be a form of numbness, a paralysis of the voice, the expression, and our authentic nature. The shadow of the things we could not, cannot, or refuse to express. Whether through force or choice, the restriction of the authentic voice is liberated as we reclaim what was silent or silenced.”14

This is definitely a book one can come back to time and again, as the form our shadow takes changes and there’s unexpected initiations that life presents sometimes that require having a tool kit to wade into the murkier parts of our inner world. I’m looking forward to exploring each chapter’s fairy tale more in-depth too, noticing ways they act as a mirror for the psyche to work with the shadow in a symbolic way and my reactions to the characters that disturb, enchant, or feel uncomfortably familiar, hinting at the part of myself seeking recognition.

Overall, Apothecary for the Afflicted for those looking for an entry point into shadow work. Dr. Corter’s background in Jungian psychology is a very grounding approach to a sensitive subject. Her approach invites creative, experiential engagement with the shadow rather than an analytical or clinical self-help methodology.  This grounded guide encourages deep, symbolic exploration of unconscious wounds and transformative self-reflection, serving as a meaningful companion for those ready to engage with inner darkness and reclaim hidden parts of the psyche.

I highly recommend this book to those drawn to Jungian psychology and symbolic interpretation of fairy tales, those pursuing deep psychological and emotional introspection, and those who are looking to excavate their psyche to discover more of their authentic nature. This book is sure to begin to uncover readers’ hidden beliefs, unmet needs, and buried strengths, in which reclaiming lost or fragmented parts of the self becomes not only possible, but transformative.

The Rosicrucian Counterculture, by Ronnie Pontiac

The Rosicrucian Counterculture: The Origins and Influence of the Invisible Society, by Ronnie Pontiac
Inner Tradition, 979-8888500354, 240 pages, December 2025

It’s tough to overstate the influence Rosicrucianism had on Western occultism, yet it’s hard to pinpoint the origins of the spiritual movement . Emerging in the early 17th-century, Rosicrucianism offered an integrative vision that fused Hermetic philosophy, alchemical symbolism, Christian mysticism, and natural science into a single spiritual worldview, reframing magic as a process of inner transformation rather than external power. At a time when alchemy was at its heights, the first Rosicrucian manuscripts emphasized spiritual alchemy, a transmutation of the soul rather than the production of gold.

Through its emphasis on moral refinement, symbolic initiation, and the myth of an invisible brotherhood working for humanity’s spiritual renewal, Rosicrucianism provided a conceptual template that later informed Freemasonry, the Golden Dawn, Theosophy, and modern psychological approaches to magic. Even where its historical structures remain elusive, its philosophical imprint endures, shaping Western occultism’s enduring focus on self-initiation, ethical responsibility, and the Great Work as an inward, regenerative path.

But just what was happening at the time when the first Rosicrucianism texts emerged? And who is responsible for writing them? Was there ever truly such an order? Ronnie Pontiac takes on these mystical mysteries in The Rosicrucian Counterculture: The Origins and Influence of the Invisible Society, sharing historical context in which these original Rosicucian manuscripts were published and tracing the influence of Rosicrucianism from the 17th century to modern era.

Approaching this topic as a storyteller, Pontiac delves right into the drama of the Early Modern Period. He looks at the esoteric culture around Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II and his court, including Tycho Brahe and Johannese Kepler. Visitors, such as John Dee and Rabbi Loew, added to the discourse too, amid many other contributing figures to a significant period in history.

Next, Pontiac moves into the reign of Frederick V of Palatinate and Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Stuart of King James I of England), including the efforts to make Frederick the first Protestant Holy Roman Emperor, triggering the Thirty Years’ War. Though their story is one of Protestant resilience, it also highlights how mystical and reformist ideas intertwined with European politics. From their wedding, featuring alchemical symbols and celebrated Shakespeare plays to their incredible gardens and intellectual court, Pontiac goes into great detail surrounding the atmosphere of this time.

Other notable chapters include one about Robert Fludd, who wrote Tractatus apologeticus integritatem Societatis de Rosea Cruce (Treatist to defend the integrity of the Society of the Rosy Cross), and the aftermath of Frederick and Elizabeth’s rule, leading to the rise of their son Prince Rupert of Rhine.

There’s a lot of historical background here. Despite taking AP European history in high school, I will admit I was OFTEN having to look up family charts, paintings of the people, and maps. Until I read this book I hadn’t even known Bohemia existed (kind of embarrassing but it’s the truth), nor did I realize the level of the contention between the Protestant and Catholics during this time. As an American, it was quite eye-opening to explore the past of Europe in this depth. Another thing I learned? That Prince Rupert of the Rhine, son of King Frederick and Queen Elizabeth, had such a significant role in the slave trade as the founder, principal investor, and the first governor of the Royal African Company.

Though Pontiac doesn’t position himself as an academic historian, he nevertheless provides an impressively dense and illuminating historical framework that significantly deepened my understanding of the cultural, political, and religious conditions out of which Rosicrucianism emerged. For anyone interested in Western occultism, this context is genuinely valuable. Understanding how the esoteric movement developed alongside dynastic power struggles, religious persecution, and early scientific inquiry makes Rosicrucianism feel less like an abstract mystery and more like a living response to its moment in history.

That said, there were moments when the sheer weight of historical detail caused me to lose the plot. Sometimes the narrative veered so deeply into political history that I momentarily forgot I was reading a book about Rosicrucianism at all. Additionally, the structure can also feel somewhat nonlinear, with jumps across time periods and re-emergence of previously mentioned people (whom I definitely didn’t remember amidst the details), which occasionally made it difficult to maintain a clear perspective. While this factual density will likely delight readers with a strong appetite for early modern European history, it can challenge those approaching the text primarily from an occult or esoteric perspective, requiring patience to continually reorient and reconnect the historical material back to Rosicrucianism itself.

This said, I’m very glad to have learned about the origins of Rosicrucianism in this depth, even if there’s no definitive answer amid much speculation. The chapter “Three Little Books”, which focuses on Fama Fraternitatis, Confessio Fraternitatis, and The Chymical Wedding, gives a great overview of the zeitgeist of when these books were published. It’s one thing to look back on them from the perspective of hoping to receive the mystical insights of Rosicrucianism, it’s a whole other to contextualize their origins within the time period they emerged.

What struck me the most is how the true identity of the writer(s) of these books has remained secret for hundreds of years. There’s still debate about if the secret society even really existed. If anything, I now see that “Rosicrucianism became a popular hustle”15 with people claiming to be part of the mystical society to enhance their reputation, swindle others, or lend prestige to other evolving esoteric movements.

All in all, Pontiac is doing important work by bringing rigor, clarity, and historical grounding to occult subjects that are too easily romanticized or obscured by mystique. His willingness to explore uncertainty strengthens the study of Western occultism, reminding readers that esoteric traditions do not emerge in a vacuum. This book is part of a three-book series, including American Metaphysical Religion and The Magic of the Orphic Hymns, co-authored with Tamra Lucid, all of which reflect a consistent commitment to illuminating the philosophical, cultural, and historical roots of esoteric thought. Rather than offering tidy revelations, Pontiac invites readers into a more mature engagement with occult history, valuing context, discernment, and intellectual honesty as much as mystery itself. The Rosicrucian Counterculture is a wonderful resource for those seeking to better understand the historical underpinnings of this long-lasting esoteric movement.

Financial Sorcery, by Jason Miller

Financial Sorcery: Magical Strategies to Create Real and Lasting Wealth, by Jason Miller
Weiser Books, 1578639034, 256 pages, December 2025

Jason Miller’s Financial Sorcery: Magical Strategies to Create Real and Lasting Wealth (2012) completely shifted how I approached money when I read it in 2019. Among all the chatter about prosperity magic and abundance, this book got straight to the heart of things, combining practical, mundane financial advice with magical expertise. I saw results quickly. I credit the information in this original book as the starting point of my financial journey of paying off debts, building a buffer of savings, gaining new clients, and increasing hourly rate.

When I heard there is a revised and updated version coming out, Financial Sorcery: Magical Strategies to Create Real and Lasting Wealth (2025), I could not wait to delve in! For those new to Miller, his magical experience spans 35 years. Within this time he’s written six books, including well-known Protection and Reversal Magick. He currently teaches courses and classes online, such as Strategic Sorcery, Level Up, and The Sorcery of Hekate. I highly recommend checking out his website and joining his email list, as he sometimes does community magical ventures free of charge that I’ve always benefited (practically and experientially) from participating in.

One thing to note about Financial Sorcery is that Miller doesn’t teach magic as a way to escape the reality of our material world. A good portion of this book is pragmatic advice. This said, Miller also discusses the metaphysics of money too, making for an interesting opportunity to reflect on what money is and the way you relate to it. Readers get a well-rounded education in sensible strategies for navigating the market and magical underpinnings that help to support their financial foundation.

Chapter topics vary from mundane to magical with ease. To begin, Miller grounds this reading experience by encouraging readers to acknowledge perspective. Topics like rich vs. wealth and what financial magic can and cannot do are explored. Miller highlights why sometimes things don’t work, especially when relying on the lottery or emergency magic. In the next chapter, he explores the spirit of money, noting what money does and does not like. Then it’s onto a discussion of the four stages of financial circumstances most people find themselves in. These first chapters definitely set the stage for understanding your own financial situation and attitudes and behaviours you have in regard to money.

From here, the more magical aspects are covered. Miller shares core skills (meditation, breath, maintaining an altar) and dedicates a whole chapter on working with spirits, planetary powers, and deities. I personally loved that he focuses a whole chapter on Jupiter, as I’m in the midst of my Jupiter return and intentionally working more in-depth. This chapter features over a dozen sigils for a variety of purposes that are big and bold, making it easy to copy them onto a piece of paper or other material for ritual use.

Whole chapters are dedicated to getting rid of debt, managing money, finding a job, getting a promotion, entrepreneurial magic, emergency magic, and passive income. Many of these chapters include step-by-step guidance for fostering the results you wish to see, and not all of the steps are magical. From writing a simple thank-you card after a job interview to knowing when it’s time to fold an entrepreneurial venture, Miller provides grounded, meaningful advice.

There’s three appendices at the back of the book: “Meta Glyphs”, featuring glyphs for binding, distributing, manifesting, and a seal of power for a glyph table, “A Rite of Juno Moneta”, and “Helios for Solar Success”.

Miller has a way of keeping readers engaged in the content. He speaks candidly with the reader, often sharing his own experience, and never undermines the reader’s intellect. Rather than over-explaining or spoon-feeding conclusions, Miller trusts readers to connect the dots, absorb the guidance, and engage actively with the text; he writes with the assumption readers are capable. This respect for the audience creates a more rewarding experience that feels like a conversation between equals, never condescending and never reductive. While reading, Miller makes me feel like I’m in the driver’s seat, even as he pours all his wisdom into my mind via the text.

As mentioned before, this book is an updated edition of Miller’s previously published work. How does this compare to the first printing? Pretty much every chapter has new additional commentary at the end of the chapter. Honestly, it’s not too much more information–Miller sticks to tried and true financial acumen for the most part–but it does take into account modern financial trends, such as cryptocurrency, and adds more examples for greater clarity and depth.

Early on in the book, Miller writes “I am not saying it’s how things should work. I’m saying it’s how things do work.”16 For those seeking for a praxis that is soundly situated within the reality of the material world, Financial Sorcery is a fantastic resource.

Moving through the book is part financial therapy (an honest, grounding process of taking stock of your current beliefs and circumstances) and part magical enhancement, where intention, symbolism, and ritual are used to expand what feels possible. It asks you to tend both the practical roots and the energetic currents at the same time, so change happens not just in spreadsheets or plans, but in the way you feel when you claim abundance. The result is a recalibration where money becomes less fraught, more conscious, and quietly enchanted.

To me, the book remains as relevant and motivating as it was when I read it nearly seven years ago. The additional commentary is a real bonus and makes it well worth re-reading and including in my book collection. And for first time readers, this is the kind of book you read knowing it’s going to change you in the best way, rearranging how you think about money, power, and possibility while you’re busy enjoying the ride. Pick it up when you’re ready for things to shift, because once you do, life has a funny way of responding. That’s magic for you, right?

Tarot in Other Words, edited by Cassandra Snow

Tarot in Other Words: An Essential Anthology by Leading Queer Tarot Writers, edited by Cassandra Snow
Weiser Books, 1578638445, 208 pages, May 2025

As a professional tarot card reader and teacher, writer, and theatre maker, Cassandra Snow is well versed in the art of creating. In this book, Tarot in Other Words, Snow has pulled together well-known queer Tarot writers with a view to showcasing their unique perspectives on tarot through essays. 

The introduction is robust, with many pages devoted to Snow talking about the hows and whys of matching tarot with queerness and providing historical links between the two. She explains, saying:

“This isn’t a history book, but I do want to bring some lesser discussed history and trivia to the table that ties queerness and tarot. One of the biggest reasons I think of tarot and queerness together is this: for a lot of cultures, such as the Romani and other oppressed groups forced into nomadic lifestyles, fortune-telling using cards and other tools was and is to this day survival work… We take it up for survival, and to feel as free as we can while we earn money to survive.”17

Snow’s dedication to showcasing queer writers in the realm of tarot is both timely and necessary, as queer voices in any context are currently undergoing a type of censorship. I’m not going to delve into my personal feelings on that topic specifically as it has no place here, but one could take my writing a review about queer voices as a hint as to where my allegiance falls. 

The anthology separates essays into two sections: in part one, we read writings about “Finding Ourselves in the Tarot” and in the second part, the writings are focused on “Finding the Tarot in Ourselves”. Snow says that she found the essays received “…fell into one of two camps: personal storytelling that highlights the powerful ways tarot can move through and transform us, and instructional materials highlighting techniques and opportunities for you to look at tarot in new and inclusive ways… Even that attempt at classification and noticing the overlap plays with the theme of fluidity, being, and what we owe to each other that are so important in both queer and radical theory.”18

Nothing excites me more in the realm of tarot than learning how others use the cards and interpret them. Of the dozens of books I have on the subject, there are a few that I consistently reach for. Snow’s book, with this amazing collection of insights and personal experiences with the cards, has been added to that short list. “The High Priestess as Black Femme Memory” by Junauda Petrus is a beautifully sensual piece devoted to the High Priestess, one of my favorite cards, and after reading it, I don’t think I will look at that card the same way. *fans self*

There are spells, card spreads, recipes, and meditation prompts. There is an in-depth how-to on building altars and suggestions on what could be included on that altar. There is an essay by Maria Minnis that links lichens with tarot, specifically the suit of Cups, and uses the symbiotic nature of lichen as a focus to illustrate how everything is connected. This book is an absolute feast for the soul and opens the cards up to new ways of thinking and viewing ourselves, no matter who/what we identify as. I have never felt so seen as I was reading this book.

I love the variety of voices in this collection, and the different ways they approach the cards. The idea of reciprocity within the craft of reading tarot is something I haven’t seen discussed so thoroughly before. The essay “Queering the Numbers” by Meg Jones Wall is one of my favorites as she tackles the heteronormative system of numbers as applied to tarot. In this essay, Jones Wall takes the reader through the usual numerology meanings and expands on them, inviting the reader to look deeper and challenge the typical meanings of the numbers. This was definitely one of the more jarring parts of this book, as I realized I was still subscribing to the traditional numerological concepts as it refers to the minor arcana. This essay gave me an opportunity to explore what information I already possessed was still relevant for me as a reader in this context, while making space for new interpretations and meanings.

Whether you identify as queer or not, if you read tarot, pick up Tarot in Other Words. There is literally something for everyone in this collection of essays and the different viewpoints illustrated within make this a fascinating read.

Charm Casting, by Tina Hardt

Charm Casting: Divining with Trinkets, Trifles, Baubles, and Bits, by Tina Hardt
Weiser Books, 1578638720, 208 pages, November 2025

Charm Casting: Divining with Trinkets, Trifles, Baubles, and Bits by Tina Hardt is a great start to anyone’s charm casting journey. This form of divination is so much fun and it brings a lot of whimsy to your craft! If this sounds up your alley then this is the book for you, my dear friend!

This book was a very fun read. Hardt encourages developing your intuition through play, encouraging creative spiritual exploration. She teaches not only how to build your charm kit but also how to apply the wisdom of the reading to different areas of life. All throughout, I enjoyed the prompts, charts, and checklists. (I always love books that allow you to write in.)

Hardt really opened my eyes to the possibilities of what else I could be adding into my charm casting bag. She encourages readers to personalize their charm set by selecting objects that resonate uniquely with you She also gives very thoughtful tips, such as not adding glass items to your charm casting kit. I made this mistake with a small glass cat charm I had, and it ended up getting chipped in the process of my readings. We live and learn! But having Hardt’s warning prior would have been beneficial.

This said, the information covered will come in handy for beginners and for those who are way past the beginner stage of charm casting. You may find yourself reading and going “Why didn’t I think of that?!” because I sure was! This book is a very quick read too. It dives right in with all of the useful information you need to build up and read your kit, coming up with meanings, what charms you should add, how to store them, where to find these charms, how to read them and so on. I was very impressed with the knowledge Hardt has packed into this book.

I also found myself learning about other items that can be used for charm casting, such as Go stones. I wasn’t familiar with what those were until I read this book. But apparently the black and white pieces that make excellent yes and no charms! Hardt gives many great ideas for themed kits too, ranging from people, to themes (ex. love), and to even sports. All of the ideas for different themed kits really got my creative juices flowing on creating some different sets for myself. Currently, I only have two basic sets I use but the ideas given to me opened up a world of possibilities.

Another interesting concept presented by Hardt is to let the pieces you’re bonding with to “perform” for you. I have struggled to connect with some of my charms, but hard reminds readers, “You’re the director.”19 This helped me get clarity on some of my more elusive charms that I’ve been trying to understand their meaning for sometime. Letting them perform really helped me understand them more.

Overall, Charm Casting is a fun and engaging read. It helped me understand a lot more about charm casting, with Hardt going in depth and providing a lot of helpful advice and information. She has done a great job encouraging readers to trust their intuition and build their own personal relationship with their charms. Beginner or not, if you’re a charm caster you’ll appreciate Charm Casting, especially if you’re ready to jump in and practice right away as a hands-on approach is best suited for this book.

The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide, by Tom Benjamin

The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide, by Tom Benjamin
Crossed Crow Books, 9781964537450, 306 pages, October 2025

The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide by Tom Benjamin is a comprehensive manual designed for both aspiring and seasoned fortune tellers. Blending traditional wisdom with contemporary practices, the book aims to equip readers with the tools, techniques, and ethical considerations necessary for navigating the world of divination today.

Tom Benjamin has more than twenty years of experience as a tarot reader and teacher. From his popular YouTube channel (TheFoolsJournal) to his online workshops, Benjamin loves to share his tarot knowledge. He has written two workbooks for tarot students: Tarot on Earth and Your Tarot Toolkit. Learn more about Benjamin on his website.

The guide is thoughtfully organized, beginning with a brief history of fortune telling and its cultural significance. Benjamin then discusses fortune telling today and how it has changed over time. Step-by-step instructions, sample readings, and troubleshooting guidance make the book accessible to novices, while deeper insights and advanced techniques will appeal to experienced practitioners.

Benjamin explains that this is not a “how to book”, but rather a book about himself as a fortune teller or tarot reader. He shares his own experiences and teaches us about reading tarot along the way. His classes are based on this same type of strategy. He says that there are lots of basic tarot classes online and he doesn’t want to compete with those. 

The book is set up as a field guide and even looks like an old tome that has been weathered and used over time. The font he uses for headlines is like an old newspaper linotype and each chapter starts with a page printed in white type on black. I enjoy these black pages for each chapter, because it makes it easy to find chapters!  However, the white type is set in a serif typeface that is a little light and hard to read on the black background.

I was drawn to this book because of the reference to fortune telling and I decided to jump right in. The chapter called “Kill Your Darlings” really captured my interest.  In this section, Benjamin discusses ideas and beliefs you may hold dear about reading cards.  He dissects them and invites the reader to ponder these questions:

“What are things you fundamentally hold to be true about divination? What would happen if you change them — even just for an experiment. You might find it alarming, but you also might find it freeing…. What things do you have to have for your readings to be successful? A certain crystal? A particular cloth or incense blend? What would happen if you changed it up or tried not using your usual thing at all?”20

In the chapter “Seeing like a Fortune Teller”, Benjamin talks about how he “started his YouTube channel by doing readings for fictional and historical figures.”21 What a great and novel approach! He then invites the reader to grab a tarot deck and play solitaire with the deck for 5 minutes. Then read the cards in front of you when the timer goes off.  Again, what a wonderful exercise!

The chapter entitled “Learn Me Something” is a great treatise on learning in general and how we can all be more like little kids by being totally open to new information and new tools and techniques. To demonstrate, he takes a deck of playing cards, makes up an entirely new spread and shares his take on numbers and suits. At the end of the chapter, he has the audacity to say that “you are capable of doing the same thing!”22

Benjamin also includes a chapter on putting your own thoughts together for workshops, including how to create it, how to share your own wisdom, and how to use visual aids. He shares a basic outline for a four-part class that is structurally sound and looks interesting.

The chapter on advice is priceless. He talks about taking on the problems of the people for whom we read and offering “advice,” even when most people aren’t going to listen or act on it.  As Benjamin says: 

“A lot of times, people just want to vent. They don’t need a list of instructions; They want to be heard. Giving unwanted advice is a sure way to cause moderate to severe rage among our friends. Again, I know because I’ve done it. A lot.”23

He ends the book with his chapter “How I Read”, and he saved the best for last! Rather than giving keywords and brief card descriptions, he provides lots of information about the history of each Major Arcana card, some myths about the card and its symbolism, and his own interpretations or feelings about each card. Benjamin then discusses the Minor Arcana suits and the meanings for numbers. He sums up how he works with the Minor Arcana:

“It’s worth knowing the primary tool I work with is its element and number. Everything else (artwork, keywords, impulse) comes after I consider the element and the number. This isn’t right or wrong, good or bad; It’s just how I do it.”24

The writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making complex concepts approachable for beginners. The book emphasizes the importance of ethical practice, personal boundaries, and adapting ancient arts for contemporary audiences. I love the sample spreads and footnotes he adds to some chapters. This guide acknowledges diverse cultural traditions and encourages respect for different backgrounds and belief systems. Benjamin adds a section for further reading and reference at the back of the book, as well. 

Overall, The Modern Fortune Teller’s Field Guide is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the art of divination with tarot cards. Its blend of historical context, practical guidance, and modern sensibilities makes it a valuable addition to any reader’s library. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking to refine your craft, this book offers thoughtful instruction and inspiration for your journey.

I plan to keep this book on hand for classes I teach as well as recommending it to new students for their own personal library. The information Benjamin shares is like the culmination of an afternoon spent at a coffee shop, going over his life story, getting a reading and making a new friend.

Magical Ever After, by Erica Rose

Magical Ever After: Manifesting Your Fairy-Tale Romance with Angels, Mermaids & Faeries, by Erica Rose
Muse Oracle Press, 1763586944, 200 pages, November 2025

It’s a love story, baby just say yes! Except.. Sometimes it’s a real struggle, right? For those who have wished for a bit of help from a fairy god mother, Erica Rose is here to teach you how to connect with not only fairies, but angels and mermaids too. Her new book Magical Ever After: Manifesting Your Fairy-Tale Romance with Angels, Mermaids & Faeries invites you to be the author of your own love story with a bit of magically-inspired assistance from these guides in matters of the heart.

“Manifesting love is not about using magic to force someone to fall in love with you. It’s about you, yourself, adjusting the energy you are projecting in order to match the energy of whoever out there would be your perfect partner. It’s about getting into alignment with the type of love you deserve and desire.”25

As soon as I held this beautifully bound, pink hardcover book in my hands, I could feel the soft and gentle allure of romance and magic within the pages. Beginning with “Once Upon a Time” and ending with “Your Happily Ever After”, Rose has written a potent guide for healing your own wounds, forgiving the past, and really cultivating self-love. She teaches how falling in love with yourself first creates a magnetism that brings in the love you desire. And along the way, there’s mystical helpers to aid in this process of transformative inner work.

Magically Ever After begins with an introduction to the spirits readers will be working with: angels, including Guardian angels and Archangels too, and the elementals, mermaids and fairies. Calling on these spirits gives the interpersonal and manifestation work that will be done a very mystical feeling, inviting readers to move beyond their real life concerns and frustrations to tap into a more spiritually-attuned frame of mind when calling love into their life. Rose shares meditations for readers to connect with each of these guides, opening the doorway for readers to strengthen their connection to them before setting off on this journey of love.

First, Rose teaches how to become more aware of one’s love mindset. From the media we consume to blocks around the possibility of ever finding a loving relationship, she shares ways for readers to reflect on their romantic views and shift them into a more positive mindset. Though dating can be draining, her tips bring an uplifting, hopeful perspective that encourages readers to learn from their experiences, readjust, and remain open to all possibilities.

The next topic Rose delves into is self-love. By working with the mermaids, fairies, and angels, readers have the opportunity to spruce up their self-image, tend to their inner needs with care, and honor the path they alone walk. Rose consistently reminds readers their story is unique, and there’s no reason to get caught up in an artificial sense of timing or comparison to others.

The inner empowerment developed in the self-love section gives readers the courage they need for the next part of the process. Rose’s next topic is releasing the past. To me, this felt a bit like the shadow work section, where readers are guided to look into past lives and generational influences, along with healing their own heartbreak to cleanse the slate for their romantic lives. Too often we want to move forward with a new path, but the past has not been fully honored, healed, and released. Rose provides plenty of divine tools for readers to let go of what’s been to make room for what they truly desire.

The final section is all about living a life of love. After getting in the right mindset, cultivating self-love, and releasing the past, the focus turns tapping into the love all around and manifesting dream romance. Rose shares different visualization techniques to bring this reality to life.

“Continually find ways to romanticize your life. Pretend you’re the main character in a fantasy romance novel and be swept up in the idea that you already have the love of your life. If you can constantly convince yourself, your energy will radiate with love and the Universe will match that frequency.”26

One thing I like about this book is that all throughout Rose is sharing her own story of finding true love. Knowing that she went through this process herself provides a feeling of comradery. She’s sharing all of this wisdom from personal insight and actually doing the work; she GETS it. This makes the whole book incredibly authentic. Even the most rationally-minded readers will be able to benefit from Rose’s guidance on how to find love, regardless of if they’re comfortable working with the spiritual entities, because the content is sound advice overall.

While the content might seem whimsical, Rose actually presents a very healthy and grounded approach to manifesting romance. She doesn’t ignore the inner work, offering superficial tips for finding “the one”, rather she teaches readers how to go deep into their own past in order to create a foundation of self-love in their life. From this place of healing and self-acceptance, readers then send their energy outward to find a partner who is in alignment with this state of self-love. This beautiful, Venusian journey is one anyone can undertake. While Rose offers introductions to helping spiritual guides, sharing meditations and exercises to strengthen the connection, readers still have agency over which entities they feel called to work with; there’s lots of room for freedom and personal choice in how Rose presents the material.

It’s not presented as “manifest love fast” but rather “heal your heart and align deeply for long term happiness”. Rose encourages questioning social truisms (not being married by 25 doesn’t make you a spinster!), deeply exploring one’s feelings (you WILL need to do some honest soul searching!), and finding the positive within the journey (yes, that terrible date taught  you something about what you actually are looking for!). And all throughout, Rose sprinkles in a happy dose of magic, affirmations, and rituals to keep readers inspired and optimistic about their romantic journey.

Here are some of my favorite meditations, rituals, and practices shared by Rose to help readers uncover blocks in their love life, heal, and align their mindset to attract everlasting love:

ㅤ♡ Candle Spell for Passionate Love
ㅤ ♡Archangel Jophiel Morning Beauty Routine
ㅤ♡ Mermaid Mirror Work
ㅤ♡ Fairy Tea Ceremony for Self-Love
ㅤ♡ Rewriting Your Identity Ritual
ㅤ♡ Generational Healing with Archangel Raphael
ㅤ♡ Love Intention Bath with the Mermaids
ㅤ♡Social Amplification Reflection Questions


Overall, Magical Ever After is an empowering guide to manifesting the love one desires and deserves. For those open to spiritual assistance from the angelic, fairy, and mermaid realms, this book is a wonderful resource. Rose has done an outstanding job balancing practical romantic advice with initiation to let the mystic energy of the Universe guide the path to true love.

I’m a big believer in manifestation work succeeding the most through partnership with divine entities, so I have full confidence that the bridge created between realms through the process in this book leads to readers finding their dream relationships. I recommend Magical Ever After for those who need some uplifting inspiration in their love life; there’s always love and happiness available in life, if one is willing to open up to the possibilities.