Magic is a wonderful thing; a productive process and ever changing energy! When thinking of working a magic spell one might picture a complicated or formal process,carefully choosing the day, time and phase of the moon, and special ingredients! Incantations and rituals all would be chosen to assist in the desired outcome. However, there are many types of magic spells and I've found the most effective ones often involve no formal process at all. Sometimes you don’t even think about it and you’re working magick!

Some people believe magic involves wielding an actual force outside of oneself. There may be some truth to that and it certainly can be helpful, but I believe that magic is largely a matter of psychology, or positive thinking. It really is all about the power of intention & will! And imagination, of course!

An effective spell can be as simple as saying an affirmation out loud until it sinks in, choosing what items of jewelry to put on, or cooking a special meal. When I sit and put on my makeup or create a scent to wear each day, I am working magic. I often do cooking or cleaning magic. Put the right intent into the most mundane task and it becomes a powerful spell!

Monday night was the new moon. New moons are considered good times to do "banishing" spells, let go of negative energy, bad habits and transformative work. I have been dealing with some  difficult circumstances of late. There have been a lot of changes in my life. In many ways this is causing me to become a different person, yet it has also helped me to affirm the most essential, most genuine parts of myself. Coming through the fire, I learn who I am and despite what some people may contrarily say and think, who I am not.

I've been getting lots of excellent advice about cleansings and uncrossings. I've also been encouraged to do some transformation work. Anticipating this new moon, I've been collecting items for a ritual. A friend even gave me a magnificent, perfect skin her snake had shed! How perfect a symbol for transformation is that?

Often the well laid out plan gets pushed aside by something unexpected and ridiculously simple. That night, I realized I had started working my transformation spell without even knowing it. The day was full of false starts. Eris and Mercury in some kind of tug of war! It drifted along in a way that resisted all sense of purpose. I finally gave up trying to push it and went with the flow which included getting off the wrong freeway exit and meandering around San Francisco until a visit I had intended to last a couple of hours became about 30 minutes and a planned prompt arrival in Berkeley at 830 became 850!

But it all worked out gloriously.

The friend I was visiting in SF is new in my life. She is literally going through transformation right now and has decided her ultimate gender is "to be determined!" She is an amazing, inspiring and hella fun person! She doesn't judge me. In fact she really gets me, and my sense of humor.We met quite by serendipitous accident. I wanted to go to a friend's birthday party in the city, didn't have a ride, then got one at the last minute, but time was limited. However, I showed up at the right time evidently, because we met!.

Spending 3o minutes having awesome coffee, bitching, talking, laughing and hugging someone who is the embodiment of transformation is a pretty good start, eh?

I rushed off to Berkeley,sure that my waiting friend would be frustrated with me and that the restaurant would close. But, he was awesome, totally patient and understanding. Instead of making me feel self conscious about not having money or like some kind of pariah because of my troubles. He graciously treated me to dinner, listened, offered help and advice, and even continued our conversation after the restaurant closed. To have someone, who is making bold changes in his own life, and whose judgement I hold in high esteem confirm that my circumstances, though affected by some bad choices are not my fault, that I'm working hard to change them and doing the best I can, for someone to actually see me for who I really am and recognize what I'm doing to improve is pretty powerful medicine.

The road ahead continues to be daunting, however, I left feeling so much better about myself and my outlook for the future. I rushed home to grab the things I needed for my spell! It was late, but I still had time, in fact by the time I got back to my house-sitting job the time would be perfect! I got to my front door and dug in my bag for my keys only to realize I had left them in the South Bay!

At first I was frustrated. Then I had to chuckle because this day had been determined to go its own way right from the start! Nothing to do, but head back & just work something out!

After a few miles on the road I realized I was hearing song after song about, change, transformation, cleansing, being seen for who you really are, etc. something clicked and a sense of peace slipped over me. Though I might well decide to do something with that snake skin next month, I didn't need to do a big spell tonight. I had simply been doing one big transformation spell all evening without even thinking about it. I was cleansed and transformed by the Phoenix fire of conversation, love and acceptance by other phoenixes.

Wow! And blessed be!