From the author of The Last Chance Hotel comes a brand new magical mystery ... 'Blending magical adventure with Golden Age crime mystery, this delightfully atmospheric spin-off from the author of The Last Chance Hotel confirms Thornton's place as one of the most original children's writers around.' WATERSTONES on book 1 Is Oakmoss Hornbeam the unluckiest boy in the world? Or has someone cursed him? When a black cat crosses his path, mysteriously blown in by a storm, Oakmoss believes it's his worst omen yet. But Nightshade, a cat of considerable talents, knows when it's game on or game over. With the help of newshound Veena Vale and magical crime investigator Dexter Stormforce, she sets out to become a lucky charm for one very unlucky boy ... A magical murder mystery story perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Harry Potter By the author of The Last Chance Hotel, chosen as Waterstones Book of the Month and nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award Follows on from The Howling Hag Mystery, a series starring fan-favourite Nightshade the cat as the star of her very own mystery! Praise for THE LAST CHANCE HOTEL: 'A jolly, atmospheric mystery.' THE TIMES 'All kinds of fun' THE OBSERVER '[A] mash-up of murder mystery and fantasy ... full of great characters, plot twists and intriguing detail.' METRO 'Featuring magical antics, a talking cat and a locked-room murder mystery, Seth's story reads like an old-school whodunnit with added wizards and spells' BOOKTRUST

The Golden Dawn system of magick is known throughout the world as one of the most effective and comprehensive approaches to working with occult powers. But for beginners or intermediate practitioners, it can be difficult to know where to start and where to go for expert guidance. Golden Dawn Magic shares bitesized exercises and meditations to help you build the skills that are needed for more advanced rituals, guiding beginner and intermediate practitioners on a powerful journey of magickal work. Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, Chief Adepts of the Golden Dawn, provide a firm foundation in practical Golden Dawn theory and methods, without the complex lessons and grades of more traditional approaches. This is accessible magic that anyone can perform.

How the scientific study of magic reveals intriguing-and often unsettling-insights into the mysteries of the human mind. What do we see when we watch a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat or read a person's mind? We are captivated by an illusion; we applaud the fact that we have been fooled. Why do we enjoy experiencing what seems clearly impossible, or at least beyond our powers of explanation? In Experiencing the Impossible, Gustav Kuhn examines the psychological processes that underpin our experience of magic. Kuhn, a psychologist and a magician, reveals the intriguing-and often unsettling-insights into the human mind that the scientific study of magic provides. Magic, Kuhn explains, creates a cognitive conflict between what we believe to be true (for example, a rabbit could not be in that hat) and what we experience (a rabbit has just come out of that hat!). Drawing on the latest psychological, neurological, and philosophical research, he suggests that misdirection is at the heart of all magic tricks, and he offers a scientific theory of misdirection. He explores, among other topics, our propensity for magical thinking, the malleability of our perceptual experiences, forgetting and misremembering, free will and mind control, and how magic is applied outside entertaiment-the use of illusion in human-computer interaction, politics, warfare, and elsewhere. We may be surprised to learn how little of the world we actually perceive, how little we can trust what we see and remember, and how little we are in charge of our thoughts and actions. Exploring magic, Kuhn illuminates the complex-and almost magical-mechanisms underlying our daily activities.

Enter the realm of dog magic, where you'll develop an incredible relationship with your canine friend that allows you to know what your dog is thinking, see through his eyes, gain emotional and physical healing from being around him, and more. Filled with spells, meditations, charms, and exercises, The Book of Dog Magic shows you how to bond with your pet on a psychic level. Join authors Sophia and Denny Sargent as they explore the history, mythology, and cultural impact of canines, and also provide hands-on techniques for engaging in dog magic for protection, guidance, and spiritual growth. Discover insightful and entertaining essays, ways to invoke your dog totem and spirit familiar, and a guide to connecting with your dog in the afterlife. You and your dog will achieve a magical life together with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide.

Updated and reorganised this book has already sold over 300,000 copies - a classic magickal text From the popular author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft over 400,000 copies sold Filled with simple candle rites that get real results Includes 37 rituals - adapted for Christians and Pagans - can easily be performed at home No prior knowledge needed - diagrams make this an ideal primer for beginners Practical Candleburning Rituals is one of Buckland's most popular books, and rightly so. Hundreds of thousands of people use it as a guide to simple, practical, powerful, and usable magic on a daily basis. There are three reasons you should use this book, too. First, if you have never done any sort of magic before, this book is an ideal introduction to the subject from a practical point of view. Second, although many people are involved in Pagan religions, many others are involved in Christianity. Most of the rituals in this book are presented in two ways, one for Pagans and one for Christians. This book can really be used by just about anyone. Third, by practicing the techniques in this book, you'll learn the underpinnings of magic. In no time you'll be able to come up with your own rituals based on the ones listed. When you can design your own rituals, and be successful with them, you will truly be a magician. And the place to start is with this book.

Discover the wisdom, healing, and magic of trees with this illuminating book of rituals that focus on the last ten Celtic tree ogham. Featuring meditations, ceremonies, stories, and correspondences, this easy-to-follow guide shows you how to build a deeper connection to nature as you learn about the aicme ailim vowels and the forfeda. You'll also explore how these rituals fit into the Wheel of the Year so you can access tree energy year-round. Celtic Tree Ogham acts as your doorway into the sacred teachings of not only trees, but also totems, guides, and deities. In addition to step-by-step instructions on preparing for and performing the ritual, each chapter presents runes, keywords, and practical information. Through chants, songs, journaling, and more, this book's activities help you live well and stay connected to your wild self.