Chapter 1: The Magic Within
Invocation
"Magic is not something you do. It's something you remember."
Magic is deep down inside you like a spark waiting to ignite your imagination. As children or when we see children play and share stories of what they see, there is a real sense of a reality in what is perceived as fantasy.
As children we can really fly. Toy tea sets really have tea within them. Dolls and action figures really do become alive. Imaginary friends are real, as are mythical creatures, people, fairies, Peter Pan and Wendy who explore all adventures can be seen in the eyes of every child who is given the chance to imagine.
Yet somewhere along the path of growing up, for most of us, we lose this playful sight and ability to create a world full of possibilities and magic by becoming adults. Just like the adults in Peter Pan who had long lost the joy of their youth, the ability to fly and create as you speak it, too manifest a reality as you soar it.
The conflict of a child growing into an adult is that we are told, "As a child you spoke as a child and acted as a child, it is now time to put away childish things and become an adult." (The Bible)
Story
The myth of the hidden spark or the magician who forgot they are magic is an old one. Magic and mystery belong together like a hand in a glove. Throughout history, magicians have played key roles as bridges of magic through the veil of the unseen.
From accounts of magicians and sorcerers in the Bible, the Egyptians and their wise ones, to shamans of the Amazon jungles, call them what you will, these were wise ones, highly respected by their tribes, kings, and nobles. From Joseph and his coat of many colours to Rasputin, the magician and counsellor of the King of Russia.
Today, the magician has been demoted to a conjurer or a stage illusionist. Often depicted as a fraud, a mere trickster who hides behind the veil like the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz.
Yet there is more here. Magicians share in a legacy that goes back thousands of years, of fire, ritual, magic, and storytelling. The magic of parting truth, wonder, inspiration, and manifestation.
Modern-day magicians may perform tricks, but there are those who take their magic very seriously. Through practice, learning, and believing in themselves, they become modern-day oracles, seers, storytellers, and even healers. Like modern-day wizards, bards, or witches, magic is just another tool.
In the hands of a skilled practitioner, magic becomes a way, a transformation, and meaning. Becoming a real magician, wizard, bard, or witch and following your path is a choice.
Teaching
The soul’s voice is the source of all true magic. Inner vision and knowing, knowing yourself, is the first vital step on your path.
Know thyself is a foundational rule. You are the best expert of your own life. No one else can be, not even the closest of your friends or family members. You are always the best expert of your own life.
This does not mean you don’t have mentors or that you shouldn’t be accountable or listen to others. It does not mean you are always right or don’t get things wrong.
What it means is you are willing to learn, grow, and develop yourself. It means you are constantly developing your critical thinking skills, empathy, and the ability to step outside of limitations and boxes.
It means you are willing to grow and become the best expert of your own life. What you say about yourself is the most important thing you will ever say. Your soul voice is the key to your magic and creating magic.
Mirror Work: Seeing the Wizard Within
Practice
Mirror work, writing your origin story, identifying your soul’s symbols. This may be your first step towards scrying if you have not practiced before.
A mirror is more than glass and silver. It is a portal and reflection of you. It shows you the truth no audience sees. It reflects not just your face, but your energy, your story, and the unspoken beliefs behind your eyes.
Mirror work is the practice of looking into that portal and speaking directly to yourself as if you are both magician and audience, creator and creation.
It may sound simple: stand before a mirror, meet your own gaze, and speak.
But here is the real magic: most of us have never truly looked at ourselves without flinching, judging, or glancing away. Mirror work can be difficult for some. It is quite common for some to avoid looking into a mirror as much as possible, often linked to poor self-image.
In sleight-of-hand magic, the mirror is used to check angles, practice sleights, or perfect stage presence. Dancers, balancers, and practitioners of sequenced movement also use mirrors.
In universal magic, the wizardry of the soul, the mirror becomes a ritual tool, a place to practice speaking your wishes, affirmations, and truths with power while watching yourself receive them.
The power of words can build up or tear down. The words we speak over ourselves define how we move forward in life.
How to Do Mirror Work
Prepare the space
Stand or sit before a mirror. Light a candle if you wish. Let this feel intentional and not rushed.Meet your eyes
Look directly into your reflection’s gaze. Hold it. Don’t dart away. See yourself as if you were meeting an old friend or a fellow magician.Speak your words
Say your wish, affirmation, or spell aloud. Speak as if you mean it because you do.
Examples
"I am the magic I seek."
"I create as I speak."
"My voice changes worlds."
Receive your words
Watch yourself hearing them. Imagine your reflection is you in the future, already living the truth you are declaring.Seal the moment
End with a breath, a nod, or a gesture that feels like sealing a spell, perhaps touching the glass with your fingertips or bowing to your reflection.
Why It Works
The mirror eliminates distractions and forces presence.
It softens resistance to your own voice and image.
You see yourself as the person speaking the magic into being.
Like practicing sleight of hand, consistent mirror work trains both skill and belief.
In short, mirror work turns your voice into a wand and your gaze into a spell. It is the moment the magician stops performing for others and begins performing for the soul.
Reflections
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
It is easy to lose sight of our true selves. Finding our way back is a key step in the wizardry of the soul.
The old saying "Know thyself" is not just ancient wisdom. It is a fundamental law for anyone seeking to live as a magician.
As we mature, we become more familiar with what we don’t want or like. These lessons often come from experiences and relationships that challenge us deeply. No one likes being mistreated, put down, or made to feel small. Learning to draw boundaries is essential.
Having the right people in your life is not an accident. It is something you attract by knowing who you are and what you will not allow.
This does not mean wrapping yourself in a candy floss cocoon of comfort. Instead, it means learning to say no to what diminishes you and yes to what expands you.
You create the life and world you wish to live in, and the more you do so, the more that reality grows around you.
Throughout my life, I have encountered people who were simply not good for me. In my early too late teens, some had a particular influence that left me feeling powerless over my own destiny. They spoke negatively over me, constantly putting me down until it became very abusive.
At the time, I could not see it clearly. It felt like a life sentence in a prison without walls.
Then one day, I realised something powerful: I could just walk away.
It was not easy. It was terrifying. I had to plan my escape carefully, and when the time came, I simply walked away and disappeared.
That was the first time I took full charge of my fate. It was the choice that changed everything and eventually made me a world traveller and set me on the path of wizardry.
From hitchhiking across Europe to wandering through the Middle East, Asia, and the Far East, until I finally reached Australia, the journey was transformational.
I learned survival skills, creating my first fires, cooking over open fires, building camps and make shift shelters and creating my own travelling business in jewellery and crafts. More importantly, I discovered my self-confidence and found my inner voice.
Life is a constant voyage. The path is never fixed. But when you dare to walk it with your own will, it becomes truly yours.
This is where mirror work can be a good tool, a simple reflection.
When was the last time you truly listened to your own inner voice?
Closing Spell: Wish - What Is Stated Happens
The fire was never gone. It was waiting for you to look inward.
Before every coaching, mentoring session, or Tarot reading, I remind those I work with that they are the greatest experts of their own lives.
We all learn from one another, yet no one else can live your life or create your magic. The magic starts with you. You are the wizard of your own life.
The sooner you accept this responsibility, the sooner real magic, your magic, can begin.
The fire was never gone. It was waiting for you to look inward.
Many moons ago, I was eager to start a sacred fire circle in the UK. I had grand visions: elemental magic, fire circles, drums, chants, and empowering people.
I shared my excitement with Veronica, close friends, and Jeff McBride, the grand magician and founder of The Magic and Mystery School. Having worked with him on a decade-long street performing project in Las Vegas, I knew he was the perfect person to ask.
His response was priceless. While I envisioned blazing fires, gatherings, and life-changing events across Spain, Wales, and Glastonbury, he simply texted back:
"Begin with the spark within you."
I do not think Jeff realised how profound those six words were for me. It did not stop my vision; it focused it. It grounded my energy where it truly needed to be, on the spark of inspiration inside me.
The focus shifted from grand ideas to tending the spark, becoming mindful of magic, protecting it, and nurturing it into a flame.
My very first regular sacred circle was with Veronica and two dear friends. For five years we met monthly, creating magic together. We cried, laughed, shared meals, and grew stronger. We called ourselves the Sacred Arts Tribe. We lived the spell. The magic happened.
Then the fire grew. We hosted sacred fire circles in Wales, Spain, and Glastonbury. Small gatherings blossomed into an annual event bringing magical folk from across the UK and beyond.
Three days of elemental magic, sacred fires, and shared intention to learn and grow.
Your magic starts with a spark, an idea or inspiration you are passionate about. This is your magic.
Know yourself. Begin by knowing what does not serve you and let it go. Surround yourself with positive intentions. Attract people who believe in you and allow that spark to breathe, to fan, and to grow into a fire.
Remember what is stated happens. Be mindful of what you wish for. Be specific, focused, and well-intentioned. Keep track of your magic and watch it grow.
Ritual: The Spoken Wish
This ritual may be helpful, or you may prefer your own ritual, a vision board, or whatever works for you. Know this: you are the best expert of your own life, and whatever you say or act out with intention will happen.
Find a place you consider sacred, a room, garden space, or a place where you can be quiet for a while. Perhaps go for a walk and find a tree that attracts you.
You say:
"I call my deepest wish to life."
Pause and feel the power behind your words.
You say:
"I claim my voice. I claim my power."
Breathe in strength.
You say:
"What I speak, I create."
Feel your words weaving reality.
You say with certainty:
"My wish is alive. So mote it be."
Repeat this entire sequence three times, each time with more feeling and intention.
When finished, sit quietly for a moment and feel the spark of your magic ignite within.
Ive kept this ritual loose so you can devise your own practice around your focus. If you wish for more guidance on this get in touch.