I have an announcement to make. And it’s a pretty big one. But first, let me answer this daily prompt question, which I’ll apparently be using as an elaborate setup for the thing I’ll tell you more about in the second half of this update. Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense in the end. Here we go.
Reading can improve your life, even if it’s only for small increments of time like 15 minutes a day.
There are some obvious benefits, which I’m sure you’re already aware:
- Lowers stress
- Improves sleep
- Expands vocabulary
- Increases memory function
Reading things on the internet is great — it’s a wonderful resource, but there’s just something about the feel of a physical book in your hands. Books have a smell, too. Maybe it’s the paper, the ink, or the binding, but there’s definitely a comforting smell.
And here’s something that you might not know. Whatever you’re reading has the potential to strengthen the same brain muscles that we also use during magick.
Consider the following:
He sighed heavily, but it was not a sound of dismay. It was a sigh of contentment. He kicked his feet off the desk and leaned forward in his chair, reaching for a mug that was haphazardly perched on an edge. As the light from the fireplace danced off his glasses, he sipped a dark beverage and smiled. Nothing, he thought, could spoil this night.
I didn’t really describe much of a scene there, but your mind still probably filled in the blanks. For starters, where were we? I didn’t expressly tell you if we were inside or outside, but perhaps it was implied by the existence of a chair, desk, and fireplace. Did you picture walls? Were there windows? Was there a door? Was the character happy? What did he look like? Was he wearing shoes? Is it in black and white or color? Was the room lit by anything other than a fireplace? Was he drinking coffee, tea, or liquor? And what century are we in? If you can’t answer, re-read the short passage and see what your mind comes up with to fill in the gaps.
How might the scene — and your mental picture — have changed with any of these following lines:
- From his 73rd floor apartment, he could just barely make out the sound of sirens in the busy city streets below.
- The tolling of church bells overhead alerted him to the hour.
- As the holographic walls faded, a computerized voice echoed, “Relaxation Program Complete.”
Certainly each of those lines shifts the tone of the story in their own different direction. For one, we’re in a city (could be the present), another a church (could be the past), and another maybe we’re in a science fiction story or on a space ship or something (could be the future). But the point is, until I gave you those additional details, your mind pictured something in the meantime right? We have an awesome ability to do this.
You use those visualization skills for pretty much every book on magick. Maybe you’re picturing an author’s clever anecdote or the steps to a ritual or an altar setup. After all, If you can see it in your head, you can do it. But those very same visualization muscles flex when you go on a guided meditation or perform some ritual act of magick. You’re using the same part of your brain when we say “visualize the successful outcome of the spell.”
And that’s powerful stuff.
So yeah, reading is a great way to improve your life. And to also improve your magick. But to really enjoy reading, you need a good book, right?
Good morning and happy Monday, friends!
This past week, I posted Nathan’s interview video (Season 2, Episode 1) and the corresponding written article. It was a great interview and I highly suggest giving it a watch! If you just like to listen, all the episodes of M3 are available through the major podcasting platforms — Apple, Amazon, Spotify… etc.
And just to get you pumped up about what’s coming later on in Season 2, here’s what’s planned so far…
That’s like… three whole months planned out. Crazy, right?
In my last update, I mentioned how I was working on something, but just wasn’t ready to share it. You know… Cornerstone #4 and all… to shush — there are some things you really have to keep quiet until they’re official.
Well, I’m finally ready.
About two weeks ago, I sat down and wrote the most kickass book proposal that I was capable of writing. I then proceeded to do the unimaginable and actually sent it to a few publishing companies. And then something even more unimaginable happened — I got a response. As of last week, I am under contract with Crossed Crow Books to produce a work on fluid condensers.
Writing a book has been a dream of mine for almost 20 years, so it’s all been a little surreal. I just never knew what to write about before! You heard it here first, but I’ll be making a social media post later today… so if you’d like, come celebrate with me in the comments there.
In other news, Selene and I spent the weekend in Orlando. We went to Disney World to celebrate Mother’s Day and took the obligatory picture in front of the big castle and such.
I personally detest the mouse and all his associated facilities, but Selene is a big fan. And the way that the math works out is this: I have way more love for my wife than I do hate for Disney.
That’s all for now. Have a great week!
Aerik Arkadian 
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