DIY Magic

February 9, 2015
Reprinted from a now-out-of-print small-press edition, Alvarado’s creativity manual offers 36 different exercises in what he describes as “the fine art of driving yourself insane!” Ranging from surrealist parlor games to divination techniques, each exercise is presented in relaxed language and usually requires little to no equipment. The different practices can be performed in any order, allowing readers to construct their own course of exploration and development. The varied techniques are presented apart from any particular mystical tradition, so that readers following different spiritual paths can use them. Though some sections address methods (such as the tarot and yoga) that are too complex to be squeezed into a short presentation, others offer suitable introductions to ideas outside traditional magic, such as the field of psychogeography. Alvarado seeks to create altered awareness in a way that is accessible, and the exercises he provides can be done alone or by small groups.

May 1, 2015

When Alvarado (mental health counselor; library delivery truck driver; telephone psychic) talks about magic, he means it literally. To him, the scope of alchemy allows readers to set aside their rational adult minds and return to the imagination of childhood. The author presents 36 simple experiments, such as building a tarot deck, picturing oneself as invisible, or doing something scary, to transform the mundane into the inspired.

Artist/psychic Harris, in a similar but less dramatic vein, offers 99 ways to step outside quotidian thinking to achieve greater personal fulfillment. Her suggestions range from practicing mindfulness and accepting advice to honoring hunches and using crystals. Harris affirms the tenets of a healthy lifestyle, including exercising gratitude and setting boundaries, which clear the mind for inventiveness, and adds a few strictly "creative" activities (e.g., playing with children and taking breaks from media). She lays the groundwork for innovative expression to hatch. Alvarado touches on the basics of meditation and visioning but adds activities such as using coin tricks and examining the flight patterns of birds. VERDICT Those who wish to explore their creative side might start with 99 Keys, while readers who want to open themselves up to another dimension will enjoy D.I.Y. Magic.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.