Book review

This is a sweet book with lots of thoughts about intuition and examples from the author’s own practice and life. It is very much a sharing from the heart of a personal practice, with a lot of vulnerability and plenty of inspiration. And I love how it weaves the elements so deeply through all of the chapters, and makes intuitive magic so accessible. 

This is the kind of book that you really need a highlighter app for (or those little translucent sticky notes!) to mark the things that jump out at you so you can go back and try them, as it is filled with examples and ideas throughout the prose, and they’re sometimes easy to miss. Little gems in a hoard of treasure! 

Clarke has faith in her readers to already apply their intuitive understanding of the world, leading to the potential for people to improve their intuition by handing the details over to their spirit/deep self. For example, the expectation that readers can just “raise that vibration” in themselves, without explanation, assumes a lot of skills, but since these are natural skills that we can all do, if the reader simply places their trust in the author and does without thinking, there’s a good chance they’ll do well.

I don’t agree with everything in this book, and the gendering of intuition does not sit well with me personally. In the introduction Clarke says her primary audience is women, and explicitly writes her material for women in chapter 15, so that’s worth bearing in mind if you’re, well, not. That’s not to say there isn’t beautiful, useful material in the chapter though. Personally it seems weird to me to gender a human ability that everyone has, but as the author is writing from her perspective and personal practice with intuition and the divine feminine it makes sense, and there is still a need for space for women to heal that piece of themselves so it is an important chapter for that. 

So in short: “Intuitive Magical Practice” by Natalia Clarke is a sweet, open hearted sharing of intuitive practices within a pagan perspective, primarily aimed at women, working particularly with the elements and the divine feminine. It is packed with inspiration and personal experiences, to really show how intuition can be integrated into one’s pagan practice.

By Halo Quin, Author, storyteller, witch

Image: author

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The book that can change everything

Since the release of Intuitive Magic Practice I have received feedback from many women telling me their stories and how the book turned things around for them. Severe of them read it a couple of times and what has come out of it is an effect that was coded in, but needed the engagement of a reader to unlock the deeper message within. 

You don’t even have to be a magical practitioner although material can change the way of looking at doing magic in a different unique way. You just need to be seeking a reconnection to knowledge that had been dormant within. 

Women have decided to do things differently and began a journey of following intuition, which transformed things for them and brought changes that were needed for a long time in a way the book describes it could. 

Among many things doing your magic and life your way/intuitive way can be a way of healing the internalised ‘shoulds’. Following emotions and your body alone and doing it in private, hidden ways; using an internal natural and healthy space within you can bring contentment and fulfilment to the work and life in general. 

If you are a creature of the ‘dark’ in a good sense, prefer to be invisible and value your privacy and boundaries highly this way of doing magic can be just for you. If externalising your persona, participating in social gatherings and events, ‘dressing’ up, as others do, trigger you, then this is for you. 

Have you always known that what the collective/external does is not something that feels good, then this is for you. 

You can do what you what and how you want using only your inner voice, your body and your emotions. 

There are certain aspects of magic that are important to observe and understand for yourself and I talk about that in the book, e.g. ethics, boundaries, conducting some rituals, etc. and working with others (if you choose to do that).

The way the book is structured is easy to use and incorporate/trial things out. There is information on a topic to start with, e.g. Intuition and Dreams or Intuition and Self-care. That follows up with a real-life example, exercises, a spell or two (listed below) where relevant, and sometimes a tip to make a note of. 

Earth/Fire/Water/Air spells

Prosperity spell

Peace spell

Love spell 

Rhyming spell

Success/business spell

Releasing spell

Healing/health spell

Simple, intuitively weaved spells are powerful, as they manifest from within and your body and emotions always know what is best for where you are at a certain point. Thai work can be taken further into life and create mantras and affirmations, life hacks and psychological healing tools that will never let you down, as they are meant specifically by you for yourself. 

There is potential in this book to change all. Please read and leave me a review or let me know how and what helped you on your way. I am fascinated by women’s stories of self-rediscovery. 

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Women rise up in wisdom

Another review of the book that echoes all the feedback I have received from women. Makes my work truly meaningful and life-changing

http://facingnorth.net/books/witchcraft/intuitive

Book details in Publications

Ways of intuition

Intuition is sometimes loud like banging on the door, if you can imagine that. And other times it is quiet or rather subtle like a flash of an emotion or a sense of something fleeting. It can be both forceful or subtle, called upon or coming forward by itself. Sensory, auditory or visual. Here I invite you to reflect on how intuition might exist within you and how it transmits its messages? It is important to know and, as you become curious about your intuitive signals, you become curious about yourself. That is a gift and the first step towards reclaiming your right to live a life meant for you. The journey is fascinating that will let you discover a lot about your own nature.

I hardly ever ask for messages, ask questions or call upon my intuition. Many others do ask for it and that is just another way of doing the same thing. One of the most popular is to ask for an answer to a question before you go to sleep at night. Intuition and dreams are closely connected, which I discuss in my BOOK.

I, however, have now developed a deep trust that when something matters my intuition will speak to me and show me the way. It usually speaks in single words or an image would find its way to my awareness. It is usually clear, sharp and precise. So I am sensory, auditory or visual – feeling, hearing and seeing.

In my magic practice it is no different. When I am out in nature and I have an idea of what’s happening within me that day or have done for sometime I might get an indication that something needs doing. Spell work for me is rare and always based on intuitive messages only. I have to feel it strongly in my body, almost in a ‘no choice’, compulsive way before I perform anything. I don’t do things any other way these days. I like that ‘flash of inspiration’ shape and form it often takes. When the invitation comes or rather ‘this needs doing’ it is unquestionable and I get to work.

Often it is either a clear ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ before I even ask a question, which I rarely have to do. I suppose you can hold a question in awareness as opposed to seek the answer.

When a spell is brewing via intuition I might be called to a particular place at a certain time. When I am there I am usually showed the tools, which I need specifically for that spell. All I have to do is go and be open to what unfolds around me. It can be as simple as coming upon a stone or a branch or an image in the sky or a face on a tree. It can be a feeling, which to me is important. I need to have the feeling. It is hard to describe, but generally it must feel so right that it fills me with immense content and fulfilment. It is like when you really enjoy your work, for example, whatever that is, it is a feeling of doing something that feels important and right. It is full of meaning and powerful intention and there’s always a bit of love mixed into it. We all know what that feels like. In fact many spells come out of ‘love’ vibration or something linked to that. It is a sure sign to check if what you are doing is, indeed, the right thing.

I am often told these days to wait, to stay put, to be silent and invisible. This is vital during these times. There is a strong invitation in the collective benevolent not to do, but to be. I follow. It just feels right. We are called to pause in doing and speaking in general now more than ever and, however alien this might feel to you, this anomaly in collective behaviour is the exact magic that needs to build up more in order to manifest a bigger change for us, others and the world at large.

• Listen to what your body tells you.

• Pay attention to your thoughts and spend more time feeling.

These are just some practice steps that will bring you closer to your inner knowing, your intuitive wisdom. Reclaim that gift that’s always been yours and see if your life takes a different turn towards what you always wanted.

More on Intuition and magic in my book PAGAN PORTALS INTUITIVE MAGIC PRACTICE

Author interview

/https://musingmystical.com/interview-with-author-natalia-clarke/