The Maker’s Guide to Magic: How to Unlock Your Creativity Using Astrology, Tarot, and Other Oracles

• Author: Andrea Hannah
• Genre: Paranormal/New Age
• Publication Date: September 26, 2023
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Essentials

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Essentials for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A guide to unlock creativity through the use of tarot, astrology and other esoteric tools in the modern age.Every creative knows those magical moments of inspiration and flow can be hard to come by. And in today’s fast-paced, high-stress society, they can feel impossible to reach. Certified astrologer, yoga teacher and creativity workshop leader Andrea Hannah introduces an innovative approach that any maker can use to build their toolkit and align with their creative potential. Diving into astrology, tarot, the natural elements and other oracles, The Maker’s Guide to Magic breaks down these tools into manageable and easy-to-follow parts that anyone can use to access their creativity—whether they’re beginners in the esoteric realm or advanced practitioners. With the help of spreads, prompts, and other simple exercises, creatives will develop a fresh and customizable approach to explore their art in a mindful way.

I had requested this book among a spree in this genre, and while it took me quite some time to get around to reading it, I’m so incredibly glad that I did. So far, this is the standout of the bunch that I’ve read so far. 

There are certain types of magic discussed in the book that I’m more familiar with, but if there’s one piece of advice that the author gives that I am grateful that I took, and highly recommend that you also take, it would be to keep an open mind, especially, if there’s some kind of magic that you are less familiar with or even might not think much of. 

Hannah takes us through how magic works in her life, and breaks it down in ways that make it understandable even for beginners, without dumbing it down. She also talks about tarot, astrology, and oracles, as well as the importance of developing ritual in creative practice. I loved how she broke down tarot, and stressed how helpful it is to use your own insight when reading tarot, as well as your own experiences with the cards. 

Don’t judge, but before I read this, I was a bit skeptical of astrology. This book delves into astrology by having us create a natal chart using a (free) website based on the date, time, and place of our birth. That information is then used to determine various characteristics. I was blown away by how much information I was able to learn based on this chart, and how much of it was on point. She also offers a more in depth section for people who are more knowledgable about astrology. 

Throughout the book she offers options for the reader to journal responses and thoughts about certain questions. While this is undoubtedly helpful to the newbie, it can also be helpful to experienced practitioners to see things through a different perspective or even refresh things from a beginners point of view. Overall, this is a fantastic book, and it’s one that I’ll definitely be using as a resource in the future.