The June Issue of the New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our June issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Manifesting Business Success
-Shelftalkers (Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar, The New Tarot Handbook, Becoming Your Best Self, and Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment)
-July New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2013 Calendars & Almanacs
-Information about visiting us at BEA and ALA
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, June 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Llewellyn's 2013 Calendars and Almanacs

It's almost that time again--time for Llewellyn's 2013 calendars and almanacs to appear in our warehouse! Each and every June, it is always so wonderful to see the product that results after another year of hard work on our calendars, datebooks, and almanacs.

A look at Llewellyn's 2013 calendars and almanacs:


Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar: Llewellyn’s Astrological Calendar is the best-known, most trusted astrological calendar sold today. Everyone, even beginners, can use this beautiful and practical calendar to plan the year wisely. There are monthly horoscopes, best days for planting and fishing, rewarding and challenging days, travel forecasts, and an astrology primer. Advanced astrologers will find major daily aspects and a wealth of other essential astrological information. This edition features Kristin Kest’s vivid, evocative artwork, inspired by the signs and symbols of astrology.

—A guide to the planets, signs, houses, aspects, and transits
—Travel forecasts by Bruce Scofield
—Best days for planting and fishing
—The Moon's sign, phase, and void-of-course dates
—Graphic planetary retrograde table
—Major daily aspects, monthly ephemerides, and 2013 eclipses



Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Pocket Planner:
Plan your future according to the stars. Essential astrological information is at your fingertips with Llewellyn’s Astrological Pocket Planner. Both beginners and advanced astrologers can use this award-winning datebook—the only one to offer three years of ephemeris and aspectarian data. Set the best dates for job interviews, weddings, business meetings, and other important occasions. Choose the ideal times to plant a garden, begin new projects, conduct self-reflection, go fishing, and more. Avoid planetary pitfalls by following the easy-to-read retrograde and Moon void-of-course tables. Comprehensive and compact, Llewellyn’s 2013 Astrological Pocket Planner also contains a world map of time zones, a time zone conversion chart, and space to jot down your daily appointments.

—Daily signs, Moon phases, and aspects
—2013 week-at-a-glance
—Planetary stations chart
—Moon void-of-course table
—Word time-zone map and conversion table
—Best days for planting and fishing



Llewellyn's 2013 Daily Planetary Guide: Empower your life with the most trusted and detailed astrological guide available. Take advantage of cosmic forces on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis with Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide. With exact times down to the minute, this astrological planner lists ideal times to do anything. Before setting up a job interview, signing a contract, or scheduling anything important, consult the weekly forecasts and Opportunity Periods—times when the positive flow of energy is at its peak. Plan your year wisely according to aspects, ephemeris, retrograde planets, eclipses for 2013, and more astrological information. Even beginners can use this powerful planner, which explains the planets, signs, houses, and how to use this guide.

—Planet and Moon aspects and ingress times
—Moon sign, phase, and void-of-course periods
—Planet retrograde and direct station times
—Ephemeris tables that include Chiron and four asteroids
—Sunrise and sunset timetables
—Planetary hours with complete instructions
—A stargazer's guide to planetary sightings and eclipses in 2013
—Weekly forecasts by Pam Ciampi
-Bonus: Find out the best times to undertake any activity with "Opportunity Periods" by Jim Shawvan.



Llewellyn's 2013 Herbal Almanac: Spice up your favorite dishes with French tarragon. Chase away stress with delicious soup. There are hundreds of ways to benefit from nature’s most versatile plants inside Llewellyn’s Herbal Almanac. This treasury of innovative herbal ideas spans five categories: gardening, cooking, crafts, health/ beauty, and myth/lore. Learn about endangered herbs, hyssop, and the apple in Nordic ritual. Discover how to whip up antioxidant-rich purple passion parfait, use herbs in energetic healing, relieve dry skin with a borage face pack, treat your feet to a wormwood bath, turn your garden into a wildlife paradise with minimal effort and cost, and much more. From moon gardens to plant numerology to the perfect “cuppa” hot chocolate, this practical almanac is your gateway to the herbal kingdom.




Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac: Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac has been inspiring all levels of magical practitioners for over twenty years. Filled with practical spells, rituals, and fresh ideas, you’ll find new ways to deepen your craft and enhance everyday life.

This edition features compelling articles, grouped by element, on ribbon magic, answering the goddess’ call, lunar potions, the magical uses of foxglove, caring for house elves, bringing steampunk principles into Pagan traditions, connecting with raptor energies, and other magical topics. Also included is a handy calendar section— shaded for easy “flip to” reference—featuring world festivals, holidays, and 2013 Sabbats. You’ll also find astrological info, plus incense and color correspondences, to empower your magical work.

Published annually for over twenty years.



Llewellyn's 2013 Moon Sign Book: Since 1905, Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Book has helped millions take advantage of the Moon’s dynamic energies. This essential planning tool can help you choose the best time to do almost anything: buy stock, get married, buy or sell your home, start a new job, travel, have surgery, and much more. With lunar timing tips on planting and harvesting and a guide to companion plants, this book is a gardener’s best friend. In addition to New and Full Moon forecasts for the year, you’ll find insightful articles on 2013 eclipses and careers, moon goddess energy gardening, preserving your bounty, foraging for food, lunar fertility, and waxing Moon yardwork.

—A monthly lunar aspectarian with Moon tables
—Detailed weather predictions for each region by renowned astrometeorologist Kris Brandt Riske
—New and Full Moon forecasts for 2013 by Sally Cragin
—A companion planting guide that features over one hundred plants
—Electional rules and dates for ventures in love, relationships, business, finances, and other areas


The number one lunar guide to natural living since 1905.



Llewellyn's 2013 Sun Sign Book: Prepare for what’s coming in the near future. Take advantage of huge opportunities and dodge potential pitfalls with Llewellyn’s Sun Sign Book.

Filled with practical planetary wisdom, this easy-to use guide will answer your questions about money, success, career, relationships, and more—for the whole year. In addition to horoscopes for every sign by popular astrologer Kris Brandt Riske, you’ll discover which areas in your life have potential for great success, and which require extra attention. Included are rewarding/challenging days for each month and a guide to the best dates to find a job, begin a romance, take a vacation, move, and plan other important endeavors.

Published annually since 1984.




Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Calendar: Packed with a wide array of content, it’s no wonder Llewellyn’s Witches’ Calendar is the top-selling calendar of its kind. Get inspired by unique and provocative articles. Take advantage of astrological data and magical correspondences. And delight in enchanting original artwork. Each month features an essay, along with a spell or ritual, on a wide range of compelling topics: gems for the cat goddess, balance and self awareness, energy and positive movement, innovative uses of chives, the rewards of winter hibernation, garden magick, and more.




Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Companion: Live your craft every day with Llewellyn’s Witches’ Companion. This indispensable guide will keep you one step ahead of the latest Witchy trends, Craft practices, Pagan issues, and ideas in green living.

This year’s edition is filled with wry and thought-provoking essays—spellcraft for community change, celebrating Christmas with Christians, karma, the ethics of weather magick, Pagan home birth, integrating Northern and Southern Hemisphere energies, simple kitchen alchemy, keeping an electronic Book of Shadows, and much more. Innovative thinkers, authors, and experts keep you up to date on timely topics spanning hot debates in the Pagan community, Witchy lifestyles, Craft essentials, and magical transformation.

Bonus: A sixteen-month calendar featuring Moon void-of-course data, plus spotlighted monthly national causes and ways for you to get involved.



Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Datebook: Today’s busy Witches can stay on top of it all— the magical and the mundane—with Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook. Add a little magic to each day and keep pace with the ever-turning Wheel of the Year with this indispensable, on-the-go tool.

New for this year is Elizabeth Barrette’s insightful introduction to thirteen magical stones that includes spells and rituals. You’ll also find fun, fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice—inspiring Sabbat musings (Ellen Dugan), tasty Sabbat recipes (Susan Pesznecker), and Moon rituals (Ember Grant). For spellwork, there’s astrological information and daily colors. Also included are in-depth articles on good energy (Tess Whitehurst), cauldron magic (James Kambos), rainy day magic (Melanie Marquis), and many more.




Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac: Make every day magical with a spell from Llewellyn’s Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac. Spellcasters of all levels can enhance their daily life with these easy bewitchments, recipes, rituals, and meditations.

Susan Pesznecker, Tess Whitehurst, and other experienced magic practitioners offer simple spells for every occasion that require minimal supplies. For convenience, the 365 spells are cross-referenced by purpose: love, health, money, protection, home and garden, travel, and communication. Beginners will find advice on the best time, place, and tools for performing each spell. With space to jot down notes, this unique spellbook can be used as a Book of Shadows. There’s also astrological data and daily color and incense recommendations to enhance each day’s magic.




Llewellyn's 2013 Woodland Faeries Calendar: A year of faerie magic and enchantment awaits you. Vividly illustrated by renowned fantasy artist Linda Ravenscroft, this gorgeous faerie-themed calendar captures the whimsy and grace of beautiful nature spirits in their secret forest realm. Original, evocative scenes—alive in sensuous detail—bring us oh so close to seductive nymphs, dancing pixies, and joyful sprites. Llewellyn’s 2013 Woodland Faeries Calendar also includes holidays and moon phase information.







Llewellyn's 2013 Sabbats Almanac: From Samhain 2012 - Mabon 2013: Make the most of each season of the Witches’ year with Llewellyn’s Sabbats Almanac. Packed with rituals, rites, recipes, and crafts, this essential guide offers fun and fresh ways to celebrate the eight sacred Wiccan holidays—and enrich your spiritual life throughout the year.

Get a unique perspective on honoring the Wheel of the Year from your favorite Wiccan and Pagan authors. Plan spiritually uplifting celebrations and family activities. Perform Sabbat specific rituals and world folk rites. Whip up tasty treats and crafts as reminders of the season’s gifts and lessons. Also featured are astrological influences to help you plan rituals according to cosmic energies.

A Special Event for Magickal Businesses: The Creative Retreat

Dear Booksellers,

When you dream of ways to improve your business, do you ever focus on yourself and your staff? A metaphysical business is still a business, and like any business, it will benefit from periodic brainstorming, goal-setting, and visionary work. For owners and staff, a "magickal business retreat" will leave you inspired as you rejuvenate your business plan and recharge your creative passions.

Susan Pesznecker, author of The Magickal Retreat, provides ways to have a successful and rejuvenating magickal retreat for your business.



A Special Event for Magickal Businesses: The Creative Retreat
By Susan Pesznecker

Owning a magickal/metaphysical store must be one of the most fun jobs a person can have—but it has its stressful moments as well. Depending on the size of the local community, selecting and moving inventory can be a challenge, especially if shops face resistance from non-Pagan "unfriendlies" in the neighborhood. Getting the word out may be difficult, and even getting people into the store may take some doing, given the predilection of magickal folks to do so much of their shopping online in today's digital world. Yet even with these challenges, the metaphysical business is still a business, and like any business, it will benefit from periodic brainstorming, goal-setting, and visionary work. For owners and staff, a "magickal business retreat" will leave you inspired as you rejuvenate your business plan and recharge your creative passions.

Begin with a meeting in which the staff collectively discusses a "to do" list for the retreat. Find out what everyone thinks is important, and make sure each person is heard, for sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected directions—and not always from the boss. Identify a common goal and vision, and then develop a detailed list of action items for the retreat. Your aims might include an annual review, setting goals for a period to come, operational changes, community outreach, marketing, policy changes, or just about any aspect of running a business effectively. Focus on "blue sky" items, too: What is possible? If there were no rules, what could we do? What could we accomplish? Think big: the sky's the limit!

For best results, aim for at least a day-long retreat. If you want to focus on staff bonding or specific magickal workings, try an overnight, providing work time as well as evening space for socialization and special events, like ritual work.

Once you have a working agenda and a general plan, parcel out the responsibilities, giving each participant a specific responsibility. Giving everyone "ownership" in the retreat insures a rich infusion of energies and ideas. Assign someone to locate a place for the retreat. If possible, choose a novel space, getting everyone out of their comfort zone; this establishes common ground and supports team building. If staying overnight, you'll need sleeping and bathroom spaces, bedding, and towels. Most groups will want to have WiFi, along with an on-site computer and printer if possible.

Having great food boosts morale and keeps everyone energized. For a short event, ask participants to bring their own food. If sharing food, focus on scrumptious fare that can be purchased, prepared ahead, or assembled quickly. A potluck might work perfectly; take-out pizza is another winning idea. Furnish fruits, veggies, and nuts for healthy snacking.

Once you've accomplished these initial steps, assign someone to prepare a written agenda and time schedule for the meeting. Decide who will chair or moderate the meeting, and finalize the pertinent details. And please: resolve to run your retreat on real time—not Pagan Standard Time! There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get serious work done when half the group either hasn't shown up or hasn't gotten out of bed. Respect the clock: when you're trying to accomplish a lot within a short time, it's your friend.

When the retreat date arrives, open and close with a group ceremony or ritual, even if brief; this brings the group together and reinforces the shared magickal purpose. Stay focused on your agenda, adding magickal effects with music, incense, candles, firelight, or other mood-setters. Brewing herbal teal can be a wonderful communal activity. Plan time to socialize, too. You might include a Bardic, divination hour (you can "read" the results of your meeting), drum circle, or ritual, or even a S'mores party around a campfire pit.

Before leaving the event, thank everyone and may sure they know what will happen next. Assign individuals to follow up on questions and implement decisions. Be sure to hold a post-event evaluation; make this anonymous so participants aren't afraid to be honest. Collect and share the evaluation results with your group, using the feedback to plan the next event.

Happy retreating!

***
Susan Pesznecker (Oregon), a writer, teacher, nurse, hearth Pagan, and Druid, is the author of The Magickal Retreat and Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink. Sue teaches green magick at the online Grey School. For more retreat ideas, visit Sue's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SusanMoonwriterPesznecker.

Manifesting Business Success

Dear Booksellers,

When you dream of ways to improve your business, do you imagine store expansion, increased foot traffic, updated fixtures, or a bustling website? What if you could manifest your business goals simply by envisioning them?

Melanie Barnum, author of The Book of Psychic Symbols, offers detailed insight on how to breathe life into any desire you can imagine. Clarifying your specific goals—and imagining success—is the key.






Manifesting Business Success
By Melanie Barnum

We are all passengers on the bus that is our lives. But have you ever been the driver? We have the power to create a life we love through manifestation. All you need is to take control of the wheel.

The Book of
Psychic Symbols
by Melanie Barnum

Manifesting is changing circumstances to allow something into your life. So, get ready for change! Using symbolic imagery is one of the easiest ways to guarantee success.

Show Me the Money
Imagine, and it probably won’t be hard, that you want more money coming into your bookstore or metaphysical outlet. That’s right. Just imagine it. What do you see? What do you feel? Does it make you uncomfortable? Does it feel negative? Let’s revise that impression.

First, come up with five symbolic images of a positive increase in money. It can be as simple as seeing cash flowing into your cash register, or as grand as envisioning what increase in money could provide, like new fixtures and equipment or more stock. Be specific about the amount you want. It can be a lump sum or a monthly increase, but be specific. Write them all down.
   
Now, take each symbol, one by one, and focus on it for a minimum of one minute per image. Focusing might be hard; that’s ok. If you have other thoughts or get distracted just acknowledge those thoughts and let them pass, then refocus on the image. 

What image do you see when you think of success? Do you see piles of cash? A happy family? A life of leisure? Use this as your end goal in every manifestation. You want success. Focus on this image for one minute.

After you’ve finished, thank the universe and let it go. This may sound difficult. It is. But if you want to manifest, you can’t continue to focus on what you want or you will never actually get it. Part of this is because doubt works its way in. You may feel you don’t deserve the money or you’ll never get the money. This negative energy can redirect your intentions and ruin all the manifesting you’ve tried to do.

So let it go. Let the universe do its job.

Am I Done?
Now don’t assume money will just fall from the heavens. It has to come from somewhere. Yes, it’s a strong possibility that your loved ones or guides are helping to manifest what you want, but they’re not throwing gold coins down to you. (That would hurt too much when they hit your head.) Instead, they are opening up opportunities to bring what you want into your life and your business. 

Simply put, by paying attention to the little things that begin to show up in your life you are letting the universe do its thing. For instance, if you asked for $400 more per month and someone offers you $100 per week to host a workshop, in line with the type of products and services you offer, it’s a no brainer. Do it! There’s your extra cash. 

Be open and receptive to what’s happening all around you. You will find that if one opportunity presents itself that doesn’t feel right, something else will show up to help you achieve just what it is you want to manifest.

Don’t worry. You are also allowed to change what you’re trying to manifest. If you are working on retaining the perfect customer and you forgot to specify you wanted all your clients to be return customers, you can edit your request. It’s okay to go back and “adjust” what you are trying to bring into your life.  Just don’t dwell on it after you’ve fine-tuned what you want to manifest. 

What Symbols Should I Use?
In the manifest above, money is the main goal. However, you may want to manifest something more specific to boost your business. Here are some ideas:

Attract More Customers
Imagine groups of people in your third eye (clairvoyantly) walking into the store. Not angry mobs, but happy groups. A line of people is happily waiting to have their purchases rung up.

Encourage More Purchases 
See customers reaching back up on the shelves to add to what they are already buying. Their arms are overflowing with books and products.


Host More Profitable Store Events
Visualize the media spreading the word about your event and your store overflowing with happy customers.

Boost Profits and Web Traffic 
See huge arrows with blinking lights directing people to your website. Your credit card income statement shows increased dollar amounts. People smile as they sit at their computers and shop at your site.


Increase Repeat Business 
Imagine people, one by one, walking through your door to buy your products—and those same people returning. See his happening again and again. Then, imagine they have brought friends, who in turn come through your doors repeatedly. Allow this vision to loop continuously.   

Remember, your job while manifesting is not to create the “how” it will happen. Just focus on the end result. Let the universe work its magic and figure out the how. It’s not complicated: Use symbolic images and bring clarity to your desires. The more specific you are, the greater your chances of creating success.

***

Melanie Barnum (Bethel, CT) is the author of The Book of Psychic Symbols: Interpreting Intuitive Messages. She is a psychic medium, intuitive counselor, life coach, and hypnotist who have been practicing professionally for more than fifteen years. Barnum was a VIP Reader at Psych Out, a gathering of the nation’s foremost psychics, organized by Court TV. She is also an Angelspeake Facilitator, a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT). Visit her website MelanieBarnum.com and her blog.

Melanie Barnum on her favorite bookstores:
I love the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, New York, because it was a part of the whole experience of sharing in the energy of all of the students and teachers in my class. Another favorite is Byrds Books in Bethel, CT, a small, independent store that just opened above my favorite coffee shop.