Watch a Behind the Scenes Video About The Book of Shadows Tarot

The following entry was originally posted by Barbara Moore on the Llewellyn Tarot Blog Tarot Pathways on August 28, 2012. The Book of Shadows Tarot is a unique project, many years in the making. It is an ambitious project based on a two-deck system. Each deck is designed to work independently but also to work together. The decks are based on the concept of As Above, So Below. The first deck, As Above, is a non-traditional (that is, not based on the Rider Waite Smith images) exploration of Wiccan/Pagan theories. So Below is a traditional deck that shows how magic is manifest in everyday life. The kit comes with the book and the As Above deck. The box includes a space for the second deck, So Below, available in February 2013. Below is a video created by Lo Scarabeo. Take a peek into the creation of this fascinating new tarot system. You can also view more behind-the-scenes videos on Lo Scarabeo's YouTube channel.

The September 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 September issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Embracing the "Spirit" of Your Business, from author Deonna Kelli Sayed
-Shelftalkers (Witches Tarot, So You Want to Hunt Ghosts?, America's Haunted Universities, and The Healing Power of Reiki)
-October New Releases
-Llewellyn's Winter 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

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

A Round-Up of Fall Paranormal Titles

Editor's Note: This was originally posted in Llewellyn's Paranormal Blog.

Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons: football, cooler weather, my birthday, the colorful fall leaves, and Halloween. It's my favorite holiday, and what goes along with Halloween? GHOST STORIES! And do we ever have some fabulous books debuting this fall.

Being the paranormal editor here, I read a lot of spooky things. I'm a bit immune to getting freaked out (I thought Paranormal Activity was boring, in some parts inaccurate, and shut it off after the first half hour), so when I AM freaked out when I read a proposal, that really speaks to me. I clearly remember the day I read the proposal for Restless in Peace by Mariah De La Croix. I read the section that involves spirit graffiti, turned to my coworker in the cubicle across from me, and stated, in a shaky voice, "I just read a story from a psychic mortitican and I'm really freaked out! I have goosebumps!" Yes, you read that right: psychic mortician. Mariah has tales that will scare you, warm your heart, and make you laugh. Her book really has it all, and it's such a fascinating book that you absolutely must read.

Another ghostly tale that will make you hide under the covers is In the Presence of Spirits by Barbara Parks. Imagine how terrifying it must be to be the focus of poltergeist activity as a teenager and to be absolutely petrified when someone you know passes away because you know they will visit you and say goodbye. Barbara has had paranormal experiences ever since she can remember. Spirit encounters have always left her terrified and caused her to shut out her abilities. This book is a chronicle of her life through the terrifying experiences, but she has learned to embrace her abilities, which have helped many (including herself) deal with grief and be comforted with the fact that loved ones are always around us. Barbara is such an excellent storyteller, you will get so wrapped up in this book you will not want to put it down!



If you love ghost stories and want to search out ghosts yourself, So You Want to Hunt Ghosts by Deonna Kelli Sayed will arm you with all the information you need to know in order to investigate haunted locations and form a team. Deonna is a member of Haunted North Carolina and has been investigating for many years. Her expertise and excellent perspective is exactly what you need in order to get off the couch and be proactive when it comes to ghosts.


True Casefiles of a Paranormal Investigator by Stephen Lancaster relays some of the most amazing and scary investigation that Stephen Lancaster has conducted over his years as an investigator. The Brentwood Wine Cafe, which is a chapter in this book, was featured on Bio's My Ghost Story. Stephen was interviewed for the segment as the paranormal investigator.


If you want to discover and explore some haunted locations, why not go to your local college or university? America's Haunted Universities by Matthew L. Swayne roams the halls of higher learning and unearths some spirits that are still bound to their alma mater. Check to see if your local school has some spirits that are still hanging out on the campus mall.



As the temperature drops, curl up on the couch with a steaming cup of cocoa and a spooky tale or two from Llewellyn. If you are like me, you'll have a black cat perched beside you as a sentinel to keep you safe as you read some truly hair-raising tales.

Embracing the “Spirit” of Your Business

Dear Booksellers,

It’s a quiet evening and the store is empty. You're locking up for the night and hear a thump. The lights flicker for no reason. A book inexplicably tumbles to the floor. The feeling of being watched is overwhelming.

Is your store haunted?

With Halloween approaching, it’s a great time to explore this question. Deonna Kelli Sayed, a paranormal investigator and author of So You Want to Hunt Ghosts (Oct 2012), can help you figure out whether you’ve got spirit guests. Maybe a few otherworldly visitors can help you build publicity and expand your customer base.

Even if your store isn’t a hotspot for paranormal activity, there are plenty of opportunities to take part in your community’s Halloween festivities to boost your business.

Embracing the “Spirit” of Your Business
By Deonna Kelli Sayed

Halloween is around the corner, and ‘tis the season for the spooky and the spectrally spectacular. This time of year celebrates everyone’s interest in ghosts and hauntings. The slew of paranormal reality TV shows has turned spirit talk into water cooler discussion among an unprecedented part of the population. Bookstores and booksellers can capitalize on this interest to help bring new customers in the door.

So You Want to Hunt Ghosts
October 2012

All the better if your business is actually haunted!

Bumps in the Night

A quaint, locally owned bookstore in a small Southern coastal town started experiencing some no-so-subtle paranormal events. Most noticeable were loud bangs that occurred in the early evening, and sometimes during business hours. The noises even shook the building. The owners were baffled, yet intrigued by the happenings.

They quickly capitalized on these occurrences and called in a reputable paranormal investigative team to conduct research. Local media was also contacted, and the team and the bookstore obtained some great local coverage from the investigation.

Not only did the bookstore get free media exposure, but also their willingness to share their stories created a unique way for people to identify with the business. Local residents began coming forth with their own experiences at the location, some of which occurred before the site became a bookstore. Interestingly, it was soon discovered that the entire downtown area shared an affinity for unusual occurrences.

Got Ghosts?

If you work (or live) in a location that you feel may be paranormally active, here are a few things you need to do:

•    Start keeping a journal of paranormal events. Note the time, place, people around, and provide as much description as possible.

•    Start asking others about their experiences on site. Research suggests that paranormal events occur when people are just doing their everyday routine—not when actively seeking out a ghost. Also, events do not exclusively occur at night.

•    Try to find out as much as you can about the location’s history. Contrary to what many people believe, no one has to die in a place to make it haunted.

If you find that you are having consistent or intriguing activity, consider calling a reputable paranormal investigative team. The Atlantic Paranormal Society has “family” teams around the country, and teams are listed by state on their site (look for the TAPS family). There are also many professional non-TAPS affiliated teams around, as well.

If you are lucky, a team may collect evidence of paranormal events and will provide you with a copy of any audio, video, and photographic anomalies. A team should also submit a report documenting their personal experiences at the location. Most teams, likewise, will ask you how much information from the investigation (if any) you want to make public, thus giving you control of how you represent your resident spirits.


Piquing Public Interest, Even When You’re Ghostless

Evidence of paranormal activity isn’t necessary to get the public buzzing about the ghostly side of your business. The Halloween season is a great time to welcome authors of paranormal topics (particularly those writing about ghosts) to host talks.

Even if your business doesn’t have ghosts, your customer base will have stories of their own. Having a “share your ghost story” hour at your location over hot cider gets customers in the door and also creates a sense of community around your business. Invite well-respected paranormal teams to come in and talk about local haunts or to conduct lectures on how to ghost hunt.

Locations housed in historic buildings have an added bonus of using public paranormal interest to teach local history. This is one of my favorite things about ghost stories—they are really retellings about who we are and our local communities. You can also invite local historians, coupled with local paranormal teams who have investigated historic sites, to provide an educational and spooktacular event at your store.

Ghosts or not, utilizing public interest in the paranormal is a great way to build a fun, personal relationship with your customer base!

***

Photo by Jessica Labbé

Deonna Kelli Sayed is a writer and paranormal investigator in North Carolina. She is the author of Paranormal Obsession: America’s Fascination with Ghosts & Hauntings, Spooks and Spirits and the forthcoming So You Want to Hunt Ghosts?  A Down-to-Earth Guide (October 2012). Visit her website.

Deonna on her favorite bookstore:
My favorite is the local Greensboro-based metaphysical store, Eclectic by Nature. The place is so bewitching, it comes with its own cats. It is unclear, however, if there are any ghosts.





Do you suspect your business or home is haunted? We would love to hear your spooky stories!