The Midnight Magic Tarot is a unique and mystical deck of tarot cards that combines elements of darkness and enchantment. Created by artist Marie White, this deck offers a fresh and modern twist on traditional tarot imagery. What sets the Midnight Magic Tarot apart is its striking artwork and vivid color palette. The cards are richly detailed, featuring intricate illustrations of mythical creatures, celestial bodies, and mysterious symbols. The imagery is both beautiful and haunting, drawing you into a world of magic and mystery. Each card in the Midnight Magic Tarot has its own symbolism and meaning, allowing for deep and insightful readings.
And in the 1973 movie Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s James Bond employs a little magic to bed his leading lady, Jane Seymour’s tarot-reading mystic Solitaire.
You can make the case that when it comes to tradecraft, the actual day-to-day business of espionage, spies operate with a strict sense of ritual, just like magicians do. This is usually done with two hands so as to not break the circle and has been shown to be possible with multiple circles at once, such as three, and the fingers need not necessarily trace the active spell circle themselves, merely make repeated circular gestures in the air in front of the caster.
Each card in the Midnight Magic Tarot has its own symbolism and meaning, allowing for deep and insightful readings. The deck follows the traditional structure of the tarot, with the Major Arcana representing major life themes and the Minor Arcana revealing everyday situations and challenges. The court cards depict various characters, each with their own unique qualities and traits.
007 meets the occult: why spies and sorcerers are a perfect fit in fiction
Spycraft and magic have always been strange but agreeable bedfellows, and a recent trend for merging both branches of the dark arts is gathering momentum in fiction.
The cold war era of the late 1940s through to the 1980s seems an especially appropriate stage for stories that pepper espionage with something even more shadowy – be that occult magic, the stagecraft of illusionists or investigation into psychic powers.
“Espionage and the supernatural felt like a perfect match to me,” said Nick Setchfield, the author of two supernatural cold war thrillers, The War in the Dark and The Spider Dance. “There’s an obvious parallel in that both of them deal in hidden worlds and shadow realms. They exist on the very border of what’s known and what’s concealed.
“You can make the case that when it comes to tradecraft, the actual day-to-day business of espionage, spies operate with a strict sense of ritual, just like magicians do. You could even argue that codes are just another set of magical runes, a way to pass on secret knowledge. Decrypt a cipher and you’re unlocking a spell,” Setchfield added.
Other books that overtly map the paranormal on to cold war spying include Hannu Rajaniemi’s Summerland, featuring a dead spy who operates via an otherworldly realm, and WL Goodwater’s Breach, which posits a Berlin Wall that is actually a magical barrier between east and west.
Even the twin godfathers of spies – James Bond and George Smiley – have given more than a nod to the marriage of espionage and magic. In Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, published in 1974, John le Carré has Smiley investigating the tangled web weaved by “Source Merlin” and the intelligence he produces, collectively known as “Witchcraft”, while an elite group of spies is referred to as the Magic Circle.
And in the 1973 movie Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s James Bond employs a little magic to bed his leading lady, Jane Seymour’s tarot-reading mystic Solitaire.
Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman, authors of The Warlock Effect. Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Hodder & Stoughton
Claiming some magical ability himself, 007 asks Solitaire to pick a card, any card, from her closely guarded tarot deck. It is, of course, the Lovers, and one arched-eyebrow later she has fallen for the secret agent’s charms.
The postscript to the scene, however, reveals Bond’s double-dealing… he is playing with a stacked deck, every card the Lovers, which he casts to one side mid-clinch.
Live and Let Die was the first Bond film seen in the cinema by The League of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson and his co-writer on the stage and movie hit Ghost Stories, Andy Nyman. Bond’s manipulative trickery – at least with the cards – is echoed in their new novel The Warlock Effect.
Its protagonist is Louis Warlock, a young Jewish-German refugee to Britain during the second world war who grows up to become a famous stage magician and illusionist. And with postwar relations between the superpowers locked into a permafrost state by 1953, Warlock finds himself called upon by Britain’s spymasters to employ his mind-boggling tricks in shadowy service to queen and country.
Nyman and Dyson, who met in Jewish summer camp aged 15 in 1981, had been flirting with the idea for The Warlock Effect before they even started writing Ghost Stories together in 2008.
Spies operate with a strict sense of ritual, just like magicians do. Decrypt a cipher and you’re unlocking a spellNick Setchfield, author
“I think the seed was first planted about 20 years ago when a book came out by a magician we both really respect and it lit the fuse of this idea of the transferable skills between magic and spying,” said Dyson.
Nyman worked for 20 years on illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown’s TV specials, which fed into the book, and they wanted to replicate in prose that niggling doubt we all have at the back of our minds where we know what we’re seeing is just a trick … but it seems like actual magic.
Dyson said: “We grew up in an era when you had things like The Amazing World of Kreskin on TV at lunchtimes and Uri Geller, and these things were presented to you as something that was absolutely real.”
Nyman added: “Somewhere back here in our heads we know that the coin has not dematerialised, the laws of science haven’t been rewritten. But with magic of the mind, it seems unfathomable if it’s done well. It can only be real, surely? And one of the joys in the world of Warlock is that you are seeing it from the other side of the mirror – how things that seem impossible are possible.”
The lines between fact and fiction blur even further with documented cases of the real-life intelligence services trying to tap into the paranormal, most famously recounted in Jon Ronson’s book (and then film) The Men Who Stare at Goats, an investigation into how American military tried to tap into and weaponise psychic abilities.
“Back in the cold war, the Americans believed that the Russians were harnessing psychic powers and brainwashing, and they were really scared about that,” said Nyman. “When the US started to get these frazzled soldiers back from the Korean war, they had no idea what was going on and they were racing to catch up, and then you get all the MK Ultra [the CIA using brainwashing techniques and drugs such as LSD as interrogation methods from the 1950s to the 1970s] stuff that grew out of that, which is terrifying.”
Whether prestidigitation, the paranormal, or the grey area between, magic and the cold war thriller seem to go hand in hand. But Ronson’s goat-staring military men aside, surely it’s just fodder for fiction?
“Do I believe the intelligence services are really investigating the occult?” said Setchfield. “I doubt it. I’m sure they have their hands full dealing with the material world these days. But, like Roger Moore, I’m prepared to raise an intrigued eyebrow … ”
Interesting concept (geomancy), just not followed up in all that interestingly or in depth.
Using the Midnight Magic Tarot for readings can bring a sense of wonder and intrigue to your practice. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or a beginner, this deck invites you to delve into the depths of your subconscious and explore the hidden realms of your soul. The Midnight Magic Tarot is not just a tool for divination, but also a work of art. The illustrations are captivating and divine, making this deck a wonderful addition to any tarot collection. It can be used for personal reflection, meditation, and spiritual growth. If you are drawn to the mystical and the magical, the Midnight Magic Tarot may be the perfect deck for you. Its ethereal and otherworldly energy can open doors to new insights and perspectives. With each reading, you will embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. No matter what your level of experience with tarot is, the Midnight Magic Tarot offers a fresh perspective and an opportunity for deep reflection. Its enchanting imagery and powerful symbolism make it a valuable tool for those seeking guidance, inspiration, and connection to the higher realms. In conclusion, the Midnight Magic Tarot is a captivating and enchanting deck that combines elements of darkness and mystery. Its unique artwork and powerful symbolism make it a valuable tool for personal growth and spiritual exploration. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or a beginner, this deck invites you to embrace the magic within and embark on a journey of self-discovery..
Reviews for "Tarot Journaling with Mkdnight Magjc Tarot"
- John Smith - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the Midnight Magic Tarot deck. The artwork looked promising, but in reality, it was quite amateurish and lacked depth. The cardstock quality was also subpar, and the edges started chipping after just a few shuffles. Additionally, the accompanying guidebook felt very generic and didn't provide any new insights or interpretations. Overall, I don't recommend this deck for anyone looking for a truly magical and mystical tarot experience.
- Sarah Johnson - 2 stars
I bought the Midnight Magic Tarot deck based on the positive reviews I had read, but it didn't live up to my expectations. While the artwork was indeed beautiful and enchanting, I found it to be too dark and somber for my taste. The symbolism on the cards felt vague and difficult to interpret, and the guidebook didn't offer much help in understanding the meaning behind each card. Additionally, the cardstock quality was disappointing, with the cards being flimsy and easily bent. I won't be using this deck for my readings.
- Emily Thompson - 2 stars
The Midnight Magic Tarot was a bit of a letdown for me. The artwork, although intriguing at first glance, lacked the depth and detail I was hoping for. The imagery felt repetitive between the different cards, making it difficult to distinguish them during readings. The guidebook was also somewhat generic, providing the basic meanings but not delving into deeper interpretations. Overall, I found this deck to be average and lacking the magical essence that I seek in tarot decks.