How to Deepen Your Magical Practice: 12 Transformative Ideas

Whether you’ve been practicing magic for decades or you’re just finding your footing, there’s always another layer to explore.

These 12 ideas are an invitation to go deeper — not all at once, but in whatever way calls to you. Each one could easily merit a lifetime of study on its own, so there’s no pressure to tackle them all.

As Ikkyu wisely put it: “Many paths lead up the mountain, but at the top we all look at the same bright moon.” And as Joseph Campbell famously said, follow your bliss — or if bliss feels too grand, simply follow what intrigues you most. That’s enough.

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1. Kundalini Yoga

All varieties of yoga seek to harmonize mind, body and spirit. Kundalini yoga is especially focused on the mind and spirit aspects, making it a natural choice for many magical practitioners. Through breath, mantra, and repetitive movement, kundalini offers an energy healing, a meditation, and a physical exercise all in one. Various kriyas (sets) are practiced for specific purposes, from relieving headaches to increasing sexual potency to eradicating the ego.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, I like this quick YouTube video for beginners.

2. Astrology

No matter how much astrology you know, there is always more to learn.

Beginners will find The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need to be most instructive. Astrology for the Soul will illuminate your soul’s fondest wishes for unfoldment in this lifetime. Chinese astrology is also fascinating: The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes is an excellent place to start. The New Chinese Astrology is wonderful too.

Oh, and I love Chani Nicholas’s book, You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance.

3. Feng Shui

Feng shui will help you create an environment you love: a home that nourishes you on all levels and helps you manifest the things you desire.

To begin your feng shui practice, check out my first and best-loved book, Magical Housekeeping.

Or schedule an online Feng Shui consultation with me.

4. The Merkaba Meditation

The Merkaba meditation is a spectacular visualization practice involving sacred geometry, colored light, and more. It takes some time and effort to get the hang of it, but it’s worth it. Performing the Merkaba meditation raises your vibration, purifies your aura, activates your intuition, and helps you bust through blocks of all varieties.

Try using Christopher Penczak’s instructions in Ascension Magick. It’s also available as a guided meditation.

5. The Goddesses of Yoga

If you like learning about the Divine Feminine, you’ll love Sally Kempton’s book, Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga. It introduces the powers and attributes of 11 Hindu goddesses, and teaches the reader how to activate the archetypes and aspects of these goddesses  through mantra and meditation. She writes, “Some of these goddesses are warriors. Others are lovers. Some have maternal energy, others are dedicated to opening you to mystical realms. Each one of them can be a guide into the deepest realms of the soul and a teacher of the skills of living as an empowered feminine lover of life.”

6. The I Ching

Translating to “Book of Changes,” the I Ching is a profoundly ancient divination system that offers guidance on life’s turning points. While it’s true that it’s complex, it’s also true that you can begin working with it immediately. The trick is to find a translation you like. My personal favorite is Stephen Karcher’s Total I Ching, but it’s not for everyone. Many prefer the more traditional Wilhelm/Baynes translation, and others like the relative simplicity of Brian Brown Walker’s translation. (But there are countless others!)

Once you’ve found one that speaks to you, all you need is three coins, a notebook, and a pen, and you’re ready to go.

7. Chakras

Chakras, as you may know, are spiritual energy centers that lie along the spine. Working with the chakra system allows us to heal and harmonize mind, body, and spirit.

No matter where you are in your chakra studies, there’s always more to learn.

My self-paced, online Chakra Magic workshop is a great place to start or continue your chakra journey.

8. The Tarot

Tarot is one more thing you can study for a lifetime, even though you can also begin working with it right away.

Here’s a video about how to get started with reading the Tarot.

Another great way to learn? This Tarot Coloring Book.

9. Angels

Working with angels is an amazingly powerful and reliable magical practice. I do it every day.

Damien Echols has written an excellent primer on the subject. (But you might want to start with his first book, High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life On Death Row.)

I also love Calista’s The Female Archangels: Evolutionary Teachings to Heal & Empower Your Life.

10.  The Seven Hermetic Principles

The basis of much of Western mysticism and magic lies in the seven Hermetic principles as outlined in the classic magical text The Kybalion. Learning them (or revisiting them if it’s been a while) will give you clear, practical insight into the underlying dynamics of magic and manifestation.

11. The Tao te Ching

While you can sit down and read the entire Tao the Ching in less than a day, it contains enough magical wisdom to keep you engaged for a lifetime. Read it and take time to meditate on each tiny chapter to align more deeply with Yin / Yang principles, the ineffable qualities of personal mastery, your own magical nature, and the magical nature of All That Is.

It’s my opinion that the Stephen Mitchell translation is the way to go.

12. The Qabalah

The Qabalah is spiritual system and magical framework on which both the tarot and western astrology are based. Certainly, it can be mystifying to new seekers: where to begin? How does one practically apply it? And what does it all mean?

Here are some books I’ve found that can help get you started on the path:

Qabalah Made Easy

The Chicken Qabalah

The Mystical Qabalah

If you give one of these a try, come back and let me know about your experience in the comments.

Well, what do you think? Did you find something to spark your explorations? Are you excited to deepen your magic? Or, do you have another idea to add? Please chime in below!