Creative people often speak of being channels for inspiration, while others refer to communing with their muse. For many, this is more than mere metaphor, as artists throughout history have employed magical techniques to tap into their creativity, express powerful messages, and make contact with the sacred. Examples range from the songwriting divination of David Bowie to the Ouija board poetry sessions of Sylvia Plath, and from the 19th-century abstract painting séances of Hilma af Klint to the cinematic meditation methods of David Lynch.
Magic Maker by Pam Grossman is a groundbreaking exploration of this powerful intersection between creativity and magic. Renowned witch and author of Waking the Witch, Grossman reveals how mystical practices have fueled some of the most celebrated works of art throughout history. Unlike any other book on creativity, Magic Maker is the first to delve into how magic has been embraced by visionary creators and offers practical methods for incorporating it into your own creative process. Whether through spellcasting, trancework, or spirit communication, Grossman makes a compelling case for why magic deserves serious artistic consideration—inviting creators of all kinds to take an enchanted approach to their craft. This is the best book yet written about the relationship between magic and inspiration, in all branches of the arts and some of the sciences as well. It is also a good all-round one on the making of magic in general, especially for the solitary practitioner.-Professor Ronald Hutton, best-selling author and historian Pam Grossman is a writer, curator and teacher of magical practice and history. She is the host of the internationally-beloved podcast, The Witch Wave, and the author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power, and What Is A Witch. She is also co-editor and co-author of the WITCHCRAFT volume of Taschen's Library of Esoterica series. www.pamgrossman.com
