This is a 101 book on magic for young adults (and their parents). Straight away, in the introduction, Andrews encourages parents to be involved in his/her child's spiritual life. Andrews provides exercises and activities that parents can participate in with the special person in their lives. He encourages sharing and participation between adults and young people.
Overall, the message throughout this book is "think positive" and "be positive". In many places Andrews encourages the reader saying that everybody has psychic potential, but it takes practice to become the best one can be. However, Andrews is responsible and does post warnings throughout his book to beware of avoiding the physical realm in favor of the magical. In the very beginning he even includes rules that are both spiritual and down-to-earth.
Andrews begins exercises with simply identifying what one believes. Then it moves on to what one wishes and how one goes about getting those things. He explains how to bring things about by not just using mental and emotional (spiritual means), but also physical means. Because this is a 101 book, most of the exercises are fairly simple. Despite that, the later exercises leave room for adaptation by the individual.
Andrews encourages students not to flaunt what they are learning, but to be honest if it comes up in conversation. He also encourages students to 'shapeshift', to be adaptable to the situations. For young people who are coming into their own, this is especially important.
It's also important to note that in this particular book, there does not appear to be much taken from any specific tradition. It's not even eclectic. It's just a fresh look at magic all by itself.
This is not a book for the well-read, but it is an excellent introduction for those who are new to magic or want to begin again with the basics. I highly recommend this for young readers and their parents.
Overall, the message throughout this book is "think positive" and "be positive". In many places Andrews encourages the reader saying that everybody has psychic potential, but it takes practice to become the best one can be. However, Andrews is responsible and does post warnings throughout his book to beware of avoiding the physical realm in favor of the magical. In the very beginning he even includes rules that are both spiritual and down-to-earth.
Andrews begins exercises with simply identifying what one believes. Then it moves on to what one wishes and how one goes about getting those things. He explains how to bring things about by not just using mental and emotional (spiritual means), but also physical means. Because this is a 101 book, most of the exercises are fairly simple. Despite that, the later exercises leave room for adaptation by the individual.
Andrews encourages students not to flaunt what they are learning, but to be honest if it comes up in conversation. He also encourages students to 'shapeshift', to be adaptable to the situations. For young people who are coming into their own, this is especially important.
It's also important to note that in this particular book, there does not appear to be much taken from any specific tradition. It's not even eclectic. It's just a fresh look at magic all by itself.
This is not a book for the well-read, but it is an excellent introduction for those who are new to magic or want to begin again with the basics. I highly recommend this for young readers and their parents.
