
School of Magic
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Topics & Categories
What You Need to Know About Magic
Do you teach stage magic, sleight of hand, or illusions?
No, we are not that kind of magic school! We do not teach performing arts. We are a school of spiritual magical traditions including divination, folk magic, and mythology.
Are the spells I learn from MoonHaven guaranteed to work?
Please note that magic is not transactional, and there are no guarantees in any spiritual practice. We want to emphasize that practicing magic is a skill that needs to be cultivated, possibly over a lifetime of study, in order to obtain reliable results.
Do I have to have previous experience before taking a class?
No, not at all! MoonHaven is a school for people of all levels of familiarity and experience with these practices, including brand new beginners. Some classes do build upon previous course work, and are always marked as such in the title of the course. If you are uncertain, please contact us and we would be happy to help you decide.
You have a lot of female instructors. Is this community exclusively for women?
No! We welcome and honor students of all genders.
What is magic?
Magic is the tangible result of several core metaphysical truths that underlie the practice:
What is MoonHaven’s philosophy on teaching magic?
Is my magical lineage welcome here? What is MoonHaven’s spiritual affiliation? Can I attend without changing my religion?
We believe that everyone has access to Source, and therefore we can all practice what we have termed “magic.” MoonHaven is inclusive of any spiritual seekers from any and all traditions and backgrounds. We have designed our philosophy of magic and teaching to be complementary and supportive to any existing spiritual practice that students may observe. We do not seek to replace your spiritual path or faith, but to help augment and deepen it.
Can anyone learn to practice magic, or are only “gifted” people able to?
Anyone can follow the path of magic! The practice of manifestation is universal, and we ALL have access to Source — therefore, anyone can learn and practice magic. (In fact, one could argue that you’re doing it already, if subconsciously.) Just remember that like any other area of expertise, such as sports or the arts, while some may show a natural aptitude or inclination towards a field of study, it is a skill that anyone can learn and develop with practice and patience.
What is divination?
Divination is essentially a mode of gaining insight into one’s core self and one’s journey of personal evolution. While this may include glimpses into what may be in the future or what has been in the past, it is important not to confuse it with the stereotypical “fortune telling” often portrayed in popular culture. Most divinatory arts, such as Tarot, runes, tea leaf reading, I Ching, or dream interpretation, focus on unpacking the hidden symbols and messages we receive from our subconscious, while also reflecting the world around us. We practice divination so that we may gain a deeper understanding of our actions and intentions, which is why it’s important to remember that divination is not the voice of Fate but rather a way of informing our own choices. We choose and create our own destinies.
What is ritual?
In order to access our deep intuition, it is important to signal to the brain that it is time to shift gears from an external, ordinary-world consciousness to an internal, spiritually-minded consciousness. First, the nervous system needs to feel safe, and secondly, the five senses can be stimulated in a way that helps us recognize the sacred quality of the activities we are practicing. What ritual does for us, whether in groups or by ourselves, is to use physical tools like bells, incense, flowers, clothing, etc. to help trigger the mind to switch gears into a special or spiritual state of being that feels safe, nourishing, and magical.
Do you worship the Devil or demons?
The accusation of devil-worship is something that was originally used centuries ago as a political tool by the historical Catholic church in order to define and disempower a group of people that they did not understand, could not control, and (most likely) also feared. The results of these misperceptions have been deadly for many throughout history, particularly women.
Is this like what I see on TV or read about in Harry Potter?
On the other hand, what popular culture shows us about magic is not all wrong, either — although it often illustrates the practice in a warped, “funhouse mirror” manner in order to make it more appealing to audiences. The most common misunderstanding that we have noticed is a confusion of what occurs on an internal level versus the outer world.
For instance, in many magical traditions practitioners may engage with the energy of a spirit guide, which could take any number of forms depending on the specific tradition. This is something that occurs at an astral (or energetic) level once the person slips into a dream or meditative state, and it often takes significant practice for someone to be able to do so with any ease, reliability, or regularity. On the outside, this can look pretty boring. Hours and hours of watching a character sit in a trance — even with the aid of so-called “movie montage magic” — is not visually interesting. Thus, magical portals to other worlds or physical manifestations of spirit guides are pictured as happening on a physical level to illustrate what is actually happening at an energetic level. In reality, the practice is far more subtle and significantly less cinematic.
Are you appropriating cultural customs or traditions in your rituals and teachings?
As an educational entity invested in creating an inclusive environment and teaching multiple traditions, MoonHaven is mindful of discussing the dangers of cultural appropriation in the context of magical practice. It’s important to acknowledge that individuals may be called to magical traditions outside of their genetic heritage, which is why MoonHaven endeavors to honor all cultural traditions, and to welcome instructors of all backgrounds, both ethnically and spiritually. We believe that spiritual practices from around the world have much in common at their core, and we want to create a safe space in which to discuss those commonalities. We also believe that intersectionality is an ongoing discussion that is particularly complicated when you involve spiritual matters, and so we remain open-minded and eager to learn how to best support our students while honoring all cultural traditions.
Booking, Payment, Cancelations & Refunds
What type of reading should I get?
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, and credit/debit card.
What is your refund & cancellation policy?
Once classes, workshops, or private readings and consultations have begun, all sales are considered final and no refunds will be provided.
MoonHaven reserves the right to cancel any workshop or class, and if so will notify students in a timely manner and provide a full refund for their purchase.
If I book a consultation can I receive medical or psychiatric advice?
No statement by the readers or energy healers should ever be taken by clients as a recommendation to discontinue the use of medications prescribed by an appropriately licensed practitioner, nor should any statement be taken as a recommendation to make drastic changes to a client’s life.
Any third party information or tools (such as books, articles, spiritual or religious curios) provided or suggest by the readers or energy healers are educational in nature, and it is up to the client to use his or her own independent judgement in assessing or utilizing such information.
MoonHaven Class & Event Policies
What is your location? Can I host you?
We are a pop-up school in the Frederick area, and we are looking to expand to the Baltimore and DC area. We enjoy partnering with local yoga studios, reiki & healing arts venues, local shops, community centers, parks, and more. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please reach out to us here!
Do you do private workshops? Can I hire you for an event?
Yes! We are happy to do private events in a venue that you supply. We require a minimum of five students pre-registered through our website in order to run the event. For more details about scheduling and booking, check out our private events page.
Do you offer online classes?
We believe in the importance of face-to-face interaction when working to establish or deepen personal spiritual practices. Exploring alternative spiritual traditions can be a lonely path, and we want to help you feel connected and supported by a community of mentors, teachers, and friends. Therefore, we have decided not to offer virtual courses at this time, but rather to encourage you to come meet us in person so that we can share our energy and presence with each other as we learn together.
Do you offer workshops for children?
We do not currently offer workshops for children, although if there is demand, this may be something we offer in future years.
Can I bring my child to class?
Children under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian to attend class. Children under the age of 14, accompanied by an adult, will be considered on a case by case basis dependent upon the instructor’s discretion — please contact us if you would like to bring a younger child along with you to class.
Can I be one of your instructors or readers?
We are not currently looking to expand our network of instructors and readers. However, if you feel you are a good fit for MoonHaven, please reach out to us here. We are always happy to meet other in the magical community.
What credentials do MoonHaven’s instructors have?
MoonHaven instructors have certifications in their respective fields of practice, where certification is available. All instructors have been practicing for several years, and have reached a level of competence based on regular practice and study. They are passionate about sharing what they have learned in order to help others along their own path.
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