Generations ago, our forebears lived in close contact with the natural world. Their very existence depended on their ability to be in tune with weather patterns, planting and harvesting cycles, celestial movements, the changing tides, the animal, plant, and insect kingdoms, and much more. Most people today, on the other hand, are alienated from the natural world much of the time. It seems normal to live in temperature-controlled homes, work in offices sealed off from nature, and drive on freeways with the windows rolled up.

In order to do magic, however, you need to reawaken your awareness of the natural world so you can begin tapping the Earth's vital energy. You need to experience your connectedness to everything around you. You need to enliven your senses. Once you've honed your five physical senses, you can begin developing your sixth sense.

The natural world is just as natural as it ever was, except that there's less of it than there was a century ago, and most people don't devote as much time as they should to enjoying it. As your magical consciousness increases, so will your appreciation of the world you live in. Many of the spells in this book use natural ingredients such as herbs, flowers, and stones. In Chapter 10, you'll learn to harness nature's energy to enhance the power of your spells and rituals.