A hand painted veve.

Soon we begin the funding drive for Magic to the People.

(Formerly I called this the Salon of Magic. I believe the new name better reflects exactly what the project is all about: making spells accessible.)

Magic is about changing what’s possible. Magic ceremony is an art form with powerful effects on human lives. It allows us to change what we dream, and to make those dreams reality.

Our shrine is dedicated to offering that experience to all people, regardless of their circumstance or finances. It is Magic to the People.

(If you have questions, check out the Magic to the People Q+A).

We want to properly reward everyone who helps get Magic to the People off the ground. In a crowdfunding campaign it’s customary to offer perks for different levels of contributions, and that’s something I’m excited to do. The only trouble: deciding the perks.

Here are ideas for the kinds of gifts we can offer people who back us. I’d love your feedback on all of them—do they excite you? Which ones don’t? What are the right dollar amounts? And do you have other ideas?

A Handful of Fate: the $10 Level

Next to the shrine is a candy dish full of pennies and nickels. They answer questions.

Geomancy is my weapon of choice. When you donate $10 you get to ask a question. Once the funding campaign succeeds, I will do a reading for each question. I make offerings and drop four handfuls of coins on the ground, forming one of the 16 traditional geomancy figures and answering questions with a high degree of precision.

I have to make sure the $10 level is tantalizing, because it’s the most accessible. I’d love your thoughts on it.

Level 2: Blessing Jar

When we open the doors at Magic to the People, offerings will be placed in a consecrated jar. Your name will be written on a card and lovingly placed into the jar. Optionally, a specific purpose or wish can be written on the card.

The jar will then be sealed and installed on the shrine. Every time offerings are made there for any reason, the jar will receive some of the blessings. It will continuously bathe in the good energy of the work done there.

People who give at this level also get the Handful of Fate. What’s the right dollar amount for this reward? $25? Lower?

A spell card.

Level 3: Your Own Spell Card

I hand paint sigils using a mixture of magic potions and paint. Sometimes I draw the sigils with oil pastels and powders instead. Then I enchant the card. The result is a small, pocket or purse sized spell card made just for you.

If you give at this level you can choose one of three spells (success, love or peace) and I will enchant your card. You can carry it on you or give it to someone you love.

These cards normally sell for $38, so I wonder what the right dollar level is for giving one as a reward?

Higher Levels

I’m having the most trouble choosing what to offer high level supporters. It would be nice to have rewards in the $50 and $100 range and maybe something really special for big spenders ($500+?). Here are some of the ideas.

• Veves. Vodou has become a major part of my practice, and a hand-painted veve (shown at the top of the post) would make a great thank-you gift. Activated with offerings, of course.
• Invitation to opening ceremony. This would only appeal to locals, but it would be nice to have an opening ceremony to consecrate the shrine. We could all make offerings together and then sit around for wine and snacks by the light of the altar. 
• Private Session. It would make sense to offer some kind of private one-on-one session, but how would that work? What would be a valuable focus for the session?
• Calling a Familiar. For very high level donors, I was thinking of offering a multi-session package to find a familiar spirit for them and help them bond to it.

All of this is still flexible. Every idea I listed is something I’m comfortable with (and I’m still open to others)—the trick is to choose ones that people will really like, and price them accordingly. That’s why I’m asking all of you to help me out.

Please, take a moment to hit “Leave a Reply” below. Tell me your thoughts and suggestions. It will help make Magic to the People successful.

It’s almost time to kick off our one-month fundraiser on Indiegogo!