Llewellyn Worldwide, located in Woodbury, Minn., is a leading publisher of books on metaphysical theory and practice, along with other resources, such as tarot decks and calendars.

Milwaukeeans interested in paganism and magic, as well as yoga practitioners and "new-agey" folks who like subjects such as crystals and energy work, are undoubtedly familiar with many of the Minnesota-based company’s titles.

Llewellyn’s books can be ordered online through the company’s website and found locally at stores like House of Magick, 4726 S. Packard Ave., in Cudahy.

"I have between 500 and 700 Llewellyn books in my store right now," says John Reeves, owner of House of Magick.

Reeves has dealt in metaphysical books and resources for 15 years. He often has sales at House of Magick on all books, except for the newest titles.

Long known as America’s oldest publisher of "New Age Sciences," Llewellyn was actually started in 1901 as the Portland School of Astrology by Llewellyn George.

George, a pamphleteer and astrologer, first published the now famous "Llewellyn Moon Sign Book and Gardening Guide" in 1905. Updated every year since, this classic guide is now subtitled "Conscious Living By the Cycles of the Moon" and is often referred to by its users as "The Moon ‘Shine’ Book."

George died in 1954 and his publishing house was purchased by Richard Juline, a printer, who ran it as a mail-order business for a few years until Carl Llewellyn Weschcke bought the company and began operating it out of his home in St. Paul, Minn.

Weschcke lived for a time in a mansion he claimed was haunted on Summit Avenue in St. Paul and ran a retail extension of Llewellyn Publishing in Minneapolis. He was also elected vice president of the Minnesota branch of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1965.

Weschcke grew the publishing house through increased interest of new age subjects in the 1960s and expanded its subject offerings from astrology and nature-based religions to self-help and divination resources.

Llewellyn’s corporate offices are now located in a suburb of the Twin Cities with Sandra Weschcke company president and Carl Weschcke’s son, Gabe, vice president.

The company’s mission, "to be the world's leading provider of works for personal growth and the transformation of Body, Mind, and Spirit," has been expanded to include a mystery fiction series called "Midnight Ink" and a young adult fiction line, "Flux," with titles such as "How It’s Done,  "How to Ruin a Summer Vacation" and "The Fat Girl," which is a best book for young adults selection of the American Library Association.

But Llewellyn’s main imprint is still its most celebrated and many of its authors well-known and prolific. Recently, New Zealand hypnotist and writer Richard Webster published his 50th Llewellyn book, "Living in Your Soul’s Light: Understanding Your Eternal Self."

Rare in today’s publishing world, Webster's 50th book was celebrated July 8 at Llewellyn’s headquarters.

Webster published his first book in 1972. His longevity suggests the support available from Llewellyn, which includes Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, Isaac Bonewits, Mary K. Greer, Raven Grimassi, Amber K, Silver Ravenwolf, and Robin Wood in its author list.

Webster's other books include the "Encyclopedia of Superstitions."

The first tarot deck published by Llewellyn was Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot.

Llewelyn’s tarot decks are possibly rivaled only by those published by Connecticut-based U.S. Games Systems. Llewellyn is also the exclusive North American distributor of tarot decks made in Italy by Lo Scarabeo. 

In this author’s household, we have the Lo Scarabeo decks "The Gothic Tarot of Vampires" and "Tarot of Pagan Cats" and we have sometimes purchased "Llewelyn’s Witches’ Calendar," which marks moon cycles and lists pagan holidays for the year, as well as offers ideas for blessings and rituals.