by Paige Curtin
The first time I learned of Jerico Mandybur themselves was through HausWitch, when we got the new then, now-favorite Neo Tarot. Neo Tarot was an immediate hit for its accessibility and because it's best read solo; we've always been advocates of reading the cards as self-reflection!
Rainbow Power: Manifest Your Dream Life with The Creative Magic of Color is a bold title, but still has the radical softness of Neo Tarot. This guide is just as much about unpacking our relationship to colors and their history as it is about choosing which candle to use in a spell, taking on concepts like the relationship between minimalism + colonialism and why we recognize a spectrum of 7 colors (which is actually more magical than science-y!) Manifesting as Mandybur illustrates it is not just about landing the perfect job or attracting your true love, it's about what she calls "living colorfully".
"Choosing to live colorfully means you're choosing to step into confidence, find your personal expression, and own your full power as a creative, infinitely magical witch. Because let's admit it, every day we're up against a lifetime of programming that sees the troll inside our head tell us blatant lies to keep us from our own true worth and luminosity. It says: you're too much, stop being so cringe, play small, blend in, stay inside the lines. Worst of all, it echoes the culturally-ascribed feminization (thus invalidation) of all things magical."
Chapters in Rainbow Power include a profile of the 7 rainbow colors + 4 neutrals, "The Magic of Science", "A Brief History of Color & Magic", "Arranging the Rainbow", "Tapping Into YOUR Rainbow Power", and "Fear No Colors". The whole book is designed beautifully, so even if you're just taking a quick peek at pink you'll want to stick around to read more. I highly recommend checking out Jerico's now-defunct podcast "Beyond Belief" and then read Rainbow Power while imagining their soothing voice for maximum impact!
