Meet the Wolverhampton magician who is also a tarot card reader

“I became interested in magic at a young age watching the Paul Daniels Magic Show but I always thought I’d become a magician’s assistant like Debbie McGee,” she tells Weekend.

Careena, who lives in Wolverhampton, went on to train in theatrical performance with Phillippe Gaulier in Paris and Desmond Jones in London.

She started studying and practising close-up magic in 2006, beginning her career as a children’s entertainer and magician.

“I met a group of entertainers who said I would be great at doing magic shows for kids so I started doing kids shows.

“I thought if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it properly and join the Magic Circle,” explains Careena.

Founded in 1905, The Magic Circle aims to promote and advance the art of magic and members come from all walks of life.

Magicians have to prove their skill to gain entry and give their word to abide by the Latin motto (Indocilis private loqui) which translates as “not apt to disclose secrets”.

There are more than 1,700 members worldwide including many top magicians, such as David Copperfield, Dynamo, Jamie Raven and Magic Bones. Other famous names include King Charles III, Stephen Fry, Nigel Mansell and Sooty.

Women weren’t allowed to join The Magic Circle until 1991 when 75 per cent of members voted to include women in the membership.

Now there are more than 80 female members including Fay Presto, Katherine Mills, Laura London and Megan Swann, who became the first female president in 2021.

Careena applied to become a member in 2008 and had to perform some of her magic in front of a panel of judges.

“The performance is judged by senior magicians and if you meet a certain set of criteria, you can join,” she explains.

Careena, who is also a member of Psycrets, the British Society of Mystery Entertainers, has studied magic with Master Magicians, Eugene Burger and Jeff McBride, as well as the Godmother of Magic, Fay Presto.

Over the years, she has been the recipient of The Maskelyne Award, presented by The Magic Circle in recognition of service to British magic, and The Edwin Dawes Award for Magical Scholarship from Magicana.

She has also toured Edinburgh and Buxton Fringe Festivals as well as the London Horror Festival with her Phantasmagorical show.

Channelling Victorian female magicians, her character, Sylvia Sceptre, combines storytelling with magic, ghost stories and illusions.

Careena, who is a member of the Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians, loves to perform close-up magic and tarot card readings for weddings and corporate events as The Wedding Witch.

Using everyday objects like cards, coins, and rope, she entertains guests with mind-bending illusions.

“I call myself a ‘professional party starter’ because it’s so much fun and it gets people in the mood to party at the wedding reception. It can also be a great way to keep guests entertained when the couple are off having their photographs taken,” says Careena.

She has 30 years of experience as a tarot reader and uses her skills to offer personalised readings for individuals and groups.

“It’s a form of divination. A tarot card reading looks at the symbolism on the cards and interprets it to give clues about a person’s life. It’s become really popular,” explains Careena.

When she is not performing, she devotes time each day to practising her magic skills and learning new tricks.

“I read books, watch DVDs and look online for new tricks to learn. When I learn a new trick, I adapt it to my style,” explains Careena.

She is also a PhD Drama and Theatre Studies practice-based student at the University of Birmingham and is researching the intersection of witchcraft and spiritualism and its impact upon performance magic. Her PhD will be assessed by a practice-based component as well as a thesis and she is working on a new show which she will perform later this year.

Careena enjoys sharing her passion for magic and seeing the enjoyment it can bring to other people.

“I really like the wonder and joy it brings people. It makes them laugh and makes them forget about their every day realities. I like meeting different people and knowing I’ve made a real difference to their wedding day,” she tells Weekend.

Her advice for anyone starting a career in magic is to “practice, little and often on a regular basis”.

For more information, see www.theweddingwitch.co.uk