• DIY Lotions and Potions! by Mambo Sam

    LOTIONS AND POTIONS by Mambo Sam

    Below are the recipes for wearable potions. I will be adding more in the future, so check back.  Scented oils can now be purchased many places; the combinations below are to be used in  equal parts, except where indicated. Usually 1/8 to 1/4 ounce of each is used–according to  how much oil you want to make.   Store the oils in a cool, dark place. (Do not refrigerate  after it is mixed.) Sunlight weakens the strength of the oils.

    Oil is often consecrated with a prayer that is appropriate to the individual's faith.

    A good way to consecrate the oil for all beliefs is to cup the bottled mixture in both hands,  raise it towards the sky and repeat, "With respect to the powers of nature and the elements,  I consecrate this oil with the power of goodness."

    Simple, but effective.

    *Attraction Oil: Equal parts of Rose oil, Lavender oil, Vanilla oil, and Sandalwood oil.  Touch to pulse points when in the presence of the one you want to attract.

    *Lucky Oil: 1/2 of the oil should be pure Olive oil, 1/4 part Myrrh oil, 1/4 part Jasmine oil. Anoint feet before putting on shoes you will wear in a situation where you want to feel lucky.

    *Power Oil: Equal parts of Patchouli oil, Cinnamon oil, and Vanilla oil.

    Touch to pulse points (especially at wrists and temples) prior to going into a situation you  need to have power over.

    *Protection Oil: Equal parts of Hyacinth oil, Jasmine oil, Orange oil, Musk oil, and Anise oil.  Touch the oil around the area that needs protection (such as your home) or on yourself.  (It is said that touching this oil to the bottom of your feet allows you to run away from evil.)

    In Service,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield

    http://www.spellmaker.com/potions.htm

    Lovepotion997

  • Healing with the Lwa

     

     

  • Papa Legba Ritual!

    Papa Legba Online Ritual 

    Join us for our online ritual to Honor Papa Legba!    Prayers and petitions to Papa Legba and a special presentation by Mambo Sam.  

    Just click here to join at the designated time on 06/30/2019.  (2:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Central, 12:00 noon Mountain, 11:00 AM Pacific)

    Please note the time differences so that you won't be disappointed!

    This ritual is free and completely anonymous.  

    Looking forward to seeing you all there!

    You can send in your petitions to be included to papalegba@spellmaker.com

    Ayibobo, Papa!

    Papaveve

  • Celebrate, protest, speak up, stay quiet – but do something if you feel the world needs to change!

    Hello everyone!

    It's been awhile since I blogged and figured now is a great time to get at it again. 🙂  Here we are with a new president, a new day dawning, and lots to complain about or lots to be happy about – depending upon your perspective.

    Inauguration day was conflicting for me:  I refuse to lose friends over politics.  I also refuse to allow things that I personally think are wrong to be swept under the rug.  We all have opinions, that is for sure. One thing I can promise you, having been on this earth for quite awhile now, gloating and being gleefully ugly because your side won OR wringing your hands and crying out with the vapors because your side lost, won't accomplish anything.

    With the assistance of my loving family, Matt, Brandon, and Bridget, we decided to spend inauguration day supporting causes that were important to us.  You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your little part of it.  How you do that is totally up to you.  We may not agree on what changes needs to be made; we may not agree on how changes need to be made. That's okay – I'm going to love you anyway! But, if you are unhappy with the way things are, do your best to do your part to effect the changes you want to see!  Arguing, fighting, name-calling… all useless.  Go for the positive changes where you can! Go for action not empty words.  Anyone can write rhetoric.  Show "the other side" what you are doing, why, and how you want to make this world a better place. 

    SO, inauguration day started at the Dollar Tree (of course it did, you're thinking – ah, you know me so well)!  My grandson Brandon and I shopped for items to put in hygiene packs for the homeless.  Matt, Brandon, and I put the hygiene packs together (please do note my spiffy labels!) and had such a good time together.  We often take the simple things for granted – when I reach for toothpaste, it is generally there unless I forgot to get it at the store.  Lady needs?  Yep, got those, too.  Toothbrush?  Check.  But for so many people living on the streets, these things are luxuries.  As we put the kits together, we enjoyed doing it, but it also reminded us of how lucky we are.  I am grateful for the time spent with family doing this and ever so grateful for my almost-middle-class life.   Then, the lovely Bridget and I delivered the packets to one of our local homeless shelters, Joy Junction.  There are other wonderful shelters here in New Mexico and we hope, over the coming months, to get to all of them!

    1ATday

    Bridget's and my next stop was sort of Planned Parenthood and sort of Domino's Pizza!  What do Planned Parenthood and Domino's have in common you ask?  Well, nothing, I suppose. We knew we wanted to do something for Planned Parenthood, we just weren't sure what that might be. By the way,  no matter what your beliefs are about abortion – about 90% of what Planned Parenthood does has nothing at all to do with abortions.  Taking away funding from them is taking away reproductive health care for women who have no other options.  (By the way, Federal funding for abortions at Planned Parenthood hasn't been a "thing" since the 1970's, so not sure why every one is up in the air about that – look stuff up, people, before you go flying off the handle. None of those precious "tax dollars" everyone keeps ballyhooing about goes to abortions.)

    Anyway, considering the current climate where Planned Parenthood is concerned and the fact that there would be patients in there, we decided to pull into the Domino's down the street from the PP office and call them.  Now, that was was interesting conversation:  "Hello, Planned Parenthood, how may I help you?"  "Hi, my name is Samantha Corfield, we would like to do something nice for your office today, you know, it being inauguration day and all…."  "Really, is this a joke?"  "No, not at all.  My friend and I are down the street at Domino's and would like to send pizza to your office, would that be okay?"  "Um (little giggle) I think so, let me talk to my manager. Are you sure this isn't a joke?"  "Not a joke, I promise." Manager comes on phone:  "Hi, how may I help you."  I repeat the same thing about pizza and tell her that we didn't want to just roll up on them, all things considered, and patient confidentiality.  She says, "I have been working for Planned Parenthood for 10 years and no one has ever done anything like this.  It's so nice of you.  But you don't have to, we appreciate just the gesture."  Me, "How many people in your office and what kind of pizza do you like?"  "Pepperoni and green chile."   We chatted for a couple of more minutes and then Bridget and I went in to the Domino's and ordered pizza to be delivered.  In speaking with these ladies on the phone, feeling their excitement over someone sending them pizza, it made me both sad and glad and made me wonder what kind of fear and abuse they go through working there.  All I know is Bridget and I loved doing it!

    2ATday

    The next stop we were planning was the Gay Pride office here in Albuquerque.  But along the way, we came across this homeless man and just had to give him a Starbucks gift card.  Let me just say, a Starbucks gift card must not be the usual thing handed out of a car window.  Rarely have I seen anyone that excited.  "Is this real? Is it for Starbucks? Starbucks??" Bridget is quite tickled with that reaction and hands him another one as we drive off.  That was one excited man! Let me just say, none of this was a ton of money. You can bring a lot of joy into peoples' lives just by showing them you care; the smallest gift can make a huge impact on someone's day, week, or even life.  I see you. That is what people want to know.  That is what they want to hear.  I see you.

    3ATday

    Next stop was the Albuquerque Gay Pride office.  We had planned to go in and ask them if we could buy them dinner or cupcakes or Starbucks(!), something… but no one was manning the office that day.  Darn it.  But we decided to be stealthy and Bridget whipped out more Starbucks gift cards and we wrote notes on them and put the cards through the mail chute. We just wanted to let them know that we are here, we support them, and we will be here to help them keep their rights should anyone try to take them away.  

    4ATday

     

    Next month we will do more!  We will be visiting the ACLU office, the NAACP office, a shelter for at risk LGBTQ homeless teens, a women's shelter for victims of domestic violence, and more!  We will continue to do things, even if they are small things, for the causes that are important to us.  We aren't sharing this with you to get a pat on the back.  What we are hoping is that you, too, will see that you can get out there and be the change.  If you don't have money to do things, almost all places that are helping others need volunteers.  If you can't volunteer in person, ask if you can make phone calls for them from home.  Call and ask what you can do.  Almost everyone can do something.

    If you feel that the causes important to you are at risk, do what you can in your little part of the world.  I solemnly swear to you that this is what will make a difference.  Have no illusions:  Certain ways of life are under attack.  If it is important to you, get out there in the trenches. Fighting and schooling people on Facebook isn't going to do a damned thing; you aren't going to change their minds.  They can't see you. Go out into the world and be the change. 

    I would also like to say a little side note here about politics, politicians, and making an impact.  I worked with politicians for many years.  A lot of change starts locally…. within your City Council. Don't forget to get to know your district's councilperson, representative, etc.  They are your neighbors!  They have a vested interest in your corner of the world.  I'll give you an insider hint:  Don't start out telling them what you don't want; tell them what you DO want. They get hundreds of people telling them what they don't want – it is refreshing for them to have someone come in or write to them and tell them what they want from a positive point of view.  Do your homework.  Have an idea how to make what you want happen! They are often the first rung on a very tall ladder, but they are also the foundation of politics. Don't overlook them as a way to let your needs be known.  They are also very good at making introductions up the ladder, too.  Give it a try!  

    In closing, I would like to say thank you to all who have been passionate about this election, and were able to do so in a caring, intelligent, and thoughtful manner.  You are rare.  You are good. 

    Love and peace to all,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield
    www.spellmaker.com 

     

  • Potioning!

    voodoo love potion
    Hello everyone!

    Potioning!  Is that a word?  It really isn't, but I was working on potions and it made me think of our dearly departed Khouzhan Orleanna!  Older customers will remember her for sure – she was the original caseworker, my dear friend, and just an all around crackerjack!

    She loved ALL Miss Fannie Belle's Potions!  She kept all of them around and like a current hot sauce commercial says she, "put that sh*t on everything!" 😉

    Seriously, besides all the regular uses of the potions, she used it as her cologne, as her bath oil, as her skin softener (she mixed some potion in with baby oil and used it for her skin), and everything else she could think of.  Depending on what she was feeling like she needed that day, love, luck, money, etc., she used some potion every single day!  Some days two or three different ones depending on what was going on.  She called it "potioning."

    I can't ever work on potions without thinking of my dearly departed friend and how she remains with us here at Spellmaker through her wit, friendship, love, and customers.  I loved how she used our products and was so creative in her usages. 

    So next time you are using one of our potions (or other products) remember to get creative. You, too, can be potioning!

    Love, light, and peace,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield

    www.spellmaker.com

     

  • The Amazing and Fabulous LaSirene and Agwe!

    Oh this is a good one!  Well, of course all of our free rituals are amazing… but this power couple of the sea is always a fan favorite! 🙂

    Our next free online ritual will be honoring Capitaine Agwe and LaSirene –  the king and queen of the ocean! Husband and wife, they rule the seas from their majestic underwater kingdom. With all the wealth of the ocean, they can help in financial matters. With a love as enduring and timeless as the seas, they can help in love situations. As a Voodoo couple, they can bring their power to a very wide variety of situations!

    Join us on Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 PM Eastern (1 PM Central, 12 PM Mountain, 11 AM Pacific) in honoring and petitioning LaSirene and Capitaine Agwe!

    Anyone and everyone can join or participate completely anonymously in our online rituals. The rituals are done in real time, live online. You remain nameless and faceless and just enjoy the ritual in the comfort of your own home! Spellmaker offers these rituals free online via a webcam – you will not be seen, but you can see the ritual as it is happening.

    Get more information on how to participate here:  http://www.spellmaker.com/prayer.htm

    La Sirene Voodoo Ritual

    Love, light, and peace,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield

    www.spellmaker.com

     

  • Why is My Case SO Different?

    Hello, everyone!

    So, why IS your case so different?  I get asked this question every now and again! Usually it because the case is taking a long time, or we have had to do a combination of things, or because we, frankly, aren't seeing any results.  People read testimonials of other clients and wonder why they aren't seeing those kinds of results for themselves!

    A very dear and sweet client has just recently asked me the very same thing!  Why, out of thousands of cases over the last 20 years of Spellmaker, is hers so different that we aren't really seeing any results?

    My first answer to that is often, "…yet."  :-)  One of the first answers is time – as much as I would love to force everyone to immediately respond to my spell work, I know why that is a very bad idea.  Hollywood will explain to you why forcing spell work is a bad idea.  Of course, they will give you a highly-dramatized reason as to why, but you get the idea.  Forcing with spell work=nothing good for you!  So sometimes the answer is just time… it isn't that you aren't going to see results, we just haven't seen them yet.

    Second, and this is a hard one, I see more and more that people are dealing with various mental and emotional disorders.  This is very different than about 12 years ago; I am not sure why.  But, I see it a lot more now than I did in the past.  Is it diet? Food? Vitamin deficiencies?  Chemicals? Media stimuli? Pollution?  Heck if I know, but know I see many, many more people who are being worked on with spell work coming up with various disorders.  Sometimes my client is able to tell me that, yes, they know the person has something and is being treated.  But a lot of times they don't know.  Long story short:  It is sometimes difficult to get spell work results with someone who is dealing with a psychological disorder of some kind.  Now, I am saying difficult, NOT impossible.  It is just that I am finding more and more that it makes it a much longer and difficult haul!  However, the rewards of getting success in these cases are immense!  Often it means that we have done healing work that focused on the person getting the help they needed and that is exactly what happened!  Once the proper help was in place, voilà, we saw our results!

    I think this second one is one of the most difficult ones simply because there is such a process between feeling like someone doesn't love you and realizing that it is more that they have a disorder. It is hard for us to process that information objectively because we are feeling hurt, abandoned, and, often, angry.  Then, I will come along and tell you to "play nice" because spell work is in play!  I know!  Frustrating!  But, rest assured, even though sometimes it takes a lot of hard work and time, we do get results despite peoples' disorders. Not always!  But, yes, sometime we do!

    Third, your case is complicated by multiple people, places, and things!  I find this is a rather new development as well.  I feel that as we are more and more bombarded with media, stimuli, opinions, Fox News(!), and such, the harder it is to get someone to focus on us the way we want them to!  This is a 21st century challenge to spell work!  And, again, I feel like it slows spell work results down to a crawl sometimes!  We are jumping up and down with candles and incense screaming, "Hey, look over here… someone loves you!"  This rather new challenge to spell work also adds another layer to why your case is so different, though it is becoming more the norm than a case being different!

    Fourth, and as always, there is the sad truth that sometimes things just don't work out.  It isn't your fault.  It isn't our fault.  It isn't, in fact, anyone's "fault."  There are times in life when so-called failures are our destiny.  Even with our best efforts and yours, failure IS an option.  Believe me, I am all about positive thinking and believing in one's self and efforts.  But the cold hard truth is failure is always an option.  But in those cases, I often do not see it as failure.  We learned something along the way.  We grew. We became friends.  We walk away knowing that we tried our very best. Those are the things no one can take away from us.  While that may seem like hollow comfort, believe me, when you look back, even if we supposedly "failed" you will see that the path of good spell work always has a reward. 

    Still despite the idea of failure, we still have about an 87-90% success rate!  And that's an honest assessment (not one of those stupid, " we have 100% success rate" deals – believe me, no one has a 100% success rate!).  

    If you are in the category of waiting for results and feeling disheartened,  I would be willing to bet that unless you are in a very small percentage of folks, you just haven't seen your results….yet!

    Love, peace, and joy,

    Mambo Sam

    www.spellmaker.com

    Lovecandles

  • Once in a Blue Moon!

    Hello everyone,

    I am sure that most of you have seen that tonight we are having a blue moon! :-)  While there are some variations on the definition of a blue moon, this one is categorized as such due to the fact that it is the second full moon in the same month. 

    So what does this mean for us magickally?  According to moon magick beliefs, this is a great time to decide on setting new goals.  This is a time of creativity and starting new projects.  If you have going through something and want to have a fresh start, tonight is great time to put some energy towards that thought process.

    Light yourself a nice candle, put on some mood music, and write in your journal about any new projects that you would like to plan. Put some energy towards the idea that you are wanting a clean start on an old problem. Set goals for upcoming events and projects.  This is an awesome time to thing magickally, creatively, and with thoughts of letting go of past failures and looking forward to new successes.

    This is also a good time to charge up ritual objects that you might have – put them out in the moonlight! 

    If the weather holds out, charge yourself out in the moonlight, too!  Visualize the enriching rays filling you with promises of success, letting go of past failures, and sticking to new goals.

    Since we won't get another blue moon of this type until January 31, 2018, I think I will make some blue moon oil!  It's pretty easy! 

    What you need:  1 lodestone, 1 piece of iron pyrite, some blue violet leaves and whatever carrier oil you prefer.  Throw them into a mason jar, shake them up, and leave them out in the moonlight overnight. Voila! Blue moon oil charged up under the light of the blue moon.  This is an oil that can be used to consecrate objects, work with new projects, goal setting, creativity, etc.

    Have fun!

    Best regards,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield

    www.spellmaker.com

    Bluemoon

     

  • Free Classes Going Great!

    Hello everyone!

    It probably comes as no surprise to many of you that I love to teach!  At one point in time, I actually thought that my career would be that of a professor.  Life took me in a different direction, but I have had my chance at teaching many times in my life:  I have taught drama, karate, English, writing, acting, and, of course, Vodou/voodoo and other magickal subjects. 

    We have recently started up our public classes again here at www.spellmaker.com!  I am happy to be back in the teaching saddle again.  :-)  We have started out with a series of classes on getting to know and live with the Vodou spirits, the lwa, les lois, or the loa!  Class has been fun and rewarding.  It's always great to get to meet and teach both new and old friends!

    As we move along, we will be teaching many different metaphysical and occult subjects.  While Vodou/voodoo is our main focus most of the time, we will also teach witchcraft, hoodoo, root work, and other things as we continue on.

    These particular classes are completely free – all are welcome!  As we move along, many subjects will be covered.  We would love for you to join us.   Our format is different than it used to be. We used to be in a typing-only chat room.  We did have fun!  Now we have a fancy Adobe-based classroom where you can actually see me, but you remain anonymous (unless you choose otherwise).  Also, the classes are recorded in case you miss a class and don't want to be behind on the next class.  I am including a link here to the very first recorded class of this series so that you can get an idea of the class structure.

    If you desire to see the class, just click here to go to the recording.

    We do ask that you register for class if you desire to attend.  Registration is simple, free, and no one is going to use your information to try to sell you anything! 

    If you desire to register for class, just click here to register.

    I do hope that you will join us!  We have fun and you are welcome to participate as little or as much as you desire.

    Love to all,
    Mambo Samantha Corfield
    www.spellmaker.com

    Witchschool

     

     

  • My 21 Golden Rules of Unhappiness

    Greetings, friends!

    Most of the time my life revolves around helping those that are trying to find their happiness…or at least that is what I THINK I am doing!  Sometimes, though, I am pretty sure that what people are wanting to do is desperately hang on to their unhappiness; they want to wallow in it, taste it, smear it all over them.  So, I have to give those folks some time and some advice. I don't want to be unfair and only cater to the people who want to be happy!  So here it goes:

    My 21 Golden Rules of Making Sure You Remain Unhappy:

    1.  Assume the worst about everyone because, of course, you can't trust them.  They are all out to get you.  It's all about them being against you. Your perception of them can't possibly be wrong.  Stick to your conclusion that they are out to get you.

    2.  Don't talk to anyone whom you think has slighted you, insulted you, or otherwise hurt you.  Bottle that hurt up inside.  Act really strange around them and make them guess why.  For heaven's sake, don't let them know and don't ever give them a chance to explain.

    3.  Make sure everything is all about you.  Nothing anyone else is doing is important anyway, right?  Make sure all conversations revolve around you, especially when they bring up something about themselves.  "Yes, I know you are buying a new house. I wish I could buy a new house.  I would love a new house.  Oh look, I'm doing this cool thing over here. Let's talk about that."

    4.  Resent other peoples' happiness.  Hate all happy single people, couples, and families.  Resent everyone else's accomplishments.  Measure your own accomplishments up against theirs and make sure you realize that yours fall short of theirs; this offers an especially good reason to hate them and resent them.  Allow your jealousy to show in subtle ways – don't worry, they will catch on. Bonus:  If you happen to be single and looking – you can really hate on happy couples.

    5.  Don't participate in any fun activities with others.  Make sure that you sit back and don't join in any reindeer games.  Don't engage in any thing that the group is doing.  Play it cool, showing that you don't like these childish past times.  Don't offer any suggestions on what you would like to do.  Let them guess.  Spend time instead looking at your phone.  Staring off into space or being extremely interested in your fingernails works, too.  Bonus:  Sit with an uppity expression letting them know of  your disdain for their foolish attempts at having fun.  A scowl works for this purpose, too.  Eye rolls are great here, too.  Double bonus:  No smiling the entire time.

    6.  Don't join in the conversation.  Make sure that everyone around you is uncomfortable while you sit in silence.  Don't bother to learn how to have a conversation. (There are NO books that teach you how to do that, right?)  Don't ask anyone questions about themselves, their work, children, spouse, pets, background, hometown, good restaurants, movies they've seen, TV shows they watch, vacations they took, music they listen to, hobbies, or anything like that.  That's no way to start a conversation, right? Bonus: The one-word answer when they try to engage you in a conversation is awesome. Hey, they want to talk, let them do the talking, right?

    7.  Assume everyone is looking at you and judging you for your color, gender, weight, clothing, sexual orientation, make up, lack of make up, hairstyle… something.   Assuming this assures that you won't have to be friends with any those judgmental people (i.e., everyone breathing).

    8.  Ask advice from everyone, take advice from no one.  Engage them in senseless conversations about your life and your needs and your wants.  Pretend to be listening carefully to what they say.  Do the opposite of what they advise. What the hell do they know anyway?  Bonus:  The more of their time you waste asking their advice and not following it, the less time there will be to do anything meaningful with them. Double bonus:  If you accidentally take their advice and things don't work out to your satisfaction, blame them.  Triple bonus:  If they actually help you, resent that!  You didn't need their help! Why the hell are they doing nice things for  you?  Idiots.

    9.  Turn every event, family dinner, and party into a time for you to drink too much and bemoan your life to everyone.  Get a good crying jag going.  Make sure they are  good and uncomfortable before you pass out.  Bonus:  Puking anywhere where someone else has to clean it up. Double bonus:  Puking in the car of the poor sap that offered to get you home.

    10.  Tell everyone who is trying to help you:  "You don't understand.  You're life is perfect."  Make sure you do NOT listen to them when they tell you they have had hardships, sad times, struggles of their own.  They are full of crap.  You can SEE into their souls and past lives and know that their life has always been perfect and always will be.  This is also a good time to play the blame game – anyone and everyone is fair game here – blame at random for your unhappiness!  It's good for the soul to not take any responsibility for your own happiness!  Bonus:  As they struggle to understand you and think of ways to help you, debate every single suggestion they make, start out with, "You don't understand."  That is a good counter to all measures anyone might take to help you feel that they have compassion and empathy towards you. Double bonus:  Show them your utmost maturity by pointing out to them all the wonderful things in their life vs. the horrible misery that is your life.  Give examples.  Show your work.

    11.  Don't smile or talk with anyone at a gathering of any kind.  Make sure that no one knows you are there.  Enter without greeting anyone; leave without saying goodbye to anyone.  Don't engage with anyone.  This insures that everyone will NOT think of you when having their own gathering. It makes sure that no one will say, "Hey I met this great guy/gal and I think you would like them, too."  No social networking with people in order to meet more people.  My goodness, you might accidentally meet more people and they might try to get you to do fun things and meet more people and THOSE people might try to get you to do fun things and meet MORE people.  It's a vicious cycle of people wanting to engage with you and have fun.  Avoid it all costs.

    12.  Assume facts not in evidence.  Go with that little snippet of conversation you overheard. (Who needs to hear the whole story to make a judgment, right?).  Make sure you go with what you observed for 30 seconds, not what may have preceded it or happened afterwards.  30 seconds is enough for you, right?  Assume, assume, assume – it won't make an ass out of you and me – just them!  Above all, do not seek out the facts of the situation – just judge it from your limited observation of it.  That's all you need.

    13.  Don't try to understand the motivation of others.  If someone does something boneheaded, never give them another chance.  Don't ask.  Don't speak up. (Yes, we already said that before, but it so important that it needs to be reiterated.)  Stay in a huff.  Be angry.  (But, be sure to lie about being angry, hurt, etc.  The old classics work well here, "I'm fine.  Nothing's wrong.")  Don't allow anyone to soothe you or explain the reality of a situation to you.  Bonus:  Never accept their apology.  Double bonus:  Encourage them to apologize again. Ha!  Don't accept it…again.

    14.  Run away.  Don't stay and try to work it out.  Don't give anyone a chance to help you understand what is happening.  Don't speak up. (Yep, third time for that one.)  Just run away and start over and over and over and over and over.  That's fun, right? 

    15.  Judge, judge, and judge some more.  Of course, not that anyone should judge you, but it's absolutely fine for you to be Judgy McJudgerson.  It's all good. Cut those people right out of your life who do not pass muster.  Who needs them, right?

    16.  Don't. Try. Anything. Ever.

    17.  Minimize and be unhappy with your accomplishments.  Don't take any pride in what you have done.  Don't share it with anyone.  Always be dissatisfied with your lot in life and think ALL THE TIME  about what you haven't done.  Bonus:  Minimize the accomplishments of others; if you can't enjoy your own accomplishments, then certainly don't enjoy anyone else's.  Double bonus:  Getting people to listen to how awful it is that you didn't become a brain surgeon, concert pianist, trapeze artist.  They'll feel terrible for you.

    18.  Don't try to do anything to change your situation.  If you should accidentally change your situation, fall back on old habits; that will fix everything and make sure that your new situation turns into your old situation.  Ah, your comfort zone will be complete. Be very careful with this one.  Some people will actually try to help you change you situation to try to make  you feel better. Assholes.  Get away from them immediately.  Bonus: Drag them into your situation, then run away from them.  Bewildered, much? Yes, they will be.  Rub your hands together gleefully.

    19.  Drink the Hatorade.  Hate things just because your narrow little mind can only handle the most White Bread World possible.  Hate on movie stars.. because you know them so well.  Hate on the neighbors…what are they up to over there?  (But don't try to get to know them!)  Hate on the friends of your few remaining friends.  (They are terrible people.)  Hate on black, white, red, brown, yellow, and/or mixed people (your choice of hate) because they are "something."  (You know, lazy, dishonest, scary, ignorant, thugs, SOMETHING… um… different than you.)  Hate on gay people, straight people, bi people, transgender people (all weirdoes, right?).

    20.  Be afraid.

    21.  Don't understand that this list is really about how to be happy.

    So, there you have it, gentle readers! :-)  These are surefire ways to stay unhappy.  There are plenty more, but it seems that this should be enough to get you going on your road to eternal unhappiness.

    Now that you read this, now that you may have recognized yourself in a few of these (hopefully only a few!), do you really want to stay unhappy?  Really?

    Step out of your own shadow, my friends.  Happiness is something attainable.  It isn't a myth and it isn't for a privileged few.  It's for me.  It's for you.  Try it on for size!  You just might like it! Yes, you might have to work at it.  Yes,  you might have to do scary and unfamiliar things.  The benefits definitely outweigh the risks.  I promise!

    Love, light, and peace,

    Mambo Samantha Corfield

    www.spellmaker.com