Wishing all of you a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving day.
Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Hey all!
I have been working with a new tarot spread for a little while now and I am ready to start offering it as an option along with the relationship readings and celtic cross that I am currently offering.
For several months now, I have been trying to find a way to help clients focus on the future more positively, to look at the bigger picture of their lives and I believe this spread will help me do that.
If anyone is interested in trying out the Positive Outlook Spread, please let me know. My cards are rarin’ to go!
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
Hey there!
It’s that time of year again…where we all need to keep up with our regular, already hectic schedule, and everything that comes with the Holidays as well. Do you find yourself stressed planning your thanksgiving feast? Would you like to find out how you can enjoy a more relaxed, fun time and feel the true spirit of this yearly event? Then read this article below for some suggestions of how you can create a day of thanksgiving instead of stress and exhaustion.
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
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I personally would rather be filled with joy and gratitude instead of just stuffed with food on this joyous occasion. After all, the essence of the holiday is to acknowledge and celebrate all the positive things in your life. It is a time that reminds us to be grateful and appreciate everything and everyone, including ourselves. Is that the experience you have had or are planning?
To the contrary, I was a guest at a family Thanksgiving that I felt was missing the true spirit of the holiday. Four stressed women were rushing around the kitchen preparing the many traditional courses. They were getting ready to serve enough for 20 people when only 10 were present. Can you relate to that?
After at least two days of preparation, we all finally sat down by the decorative table filled with the colorful foods. Immediately the adults and children started to stuff their plates and themselves of all that would fit on them. It seemed like a movie on fast forward. In no time, the meal was over and the cleaning process began. Some guests went straight to the television.
When everyone was ready, a violent rented movie was the entertainment for the night. I quickly retreated to the bedroom to avoid the scary music and abusive actions.
Needless to say, I left feeling a strange sensation of being physically full, but emotionally and spiritually empty. I decided at that point that I would only create or attend holistic thanksgivings.
The next year I invited people who I knew were alone and did not have a place to go on this joyous holiday. I asked the guests to bring a traditional dish so that no one, especially me, would have to slave in the kitchen for days.
Before we consumed the delicious looking food, I suggested that everyone share what they were thankful for. People expressed gratitude for their health, relationships, children, homes, abundance, and jobs. Others were grateful for their opportunities to make a difference in this world.
Of course, we blessed the food and all the people who made it possible for us to have the provisions available on the table. Finally, we began to slowly enjoy the color, taste, and texture of the different food offerings.
After dinning, we gathered in the living room to share more of our blessings and play some fun, group games. Charades is always a great choice. Hours later, we all left filled with food, and also satisfied emotionally and spiritually because we experienced the essence of Thanksgiving.
On other occasions, I invited friends over for a Day After Thanksgiving Potluck. I asked people to just bring their leftovers, and I made sure that I had a plain cake and lots of candles ready.
We all gathered in the living room where I had placed glowing candles on the coffee table next to the cake. To create a reverent mood, I turned off the ceiling lights. Then I offered everyone the opportunity to come up to the table one at a time in silence, light a candle, place it on the cake, and then share with the group what they were thankful for. The rest of us remained quiet and just listened. There was no discussion, just heartfelt sharing.
To demonstrate the gratitude ritual, I lit a candle, put it on the cake, and told them how thankful I was that everyone was here tonight to share their food, love, joy, and gratitude. I also included some personal appreciations. When the next person was ready, they quietly came up and did the same.
The room was filled with reverence, peace, love, and joy. After everyone had the opportunity to participate, we did a lot of hugging, and went into the kitchen to also enjoy the physical nurturing.
The guests took part in the cleaning up and when they all left, I felt so fulfilled. The gratitude gauge was very high. I felt satisfied that I had created exactly what I wanted, a holistic, satisfying Thanksgiving. I was fed spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. That is a delicious feeling you have to experience to know. Happy Thanksgiving!
Copyright 2007 by Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, Marriage, Family Therapist.
Hey There!
This article is about intention and how very important it is in *everything* in our lives (Spellwork is included in there, tho this article doesnt address that directly). Its a short article, but really clear and I wanted to pass it along to you all. Enjoy!
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
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Universal Laws of Attraction by Jan Engels Smith
Change occurs when energy shifts. To understand change, one needs to understand the dynamics of energy. Everything emanates energy—animate beings, physical objects, even thoughts and feelings—and these energy "fields" impact and alter all they touch.
If we are to have control over the changes in our lives, we must also understand the importance of thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and feelings as energy. Only when we understand and can apply the following basic laws of the universe will we be able to consciously affect the change process:
1. Energy follows intention.
2. Whatever you add energy to multiplies.
3. Thought followed by word and action equals form.
4. What you believe becomes.
These laws apply to all of life and are fundamental in understanding how to work with energy in order to create. Healing, both of self and others, is possible by developing skills in working with these laws. Enlightenment requires this understanding.
People with spiritual power have learned how to work with energy by following the guidelines of these laws. They can direct energy with intention and trust that the desired outcome will materialize. They are not victims of other people or situations because they know how energy works and they apply this knowledge to their lives.
Energy Follows Intention
What is intention? It is simply what you intend to happen. If your intention is followed with an action that supports your intention, you will experience quick results. You will also feel good and harmonious in the process. It is as if all energy flows in the same direction. For example, let’s say that your intention is to work on your marriage by being more attentive to your partner. If your action is to start a productive conversation, give a foot rub, or make a phone call during the day, the desired outcome of improving your marriage has a high probability of occurring. If your intention is to improve your marriage, but you do extremely inconsiderate things to your partner, the energy of your action is in opposition to your intention. This opposite flow of energies will cause much friction, anxiety, and stress.
When both the intention and action flow in the same direction, positive outcome is enhanced. But when intention and action flow in opposite directions, negative outcome is more likely.
Conflicting energy signals will cause frustration, stress, and anxiety. Opposite directional forces between intention and action remind me of the opposite motions of the earth’s plates at the San Andreas Fault line. As the plates move against each other, they create tremendous stress and, ultimately, result in an earthquake. Just as the spirits always tell me, "Learn from nature!"
Use this energy illustration as a mental cue for anything you are attempting to change in your life. Write down your intention, and then look at the actions you follow it with. Are they flowing together or in opposite directions? Many people give lip service to wanting to create change or healing in their lives, but their actions do not match their intention. They often become frustrated with the process of change, feeling like they have failed again when, in truth, their actions are not aligned with their intentions. Either the action needs to change or the intention needs to change. Each one can correct either variable.
Jan Engels-Smith promotes self-healing, empowerment, better communities, a healthy world and conducts workshops in shamanism & journeying.
Hey!
I have got to share this Rum Cake recipe with you! It is sooooooooo easy (and tasty, too!)
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1 package yellow cake mix
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup rum
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 cup chopped pecans
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Steps:
1. grease and flour a bundt cake pan
2. preheat oven to 325 degrees F
3. mix wet ingredients in a bowl
4. add in cake mix and pudding mix
5. mix well
6. sprinkle about half the chopped pecans in the bundt pan
7. pour in half the batter
8. sprinkle the rest of the pecans
9. pour in rest of batter
10. bake 40-50 minutes until done
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Now, if you are serving this to real live people, you can mix up a nice little glaze of melted butter, sugar and rum. If you are serving this up at a Cocktail Hour or as an offering of some sort, then you might want to do what I do and cut to the chase and just pour straight rum on the cake. (We all know who loves caked soaked with rum 🙂 )
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This really is easy! If you give it a try, post a comment below and let me know how it went!
~
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
White Candle Magick
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White candles have many uses – use them to heal (physical or emotional illness), for dispelling negativity, to gain spirituality, for protection, or to enhance any Magical Powers.
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Basically, white is for healing – healing any hurt you or your target might have which makes them afraid to be in another relationship, healing any fear they have of being in a relationship, healing and removing the negativity inside them. A very thorough approach to healing with white candle magick is to use the “Mind Body Spirit” approach, in which each level is addressed with a candle of its own. This approach can take a little time to complete, but it is very very effective.
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You can also use white candles for enhancing your own magical powers, for any spiritual work or for general protection. For protection for yourself or another, you might want to consider pairing the candle magick session with the Cosmic Voodoo Protection Gris Gris Bag or Protection Charms for an added boost!
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A really underused but handy candle to keep on your shelf is a white seven knob candle. A Seven Knob candle is just that – a candle with carved “knobs” that is often used in Wish Magic. Each knob can be used for a separate or different wish! (or, if you want, you can use each knob for the same wish) BUT – using each knob for a different wish is what makes this candle so handy. As all you veteran spellcasters know, usually the petition for a candle is kept the same for the whole use of the candle… i.e one candle = one request/petition. With the seven knob candle, you get 7 different wishes if you want! So, no need to commit a full white female image candle to Aunt Sally who is having a bunion removed and you want to send her a just little healing energy; You can just use one knob on the white seven knob candle. Has you boss been a crab and you want to help lighten his mood a little – use one knob on the white seven knob candle. You get the picture. It’s a nifty candle to keep on hand!
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White Image candles can be used in pairs as well. They are especially great at healing and releasing negativity in a relationship. If you are having tension or strain in a relationship with a friend or co-worker that you would like to help clear up magickally, take one image candle that would represent you and one white image candle of the appropriate sex that would represent your friend/co-worker. Use the candles as per the instructions, except have them facing each other. While doing the candle session, ask for healing and release of (fill in the blank for your situation) and replace the ickiness with (again, fill in the blank appropriately). I have even done this with THREE candles, when I was having difficulty with a pair of friends and it worked very very well for me.
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Don’t forget, you can always add a few drops of Abre Camino Oil into the Annointing Oil that comes with the White Candle Magick kits when doing healing work!
~
Light and Love,
Sister Bridget
Hey All,
Alot of folks have been writing me since the convention asking me what a JuJu is and what it looks like. A JuJu is the first initiatory rattle that is accepted by the initiate.
MaPere hand made the JuJus (mine and Sister Candi’s) The part that makes the noise is comprised of JuJu beans (hence the name) strung into one end of a piece of bamboo. MaMere has blessed and protected the JuJus for us.
Light and Love
At: http://www.spellmaker.com/potion9.htm
Hello All!
If you missed making Love Potion #9 on September 9th – you are in luck! You dont have to wait until next fall to make a batch! There are a couple of alternatives, one of which is 11/11. If you do one of the alternatives, you have to up or down the ingredients appropriately. For instance, if you do it 11/11
at 11:00 a.m. – then you have to use 11 of each of the ingredients, say the incantation 11 times, stir the ingredients 11 times…. well, you get the picture 🙂
Good Luck!
Love Potion #9
* 9 oz. sweet red wine (or use cherry soda, cherry Kool-Aid or cherry juice for non-alcoholics)
* 9 basil leaves
* 9 red rose petals
* 9 cloves
* 9 apple seeds
* 9 drops vanilla extract
* 9 drops strawberry juice
* 9 drops apple juice
* 1 ginseng root, cut into 9 equal pieces (or use 3 powdered ginseng capsules)
You also need:
* 9 pink votive candles
* Cheesecloth
* Wooden Spoon
* airtight contaner to hold the potion (big enough for at least 10oz fluid)
By the light of 9 pink votive candles, put these nine
ingredients into a cauldron on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the
ninth month of the year. Stir the potion nine times with a wooden spoon,
each time reciting the following magickal incantation:
LET THE ONE WHO DRINKS THIS WINE
SHOWER ME WITH LOVE DIVINE.
SWEET LOVE POTION NUMBER NINE
MAKE HIS/HER LOVE FOREVER MINE.
Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and let it
simmer for nine minutes. Remove the cauldron from the heat and allow the
potion to cool off. Blow nine times upon the potion, bless it in the names of
The nine love goddesses: Inanna, Ishtar, Astarte, Hathor, Nephthys,
Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Arianrhod.
And then strain it through a cheesecloth into a clean container.
Cover and refrigerate it untill you are ready to serve it to the man
or woman from whom you desire love and affection.
**(Do not allow anyone other than your beloved to look at, touch, or drink
the love potion.)
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A word of warning: This potion is extremely potent and should be used
with caution. Its results have been reported to be very intense, long-
lasting, and often difficult to control or reverse. So please be absolutely
sure before you give it to an intended lover that he or she is the right
one for you and vice versa.
WARNING: Webmistress accepts no responsibility for effects or
consequences of casting spells found on this Website. Cast spells responsibly.
Q&A on Love Potion #9
This potion keeps fairly well – up to a year covered tightly and refrigerated.
Yes, you light nine (or eleven) candles even though it is daytime.
Just about every grocery store has ginseng root and cheescloth.
Yes, the person has to drink it, putting it on door handles and such
is useless.
Yes, it can be mixed with something else to drink – such as wine or
soft drinks – just use a few drops.
At: http://www.spellmaker.com/potion9.htm
Hey there!
It was so awesome to be with you all during the Fet Ghede ritual last night. I have more to write on that later, but now, I have got to tell you about my experience with the Baron’s Purple Bath last night.
First, let me just say that it really, truly is PURPLE!!!!! I dont know how MaMere does it, some ancient voodoo secret or something, but the whole tub was full of incredibly smelling, combination of herbs that make the water a very lovely shade of purple. Yes, then the scent. Incredible! Sweet, warm, wonderful. I couldnt stop inhaling the smell of the wet herbs as I held them in my hands. I really had to force myself to get out of the tub at 2 am when the water was cold and my fingers were pruning.
I awoke this morning feeling lighter in my spirit. I have an issue with my neck and some bad discs, and I spent quite a while in the bath holding the herbs to my neck and shoulder. I also felt guided to hold the herbs over my heart and forehead for a little while.
Things that the bath can be used for are (from Spellmaker.com) :
· To renew life – start over, start a new project after failing at another, etc.
· To resurrect something that you have lost – a relationship, a job, etc. – something that you have lost all hope of regaining. (And there is no guarantee that you will get it back, but this is the premiere way to ASK!)
· To, for once and for all, put something in the past (bury it) never to bother you again.
· To strengthen your resolve to see something to its conclusion.
· To remove negative influences of your past and allow you to move into the future. (This is a little bit different than the white bath – it is specifically for removing traumas and negativities that are stopping your progress in a particular area. In essence, sort of the same thing but a different approach to it.)
· Healing of physical maladies and pains. (Not a substitute for medical care – EVER.)
· To celebrate Fet Ghede and honor The Baron and Maman Brigitte.
· To enhance magickal powers and psychic powers.
As I was re-cleaning the bathtub again this morning (and pulling some remaining herbs from the shower curtain and also out of my hair, I took that as an opportunity to reinforce what it was I asked for in the bath again…. to bury and let go forever some awful baggage from the past, and to help me have the best year of my life ever!
Try the bath! Its simply incredible. Thats the only way I can describe it 🙂
If you have tried the Bath , I invite you to post your comments below.
Hope you all enjoyed the Fet Ghede Celebration! I wish you all the greatest year to come.
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
Hi All,
I came across this article andI really want to pass it along. It struck home on so many levels, and really has a way of putting things in perspective.
Light and Love
Bridget
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Contact Charlie at seishin@seishindo.org.
