Author: Khouzhan Morgan

  • Imbolc-The fire on the belly

    Greetings spellmaker readers and a very happy Imbolc to each and every one of you!!

    As we celebrate another turn in the wheel of the magical year, and prepare for the warmer, greener seasons ahead, Imbolc lends us the spark to keep moving through the coldest days. Imbolc, often referred to as Imbolg Brigantia, has sacred connections to the Ancient Celtic Goddess of hearth, home, healing and flame, Brigid, our beloved Maman Brigid, the sassy, smoking spouse of Baron Samedi in New Orleans Voudou, and St Bridget of Kildare. Indeed, honoring any and all aspects of Brigid, is appropriate during this season.

    As Imbolc is loosely translated from old Gaelic to men “fire in the belly”, it sets Mother Earth in motion once again, awakens her from her solemn winter slumber, and lights our way to see the possibilities we have for the future.

    Mambo Sam published a beautiful article on the connections between Maman Brigid, and the goddess Bridget, on her patreon, and I’ll is well worth a look.

    I, myself, as a lapsed Pagan with Catholic roots, will be placing my red scarf outside tonight to encourage the blessings of Bridget on that powerful healing talisman, and lighting a candle in my cauldron to symbolically warm my home and my heart for all the manifesting I hope for in the coming spring and summertime.

    I wish you all a blessed full moon this evening, a blessed Imbolc, and a beautiful journey on your magical paths!! ✨️

  • Fall into the magic of letting go

    Hello spellmaker readers! With the Autumnal equinox granting us equal parts day and night, and ushering us into the dark half of the year, my thoughts have turned to that catchphrase we hear often now days “fall shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”

    I read once that instead of spring cleaning, if you are only going to deep clean your space once a year, it should be in the Autumn. Here in the northeast United States, that makes lots of sense. After all of our hayrides, bonfires, haunted houses, and other fall merriments are done, we are going to cozy up for the long cold winter. Most of our time will be spent inside, and in the age of covid, and in cold and flu season- well, giving your space some well deserved attention just makes good sense!

    I know, I know-cleaning is a drag!! But what are some things you can do to take some baby steps towards “fall cleanup?”

    First and foremost- clear the clutter!! We all hang onto clothes that used to fit, projects we don’t have time to get to, or things we hope to fix or fix up with the best of intentions!! But really, if you find yourself getting annoyed at having to step around certain things that are of no use to you, or you’re tired of your closet’s contents attacking you every time you dare to open the door, it may be time to make some changes. One Feng shui principle states that you only need to get rid of 9 items to change your “chi”, or life energy. If you have kids, you could make it a game. Use a timer for 9 minutes to gather 9 things each to donate to charity. After all, if you want new things to grow in your life, take a tip from mother nature in the fall, and shed some of the old!

    Focus, focus, focus: Attempting to clean the entire house from top to bottom in 4 hours on a Saturday is virtually impossible for most people. Choose an especially cluttered or dirty area, such as one chest of drawers the refridgerator, or even your purse or work bag- and make it sparkle. Don’t stop until you’re finished with that one task, one room, one closet- and you will have the satisfaction of a job well done and absolutely completed!

    Make doing the mundane more magical: Put on some tunes, light and lovely candle, put a few drops of your favorite magical oil into your cleaning solution and go to work! Make a yucky chore more pleasant, and it really helps it be, well, not as yucky!! You may feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in your endeavor!

    Be realistic and be kind to yourself: Ok, maybe today you got done just the counters or just the nightstand. Celebrate that win! The more you clear your clutter, you clear your spirit, and the more you will want to do. Start small if you’re not feeling it and every time you do some cleaning, you will feel more organized,calm, and be more ready for the good stuff to come your way!

    Speaking of good stuff coming your way, this week was our monthly spellmaker ritual. This month, we celebrated our beloved Marie Laveau, who was herself a September birthday girl. Our Marie Laveau house blessing kit is an awesome way to finish your “fall cleaning” by chasing all the stale old energy out and filling your living space with all the magical and marvelous energy that the mysterious voodoo queen of New Orleans can bring your way!!

    In closing, a Merry Mabon to each of you as we journey toward the Halloween and Fet Ghede celebrations to come! My wish for you all is an autumn season filled with hopefulness, happiness and health!

    “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”~Albert Camus

    In Service,

    Khouzhan Morgan

  • Champagne Problems

    Champagne Problems

    A How-To Guide to making a service to Erzulie Freda, spirit of love, romance and luxury on a budget

    St. Valentine's day is upon us and love is everywhere in the air. In the spellmaker family, February is our honorary month of the voodoo spirit who presides over love-Erzulie Freda.

    Freda is known the world over for being served in an elaborate manner. She adores gold jewelry, pink roses, and champagne- especially pink champagne above all! But can you make an effective service to this lovely lady if you just don’t have much to spend? The answer is a resounding YES!!

    Erzulie embodies all the things we associate with romance. Floral perfumes in delicate glass bottles, delicate sweets such as chocolates and iced wedding cakes, fragrant roses, heart symbols and the colors pink and gold.

    But along with being the epitome of feminine charm and good manners, Freda is above all else, a very gracious spirit who understands the limitations we face in this mortal realm.

    Sincerity and attention to detail are the most important things to focus on when serving her. Below you will find a list of alternatives to her favorite things that will still be pleasing to our beloved Freda- and will no doubt get you in her dreamy, romantic state of mind when you make a service to her!

    Pink roses- Erzulie Freda is most often served with these beautiful blooms BUT any flowers are pleasing to her! Focusing on the color pink and also white (as she is a rada, or cool spirit as we say in voodoo), try presenting her with carnations, lilies, daisies or even white dandelions. If you live in a cold climate where these flowers do not grow this time of year, you can use beautiful faux roses, or even just a single real bloom in a pretty bud vase, drinking glass, or jar. Remember the details-have some scraps of gold ribbon left over from the holidays? Use it to tie the neck of the container or to tie the blooms together! Pink ribbon or yarn would also work!

    Champagne- There are many alternatives to this. For a non alcoholic choice you could use any sparking beverage- ginger ale, clear sodas-the cherry and cranberry flavored clear soft drinks are tinted a really pretty shade of pale pink so that’s an added bonus! Use a champagne flute if you have it, but if not, any clean glass container will do.

    Good offerings- Erzulie loves sweets and especially luxurious chocolate! But no need to break the bank on Godiva chocolates! A few Hersheys kisses (they are kisses after all), some conversation hearts, or even a cupcake or cookie with white frosting all make a wonderful offering to Freda!

    Fans- Freda has a coquettishly energy that just screams for a pretty fan so she can flutter it demurely and keep herself cool. I have seen some really beautiful fans at places like the dollar store, but a pretty paper fan (even one you make yourself from paper) would be a lovely gift to her. And again, remember beautiful details- some pink or gold glitter, a bit of lace glued to the edge, or a drawing of a pink flFredaon the fan are all things that delight Erzulie Freda.

    Embroidery, lace, silk and satin items, such as a handkerchief, altar cloth, or used as a coaster for her water are all details you can include in a service to our lovely lwa of love and romance.

    Gold jewelry- Even just gold plated jewelry, especially with heart motifs, is a great way to show Erzulie your appreciation for her guidance in your life.

    Freda also loves the French language, so little items with French expressions, can be used on an altar space for her.

    The sky truly is the limit when you allow yourself to venture into the perfumed pink mist and enter Freda’s mystic realm. All things feminine and delicate appeal to her, such as powders, cosmetics, floral perfumes and body sprays creams and lotions. Songs about love and romance in all forms are also just a beautiful way to honor her, whether you sing them or play them from your phone or computer.

    Most of all, I hope you make this service knowing that sincerity, pureness of intention, and love are the things Erzulie Freda values most. It really does not matter if you can spend much money on items for Freda! Her most prized treasures are the things that cannot be bought, but are felt with the heart.

    In Service

    Khouzhan Morgan

     

     

  • The Magic of the Corn Dolly

       The Magic of the Corn Dolly

    As the sunny days of summer begin to grow shorter, our Mother Earth blesses us with the gifts of the harvest season. Her gardens and fields have again given us sustenance, and soon it will be time for the earth to rest under the snowy blanket of winter.

     Ancient peoples, who held mankind’s connection to nature very near and dear, would craft an image of the Goddess using the very materials she so lovingly provided for them. Between the first harvest of grain in August and the last harvest in October, effigies were created to nurture and house the precious spirit of the earth. And so, by keeping this image of Mother Nature safe and sound inside the home during the renewing slumber of wintertime, her spirit was honored and preserved for the next growing season.

    I began making corn dollies for some friends and family last year and they were a big hit!! I found that making them took a bit of practice, but once I got the hang of it, it was super fun and really helped me feel connected to the changing of the seasons. For people that don’t have a garden, a back yard will do, or even a flower box or potted plant. Of course if you know anything about the practice of voodoo, them you know I’m no stranger to burying the remnants of magical workings in the ground.

    Honestly, any park, patch of wooded area or-and you knew I was gonna say it-cemetary- is fair game when I’m burying something of the magical sort. For those naysayers who might think the cemetary is not a good place to bury a corn dolly because that’s where deceased people are buried, remember that our souls are eternal, and death is just a path we take at the end of life on the mortal plane. The journey is not over, just the part that requires our human bodies is ended. As long as you are respectful and clean up after yourself, not leaving plastic bags, water bottles etc on the ground, burying an offering or spellwork feels very natural and finite. You are leaving that buried item in the ground to kind of “transfer” the work to the Universe. That’s just my 2 cents on the matter, anyway!!

    So, if you’re looking for a way to connect with the transition from summer to fall, and a witchy little crafty thing to do, even with little ones, I’d highly recommend getting some corn husks and twine and making a corn dolly or two!!

    In Service,

    Khouzhan Morgan

     

     

     

  • The Lions Gate and the power of 8

    08/08 and the Lion's Gate

    So what is this I’m hearing about August 8th being the lions gate portal?

    For several years I have been hearing about sending out manifestation energy on 08/08. Reportedly the year 2024 is said to be an even luckier lions gate date because 2024 adds up to the number 8.

    I’ve seen posts on social media explaining how to send our desires out to the universe in order to capitalize on the extra boost of manifestation that comes with the lions gate portal being open and willing to help us…

    It got me thinking, because one such ritual sounded a whole lot like what I do when I work with my cosmic voodoo healing egg and my cosmic voodoo money egg.

    So, I’m gonna give that a go on this very auspicious date and see if I can’t harness some of this lion’s gate mojo. Any work we are doing whether it be petitioning with a St Anthony card, working a 9 day spell kit, doll or mojo bag, could certainly use a boost anytime. So if you’re out there reading this, I hope you’ll give it a shot and reap the benefits ot the universe aligning to help grant our hearts fondest wishes. If the universe is willing to work along with our wonderful voodoo spirits, I say, let’s harness that energy and use it in good health!!

    In Service

    Khouzhan Morgan

     

  • 9 Facts You Should Know About Papa Legba

    9 Facts you should know about Papa Alegba- by Khouzhan Morgan

    Hello dear readers!! Welcome to the month of June, or what we in the Spellmaker family call “Papa Legba month!!”

    As summer begins in full swing, we celebrate 3 days in June to honor our beloved Papa Alegba. If you are not familiar with Papa, well-its time you got to know him!

    1. Papa is a gentle soul, yet enormously powerful, and making a service to him is quite simple!! Just a glass of water and a white candle can be used. Papa also loves coffee, coconut anything, candy (the more kid friendly, the better) and pennies!!

    2. Papa’s number is three, so using offerings in sets of three is especially pleasing to him!!

    3. Papa speaks all languages and can help your communication to get through clearly. Whether that communication is with your significant other, your work colleagues or anyone else you encounter, Papa can help them understand what you are saying to them!

    4. Papa Alegba is wonderful at helping us get back things that were lost- your love, your pet, or even your car keys!!

    5. Speaking of keys, Papa loves them!! He also loves canes, crutches, and toys.

    6. Papa’s traditional day is Monday, but you can make service to him any day of the week!!

    7. Papa is great at helping you make a choice or a decision. He is the spirit of the Crossroads and he will help guide your way.

    8. Papa Alegba is called upon at the beginning of every voodoo service to “open the gate” so we can speak to the other lwa, and he is thanked at the end of the service and asked to close the gate to the spirit realm.

    9. Papa, above all, LOVES to help. He is big, bright and benevolent-so give Papa a shout out today!! To see Papas page for products and even more information on him click here: https://www.spellmaker.com/legba.htm

     

     

  • Vegging with Voodoo Spirits

    Hi there! It's been a while since I put pen to paper, (or put my hands to the keyboard, as it were) so I thought I would write about something that has come up with some of our dear clients lately. Namely, what kind of offerings to give to our beloved voodoo spirits. Let me start off by saying that summer time is my absolute favorite season to make services to Les Lois. Here in rural Pennsylvania we are awash in farm fresh fruits, veggies, herbs and flowers. The bevy of delicious produce makes it that much more fun for me to make services to all of the wonderful voodoo spirits who help us in the spellmaker house. The abundance of inexpensive foods help keep my wallet and my spirit really happy 

    Since we are in the beautiful month of June and it is Papa’s month I will start with our dear Papa Alegba. Papa loves coffee, coconut anything, red beans and rice, and candy. Classic penny candies like Swedish fish and pixie sticks are a fun way to honor Papa!!

    How about making a service to our lovely pink lady- the inimitable Erzulie Freda? She loves champagne-especially pink champagne. A fruity wine cooler is a delicious warm weather alternative. Freda also loves chocolates, delicate desserts trimmed in white or pink frosting and flowers. Pink or white roses are a favorite but any blooms in a pretty vase, jar or glass are a wonderful offering for her!

    Want to experience the wise healing guidance of Damballah? Use basic kitchen staples like a whole white egg in the shell or a small mound of white flour. Catch a bit of rain water in a bowl for his wife Ayida Wedo and she will love you for it!!

    General Ogoun is a fan of dark rum, hot peppers, and mangoes. Offer him a good cigar if you’re so inclined. I always imagine that General Ogoun would love holding court in a big red leather chair in a Cigar Bar, strategizing and telling war stories!! And ladies, don’t be intimidated by all that macho man energy- Ogoun loves to help out a damsel in distress!!

    LaSirene and Capitan Agwe assist us from the depths of their ocean kingdom and love white puddings, melons-especially honeydew and sweets that resemble seafaring shades like turquoise, teal and white. Blue or green jello with whipped topping is a sweet way to ask this voodoo power couple to bless you with some financial gains. After all, La Sirene and Agwe preside over the riches of the sea!!

    And I cannot forget the mischievous, mysterious, marvelous Baron Samedi And Maman Brigitte. The First Lord and Lady of the cemetary and keepers of our ancestral spirits love coffee, rum and hot peppers. Baron and Maman hold the wisdom of the ages and love to hand out a healthy dose of sage advice while simultaneously causing a bit of a ruckus!!

    So, if you are curious about making some voodoo service this summer, I hope this helps encourage you to have lots of fun with the process!! Set up a little table for your honored guest to just come and sit for a spell. Just remember your offering of cool clean water (always a must) and some of Mother Nature’s bountiful harvest and you can make some truly magical memories this summer!!

     

     

  • Imbolc Candle Blessing for you!

    Imbolccandleprayer

  • Fire in the Belly – Talk of Imbolc… and thriftiness?? By: Khouzhan Morgan

    Imbolc

    Fire in the Belly

    Talk of Imbolc… and thriftiness??

    By: Khouzhan Morgan

    Hello readers and welcome! One of the 8 traditional Pagan sabbats of the year is almost upon us and during my reading in preparation to write for you fine folks I stumbled upon the most intriguing concept for Imbolc, which will be upon us on February 2nd-the concept of thriftiness!

    Now stay with me…as we are just coming off of our latest fireside chat with our beloved Mambo Sam where the focus was letting go of a whole lot of icky stuff like resentments, insecurities and old ideas that no longer serve us, I thought the topic of household thriftiness felt like a great closer-after all, rearranging some furniture or organizing the closets helps clear our minds and can help give us a happier healthier environment to partner with our new freedom from the shackles of negativity!

    Minimalism is all the rage these days, but the concept is really not new. Any of us with depression era grandparents can attest that there was a time when people used simply whatever they had on hand for whatever they needed. Coffee cans were used to hold old screws and buttons “just in case” we needed them, old blankets were cut into quilting squares, clothing patches or cleaning rags, and any jar, carton or container might be used to hold leftovers in the refrigerator.

    After you do some housecleaning on your mind, body and spirit, it is a great idea to use this time indoors to inventory your immediate environment.

    Sure, it’s great to purge and give some unused clothes, household items, etc. to charity so they can be a blessing for someone else but how can we make the most of what we keep?

    Imbolc loosely translates as “fire in the belly” or the place on your body where the most creative chakra  resides-the sacral or orange hued chakra. This chakra is strengthened by allowing our self expression to run free and by doing things that give us pleasure.  And what is more fun than to channel your inner domestic Goddess (or God, respectively) than to create something fun and beautiful?

    Maybe it is using old teacups and bowls to start seedlings to plant later in the spring, or to feed your cat, Whiskers.  Maybe it involves cleaning and rearranging a shelf to be a little altar space to a lwa you feel connected to, a cherished ancestor, or for a meditation place. Old mirrors, picture frames or small tables are great projects to repaint or bedazzle. And speaking of bedazzling-why not use some old costume jewelry to make some new and interesting creations?

    Do you have a really cool candle you’ve been saving to burn? Build a little sacred space around the theme of that candle and spark it up! I know-some will say you are waiting for a special occasion. But if the past 2 years have taught us anything, perhaps the takeaway can be that the here and now is a special occasion!

    Maybe you have some old oils or incense that have been tossed in a drawer or closet? Bust them out and use them now! Oils can be worn as a perfume (with a bonus of course) , used in your bath or shower or to dress candles or even used in a simmer pot to fill your home with a magical scent that is sure to bless your abode with good mojo! Incense can be burned to help foster a calm environment or help you keep a goal in mind to make change as we enter this first sabbat of the awakening springtime. Chango’s Mystic Chrysalis incense is a great choice to use the creative force of fire to transform your wintertime plans into burgeoning reality!

    Each January, a friend of mine takes the decorations off of her tabletop Christmas tree, keeping the lights intact, and fills that tree with little pink and red  hearts and upcycled valentines cards – essentially rebranding it a St. Valentine’s tree! Our inimitable spirit of love, Erzulie Freda would surely approve! 😉

     If you have bought products in the past and not used them, use them now! Mambo Sam has a wonderful and easy  reconsecration ritual for spell kits and products that have been unused for more than a year. Reconsecration is not mandatory but it can really punch up the potency of your items.

    Of course it is always a great time to go with the Imbolc theme of emerging new born from the blanket of cold and snow with some  figure candles or 7 knob wishing candles. After all- the full name of the day is Imbolc Brigantia and honors St. Brigid’s sacred flame.

    Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes of the old to burn as bright as the sun, now is the time to utilize what you have and make it into a space, an experience or a thing of beauty that stokes your inner fire so you can let your little light shine!

    We love to see your awesome ideas and creativity at work and you can send pictures to customerservice@spellmaker.com.

    “From ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadow shall spring. “-JRR Tolkien; The Lord of the Rings

    Love, 

    Khouzhan Morgan

  • Stirring up Springtime! Blessed Imbolc!

    Stirring up Springtime!

    Dreamstime_l_144122705

    Hi there Spellmaker readers and welcome to Imbolc season!

    In the pagan journey of the year, as the days grow longer at a glacial pace, we invite you to celebrate Imbolc Brigantia. The first of the spring festivals reminds us that after winter's period of preparation, all that is green and good in this world will return in just a little while. In JRR Tolkien's elven calendar, which had six seasons, this time of year between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was known as the season of “stirring”.

    All those little seeds that have been germinating in the dark ground begin to awaken now.

    In modern day applications, I feel like these fits right in with making new goals at the new year. Ideas both large and small come to us, and now is the time to get those things underway.

    It may be a promise you made to yourself to journal, or learn a new skill, or take up a new hobby. It may be to start working on putting away some savings, bring new love into your life, or even to break a bad habit.

    Whatever your personal goals are, the energy all around us right now favors taking the first step.

    Many of our clients who have been with us for years likely know that we carry a variety of spell kits that can place you firmly on the path to whatever aims your sweet little heart may desire.

    Our customer service desk and caseworkers are available to help you with product recommendations to light up (in the grand tradition of St. Bridget’s sacred flame) your world!

    My wish for this season is that you are blessed with health, happiness and boundless inspiration!

    “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”~Lao Tzu

    In Service,

    Khouzhan Morgan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *