• Earth Hour is Coming! 8p-9pm March 29, 2008

    Our environment is so important! Join in this year’s EARTH HOUR event to help bring awareness about global climate change. Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund.

    Turn your lights out for one hour on March 29th from 8-9pm.


    Earth Hour: March 29, 2008
    8 – 9 PM

    – Cities
    around the world will join together in literally turning off the lights
    for one hour to offer leadership and symbolize their commitment to
    finding climate change solutions.
    – Lights will be turned off at iconic buildings and national landmarks from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

    – Local businesses and restaurants will also be asked to turn off their lights.


    People at home can take advantage of the hour by replacing their
    standard light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

    I hope some of you join in, and share how you celebrated in the comments here 😉

    Light and Love,

    Sister Bridget


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  • If you need some ideas, click here. Also…..
  • You don’t have to sit alone in the dark.
    Talking about protecting the planet for future generations can make for
    a very pleasant evening. Couple your conversation with some organic
    chocolate (dark, of course!) and make Earth Hour a night to remember.
  • Earth Hour is on a Saturday night.
    If the weather’s good, try a picnic under the stars. Ask your favorite
    restaurant or bar to dim their lights and participate in Earth Hour.
    And if you’ll be at work, take a look at our tips for businesses and
    restaurants.
  • Plan a get-dark party for Earth Hour.
    The younger crowd can host a slumber party complete with scary stories,
    hold an acoustical jam session or bring friends together to do some
    dancing in the dark. Don’t worry about decorations–it will be dark!
  • Check in with a local astronomy club about star gazing events. The night sky provides its own light show–and here’s your chance to take a break and soak up the view.
  • You can still text in the dark.
    Make a list of all the ways you are going to reduce your energy
    consumption: unplug unused appliances; change to compact fluorescent
    bulbs; properly inflate tires; adjust your thermostat. Text your list
    to others and challenge them to make their own lists. Check other lists
    for ideas you may have forgotten.
  • New Orleans is Still in Need

    Hello everyone!

    As my previous post states, today is the traditional St. Joseph’s Day.  One important tradition of this day is helping the poor and less fortunate.  While there are obviously poor and less fortunate everywhere, New Orleans is still in dire need.   One of my favorites is listed below – this organization has done so much to help rebuild New Orleans – they use their donations in many diverse ways.

    Renew New Orleans Foundation

    To give a more traditional food offering on this day, please give to

    Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans

    This food bank was established in the 1980’s and has been feeding the hungry of New Orleans since then.  Obviously, they have been strained since Hurricane Katrina!

    Thank you!  Love, Mambo Sam

  • St. Joseph and Papa Loko

    Papaloko  Greetings, everyone!  Right on the heels of St. Patrick’s Day is a day that doesn’t receive quite as much recognition in most circles!  It is St. Joseph’s Day and it is always celebrated on March 19. 

    In Vodou/Voodoo, St. Joseph is syncretized with the powerful and wise lwa Papa Loko.  Papa Loko is the giver of the asson (sacred rattle used by Mambos and Houngans) in the ritual of initiation.   Papa Loko is considered the father of all Vodou houses and is known to be the first Houngan.

    Papa Loko is also a healer and often gives herbal cures and medicinal root work knowledge to Houngans and Mambos.  This knowledge, especially in Haiti is used to help the Mambo or Houngan to offer medical help to members of the house.  Of course this practice isn’t as widespread in the United States, but in Haiti, the head of a Vodou house often turns to Papa Loko to cure both serious and simple illnesses.

    St_joseph_alter_3 Of all the Saint syncretizations, I think that the altars built to St. Joseph most closely resemble Vodou!  As you can see from this picture, the altars are extremely elaborate!  And as Vodouisants, I am sure you are going, "wow, that is some Voodoo altar!!"

    Building these altars has a rich tradition, especially in New Orleans history.  St. Joseph altars begin to be built several days ahead of time and are just beautiful.  Almost all of the food is given to the poor after the altar is torn down.

    The tradition of these altars originated in Sicily where St. Joseph was petitioned during a drought and famine.  The drought and famine broke and the people rejoiced and promised to always help feed the less fortunate.   As Vodouisants, we also take the opportunity of this day to do something for those less fortunate and dedicate it to both St. Joseph and Papa Loko!!

    Here is a link to a great article to read more about St. Joseph Day and how it is traditionally celebrated.  If you are not familiar with it, it is a fascinating read! (The author even mentions the Vodou connection!)

    Louisiana Project – St. Joseph’s Day Altars

    This is a really cool link!  It is a virtual St. Joseph’s Altar.  They even have a place for you to make a virtual offering to the altar!! (The altar might be closed today because the Vatican actually moved the feast day this year because of the way Holy Week fell on the Christian calendear, but normally this would be the feast day and, in my opinion, still is!)    😉

    Virtual St. Joseph Altar

    Honoring Papa Loko:  Obviously, for Vodouisants, St. Joseph Day is also an honor to Papa Loko.  Papa Loko is most often honored by Houngans and Mambos and there are even some schools of thought that if you are not a priest or priestess, you might not want to serve him as he reserves most of his guidance for them.  However, I do not feel there is any reason for non-initiates NOT to honor Papa Loko!  He may guide you towards initiation or have other important guidance for you. 

    His colors are yellow, white, and green.  You may serve him with almost any herb or leafy plant (think about serving him a green salad) and fresh water.  I have also found him to be fond of those green herbal drinks and green tea!

    It is a tradition in New Orleans Voodoo that if you want to know someone’s secrets you take a small cloth bag, put some leaves in it that you are offering to Papa Loko (especially if you have built him a small altar and are doing service to him – take some of the leaves that you offered on the altar and put them in the small cloth bag).  Now write the person’s name on a piece of paper nine times.  Fold it up and put it in the bag.   Take the bag and hang it in a tree where it is least likely to be disturbed for 99 days.  During those 99 days, that person’s secrets are said to be all revealed to you.  The bag should continue to hang in the tree until it is destroyed by nature or disintegrates from age. 🙂

    Love, Mambo Sam

  • How Does Reiki Work?

    Next in the few articles about reiki this week. I hope you are enjoying them. Please be sure to check out the ICRT website for more infomation about classes, and they have LOADS of free articles as well. Light and Love, Sister Bridget

    How Does Reiki Work?

    We are alive because life force is flowing through us. Life force flows within the physical body though pathways called chakras, meridians and nadis. It also flows around us in a field of energy called the aura. Life force nourishes the organs and cells of the body, supporting them in their vital functions. When this flow of life force is disrupted, it causes diminished function in one or more of the organs and tissues of the physical body.

    The life force is responsive to thoughts and feelings. It becomes disrupted when we accept, either consciously or unconsciously, negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves. These negative thoughts and feelings attach themselves to the energy field and cause a disruption in the flow of life force. This diminishes the vital function of the organs and cells of the physical body.

    Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.

    Do All Healers Use Reiki?

    All healers use life force or Ki, but not all use Reiki. Reiki is a special kind of life force that can only be channeled by someone that has been attuned to it. It is possible that some people are born with Reiki or have gotten it some other way. However, most healers who have not received the Reiki attunement from a Reiki Master are not using Reiki but another kind of life force. People who already do healing work consistently report an increase of at least fifty percent in the strength of their healing energies after taking the Reiki training.

    This was verified for me when I first began teaching Reiki. There were two clairvoyant healers I knew who had highly developed abilities. They could easily see the life force flowing through a person’s body, as well as see the aura and chakras. They could also communicate with a person’s guides and Higher Self. They were adept at moving negative psychic energy out of the body as well as channeling healing energies. In my twenty years of metaphysical work, they were the most accurate and effective psychic healers I had met.

    They told me later they had doubted there was anything I was teaching they couldn’t already do, but that they took the Reiki training anyway, simply to support me in my new work. After the attunement, they were amazed at the difference they could feel between the healing energies they had been using and Reiki. They said the Reiki energies were more powerful and of a much higher frequency. They noted also that Reiki didn’t have to be guided like the other healing energies they were using, and that the Reiki energies began flowing without having to enter an altered state. They also indicated the attunement process itself was a powerful healing experience, releasing restrictions relating to their healing work they had unknowingly acquired when they were healers in past lives. They were very pleased they had taken the class.

    Reiki Can Never Cause Harm

    Because Reiki is guided by the God-consciousness, it can never do harm. It always knows what a person needs and will adjust itself to create the effect that is appropriate for them. One never need worry about whether to give Reiki or not. It is always helpful.

    In addition, because the practitioner does not direct the healing and does not decide what to work on, or what to heal, the practitioner is not in danger of taking on the karma of the client. Because the practitioner is not doing the healing, it is also much easier for the ego to stay out of the way and allow the presence of God to clearly shine through.

    Energy is Never Depleted

    Because it is a channeled healing, the Reiki practitioner’s energies are never depleted. In fact, the Reiki consciousness considers both practitioner and client to be in need of healing, so both receive treatment. Because of this, giving a treatment always increases one’s energy and leaves one surrounded with loving feelings of well-being.

    The above text is excerpted from Reiki, the Healing Touch by William Lee Rand.

  • What is Reiki?

    So, I have been trying for a while now to gather up a few posts about Reiki. I know I mentioned this last year, and then one thing lead to another, and I got a little obsessed about "takin’ out the trash", and then there was Febuary, so, now here we are and Im finally  going to do it. Anyhow, this week look for infomation about Reiki, with articles coming from the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT is found at reiki.org ) I have taken all of my classes and attunements from ICRT certified teachers. They have the highest teaching standard and deliver extremely powerful attunements 😉 If you have any interest in learning reiki, be sure to seek out a ICRT certified instructor. You will be very glad that you did.

    Light and Love, Sister Bridget

    A Brief Overview

    Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

    The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means "God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

    A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

    Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

    An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one’s health and enhance the quality of life.

    Its use is not dependent on one’s intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

    While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.

    While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others., Dr Mikau Usui , the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

    During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Dr. Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Dr. Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value.

    The secret art of inviting happiness
    The miraculous medicine of all diseases
    Just for today, do not anger
    Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
    Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
    Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
    Pray these words to your heart
    and chant these words with your mouth
    Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
    The founder , Usui Mikao

    Reiki classes are taught all over the country and in many parts of the world. If you are interested in learning Reiki, please check www.reiki.org

  • Anam Cara – redux

    I know I have posted about this book before — Anam Cara — A book of Celtic Wisdom — by John O’Donohue.  A little while ago Ient my copy of this to someone at work. And while I was poking around Amazon the other day, I went and ordered myself another copy. I got a copy for 99cents plus shipping…who can beat that??? Anyway, when I got home from work today, my copy had arrived. It being St Paddies day and all, I thought maybe I should spend a few minutes with it! So, I bundled up and grabbed my book and sat on the deck, trying to get just a SMIDGE of vitamin D, and when I opened the book, this is what I saw…….

    A Blessing of Solitude

    May you recognise in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul.

    May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging, connects you intimately with the rythm of the universe.

    May you have respect for your own individuality, and difference.

    May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good, and eternal happening.

    May you learn to see yourself with the same delight , pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    Celt

  • Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

    Veve of DamballaGreetings, everyone!  As most Vodouisants already know, the great snake Lwa, Damballah, is syncretized with St. Patrick.  It is common to serve Damballah on this day.  It always makes me smile that Damballah is represented by St. Patrick as St. Patrick was credited for "driving the snakes out of Ireland."  Somehow it seems that Damballah got the last word on that!!

    Of course, the syncretization came due to the fact that pictures of St. Patrick often contain pictures of snakes.  It is important to remember that most syncretizations of lwa with Catholic Saints were originated as a way to hide the practitioner’s true intention to serve a particular lwa.  So while we also honor the Saint for his or her long time shielding of the lwa, it is truly the lwa we are serving with the usage of the Saint’s image.

    The great and powerful Damballah is simple to serve:  A white egg served on a small mound of white flour is the perfect offering for him.  White cormeal is also used, as are white liquor (especially anisette), rice, milk, etc. Always remember to include an offering of fresh water served in a clear glass. You can draw the veve above and put it on your altar or under your offering to Damballah.

    Damballah is considered to be the father of the Universe, the father of creation and all knowledge, and the keeper of the skies.  His knowledge comes to his devotees as thoughts and whispers as he does not speak his knowledge aloud.

    When you serve Damballah, ask him for power and knowledge to come to you.  Petition him to help bring peace and harmony into your life.  If you are feeling weak and negative, ask him for strength, cleansing, and removal of all negativity.  Of course, our Milk of Damballah White Bath is made according to the Haitian Vodou formula of the bath for Damballah and is consecrated on his point.  If your love life is in a shambles, ask Damballah to bring the strong peace and love that he shares with Ayida Ouedo (his partner) to your relationship.

    A song for Damballah is often sung in Haiti:

    Ki mele mwen, Dambala, ki mele mwen.
    Ki mele mwen, Dambala, ki mele mwen.
    Pa gen manman, pa gen papa.
    Ki mele mwen, Dambala ki mele mwen.
    This song is interpreted as, "I don’t care (or "what care I"), Dambala, I don’t care.  I have no mama.  I have no papa, I don’t care."  This is often taken to mean that a person has no parents, but they have Damballah and so they don’t care.  However, it’s deeper meaning is to show that Damballah is the lwa of creation therefore having no "mama and papa" because he was always there to start with.   
    Even if you don’t know the tune of the song, you can still sing it for him when you do your offerings.  It is a good way to honor him and call him into your service.
    So as you celebrate St. Paddy’s day today, remember to leave a little offering for Damballah!  Have a great day and if you are going out today, please be safe.
    Love, light, and peace,
    Mambo Sam
  • Happy St Patrick’s Day!

    St_patrickbanising_snakeslarge_2  Happy St. Patrick’s Day , Everyone!

      Leaving good Damballah an offering of any white food could be a great way to get the celebration started.

    There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, here’s his story.

    Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.   As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.   During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."   Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.

    I found some lovely prayers to St. Patrick as well.

    Dont drink too much green beer!

    Light and Love, Sister Bridget

  • New Customer Service Options Coming!

    Hello everyone!  Happy Sunday! 

    As you know, we try to offer the best possible customer service that we can.  We are challenged sometimes by the fact that we are a small group of people trying to take care of all of our clients the best we can! 

    In order to serve you better, we are currently working on installing a new and improved live chat feature on the website.  Additionally, we are installing the ability to "request a call" from us on the website and also will be offering you the ability to "submit a ticket" for asking tech support and other questions.  All of these features will help us get you the assistance you need much faster and, hopefully, in a more organized fashion.

    Of course, as with the installation of all new systems I suspect that we will experience some growing pains, but once the details are ironed out I believe this will be an improved way to communicate your needs to us.

    In service, Mambo Sam

  • Card of the Week for March 16th!

    OK, first things first! THANK YOU ALL for your wonderful comments and participation in this activity! I am sooooo jazzed up about this! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for joining in!

    I had such a hard time picking out one comment that stood out above the others. They were all so wonderful and insightful. So, I decided that I would put everyone’s name in a hat and draw out the winner of the free reading. Actually, I think I will do this every week now, because it just seems like its going to be tough to pick out one comment from so many great ones.

    So…drum roll please…….

    This weeks winner of the 5 card reading is J.C.  !

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Now, the card for next week comes from the same deck as last week — Wisdom for Healing Cards by Caroline Myss. BTW, have you ever check out Caroline’s website?  Lots of great articles and free video and audio lectures to be watched and listened too. Great way to while away the hours on a cold winter afternoon!

    This weeks card (I swear this is the card I pulled from the center of the deck…..) :

    Release the need to Complain

    Today’s lesson: Honestly assess whether you’re a complainer. No matter whether you share complaints with others or keep them to yourself, this tendency is a way of looking at a situation without seeing  the potential blessings. Your goal: to release the prediliction to complain, and instead, see the positive side of things.

    So, please feel free to comment on your thoughts about this card and how its advice effects you in the coming week. Comment and get entered to win a free reading.

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    Wisdom for Healing Cards