Category: Uncategorized

  • Quote for today…..

     

    March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.  ~~~ Khalil Gibran

     

                                 ABQSpring2011 108 

  • Meditating with Trees.

    Hi there!

    Now that it is officially warm here in the Northeast, I have been able to spend some periods of time outdoors with the trees, one of my favorite things to do. I have a brief, rather unofficial ritual I do when I sitting with a tree. I find sitting quietly with a tree is a very powerful way for me to connect with the enviornment and also feel closer to Gran Bwa. There is no real right or wrong way to do this- I present these steps as a general guide that works well for me 🙂

    Go for a walk in the woods or a park, or even your own yard.   Be sure this is someplace you feel safe and *are* safe.  Look at the different trees, quiet your mind, tune into them. You will find that different trees have different personalities! Some will feel warm and inviting, others may not be receptive to having company that day 🙂 Some may feel strong,  some happy and upbeat, others not so much.

     When you feel attracted to a tree, move in towards it. Spend a few minutes getting to know the tree-  look at its shape, its foliage, the shape and texture of the bark, the roots.  Unfocus  your eyes and look for the tree's aura. Using the palm of your nondominant hand, sweep around the tree and see if you can feel how far it's energy extends. Make an energetic connection with the tree. How does it feel? Take a bit of foliage, feel it's texture, notice it's scent, temperature, shape and size.

    Open your mind and your heart, and ask the tree if you can sit with it for a while. I very rarely have a tree say "No" but it is always polite to ask permission!  If the answer is "Yes", walk around the tree once and pick a comfortable place to sit. Before sitting down, place your hands on the trunk and take three deep breaths. You may feel guided to give the tree a hug! Go right ahead 🙂 Take a few moments and strengthen your connection with your new friend.

    When you are ready, sit down in your comfortable spot with your back up against the trunk of the tree. Clear your mind and just be with the tree. Open yourself to guidance from the tree. Be relaxed, breathe slowly and deeply.  Be present. Feel the trunk of the tree against your back. Feel the warmth of the soil beneath you. If some intrusive thoughts pop into your mind, place them in a cloud and let them float away.  Remain quiet and peaceful for as long as you like. Be with the tree. 

    When you are feeling ready, "talk" with the tree. If you have questions about the tree or the land, ask, sit quietly and wait for a response! If you have an issue or concern that you need guidance on, pose a question and again, sit quietly and see what comes to you.

    When you feel you are ready to close, stand back up and place your hands on the trunk as you did before sitting. Again, if you feel guided to hug the tree, please do! Thank the tree from your heart for its time and attention, for any guidance it may have relayed, and for its contribution to the environment.

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    ABQ102010 112 

  • Voodoo Wares- Ogoun Apron!

    Hello there!

    Recently, Mambo Sam, in conjunction with her mother in law Eileen, began offering traditional Voodoo aprons. This collaborative effort produces wonderfully hand crafted, made to order aprons that are one of a kind. You can read about the details here: www.spellmaker.com/voodoowares.htm  Below are some pictures of the first apron I ordered, this one is for Ogoun! It is simply beautiful! I will be posting pictures of my other aprons as we go along. I guess you can say Im a bit addicted to them 🙂 Anyway- check out the Aprons, you will be glad that you did.

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    Aprons 023 
    Aprons 027 
    Aprons 036 
    Aprons 030 

  • Quote for today…..

    Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness, that most frightens us….. Nelson Mandela 1994

    Autumn Leaves 

  • Cookie Therapy!

    Hello!

    On my recent trip to visit MaParents (Marran and Parran Corfield), day 1 of my trip consisted of some time to kick back and relax and undergo some cookie therapy. WHAT?? you say! What is cookie therapy? Well…..the dictionary definition of therapy is -  treatment of physical, mental, or behavioral problems that is meant to cure or rehabilitate somebody. And let me tell you, cookie baking and decorating can cure ALOT of things!

    ABQSpring2011 001 Start with a clean workspace…..
    ABQSpring2011 002 Bake some cookies…..
    ABQSpring2011 008 Pick your colors, piping or flooding (I learned all about frosting the fancy way! Tho I think Martha Stewart's job is safe with me around….)
    ABQSpring2011 026 PURDY!
    ABQSpring2011 025 And not so purdy, but rather cathartic cookies.
    ABQSpring2011 027 Cookies for the Lwa 🙂

    And there you have it – Cookie therapy while on vacation the Albuquerque way.
    Love

    Sister Bridget

  • Update on Gran Bwa Trees!

    Hi there,

    Those of you at the 2010 Spellmaker Voodoo Conference watched as Parran Matt, Mambo Sam and myself planted 3 tress in honor of Gran Bwa. After an unusually cold New Mexican winter, these little trees have come back and are doing very well! Ayibobo! This picture was taken about a month ago, so the trees have greened up even more now.

    ABQSpring2011 GBT 

    If you missed the conference, it has been saved online! Please see http://www.spellmaker.com/VoodooConvention/AVC2010REG.htm for details.

    Love,

    Sister Bridget

  • If you hit the “Like” button…..

    Hi there!

    If you hit the FB "Like" button at the bottom of the left hand column of this blog, the blog posts will go directly to your FB wall 🙂

    Technology, gotta love it!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

  • Red Velvet Cake for a Red Velvet Day!

    Hey there!

    A Red velvet cake is a cake with a dark red, bright red or red-brown color. It is usually prepared as a layer cake with either a vanilla or chocolate flavor, topped with a creamy white icing. Common ingredients are buttermilk, butter, flour, cocoa, and beetroot or red food coloring (beetroot is traditionally used). The amount of cocoa used varies in different recipes. Cream cheese frosting is most commonly paired with the cake, as well as buttercream.

    A couple of years ago I tried making a Red Velvet Cake for our Valentine's Day Ritual. It was my first attempt, and I think it came out alright. But each year I look for some new recipe for this yummy southern cake to try out. This is the one I will be trying this year. I think cupcakes will be a new take, and I can spread the offerings out over a few days!  It looks totally yummy! For those less ambitious, Duncan Hines has a mix which is very good as well 🙂

    Chef Jeff’s Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Makes 12 to 16 cupcakes

    Red velvet cake has been a very popular dessert in the South for a long time. There’s a lot of controversy on how to make it best. Chef Jeff, who always wanted to be a baker, likes to keep it simple, using classic ingredients and just a bit of extra sugar. His family likes it sweet.

    2 cups all purpose flour
    1½ teaspoons baking soda
    pinch of salt
    1 cup buttermilk
    2 large eggs
    1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
    1 tablespoon white vinegar
    2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    3 tablespoons red food coloring
    1 stick unsalted butter, softened
    1½–2 cups granulated sugar
    Cream Cheese Icing
    1 stick unsalted butter, softened
    1½–2 cups powdered confectioners’ sugar
    ½ pinch salt
    8 ounces cream cheese, softened
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Cupcakes
    Preheat oven to 350º F. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt, and set aside. In a separate medium bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and white vinegar, and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk cocoa powder and food color until it becomes a paste. With a table top or hand-held mixer in a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl, then beat 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add half of flour mixture and beat on low speed about 45 seconds until incorporated, then add half the buttermilk mixture and beat until combined. Repeat, adding remaining flour mixture, then remaining buttermilk mixture. Beat until thoroughly incorporated.

    Line cupcake pans with paper cupcake liners. Spoon batter into paper liners until ¾ full. Place pans in oven on center rack. Bake cupcakes until a toothpick can be inserted in the center and come out clean, 22–25 minutes. Remove pans from oven and let cool at room temp.

    Icing
    Using tabletop or a hand-held mixture, add all ingredients. Beat on medium-high until mixture is fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping bowl as needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Assembly
    After cupcakes have cooled, remove cream cheese icing from refrigerator. Using pastry spatula or butter knife, spread desired amount of icing on each cupcake.

    Happy Baking!

    Sister Bridget

    Rvcc 

  • Prayer List for Pets 🙂

    Hello there-

    We have so many clients writing with prayer requests for their beloved pets, that Mambo Sam and I have decided it was time to form a Prayer List specifically for this purpose.

    Requests may be submitted to prayforpets@spellmaker.com and myself and a few dedicated Khouzhan’s will attend to each request.

    Please feel free to pass along a link to this page or the email address to anyone you think could benefit.

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    de la  Familie Fleurette-Beauchamp-Corfield

    Assisi

     

    Prayer for the Protection of Animals

    O God, source of life and power, Who feedeth the birds of the heavens, increase our tenderness towards all the creatures of Thy hand. Help us to refrain from petty acts of cruelty, or thoughtless deeds of harm to any living animal. May we care for them at all times, especially during hard weather, and protect them from injury so that they learn to trust us as friends. Let our sympathy grow with knowledge, so that the whole creation may rejoice in Thy presence.

     

    Prayer for Animals

    by Albert  Schweitzer

    Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals,
    especially for animals who are suffering;
    for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated;
    for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars;
    for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
    for all that must be put death.
    We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
    and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion
    and gentle hands and kindly words.
    Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
    and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

     

    St. Francis Of Assisi

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
    Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
    Where there is injury, pardon
    Where there is doubt, faith,
    Where there is despair, hope,
    Where there is darkness, light,
    Where there is sadness, joy.
    O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

  • 911 readings off to a great start!

    Hi All,

    I just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been getting to speak with some new clients during 911 readings these last few weeks. It is really rewarding to get to connect with you all and help get you out with your cases. Coming soon- readings via Skype and Adobe Video Chat room 😉

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    Cball