Category: Current Affairs

  • Fet Ghede and the Fiery Power of the Phoenix!

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    Fet Ghede and the Fiery Power of the Phoenix
    By: Khouzhan Morgan

    “The fire is a symbol of transformation, burning away the old and making way for the new.” ~Unknown
     

    Hi there readers and welcome to the Fet Ghede issue of the Universal Messenger!

    As we celebrate Halloween, Samhain and the Voodoo New Year, we can take the time to reflect on this last 365 day trip around the sun.

    You may wish to look back on this past year; what goals have you achieved? What projects have you gotten underway or completed? If you did not meet some goals, how can you increase your chances of success?

    These undertakings can be big or small; the most important thing is that we have an awareness that we can change, grow, and evolve. Take a few moments to reflect on this and realize what an amazing human you truly are! Adulting is hard, but ya know what? Magic can make it better!

     If you burn a cauldron, bonfire, or heck even have a fireplace, it is a great time to write things down on a small paper or leaves and burn them, offering prayers of thanks for all the spiritual help you have received towards your undertakings. It is also a great time to decide on some goals for the next leg of the journey and request guidance and assistance in achieving them!

    The element of fire both destroys and creates and is such profound symbolism as we light up the night and enter the dark half of the year.

    Take out some pictures of friends and family members (of the human and animal variety) and spend some time chatting with those folks. This is a great time of year for divination, and an excellent time for receiving guidance from our deceased loved ones. Pay attention to little “flashes”- like the scent of perfume or a certain food, a familiar sound or song, or even a word or phrase that enters your mind, as that is often our beloved ancestors reaching out to us from beyond the veil. The ancestors are most often more than happy to help us as we continue to navigate our day to day workings. And now, when the veil between worlds is thinnest, it helps us hear those messages from beyond loud and clear.

     It is also a great time to honor our passed loved ones with things they enjoyed in life, such as a certain beverage or snack, or whatever treats brought them joy here on earth.

    This can be as elaborate as an entire table filled with goodies or just a simple cup of tea with a deceased loved one. Remember it is about connection not perfection!

    Just be sure to include some cool fresh water for the spirits to travel through, light a candle in their honor and you are all set! (And yes it sure can be the light if your jack o lantern if you like!)

    Remember, Mambo Sam and Sister Bridget are both available for readings to help clarify any questions you might have along your magical or mundane journey! I cannot count the number of times my ancestors chimed in during a reading with one of those amazing ladies!

    As always, honoring our lineage is the most important thing we can do in the practice of voodoo. We honor who we are and who we will become by honoring where we have come from. We show gratitude for our roots and in turn, we branch out and grow so we can to reach to new heights!  And les Lois, our wonderful and benevolent voodoo spirits, are here for it!!

    Baron Samedi and his consort Maman Brigitte will be here to escort us when we make the final transition to the other side, and this season is their party! They love offerings of coffee, hot peppers and rum. And although Baron and Maman preside over the cemeteries and departed souls, and can sometimes be a bit rowdy, they are also wise beyond measure and can be counted on for assistance in all things- especially healing, legal and financial matters.
    No need to be afraid! Baron and Maman cross  easily between life and death. And through so many “deaths” that we experience- of jobs, relationships, and yes, sometimes, those we love-they can then guide us to resurrection.

    In truth, the most potent lesson I have received from Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte is that although I would experience many deaths, I would also be given graciously many opportunities for rebirth. And like the Phoenix who rises from the ashes, so we too can continue to regenerate our lives and allow our own little lights to shine.
    At this sacred and wonderful new beginning we wish you all a fantastic Fet Ghede, a Happy Halloween and Samhain blessings and look forward to helping your inner fire burn bright in the coming new year!

    Ayibobo!

  •  Scarecrows: Icons of Straw and Spellwork

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     Scarecrows: Icons of Straw and Spellwork
    by: Khouzhan Morgan
    “Autumn whispered to the wind: I fall; but always rise again.” ~Angie Welland Crosby
     
    Hi there Spellmaker readers and welcome to the Harvest Moon edition of the Universal Messenger!

    Among my autumn décor I came across several scarecrows. Like pumpkins, these are quintessential symbols of fall, harvest and Halloween-in my home I keep them out until the Yuletide season begins!

    Traditionally used in farmers fields as a ploy to keep birds away from precious crops, these figures, usually comprised of discarded old clothing or feed bags and stuffed with straw, can also be found everywhere in pop culture.

    In the Wizard of Oz we met the sweet scarecrow without a brain who was a loyal best friend to Dorothy and terrified of the Wicked Witch and her fire conjuring skills.

    As a Batman villain, the Scarecrow used hallucinations brought onto the innocent citizens of Gotham in order to exploit their worse fears and terrorize the city.

    And finally, we see the horror scarecrows; eerie burlap figures come to life to hunt and scare the likes of its victims with murder and mayhem. Episodes of Dr. Who and Supernatural both feature such creatures.

    As far back as ancient Egypt researchers have found evidence of scarecrows. ( A tunic tossed over reeds by the bank of the River Nile was used to scare cranes away from food crops in that incarnation.)

    And the one thing scarecrows always have in common is fear. Scarecrows are used to frighten birds and pests, or in art and literature, sometimes human beings! But the subject matter is always, always fear.

    So my overly analytical mind made this connection with scarecrows. They emerge just as we begin the spooky season. That focus on fears begs the question-what scares you?

     As we harvest and reap and celebrate letting go of the old to make room for the new-what is it we can let go of in order to foster growth on a spiritual level?

    Maybe it manifests as cleaning or decluttering, and letting go of things we no longer use or enjoy. Holding onto items can stem from fear that we will never get more. But it is only through letting some objects go that I realized I was making room for something better-something more useful. It is the way the universe ebbs and flows. It can take some soul searching, courage, and effort-but the rewards are many!

    Fear can strike in many forms-fear of allowing love into our lives, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, even fear of success.
    I guess I’m hoping that someone out there needs to hear this message. As we embark on the season of all things scary, What fears limit you right now? It’s certainly worthwhile food for thought! One thing I know for sure, is that I’ll never look at the little harvest time scarecrows peeking out from front porches, potted mums, or cornfields, quite the same again!

    May this Harvest Moon light your way and guide you in your Autumn endeavors!

    Don’t be afraid to reach out to our supportive staff here at Spellmaker.com! We have a variety of tools to help any situation. From voodoo charms to magical baths to specialized oils and mojo bags, if you need some magical backup we’ve got you covered and our team is always glad to make personalized suggestions for your individual needs! No need to fear, our staff is here! Ya see what I did there? 😉

    In gratitude and service,
    Khouzhan Morgan
     

  • Mabon~Balance of Darkness and Light
    Mabon~Balance of Darkness and Light
    By Khouzhan Morgan
    Happy Autumn everyone!!

    With the impending autumnal equinox we celebrate the turning point from the “light” half of the year to the “dark” half of the year at the sabbat of Mabon- known in some circles as Harvest Home.

    On Saturday, September 23rd at 0250am EST in the northern hemisphere, we are in for another turn of the annual wheel.

    The autumnal equinox coincides astrologically with the sign of Libra, symbolized befittingly by the scales. Balance is magically energized by the equal parts of day and night, and in this second of the pagan fall sabbats, we can focus our energies on letting go, cleansing, or banishing that which hinders our progress or no longer serves us. This in turn allows us to invite those things into our lives that we want or need in order to grow and thrive. This is the epitome of creating balance! Autumn favors any banishing work we may need to accomplish and this is a great time of year to bust out some Florida water and cleanse your magical tools or altar space. You can also work with the seasonal energy to harvest more abundance with one of Mambo Sam’s amazing 9 day spell kits, such as Big Money or Lots a Luck. If you like to do a deep clean of your home before the long winter, it can get a great magical boost when you utilize a Marie Laveau House Blessing Kit to begin with a fresh slate on every level!

     I, for one, feel at my absolute witchiest when I get a whiff of 2 things- voodoo… or autumn!

     Outdoors, I love a blazing wood fire, or the scent of fallen leaves. Indoors, I just love the warming spices like cinnamon and vanilla, and the seasonal goodness like apples, pumpkins and pomegranates.  Speaking of pomegranate, it is that very fruit that is mentioned in the myth of Persephone and Hades that explains the phenomenon of the equinoxes most perfectly.

    Persephone, daughter of Goddess of the Harvest Demeter, was kidnapped by the God of the Underworld, Hades. When Demeter pleaded with Hades to return her beloved child, he agreed, providing that Persephone had not eaten anything while in his underworld kingdom. Alas, she had eaten the seeds of a pomegranate fruit. So, it was agreed that for just one half of the year, Demeter would be allowed to bring home her beloved Persephone. During this time Demeter would ensure the earth flourished and all living things would grow and flower. Come the other half of the year, at the fall equinox, Persephone was taken to the underworld with her husband Hades, during which time Demeter would grieve, and the earth would lie cold and bare, in a type of solemn slumber.

    This myth perfectly illustrates to me the human condition. Persephone was both Queen of the Underworld and the Goddess of Springtime. She possessed both darkness and light, as we all do. Additionally, the fall festivals all lead us up to Samhain on October 31st, when we honor the souls of our deceased loved ones. Grief, after all, is just love that we feel for our dearly departed. Much like Demeter grieved the annual departure of her daughter, so we honor and memorialize those we have loved and lost when we observe the harvest season. We all have roots, and this is the time to commemorate them and honor the fact that we will return to those roots when our journey here on the mortal plane has ended.

    In voodoo, of course, the last of these harvest holidays bring us Fet Ghede, a time to honor our very own Lwa of the Dead, Baron Samedi and his inimitable wife, Maman Brigitte. It is Baron and Maman who escort the souls of the dead through the veil, and who impart us with the ancient wisdom that can only be obtained through the final journey of the soul. If you are looking to honor your ancestors, I highly recommend that you check out the incredible personalized ancestral candle (created on the pwen of Maman Brigitte by our own beloved Parran Matt) in Mambo Sam’s Etsy shop. It’s just a few more weeks til Halloween, Samhain and the voodoo new year- Fet Ghede!!

    Autumn truly is the most wonderful time of the year to connect to your inner witch and make the most of your own unique spiritual journey! We can learn so very much about the transformative nature of life, death, and all the many steps (and missteps) we take in between. I wish you all an inspired and enchanted autumn! May your life be full of magic and may your Mabon celebration be beautiful and blessed!

    In service,
    Khouzhan Morgan

  • Autumn Glimmers!

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    Autumn Glimmers
    by Khouzhan Morgan
     
    Hello there Spellmaker readers and a welcome to the month of September!

    As the days grow cooler and the nights grow longer, our mother earth has begun to shed her gown of luscious green to showcase her cloak of crimson, gold and sienna. Everywhere we are surrounded by the energy of harvest, change and transformation. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and it simply fills my heart with warmth and my soul with glimmers of joy.

    Glimmers are the direct opposite of negative triggers; instead of imparting negative feelings, glimmers gift us with hope, happiness and a feeling that every little thing is gonna be alright. (In the words of the late great Bob Marley).

    With this season of change, we can reflect upon those little sparks that make life worth living. What glimmers light up your world, dear reader? What are the things that ensnare your senses just for a moment and give you a perfect sense of awe? In a world where we are bombarded with bad news on television, the internet and social media, it is crucial to take some moments every day just to breathe, find some wonder and just BE.

     The arrival of fall is what allows me to embrace those little moments of happiness. The trees are awash with flame hued colors, the spooky glow of candles illuminates ripe picked pumpkins, and the scent and aromatic spices permeates the air. The warm sunshine juxtaposed with the crisp chilly nights leading up to the autumn equinox, shows us that balance is lovely, and yet just a season, in the great circle of life.

    Back to school vibes are everywhere, including our Spellmaker home office! Mambo Sam is preparing to teach some very valuable magical lessons once again on Patreon. Get out your wands and parchments, folks, and get ready for “witch school” 2.0!!

    I hope you are all as excited as I am to do some learning, find more glimmers in every day life, and enjoy all of the wonders that Autumn has in store for each and every one of us!! Our Spellmaker family sends you jubilation, inspiration and transformation this lovely fall season!!

    “ As long as Autumn lasts I shall not have canvas, colors or hands enough to paint the colors I see”~ Vincent van Gogh

    In Service,
    Khouzhan Morgan

  • Remember.

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  • Oslo, Norway

    Hello everyone,

    It has taken me a few days to be able to speak clearly about the tragedy in Oslo, Norway.  My first order of business was to try to check up on our friends and clients that live there.  Thankfully, I believe that we have been able to determine that everyone we know there is fine.  Sadly, of course, not everyone is so lucky to have been personally untouched.

    These kinds of events not only leave us sad, angry, and frustrated, but often wondering how one person, looking so normal, can do something so heinous.  It is always a mystery to me when I look into the pictures of these people; why, what, how did you get to be that person?  Of course, there is no easy answer.  Maybe there is no answer, easy or otherwise.

    I will not relate the details of his crimes here, but they are chilling right down to the bone.  The crimes involve things that nearly none of us could even stand to see in a fictional setting let alone know that somewhere in the world these acts happened to innocent people.  The feeling is of incredible sadness and yet still laced with wondering how this kind of person gets shaped in life.

    When we are faced with the tragedies of natural disasters, we are horrified that nature can be such an awesome force to take anyone and anything down. I have heard reporters say that we are sometimes at war with nature and nature will eventually win.  But when it comes down to one human being causing such death and destruction, where do we look?   Upon whom do we lay blame? Surely we cannot blame Mother Nature here.

    There are no easy answers to any of this.  Most of the time we end up just feeling helpless and frustrated, not knowing how to direct our energies to most help.  One way to help is to join with us here at Spellmaker in praying for whatever peace and help can be given to those affected by this tragedy in Norway.  The Spellmaker Prayer Group will be devoting a portion of the prayer meeting on Thursday, July 28 to praying for those victims and families in Norway.  Please join them if you can – even if you cannot join in on the meeting, praying at the same time they meeting is going on will combine our collective energies. 

    Also, remember, the prayer group takes requests for your prayer needs, too!  Our prayer group offers prayers for all that we know about, it is very easy for you to be included.   Just follow the link above for instructions.

    Take care of yourselves and each other!  Have a safe, blessed, and peaceful week.

    Love, Mambo Sam, www.spellmaker.com

    Peacedove
     

  • Moment of Remembrance

    Hello dear readers,

    In 1996, a humanitarian organization based in Washington, D.C., known as 'No Greater Love' conducted a survey on children and asked them why do they think there is a holiday on Memorial Day….what did they think it was all about?

    Mostly their answers revolved around barbecues and extended weekend parties and celebration.  They hadn't the vaguest idea about the sacrifices of the military personnel in whose honor it is celebrated. One of the children was even quoted as saying that this was the day when swimming pools open!

    Thus, the organization came up with the idea of 'National Moment of Remembrance' to remind and especially, let the future generations know about the real meaning of the holiday. The idea clicked with the President and Congress and since 1997, it became a standard American tradition. National Moment of Remembrance requires everybody to keep silent for a minute, exactly at 3.00 pm (local time) when 'Taps' is played and reflect on the glory of those who have shed blood for us.

    If you can, please join in at 3:00 p.m. for a moment of silence, prayer, or blessing for those sacrificed in the name of our Freedoms.

    Love to all and thanks to all those who serve,
    Mambo Samantha Corfield
    www.spellmaker.com

    Wreath