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
Here is a picture of the ritual that was done for Mambo and Parran's doggie, Mojo. These rituals call on Papa Legba, Ogoun and Gran Bwa 🙂 They are proving to be a very popular ritual! For more information, please see http://www.spellmaker.com/bridget.htm
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
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
Hi there,
As a Voodoo Priestess, Registered Nurse, and Reiki Master, I have been using Reiki with animals for many years, and have just started offering this service to clients. I have to tell you the feedback has been wonderful. For those of you who are not familiar with the use of Reiki with the animal kingdom, I invite you to read the article below:
I know how much animals love their Reiki sessions.
It doesn't matter what sort of pet you have,
horse, dog, cat, snake, hamster or even a mouse, Reiki will help to keep them healthy, and recover from any illness they may encounter.
I would like to talk about our special friends; the animals and pets we all love. It doesn't matter what pet you have, Dog, Cat, Horse or Snake. Reiki will work for them.
Those skeptical about complementary medicine will usually attribute any beneficial effect to the placebo response. "If I believe strongly enough that Reiki (or whatever) will make me better" then the likelihood is that better you will be!
But the same argument cannot apply to animals that can have no expectations one way or another about whether a particular treatment will work, and so, the placebo response cannot apply. Hence, where alternative or complementary remedies do work – the effect must be genuine. I have seen dogs,cats and bigger animals relax and improve when treated with Reiki: I love to work with the animals, and if you have pets of any kind, they will respond wonderfully to Reiki treatments.
I know some veterinary surgeries do have complimentary healing practitioners on their books. And like doctors, the Vets are starting to realise that Reiki can help their patients too.
All animals benefit from Energy Healing, and of course that is exactly what Reiki is. Reiki is quite an extraordinary force, Reiki flows through the practitioner into your pet and makes them extremely relaxed. Reiki healing energy focuses on the Reiki healing life power. The wholesome energy contained in our bodies. By means of the channeling force from us to the recipient, the distressed areas undergo revitalization. This revitalisation is nothing else but 'Life Force'
The entire beneficial amount of positive thinking and feelings, conveyed to the recipient (your beloved pet) translates into light. This Reiki healing light adds to the life flow energy. It helps with all manner of illness and upsets your pet may encounter. It will help to calm them and ensure they will get any help that is available from the Reiki healing force.
One of the supreme rewards of a Reiki alternative treatment (for you and your pet) is in the significant decrease of stress. You know when your pet is suffering stress or upset, especially if they have had to have surgery, or other treatments that mean a visit to the vets. Recovery from surgery can be quite surprising, especially when the treatments begins some weeks prior to the scheduled operation. Then you carry on the Reiki after their treatment and it all comes together to help and improve after-affects and recovery time. We know that Reiki is a particular type of delicate energy transfer. In the healing process, the Reiki therapist lays her hands on or above your beloved pet or animal that is being treated. And it goes to them through the healing light. In this way, a relationship takes place between the patient and an immeasurable spring of life energy. This sort of force is an exceptionally potent one, yet is incredibly kind and soothing.
If you would like to help the worlds animals, (and in some countries they badly need lots of help) including UK. and USA. I'm afraid. In your minds eye see a picture of the animals you would like to send Reiki love and healing to, and send it to them on a beam of loving light. The endangered sea-life need all the help they can get too. Not many of us are blessed to give hands-on-healing to Whales and Dolphins, but we can send love and Reiki to to them. We just have to think about a pod of Whales or Dolphins swimming with joy in our oceans, and send them our loving and healing thoughts.
You might be one of those lucky people who live where you can see the pods swimming, how wonderful for you. As you watch them at play, send love and light to them, and you may be very surprised at their joyful reaction. Reiki is a secure and preferable manner of coping with a variety of complications. A Reiki treatment should not upset your pet in any way. They will relax and let the healing energy work. There are absolutely no contraindications with Reiki for human patients or animals. Reiki relaxes your body and mind. so your pet will feel wonderful. Evan very small animals can accept Reiki, your little mouse or hamster will benifit from a little hands-on healing.
Make your beloved pets life more enjoyable and meaningful. Reiki will ease any conditions your pet may have in its everyday life. It can save you many trips to the vets.
(end article)
I hope you have found this information helpful!
Love
Sister Bridget
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!
Start with a clean workspace…..
Bake some cookies…..
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….)
PURDY!
And not so purdy, but rather cathartic cookies.
Cookies for the Lwa 🙂
And there you have it – Cookie therapy while on vacation the Albuquerque way.
Love
Sister Bridget
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.
If you missed the conference, it has been saved online! Please see http://www.spellmaker.com/VoodooConvention/AVC2010REG.htm for details.
Love,
Sister Bridget
Hey there!
With June quickly approaching, and the triple Papa Legba ritual coming up, I am working on a list of songs in honor of Papa! if you have a favorite song you like to play or sing for dear Papa, please let me know and I will add it to my list. A few of you have already sent suggestions, and I thank you. I am still collecting songs for the Papa Playlist, tho. Feel free to post them here or email the name of the song to bridget@spellmaker.com There could be prizes involved 🙂
Love
Sister Bridget
Hi there-
New photo album has been posted here.
Hope you are all having a great week!
Light and Love
Sister Bridget