Tag: voodoo

Candle Magick 101!

Hello All!

I came across this post written by Mambo Sam from waaaaaay back in the day when Yahoo! groups were new 🙂 It is an awesome post (of course!) about candle magick, how it differs from but is complementary to NOV, and so much more. I am sure you will enjoy it!

Love

Sister Bridget

***** Begin post****

Hello! There has been much discussion on the list about our candle magick kits1 I just wanted to elaborate a bit and help to alleviate some of the confusion surrounding our candle magick kits.

And to head off the obvious question of where they are located on the spellmaker.com website, you can find them here: www.spellmaker.com/witch.htm 🙂

(edit note – as most of you know, Spellmaker now offers candle burning services which can be viewed here – www.spellmaker.com/candleburn.htm )

HISTORY: A little bit about the candle magick kits: The candle magick kits are based on my tradition of Old New Orleans Witchcraft. This is a separate entity from my tradition of New Orleans Voodoo, BUT I find they work hand-in-hand very well. There is certainly NO contraindication to using our New Orleans Voodoo products with our New Orleans Witchcraft products. They simply strengthen each other. New Orleans Witchcraft is a much more loosely-constructed practice than New Orleans Voodoo. This doesn't mean one is more desirable than the other, but New Orleans Witchcraft is not a religion. New Orleans Witchcraft is more based simply on trying to achieve a goal. As most of you know, New Orleans Voodoo works on that premise as well, BUT (as many of you have experienced), you get many benefits

from the New Orleans voodoo spiritually. New Orleans Witchcraft can bring you to a spiritual place, but New Orleans Voodoo picks up from there in spiritual practice.

The candle magick kits are not a substitute for doing regular spell kits for your situation. However, in cases where there is difficulty, extreme stubborness on the part of your goal, extreme damage that has been done to a relationship, etc. – candle magick kits are an excellent way to put some extra effort into your goal.

USAGE OF CANDLE MAGICK KITS: One very popular usage that I have recommended to people and, thusly, Sister Bridget and caseworkers have been recommending, is the use of three white male or female candle magick kits. This type of usage is very powerful if you feel that your heart's desire is a very stubborn type of person, or if you have been told (or know) that they are somehow spiritually damaged, or if they are the type of person who has been through extreme trauma in their life, or if your relationship with them was exceedingly damaged through negative influence either outside or inside the relationship. The three candle magick kits are used on Body, Mind, and Spirit, one candle for each of these.

What you are petitioning for (and this assumes you are going to do or have done regular and/or deluxe spell kits) is that these problems/challenges/influences be removed from the Body, the Mind, and the Spirit of the person you are working on. That this person be healed of that negative damage, that they become whole again, that they have the ability to accept your spell work. Usage of the candles in this way is truly an act of healing. In essence, you aren't asking for them to come back to you, you aren't asking for any benefit to yourself EXCEPT that they have the ability to "hear" you through your spell work. Some clients have had great success using our St. Louis Cemetery #1 Black Banishing(tm) incense at the same time. Remember, you are using it to banish the negativity, and word your petition accordingly.

This same method can be used to try to facilitate true physical healing of a person who is sick, a person who is under the influence of drugs, a person who is depressed, and so on.

The same tact can be used when using pink or red male/female image candles to enhance the romance/love part of the relationship. In this case, the difference, of course, is that now you are asking them to accept your love, feel your love, and return your love. Again, Body, Mind, Spirit. This usage is appropriate having done spell work and feeling like the relationship still needs an extra "power boost." This, of course, has a lot to do with the status of the relationship, and how bad things are/were before, during, and after spell work.

Other methods to using the candle magick kits are if you have gris- gris bags from your spell work, put them near the candle magick kits when using them. Hold them and petition much the same as you did with the spell work. Also, using one of our incenses appropriate to the situation along with the candle magick kit boosts the strength as well. Of course, I think everyone doing spell work should own a High John the Conqueror root bag — it strengthens ALL magick. If you have a love doll (deluxe or regular, doesn't matter, OR if you have dolls from a deluxe love spell) that you are using for your heart's desire, you can also put your love doll near the candle(s) and send more energy that way, too. (Just don't do the whole love doll ritual at this time, just use the doll itself.) Again, usage of all these things depends on your perception of how difficult the situation is! Not all situations warrant extra work and truthfully only you can be the real judge of that. Naturally, your caseworker or Sister Bridget can help you with that decision, but when you get right down to it, no one knows your situation better than you.

Many of you have asked about usage of the Famous Red Mummy Power candle magick kit. This kit is used particularly to help gain control over a situation. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean trying to control the person in question. However, PROPERLY DIRECTED control can be very useful. This candle is especially useful if you are feeling helpless and out of communication in your situation. This candle can be used to help facilitate contact with your heart's desire, i.e., "controlling" the situation so that you run into each other, or that s/he suddenly thinks of a reason why s/he needs to contact you. It can also be used to help control an interfering party to get out of the situation.

The Famous Black Mummy candle should only be used on an interfering party if they have KNOWINGLY interfered in your relationship, job, etc., and have done evil to you that was through no fault of your own. Again, this is a "control" candle — interfering with their life in the way they have interfered in yours and to send them out of your life. This is when you need a leg up on a situation that has gotten out of control due to the influence of someone who knew about you, went out of their way to harm you, and basically has no conscience about what they did to you.

The New Orleans Red Witch love candle is something that is used to acquire either new love or help rekindle an old love. It is a milder candle that is based on what was once known as "crimson witch magick." The Crimson Witch was supposedly once a real person (early 1800's) who did witchcraft to save marriages, get those girls or guys who had no real prospects a relationship, etc. She was purported to be a kind old lady interested in bringing happiness to others. Interestingly enough, the legend goes that she never married having lost her own true love to some kind of accident.

The 7 knob wishing candles are just what they say – candles for wishes. A wish is made on each knob of the candle, whether it be for spirituality, love, money, etc. You can make a different wish on each knob, or the same one on each knob.

There has also been some talk here that using one of our potions on your candles make them much stronger. The potions ARE much stronger than the regular oils. The potions are based on very strong magickal principles. As to HOW much stronger (four times, ten times, fifty times stronger), I don't really think there is any way to know that. But obvious wisdom says that if you use a product that is naturally stronger, you are upping the strength of the candle. Again, usage is based on your perception of your situation – unless you are advised to do so by Sister B or your caseworker. When they recommend a strategy such as this, they have a good reason for it – they are either being guided, or have seen a good result in a similar situation. Many times, we recommend to other clients what we have seen work for a client in a similar situation. Certainly we want everyone to benefit from everyone else's success!

I hope this is helpful to you all.

Love,

Mambo Sam

August 25, 2015
You ordered your reading…now what?
Hey there!

Most of you know that both Mambo Sam and myself do some extensive preparation before we speak with you for a reading.. Meditation is one of the ways in which we prepare. The preparation meditation is focused on what we know of you and your situation, as well as whatever questions and concerns have been listed on your reading form.

Did you know that there are steps YOU can take to prepare yourself for our reading :P)

Here is a brief list of suggestions for things you can do to prepare yourself before a reading :
1. Be present for the reading! Schedule your appointment at a time when you have plenty of time both before and after the session. If you are feeling time pressure, you will not be able to focus on what is being said. Be as calm and relaxed as possible.
2. When you submit your form for your reading, really think about your questions! What questions do you find that you ask yourself the most about your situation? Is there some worry or concern that is on your mind as you fall asleep, and is still there when you wake up? If so, ask about it!
3. Sometimes a reading may go in a direction which was not planned. This is OK! The Spirits sometimes believe they have information they deem more important! And they are almost always right!
4. Don’t be afraid to ask more questions or ask for clarification. This is your session. If something doesn’t make sense, keep asking questions until you really understand the answers. You will be glad you did.
5. If you want a transcript of your reading, order the reading to be done in the typing chat room. The transcripts generated can be read and reread, and referred back to when time has warped our memories, which is so often does J If you prefer a phone reading keep a notebook handy to jot down information or more questions if you get them.
6. Ten to fifteen minutes before the session sit quietly and clear your mind. This will help you be more present during the session and actually hear what is being said.
7. Sometimes you may hear something which you consider “bad news”… it is our position that no news is truly bad news. We look at these instances as an opportunity to address something hindering the situation about which we did not previously know. Knowledge is Power! If we do not know about a problem, well, how can we address it???
8. After the session you may want to take some time to integrate and reorient yourself back into your everyday world. Be aware of this and plan a few minutes to “come back” after the reading. Review your notes, if you took any.
9. You may experience some emotion in the hours or day following the reading. Embrace this! Do not stuff the feelings back down. Journal about them if journaling is your thing. If you find the emotions confusing or persistent, email Mambo Sam or Sister Bridget and they will assist you.
If you are interested in having a reading with Mambo Sam, please click here

If you are interested in having a reading with Sister Bridget , please click here.

In Service

Sister Bridget
August 17, 2015
The Amazing and Fabulous LaSirene and Agwe!

Oh this is a good one! Well, of course all of our free rituals are amazing… but this power couple of the sea is always a fan favorite! 🙂

Our next free online ritual will be honoring Capitaine Agwe and LaSirene – the king and queen of the ocean! Husband and wife, they rule the seas from their majestic underwater kingdom. With all the wealth of the ocean, they can help in financial matters. With a love as enduring and timeless as the seas, they can help in love situations. As a Voodoo couple, they can bring their power to a very wide variety of situations!

Join us on Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 PM Eastern (1 PM Central, 12 PM Mountain, 11 AM Pacific) in honoring and petitioning LaSirene and Capitaine Agwe!

Anyone and everyone can join or participate completely anonymously in our online rituals. The rituals are done in real time, live online. You remain nameless and faceless and just enjoy the ritual in the comfort of your own home! Spellmaker offers these rituals free online via a webcam – you will not be seen, but you can see the ritual as it is happening.

Get more information on how to participate here: http://www.spellmaker.com/prayer.htm

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

August 17, 2015
Once in a Blue Moon!

Hello everyone,

I am sure that most of you have seen that tonight we are having a blue moon! :-) While there are some variations on the definition of a blue moon, this one is categorized as such due to the fact that it is the second full moon in the same month.

So what does this mean for us magickally? According to moon magick beliefs, this is a great time to decide on setting new goals. This is a time of creativity and starting new projects. If you have going through something and want to have a fresh start, tonight is great time to put some energy towards that thought process.

Light yourself a nice candle, put on some mood music, and write in your journal about any new projects that you would like to plan. Put some energy towards the idea that you are wanting a clean start on an old problem. Set goals for upcoming events and projects. This is an awesome time to thing magickally, creatively, and with thoughts of letting go of past failures and looking forward to new successes.

This is also a good time to charge up ritual objects that you might have – put them out in the moonlight!

If the weather holds out, charge yourself out in the moonlight, too! Visualize the enriching rays filling you with promises of success, letting go of past failures, and sticking to new goals.

Since we won't get another blue moon of this type until January 31, 2018, I think I will make some blue moon oil! It's pretty easy!

What you need: 1 lodestone, 1 piece of iron pyrite, some blue violet leaves and whatever carrier oil you prefer. Throw them into a mason jar, shake them up, and leave them out in the moonlight overnight. Voila! Blue moon oil charged up under the light of the blue moon. This is an oil that can be used to consecrate objects, work with new projects, goal setting, creativity, etc.

Have fun!

Best regards,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

July 31, 2015
Free Classes Going Great!

Hello everyone!

It probably comes as no surprise to many of you that I love to teach! At one point in time, I actually thought that my career would be that of a professor. Life took me in a different direction, but I have had my chance at teaching many times in my life: I have taught drama, karate, English, writing, acting, and, of course, Vodou/voodoo and other magickal subjects.

We have recently started up our public classes again here at www.spellmaker.com! I am happy to be back in the teaching saddle again. :-) We have started out with a series of classes on getting to know and live with the Vodou spirits, the lwa, les lois, or the loa! Class has been fun and rewarding. It's always great to get to meet and teach both new and old friends!

As we move along, we will be teaching many different metaphysical and occult subjects. While Vodou/voodoo is our main focus most of the time, we will also teach witchcraft, hoodoo, root work, and other things as we continue on.

These particular classes are completely free – all are welcome! As we move along, many subjects will be covered. We would love for you to join us. Our format is different than it used to be. We used to be in a typing-only chat room. We did have fun! Now we have a fancy Adobe-based classroom where you can actually see me, but you remain anonymous (unless you choose otherwise). Also, the classes are recorded in case you miss a class and don't want to be behind on the next class. I am including a link here to the very first recorded class of this series so that you can get an idea of the class structure.

If you desire to see the class, just click here to go to the recording.

We do ask that you register for class if you desire to attend. Registration is simple, free, and no one is going to use your information to try to sell you anything!

If you desire to register for class, just click here to register.

I do hope that you will join us! We have fun and you are welcome to participate as little or as much as you desire.

Love to all,
Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

July 30, 2015
My 21 Golden Rules of Unhappiness

Greetings, friends!

Most of the time my life revolves around helping those that are trying to find their happiness…or at least that is what I THINK I am doing! Sometimes, though, I am pretty sure that what people are wanting to do is desperately hang on to their unhappiness; they want to wallow in it, taste it, smear it all over them. So, I have to give those folks some time and some advice. I don't want to be unfair and only cater to the people who want to be happy! So here it goes:

My 21 Golden Rules of Making Sure You Remain Unhappy:

1. Assume the worst about everyone because, of course, you can't trust them. They are all out to get you. It's all about them being against you. Your perception of them can't possibly be wrong. Stick to your conclusion that they are out to get you.

2. Don't talk to anyone whom you think has slighted you, insulted you, or otherwise hurt you. Bottle that hurt up inside. Act really strange around them and make them guess why. For heaven's sake, don't let them know and don't ever give them a chance to explain.

3. Make sure everything is all about you. Nothing anyone else is doing is important anyway, right? Make sure all conversations revolve around you, especially when they bring up something about themselves. "Yes, I know you are buying a new house. I wish I could buy a new house. I would love a new house. Oh look, I'm doing this cool thing over here. Let's talk about that."

4. Resent other peoples' happiness. Hate all happy single people, couples, and families. Resent everyone else's accomplishments. Measure your own accomplishments up against theirs and make sure you realize that yours fall short of theirs; this offers an especially good reason to hate them and resent them. Allow your jealousy to show in subtle ways – don't worry, they will catch on. Bonus: If you happen to be single and looking – you can really hate on happy couples.

5. Don't participate in any fun activities with others. Make sure that you sit back and don't join in any reindeer games. Don't engage in any thing that the group is doing. Play it cool, showing that you don't like these childish past times. Don't offer any suggestions on what you would like to do. Let them guess. Spend time instead looking at your phone. Staring off into space or being extremely interested in your fingernails works, too. Bonus: Sit with an uppity expression letting them know of your disdain for their foolish attempts at having fun. A scowl works for this purpose, too. Eye rolls are great here, too. Double bonus: No smiling the entire time.

6. Don't join in the conversation. Make sure that everyone around you is uncomfortable while you sit in silence. Don't bother to learn how to have a conversation. (There are NO books that teach you how to do that, right?) Don't ask anyone questions about themselves, their work, children, spouse, pets, background, hometown, good restaurants, movies they've seen, TV shows they watch, vacations they took, music they listen to, hobbies, or anything like that. That's no way to start a conversation, right? Bonus: The one-word answer when they try to engage you in a conversation is awesome. Hey, they want to talk, let them do the talking, right?

7. Assume everyone is looking at you and judging you for your color, gender, weight, clothing, sexual orientation, make up, lack of make up, hairstyle… something.   Assuming this assures that you won't have to be friends with any those judgmental people (i.e., everyone breathing).

8. Ask advice from everyone, take advice from no one. Engage them in senseless conversations about your life and your needs and your wants. Pretend to be listening carefully to what they say. Do the opposite of what they advise. What the hell do they know anyway? Bonus: The more of their time you waste asking their advice and not following it, the less time there will be to do anything meaningful with them. Double bonus: If you accidentally take their advice and things don't work out to your satisfaction, blame them. Triple bonus: If they actually help you, resent that! You didn't need their help! Why the hell are they doing nice things for you? Idiots.

9. Turn every event, family dinner, and party into a time for you to drink too much and bemoan your life to everyone.  Get a good crying jag going. Make sure they are good and uncomfortable before you pass out. Bonus: Puking anywhere where someone else has to clean it up. Double bonus: Puking in the car of the poor sap that offered to get you home.

10. Tell everyone who is trying to help you: "You don't understand. You're life is perfect." Make sure you do NOT listen to them when they tell you they have had hardships, sad times, struggles of their own. They are full of crap. You can SEE into their souls and past lives and know that their life has always been perfect and always will be. This is also a good time to play the blame game – anyone and everyone is fair game here – blame at random for your unhappiness! It's good for the soul to not take any responsibility for your own happiness! Bonus: As they struggle to understand you and think of ways to help you, debate every single suggestion they make, start out with, "You don't understand." That is a good counter to all measures anyone might take to help you feel that they have compassion and empathy towards you. Double bonus: Show them your utmost maturity by pointing out to them all the wonderful things in their life vs. the horrible misery that is your life. Give examples. Show your work.

11. Don't smile or talk with anyone at a gathering of any kind. Make sure that no one knows you are there. Enter without greeting anyone; leave without saying goodbye to anyone. Don't engage with anyone. This insures that everyone will NOT think of you when having their own gathering. It makes sure that no one will say, "Hey I met this great guy/gal and I think you would like them, too." No social networking with people in order to meet more people. My goodness, you might accidentally meet more people and they might try to get you to do fun things and meet more people and THOSE people might try to get you to do fun things and meet MORE people. It's a vicious cycle of people wanting to engage with you and have fun. Avoid it all costs.

12. Assume facts not in evidence. Go with that little snippet of conversation you overheard. (Who needs to hear the whole story to make a judgment, right?). Make sure you go with what you observed for 30 seconds, not what may have preceded it or happened afterwards. 30 seconds is enough for you, right? Assume, assume, assume – it won't make an ass out of you and me – just them! Above all, do not seek out the facts of the situation – just judge it from your limited observation of it. That's all you need.

13. Don't try to understand the motivation of others.  If someone does something boneheaded, never give them another chance. Don't ask. Don't speak up. (Yes, we already said that before, but it so important that it needs to be reiterated.) Stay in a huff. Be angry. (But, be sure to lie about being angry, hurt, etc. The old classics work well here, "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong.") Don't allow anyone to soothe you or explain the reality of a situation to you. Bonus: Never accept their apology. Double bonus: Encourage them to apologize again. Ha! Don't accept it…again.

14. Run away. Don't stay and try to work it out. Don't give anyone a chance to help you understand what is happening. Don't speak up. (Yep, third time for that one.) Just run away and start over and over and over and over and over. That's fun, right?

15. Judge, judge, and judge some more. Of course, not that anyone should judge you, but it's absolutely fine for you to be Judgy McJudgerson. It's all good. Cut those people right out of your life who do not pass muster. Who needs them, right?

16. Don't. Try. Anything. Ever.

17. Minimize and be unhappy with your accomplishments. Don't take any pride in what you have done. Don't share it with anyone. Always be dissatisfied with your lot in life and think ALL THE TIME about what you haven't done. Bonus: Minimize the accomplishments of others; if you can't enjoy your own accomplishments, then certainly don't enjoy anyone else's. Double bonus: Getting people to listen to how awful it is that you didn't become a brain surgeon, concert pianist, trapeze artist. They'll feel terrible for you.

18. Don't try to do anything to change your situation. If you should accidentally change your situation, fall back on old habits; that will fix everything and make sure that your new situation turns into your old situation. Ah, your comfort zone will be complete. Be very careful with this one. Some people will actually try to help you change you situation to try to make you feel better. Assholes. Get away from them immediately. Bonus: Drag them into your situation, then run away from them. Bewildered, much? Yes, they will be. Rub your hands together gleefully.

19. Drink the Hatorade. Hate things just because your narrow little mind can only handle the most White Bread World possible. Hate on movie stars.. because you know them so well. Hate on the neighbors…what are they up to over there? (But don't try to get to know them!) Hate on the friends of your few remaining friends. (They are terrible people.) Hate on black, white, red, brown, yellow, and/or mixed people (your choice of hate) because they are "something." (You know, lazy, dishonest, scary, ignorant, thugs, SOMETHING… um… different than you.) Hate on gay people, straight people, bi people, transgender people (all weirdoes, right?).

20. Be afraid.

21. Don't understand that this list is really about how to be happy.

So, there you have it, gentle readers! :-) These are surefire ways to stay unhappy. There are plenty more, but it seems that this should be enough to get you going on your road to eternal unhappiness.

Now that you read this, now that you may have recognized yourself in a few of these (hopefully only a few!), do you really want to stay unhappy? Really?

Step out of your own shadow, my friends. Happiness is something attainable. It isn't a myth and it isn't for a privileged few. It's for me. It's for you. Try it on for size! You just might like it! Yes, you might have to work at it. Yes, you might have to do scary and unfamiliar things. The benefits definitely outweigh the risks. I promise!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

June 2, 2015
Tips for beating anxiety.
Hi!

I came across this article this morning in my inbox. Belleruth Naparstek has a wonderful collection of guided imagery recordings on her website Health Journeys. I have been listening to her for many years. She is a pioneer in this area, and also has quite a nice collection of articles and summaries of scientific studies done on the effect of guided imagery on various conditions. I know many folks (my self included) suffer from anxiety, and I hope you find these suggestions below helpful.

Love

Sister Bridget

BR’s Tips for Beating Anxiety

Anxiety causes people to lash out, react impulsively and jump into places and relationships they shouldn't. Nine times out of ten, anger and nasty behavior is born of anxiety, looking for a place to get released.

It's also a huge energy waster and time-sapper, preventing people from getting things done, simply because it sucks up so much time and focus. More often than not, efficient, productive people aren't any more talented or educated than others, but they're people who are unhampered by anxiety, so they get a straight shot at their goals.

I recall seeing a surprising statistic that 50% of all office visits to the doctor are due to anxiety in one form or another (as opposed to illness).
So here are a few tips and tricks for anyone who wants to better manage his or her anxiety and get back into the driver's seat, where surely their tush belongs. I doubt any of these will be news to you – but they might serve as a good reminder and punch list. Please add your own suggestions – this is by no means comprehensive. And, of course, if you've got persistent, unrelenting anxiety that is interfering with your life, get some professional help too.
1. Get Mindful of Your Triggers
  Focus your attention on your innards enough to become mindful of how and when your anxiety gets activated. You're going to need to know this if you want to get ahead of it and short-circuit it, before it develops into full-blown flooding. So this is the key to everything else, unless of course, you want to become a full time meditator, 24/7 – a pretty ambitious alternative.
2. Learn to Breathe
  Learn to breathe slowly, deeply at will. It's the quickest way to trick the body into thinking it's relaxed, and everything else will follow suit. When we're relaxed, we breathe like sleeping babies – slowly, with the belly rising with the in-breath and emptying with the out-breath. Practice at this and you're halfway there, even if you do nothing else on this list. (You may also want to read Priscilla Warner's book by this very name: Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life).
3. Listen to Guided Imagery or Affirmations
  Take a few minutes each day to listen to some soothing guided imagery listen to affirmations in the car while driving. Again, all your'e doing is habituating your mind and body to the habit of relaxation. Then when something happens and you need it, it's right there for you, in your back pocket.
4. Get Stuff Out of Your Head and onto a List
  Carry around a lightweight notebook, so you can relieve your mind of having to keep track of all the dumb detailed stuff you need to do. Simple, it's true, but you'd be surprised at how unburdening this can be on your mind. Plus, it's a good habit for actually remembering to do them!
5. Use Physical Exercise to Channel Anxious Energy
  You don't have to run a marathon – just walk briskly or go crazy with the vacuum cleaner. Like learning to breathe, this is a physical way to approach calming your mind, as old as dirt, but very effective.
6. De-Clutter Your Surroundings
  Studies show that messy, disorganized surroundings subtly but surely feed anxiety (depression, too). This doesn't mean you should become a compulsive neatnik and give yourself one more thing to worry about. But if you can reduce the clutter in the living spaces that you use (or even throw it all in one room you don't use, where you don't have to see it) you can reduce your baseline anxiety levels.
7. Eat Smart
  You know the drill. Take it easy on the caffeine – coffees, colas, teas and, yes, even chocolate, all stimulate adrenaline, so use them wisely and judiciously. And do lean on the omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B's, and whole grain carbs for regulating serotonin. And big doses of sugar is NOT your friend.
8. Practice Silence
  Give yourself some quiet. Shut off the radio, take a news fast from the TV, let the phone go to voicemail, get away from chattering colleagues and friends (even the really nice ones) and help yourself to some silence. This includes text messages on your phone and emails on your computer. Mini-retreats taken during the day give your brain a chance to rest and your psyche to sort itself out.
9. Try Aromatherapy
  You'd be surprised at the relaxing impact of aromatherapy and what certain fragrances can do to make a dent on your anxiety levels. Scents like lavender, sandalwood, pine, chamomile, lemongrass and bergamot can be mixed or matched uniquely to suit you – all it takes is a little experimenting to see what works best. And you can access them through lotions, candles, bath oils, inhalation beads and diffusers – even scented pillows.
10. Laugh, Play, Smile
  Even if you don't feel like it at first, and even if your anxiety is telling you that you can't possibly afford to take the time for it, a little break with friends or an absorbing, light-hearted movie or just a laugh with a laugher can interrupt anxiety.
May 13, 2015
To my soulmate…..

Hello,

I came across this article just yesterday online. It addresses something which Mambo Sam has said, well, forever, which is this more than one person (some call it soul mates) for each of us. I believe many of us have experienced that strong moment of recognition of another person that is almost indescribable. You feel as if you know them, I mean really know them, and yet how can that logically be when your first glimpse of him/her was just a moment ago?

Imagine if there were truly only one person we were supposed to meet up with while here on Earth. How long would the odds be that first, we would actually find them… it is a big planet, after all. And then if we do find them, that they are available? And that we are also available? And then that there is no cultural or economic or other issue which is not getting in the way? See where this is going?

With that in mind, it makes sense to me that we have multiple opportunities to love in this life. Because, as the author sums up so well…

"It is powerful to acknowledge these soulmates and thank them for the small reminder that in this massive, swallowing world we are never without the possibility of love."

Hope you enjoy the article!

Love,

Sister Bridget

Begin article:

To my Soulmate which I choose not to love

by Janne Robinson

I have a theory that we have multiple “ones.”

That there is not just one soul reserved for us to love, learn and go deep with.

This was a hard lesson to learn, meeting my first soulmate, one—what have you, and realizing I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life with him.

I remember grieving the day he got engaged, because in a hopeful, stubborn way part of my heart had refused—until that moment—to believe he wasn’t my forever person.

He was on the wishful back burner of my heart.

I called my mother, in tears and she told me that he still was my person. He still was a one. He was still my soul mate.

I realized that just because he wasn’t my forever didn’t invalidate his importance in my life and our connection.

Our connection has remained something incredibly significant, something I fall back upon in my heart when I need to.

When I need to remember exactly what I want in a partner, I remember what a staggering soul he is—and I wait.

I want to talk today about the other “ones,” the soulmates we may meet while we are single or in a relationship that we don’t end up with.

That we have a sure fire connection with, real as any—but because of timing we don’t always go deep with.

I think it is incredibly mature to, without shame, acknowledge that in our lifespan we will bump into handfuls of succulent souls we want to take a bite out of.

Whether we are single, in a relationship, engaged or married we will run into other ones.

I also don’t think acknowledging these connections means we love our partners or want to be in our relationship less—it just means there’s a f*ck ton of souls/lovers on this planet we could dance with/learn from.

They are the ones we meet in a coffee line-up, the one beside us in our yoga class, the guy at the bbq who’s engaged.

It’s the ones we meet and feel an undeniably powerful connection.

A connection that leaves us wanting to know more.

I think we make a choice, whether we engage in these connections.

These words are for the ones we meet and don’t explore.

The ones we love fully but don’t spend the rest of our lives with.

Those we run into at the grocery store and never see again.

The lovers we never take apart with our lips.

The partners we don’t open to and go deep with.

The people we don’t have a chance to have a first soul dip with.

The soul mates we skip coffee with, and look over our shoulder—for just a slight moment and wonder about.

The connections that exist that are missed, by choice.

Because we are involved, because they are unavailable, because one is simply not ready for love.

These ones are just as important as the forever–for we are here to connect, and what a gift to know that there are endless humans to open our hearts to and dance with.

What a treat to grow with multiple souls in a lifespan, or to simply know there are others out there who want to grow with us.

It is powerful to acknowledge these soulmates and thank them for the small reminder that in this massive, swallowing world we are never without the possibility of love.

May 6, 2015
Ancestor Candle Making!

Hello dear readers!

As most of you probably already know, we have begun making ancestor candles and offering them in our Etsy shop! Parran Matt is hand making these candles and we are consecrating them in the names you provide for ancestor service. Each and every candle is handmade, hand poured, specifically for the person who orders it. Even though we always think of the ancestors at this time of year, we certainly will be offering this candle year round, as anytime is a good time to work with and honor your ancestors.

The making of these candles has been such a fulfilling experience! We ask each person to send in names of their ancestors when they order the candle. Then using an "ashes to ashes" type of mindset, we burn those names and offer up a prayer of honor to your ancestors.

After the ashes are burned and the proper prayers have been said, the ashes are then added to the candle wax of your candle.

Your candle is then poured into the skull mold and allowed to cool and then get ready for shipping to you along with incense, a little bottle of Fet Ghede potion, and instructions on how to use your candle for ancestor service.

If you don't know WHY you are serving your ancestors, let me just say that you must thank them for life itself… without them, there is NO YOU! If you are going through tough times, feel lost, have problems you cannot find the solution to, call upon your ancestors. If you are doing well, prospering, and living a happy life, then thank your ancestors!

Ancestor service is certainly not unique to the Vodou life; many, many cultures and religions offer honor and service to their ancestors. All Souls' Day, Dia de los Muertos, and many other celebrations all offer honor to our ancestors. However, as Vodouisants, we believe that not just one day is for ancestor service, but rather we always want to keep our ancestors in mind. Our hierarchy is: God, ancestors, the lwa. So your ancestors are considered even more important than the lwa themselves; if you call upon the lwa, you should also be honoring your ancestors! 🙂

Your ancestors know you; they can protect you, guide you, and walk with you. All you need to do is call on them and offer them the respect that they so richly deserve. This particular candle is one way to do just that!

If you need it by Fet Ghede (November 2, 2014), then please order by 10/24/2014. However, the candle can be used anytime!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/207245046/maman-brigittes-ancestor-memorial-candle

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

October 21, 2014
A new look at Ancestor Service.

As Vodouisants, calling on, feeding, and honoring our ancestors is something we are very familiar with. Our Ancestors are a part of us; they are with us and around us always. Ancestors can be called on as a group, or individually. It is fairly traditional to hold an Ancestor service one a year, but they can be held anytime at all. Just yesterday I was at one of my favorite spots in a local cemetery, and came across this site***

The family and friends of this departed little boy had held his tenth birthday party for him. At first, a wave of sadness passed through me. But after a moment, I realized the people at this party were far from sad. I could see them decorating with streamers, laughing and joking, sharing stories about their little one, but also telling stories to him. I am certain there was a cake with candles, balloons, presents (which were left here with him) and punch. He was very much a participant in his own celebration.

Even though this young person passed before many of those in his family, he is still of their blood, and thus, now an Ancestor. The openness and joy in this birthday party was, for me, very moving. It has given me much to consider (or reconsider) about the “routine” my own service has fallen into. I plan on shaking things up a bit next time around!

Love

Sister Bridget

(***Names and dates have been photoshopped out)

July 27, 2014