There’s this quiet pressure people don’t talk about much, the idea that once something hurts you, you should be “over it.” That if someone disappointed you, pulled away, or left you confused, the right response is to shut the door, lock it, and never look back.
But that’s not how the heart works.
Sometimes you can see something clearly and still care. Sometimes you can know a situation isn’t right and still feel connected to it. Sometimes you can be hurt and still miss the person who hurt you.
None of that makes you weak. It makes you human.
Feelings don’t follow logic. They don’t switch off just because something didn’t go the way you hoped. The connection you felt, the moments you shared, the meaning you gave it, those things don’t disappear overnight just because the situation changed.
And trying to force yourself not to care can actually make things harder.
You might find yourself thinking, “Why am I still like this?” or “I should be past this by now.” But there is no fixed timeline for the heart. There is no rule that says you have to feel a certain way by a certain day.
You’re allowed to take your time with it.
Caring doesn’t mean you have to go backwards. Caring doesn’t mean you have to reach out. Caring doesn’t mean you have to accept less than you deserve.
It just means that what you felt was real to you.
And that matters.
There is a difference between holding onto someone in a way that hurts you and simply acknowledging that a part of you still cares. One keeps you stuck. The other is just honesty.
You don’t have to fight your feelings to move forward. You don’t have to erase someone to begin again.
Sometimes healing looks less like letting go all at once and more like gently loosening your grip over time, while still allowing yourself to feel what you feel.
You can care and still choose yourself. You can miss someone and still move forward. You can hold the memory without letting it hold you.
There’s nothing wrong with your heart for taking its time.
In fact, that softness, the part of you that still cares, is the same part of you that will recognize something real when it comes along again.
It’s easy to feel like you’re not getting anywhere.
When you’re in the middle of something emotional, especially something complicated, it can feel like you’re going in circles. One day you feel strong and clear, and the next day you’re right back in the same thoughts, the same feelings, the same questions.
It can make you wonder if anything is actually changing at all.
But it is.
Progress doesn’t always look like a clean break or a big, obvious shift. Most of the time, it’s much quieter than that. It shows up in small moments that are easy to miss if you’re only looking for something dramatic.
It might look like pausing before you respond instead of reacting right away. It might look like noticing something that doesn’t feel right, even if you don’t act on it yet. It might look like needing a little more space than you used to.
Those things matter.
Even the fact that you’re thinking about your situation differently means something is moving. Awareness is a kind of progress, even if nothing on the outside has changed yet.
And there will be days that don’t feel like progress at all.
Days where you miss them more. Days where you question everything. Days where it feels like you’ve taken ten steps back.
That doesn’t erase the ground you’ve already covered.
Healing doesn’t move in a straight line. It shifts, it pauses, it loops back on itself sometimes. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re working through something that matters to you.
You don’t have to be perfect at this.
You don’t have to have all the answers right now. You don’t have to be completely over it to be moving forward.
You’re allowed to be in the middle of it.
Take a moment and look at yourself with a little more kindness than you’re used to.
You’re still here. You’re still trying. You’re still choosing to move forward, even when it’s slow.
That counts for more than you think.
You may not feel strong every day, but the fact that you keep going, even in small ways, says more about your strength than any single “good” day ever could.
There’s a moment every year when you go outside, look up, and realize something is missing.
You don’t notice it right away. The sky still looks like the sky. There are still stars, still that familiar hush that settles in after sunset. But then it hits you.
Orion is gone.
If you’ve ever learned to recognize him — really recognize him — it feels strange. His three-star belt is so steady, so easy to find, that once you know it, you start to expect it. It becomes part of your sky. Part of your rhythm.
And then one night, he’s just… not there.
But here’s the thing. Orion doesn’t actually disappear.
He just moves on.
As the seasons shift, Orion drifts lower in the evening sky, setting earlier and earlier each night. By summer, he’s still above us, still whole, still exactly where he’s always been — but now he’s rising and setting with the Sun, hidden in the daylight where we can’t see him.
Nothing about him is broken. Nothing has been lost.
He’s simply stepped out of view.
And months later, if you’re paying attention, you’ll catch him again just before dawn. Quiet. Almost shy. That same familiar line of three stars rising in the early morning sky, like a memory returning.
By winter, he’s back where he belongs — standing tall, clear and unmistakable, as if he never left at all.
The sky teaches this lesson over and over, if we’re willing to watch it.
Not everything that leaves is gone. Not everything that disappears is lost.
Some things just move into a different part of the cycle, waiting for the right time to return.
So if there’s something in your life that feels like it’s slipped out of reach — a person, a feeling, a sense of direction — it might not be gone in the way it feels.
It may just be out of sight for now.
And like Orion, it may come back into view when the season shifts again.
Until then, the sky is still full. Still moving. Still holding more than we can see at once.
Spring Correspondences for Your Book of Shadows Herbs, colors, flowers, symbols, stones, and intentions for the season of renewal
Spring has a way of arriving in layers. First there is the shift in the light. Then the softening of the air. Then the first green things begin to appear, sometimes so quietly you almost miss them. It is a season of return, but not in a loud or hurried way. Spring does not burst in all at once. It wakes slowly, and in that slow waking there is a kind of magick all its own.
For many witches and spiritual practitioners, spring is a season of renewal, growth, fresh starts, balance, fertility, and hope. It is a beautiful time to refresh your altar, update your Book of Shadows, and gather the correspondences that feel true to this part of the year. Some of these are traditional, some are intuitive, and some may be deeply personal. That is part of the beauty of keeping a Book of Shadows in the first place. It becomes a living record of how the seasons speak to you.
Below is a simple but meaningful collection of spring correspondences you can use in your own practice, journaling, altar work, spellcraft, seasonal decorating, or quiet reflection.
The energy of spring
Before getting into the lists, it helps to pause and name the feeling of the season.
Spring carries the energy of:
awakening
renewal
fresh starts
fertility
hope
growth
balance
healing
movement
possibility
This is not quite the full abundance of summer. Spring is the first stirring. The first sign of life returning. The first little yes after a long no.
If winter is the inward season, spring is the season of emergence.
Spring colors
Color correspondences can be used in candles, altar cloths, ribbons, flowers, clothing, journal pages, spell bags, and seasonal decorations. Spring colors often reflect both the soft return of life and the brighter promise of what is to come.
Some traditional and intuitive spring colors include:
Green Growth, fertility, healing, abundance, renewal, new life
Gold The returning sun, vitality, blessing, sacred illumination
You do not need to use all of these. Even one or two colors can be enough to shift the feeling of a space and align your work with the season.
Spring herbs
Spring herbs tend to carry cleansing, protective, healing, and awakening qualities. Some are culinary, some are magickal, and many are both. Herbs can be used fresh or dried depending on your preference and availability.
Rosemary A wonderful herb for cleansing, remembrance, clarity, protection, and mental freshness. Rosemary is excellent in spring washes, bundles, altar bowls, and simple home blessings.
Mint Fresh energy, prosperity, movement, renewal, cooling, and clearing stagnant conditions. Mint feels like spring in herb form.
Lavender Peace, rest, beauty, emotional healing, gentle spiritual work, balance. Lavender is lovely for softening the nervous system after winter heaviness.
Thyme Courage, purification, vitality, strength, and resilience. Thyme has an old-world feel that sits beautifully in spring correspondences.
Basil Luck, abundance, prosperity, blessing, love, and freshness. Basil is one of those herbs that brings a lively, clean energy.
Parsley Renewal, cleansing, purification, protection, and health. Simple, common, and underrated.
Lemon balm Joy, ease, emotional soothing, uplift, restoration. Beautiful for spring after a difficult winter season.
Nettle Protection, strength, vitality, and healing. Nettle carries a wilder edge and reminds us that spring is not only delicate. It is powerful too.
Dill Luck, prosperity, protection, and growth. Dill carries a bright, living energy.
Sage Wisdom, purification, blessing, and spiritual clearing. If you use sage in your practice, spring is a natural time to work with it intentionally.
You might also choose herbs based on what is growing near you. Local plants often make the strongest seasonal allies.
Spring flowers
Flowers are one of the most obvious symbols of spring, but they also carry distinct energies. They can be placed on an altar, pressed into journals, woven into seasonal wreaths, offered to spirits, or simply enjoyed as living reminders of the season.
Daffodil Hope, rebirth, cheerful energy, return of life, confidence
Rose Love, beauty, blessing, sensuality, and spiritual devotion. Roses can belong to many seasons, but soft pink or white roses can fit beautifully into spring work.
Even if you do not have access to fresh flowers, images, pressed petals, or simple floral sketches in your Book of Shadows can hold the same feeling.
Spring stones and crystals
Crystals for spring often support growth, emotional clarity, healing, new beginnings, and balance. Choose the ones that feel alive in your hand. Spring is a tactile season. It wants to be felt.
Moss agate Growth, new beginnings, earth connection, stability, abundance. One of the best spring stones.
Green aventurine Luck, opportunity, prosperity, optimism, expansion
Rose quartz Self-love, tenderness, heart healing, emotional renewal
You do not need a large crystal collection to work seasonally. One stone placed on your altar, carried in your pocket, or tucked into a journal can be enough.
Spring symbols
Symbols are often the fastest way to create a seasonal feeling in your Book of Shadows. They can be drawn, painted, collaged, stitched, or simply noted as anchors for later use.
Some common spring symbols include:
eggs
nests
seeds
buds
sprouts
hares or rabbits
lambs
birds
feathers
bees
butterflies
Not every spring symbol has to be sweet or decorative. Spring is also mud, wind, unpredictability, cold mornings, and hard little shoots pushing through frozen ground. That belongs to the season too.
Spring intentions
One of the most useful parts of a seasonal correspondences page is the intentions section. This tells you what kind of work the season naturally supports.
Spring intentions may include:
renewal
balance
healing
hope
fertility
growth
new beginnings
prosperity
fresh energy
emotional clearing
inspiration
confidence
This is a very good season for spells and rituals around:
starting over
finding your footing again
clearing out old heaviness
blessing a new home or project
planting prosperity
encouraging love and beauty
supporting healing and hope
inviting life back into a stagnant situation
It is also a season for simple personal promises. Not grand vows. Just the kind that help you move with the light.
Ways to use these correspondences
Once you gather your spring correspondences, you can put them to work in simple, beautiful ways.
You might:
create a dedicated spring page in your Book of Shadows
make a seasonal altar with one flower, one herb, one stone, and one candle
choose a spring color palette for journaling or decorating
build a small charm bag for renewal or growth
write a spring prayer using the symbols that speak to you
refresh your home with herbs and open windows
press spring flowers into your journal
create a list of what you want to grow this season
pair a spring stone with a seasonal intention and carry it with you
This does not have to be complicated to be meaningful.
A gentle note on personal correspondences
One of the most important things to remember is that correspondences are guides, not rules.
If spring feels pale gold to one person and stormy silver to another, both can be true. If violets mean comfort to you because of a childhood memory, that matters. If rosemary always reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen, that matters too. A living spiritual practice makes room for that kind of truth.
Your Book of Shadows should not just be a record of what other people say spring means. It should also become a record of what spring means to you.
What herbs do you reach for when the weather changes? What colors feel like return? What flowers stop you in your tracks? What kind of hope begins to stir in you when the light comes back?
Those are correspondences too.
Closing thoughts
Spring is a season of becoming. Not fully arrived, not fully formed, not yet in bloom, but moving unmistakably in that direction. There is something deeply sacred about that stage. The tenderness of it. The uncertainty of it. The quiet determination of it.
When you add spring correspondences to your Book of Shadows, you are doing more than making a list. You are creating a doorway into the season. A way to remember what this time of year feels like in your body, your home, your spirit, and your practice.
Use what speaks to you. Keep what feels alive. Let the season meet you where you are.
The earth does not rush into bloom, and neither do you need to.
There are seasons when life feels suspended. Decisions are out of your hands. Money is in limbo. Calls are not returned. Plans feel fragile. You wake up already tense.
Uncertainty has weight.
Many people believe staying spiritually steady means feeling calm all the time. It doesn’t. Faith is not the absence of fear. Magick is not control.
Staying spiritually steady during uncertainty means you don’t let fear run your life.
If you are walking through a stressful or uncertain season, here are a few steadying practices that truly help.
Narrow the Horizon
When life feels unstable, your mind jumps months ahead. Mortgage. Job. Health. Relationships. Worst-case scenarios stack up fast.
Pull it back.
Ask yourself one question: What needs my attention today?
Not next month. Not the entire future. Just today.
Spiritual steadiness often begins by refusing to catastrophize beyond the current sunrise.
Create One Daily Anchoring Ritual
When everything feels unpredictable, choose one small ritual that belongs to you.
Light a white candle each morning. Drink peppermint tea before bed. Step outside for five quiet minutes and breathe.
One action. Every day.
Consistency tells your nervous system that something in your world is still stable. That matters more than you think.
Protect Your Peace During Stressful Seasons
If you are already carrying uncertainty, do not add extra noise.
Limit doom scrolling. Step away from unnecessary arguments. Be mindful of who and what you allow into your mental space.
Peace does not just happen. It is protected.
Ground Yourself in the Physical World
When your thoughts begin spiraling, shift into your body.
Wash dishes. Brush your dog. Chop vegetables. Sweep the porch. Fold laundry.
Spirit lives in ordinary tasks. Stability is built through small, physical acts of care.
Uncertainty Is Not a Verdict
Not having answers yet does not mean the outcome is bad.
It means it is still unfolding.
There is a difference.
You can feel afraid and still be faithful. You can feel tired and still be steady. You can feel unsure and still remain grounded.
That is real strength.
If you are in a season of financial stress, relationship uncertainty, or simply waiting for answers, you are not failing spiritually. You are living through a chapter that requires endurance.
And if you would like personal guidance, candle suggestions, or support for your specific situation, you can write to mycase@spellmaker.com. We are here to help you stay spiritually steady while life rearranges itself.
Greetings spellmaker readers and a very happy Imbolc to each and every one of you!!
As we celebrate another turn in the wheel of the magical year, and prepare for the warmer, greener seasons ahead, Imbolc lends us the spark to keep moving through the coldest days. Imbolc, often referred to as Imbolg Brigantia, has sacred connections to the Ancient Celtic Goddess of hearth, home, healing and flame, Brigid, our beloved Maman Brigid, the sassy, smoking spouse of Baron Samedi in New Orleans Voudou, and St Bridget of Kildare. Indeed, honoring any and all aspects of Brigid, is appropriate during this season.
As Imbolc is loosely translated from old Gaelic to men “fire in the belly”, it sets Mother Earth in motion once again, awakens her from her solemn winter slumber, and lights our way to see the possibilities we have for the future.
Mambo Sam published a beautiful article on the connections between Maman Brigid, and the goddess Bridget, on her patreon, and I’ll is well worth a look.
I, myself, as a lapsed Pagan with Catholic roots, will be placing my red scarf outside tonight to encourage the blessings of Bridget on that powerful healing talisman, and lighting a candle in my cauldron to symbolically warm my home and my heart for all the manifesting I hope for in the coming spring and summertime.
I wish you all a blessed full moon this evening, a blessed Imbolc, and a beautiful journey on your magical paths!! ✨️
Below are some very wise words from our dear, dear late Sister Candelaria. This is a topic we see come up from time to time, and every once in a while, I think it bears repeating. This is not directed at any one in particular (as Sister says below). But it is important information everyone should know 🙂
***Begin post****
The reason why we ask you not to have readings while you are casting,
is quite simple. When you are actually casting a spell on someone or
having one cast for you, the energy surrounding that person and the
entire situation is all stirred up. Any time you read the energy
around spellwork, during the casting process, you will get a turmoil
of emotion. Spellwork stirs the pot, so to speak, and shakes things
up. That's what it's crafted to do! Because of this, any time you
get a reading during spellwork the reading will not be accurate.
It's just a simple fact. I have had some people tell me recently
(I'm not pointing fingers, I've heard this more than once.) that they
got a reading during spellwork and it was accurate because they were
told what they expected to hear, such as "your HD is blocking"
or "your HD has no emotion toward you." Even though you were willing
to take that as an accurate answer, I'm here to tell you that it was
NOT AN ACCURATE ANSWER, because that person was in the midst of
receiving your spellwork, thus their emotions were all twisted and
turned around!! Now, those are pretty mild for a reading during
spellwork. Other examples of readings during spellwork are "your HD
doesn't like you," or "your HD wants you to just go away and leave
him alone,"or even "I don't think you and your HD will be together."
THOSE ARE NOT ACCURATE READINGS EITHER, yet if someone tells you that
about your HD, you are going to believe it!! So you would take that
information, thinking it was correct, and you would process it over
and over again in your heart and in your mind and you would start to
have negative (hurt) feelings about your HD and it would basically
break your heart. This in turn will cause real damage to your case,
simply because you are putting negative energy toward it. But here's
the kicker…THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT TRUE, YET YOU TOOK IT TO HEART,
AND YOUR SPELLWORK IS NOT EVEN FINISHED YET!!! You've taken a step
toward destroying something that you have not even completed yet.
That's not constructive, my friends! In fact, that's destructive and
I have seen it hurt cases that could have had a swift and successful
end.
So basically what I'm saying is, that even though it sounds like a
good idea, GETTING A PSYCHIC READING DURING SPELLWORK IS NEVER AN
OPTION. It's not fair to you, it's not fair to your HD, and it's not
fair to your case. It's destructive, and it really can do serious
damage to your case. Mambo has set down these rules to help you. I
know it's hard, but I can tell you that if you play by the rules
Mambo has set forth, you have much greater chance of getting your
Heart's Desire, and isn't that why you are here in the first place.:-)
So, as far as getting psychic readings during spellwork…Please
DON'T DO IT!! We want you all to get your HD! Help us, help you.
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!
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 :
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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???
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
