Tag: Tarot

Hello there,

I just want to touch on some astrology for any of you who are interested. In the past few years, I have noticed a huge increase in astrology by the public at large, and especially for anyone interested in magical matters.

One thing that I have really noticed is the discussion of retrograde planets. The problematic thing about planetary retrogrades is that there can be alot of fear mongering involved, which can send people into a panic. So I am here today to tell you: STOP THE INSANITY!!! 

Planetary retrogrades have been going on as long as the planets have been in the heavens, and awareness of  retrograde planets has always been there for students of astrology. 

Many of us (myself included) have planets retrograde in a natal, or birth chart. Retrogrades are an  inevitable, like the sun setting, the seasons changing, and natural part of the cosmic consciousness.

The KEY to navigating planetary retrogrades is to know what to try to avoid and what to focus more upon during the retrograde period. The same way you know that you need to wear a winter coat in cold months, or know that you need to turn your headlights on to drive your car in the dark, is the way to approach a planetary retrogrades. 

So what do we focus on during Jupiter retrograde? Well, Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and in retrograde it can constrict areas concerned with the 9th house, such as travel, moving abroad, higher education, such as enrolling in college or seeking funds for education. And just as the heirophant in tarot can signify a teacher in the literal sense, he can also rule teachings of an esoteric nature. So subjects of religion and spirituality can be affected by a Jupiter retrograde. 

Does this mean NOT to follow a spiritual path during the retrograde? Absolutely not. But taking time to really do some soul searching about your beliefs or practices, or actually doing a deep dive into spiritual subjects you want to learn about so you can expand on it eventually, that is right up Jupiter retrograde's cosmic alley!

As with any retrograde, going inward is always a good idea. But does this mean you should just NOT enroll in that college course you have had your eye on? Of course not- it is just that during retrogrades allowing extra time and understanding margins for error or delay is always the wisest course of action. 

You can always look into your personal natal chart also to investigate if a planet's retrograde is making aspects to any of your personal planets. (Your sun or moon sign, or your Mercury Mars or Venus placements, respectively.)

So, that is just my 2 cents on the upcoming Jupiter retrograde, which will occur July 28th in ♈  Aries during the Leo new moon,, and move into Pisces in late October until stationing direct on November 24th.

This retrograde advises us to be wise and listen to our inner teacher as we progress through it.

Happy Moon Day to one and all 🙂

Today is the anniversary of mankind's first moon landing. In 1969, millions watched Neil Armstrong take those first steps and a new era was born. 

I love that there is a day to celebrate the moon because honestly, nothing (except maybe HALLOWEEN) makes me feel more magical than that mystical luminary in the night!

I have always been fascinated with the moon's pull over the tides and over the human psyche. I love her in all of her phases, and I love observing what occursas she travels the heavens through the astrological signs.

The moon has been my constant companion in life. There is a comforting familiarity about the moon as she changes every night, and with every season of the year.

No matter where I have been in the world, the moon was always there,  pulling the tides and lighting up the sky.

And I wish all of you a beautiful relationship with the moon, just as I have been lucky enough to have. 

"The moon, like a flower in heaven’s high bower, With silent delight sits and smiles on the night." – William Blake

Hey all

So this summer,my inner crafty person has started to emerge. One of the things I have started creating are scrappy flags. Maybe you have seen them on Etsy or on a neighbor's door. Basically they are scraps if material fastened to a rod or pole in the red white and blue colors of the American flag. 

I think one of the reasons I like scrappy flags so much is because I love things that utilize stuff we already have lying around!

These peculiar little craft projects remind me that you can always make something nifty out of what you have-your looks, your dinner, your home decor-even your life. It's the same principle of "bloom where you are planted." 

I'm not sure if this makes any sense to anyone out there but I feel like someone needed that message!

So…I'm not sure if anybody else does this but I am kind of a nerd for seasonal produce. 

 I think it may be a little bit of a product of all the cooking shows I like to watch but I also feel like it's a product of my observance and practice of voodoo.

 It always cracks me up when I'm doing a grocery order online and and I'm subconsciously evaluating which produce can be used to serve which lwa.

 I see hot peppers for the Baron and Maman and mangos for Ogoun. I see honeydew melon for La Siren, and strawberries for Erzulie Freda.

 Anything super tropical like coconuts and pineapples of course always remind me of our beloved Papa Legba.

 But the truth is I really wouldn't change any of this…to me it's just another assurance it's that the wonderful lwa are always with me in my life-I never shop without 'em! 😉

Hello readers! I just wanted to give a shout out to some of my favorite gemstones that bring out the heat and energy of the warm summer sun and can help you harness it as well!

Citrine: A clear cheerful yellow stone,citrine is a great stone to have in your arsenal for helping dispel depression and boost your mood. Citrine can help up your level of self confidence and attract monetary gain as it is the color of gold.

Tiger Eye: Named so because of its brown and amber colors that resemble the eyes of one of the big cats,tigers eye is perfect to use when they sun is entering the sign of Leo. It can help your intuition and heighten your senses to absolutely feline levels. It can also be used to find out information of a hidden nature because it helps awaken your ability to investigate the nature of things.

Golden Healer: This Golden amber stone has extremely high vibrational qualities and can align all of your chakras. It can be used to facilitate any maladies of the mind body or spirit (in conjunction with and not as a substitution for medical care). Golden healers really are a must have stone for every crystal connoisseur!

PS And don't discount putting some stones out for your ancestors or the lwa. Everyone enjoys a little bling bling from time to time!!

Hello readers and welcome to the month named for the ill fated and infamous Roman Emporer, Julius Caesar -the month of July!

Here in the US we still see American flags galore as we celebrate July 4th with fireworks and outdoor gatherings and Flag Day. It is the hottest time of the year and synonymous with camping,swimming and vacations.

But just as it is darkest just before dawn, the heat will peak but not last but for a few weeks as we begin moving into the darker portion of the year.

Enjoy the beautiful rays of gold while you can folks! Because as Ned Stark would say "winter is coming!"

Happy July to you!

Hey there 🙂 I hope everyone had a wonderful summer solstice! I was up before dawn to watch the sun rise and light my little beeswax candle so I was able to tick that off of my bucket list! ( I am not naturally an early riser lol).

I am a voudousaint, and love the Catholic nature of vodou, and yet I still feel like something is truly missing if I don't do a little something to acknowledge the pagan wheel of the year. I really feel like anyone can benefit from tuning into the cycles of mother 🌎 earth. 

I get alot of questions in casework about things like the full moon,mercury retrograde, etc. And the truth is, vodou doesn't really require any of that stuff to work. I think it is a testament to just how real our wonderful spirits are. After all, even though the full moon really did seem to bring out some chaos, especially when I worked in a hospital setting, I would still suit up and show up.

And that is what the lwa do-they suit up and show up to help our magic along, answer our petitions, and just be there for us in a myriad of ways when we need them. 

So-am I going to keep on celebrating the sabbats in my little witchy heart? You betcha I am! But do I have every confidence that no matter what is going on in the universe those spirits have my back? I sure do!

Hi there everyone! Well June is here and besides this being our Papa Alegba month here at spellmaker.com it brings another super moon!

A super moon appears up to 30% bigger than an ordinary full moon, but in spite of the Algonquin name for June's full moon, it will appear yellow, not pink or red like a strawberry. Strawberry moon actually refers to it being the time of year when berries are ready to be picked. 

The full moon in Scorpio lights up the 8th and most mysterious house of the zodiac; the house known for the inevitable such as sex, death and (yikes) taxes!

And since the planet Mercury stationed direct on June 3rd, petitions made to Papa Legba should be extra special and (hopefully) speedy! Ayibobo!

Hi folks,

I just wanted to touch a bit on Mercury retrograde. Once upon a time, only astrologers were concerned with this phenomenon. But lately, it seems to be on every social media platform, and many people seem to be talking about it.

The planet mercury goes retrograde about 4 times per year. As Mercury is the ruling planet of communications and things that move, the retrograde can take that energy and just propel it wildly in any direction but the correct one!

Emails, texts and phone calls tend to get lost in the ether, travel can be delayed, appointments missed, or mechanical things may just break down entirely. Mercury retrograde can take your best laid plans and fly them straight out of the window.

One thing I was thankful for upon entering the fascinating world of voodoo was to find out that although the planets and luminaries (the sun and moon,respectively)may do what they will, Les Lois, our voodoo spirits, don't really pay a whole lot of mind to that kind of stuff. 

One thing I think is helpful is to make a service to Papa Alegba around the time of a retrograde. He does, after all, know all languages, clear obstacles and open new paths for us.

Does this guarantee that my toaster never goes haywire or my phone doesn’t get lost during a darned Mercury retrograde? Of course not!

But I like knowing that I have a sort of magical beeline in Papa to help smooth things over even when they do go wrong! 

We are quickly coming up on June, which is our annual Papa Alegba triple ritual month at spellmaker.com and if you are unfamiliar with our dear Papa, I encourage you to send in your petitions and get acquainted 🙂 And if you are not new to our spellmaker family, reach out and say hello-I know Big Papa Legba would love to hear from some old friends!

Hello readers 🙂

Just a little commentary on the approaching full moon of February 16th, known as the "Snow Moon".

This full moon occurs while the moon is in the sign of Leo and is a moon of regeneration and renewal.

As this month's full moon comes in on the heels of Valentine’s Day, it can also serve as a reminder that this is a good time to stay inside and get cozy!

Snuggle energy makes alot of sense to me as I sit here blogging with one of my cats snoozing on my lap. There really is nothing like an adorable pile of kittens-or lion cubs-to show us how to relax, keep warm, and cover each other in love and affection! :)