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Tag: vodou
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Crafting with Mambo! Apple Garland!
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Fet Ghede and the Fiery Power of the Phoenix!
Fet Ghede and the Fiery Power of the Phoenix
By: Khouzhan Morgan“The fire is a symbol of transformation, burning away the old and making way for the new.” ~Unknown
Hi there readers and welcome to the Fet Ghede issue of the Universal Messenger!As we celebrate Halloween, Samhain and the Voodoo New Year, we can take the time to reflect on this last 365 day trip around the sun.
You may wish to look back on this past year; what goals have you achieved? What projects have you gotten underway or completed? If you did not meet some goals, how can you increase your chances of success?
These undertakings can be big or small; the most important thing is that we have an awareness that we can change, grow, and evolve. Take a few moments to reflect on this and realize what an amazing human you truly are! Adulting is hard, but ya know what? Magic can make it better!
If you burn a cauldron, bonfire, or heck even have a fireplace, it is a great time to write things down on a small paper or leaves and burn them, offering prayers of thanks for all the spiritual help you have received towards your undertakings. It is also a great time to decide on some goals for the next leg of the journey and request guidance and assistance in achieving them!
The element of fire both destroys and creates and is such profound symbolism as we light up the night and enter the dark half of the year.
Take out some pictures of friends and family members (of the human and animal variety) and spend some time chatting with those folks. This is a great time of year for divination, and an excellent time for receiving guidance from our deceased loved ones. Pay attention to little “flashes”- like the scent of perfume or a certain food, a familiar sound or song, or even a word or phrase that enters your mind, as that is often our beloved ancestors reaching out to us from beyond the veil. The ancestors are most often more than happy to help us as we continue to navigate our day to day workings. And now, when the veil between worlds is thinnest, it helps us hear those messages from beyond loud and clear.
It is also a great time to honor our passed loved ones with things they enjoyed in life, such as a certain beverage or snack, or whatever treats brought them joy here on earth.
This can be as elaborate as an entire table filled with goodies or just a simple cup of tea with a deceased loved one. Remember it is about connection not perfection!
Just be sure to include some cool fresh water for the spirits to travel through, light a candle in their honor and you are all set! (And yes it sure can be the light if your jack o lantern if you like!)
Remember, Mambo Sam and Sister Bridget are both available for readings to help clarify any questions you might have along your magical or mundane journey! I cannot count the number of times my ancestors chimed in during a reading with one of those amazing ladies!
As always, honoring our lineage is the most important thing we can do in the practice of voodoo. We honor who we are and who we will become by honoring where we have come from. We show gratitude for our roots and in turn, we branch out and grow so we can to reach to new heights! And les Lois, our wonderful and benevolent voodoo spirits, are here for it!!
Baron Samedi and his consort Maman Brigitte will be here to escort us when we make the final transition to the other side, and this season is their party! They love offerings of coffee, hot peppers and rum. And although Baron and Maman preside over the cemeteries and departed souls, and can sometimes be a bit rowdy, they are also wise beyond measure and can be counted on for assistance in all things- especially healing, legal and financial matters.
No need to be afraid! Baron and Maman cross easily between life and death. And through so many “deaths” that we experience- of jobs, relationships, and yes, sometimes, those we love-they can then guide us to resurrection.In truth, the most potent lesson I have received from Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte is that although I would experience many deaths, I would also be given graciously many opportunities for rebirth. And like the Phoenix who rises from the ashes, so we too can continue to regenerate our lives and allow our own little lights to shine.
At this sacred and wonderful new beginning we wish you all a fantastic Fet Ghede, a Happy Halloween and Samhain blessings and look forward to helping your inner fire burn bright in the coming new year!Ayibobo!
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Happy Halloween!
Hope you all had a Wicked good Halloween!
Love,
Mambo Sam and Parran Matt
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Readings during castings.
Hey there!
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.
***End Post***
Love
Sister Bridget
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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
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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 :
- 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.
In Service
Sister Bridget
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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 -
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
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.
- Get Mindful of Your Triggers
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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
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.
