Tag: vodou

  • Relationship advice from the Harvard Business School!

    Well, sort of! I found  this short article published by the Harvard Business School which talks about how to avoid those pesky knee-jerk reactions we can have in tough situations or during tough conversations. And while we try really hard not to get into these tough conversations in the immediate post-casting period, sometimes, well, stuff happens! And sure, we are not in a "business" relationship with our HDs, we are still in a relationship and this advice seems very applicable. The actual HBR tips are at the bottom of this post. These 3 here have been modified for our particular situations:

    1 – Know yourself! Take some time and look back at how you have reacted in the past in difficult situations and how other people reacted. This can be the hardest thing of all to do! But we can not change what we are not aware of (Sorry for the Dr. Phil reference!) so even though it can be tough, spend some time in reflection on this topic.

    2- Have a plan! It is infinitely easier to come up with a plan when you are NOT in the heat of the moment. If things have been tense with your HD and there is a chance things might go sideways, thing ahead and have plan incase they do. If you are having trouble coming up with a plan, ask your caseworker.

    3- Its OK to say No! (Sometimes…) so this one I have  to put a caveat. Certainly, if you are feeling super emotional or sad or angry then for sure, it may not be the best time to see HD that day. Why set yourself (and your spellwork) up for failure? If you are just maybe in a snit because HD did not return your text fast enough, then sorry – Suck it up, Buttercup! Take the high road, be nice, polite and responsive 🙂 This one is a little tricky, and again, if you have any questions or need any guidance, by all means ask your caseworker. Oh – and avoid sarcasm. Trust me! When tensions are high, it is *always* misinterpreted!

    Strive for this –                   

    not this –

    Love

    Sister Bridget

     

    Override Your Default Reactions in a Tough Conversation (From Harvard Business Review 7/3/14)

     
    In a difficult conversation, our default reactions can lead to unproductive outcomes. You’ll perform better in those tough moments if you’re conscious of how you want to react. Here’s how:

    • Know your defaults. Make a list of daily interpersonal situations, like meetings, conversations, negotiations, and conflicts. Then identify your default behaviors — interrupting, becoming aggressive, micromanaging, or jumping to conclusions.
    • Plan your overrides. Before these challenging moments arise, envision how you’d ideally like to respond. For instance, if you want to overcome your tendency to interrupt, rehearse being a more active, engaged listener.
    • Design your days. Self-control varies across a day and a workweek. Why schedule high-conflict conversations before lunch or at the end of the day? If your morning becomes unexpectedly difficult, reshuffle your afternoon to avoid letting a snide comment or criticism slip.

  • Hand of an Angel.

    Mikael2

     

    Hello there!

    Just a few days ago, I came across this statue of Saint Michael while browsing in a second hand store with Mambo Sam. There were several different statues. One was of Santo Nino de Atocha that I still may have to go back for! But, that day I left with Michael. I cleansed it a bit, and he has been sitting next to my computer when I am working for the past couple days. This morning, Mambo Sam tells me to get ready, that we are going to the cemetery to do some special work for a client. Just so happens that we were to be working with Archangel Michael! (No coincidences, right???) So, off we go to the cemetery, and about a third into the work, I feel this incredible pressure on the top of my head. Now, I often get funny feelings *in* my head when doing different things with the Lwa. I call it a "swimmy" kind of feeling – I bet a few of you out there know exactly what I am talking about 🙂 But today, this was quite different. This was outside, right on the top of my head, and it was heavy. As Mambo was wrapping up her working, I asked her if her how her head was feeling. I described what I was experiencing, and Mambo replied "That is the hand of Michael. You have the hand of an Angel on you" just like that – and continued wrapping up her work.  When we were finished, we sat for a few minutes before leaving. I can still feel a bit of an "echo" of that feeling even now, and when I think his name in my mind, the feeling intensifies again. There is so much about this world, and the next, that I have to hearn. I am so grateful that I have Mambo Sam and Parran Matt  to guide me though this time. I am not sure what is coming next, or what today's events ultimatley mean for me, but I will keep you posted!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

  • Happy Summer Solstice 2014!

    Hey all!

    Wishing each of you a very happy Summer Solstice today! It is the longest day of the year (and the shortest night!)  I hope each of you get to enjoy it in your own, unique way. There are many different things you can do to honor the day. If you do not have alot of time today, your celebration does not have to be elaborate. Or you can work it in to your already busy schedule! You can sit in the grass and meditate for a few minutes, or read a book in the sun, or have a cook out, go for a swim, water your plants, wash your car. You get the idea!  Get outside and feel the warmth of the sun on your face and breathe in the fresh air! Whether it is for a few moments or a few hours, enjoy the warmth and energy of this special day!

    I will be posting some pictures of the Spellmaker Solstice fun later on! Stay tuned!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

    Lionsun

  • Strawberry Moon!

    Hello!

    A while back I started a series on the lore of the different names of  Full Moons. With all the talk about this upcoming Full Moon on Friday the 13th, it seems like a great time to address the June Moon. The moon will be full at precisely 12:11 a.m. Friday, so essentially on Thursday night, not Friday night. But it will still shine brightly on Friday

    The month of June's full Moon's name is the Full Strawberry Moon. June's Full Strawberry Moon got its name because the Algonquin tribes knew it as a signal to gather ripening fruit.The Algonquin tribes knew this Moon as a time to gather ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon and the Honey Moon.

    In Europe, the June Full Moon is known as the Full Rose Moon, perhaps because they have more roses there than strawberries 🙂

    This month's moon is also known as a "Honey Moon" because it can have a slightly golden tint. That's because it appears low in the sky, meaning we are viewing it through the lens of more of the Earth's atmosphere.   The atmosphere reddens its color.

    The next time the moon will be full on a Friday the 13th will be in 2049. That is 35 years from now! However you choose to spend this very unique evening, I hope you make it memorable!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

    Strawberrymoon

     

     

  • Kindness, it’s important.

     

     

    “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”  Henry James

    “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”  Mark Twain

    “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”  Emerson

     

     

     

  • Rutt Rowe and other things….

    Hello!

    For a while now, I have been following Mike Rowe on Facebook.  You may remember Mike from the TV show Dirty Jobs, or recognise his voice from the Deadliest Catch.  Mike is a smart guy, and has alot of interesting things to say.  He is not political. He is not irrational. He is well read, realistic and very well spoken.  He has a foundation in which he is working hard to create well trained workers to fill the many open job opportunities here in America. His posts can be very entertaining (see the ones about the contest to name his new puppy – Fred won, but I was so rooting for Rutt!). Today, tho, I read some words from Mike that fully stopped me in my tracks…..

    "What you do, who you’re with, and how you feel about the world around you, is completely up to you."

    Seems simple at first glance, right? Obvious, even. Then sit with it a while and see what questions come up for you.  Do you begin to notice some icky little demons pop out of the closet in your mind? Boundary issues?  Empowerment struggles? Self doubt? I know I did!

    It is worth a little time to sit with these words and examine what in you is holding you back from being happy. Happy in your relationships, Happy in your job, Happy in your head – The choice is ours. It always  has been.

    Love,

    Sister Bridget

    PS Thanks, Mike. And if you ever do decide to run for President, you have my vote!

    Mike rowe

     

     

     

  • Freya, a May Queen.

     

    “With a crown of the lilies of light —

    For a maiden they crowned her in May,
     For the Queen of the Daughters of Day
     That are flowers of the forest of Night.”

    ~~~May Queen by Aleister Crowley

     

    Freya, a May Queen.

    Yesterday, during our Family Beltaine/ May Day activities, I played the role of the May Queen.  Mambo Sam spoke about the holiday and its significance, and how it is celebrated in many cultures across the world. Today, I was doing some reading about the May Queen and how she is represented in other places and times. I found myself drawn to some information about Freya, an important Germanic Goddess.  Her main festival is May Day.  Walpurgisnacht ‘Walpurga’s Night,’ when the festival actually begins, is April 30, the evening before May Day is named for Freya.  This time of year coincides loosely with the first dew fall, that is the time of year when frost no longer forms at night, but rather the temperature remains above freezing at least for some of the nights. This change in the weather allows the growth of green things and the blooming of all the flowers. This in turn allows for the cattle to be turned out of their winter quarters and released to  graze on the new grass which increases the amount and quality of milk available to humans.

    Walpurgisnacht is not named after St. Walburga, as is commonly said. However, the saint’s name became attached to the festival as a way of “explaining” the meaning of the name of the holiday. St. Walburga’s feast day is set to May 1st because that was already the name of a major festival of Freya. The pretense that the festival of Walpurgisnacht is named for St. Walburga provides a convenient way of obscuring the festival’s older Pagan origin.

    Freya’s domain is the garden, especially a walled garden with fruit trees, properly an orchard with a spring or well. She is responsible for making the flowers bloom and she is always associated with flowers especially flowering trees. As a Goddess of spring time, she is especially associated with romantic love among human beings. Songs of love are well-pleasing to her; it is good to call on her for furtherance in love.

    An important event in the changing of the seasons was the moving of livestock from their winter pastures to summer pastures, and vice versa.  In some areas of Europe, as the weather permitted, cattle were moved to summer pastures during the May Day/ Walpurgis/ Spring  time festivities and Freya was invoked for their protection and fertility.

    The following Middle High German charm is to protect cows when they are turned out into the forest, as they were in spring in northern Europe. The exact date would depend on the climate and when the grass was sufficient to support the cattle, though some traditions closely associate this prayer with May Day and associated festivities. “Lady” may refer to the Goddess Freya, the Virgin Mary, or to any unspecified but highly respected woman. The ambiguity may be intentional, and possibly life-saving, since people could ask for assistance from the Goddess while pretending to refer to one of the Christian deities.

    Herdsman’s Charm to Protect Cows

    Today my herd I drove into our Lady’s grove,
    Into Abraham’s garden; Be, good St. Martin,
    this day my pledge and warden,
    and good St. Wolfgang, good St. Peter,
    (whose key can heaven unlock),
    throat of wolf and vixen block,
    against blood shedding, and bone shredding.
    Help me, holy one, who ill hath never done,
    and [by] his five holy wounds;
    keep my herd from all wood-hounds!
    [Say] 5 Pater Nosters (Our Fathers) and 5 Hail Marys

    StampIMG_0345v2

     

    Hope you enjoyed reading about this as much as I did!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

     

     

     

     

  • Where ever you go….

    …there you are!

    So, in my head, I actually thought this quote was from a Ziggy cartoon when I was a child. I did a little searching and found the quite attributed to a few different people, but not Ziggy, so I must be mis-remembering. AnYwAy….. Most of you know I moved across country a few months ago.. BIG life change – HUGE! New place, new life, new weather, great people! Yet sometimes (today being one of those times) I find some old patterns arising again. I came across the article below, and it made me look at myself and my "inner surroundings" in a new light. I hope you enjoy!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

     

    Not As Happy As You Want To Be…..

    Once we treat our inner self with respect, patience and love, we transform not only ourselves but those around us.  We see the world as a place of beauty; a vast area to live and breathe openly and with great joy.

             Do you love your life?  Are you not as happy as you would like to be?  Sometimes it's what is happening on the inside that drives what is occurring on the outside.  How many times does it feel to you that your life is out of control?  Stuff is happening so fast and so often.  Your kids aren't listening, the dog isn't listening and your husband says you didn't tell him what you know you told him.  Is it them?  Or is it you?You aren't going to like this…it is you.  If you are unhappy with what is going on, the first place to look is to you.  Great news though, you have the power to change it all.  Yes, you do!  What is going on inside is causing the turmoil on the outside.  What are your thoughts about yourself?  Are they positive, encouraging and supporting?  Or are they more along the lines of "I can't believe I forgot that, you idiot!"  I won't go on – I'm aiming for an upbeat feel here. If your thoughts are negative and you are always putting yourself down, the chances are the negativity is all around your being.  Therefore, when people aren't listening to you, you get annoyed, aggravated and even angry at them.  I call that the outward manifestation of your inner being.  What it really is though, is that you are truly annoyed, aggravated and angry at yourself.  So, then how can you turn that around and get the results you are wanting? Here are five tips to turn it around:

    1. Remember that you have the power to change what you do not like by taking small simple steps.
    2. Stop being so hard on yourself.  When you hear your inner voice say something negative, stop it right there and remember a time where you felt confident.
    3. Be kind and encouraging to yourself.  Treat yourself as you would another person and you'll soon shift to a better inner feeling.
    4. Start talking to yourself in a more positive and supporting way.
    5. Begin to pay attention to how you are being with others.  Are you showing up in a negative, unloving way and if so, shift that to a positive and loving manner.

    Through your actions, what you will begin to see is a transformation in yourself.  You will see that you are communicating clearly and that others are really listening.  It's almost like magic and truly beautiful.  You will notice yourself responding differently to others, and others responding to you in a good, positive, very pleasing way.We see the outer part of ourselves so often we forget that we have an inner self as well.  Once we treat our inner self with respect, patience and love, we transform not only ourselves but those around us.  We see the world as a place of beauty; a vast area to live and breathe openly and with great joy.

     
    (Source ArticleFactory)

  • Stubborn Intruder? Read This!

    Hello!

    Recently, I have had a few clients write me about an intruder who just was being stubborn about going away. Things get close…OH SO CLOSE! … but then, nope, they do not go. As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I remembered these special candle magick instructions I received from Mambo Sam several years back. So, I would like to share them with you here. These instructions are great for those stubborn intruders, but also if your HD has one of those BFFs who just keeps running you down, saying negative things to your HD about you, or maybe is jealous and interfering in some way. Those of you who are unfortunate enough to have exeperienced this know what I mean!

    What you need: 1 brown image candle magick kit to represent your HD. 1 brown image candle magick kit to represent the person who is interfering. 1 Famous Black Mummy Candle kit. A fire proof surface.

    What to do:

    Stubborntowards

    The Black Mummy is going to be in the middle of the two different brown candles, one that you use to represent your HD, one that you use to represent the intruder. Have the two candles face each other.The candles should be prepped as per the instructions that came with the candles (I just pulled some candles off the stock room shelf to take this picture – prep yours as you would normally)

    Get the two brown candles going with their ritual (again see Candle Magick Kit instructions that came with candles), your petition is that there is fighting, distaste, discord, repugnance, whatever you would like to happen between these two people. Then get your Black Mummy candle going (again, as per the specific instructions for that candle!) 

    Now, turn the brown candles so that they are facing AWAY from each other. Do your Black Mummy petitions that they will turn away from each other now and forever never to look back! 

    Stobbornaway

    Let the candles burn for however long you would like to do the session (9 – 33 minutes). IMPORTANT –  at NO TIME do you mention yourself or put yourself into the petiton in any way – no “leave Susie and come to me, Judy” – just “leave Susie”  or "turn away from so and so" or whatever your petition is. Petition for HD to come to you in some other work. This work is simply to drive apart someone interfering with you  and your HD.  Also, at NO TIME are you angry or upset with your HD! You are simply using this candle to get him/her away from this intruder.

    Hope you find this helpful! Any questions, just ask!!!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

     

  • Gris Gris Bag Tips!

    Hello!!

    Dusting off another older post by dear, sweet, Orleanna 🙂 This one is about different ways for using those all important gris gris bags after your castings are completed!

    Love

    Sister Bridget

    IMG_0337

     

    Q:  What are some ways I can use my gris-gris bag?
     
    A:  **When using a gris-gris bag, say the appropriate
    chant for that bag aloud and then in your mind, focus
    on what you want as it pertains to that spell. Here's
    an example for someone who'd cast three spells and
    wanted to know about using the gris-gris bags. Note:
    Not all of the things I wrote as far as what to focus
    on might pertain to your case - you'd focus on what's
    applicable for your particular situation:
     
    1. The gris-gris bag from the #5 Leave My Man Alone
    Spell(tm). That spell was to banish any intruders and
    also work on negative influences. So, when you chant
    with the gris-gris bag, you can focus on his not
    dating others and that his fears of marriage, fear of
    commitment, fear of financial problems, etc., will be
    soothed and he'll stop being so AFRAID to commit to
    you.
     
    2. The gris-gris bag from the #3 Love Me Again
    Spell(tm). That spell was to rekindle his love for
    you. When chanting with that gris-gris bag, focus on
    his loving you deeply and realizing how much he does
    love you.
     
    3. The gris-gris bag from the #9 No One But Me
    Spell(tm). That spell included for his making a
    commitment to you and to make you the top priority in
    his life. When chanting with that gris-gris bag, focus
    that he'll commit in a relationship to you and make
    you the top priority in his life.
     
    Certainly, you can add other appropriate things to
    focus on with each gris-gris bag - I was giving you
    examples and the above examples were for a particular
    situation but it gives you an idea.
     
    As to me, I first cast those three love spells six
    years ago. Those spells were how I first came to know
    Rev. Kaye - they were the first magick I'd ever done.
     
    Q:   If Papa Alegba is the keeper of the gate, do you need to ask 
    hime to open the gate each time?
     
    A:  ** No, you don't need to ask Alegba to open the gates when you use the gris-gris bags. 
    (If you did, that would be included with the instructions about how to use the gris-gris bag.)
     
     
    Q:  When I petition with my gris gris bag, I ask for the Lois to help 
    me. I am not specific with which Lois I need. Is that ok? Do I have 
    to petition for a specific one to help me? 
     
    A:  ** There's usually a preface with the incantation, like "Ogoun Badagris T'maidez" which 
    asks for Ogoun Badagris to help you. (In fact, when six years ago when I first started with 
    the love spells, the incantation didn't have a preface. The gris-gris bag is the connection.)
     
    If you forget the preface, it's not the end of the world  Each gris-gris bag is particular to 
    the Loi who helped you with that spell.
     
     
    Q:  Do our reflections have any power outside of spellwork, ie: 
    with the gris gris?
     
    A:  **Yes. Reflections with your gris-gris bag have power. 
     
     
    Q:  Is there is a way to use the
    gris-gris bags without having to do the chants out loud? 
     
    A:  **The chants should be said aloud. Having said
    that, that doesn't mean you have to talk in a loud
    voice!
     
    Try keeping your mouth almost closed (similar to a
    ventriloquist) and whispering very softly! With
    practice, you'll find you can do this without anybody
    else around you really even realizing you're saying
    anything! Also, remember that you're on a bus - most
    people don't really pay close attention.
     
    I've said chants (in the manner I described above) in
    hospital rooms with 8 people around a bedside - and
    nobody knew I was doing it.
     
    Try practicing keeping your mouth almost closed - just
    opening it a very small amount, enough to enunciate
    with very softly whispering. Your lips really don't
    move that much at all then and keep the whisper level
    so low that anyone next to you can't really hear you.
    And if anybody looks slightly askance at you, well,
    it's a bus anyway - commuters get bored and I'm sure a
    lot of people "talk to themselves" in some way!
     
     
    Q:  What's the best place to store the various gris-gris bags I have
     from my spellwork? Currently I am storing them all in the same box
    as my deluxe doll, except where specified per the spell
     instructions.
     
    A:  **That is not a problem. You can keep all your Vodou stuff together
    except those things that are specifically instructed not to do so.
     
     
    Q:  Since the doll is versatile and can be used interactively with 
    the gris-gris bags, can I also use the white male
     candle during my session with the doll?
     
    A:  **Generally speaking, I tell people to allow 45 minutes between the
    usage of products. However, the reason I tell them this is because
    sometimes people want to mix up intentions and do it all in one
    session, so it is easier to just make the 45 minute rule. However,
    if the purpose is the same, and you feel okay about it - you can use
    certain products together. The white candle with the doll is not a
    problem.
     
    For questions about any step in a spell or how to use an item from 
    a spell kit, please ask techsupport@spellmaker.com
     
     
    Light and love,
    Orleanna