Tag: Samantha Corfield

  • Gossip Girl

    Okay, okay… I confess, I have never seen the show “Gossip Girl” but I love the name of it! Or maybe I hate the name of it. I am not sure! LOL.


    On a more serious note, I have talked about this before on our forum (which is soon to be resurrected, by the way!), and even in person at conferences and lave tets: There is an unfortunate side effect to having friends that you made through Spellmaker – either you met them online or in person, doesn’t matter. What ends up happening is that you talk too much about your spell casting work!


    But, Mambo, you ask me, what’s wrong with that? Well, plenty. You know how in the spell casting instructions it pretty clearly states that you should tell no one of your spell work? There is a good reason for that. Unfortunately, talking about it too much, even to those you think support you, can often have an adverse effect.


    The first thing is that discussing it too much makes you tend to dissect it: What did you do, Susie Spellmaker Friend? Oh, I didn’t do that, I did this. Maybe I should have done what you did, SSF. Or maybe you should have done what I did, SSF. Oh, SSF, my HD called me. SSF says: Oh big deal, that doesn’t mean anything. You say: But I thought it was a good sign. SSF says: You put too much into it. Don’t let him take advantage of you, calling whenever he wants. You say: Is this spell work really working? SSF says: Maybe. Maybe not.


    My point is that very often SSF actually is jealous of your progress, or doesn’t interpret the spell work the way you do, or just plain old isn’t actually a “friend.” We have such a loose interpretation of what a friend is these days. Someone we meet on the internet and have a little something in common with is suddenly the definition of “friendship.”


    I find this especially true, unfortunately, of my female clients. They want to compare spellcasting notes with their SSF’s, pour over what is happening to them, lament the state of their case, cry on each other’s shoulders, etc., etc., etc. Frankly, I think it is detrimental to your spell work. I have tried to tell some people this and am met with a fairly chilly reception and THEN am told I am wrong. Well, guess what, I can’t be wrong because I crafted your spellwork. I created the very place where you met SSF.


    Look, I am not trying to say you shouldn’t talk to your personal SSF, but what I am saying is that you should try to keep the talk down that dissects your personal spell work and its results. You are truly doing yourself a disservice in that you might be wrecking your own work by putting doubt into it or worrying about the fact that SSF got some kind of result that YOU were hoping for and you are still waiting. Or SSF seems to be in one disaster after another and is dragging you in with her. Yes, keep your SSF! But think about the discussions you are having – are they truly helping you? Are those discussions truly supportive? Do you come away from talking to SSF feeling BETTER or WORSE?


    The main thing that prompted me to write this post is that I have received some pretty emotional letters from some of you regarding your SSF and a relationship with her that has gone terribly wrong or is counterproductive. One thing I do recommend is that if you have an SSF and you feel like the relationship isn’t doing either one of you any good, you should talk to her! Tell her how you feel. If she is truly your friend, then she will work with you to salvage the relationship and keep it healthy. If she is not your friend, you will know it right away and should just cut your losses.


    Sorry for shooting straight from the hip on this one, but I just thought you should all think about it!


    Love, light, and peace,

    Mambo Sam

  • Toxic Friendships

    Greetings everyone!

    I wanted to talk to you all a little bit about the friendships in your lives.  The work that I do for everyone puts me in a unique position to study relationship dynamics from many different points of view. I get to see people at their best and also at their worst.


    As the years have gone by I have noticed more and more that many of my clients have fallen prey to someone in their lives who was supposed to be a friend. Sadly, those who pose as friends and make us believe in them are the ones that we are most likely to allow to hurt us.


    Now don’t get me wrong! I am not proposing that every person who tries to be your friend has some ulterior motive and will in the end screw you over! That is not it at all. However, there are some categories of “friends” for which you should be on the look out.


    We all might have some of the characteristics outlined below. But if you have a friend that falls heavily into one of these categories, you should take steps to figure out if they are truly a friend, or are they someone who you really don’t need in your life. Most of the time we don’t realize until it is too late that we have involved ourselves with a Toxic Friend.

    Since women fall most prey to this type of friend, I will address it from a female point of view. Of course, these guys exist, too!


    • Connie Controller: This is the friend who cannot get out of a conversation without telling you, “You know what you ought to do….” and then proceeds to tell you how to run your life. Generally speaking, The Controller’s life is probably in a shambles and since she can’t control it, she will try to control yours. This is also the friend who has to say where the two of you will have lunch, what the dress code will be for going out, etc. Most of the time if this person is your friend, you have gotten used to her telling you what to do and you go along with her program without even noticing it.
    • My Idea Minnie: This friend cannot leave your idea or suggestion alone. If you say you want the two of you to bake chocolate chip cookies, she will want to bake chocolate chip MINT cookies. If you suggest something to her, she will generally negate it. A week, or month, or year later (when she figures you forgot about what you said), she will do the thing you suggested and claim that she came up with the idea or doesn’t know where she heard it. Maddening!
    • Polly Passive: But she is really aggressive. Most of us have experienced passive-aggressive behavior and at one time or another we have probably all fallen into doing it ourselves. However, if you have that friend who constantly manipulates you with passive-aggressive behavior prepare yourself for friendship misery. Polly Passive is often a do-gooder friend who will want to do all kinds of favors for you, seems to put herself last and everyone else first, UNTIL the day she wants to call in those favors. “Well, you know that I did work those extra hours at the office so you could go see your sick grandma, but that’s okay, I understand if you can’t lend me $10,000.00 to start my business.” Her other trick is to make you feel guilty and sorry for her. “Oh I don’t want to burden you with my problems.” Then of course, you fall into the trap of saying, “It’s okay, what’s going on?” You know the rest of that story.
    • Betty Blamer: This one always wants to know your opinion, wants to do what you want to do, always wants you to make the decisions. Of course, later on, when/if something goes wrong, she skillfully finds a way to remind you that it was YOUR decision that was wrong. You will never get her to make a decision because she likes to be blame free.
    • Cookie the Coveter: She always compliments you and tells you how lucky your are to have your car, job, husband, family,whatever. She oozes admiration and acts like your biggest fan. BUT she will always remind you how “lucky” you are, assuming that everything you have was handed to you on a silver platter. She is busy trying to figure out a way to get what YOU have vs. working towards getting something on her own. While the other toxic people may only be an annoyance, she will be much, much more if you don’t watch out for her.

    Just because someone may have some of these qualities doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of your friendship. However, if you feel they are too toxic, find a way to start to spend less time with them.


    Of course, there are many, many more types of toxic friends. Which ones have you come across? How did you deal with it? Just answer in the comments section! I would love to hear from you about this subject and any tips you might have for how to deal with toxic friends in your life.


    Love, light, and peace,

    Mambo Sam

  • A Chest for Agwe!

    Agwechest 005 

    Hey, y'all!

    Check out the new pictures of the treasure chest I painted for Capitaine Agwe in my photo album!

    have a great day!

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

  • Knock Knock – Guess Who is Here!

    That's Right! The Papa Legba Ritual Pack  is finished and ready to ship! From what I hear, Legba was VERY meticulous about what and how he wanted things to be – JUST PERFECT of course! 

    Because we so often call upon Papa Alegba to help us with our communication with other lwa, we might almost forget to call upon his own great abilities to help us. Have a path that seems blocked to you? Doors won't open for you? Having troubling making someone you love understand what you want? Stuck at your own crossroads of life and don't know which way to turn? Our dear Papa is there for that and so much more! Few other lwa can offer as much comfort and understanding as Papa. His shoulder is there for us to cry upon; his arms welcome those who need safe haven. Few things are as satisfying spiritually as spending an evening doing a great service to Papa Alegba!

     

    Mambo and Matt  have put together a wonderful Ritual and Service package dedicated to Papa. This package not only includes instructions for a full authentic ritual, but also includes candles, special oil and incense developed on the point of and under the direction of Papa Alegba through Mambo Sam, veve, picture, and a number of unique and wonderful sacred items that have been dedicated and consecrated to Papa. Once you have this, you can do the ritual to Papa over and over again! There will be no need to purchase this package again. The ritual will be yours to use and you need only replace the oil, incense, and candles as needed!

    Order yours today!

    Light and Love

    Sister Bridget

    1%20legba

  • Papa Alegba Has Arrived!

    Hello everyone!  I am really excited to announce that we are now offering our special Ritual and Service Pack for Papa Alegba!  This has been a long time in the making and offers us a great new way to communicate with and ask for the help of our dear Papa Alegba. 

    Papa has truly guided me every step of the way with the kit, making his desires for this kit crystal clear to me.  It has truly been my pleasure to work on this project and bring to life this package in his honor.  He showed me the way to open every door that I needed to craft his special Red and White Bath, Open Door incense, Gatekey oil… so many wonderful things!

    You can go read all about it on his special page at www.spellmaker.com/legba.htm - get ready to unblock all the barriers in your life and open every door! 

    Love, Mambo Sam

    Crosslet

  • Martin Luther King

    Hello everyone!  First of all, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year.  I am a bit late in doing so and have been reworking my ideas for this blog and can't wait to get back in touch with all of you!  🙂

    The main reason for my post today is, of course, to honor the great leader, Rev. Martin Luther King.  Like so many forward-thinking leaders, he was cut down before we could benefit from all of his wisdom.  Most of us know him most poignantly from his "I Have a Dream" speech.  He has become an icon for all of us who have a dream!  His words can inspire even the most reticent amongst us to realize that we can and should try to follow our dreams!

    Many of you may already know that the King family and our incoming president's, Barack Obama's, family have declared this day a day of service for all Americans.  I am thrilled to see this and hope that each and every one of you will consider this to be not just "one day" of service, but rather a day that you will think about what you can do for others.  A day of service is a wonderful thing, a lifetime of serving others in some capacity is a glorious thing that will reap you many rewards.

    Sadly, most of us get caught up in our lives, our own problems, our own desires and wants and fail to see how much more needy some people are in their lives.  Failing to give others a helping hand is failing to give yourself a helping hand.

    Over the years I have had so many clients tell me that they were alone, in a bad place, a depressed and dark place.  Most of the time when I suggest that doing something for someone else would help them greatly, I was met with resistence:  "I am too tired."  "I am too poor."  "I am turned off by poor people."  "Volunteer?  That's too boring."  "What will I get out of it?"  "I haven't found anything that I like to volunteer for."  "I don't have any special skills."  "I don't know how to volunteer."  "What could I possibly do to help others when I am so down."  Well, you get the idea. 

    The truth is, most of us don't know how good we have it.  Anyone and everyone can find a way to serve their fellow man and reap the rewards of doing so.  Those people that have listened to me have some amazing tales!  I won't repeat them all here, but one woman met her future husband while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.  Another person was hired on at the Red Cross in a high paying job (after she did the Get a Job spell and was feeling like it didn't work for her – I told her to go volunteer somewhere for awhile – she was hired two weeks after volunteering there)!  Trust me when I say that nothing will make you appreciate your life more than getting out and seeing what you can do for someone else.

    You know, it doesn't have to be dramatic!  Maybe you can just talk to a friend that you know is down and offer to take her to lunch.  Maybe you can go to a church and ask if there is a family who needs some kind of help – it doesn't have to be monetary.  Your time can be turned into "money" for a family who needs someone to babysit, or help with yard work, or help their children with homework.  Everyone can do something that someone else needs! 

    Most of us have a tendency to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves when things aren't going our way; getting out and seeing who else has things that aren't going their way and teaming up with an effort of help, charity, and hands up is a great way to heal yourself and others!

    Martin Luther King had a dream, I have a dream, you have a dream, and so does someone else who could use your help.  Together, we CAN all make dreams come true.

    Love, light, and peace, Mambo Sam

    Martinlutherking

  • Money and Luck Magick

    Greetings everyone!  It is no secret that these are trying financial times!  To that end, we have recently reduced the price of many of our luck and money magick products to try to help ease some of the crunch that so many of us are feeling.

    Also, there is a rather humble but delicious New Orleans stew that can be prepared ritualistically to hopefully bring financial help into one's home.   

    New Orleans Voodoo Lucky Penny Stew

    1 quart boiling water
    1 cup beef stew meat
    4 cups cut up cabbage
    1 large white onion, chopped
    2 large tomatoes, chopped
    1 cup fresh spinach, washed and torn into small pieces
    1/2 cup raisins
    1/4 cup garlic powder
    1/4 cup onion powder
    1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 bay leaf
    1/2 cup dark red wine
    1 green candle*
    3 shiny pennies*

    *Before beginning your cooking, set up a green candle in the kitchen and surround it with 3 shiny pennies. Light the candle and say, "Hey, Legba, open the gate, let my words carry to the other side. Thank you." Pause a moment. Then say, "Capitaine Agouer (pronounced "ah-ghwAY"), I humbly ask that you help me in providing for my family, myself, and others that may be in need." Then begin your food preparation with your petition in mind. Keep your petition in mind and honor Capitain Agouer during the preparation of the food.

    Add all ingredients except the meat, cabbage, spinach, and raisins to the pot of boiling water and reduce to a simmer. Add in the meat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add in the rest of the ingredients and cook for 40 minutes at a low simmer. Turn off flame and add 1/2 cup red wine to pot and stir. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Serve with black eyed peas to insure prosperity.

    BEFORE YOU EAT: Before you eat the stew, take 1/2 cup out and put it in a pretty paper cup or bowl. Place it in front of the burning candle as an offering to Capitaine Agouer. After the meal, take the food offering and the three pennies outside and leave it under a tree. Stamp the ground three times with your foot and say, "Blessings and thanks to you Capitaine Agouer."

    Happy cooking and blessings to all of those in need of help.

    Love, Mambo Sam

  • Albuquerque Voodoo Convention was AWESOME!

    Hello everyone! The Convention was truly a great event!  It was really great to see some familiar faces and just as great to meet with the new ones. 

    The weekend was filled with fun and learning.  Saturday nights Fet Ghede celebration went so very well with everyone sharing a meal together and then participating in all the activities of the night.  Fet Ghede is the time that we honor our ancestors as well as celebrate the Vodou New Year.  Everyone was given the opportunity to throw the traumas and negativities of the old year into the fire for a fresh new start!

    Additionally, we fed our ancestors at a beautiful ancestor altar, lit candles for them, and then made ouanga bottles to use throughout the year to connect with our beloved ancestors.  We wrote them notes that went into a special vessel and also wrote their names on candles that are actually still being burned here in the office.  It was extremely powerful to connect with everyone's family is this beautiful way.

    Each person who attended the convention met with me for a one-on-one consultation and brief ritual to help them attain their goals.  It is a very special time when I get to spend this private time with each client.

    I am still in the category of "tired but happy" and already miss everyone who was here and can't wait for next year! I will share much more with you all soon.  Here is a picture of our wonderful ancestor altar that we built.  (Everyone was invited to have a picture of their ancestors on the altar.)

    Love, Mambo Sam

    DSC00069

  • Working on the Spellmaker Information Board

    Hello everyone!  As most of you have probably noticed, we are working on revamping the old forum into our new Spellmaker Information Board. 

    After much deliberation with my family and staff, there seemed to be a general consensus that keeping the forum, but turning it into much more of an informational type of resource was the way for us to go.   Although my original intention was for the board to represent an uplifting and spiritual community, it just did not seem to serve that function.  Instead, it seemed to me (and the many clients who have written to me) to have begun to serve the function of having a few people who were down in the dumps work hard to drag everyone else down there with them.   The deleterious effect on spell work from that kind of negativity is monumental! 

    Additionally, no matter how many different resources I try, nor how much I pay for web board services, there always seems to be a way for hackers to get in and get people’s email addresses.  So again we were faced with certain members getting ugly, threatening, manipulative, and coercive emails.  🙁   For the life of me, I do not know why people insist on doing this, but definitely the phrase "misery loves company" leaps to mind.

    The other problem that I found dramatically disturbing is the amount of bad advice clients give each other!  Some clients who feel that they have a higher understanding of how the products work actually have NO such special knowledge and we have had to spend a great deal of time fixing the problems that occur from clients taking advice from other clients.

    We have superior customer service and clients do not need to advise each other!  In fact, many cases have been set back greatly by listening to, "my friend from the forum."   The reason we have caseworker support, technical support, phone support, and online chat support is so that you can get the correct information, not supposition from the proliferation of "hey I have used a candle magick kit and know everything" clients who give out erroneous information.

    So, for the good of everyone, we will continue to have the forum, but it will be an informational forum.  The great thing about it is that we will continue to add information there and it will be a great resource for those needing information about products, service to Les Lois, New Orleans Voodoo, and much more over time.  It will all be there in one nice compact place and that will be awesome.

    We also will still continue to answer questions that we feel would benefit the Spellmaker community as a whole.  When you visit the board now, please read the first section about how to use the board.  In there it will give you information on where to send your questions that you would like to see the answers to posted on the board.  If we feel that your question is of benefit to the majority, then the question and answer will be posted on the forum. 

    I hope you all enjoy the new format and keep on the look out for more information to be posted there.

    Love, Mambo Sam 

  • How Do They Do That? Spellmaker Potions!

    Hello my dear spell-casting friends!  😉

    Very often people want to know how we do things around here at the Spellmaker offices!  So I thought I would start a series of posts that let you know a little bit about how we make certain items and what kind of care goes into the products that we send you.

    One of our most popular products are our Bayou Vodou Potions!  These are extremely strong and powerful wearable (never drinkable) potions.  The very history of the potions is so wonderful and dear to my heart that m My Aunt Fannie (who has now passed away) is the original creator of the potions that we use today.  I have had my own hand in them, of course, but for the most part I have kept as close as possible to her original formulae. 

    It took me quite a bit of time to reproduce the forumale in the first place.  Aunt Fannie wasn’t trying to be difficult, I promise you, but there was a lot of, "Well, honey, I think I put about, oh, I don’t know, an ounce or two of rose oil in this one… or wait.. no, well, yes, I think it was definitely an ounce or two."   LOL.  So that took quite a bit of time to get it down to what we both remembered. 

    So how do we make them?  🙂   Like the majority of our products, we mix them right here in our office.  I used to make them a gallon at a time, but I actually like making a smaller batch.  I don’t even know why!  Maybe I just like to make them!!  LOL.  That way if I only make a quart at a time I have to do it more often.  😉   Most often I make them from start to finish.  Occasionally Parran Matt makes them up and does his part of the consecration and then I do my part of the consecration.  We find it especially powerful on the love potions if we do our consecration together.  It feel really awesome to put a little bit of our own love in a product that is meant to help other people attain their happiness. 

    Following my hard-won written forumale, we mix the oils in one at a time and allow each one to "rest" on top of the next one.   Each potion contains 7 or more different oils.  Many herbal and flower oils are used.  After all the oils are added, the bottle is very gently rotated to blend the oils without bruising them.   Hand blending of delicate oils without the usage of any metal tools  keeps them as clear as possible (although some clouding is usually inevitable) and is said to help them retain their inherent ingredients. 

    After they are mixed and blended, they are consecrated.   They are then bottled up into their individual containers and await your order!  😉

    I really wanted to share with you all a picture of my Aunt Fannie.  Unfortunately, there are some of her family members who are less than enthusiastic about her memory (she did pass a few years ago) being linked with voodoo.  SO, I set out to look for a picture of someone in a movie or something that might be a pretty good representation of what she looked like.  WELL, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I found a picture of a painting by a Mr. Francoise Duparc that to me looks exactly like Aunt Fannie looked in her elder years (well, not the outfit, but the face and eyes are just incredibly like hers).

    I was not familiar with Mr. Duparc’s work until now, but I thank him so much for this painting because it just so looks like my dear Auntie, the original creator of the potions that some of you are wearing as you read this!

    Love, Mambo Sam

    Auntfannie_2