Tag: love spells

  • Tarot 101 – The Fool!

     

     

  • Crafting with Mambo! Apple Garland!

    Welcome to
    Crafting with Mambo!
     

    An apple garland is really easy to make. You can make it any length you wish, and it makes your house smell good in the process – and magical apples are everywhere by the time Fet Ghede rolls around. You'll need several large apples of any color, lemon juice, dried bay leaves, scraps of fabric, some pine cones, cinnamon sticks, raffia, and florist's wire.

    Start by peeling and coring the apples, and then slicing them horizontally into circles about 3/8" thick. Fill a bowl with the lemon juice, and place your apple slices in it. Allow them to soak for about ten minutes – this prevents them from turning brown and discolored. Remove the apple slices from the bowl and pat them dry with a paper towel. Bake your apples for about six hours at 200 degrees. If you like, before baking you can dust them with a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg.

    Once your apples are completely dried out, the fun really begins. Using the florist's wire, begin stringing the apples. The wire should go straight through the apples, but if you have trouble, make a hole with a toothpick. Between every few apple slices, string some bay, and add a pine cone here and there. You can also alternate the apples and bay leaves with bows made from your fabric scraps.

    Make your garland as long or as short as you like – or until your kids get bored – and then knot each end around a cinnamon stick. Tie a piece of raffia around the ends as well, and then drape your garland on your wall, across your mantel, or over your front door.

    Another variation on the apple garland is to make a smaller length and then bend it into a circle, forming an apple wreath. Tie a piece of fabric – or bend a leftover bit of florist's wire – to the top so you can hang it on a nail or hook.

  • Fet Ghede and the Fiery Power of the Phoenix!

    Original

    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!

  • Happy Halloween!

    13642

    Hope you all had a Wicked good Halloween! 

    Love, 

    Mambo Sam and Parran Matt

  • Papa Legba Clear Path Vodou Bath the ultimate road opener!

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  • Harvest Witch Tote!
    Harvest Witch Tote

    This tote is perfect for fall harvest festivals, back to school or just a day of shopping for bits and bobs with friends! Available in 3 sizes and starts at only $13.60! Available only here!

  • Lil Guy mug!

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    Show your support for Spellmaker with our Lil Guy mug! Add some color to your routine with this two-tone, custom accent coffee mug. This 11oz mug features an accented C-Handle that is comfortable to use, as well as an accented interior to add more contrast and character. White ceramic with colored interior and handle. Multiple color choices and less than $10.00!!! 
    Only available here! 

  • Gran Bwa’s Autumn Potpourri By Mambo Sam!
    Gran Bwa’s Autumn Potpourri
    By Mambo Sam
     

    Happy Mabon!  Homemade potpourri is a fun Mabon project.  It’s easy to do with kids or perhaps your elderly relatives.  And even though “potpourri” means “rotten pot” – it sure smells better than it translates.  

    I asked Gran Bwa to give me some ideas of what should go in a potpourri dedicated to him and this is what he offered!  But you could just use this for ideas and add your own wonderful flowers, fruits, seeds, etc.  
     
    Ingredients

    1. 2.5 cups of dried apple slices
    2. 1 cup of dried orange peels or really almost any citrus peels – try grapefruit, lemon, etc.  Even better if you save them and dry them yourself.  You can easily dry fruit peels in your oven at a low temperature, about 200º F for a couple of hours, checking and turning frequently
    3. 1 cup cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
    4. ½ cup cardamom pods
    5. ¼  cup whole cloves
    6. Add in rosemary, nutmeg, ginger, star anise, black peppercorns, any combination.
    7. 3-4 bay leaves
    8. Small pine cones (even better if you can go pick them up in nature)
    9. Pick some fall wildflowers and let them dry out or just add them as is and allow them to dry in the potpourri (if you do this, plan on stirring your potpourri around to let them get air
    10. A little bit of vanilla or other oil that you like
    Directions
    Break down the larger pieces.  If you have a mortar and pestle, use it to grind down some of the bay leaves or other items to help release the oils.  Otherwise, just break some of the items down to smaller pieces.  You want a mixture of your smaller and larger pieces.  Mix them all up in a big bowl and add your oil.  Cover it for a couple of days to let it all blend.  You can burn some green candles that you dedicate to Gran Bwa near the bowl and ask him to bless the potpourri for a bountiful year for you and yours.
    ***PLEASE NOTE ; This potpourri is NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY – DO NOT EAT IT!  It looks pretty and smells amazing, but do not eat 🙂 ****

  • The Three Harvests and Witches!
    The Three Harvests and Witches!

    In the enchanting realm of folklore and mysticism, there exists a captivating link between the Three Harvests and witchcraft. As autumn's golden hues paint the landscape, the Three Harvests—Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain—play a significant role in both agricultural traditions and the mystical world of witches of all kinds. This delightful connection transcends time and geography, revealing a tapestry of interconnected beliefs and practices.

    To begin our journey, let's delve into the first harvest, Lughnasadh. Celebrated in early August, this Celtic festival marks the beginning of the harvest season. It's a time when the fields are ripe with grain, and the earth offers her bounty. Witches, often seen as guardians of nature's cycles, harness the energy of Lughnasadh to honor the Earth's generosity and to manifest their intentions. It's a period when spells for abundance and prosperity are cast, and the echoes of the harvest's first fruits resonate with the rituals of the natural world.

    Moving forward to Mabon, the second harvest celebrated during the autumn equinox, we find another layer of connection between the Three Harvests and witchcraft. As day and night achieve perfect balance, witches recognize this equilibrium as an opportunity for reflection and gratitude. Mabon serves as a time to honor the autumnal harvest, with crafting elaborate altars adorned with symbols of abundance, like apples and gourds. We use this period to give thanks for the bounty of nature and to attune themselves to the changing energies of the season.

    The final harvest, Samhain, is perhaps the most famous, as it coincides with modern Halloween celebrations. For Vodouisants, it is a time for Ancestor service and more!  This sacred time, observed at the end of October, marks the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of winter's slumber. Witches and practitioners of all kinds view Samhain as a liminal space when the veil between the physical world and the spirit realm is thin. It's a time for divination, honoring ancestors, and seeking wisdom from the other side. Many may perform rituals to communicate with departed loved ones or to harness the potent energies of this time for their magical endeavors.

    As we contemplate the harmonious dance between the Three Harvests and witchcraft, we find a delightful interplay of nature, spirituality, and tradition. These celebrations, rooted in the agricultural cycles of our ancestors, have evolved into a modern enchantment that weaves its way through the tapestry of life. Whether you are a practitioner or simply a lover of folklore, the Three Harvests offer a bewitching connection to the rhythms of the natural world and the mystical realms beyond.

    In conclusion, the Three Harvests and witchcraft share a charming and symbiotic relationship, as we draw inspiration from the bounty and magic of each seasonal celebration. These ancient traditions continue to resonate with those who seek a deeper connection with nature and the mysteries of the universe. So, as we revel in the beauty of autumn's colors and the warmth of the hearth, let us also celebrate the rich tapestry of traditions that connect us to the past, the present, and the enchanting world of nature.

  • Coming Soon!
     UPDATE!
    Coming this Fall! 
    Many of you have been asking how to take classes and study with Mambo Sam. This Fall, Mambo Sam is starting her own Patreon -  The 9 Mysteries Academy of Magick!  Mambo has been hard at work over the past few months creating lessons and exercises that will be educational and entertaining! The topics will be varied, as Mambo Sam has a broad knowledge of things esoteric, not to mention her Doctorate in Theology! Planned topics at this time include Moon Magick, Strega, Egyptian Magick, Celtic Witchcraft, Animal Spirit Magick and more!  There will be lack of fun and interesting studies and experiences! If you have not written Faith at customerservice@spellmaker.com to express your interest in an early invitation, do so now! Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!