Mambo Samantha Corfield

Preparing for Imbolc!

Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Rooted in Celtic traditions, it honors Brigid, the goddess of fertility, poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Imbolc is a time of renewal, inspiration, and preparation, as the light begins to grow stronger and the earth stirs with the promise of spring. The celebration often includes rituals, offerings, and symbolic actions to honor Brigid and welcome the turning of the seasons. While the day itself is significant, preparing for Imbolc allows you to fully embrace its energy and symbolism.

One of the foundational steps to prepare for Imbolc is to cleanse your living space. As this festival represents renewal, cleansing helps release stagnant energy and make room for fresh, vibrant intentions. Physically clean your home by dusting, sweeping, and organizing. Spiritually cleanse by using tools like sage, palo santo, or incense. Focus on corners and entryways to clear out old energy and invite blessings. Consider incorporating salt or water blessed under the moon to further purify your space.

Imbolc is associated with light, warmth, and fertility, so decorating your space with these themes can help align your environment with the energy of the season. Light white or yellow candles to symbolize the growing sun and Brigid’s flame. Add elements like fresh flowers, greenery, or woven Brigid’s crosses made from straw or reeds. Colors associated with Imbolc include white, gold, green, and red, so use these in your decorations, altar cloths, or personal attire.

Create or refresh an altar dedicated to Imbolc and Brigid. Include items such as candles, a small cauldron, crystals like amethyst or citrine, and offerings of milk, honey, or bread. You can also place representations of Brigid, such as statues or symbols of her crafts, like tools for writing or weaving. Leave space for any intentions, wishes, or affirmations you want to focus on during the celebration.

Rituals are a key part of Imbolc, and planning them in advance ensures you can gather everything you need. Consider incorporating meditation, candle-lighting, or fire rituals to honor Brigid’s light and transformative power. If you’re part of a group or coven, coordinate a group ceremony to share the energy and intentions of the day. Prepare written intentions, poetry, or prayers to recite as part of your rituals to bring clarity and focus.

Offerings to Brigid are an important aspect of Imbolc, as they show gratitude and invite her blessings. Traditional offerings include dairy products, bread, seeds, or spring water. Prepare these in advance by baking bread, setting aside milk, or finding a local spring. You can also craft handmade items, such as candles or woven crafts, to offer as a symbol of your effort and devotion.

Imbolc is a time of personal renewal, so take time to reflect on your goals and dreams for the year ahead. Journaling or meditation can help clarify your intentions and identify areas of your life where you seek growth or transformation. Think about the seeds you want to metaphorically plant this spring and what steps you can take now to nurture them.

Prepare foods that align with Imbolc’s themes of fertility and renewal. Dairy products, breads, soups, and root vegetables are traditional choices. Cooking these foods with intention—thinking of the warmth and nourishment they bring—adds an extra layer of meaning to your celebration. Share your meal with loved ones or enjoy it in quiet reflection as part of your ritual.

Even in the chill of winter, nature offers signs of the coming spring. Take a walk outdoors to observe the first hints of new life, such as budding trees or the return of birdsong. Collect natural items like twigs, stones, or dried flowers to incorporate into your decorations or rituals. Connecting with the earth during this time helps ground your intentions and align with the rhythms of the season.

Preparing for Imbolc is an opportunity to align your spirit, space, and intentions with the energy of renewal and growth. By cleansing your home, setting up an altar, planning rituals, and reflecting on your goals, you’ll enter this sacred time with clarity and purpose. Imbolc invites us to celebrate the light returning to the world and the seeds of possibility within ourselves—a beautiful reminder that even in the stillness of winter, the promise of spring is ever-present.

Love, 

Mambo Sam

Monthly Voodoo Rituals!

Announcement: Monthly Voodoo Rituals with Spellmaker.com!

🌟 Spellmaker.com is thrilled to announce a new series of monthly Voodoo rituals in celebration of our 30th anniversary! Mambo Sam is honored to host these powerful rituals as a way to connect with the lwa, build community, and embrace the magic of Voodoo together.

🕊️ First Ritual: Honoring Erzulie Freda
📅 Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT, 5 PM PT

📍 Location: Spellmaker Zoom Room

💖 This February special ritual will honor Erzulie Freda, the lwa of love, beauty, and luxury. Whether you are seeking love, emotional healing, or deeper connections, this is the perfect opportunity to work with her energy.

✨ March Ritual: Honoring Sobo 📅 Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025

Join us in future months to honor other lwa, including Erzulie Dantor, Papa Legba, Gran Bwa, and more.

📧 For more details, email us at [email protected].

Celebrate this magical milestone with us and strengthen your spiritual journey in the presence of community. We can’t wait to see you there! 🌙

Love, 

The Spellmaker Family!

Wolf Moon 2025!

 

The Wolf Moon, the first full moon of the year, is a profound spiritual event that invites us to reflect, renew, and embrace our inner strength. Named by Native American tribes for the howling of wolves during the cold, barren winters, this moon symbolizes resilience, community, and the primal instincts that guide us. As it illuminates the night sky, it offers a powerful opportunity for introspection and growth.

At its core, the Wolf Moon carries themes of survival, intuition, and connection. Wolves are creatures that thrive in packs, relying on their bonds for safety and strength. This moon encourages us to examine our own relationships and the communities we belong to. Are we leaning on those who support us? Are we offering our strength to others in return?

This full moon also represents a time to tune into our instincts. Wolves are guided by their keen senses and unwavering intuition, and the energy of the Wolf Moon urges us to trust our gut feelings. It is a time to reflect on the path we’re walking and consider if it aligns with our inner truths. If not, this lunar event provides the perfect moment to recalibrate and set intentions for the journey ahead.

The Wolf Moon’s spiritual energy is deeply connected to release and renewal. January is a month of fresh starts, and the full moon amplifies this energy. Use this time to let go of what no longer serves you, whether it’s self-doubt, unhealthy habits, or relationships that drain your spirit.

Take a moment to write down what you wish to release on a piece of paper and burn it under the light of the moon. As the smoke rises, visualize your burdens lifting, creating space for new opportunities and growth. This ritual aligns with the moon’s natural cycle of shedding and renewing, reminding us that endings are necessary for beginnings.

To fully embrace the spiritual potential of the Wolf Moon, consider engaging in the following practices:

1. Meditation: Sit quietly under the moonlight or near a window where the moon is visible. Breathe deeply, allowing its energy to fill you. Reflect on your goals, dreams, and the steps needed to achieve them.

2. Journaling: Write about your intentions for the year, focusing on areas where you want to grow or strengthen your life. Let the wolf’s symbolism inspire you to find courage and clarity in your words.

3. Connection: Spend time with those who uplift and support you. Share your aspirations and offer mutual encouragement. This is a time to strengthen your pack.

4. Cleansing: Perform a spiritual cleansing of your space. Use tools like sage, palo santo, or a cleansing spray to remove stagnant energy and invite in fresh, positive vibrations.

5. Ritual: Create a small altar dedicated to the Wolf Moon. Include symbols of wolves, a candle to represent the moon, and any crystals like moonstone or clear quartz that resonate with lunar energy.

The Wolf Moon reminds us of the power within. Just as wolves are both fierce and nurturing, this moon encourages us to balance strength with compassion—for ourselves and others. Embrace the lessons of resilience and trust in your inner voice to guide you through the challenges of the coming year.

As you step into this lunar phase, remember the howling wolf—a call of unity, courage, and the unyielding spirit. Use the Wolf Moon’s energy to connect with your authentic self, align with your purpose, and walk boldly into the year ahead.

Love, 

Mambo Sam

Happy New Year! Hoppin' John!

Happy New Year and my Hoppin' John Recipe! 

Hoppin’ John is much more than a Southern staple—it’s a dish steeped in history, culture, and hope for the year ahead. In New Orleans, where culinary traditions are as vibrant as the city itself, this iconic blend of black-eyed peas, rice, and often pork takes on a special significance during New Year’s celebrations. Rooted in African and Caribbean influences, Hoppin’ John represents the resilience and creativity of the people who first brought these flavors together. On New Year’s Day, this humble yet hearty dish carries a message of prosperity and good fortune, making it a beloved tradition in homes across the South.

The magic of Hoppin’ John lies not just in its taste but in the symbolism of its ingredients. Black-eyed peas are said to resemble coins, representing wealth and abundance in the coming year, while the rice signifies a foundation of stability. The addition of pork, often in the form of ham hocks or bacon, brings richness to the dish and symbolizes progress and forward motion. In New Orleans, where food is as much about storytelling as sustenance, locals often add their own twist—a splash of hot sauce, a dash of Creole seasoning, or even a side of cornbread to soak up every bit of flavor. Paired with collard greens, symbolizing folded money, Hoppin’ John becomes a feast not just for the body but for the spirit.

My own personal recipe, passed down through generations, adds an extra layer of love and tradition to this timeless dish. With its perfect balance of spices and a touch of New Orleans flair, it’s shared today with the best wishes for 2025. To sit down to a plate of Hoppin’ John is to connect with a legacy of hope and abundance, a reminder that even the simplest meals can carry the deepest meanings. As you take your first bite on New Year’s Day, know that you’re partaking in a ritual that stretches back centuries, one that unites people in a shared wish for prosperity, good health, and happiness in the year to come.

Love, 

Mambo Sam

Open your doors!

Open your doors, y'all! 

As the final moments of the year slip away, a quiet ritual unfolds in homes across Ireland—a simple yet profound tradition of opening the doors at midnight. With one door open to the night and the other leading into the heart of the home, this practice is steeped in symbolism, carrying echoes of the past and hopes for the future.

The origins of this tradition are as old as the Irish hearth itself, rooted in the belief that every ending deserves a proper farewell and every beginning a warm welcome. At the stroke of midnight, the front and back doors of a home are flung wide, allowing the old year to depart and making space for the blessings of the new year to enter. This act, though quiet and unassuming, carries a power that speaks to the soul. It is a gesture of release, a clearing away of the sorrows, struggles, and burdens of the past, and an invitation to fresh energy, luck, and possibility.

The cool Irish air rushes in, sometimes laden with mist or the scent of the sea, mingling with the warmth of the home. For a moment, time seems to hold its breath as the threshold between the years stands open. Families gather near, their hearts full of reflection, gratitude, and quiet anticipation. The act is simple—no words are spoken, no elaborate ceremony performed—but it is a tradition that carries deep meaning for those who partake.

In Ireland, where storytelling is woven into the fabric of daily life, this tradition is rich with metaphor. The open door is a symbol of the Irish spirit itself: welcoming, hopeful, and resilient. It acknowledges the challenges that have been faced and honors the opportunities yet to come. The old year is treated with respect as it slips quietly out the back, while the new year is greeted with open arms, ready to take its place by the fire.

For many, the tradition of opening the doors is accompanied by a moment of reflection. What are you ready to leave behind? Perhaps it’s a grudge, a loss, or a mistake that has weighed heavy on your heart. And what do you hope to welcome? A new love, an opportunity, or simply the promise of better days ahead? The ritual serves as a gentle reminder to approach the new year with intention and clarity, letting go of what no longer serves you to make room for all that could be.

In some homes, the tradition takes on a celebratory tone, with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filling the air as the doors are opened. In others, it is a quiet, reflective moment shared in silence or soft whispers. Whatever the mood, the act remains the same—a gesture of trust in the cycles of life, the turning of the wheel, and the promise that every new beginning brings.

Outside, the night is alive with possibilities. The stars overhead seem to shine a little brighter, the crisp air carries a sense of renewal, and for those who believe, the spirits of the past and future walk the earth, passing each other as the old year bids farewell and the new year steps in. It’s a liminal time, a threshold moment, and the open doors embody that magic.

As the clock strikes twelve and the doors remain open, there’s a feeling of connection—not just with the new year, but with the generations who have performed this ritual before. It’s easy to imagine your ancestors standing in that same doorway, sending their hopes and fears into the night and welcoming the year ahead with courage and grace.

When the doors finally close, there’s a sense that the home has been cleansed and renewed. The old has gone, the new has entered, and the family is ready to face whatever comes next together. It’s a tradition that asks little but offers so much, reminding us of the power of release, renewal, and the simple act of opening ourselves to possibility.

So, this New Year’s Eve, if you find yourself standing at the door, don’t just open it—step into the moment. Feel the past drift away, let the future step in, and carry with you the timeless spirit of this Irish tradition. After all, what better way to begin a new year than with an open heart, an open home, and the boundless hope of all that’s yet to come?

Love, 

Mambo Sam