Mambo Samantha Corfield

Have a Great Weekend!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

Papa Alegba Month is Almost Here!

Happy Day-Before-Friday, everyone!

I cannot believe that it is almost Papa Alegba Month here at Spellmaker! Every year we dedicate June to Papa Alegba since he has THREE feast days in June (13, 21, and 29)! 

This is the month where we do three free rituals here in the Spellmaker office and you can send in your petitions to be included in all three of the rituals.  If you care to do some work on your own, we also have great products for Papa Alegba on his page on the Spellmaker website!

On that same page is lots of information about Papa, how to serve him, what his offerings are, etc.

One thing I wanted to talk about is why keys are so important to Papa!  No self-respecting Vodouisant would ever throw away old keys! Nope, those go right on Papa's altar!  Remember, he is the gatekeeper, the mediary between our world and the world of the lwa - no work gets done without his permission!  We must always ask his permission to travel to and from (and to allow the lwa to travel to and from) our different worlds.

A little trick that I use, and I know have talked about this before, but I feel like it is worth repeating - is to designate certain old keys for certain things.  For instance, I have three keys that I use with money work.  I have 7 old keys that I use for luck work - I think you get the idea!  When I start any of that type of work for myself and Parran Matt, those keys go on whatever altar I am working from. Those particular keys have been dedicated to Papa, by me, for those specific purposes. In this way, I feel like I get a little extra "oomph" from my work by having particular keys for him for the things for which I am asking!

If nothing else, just throw all your old keys in a bowl and just keep them around.  (Warning:  People will start to think you collect keys and you will find keys showing up everywhere!  LOL)  Dedicate them to Papa Legba and put that bowl of keys on whatever altar you are using for work.  Believe me, he will love them and it will help unlock many doors for you!  ;-)

Love, light, and peace, Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

Didn't Mean to Call You That...

Hello my dear readers!  I find myself in, yet again, the position of feeling like I need to re-re-post this blog post of mine.  This time, though, I would like to also call some attention to the idea of teen dating abuse!  I have seen some billboards up in my town with numbers to call if a teenager feels like they are in an abusive dating situation.

I do hope that if you have a teenager, you will have some opportunities to talk with them about this!  What a sad situation... I can remember feeling a little bit bullied (a LONG time ago) by a boyfriend.  Nothing was ever physical about it, but I do remember how it made me feel to try to please him just to have him get angry with me.  Not a great feeling.  Apparently, though, there is a lot more going on these days than some mild bullying.  My heart goes out to parents of teenagers these days - there just seem to be so much to contend with!

Although this post focused mainly on verbal abuse, abuse of any kind should never, ever be stood for!  Please get help if you or someone you love is in an abusive situation.

Anyway, here's the post yet again.

------------------------------

 I feel compelled to revisit a subject that I blogged about awhile back - so I am reposting the blog here.  I just want you to think about your self worth and while I use female clients here as an example, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen to men, too!  Self worth knows no gender boundaries!

There is a popular song by "Lit" with these lyrics:
Can we forget about the things I said when I was drunk
I didn't mean to call you that
I can't remember what was said or what you threw at me
Please tell me
Please tell me why
My car is in the front yard
And I'm sleeping with my clothes on
I came in through the window last night
And you're gone

Okay, so it's a funny song, I actually even like the song!  But it is not really funny when you think about it in the context of possible emotional abuse. I am sorry to say that I see a trend of female clients who are being abused but they don't seem to know it. Not every form of abuse leaves you with a black eye or a broken bone. Some of the more insidious forms of abuse include how your partner speaks to you.

I am seeing more and more Heart's Desire letters that go something like this, "I want Fred to stop calling me a b*tch, a c*nt, a worthless, useless,piece of sh*t." This is in HD letters for Leave My Man Alone™ where the person is trying to get their HD to stop this kind of behavior towards them.

I am sorry, but I have to ask myself, why are you putting up with that in the first place? Has that person convinced you that you are worth so little that they have totally destroyed your self esteem and you think you can't do better? Well, let me tell you, YOU CAN DO BETTER than some low life who doesn't have one good thing to say about you.

Look, I am not saying that people don't have a bad day, or, as the song says, do and say things when intoxicated. But if you are with a person who says horrible things to you on a regular basis, YOU ARE BEING EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSED, and you shouldn't be doing the love trio, you should be doing The Ultimate Revenge Kit™, a Milk of Damballah™ white bath, and then an Attract Love to Me™ spell kit!

I beg you, if you are in an abusive relationship, please get help. A lot of crisis intervention revolves around physical abuse, but emotional abuse can be just as much, or maybe even more damaging in the long run. You may think you have to take emotional abuse for one reason or another, but trust me, you do not. I did a search on the Internet and there are tons of books and articles written on this subject and how to get out of these relationships. Please don't allow yourself to be treated like this.

Granted, sometimes the only person who can truly help you is YOU... like the song says above, "And you're GONE."

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

Learn to get help: http://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-abuse/emotional-abuse-help-support-and-recovery/

Aunt Churadas

Happy Friday, my dear readers!  Some folks have the idea that coming from Louisiana all we eat is Louisiana-style food!  LOL  Well, that isn't true - we eat lots of different foods and if you ever take a look at Louisiana restaurant listings you will see what I mean - the whole world rainbow of food is served there!

Hence, the title of my blog post!  Growing up, my cousins and I loved my aunt's  enchiladas - they were amazing.  To this day, I don't think I am able to duplicate them - maybe close, but not the same. God bless her, she took the secret to her grave!  (R.I.P. Aunt Mamie "Churada")

One of my cousins never heard the word "enchiladas" correctly!  He always called them "aunt churadas."  We always laughed and he didn't understand why and we laughed harder. We took to calling Aunt Mamie "Aunt Churada."  Anyway, I swear that boy was full grown before he remembered that and figured it out!  ;-)

But my point isn't exactly about aunt churadas (even though I am making them for dinner)!  My point is about hearing what is said to you in a reading!  Haha - gotcha!  Made you think I was going to give you the secret to my aunt churadas - heck no, I am not!  But if you come over and cook with me, I will! ;-)  Ask T.R., C.K., D&T, and Sister Bridget - they will tell you -  I will!!!

I digressed again!  Anyway, after many years of doing readings, I am still amazed at the good, well-meaning, lovely folks that come back to me later and say, "You said such and such."  And I say, "No, I said so and so."  Enchiladas/aunt churadas - ah, there it is!

I think some of the issue might be that so much information is given that it is just too much to assimilate and remember (which is why I am a huge fan of chatroom readings so you can have a copy of what exactly was said). It is really important to listen in a reading, take notes if you need to, or even record it if you have that kind of app on your phone (always remember if you are recording someone, you have to notify them). When I (or Sister Bridget, or any reader, for that matter) gives you information it is meant to help you, to guide you, to assist you in a matter that was important enough to you to pay good money to speak to someone about! 

So, don't be nervous, don't be shy - ask me/us to repeat, clarify, or rephrase something that you didn't understand!  We aren't going to be angry or put off - no one (at least from Spellmaker and Friends) is going to bite your head off - we want you to clearly understand our guidance so that you get the best possible understanding.  Also, listen to words like if, maybe, possibly, probably, about, potentially, etc. - these words can make a world of difference to what the guidance means.  "Possibly you will hear from him in two weeks" is NOT "You will hear from him in two weeks."  It means that we have some guidance that the situation may be right to hear from someone in about two weeks.

So I beg you, listen up in a reading! Grab a notebook or take notes on your computer while we are talking!  Ask questions, get clarification.  Oh, and most of all, if I, or anyone else, uses a word that you don't know the definition of, please ASK.  Don't be embarrassed if you don't know what it means - there are a bazillion (technical term) words out there that someone might not understand.  Stop us - ask us.  We would never think you were stupid or dumb!  Who cares if you don't know the meaning of a word?  Just ask! :-)  (This just happened with a slang word in a reading with someone I was reading for whose first language isn't English - she was miffed at first because it turns out that it is a derogatory word in another language!  Ack.)  So just ask! ;-)

Meanwhile, have a great weekend and I look forward to reading for you sometime! :-)

www.spellmaker.com/readings.htm

Love to all,

Mambo Sam, www.spellmaker.com

 

 

Back to the "Good Enough" Marriage Article!

Hello everyone!  So quite some time back, I did a post regarding this article:  The Good Enough Marriage.  It is, as it states,  an article about the "good enough" marriage and/or relationship.  I definitely wondered what you thought about that article - agree, disagree? I was re-reading the comments that people had sent in and thought this was so worth reposting because not only was the article thought-provoking, so were the comments!

It seems that most of you think pretty much the same way I do - there is NO SUCH THING as a "good enough" relationship.  I just thought that was ridiculous and was poor advice to give people.  Yes, some of the things in the article were good, but just the idea of settling just to be with someone seemed crazy to me.  I have told many of you that if your relationship or marriage was "ok" that meant you had a poor relationship or marriage.  Now, of course, that is just my opinion, but I could never see spending years of my life with someone who I just thought was "ok" for me!

I did want to share what some of you said and have the chance to comment on it here (my comments are in italics).

 

schweety said:

Well, I read this article awhile back, and then came back to comment on it. The reason is it hit very close to my home. I was in a "good enough" marriage that eventually wasn't good enough. I can look back on when I made the decision to marry my husband, knowing even then I thought I wouldn't get another offer. I "settled" for 13 years. I am not saying all 13 years were bad. There were a few years that were great, a few where I felt I was doing all the work, and a few I felt he did a lot of the work. We lost of sync but I am not really sure we ever had it to begin with. When I met my HD, in a short time with him, I realized all the things I didn't have in my marriage. My husband and I didn't have passion, we didn't have romance, I missed him "being" proud of me sort of showing me off. I missed the physical part for most of those 13 years. Again not to say sex wasn't there, it was, but more of a "routine". I look at different people in my life, Mambo and Parran being just two of them, and you would have to be blind to not see how passionate they are with each other and how happy. Don't settle for someone, life is too short. I have to believe what Mambo has told me over the years and that we have many soulmates. My husband gave me the best things in my life, my two sons, and for that I will always love him. But I know, without a doubt, no matter how hard it is sometimes, that God didn't want us to be alone in this life, and there is someone out there who is looking for us too. Don't settle. There is a difference, I know I have lived it.

 

>>Right!! This happens to a lot of people - they get married because they think they won't get another offer.  This especially happens to women who are taught that they must get married, have children, and fit into a certain mold. But, on the other hand, as you say, you got your beautiful children from this union!  That is where a lot of questioning comes in - sure the marriage turned out not to be wonderful, but the children are!  Of course, you were supposed to have those wonderful children!  But yes, we want to live and love with someone who truly adores us and each and every one of us should have that in our lives if we truly want it.  Thank you, Schweety, for using Parran Matt and me as an example!  We are very lucky in our happiness.  :-)  We wish the same for all of you!

 

amanda said:

Mambo I love this article. I think many times women(men too!) believe that there is THE perfect person out there for them. While I do believe there are certain people we are supposed to end up with, I definitly do not think it is going to be a fairy tale ala disney style. I also think some clients come to spellmaker expecting to make their ho hum relationship into a disney classic. Spellwork is not going to do that, nothing will. My HD is not who I thought I would wind up with. I was picturing myself with Enrique Iglesias, yet HD is jewish, covered in tattoos and piercings, dropped out of college, doesn't care about money, doesn't care what kind of car he drives, etc, yet he treated me 1 million times better than any smart,rich pretty boy I thought I would end up with..HD isn't my 'good enough,' he is my imperfect perfect!

 

 >>Oh yes, the "illogical" choice, I love that!  Since Parran Matt and I are kind of the voodoo Demi and Ashton, one could think on the surface that we were the "illogical" choice for each other.  However, if you are around us for even a short period of time, you see it makes perfect sense.  The fairy tale has many possible endings.  ;-)

  

Simone Greene said:

I had a "good enough" marriage. It wasn't. Something the article does not address is how we change over the years, and how our situations change. In our early 20s, almost everyone our age is available, so there is a huge pool to explore and choose from. In our 40s, not so much. Our experience shows us a far different set of things that are important. Who is to say when we are being realistic and when we are not? Do we have a caste system for potential dates and mates, where we can't marry up or down? Relationships are a lot more complex than a set of criteria to meet. A short article like that can't cover it all, but luckily we have our Mambo and Parran, Sisters and case workers to guide us. ;-)

 

>>Yes, "good enough" just isn't and in the end, despite what that article says, there is always a level of dissatisfaction that will emerge with a "good enough" marriage... in my opinion, life will be filled with "what ifs" IF one has a "good enough" relationship.  You are so right - realism exists on an individual basis.  As far as that "caste system" - trust me, we see it a lot in our work - "I can't be with so and so because s/he isn't my religion...or race....or age, etc., etc."  Nevermind that true love exists!  Sigh.

 

phantodrac said:

Wow! This was really interesting! I agree with it up to a certain point- but I feel that the article deemphasizes the love and romance that's important to a relationship way too much. Have we, as “modern-day” and “independent” folks, set our expectations way too high for love? In many cases- yes! It’s important to be realistic and open minded. That being said, we can’t simply take a defeatist attitude and get ourselves a business partner instead of a love. I think that the five guidelines that are set out in the article are essential for a lasting, healthy relationship…but it has to be treated WITH love- not like you’re writing out a legalistic contract. Also- people change. Our loves can change as people and their goals may vary from what they were originally. It’s up to us to decide if we want to remain with them if and when that happens. If you’re just marrying someone due to coinciding goals and interests- what happens when those change? If you’re marrying someone out of real and true love for that person…perhaps you’ll be more likely to say, “okay, this isn’t what I expected- but I love you. Let’s keep going and see where it takes us, baby!” Point being, if you approach things TOO “mechanically” you may be setting yourself up for just as much of a letdown as the person who holds out forever, searching for Prince Charming. For me, while there IS significant wisdom therein, this quote just depicts someone who is desperately trying to rationalize their actions: "If I had to settle for a new Oldsmobile when what I really want is a Porsche, I'll never be satisfied. In truth, the Oldsmobile is new, it's pretty, and it works. Why wouldn't I be satisfied with it?" Dude- you came into the shop telling the dealer that you wanted a Porsche. Maybe you saved a few bucks…but you’re going to be driving that car for a LONG time. But hey- all power to ya. This is just my knee-jerk reaction; I really feel it’s a blend of the two extremes, a tightrope walk. Also, right now I’m young, idealistic, and a total romantic. Who knows what I’ll say come a few years from now. But, hopefully, I’ll be saying it from a Porsche- one with a dang good warranty. 

>> As I highlighted above, this is exactly true.  There has to be some balance in the approach of looking for and sustaining a relationship.  I love your twist on the car analogy!  ;-) You are right, there is no easy answer, but here's hoping for that Porsche! 

  

Love to all, Mambo

www.spellmaker.com

 

Who put the work in spell work?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

— Thomas Edison

Greetings, everyone!  Hope you are all ready fo a great weekend!  I know we have talked about this before - the work of spellwork!  However, I do think the subject can be revisited over and over again and still be of value!

All too often I hear people say that they think things like our spell kits are "just too much work." It is always a sigh-inducing, eye-rolling moment for me because that statement generally comes from someone who just told me they would do ANYTHING to get Jack (or Jill) back into their lives.  Of course we offer solo castings with most of our spells (where I do the work for you), and that is a fine choice for those who are truly too busy (lots of folks working two jobs these days!)  or do not have the privacy to do spell work.

 However, I fear that sometimes people choose the solo casting just because they think doing their own spell work is just too much work!  That is troubling because in the category of "doing anything" to get Jack or Jill back in  your life could involve some work!

It could involve spell work!  It could involve working on yourself.  It could involve working on your relationship, but if you aren't invested enough in the relationship to do some work on it, why do you want that relationship in the first place?  I dont' have the answer to that - but I do think it is something worth thinking about!

And let's not get confused about you good folks who occasionally need a break from spell work or adjunct work!   There are those who just don't want to do another doll session or light another candle... they are just sick of spell work at the moment. 

Now that is something different!  Sometimes a little break from spell work is a good thing.  It gives you time to refresh your spirit,look at the spellwork with fresh eyes, and regain your energy.  The best way to take a break from spell work is during the break to assess the break itself; are you feeling good about the break?  Are you feeling that this is a time for you to renew yourself and your purpose? The biggest danger in taking a break sometimes comes in the form of not knowing when the break should be over.

I always tell the folks to whom I recommend a break to be on the look out for signs that their break is over.  If you are longing for your voodoo doll, or you start to miss the comfort and ritual of your candle magick, or you feel an incredible pull back into the work - those kinds of things are clear signs that your break is over!

Lately I have been literally bombarded with stories of clients and the success of their spellwork!  :-)  Needless to say, that is always amazingly awesome to hear!  As I have mentioned before, I do notice a very common thread in these success stories - these are very often folks who were dedicated to that work, had a real heart for it, and stuck to their guns even in the face of adversity.  Their success is inspiring!

So if the spellwork is seeming too much like work, then yes, take a small break, but never take your eye off the prize! ;-)  If it is worth having, it is worth working for!

Love,light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

The Universal Prayer

Good morning, everyone!  I wanted to share one of my favorite poems/prayers with you today!  If you aren't familiar with the works of Alexander Pope, it might take a bit of re-reading to get some of his meanings! You know how it with these things written in the 1800's since we just don't talk that way anymore.

I love his interpretations of God! My favorite stanza is the one that starts with "What blessings thy free bounty gives."  The idea that God is "paid" when we enjoy the bounties we are given really resonates with me.  I also enjoy the references to free will, the idea that we are not alone in the universe, and especially the thought that it is not our job to go around chastising those who have ideas about God that differ from our own. ;-)

There is also a sense to me that Mr. Pope saw God beyond the usual Christian beliefs; he interprets him more as a universal energy that sometimes extends beyond our scope. That is also somewhat of our Vodou/Voodoo way of seeing God - not so much the guy sitting in the clouds metting out justice and favors, but rather an overwhelming sense of Beingness with whom we are allowed to forge our own relationship.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this prayer - I love that it is so rich in spirituality without being preachy about religion.  Also, it isn't a bad way to start the day!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield, www.spellmaker.com 

The Universal Prayer

BY ALEXANDER POPE

Father of all! in every age,

    In every clime adored,

By saint, by savage, and by sage,

    Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

Thou Great First Cause, least understood:

    Who all my sense confined

To know but this—that thou art good,

    And that myself am blind:

Yet gave me, in this dark estate,

    To see the good from ill;

And binding Nature fast in fate,

    Left free the human will.

What conscience dictates to be done,

    Or warns me not to do,

This, teach me more than Hell to shun,

    That, more than Heaven pursue.

What blessings thy free bounty gives,

    Let me not cast away;

For God is paid when man receives,

    To enjoy is to obey.

Yet not to earth’s contracted span,

    Thy goodness let me bound,

Or think thee Lord alone of man,

    When thousand worlds are round:

Let not this weak, unknowing hand

    Presume thy bolts to throw,

And deal damnation round the land,

    On each I judge thy foe.

If I am right, thy grace impart,

    Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, oh teach my heart

    To find a better way.

Save me alike from foolish pride,

    Or impious discontent,

At aught thy wisdom has denied,

    Or aught thy goodness lent.

Teach me to feel another’s woe,

    To hide the fault I see;

That mercy I to others show,

    That mercy show to me.

Mean though I am, not wholly so

    Since quickened by thy breath;

Oh lead me wheresoe’er I go,

    Through this day’s life or death.

This day, be bread and peace my lot:

    All else beneath the sun,

Thou know’st if best bestowed or not,

    And let thy will be done.

To thee, whose temple is all space,

    Whose altar, earth, sea, skies!

One chorus let all being raise!

    All Nature’s incense rise!

Cinco de Mayo!

I love this old poster (1901) for Cinco de Mayo!

Have a great day if you are celebrating!!

Love,

Mambo Sam

www.spellmaker.com

Doing a Quick Service.

Hello everyone!  Happy Friday!  Some of you may remember awhile back in another blog post I answered a question about what to do about service the lwa (Vodou Spirits) when you just don’t have a lot of time (or money, or energy, etc.).  While in a perfect world we would all have lots of time to devote to our spiritual lives, realistically this just may not be true!

I developed this quick service and have found it to be very well received by the lwa.  Since I posted this a couple of years back (I think!), quite a few people have given me feedback that this service has helped them tremendously and they, too, felt it was very well received!

Many Vodouisants have problems with keeping up with service to their ancestors, the lwa, etc. Most of this stems from the idea that every service has to be a big deal with lots of food, tons of candles, music, and lots of time spent.  This just isn't true.

 Smaller, more frequent services are going to be much more well received than that once a year "guilt service" that many tend to do - that is when they go all out and put on a big spread for their ancestors and the lwa.  Now, that is great - and that will be well received.  However, if you want to really build a relationship with someone, is taking them out for a big dinner and night on the town once a year or every six months really going to do that?  Nope!  The same is true spiritually - a little bit of time spent frequently will move your spiritual progress along much faster than waiting until you have a ton of time to do what you think is a "proper service."  ALL service done with a good heart is proper service! :-)

Here is a repost of that particular blog:

Hello everyone!

People tell me all the time  they would do more service/ritual to the Lwa (Vodou Spirits) but they “just don’t have the time.”  Now I realize that we could go back at them saying that they should or could “make the time.”  However, in today’s world, that sometimes is not as easy as it sounds!   But almost anyone can find five minutes in a day to do my quickie service below. 

The service does assume that you have a few things on hand and have some basic knowledge of ritual:  Candles (keeping a few white candles on hand is great because you can use them for any lwa or your ancestors), a glass of water or other beverage, and a small food offering that would be appropriate for almost any lwa (something simple such as a cookie or even a piece of bread).

You can do this quick service almost anywhere!  (Please note this can be configured for the lwa and/or your ancestors.)

1.  Put your candle with a glass of water or other beverage on a counter or table.

2.  As you light the candle, ask Papa Legba to “please open the gate for me and allow ___________ (which ever lwa or ancestor you are honoring) to pass over.” (You can also, alternatively, ask Papa to just open the gate and not ask for anyone in particular. If you are doing it that way, then you are making a general offering to the lwa and/or your ancestors.)

3.  “Present” the glass of water by holding it out to the East, West, North, and South.  Say, “For you __________________ (which ever lwa you are honoring).”

4.  Place the water back down near the candle.

5.   “Present” the food offering as per #3 above.  Place it down next to the water and candle.

6.  Take one or two minutes to talk with the lwa you have asked to come over to you.  You might have a request or perhaps you are just wanting to honor that particular lwa.

7.   Thank the lwa and Papa Legba for their time and help.

8.  If you can, leave the candle burning (safely) for a little while longer while you do other things.  This is a great little service to do while you are getting ready for the day.   You can start it up, get showered and dressed, and then end the service.  If you need to close out the service more quickly, then just proceed to Step #9.

9.  Extinguish your candle and ask Papa Legba to “close the gate when it pleases you.”  You can leave the food and water  for disposal until later or even the next day.  If you need to get rid of it more quickly it is great if you can pour the water outside and leave the cookie/food outside somewhere.  If you cannot, then just dispose of the water down the sink and wrap the cookie/food up in brown paper (such as just a brown paper bag) and throw it away.

There you did a little service in five minutes!  And yes, it counts.  Yes, it can help.  Yes, it is pleasing to the lwa.  Folks have a tendency to think that the lwa will only respond to big, elaborate  
service.  That just isn’t true.  Every service that is well intended is well received!

Please continue to have a great and safe weekend!

Love,
Mambo Sam
www.spellmaker.com

Painting by Saundra Elise Ziyatdinov

May Day, May Day, May Day!

Happy May 1, one and all!  I have posted about May Day in the past - see below, with some new additions! :-)

Ah, May 1! This day has been celebrated in so many ways through so many cultures. The halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice,  May 1 has elicited many different rituals through the years.

For Wiccans, this is Beltane; many Catholics celebrate the life of the Vigin Mary in some way.  Yours truly was once the "May Queen" at her Catholic elementary school - St. Anthony of Padua on Canal Street in New Orleans.  Yes, I got to wear the beautiful white outfit and lead the procession into the church and lay the first roses at the foot of the statue of the Virgin Mary.  Pretty heady stuff for an 8-year-old girl. (Somehwere I have a picture of this and just have to find it - I am sure some of you will find it a hoot!)

Of course, nevermind the Catholics totally borrowed the holiday from the pagans who celebrated their first fertility rituals of the year on this date.  ;-)  Children conceived on this date are said to have special magickal powers.  Children conceived on Walpurgis (the night before May 1, Beltane Eve) are said to have the ability to communicate with the dead because Walpurgis is, traditionally, one of the days when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is considered most thin and penetrable.

May 1 is often celebrated with different types of floral offerings.  In some countries the ladies all wear flowers on this day - if your flower is worn on your right side, you are available; a flower on the left signifies that you are already taken.   This is also considered the day to meet a new lover or celebrate an old one.  ;-) 

The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, and the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries.
It is also associated with the Gaelic Beltane. Many pagan celebrations were
abandoned or Christianized during the process of conversion in Europe. A more
secular version of May Day continues to be observed in Europe and America. In
this form, May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing the maypole dance and crowning of the Queen of the May.

This day is often associated with new beginnings, planting a new seed, looking towards shedding off the past and looking towards the future with new, hopeful ideation.  Not too many of us get the chance to dance around the Maypole these days, but certainly you can do that in your heart and mind.  I hope you all have a beautiful May 1 and beyond!  Let's look towards new beginnings, new hope, and beautiful outcomes for us all.

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

 P.S. Despite my title of this post, the distress call "MayDay" has nothing to do with May Day! LOL.  It is from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me".  Of course, we could do some work to ask for help today from a particular lwa, such as Erzulie Freda.  ;-)  And there is the fact that the distress call MayDay is always said in groups of three.  Gee, I can find Voodoo in anything! :-)