Mambo Samantha Corfield

Happy Witches' Day!

Celebrating Witch's Day: Embrace the Magic!

Hey there, fellow witches and curious souls! 🌟 Today, we're going to dive into the enchanting world of Witch's Day, celebrated on July 21st. This special day is all about honoring the craft, embracing our magical practices, and connecting with the vibrant community of witches worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to the path, Witch's Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate your unique journey and the magic that surrounds us. Let's explore the origins of Witch's Day and some fun and meaningful ways to celebrate this magical day.

The origins of Witch's Day are rooted in the modern pagan and Wiccan movements that gained popularity in the 20th century. As interest in witchcraft and pagan traditions grew, practitioners sought to establish specific days to celebrate their beliefs and practices. Witch's Day emerged as a way to unify witches around the world in a shared celebration of their craft.

Witch's Day is not tied to any particular historical event but rather serves as a contemporary observance that honors the diversity and richness of witchcraft. It provides an opportunity for witches to come together, share their knowledge, and celebrate their unique traditions and practices. By designating a specific day for this celebration, the witchcraft community can collectively embrace their heritage and the evolving nature of their spiritual paths.

Ways to Celebrate Witch's Day

Host a Gathering One of the best ways to celebrate Witch's Day is by hosting a gathering. Invite fellow witches, friends, and family members who are interested in witchcraft. You can organize a potluck, where everyone brings a dish infused with magical intent. Decorate your space with symbols of the craft, such as pentagrams, crystals, and candles, to create a magical atmosphere.

Activity Ideas:  Conduct a simple ritual together, focusing on themes like protection, abundance, or gratitude.  Share your favorite spells and create new ones as a group. You can craft protection charms, prosperity bags, or love spells. Encourage everyone to share their experiences and stories related to their magical journeys.

Solo Rituals:  If you prefer a more introspective celebration, solo rituals can be incredibly powerful. Take this day to connect deeply with your own practice and honor your personal journey as a witch.

Ritual Ideas:  Spend time in meditation, focusing on your intentions and what you hope to achieve in your practice. Use tarot cards, runes, or scrying to seek guidance and insight for the coming months. Take a walk in nature, collecting natural items like stones, feathers, and leaves to use in your magical practice. This can also be a time to ground and center yourself.

Crafting and Creating Channel your inner creativity by crafting magical items. This can be a fun and therapeutic way to celebrate Witch's Day.

Craft Ideas:  Create herb bundles for smudging and cleansing. Use herbs like sage, lavender, and rosemary.  Make your own candles infused with essential oils and herbs that correspond to your intentions. Decorate a journal for recording your spells, rituals, and experiences. This can be a powerful tool for reflection and growth.5. Virtual Celebrations

In our digital age, virtual celebrations can be just as fulfilling as in-person gatherings. Join online communities and participate in virtual rituals, discussions, and workshops.

Online Ideas:  Participate in live-streamed rituals hosted by online covens or witchcraft groups. Attend webinars on various topics related to witchcraft, such as spell casting, moon magic, or deity worship.  Share your celebrations on social media using hashtags like #WitchsDay and connect with witches from around the world.

Honoring Deities and Spirits: Take time on Witch's Day to honor the deities, spirits, and ancestors who guide and protect you.

Ways to Honor:  Set up or refresh your altar with offerings, such as flowers, incense, food, and drink. Recite prayers or invocations to connect with your deities and spirit guides.  Light a candle for your ancestors and spend time reflecting on their influence in your life.

Self-Care and Reflection: Witch's Day is also a time for self-care and reflection. Nurturing yourself is essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced magical practice.

Self-Care Ideas: Take a ritual bath with sea salt, herbs, and essential oils to cleanse and rejuvenate your body and spirit. Reflect on your magical journey, your successes, and areas you want to grow. Practice mindfulness and gratitude, focusing on the present moment and the beauty of your magical path.

Witch's Day is a beautiful celebration of the craft and the magical community. Whether you choose to celebrate with others or enjoy a day of solitary reflection, the key is to embrace the magic within and around you. By honoring your practice and connecting with like-minded individuals, you can create a powerful and enriching experience.

So, gather your herbs, light your candles, and let the magic flow! Happy Witch's Day, everyone! 🌟🕯️🔮

Love, 

Mambo Sam

Embracing the Summer Solstice: A Celebration of Light and Witchcraft

Embracing the Summer Solstice: A Celebration of Light and Witchcraft

The Summer Solstice, known as Litha in many Pagan traditions, marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. This astronomical event, occurring between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, holds profound significance in the world of witchcraft and Paganism. The term “solstice” is derived from the Latin words “sol” (sun) and “sistere” (to stand still), symbolizing the sun at its zenith. This moment, when the sun appears to stand still, offers a powerful opportunity for magic, celebration, and deep connection with the Earth.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Historically, the Summer Solstice has been revered by various cultures around the world. Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Mayans, and Druids, built monuments aligned with the sun’s path, demonstrating their reverence for this day. Stonehenge in England and the Great Pyramids of Giza are prime examples of how ancient peoples honored the Solstice. These structures served not only as calendars but also as places for ritualistic celebrations, emphasizing the importance of the sun and its life-giving energy.

In many cultures, the Solstice is associated with themes of fertility, renewal, and abundance. For instance, in Scandinavia, Midsummer festivals involve dancing around maypoles, singing traditional songs, and feasting. These activities symbolize the peak of summer’s vitality and the beginning of the harvest season. Similarly, Indigenous peoples of North America honor the Solstice with ceremonies that include dancing, drumming, and storytelling, paying homage to the Earth and the sun’s nourishing power.

The Spiritual and Magical Connection

For witches and Pagans, the Summer Solstice is a time to celebrate the power of the sun and the abundance of nature. Litha, as it is often called, is a Sabbat—a festival within the Wheel of the Year—that marks a high point in the solar cycle. This day is imbued with potent energy, making it ideal for various magical workings and rituals.

1. Honoring the Sun

The sun, at its zenith, is a symbol of strength, vitality, and life. Many Solstice rituals focus on honoring this celestial body. One popular tradition is to greet the dawn with sun salutations or meditations, absorbing the sun’s energy and allowing it to invigorate your spirit. Some practitioners also create sun wheels or mandalas, using flowers, herbs, and other natural materials to represent the sun’s power and beauty.

2. Fire Magic

Fire, representing the sun’s warmth and light, is a central element in many Litha celebrations. Bonfires are a traditional way to celebrate the Solstice, with participants dancing, singing, and jumping over the flames to purify and bless themselves. This act is believed to bring good fortune and drive away negative energies. Fire magic can also be incorporated into spellwork, using candles, herbs, and incense to harness the sun’s energy for protection, healing, and manifestation.

3. Connecting with Nature

Litha is a time to immerse oneself in nature, appreciating the Earth’s abundance and beauty. Many witches take this opportunity to perform rituals outdoors, in forests, gardens, or by bodies of water. Gathering herbs, flowers, and other natural materials for spellwork and rituals is a common practice. Popular herbs for the Solstice include St. John’s Wort, lavender, and chamomile, which are believed to carry the sun’s energy and enhance magical workings.

Magical Practices and Rituals

The heightened energy of the Summer Solstice makes it an ideal time for various magical practices and rituals. Here are some ways to celebrate Litha and harness its power:

1. Creating an Altar

Set up an altar dedicated to the Summer Solstice, adorned with symbols of the season. Include sunflowers, candles, crystals like citrine and sunstone, and representations of solar deities. Use this space for meditation, prayer, or spellwork, allowing the altar to serve as a focal point for your magical intentions.

2. Performing Solstice Spells

The Solstice’s vibrant energy is perfect for spells related to growth, abundance, and transformation. Consider performing spells to manifest your desires, enhance your personal power, or attract prosperity. Use herbs, candles, and crystals associated with the sun to amplify your intentions.

3. Ritual Bathing

A ritual bath can cleanse and rejuvenate your body and spirit. Prepare a bath with sun-charged water, adding herbs and essential oils like rosemary, lavender, and chamomile. As you soak, visualize the sun’s energy infusing you with strength and vitality, washing away any negativity.

4. Divination and Reflection

The Solstice is a powerful time for divination and self-reflection. Use tarot cards, runes, or scrying to gain insight into your life and future. Reflect on your personal growth over the past year and set intentions for the months ahead. The sun’s clarity can illuminate your path and guide you toward your goals.

Community and Celebration

The Summer Solstice is also a time for communal celebration. Many Pagans and witches gather for group rituals, festivals, and feasts. Sharing food, music, and dance with like-minded individuals can enhance the sense of connection and amplify the magical energy of the day. Whether through large public gatherings or intimate circles, celebrating with others can create a powerful and memorable Solstice experience.

1. Group Rituals

Group rituals are a wonderful way to celebrate the Solstice with a community. These rituals can include circle casting, invocations of the sun and Earth, and shared spellwork. Group energy can be incredibly potent, and working together can deepen the connections among participants. Consider organizing or attending a local Solstice gathering to experience the magic of community.

2. Feasting and Sharing Food

Feasting is a central part of many Solstice celebrations. Sharing a meal with others is a way to honor the Earth’s abundance and foster a sense of community. Prepare a feast using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, and share the food with friends and family. As you eat, take time to express gratitude for the Earth’s gifts and the company of those around you.

3. Music and Dance

Music and dance are powerful ways to celebrate the Solstice. Create or join a drum circle, dance around a bonfire, or simply play music that uplifts your spirit. Movement and rhythm can help you connect with the Earth’s energy and the joy of the season. Allow yourself to be free and expressive, embracing the vitality and warmth of the Solstice.

Honoring the Earth through Sustainable Practices

Another way to honor the Summer Solstice is by adopting sustainable practices that support the health of the planet. This can include reducing your use of single-use plastics, conserving water, supporting local and organic farming, and reducing your carbon footprint. By making conscious choices that benefit the Earth, you can contribute to the wellbeing of the planet and honor the interconnectedness of all life.

1. Supporting Local Agriculture

Supporting local agriculture by buying from farmers’ markets or participating in community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs is a great way to honor the Earth. Local produce is often fresher and more environmentally friendly, as it reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Plus, it supports local farmers and strengthens your connection to the land.

2. Reducing Waste

Reducing waste is an important aspect of sustainable living. During your Solstice celebrations, aim to minimize waste by using reusable plates, cups, and utensils. Compost food scraps and recycle whenever possible. By being mindful of your consumption, you can lessen your environmental impact and show respect for the Earth.

3. Conserving Water

Water conservation is another crucial element of sustainability. Be conscious of your water use, especially during outdoor activities and rituals. Collect rainwater for your garden, fix leaks, and use water-saving techniques in your home. By valuing and conserving water, you honor this vital resource and the Earth’s ecosystems.

Conclusion

The Summer Solstice, or Litha, is a time of immense power and beauty. For witches and Pagans, it offers a unique opportunity to honor the sun, connect with nature, and perform potent magic. By celebrating this sacred day, we can align ourselves with the rhythms of the Earth, harness the sun’s energy, and embrace the abundance of life.

As we mark the longest day of the year, let us remember the interconnectedness of all things and the cycles that sustain us. The Summer Solstice is not just an astronomical event but a reminder of the magic and wonder that exists in the world. Whether through solitary rituals or communal celebrations, embracing the Solstice allows us to deepen our connection with the Earth and our own spiritual journey.

In a world that often feels disconnected from nature, the Summer Solstice serves as a reminder of our profound connection to the Earth. By taking time to celebrate and honor this day, we can rekindle our relationship with the natural world and find inspiration in its beauty and resilience. Whether through simple rituals or grand celebrations, the Solstice invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the gift of life.

In Service, 

Mambo Sam

Contemporary Observations and Practices !

 

Contemporary Observations and Practices  

In today's rapidly evolving world, Voodoo practitioners continue to honor the rhythms of nature and the cycles of life, drawing upon ancient traditions while adapting to the challenges and opportunities of modern life. The Spring Equinox, with its universal themes of renewal, balance, and rejuvenation, finds its place within these contemporary practices, reflecting the enduring relevance of seasonal observances.

Adaptation of Traditional Rituals

Modern Voodoo practitioners, while deeply rooted in the rich history and traditions of their faith, have found innovative ways to observe the Spring Equinox that resonate with their current lives. This may involve adapting traditional rituals to urban settings, using available spaces such as city parks or gardens to connect with nature and perform ceremonies. The use of social media and online platforms has also allowed for virtual gatherings, enabling practitioners from various locations to share in the celebration of the Equinox and exchange knowledge and experiences.

Environmental and Community Engagement

With a heightened awareness of environmental issues, many contemporary Voodoo practitioners view the Spring Equinox as a time to engage in activities that honor the earth and promote ecological balance. This can include participating in tree planting ceremonies, community clean-up efforts, or educational events that focus on environmental stewardship. Such activities underscore the interconnectedness of spiritual practice and ecological well-being, reflecting the Voodoo belief in the sanctity of the natural world.

Personal Renewal and Growth

For individuals, the Spring Equinox offers a moment for personal reflection, renewal, and setting intentions for the coming months. Practitioners might engage in personal rituals that include meditation, journaling, or creating altars dedicated to spirits associated with growth and renewal. These personal observances serve as a spiritual cleanse, allowing individuals to let go of past burdens and focus on their aspirations and goals. The emphasis on personal growth and renewal during this time mirrors the broader themes of the Spring Equinox, highlighting the individual's journey within the cycle of nature and life.

Incorporation of Modern Elements

Contemporary Voodoo practice also sees the incorporation of modern elements into Spring Equinox rituals, such as the use of technology for creating music playlists that resonate with the themes of the season, or crafting altars with contemporary items that symbolize renewal and growth. This blending of traditional and modern elements reflects the adaptive nature of Voodoo, showcasing its ability to remain relevant and meaningful in the lives of its practitioners today.

Community Support and Spiritual Wellness

The Spring Equinox is also a time when the Voodoo community comes together to support one another, reflecting on the importance of community ties in achieving balance and harmony. This may involve communal rituals, shared feasts, or workshops focusing on spiritual wellness and personal development. Such gatherings reinforce the sense of belonging and collective growth, underlining the communal aspect of Voodoo practice and the shared journey of renewal.

In summary, contemporary observations and practices of the Spring Equinox among Voodoo practitioners illustrate the dynamic and adaptable nature of the religion. Through the integration of traditional rituals with modern elements and a focus on environmental and personal well-being, Voodoo continues to offer a rich framework for observing and celebrating the changing of the seasons. The Spring Equinox, with its emphasis on renewal and balance, remains a poignant time for reflection, connection, and growth, both individually and collectively.

 

In service, 

Mambo Sam

The Significance of the Spring Equinox !

The Significance of the Spring Equinox 

The Spring Equinox, occurring annually around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, is more than just a pivotal astronomical event; it is a deeply embedded cultural and symbolic marker that has influenced human societies for millennia. This period marks a time of balance and renewal, with day and night reaching equal lengths, and serves as a reminder of the Earth's endless cycle of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Astronomical Importance

Astronomically, the Spring Equinox signifies the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north, heralding the onset of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This event is crucial for understanding the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun, affecting climate and seasonal changes. The equinox plays a key role in calendars and agriculture, historically informing farmers about planting cycles and guiding navigational practices.

Cultural Celebrations Worldwide

Culturally, the Spring Equinox has been celebrated by various civilizations throughout history, each adding their unique interpretations and rituals. Ancient festivals, such as the Roman Hilaria, the Mayan sacrificial ceremonies, and the Persian Nowruz, are testament to its significance across different epochs and geographies. Today, these traditions continue in various forms, integrating ancient customs with contemporary practices. For instance, the Japanese celebrate Ohigan, focusing on visiting ancestors' graves and reflecting on life, while in many Western countries, Easter and Ostara festivals incorporate themes of resurrection and fertility, echoing the Equinox's themes of renewal and growth.

Symbolism of Rebirth and Renewal

The symbolic resonance of the Spring Equinox is profound, embodying the principles of rebirth, renewal, and balance. It serves as a universal metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence—death and rebirth, decay and growth, darkness and light. This symbolism is reflected in literature, art, and various spiritual practices, where the Equinox represents the eternal struggle and subsequent harmony between opposing forces.

Fertility and Agricultural Significance

Agriculturally, the Equinox has historically signaled the ideal time for sowing seeds and starting the agricultural cycle anew. This period is closely associated with fertility rituals and celebrations, acknowledging the Earth's capacity for regeneration and abundance. Many cultures perform rituals and ceremonies aimed at ensuring a prosperous growing season, invoking blessings for fertility, both in terms of crops and livestock, as well as human communities.

Environmental Awareness and Connection

In contemporary times, the Spring Equinox also encourages reflection on our relationship with the environment. It serves as a reminder of the delicate balance within natural ecosystems and the importance of living in harmony with the Earth. Environmental groups often use the Equinox as an opportunity to promote ecological sustainability, conservation efforts, and awareness about the impact of climate change. Celebrations may include planting trees, cleaning up natural habitats, and educational events that foster a deeper connection with the natural world.

Personal Reflection and Growth

Beyond its astronomical and cultural dimensions, the Spring Equinox is a time for personal introspection and renewal. It offers a moment to pause, reflect on personal growth, and set intentions for the coming months. This period encourages individuals to cleanse their lives of unnecessary burdens and focus on new goals and aspirations, mirroring nature's process of renewal and growth.

In summary, the Spring Equinox is a multifaceted event of significant astronomical, cultural, and symbolic importance. Its universal themes of balance, renewal, and rejuvenation resonate across cultures and disciplines, offering a rich tapestry of traditions and practices. As a time of reflection, celebration, and renewal, the Spring Equinox continues to hold profound significance for people around the globe, inspiring a wide array of observances and rituals that honor the natural cycles of the Earth.

In Service, 

Mambo Sam

Voodoo and Spring Equinox!

Welcome! 

As Equinox approaches quickly, this week we will take a look at parallels between Voodoo and the Spring Equinox! There are many shared themes and concepts! I hope you enjoy this series and above all, Happy Spring! 

Voodoo and the Spring Equinox: Intersections and Celebrations

Voodoo, with its intricate web of beliefs encompassing the power of nature, spirits, and ancestors, shares an intrinsic connection with the cyclical patterns of the natural world. Although Voodoo does not have specific rituals labeled directly as "Spring Equinox" celebrations, the underlying themes of rebirth, growth, and renewal are deeply woven into its practices and rituals, mirroring the essence of the Spring Equinox.

Symbolic Parallels

In Voodoo, the concept of balance between forces is paramount, much like the Equinox symbolizes the balance between day and night. This balance is essential for harmony within the spirit world and the material world, reflecting the Equinox's role in bringing equilibrium to the earth's cycle. The Loa, or spirits revered in Voodoo, embody various aspects of life and nature, some of which are closely aligned with the themes of spring, such as growth, fertility, and renewal. For instance, spirits like Èzili Dantor or Èzili Freda, embodiments of motherhood and love, resonate with the spring's life-giving and nurturing aspects.

Seasonal Rituals and Ceremonies

During times of seasonal change, Voodoo practitioners often engage in rituals and ceremonies to honor the Loa, seek their guidance, and ensure a harmonious transition from one phase to the next. These may involve offerings of food, flowers, and other items symbolic of fertility and growth, alongside prayers and songs invoking protection and blessings for the coming season. The use of water, a symbol for cleansing and renewal, is particularly relevant; rituals may include bathing altars or sacred spaces with water infused with herbs or petals, echoing the Spring Equinox's themes of purification and new beginnings.

Community Gatherings and Personal Reflection

The Spring Equinox serves as a time for both community celebration and personal reflection in many cultures, a practice that can be seen in Voodoo through communal ceremonies or individual offerings and meditations. These gatherings or personal rituals serve as a moment to reflect on the past, cleanse oneself of past burdens, and set intentions for the future, embodying the essence of renewal and rebirth. They provide an opportunity for practitioners to reconnect with the spiritual forces and the natural world, reaffirming their place within the cycle of life.

Spiritual Significance of Renewal

For Voodoo practitioners, the themes of the Spring Equinox—renewal, balance, and growth—are not limited to a single day but are part of a continuous engagement with the spiritual and natural world. This period is a reminder of the resilience of life and the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the spirits and the earth. It underscores the belief in the potential for renewal, transformation, and the ongoing cycle of life and death, themes that are central to the Voodoo faith.

In summary, while Voodoo may not explicitly celebrate the Spring Equinox, the period resonates deeply with the religion's core themes and practices. The symbolic intersections and seasonal rituals highlight a shared reverence for the natural world's cycles, emphasizing renewal, balance, and growth. This time of year offers a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth that governs both the physical and spiritual realms.

Love, 

Mambo Sam

 

 

Great Quote!

Hearth and Home Incense!

7 Questions for the New Year #7!

7 Questions for the New Year #6!

7 Questions for the New Year #5!

Questions for the New Year #4!

7 Questions for the New Year!

Question 1!

7 Questions for the New Year! #4!

Question 4!

#MotivationMonday

My 21 Golden Rules of Unhappiness

Greetings, friends!

Most of the time my life revolves around helping those that are trying to find their happiness...or at least that is what I THINK I am doing!  Sometimes, though, I am pretty sure that what people are wanting to do is desperately hang on to their unhappiness; they want to wallow in it, taste it, smear it all over them.  So, I have to give those folks some time and some advice. I don't want to be unfair and only cater to the people who want to be happy!  So here it goes:

My 21 Golden Rules of Making Sure You Remain Unhappy:

1.  Assume the worst about everyone because, of course, you can't trust them.  They are all out to get you.  It's all about them being against you. Your perception of them can't possibly be wrong.  Stick to your conclusion that they are out to get you.

2.  Don't talk to anyone whom you think has slighted you, insulted you, or otherwise hurt you.  Bottle that hurt up inside.  Act really strange around them and make them guess why.  For heaven's sake, don't let them know and don't ever give them a chance to explain.

3.  Make sure everything is all about you.  Nothing anyone else is doing is important anyway, right?  Make sure all conversations revolve around you, especially when they bring up something about themselves.  "Yes, I know you are buying a new house. I wish I could buy a new house.  I would love a new house.  Oh look, I'm doing this cool thing over here. Let's talk about that."

4.  Resent other peoples' happiness.  Hate all happy single people, couples, and families.  Resent everyone else's accomplishments.  Measure your own accomplishments up against theirs and make sure you realize that yours fall short of theirs; this offers an especially good reason to hate them and resent them.  Allow your jealousy to show in subtle ways - don't worry, they will catch on. Bonus:  If you happen to be single and looking - you can really hate on happy couples.

5.  Don't participate in any fun activities with others.  Make sure that you sit back and don't join in any reindeer games.  Don't engage in any thing that the group is doing.  Play it cool, showing that you don't like these childish past times.  Don't offer any suggestions on what you would like to do.  Let them guess.  Spend time instead looking at your phone.  Staring off into space or being extremely interested in your fingernails works, too.  Bonus:  Sit with an uppity expression letting them know of  your disdain for their foolish attempts at having fun.  A scowl works for this purpose, too.  Eye rolls are great here, too.  Double bonus:  No smiling the entire time.

6.  Don't join in the conversation.  Make sure that everyone around you is uncomfortable while you sit in silence.  Don't bother to learn how to have a conversation. (There are NO books that teach you how to do that, right?)  Don't ask anyone questions about themselves, their work, children, spouse, pets, background, hometown, good restaurants, movies they've seen, TV shows they watch, vacations they took, music they listen to, hobbies, or anything like that.  That's no way to start a conversation, right? Bonus: The one-word answer when they try to engage you in a conversation is awesome. Hey, they want to talk, let them do the talking, right?

7.  Assume everyone is looking at you and judging you for your color, gender, weight, clothing, sexual orientation, make up, lack of make up, hairstyle... something.   Assuming this assures that you won't have to be friends with any those judgmental people (i.e., everyone breathing).

8.  Ask advice from everyone, take advice from no one.  Engage them in senseless conversations about your life and your needs and your wants.  Pretend to be listening carefully to what they say.  Do the opposite of what they advise. What the hell do they know anyway?  Bonus:  The more of their time you waste asking their advice and not following it, the less time there will be to do anything meaningful with them. Double bonus:  If you accidentally take their advice and things don't work out to your satisfaction, blame them.  Triple bonus:  If they actually help you, resent that!  You didn't need their help! Why the hell are they doing nice things for  you?  Idiots.

9.  Turn every event, family dinner, and party into a time for you to drink too much and bemoan your life to everyone.  Get a good crying jag going.  Make sure they are  good and uncomfortable before you pass out.  Bonus:  Puking anywhere where someone else has to clean it up. Double bonus:  Puking in the car of the poor sap that offered to get you home.

10.  Tell everyone who is trying to help you:  "You don't understand.  You're life is perfect."  Make sure you do NOT listen to them when they tell you they have had hardships, sad times, struggles of their own.  They are full of crap.  You can SEE into their souls and past lives and know that their life has always been perfect and always will be.  This is also a good time to play the blame game - anyone and everyone is fair game here - blame at random for your unhappiness!  It's good for the soul to not take any responsibility for your own happiness!  Bonus:  As they struggle to understand you and think of ways to help you, debate every single suggestion they make, start out with, "You don't understand."  That is a good counter to all measures anyone might take to help you feel that they have compassion and empathy towards you. Double bonus:  Show them your utmost maturity by pointing out to them all the wonderful things in their life vs. the horrible misery that is your life.  Give examples.  Show your work.

11.  Don't smile or talk with anyone at a gathering of any kind.  Make sure that no one knows you are there.  Enter without greeting anyone; leave without saying goodbye to anyone.  Don't engage with anyone.  This insures that everyone will NOT think of you when having their own gathering. It makes sure that no one will say, "Hey I met this great guy/gal and I think you would like them, too."  No social networking with people in order to meet more people.  My goodness, you might accidentally meet more people and they might try to get you to do fun things and meet more people and THOSE people might try to get you to do fun things and meet MORE people.  It's a vicious cycle of people wanting to engage with you and have fun.  Avoid it all costs.

12.  Assume facts not in evidence.  Go with that little snippet of conversation you overheard. (Who needs to hear the whole story to make a judgment, right?).  Make sure you go with what you observed for 30 seconds, not what may have preceded it or happened afterwards.  30 seconds is enough for you, right?  Assume, assume, assume - it won't make an ass out of you and me - just them!  Above all, do not seek out the facts of the situation - just judge it from your limited observation of it.  That's all you need.

13.  Don't try to understand the motivation of others.  If someone does something boneheaded, never give them another chance.  Don't ask.  Don't speak up. (Yes, we already said that before, but it so important that it needs to be reiterated.)  Stay in a huff.  Be angry.  (But, be sure to lie about being angry, hurt, etc.  The old classics work well here, "I'm fine.  Nothing's wrong.")  Don't allow anyone to soothe you or explain the reality of a situation to you.  Bonus:  Never accept their apology.  Double bonus:  Encourage them to apologize again. Ha!  Don't accept it...again.

14.  Run away.  Don't stay and try to work it out.  Don't give anyone a chance to help you understand what is happening.  Don't speak up. (Yep, third time for that one.)  Just run away and start over and over and over and over and over.  That's fun, right? 

15.  Judge, judge, and judge some more.  Of course, not that anyone should judge you, but it's absolutely fine for you to be Judgy McJudgerson.  It's all good. Cut those people right out of your life who do not pass muster.  Who needs them, right?

16.  Don't. Try. Anything. Ever.

17.  Minimize and be unhappy with your accomplishments.  Don't take any pride in what you have done.  Don't share it with anyone.  Always be dissatisfied with your lot in life and think ALL THE TIME  about what you haven't done.  Bonus:  Minimize the accomplishments of others; if you can't enjoy your own accomplishments, then certainly don't enjoy anyone else's.  Double bonus:  Getting people to listen to how awful it is that you didn't become a brain surgeon, concert pianist, trapeze artist.  They'll feel terrible for you.

18.  Don't try to do anything to change your situation.  If you should accidentally change your situation, fall back on old habits; that will fix everything and make sure that your new situation turns into your old situation.  Ah, your comfort zone will be complete. Be very careful with this one.  Some people will actually try to help you change you situation to try to make  you feel better. Assholes.  Get away from them immediately.  Bonus: Drag them into your situation, then run away from them.  Bewildered, much? Yes, they will be.  Rub your hands together gleefully.

19.  Drink the Hatorade.  Hate things just because your narrow little mind can only handle the most White Bread World possible.  Hate on movie stars.. because you know them so well.  Hate on the neighbors...what are they up to over there?  (But don't try to get to know them!)  Hate on the friends of your few remaining friends.  (They are terrible people.)  Hate on black, white, red, brown, yellow, and/or mixed people (your choice of hate) because they are "something."  (You know, lazy, dishonest, scary, ignorant, thugs, SOMETHING... um... different than you.)  Hate on gay people, straight people, bi people, transgender people (all weirdoes, right?).

20.  Be afraid.

21.  Don't understand that this list is really about how to be happy.

So, there you have it, gentle readers! :-)  These are surefire ways to stay unhappy.  There are plenty more, but it seems that this should be enough to get you going on your road to eternal unhappiness.

Now that you read this, now that you may have recognized yourself in a few of these (hopefully only a few!), do you really want to stay unhappy?  Really?

Step out of your own shadow, my friends.  Happiness is something attainable.  It isn't a myth and it isn't for a privileged few.  It's for me.  It's for you.  Try it on for size!  You just might like it! Yes, you might have to work at it.  Yes,  you might have to do scary and unfamiliar things.  The benefits definitely outweigh the risks.  I promise!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

Red Underwear and Grapes

Hello everyone!  Wow, it's hard to believe that the new year is upon us.  For some, 2007 may not have been a great year and it is certainly time to let it go.  There truly is something magickal about the dawning of a new year!   If you allow it, every year can dawn with a new sense of purpose and enthusiasm!  If you think about it, all over the world, millions upon millions of people are celebrating this chance at a new beginning.  That is a great energy to tap into.   

I love some of the New Year's customs from around the world:  In Mexico, and some other cultures, people are sure to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day if they want to find love in the new year (or keep the love they have).  In Brazil, Venezuela, and some other countries, they eat 12 grapes, one at a time, for each chime on the clock at midnight.  With each grape they eat, they make a wish for the new year!  It could be the same wish for each grape or a different wish for each grape.   

In many countries, and this of course will appeal to all of us Vodouisants, people make a doll or some kind of effigy that usually represents an old man.  He could be any size; some get very elaborate and are the size of a grown man, others are quite small, the size of a doll.  In this old man they stuff letters they have written explaining what they want to let go or get away from themselves.  Hurts, traumas, and negativities from the prior year, etc., are all writtten on paper and stuffed inside the man.  Then, at midnight, he is set on fire and all the negativities of the prior year are burned to ashes and let float away.

Actually, many cultures have this same tradition, some at different times of the year.  Here in New Mexico, we have the burning of Zozobra (Old Man Gloom) the second week in September.  This is held yearly in Santa Fe and certainly is something to see!  The tradition is very similar to the one described above with people putting all their petitions in Zozobra and then he is set on fire!  It is a pretty big spectacle and draws thousands!

If you have pain and sorrow that you are harboring from this year, why not do some sort of ritual at some point between New Year's Eve and the first couple of weeks in January?  It could be as simple as burning a candle and focusing on a new start to something as complex as making your own little "Zozobra" and burning away all the hurt and negativity that you have experienced.  Make a fresh start!  Sure, all of us are looking for a fresh start every January, and maybe that has never worked for you... yet!  Just because something hasn't worked yet doesn't mean to stop trying! 

Love to you all,
Mambo Sam

What Do You Think About You?

Happy Day one and all!

I know that we have talked about self-esteem issues before, but it is a subject that I doubt we can talk too much about!  :-)   Your self esteem can be the difference between success and failure of your spell work!  If you don't think you really deserve to be happy, then what kind of message are sending about your spell work..especially love spell work??

Every day one or more clients tell me how stupid they are,or how clumsy they are, or how they keep making bad decision, etc., etc.  No matter how much I tell them that they are good people, not stupid, and can learn to make better decisions, they don't quite seem to hear me.  Why is that? Because they don't believe it for themselves.  Because of that, they really do run the risk of harming their own spell work - how can we expect someone else to think positively of us when we think so negatively of ourselves?  The good news is that you CAN change that!!

Below, I have pasted part of an article from this website: http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/self-esteem.html - do feel free to check out the rest of the website.  There are some really good exercises and articles to help you believe in you! 

Hey, I think you are wonderful, now you have to believe it for yourself!

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

Article Excerpt:

Changing Negative Thoughts About Yourself To Positive Ones

You may be giving yourself negative messages about yourself. Many people do. These are messages that you learned when you were young. You learned from many different sources including other children, your teachers, family members, caregivers, even from the media, and from prejudice and stigma in our society.

Once you have learned them, you may have repeated these negative messages over and over to yourself, especially when you were not feeling well or when you were having a hard time. You may have come to believe them. You may have even worsened the problem by making up some negative messages or thoughts of your own. These negative thoughts or messages make you feel bad about yourself and lower your self-esteem.

Some examples of common negative messages that people repeat over and over to themselves include: "I am a jerk," "I am a loser," "I never do anything right," "No one would ever like me," "I am a klutz." Most people believe these messages, no matter how untrue or unreal they are. They come up immediately in the right circumstance, for instance if you get a wrong answer you think "I am so stupid." They may include words like should, ought, or must. The messages tend to imagine the worst in everything, especially you, and they are hard to turn off or unlearn.

You may think these thoughts or give yourself these negative messages so often that you are hardly aware of them. Pay attention to them. Carry a small pad with you as you go about your daily routine for several days and jot down negative thoughts about yourself whenever you notice them. Some people say they notice more negative thinking when they are tired, sick, or dealing with a lot of stress. As you become aware of your negative thoughts, you may notice more and more of them.

It helps to take a closer look at your negative thought patterns to check out whether or not they are true. You may want a close friend or counselor to help you with this. When you are in a good mood and when you have a positive attitude about yourself, ask yourself the following questions about each negative thought you have noticed:

• Is this message really true?
  
  
• Would a person say this to another person? If not, why am I saying it to myself?
  
  
• What do I get out of thinking this thought? If it makes me feel badly about myself, why not stop thinking it?

You could also ask someone else—someone who likes you and who you trust—if you should believe this thought about yourself. Often, just looking at a thought or situation in a new light helps.

The next step in this process is to develop positive statements you can say to yourself to replace these negative thoughts whenever you notice yourself thinking them. You can't think two thoughts at the same time. When you are thinking a positive thought about yourself, you can't be thinking a negative one. In developing these thoughts, use positive words like happy, peaceful, loving, enthusiastic, warm.

Avoid using negative words such as worried, frightened, upset, tired, bored, not, never, can't. Don't make a statement like "I am not going to worry any more." Instead say "I focus on the positive" or whatever feels right to you. Substitute "it would be nice if" for "should." Always use the present tense, e.g., "I am healthy," "I am well," "I am happy," "I have a good job," as if the condition already exists. Use I, me, or your own name.

You can do this by folding a piece of paper in half the long way to make two columns. In one column write your negative thought and in the other column write a positive thought that contradicts the negative thought as shown on the next page.

You can work on changing your negative thoughts to positive ones by —

• Replacing the negative thought with the positive one every time you realize you are thinking the negative thought.
  
  
• Repeating your positive thought over and over to yourself, out loud whenever you get a chance and even sharing them with another person if possible.
  
  
• Writing them over and over.
  
  
• Making signs that say the positive thought, hanging them in places where you would see them often - like on your refrigerator door or on the mirror in your bathroom - and repeating the thought to yourself several times when you see it.

 

Negative Thought I am not worth anything. I have never accomplished anything. I always make mistakes. I am a jerk. I don't deserve a good life. I am stupid. Positive Thought I am a valuable person. I have accomplished many things. I do many things well. I am a great person. I deserve to be happy and healthy. I am smart.

It helps to reinforce the positive thought if you repeat if over and over to yourself when you are deeply relaxed, like when you are doing a deep-breathing or relaxation exercise, or when you are just falling asleep or waking up.

Changing the negative thoughts you have about yourself to positive ones takes time and persistence. If you use the following techniques consistently for four to six weeks, you will notice that you don't think these negative thoughts about yourself as much. If they recur at some other time, you can repeat these activities. Don't give up. You deserve to think good thoughts about yourself.

Have a Great Weekend!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

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

 

 

Thinking of Giving Up?

Good morning, dear readers!  I found this amazing list of folks who at first did not succeed, nor at second, third, and so on!  :-)  Yes, I know, sometimes we need to know when to say when.  However, in my opinion, people these days just give up too easily on their goals.  Folks are just so easily dissuaded from doing what they want to do or getting what they want to have.  I knew about a few of these "failures" before reading this list, but some of them were real eye-openers to me!

Enjoy and be inspired!

These businessmen and the companies they founded are today known around the world, but as these stories show, their beginnings weren't always smooth.

1. Henry Ford: While Ford is today known for his innovative assembly line and American-made cars, he wasn't an instant success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke five time before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.
2. R. H. Macy: Most people are familiar with this large department store chain, but Macy didn't always have it easy. Macy started seven failed business before finally hitting big with his store in New York City.
3. F. W. Woolworth: Some may not know this name today, but Woolworth was once one of the biggest names in department stores in the U.S. Before starting his own business, young Woolworth worked at a dry goods store and was not allowed to wait on customers because his boss said he lacked the sense needed to do so.
4. Soichiro Honda: The billion-dollar business that is Honda began with a series of failures and fortunate turns of luck. Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation for a job after interviewing for a job as an engineer, leaving him jobless for quite some time. He started making scooters of his own at home, and spurred on by his neighbors, finally started his own business.
5. Akio Morita: You may not have heard of Morita but you've undoubtedly heard of his company, Sony. Sony's first product was a rice cooker that unfortunately didn't cook rice so much as burn it, selling less than 100 units. This first setback didn't stop Morita and his partners as they pushed forward to create a multi-billion dollar company.
6. Bill Gates: Gates didn't seem like a shoe-in for success after dropping out of Harvard and starting a failed first business with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen called Traf-O-Data. While this early idea didn't work, Gates' later work did, creating the global empire that is Microsoft.
7. Harland David Sanders: Perhaps better known as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, Sanders had a hard time selling his chicken at first. In fact, his famous secret chicken recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it.
8. Walt Disney: Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

Scientists and Thinkers

These people are often regarded as some of the greatest minds of our century, but they often had to face great obstacles, the ridicule of their peers and the animosity of society.

1. Albert Einstein: Most of us take Einstein's name as synonymous with genius, but he didn't always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.
2. Charles Darwin: In his early years, Darwin gave up on having a medical career and was often chastised by his father for being lazy and too dreamy. Darwin himself wrote, "I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect." Perhaps they judged too soon, as Darwin today is well-known for his scientific studies.
3. Robert Goddard: Goddard today is hailed for his research and experimentation with liquid-fueled rockets, but during his lifetime his ideas were often rejected and mocked by his scientific peers who thought they were outrageous and impossible. Today rockets and space travel don't seem far-fetched at all, due largely in part to the work of this scientist who worked against the feelings of the time.
4. Isaac Newton: Newton was undoubtedly a genius when it came to math, but he had some failings early on. He never did particularly well in school and when put in charge of running the family farm, he failed miserably, so poorly in fact that an uncle took charge and sent him off to Cambridge where he finally blossomed into the scholar we know today.
5. Socrates: Despite leaving no written records behind, Socrates is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of the Classical era. Because of his new ideas, in his own time he was called "an immoral corrupter of youth" and was sentenced to death. Socrates didn't let this stop him and kept right on, teaching up until he was forced to poison himself.
6. Robert Sternberg: This big name in psychology received a C in his first college introductory psychology class with his teacher telling him that, "there was already a famous Sternberg in psychology and it was obvious there would not be another." Sternberg showed him, however, graduating from Stanford with exceptional distinction in psychology, summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa and eventually becoming the President of the American Psychological Association.

Inventors

These inventors changed the face of the modern world, but not without a few failed prototypes along the way.

1. Thomas Edison: In his early years, teachers told Edison he was "too stupid to learn anything." Work was no better, as he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. Of course, all those unsuccessful attempts finally resulted in the design that worked.
2. Orville and Wilbur Wright: These brothers battled depression and family illness before starting the bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of failed prototypes, the brothers finally created a plane that could get airborne and stay there.

Public Figures

From politicians to talk show hosts, these figures had a few failures before they came out on top.

1. Winston Churchill: This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom wasn't always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.
2. Abraham Lincoln: While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Lincoln's life wasn't so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and returned a private (if you're not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn't stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed business and was defeated in numerous runs he made for public office.
3. Oprah Winfrey: Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of the richest and most successful women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get to that position, however, enduring a rough and often abusive childhood as well as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for tv."
4. Harry S. Truman: This WWI vet, Senator, Vice President and eventual President eventually found success in his life, but not without a few missteps along the way. Truman started a store that sold silk shirts and other clothing–seemingly a success at first–only go bankrupt a few years later.
5. Dick Cheney: This recent Vice President and businessman made his way to the White House but managed to flunk out of Yale University, not once, but twice. Former President George W. Bush joked with Cheney about this fact, stating, "So now we know –if you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be vice president."

Hollywood Types

These faces ought to be familiar from the big screen, but these actors, actresses and directors saw their fair share of rejection and failure before they made it big.

1. Jerry Seinfeld: Just about everybody knows who Seinfeld is, but the first time the young comedian walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually jeered and booed off of the stage. Seinfeld knew he could do it, so he went back the next night, completed his set to laughter and applause, and the rest is history.
2. Fred Astaire: In his first screen test, the testing director of MGM noted that Astaire, "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little." Astaire went on to become an incredibly successful actor, singer and dancer and kept that note in his Beverly Hills home to remind him of where he came from.
3. Sidney Poitier: After his first audition, Poitier was told by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?" Poitier vowed to show him that he could make it, going on to win an Oscar and become one of the most well-regarded actors in the business.
4. Jeanne Moreau: As a young actress just starting out, this French actress was told by a casting director that she was simply not pretty enough to make it in films. He couldn't have been more wrong as Moreau when on to star in nearly 100 films and win numerous awards for her performances.
5. Charlie Chaplin: It's hard to imagine film without the iconic Charlie Chaplin, but his act was initially rejected by Hollywood studio chiefs because they felt it was a little too nonsensical to ever sell.
6. Lucille Ball: During her career, Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn't feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.
7. Harrison Ford: In his first film, Ford was told by the movie execs that he simply didn't have what it takes to be a star. Today, with numerous hits under his belt, iconic portrayals of characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and a career that stretches decades, Ford can proudly show that he does, in fact, have what it takes.
8. Marilyn Monroe: While Monroe's star burned out early, she did have a period of great success in her life. Despite a rough upbringing and being told by modeling agents that she should instead consider being a secretary, Monroe became a pin-up, model and actress that still strikes a chord with people today.
9. Oliver Stone: This Oscar-winning filmmaker began his first novel while at Yale, a project that eventually caused him to fail out of school. This would turn out to be a poor decision as the the text was rejected by publishers and was not published until 1998, at which time it was not well-received. After dropping out of school, Stone moved to Vietnam to teach English, later enlisting in the army and fighting in the war, a battle that earning two Purple Hearts and helped him find the inspiration for his later work that often center around war.

Writers and Artists

We've all heard about starving artists and struggling writers, but these stories show that sometimes all that work really does pay off with success in the long run.

1. Vincent Van Gogh: During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting, and this was to a friend and only for a very small amount of money. While Van Gogh was never a success during his life, he plugged on with painting, sometimes starving to complete his over 800 known works. Today, they bring in hundreds of millions.
2. Emily Dickinson: Recluse and poet Emily Dickinson is a commonly read and loved writer. Yet in her lifetime she was all but ignored, having fewer than a dozen poems published out of her almost 1,800 completed works.
3. Theodor Seuss Giesel: Today nearly every child has read The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham, yet 27 different publishers rejected Dr. Seuss's first book To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.
4. Charles Schultz: Schultz's Peanuts comic strip has had enduring fame, yet this cartoonist had every cartoon he submitted rejected by his high school yearbook staff. Even after high school, Schultz didn't have it easy, applying and being rejected for a position working with Walt Disney.
5. Steven Spielberg: While today Spielberg's name is synonymous with big budget, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing. Thirty-five years after starting his degree, Spielberg returned to school in 2002 to finally complete his work and earn his BA.
6. Stephen King: The first book by this author, the iconic thriller Carrie, received 30 rejections, finally causing King to give up and throw it in the trash. His wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, and the rest is history, with King now having hundreds of books published the distinction of being one of the best-selling authors of all time.
7. Zane Grey: Incredibly popular in the early 20th century, this adventure book writer began his career as a dentist, something he quickly began to hate. So, he began to write, only to see rejection after rejection for his works, being told eventually that he had no business being a writer and should given up. It took him years, but at 40, Zane finally got his first work published, leaving him with almost 90 books to his name and selling over 50 million copies worldwide.
8. J. K. Rowling: Rowling may be rolling in a lot of Harry Potter dough today, but before she published the series of novels she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced, trying to raise a child on her own while attending school and writing a novel. Rowling went from depending on welfare to survive to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through her hard work and determination.
9. Monet: Today Monet's work sells for millions of dollars and hangs in some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Yet during his own time, it was mocked and rejected by the artistic elite, the Paris Salon. Monet kept at his impressionist style, which caught on and in many ways was a starting point for some major changes to art that ushered in the modern era.
10. Jack London: This well-known American author wasn't always such a success. While he would go on to publish popular novels like White Fang and The Call of the Wild, his first story received six hundred rejection slips before finally being accepted.
11. Louisa May Alcott: Most people are familiar with Alcott's most famous work, Little Women. Yet Alcott faced a bit of a battle to get her work out there and was was encouraged to find work as a servant by her family to make ends meet. It was her letters back home during her experience as a nurse in the Civil War that gave her the first big break she needed.

Musicians

While their music is some of the best selling, best loved and most popular around the world today, these musicians show that it takes a whole lot of determination to achieve success.

1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart began composing at the age of five, writing over 600 pieces of music that today are lauded as some of the best ever created. Yet during his lifetime, Mozart didn't have such an easy time, and was often restless, leading to his dismissal from a position as a court musician in Salzberg. He struggled to keep the support of the aristocracy and died with little to his name.
2. Elvis Presley: As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Elvis has become a household name even years after his death. But back in 1954, Elvis was still a nobody, and Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."
3. Igor Stravinsky: In 1913 when Stravinsky debuted his now famous Rite of Spring, audiences rioted, running the composer out of town. Yet it was this very work that changed the way composers in the 19th century thought about music and cemented his place in musical history.
4. The Beatles: Few people can deny the lasting power of this super group, still popular with listeners around the world today. Yet when they were just starting out, a recording company told them no. The were told "we don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out," two things the rest of the world couldn't have disagreed with more.
5. Ludwig van Beethoven: In his formative years, young Beethoven was incredibly awkward on the violin and was often so busy working on his own compositions that he neglected to practice. Despite his love of composing, his teachers felt he was hopeless at it and would never succeed with the violin or in composing. Beethoven kept plugging along, however, and composed some of the best-loved symphonies of all time–five of them while he was completely deaf.

Athletes

While some athletes rocket to fame, others endure a path fraught with a little more adversity, like those listed here.

1. Michael Jordan: Most people wouldn't believe that a man often lauded as the best basketball player of all time was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Luckily, Jordan didn't let this setback stop him from playing the game and he has stated, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
2. Stan Smith: This tennis player was rejected from even being a lowly ball boy for a Davis Cup tennis match because event organizers felt he was too clumsy and uncoordinated. Smith went on to prove them wrong, showcasing his not-so-clumsy skills by winning Wimbledon, U. S. Open and eight Davis Cups.
3. Babe Ruth: You probably know Babe Ruth because of his home run record (714 during his career), but along with all those home runs came a pretty hefty amount of strikeouts as well (1,330 in all). In fact, for decades he held the record for strikeouts. When asked about this he simply said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run."
4. Tom Landry: As the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Landry brought the team two Super Bowl victories, five NFC Championship victories and holds the records for the record for the most career wins. He also has the distinction of having one of the worst first seasons on record (winning no games) and winning five or fewer over the next four seasons.

Bookmark this post!  Next time you are thinking of giving up, give it a read over!

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

 

"Sunday Morning" - by Wallace Stevens

Sunday Morning I Complacencies of the peignoir, and late Coffee and oranges in a sunny chair, And the green freedom of a cockatoo Upon a rug mingle to dissipate The holy hush of ancient sacrifice. She dreams a little, and she feels the dark Encroachment of that old catastrophe, As a calm darkens among water-lights. The pungent oranges and bright, green wings Seem things in some procession of the dead, Winding across wide water, without sound. The day is like wide water, without sound, Stilled for the passing of her dreaming feet Over the seas, to silent Palestine, Dominion of the blood and sepulchre. II Why should she give her bounty to the dead? What is divinity if it can come Only in silent shadows and in dreams? Shall she not find in comforts of the sun, In pungent fruit and bright, green wings, or else In any balm or beauty of the earth, Things to be cherished like the thought of heaven? Divinity must live within herself: Passions of rain, or moods in falling snow; Grievings in loneliness, or unsubdued Elations when the forest blooms; gusty Emotions on wet roads on autumn nights; All pleasures and all pains, remembering The bough of summer and the winter branch. These are the measures destined for her soul. III Jove in the clouds had his inhuman birth. No mother suckled him, no sweet land gave Large-mannered motions to his mythy mind. He moved among us, as a muttering king, Magnificent, would move among his hinds, Until our blood, commingling, virginal, With heaven, brought such requital to desire The very hinds discerned it, in a star. Shall our blood fail? Or shall it come to be The blood of paradise? And shall the earth Seem all of paradise that we shall know? The sky will be much friendlier then than now, A part of labor and a part of pain, And next in glory to enduring love, Not this dividing and indifferent blue. IV She says, "I am content when wakened birds, Before they fly, test the reality Of misty fields, by their sweet questionings; But when the birds are gone, and their warm fields Return no more, where, then, is paradise?" There is not any haunt of prophesy, Nor any old chimera of the grave, Neither the golden underground, nor isle Melodious, where spirits gat them home, Nor visionary south, nor cloudy palm Remote on heaven's hill, that has endured As April's green endures; or will endure Like her remembrance of awakened birds, Or her desire for June and evening, tipped By the consummation of the swallow's wings. V She says, "But in contentment I still feel The need of some imperishable bliss." Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her, Alone, shall come fulfilment to our dreams And our desires. Although she strews the leaves Of sure obliteration on our paths, The path sick sorrow took, the many paths Where triumph rang its brassy phrase, or love Whispered a little out of tenderness, She makes the willow shiver in the sun For maidens who were wont to sit and gaze Upon the grass, relinquished to their feet. She causes boys to pile new plums and pears On disregarded plate. The maidens taste And stray impassioned in the littering leaves. VI Is there no change of death in paradise? Does ripe fruit never fall? Or do the boughs Hang always heavy in that perfect sky, Unchanging, yet so like our perishing earth, With rivers like our own that seek for seas They never find, the same receding shores That never touch with inarticulate pang? Why set the pear upon those river banks Or spice the shores with odors of the plum? Alas, that they should wear our colors there, The silken weavings of our afternoons, And pick the strings of our insipid lutes! Death is the mother of beauty, mystical, Within whose burning bosom we devise Our earthly mothers waiting, sleeplessly. VII Supple and turbulent, a ring of men Shall chant in orgy on a summer morn Their boisterous devotion to the sun, Not as a god, but as a god might be, Naked among them, like a savage source. Their chant shall be a chant of paradise, Out of their blood, returning to the sky; And in their chant shall enter, voice by voice, The windy lake wherein their lord delights, The trees, like serafin, and echoing hills, That choir among themselves long afterward. They shall know well the heavenly fellowship Of men that perish and of summer morn. And whence they came and whither they shall go The dew upon their feet shall manifest. VIII She hears, upon that water without sound, A voice that cries, "The tomb in Palestine Is not the porch of spirits lingering. It is the grave of Jesus, where he lay." We live in an old chaos of the sun, Or old dependency of day and night, Or island solitude, unsponsored, free, Of that wide water, inescapable. Deer walk upon our mountains, and the quail Whistle about us their spontaneous cries; Sweet berries ripen in the wilderness; And, in the isolation of the sky, At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make Ambiguous undulations as they sink, Downward to darkness, on extended wings.

      by Wallace Stevens

Happy Sunday, lovies!
Mambo Samantha Corfield

 
www.spellmaker.com

 

Resurrection of Faith

Hello everyone!  In reading my dear Khouzhan Delilah's post about "I'm Losing Faith" I felt it was a good time to repost this that I has posted a few years ago at Easter.  It isn't Easter yet, obviously, but faith has no season.

Faith is not an easy task!  Most of all I believe you should have faith in yourself before anything else!  :-)   After that, the rest of what you have faith in is up to you!

Love, Mambo

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

REPRINTED FROM 2008:   Greetings friends!  Of course, as many of us celebrate the Easter holiday today, I cannot help but have my thoughts turn to Spring, renewal, and another chance to grow something wonderful.  Every year at this time, I feel refreshed and renewed of spirit - just by the very fact that the plants are starting to bud, my mother-in-law in preparing her garden for the Victory feast that she grows every year, and I do my annual Easter egg hunt for my grandchildren.

Resurrection is also an integral part of the thoughts of Easter and spring.  The story of the resurrection of Christ reminds me that faith is a powerful tool in our lives.  If one is a true believer in the Christian faith, then you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven!  That is a powerful faith!

One of the challenges we often have with faith is it is one of those things that no one can truly explain successfully.  As St. Thomas Aquinas said, “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

I have spoken many times about how easy it is to have any kind of faith when things are going well, but when things are not going well our faith seems to lag.  We wonder if there is anyone anywhere actually out there listening to our pleas!  Is there where you are right now?  Is you faith flagging?  Questioned? Lost altogether? Can your faith be resurrected?  Or will it just lie dormant until things get good for you again and THEN you can believe that there is "something" out there helping us in our day-to-day lives?  And when things do get good again, will you just figure it is about time something good happened, or will you believe that a power stronger than your own human fraility reached out and helped you?

Personally I always believe that Les Lois, God, the Saints, and our Ancestors are ALWAYS listening.  I also believe that we may not always get what we want.  I would never deign to try to explain why that is; my belief is that when I don't get what I want, there is a reason for it.  Sometimes I find out the reason later, sometimes I may never know.   

Sometimes I can feel my faith waivering:  Where are they?  Why can't I have what I want right now?  Where is my candy?  I know that happens to you, too!  But it's okay, that petulant six-year-old child lives in all of us.  I think the important thing to remember to do is even in your darkest moment allow yourself some faith.  Even if it is just the tiniest shred of faith, it is still a powerful thing.   Have no doubt: I have had many crises of faith; some really terrible things have happened in my life.  But that candle of faith has always shined in my heart even though it's little flame has been pretty small sometimes.  Don't let anything blow out the candle in your heart!   

So on this day when a large portion of the world is celebrating the Resurrection, think about whether or not your faith needs resurrecting.  What can you do to help that along?  The answer is different for everyone.  Sometimes counting what blessings you HAVE received in life can be helpful, but that is not always the answer for everyone.  Sometimes those blessings seem too few and far between!  So there is no easy answer to renewing and resurrecting your faith.  However, I do encourage you to try, sometimes just the very act of trying has profound effects. 

I wish you all peace, love, harmony, health, and most of all, faith:  Faith in yourself, faith in your abilities, and faith in being part of the great Cosmic Consciousness of humankind.

Love, light, and peace, Mambo Sam

www.spellmaker.com

“When you have come to the edge Of all light that you know And are about to drop off into the darkness Of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly”

Patrick Overton   

A Few Words about Guidance

Heed the still small voice that so seldom leads us wrong, and never into folly.
Marquise du Deffand

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned! 

I wanted to talk just a moment about guidance.  People are always asking me about getting guidance from the lwa, or other spirits, and we have discussed that and will discuss it further in a different post.

However, one thing that people seem to forget about is their inner guidance, their gut, their instincts.  So many times folks have told me that they "knew" they were doing the wrong thing, or that something wasn't right for them, but they just ignored their instincts and went head long into disaster.

Learning to trust your very own guidance and instincts is such an important task!  It may not be easy, and sometimes you may just feel like you are paranoid.  You may feel that you are just making up a feeling because you are afraid.  All of that may actually be true at one time or another.  But how many times have you said to yourself after the fact that you should have followed your own instincts? 

In my opinion, the best way to learn to trust your own instincts is to practice it!  Surprise, just like everything else, right?  :-)  But practice it in a certain way!  Try using your instincts or inner guidance at times when it doesn't matter so much. Think about things you are about to do and see how you feel about them.  It could be something as simple as taking a walk or choosing a restaurant.  Stop just for a minute and truly examine how you feel inside about your choice.  Most of the time, when it is something simple like that, you will feel just fine about it, as you should.  But what you are truly doing here is honing your skills at figuring out how to listen to your own instincts.  In choosing to do exercises like this when it doesn't count so much, you will start to build those skills you need to make the right choices when it really does count!

Start practicing listening to that still, small voice inside.  Best thing, it is always, always, always there just for you!  Your Inner Buddy!  :-)

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

 

 

In Memoriam

Hello everyone,

As I am sure most of you do, I remember exactly where I was when the attack on America occurred September 11, 2001.  Despite the nauseating trend of politicians, religious terrorists, and other agenda-driven zealots to use 9/11 as their personal pawn, the horror of the day and the act remains a vivid personal memory. 

I hope we can all take a moment to remember the lives lost that day, and many other days, all in the name of someone's different belief system.

Love, Mambo Sam

Friggatriskaidekaphobia - BOO!

Happy Friday everyone!  And certainly Happy Friday the 13th!  :-)  Ah, the stuff from which movies are made.

I actually remembering seeing the first of the Friday the 13th movies.  At that time, it was a pretty ground-breaking movie!  In my particular part of the country, New Orleans at that time, there was a very lively audience.  People were actually running screaming out of the theatre!  I don't think that happens too much anymore - too many things have happened to jade us about being afraid like that. However, at the time, a particular group of ladies of a certain age (who knows why the heck they were at that movie anyway) were sitting behind us in the theatre.  They were the first to go - knocking over other patrons seated near them and bounding down the theatre aisles, screaming, "Oh Lord, Oh God, get me out of here."  ;-)  No, I am not even kidding.

Anyway, a few days ago I posted something about living in fear and how I don't want you to do that to yourself!  However, there is also the realization that we are all afraid of SOMETHING!  Me, not too fond of heights or close places.  I am not sure if I am afraid of clowns or just don't like them, but they do absolutely creep me out.  I love the Cirque du Soleil shows that Matt and I have seen in Las Vegas, and it seems that sophisticated clowns do not creep me out.  LOL. 

Then, of course, there are more soul-trembling fears, those things that go beyond just creepy-crawly fears; there is the fear that the world will never come to peace again, fear that children will always be starving, fear that some people will never "get it", fear that someone will always be mistreating a pet, fear of America's disrespect for their elderly, fear that our educational system will never improve, and so forth and so on.

What do you fear?  Do you think your fears are irrational, but you have them just the same?  Or do you think that your fears are pretty well grounded?  Do you know the root of your fear or is it something that just seemed to "pop up?"  (That's me with my "fear" of clowns, I swear I don't know why!)

Enjoy your Friday the 13th! 

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

For Lazaro.

Ridiculously, some might say,

I cried all the way home after I

met you.

But those who would say such

a thing would never understand

your sublime

perfection,

your precious spirit.

Surely they would never see as

I see into your past and present

and future all

at once.

Surely they have never held you

and smelled you and kissed at

the air because

you had breathed

into it.

So I shall remain ridiculously,

crazily, and maybe inexplicably,

a completely smitten

fan of your

incredible beingness.

Thank you for coming to

Planet Earth.

Love you!!!

Know Thyself.

How DO you see yourself? 

Hello everyone?  Besides the unbearable cuteness of the above picture, it does get one to thinking... how do I see myself?  And what is more important to you, how others see you, or how you see yourself? In a world where some struggle to be beautiful, popular, brave, or even just noticed, what brings the most satisfaction; being happy with what you see in the mirror or what others see?

I don't know if there is an easy answer, but would love to hear from you all about image, not just your physical image, but what do you see when you look in your spiritual mirror?

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

For a smile.

The Park Bench
Poet: Unkown

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the first time
That weed-toting boy could not see he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

I didn't mean to call you that....

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, but not really when you think about it. 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. Unfortunately, most 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

Are You a Man Hater?

Greetings, everyone!
Now some of you are already thinking, "Mambo, what the heck kind of question is that? Of course I am not a man hater. I am doing spell work on the man I love and want to be with!"

Yeah, well, guess what, that doesn't keep you from being a man hater and it can send you down a path of very unsuccessful spell work! I am just really surprised at the things I hear coming from my female clients some time, "What else can you expect, all men are pigs" - "well, he is a man so he is going to cheat" - "he broke my heart, but that's what men do" - and the words go on and on, usually followed by, "but I love him."

Really? If you are in the habit of generally trash talking men and can immediately tell me all of their faults,their nasty habits, then followed by the concession that you still want one, you are a man hater. Sure, you are in in love with a man, but that is not because you think he is wonderful, charming, witty, and handsome. It is because he happens to be a man and you love him because you think you are supposed to be with a man and don't want to be alone. He isn't perfect, but you can deal with his imperfections, especially if you have your girlfriends to trash talk with.

Yes, brutal, I know. But I have a point: Even if you are not a man hater, if you are falling into the trap of constantly criticizing your desired man, thinking bad thoughts about him, hating everything that he has done to you, are you really going to be successful in doing your spell work? How can you be when there is so much hurt, resentment, and anger in your heart?

I know we have talked about this before, that love spell work, by its very nature, must come from love! However, in speaking with some of you over the last couple of weeks, I am concerned that there is a trend towards general man bashing.

So,ladies, I hope that you can find it in your hearts to stop this behavior if you are guilty of it. Yes, we all need to vent. We all need to get things off our chests. However, try to keep it to a minimum. If you have friends that you speak with, when the conversation turns to man bashing, try to gracefully extricate yourselves.

Yes, we all have been hurt. We all have a "he was a bad man" story. However, remember that the more energy you put into criticizing men, the less likely you are to actually end up with a good one. I have found throughout the years that the women I have known who complained, harped, and went on and on about how terrible men had treated them continually found themselves with men who treated them terribly.

So forgive those men who have hurt you and move forward in your life. Celebrate the man you want and bring forward in your mind and heart all of his good qualities!

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

Happy May Day everyone!

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. 

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.  ;-) 

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. Everything is 30% off on the website through May 4!!!!

Our Niece, Need, and Petitioning!

Hello everyone and Happy Birthday, BCM, (you know who you are!),
Several years ago, before Matt and I got married, I met his niece for the first time. She was pretty young then, I think 5 years old. As luck would have it, she had just finished watching an infomercial for The Magic Bullet. I am sure most of you know what that is, but in case you don't, it is a small mixer/food processor type thingy - you know chops, whips, blends, all of that.

Anyway, she was enchanted with this machine and proceeded to tell me all about it, in great detail, and why I NEEDED it. She did not tell me why I should want it, or even how much fun it would be, or anything like that. She explained to me (she is very smart) why I needed it. In fact, she told me several times within the conversation, you need one. Everyone needs one. You need it for your kitchen, etc.

Well, I have a Magic Bullet, thanks in total to her, and use it all the time. LOL. By the time she finished convincing me, I thoroughly believed I needed it. I use it all the time and maybe I didn't actually need but I really enjoy it and am glad I have it.

I was telling this story of why I got the Magic Bullet to someone recently. As I was telling this person it occurred to me that this would be a great way to petition in some love spell cases! Convince them that they NEED you; sell all your good points and how wonderfully fun and beneficial they are. ;-) Petitioning in such a way to tell a person why they need you in their life might, in some cases, be more effective than telling them why they want you in their life. It depends a lot on the kind of person that you are working on!

This might be especially true if the person you are working on is a practical person. The kind of petitioning that reminds them that they need you in their life, just as you need them, might be just the trick!

So next time you are petitioning with your spell kits or adjunct work, "magic bullet" those petitions and let's see what happens!

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Sam

What Does Spring Mean to You?

Happy Monday, everyone!
Another spring is upon us! What does that mean for you? :-) (And that is besides sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes! LOL.)

I love spring and for me it always mean "renewal." I try to think of new ways to look at things - where can I seek a fresh perspective on an old problem? Are there projects that I abandoned and might still be worthy of finishing? What about my attitude? Might I need an attitude adjustment coming out of the winter and into the spring sunshine?

This is just such a wonderful time to think about renewal, rebirth, cleansing, getting a fresh start, etc. Sometimes this is a great time to get a "fresh start" even on something that you have been working on for a long time!!

For instance, have you been doing spell work on a particular subject for what seems like a really long time? Sometimes we begin to lose perspective on that subject because we have been working at it for so long. We may have been doing so much work on it that we are now just going through the motions of the work! That is something to be on the look out for!!!

If you have been doing your spell work for quite awhile now and you aren't quite where you want to be, I suggest taking a little break from your work! Unless you are in the middle of one of the Creole Voodoo™ spell kits that you have to do nine days in a row with, it isn't a bad idea sometimes to take a little break!

For some people, just taking a few days off of working on that particular goal can bring about fresh perspective, renewed energy, etc. It can be helpful during that break to perhaps do a little bit of work on yourself - some cleansing with something such as the Milk of Damballah™ white bath, white male or female candles,, etc. can renew your spirit, resolve, and vigor greatly!!!

It is just as important to keep yourself fresh and renewed in your spell work as it is to continue to work towards your goal. If you are worn out and feeling sort of "autumnal" - perhaps doing some spring cleaning on your spirit might be just the thing to shake your energy and your case up!

Love, light, peace, and Happy Spring,
Mambo Sam

Workplace Etiquette Article

Greetings everyone!
Many of you petitioned for new jobs or getting a job during our Sobo Ritual yesterday. In the spirit of "it has already happened" I am going to assume that many of you who are not working will be working soon!

In doing Get a Job spells for many people over the years, I have noticed that when they tell me the story of what happened on their last job(s), they often have little insight into why they were unable to keep a job. :-)

This article came across my desk and having had more than a few management jobs in my life, I felt like this was a good one! So many of us walk into the workplace with little or not cognizance of what we should or should not do! Even for a seasoned professional, a little reminder never hurt.

Since I know many of you out-of-work folks will soon be getting a job here is an article by Rachel Zupek!

Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Some people are men and women of few words -- to work in an office with such people is a blessing. Most workers, however, are stuck in a workplace where they hear about everything from a co-worker's baby-making plans to his estranged relationship with his father.

Talking about such topics might be OK to share over cocktails with your best friend -- they are not OK for the workplace. Because people spend more time at the office with co-workers than anywhere (or anyone) else, some workers have trouble drawing the line between business and friendship, says Susan Solovic, co-founder and CEO of SBTV.com, and author of three books, including "Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Desire and Deserve." "It's a social environment as well as a work environment. However, you must remember: While you can be friendly and develop a good rapport, business is business and friendship is friendship."

These days, your job security is unstable enough as it is. The last thing you need is to make an off-the-cuff remark that gets you fired (or shunned from the likes of your co-workers). To help keep your career on track, here are 10 things you should never say or discuss in the workplace:

1. "That's not my job." When you boil things down, everyone does things that "aren't their job." If everyone complained that a certain task wasn't in the offer they signed, the labor force would be in more trouble than it already is. If someone asks for your help, take it as a compliment. He or she obviously values your input or thinks your skills would be good fit for the task. Not only will it help earn good office karma (you never know when you'll need help from other colleagues), but it never looks good to only do the bare minimum. And no boss wants to hear those four words!

2. "I don't mind helping you with that." (With a fake smile pasted on your face.) There's nothing worse than someone who offers to help and then complains about it later. If you take on a task with a smile but don't really want to do it, your help is as good as no help at all. When you work without enthusiasm, it's never your best effort. Plus, don't say you'll do something if you have no intention of actually completing the task or you'll earn a reputation as an unreliable person. Your colleagues are relying on you, so your decision not to follow through impacts their jobs, too.

3. "Don't tell anyone I said this, but ... " Anytime you start a sentence with that phrase, you're asking for one thing: The recipient of your knowledge to, indeed, tell someone you said that. If it's really a secret, keep it to yourself. Whether you know someone in the office got pregnant by the mail guy or you found out what the boss makes, you're going to get credit for spreading the news. Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

4. "I haven't gotten a raise, EVER." Since most employers base salary increase on productivity (not longevity), asking for a raise based on how long you've been with the company or how long it's been since your last one will tell your boss only that you want more money -- not that you deserve it. Instead, prove the raise is merited.

5. "I'm so ... stressed out/busy/sick of working here." Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch. If you don't agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.

6. "I have insert weird, gross or inappropriate medical condition here ." Nobody cares about your aches and pains, the weird fungus on your foot, your infertility woes or the bad gas you got from eating Chinese food last night. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee. And to your co-workers, you seem like an attention-seeking hypochondriac.

7. "Whom did you vote for?" or "What religion are you?" The old adage that you shouldn't discuss politics or religion is as true today as ever before. People have strong, passionate views on both topics and you may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively based on your views in a way that could impact your career.

8. "I got so trashed last night ..." It's perfectly fine to have fun after work, but don't brag about your drunken escapades to your boss. The fact that you showed up for work despite still recovering from a massive hangover might be impressive, but it means nothing if you spend the day recounting your activities versus working. Not to mention, sharing that information makes you look unprofessional and unreliable.

9. "I don't have time for that." In case you didn't realize, everybody's busy. If your boss asks you to do something, chances are it's not really an option. If your main concern is accomplishing the task on time, be honest and tell that to your boss. Mention how busy your schedule is but that you can accommodate the request if some other projects are rearranged. You'll show that you take each assignment seriously and only want to turn in your best work.

10. "I just bought a $1,000 watch for the boss." While the spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, constantly sharing how much you spent on gifts, meals or outings will only have others annoyed. Not only will it seem like you're bragging, but you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -- or if you're

End of Article

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Sam

The Ides of March

Happy Ides of March, everyone!
A few people wrote to me concerned that there was a Friday the 13th followed by "The Ides of March" and wondered if this was bad because their spell work was starting during this period.

My first answer about Friday the 13th is that it is just another day. :-) But my only child was born on a Friday the 13th and so for me I consider all those Friday the 13th's as a special day in my life since it brought me son and thus my grandsons! :-)

Second, the Ides of March was always just a part of a calendar.. there are "ides" in other months, too. I found a great article explaining exactly about the ides of March and what it truly means. Shakespeare fans have forever put a grim foreboding to the 15th of March, but again, just another day, and like all days, it is what you make of it, right?

So, no, Friday the 13th nor the Ides of March will have any grim bearing on your spellwork!

Here is the article:
The Ides of March
Just one of a dozen Ides that occur every month of the year by Borgna Brunner

As far as Caesar knew, the Ides were just another day. The soothsayer's warning to Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March," has forever imbued that date with a sense of foreboding. But in Roman times the expression "Ides of March" did not necessarily evoke a dark mood—it was simply the standard way of saying "March 15." Surely such a fanciful expression must signify something more than merely another day of the year? Not so. Even in Shakespeare's time, sixteen centuries later, audiences attending his play Julius Caesar wouldn't have blinked twice upon hearing the date called the Ides.

The term Ides comes from the earliest Roman calendar, which is said to have been devised by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome. Whether it was Romulus or not, the inventor of this calendar had a penchant for complexity. The Roman calendar organized its months around three days, each of which served as a reference point for counting the other days:

Kalends (1st day of the month) Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months) Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months) The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones—5 days before the Nones (the Roman method of counting days was inclusive; in other words, the Nones would be counted as one of the 5 days).

Days in March

March 1: Kalends; March 2: VI Nones; March 3: V Nones; March 4: IV Nones; March 5: III Nones; March 6: Pridie Nones (Latin for "on the day before"); March 7: Nones; March 15: Ides

Used in the first Roman calendar as well as in the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C.E.) the confusing system of Kalends, Nones, and Ides continued to be used to varying degrees throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.

So, the Ides of March is just one of a dozen Ides that occur every month of the year. Kalends, the word from which calendar is derived, is another exotic-sounding term with a mundane meaning. Kalendrium means account book in Latin: Kalend, the first of the month, was in Roman times as it is now, the date on which bills are due.

End of Article

Love,light, and peace,
Mambo Sam

More About "Deserving!"

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! :-)
I wanted to talk a little bit more about my question about our sense of "deserving" something. Even though you can see these comments in the comments section under each blog post, I wanted to reprint these comments from readers here in this post so that I could comment on them.

One reader says:
"I had to think about this post for about a day before answering. . . . first I think we can trace that "entitlement" thing back to being children and being told if we were "good" santa would bring goodies (and if not, a lump 'o coal)! Who didn't have an impression like that made on them when they were small? Some of us never got over it!!! i try to turn it around and say i have been given MORE than I deserve. Several years ago I had a serious illness and could have died; in fact since then have seen many people with the same illness die from it. Ever since that happened I look at anything good that happens as "bonus points". I still get mad and sad and so on when I don't get what I want/get my own way; but try to remind myself it could be a LOT worse. Even in this terrible economy, most of us have more than most of the world's people will ever hope to have. This does not mean I do not throw my temper tantrums and sulk like anybody else but I also try to keep the big picture in mind. . . and intentionally make it bigger and bigger all the time. A hard question! Still not sure of the answer. . ."

This reader brings up a very good point and it bodes another question: Are we programmed to think in terms of what we deserve? Certainly Santa would be a good example of that! Even just the idea of being children and being punished for bad behavior and rewarded for good behavior reinforces the idea of when we do something "good" in life we deserve some kind of reward for it. It is like somewhere along the line many of us did not get the lesson that sometimes the doing good is the reward in and of itself. We believe we are entitled to more. Like the reader says, it is a hard question and I don't think there is an easy answer, either!

Like I was mentioning in my original post my main concern here is what I perceive as a huge sense of entitlement in some of my clients and my worry is that this will somehow be detrimental to their spell work - that they will not put forth the necessary effort, time, or heart, because they have the idea that they just simply deserve a good result!

Another reader says:
"Hi Mambo, What a great question I think that this is. I would think that being a good mother should be a reward in itself. And being a good wife should be a reward unto itself. I think the problem comes in when people are picking the wrong people to concentrate their efforts on. If you are trying to be a good wife to your husband and he doesn't give a hoot about you, then you should have realized that before you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together. Everyone deserves to be happy, but if you just sit around and wait for happiness to find you, I think you will be very disappointed. You have to go make your own happiness and then yes, you deserve it because you worked for it. The same thing goes with our spellwork. If you think you deserve your HD or whatever you are working towards, then you have to really work for it. That means no conflict and staying positive. Then yes you deserve the results you work so hard for. Ok, that is how I see it anyway!!"

This reader makes a good point, also, in that no matter what you deserve, you still need to be proactive in your own happiness no matter how "good" you have been. Plus, she mentions that "everyone deserves to be happy." Certainly I agree that we all start out that way! ;-) I think we have all known a few rat bastards that probably did not deserve to be happy, but we will leave them out of the equation for this discussion and assume we are just talking about the at least marginally decent human beings. LOL.

I would love to hear from more of you on this subject. You know, your comments can be anonymous, you don't have to say who you are, and a Mambo never tells! :-)

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

What Do We Deserve?

Hello everyone!
What do we "deserve?" The dictionary definition of "deserve" goes like this:
To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. To serve; to treat; to benefit. To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.

Many times clients tell me that they "deserve" something; to be treated better by their partner, to have a better life, to have more money, etc. I recently asked a client why they felt that they deserved what they were asking me to help them obtain. I only asked the question because I am hearing a LOT lately about what people think they deserve!

I have clients tell me, "I was a good mother to my children, now I deserve some happiness in my life." Now this one always give me cause to pause. If you decided to have children, shouldn't you be a good mother?? Does being a good mother cause you to "deserve" some sort of reward for that? Or is being a good mother part of the idea of having children? Are the children the reward? Do you deserve "more" because you were a good mother? Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying one does or does not deserve something because of being a good mother. I am actually asking you, my readers, to weigh in on this!

Another thing I hear is, "I was a good wife to my husband. He left me anyway and now I deserve something better." So again, I feel like, well, if you are going to be a wife, should you not be a good one? Does your being a good wife mean you now deserve something better?

Then there is the, "I am a good person, I deserve good things in my life." Okay... so you are a decent human being. Shouldn't you be? Really, isn't it up to all of us to be, at the very least, a decent human being? Should there be a decent human being award? Now if by being a good person you mean you do works of charity, help the homeless and poor, and give freely of your time to the assistance of others, then, yes, maybe there is a merit badge for that! Maybe you are more "deserving" than someone who doesn't do those things. But if you are just sitting around, living your life, minding your own business, and not harming anyone else, I am not sure that means you "deserve" more than another "good person" who happens to be starving to death in Africa.

By the beginning of the definition of "deserve" above, to "earn by service" who amongst us is "deserving?" Should we be "earning" what we "deserve?" How do we earn it? I didn't say I had answers to these questions, maybe I just have questions! ;-)

I do know that it is really starting to make me uneasy how many people lately are telling me what they deserve. When I ask them why, they generally get pissed off at me, so I am thinking that is probably not the best approach. :-) But I am truly curious about the sense of entitlement some people seem to have; like the world owes them something: The mother who was good to her children (so was raising the children so horrible that she now deserves a reward for it?); the spouse who was good, etc. Because we went through tough times, does that mean we are now somehow entitled to a reward? Was our "tough time" worse than someone else's? IS there a reward for tough times?

I DO get that we are all filled with books and talk shows and self-help gurus telling us how to feel good about our own self-worth, how to manifest our destiny, how to think positively about ourselves and our goals. But does that mean we necessarily "deserve" them OR are we in some way supposed to earn that which we think we deserve?

Now, most of you are working on spell work from us, and we here at Spellmaker always want you to reach your goal! Most of my thought process above does not come from me thinking that you don't "deserve" to reach your goal! :-) Not at all! But I am concerned that just thinking that you "deserve" something is not enough to bring it to you! I am worried that too much thought of "well, I deserve this" is somewhat counterproductive and makes us all work a little less harder to achieve what we want!

To say the least, I have really mixed emotions about this! I would love to hear your opinion!

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

Coincidence?

Greetings everyone!
As you might guess, I don't have a lot of time to watch TV. One show that Matt and I do make time for is "House." I like the whole "medical mystery" type of genre and the show (IMHO)is terribly clever.

This week's episode revolved around a sick priest. The priest quoted Einstein with a quote that I had long ago loved to use but had forgotten over the years:
"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

So many times I get a letter from people saying things like, "I saw my boyfriend and he said the exact things I petitioned for in my spellwork, what a COINCIDENCE!"

Needless to say, this drives me crazy! ;-) Now it isn't just that I get tired of people thinking that the results from their spellwork are a "coincidence" - I actually get worried about people negating the results of their spellwork! Obviously, if you are sort of backwardly negating your spellwork by tossing it off as a "coincidence" you run the risk of long term damage to your spellwork.

Another thing that I get a lot of is, "All the things I asked for in my spellwork came to pass, do you think it was the lwa helping me?" Huh? Well, yes. You did ASK them to help you. ;-)

While "God" (or whatever you want to call the Supreme Being) is sort of an unwritten power in our spell work, that doesn't mean we ignore God. Generally speaking, Vodouisants consider God too lofty or too busy to be concerned with our day-to-day needs. Therefore, we call upon the Vodou Spirits (Les Lois - the lwa) to assist us and be our intermediaries and help our spellwork in many ways. But the spellcaster's energy, the power of the Supreme Being, and the lwa all work together.

So if you are a person who is chalking things up to "coincidence" I am going to gently suggest that you stop! I don't want you to stop getting results because you didn't believe in what was happening right before your own eyes. :-)

Love,light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Hello everyone, Happy Valentine's Day one and all! We are getting ready for the ritual that we will be doing later on and in reading over everyone's letters it is so heartwarming to see how many of you had requests for OTHER people's happiness besides your own!

It is just so nice to see how many caring and loving individuals are out there and hoping for the best for themselves while also hoping for the best for the important people in their lives and even for people they don't know. Many of you asked in your letters for all those participating in the ritual to be blessed with love and happiness. Thank you all for that.

Even though really Valentine's Day is "just another day" there is so much concentration on giving and receiving love that it is really a great day to work on love spell work, love candle magick, etc., to tap into the love energy floating around out there!

If you are doing any kind of magickal work today, remember to take a moment to call in all the loving energy that people are expressing towards each other and put that into your own work. Maybe you a person who is not personally receiving loving wishes today. But still you can call upon the universal love energy of this day and ask that you receive those loving vibrations into your heart and put that into your work.

We are excited to get your ritual going this afternoon and look forward to feeling the love from each and every one of you. We send it back to you and hope you feel those universal hugs we are sending you all!!!!

Much love,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

Rescue Remedy.

Happy Saturday, everyone!
Do you know about Rescue Remedy(tm)? This is a flower essence herbal remedy by the Bach company that helps calm, soothe, and generally relax you. It has been around for many years, and there is even a pet version that we often give to Mojo, our dog, because he is a little hyper!

I mention it here because I know that so many people are stressed these days. You may be working on a difficult case with your love spell work, finances might be tight, jobs in question, etc. All of these stressors can often send us straight to the doctor where we walk away with a fist full of prescriptions to get us through the day. Anxiety and depression are at an all time high right now in America.

Of course, I am not saying that a little flower essence is all you need, but if you are stressed out, depressed, etc., you might want to consider getting a bottle of Rescue Remedy and trying it out. It has the nicest calming effect. If you are calm and relaxed, certainly your love spell work has a better chance of working out for you. If you are depressed, anxious, and crying all the time, that is the kind of energy you are putting into your spell work.

I copied this from the Rescue Remedy website:
"If you feel like you've “had enough”, follow these simple tips to restore focus and regain inner calm wherever you are:

• Relax - Take 10 deep breaths. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.
• Exercise - Learn some basic yoga techniques or just take a 10 minute walk.
• Smile - Think of a happy time. It is near impossible to keep frowning while smiling and laughter stimulates the production of mood enhancing endorphins.
• Calm - Let your imagination take you to a calm and tranquil place that exudes peace, serenity and beauty.
• Use Your Lunchbreak - Take time out for yourself. A walk in the park, especially if it is sunny, can do wonders for your mood. It will help you work more efficiently in the afternoon too.
• Escape - If you are able to, walk away. Removing yourself from a stressful situation can give you time to restore some perspective."

It is good advice!

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to achieve our spell work goals that we forget to take care of US, take care of how we feel, take care of how we are reacting to our lives. Our reaction to the events in our lives can actually change the next set of events. If you continue to feel like you have nothing but bad things happening to you, and you don't feel like you see a way out, then you probably will not be presented with a solution. However, if you can put things in perspective and tell yourself that you KNOW there is a solution to the problem, you just need to find it, then you are setting yourself up to be open to potentials and prospects!

I really wanted to let you all know about this little bit of "peace in a bottle" called Rescue Remedy. I have recommended it to some of you personally but wanted to get it out there in a bigger way. Some of you have let me know that you used it, for instance, before a Milk of Damballah(tm) white bath and felt that it helped you get a better result from it!

Another person I recommended it to told me that she used it before every love spell work session. She reported that she felt better, didn't feel like crying through the spell work, and overall felt that she had made a better environment for her spell work!

One client told me that she even used it when doing her deluxe love doll. She took a few drops herself and then put a drop on the doll and petitioned that her HD would be calm and collected and thinking straight the next time she saw him (he has an anxiety disorder). She swears that it worked!!! I don't have personal experience with that aspect of using it, but I can't see that she had any reason to lie!

Have any of you out there used Rescue Remedy? Did you use it in conjunction with your spell work or adjunct work?? We would love to hear from you about it!

Love,
Mambo Sam

Are you determined to be negative?

Hello everyone!
There seems to be a trend that I have noticed lately. This trend is not just among clients, but among other people that I see and deal with on a day-to-day basis. I don't know if this trend is due to the economy, winter blues, or what, but there seems to be a certain faction of people who are just determined to have a negative attitude no matter what!

Caseworkers have drawn my attention to this with some of their clients, but I had actually noticed it already. For some people, no matter how much we counsel them, they are determined to turn what we say into a something negative. For instance, if I tell a client in a reading that I don't see the HD calling them tomorrow, they will turn around and say, "I bet he will never call me." Or if the HD doesn't want to see them right now because the spells are being processed: "Oh he never wants to see me and I don't think he will ever come and see me again."

It is frustrating to try to counsel and help a person who can only see a negative outcome. Plus, somehow, they cannot seem to understand how only seeing a negative outcome will breed, of course, a negative outcome. If you constantly are talking about, expecting, and assuming that you will have a negative outcome, how can you have anything but that? You are not just shooting yourself in the foot, you just shot your foot OFF!

Look, I know it is hard to remain positive sometimes. We all have negative moments, sad thoughts, fears that things won't work out. However, when you allow all of that to become a lifestyle or an expectation, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. If you have spent time and money and effort on spell work, you are doing yourself an even bigger disservice. I had a client tell me one time that she didn't want to think of the possibility of a good outcome from her spell work becaues she didn't want to "get my hopes up and then be disappointed." Okay, I get that. But, what kind of energy did she put out there: "Well, this probably won't work, but I will try it anyway."

Is that how you are approaching your spell work? If so, I totally agree that you will probably get a negative result. That is a shame! So many of you have become steeped in such negativity and assurance that you will fail that we are left to sit an watch you plunge head long right into disasister. It is painful to watch.

I really want to encourage you to try to find a way to look towards things (at least a little bit of the time) in a positive manner. If you truly cannot find anything positive in your life or you are so depressed that you do not see a chance for any happiness in your life, then I encourage you to seek professional help. Here at Spellmaker, all we want is the best for you. We want you to succeed. We want you to have the fairy tale ending. Don't fight it! Let it happen!!!

You know, being negative is easy. We are almost bred to it! When you go into a bookstore, you don't see rows and rows of books on how to be negative. What you do see are rows and rows of books about positive thinking, having a winning attitude, etc. As humans we seem to need that kind of help and positive reinforcement!

I know it isn't easy to pull yourself out of a negative state of being, but trying is half the battle! Do some of you have tips for what you do when you feel negativity creeping into your life? We would love to hear them here!

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

In Memoriam - 9/11

Then loudly cried the bold Sir Bedivere,
‘Ah! my Lord Arthur, whither shall I go?
Where shall I hide my forehead and my eyes?
For now I see the true old times are dead,
When every morning brought a noble chance,
And every chance brought out a noble knight.
Such times have been not since the light that led
The holy Elders with the gift of myrrh.
But now the whole Round Table is dissolved
Which was an image of the mighty world;
And I, the last, go forth companionless,
And the days darken round me, and the years,
Among new men, strange faces, other minds.’                                           Alfred Lord Tennyson, Morte d'Arthur, In Memoriam

Father's Day!

Greetings everyone - and a Happy Father's Day to all the good Dads out there.  :-)

I cannot help by remember my own father on this special day.  He has been gone for many years, but his memory and spirit are with me always.  He is the reason for many things in my life:  My ability to cook like a professional chef (he was one, I am not!), my sense of humor, my work ethic, the way I treat people, and so much more.

Even though my Dad never met a bottle of Chivas Regal that he didn't like, he never sacrificed his family for a drink.  He was a hard working, hard drinking, hard playing man - an old salty dog from the Navy and a straight shooter.  He didn't believe in lying, even though there were times would that would have been easier.   He believed in treating his employees with fairness and dignity even though most of them were Black at a time in the South where most Black employees weren't treated well at all.   He took being called by racist names from his friends with aplomb and pragmatism simply saying they were "ignorant" and leaving it at that. 

My Dad drove me and my friends anywhere we wanted to go; picking up a gang of pre-teen and then teen girls and putting us in his van and dropping us off at the mall, the lake, and anywhere else we wanted to go.  I almost regretted learning to drive because then Daddy didn't need to take us anywhere anymore!

He played poker with Mafia guys and I sat on his knee while he did it!  I ran into one of those fellas a couple of years ago in New Orleans.  He was just as old as he could be, but he still remembered me and my father!

My Dad was, by his own admission, far from perfect as a man, but he was absolutely perfect as a father.  Thank you, Daddy!!!

So blessings out there to all the Good Dads!

Love, Mambo Sam

And speaking of faith....

Hello everyone!  On Easter Sunday I posted about Faith.  I was wracking my brain to remember this really cool quote that I had read years ago that reminded me of faith and Les Lois and all this wonderful magick that we do together.  I couldn't remember who wrote it or exactly what it said, but God Bless the Internet because with just a few key words I found it!!!  I wanted to share it with you, it is by D.H. Lawrence.  Oh those gods, those strange gods!  ;-)  In re-reading this, I thought that every Vodouisant should have a copy of this quote and keep it close to their heart.

Love, Mambo Sam

This is what I believe:
That I am I.
That my soul is a dark forest.
That my known self will never be more than a little clearing in the forest.
That gods, strange gods, come forth from the forest into the clearing of my known self, and then go back.
That I must have the courage to let them come and go.
That I will never let mankind put anything over me, but that I will try always to recognize and submit to the gods in me and the gods in other men and women.
There is my creed. - D.H. Lawrence

New Orleans is Still in Need

Hello everyone!

As my previous post states, today is the traditional St. Joseph's Day.  One important tradition of this day is helping the poor and less fortunate.  While there are obviously poor and less fortunate everywhere, New Orleans is still in dire need.   One of my favorites is listed below - this organization has done so much to help rebuild New Orleans - they use their donations in many diverse ways.

Renew New Orleans Foundation

To give a more traditional food offering on this day, please give to

Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans

This food bank was established in the 1980's and has been feeding the hungry of New Orleans since then.  Obviously, they have been strained since Hurricane Katrina!

Thank you!  Love, Mambo Sam

2008 Voodoo Convention Planning and Faith!

Greetings, everyone!   I am really excited to be getting into high gear planning the 2008 Voodoo Convention here in Albuquerque. 

For the 2008 Convention we will be studying a lot more about Haitian and African Vodou.  During the 2007 we spent more time with our New Orleans Voodoo heritage.  We will, of course, be studying more about New Orleans Voodoo, but our primary focus will be on Vodou.

Planning the classes is really getting to be fun and I cannot wait to teach you all!  We will be learning Vodou songs, part of the Priye Guinea (the long African prayer that is recited before most Vodou rituals, deep service to the lwa, and much more. 

In thinking about the convention, I cannot help but remember my own visits to and Vodou initiation in Haiti.  It is definitely a place to remember.  The people in Jacmel, Haiti are colorful, bright, smart, friendly, and serve the lwa with both dignity and passion.  There are many lessons to be learned from these people because they continue to serve the lwa with faith and confidence even in the most trying of circumstances.  Frankly, most of us would fold up under the conditions in which these people live.

Yet, they serve the lwa daily.  They continue to dedicate their lives to the practice of Vodou regardless of outcome of their hopes and dreams and petitions to the lwa.  They do not waver in their service nor in their dedication.  They are not practitioners of fairweather faith; in fact, the worse the weather, the stronger their faith.  Taking a page from their book would do us all a world of good.

Most of us are petitioning for a better job, a partner to come into our lives, or an enemy to go away.  Most of us are not wondering where our next meal is coming from or if we will have money to send our children to school (no public schools in Haiti) or if we have the basic necessities of life.  However, time and time again I hear that we are "losing faith" in our spell work!  We don't "see results" right away and are ready to throw away our spell work, our faith, and our dedication to the lwa at the drop of a hat!  Indeed, looking to our Haitian brothers and sisters for a shining example of faith can do us all a world of good.

Probably the most uplifting thing is the JOY that these people derive from their service to the lwa.  The picture below is one I took in Jacmel during a Vodou celebration.  Feel the joy!

Love, Mambo Sam

 

More Help with Setting Goals for the New Year

Hello everyone!  I wanted to share with you an article I ran across.  Since we have been talking about how to set realistic and sustainable goals for the new year I thought you might enjoy some of these tips from Anne Walsh, a life coach.  I wanted to definitely call to your attention the idea of making the goals realistic and making them YOURS!  :-)  Too many times we are making goals because they fit the profile of someone else's idea of us or what we feel someone else wants us to become.   Truly successful goals will be yours and yours alone!   Enjoy the article.

Love, Mambo Sam

Article by Anne Walsh

We’ve all been there. How many of you have set up new year’s resolutions only to discover that you have slipped after the first week or been to a workshop and sworn that this time you are really going to achieve those dreams you have had at the back of your mind? The following article gives you five keys on setting goals that will keep you motivated.

Key One: Make them realistic, make them yours.
Key Two: Write them down.
Key Three: See them every day.
Key Four: Make it easy, set up strong support structures.
Key Five: Acknowledge and review regularly.

Key One -- Make Them Realistic, Make Them Yours

Jung described a parent’s unrealized dreams as the most powerful influence in a child’s life. When you choose your goals, make sure they are your goals not anyone else’s. Also, make sure that the goals are realistic. For example, you may not be able to make the Olympics gymnastic team, but you could walk a marathon next year or work towards a high standard in yoga. Be honest with yourself about it and when the “yeah, but” tape starts playing remind yourself that you are not given a dream without the capacity to make it true. This is particularly true if you find that you have a recurring desire about something.

Key Two -– Write Them Down

There’s something about the human brain that doesn’t seem to see things as real until they are visible or written down. Pick 3 – 5 goals that you want to achieve for the coming year and write them down. Make sure that they are measurable. Writing down “I will save money” is a goal, but writing down “I will have saved €4000 in the next 12 months” is more powerful.

Key Three -– See Them Every Day

Write your goals on ten of small 3” X 5” index cards and have them visible everywhere to you. Another powerful exercise is to take time to visualize what your life would be like with those goals. If you can make the experience as vivid as possible, it gets the brain going on ways to achieve them…in ways you could never imagine at the beginning!

Key Four -– Make It Easy, Set Up Strong Support Structures

Don’t rely on your own willpower to carry you through because it probably won’t. (But you know that already, don’t you?) In Ireland, there is a proverb, “ ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine” which means that we live in each other’s shadows, we are interdependent. Put systems and supports in place that will sustain you when your energy is low. For example, if you plan to save money, set up an automated direct debit to do it. If you want to exercise more, find something you enjoy and buddy up with someone to go with. Build in a practice of daily silence/meditation/prayer to help you keep in touch with your deeper, truer self. Get a coach to help create structures and keep you accountable. Remind yourself on a daily basis of the benefits of achieving this goal.

Key Five – Acknowledge and Review Regularly

Set aside time every week to quickly review your goals, acknowledge progress, and simply note where you have slipped. Slippage is inevitable. Don’t beat yourself up, note what caused it and begin again! Adopt a gentle curiosity with yourself as to what caused you to slip and then begin again.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Hello everyone,

Let me please take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and peaceful holiday season.  I apologize that I have not been able to keep up with my blogging as well as I would like to.  However, I will begin to do so in 2008.  :-)

In the meantime, let me take this opportunity to thank you all for being in my life.  I really appreciate the feedback and friendships developed this year!    Look for even more exciting events and teachings coming in the new year! 

Much love, Mambo Sam

My Grandsons!

Hello everyone!  Most of you know that I have three grandsons.  I just wanted to share this picture with you.  They are such sweeties!!

In the middle is Brandon the oldest, the one with his arms around Brandon is Devon, and the littlest fellow is Preston.  Preston is the one I am holding in the picture on my bio page.  He has grown a lot since then!

These boys are such a blessing in my life.  Brandon is strong and athletic, quick with a joke and quick to help anyone who needs it.  Devon is smart, funny, and full of life.  Preston is our little clown - singing, dancing, and entertaining us all the time.  Needless to say, they are all devastatingly handsome! They are a remarkable trio!

Thanks for listening to Nana brag!