Mambo Samantha Corfield

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! #3!

Question 3!

7 Questions for the New Year - #2!

Question #2!

7 Questions for the New Year!

Question 1!

7 Questions for the New Year! #4!

Question 4!

Famous Red Mummy Candle Tutorial with Mambo Sam!

Famous Red Mummy Candle Tutorial with Mambo Sam!

 

Mambo Sam on Erzulie Dantor!

Mambo Sam on Erzulie Dantor during an online Prosperity Ritual! Enjoy! 

 

Happy Fet Ghede!

Hello everyone,

As many have asked, here is some information about how to serve on Fet Ghede.

To clear up some information - The Ghede (of which there are purported to be MILLIONS) are NOT the Baron and Maman Brigitte.  The Baron and Brigitte are considered the Mother and Father of the Ghede.  There is also a line of thought that the Baron and Brigitte are the "landowners" of the residence of the Ghede (the graveyard, of course).  :-)
 
Traditionally, especially in New Orleans Voodoo, The Baron and Maman Brigitte are often served during Fet Ghede, too, but more as a show of respect. My point here, of course, is to make sure you know who you are serving!  If you are serving the Ghede, you are not necessarily serving The Baron and Brigitte and vice versa.
 
As to service:  If at all possible, you should go to a cemetery on this day.  If you are not in a town where you have ancestors buried, then go to the cemetery anyway.  Bring a trash bag, gloves (if you want to not get your hands dirty),  flowers (purple ones are best if you can find some), and candy offerings, anything you like.  I like to find a grave that looks like it hasn't been attended to in years!  Clean up as best you can around the grave, pick up any trash or debris.  If you can, stay awhile - ask Papa Legba to open the gate to the Ghede and ask your ancestors to visit this spot, to talk to you, to guide you.  There is no real right or wrong way to do this -- go to the graveyard and let yourself be led to what you should do and where you should go.
 
I know people always get nervous about going to the graveyard -- what if someone sees you?  What if someone asks you what you are doing?  As long as you aren't desecrating anyone's grave, it is okay for you to be there.  It is extremely rare for anyone to be questioned in a graveyard; I have probably spent more time there than any one of us, and I have never, ever been questioned or even paid attention to.  If you just look like you belong there and are doing something positive (flowers, cleaning) you are unlikely to draw much attention, especially this time of year!
 
Even if you can't go to the graveyard, doing an altar to the Ghede is fun this time of year - you can get lots of cheap plastic skeletons and coffins and such.  Colors are purple, black, and white.  Offerings are rum, 21 peppers steeped in rum (be careful with this stuff -- wear gloves to put the peppers in the rum bottle), unfiltered cigarettes, and roasted peanuts (raw peanuts, taken out of the shell, and stir fried in a skillet or roasted in the oven - NO SALT!! - remember - no salt in any offerings to the Ghede).  If you have ancestors you are serving at this time, put their favorite foods, their pictures, items to represent them on your altar.  St. Gerard, who is often used to represent the Baron, is also used to represent the Ghede in most Voodoo traditions.
 
Once you are satisfied with your altar, light your candles and ask Papa Legba to open the gate to the Ghede and your ancestors.  This is a perfect time to ask your ancestors for their help, guidance, and favor.  If you have ancestors that you were particularly close to, ask them for their help with whatever situation you have that is troubling you.  Listen carefully, sometimes you might even hear them whisper to you!!  I always recommend that you do a bit of journaling in front of your altar:  Ask questions of the Ghede and your ancestors and write down the first thing that pops into your head - don't edit - write in stream of consciousness.  Don't re-read it right now.  Put it away at the end of the service and read it about a week later.   Sometimes you will be very surprised at what you see written there!
 
Remember as well that Fet Ghede is celebrated as a sort of "New Year's" celebration - a new beginning where old problems and challenges are "buried" or solved!
 
Have fun!
Love,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

Erzulie Freda! By Mambo Sam

Erzulie Freda

Image of Erzulie Freda Dahomey by Saundra Elise Ziyatdinov.  

Erzulie Freda is the Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo goddess of love. A gracious, luxurious, and refined lwa (Vodou Spirit), Erzulie epitomizes femininity, love, passion, and is called upon for favors regarding one's love affairs. However, Erzulie Freda is love of every kind; she is not limited to romance. She is often misrepresented as petulant and never being able to be satisfied. This does a gross injustice to this beautiful spirit. The fact that she often dissolves into tears is misinterpreted as her being dissatisified with what is given to her. That is not it at all; she dissolves into tears because she knows that no amount of material wealth can make up for the lack of love and spirituality in one's life. So even though she is often served in luxury, upon appearance at Vodou rituals, she is often wracked with tears eventually. It is important to remember, also, that she cries so that you won't have to. Another misrepresentation of Erzulie is that she is flighty and unable to stay with one man. This misinformation comes from the knowledge of her three marriages; once to Ogoun, once to Agwe, and once to Papa Legba (a belief in our New Orleans tradition; in Haitian tradition her third husband is Damballah). The three gold rings that most Erzulie altars have on them represent these three marriages. However, we must remember that these three marriages probably took place over lifetimes. It is sometimes hard for us to conceive of the many lives of the lwa and how long they have been with us!  

Serving Erzulie Freda

As with most lwa, she is a complex spirit having lived many lifetimes to evolve to her present state. She, of course, has happy, wonderful, flirty appearances, also. She does love refined things and wants to drink the finest champagne and eat the finest foods (especially delicious sweets and chocolates). She loves frilly, girly things and dresses in beautiful clothes of silk and lace. She loves diamonds and gold..anything that represents wealth and finery! She knows these things do not make up for the sorrows of life, but enjoying these things eases the pain for many of us! Erzulie is no different!

Many people are afraid to do service to Erzulie Freda if they don't have much money. That is such an injustice to her! Yes, she loves refined and expensive things; that is not in question. However, just because you don't have a lot of money does not mean you should not serve her. We are firm believers that any service done with a good heart and doing the best you can will be well received. 
 

Luxury can be a state of mind and an environment can be luxurious without being expensive. So first start thinking of the space that you will be doing your service in. If you purchased the one-day ritual kit or plan on doing the ritual as written on the website make whatever area you will be doing your service in as lovely as you can! Even if you temporarily use one of your own bed sheets as an altar cloth, that is okay because you can spray your perfume on it and make it something special. Set the mood for the ritual with any candles you have and put on romantic music or tune your radio to a soft rock or other type of station that plays the kind of music that would set the mood for romance. Do you have jewelry? You can put it on the altar and "give" it to Erzulie! That doesn't mean you can't wear it! Of course you can, but if you dedicate it to her, then you have given her something wonderful. Do you have old magazines lying around? Cut out pictures of beautiful things - jewelry, clothes, perfume, etc. Make a simple collage out of them and put them on your altar for her!

In Service, 

Mambo Sam

John the Conqueror Root Bag - History!

 

John the conqueror root bag - History

The best reference for good stories, I think, is Zora Neale Hurston. I think you would enjoy her writings (if you haven't read them in the past)!

The root itself, named after the slave, John is, of course: High John the Conqueror (ipomoea purga) or "Jalap" and is a mainstay of African American magick, the root of this morning glory is named for a slave who refused to be servile. High John's ability to fool his master inspired many stories; he's considered a representative of African trickster gods.

Historians say that he was a black slave whose real life has been questioned in detail (some thought is that he was a fictional character developed by slaves to empower other slaves and give them hope). At any rate, real or fictional, the job was well done as he was an inspiration to slaves who wanted to rebel against their masters but could not do so openly. "John" was said to be the son of an African king and although he was a slave he never became subservient. His apparent cleverness at tricking his master supplied a great variet of stories with a very clear moral ending. If he was a real being, he soon acquired some of the characteristics of mythical trickster figures like the Native American Coyote, the African- American Bre'r Rabbit, and the West African deity known variously as Elegua, Legba, and Eshu. He gave -- only to take away. He bet -- and never lost. He played dumb -- but he was never outsmarted. The reputation of High John is so great that, as recorded by the folklorist Harry Middleton Hyatt in the 1930s, just reciting the words "John over John" and "John the Conqueror" is a powerful spell of magical protection against being hoodooed.

According to Nora Zeale Hurston: "There is a story in which High John tells the people, "What we need is a song." . . . "It ain't here, and it ain't no place I knows of as yet. Us better go hunt around. This has got to be a particular piece of singing." She describes how John got the slaves to leave their bodies behind on the plantation while their souls went searching. They had to "reach inside yourselves and get out all those fine raiments you been toting around with you for the last longest." John brought them "a great black crow. The crow was so big that one wing rested on the morning while the other dusted the evening star." Riding on this crow, the people had many adventures, visited Hell and Heaven, found their song, and returned to the plantation. John told them, "Don't pay what he [Massa] say no mind. You know where you got something finer than this plantation and anything it's got on it, put away. Ain't that funny? Us got all that, and he don't know nothing at all about it. Don't tell him nothing. Nobody don't have to know where us gets our pleasure from."

And Muddy Waters (and I think someone else, I can't remember) recorded this song:

MY JOHN THE CONQUER ROOT

My pistol may snap, my mojo is frail

But i rub my root, my luck will never fail

When i rub my root, my John the Conquer root

Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,

I rub my John the Conquer root

I was accused of murder in the first degree

The judge's wife cried, "Let the man go free!"

I was rubbin' my root, my John the Conquer root

Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,

I rub my John the Conquer root

Oh, i can get in a game, don't have a dime,

All i have to do is rub my root, i win every time

When i rub my root, my John the Conquer root

Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,

I rub my John the Conquer root

 

In Service, 

Mambo Sam

#MotivationMonday

Remember.

The Famous Red Mummy Candle!

The Famous Red Mummy Power candle magick kit.

 

This kit is used particularly to help gain control over a situation. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean trying to control the person in question. However, PROPERLY DIRECTED control can be very useful. This candle is especially useful if you are feeling helpless and out of communication in your situation. This candle can be used to help facillitate contact with your heart's desire, i.e., "controlling" the situation so that you run into each other, or that s/he suddenly thinks of a reason why s/he needs to contact you. It can also be used to help control an interfering party to get out of the situation. 

Candles are located here and the candle burning service is located here. 

Happy Birthday, Marie Laveau!

Cousin Azacca!

 

Hail to our dear Cousin Azacca (Azaka, Azaca)!

Sometimes considered one of the simplest lwa, he brings a good nature and warmth into life. He is syncretized with the Catholic saint, St. Isidore the Laborer, sometimes called St. Isidore the Farmer. This is not be be confused with St. Isidore of Seville -- this is a different person altogether! This makes perfect sense as St. Isidore was a simple farmer, and his feast day is May 15! 

Since Azacca is one to make all things grow, this May feast day is a perfect time to honor him. He is such a good natured and easy going lwa, he is always considered one of the family, hence the "cousin" moniker. He is, of course, the lwa of agriculture, farming, all things to do with planting and growing. He is a wonderfully hard worker, a peasant, nothing sophisticated about him. I always consider Azacca sort of an everyman. He loves good profit, good girls, and good food! 

He doesn't care much for "city folks" and is extremely down to earth and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty with honest work. He will have little to do with anyone with a pompous or condescending attitude. Azacca appears barefooted, in denim overalls, carries a straw bag, wears a big straw hat, and is rarely seen without his pipe and smoking tobacco.  He should serve as a reminder of our roots and our dependency on this earth for our very survival!  He is the ultimate conservationist living off the gifts of nature.

He loves a good song and has a penchant for the being the town gossip. He is often the quiet observer, taking in all the doings around him, saving the knowledge for later when he can use it to his best advantage. Azacca knows who is who in the zoo! He generally will have all the info on who is dating whom, who is trying to swindle whom, and all the details that people sometimes try to hide! When possessing someone, it is not unusual to have him start telling everyone's secrets! Luckily for those who have something to hide, his voice is gravely and rough and he is somewhat hard to understand.  However, if you suspect someone is keeping a secret from you, do a service to Azacca and ask him to reveal that secret to you and watch what happens.

He can, however, be very suspicious and does not always seem to want to give his favors easily. If you motivation for calling upon him is less than honest, he may refuse you.  However, usually he can be won over with some white rum and a plate of boiled corn. For the most part, he is a good-natured lwa. He is entertaining when he appears at ceremonies, singing you songs about how he would he would rather take charity than steal, all the while "stealing" everything he can get his hands own, usually while he is dancing in his unique fashion! These things are then returned to the distracted owners with everyone having a good laugh at his humorous antics.

He usually will be found in a corner of any party where there is food, voraciously eating his food, looking with suspicion at anyone who might eye his plate. He is a greedy eater and drinker with little in the way of table manners. But this is easily forgiven because of his good nature and good humor.

He is also is generally seen as the brother of Ghede. Author Bob Corbert writes, "There are interesting similarities between the sophisticated Ghede and the more bumbling Azacca, as though a younger less sophisticated brother were imitating a more secure older brother. Like Ghede, Zaka loves his food. But, unlike Ghede, he is rude and voracious in his eating habits, often running away to hide with him food and eat it quickly."

As the lwa of agriculture and plant life, it is natural that Azacca is also an herbal healer. He is said to carry his healing herbs in his djakout (a straw shoulder bag) and is often called upon when there is sickness in a family. In Louisiana, animal fat candles are burned for him and bread is offered to him when someone is ill.  He is said to sop up the illness with the bread from the melted fat from the candles and eat it, thus curing the patient! 

We here at Spellmaker.com call upon Azacca in many ways. We call upon him to "grow" things for us, even though they may not be considered the usual way to call on our Cousin! We call upon him to grow love between two people, to help people "grow" their finances, etc. He has always responded well to these petitions and we certainly can suggest that it is a wonderful way to broaden this powerful lwa's scope in your life! Look at your goals from the perspective of wanting them to grow to be big, beautiful plants and call upon Azacca to help you make that happen. 

Of course, it probably goes without saying that he is also particularly wonderful to call upon if you are planting this spring. Pour a little rum into the ground around your garden and ask Azacca to help that garden grow! We make a mixture of corn and boiled peanuts and spread it around our garden for him. We just leave it there to mix with the soil and help the plants grow better.

No matter what you are trying to grow in your life, May 15 is the perfect day to offer a feast to Azacca! Set up a small altar using his colors and offerings: A piece of denim makes the perfect altar cloth for him, yellow and green candles, a container of dirt, small gardening tools, etc. Spend some time thinking of what plants need nurturing in your life garden and ask Azacca to nourish them and help them grow! Ask him to renew and rejuvenate any wilting plants and cut out all the weeds!

Azacca Stats: 
Feast Day: May 15
Saint Syncretization: St. Isidore the Farmer
Colors: Green, yellow, brown - earthy colors.
Foods: Avocados, corn, peanuts, beans and rice, strong coffee that is highly sweetened with sugar, yams, sugar cane and cane syrup (pour it all over his food and he will love you for it!), heavy breads, coconuts and coconut candy.
Drink: Light or white rum (kleren).
Offerings: The above food and drink, a straw bag, a straw hat, pipe with pipe tobacco, small gardening tools. We usually put a container of rich earth, something like nice potting soil, on an altar to him. Later on, put that dirt in your garden!  Azacca and your plants will reward you.

In Service, 

Mambo Samantha Corfield 

Love Potion #9 - Recipe!

 

At: http://www.spellmaker.com/potion9.htm

 Love Potion #9

 * 9 oz. sweet red wine (or use cherry soda, cherry Kool-Aid or cherry juice for non-alcoholics)

 * 9 basil leaves

 * 9 red rose petals

 * 9 cloves

 * 9 apple seeds

 * 9 drops vanilla extract

 * 9 drops strawberry juice

 * 9 drops apple juice

 * 1 ginseng root, cut into 9 equal pieces (or use 3 powdered ginseng capsules)

You also need:

* 9 pink votive candles

* Cheesecloth

* Wooden Spoon

* airtight contaner to hold the potion (big enough for at least 10oz fluid)

By the light of 9 pink votive candles, put these nine ingredients into a cauldron on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year. Stir the potion nine times with a wooden spoon, each time reciting the following magickal incantation:

 LET THE ONE WHO DRINKS THIS WINE

 SHOWER ME WITH LOVE DIVINE.

 SWEET LOVE POTION NUMBER NINE

 MAKE HIS/HER LOVE FOREVER MINE.

 Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and let it  simmer for nine minutes. Remove the cauldron from the heat and allow the  potion  to cool off. Blow nine times upon the potion, bless it in the names of  The nine love goddesses: Inanna, Ishtar, Astarte, Hathor, Nephthys,  Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Arianrhod.

 And then strain it through a cheesecloth into a clean container.  Cover and refrigerate it untill you are ready to serve it to the man  or woman from whom you desire love and affection.

**(Do not  allow anyone other than your beloved to look at, touch, or drink the love potion.)

~~

A word of warning: This potion is extremely potent and should be used  with caution. Its results have been reported to be very intense, long-

 lasting, and often difficult to control or reverse. So please be absolutely  sure before you give it to an intended lover that he or she is the right

 one for you and vice versa. 

 

 WARNING: Webmistress accepts no responsibility for effects or consequences of casting spells found on this Website. Cast spells responsibly.

 

Papa Legba!

 

 

PAPA LEGBA

Article by Mambo Samantha Corfield

Our dear Papa Legba (Papa Alegba in New Orleans Voodoo) is probably one of the most popular lwa (Vodou spirits) ever.  His ability to open doors, smooth roads, and in general help us get things done is legendary!  He can create possibilities, help you choose the right path in your life, and bring order to chaos!  Personally, I call on him whenever I am lost (which is often, I have no sense of direction) and even when I need a parking space.  :-)

While he has many aspects or "personalities", his major function in both Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo, is to be the intermediary between the other lwa and humanity. His presence at the spiritual crossroads will give or deny permission to speak and interact the lwa. (Although I have to say,  I don't really recall him ever denying permission, though I suppose he would if he felt it was necessary!)  He is invoked in spell work and ritual using many analogies:  To open the gate, to open the door, to lift the veil, etc., between our human world and the spiritual world. He is always the first and last spirit invoked in any ceremony, because his permission is needed for communication between us and the lwa.  He opens and closes the doorway. 

One of his most remarkable traits is that he is known to speak, understand, and translate all languages.  Through him you may speak to the lwa in any language.  If the lwa you are speaking to doesn't understand your language, Papa Legba will translate for you!  Just ask him!

Papa Legba can also facilitate communication between yourself and someone with whom you are having difficulties being understood.  Let's say that you are using, for instance, our Red Male Image Candle kit to communicate some loving ideas to "Johnny".   Now you know Johnny pretty darned well and know that he doesn't always accept new ideas readily.  Simply call on Papa Legba to "translate" your petition words into words that Johnny will understand.  Calling on Papa Legba for a task like this is extremely easy.  Just talk to him:  "Papa Alegba, please translate for me.  Help Johnny understand what I want him to understand."   It is just that simple.  You don't have to even be extremely clear in what you need from Papa Alegba.  After all he is the "universal translator" - he KNOWS what you are talking about even if you aren't quite sure.

He is such a fun character:  Often portrayed as a kindly old man, he is funny, loving, silly, and known to be a trickster.  Some people believe that he purposely plays tricks on people malvolently.  I have never found this to be true of those who serve him and those who call on him for help!  Perhaps some of his "tricks" are misinterpreted.  I believe, however, that many times people think something is attributed to Legba that wasn't him at all, but just happenstance.  At any rate, he is extremely helpful and powerful in Vodou magick and in all my years of working with him, he has never played any kind of trick on me that was mean or hateful. 

Papa loves certain items that you should have if you desire to serve him:   A crutch or baton or walking cane; three pennies; a silver whistle (like coaches use); small toys; keys of any kind (don't throw your old keys away - give them to Papa); a straw knapsack or some kind of straw bag; a straw hat and, of course, a pipe with tobacco and a bottle of rum!  If you are setting up an altar for Papa, you want to have as many of these items as possible.  His altar cloth should be red and white or red and black or red/white/black.  He is traditionally served on Mondays.  Offerings can include rum, cigars, red beans and rice, plantains, smoked fish, chicken, and candy.  Haitian tradition includes goats and black roosters, but we aren't too likely to have those kinds of offerings here and he understands that - stick to the basics and he will be happy!  Dogs are sacred to him.  If you have a dog, s/he will usually show interest when you are calling upon Papa!  Many clients have told me that their dogs went a little bit crazy when Papa was called upon; a sure sign that he is around. 

In Africa, his counterpart, Eshu, is a god of prophecy and taught people how to interpret oracles and readings (corresponding with the "translator" aspect of Papa).  Often he will appear as an old man on a crutch or with a cane, wearing a broad brimmed straw hat and smoking a pipe, or sprinkling water.  Because of his position as 'gate-keeper' between the worlds of the living and Les Mysteres he is often identified with Saint Peter who holds a comparable position in Catholic tradition and, of course, is depicted holding keys. . But he is also depicted in Haiti and New Orleans as St. Lazarus, or St Anthony of Padua. Using Catholic Saint candles to honor Papa Alegba is perfectly acceptable.  

So, however you serve Papa, doing so is always a rewarding and fun experience.  Try it!  

Papa's Keys!

Practical Color Magick! Keep it Simple!

PRACTICAL COLOR MAGICK

by Mambo Samantha Corfield 

 

Colors have magical associations - especially in creating your own spells.  Always use a color theme that matches what you are trying to accomplish.  

Many of these color associations are very familiar to us:  Red or pink for love, green for money, etc.

 

Traditional Magickal Color Associations

Red: Sexual Love, Good Health, Strength, Danger, Stamina, Charity

Yellow: Joy, Comfort, Persuasion, Charm, Confidence

Green: Money, Luck, Fertility, Energy

Orange: Stimulation, Encouragement, Attraction, Kindness

Blue: Tranquility, Devotion, Understanding, Health, Sincerity, Truth

Indigo: Depression, Impulsiveness, Ambition, Dignity

Violet: Tension, Power, Peity, Sentiment

Black:  Death, Sickness, Removal of a Person, Removal of a Thought or Idea from someone.

 

Numerology Color Associations

1=Red

2=Orange

3=Yellow

4=Green

5=Blue

6=Indigo

7=Violet

8=Rose

9=Gold

 

Gemstone Color Properties

Agate: Basically shades of brown, irregularly banded or variegated.  Wear for vision or gum problems.

Amethyst: Bluish violet to deep purple in color. Wear for expelling poisons and toning the body.

Bloodstone: Bright green to dark green, contains small spots of red jasper. Wear for excessive bleeding or to prevent hemorrhages.

Chrysolite (Peridot): Usually olive green, sometimes yellow or brown. Wear to prevent fevers and also to prevent nightmares.

Coral: Both red and white coral prevent bleeding. Wear to avert the "evil eye." Wear for scars and ulcers.

Garnet: Deep red. Wear for the heart and as a stimulant.

Jade: Green. Soothing, healing; wear for eye problems, kidneys, help strengthen muscles.

Lapis Lazuli: Blue to violet-blue to greenish blue. Eye problems. A very strong stone.

Ruby: Deep red. Wear for problems of the blood, lack of body warmth, poor circulation.

Topaz: Brown, yellow, or pink. Wear to sooth and calm, banishing nightmares and curing insomnia.

 

So, how do you use these things?  First of all, get creative.  Think about what you want to accomplish.  Choose your items with a theme to them.   When you are purchasing items

for magick, try to shop only for that.  Keep your intention in mind while you are shopping for each item.   Okay.  Now you are home with all your magick stuff, right?  Let the items

guide you as to what to do with them.   Now we realize that this all sounds somewhat simplistic.  But if you are just starting in magick - it is good to keep it simple.   

Other option:  Go get one of our nifty, handy-dandy spell kits at www.spellmaker.com!

In service,

Mambo Sam

Ritualistic Cooking!

Ritualistic cooking is an extremely ancient form of spell casting.  Food has been linked with love, nurturing, and caring for centuries.   Many people cook to show how much they care for their partners, families, friends, etc.   Cooking takes on a ritualistic twist when any kind of magick ritual is added to boost the spiritual energy that cooking already has!   In Reverend Samantha Corfield's cook book  Cajun Voodoo Love Cookin', her Cajun family recipes for food and  magick are shared with you.  Detailed explanations of the rituals and the recipes are outlined for you.  Here is a sample recipe from the book!

HAPPY HOUSE OMELETTE
by Mambo Sam

Usage:  To smooth out problems after a fight

Ingredients:

1 dozen eggs

1 dozen raw, fresh oysters, drained

1 cup cooked crabmeat

1/8 pound unencased hot sausage, fried and drained (reserve drippings)

6 tablespoons cream

1 very finely chopped onion

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/4 cup minced celery

Tabasco® sauce

Salt and pepper

Butter

Rum for flaming (optional)

Spiritual Gifts:

2 white tapers (candle)

1 glass (8 oz.) of water

1 serving of grits (or oatmeal, etc.)

1 paper bowl

2 small paper plates

1 pair women’s inexpensive sunglasses

1/2 cup of regular (plain) water

 

Before beginning your cooking:

1. Line up your candles one before the other (in a vertical line) anywhere in the kitchen.

Put one candle in the rear, and the other in front of it, about 6 inches apart.

Put the grits in the paper bowl.

Put the grits and glass of water between the candles.

Set the sunglasses up around the grits and water

(The candles, sunglasses, grits and water are to remain in place overnight.)

2. Go to any corner of the kitchen with the 1/2-cup of water.

Sprinkle some water from your fingertips in the corner three times.

3. Go to the candles. Stamp the floor three times. Light the rear candle and say:

“Hey, Legba. Open the gate and let my words carry to the other side.”

Pause a moment, then light the front candle, clap your hands three times and say:

“Mademoiselle Florida. Florida. Florida, I am upset. You, my dear, truly the queen of luxury, may be of service to me. Listen to this. My man and I have had a fight. I want to smooth out the problems, Florida. And I want all women to have a soft life with their men. Mademoiselle, I ask this of you: Give me some of that luxury. Make my man and I relate to each other in a fashion smooth as silk, soft as satin, sweet as sugar. Do this for me, Florida, do it now.”

4. Begin to make your omelet with your desire in mind.

Keep that desire in mind and honor Mademoiselle Florida during the preparation.

 

Start cooking:

In a large, nonstick frying pan melt 3 tablespoons of butter; add in sausage drippings, onion, parsley and celery. Cook about ten minutes or until tender. In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs adding in the cream, a couple of dashes of Tabasco®, salt and pepper. Beat until frothy. Fold in the crabmeat, sausage and oysters. Pour into pan with the onion mixture. Fold from one side to the other, letting uncooked egg fall to the sides, then folding in. Do not overcook.

Slide out of pan onto warmed platter. If desired, pour a small amount of rum over the omelet and flame briefly. 

Serves 10-12.

Serve for Sunday or holiday brunch with hash browns, buttered grits, and hot biscuits.

After cooking:

1. Put out the front candle and say:

“Thank you, Florida, for hearing my cry and making my desire come true. If it pleases you, you may now depart.”

Pause a moment. Put the rear candle out and say:

“Thank you, Papa Alegba. If it pleases you, you may close the gate.”

2. Cut out 2 small pieces of omelet and put each one onto a paper plate.

Before you eat (if not possible, then afterwards):

1. Take the 2 paper plates with the omelet pieces outside and go to the base of a tree, telephone pole, lamppost or fence post.
2. Stamp the ground three times with your foot. Put one plate down and say:

“Papa Alegba, this is for you.”

Put down the other plate and say:

“Blessings and thanks to you, Mademoiselle Florida.”

3. Turn your back and walk away, leaving the omelet servings there overnight.

The next day:

1. If the omelet is still by the tree or pole, place it on the ground and trash the plates.
2. Take the candles, sunglasses, grits and glass of water and set them out on a street corner.

Do not be noticed doing so. Leave quickly.

In Service, 

Mambo Samantha Corfield 

Lucky Money Spell! Free!

Hey there! 

This spell is free to be downloaded and used. It is a sample from our "Spells Only" available at Spellmaker.com! -- Mambo Sam

Lucky Money Spell

Equipment needed:

*Play paper money - the larger the denominations, the better.

*Two green candles and one white, big enough to last burning 9 days, 9 minutes a day.

*9 cloves.

*A whole nutmeg.

*Lucky Oil - made from equal parts of pure virgin olive oil and rose oil (rose oil is available at any store that sells essential oils).

*A $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 bill that you won’t mind donating later.

Spell Casting Steps:

*Inscribe your name down the front of the white candle, using a twig from a green tree.

*On each green candle inscribe three dollar signs.

*Dip your finger in the Lucky Oil and rub it all over the candles repeating 9 times:

 “By the power of the elements, I empower you.”

*Set the candles on a table where they will not be disturbed, except by you for 9 days.

*Put the white candle between the two green candles.

*Surround the candles completely with the play money, reserving two large  denomination bills.

*Sprinkle the cloves on top of the money.

*Wrap the whole nutmeg up in your real money. Place it in front of the candle with   your name on it.  

*Each day for 9 days burn the candle for 9 minutes. During these 9 minutes you should   concentrate on your luck with money; how you will make the right decisions concerning  money, how money will come to you through lotteries, gambling, any “lucky" money 

*On the Ninth Day, let the candles burn out completely while you concentrate on   your petition.

*On the Ninth Day, take the real money unwrapped from the nutmeg and give it to   what you consider a good cause.

*On the Ninth Day, put all the equipment used in the spell together in a safe place.

 At the end of 9 days you may discard the equipment discreetly keeping it all together.

 Burial is the preferred form of discarding.

NOTE: Keep the nutmeg in your purse, pocket, or wallet as a good luck charm.

Use the cloves in cooking when you want to feel especially lucky (for example, before going gambling).

In Service, 

Mambo Sam

DIY Lotions and Potions! by Mambo Sam

LOTIONS AND POTIONS by Mambo Sam

Below are the recipes for wearable potions. I will be adding more in the future, so check back.  Scented oils can now be purchased many places; the combinations below are to be used in  equal parts, except where indicated. Usually 1/8 to 1/4 ounce of each is used--according to  how much oil you want to make.   Store the oils in a cool, dark place. (Do not refrigerate  after it is mixed.) Sunlight weakens the strength of the oils.

Oil is often consecrated with a prayer that is appropriate to the individual's faith.

A good way to consecrate the oil for all beliefs is to cup the bottled mixture in both hands,  raise it towards the sky and repeat, "With respect to the powers of nature and the elements,  I consecrate this oil with the power of goodness."

Simple, but effective.

*Attraction Oil: Equal parts of Rose oil, Lavender oil, Vanilla oil, and Sandalwood oil.  Touch to pulse points when in the presence of the one you want to attract.

*Lucky Oil: 1/2 of the oil should be pure Olive oil, 1/4 part Myrrh oil, 1/4 part Jasmine oil. Anoint feet before putting on shoes you will wear in a situation where you want to feel lucky.

*Power Oil: Equal parts of Patchouli oil, Cinnamon oil, and Vanilla oil.

Touch to pulse points (especially at wrists and temples) prior to going into a situation you  need to have power over.

*Protection Oil: Equal parts of Hyacinth oil, Jasmine oil, Orange oil, Musk oil, and Anise oil.  Touch the oil around the area that needs protection (such as your home) or on yourself.  (It is said that touching this oil to the bottom of your feet allows you to run away from evil.)

In Service,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

http://www.spellmaker.com/potions.htm

Healing with the Lwa

 

 

Papa Legba Ritual!

Papa Legba Online Ritual 

Join us for our online ritual to Honor Papa Legba!    Prayers and petitions to Papa Legba and a special presentation by Mambo Sam.  

Just click here to join at the designated time on 06/30/2019.  (2:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Central, 12:00 noon Mountain, 11:00 AM Pacific)

Please note the time differences so that you won't be disappointed!

This ritual is free and completely anonymous.  

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

You can send in your petitions to be included to [email protected]

Ayibobo, Papa!

Celebrate, protest, speak up, stay quiet - but do something if you feel the world needs to change!

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile since I blogged and figured now is a great time to get at it again. :-)  Here we are with a new president, a new day dawning, and lots to complain about or lots to be happy about - depending upon your perspective.

Inauguration day was conflicting for me:  I refuse to lose friends over politics.  I also refuse to allow things that I personally think are wrong to be swept under the rug.  We all have opinions, that is for sure. One thing I can promise you, having been on this earth for quite awhile now, gloating and being gleefully ugly because your side won OR wringing your hands and crying out with the vapors because your side lost, won't accomplish anything.

With the assistance of my loving family, Matt, Brandon, and Bridget, we decided to spend inauguration day supporting causes that were important to us.  You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your little part of it.  How you do that is totally up to you.  We may not agree on what changes needs to be made; we may not agree on how changes need to be made. That's okay - I'm going to love you anyway! But, if you are unhappy with the way things are, do your best to do your part to effect the changes you want to see!  Arguing, fighting, name-calling... all useless.  Go for the positive changes where you can! Go for action not empty words.  Anyone can write rhetoric.  Show "the other side" what you are doing, why, and how you want to make this world a better place. 

SO, inauguration day started at the Dollar Tree (of course it did, you're thinking - ah, you know me so well)!  My grandson Brandon and I shopped for items to put in hygiene packs for the homeless.  Matt, Brandon, and I put the hygiene packs together (please do note my spiffy labels!) and had such a good time together.  We often take the simple things for granted - when I reach for toothpaste, it is generally there unless I forgot to get it at the store.  Lady needs?  Yep, got those, too.  Toothbrush?  Check.  But for so many people living on the streets, these things are luxuries.  As we put the kits together, we enjoyed doing it, but it also reminded us of how lucky we are.  I am grateful for the time spent with family doing this and ever so grateful for my almost-middle-class life.   Then, the lovely Bridget and I delivered the packets to one of our local homeless shelters, Joy Junction.  There are other wonderful shelters here in New Mexico and we hope, over the coming months, to get to all of them!

Bridget's and my next stop was sort of Planned Parenthood and sort of Domino's Pizza!  What do Planned Parenthood and Domino's have in common you ask?  Well, nothing, I suppose. We knew we wanted to do something for Planned Parenthood, we just weren't sure what that might be. By the way,  no matter what your beliefs are about abortion - about 90% of what Planned Parenthood does has nothing at all to do with abortions.  Taking away funding from them is taking away reproductive health care for women who have no other options.  (By the way, Federal funding for abortions at Planned Parenthood hasn't been a "thing" since the 1970's, so not sure why every one is up in the air about that - look stuff up, people, before you go flying off the handle. None of those precious "tax dollars" everyone keeps ballyhooing about goes to abortions.)

Anyway, considering the current climate where Planned Parenthood is concerned and the fact that there would be patients in there, we decided to pull into the Domino's down the street from the PP office and call them.  Now, that was was interesting conversation:  "Hello, Planned Parenthood, how may I help you?"  "Hi, my name is Samantha Corfield, we would like to do something nice for your office today, you know, it being inauguration day and all...."  "Really, is this a joke?"  "No, not at all.  My friend and I are down the street at Domino's and would like to send pizza to your office, would that be okay?"  "Um (little giggle) I think so, let me talk to my manager. Are you sure this isn't a joke?"  "Not a joke, I promise." Manager comes on phone:  "Hi, how may I help you."  I repeat the same thing about pizza and tell her that we didn't want to just roll up on them, all things considered, and patient confidentiality.  She says, "I have been working for Planned Parenthood for 10 years and no one has ever done anything like this.  It's so nice of you.  But you don't have to, we appreciate just the gesture."  Me, "How many people in your office and what kind of pizza do you like?"  "Pepperoni and green chile."   We chatted for a couple of more minutes and then Bridget and I went in to the Domino's and ordered pizza to be delivered.  In speaking with these ladies on the phone, feeling their excitement over someone sending them pizza, it made me both sad and glad and made me wonder what kind of fear and abuse they go through working there.  All I know is Bridget and I loved doing it!

The next stop we were planning was the Gay Pride office here in Albuquerque.  But along the way, we came across this homeless man and just had to give him a Starbucks gift card.  Let me just say, a Starbucks gift card must not be the usual thing handed out of a car window.  Rarely have I seen anyone that excited.  "Is this real? Is it for Starbucks? Starbucks??" Bridget is quite tickled with that reaction and hands him another one as we drive off.  That was one excited man! Let me just say, none of this was a ton of money. You can bring a lot of joy into peoples' lives just by showing them you care; the smallest gift can make a huge impact on someone's day, week, or even life.  I see you. That is what people want to know.  That is what they want to hear.  I see you.

Next stop was the Albuquerque Gay Pride office.  We had planned to go in and ask them if we could buy them dinner or cupcakes or Starbucks(!), something... but no one was manning the office that day.  Darn it.  But we decided to be stealthy and Bridget whipped out more Starbucks gift cards and we wrote notes on them and put the cards through the mail chute. We just wanted to let them know that we are here, we support them, and we will be here to help them keep their rights should anyone try to take them away.  

 

Next month we will do more!  We will be visiting the ACLU office, the NAACP office, a shelter for at risk LGBTQ homeless teens, a women's shelter for victims of domestic violence, and more!  We will continue to do things, even if they are small things, for the causes that are important to us.  We aren't sharing this with you to get a pat on the back.  What we are hoping is that you, too, will see that you can get out there and be the change.  If you don't have money to do things, almost all places that are helping others need volunteers.  If you can't volunteer in person, ask if you can make phone calls for them from home.  Call and ask what you can do.  Almost everyone can do something.

If you feel that the causes important to you are at risk, do what you can in your little part of the world.  I solemnly swear to you that this is what will make a difference.  Have no illusions:  Certain ways of life are under attack.  If it is important to you, get out there in the trenches. Fighting and schooling people on Facebook isn't going to do a damned thing; you aren't going to change their minds.  They can't see you. Go out into the world and be the change. 

I would also like to say a little side note here about politics, politicians, and making an impact.  I worked with politicians for many years.  A lot of change starts locally.... within your City Council. Don't forget to get to know your district's councilperson, representative, etc.  They are your neighbors!  They have a vested interest in your corner of the world.  I'll give you an insider hint:  Don't start out telling them what you don't want; tell them what you DO want. They get hundreds of people telling them what they don't want - it is refreshing for them to have someone come in or write to them and tell them what they want from a positive point of view.  Do your homework.  Have an idea how to make what you want happen! They are often the first rung on a very tall ladder, but they are also the foundation of politics. Don't overlook them as a way to let your needs be known.  They are also very good at making introductions up the ladder, too.  Give it a try!  

In closing, I would like to say thank you to all who have been passionate about this election, and were able to do so in a caring, intelligent, and thoughtful manner.  You are rare.  You are good. 

Love and peace to all,

Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com 

 

Potioning!

Hello everyone!

Potioning!  Is that a word?  It really isn't, but I was working on potions and it made me think of our dearly departed Khouzhan Orleanna!  Older customers will remember her for sure - she was the original caseworker, my dear friend, and just an all around crackerjack!

She loved ALL Miss Fannie Belle's Potions!  She kept all of them around and like a current hot sauce commercial says she, "put that sh*t on everything!" ;-)

Seriously, besides all the regular uses of the potions, she used it as her cologne, as her bath oil, as her skin softener (she mixed some potion in with baby oil and used it for her skin), and everything else she could think of.  Depending on what she was feeling like she needed that day, love, luck, money, etc., she used some potion every single day!  Some days two or three different ones depending on what was going on.  She called it "potioning."

I can't ever work on potions without thinking of my dearly departed friend and how she remains with us here at Spellmaker through her wit, friendship, love, and customers.  I loved how she used our products and was so creative in her usages. 

So next time you are using one of our potions (or other products) remember to get creative. You, too, can be potioning!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

The Amazing and Fabulous LaSirene and Agwe!

Oh this is a good one!  Well, of course all of our free rituals are amazing... but this power couple of the sea is always a fan favorite! :-)

Our next free online ritual will be honoring Capitaine Agwe and LaSirene -  the king and queen of the ocean! Husband and wife, they rule the seas from their majestic underwater kingdom. With all the wealth of the ocean, they can help in financial matters. With a love as enduring and timeless as the seas, they can help in love situations. As a Voodoo couple, they can bring their power to a very wide variety of situations!

Join us on Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 PM Eastern (1 PM Central, 12 PM Mountain, 11 AM Pacific) in honoring and petitioning LaSirene and Capitaine Agwe!

Anyone and everyone can join or participate completely anonymously in our online rituals. The rituals are done in real time, live online. You remain nameless and faceless and just enjoy the ritual in the comfort of your own home! Spellmaker offers these rituals free online via a webcam - you will not be seen, but you can see the ritual as it is happening.

Get more information on how to participate here:  http://www.spellmaker.com/prayer.htm

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

Why is My Case SO Different?

Hello, everyone!

So, why IS your case so different?  I get asked this question every now and again! Usually it because the case is taking a long time, or we have had to do a combination of things, or because we, frankly, aren't seeing any results.  People read testimonials of other clients and wonder why they aren't seeing those kinds of results for themselves!

A very dear and sweet client has just recently asked me the very same thing!  Why, out of thousands of cases over the last 20 years of Spellmaker, is hers so different that we aren't really seeing any results?

My first answer to that is often, "...yet."  :-)  One of the first answers is time - as much as I would love to force everyone to immediately respond to my spell work, I know why that is a very bad idea.  Hollywood will explain to you why forcing spell work is a bad idea.  Of course, they will give you a highly-dramatized reason as to why, but you get the idea.  Forcing with spell work=nothing good for you!  So sometimes the answer is just time... it isn't that you aren't going to see results, we just haven't seen them yet.

Second, and this is a hard one, I see more and more that people are dealing with various mental and emotional disorders.  This is very different than about 12 years ago; I am not sure why.  But, I see it a lot more now than I did in the past.  Is it diet? Food? Vitamin deficiencies?  Chemicals? Media stimuli? Pollution?  Heck if I know, but know I see many, many more people who are being worked on with spell work coming up with various disorders.  Sometimes my client is able to tell me that, yes, they know the person has something and is being treated.  But a lot of times they don't know.  Long story short:  It is sometimes difficult to get spell work results with someone who is dealing with a psychological disorder of some kind.  Now, I am saying difficult, NOT impossible.  It is just that I am finding more and more that it makes it a much longer and difficult haul!  However, the rewards of getting success in these cases are immense!  Often it means that we have done healing work that focused on the person getting the help they needed and that is exactly what happened!  Once the proper help was in place, voilà, we saw our results!

I think this second one is one of the most difficult ones simply because there is such a process between feeling like someone doesn't love you and realizing that it is more that they have a disorder. It is hard for us to process that information objectively because we are feeling hurt, abandoned, and, often, angry.  Then, I will come along and tell you to "play nice" because spell work is in play!  I know!  Frustrating!  But, rest assured, even though sometimes it takes a lot of hard work and time, we do get results despite peoples' disorders. Not always!  But, yes, sometime we do!

Third, your case is complicated by multiple people, places, and things!  I find this is a rather new development as well.  I feel that as we are more and more bombarded with media, stimuli, opinions, Fox News(!), and such, the harder it is to get someone to focus on us the way we want them to!  This is a 21st century challenge to spell work!  And, again, I feel like it slows spell work results down to a crawl sometimes!  We are jumping up and down with candles and incense screaming, "Hey, look over here... someone loves you!"  This rather new challenge to spell work also adds another layer to why your case is so different, though it is becoming more the norm than a case being different!

Fourth, and as always, there is the sad truth that sometimes things just don't work out.  It isn't your fault.  It isn't our fault.  It isn't, in fact, anyone's "fault."  There are times in life when so-called failures are our destiny.  Even with our best efforts and yours, failure IS an option.  Believe me, I am all about positive thinking and believing in one's self and efforts.  But the cold hard truth is failure is always an option.  But in those cases, I often do not see it as failure.  We learned something along the way.  We grew. We became friends.  We walk away knowing that we tried our very best. Those are the things no one can take away from us.  While that may seem like hollow comfort, believe me, when you look back, even if we supposedly "failed" you will see that the path of good spell work always has a reward. 

Still despite the idea of failure, we still have about an 87-90% success rate!  And that's an honest assessment (not one of those stupid, " we have 100% success rate" deals - believe me, no one has a 100% success rate!).  

If you are in the category of waiting for results and feeling disheartened,  I would be willing to bet that unless you are in a very small percentage of folks, you just haven't seen your results....yet!

Love, peace, and joy,

Mambo Sam

www.spellmaker.com

Once in a Blue Moon!

Hello everyone,

I am sure that most of you have seen that tonight we are having a blue moon! :-)  While there are some variations on the definition of a blue moon, this one is categorized as such due to the fact that it is the second full moon in the same month. 

So what does this mean for us magickally?  According to moon magick beliefs, this is a great time to decide on setting new goals.  This is a time of creativity and starting new projects.  If you have going through something and want to have a fresh start, tonight is great time to put some energy towards that thought process.

Light yourself a nice candle, put on some mood music, and write in your journal about any new projects that you would like to plan. Put some energy towards the idea that you are wanting a clean start on an old problem. Set goals for upcoming events and projects.  This is an awesome time to thing magickally, creatively, and with thoughts of letting go of past failures and looking forward to new successes.

This is also a good time to charge up ritual objects that you might have - put them out in the moonlight! 

If the weather holds out, charge yourself out in the moonlight, too!  Visualize the enriching rays filling you with promises of success, letting go of past failures, and sticking to new goals.

Since we won't get another blue moon of this type until January 31, 2018, I think I will make some blue moon oil!  It's pretty easy! 

What you need:  1 lodestone, 1 piece of iron pyrite, some blue violet leaves and whatever carrier oil you prefer.  Throw them into a mason jar, shake them up, and leave them out in the moonlight overnight. Voila! Blue moon oil charged up under the light of the blue moon.  This is an oil that can be used to consecrate objects, work with new projects, goal setting, creativity, etc.

Have fun!

Best regards,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

Free Classes Going Great!

Hello everyone!

It probably comes as no surprise to many of you that I love to teach!  At one point in time, I actually thought that my career would be that of a professor.  Life took me in a different direction, but I have had my chance at teaching many times in my life:  I have taught drama, karate, English, writing, acting, and, of course, Vodou/voodoo and other magickal subjects. 

We have recently started up our public classes again here at www.spellmaker.com!  I am happy to be back in the teaching saddle again.  :-)  We have started out with a series of classes on getting to know and live with the Vodou spirits, the lwa, les lois, or the loa!  Class has been fun and rewarding.  It's always great to get to meet and teach both new and old friends!

As we move along, we will be teaching many different metaphysical and occult subjects.  While Vodou/voodoo is our main focus most of the time, we will also teach witchcraft, hoodoo, root work, and other things as we continue on.

These particular classes are completely free - all are welcome!  As we move along, many subjects will be covered.  We would love for you to join us.   Our format is different than it used to be. We used to be in a typing-only chat room.  We did have fun!  Now we have a fancy Adobe-based classroom where you can actually see me, but you remain anonymous (unless you choose otherwise).  Also, the classes are recorded in case you miss a class and don't want to be behind on the next class.  I am including a link here to the very first recorded class of this series so that you can get an idea of the class structure.

If you desire to see the class, just click here to go to the recording.

We do ask that you register for class if you desire to attend.  Registration is simple, free, and no one is going to use your information to try to sell you anything! 

If you desire to register for class, just click here to register.

I do hope that you will join us!  We have fun and you are welcome to participate as little or as much as you desire.

Love to all,
Mambo Samantha Corfield
www.spellmaker.com

 

 

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

 

Ancestor Candle Making!

Hello dear readers!

As most of you probably already know, we have begun making ancestor candles and offering them in our Etsy shop!  Parran Matt is hand making these candles and we are consecrating them in the names you provide for ancestor service. Each and every candle is handmade, hand poured, specifically for the person who orders it.   Even though we always think of the ancestors at this time of year, we certainly will be offering this candle year round, as anytime is a good time to work with and honor your ancestors.  

The making of these candles has been such a fulfilling experience!  We ask each person to send in names of their ancestors when they order the candle.  Then using an "ashes to ashes" type of mindset, we burn those names and offer up a prayer of honor to your ancestors.

 

After the ashes are burned and the proper prayers have been said, the ashes are then added to the candle wax of your candle.

 

Your candle is then poured into the skull mold and allowed to cool and then get ready for shipping to you along with incense, a little bottle of Fet Ghede potion, and instructions on how to use your candle for ancestor service.

If you don't know WHY you are serving your ancestors, let me just say that you must thank them for life itself... without them, there is NO YOU!  If you are going through tough times, feel lost, have problems you cannot find the solution to,  call upon your ancestors.  If you are doing well, prospering, and living a happy life, then thank your ancestors!  

Ancestor service is certainly not unique to the Vodou life; many, many cultures and religions offer honor and service to their ancestors.  All Souls' Day, Dia de los Muertos, and many other celebrations all offer honor to our ancestors. However, as Vodouisants, we believe that not just one day is for ancestor service, but rather we always want to keep our ancestors in mind.  Our hierarchy is:  God, ancestors, the lwa.   So your ancestors are considered even more important than the lwa themselves; if you call upon the lwa, you should also be honoring your ancestors! :-)

Your ancestors know you; they can protect you, guide you, and walk with you.  All you need to do is call on them and offer them the respect that they so richly deserve. This particular candle is one way to do just that! 

If you need it by Fet Ghede (November 2, 2014), then please order by 10/24/2014.  However, the candle can be used anytime!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/207245046/maman-brigittes-ancestor-memorial-candle

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

 

 

 

The Making of a New Oil - Holy Spirit Psalm Oil

Hello everyone,

Hope your summer is going great so far!  People often asks how we do things... oil making is definitely one of those things that people ask about. I thought using our new Holy Spirit Psalm Oil as an example would be a good way to explain how we do it. We have this oil available both on the website and in our Etsy shop.

First, new products are added as we see a need for them.  Nothing we sell at www.spellmaker.com is arbitrary. Nearly every product has been created because a number of people asked for it.  Obviously, since 1995 there has been a lot of asking.

There is a lot of interest in the Psalms of the Bible both for religious and magickal reasons.  The idea was born to make an oil that could be used both ways; it is appropriate for religious practices and also for magickal practices.  All of the nine ingredients in the oil are mentioned somewhere in the Bible.  This includes things like mustard seed, rose, olive oil, etc.  

Second, with all of our oils, there is a "mother."  The mother is the first batch of the oil with all of its herbs, stones, resins, etc.  Usually this is made in a glass jar of some kind.  Every Spellmaker oil that you have used had a mother.  Naturally, over the almost 20 years, the mother has been absorbed into most of the oils but we continue to use the same containers and keep the essence of the oil alive over the years.

With the Holy Spirit Psalm oil, we started out with our dry ingredients not mixed with the wet ingredients.  Everthing was consecrated and dedicated separately and left to absorb the consecration energy for three days.  On the third day, the ingredients were mixed and two jars of mother oil were made.  These were then left for 7 days to steep and create their own spectacular energy.  The oil turned out to be amazing!!

This oil is great for praying with the Psalms in a religious way and in a magickal way (and we provide you with a PDF of the Book of Psalms and also a PDF of how to use the oil in candle burning as well as with certain affirmations that go with certain Psalms).  It is also perfect for protection, blessing, anointing... just about anything, really, for which you would want to use a good all-purpose oil.  

If you have a problem with things of a "Christian" nature, then all I can say is don't use it!  But remember, the Psalms, historically speaking, predate the birth of Jesus.  In fact, many theologists, including yours truly, see some of it as a prediction of the birth of Jesus.  But that is a discussion for another day, I suppose.  

Magickal usage of the Psalms has been around for more years than any of us really know. Particular Psalms are prayed for particular things.  Many books have been written about the magickal usages of the Psalms! If you look at the page referenced above where the Psalm oil is listed on our website, and take a look at the document about Candle Burning and Affirmations, you will get the idea how the Psalms are used in magickal practices.  (It's free to download the documents.)

Anyway, hope this gives you an idea of how we have always made our oils!

Love, light, and peace,

Mambo Samantha Corfield

www.spellmaker.com

Ingredients!

 

 

The Mothers

BELTANE! A Time for Renewal.

Hello, everyone!

Happy May to all. Spring often brings about a sense of renewal in us.  The trees, birds, and earth itself seem to be coming out of their long winter's sleep.

One of the rituals performed on May 1 is burning a fire for Beltane.  Of course, this is also considered "May Day" and is known by other names as well.  It is a ritual stemming from Old Gaelic tradition and is celebrated by many Wiccans, Pagans, and other spiritual groups.  It is about renewal, protection, fertility,asking for abundance in crops, safety for our children and animals, etc.  It is a fun holiday and can be simple, as ours was, or can be much more elaborate (next year, we hope!). In my opinion, you don't have to be any particular religion to benefit from this cleansing and protecting ritual!

Parran Matt and I did the ritual part as the High Priest and Priestess and Sister Bridget was the May Queen.  It was simple but powerful with a ritual fire for Beltane.  We said our parts and walked around the smoke of the fire to ask for protection and prosperity for ourselves and all those we know and love.

I had mentioned that if people saved their ashes, I would tell them how to use them and here I am to do that!

There are several ways to use these ashes.  After reading the list, you might think of some creative ways of your own.  I would love to hear them!

1.   They are used are for protection.  Putting the ashes around the ground of your home.  It just takes a little bit.  Sometimes they are used on one's body - just rubbing a little bit around your heart area if you are going into a dangerous or scary situation is said to help protect you. It can also be put around areas where you keep animals.

2.  The ashes are used to encourage growth.  People scatter them in the garden, potted plants, yards, and fields, anywhere that you want to encourage growth.  This growth can also be in the form of luck, having enough food, providing for your family, etc.

3.  They can also be used to encourage spiritual growth.  A little bit can be put in a bath or even mixed in with some kind of oil and anoint yourself with the oil and ashes.  If you are a Vodouisant, or like to use Spellmaker oils, you can definitely mix a few of these ashes in any of our oils that would be used to encourage growth of any kind.

4.  If your fire was big enough that it left you coals, you can use those coals in magickal writings, veves, wards, drawings of magickal symbols, etc. Commonly, the coals used for writing would be used for petitions in love, life, luck, abundance... rarely is the word "money" used at this time.  Mostly it is "abundance, plenitude, bounty" or some similar word. 

5.  Some people like to save a coal and put in a little bag and use it as a protection charm year round, returning it to the Beltane fire the next year.  Then they get another coal from the new fire, and so forth and so on.

6.  It isn't uncommon to even mix a little bit of the ash into a big glass of water and drink it.  This is said to encourage protection from hexes, enemies, and illness.  At one time, these ashes were used as medicine, put into wounds, etc.  They are said to aid in fertility.  Please use common sense if you are going to imbibe the ashes.

7.  What are your ideas?  If you bear in mind that these ashes are meant to cleanse, protect, and represent renewal, you might find some very creative ways to use them yourself!

So there are some ways to use your ashes!  I also wanted to mention that one should not mix up this tradition with the Catholic tradition of getting ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday.  That is about repentance and humilty.  Actually, there are lots of ways that different ashes are used in spiritual rituals - might expand on this topic later!

Peace out, kiddos,

Mambo Samantha Corfield, www.spellmaker.com

P.S.  Look for our mighty stag in the pictures!  You can barely see him! LOL

 

 

Why do we need spiritual protection?

Hello everyone!

Very often people will ask me about protection charms, spells, oils, rituals, etc.  We have many things to use for protection at www.spellmaker.com! 

However, sometimes when I ask them do they mean physical or spiritual protection they ask me, "Do I need spiritual protection?"  YES!  We all do.  Sometimes I think we need it now more than we have ever in the past.  The world is a changing place, and right now, I am not sure that it is changing for the better. (Might have to have a whole post just on that!)

Spiritual protection is something we can all benefit from!  Mean people, negative people, negative energies, evil spirits (though that is the least of it usually, mostly it is humans we need protection from, even ourselves!), self-imposed negativity, lack of confidence, low self worth... all of these types of things harm us.  Spiritual protection can help us battle those things! 

One of the items we use is a spiritual protection charm.  It is consecrated on the points of the great power couple lwa, LaSiren and Agwe. 

Every so often, we change out the designs of the charms - truthfully, the design of the charm is inconsequential, though we always want them to look nice! The power in the charm is what we do to it here to make it work for you AND what you do to it when you get it to make it powerful.  Our team efforts, yours and ours, is amazing! :) 

Anyway, we recently changed out the design of our spiritual protection charm - it is a beautiful stainless steel mermaid! I don't know how long this design will last - we use a small manufacturer who doesn't always have the same designs.  But we enjoy the personal attention from them and love to support small business!

Spiritual protection is important... it can be complicated or it can be simple.  Sometimes that depends on your circumstance and how much negativity you are encountering. 

The Spiritual Protection Charm is simple, beautiful, and a great place to start with spiritual protection!

 (Please note that the picture on the website might not have been updated yet, but it is the mermaid shown below, while supplies last!)

Best to all,

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

Punching the alien.

Happy Monday, everyone!

 I hope that each and every one of you had a great weekend.  :-)  Okay so besides the obvious humor of the picture above, it really did get me thinking a lot about how some of my clients approach their spell work.  Nice folks have a tendency to do "nice" spell work - I never see them punch the alien in the face! Unfortunately, that doesn't always get the best result.  Sometimes the alien needs a punch in the face. Now of course I am speaking metaphorically, but all the time I get Heart's Desire letters that are so sweetly and nicely written but I don't feel the fire, the passion, the real HEART'S DESIRE.  In other words, sometimes I think your petitions are written just too politely.

Now that is not to say that a politely, nicely-written petition won't work, but every once in awhile, if your case is a difficult one, you might need to punch the alien in the face!  Get stronger in your wording, don't be afraid to shout from the spiritual rooftops what you want, how you want it, and when you want it.

Polite always has a place in this world.  However, sometimes, you need to be stronger, get grittier, and down and dirty and tell us how you really feel. ;-)

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

2013 CYBERMONDAY SALE IS ON!

CYBER MONDAY SALE! 25% off all eligible items (which is nearly everything!) and for returning customers (and you know who you are!) 35% off your special page!

Order now! This sale lasts only one day! The sale includes readings with myself! So stock up and save!

www.spellmaker.com

Love

Mambo Sam

The Poor, Misunderstood 7-Knob Candle!

Greetings everyone! I hope your week is going great!

A very traditional magickal candle is the 7-knob candle. This candle, in one form or another, has been around for maybe thousands of years! I once saw a documentary about the Egyptian pyramids (well I have seen probably thousands of those LOL), and they found remnants of a "knobby" candle in a burial chamber!

However, I do find that many people get confused on exactly how to use a 7-knob candle and wonder exactly what you can accomplish with it! ;-)

Now, technically, this candle is called a "7-knob Wishing Candle" and traditionally has been used to make 7 different wishes towards the same situation. You make the wish, burn that knob. When that knob burns down, you can then make a different wish (or perhaps even the same wish again).

You can also use this candle to work on different aspects of a situation. For instance, let's say that you are doing love spell work and you have a somewhat complicated situation. You could use the 7-knob candle, using each knob of the candle to ask for relief or change in one part of the situation. Let's say you have an intruder to deal with, fear of commitment, the HD has financial problems, his children don't like you, he works too many long hours, etc., etc. Maybe these aren't all huge problems. Maybe some of them are just annoyances. However, you could use, for instance, a red 7-knob candle for a love situation (or even a trio of them if you have a lot of issues within your relationship) and petition for change for a different thing on each knob. Also, as I mentioned above, you could repeat petitions within the same candle, say, doing three knobs on him stopping him from spending time with the intruder, two knobs to make him feel more attracted to you, one knob petitioning for his children to like you, and one knob just to ask for peace in your relationship with him. :-)

Obviously these candles are not going to replace regular spell work, however, whether you have petty annoyances in your relationship or even more serious complications, these candles can help you in a lot of different ways!

The same goes for other situations such as financial ones: You could use one knob to petition for a raise at work, one knob to help you budget better, and so forth and so on!

So if you are looking at a situation in your life and thinking, "Gee, there are a lot of issues here" - you might be in the market for a 7-knob or two!

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

Stop the Nit-Picking! ;-)

Happy Friday, everyone!
It is no surprise to our seasoned clients here at Spellmaker that we are major proponents of recommending that people take as many "real-world" measures as they can to repair their relationships as they do "magickal-world" measures. :-)

So many times clients will tell us that they are fighting all the time with their intended, or they don't see eye-to-eye, or they are conflicts in their relationship that they just don't seem to be able to resolve. I really liked this particular article that I am linking you to because while it technically has to do with tips for a good marriage, I could easily see how this article could be applied in part to a relationship you want to have or even to a non-romantic relationship.

A lot of articles and so-called relationship gurus seem to think that everyone has been born with some semblance of knowledge of how to sustain a relationship. From what Parran Matt and I see everyday, that just isn't so. Some people need to start from square one and rethink how they approach relationships. I see people making the same mistakes over and over again with little insight into their own role in making a happy relationship.

No one article is going to solve someone's relationship problems, but education about what makes a happy relationship can help you in both the real world and the magickal world. ;-) It can help you to know what you want and how to keep it when you get it!

Feel free to comment on the article!

WebMd Guide Article - click here!

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

Love and Anger revisited.

Hello!

As I find myself busy with thoughts of the holidays, I somehow keep coming back upon this article I wrote a couple years back. That means someone, out there right now needs to see this! So, as I am off to peel some potatoes,  I offer you this read :-)

Love

Mambo

 

Are You in Love and Angry?

Greetings everyone!  As you all know, of course, working with clients who are doing our love spells gives me a great opportunity to be privileged enough to see the inner workings of many, many relationships. One thing that I see a LOT of are people who are actually very angry with the person upon whom they are doing love spell work!!  :-)

Now believe me I am not saying that their anger is unwarranted!  Quite often they have been dumped in a very unceremonious way, getting hurt, remaining hurt, feeling no resolution for their hurt.  Of course they are angry!  Many times they are in contact with this person and still get hurt by them and thus the anger grows.  But here they are trying to do love spell work which by its very nature requires that you approach it from a standpoint of unconditional and pure love!   How on earth does one resolve that?

Many people have chosen to do white candle magick kits and the Milk of Damballah(tm) white bath to help them release and remove the anger so that they may continue on with their love spell work feeling cleansed of that anger.  But what about that underlying, I-have-tried-and-I-just-can't-get-rid-of-this anger? You probably know and feel deep down inside that the anger your are feeling towards the person you are doing love spell work on is somehow degrading that very work!  In fact, sometimes it gets so bad in people that they get on an endless cycle of being angry with their HD (Heart's Desire) and then being angry with themselves for being angry with their HD and then being angry that they are angry! 

Sometimes this can just go on and on especially if they are in contact with the HD who continues to needle them with either a new relationship, or continued criticism, or other negative behaviors.  Just because you love them doesn't mean you are not affected by their negative behaviors!  Your resentment of these behaviors can have a definite negative effect on your love spell work!

If you feel you are in this situation then I do encourage you to acknowledge what is happening and then take as many measures as necessary to help alleviate as much of the anger as you can.  Look, we are human, and most of us are not Mother Teresa, so you can only do the best you can!  The abovementioned white candle magick and Milk of Damballah white bath are definitely the standard tools for removing negativity and certainly do work for quite a number of people.  The Pink Bubble Meditation is helpful to use to release that anger and send it away from you!

Another choice is doing the Baron's Purple Bath. One of the many uses of the Baron's Purple Bath is to take negative things away and bury them!  Along with that, you can ask that your own love for this person be resurrected to its full feeling once that anger is taken and buried away. In this way, you will again have the FULL POWER of your love to put into your spell work.  Remember, the great and powerful Baron Samedi is not just the lwa of death, but of life - burying and resurrecting are his forte'.  Asking him to bury your anger, hurt, and resentment and replace them with fresh and invigorated love, forgiveness, and positivity is sure to not only make you feel better, but to strengthen the power of your love spell work!

Love, Mambo Sam

 

A Thankful Time.

Hello Dear Ones,

I would like to take a moment this morning, before we each get caught up in holiday prep chaos,  to say how thankful I am for all of my wonderful friends who make my days a true joy!  I am grateful for each and every one of you! Please enjoy your holiday, and your time with friends and loved ones.  Take time to savor the small things about the big holiday. Those are the things great memories are made of.

Much Love,

Mambo Sam

The Thanksgivings

  by Harriet Maxwell Converse
Translated from a traditional Iroquois prayer

We who are here present thank the Great Spirit that we are here

          to praise Him.

We thank Him that He has created men and women, and ordered

          that these beings shall always be living to multiply the earth.

We thank Him for making the earth and giving these beings its products

          to live on.

We thank Him for the water that comes out of the earth and runs

          for our lands.

We thank Him for all the animals on the earth.

We thank Him for certain timbers that grow and have fluids coming

          from them for us all.

We thank Him for the branches of the trees that grow shadows

          for our shelter.

We thank Him for the beings that come from the west, the thunder

          and lightning that water the earth.

We thank Him for the light which we call our oldest brother, the sun

          that works for our good.

We thank Him for all the fruits that grow on the trees and vines.

We thank Him for his goodness in making the forests, and thank

          all its trees.

We thank Him for the darkness that gives us rest, and for the kind Being

          of the darkness that gives us light, the moon.

We thank Him for the bright spots in the skies that give us signs,

          the stars.

We give Him thanks for our supporters, who had charge of our harvests.

We give thanks that the voice of the Great Spirit can still be heard

          through the words of Ga-ne-o-di-o.

We thank the Great Spirit that we have the privilege of this pleasant

          occasion.

We give thanks for the persons who can sing the Great Spirit's music,

          and hope they will be privileged to continue in his faith.

We thank the Great Spirit for all the persons who perform the ceremonies

          on this occasion.

 

 

Take a Break

We are always so serious when we petition Papa Legba. We ask him to 'open the path', 'help me communicate with...', etc.  Why not take just one session with Papa and ask him to bring you some roll-around-on-the-floor, knee-slapping, laugh-until-you-can't-breathe FUN?  What a great stress reliever that is!

Love and Light - and Fun,

Khouzhan Echo

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.

Staying the Course.

Greetings everyone!  Recently I was talking to a long-term client of mine who felt like she was confused about her goal in spell work.  She has been working a long time towards a particular goal and while the goal has often seemed in reach, and there has been good progress in her case, she just hasn't quite achieved full results.  She noticed that she recently has become confused about what her true goal is in doing her spell work.

We talked for awhile about "way back when" when she first came to me and what she wanted then.  It was interesting to see how that goal has shifted and evolved over the years.  However, when we talked about it, even though there are some differences now in the goal, the core goal remains the same. It struck me as really important that she stay the course on her core goal even with the realization that even though there are differences in the goal, the main purpose of the work remains the same.

This isn't the first time that someone has come to me who seems to have lost sight of why they started working magickally in the first place!  Sometimes the work itself takes on a life of itself and we can mistake the work for the goal! :-)

My recommendation to her was to use a Cosmic Voodoo Destiny Egg in order to help her remember and get back on track with her goal.  Also, if the goal has truly drastically changed, working with this Egg kit will also help with knowing and understanding that.  There is nothing wrong with a goal changing, growing, evolving over time; the only danger lies in not recognizing that change for what it is! Using the Egg to ask for guidance as to "where am I going next" or "where should I be doing next" and listening to that guidance is a really great tool!

She has reported back to me that after even the very first session she felt re-focused and re-energized on her goal.  She has re-worked her path to her goal in such a way that everything now seems more realistic and true to her.  :-)  Now she no longer feels like she is working towards some nebulous goal that is no longer germane to today's life!   She realized that while the circumstances around her goal have changed, the actual goal has not.  Now she is able to work on those circumstance to uncloud her goal and make it a clear reach for her again!

Like I said, she certainly isn't the first person to lose sight of her original goal so I thought it would be good to share with you how she used the Destiny Egg to help her out of her own magickal woods!

Love, light, and peace,
Mambo Samantha Corfield

 www.spellmaker.com