spellmakernovitiates

Getting Started

Sometimes it's hard to get started, to take that first step. Some people find it helps to visualize something first. Spellwork petitions can work that way, too, to describe how things will be when you have obtained your goal!

The first step might be a spiritual one, and many Spellmaker products can help with that. Say what you want out loud; tell the Lwa the results you desire. Once you have your spirit moving in the right direction, you will know what to do for the next steps.

Love, Khouzhan Lucy

www.Spellmaker.com

Beautiful Maman

I came across this in a spanish magazine that gets mailed here for some reason - she's so beautiful and I immediately thought of Maman Brigitte (who else right?).    Love and Light, Khouzhan Echo

No title needed

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I found this pictures, and I think us ladies can certainly relate..spellwork or not
Love and Light,

Khouzhan Delilah

Too Much Fear

Many of us know what it's like to be driven by fear to some extent. Fear of not getting ahead in a career, fear of failing in a relationship or endeavor, or most anything. When it comes to spellwork and serving the lwa, it is important to always be respectful and follow regleman, the way things should be done. However, constant fear of "doing something wrong" or accidently offending the lwa is not helpful- it can hold us back. 

In spellwork, our ability to summon the strength of our will is crucial. It is also important to understand that the lwa are understanding of what it means to be human. For example, I have been in a situation where I have to conserve my voice. While I would love to belt out songs for the lwa, I know that, while they can't read my mind, they are understanding of the situation. So don't let fear hold you back. While we should never be flippant, having fun with our ancestors and the lwa is what it is all about! 

If there is too much fear in your life, General Ogoun's Crimson Power Bath Kit is excellent for overcoming fear and gaining strength. 

Love,

Brother Menfò
www.spellmaker.com

Honoring Les Lois on a Time Budget

As life gets busier and busier, many of us see our spiritual lives suffer.  I confess that I'm guilty, through little fault of my own... between working long days at a job that has begun to get out of hand, caring for an elderly parent, attending to civic duties as a member of a community task force, and rushing to complete the numerous little tasks of day-to-day life that continue to pile up as life becomes more and more complicated, I find myself struggling to carve out even small blocks of time to devote to nurturing my relationship with the spiritual world.

However, I've learned a few tricks along the way which have enabled me to hang on to my sanity and maintain my bonds with Les Lois (the Lwa) throughout the mad spinning rush of my life.  If you've found yourself in the same situation, here are a few ways to honor and connect with our powerful spirit friends when time is short and your nerves even shorter:

• While driving to or from work or running errands, use that time to have a chat with your Met Tet, if you know who he or she is.  If you don't know your Met Tet, Papa Legba is always a perfect Lwa to talk to while you're on the road.  Talk about your hopes and fears or current problems, offer thanks for help you've received, or just ask for some help "clearing the road" so that you can reach your destination safely and on time.  I keep a few CDs of Vodou music in my car, and each morning during my drive to work I greet my Met Tet and then play a few tracks for him from one of the CDs as we prepare for our day together.
• While we're on the subject of playing music during that morning or evening commute... do you enjoy singing along with the car stereo as you drive?  There are many, many songs which could be considered appropriate to one or more of the Lwa... songs from every time period and genre.  No matter what your taste in music may be, pay attention to the lyrics, tempo, and mood of the songs you listen to as you drive.  If a song calls to mind a certain Lwa, why not sing or hum along and dedicate your performance to that spirit?  Don't despair if your voice is dreadful; the Lwa don't care if your singing would embarrass a stray cat in heat -- they are just pleased you are thinking of them and honoring them!
• Offer up those household chores to the spirits.  While mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or gardening, dedicate that work to the hard-working Azacca or the great forest spirit Gran Bwa.  While planning a birthday party for your child, ask the fun-loving Papa Legba or the Divine Twins, the Marassa, to help you plan the fun -- and be sure to invite them to the party to share in the festivities!  Simply ask Papa to open the gate so you can speak to the Lwa of your choice, then say a few words dedicating your efforts to him or her.
• Speaking of dedicating work to the spirits... why not offer your job duties as well?  If you're a welder or are otherwise employed in some form of metalwork, that is the perfect kind of work to offer to Ogoun Ferraille.  If you're a doctor or pharmacist, dedicate your healing efforts to Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte, both powerful healers.  If your career involves the more natural side of medicine, such as herbology and homeopathy, or you're a botanist or biologist, Simbi Makaya, Gran Bwa, and even Azacca would appreciate your work with the plant world they know so well.  If you work in any form of communcations, our dear Papa Legba will surely be touched when you honor him by dedicating your work activities to him.  If your particular form of employment doesn't call to mind any specific spirit, take a closer look at the various individual duties involved in your job -- even just replacing the water cooler can provide you with an opportunity to give a tip of the hat to a water-loving spirit such as Damballah or Simbi Dlo!
• As you're running errands, think about how what you're doing might relate to one of the Lwa.  Take that opportunity to have a quiet chat with that spirit or even leave a simple offering.  When I change the flowers on my father's grave, I always pause by a tree in the cemetery to leave a few pennies or pour some water on the ground for Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte.
• Carry a small token appropriate to a Lwa that you feel especially close to, or of whose help you are especially in need... for example, and old key (for Papa Legba), a stone in the Lwa's favorite color, a small figurine or trinket which reminds you of that particular spirit.  When you are engaged in an activity which requires minimal concentration (such as going for a jog, browsing through a store, or waiting for an appointment), handle the object and say a few quiet words to the spirit it represents.
• Keep a nice container -- a decorative jar, box, or even a nice velveteen gift bag -- somewhere in your home, and dedicate it to your Met Tet or favorite Lwa.  In the course of your day-to-day activities, pay attention to little details around you, and when you come across something that reminds you of that spirit or what he/she means to you or has done for you, offer it to him/her and add it to the container.  This could be any little token -- a fortune cookie fortune that is especially appropriate, a small picture cut from a brochure or magazine, a trinket you found in a store, received as a gift, or obtained as a free giveaway at an event.  Whenever you feel a bit disconnected from your spirituality and need a little pick-me-up, take a few moments to look through these little offerings and have a quick talk with the Lwa to whom you've dedicated them.

As you learn more about Les Lois and develop a closer relationship with them, you'll discover more ways to honor them in your day-to-day life.  You'll find that these simple actions can provide little oases of serenity in an increasingly hectic world.  Just because you don't have time to hold a nice service very often doesn't mean you can't honor the spirits, welcome them into your life, and receive the blessings they bestow in return for your faithfulness.

Ayibobo!

Khouzhan Phoenix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asking for Guidance!!!

Every night, I thank Erzulie Freda and Papa Legba for being with me.  I ask them to protect my Spellmaker family, my biological family friends and my HD.  I ask them to let me sleep soundly with no interruptions from the other side (I am often awakened by spirits). 

Anyway, tonight I felt like I had a blog blockage.  I wanted to write something but I was drawing a blank, so I asked for guidance and there was my answer, blog about asking for guidance. 

It sounds easy and it really is.  You can ask for guidance when you need it to.  You may need guidance for very important decisions like a job offer, looking for a home, choosing medical care for you or a loved one or choosing the right love.  The LWA are very gentle with their children and want you to do the best and right thing for you, so they are always there when you need them.

There are several ways to get more defined guidance when you need it.  Milk of Damballah Bath www.spellmaker.com can help clear your mind and receive clear guidance.  Damballah symbolized by the snake, not only guides you, but will also protect you.

I have blogged about Damballah before because I speak to him while I am in traffic.  He has a very soothing effect for me and can do the same for you.  White image candle BMS, in conjunction with the Damballah bath will help to ease your worries and make wise decisions.

XOXO Khouzhan Ann

 

 

Asking for Guidance!!!

Every night, I thank Erzulie Freda and Papa Legba for being with me.  I ask them to protect my Spellmaker family, my biological family friends and my HD.  I ask them to let me sleep soundly with no interruptions from the other side (I am often awakened by spirits). 

Anyway, tonight I felt like I had a blog blockage.  I wanted to write something but I was drawing a blank, so I asked for guidance and there was my answer, blog about asking for guidance. 

It sounds easy and it really is.  You can ask for guidance when you need it to.  You may need guidance for very important decisions like a job offer, looking for a home, choosing medical care for you or a loved one or choosing the right love.  The LWA are very gentle with their children and want you to do the best and right thing for you, so they are always there when you need them.

There are several ways to get more defined guidance when you need it.  Milk of Damballah Bath www.spellmaker.com can help clear your mind and receive clear guidance.  Damballah symbolized by the snake, not only guides you, but will also protect you.

I have blogged about Damballah before because I speak to him while I am in traffic.  He has a very soothing effect for me and can do the same for you.  White image candle BMS, in conjunction with the Damballah bath will help to ease your worries and make wise decisions.

XOXO Khouzhan Ann

 

 

Courage!

You can't do anything as long as you are afraid of what might happen. Fear clouds opportunities, erases possibilities, and limits the ability to move beyond the place in which the mind is stuck. No matter how difficult we think the problem is, we must muster up the courage to face it.

Light & Love,
Khouzhan Zingara
www.spellmaker.com

Looking Good!

The Lwa are spirits that were brought to Haiti from various parts of Africa. Some names and characteristics changed so there are differences from the Orishas, but others are quite familiar.

The images above are from a series of photographs by James C. Lewis of Noire 3000 Studios. The models are beautiful, and to present such depictions of the spirits is truly a way to honor them. It's interesting, too, to see the modern human faces connected to the spirits, some of which are better known by particular Saint images or creatures such as snakes.

One of the traditions we have in Voodoo is to wear something in a color to honor a particular Lwa. Erzulie Freda is pink and light blue, Gran Bwa is green and white, and Baron Samedi is purple and black, to name a few. An accessory or piece of jewelry can remind us of a Lwa all day — Spellmaker's charms are perfect for that!

As I'm writing this, the Emmys red carpet is on, so I see many people dressed in their best, obviously with a lot of thought and effort involved. When you honor the Lwa in your dress, you are just as beautiful to them as the stars are to us, if not more.

Love, Khouzhan Lucy

www.Spellmaker.com

Sound of Silence

Thank you to everyone who honored Simbi Dlo with us on Thursday. It was a truly beautiful experience. It left me with a deep feeling of peace and tranquility. Thank you, Simbi Dlo!

The song that was sung to honor Simbi Dlo is a Haitian song (you can find it in the Three Kings Ritual). The tune I used was one that I made up to honor Simbi. You can sing your own variation to honor him, certainly any time you need to silence something in life!

Simbi Dlo
Song:
Gwo Lwa, gwo pwen-m, Simbi nan Dlo (x3),
Djab la rete bo rivaj l’ape gade, Simbi sa ou we, pinga ou pale.

(Big Lwa, my big point, Simbi in Water,
the “djab” (sometimes interpreted as evil spirit, but more as a paid Lwa —
Lwa achte’ sent to do a job, very often misinterpreted as “the devil.”)
stays besides the shores, he is watching. Simbi what you see, you don’t
speak

Colors: White (also blue and silver)
Offerings: Cucumbers, whipping cream, sour cream, rice, - white foods

Love,

Brother Menfò
www.spellmaker.com