Conjured Cardea

Novena-Make It Do What It Do

2012-02-16T20:41:00.000-05:00

A novena is a nine-day period of private or public prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or to make special petitions. Novena is derived from the Latin "novem", meaning "nine".

Why a novena and not a spell? A novena requires one to petition a specific deity, spirit or saint(s) to hear and grant your request. Novenas are a working that I will perform WITH a client. Therefore, they are doing the work as well and are also responsible for the outcome. Novenas can be considered a type of spell in themselves but have the potential to work much better in my opinion. This is a service I like to extend to my clients because of the result it can achieve. In 9 days one can change their attitude, outlook and focus therefore, replacing a bad habit with a good habit,by making better choices and changing their life.

The most important part of the novena is faith. You may not know how your request will be solved or attended to but you must believe. Just because we do not know or see the answer does not mean the answer does not exist. Many believe that novenas are the most powerful working simply because of the dedication and faith they require. In my experience I have only ever had a novena "not work" one time in 15 years.

Say each day you devote an hour to meditating/focusing/praying on a solution to your issue. By the end of the week you will have spent 9 hours focusing on your goal! That's a lot! even if you spent a half hour a day that is still much longer than most spells are attended to. It is key to pray for a solution instead of praying about the problem. This is what i call "praying to the problem" and lots of people do this. If you are praying about the problem, you will completely defeat your own efforts by placing focus on the exact thing you wish to be rid of. The spirits already know what the problem is-what they want to know is what you are going to do about it.

Most novenas begin on Sunday as this is the Sabbath and is traditional. However, if you know you will be petitioning a specific deity or saint, use their day to begin on. I recommend collecting 9 separate taper of votive candles plus any screen printed or labeled novena jar candles that are appropriate in meaning as these burn for 120 hours and will last most of the duration of the working.

This is the colour of candle I choose to use on each day;
Sunday-yellow
Monday-white
Tuesday-red
Wednesday-blue
Thursday-green
Friday-orange
Saturday-purple

*Repeat the days you need to depending which day you begin on.

I recommend placing a new petition paper under the taper or votive you will be burning for that day, letting the candle burn out completely while your novena candle continues to be lit for as long as you can allow. It is believed that the novenas outcome can be strengthened by performing your prayers/meditations at the same time each day. Especially when repeated both morning and night, as this doubles the amount of time dedicated to the working.

The prayers;

Sunday-Blessed is this day which I have received. Blessed are the earth, skies, and seas. Blessed is the light and the dark; day and night, birds and beasts, spirit and body. Let me use this day well and let me not wander from my faith.

Monday- Let me be guided this day to keep my heart light, my hands clean, and my mind directed toward the divine. Keep my words clear of lies and deceit. I am open and ready to receive my ashe'.

Tuesday-Let the change I ask for be slight and full of ease. Grant me strength and wisdom to handle the difficulties of the day. Let my faith and diligence be ever sufficient to carry out my goal. Let me be a fountain of strong light.

Wednesday-Restore my spirit, liberate my soul. Let my heart by filled with compassion and peace. Renew my strong spirit so that I may steer clear of troubles and help others who may have fallen on hard times. Know that my light shines for the divine, for the divine is within me.

Thursday- I ask that my prayers be heard and my faith be restored, should it falter. I have made mistakes and am willing to correct them and work on my faults so these mistakes will not be made again. Please clear my path of those who wish to block it or who do not wish me well.

Friday- Help me to love those who care for me, be kind to those who wish me harm, and learn from those who have hurt me. Help me show compassion for those who suffer, whether I know them or not. Keep my voice gentle, my mind open, my heart filled with joy, and my spirit fueled by the blessings of the energy within all life.

Saturday-Let me receive shield and refuge, strength and freedom. Let justice be shown to the oppressed, forgiveness to faults, and healing to those who suffer.

After each prayer for the corresponding day, state your request. Be clear, direct, and specific. Write it out before hand if you need to and read it but I recommend you speak from the heart each day. I find this to be more pure and the intent more powerful. Don't be afraid to speak to your deities or spirits, they have already heard and seen everything already:)

Lastly, burn your petition in offering to the deities and spirits.

Ashe'

Lupercalia; The Pagan Origin of Valentine's Day

2012-02-13T19:56:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is much more than candy and flowers! Our commercial holiday actually has ancient Pagan origins! What a shocker, I know;) Celebrate this truly meaningful holiday to bring fertility in the form of abundance and prosperity int your home this year. And, for those of you looking to start a family, this truly IS the day to try;)

Take time today to honor Venus, Eros, Oshun, Aphrodite, Pomba Gira, Freya, Chango, or any other love deities or spirits you feel a connection to.

Our holiday of romance has roots in an ancient Roman fertility rite known as the Lupercalia. Celebrated on Feb. 15th, the Lupercalia was a fertility rite in honor of the gods Lupercus, Faunus (associated with Pan) and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The celebration began at the Lupercal cave, where the wolf Lupa was said to have suckled the infant Romulus and Remus. Afterward, priests would sacrifice a goat (symbol of fertility) and a dog (symbol of protection) to the gods, anoint themselves with the blood, and run through the streets whipping onlookers with a thong made from the goat's skin. The whipping was believed to help ease childbirth and promote fertility.

During the festival, young men would draw the names of eligible girls from a an urn. These couples would be paired up until the next Lupercalia, often in intimate ways. This drawing of Valentine lots continued into the Middle Ages in Europe. The young man would wear the slip bearing his Valentine's name on his sleeve, and attend to the lady with flowers, gifts, and words of affection.

As Christianity became more prevalent, the celebration of love became associated with the patron saint of love and couples - St. Valentine. No one has verified the original Valentine to whom the day is dedicated, although two likely candidates have emerged. One Valentine, a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius, was jailed for secretly marrying couples in defiance of orders from the Emperor that all marriages be stopped. This Valentine was jailed and died in prison for his devotion to love.

Another Valentine was jailed for helping Christians during the 3rd century AD. In prison, he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and cured her of blindness. He was executed on February 14th, 289 AD. All of the Valentine stories were finally combined, and in 496 Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14th in honor of St. Valentine.

Fun folk lore;

-At night put yarrow under your pillow, and the first person you see when you leave home will be your future spouse.

-If you visit a cemetery on St Valentine's Eve at midnight and walk around the church 12 times, you should dream of your future husband.

-To gain the love of someone, on a night of the full moon, walk to a spot underneath your love's bedroom window and whisper their name three times into the wind.

-To meet your future spouse count seven stars on seven successive nights, and on the eighth day the first person with whom you shake hands will be your wife or husband.

Wishing you a phenomenal St. Valentine's Day! Bless!

Who is Cardea?

2012-02-10T19:41:00.001-05:00

People often write to me, addressing me as "Cardea". They think that since this is the name of my shop, it must be referring to me. It's not:) And for those of you who do not know me yet, my name is Sarah and I hope to meet you soon:)

Cardea is the roman gddess of the door hinge. She rules all thresholds and doorways-both physical and spiritual.

She protects the family and children of the house and keeps evil spirits from crossing the threshold. Her name comes from the Latin word cardo, which means "hinge" and which also encompasses the wider symbolism of the pole or axis around which the earth spins. She is therefore a Goddess of the Center as well as the change that emanates out from that center. The word cardo was also used by the Romans to refer to the north-south axis on which a new city was founded (the east-west line being the decumanus), and from this we get our word cardinal, meaning fundamental or principal, especially regarding the directions.

Cardea has close ties with the ancient Roman God Janus, God of beginnings and endings, who also watched over doorways, and was depicted as having two faces to see both past and future (our month January, the first month of the year, is still named for Him). The tales say that Cardea and Janus were lovers; and to reward Her for sleeping with Him, or perhaps from love, He gave Her the door-hinge as Her emblem, and the power to prevent evil spirits from passing through doors. Because She could keep evil spirits out of the house, Cardea was worshipped as the protector of children, for it was believed (or at least the children believed) that at night witches transformed themselves into screech-owls and flew in the windows of the house to suck the blood of unwary children. The Latin words striga for "witch, hag, vampire", and strix for "screech owl, vampire" are rooted in this folklore.

The legends say that Cardea protected these children with hawthorn (also known as whitethorn), by hanging a small branch of it over the child's window or in the baby's cradle. Hawthorn is considered a sacred plant in legend and is famous in folklore for its magical powers of protection. There is a legend where Cardea banished vampires from a young boy's room, healing his sickness and making him well. After purifying the doorposts and threshold with a sprig of arbutus (of which the strawberry tree is one species), a sow was sacrificed as a symbolic replacement for the child. In the last part of the ritual a hawthorn branch was then hung in the window. This child was Procas, a young prince of Alba Longa, who in due time would be the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

So. This is Cardea. She is one of two dwelling familiars in my home. She potects my children and keeps me living between realms so that I can create and serve. She protects me as well, by keeping me away from the "real" world just enough so that I am not spoiled by it and no longer able or willing to do my work. She keeps me from becoming too absorbed and concerned with things of this physical world, for how easily one can be swept away into selfishness and an impossibly fast pace that no one can survive or serve in. She keeps me in the center, on the axis. she has made a home for me here and I am welcome always. To be too far one way or the other is just that; too far.

Her power is to open what is shut and shut what is open.

She teaches the acceptance of flux because it is inevitable. She teaches to be understanding that it is not always time for us-others must have their time too. So when it seems we are being subjected to suffering, to ill fortune, it is only becuse it is someone else's turn to have an open door, for each door can not remian open or closed forever. We all get out turn on the wheel. We all have our ebbs and flows. We all turn on the axis. This teaches us acceptance, grace, justice, patience, and compassion.

She keeps our house sound and stong, our cupboards full, our beds warm, and our work joyous and prosperous. So, why "Conjured" then and not "Conjuring Cardea"? Because, she is already here with me, always has been and always will be. There is no "doing" for it has already been done and can never be undone. There is no working I could do to bring Her here-She lives here, and simply "is".

ashe'

A Working for Santa Muerte

2012-02-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

Santa Muerte is a sacred figure in Mexico, believed to be a mix of mesoamerican and catholic beliefs. Her name literally translates to "Holy Death" or "Saint Death." Mexican culture since the pre-Columbian era has maintained a certain reverence towards death, which can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the Dia de los Muertos-Day of the Dead.

Her devotees are faithful and unlike any other sect I have met. Santa Muerte can grant miracles, solve impossible problems, keep husband's faithful ,and bring you luck and good fortune.She is also an AMAZING healer. I attribute her to the healing of some cancerous cells I had. If I needed one more biopsy I was going to need surgery so the cells did not progress. White Santa Muerte is the aspect you would evoke for healing. Red aspect for love and Her Black aspect for protection or hex-breaking.

She reminds us of our mortality and morals, to make wise decisions so we will not suffer in this life. She reminds me that life is fleeting, make the most of it, and help make others lives better while you can. If you are not giving, then you are taking. Santa Muerte may remind you of this if you are "using" her for favors rather than truly following her, by taking things away from you in your life. She may also ignore your requests if she sees that they lead to misfortune in the future. She is to respected and worshiped before she is asked for any help.

Prayer to Holy Death;
Lord, before Your Divine Presence God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
I ask for your permission to invoke the Holy Death.
My White daughter.
I want to humbly ask, that you break and destroy
all spells and darkness that may present itself before my persona,
in my home, and on my path.

Holy Death, please relieve me of all envy,
poverty, hate, and unemployment
and I ask that you please grant me________________.

Enlighten, with your holy presence, my home,
my work and those of my loved ones,
award us love, prosperity, health and wellbeing,
blessed and praised by your charity Holy Death.

Lord, I give you infinite thanks,
because I see your charity through your tests, which are perfecting my spirit.
Lord I give you thanks, because in the midst of these tests,
I will have you Holy Blessing.
It is so.

Open Your Own Awareness

2012-02-04T14:28:00.001-05:00

Once in a while I get asked "how" I hear the deities or "how" I know what ingredients to put in a gris gris, or "how" I know I am doing things "right"...

The answer is both simple and complex; I try to be aware.

To truly live a spiritual life we agree and live with the idea that the deities and spirits are all around us, that we are connected to everything. We all agree on that part. The next step in living a spiritual life is where I find people get lost. It's just in their own perceptions really and it is pretty easy to remedy, but they forget to be aware.

If our deities are everywhere then it should be easy to be aware of them, right? Apparently, this is not so for many. I believe our culture and society has caused this. We are so far out of touch with nature and so distracted by all of the technology ruling our lives. It's difficult to see god when you are staring at your phone or computer screen all the time. It seems as if it is almost scrambling us so we can no longer even receive spiritual information.

Spending too much time with these distractions, inhibits your awareness and messages you could receive. I don't know anyone who heard or saw god on their Ipad.

It also comes from trusting your instincts, something we must get back to. There was a time when we used the moon, the wind, and animals to decipher what we should do next or what was coming. Sadly, we have lost this. Organized religion has taught us to depend on doctrine, not on what we feel in our hearts, know in our brains, and root in our guts. Trusting yourself and building your self esteem is the first step to being aware. You will never trust the messages you are receiving if you can not trust your own heart and brain to interpret them.

It is not only gurus and clairvoyants who receive messages, they are not much different than you or I. The difference is those who set aside time to be aware-to receive and trust the messages that reveal themselves. This is where the practice of ritual, meditation, and workings comes into play in a spiritual life. It is a skill you must hone just as any other skill. The more you practice the more adept you will become in this area. It only makes sense. If you do not set the time aside or make room in your life, then spirituality will never fit.

Don't let anyone fool you-living a spiritual life is work. But the gods and your own liberation and salvation are in this work.

The most vibrant stories I have of messages I received happened to me while outside. Not to say you can not receive messages inside, certainly I listen to the gods every day in my home. But, the most memorable experiences will take place standing directly on our mother underneath our father, I can guarantee you this. My point; get yo ass outside!

This happened several years ago. I came to know Maman Brigitte about 10 years ago, she found me through a spirit doll in New Orleans. It was several years later I came to know her Orisa counterpart, Oya. I am now a daughter of Oya. A couple of years after getting to know her well enough I felt ready to wear an ide (bracelet) for her signifying I one of her daughters. So I made one and started to wear it but then I felt it necessary to wear a symbol of her on my ankle as feet are very important portals for energy in our tradition. So that day, after we went downtown to the Water Festival (a festival to celebrate our Great Lakes) I was going to go look for beads to create the anklet-I wanted to get a rainbow bead as it is one of her symbols. My children were dancing in the fountains and running around while musicians performed in the amphitheater and I was thinking about Oya and enjoying my children. My son ran around behind the amphitheater so I went after him (he was 2) and as I whipped around the corner I looked down; there was an anklet with a hand-made glass rainbow bead on it. Nothing else adorned it, just a simple, imperfect tube of the 7 colors. I was aware and I received a sign.

I have many stories like this, from the time I was about 7. Most of them involving whatever I was searching for being at my feet or within my reach after I had spent time and effort thinking of it, relating it to god, waiting and watching in awareness for it to come. That is the trick. You must simply allow yourself to receive and be aware-you can't plan it or you will miss it when it floats past, looking nothing like what you were expecting. If you are only looking for one way, you will miss the millions of possibilities floating by you in the realm of awareness. This is how I found each deity and spirit I work with-they found me I was simply open and aware. I wanted nothing more than to be a vessel from the time I was a child. The point of being a vessel is to be filled but I believe many of us are empty and when our time comes to be filled we miss it because we weren't aware it was our turn. We were too busy with work, our TV programs, or a computer game.

The other trick-believing the signs and messages will come. You can call this instinct, faith, confidence, whatever-they are all related. These are all layers of the same cake. If you have one of these you can achieve the others. If all things are all made of the same chemicals and minerals then, from the ground up, you have as good a chance as anyone else to receive signs and messages. You are as much divine as anything else in this universe-you have as many connections to it as everything else. But you must be aware of these connections and make sure they are plugged in and in good working order. If you don't plug yourself in by being aware and take care of yourself it will be near impossible to hear the deities and spirits speak to you. Consider awareness being your "on switch" and your "on switch" being your awareness.

Start with setting aside 20 minutes a week to do that working you've been reading about, meditating, sitting outside, taking a walk, visiting a cemetery, reading a spiritual book, making an altar, sew a mojo bag, harvest or plant, dress a candle or better yet, learn to make a candle! Get involved to be involved! If you want a spiritual life, you can only achieve that by filling it with activities that lend to your spirituality and if you have an activity that takes away from it, start cutting back or end it all together. Don't grow old wondering what you missed in your spirituality because of your society and culture dulling you. You are bright, shine like the universal divine that is within you.

Setting of Lights for Ogun

2012-01-31T21:27:00.001-05:00

Ashe' Ogun, may you clear our path with your machete,
May you manifest our dreams in your bottomless cauldron,
May you provide us business, opportunity, and wealth
By providing us the means, drive, and health to get there.
The obstacles that were once, are no more,
For you have cleared the path; now we can see!
We will use the tools you have forged for us to make our journey to steady work, good pay, justice, and freedom.
It is so-so it will be!
Ashe'-O!

1 Corinthians 5:3-5

2012-01-17T13:48:00.000-05:00

Last night, around 9 pm I received this text;

"I in the spirit of the Lord have already judged you. I now deliver you into the hands of satan for the destruction of your flesh, so that your spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 5:3-5

This text was from an student who did not complete initiation about 4 years ago. Three quarters of the way through her neophyte stage, she stopped turning in work. She stopped, she admitted, because in an intoxicated state, God had physically spoken to her through her bible.

About a year after this, and many odd situations, she called me about needing a job and I helped get her one where I worked. It was clear that she had converted back to Christianity and, of course, I could not have cared less about this fact. She got fired about a year or so after that and moved away. I had not heard from her in about 2 years until last night, when I received the above text.

I have not experienced much religious harassment in the last 12 years. I now live in a wonderful community that is not only tolerant of my beliefs but accepts them and they often ask me fore help in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones. This text was shocking and, sad to say, scared me. It took me back to the days of when I was traveling, teaching workshops, and fundamentalist Christians would stand outside our buildings and watch our parades (which we had a legal permit for) with signs stating that we ate babies and hurled food at us in order to degrade and humiliate us. At that time I was 18 and it was a huge turning point for me. To decide how I felt about these people and what my faith a spiritual path would show me with how to deal with them, how to treat others, and how to be accepting and tolerant.

Without suffering those abuses, it may have taken me a lot longer to learn how to love those who do not love me. I may have never learned-I can not say. This is when my relationship with Sophia, Mother of God and wisdom, and her 3 daughters, Hope, Faith, and Charity, developed. I needed to be all of these; wise, hopeful, faithful, and charitable to all-not just those whom I liked or who liked me.

With this text this person has attempted to make me fearful of something she believes I do not understand or that I don't believe in myself. She has created a false dilemma; that since I am not of her path then I must surely be against her god and therefore, belong to satan.

It is funny how people believe things are so black and white and can not see any shade of grey. How they limit what is "right" down to such a narrow line, that it can barely be followed by the average person. And can not be followed at all by a logical person using reason.

Everything is up for interpretation. You can choose to to let the bible put fear in you or you can choose to learn love, tolerance, and faith from it.

This is what I remember from the bible;

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. Proverbs 24:17

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. Proverbs 24:20

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened."

Take Courage.1 Peter 3:14

Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it. Ezra 10:4

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.1 John 4:20-21

I could go on, but this bring me to the point of this post...

Today I received this letter from a client;

Dear Sarah,

Just a note to thank you for your work, oh and the extra goodies you always include in my orders. I was "taking stock" today of my apothecary. I am glad to to have my spirit-sacred oils from you. I am working to get things right on a somewhat solitary path. No grannies, mom, or others to assist me now!

I pray every day now. I try to give worthy offerings to Papa Legba and I talk to him, asking for his help and permission to pray to the Orisha that they will assist me. I am so grateful for you. Your very existence has helped me back to a spirit path after YEARS of neglect. Blessings and prosperity to you, dear one."

Obviously, this letter came at just the right time:) The universe is good at that!

You will have times in your life when you are persecuted. For your ethnicity, for your culture, for your sexuality, and/or for your religion. Though we can work to surround ourselves with people who do not abuse us, we we can't shut out the world, and these people exist in our world. HOWEVER, your faith is what will steer you through. YOUR faith. NOT the faith of someone else, or the faith someone wishes you would be, or frightens you into falsely having. The faith that is in your heart because the divine is within you. Your intuition, your mind, your senses, your emotions, your guts, your core, your root. Listen to these to help you steer clear of these people and when you can not steer clear, trust in these divine parts of your own body and psyche. Reach into them for the strength that is there and do not fear because, indeed, it IS there. It always was and it always will be, for the divine does nor forsake us. The divine does not ignore, hack away at, or neglect parts of it's self, no matter how you may feel or what someone tells you in a text.

Do not fear, because then they begin to strip you of your divine worth and power. They begin to strip you of your faith, your common sense, your reason, your intuition. Everything that allows us to trust ourselves and gives us the freedom to make powerful, positive choices for ourselves. Everything that allows us to NOT have to rely on others interpretations of what is right or rely on words printed on flimsy paper.

Lamp for Ogun

2012-01-12T22:14:00.002-05:00

Ogun is the god of war and iron of the Yoruba people of West Africa. In Yoruban lore, Ogun and the other gods climbed down to earth on a spiderweb. When creation was completed, the gods realized that people needed to clear more land in the forest where they lived. Unfortunately, the only tools available were made of soft metal, a material not suitable for cutting down trees. However, Ogun had been given the secret of iron by Orunmila, son of the supreme god Olorun, and he used an iron ax to clear the forest. Ogun later shared the secret of iron with the other gods and with humans. He also showed them how to shape the iron into weapons. Cauldrons, iron objects (such as nails) and tools, machetes, and dogs are sacred to him. His colours are green and black. His altar, which consists a small iron cauldron filled with roots, seeds, and iron objects like old nails, railroad spikes, horseshoes, etc. It should be placed behind your front door and anointed daily. He enjoys silver coins too, I have found.

Ogun can be called upon for political action, this is common in Haiti, and for employment. He has never let me down concerning employment issues. His corresponding saint is usually St. George but is St. Peter in Santeria and Palo tradition. It is said that a woman on her menstrual cycle should abstain from invoking Ogun.

He is a powerful god and will help those who pray to him. Yoruba blacksmiths have traditionally sacrificed dogs to Ogun, and each year they hold a three-day festival in his honor.

He is the father of metamorphosis, because with his great strength, will and with the aid of his intense power, he transforms carbon into diamonds and sandstone into marble. His cauldron is the symbolic of a womb, a mine, the primordial abyss, and the tools which kept inside it are used by Ogun to fashion or shape what is inside into the precious piece of the divine it is meant to be.

Ogun clears our paths with his strength and tools. Any obstacle you encounter, He can clear it for you. Welcome him into your home, give him honor when you build or create something new, and he will continue to bless you with transformation and prosperity.

If you are struggling with change, creativity, success, discovering your skills, or to find direction, petition Ogun and let him lend you his aid.

Ashe'

Photos of 2011

2012-01-01T14:11:00.002-05:00

Photos of my home and work that make me smile:)

Blessings for New Year

2012-01-01T13:29:00.004-05:00

New Year's Day offerings to the spirits, saints, and deities who have blessed my life thus far and for those spirits who will enter it in 2012. My home is for and because of them and they will always be welcomed and served here. May they bless you and your family with love, protection, health, wealth, and good fortune! Ashe'-O!

Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative - Fundly.com

2011-12-31T10:58:00.000-05:00

Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative - Fundly.com

Accepting Your Ashe'

2011-12-28T20:17:00.002-05:00

Leading a "spiritual life" incorporates a few basic concepts. Probably the most difficult concept for people to grasp is the accepting of change and the idea of ashe'. It sounds like two concepts but change is one facet of ashe'. Accepting change is the only way to be drama-free, stress-less, and lead a truly fulfilled life. People have a tendency to throw their hands up when things go wrong-this is not accepting change. This is giving up. True, change is inevitable but throwing your hands up is not throwing your arms around it.

For instance, this is a common one; the car breaks down. Nearly every person this happens to says something to the effect of "this always happens to me!".Well, if you keep saying that and having that reaction it will keep happening to you because you are not learning the lesson. Shit breaks. Our bodies wear out, our hair goes grey, toys break, batteries run down, and machines fail. Do you really think all this has something to do with you? You have nothing to do with time and time and chance is all that makes your car break down. The more you complain and try to give it an identity of having something to do with you, the longer you will live in frustration. By trying to associate something with you that has nothing to do with your life, you are creating what is called a "false dilemma". You will continue to place blame or look for a solution to things that are beyond your control. It is a meaningless, exhausting cycle that humans LOVE. Let things be, accept that change occurs, and accept that the world does not revolve around us. The deities did not cause your car to break down and they certainly did not cause it to break down to punish you.

It did not "happen to you" it merely happened...and you were there.

You are interpreting meaningless happenstance as having something to do with you and then freaking out about it. You are filling your mind, body, and spirit with needless worry and stress. All this causes you to miss the entire meaning of ashe'.

If you have a period of things going well, expect that change is coming. It is inevitable. It is not bad nor good-it is ashe'. Change comes to teach us lessons. The sooner you accept and embrace change, the sooner and easier you will learn your lesson.The more you fight it, the more you fear it, the more desperate you are to resist ashe' the more intense your change will have to be. The more stubborn you are, the more dramatic your lesson will become in order for you to finally learn the lesson the gods have meant for you.

The ocean has the power to move great trees, to create new coves, lagoons, beaches, and carve away rock. Are one of these occurrences bad? Is it bad for the ocean to deposit drift wood on the beach? Is it bad for the ocean to deposit sand to create new land? Is it wrong for the ocean to carve away the mountains? No. While these are miraculous and intense forces they are not bad. It is ashe'. It is change.

Once you start to realize that your ashe', your changes, your lessons, are neither good or bad you can embrace your true self and life in entirety. Much of the unnecessary worry will be gone. You can now devote that energy to the path before you and not worry exactly "what" is on the path. Once you disassociate "change" with "bad" you will not fear it. You will find it easier to accept the ash'e the gods have sent you. You can fully acknowledge that part of your self that was consumed with negativity, worry, doubt, and fear. Ashe' is sent to teach and prepare us. "Trials" are ashe'. They happen because we are alive and here, and well, things are bound to happen if you are breathing! And thank the gods we are here to receive their lessons! It has always helped me to think of ashe' as not to prepare me for another change but to help prepare me to aid someone else with their change. In times when they are too worried or stressed to see that this ashe' or change they are experiencing is a lesson directly from the gods. It is a message sent because we are their children and they want us to progress and grow and achieve!

You will be able to live your true life and follow your own path once you stop fearing what is along the way. Each change is as valuable and valid as all the others. This does not mean you will stop feeling pain or loss when a painful change occurs but you will begin to see it as valid. The mountain being carved away by the ocean feels pain too but it knows the ocean means it no harm and that it is only how ashe' works.

Let the ashe' of the gods, the forces of nature, guide you. Accept them. Isn't that why you are on this path in the first place?

Lwa Erzulie

2011-12-27T19:20:00.001-05:00

Today, I received the Erzulie statue I bought from a good friend of mine in Louisiana.

Erzulie was one of the most recent Lwa I have really gotten to know. I began to honor her about 10 years ago and then really came to learn her story and spirit about 6 years ago. She is the patron lwa of New Orleans and most Haitian women serve her. She is similar in her area of rule to the Orisha Oshun.

She is the spirit of everything one could ask for or want in their lives; wealth, love, passion, romance, art, creativity, dance, sex and success. She is also the spirit of jealousy and can behave much like a spoiled child. The more you give her, the more she wants until she bursts into tantrum. Crying out of frustration and, because she is the spirit of love, for the suffering of the world. Our human desire of continuously wanting more is seen in Erzulie. She is us and we are she. At the root of our want for the material is the void that we are trying to fill-the void of enough or the right kind of love that we eternally seek.

Erzulie seems to be a paradox as a spirit but is she any different than the human spirit?

Erzulie is of Dahomey descent. She is either depicted as a light skinned black woman or a woman who is of mixed race and often with tribal scars on her right cheek. The knife and heart are her most common symbols as she fought with her people during the Haitian Revolution. To keep from revealing their secrets if ever captured, her people cut her tongue out rendering her mute. Again, the many aspects of love present themselves. Sometimes those who love us most, hurt us worst of all.

There are several facets of Erzulie; Freda, Dantor, and La Sirene. I will not go into her facets here but just mention them so readers are aware that she is a complicated spirit.

Erzulie embodies everything a human would pray for and about-especially women. Much like Oya she will provide women protection in the way of a mother-seen in her Black Madonna personification. She will fight for women's rights and ensure them success when attempting to be self sufficient. She will provide you opportunities and constant work for the independent woman. She is the epitome of female power.

She rules all matters of love. She is said be particularly fond of homosexuals and bisexulas and those who have experienced domestic abuse. I believe because these are complicated matters of love. Those who have these experiences or lifestyles have experienced persecution for their love. They have experienced cruelty, injustice, and self esteem issues. Those who have been betrayed by those they love.Erzulie has a soft spot in her heart for the warrior who has been treated unfairly, abused, and still manages to love. Enlightened men, who treat women with respect and value, are also her children.

Her altar~
Colours if pink, yellow, and blue are acceptable for all of her aspects. She loves sweet potatoes, cooked ham, rice pudding and bananas fried with sugar. The bowls that hold her food offerings should be reserved only for her use. Her candles should be blue and yellow and she loves anything feminine and beautiful such as perfume, florida water, rose water, champagne, silver chains, gold rings, hearts, and floral incense. She has 3 husbands; Damballah Wedo, Met Agwe Tawoyo, and Ogoun Feray. You may want to get to know them as well.

She is commonly depicted as the Black Madonna and Mater Dolorosa. Mater Dolorosa is a Mary who is depicted draped in a blue robe and precious jewels with silver and gold chains. She wears a beautiful, large crown, may rings, and holds a sword in her heart-also jewel encrusted. Another symbol of her willingness to mourn and understand the pain of the world's sorrows. Her motherly aspect is seen in these depictions, the aspect of La Sirene who is mother to all and controls all matters of wealth-fertility, abundance, and prosperity.

In order to petition Erzulie you must first evoke Legba of the petro branch as she is a petro Lwa who is considered a "Djab". Only he can open the gate to communicate with her.

"Legba, Papa Legba, open the gate for the lwa!

Open the gate for the djab, Papa Legba!

Open the gate for the loa!

I have arrived, I am waiting for them.

Let us go, Papa Legba, let us go!

Let us go, Papa Legba, let us go!

We will go see what is happening in that house,

We will go see where Legba commands."

"Erzulie Dantor, you are strong and powerful!  Do you see these offerings I give to you?"

Sprinkle the offerings with water.

Pick each offering up and holding them above you and offer each item to the four sacred directions. Then touch each bowl or plate to your head and groin.

"I offer some of your favorite things to eat and drink and these beautiful objects for you.

Erzulie Dantor, I am in need of your protection and guidance. Help me, defend me,

fight for my family! Beautiful spirit, spirit of luck, spirit of my house, be here now and accept these offerings!"

"Do you see this food? Do you see this drink? Do you see me? I need you to be my mother

too!"

Now you must be specific with what you need her to do. Write down your request on a

piece of decorative paper. Place the paper on the altar and stab it seven times with a small

knife.

Each time you stab it say something to the effect of:

I win!

I am empowered!

I prevail!

You no longer affect me!

You can't beat me!

My mother is Erzulie, and you can no longer hurt me or my family!

Away with you!

Down with you!

What you say, of course, will depend on your situation and petition.

After this, spend time watching the candles burn down and listening for her help, guidance, advice, and

support. She is there. Within you.

These are items I create to evoke her power i your practises.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60811098/erzulie-paquet-toby-hand-haitian-magick

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61608176/erzulie-oil-voodoo-hoodoo-witchcraft-lwa

The Ways of Gris Gris

2011-12-14T22:41:00.001-05:00

The term "gris gris" seems to be confusing for practitioners-even seasoned ones. The term Gris Gris has a few origins. Some believe it comes from the word "juju" for the west African word for a "fetish" or "sacred object", "jou jou" for the french "doll" or "plaything". Grou grou then came from this and then "gris", the french word for "grey" took over. It then evolved to mean a physical working, such as a doll or bag created from natural objects, to create a balance between light and dark in order obtain, maintain, and control outcomes. Gris gris can be herbs, shells, nuts, berries, powders, stones, bones, sticks, roots, claws, teeth, hair (especially hair or nails belonging to the person for whom the gris gris is being worked)-anything natural that possesses ashe'. Ashe' is the energy that each living thing possesses-it's spirit.

There are rules with gris gris-it ain't just throwing shit in a bag-AND, not just anyone can do it. I can learn how to run but will I ever run a marathon? No.

The first must have is an extensive knowledge of herbs. Not just their names, but where and how they grow. What they need for food when then bloom, how they multiply. All of these characteristics must be known to know how the plant "works". What it's doctrine of signature is. The Doctrine of Signatures is an ancient theory from 40 A.D. This doctrine states that herbs that resemble various parts of the body can be used to treat ailments of that part of the body. This has been adapted into magical practices by way of associating what an herb looks like to what magical use it has. A good example of this is the Lucky Hand root. This multi-fingered root is thought to have special provenance over "all the things that five fingers can do." For this reason it is carried by folks who play the lottery, bet on horses, play cards, and are seeking employment.

Read as many books about herbs as you can get your hands on. Old and new ones. I have learned some of the most valuable uses of herbs from books published in the 1920's that I picked up for 25 cents at a rummage sale. Check books out at the library-they have tons on gardening and herbs. Look for classes on native plants in your area at nature centers, camps, and retreats.

What is an herb? An herb is any plant that has more than one use. Medicinal, magical, culinary, aesthetic, and olfactory are all uses of a plant. Any plant that possesses more than one is an herb. We have a saying "a weed is just an herb whose uses have not yet been revealed". Learn your native plants-especially weeds. You can make delicious and nutricious wild harvested salads and learn magical and medicinal benefits by grokking-sitting and communing with the native plants.

The place a plant is found can have a great affect on your magic. If you find a lone dandelion sprouting up through a concrete slab-that plant has come to you representing survival. It comes with strength and support. Appreciate it's effort and let it's spirit of victory inspire you. Learn your environment and explore the landscape around you. GET OUTSIDE!

Learning proper harvesting a drying techniques are a must as well. I won't go into this too much here. Most herbs can be hung in a cool DRY place to dry and most roots can be dried whole (or sliced if they are thick) and dried in an oven on the lowest setting for a few hours on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. You are drying them-not baking them so don't raise the temperature to speed up the process or you will cook your roots to mush.

The basics;
The bag- I am picky about this. I will NEVER use a pre-made velvet bag sold in the shops on-line. I either hand make or machine sew each of my bags from material I have hand picked. Or, I have a friend make them. My own gris gris bags are made from cloth I died myself with natural dyes I make from native plants. If you can't sew or don't have a machine, cut a circle or square of cloth, fill the middle with gris gris and tie it up with string. Material can be as inexpensive as $3 a yard at a fabric shop and you can get dozens of bags out if it. Plus you can choose the colours and patterns to suit your goal. Anything is better than mass produced, crappy, velveteen or flannel bags.

What goes inside;
Are you making a gris gris bag to honor a deity or saint? Is it to help or harm another? Is it to help yourself? Have the appropriate gris gris harvested and before you. If you can't harvest your own, purchase from a reputable spiritual worker.

Lay your square of cloth down (or circle if you prefer) and lay a lining of cotton or Spanish moss first. This is your lining. These are both considered very sacred and lucky plants and will keep the rest of your gris gris from poking through and keep your powders from coming out through the material. Choose an odd number of items. A typical number is 13 but i go as high as 27 sometimes. My personal practice is to lay out all gris gris I have associated with the matter or goal and then invoke the deity or saint that deal with that area and then intuitively choose the ingredients for the bag by allowing the deity or saint to guide me. I don't work this way every time but most times I do.

Choose ingredients that represent each part of a plant-each part of the life form. A root, a stem, a leaf, a flower, a seed or berry. Not all from the same plant but each from different plants. This represents the whole spirit of a plant or being-encompassing it's ashe' in entirety. And don't forget the earth! If you have not begun an Earth pot start one today! This minute! Gather earth from everywhere you go-especially trips to sacred or special places.You can begin with earth from your own home. Honor your home! It protects you, it keeps you warm, it provides for you! My Earth pot contains red sand from the Sahara, mud from a birthing center in Ethiopia, volcanic sand from Hawai'i, sand, sea glass, and pebbles from Vieques, and peat from Ireland. Someday I will go home to Hungary and gather earth for my ancestors.

I choose to add items to represent the element that governs what I am working on. Water for healing, so I would add 7 shells for Yemanja. Fire for love so I would add sand from Hawai'i. For grounding I would add earth from our homeland-Ethiopia. Feathers for intuition or easy change, and so on. I realize not everyone has these earths but use what you have and your intuition. Start gathering earth from graveyards and crossroads to have on hand for your workings.

I also always add a shell, stone, feather, and a bone or claw-no matter what. It grounds the gris gris by rounding out the energies-you should have plant, animal, and mineral represented.

"Top" your gris gris by finishing it with a powder that is appropriate for your goal. Kyoto for luck, Attraction for manifesting, Oshun for love, Obitsu for protection, etc.

Finally, draw up the sides and give it a twist-clockwise for attraction, love, and manifesting matters and counterclockwise for protection, banishing, or ill intent.

Bind with an appropriate coloured string or cord by winding it at least 7 times with the cord then tie securely. You may add beads or charms if you feel the need. You may choose to knot it or tie a bow so it can be opened. This all depends on, again, the matter and intent. For matters of attracting or healing love, I tie a bow so other items can be added to make the love grow, for harm I tie a not so it can not be opened. Though these rules are not absolute and depend MUCH on the client and matter at hand.

I have made gris gris for over 15 years now and information, realizations, and mysteries are still being revealed to me. For this, I am blessed. When the messages stop coming and it seems I have learned all there is-it will be time to stop as the gift will have been passed to someone else.

Ashe'-O!

For proper activation and feeding techniques, see my post How to feed a Mojo
http://conjuredcardea.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-feed-mojo.html

Attraction Powder Working

2011-11-30T19:35:00.001-05:00

We CAN manifest our goals and dreams. We can attract luck and blessings. Working yourself to death trying to keep the negative away is actually just FOCUSING on the negativity, which is the opposite of what you want, right? The idea is to attract positivity by projecting and visualizing our goals and needs being achieved-think only positive. By complaining about all that is wrong in our lives or worrying about the next thing to come, we are only manifesting those things, giving them power and momentum. Words are merely sounds, which are vibrations. They are physical energy that we send out when we speak. When you say "i'm ugly" , "i'll never get this job", "i can't do this"-then you are right, and you have already failed. Our thoughts are even more powerful. When we have a thought we involuntarily see images in our minds, even if you are focusing on getting rid of something or if fear something, you are still focusing on that fear and manifesting it. That energy is sent throughout our bodies, into our impressionable cells, into other people and out into the world.

Imagine what your negative words and thoughts are doing to you and others. It is extremely difficult to just stop worrying or to stop expecting the worst, but instead of thinking about what could happen or what you are expecting, think about a solution to the problem. If you are worried about a bill coming and how much it will be, visualize the amount of that bill being low or visulaize the money in your pocket or bank to pay it. Give energy to the goal-NOT the problem.This is where grounding and meditation practice comes in. We are made up of atoms, minerals, and elements, just like everything else in the universe. We are connected to the universe, we are divine, and we CAN control our lives. You can control your future by utilizing this law. What you send out is what you get back. Like attracts like.

A big key to this is letting go the past. You cannot change it and it is not who you are in this moment, so leave it alone. Sure, your past is part of you but you are not your past. you have taken steps away from it, to change yourself. Going back to re-visit it with your thoughts only re-creates it in the present, and the same things will happen over and over.ever wonder how people get in cycles where they make the same mistkes over and over? this is how.

This requires several steps, with idea that you will be creating a new habit, and change in your everyday life. This is the catalyst for attracting these positive avenues and opportunities. The idea is that the more time you spend and more physical acts you do during this, the more energy you have invested into your creation and your life. It’s like baking a cake; the more precise you are with the ingredients, measurements, and timing, the better the cake;) You also have to give it time. If you want to lose weight, you can't diet for one day and expect to lose 20 pounds. You have to create new, healthy habits and stick to them. This creates a ritual which will help you take small steps each day to achieve your goal. This is how magic works.

The working;

This working has been successful for every person I have suggested it to who followed the direction and gave it adequate time to work.

Gather several magazines, catalogs, or newspapers. Cut 7-9 pictures out of these of the things you need or desire. Get a white novena candle you can burn for at least seven days. These are glass encased prayer candles that you buy from the grocers. You can find these in the “ethnic foods isle and they cost between $2-3. Create a space just for this candle and lay the pictures around it. Anoint your candle and the pictures with my Attraction Oil (powder and oil are available in my shop). Then glue the pictures onto the candle so you will see them glowing from within when the candle is lit. It will serve of a reminder for you each day of what your goals are. You can also use it on doors and windows-any threshold sf your home. Sprinkle my Attraction powder in each corner of your house, moving clockwise, and say "spirit of attraction, bring me what I desire", then name the things that are on the pictures cut out. Sprinkle some powder on your candle and say "as I feed you, you feed me". Do this ritual for seven days. Ask Lakshmi (or whatever prosperous deity or spirit you work with) that your needs and desires are met. Set a bowl in the place you have reserved for your candle and pictures and fill it with coins and cinnamon as an offering for Lakshmi (or offering appropriate for your deity) After the 7 days, continue to fill this bowl with your loose

change. Once in a while, bury a coin outside in your garden or in a houseplant. Give the rest of the change to charity or to someone who needs it, and start to refill your bowl again, repeating the process.

Using the Quiet of Winter

2011-11-29T19:38:00.001-05:00

Yes, that is my actual tree:)

I live in Michigan and the winters can be pretty brutal and a lot of people complain about them...even pagans. You'd think that as children of nature, we'd all value each season as much as the next but I've found that's just not true. We often loathe the winter. After all, we can't go out and bask in the sun, pick herbs, get our hands in the earth, bathe in the lakes or sea, hold ritual or worship outside. Winter lacks those things, and that is exactly what it is supposed to do! Winter is a time of REST. I LOVE the fact that I am freed from yard and garden work for 6 months! I can actually pick up a book and READ it! That is my favorite thing to do in the inter actually; catch up on reading books that are spiritual in nature. Right now I am reading The Mark of Voodoo and Spiritual Merchants.

So how to we keep our spiritual practices alive? By switching over to a different kind of energy-slow, peaceful, energy.

Things I love doing that take advantage of this slow, restful time are;
Freshening my altars. Dusting statues, refilling candles, replacing old roots, and adding new pictures and items, and creating image candles for deities who are new in my life.
Scrubbing with bluing. There is nothing that prepares you and your home for the long rest like a good cleaning with bluing. After all, you are going to be stuck inside for a while:)
Donating. I donate year round because I know from volunteering at the local mission that most people only donate in the winter. This is good, but people are in need of food and clothing ALL year-not just winter time. Donating also de-clutters the home and mind which allows energy to flow freely and also stirs up the muses! I get so inspired and receive such wonderful ideas when I organize and donate! It's like the muses say "because you have given, I will give to you".

A story about donating;
I have family in India. When Indians meet a stranger, they invite them into their home and offer them only the best of what they have. Most often, this is very very little. You are likely to receive the best food they have (which may seem inedible) and a straw mat to sleep on. This culture does this with the belief that at any point, they be encountering the divine. Every person they meet, they treat as if they are a deity-after all, you never know. Imagine if we treated strangers this way? What a world it would be! I keep this custom in mind when I donate and when I encounter someone who is homeless. I too have needed help at times-haven't you? What does it hurt to give away an extra pair of shoes or the dollar in your pocket? I promise it will return to you 3 fold.

There is something liberating about donating half of your clothing and half of your shoes. It creates movement and paths that were not there. It also fills your heart.

Take time to learn a new craft that you can sue to create spiritual items. Once can learn to make candles, sew simple mojos, make paper, sculpt with clay, crochet, etc. There are tons of useful crafts to learn that can be picked up easily with little investment. What do your friends do for hobbies? I am sure they would be willing to teach you their craft.

Baking! Baking is a magical chemical reaction in itself-just like ritual! I often use baking as an analogy when I am explaining magic to someone. When you combine certain things together, a chemical reaction happens and it becomes something completely different than what you started with. And as with any recipe, the better your ingredients are and the more careful and precise you are with timing and amounts-the better then end result. Just like baking:)

Snuggling with your kids or spouse in front of a movie. Give strength to your relationships. Rekindle the love. You have the time in the winter-use it.

Make time for your friends. It gets dark early so we tend to retire earlier in the day. Visit a neighbor and bring some hot chocolate or hot toddies and catch up on your friendship.

Set the goal of making small gifts for your closest friends or conjure family for the winter solstice. Small hand made cards or embellished pictures make lovely and inexpensive, heart felt gifts.

Plan your garden for next year. Make a list of the seeds you'd like to get and draw out a simple plan. You can also so this if you live in an apartment. Plan what you want to grow and how big of pots you'll need and how many. This is my favorite thing to do in February when the seed catalogs start taking over my mail box.

Develop your studies. Listen to that deity or spirit that's been appearing and calling to you and spend some time researching them. You will be glad you did:)

Lastly, get some rest...spring will be here before you know it.

Fear and Mistakes

2011-11-17T09:21:00.001-05:00

This post is about something I encounter on a weekly basis that severely impairs a person on their path. It either happens via convos in my shop or I hear it from a student of mine. It is easy to spot through my shop. It's when someone has sent me 20+ e-mails asking these very specific questions about a working they want to do. What goes where? What time do I start? For how many days? Do I need to cast a circle? Do I need to take a special bath? I don't have a statue! I don't know what to say! I don't have any money! I can't buy an offering!

Then, the truth comes out;
"I am afraid of doing it wrong."
"I am afraid of offending the spirits."
"I am afraid of what will happen."

The TRUTH is that all these little, tiny, obsolete details you are obsessing over have virtually nothing to do with your working. ESPECIALLY when the only reason you are obsessed with them because you are scared. If you feel fear when you think about your spiritual path, the divine, or when contemplating helping yourself or others through divine power, then one of two thing is happening; you are on the wrong path or you have been misinformed. Most likely, you have been misinformed.

Why were you misinformed? Because society, the media, and Hollywood films will tell you that (and I am only referring to hoodoo, Vodoun, and Santeria here because other Pagan sects do not have as much fear associated with them) that we work these blood thirsty, angry, vengeful, chaotic gods and unless we do everything just so in order to appease them, they will come for us and terrorize our lives and families. This is what they would have you believe. The truth is, THEY are the majority but the majority is not always right. Especially when the majority doesn't even subscribe to our beliefs! So HOW could they know more than US?

Let's look at this logically. People often think that you can not be logical and use sound reasoning if you are a religious or spiritual person. Not so. I can logically explain every facet of my beliefs, I can use sound reasoning in a religious debate. I was am a woman of science as well as spirituality-it does exist.

We have all taught something in our lives. Maybe you are a college professor, maybe you are a cub scout leader, maybe you volunteer and teach kids how to garden, or maybe you taught your kids pre-school class how to bake muffins-whatever-we have all taught at some point. When one of the people you were instructing came up to you with a mistake did you rain fire on them? Did you throw lightening bolts at their family? Did you cause a flood to destroy their home? Or did you smile, sit down with them, and walk them through it...

Why would the deities treat you any differently? YOU are their child, their student, and you have the divine within you. You are part of them.

Isn't one of the reasons you chose paganism because you did not believe in a vengeful, angry god?

I'll give you an example. Me and my whole family cuss like sailors. If there is a heaven (which there could be, who the hell knows?) do I really believe that Jesus is not going to let me in because I say "fuck"? No. I don't. He's got bigger fish to fry than my potty mouth. So then let's apply this same logic to our deities. Do you really think that if you don't have a red a candle to offer Eleggua, instead you have a pink, that he is going to pissed and say "You know what, fuck you!". No. The intention is what matters. That we TRIED. That we had the thought, that we carried through with action, that we honored him in whatever way we could.

There were times when I did not have money to buy this or that for an altar or working. Do you know what happened? The deities sent me those items by random acts of kindness and little miracles to show me that they were there, they saw what I wanted to do, what was in my heart, and that they loved me and would provide for me.

In 15 years of working with the Orisha and Lwa I have NEVER seen an ugly or malicious side to them. Now, your heart and intention has a lot to do with this. If you are asking for blessings without honoring them, without first respecting them, I imagine it ain't gonna turn out so well for you. We all know a person like that, that is always in need of help and always taking advantage and will never be there when you need help. Don't be that person in your spiritual life. It can be easy to do, people get excited at this wealth of possibilities, this overflowing source of blessings from the deities. But you can exhaust your resources if you keep taking and never give in return.

There are very simple ways to honor and return the blessings. A simple white candle or small piece of food offered in the morning each day is affordable and full of good intention. My favorite thing to do is to donate, time money or other resources. We live by the personal philosophy that if you are blessed with something, a portion of it should be given away to those who also need help. If this is not done, I believe you will begin to see your own blessings, opportunity, and good luck run out. Now, this is not WHY I do this, because I am afraid of the consequences of NOT doing it. I do it because I want to and because I have a sharing nature. It is not difficult for me to share or give. This is something that is unusual in our culture now which I suppose is why people just ask and ask from the deities without it occurring to them to give anything back. This will be detrimental to your spirituality, growth, and to your relationship with your community and all humanity as well. Unfortunately, it comes down to this; respect your fellow humans and your deities as you would respect yourself.

We must learn to let go of the fear that stops us from finding our true path. Fear will push away everything that you want in your life. Fear is a death grip and desperation is the grease that will make your goal fly right out of your hand. To fear the divine is nothing more than fearing yourself and your very own breath.

You can not make a mistake with the divine when you are of pure intention. It can not be possible that every practitioner everywhere has every item they "need" for their altar, says each word perfectly for their petition, and does this on the right day, at the right hour, in the right moon phase-nothing would ever get done! Trust me I have had plenty of times when I've said after a ritual, "Well, I fucked that ALL up."

I always tell my students it is better to have tried and make a mistake than to never attempt to commune with deity because you are afraid of "not doing it right". If you have to, first as the gods for some courage, stronger faith, and ask the muses inspire you! You will be rewarded for your efforts, whether you think you fucked it up or not;)

Here are some REAL books about our practices that teach the truth-that we are seekers of love and healing.

Jambalaya by Luisah Teish
Sticks, Stones, Roots, and Bone by Stephanie Rose Bird
Carnival of the Spirit by Luisah Teish
Four Seasons of Mojo by Stephanie Rose Bird
Jump Up by Luisah Teish
Finding Soul on the Path of the Orisha by Toby Correal

Raising "Pagan" Children

2011-11-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Probably the most common question I get asked is something like "How long have you been practicing?" or "How did you find this path?" And when I tell them I was raised pagan, the response is always the same, they exclaim "Oh, how lucky you are! That must have been wonderful!" Well, it wasn't. At least not all the time, because there are flaws in every parent and in every religion.

I must say this first. When I am asked how long I have been Pagan I say 17 years. Even though I was raised Pagan, I was not equipped to make the decision until I was 13. At 13 I felt I had a good connection to what it meant to be Pagan and a good understanding of the deities.

I was expected to teach the tradition in my family, just as in any "family business" I guess. Being raised pagan actually set me up to be cut off from the world. To be distant from those I would be teaching in the future. I had nothing in common with the beliefs and traditions others were raised with. There was no bible in my home, no church on Sunday, no prayer before meals, and no father-god that terrified me and shackled me with immense guilt. The biggest difference was, I had no concept of sin. I was a good kid. I didn't lie, cheat, or steal, and if I did screw up (which I began to in high school) my mother left it up to karma to straighten out the situation out-no punishment for me really. So living without the idea of sin, I was also able to live without a lot of the guilt others feel on a daily basis. I have seen guilt over nothing break people down so badly, because they were taught to feel guilt by organized religion from a young age. Now, I'm not a sociopath- I FEEL guilt when I do something wrong, I feel remorse when I hurt someone. But do I LIVE with it? No. I was raised with much freedom, perhaps a bit too much, but at least I was free.

So when I began to teach I found the majority of my students were former Catholics and Mormons-the two most guilt riddled sects I have ever seen. They would confide in me about simply feeling guilt for intuitively being drawn to this path. And all I could think was "Why?!" How can one feel guilt for their intuition, their gut instincts, for following their heart?! It made no sense and I was therefore completely devoid of being able to help. Or so it felt.

This didn't just interfere with students-it interfered in everyday life because only a tiny portion of us are raised pagan or, at least, are not raised Christian in this country. Think back to that Jewish kid or Muslim kid or maybe the black kid you went to school with. Kids feared them, maybe even you did. Well imagine that plus the fact that no one had ever even heard of a Pagan. If you were raised Christian I am sure you were never questioned about your religion. Imagine trying to explain why you weren't at school on May 1st, or the other 7 sabbats, when you are a child. It's not so easy and...it's not fun. Your religion, at that point, becomes some sort of embarrassment. Something that segregates you and makes you weird. There are times, when I was not proud to be Pagan.

I transferred to a Christian high school in 8th grade. Yeah. Can you fucking believe that? I was being bullied at my former school. Pushed down stairs, spat on. So my family (my mother, grandma and grandpa) figured private school would be best. I am blessed that my grandparents paid for that opportunity or I could have never gone. Here, I had to completely hide the fact that I was pagan. Even the kids who had become my best friends, I never told, or I would have been removed from the school. I also had to hide my sexuality because I would have been removed for that as well. Here I was seen as some sort of freak. We were extremely poor. I'm not talking we had to buy our clothes at the dime store poor. I'm talking dirt floors, no washer or dryer, no water heater poor. While that mattered in my last school it REALLY mattered here in this private school filled with the kids of doctors and lawyers. Also, coming from public school I knew about all sorts of things that these kids had never even heard of, like drugs and sex. My senior year, at age 16, I was holding a sex ed class in the girls locker room once a week for the 19 year old girls in my class. These girls did not even know basic anatomy or how the act of sex physically took place, as in what went where-at 19! They were leaving for college for fucks sake and I was terrified they would be raped or get pregnant as soon as they got there. This, I saw, as a huge fault in being raised Christian. I did not like the way these kids were terrified and into not doing certain things but were never really taught about why not to do them other than "because the bible says so".

So I was this weirdo that didn't pray in chapel, or sing their songs (we had chapel every Tuesday for 3 hours), or pray in the morning or before meals. I lived too far away (45 minutes) to ever have anyone over, plus I was embarrassed of the 30 year old trailer we lived in at that time. I knew far too much about sex and drugs and the "secular" world in their eyes. It's funny; while every one wanted to ask me questions about sex, they called me a whore behind my back for knowing the answers...because that's what Jesus would do, you know.

So, this brings me to another question I often get. "How do you raise your children?" I am married to a man who is agnostic and extremely respectful of my beliefs. He is proud that I am so self sufficient. I know how to grow our food, forage for food, make our soap, make our candles, grow herbs and make our medicine from them, raise animals, and more. These are the things I will be teaching my children-not necessarily about the beliefs of our family. Being raised pagan, I was given a choice. I could CHOOSE if I wanted to be pagan and participate in rituals and such. This is not common for organized religions. I have seen families abandon their children for choosing to be Pagan over their Christian upbringing-some of these were my own students. It is heart breaking and mind boggling.

You may think "Why wouldn't you raise your kids as Pagan, it's so great!". It's not. It's great for ME and great for YOU. It may not be great for my kids. I don't know yet, and neither do they because they are 3 and 4 years old-there is no place for religion in their lives. Just as I believe it is wrong to raise a child as Christian, I believe it is wrong to raise a child Pagan. Children should be having fun, not worrying about communing with deities. It's far too heavy and complex of a subject for a child's mind to understand. They don't understand it and it causes fear, anxiety, and guilt over things they can not comprehend but feel they are supposed to.

Now, being raised Pagan and from a Pagan culture, it is my CULTURE to make herbal medicines, to make protection amulets, to make candles, and make oils-as my ancestors have done for thousands of years. This is where my religion overlaps with my culture. I view these things as life skills, self sufficiency, and it doesn't hurt anyone to know how to do them. In fact it makes you stronger and more likely to survive in this world.

I do not keep my religion from my children. I practice around them daily, I have my shop, I do readings, we celebrate the sabbats-but I will never make them participate. Honestly, I don't even hope they will choose Paganism because I hope they will choose what makes them happy. I hope they choose to honor their culture in whatever path they choose-which may be no "path" at all. Would I be disappointed if at 23 my daughter tells me she is a satanist? Maybe a little, because I do not find it to be a religion based on much reason or compassion. Would I disown her? Never. Would I chastise, ask her to change, or belittle her choice? Never. She's an adult, it's her choice and if there is one thing I want for my children it is freedom. For me, freedom is one of the most beautiful parts of being raised Pagan.

Doesn't Jesus Hate Pagans?

2011-11-07T21:52:00.003-05:00

How can you work with the saints, who are all Christian when you are Pagan? Don't they hate us? Wouldn't they hate what we are doing? After all, witchcraft it against the bible...right?

I used to get these questions quite a lot...a lot of times, from myself. Before I truly embraced my multi-cultural background, I was a bit confused. Don't Pagans hate Christians? Because I know Christians hate Pagans...the bible tells me so. So, how can I be raised Pagan but named after Jesus and Mary Magdalene's daughter?! Because the bible left that part out, and the bible is what most people go by... and twist to suit their own agendas.

I believed I should hate Christians because they hated me and because other Pagans I "knew" hated Christians. I never did, I am incapable of hate. And there were many a workshop I did and many a Pagan parade I joined in where there were Christian fundamentalists protesting us with their awful signs. Screaming at us that we ate babies and throwing food at us. If I hated them, then I WAS them. I would be exactly what I loathed-an intolerant, small minded, asshole.

"Love your neighbor, but who is your neighbor. Your neighbor is the one who is sent to you from the Divine. Your neighbor can be one who is a total stranger to you from afar. Your neighbor can be someone living close to you. But what is true is that your neighbor is one of the Light who needs your support as much as you need his."

I couldn't be that. I also could not deny my heritage which is a mixture of Jewish, Middle Eastern, Black, White and God only know what else...literally. While all cultures began as polytheistic I can acknowledge and love the fact that we evolve. Religions evolve, people evolve. Some are better for it, some worse, but I can appreciate the cycle just as I appreciate that there is a cycle in everything. I love the layering of cultures and traditions, and that's all religion really is.

The facts-at least what SHOULD be the facts;
Pagans are polytheistic and while there are pagans out there who are completely against Jesus, Pagans also hold the belief that each religion is correct for it's adherents. Meaning we believe there is more than one path to God-not just ours. We embrace all cultures and their beliefs and customs that are traditional to their lands.

Let's get this out of the way now; God is like an ocean and there are many, many ways to get to the ocean.

So if you are able to understand how a Pagan can worship Jesus and the saints, depends on how you view Jesus. I believe his mother was Sophia, Hebrew Goddess of wisdom, and that he was married to Mary Magdalene and had a child, Sarah. Most Christians don't believe in this Jesus, that's kind of where the problem lies between the Pagans and Christians. All early civilizations and cultures were polytheistic, even the Hebrews and Mesopotamian of which Jesus is a descendant. This is the Jesus I know and the Jesus I know loves everyone, even us crazy hoodoo workin' Pagans. I believe in a Gnostic Jesus and I believe this is the truest view of him.

Once you work with saints and spirits you will find that HUMANS are the only one's saying they would hate Pagans or witches. The bible says that-which was written by humans not God and not Jesus. Look at Mother Theresa who only teaches love, giving, and helping those less fortunate. I admire and honor her, does she look down from heaven and not acknowledge me because I am not Christian? No. Because I strive to practice what she teaches. The path doesn't matter, how you live does. No saint, god or spirit cares what religion you call yourself, it's how you serve your fellow humans and that you strive to be pure of heart that matters. Spirits and souls at that level could not care less what path you follow-there are far more important things than a name we have chosen to identify and segregate our beliefs.

"Knowledge and ritual without compassion is empty."

If you read the words of Jesus, his teachings, you will find he only preaches love, tolerance, giving, and compassion. Pagans strive to live the same way. We all strive to be Christ like, and Buddha like, and Mohammed like, which are all the same story...

No one will ever convince me that Jesus and the saints do not love me. And if I came to find that they did not, I would still love them and live my life the same way.

My multi-cultural background has taught me to love without reciprocation. I have learned to embrace what I do not immediately understand. I have learned to trust the instincts my ancestors have provided me to guide me down my path, for they were already there once. Most importantly I have learned that the divine is within me-God is within us all-and NO God hates me.

"The kingdom of God is within you."

bless.

The Custom of the Dumb Supper

2011-10-24T20:58:00.001-04:00

I honor the custom of the Dumb Supper every year, and sometimes several times a year. It has become associated with this time of year due to the associations of Samhain, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, and Halloween-all honoring spirits, the deceased, saints who have passed on, etc. However, a dumb supper can be performed any time of year and Beltane is also a good choice to do this. The veil between the worlds is thin on this day as well with equal parts of day and night.

One reason a lot of people have not heard of Dumb Supper is because it is ancestor worship which people like to think is not common in this country. In fact, a lot of Americans find it very uncomfortable because we do not have the respect and connection to our families and elders as other cultures do. However, each time you pray for a deceased relative, you are honoring the dead. It may also seem like something associated with the occult, when in truth most people practicing Dumb Suppers in this country are God-fearing folk in the Ozarks of Arkansas, through out the south and all the way over to the east coast. Most of us realize, as pagans, that the folk magic of the mountains GREATLY parallels our own traditions whether they want to admit it or not. Another reason is that most Christian denominations will see it as a form of idolatry, which is why they don't believe in working with the saints as well. Honestly, I think there are more cultures who have a celebration or custom that is similar in meaning than those who do not.

I begin this night by walking to the cemetery next to my neighborhood, loaded with my besom, a box of shabbas candles, a few clean cloths, and a sack of dimes. I stop for those who call to me, clean their stone, sweep the ground clear, light a candle and leave a dime. Few things are more rewarding than learning the respect it takes to remember someone who has been forgotten. This custom is traditionally done in the "pauper's cemetery" the part of the cemetery where people were buried with very simple headstones, or none at all, because their families could not afford them. The cemetery I live next to was for the wealthy in my city, there is no pauper's place, so I choose to honor the oldest graves who most likely have no one to come visit them any longer.

There are many details that can be taken into account when setting a Dumb Supper. Some people believe all the linens, dishes, and decor should be black. Some believe you must set the table backwards, forks on the right and knife and spoon on the left, begin with dessert and finish with the appetizer or salad. You can make the practice as detailed as you like, but what is important is that you make the time to do it.

Folks also like to perform divination on this night, and why not? Everyone you have ever respected is there to get advice from! So divination is a common practice after the supper.

The main traditions I like to follow are setting an altar for the ancestors and spirits. Each physical person in attendance should bring something owned by the ancestor when they passed to add to the altar. Photographs and jewelry are common. This altar always has fresh flowers, marigolds are common in Mexico and are seen in the millions for Day of the Dead. The flowers are the most expensive item for me as it is nearly winter in Michigan. Glasses of water, preferably crystal and decorative goblets, because the dead are always parched. I like to add skull candles and images of Santa Muerte as well. Buy a few new, special candles for this occasion if you can-I prefer natural beeswax. A tablecloth from a passed family member is a nice addition, if you are lucky enough have one. I always use a stone vase of my great grandmother, Lucy Alice Leet, to hold flowers.

ALL food for dumb supper must be made WITHOUT salt! Salt drives spirits away, it is a purifier, so there is to be no salt in the food and none on the altar. Each physical person attending should invite one ancestor, so you must double the place settings and each setting for an ancestor should have a candle to light it.

Traditionally, 9 dishes are offered. I prefer to set all food out at once and let the spirits have their choice. Basically, everyone needs to bring two dishes or two bowls of the same dish. I know-it's a lot of work-but all good things are:) After the table is set, each person who enters the room touches the chair(s) reserved for the spirit(s) and says a silent prayer. From the moment you enter the room you are to be silent or "dumb" as in "deaf, dumb, and blind". Not exactly politically correct but we're not worried about that right now.

20 minutes usually seems sufficient enough time for spirits to gather. In the mean time you can meditate, pray, sit by a fire, read, but remember to pay attention- signs and messages could be flying about! If you have a group of guests, each person can write a request to their ancestor at this time, petitioning for advice in some area or for blessings. This paper should be placed beneath each person plate. Now, you and your physical guests may eat, also done in silence and reverence.

After everyone has finished each person is to set their prayer paper on fire from their ancestors candle, sending their petitions to the spirits. A heat-safe vessel is reserved for the burning petitions to be reserved in. These ashes are sacred and I like to set them outside to be carried away by the wind and spirits while saying a prayer.

It is now a suitable time for divination. Some of the most simple divinations like candle drippings in water, reading egg yolks, or candle flames are some of my favorites for this time. To me, they represent a different time, a time of self sufficiency, when we used what we had to make things happen. There was no money for a fancy tarot deck and no where to obtain one from anyway. Pure forms of divination, divining with the elements, are what I find best for this celebration.

If you have never held a celebration like this in your home I hope you are inspired to at least try part of it this weekend. You won't be disappointed with the respect and reverence you will learn, the release and blessings from the prayers, the beauty of the feast and altar, and the messages delivered.

This custom has taught me much about what it means to serve. To serve SPIRITS we do not know should be harder than serving living people we do not know. So then why do we do so little for those around us, in our own community? If you want to truly lead your own life, you must learn to serve in another's.

Bless.

How to Feed and Care For a Mojo

2011-10-19T20:26:00.002-04:00

Lord! I have gotten asked this question about 13 times just last week! I figured I better do something about it;)

It's a common question "How do I take care of my mojo?" Well, it's pretty instinctual and what you've been doing all along is probably fine until these questions come up; "Is my mojo dead?" and "Can I re-use the gris gris inside?"

First, create your mojo or purchase one from a REPUTABLE source. You have no idea how many pulverized, unrecognizable, dusty, old bags of shit are sold as "mojos". These people ought to be ashamed of themselves. If you can't read the feedback of a practitioner, know someone who has dealt with them, or find there Facebook page(s), blogs, or profiles easily on the web-DO NOT BUY from them. This goes for joining a physical group or coven as well. Use the senses the Gods gave you! Once you receive or create the mojo, open it up (unless instructed not to by the worker who created it) and breathe within it 3 times to breathe your life force into your mojo. You may also add a taglock at this time; a personal concern such as a fingernail pairing (this is most convenient) a bit of hair, a scrap of clothing, a drop of blood, etc.

Now, you've got a mojo. Do you have a good quality oil to feed it? This is important because you'll be feeding is a lot at first and then regularly every week then month, so have a good oil on hand. Some folks like to feed their bags with magnetic sand-I do both but for different reasons and at different times. You may want to have this on hand as well. I highly recommend having it around as it is very useful and common in many workings.

Prepare a an altar or small place you do your workings with a candle, water, and incense. Now, incense is a HUGE deal! If you can, please spend the time and money to find an incense that is purely herbs and resins NOT stick or cone incense which contains saltpetre, synthetics, dye, and chemicals-yuck. You can choose from pure resins such as frankincense, myrrh, copal, benzoin (storax), dragon's blood, and sandalwood. These will need to be burned in the ancient manner of using a charcoal briquette (hookah charcoal) to burn them on. I've heard of people setting the resins themselves on fire! DON'T! That's like setting your food on fire instead of grilling it! It is a complete waste to do this.

The water on your altar is for the spirits, ancestors, deities and/or saints whom you work. Remember, mojo means "to give praise" so it must be created in the name or under the guise of someone. While we are on the spirit part, the reason we do not use salt on these altars is because salt is protective and drive spirits away-not what we want to do at this time. Some folks pass the mojo over the flame of the candle as well or just leave the candle as an offering and symbol on the altar.

Prepare your incense by lighting the coal about 5-10 minutes prior to the ritual to make sure it is nice and hot. Place a bit of your resin on it and pass your mojo through this smoke. This is called "smoking" and is believed to activate the ashe' of the gris gris within the mojo. Now, rub a bit of the selected oil appropriate for your mojo between your palms vigorously to raise energy then CLAP your hands hard to show honor and get the attention of the spirits! Some traditions perform a dance where they drag their legs, slap their thighs and clap their hands to raise this energy and show respect and honor.

Now, hold the mojo in your oiled hands and pray or say your petition. Some folks have a particular Psalm prepared for their intent. I do not rehearse this part or read from any script-this should be from your heart and off the top of your head-It is So, So It shall Be. Keep your mojo as close to your body as possible for the first week. I choose to put mine in my bra or pocket. Your purse is okay if that's all you can do. At night, place it on your bed stand but make sure no one else touches it or you may have to start the ritual over depending who touched it. Children don't count as they are considered neutral.

Do this with the oil and mojo every day for a week. Then on the appropriate day that corresponds to the intent of the mojo every week. Then once a month from there on out. For an extra feeding, I like to add a pinch of magnetic sand once every couple of weeks or so.

So, does a mojo ever die? Anything will die from neglect. If you do not care for your mojo, first, I don't know why you bothered to make it or ask the spirits for help, and second-it ain't gonna work!

It only makes sense that you are going to acquire more gris gris you like after you make your mojo-go ahead and throw that shit in there! Swap the worn roots or lodestones for fresh ones. Take the old gris gris out side and bury it, returning it to The Mother.

Can you re-use gris gris or bags for new mojos? Yes! I do it often as I have very special bags from women folk in my family. Some ingredients are so special or so rare you can not replace them so take them out and smoke them, rub them with a little Florida Water of Hoyt's Cologne, put a bit of oil on them and call it good! Bags can also be re-used. For instance in Haiti the bags are often hand-sewn by an elder and are made from leather-irreplaceable! So honor this tradition and your elder by cherishing it and USING it.

Occasionally a client will contact me about a mojo they bought for WAY too much money and they are certain is worthless and dead. Then bury the whole thing and give it a bit of honor by returning it to The Mother to, once again, become something viable.

Lastly, place your mojo on your altar or in your power space once in a while, when you give everything a good scrub and freshening. Scrub your candle holders with sea salt water, replace your candles, dust statues, clean out offering and water bowls, and then give everything a little a sprinkle of Florida Water or Blessed Water.

Now, get to workin';)

Pictured is a Nation Sack I created for a client who agreed to the photo.

The Mysterious Pomba Gira

2011-10-18T18:52:00.002-04:00

There are many facets to Pomba Gira and many entities of Her as well. She may be most well known as the entity is Maria Padilla. She loves to dance and to be the center of attention. She is a sex goddess. She is seen as a very seductive and attractive woman with gypsy-like features. She is often depicted with red or brown skin, horns, a pitchfork, tail, luxurious furs, a crown, fancy food and drink, and is always in clothed in red or black which varies from gowns to lingerie type clothing;) Beyond the sexual aspect, she is a very powerful and generous woman who loves to give her children gifts! Let her bring your inner seductive goddess out and discover the things you have been waiting for. She is a strong, confident, alluring woman that paves her own way. She can also grant you wealth and a successful business:)

Pomba Gira is also called the female Eshu and therefore is sometimes seen as a female "devil-type" figure-though the Lwa have nothing to do with satan or the devil. She is also a great healer of sexual problems. In this day and age, many people have sexual issues. Whether it is because of molestation, addictions, rape, etc., she can help overcome frigidity, fear, anxiety, and emotional and psychological issues associated with these experience. However,she is NOT called upon if someone is addicted to sex, in fact she will protect you from such people simply because these people abuse Her children.

Pomba Gira is known mainly in Brazil. She is actually a new entity (100-200 years) and does not have African roots, but is truly Brazilian. Her followers tend to work in the sex industries in Brazil. Before passing judgment, realize that many people in other less developed countries live in extreme poverty and are forced to do many things to support themselves and their families. She is also very protective of the people she cares about. She is well known to those who have HIV, AIDS, and other social diseases.

Honor Her for help with communication, protection, sexual matters, abuse and to open communication, receive messages, and open doors

Symbols: Red hearts, the 4 queen cards, a necklace with red or dark pink and black beads.
Offerings: Pomegranate juice with exotic berry flavored wine, anisette, cigarillos, chocolates
Feast Day: February 14th
Gemstones: Rose quartz, rubies, black pearls
Animals: Coyote, raven, snakes and other trickster animals, as well as dogs.
Entities of Similar Energy: Lillith, Mary Magdalene, Wild women everywhere
Plants: Pomegranates, chili peppers, roses

My altar to Her consists of a print by Carolina Gonzalez, a large red glass bottle of oil I create specifically for Her, a red glass bowl in which I pour oil or red coloured water, in which I float lamps for her, a long-stemmed red cordial glass, and an image candle I made for Her. Along with fresh offerings of pomegranates, patchouli, anise hyssop, roses or whatever I have at the time that pleases Her.

I have 3 items I create for Pomba Gira in my shop;
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80327541/pomba-gira-oil-lwa-of-messages?ga_search_query=pomba%2Bgira&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5712063

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80337813/pomba-gira-powder-lwa-of-messages?ga_search_query=pomba%2Bgira&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5712063

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80327276/pomba-gira-paquet-lwa-of-messages?ga_search_query=pomba%2Bgira&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5712063

Working with Saint Expedite

2011-10-15T18:22:00.001-04:00

Saint Expedite is the patron of those who hope for rapid solutions to problems, who wish to avoid or put an end to delays, and who want general financial success. His aid is also sought by those who wish to overcome procrastination as a personal bad habit, as well as by shop-keepers and sailors. His feast day is April 19 and His number is 3. I find he and Elegba work very well in dire situations.

Expedite is typically depicted as a young Roman centurion holding aloft a cross marked HODIE ("today" in Latin) and stepping on a crow beneath his right foot. Out of the dying crow's mouth issues a word-ribbon, CRAS ("tomorrow" in Latin). Thus Expedite destroys a vague tomorrow in favour of a definite today.

There is an interesting clue here. CRAS CRAS CRAS is how the Romans imitated the sound of crows (in English, this is CAW CAW CAW), thus crows and ravens are said to always be croaking about "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow." Expedite, by stomping the crow, destroys the vice of procrastination (pro-CRAS-tination means putting things off until tomorrow).

This is the best working I know for Saint Expedite;

You will need a glass of water, my Saint Expedite candle, or one of your choosing, my saint expedite oil and a vase of flowers if possible.The only other addition will be a petition written on a piece of white paper and placed under the candle.

Say the following once you have set the altar to him, anointed and lit His candle.

"Saint Expedite, you lay in rest.
I come to you and ask that this wish be granted.

____________ (Express exactly what you want, and ask him to find a way to get it to you.)

Expedite now what I ask of you.
Expedite now what I want of you, this very second.
Don't waste another day.
Grant me what I ask for.
I know your power, I know you because of your work.
I know you can help me.
Do this for me and I will spread your name with love and honor
so that it will be invoked again and again.
Expedite this wish with speed, love, honor, and goodness.
Glory to you, Saint Expedite! "

Recite the prayer once a day until your prayer is answered. Allow the candle to burn each day as well. Once the petition or wish has been granted, legend tells that you must offer him a glass of red wine and some pound cake. Some variations on the offerings can be the whole pound cake or slices arranged on a plate with a coin (usually a dime) placed on top. It can be Sara Lee cake from the store-he likes it just as well as home-made. Once a few days have passed, take the cake outside for the birds and pour the wine and water as a libation to the earth. Give the coins to the poor. You must also tell a friend of how saint Expedite has helped you or he will take back the help plus some, and will not help you again.

I have two items I make for Saint Expedite in my shop, a candle and an oil;
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75434996/saint-expedite-candle-expedites-results?ga_search_query=saint%2Bexpedite&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5712063

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59027392/saint-expedite-oil-expedites-results?ga_search_query=saint%2Bexpedite&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5712063

How To Work a Candle-Vodoun Style

2011-10-15T11:18:00.005-04:00

What you will need;
-A small glass jar such as a small canning Mason jar.
-Salt water and sweet water (honey water).
-Rich, vital soil.
-Celery, feungreek or fennel seed. These seeds are for prosperity and abundance. You can use other seeds appropriate for your working.
-Magnetic sand.
-4 pennies.
-A glass or ceramic bowl of water.
-Solid coloured candle, properly loaded and fixed or dressed.
-A small slip of paper for your petition.

Wash your jar thoroughly with your salt water-leave a bit in the bottom.

Fill your jar half way full with the soil. This can be soil from a special place, such as a crossroads or cemetery, your home, or from your earth pot on your altar. Choose earth that is rich and full of organic matter-not dry dead earth. Pack it so it is firm but not solid. Write a petition to whom you are offering this candle to; Lakshmi for love, Oshun for money, Oya for change, etc. Fold the paper up, folding towards you if you are drawing something to you and away from you of you are ridding yourself of something. Push the folded paper down into the dirt.

Place 4 pennies (sideways) in the dirt, with the heads facing inwards, at each of the 4 directions in the jar. The tops of the pennies should be just above the dirt so they are visible. Sprinkle generously with magnetic sand, covering the pennies and a good portion of the earth.

Make a loose circle by folding in all of the fingers of your right hand to meet your thumb. The opening in your hand should be large enough to fit the candle. Place your loaded and oiled candle in your hands socket. Do the same with your left hand and place this hand on top of the candle-over the wick. Now, using both hands that are now holding the candle, mount the candle into the earth with strength and purpose. State why you have created this candle-what you are offering it for-what you need. Say this petition 3 times.

Once the candle is in place, fill in around it with more earth then water it with your sweet water in order to draw your goal to you.

Place the entire jar down into a bowl or pan of water and place it on your altar. It should not be submerged to the point that it take son water. Now, light the candle and say your invocation.

You have now planted your request in solid, vital earth. You have created a gorgeous, meaningful offering. You have planted seed, the potential for growth. The pennies and magnetic sand will attract the energy from the elements and directions and the magnetic sand will attract your goal to you. The salt water keeps the desire pure and from the heart. You have projected your petition, your intention, 3 times with the vibration of your voice. These vibrations will go out into the universe, root, and manifest. 3 is the number of Elegba, the Orisha of fate and of Saint Expedite, the Saint of speed. Your request is on it's way-your offering has been delivered.
It is So, So it shall Be.

Now, get to workin';)

Ashe'

Mojuba-The Art of Offering, Patience, Acceptance, and Faith

2011-10-08T16:40:00.002-04:00

I get a lot of "convos" on Etsy each day-A LOT. Sometimes it takes me several days to answer them, but there is one that presents itself over and over again. A client, or potential client, will write referring to a listing for one of my mojos asking "How does this work?". At first glance this seems daunting, to explain how something works energetically, magically, historically, culturally. Lucky for us, all of these aspects are tied together in the mojo.
The word "mojo", is a corrupted version of the word "mojuba" from West Africa, meaning "to give praise".
Mojo's are created from ashe', the natural, invisible power of our mother, the earth. Any natural object such as bones, feathers, earth, stones, roots, etc., contain ashe'. By utilizing and acknowledging the power of such items you are giving praise to the earth, our mother, and praise to your particular deity, spirit, ancestor, or saint. Mojos are not about you, they are about giving an offering to Gods, Spirits, Ancestors, Saints, and/or the Fates so that they will consider smiling fortune upon you and granting your request.

Mojos are also linked to the tradition of the Banganga from the Congo Basin in West Africa. This tradition is called "Minkisi" which translates to "sacred medicine" or "holy". They believe that all exceptional human powers are believed to result from communication with the dead. People known as Banganga (singular, Nganga) work as healers, diviners, and mediators who defend the living and provide them with remedies against diseases. Banganga harness the powers of bakisi and the dead by making minkisi. Minkisi are primarily containers; statues, ceramic vessels, gourds, animal horns, shells, bundles, or any other object that can contain spiritually-charged substances. Even graves themselves, as the home of the dead and hence the home of bakisi, can be considered as minkisi. Minkisi are typically filled with minerals from different places or graves, nails, plant material, bones, etc.

Mojos are not charm bags-they are not spells. They are offerings and a wonderful art form and practice that can really get you in touch with your ancestors.Typically charm bags and spells are created to get something. That's fine but there is no offering involved usually. I don't dig that and neither do the Gods, Spirits and Fates who will be answering your request. You have to give to get and it's just plain rude to ask for help without first offering something in return.

The truth is, sometimes, mojos don't work at all. The Fates do not have your request in their cards...yet. You'll just have to be patient and wait and continue to work just as hard on something else. Don't give up, just switch focus for a bit, then ask again.

People get so disappointed when whatever they are using doesn't work. It did work-it just didn't give you the answer you wanted when you wanted it because that's not how it works. Logically, you can not get a "yes" to your workings every single time. That is an impossibility. In the words of Mick Jagger; "you can't always get what you want, but when you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.";)

So, the first step to working a mojo is; accept that it may not be the right time and accept that answer you get is truly the one you need-whether it is the one you wanted or not. This is called faith and we all go on and on about how much faith we have but when we don't get the answer we want we get all pissy. That's not faith-that is called being immature and unreasonable.

The second step to working a mojo is know what gris gris to put in it to keep it fed and full of ashe'. For this you must be familiar with the "Doctrine of Signatures" used by ALL good hoodoos, root workers, cunning folk, and witches. The ancient "Doctrine of Signatures" dictates that objects in nature reveal their magical or medicinal uses through their form and colour.This is a philosophy shared by herbalists about 50-90 A.D! This doctrine states that herbs that resemble various parts of the body can be used to treat ailments of that part of the body. A theological justification was made for this philosophy: "It was reasoned that the Almighty must have set his sign upon the various means of curing disease which he provided." The concept is still reflected in the common names of some plants whose shapes and colors reminded herbalists of the parts of the body where they were thought to do good; pulmonaria, bloodroot, barrenwort, etc.

Let's look at salep root also called lucky hand root. This light to medium brown, multi-fingered root is thought to have special provenance over "all the things that five fingers can do." For this reason a lucky hand root may be carried by those who play the lottery, bet on horses, play cards, or partake in any other form of gambling. Lucky Hand is highly beneficial to others who wish to increase their edge and success by subtle manipulation of the tools of their trade.

So, when you are out foraging around, keep an eye out for botanical items that you can use. Here is a short list of examples;
crab legs-to reverse a situation (because crabs walk side ways instead of straight ahead)
termites/nests-to destroy a situation or person
animal claws-to grab and attract your goal
teeth-to enhance connection and bring good luck and ashe' (because teeth are the first step to deliver vital nutrients to your bodes-what we need to live)
lodestone or magnetite-to attract good fortune and repel bad.
vertebrae-for support, grounding, confidence, and power. No one can stand without a back bone.
feathers-to bring creativity, intuition, and power
nuts and seeds-for fertility, abundance, and luck. As they are reproductive centers all in their own.
You can go on and on using your own experience, intuition, and logic to find what makes sense to you.

The 3rd thing you must do-give it time. When people ask me how long a mojo will take to work, my answer is always "I don't know". I don't know what the Gods and Fates have in store for you-if you want to know ask them or get a reading done. In my experience an answer is received within 6 months to a year. A long time right? Not really but we live in a world of instant gratification. People think "magic" means something will appear right before you eyes in a matter of seconds-like a rabbit out of a hat. That's Hollywood and media-don't buy into that because you will be disappointed with every single working you do. That is not real, OUR magic is, and therefore logic, statistics, and reason apply to magic and it must have time to work just as everything else. If you can't accept the pace of the results, then you are saying to the Gods, Spirits, and Fates; "You don't work fast enough for me. I know I asked you for help and for answers but I don't really dig what you're putting down." I am sure that will REALLY speed things along for you and for future workings.

Learn patience and acceptance when working mojuba or any practice of offering.

When you start a healthy lifestyle change, like watching what you eat, do you lose the 20 pounds you wanted to get rid of in the first day? No? Well why not? Is is because it takes time, effort, faith, and the right mind set devoted to the ritual of eating better and exercising every day? Is it because you have to really work and struggle with it, getting back on the horse after you've fallen off? Yes. It is. Faith is the same way-we work at it each and every day. We create ritual and leave offerings each day to remind us of our goal, what we are doing why we are doing it, who we are serving, and each day we get a little closer to it. This is magic. This is faith. This is mojuba.

Disservices of Big-Box Botanicas

2011-04-21T15:08:00.000-04:00

as i have mentioned on my page here, i am going to list a few Master Key Crucifix candles. Here is why;

a HUGE joy for me with my shop is explaining the history, culture, and use of items in magcikal practices around the world. this provides accurate information for us to add to your own magickal repatoire and also expands our knowledge of history, culuture and others' practices.

i went to purchase one of these candles for my own personal use, as i have been hording my last one for 10 years because it was the last of a batch i bought from a root shack that was going out of business. i didn't know if i'd find anymore again and honestly, the energy from that candle was so powerful it didnt even need to be lit- damn! any good worker i have known uses these candles to perform workings and to recommend to clinets for personal use. it is the most powerful candle in my opinion.

so, i started searching for one of these candles only to find that EVERY site that listed it didn't even know what the hell it was! the site said it was a "cross candle with celtic and floral motiffs"....what?! these candles are NOT Celtic and NOT floral! They show several powerful conjure symbols;

1) the flaming cross or crucifix

2) the bible in the center

3) two arms and hands reaching out from the bible along the sides of the cross

4) 2 keys coming down from the bible

does it sound like there are any fowers or knots here???

now don' t get me wrong these candles aren't made like they used to be. they used to be solid colour so the details were more visable from the mold. now, unfortunately, they are all dipped in colour which glazes over the details, blurring them making them difficult to dicipher if you don't know what they are to begin with.

i was, and am, offended on many levels. i was offended that they are basically lieing to customers, they have put no effort into researching the items, and they care nothing of it's history, power, or symbolism. they ordered a big box of them, made up a description, marked up the price,listed them, and are collecting the money. in my oinion- don't sell shit you don't know about. THAT is some bad juju.

each of these candles, no matter the colour, is created for conjure work. though the colour is taken into account of course; white for exorcism, black for enhancing conjure work or protection, red for love, green for prosperity, brown for courtcases, orange for chnage and opportunity, pink for romance or relationships, and yellow for devotion.

the flaming cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus. the keys represent opening and closing, initiation, knowledge, mystery, and curiosity-1 to open a door and 1 to close another. the hands outstretched are the hands of God, comforting you, directing you and opening your paths. the bible in the center, obviously another symbol of Hoodoo's Christian roots and the power, knowledge, answers, and wisdom of the holy book. these candles are the stongest you can get for conjure work and truly encompass and master the energies you are working with.

nope, no Celtic knots or flowers here;)

please, know who you are buying from and do all the research you can before investing in spiritual items.

"Workin" My Famous Attraction Powder

2011-04-13T20:26:00.000-04:00

For a limited time each year i include a packet of my Attraction powder with each order from my shopwww.ConjuredCardea.etsy.com in order to share the blessings and opportunity that have been bestowed upon me. the following is my interpretation of how and why this practice works.

We can manifest our goals and dreams. We can attract luck and blessings. Working yourself to death trying to keep the negative away is actuallyl FOCUSING on the negativity, which is the opposite of what you want, right? The idea is to attract positivity by projecting and visualizing our goals and needs being achieved-think only positive. By complaining about all that is wrong in our lives or worrying about the next thing to come, we are only manifesting those things, giving them power and momentum. Words are merely sounds, which are vibrations. They are physical energy that we send out when we speak. So when you say "i'm ugly" , "i'll never get this job", "i can't do this"-then you are right, and you have already failed. Our thoughts are even more powerful. When we have a thought we involuntarily see images in our minds, even if you are focusing on getting rid of something or fear something, you are still focusing on it, seeing it, manifesting it. That energy is sent throughout our bodies, into our impressionable cells, into other people- into the world.

Imagine what your negative words and thoughts are doing to you and others. It is extremely difficult to just stop worrying or to stop expecting the worst, but instead of thinking about what could happen or what you are expecting, think about the opposite of that. If you are worried about a bill coming and how much it will be, visualize the amount of that bill being low or visulaize the money in your pocket or bank to pay it. This is where grounding and meditation practice comes in. We are made up of atoms, minerals, and elements, just like everything else in the universe. We are connected to the universe, we are divine, and we CAN control our lives. You can control your future by utilizing this law. What you send out is what you get back. Like attracts like.

the working;

Gather several magazines, catalogs, or newspapers. Cut 7-9 pictures out of these of the things you need or desire. Get a white candle you can burn for seven days, glass encased prayer candles that you buy from the grocer’s are good. You can find these in the “ethnic foods isle, they cost between $2-3. Create a space just for this candle and lay the pictures around it. Anoint your candle and the pictures with my Attraction Oil. You can also use it on doors and windows. Sprinkle my Attraction powder in each corner of your house, moving clockwise, and say "spirit of attraction, bring me what I desire", then name the things that are on the pictures cut out. Sprinkle some on your candle and say "as I feed you, you feed me". Do this ritual for seven days. Ask Lakshmi (or whatever force you believe in) that your needs and desires are met. Set a bowl in the place you have reserved for your candle and pictures and fill it with coins and cinnamon as an offering for Lakshmi (or offering appropriate for your deity) After the 7 days, continue to fill this bowl with your loose change. Once in a while, bury a coin outside in your garden or in a houseplant. Give the rest of the change to charity or to someone who needs it, and start to refill your bowl again, repeating the process.

A "Spiritual Lifestyle"

2011-03-30T16:39:00.007-04:00

After 13 years, my husband got his license restored yesterday! We have worked on this since 2006, finally hiring a lawyer after we were denied in 2008. After two long years of work, working and praying to Ogun and Ochossi, Saint Jude and Anthony, we finally got it!

I made an oil especially for Ochossi with little john root, angelica, anise, calamus root, hyssop, nutmeg, and vervain. Their vigil candles have been lit for months it seems, being cleansed with water as sea salt when they finally burned away, then refilled with blue (Ochossi) and green (Ogun) wax. Over the past several months, Orisha money was offered, along with pineapple for Ogun and pears for Ochossi, rum, whiskey, cigars, stones, new tools, iron nails for Ogun's pot-all anointed with their special oils.

Elegua had a part too-he is a brother too of course. I created a small Elegua head and fed him candy and left offerings of toys as well...well my kids offered the toys-small dolls and trains;)

I also created an Abre Camino (road opener) rub under Ogun's advice to help win over our hearing officer. It consists of a fine whiskey and hydrosol mix in which 9 high john roots soaked for 38 days. This was used as an offering and hand and body rub to bring Ogun's presence along with us to cut our paths clear and lead us to success.

I am writing of this to use as an example.

Sometimes, rarely, people contact me a week after buying an item and complain that it has not worked.

And this is what I tell them. Say you set a goal for yourself (as you do with magick) to lose 15 pounds. After the first week you had only lost 2. Would you complain? Maybe, we all complain about weight, but my point is it is not reasonable to think you will reach a goal in a week, especially involving your entire life and maybe the life of someone close to you. Magick and spiritual practices are a LIFESTYLE not quick fixes or miracles in bottles. Make a goal, then work towards it, everyday, in every way for as long as it takes. Magick is about change. You may even find that along the way, all that work you are putting in, just isn't worth it-then you find what you truly want in your life and who is worth all that work. You find what you truly need not just what you thought you wanted. Spiritual practices can reveal so much to us other than getting us something we want. In fact, if you approach your spirituality with that mind set-you ain't gonna get a damned thing. Our practice teaches us to give, to serve without gain, to develop a ritual, to be self sufficient and self reliant, to love people and spirits-all of life in general. If you are not getting these things out of you practice you need to reassess what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Sometimes goals take years and years to achieve. Sometimes, 13 years;) So, did the magick help at all or was it just all the hard work and time you put in? Depends, again, how you look at it. If you work on something spiritually for several years, I guarantee you are stronger and closer in your relationships with your spirits, ancestors, and deities. I guarantee you have learned a lot along the way about yourself and about making some magick. I guarantee you have touched others and they have touched you while sharing your trials and learning new magick to combat these trials. So, isn't the over-all goal to improve yourself, your divine connection, your knowledge, your relationships, your spirituality? That IS what it's all about bebe, trust me;)

Sors Istennok; "The Destiny Goddesses"

2010-12-12T12:52:00.004-05:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59555340/sophia-hebrew-goddess-of-wisdom-mother

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64169857/faith-hope-and-charity-the-three-graces

To learn about Turanna the Fate nymph, visit my link;

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54718706/turannavenus-water-perfume-for

Working with the fates is not about working with yet another deity, it is about honoring the biggest power of all- the cosmos, the universe. For me, magick is all about tempting the Fates into smiling upon you which blesses you with fortune. It is about accepting the cosmos' ebb and flow around you, seeing their is meaning in everything and that we are connected to everything-everything is magick. They teach us we must give to receive, we must be compassionate to be understood, and must see ourselves in others. Honor them and they will bestow fortune and grace upon you.

A prayer to Sors Istennok-

O holy and most praiseworthy ones, Faith, Hope and Charity, and wise mother Sophia of these glorious daughters: to you do we now hasten in heartfelt prayer, for what better representation can we have than faith, hope and charity, the three cornerstone virtues, which, bearing their names, ye embodied in fact. We entreat you to shield us, save us and keep us in every sorrow and trouble, because you are good and loveth humankind. We pray that your Mother Sophia's glory, like a sun that never setteth, be with us in our humble prayers; may the Godhead forgive our sins (mistakes) and iniquities (transgressions), and have mercy on us who are forgetful of our Being-ness. Pray indeed for us, ye holy daughters, also unto our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of Man, and the Holy Bride Magdalene, to whom we practice to be present with, together with his Father and Mother, the All-holy, and Good, and Life-creating Sophia, who are from the Everlasting. We join our energy and our consciousness to the Everlasting the combined Godhead, merging with their presence now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

A prayer to Goddess Sophia/Isis/Inanna;

Praise you, Mother Sophia;
Praise you, Great Goddess –

Hail to you Aset, Holy Virgin, Mother of God;
You who birth souls to the Infinite and Eternal,
Whose grace is the Light of the Day of Be-With-Us!

Yea though I walk in the day of your mourning,
Yet with your Forethought I behold your joy,
And with your Afterthought I gaze into your heart –
The perfection of Light and Love, Life and Liberty!

Placing lotus blossoms upon your alter, and making offerings of incense and lights;
Envisioning the offering of everything good, in the heavens and on earth,
I worship in your Light-presence and call forth your Light-power,
Send the Opener of the Way before me,
Let the Spiritual Sun shine from within me:
O Mother, give birth to your Holy Child –
Empower me to go forth in the Divine Light!

There is Light and there is Fire, and your Great Spirit passing through;
One Aeon dissolves and another arises, but all is in you as in a Holy Womb –
You, the Portal of All-Worlds; You the Life of All-Worlds: You giving birth!

I pray, Holy Mother, that you might part your veil, that I might see you in all your forms,
And perchance glimpse into the In-between to behold your True Essence;
Such is my prayer, such my inmost heart's desire,
To know you and to love you,
To be at-one with you!

Ave Sophia!

My Sophia oil;http://www.etsy.com/listing/59555340/sophia-hebrew-goddess-of-wisdom-mother

Sacred Egyptian Kyphi-week 3

2010-11-05T15:49:00.003-04:00

Today, the golden currants which had been soaked in spiced red wine, cardamom pods, juniper berries, and cinnamon sticks were combined with their dry ingredients to form the traditional pellets of the kyphi. This is a labor of love and the most tedious part, up until now it's just a lot of waiting till the currants are just right.

The dry ingredients consists of calamus root, galangal root, spikenard root, rose petals, and juniper berries. The powdered part consists of cardamom, cinnamon, orris root, benzoin, frankincense, myrrh, coriander, gum mastic, and yellow sandalwood. Isis, Inanna, and Ma'at were invoked to bless this incense and the homes it is offered in. The currants are mixed with honey (orange blossom in this case) the course dry mixture is added, then the powdered. The pellets are formed by hand and then rolled in the powdered mixture again. These will dry over several days and will then be ready to sell at www.ConjuredCardea.etsy.com! Pictured were taken previous to the final powder bath.

The Magick of Hedge Apples (Osage Oranges)

2010-10-27T14:30:00.004-04:00

I have been intrigued by these since I was child. My mother and I would frequently go for rides in the car in the country, it was beautiful and cheap entertainment;) We used to drive down a hilly road that had an Osage tree hanging over it. In the fall, we would stop and pick up a basket full to decorate the house with. My mother taught me that not only were they good for keeping pests out of your home but also good for keeping other nasty things away, like tricky spirits. We would set them in bowls or pin a ribbon to them, like a pomander, and suspend them around the home, particularly from the trees and by windows. They have been used in homes for centuries to keep cockroaches, boxelder bugs, spiders, and crickets away and, perhaps, other pests as well;)

Very little is known, magickally about this strange fruit, but I love finding them and having their protective energy around. They are becoming increasingly rare due to the invention of barbed wire. It was once widely planted for it's long thorns-trimmed into a hedge, this created an impenetrable fence to contain livestock.

Osage oranges possess masculine energy and are associated with the elements of Spirit, Earth, and Fire. Named after the Osage tribe of the Great Plains region who used it's very hard, rot-resistant, non-shrinking wood for their bows. It is highly desirable and suitable for magickal tools as well. These fruits are famous for their associations with astral travel, and it's ability to attract spirit guides and animal guides. The fruit also aids with achieving goals and expressing passions, bringing your true purpose and abilities to light.

the beginning of my kyphi (kapet) process...

2010-10-19T11:52:00.003-04:00

The favorite scent of Egyptians was Kyphi. On a daily basis, the ritualized burning of incense in ancient Egypt consisted of frankincense in the morning, myrrh during the day, and Kapet (Kyphi from the Greek translation) in the evening.

According to Egyptologists, Kyphi played an important role as a sacred fragrance in many ceremonies. It was also believed Kyphi could revive the dead and was placed in tombs of kings to enjoy in the afterlife. It was highly prized, had many expensive ingredients, and required a lengthy and specialized process to create it.

This is the beginning of the process, the way it was passed down to me. I don't know if I'll document the entire process, as it is sacred to my family. I have begun by using golden currents,

a spiced red wine, cardamom, both ground and whole, cinnamon, both ground and whole, and juniper berries. 11 other ingredients will be added along the process which takes 30 days. Many recipes claim you can create this overnight...you can't. I highly enjoy this process, it is meditative and strengthens my connection to me deities. I hope you enjoy the process and the finished sacred incense that will be available for purchase at my shop www.ConjuredCardea.etsy.com

10-10-10 Coven Oya Ritual

2010-10-12T14:35:00.000-04:00

Pokeweed, one of my favorite autumn plants

2010-09-24T14:43:00.005-04:00

Also known as pokeberry, cancer-root, inkberry, american nightshade, false nightshade,crowberry, poke root, polk root, virginia poke, cocan, coakum.

Pokeweed is edible and medicinal, when cooked. It has a long history of use by Native Americans as a medicine for colds, a dye for leather, and used as a food source. The young shoots are boiled in two changes of water and taste similar to asparagus, berries are cooked and the resulting liquid used to color canned fruits and vegetables. The root is alterative, anodyne, antiinflammatory, cathartic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic and purgative. It is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, tonsillitis, mumps, glandular fever and other complaints involving swollen glands, chronic catarrh, bronchitis and diseases related to a compromised immune system it has potential as an HIV treatment drug.

Magickally, pokeweed is a masculine plant, it's element is fire, and planet is mars or mercury. It is an intense protection and hex-breaking herb. It also promotes courage and strength, and development of self and enhances magick. It even has a reputation for aiding creating hexes as well. With it's defensive qualities, it will protect and defend you while you create your working.It's berries have long been used as an ink and make a wonderful magickal ink for writing in special books or inscribing sacred items and tools.

I became enthralled with this plant when I began my 7 years of work on Hood's flower farm. It grew along the flower fields and thought it's contrasting pink stems, green leaves, and deep purple berries were beautiful. I also felt attracted to it magickally and spiritually, maybe because I'm a fire or because I'm always attracted to the toxic plants;) This native herb is one of my allies and I have gained so much from it's protection and magick. I now grow it in my garden, eve though here, it is a common nuisance weed. Make a tincture with this herb and asperge your home with it to protect it from negativity. You can do this by filling a jar with the leaves and pouring vodka over it, letting it set for a few weeks, shaking it daily. You can also dry the leaves and add them to charm bags, mojos or sprinkle around the perimeter of your property. The root takes a while to dry as it is very fleshy, you can speed this by putting it in the oven at 150 degrees for a couple of hours. It makes a very potent protection talisman.

I often cut it just to put in vases, then dry the parts after. Don't place a vase of this on a light colored, or good table cloth, the berries WILL drop and stain:/

This herb is toxic and the berries will stain.

La Sal Negro...A Family Tradition

2010-09-22T14:44:00.004-04:00

These pictures show my family's process of creating the salt. I start with a cast iron pan, consecrated only for creating this salt. It is cleansed with vinegar and oil, sage is then burned inside. Ashes from benzoin, copal, dragon's blood, myrrh, aloeswood, and frankincense resins (all have exorcising properties) are added to the pan along with the ash from the sage. Consecrated salt is then added and the pan is scraped repeatedly in order to combine the ingredients with iron filings from the pan-THIS is true sal negro!

Black salt prevents and repels negative magick. This salt can lessen the severity of most jinxes, hexes, curses, or hants. Place this around your property to prevent those who wish to harm or steal from passing over. Place in an enemy's footstep to prevent them from returning. I find the best way to use this is as preventative magick; before any working place a circle of this around so unwanted forces can not disturb your working.

For sale at ConjuredCardea.etsy.com

Oya's Altar

2010-09-17T16:25:00.003-04:00

Autumn is Oya's season and with each day growing crisp and cool it is obvious that She is here. The leaves become the 9 colors of her skirt, the cool winds blow in the change of season and blows out stagnation. She brings us cool change but warms our hearts in order to be open and accepting to that change.

Change is inevitable-ignore her and it will be fierce and abrupt, honor her and it will be slight and with ease .

Oya's altar is decorated with 2 images of her, 2 rainbow candles, a small Kali statue (her hindu aspect) a large, sliced eggplant, a whole coconut (used as the mouth of Oya) drained of milk, plum grapes, fresh patchouli from my garden, red and purple skull candles, the largest osha, high john, dixie john, galangal, and orris roots I could grow;), horse teeth and bones, earth from Ethiopia, she butter (her favorite!) 9 pennies, copper pieces, garnets (another favorite) red tiger eye, and rainbow coloured stones-chalcopyrite, opal, pietersite-all of which come from Africa. Ashe!

This year's garden

2010-08-25T15:54:00.004-04:00

sedum, belladonna, campanula, lysimachia, patchouli, voodoo lily, native nightshade, coltsfoot, and pokeberry.

Dittany of Crete-The Glamoury Herb

2010-08-18T14:32:00.008-04:00

This unusual, whimsical, and rich-looking herb is an old European love and glamoury charm. Although it appears in many recipes for potions and spells, it is actually quite costly and difficult to find, because it grows wild only on the remote Aegean island of Crete. Of course, now you can buy it an any up-scale nursery or on-line shop catering to exotic plants. www.Richters.com carries it. It is in the mint family and is a relative of oregano, but its magical uses differ greatly from theirs, as they plants of protection and prosperity, and this is a true plant of manifesting love and goals. When used as a culinary herb, it is said that when fed to the one you love, it will help cause passionate desire to develop. Burned on charcoal with benzoin, myrrh, sandalwood, or dragon's blood it is said to aid in the generation of trances and visions in which you may divine your future mate. I use Dittany of Crete in all of my glamoury recipes-incense, oils, and candles, and it has proven to be the best herb at manifesting one's desires and changing how you feel about yourself and your life. use this herb in any ritual to honour the Fates and tempt them into smiling upon you. This picture is taken from my very own plant, and isn't she is lovely!

My Apothecary

2010-08-12T14:36:00.004-04:00

I was blessed to find this lovely Hoosier cabinet at a friend's store that serves perfectly as my apothecary for the creation of my wares I sell at ConjuredCardea.etsy.com. It has the original flour/grain storage, pull out enamel top, dry bins, cutting board and drawers. The enamel top is perfect for my oils, as they can be wiped up instead of soaking into the wood. I could take out the old fixtures for more room, like the flour mill, but I don't want to disrespect or ruin the integrity of the piece. It's in great shape despite a little water damage and some replaced hinges. I have absolutely fallen in love with it. I can now work in my dining room and watch my kids in the living room or see them out in the backyard AND, most importantly, I am ORGANIZED! Everything I need to create my concoctions and potions is right at my finger tips! I can finally enjoy seeing my vintage bottles I've collected over the years, instead of hiding them away behind a wooden cabinet door. They are now proudly displayed and being used to hold herbs, resins, and roots, just as they were created to.
I am a firm believer that homes have their own entities and this has moved right in and become a part of us and our home. Now, I just have to find a name for her...

Elegua...

2010-07-26T20:19:00.003-04:00

Just a few days ago I acquired some clay vessels, and they reminded me of Elegua and his clay frying pan. I've been thinking of making my own Elegua head for a while. I just couln't justify paying for those ugly, over-priced, grey cement one's that are sold on-line. So, I created my own! This is natural clay I dug up- a lovely shade for his skin-and cowries I collected. He has the traditional opening in the bottom for petitions and offerings. He is my first, I may make more for clients or friends...not sure yet. What do you think?

He fits nicely in his clay frying pan, and seems quite happy there. Tomorrow he will move with his brother's Ogun and Ochossi,to their altar behind the front door.

Namaste'!

High John, Southern John, and Little John-Which John is Which?

2010-07-22T22:25:00.008-04:00

I am often shocked that many hoodoos and witches out there still don't get these right! I know, the information is confusing, but these are 3 separate roots, with VERY different purposes. We should all know exactly what we're dealing, from a magickal, medical, and consumer standpoint. I am also listing pictures in the order described so now you will know which John is which;)

High John or John the Conqueror-Ipomoea jalapa is this plant's scientific name. The MOST popular root in hoodoo and magick! Any working for success, luck, prosperity, manifestation, drawing, attraction, power, or gambling will call for this root. It can be added to any spell for extra power and can be identified by it's "liquid smoke" type scent and dark brown colour.
John's story-
John the Conqueror was an African prince who was sold as a slave in the Americas. Despite his enslavement, his spirit was never broken and he survived in folklore as a trickster figure, because of the tricks he played to evade his masters.
In one traditional John the Conqueror story, John falls in love with the Devil's daughter. The Devil sets John a number of impossible tasks: he must clear sixty acres of land in half a day, and then sow and reap the 60 acres with corn in the last half of the day. The Devil's daughter furnishes John with a magical axe and plow to use for these impossible tasks, but warns John that her father means to kill him even if he performs them. John and the Devil's daughter steal the Devil's own horses; the Devil pursues them, but they escape his clutches by shape-shifting.

In "High John De Conquer", Zora Neale Hurston reports that:
like King Arthur of England, he has served his people. And, like King Arthur, he is not dead. He waits to return when his people shall call him again. . . High John de Conquer went back to Africa, but he left his power here, and placed his American dwelling in the root of a certain plant. Only possess that root, and he can be summoned at any time.

Now onto Southern John, Dixie John, Low John, Beth Root, or Birth Root. These are the names of the root of the common Trillium Grandiflorum which is a native woodland plant here in Michigan. It is considered an endangered species and is illegal to harvest. I have several plants from my mother and each year I harvest 2-4 from my own patch to use the roots. They are becoming very difficult to find due to their endangerment and they are often mislabeled in botanicas which are selling galangal roots instead of true southern john's. Southern john's can be identified by their hairs (rootlets) and segmented body.

These spring-flowering members of the lily family have long been used medicinally, and among Euro-American herbalists, low john is sold medicinally under the name birth root or beth root and used as an aid in childbirth and with menstrual cramps.

This root is also used for luck, love, sex, and family. Carry a whole root for luck. To draw love, make a tea from it and drink it nightly while burning incense mixed with the root “hairs" the fibrous rootlets extending from the larger body of the root. For marriage, carry Southern John in a red bag with violet leaves, lodestone, and iron filings, dressed with attraction oil.

For a better sex life, tie low john in a muslin or cheesecloth bag and launder it with your bed clothes, underwear or lingerie. To break up an affair troubling your marriage, mix the root with the hair or nail parings of you and your spouse and burn them to ashes. Use the ashes to mark the corners and center of your bedroom and bed, praying the 91st Psalm for the intruder to go away.

Little John, Courtcase root, Chewing John, or galangal. This is Alpina galanga, and it is a member of the ginger family. It is most often confused with Low John, Dixie John, Beth root, or Southern John. Galangal Root is used for its Psychic ability, luck, money, courage, strength, protection, sex magick and for avoiding legal problems.

Worn or carried, it protects and draws good luck. Place it in a leather mojo bag with silver, to draw money. Galangal is burned to break spells and curses. It is also carried or sprinkled around the home to promote lust. Worn as a talisman, galangal aids psychic development and guards the wearer's health.

In Western Europe in the Middle Ages, the root was considered an aphrodisiac and is used in perfumes in India. In Hoodoo, it is often combined with grains of Paradise to make protective wash. You can also make this magick herb into an incense by combining it 2:1 with white sandalwood.

In African-American hoodoo practice, its pleasant gingery taste is part of its charm and, unlike High John and Low John, Chewing John is actually chewed and the juice swallowed. A typical spell prescribes its use in court case magic: Chew the root, swallow the juice and discretely spit the "cud" onto the courtroom floor before the judge walks in; he will decide the case in your favour. This root is almost always sold in slices, and can be identified by it's orange colour and ginger root-like form.

So now you know-use the right root for your workings and don't be fooled any longer;)

Why on earth would I work with a death deity?!

2010-07-14T19:44:00.003-04:00

This question recently arose from a client who seemed a little shocked and concerned about working with The Baron. It brought up fears of death and change. But, sometimes these things are needed, and isn't "change" just the death of something we've already experienced and learned from? Baron Samedi is a god of many things, but his biggest attribute is healing in many senses of the word. To me, change is a healing all in itself. When we experience a change, we are forced to grow, to leave our old, wounded, small-minded selves behind and forced out of our snug, segregating cocoon. Our wings unfold, dry in the new sun, and we are healed from what stifled us. We have changed, are born again, and are liberated....healed.

I don't believe deities, or anything else for that matter, are inherently good or bad, they possess both light and dark just as we do as we are all just energy and chemicals. All Lwa are associated with "darker aspects" because vodou has been corrupted and deformed by current society and the media.

My clients biggest concern was what would happen to him if he petitioned a death deity...would he die?! While this seems dramatic, those who do not know could assimilate such an idea with a death deity. Petitioning a deity who is a god/ess of death is done for many reasons and most certainly it would NOT cause one to die, or there would be a lot of dead pagans around the world;) Shiva and Kali are both death deities and millions of Hindus pay numerous daily devotions to them- they do not die from it. Death is subjective and it's views and associations are dependent on the religion. It is a point in a cycle that is an ending and beginning all in one. When a deity of "death" is petitioned it is to bring an end to one thing and begin another, such as an end to bad luck and an opportunity to tempt the fates into bestowing luck upon you. THIS is a death, it is a change. The Baron is a deity of the crossroads, a point where you have the opportunity to choose any way you want to go; an ending to one road and a beginning of 3 others, therefore choosing a new road would be a "death" to the old pattern or habit and a new beginning within life.

We all reach critical points in our lives where we must symbolically leave an old path, letting it die, to persue new, fresh, vibrant (and scary) opportunities.
Don't let the fear of a death deity stop you from taking that leap into unknown territory and refreshingly cool waters that will renew and transform you.
After all, what's worse, to settle and be complacent or facing a little fear? Renew yourself, transform yourself, face your fears, and get to know something new...like The Baron;)

Voodoo Lily and Lords and Lady Lily

2010-06-01T14:22:00.001-04:00

Ide-My Orisha Bracelets

2010-05-31T13:06:00.005-04:00

The idea came into my mind a few weeks ago to create these ide. It would be yet another way to represent and give honour to the Orisha I pray to daily. I created 2 for each wrist; Ogunn and Ochossi on one wrist and Yemanja and Oshun on the other. Oshun is the newest to my life, but I have always been close with her daughter and have found her manifesting in several areas of my life, always lovingly offering support and love in my relationships and blessing my family with rich anundance.

The ide for ogun is created in a pattern of 3's and 4's in green and black. His number is said to be 3 but he seems to love 4 sided objects as well. It is created with malachite and hematite ( iron ore) for Ogun is the god of iron and he loves his green and black!

The ide for Ochossi is created from violet and amber glass beads in a pattern of 3. It has chips of blue goldstone. Not MY favorite stone t work with because it is man-made (it's actually copper infused glass, often mistakenly sold as "specular hematite" which IS a natural stone) BUT these are for my Orisha's... not me...and Ochossi loves this stone and it fits him so well!

The ide for Oshun is created with amber and yellow glass beads in 5's-her number. It is accented with coral chips and a piece of amber-both of these are her sacred stones and colours.
Last but NOT least, my ide for Yamanja. Created with irredescent crytal and cobalt coloured glas to represent the sea, it is accented with chips of cerulean lapis and tiny shells. Let me just say, I got distracted twice by my children with this one, losing my count obvisouly. So I just went ahead and tied it up anyway, knowing I was probablly off my 5 pattern-the ide broke twice...until I finally got the 5 pattern exactly right:/ Never be sloppy with the Orisha!

This set is for myself;) I don't think I'll begin selling others just yet, and I may only do them as custom requests. Just a little inspiration for my hoodoo hunnies!

2010-05-12T20:07:00.001-04:00

"Hoodoo Moma" by Luisah Teish

2010-05-06T09:16:00.000-04:00

Wooden stairs scrubbed with red brick
Holy water sprinkled on the floor
St. Michael slays that old demon
behind the front door.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" she cries,
"C'mon in here and sit down"
coffee is sipped from a demitasse cup
in my moma's part of town.
"Don't cross yo' legs at de table.
"Beware the cook dat don't eat.
"Mind ya' home training for company
"Don't dare sweep dat 'oman's feet!"
A frizzy is running outside
scratching up gri-gri. Rattlesnake skins
and mudbug fins 'round a blue plate of congris.
Back yonder in da burning barrel, there's
sulphur and rags aflame. Wrapped in red thread
up under it, nine times, she's writ somebody's name.
B'yond the fence, things a-growing: cow greens, milkweed, and
Devil's bread. Sunday mornin' she's stiff starched and
Catholic; altar night-white rag on her head.
Ask the woman where she's going, or dare to ask her
where she's been. You'll find blueing water
on ya doorstep, and ya breathin' dis-eased by the wind.
Being as how I'm her daughter, I dared to ask her one time
"Moma, you know about Hoodoo?"
"Child, ya must be outta ya mind.
Who don't hear death rattle, Or know howta talk wid a frog?
Common sense is what de Lawd give ya. There's prophecy in the
bark of a dog."

One of my favorite poems by one of the most influential writers in my life, Luisah Teish.

ah, the infamous Graveyard Dirt

2010-05-03T15:17:00.000-04:00

Graveyard dirt has become a misunderstood and commercial curio. "Graveyard dirt" purchased from large supply shops could be nothing more than dirt scooped up from outside their back door. There is no authenticity when the dirt has no story behind it.

The true way a hoodoo uses graveyard dirt is becoming lost as well. It is now often mistakenly written about as an evil ingredient, made to bend the will of others. Wrong. Graveyard dirt is an enhancer, a powerful spiritual ingredient to invoke the true strength of our magick. The intent is up to the investor. Nothing is inherently evil or good on it's own.

Methods by which one pays for graveyard dirt vary from worker to worker. You have to get in touch with the grave's spirit and make a respectful request and offering before you permission is granted to collect the earth. There are numerous details; whose grave, the kind of death they died, where the grave is located with respect to the cemetery gates, the age of the person who died or if it is a family, mother, brother, etc. Whether you dig from the head, the heart, or the feet, and what type of offering is left. may it be coins, rum, whiskey, tobacco or a combination. I often leave small toys for children and baby's graves, as I have two babies of my own. I find the dirt from children and baby's graves to be the most sweet, and energetic, and therefore, helpful.

The type of grave the dirt is collected from holds tremendous power and meaning, graves of families, children, babies, police officers, veterans, reverends, judges and so on. Different graves hold different power and a particular variety of graveyard dirt should be used to compliment particular spells. what kind of spell your workin' depends what type of dirt you'll use.

Example-Graveyard dirt from a judge is for legal proceedings and justice. From a police officer for protection and to right wrongs. From a baby for spells of sweetness, healing, and platonic love, from a family grave for familial matters, from the grave of someone who's been murdered for ememy and revenge work.

My dirts are all from the cemetery I live next to and are respectfullyand traditionally collected and communication established to ensure a good working dirt for you and your magickal endeavors;)

Saint Cyprian of Anitoch-Patron Saint of Witches

2010-04-28T13:50:00.000-04:00

Oh, how I live this Saint! A saint for witches, conjurers, magicians, and occultists? How paradoxical, how perfect!

Saint Cyprian of Antioch dwells in a shadowy, occult world of lore and legend, for he is said to have been a renowned Pagan conjurer, sorcerer, and magician who worked with and defended others from demons and the devil.

Desiring a relationship with a virtuous young Christian woman named Justina, he called up demons to attack her (not how I'd go about winning someone over, wtf?) but she repelled them by making the sign of the cross with her fingers. Seeing this, Cyprian too made the sign of the cross and was instantly converted to Christianity. He was baptized, became a deacon, then a priest, and finally a bishop -- while Justina, now his platonic friend, became the leader of a convent of nuns. Both Cyprian and Justina were persecuted by the Roman emperor Diocletian, who had them tortured in Damascus and finally beheaded in Nicomedia on the banks of the river Gallus. It always happens to the good ones...;)

The story does not end there. In his days as an occultist and sorcerer, Cyprian had written a powerful book of magic spells, which he failed to destroy upon his conversion, and which has appeared in many editions (and in various languages) for hundreds of years. Thus Saint Cyprian has the unusual reputation of being the Patron Saint of witches, conjurers, root doctors, magicians, sorcerers, occultists, demonologists, necromancers, spiritualists, and spiritual workers.

I have found St. Cyprian to be of immense help when dealing with spirits, seances, or any communication with the dead. He provides a sense of control and safety, with wisdom and experience. A good saint to get to know if you live in a dwelling plagued by spirits such as poltergeists, bothersome dwelling familiars, or any spiritual happenings.

This oil is lovingly made with oils and resins of myrrh and dragon's blood, two resins I find Mr. Cyprian appreciates;)

Spring Cleaning-Hoodoo Style

2010-03-15T13:03:00.000-04:00

I love spring! the energy is immense, powerful, flowing, ebbing, growing, changing, fresh and abundant! If you want to attack a new endeavor, spring is the time! But to prepare for all those new ideas and to make room for growth...we need to clean house...seriously.
Spiritually and physically cleaning a house should not be exclusive from each other but inclusive. After all, we pagans believe in many realms and many forces and when we utilize all of them in balance and harmony we can create positive and destroy negative. Life is all about creating, balancing, and controlling forces. This balance and and respect is what sets us apart from others.
I like to start with dusting, refreshing, decorating, and cleaning my altars. My Ogun altar is featured in this post. His cauldron got a good rub down with a cotton cloth, the old 7 African Powers oil was wiped out and his coins were cleaned. Unexpectedly, there is a lovely green ring on all of his coins. Not sure why this would happen as his pot is filled with iron and silver not copper? It was a beautiful gesture and a little secret to let me know he is there.
His obsidian arrowhead got a good shine (not that it needs it!) his railroad spikes got a good rub and distribution of oil. His roots and nuts got replaced (new palo santa, ginseng, nutmegs, galangal slice, and high john) and I gave him a new piece of specular hematite, bloodstone, malachite, and tiger iron. A new batch of Ogun oil whipped up to fill his bottle (yes, he has his OWN bottle) He's happy.
His prayer candle was rubbed down with oil and a new, alchemical prosperity candle inserted. A lovely seller on etsy, BovedaBeads.etsy.com, sent me a beautiful holy card for him (which is funny because I had JUST sent a holy card of him to a customer for her Ogun altar!)
Once cleaned he was put back behind the front door, where an Ogun altar should be, his corner dusted and him feeling so fresh and so clean-clean.
On to the house. A good sweep from front to back (to draw in good luck) and flush the dirt (to throw it out it to throw out good luck). A wash with 4 Thieves vineegar to combat negativity and dissinfect-walls then floors. Next a floor sweep with lavender, high john, sage, and rose. To bring friendship, love, success, and harmony.
Light incense outside to carry blessings through out the community, and meditate on what I want for my family and neighbors, what I want for this city.
Hang out diapers to dry in that first warmed ( I say warmed because it's in the 40's) spring air, beat the rugs, wash the windows...now onto a regluar day of readings, potions, and notions. Ah, the blessed life of a a full-time witch!

Photos for Missy

2010-03-07T12:51:00.001-05:00

www.mazawi.com

Our good friend Missy has been diagnosed with a rare (1 in 200,000 adults) auto-immune blood disease, Langerhans Histiocytosis.She has been referred to the mayo clinic, but needs $5000 up front. Missy needs help.

If you could please take a moment to purchase some her phenomenal photography, make a donation, and most importantly, share her website on your social networks, it would be greatly appreciated.

Missy must reach her $5000 goal before March 15th. If you've ever needed a hand, please check out her site and share her link.

Love,
Sarah

"They're not a REAL witch"

2010-03-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

Have you ever heard anyone say this?
I've been hearing it a lot lately, too much in fact. I hear it at conventions, I read it in blogs, status updates, and
it makes me feel embarrassed of my fellow pagans. Isn't it
nice to know that your fellow pagans are out there judging
you, just like everyone else does?
One of the beautiful things about paganism, and one of it's facets that attract many people who were previously
Christian, is the fact we don't have an almighty power
judging us from above. No one telling us what we can and can not do, and who we are and are not supposed to be. So why is
it, so many other pagans take it upon themselves to fill
this position, when it's exactly what they are/were escaping
to begin with?
I can't answer this question because I have no idea what makes another person judge one of their own. I have never in
my life uttered the phrase "they're not a REAL witch"because how the hell would I know if someone is a real witch or not? I don't know every pagan or witch in the world, and
I find that people who do say things like this, are speaking about a person they have never even met! So what are they
basing this on then?
I've done my fair share of workshops, retreats, and conventions, and I do run across young people who are just beginning to discover their spirituality. Hell, I was one of
those teenagers, and I was even raised pagan! We all go through that corny, awkward, witch phase, and it's okay because this path is about self discovery and self
expression. Their rebellion, attitudes, and innocence make
me smile, are they "REAL witches"? Maybe they are, maybe
they aren't, maybe they are the most powerful, devoted witch you will ever see, they just don't know it yet. Will you be the one standing and judging whether or not they are "real"
or will you go introduce yourself and see what you can learn
and/or teach?
Another venue I hear this in is in classes, workshops, or
stores that are geared towards pagans/witches. You have the
people who insist their ideas are being stolen and their
work copied by people who aren't even "real witches". Get over yourself. Witchcraft has been around thousands of years, sorry to tell you, but you're not the first to do
anything. Who's to say that two people didn't come up with
the same idea at the same time? Or maybe one had it first
but didn't use it in a class or a design right away. My
point is, you can't possibly know. There is room for all of us here. How would you feel if someone was talking or writing about you saying you are not "real" when they've
never even met you? Or that you stole their witchy idea,
even though you've been teaching that way or making that
item for a decade. It's not right to treat others like this, no matter what belief system you are. By doing this, you're only hurting your own connections, business, spirituality, and relationships. Be descent and treat others how you would like to be treated, all religions agree
on that, so why can't witches?

7 African Power-Orisha Oils

2010-02-23T13:12:00.000-05:00

I have worked very hard on these oils. When I began to work with the 7 African Powers, there were virtually no oils available to use. What was available was mass produced junk full of dyes and with no actual correspondences to the Orisha themselves. So what made it "7 African Power" oil then? Nothing.
It has taken me nearly 5 years to perfect the herbs, numbers, saints, colours, gemstones, and scents I use for these oils. A lot of research went into this oil and I believe it to be far superior than any other Orisha oils you will find. Information can be collected about these Orisha, but I experimented and tested each correspondence so I know they work!
You will receive all 7 oils in this set, each 2 fluid ounces each, in a charming glass vial with natural cork. Each vial is labeled with the Orisha's name and the saint they correspond to. While this infomration differs from region to region, these are the saints I feel work best and are most compatible with the Orisha named. Each oil contains the corresponding gemstone and numbers (ie. # of gemstones and drops used to create oil) to that particular Orisha.
Save some money! I sell these oils separately for $8.88 per bottle, you're saving over $20.00 it's like getting 2.5 oils free! A perfect way to stock your magickal cupboard and start working with these deities the right way!
Some practitioners use "9 African Powers" including Oya and Babalu Aye. These oils are also available and can be included in this set for an additional charge. I will also sell these oils individually. So if you have a patron Orisha and just want the oil for him/her please convo me and I will reserve a listing just for you and your Orisha!

Let me introduce you!

Eleggua (Legba, Exu, Eshu, St. Michael) is the Orisha of crossroads, doorways, and gates. He is the messenger of the gods- no Orisha can be contacted except through him, and his dress and conflicting mannerisms reflect this double-sided nature (he is sometimes depicted with two faces, especially in Yoruban art). Eleggua is also the guardian of the doorway between the earthly and divine realms. He has been compared to the Greek God Hermes, with whom he shares many attributes, and to the Hindu Ganesha. In Brazil, he is sometimes equated with Baphomet, and his symbol is a pitchfork. In Lukumi, he is a guardian of doorways, and effigies of Eleggua are used to protect homes. Oil contains sandalwood, musk, cinnamon, patchouli, patchouli leaf and 3 smoky quartz.

Ogun (Ogoun, St George)) is the chief of the warriors, the God of War, blood, and iron. He is the guardian of the forge, and the patron of civilization and technology. Not just a martial deity, Ogun is the archetypal force that drives technology. He is responsible for tools of progress like farming implements and surgeon’s knives. He is movement, impetus, force. Because of this, Ogun is associated with locomotives, and offerings are often made to him at railroad tracks. In Candomble, he is associated with St. George, the dragon slayer; in Lukumi, he is associated with St. peter. Because of his association with blood, Ogun is often petitioned for aid with blood diseases. However, because Ogun enjoys blood offerings, it is considered inadvisable to petition Ogun while menstruating or with a bleeding wound. Oil contains musk, frankincense, crushed nutmeg and 3 malachite stones.

Chango (Xango, Shango) is a warrior, the Orisha of lightning, dance, and passion. He is the epitome of all things masculine, and the dispenser of vengeance on behalf of the wronged. Shango was likely once a Yoruban King. He is associated with St. Barbara. His colors are red and white, and his best known symbol is the oshe, a double bladed axe. He is sometimes associated with Vodoun’s Petro Loa, Erzulie Dantor. oil contains Honeysuckle, cinnamon, and sandalwood, honeysuckle flowers and 6 garnets.

Obatala (virgin mercedes)is the creator God, of whom all of the Orishas are but aspects. His color is white, containing all the colors of the rainbow. He rules the mind and intellect, cosmic equilibrium, male and female. Obatalah’s counterpart in Vodoun, Damballah, takes the form of the primeval serpent. Obatala is considered to be beyond the sphere of direct communication; however, Damballah does possess his followers in Vodou rites. Damballah and his wife Ayida-Wedo, the rainbow serpent, are often compared to alchemical and yogic concepts of kundalini. Oil contains frangipani, ylang ylang, amber, lily of the valley, hibiscus flower, and 8 amethyst.

Yemaya (Yemoja, Iemanja) is associated with the Virgin Mary, virgin regla and the goddess Isis, and the most beloved Orisha in Lukumi. She is the Goddess of the Ocean and the moon, guardian of women, childbirth, fertility, and witchcraft. She rules the subconscious and creative endeavors. Yemaya’s counterpart in Vodoun is called Lasiren, the mermaid. She is related to Mamiwata (Mama Water), the African water-spirit. Lasiren’s symbols are a mirror and comb, giving her an odd similarity to the Pictish sea goddess. There is a common legend about Yemaya choosing her own students- that occasionally someone will disappear, sometimes for seven years, and return with tales of having learned the ways of magick and healing in her undersea abode. This trope appears in many cultures’ legends of sea goddesses. In Lukumi, Yemaya’s colors are blue and white; in Vodou, blue and green. Her offerings are often doves, but never fish. Oil contains lavender, lily of the valley, rose, lavender buds and 7 stones of blue topaz and clear quartz.

Oshun (known as Oxum in Brazil, Lady of caridad) rules the ’sweet’ waters- rivers, brooks, and streams. Oshun is closely related to Yemaya, and their aspects sometimes overlap. She is the goddess of love, passion, and sensuality, as well as money and prosperity. Her preferred offerings are honey, copper jewelry or coins (usually in multiples of five). She is most often associated with St. Cecilia, and in Lukumi, she is Our Lady of La Caridad del Cobre, the protectress of Cuba. Her colors are yellow and gold. In Vodoun, Oshun is known as Erzulie. Erzulie’s colors are shades of pink. While Erzulie and Ochun are very much alike, Erzulie has a vengeful, implacable aspect when angered. Her aspect Erzulie Dantor is a fierce protector of women, an avenger of domestic violence, and a patron of lesbians. Contains jasmine, neroli, cinnamon, anise seed and 5 coral pieces.

Orunla (st. Francis)is the Santeria God of Fate, owner of divination, and giver of wisdom to find solutions to all of life's problems. Orunala is likened to St. Francis of Asisi because of their simialr humbleness and simplicity. Orunla works transmitting the will of Olofi to those of us here on earth. All major decisions of the religion must have the approval of Orunla and an individual's guardian angel must be determined by Orunla though a specialized ritual consulting the Oracle. Orunla is the great benefactor of humanity and its principal adviser. He reveals the future through the secret of Ifa, the supreme oracle. Orunla is also a great healer. Whoever ignores his advice may suffer the curse of Echu (not a good thing).
Orunla's favorite animals and objects include kola nuts, palm nuts, and crocodiles. His power object is the ifa board, which is a percussion instrument used in ceremony. A whisk of horse hair is also used to drive away evil. Offerings to Orunla should include yams and black chickens. sandalwood, musk, neroli, red sandalwood chips, and 4 citrine stones.

***NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SET but are available for purchase-
Oya (Yansa) is the Goddess of Storms, Lightning, and cemeteries. She is a warrior, the wife of Chango. Her color is maroon. She epitomizes female power and righteous anger. In Vodou, Oya is called Manman Brigitte, the swaggering, rum drinking wife of Baron. She may be directly related to the Greek warrior goddess Minerva, through her Irish counterpart Brighid.

Babalu Aye (st. lazarus) is the Orisha who governs epidemics and heals infectious diseases. Though originally associated with smallpox, many of today's worshippers appeal to BabaluAye for healing from HIV/AIDs. Call upon his for any health matter, ut leave him an offering as he is overworked! His colors are brown, black, and purple. His number is 17. His symbols are two dogs and crutches. He is portrayed dressed in burlap. He is offered white wine, popcorn, sesame seed candy, and a variety of grains, beans, and seeds.

Luisah Teish's book "Jambalaya"

2010-02-22T10:40:00.001-05:00

http://luisahteish.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Luisah Teish's book Jambalaya blew my mind when I discovered it. It came at a time when I was discovering my own ancestry, my ties to new orleans and how closely I felt to voodoo and hoodoo practices. It deepened my spirituality on so many levels, as a woman and a witch. It is a book I can not wait to pass onto my daughter. Each time I pick it up (probablly once a year) I discover something new inside. A wealth of hard to find information and practices. It has made me who I am today and has inspired me and rooted my realationships with the orixa. I wish every book I invested in gave back this much. Check it out!

NEW Saint Oils, Alchemical Candles, and Jerusalem Rose Water!

2010-02-21T18:34:00.000-05:00

In the works for my hoodoo hunnies! More oils, waters, and magickal goodies tomorrow! Stayed tuned to ConjuredCardea.etsy.com

Marie Leveau Invocation Set

2010-02-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

ConjuredCardea.etsy.com
New Orleans legendary Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, was a very powerful women. It is said she could fix court cases, persuade police, that her gris gris bags were sold for thousands of dollars and that she had 12,000 devotees of every color. She was a healer, a magician, a saint, and a snake handler. To this day, if you visit her grave in New Orleans, bring her an offering, draw 3 X's on her tomb and knock 3 times, and your request will be answered.
In this set, I have included a 1/2 ounce bottle of my original recipe designed to invoke and honor Marie. Created with rose, lavender, orange, and lime. A seashell and coarse sand from Vieques has been added, as she seems to like it as an offering:) Marie and I are close, I keep a picture of her hanging in my kitchen (she and my goddess-mother, who taught me much about magick, look a lot alike) and she oversees much of my spiritual work.
You will also receive a votive candle luminary (candle included) with 13 images of Marie, her tomb, and her snake. A perfect beginners altar set up, devotional for small spaces, or just a unique way to make daily devotions convenient. A charming, affordable altar set!
Contact me about making a custom set for your deity! I have made dozens of custom sets, they are a wonderful, unique way to honor your deity.

Namaste'
ConjuredCardea.etsy.com

NEW Oil-Gypsy Gold

2010-02-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

An charming 5 ml amber glass bottle with natural cork, suitable for any decked-out or humble altar! This oil provides opportunity, develops relationships with clients, draws business, promotes your skills, helps get resumes looked at, initiates interviews, promotes confidence, and remedies unemployment! Not a bad idea considering the economy! Why not give it a try, you never know, it may be just the little helping hand you need to promote confidence and get that interview! Created from lily of the valley, musk, honeysuckle, and gardenia, YUM! I've thrown a piece of pyrite (fool's gold) in for extra success power! Anoint yourself, your mojo bag, candles, charms, whatever, with this lavishly rich oil! You can't beat it! Good luck!

Authentic Oils?

2010-02-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

So what exactly does that mean anyway. What it means to me is that when you purchase one of my oils (or any other product for that matter) you can rest assured that you are receiving a top-notch item. All of my herbal ritual oils are what I refer to as "set" oils. Meaning it's not just2 fluid ounces of fresh base oil with some herbs dropped in it. Where would the ashe' be if the herbs haven't steeped in the oil? Could you even consider that a legitimate "ritual" oil? Sure, the oil would be ready for you to use in a few weeks but you need it NOW! The bottles of ritual oils I sell are filled with oil that comes from large jars that have set with the recipe of herbs/roots (many that I have grown organically myself!) in it for at least a year; I have huge jars of my most commonly used and purchased oils that I have had marinating for 10 years! Talk about pure, authentic oils! Vitamin E is added so the oils do not go rancid. I then fill your order from my large "mama" bottle (if it's Ashe' Gbongo oil you've ordered, it gets filled from my mama bottle of Ashe' Gbongo and so on), then add some fresh herbs/roots, according to what that specific ritual oil calls for s it stays super potent and keeps on getttin' richer for ya!
When you purchase curio ritual oils from large companies that claim they are a "one-stop ritual supply", look at the ingredients; the bottles contain oil and dyes...NO herbs are actually used at all!
Sure, intention and focus is a lot of it, but when you're buying "High John the Conqueror" oil, wuldn't you expect some High John root to be there? Call me crazy...
Just because a company sells a lot of something, doesn't mean it's authentic or better. It just means a lot of people have fallen for it.
Witches are super smart people, so why not research what you're buying first?

Witches are Resourceful

2010-02-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love about being a witch and about folk magic is the way we can come up with a magickal use for just about anything. Folk magick practitioners have always been adept at using whatever they had around and associating it's mundane properties with magickal properties. An example, alum.
When I think of alum,Ii think of the old cartoons where the mischievious character would give an innocent bystander alum and their mouth would shrivel up into a pucker, expressing the saltiness and ability to draw one's mouth shut. This translates to it's magickal ability to draw your desires to you and to stop gossip. Another one is Mexican anil, or laundry blueing. Once folks found out about the magickal properties of copper and the color cerulean blue, they found that this ordinary whiteneing agent for clothes became a charm capabale of enchanting whatever you desire.
Folk magic is about using what you have to focus and direct your energy, recycling scraps into something new, healing yourself naturally and magcikally, and creating possibilities and a better life. All while being self-sufficient, creative, resourceful, and frugal.

NEW for YOU!

2010-02-15T18:36:00.000-05:00

SUPER excited! So many new hoodoo goodies are in store for my clients! Coming this week;

Blueing Balls, Alum, Lodestones, Iron Filings, Buckeyes, NEW Specialty Oils, Graveyard Dirt and more!

Catch them tomorrow at ConjuredCardea.etsy.com!

Namaste'
Sarah

2010-02-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

My latest creation, just for my Hoodoo Hunnies out der!

Arabka Soudager-Specialty Oil-Business, Abundance, Manifestation, Love

Description

I have researched this name for a long time, and can not find the meaning of it, only that it appears to be rooted in Arabic. It is, however, a phenomenal recipe that packs a hoodoo wallop!
This recipe has been used for ages for more and better business and a better love life!
This oil rids you of blockages and purifies and calms the mind, thus leading to success. Most of the time, I find people have placed these blockages in their own minds. They don't think their ideas are good enough, or that their not smart enough, or not worth enough to have a successful life! Come on...you know you got it goin' on!
Let this oil help rid your mind of those negative thoughts holding your love and prosperity back! You deserve to be successful in love and life! Work hard, be honest, say a little prayer, throw some of this on a candle...and you're set hunny!
Created with Frankincense, rose, vanilla, cinnamon, and fresh crushed tonka bean.
Smells fantastic! Anoint yourself, wallet, door, cash box, register, front steps, you name it! The more you use the more ideas you create and that is the goddess speaking to you! 5 ml amber bottle with natural cork.

Conjured Cardea

Novena-Make It Do What It Do

Lupercalia; The Pagan Origin of Valentine's Day

Who is Cardea?

A Working for Santa Muerte

Open Your Own Awareness

Setting of Lights for Ogun

1 Corinthians 5:3-5

Lamp for Ogun

Photos of 2011

Blessings for New Year

Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative - Fundly.com

Accepting Your Ashe'

Lwa Erzulie

The Ways of Gris Gris

Attraction Powder Working

Using the Quiet of Winter

Fear and Mistakes

Raising "Pagan" Children

Doesn't Jesus Hate Pagans?

The Custom of the Dumb Supper

How to Feed and Care For a Mojo

The Mysterious Pomba Gira

Working with Saint Expedite

How To Work a Candle-Vodoun Style

Mojuba-The Art of Offering, Patience, Acceptance, and Faith

Disservices of Big-Box Botanicas

"Workin" My Famous Attraction Powder

A "Spiritual Lifestyle"

Sors Istennok; "The Destiny Goddesses"

Sacred Egyptian Kyphi-week 3

The Magick of Hedge Apples (Osage Oranges)

the beginning of my kyphi (kapet) process...

10-10-10 Coven Oya Ritual

Pokeweed, one of my favorite autumn plants

La Sal Negro...A Family Tradition

Oya's Altar

Recommended Readings...

This year's garden

Dittany of Crete-The Glamoury Herb

My Apothecary

Elegua...

High John, Southern John, and Little John-Which John is Which?

Why on earth would I work with a death deity?!

Voodoo Lily and Lords and Lady Lily

Ide-My Orisha Bracelets

"Hoodoo Moma" by Luisah Teish

ah, the infamous Graveyard Dirt

Saint Cyprian of Anitoch-Patron Saint of Witches

Spring Cleaning-Hoodoo Style

Photos for Missy

"They're not a REAL witch"

7 African Power-Orisha Oils

Luisah Teish's book "Jambalaya"

NEW Saint Oils, Alchemical Candles, and Jerusalem Rose Water!

Marie Leveau Invocation Set

NEW Oil-Gypsy Gold

Authentic Oils?

Witches are Resourceful

NEW for YOU!

Arabka Soudager-Specialty Oil-Business, Abundance, Manifestation, Love

Description