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

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

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"Hoodoo Moma" by Luisah Teish

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.

The Infamous Graveyard Dirt

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 or an herbal mix. There is no authenticity when the earth has no story or experience 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, which is incorrect. Graveyard dirt is an enhancer, a powerful gris gris to invoke the true strength of our workings. 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. One must get in touch with the grave's spirit and make a respectful request and offering before 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 magical endeavors.

Saint Cyprian of Anitoch-Patron Saint of Witches

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

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!