Hoodoo Workshops 2012

Posted on May 13, 2012 by

Any excuse to leave the City and head North to Forestville is good enough for us. This time it was to attend the wonderful Lucky Mojo Curio Company Workshop Weekend put on by the Missionary Independent Spiritual Church. Last year had been a blast and this year looked to be even better. We were excited to make the trip and happy to be able to have two days of absorbing the great energy of the Lucky Mojo grounds. This year we brought a friend, Claudia, who was our fearless and smooth navigator/driver. We were all amused to find that the Zipcar we had secured for the weekend was a giant, candy apple red, Mom-mobile, minivan! Road Party! It felt like we were in our own private jumbo jet as we sailed across the Golden Gate Bridge to our destination.

 

Remembering the ridiculous amount of hard work required to get everything ready, on track, and running smoothly last year, Sara and I had previously offered our services to Sister Robin Petersen, Manager and all around Super Woman of the shop, and she gladly accepted. As soon as we ran up to the shop we got busy and stayed helpful for the entire weekend. It felt great to give back in any small way that we were able to, be it stuffing goodie-bags for workshops or moving tables and chairs. Some workshops we took together and some separately, so here’s what our weekend was like…

The Workshops

Sarayeye, A Santeria Blessing and Road Opening Ceremony

Arriving at Lucky Mojo early this year was a treat, as last year we had a late start and missed the opening ceremony. Since this year’s opening was going to be a Sarayeye Afro-Cuban Lukumi Blessing and Road Opening Ceremony led by Dr. E, we were elated to have made it with plenty of time to spare.

This was a beautiful way to start off the entire workshop weekend. Dr. E. performed this ceremony with the assistance of his lovely mother, Vicky, as well as fellow practitioners Lou Florez and Conjureman Ali. Dr. E gathered the long stems of herbs needed for the ceremony from the grounds of Lucky Mojo and arranged everyone into a circle, in order from youngest to oldest. The branches to be used for the cleansing were sprayed with rum, smoked with a cigar and the oracles were consulted for approval before beginning. Dr. E. taught us the call and response chant, which brought us all together, making the bond even stronger, all of our voices becoming powerful as one. Starting with the youngest person first, we each stepped into the circle to be brushed off with the blessed branches by Dr. E., Vicky or Conjureman Ali and then back to our places, chanting back and forth with Dr. E. the whole time. The best part was Sophie, Cat and Nagasiva’s beautiful Portuguese water dog, racing back and forth across the circle with excitement, jumping around, barking here and there amongst the chanting and generally getting charged up!

It was a pleasure to see the care and respect with which the Opening was conducted. The cigar smoke, the mouth-sprayed rum, the long herb branches, all brought a feeling of contentedness to the morning. Off to a very good start, there were tears, laughter and smiles all around on everyone’s faces.

 

While Sara went off to do the Prosperity Class with Sindy Todo and Susan Diamond, I grabbed a cup of good urn-brewed coffee and went to see my favorite chickens in all of California. The coop was buzzing with activity and I sat on the concrete viewing bench to watch as the frizzly little cuties pecked around and crowed at me. It was a wonderful day already, the sun (outside of San Francisco especially) not being shy and coming on in full force. Thankfully, there are plenty of purposefully overgrown nooks to sit under and get a reprieve from the sun, if needed.  The clean air and warm sun were working wonders on my mood.

 

Prosperity Spells: Money Drawing in the Conjure Tradition

Sara: Taught by the exquisite Auntie Sindy Todo and Susan Diamond, this workshop was fantastic and turned out to be quite different than what I expected…in a good way! I thought we would go step by step through one or two specific money drawing spells, but it ended up being a lot more thorough and in-depth. The main focus of the workshop was your mindset when doing prosperity spells and narrowing in on what it is you really want before you start asking for it. I think this is something many, many people overlook and it was a great approach to teaching this kind of work. The idea that it’s not so much about what color your candle is or what kind of oil you use, but that your intent must be very clear and focused. Not that your candles, oils and other items aren’t important – those are your tools and should definitely be chosen thoughtfully, but it’s not the tools that make things happen…it’s you. Sindy and Susan really got the point across that you’ll have difficulty being successful with prosperity work if you can’t get to the true root of what it is you want. Susan gave a great example of her own experience with this when she needed a new car. She recounted that she had been doing work to draw in money so that she could afford to buy a car, but after working this for a time, there wasn’t any real movement. Then she changed her approach to focus on getting the car and not the money. Wouldn’t you know it, before too long it worked out that someone ended up giving her a car! Sindy and Susan taught me that to be successful at drawing things into your life you need be honest with yourself about what it is you need, let go of worrying about how it will come and be open to receiving in unexpected ways. The take-away treat from this workshop was a magical Rose of Jericho plant. Also known as the Resurrection Plant, this thing is amazing! A desert plant that can live without water for long periods of time, it stays curled in on itself like a cocoon and looks like it’s dead. When placed in a shallow dish of water it miraculously unfurls and turns green again! You can place your petitions and charms amongst it’s fern like leaves and then let close up again, going through this cycle rebirth over and over. In the last week, I’ve found it to be quite powerful to have this living creature on my altar and it’s made me tend to my altar a lot more than I already do.

 

Supernatural Protection and Spirit Traps

Next up was Conjureman Ali’s workshop on Supernatural Protection and Spirit Traps, which we took together.

Joseph: It was great getting to meet Conjureman Ali this year, as he did not attend the workshops last year. Having him sign his St. Cyprian book was a nice addition to the weekend. As a University Lecturer, Conjureman Ali is a natural fit to speak and teach in front of many people. His clear way of speaking and immense knowledge on the subject made every minute full of valuable information. We discussed Djinn Traps and Bowls, Witch Bottles, and other Spirit Traps throughout the years and different continents. While we were not strangers to witch bottles and spirit traps, having him there to add flavor to each ingredient we added was a worthwhile addition. We got to make and take home beautiful cobalt blue glass spirit traps.

Sara: I was super excited to take this workshop and to hear Conjureman Ali speak on this subject. Well, I was excited to hear Conjureman Ali speak on any subject really (!), but definitely this one in particular. Being a lecturer is already one of his many talents, so needless to say he was an excellent speaker. He started with the history of supernatural protection and spirit traps and went into various methods and techniques before guiding us through making our own spirit bottle in the Hoodoo tradition. Having my own interest in ancient cultures, it was especially interesting to hear him speak of his personal travels and experiences throughout the world. I learned that this kind of work is not tied to a specific tradition and the methods for creating and using sprit vessels across all cultures have lots of commonalities. We got to make our own spirit bottle and it was a great hands-on experience to understand the principles behind it. We each got a cobalt blue, corked bottle and filled them with ingredients intended to lure and bind the spirit, as well as herbs for protection.

 

Each day saw a spread of food that made us happily groan with pleasure. Swedish meatballs, huge salads, lasagna, gumbo, baked beans, delicious chili, bread, rolls, cookies, the list goes on and on. Everyone who was for want of nourishment got well fed and more than a few had to be rolled to their cars at the end of each day. Piling a plate with home-cooked food, in Miss Cat’s kitchen, among the vintage Halloween decorations is always a treat for me and worth the price of the weekend. Even if you end up taking only one Workshop, the grounds are open to all and the food and company is included.

 

Bone Reading: Hands on Training

The wonderful Miss Catherine Yronwode just wrote a book titled, Throwing The Bones: How To Foretell The Future With Bones, Shells, And Nuts, which is an amazing resource.  Everyone got a copy of the book, as well as a starter bone reading set. For those of us who had already purchased this set prior to the workshop, we got to trade in the set from the workshop and pick out an equivalent value of new pieces to add to our existing set. This is another workshop that we took together.

Joseph: This workshop was mainly spent going over the book and listening to Miss Cat speak about the different ways to divine using these different techniques, as well as all the interesting tidbits and stories she encountered while researching the book. Since I already had the starter bone set, at the table that was laid out with dozens of different bones and other additions, I traded mine in for the Human Finger Bone I have been coveting, as well as another doll arm, doll’s head, and petrified walrus molar. The extra cash I had to kick in, on top of the credit I got for trading in the set, was well worth it. The workshop concluded with Cat doing an example reading for us in the way that she finds most effective for her. It was good to see her go through a bone divination, even if it was a quick one. Sometimes just seeing someone else do work that you do yourself is enough to bolster one’s idea that they are doing it correctly.

Sara: Cat’s knowledge on this subject is immense and she covered a very thorough overview of bone reading in about an hour and a half. It’s always mind-melting to listen to Miss Cat speak on a specific subject because she is a seemingly limitless fountain of knowledge. I did learn a lot about bone reading, but it was more from a theoretical aspect and I did wish we had more time to go through the practical applications with a little more hands-on guidance. Since I already had the starter set, I was able to trade for two cat ankle bones, a lion paw bone and a circular rabbit amulet made of carved bone. I can’t wait to finish reading the book, consecrate my bones and start learning how to read this powerful oracle.

 

The Bone Reading Workshop brought the first day to a close and we mingled among, and talked with, old friends and acquaintances, as well as new folks we were able to meet for the first time. All instructors made themselves very available for questions and additional comments and there was a general atmosphere of community. It is always worth it to be able to mingle amongst so many practitioners, students, and fellow magical persons in such a nice, lush setting.

To save on cash we decided to make the drive to and from Lucky Mojo from SF each day, since it’s only about an hour and half. The drive back was gone in a flash as we discussed everything that had happened that first day and all of the conversations we had with various friends. We had a small after party/gathering at the house and continued our conversation on magical workings into the morning. Sleep came on easily and heavy.  The next morning saw a groggy, coffee fueled wake up for us all. As we were carrying our coffees to the Red Rocketship we were piloting, a giant Raven descended and took a passing interest in us….cawing and side stepping around us. Always a good sign!

 

Working with Santisima Muerte

Joseph: Sunday’s Workshop day started with Lou Florez’s ‘Working with Santisima Muerte’ class. Anyone coming onto the Lucky Mojo grounds, and peeking under the giant double tent set up for the larger classes, was greeted by the grand Santisima Muerte altar that had been previously set up the morning before by Lou Florez and Sister Robin. It was a sight to behold and certainly one of the largest and most powerful altars I had laid eyes on. The workshop focused on proper veneration of Santisima Muerte, as well as the proper construction of prepared and loaded sugar skull candles. Lou Florez is an extremely knowledgeable practitioner and petitioner and it showed during his presentation. The love coming off of him for working with Santisima Muerte was infectious. Personally, I have felt drawn to her for some time, but did not want to approach lightly or frivolously, or until I felt right about doing so. During the class, while extremely focused on constructing my sugar skull and candle, I felt it. I actually felt the pull intensify and click. (More blog posts to come on the continuing acknowledgement from and to Santisima Muerte!) We shared bowls of herbs, resins, and decorations. We were told the altar was up and running and was available for any of us to approach and petition, or leave our skull candle petitions, lit, on the altar. Many people leaving the workshop needed a minute to reflect on their experience. It was a personal highlight of the entire weekend for me.

 

The Cursing Colloquium: Beyond the Valley of the Doll-Babies

This workshop was very different from all the others, as it was set up as a panel discussion with no hands-on activities – just listen and learn from those who know best! The panel consisted of Deacon Millet, Ms. Robin York, Dr. E., Conjureman Ali, Miss Catherine Yronwode and Nagasiva Yronwode. We also took this workshop together.

 

Joseph: The panelists went down the row and alternated telling tips and tricks for cursing and crossing work. The hour and a half could have easily been extended to 2 to 4 hours with the amount of information that was being shared and the questions being answered. We were all privy to a particular cursing work done very successfully by Miss Cat using tarot cards. One of the clear highlights of the weekend was getting to watch Cat demonstrate a proper way to curse someone using their foot tracks, a multi-tailed leather whip, and enough curse words to empty out a saloon.  With each of the six panel individuals sharing advice, the time flew by. Each person was given a few really valuable hand-outs, a package of herbs and a white candle for cleansing after performing a curse, and a random package of cursing, jinxing, or crossing incense, sachet powder, or bath crystals. This was particularly a good idea as it gave the receiver a product that they may have never purchased or used for themselves. A few attendees walked away from the class glad to have taken it, and even more sure that cursing work was not right for them. Others left with a new bag of tricks to think on!

Sara: Throughout the workshop the panelists went down the line, taking turns sharing their favorite ways to perform cursing, jinxing, break-up and reversing work. It was especially great to listen to Nagasiva, as he doesn’t usually give workshops or take on students, so his personal practices were not familiar to me and his thoughts and ideas on this subject were extremely interesting and insightful. Ms. Robin shared a coffin-shaped mirror box she made, while Miss Cat demonstrated how to whip someone’s foot tracks. Armed with a real whip, Miss Cat smacked the table yelling out all the curse words you can imagine and, although we were all cracking up, she definitely made her point! We each got handouts on various methods of performing this kind of work, as well as packets of Lucky Mojo incense, sachet powder or bath crystals – each person’s bag had two packets and everyone’s was different. For all the nice, helpful work I know these practitioners do, it was really exciting to see this “other side” to them. It proved that doing cursing doesn’t mean you’re a black-hearted person or worshiping evil (which is a common misconception) and showed that you can have a balance in the type of work you do for your clients.

 

Directly after the Cursing Workshop ended, Sister Robin appeared with a cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to Miss Cat, as her special day always occurs very near the weekend’s early May date. Smiles and hugs were freely available and cake was passed out to the sweet-toothed attendees and teachers.

It was great to see the tents being used for individual readings in between classes. Miss Michaele was there offering readings, as well as Miss Elvyra Curcuruto-Love. Students traded readings with each other and handfuls of business cards were exchanged. Networking, conversation, and spirited back-and-forths were blooming up all over the grounds. The shop was open each day and it is always great to have a few hours of down-time between classes to browse the shelves of the shop looking for lost treasures and new items to add to the arsenal. The shop was extremely well staffed and working on super-crazy-over-drive. The phone was ringing off the hook, random walk-ins were brisk as ever, and the many attending the workshops were rubbing elbows as they browsed the wares together.

After milling about for a bit, we went to Carr’s Drive-In for some ridiculously good (as always) food and expertly made lemonades. We talked for at least an hour about all the people we knew on-line that we were able to meet, how well the day was progressing, and traded notes about the previous workshops.

 

Egg Cleansing and the Meditation of Saint Michael

Sara: This was the last workshop of the whole weekend and was intentionally scheduled after the Cursing Colloquium. It was the second workshop taught by Auntie Sindy Todo and Susan Diamond and it was my favorite workshop of the whole weekend. Held under the tents on the lawn of the Lucky Mojo grounds, Sindy and Susan had everyone clear themselves and their stuff out of the space and move all tables out, leaving only a few rows of chairs. Both dressed all in ivory, they proceeded to smoke and cleanse the space with what I believe was a mix of sage and Palo Santo, and the we were allowed to take our seats. We each received a brown chicken egg that came from the black hens that live at Lucky Mojo – amazing. They talked to us about the power of Saint Michael, the Archangel, and stressed that you don’t have to be Catholic to call on him; that he is found across many cultures and religions and is here to help us. We all closed our eyes and breathed deeply while Susan led us through a guided meditation to bring in Saint Michael. As she spoke, we held the egg over our chakra points and allowed the egg to absorb the energies causing blocks in those areas. Sindy walked among us all, assisting those who needed help when their energy was feeling stuck. Only a few minutes into the meditation, I began weeping. Not sobbing or even feeling sad, but just weeping. Tears are cleansing and the power of this experience was completely involuntary. Saint Michael was there with us, I could feel it, and it moved me like a ton of bricks. With his mighty sword, he cut through the spheres of negative goop that block the smooth flow of energy through my body and the egg was there to collect it, so as not to send those negative things back out into the world. The small brown eggs felt so light and delicate when we first received them, but after the meditation my egg felt like it was full of oatmeal – heavy and goopy. It was very surreal but undeniable. Afterward, I was able to catch Auntie Sindy and, with tears still streaming down face, thank and hug her for this life-changing experience.

 

The list of people we were able to meet, or catch up with, is huge. Some of the greatest people were in attendance and we were able to meet so many friends and acquaintances. Being among others that share your passion for hoodoo and magic is highly recommended. Whether to cement the fact that you can hold your own in conversation regarding magical workings, or to just be among a large group of people who will not laugh if you bring up a magical topic, but will share your enthusiasm, as well as share advice and their own thoughts on the matter. Physically being IN a group of your community and peers is as positive as any situation that I can think of.

A huge thank you goes out to Miss Catherine Yronwode and all at the Lucky Mojo Curio Company for allowing us the opportunity to gather, learn, trade information, and have one hell of a weekend bash. For allowing us access to their home and grounds and putting so much energy into whipping an entire weekend full of magic into shape. Sara and I hope to be able to do the same in the future and these last two years of attending the Workshop Weekends have given us such a standard to live up to!

For further pictures from the weekend, please check out “Love Potion No. 9” (also known as Trisha) Flickr page, as ours are still being sorted and edited.

Posted in Hoodoo, Magical Goods, Nature, Personal, Psychic, Rootwork | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Of Ancestors, Native Americans and Blackened Candles

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

I’ve been working with my ancestors a lot the last few months, as well as my animal spirits.  My ancestor altar is right next to my animal spirit altar and, although I don’t mix them together, it works well for me to have them side by side.  The basis of a lot of my animal spirit work comes from Native American traditions, such as studying and using my Animal Medicine Cards.

I wanted to do some candle work with my ancestors recently and I decided to use an Indian Spirit Guide candle to sort of bridge the elements I had been working with.  Since I had been connecting with my animal spirits through the Native American tradition, and having some success, I thought I would use that connection to help draw my ancestors closer.  I thought that the “Great Chief” might assist the communication between me and my ancestors.  Spoiler alert, I learned my lesson!

 

I placed the Indian Spirit Guide candle on my ancestor altar, dressed it and prayed over it, placed the pictures of my ancestors around it and asked for the Great Chief to serve as a guide to bring me and my ancestors closer and help us communicate.  I lit the candle and never snuffed it out for the seven days it took to burn down.

 

The candle started out burning very clean and even.  When I checked on it and sat with it, it was burning smooth and steady.  About half way through, on day three or four, the black soot started appearing.  Now when I checked on it, it was burning more erratically and was getting hard to even see the flame through the glass because of the coating of black soot.  Now when I sat with it, I got a more uneasy feeling, a sort of “hurry up and get this over with” feeling.  Nonetheless, I left it where it was and let it burn all the way out.  By the time it was done, at least three-quarters of the glass was black with soot.  Now, I’ve had some candles get sooty around the top before, but never that much or that thick.  Never ever.

 

So what did it mean?!  Having sat with the candle and my ancestors for a little bit each day, my feeling was that they just didn’t like each other.  Not that the Great Chief or my ancestors didn’t want to work with me, but that they weren’t happy with each other…they didn’t want to help each other and were maybe a little upset with me for putting them together.  But why?

Most of you already know this about me, but I also study genealogy and am working towards my professional certification (you can check out my genealogy blog at The Rootyard Porter).  Genealogy and ancestor work go hand-in-hand for me, so I turned to my research to see if I could figure out why my ancestors and the Great Chief were so opposed to each other.  My maiden name is Benefield and most (but not all) of the pictures on my ancestor altar are from the Benefield side of my family.  About a year ago, I came across a book written by another genealogist that was specifically about my Benefield family and their origins from France and England to North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.  In this book I found the answers I was looking for!

There are transcriptions of two different letters, written and signed by a group of men in Heard County, Georgia in 1836, addressed to the Governor asking for assistance.  The men were asking the Governor to send military troops to guard their towns from the “savage Indians”.  Four of the men who signed those letters are my Benefield ancestors, one of which I have a picture of on my ancestor altar.  Georgia in 1836 was going through the Second Creek War (or The Creek War of 1836).  The white men were taking more and more of the native land and there had already been many brutal battles.  You can read more about the Second Creek War here and here, but in a nutshell the Native Americans were bearing in on them…

 “In the spring of 1836, the Yuchi, Hitchiti and other bands launched a campaign to drive white intruders from their lands…the war parties burned homes and farms, killed whole families, disrupted the mail stages and destroyed the town of Roanoke, Georgia by burning it to the ground.”

 

Needless to say, the white men and their families were afraid of the Native Americans and felt they had to defend their homes, right or wrong.  My ancestors and the other men of the county describe their experiences…

“The undersigned beg leave to represent your Excellency that the entire frontier from West Point upward is exposed to the tommahauk [sic] and scalping knife of the savage….we know not how soon our wives and children and relations may be bleeding under the reeking knife of the red-stick and our homes and plantations crumbling under their curling flames.”

“…many of the citizens took alarm at the menaces of the Indians and fled from their homes and in very many instances leaving all their property behind them….our roads here are crowded in every direction by men, women and children flying from the savage and trying to make their escape….thus in a few hours was a scope of well settled country of 30 or 40 miles in manner depopulated….the upper and lower Creeks are expected soon to unite and make common cause by frequent attacks upon our citizens”

 

So after this little history lesson, to bring it back around, it’s very clear to me now why my candle burned the way it burned.  All of a sudden I felt like, how dare I use a Native American spirit to help me connect with Benefield ancestors!  These men actually battled with the Native American tribes around them.  How could I do such a thing!  My next course of action was to cleanse my ancestor altar and try really hard to make nice.  We’ve since made up with each other and I’ve discovered that my pendulum is a much better tool to use with my ancestors.  I’ve also made up with my Native American allies and keep them happy working with my animal spirits…separately.

I really learned how to listen to my ancestors and other spirits through this experience.  I also learned about the focus of energy in doing candle work.  It was an amazing feeling to dig a little deeper, outside the magical realm, and be able to put an actual, real-life experience in context with what was happening on my altar; to find that bridge between the historical past and the spirits who carry those experiences.

Thanks for reading,

Sara Magnuson

(candle purchased from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.; genealogy book – Footsteps To The Past, by Charlene Francis Gifford Bakkensen, 1993)

 

 

 

Posted in Altars, ancestors, Candlework, Divination, Hoodoo, Ritual, Rootwork, Sara | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Currently Constructed Condition Oils

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

New Batch of Psychic Boost Oil

We have finally finished three condition oils. It took a few months of experimenting, tweaking recipes, and letting the “final” mixtures sit and set, but success has occurred!

We don’t take making oils lightly…at all. Working magic is already such a personal thing in most cases that even buying a pre-made magical product can be iffy. We have personally experienced absolute disappointment with a few of the commercially available products found in most shops. They didn’t smell or feel magical at all. They barely seemed like cleaning products. They appeared dead to us. Cold, dead, quickly prepared cheap oil spiked with a bare-bones and overused fragrance scent. Synthetic “majgickal oil” to be sold with the caveat that “the true magic lies within you, so it doesn’t really matter how authentic your tools are.” Rubbish.

All of our oils have actual Essential Oils (and only Essential Oils) to scent them. All of the Essential Oils are chosen first by their uses within the magical community, and then for their scent. This combination of similar attributes, as well as pleasingly scent, creates a truly magical Condition Oil. We only use the best carrier oils available. After all, these oils are going to be on your hands and used in actual work, they better be safe and beneficial in all regards. We also make sure that all of our oils have been made to ensure the longest shelf life possible. Some oils get finished rather quickly, but a few are used with less regularity. We want those to be able to provide use for years and not go rancid after a few months!

We decided to go with 1/2 ounce sizes. Why, you ask? This gives the user quite a bit of the oil to work with. This amount can easily cover 50+ dressed candles, be used many times over to anoint the body and objects, and not make you stress about using it all up within one sitting. The bottles are an attractive size and look good on our shelves, therefore we decided to stick with the 1/2 ounce size for now. We will, possibly, open ourselves up to providing different sizes in the future.

We have decided to color our oils for a few reasons. The first being that they look pleasing and we want anyone possessing our oils to be drawn to actually use them. Making many, many oils that all have a similar appearance starts to look like they are all the same. Though any experienced practitioner knows that these oils will work just fine on their own and uncolored, a lot of people react strongly to the color of the oil. We enjoy using the symbolism of the color with the oils. Anything that can possible accent the oils purpose is a good thing. Color, scent, and sight of the oils goes a long way to help focus the mind on the condition and work at hand. I have tried this both ways, while using an uncolored Psychic Boost Oil and then the same oil, but colored. I found myself being able to get into the mindset I needed quicker with the colored oil. The coloring we use is non-toxic and will not stain your hands. It is used in a quantity that is almost 1/5,000 ratio. For folks that prefer to use uncolored oils we can make them for you, however we would need 5 days to let them set.

The oils we currently have ready to go are as follows:

  • Van Van Oil – When we decided that the first oil we made would have to be a Van Van Oil, we thought, “sure, no problem.” Symbolically it was a no-brainer to choose as our first oil. It sends away the bad and draws in the good. Wipes away the bad luck and lets the good luck rain on in! Health, wealth, protection, luck, empowerment! We had to start with a Van Van. Then mixing time came. This seemingly simple oil is actually quite complex due to the many possible ratios that can be used. What we thought would be the “easiest” oil to make up ended up testing us and our commitment to tweak and blend until we went slightly mad. It worked! (The oil, not the madness…well, a little of both is good for everyone.) We were gifted with a spicy, citrus blend of goodness to help usher in positive new directions in life.
  • Peaceful Mind Oil – The idea for this oil started with my desire to rid myself of a pretty heavy bout of night-terrors that I was having. I was plagued by these on and off for years and decided to actively go about ending them once and for all! I set out a glass with fresh cool water on my bedside each night and started to do Peace of Mind work using this oil mixture on light blue candles. It took about 3 full months of water glass/dressed candle work, but I have been free of the night-terrors steadily since then. I knew then that I wanted to perfect the oil and try to bolster it a bit. The result of blending, letting set, and re-blending for a month and a half finally paid off. This warm, calming, floral scented oil is made specifically to calm and focus the mind, especially during times of stress or helplessness.
  • Psychic Boost Oil – I wish I could have been working with an oil like this for the earlier part of my life. It would have been a great reason for me to set aside the time to focus on honing the craft of divination and psychic communication. I set out to create an oil that would take the Essential Oils that send my mind over the top, and wide open,  and dilute them into a useable Psychic Boost Oil. A small dab on the middle eye or back of the neck is enough to tune me in to any psychic work that I am doing. A tiny coating on a candle will be more than enough to release the power of these strong plant’s powers. As I am ever learning, I find myself using this oil the most out of all three of these listed. Perfect for when I am preparing to do readings, work, or meditation. The final blend is a slightly sweet, but pungent and powerful oil that will help loosen your mind and further aid in your psychic development.

Psychic Boost Oil

All of our oils have been lovingly prepared by the two of us in small batches. We want a final product that we feel as excited about selling to others as well feel about using them for ourselves! Each Condition Oil (and there are 3 more on the way in the near future) has a blend of at least three Essential Oils with the most EO’s used in one blend hitting six! I hope to get my butt in gear and get them listed in the Etsy store in the next 2 days.  Stay tuned for more info, fun, news, and posts.

Oh rats, I didn’t even get to tell you about how the Norse Gods and Goddesses have been whispering to me, lately! Where does the time go… Save that one for another post, then.

-Joseph Magnuson

Posted in CandleSmoke Store, Magical Goods, Oils | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

April Full Moon Work

Posted on April 13, 2012 by

Bringing Our Venus Mojo to Life

 

The April Full Moon brought power and energy like I have not witnessed before. We brought our Venus Mojo to life that night. It was a pretty powerful talisman to have been gifted. It was done on the full moon day of Friday, during the planetary hour of Venus. Other work was done as well that night, and many lights were lit throughout the house. Fresh cut roses perfumed the entire back of the house. Heavy incense curled through every doorway.

Posted in Altars, Candlework, Herbs, Hoodoo, Magical Goods | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Theme is The Dream

Posted on April 12, 2012 by

Andora is Almost Ready For Dream Time

Or, more appropriately, the theme of this post is a particular dream I had in the past.

It seems like April has started as the Dream Theme month. First came the amazing “Dream Description Drawing Contest” over at the fantastic Facebook page for Chrononym Laboratories.  A day later this great post over at By Stang and Eagle. Add that to the ebb and flow dream discussions occurring on Twitter and it would seem that dreams are in the Spring air.

I thought I would share one of the most vivid dreams I have had in a long time with you fine folks. This happened about two years ago and has stayed as vivid in my mind as it was the morning I awoke up from it.

I had a bit of trouble falling asleep that night. I turned the light on my nightstand off, pulled the covers over me and tried to settle in. It took a while on this particular night, but after about 30 minutes of deep breathing exercises I found myself being heavily lulled off to sleep. At first I remember being amused due to the fact that I would enter a “scene” like an alley way or a field by a river, and would just start to enjoy my surroundings, when all of a sudden the image I was holding of the “scene” would start to waver and eventually vanish completely. Between these different “scenes” (I’d say there were probably 5 or 6 of them in total) I found myself surrounded by a hazy mist-fog of undetermined structure or shape. I was not floating, as I distinctly remember that my feet were planted firmly on the ground.

After the first few times this happened I realized that I was searching for something…trying to find something or someone through the fog. By the second to last time I was starting to get worried, low level though, without any real panic. The last time this happened I appeared in the center of a deserted brick alleyway in a city. This time I was frantic. I could feel my heart beating against my chest. This time I understood what I was searching for, and why. It was my wife Sara, and I knew that she was not feeling well and that I needed to get to her.

As I realized the alley scene was staying for me, I started to examine the dumpsters and various fire escapes. I chose one and started to climb up the ladder to the first metal landing. I climbed up a few more flights and entered a door that led to one of the apartment building’s hallways. One door in the hall was ever so slightly cracked open. I didn’t catch the apartment’s number (though I wish I had) but understood that this was the door I needed to enter.

I placed my palm squarely in the middle of the apartment’s front door and slowly pushed it open. I stepped into a beautiful kitchen furnished circa middle-1900′s Americana. The overall color of the room was light green, yellow, and white. The L-shaped Formica counter was a thing of speckled beauty. The oval, off-green refrigerator of yesteryear was perfect. The table was covered with a checkerboard red and white cloth, the kind usually reserved for picnics, however this one was really cloth and not like the cheap plastic ones of today.

Sitting at this kitchen table, having a light meal of tea and sandwiches, were two African-American woman, clearly sisters, who appeared to be in their late 20′s. They barely looked up at me and continued to enjoy the spread set out before them. Leaning up against the counter was an African-American man who looked to be around 45 years old. He was dressed in tan pants, a plaid shirt, and suspenders. He eyed me with much more suspicion then the sisters could be bothered with.

I looked to my left and saw, through an open bedroom door, Sara laying on a cot or a small, single bed. She had a pillow placed under her head and had a blanket over her. She didn’t look to be in any danger at all, but did look ill. Symptoms of a possible fever or flu were visible. I immediately made for the room, my stomach starting to knot up. That’s when the first word of the dream was spoken.

“Wait a minute,” said the black man. It was not forceful, nor was it entirely soft. It was packed with enough authority, and demanded enough respect, that I stopped going to my wife’s bedside and turned to face the man. He went over to the table, picked up a silver bowl-shaped vessel which was being used to hold sugar or contain cream (or possibly gravy) and proceeded to dump out the contents into the sink. He then held the handle of the polished silver bowl in his left hand, raising it up, bottom facing towards me, until it was at face level. I could see my own reflection looking back at me.

He started to ask me questions about what I was doing in my life. I knew he meant my “real life” outside of the dream. I answered the questions he coolly shot at me. They all pertained to certain ingredients, roots, and ways to approach different magical situations for other people. He did not instruct me, comment, or let on that I was correct (which made me slightly nervous, as if I were taking a pop quiz on facts I already knew but was scared I would forget in the heat of the moment). His mouth had the thinnest smile on it, which became my single point of calmness. If he keeps that thin smile on his face then I’m alright here, I thought. I answered all of his questions truthfully and as best as I could.

I finally mustered up some courage, remembering that I felt the need to get to Sara as soon as I could, and asked, before he could shoot me another query, “The silver is so that I will have to tell you the truth, right?” I pointed to the silver vessel. The sisters immediately looked up at me from their table. All three seemed mildly shocked, almost amused, and immediately let their guard down a bit. I finally got the full smile across the man’s face that I had been waiting (though more like hoping) for. He did the smallest of chuckles and laid the silver bowl gently in the porcelain sink. The entire atmosphere of the room/dream changed in seconds. A weight was lifted.

The sisters smiled and went back to their tea and snacks, now with an added chatter of small talk and gossip. The man reclaimed his perch, leaning back against the counter and sipped his coffee. He motioned me, with a small, sideways head-nod and a scant flick of his fingers, toward the bedroom. I immediately broke my frozen stance and ran to the bedside. There, I found Sara to be slightly sick but recuperating nicely. Her fever had broke and she was enjoying her nap time. I came to find that the three people from the kitchen were looking after her and had said that they would protect her from anyone that tried to get to her. Since they did not know who I was they had to try and keep me from gaining access to her room.

The last thing I remember, before waking up, was my hand on Sara’s slightly warm and clammy forehead as I knelt next to her cot. The sounds behind me, coming from the kitchen, were warm and light-hearted as the three situated themselves around the table to do something. I got the impression it was to play something. Dominoes? Perhaps cards?

The dream is still as vivid as when I was dreaming it. I can describe lines in the man’s face. The few frayed strands of thread on his shirt. The bone white cabinets and beautiful kitchen curtains of faded yellow and green letting the city sun barely peek through. It stands as one of my most favorite dreams.

There is, of course, one more aspect to this story and if you’ve read this far I am sure it will delight you.

Sara (in real life) had recently finished up some seriously in-depth psychic vision spell work. Two weeks full of candles, concentration, oils, incense, powders, more concentration, many baths…all culminating in the construction of a psychic vision specific mojo bag. She then continued to work and dress the bag for a while after that. She was, at that time, sleeping with it pinned to the inside of her pillow. It happens that we decided to switch our bedroom to the room we currently sleep in, and our pillows got switched in the re-arrangement. For just that night. That is the dream it made manifest to me. I found this out later that day when (while making the bed look slightly more made) I felt the lump in, what I had thought to be, my pillow. I immediately called Sara and let her know. We were both speechless and giddy at the same time. I will carry this dream with me always.
-Joseph Magnuson

(Thanks to everyone who has been sharing their own dreams this month. It has been really great to read all of your stories.)

Posted in Divination, Dreams, Personal, Psychic, Sara | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Psychic Boost Oil Toils

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

This month has been a busy one. Are we really full steam ahead with this April thing? Seriously? Phew!

We both took a well deserved rest/party week in celebration of Sara’s Birthday on the 4th. Good times were had including, but not limited to; beer and bbq at a wooden tavern, fowl and fish at a different wooden palace, copious amounts of Maker’s Mark, genealogy books, a room full of skulls and animal parts, candle shop tour, and lots of staying up late and sleeping in. Snuggly movie watching , too! It was a much needed and necessary decommissioning of the craziness of the past few months. It was fantastic.

We have been dedicating time to getting a bunch of pictures of the things we want to get up in the store. We have a bunch of stuff ready, as well as a few things waiting in the wings, but we would rather take our time and make with the pretty, than force listings. There is nothing that drives us up a wall more than seeing someone with amazing things that has chosen to take horrible pictures (sometimes with the date/time stamp still visible), writes a horribly poor amount of description, or takes no time to make their stuff look as wonderful as it should. Especially if it is of a magical sort. Yeah, we don’t want to to that. (or, “I Can’t Go For That” in the immortal words of one Daryl H. and one John O.)

 

Psychic Boost Oil in Circle in Eye in Pyramid

 

I spent a good few hours getting to know our new digital camera. She’s a beast, but I shall tame her. Or, like Ahab, we shall go down together. (Sorry, spoilers.) After taking about 140 pictures of the Psychic Boost Oils we narrowed it down to 33, which in turn got narrowed down to 3. Yeppers, 3. We then realized that we needed a picture of the oil with the toe-tag-like label attached. We also wanted to get a good shot of just one bottle of oil close up so people know exactly what they are getting, and after that can explore the other 4 pictures. Listings for our Van Van Oil, Psychic Boost Oil and the almost ready Peace of Mind Oil (careful, Joe…almost wrote “piece of mind,” that’s a completely different oil for my dark necromancy mages out there) (It is a great Iron Maiden album though. Straight through, every song) should be up and ready for your oogling pleasure by Friday. As long as we get some sun up in this City. It’s been overcast and drizzly forever.

After the Oils get prodded and pictured and posted, we have the same matching incense to list, along with Sara’s Meditation Incense. We have gotten a few samples out of the Meditation Incense and you all seem to be digging it. I like using it because it is both uplifting and ultra-grounding at the same time, which is a rare find for me. Sara has a ridiculously developing talent for incense making.

We also have a few other goodies to list, like the Protective Good Luck cologne for the fellas, Queen Elizabeth Root Pendulums for Divination, Sacred Salt, and a High Holy Temple Incense blend. Some just need really good pictures. Others need one last thing to get them ready. (Don’t get me started about not being able to get red hemp in the smoke-happy city of San Francisco…*really!?*)

 

Psychic Boost Oils Getting Ready

 

For those of you who have asked for us to hold an item, or if we will have them later on this month or next, the answer is yes. We are here to stay and, especially after the big move, will always be able to keep our goods in stock. We have taken months on coming up with each blend, making sure we not only like the way that the oils smell, but also that they include the Essential Oils that we feel are absolutely needed for the oil’s purpose. The amount of wasted EO’s was well worth are being happy with the outcome of each of these. For the time being we will be making each of the oils in small batches of three. Each oil will come with a tag letting you know which batch it was from, as well as the bottle number. We want them getting the special treatment they deserve.

The roots and herbs will also be getting a cool tag as well. While we will eventually be printing up some pretty great looking vinyl labels for the condition oils and bags, for the immediate future we wanted to go very bare bones….without sacrificing quality, even if it is just visual quality. The bags that the roots and herbs come in are nice zip-locked baggies of an appropriate size, that can be recycled after use. The tags/labels that we have made up can be doubled as bookmarks once the item has been used. Or recycled if you’d like. We know how many of our friends and fellow occult brethren  have a deadly serious love affair with books and reading, so we thought this was a good way to be able to re-purpose our packaging.

There’s more fun to come, I promise. Thank you to everyone over at Twitter and Facebook and WordPress. There is a ridiculous network of awesome minds out there, people. Just waiting to be utilized to it’s fullest. The future is now, is begging to be played with, and is more human than we were once told it would be. My brain has been expanded and enriched so much in the last 3 or 4 months by simple interaction with other spirit entities that may or may not exist in the form my brain has convinced me they have…over an electric mind-extension computer platform. Too right!

(This post was written with the helpful background music of the Cars, Nokturnal Mortum, and the MIGHTY new sounds of Solstafir, who are surely my new gods. Also a pint of Guinness, ’cause I hear it makes you strong.)

-Joseph Magnuson

P.S. – Come join me won’t you? My brain is yours for the picking:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/josephmmmmmm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JosephMagnuson

 

Posted in CandleSmoke Store, Oils, Sara, Shop | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Candlesmoke Store/Plans

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

Half of Our Workspace Room

Greetings, my fellow non-gelatinous cubes,

I thought I would drop a quick note here for you today. If you look up at the top of this page you will notice the “Candlesmoke Store” link. For the last 3 months it has said “Coming Soon” and that’s about it. Believe me when I say; not a week goes by that we don’t work on items, buy supplies, or craft recipes for products. That said, we are thrilled to announce that starting, well, technically now (and getting a huge boost this weekend) the Candlesmoke Etsy shop has been born. Not much there now, but feel free to check it out if you’d like.

As I said, this weekend will see a much bulkier amount of listed ingredients and items. We have an oil that took a few months to perfect, red brick dust that was painstakingly ground by hand while being charged for protection, some more roots, an herbal cologne, and lots more herbs. Hopefully we will be making big enough batches of a few incense to include as well. More oils on the way, too. Hopefully some services for either this Summer, or early Fall, after the move.

eBay store and direct contact selling will happen soon, too. We wanted to start with, and concentrate on, Etsy, because we admire the site in general and it’s contents. This past Christmas/Yule was one which saw 98% of our gifts came from Etsy…and it was one of our best ever. eBay still has the massive traffic, but Etsy is where our hearts lie. Though the Etsy store still says Joseph Magnuson is Candlesmoke, I would like to make it clear that it is a full collaboration between myself and my wife Sara, who is a full 50% of this…manifestation. I am trying to get Etsy to let me change the name to Joseph & Sara, but we shall see.

Thank you all for the ridiculously heart-melting amount of support and cheer. It dizzies us each day.

-Joseph Magnuson

..and remember, gelatinous cubes, being mindless, are always neutral. Don’t be a gelatinous cube.

P.S. – After deciding to re-read the entire run of Grant Morrison’s ‘The Invisibles’ comic book series, I am blown away by some of the things I missed, or that didn’t hit me as heavy as they do today. One of which was in the back section of Volume 1, Issue 2 from October of 1994. The letters column has not yet been born, so Grant is using the space to wax poetic/esoteric illumination. On this page he writes of running up the 400 stairs of the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu to attain enlightenment and illumination. After running the steps he writes, “Up there, under the painted eyes of Buddha, there is the smell of charcoal…and candlesmoke.” I’d like to add this to my previous statement that the early idea for Candlesmoke came from Velvet Cacoon and amend history; it entered my brain with Grant Morrison in my Senior year of High School. Listening to heavy doses of Velvet Cacoon just brought it back to the forefront of my brain. All is as it should be.

Posted in Magical Goods, Personal, Sara, Shop | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Candlesmoke Spring News & Updates

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

Temporary Work Space

Welcome Spring!

As if on cue, the cold weather and rain of the last week seems to have shut down completely. The City is still cool and foggy, but much warmer than previous weeks, with the sun threatening to peek in at every cloud turnover. Hopefully soon, we will have a bountiful sky full of sun, warmth, and joy.

Things are coming together very well on the creative end for Candlesmoke Chapel. Our Candlesmoke store should be good to go very soon. We’ve been buried under roots, essential oils, and incense for the last few weeks. We decided that we would rather get things pictured, posted, and shipped more than getting actual sticker artwork for each of the items, at least for the time being. We are going to go with a more classic look, one that we enjoy, and in the future get feedback from buyers and friends and slowly start to add the artwork we have ready.  After discussing packaging with a few people and doing some research we have decided to offer the price of the glass jars off the item if anyone prefers their stuff just ship in just a plain plastic ziplock bag.  It’s not as pretty, but would be easier to recycle the baggie. I’m happy to report that we have tried to use bottles that can be reused for other magical workings, such as our bath salts coming packaged in honey jar style bottles. These, too, can be recycled, but would be better used as a conditional honey jar.

Final oil blends are revealing themselves slowly, but surely. I don’t mind the pace, as I’d rather have a solid and useful oil, rather than a ton of ready-to-sell oils that are not the best we can do. Two oils have been finished and are almost ready to put up. The fact that to make an oil I have to start with one EO, add other EOs to that, then blend them all, is fun, but if I make one false action with it (add a non-harmonious EO) it must be dumped out. Add the fact that oils will change their scent within a few weeks time of blending them, well, these factors make the journey rewarding, but slow going. I’m happy to say that we have 4 more oils on deck for final testing and tweaking, as well as 3 more being started from scratch.

We are aiming to make all items as affordable as possible. It may seem like we must have a lot of disposable money to be starting up this kind of work, but we definitely do not. All spending on anything non-shop related has been suspended for months and months. Any money in the bank is going to the big move (see here) with any extra funds immediately going into ordering more supplies for the shop. We understand the struggles of wanting to use well crafted materials, but struggling to afford “Top Shelf” deemed products. We’ve been there. All products we have lined up will be within the purchase range of most everyone looking for supplies such as these, while still retaining the top notch ingredients we insist on using. We will be making money, yes, and hope that any funds generated from all future sales will, in turn, fund further magical product research and allow us to acquire a pagan meeting place in Florida. Basically, I want everyone to know that we won’t be selling $30 dollar oils and $15 incense. Unless you want that much of any one product…which would be a serious amount!

Condition Oil Mixtures

In move news we are happy to say that we are excited and have finally starting to slowly remove all non-necessities from our home and lives. At times it may be hard, but when we think of having a full, large, blooming garden of herbs, roots and flowers, it makes it much easier. To be able to grow, and show pictures of, the actual bushes and plants that our materials come from has always been a big goal for the both of us. Extra beer mugs be damned, we want our garden! Books have been gone through, lists are being written, things have been sent to friends. This spring season will be the perfect time to continue our purge and cleanse.

One of Many Book Stack Piles

In our down time we have been busy doing a myriad of magical things that have not stopped surprising us. The last week has brought many open-eyed glances and happy clapping in the Candlesmoke home. Pendulums were used in a most valuable way, leading with directions and giving guidance. Tarot cards have been employed to back up some pretty heavy situations occurring and shed light on these occurrences. Lights have been faithfully lit and honey jars continue to light the warm altar room. Even the vinegar jar got some re-worked energy thrown at it and the bathroom smelled of pepper and smoke for a few nights. It’s making me hunger for an entire out-building (or more) to dedicate to on-going works.

Two Honey Jars Fully Candled

While on the general subject of magical yummy-ness, I would like to include a link here for anyone that loves reading occult and magical books as much as I do. The particular book in question that I have been enjoying is entitled “Saint Cyprian: Saint of Necromancers” and was written by ConjureMan Ali. I keep meaning to write an entire post on this book, but never seem to get around to it. If you are curious about Saint Cyprian and quest to learn more, then please get a copy of this book. It is published in the UK by Hadean Press. They are a fantastic publisher and really, all of their books are worth getting. I hope to be able to make another purchase within the first few months after we move. The book is 20 pages long and costs about 6 dollars USD. Well worth it, and they shipped my order to me within a week. From the UK. In perfect condition, too. Support your occult publishers and authors people, I cannot stress this enough. Especially those over the pond, as they seem to be steady printing out some of the most informative tomes out there.

ConjureMan Ali's Saint Cyprian book published by Hadean Press

In personal news I have been recovering from the Great & Powerful Sickness of 2011, and after a quick relapse I am happy to say that the rest of my 2012 should be illness free. I am recovering quickly and am almost at 100% again. The ear needs a wee bit more unclogging and my vision is slowly beginning it’s return to normal…from seasick spin-around! I have been busy working at the tattoo shop, getting more products tested and made, and catching up on reading. A few of the titles (which may get a review blog-post about) are, “The Magic of the Horseshoe” from 1898, “Magic and Husbandry: Folklore of Agriculture” from 1905, and “Witch Stories from Around the World” published in 1861. I find myself exclaiming out loud at some of the great things these old books contain. Beautiful peeks into yester-centuries. Food for thought. Kindling for the fire circle. Er, the ideas, not the books themselves!

Spring Cat Stand-Off

Look for book review posts, store and item details, blog updates, and general giddiness to come in the next few weeks. Much to do, much to say… I’m off, but I hope you all have the most amazing opening to Springtime possible and that you continue to plant the seeds that will grant your future selves. C’mon sun, let’s get this going!

Posted in Books, Candlework, Divination, Herbs, Magical Goods, Personal, Roots, Shop | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Candlesmoke Begins Move Across the Country

Posted on March 12, 2012 by

Florida Tree

Yes, you read that correctly. The cat has been slowly clawing it’s way out of the bag, little by little.

Candlesmoke Chapel is picking up and moving from lovely San Francisco, California to vibrant Gainesville, Florida. From “Baghdad By the Bay” to “Hogtown.” From naked guys in the Castro to Gator Nation. From hipsters everywhere you look to hipsters at the Top and the Lab. It’s cool. I have a beard and I’ll fit right in.

While it will be a royal bucket of sad-pain to leave our friends in the City, and around the Bay Area, it is a move that has to happen. We have family in Florida that we miss and wish to be closer to. We have become pretty numb to the giant city that surrounds us and long for a quieter and calmer place to settle down. We can actually afford to get some property in Northern Florida, not so much anywhere in California.

This will allow us to have more time to spend together. It will give us the chance to finally start looking at houses with property that we can make our own. We want to be able to start constructing large garden areas for herbs. Out-buildings for candle service. Trees we can actively take care of…and room to go outside.

We also want to start helping out the community. Even if it’s merely offering the space we have to various groups and people to put on teaching workshops, use as a meet-up place, or have a general club house for pagan hijinks.

San Francisco is “safe,” as “anything goes” here. “Wacky” ideas are much more easily embraced here than in other areas…but it tends to make one lazy and inactive. I would rather put blood and sweat into creating a needed new space, then stay here, work myself to death to pay rent, and occasionally meet cool people that share the same ideas that I hold dear. It is much more attractive to me to create an entirely new space out of “nothing” than to be content and just keep on in the City.

The real saving-grace here is that Gainesville is a big college town. I love those very much, having lived in and around Northampton & Amherst, Massachusetts, and Burlington, Vermont. I have enjoyed the hell out of my visits to Gainesville and found nothing lacking. Good touring music shows, coffee, damn fine pizza, and some of the best BBQ I have ever eaten. Weather was fantastic and the coast is beautiful. It is a good fit…at this point in my life even more-so.

We will be leaving around August, so there is still a good 6 months of planning, packing, shipping and reporting!

So, yeah. Getting rid of at least half of our belongings. Shipping everything we are keeping across the country. Getting the cats ready for a three day road trip of the Middle States. It will be trying, but totally worth it. We do plan on getting quite a few things up and listed in the new Etsy Shop we are slowly working on. We will be able to make and send things through the summer, but come the end of July will have to board up shop for a month or so.

More updates to come. Watch this space. Any comments regarding Florida, Southern Pagans, and moving tips are greatly appreciated!

Cow Saying Hello To Joe

Posted in Dreams, Make a Wish, Nature, Personal, Sara | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Pathetic Pitfalls of Plagiarism (or You Can’t Spell Plagiarism Without “L-iar”)

Posted on March 4, 2012 by
Bad People Belong In The Toilet

Bad People Belong In The Toilet

plagiarism  [pley-juh-riz-uhm] (noun)

the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work, as by not crediting the author

Definition used is from dictionary.com  (<— see how easy that was)

Plagiarism. Read the word off the page, or better yet, say it out loud and give it more importance…it’s an ugly word. In the last two weeks I have had multiple accounts of plagiarism brought to my attention.

One was from a college professor, who, upon discovering the misconduct contained in a few papers, felt that a bond between him and his students was now broken. He lamented the fact that he now felt he could not have that basic trust for his students that was once there.

There have been more minor happenings (copyright and names taken off of someone’s artwork, cropped art used for websites and internet groups, and unaccredited “borrowing” of other people’s writing.

The most egregious example of this happened to someone I consider to be a hugely beneficial entity in the on-line, as well as real world, pagan/magical world.

Recently, Sarah Lawless of The Witch of Forest Grove found out that entire blog posts of hers had been copied verbatim, some still containing her tags, categories, and even number of comments still intact. Not only was it a clear-cut example of blatant plagiarism, it was sloppy and lazy to boot!

This cannot be tolerated or accepted in this community…in OUR (yours and mine) community! Cannot be, should not be, tolerated!

We are all learning from each other. Books are wonderful, but only bring you so far, or give enough information for you to then cut loose on your own. One of the most beneficial tools we have been given in the last 25 years is, without a doubt, the internet and it’s ability to allow us to communicate with each other. We share ideas, post blog posts on our experiences, write articles on popular sites, and comment on news that directly affects “our people.” It is through this free exchange that we grow stronger and enter the next steps, the next phases, in our personal practices, as well as continue furthering the group as a whole.

There are conventions being formed, discussion groups, pagan charity groups, user forums, open enrollment classes, open coven meet-ups, etc. While there may be some problems with these recent developments, the larger view of this is generally positive. You no longer have to feel alone, wrong, or lost in the woods, searching for a path forever. This is a resource that has the potential to empower our entire group of like-minded individuals, morphing us into an actual connected group that can interact from wherever we may live.

It is with that said that my thoughts on plagiarism may be clearer; plagiarism is a harmful practice that diminishes us all. It is dishonest. It has no place among people who value integrity, honesty,  or ethics. In a world such as ours, being as all-inclusive to different practices and beliefs as possible, we need to have some standards to live and share by. One must be: “let individuals have proper recognition of their own experiences.”

I would rather read a thousand posts detailing a beginners trials and errors than even one plagiarized account by an “experienced witch.” The person who continually tries, only to ultimately fail, has at least TRIED to get results. Simply put; they have tried and failed…and probably learned something from it and may have important information to share. The person who plagiarizes has not even tried, yet they have instantly failed by default.  To think that there are people who, after finding out about the acts of plagiarism, STILL want to stay and learn from this “person of knowledge” who has lied to them (in a manner) is proper backwards hogwash!

Absolutely no good can come from an article or experience being plagiarized. I have heard people say, “…but this is old information that has been floating around our collective consciousness for centuries. How can not giving credit to the original writer possibly help things?” Well, for one, if anyone has questions about the subject matter, as there ALMOST ALWAYS IS, the person who plagiarized it finds that (to their pleasant surprise or possible horror) that they now must/get to step into the role of author and advise their “subjects” who have come to them for further instruction and help. Does no one see the danger in this? Or, at the very least, the potential to throw people spinning into BS-land, trying hard to replicate what they have read, but with incorrect direction, leading them to feel defeated and discouraged.

In addition, the more cases of plagiarism that seem to occur,  the more it makes people unsure of if they even WANT to continue, or start, sharing this information with others. Can’t we only benefit from having as many voices chime in on as many subjects as possible? I believe so, that ultimately it can only bolster the readers and searchers out there who are looking for answers or guidance.

I have taken away such a great feeling from reading the various blogs and websites that people dedicate their time and energy to. It makes me feel included. It makes me feel like I’m not “crazy,” or “stupid,” or living in a “fantasy world” all alone. These people have become like friends to me, some of them becoming actual-life friends. I value the work that goes into such sharing of information and couldn’t imagine going back to the old, “gosh, I hope I get to talk to someone like me this year.” That is what could happen if everyone decides that it’s just too draining to keep policing for plagiarisation or misappropriation of their writing and just call it quits.

I will end with this: if you plagiarize you immediately lose all credibility. It casts suspicions. It makes you look like an arm-chair e-witch that “talks” a big game, but contributes nothing. Especially if you take every chance you get to drop a sparkly, glowing gif of the Wiccan Rede, which states “An it harm none do what ye will” when you can’t even begin to understand why plagiarism itself is, in fact, harm done.

Posted in Personal, Rant, Witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments