money and good luck

A spell to bring in money.

This is a spell to open channels to bring money in from any sources, both expected and unexpected.  As accessories for this spell, you will need six small coins, which afterwards will be buried or hidden at the four corners of your property.  If you wish to use other accessories, decorate the area with silver coins and candles, flowers, crystals and gemstones and cloth, in shades or combinations of shades of gold for attraction and wealth, and green for money, growth and prosperity.

When ready, meditate on the thought that you have the power to shape the image of what you want - money and prosperity - and send it off into the living universe.  Positively affirm your wishes, and your desires are turned into reality.  Imagine yourself being notified of a windfall.  Try to feel that state of elation that you would experience. Envision money coming in to you from many sources, sources that you may expect, and sources that come as a surprise.  Continue to visualize money coming in.  Picture yourself handling lots of money, flipping through stacks of paper money, running your hands through piles of coins.  Contemplate on the ways you would like to spend your money; visualize yourself spreading your money around.  Imagine the sensation of having your family and your friends share in your prosperity and comfort.  After you have finished meditating and visualizing, take up the six coins that have been set aside for this purpose and warm them in your hands as you carefully, and with as much feeling as you can, recite the following affirmation:

As I work this spell

these magical images take life.

I call for money

and money comes to me.

Channels of money and abundance

are open to me,

and money comes from many sources.

Money is good for me,

and I do good things with my money.

My money increases.

I thank the universe

for the good it sends me.

So it is, and so shall it be.

You may consider the spell closed at this point.  Now bury one coin at each corner at your property.

A spell to attract good luck.

This spell helps to set things up around you.  It adjusts the flow of events so that things start happening in your favor, and the world begins being a better place for you to live.  In doing this spell, you give a beneficient push to circumstance.  For this spell, you may select some special object, which can be charged with power in the course of the spell, to be used as a good-luck charm.  It is not actually necessary to select a good-luck charm; the performing of the spell itself will bring you lasting luck.  Think of the charm as a nice extra, however, you do not have to feel dependent on it. Your luck will not be affected if you lose the charm or do not have it always near you.  You may choose a traditional good luck symbol, such as a horseshoe, rabbit's foot, four-leaf clover, etc., or you may prefer some personal object such as a piece of jewelry, or any other object that has a good feel to you.  If you wish to use accessories to this spell, use candles, flowers, precious metals, crystals, gemstones in tones of gold and silver. Gold symbolizes wealth and expansiveness and silver stands for a purity of understanding and of being at harmony with all... so that all is in harmony with you!  The combination of gold and silver also show both the solar and lunar forces of nature working in your favor.

Visualize that you are floating in a sea of shining stars.  Their light shines through you and their power magnetizes you so that all the good forces of the world are gathered about you and clothe you in the brilliant raiment of success and good fortune.  The power called down from the stars themselves courses through your spirit and soul.  Close your eyes for a few moments and feel, as clearly as you can, just how this would feel.  Savor the sensation.  You are the natural nexus-point for all of the forces that are called forth, and you are going to be the one who benefits.  Close your eyes again for a few minutes and picture yourself at the whirling center of vast tides of glowing, beautiful light. They course over you, and through you, and swirl about you.  You become stronger and better and... just plain lucky!  Image as clear as you can that you are the center and the balance-point of all forces and events of humankind, of the sky, and of the earth.  The elemental earth herself is drawing in the vast powers of light you have called forth, and pulsing them back through you.  Again, YOU are the center of it all, and benefiting enormously by it.  Close your eyes for a moment and feel the sensation of the good powers that go through your being into the earth, and back through you again.

At this point, you can greatly enhance the power of this spell if you emulate the earth world by doing your own interpretive dance-of-life.  If your space is too restrictive or you feel uncomfortable about dancing, just make wavy motions over your area with your hands.  Imagine that you are using your hands to manipulate cosmic energies and weave the threads of a good fate.  If you have selected some object that you would like to have for a good-luck charm, direct your attention to the object at this time.  Rub the object between your hands and feel energy surging through your body and flowing out through your hands, imbuing the object with power.  When you feel that you have expended enough energy on the above-mentioned actions, recite the following affirmation:

I draw power from the stars

And send them, through me, into the Earth,

then back through myself once again.

Fortune and luck are with me,

surrounding all that I do

and following me everywhere.

All who are about me prosper

As do I.

And I become better, stronger, and more lucky

than ever before.

By all the high and mystical powers

through whom Fortune shines,

So shall it be!

You may consider the spell closed at this point.

Win big! Cha-ching...xo

'tis the season

I just love, love, love spring planting. It is a tremendous amount of work and takes its toll on the body, but digging in dirt just brings out the best in me.  I enjoy connecting with Mother Earth and placing the flowers, bushes and seedlings in her belly so she can nurture them and help them blossom for our pleasure. 

Steve had a wonderful prom weekend, dancing the night away, catching up with his high school buddies and touring Chicago all day Saturday.  He refused to wear the classic formal attire, but he had tons of fun just being Boo.  Dan is thrilled to be working with his bro Cody and Mike and Margarita had some meaningful bonding time with us. We are starting to see our boys less and less so any time together is relished. Mike and Wayne rototilled and installed 25 pieces of sod at the home on Sawyer while I painstakingly dug up all the dandelions in the grass.  I will never cut corners again and cancel Spring Green service for the lawn; it goes to hell in a hand basket way too quickly without proper fertilizing.  What was I thinking?  Needless to say, the service is re-activated immediately.  I dug up some perennials from our home to plant in that garden and thanks to the rains yesterday, they came up quite easily.  I'll spend all day Tuesday watering the sod, while Steve's at school, and plant the flowers and adhere mulch to keep the weeds down. 

We had a nice Sunday breakfast at Egg Harbor Cafe on Sunday morning, then Margarita and I went to the magic land of Hidden Gardens.  They have the most magnificent layout for perusing arrangements and their trees are unique, indeed.  I worried about losing some of ours, but now I know they can be replaced with ease.  She picked out some fabulously colorful flowers for their deck pots and I treated myself to the above hanging basket.  It is so dynamic to look up in the tents and see this vast amount of flowers hanging from above.  It gets overwhelming.  We left satisfied, but she fell in love with the trumpet mandevilla and went to get one for their place.  We checked out the Porsche dealer and watched the boys drool.  Afterward we continued the gardening projects at home and look forward to some rain this week so the newly planted sod takes root.

please don't be offended by this depiction of how bold they are, it's all in fun

I think the best part of this season is being outdoors after being cooped up.  The birds entertain us as do all the other creatures that come out to play.  I always catch the squirrels hogging the birdfeed.  Every night for a month now I wake up at the bewitching hour and hear activity in our bedroom wall.  We thought it might be the squirrel and found an opening on the roof.  After sealing if off, I still heard the sounds and finally woke Wayne up.  He thinks they are mice.  We can fix that, but then I suggested it might be Freddy Kruger...

Thanks to everyone who shared their memories on facebook this weekend.  xo

love and romance

A general spell to attact love.

Perform this spell if you have been yearning for a great love to enter your life.  This spell calls upon arcane forces to bring the ideal man or woman to you.  As accessories for this spell, obtain 13 red candles.  If you wish to use other accessories, include additional candles, flowers, crystals and gemstones, and cloth in shades of red, the color of human love, or white, representing pure psychic energy.  Perform this spell at night before going to bed.

I call upon all good spirits!

I call upon all karmic forces!

I call upon the wide-ruling powers!

Make smooth the way,

that my love may be brought to me!

Think about your desire to enlist forces in helping you to find a true love, a soul mate.  Think about what you want in the ideal man, or woman.  Spend some time daydreaming about the sort of romantic adventures you would like to have.  When your visualizations are complete, take the 13 red candles, and use them to make a circle.  Light each candle, and then, with as much feeling as you can, recite the following affirmation:

I call for love, and love comes to me

guided by the light of my flames.

Whether it be from near

or from far,

My love is drawn to me.

I give love,

I receive love.

Our love is passionate,

our love is intense as flame.

Our love is long and lasting.

As I desire, so I have love,

and so shall it be!

You may close the spell at this point by putting out the candles.

Love is here, there and everywhere. xo

apollo's apaches

Apollo's Apaches.  My uncles, Ray and Richie, practiced with their friends in the basement on the southwest side of Chicago.  This is where I began my groupie days, cheering them on most Sundays.  Richie was the Apollo.  They were on Dick Biondi's radio station in the 60's and I heard their song being played.  Very cool, indeed.  My cousin, Deena, sent this picture to me and I just had to give a shout out about them.  I included the lyrics to both songs for your pleasure.

CRY ME A LIE

Well, I cry, every single night,

c'mon you tell them lies about the other guy

and I know, although it hurts you so

this time it's goodbye,

so go on cry me a lie

Well, I cry, every single night

and I'm feeling blue,

'cuz baby I'm still in love with you,

so go now..

but don't you ever say

I didn't do my best

to try and make you stay.

And I cry

every single night,

crying over you,

well, I hope that guy makes

you cry too, so go -

go get 'em apaches,

yeah, go..

I'll cry me a lie,

Go on and open your eyes

so go now,

but don't you ever say

I didn't do my best

to try and make you stay.

C'mon and cry me a lie.

BOSS, BE GOOD TO ME

This is a warning

from me to you,

be good to me,

or baby, we're through.

Be good to me

and baby be nice,

'cuz I ain't , no I ain't

gonna tell you twice.

Be good to me, baby,

you know that I love you.

Be good to me, baby,

you know my heart is true,

and all I want, you to do

is try and be true.

Be good to me.

You're leading me on,

first you build me and

then you're gone.

We'll do it my way, baby

or we'll do it

no way at all.

Be good to me,

or baby, your tears are gonna fall.

Be good to me and treat me nice

cuz I ain't, no I ain't gonna tell you twice.

'Cuz I'l always be in love with you

but you must be true.

And all I want..

ooo ooo

All I want you to do

is to try and be true,

true to me.

Now I will have these songs in my head for days.  xo

beauty-health-fitness

For a woman, for help in working toward beauty, health and fitness

Beauty comes from within the soul, and from within the spirit.  It is a thing of the mind, as much as it is of the body itself.  If the mind and soul and spirit are set on beauty, its physical manifestation will follow.  The following spells create a template of beauty for the mind and spirit.  A special glamour will result, reshaping the physical appearance as well as creating a radiance which will make the subject more beautiful to the eyes of the beholders. 

If you wish to use accessories for this spell, you may use white candles, flowers, crystals and gemstones, and cloth to emphasize the purification and perfection of body which you will strive for.  Gold or silver artifacts could also be used for charisma and radiance.  Gold represents the radiance of the Sun, silver the Moon; which one you choose depends on which heavenly body you have a greater affinity for.  If you want your health and fitness program to emphasize the exercise part, you may use red accessories, as red stands for energy and activity.  Incense, perfumes or scented potpouris are also appropriate, as they suggest pride in physical beauty and sensuousness.

You may also want to include in the arrangement of accessories, images of the ideal you would like to achieve, in photos of yourself at a lighter weight if you are trying to lose weight gained, a simple list of goals to achieve and so on.  Set up mirrors around the edges of your layout so that they will reflect multiple images of the ideal images you have chosen.

The ritual for this spell can be performed at any time.  You may want to perform it at special times - perhaps before beginning a program of diet and exercise, or before or after your daily exercise session.  To enhance this rite and put yourself in the right frame of mind, it is a good idea to take a lustral bath first.  Be sure to dress yourself in clothing that you feel is especially flattering.  Other accessories, such as jewelry or fragrance will also help set the mood.  To perform this spell, you may use the ritual provided in my original posting, improvise a ritual of your own, or just proceed by doing the meditation, visualization and affirmation.  In some of the old folklore, such as the legend of the Lorelei, hair brushing was a means by which a beautiful sorceress could raise power.  If you prefer, you could brush your hair while making the following visualizations.

Make yourself aware of your body as it is now.  Consider your general condition, your weight, and so on.  Now, visualize your most idealized image of you - how you would look in your fantasies.  Think about how you plan to change things for the better.   Visualize yourself drawing in energy with every breath you take, as well as drawing from your own inner power.  Gently run your fingertips over your face, arms and upper body.  Feel this power stimulating and energizing every cell in your body.  Consider that within you, you have the power to transform yourself.  Feel that power that is within you has built up, making you glow with a radiant inner light.  Know that others will be able to see this light and will find you compellingly beautiful.  Finally, visualize yourself as you will look after you have achieved your ideal.  Visualize yourself enjoying well-being, health, popularity and success as the result.  Know that even while you visualize these things, these transformations are taking place.  After you have finished meditating and visualizing, recite the following affirmation with as much feeling as you can:

I call upon the strength within me!

I call upon the powers around me!

Beauty is in me.

Beauty is with me.

Beauty shines through me.

I commit myself

to molding and shaping myself

to achieve my ideal of beauty!

I visualize my ideal image of beauty,

and this image is a template,

which my physical form now follows.

I work hard to achive this goal!

I enjoy full health.

I radiate charm.

I am seen by all to be beautiful.

Toward this end, I am prepared to_________

(here insert whatever it is you need to do: diet, exercise, etc.)

So it is and so shall it be!

You may consider the spell closed at this point.  As a follow-up, memorize the first five lines of the affirmation and recite them upon getting up in the morning, before exercising, and generally anytime that you feel it's important to look your best.

Release the goddess that is within you xo

magic spells

There are many definitions of what magic is and how it works.  That which we call magic can be divided into two categories: high magic which is worked to bring about spiritual and metaphysical transformations within the individual, and the more familiar sort of magic which is used to achieve certain desires and goals.  There are many spells for working toward personal betterment and rich symbolism which will have an uplifting effect. Magic is using the power of the mind to nudge probabilities.  By influencing probabilities, you can encourage circumstances to develop in your favor.  There are numerous factors which influence probabilities for the directions which our lives, as well as circumstances in general, can take.  Among the things which can influence the shaping of events are conscious and unconscious thoughts.  Some believe in the existence of an ethereal plane of thought where ideas can take on a type of reality which serves as a template for actions and occurences on the physical plan (real world).  It is also believed that our unconscious minds can communicate directly to the unconscious minds of other persons, thus influencing their thoughts and actions.  A skilled magic user is sensitive to the natural flow of events and the forces which affect circumstances, and is thus able to determine how to most easily influence these events by utilizing the best possiblities for changing them.  Thoughts have vibrations, and so your mental state influences the energy field around you.  If you use negative, harmful spells, you are necessarily projecting negative emotions.  These emotions will cling to you and act in a magnetic way to attract  bad luck.  The opposite principle works when you use spells to do good.  Please do not confuse this posting with promoting the dark, black magic.  White magic is only about positive, affirming, loving energies.  Practitioners will confirm that if you have ill intentions for another, karma dictates that will come back to you tenfold.  Bless all to their higher good and hold everyone in light with love.  Offer, give and you will receive.

Some spells ask you to perform certain actions.  For example, you may write things on paper, inscribe names on candles, pour water in and out of goblets, bury or hide things at the four corners of your property, or seal things in jars.  None of the actions will be difficult or preposterous.  Each spell has a meditation/visualization that is done; most are built around your personal situation.  Concentrate on visualizing images or sensing feelings, as if the events detailed were unfolding in front of you.  This is affirmation.  Each spell provides affirmations which are highly positive and phrased in the present tense.  Typical affirmations read I have...I will have... I am...because one of the secrets of magic is that if you say a thing is true, it is true.  Many of these affirmations can be used to enhance daily positive thinking, even when you aren't performing spells.  You can light incense and candles to enhance the ritual.  Magic works best when it is entirely given over to the unconscious mind and the spiritual powers.  Arrange some time to be alone and undisturbed.  Play calm, serene and meditative music.  Take a relaxing bath, imagining strongly that you are cleansing not only your body, but your soul and spirit as well.  Dress in costume, or wear jewelry that has a particularly magical feel for you. When all is in readiness, pause for a silent meditation, placing your mind in a serene, receptive state.  Hold this quiet, contemplative state for as long as seems appropriate.  Light the candles and incense.  Hold your hands in front of you in an attitude of invocation or blessing and say in these or similar words:

I call now upon the Earth,

Far plains and lofty mountains,

For power and strength to my spell,

As I light this candle in summoning.

I call now upon the waters,

Broad lakes, ever-moving streams,

And the boundless oceans,

For power and strength to my spell,

As I light this candle in summoning.

I call now upon the skies,

The far reaches of infinite spaces,

And the far Wheel of Eternity,

For power and strength to my spell,

As I light this candle in summoning.

I call now upon the deep fires

That burn in the core of the Earth,

At one with the energies of Life itself,

For power and strength to my spell

As I light this candle in summoning.

Pause for the length of five heartbeats, then say the following:

I place my petition before you,

Oh Earth, giver of all ife,

And Sky, thou who art infinite and eternal. 

May you lend strength and power to this, my spell.

So shall it be!

Remain in your space for at least 25 heartbeats, contemplating and visualizing your spell as being accomplished.  Put out all the candles. Then kiss your hand in salute to the Powers, and depart.

Saturday will be a full moon which offers enhanced energies from the universe.  This is when I perform my affirmations.  There is nothing negative about this ritualistic offering.  It is merely a form of prayer to the universe for strength and a request for gentle nudges.  Actually, it is a perfect opportunity for us to help heal ourselves and become aware of how to improve.  Our thoughts create our reality.  I have numerous affirmations, or spells, for various life situations which I will share in increments.  Spells are similar to meditation exercises and although these have unique traits, the fundamental goals can be seen as very similar.  The concepts of harmony and tranquility are key to the spiritual goals in many different religions  The idea of enlightenment, oneness with the world, is generally a Zen Buddhist idea, but is not at all dissimilar to upper level spells.

So it is, and so it shall be!

my thanks to Janina Renee for your book of creative and enjoyable rites xo

clotheslines

What a perfect day for hanging clothes and sheets out to dry.  This is how we did it back in the day.  We rarely used a dryer appliance, for Mother Nature provided us the best method of drying all our items with her fresh breeze that left her crisp, clean smell on anything we left outside.They just blow in the breeze as if dancing on the line.

Sometimes I drape my comforters outside just to refresh and let the air kiss them for that unique smell.  I had a clothesline all my life until a few years ago.  Now I just throw them over our fence but there is nothing like hanging them on a clothesline for the full effect of freshness.  They try to make detergent to recapture that fresh feeling, but it is not the same.

The almighty clothespin.  We found at least half a dozen unopened packages at the Sawyer home.  I still have a bowlful on hand but when we dismantled the pool, we lost our posting.  Boo hoo.

When items are hung on a line, you never have to iron, the wind takes care of things.  Back to basics, I say.  When we considered moving to Lakelands, this cute neighborhood in Plainfield, one of the covenants was that no one was allowed to post a clothesline, nor keep their garage doors open, as if that's a ghetto thing or something.  Needless to say, we did not move there.  I miss my clothesline. 

there is nothing like a breath of fresh air xo