Mother Mystic's Musings

Many people work with animals, either using one as a familiar or a spirit guide, but the term animal magnetism isn’t heard very often these days.  A person with animal magnetism is able to attract and to some extent, control most animals.  I was taught that this is a gift one is born with, not something that can be learned.  Although someone may be born with the gift, if it is not developed, a person may be attracting animals and be unsure of what do to with them.

Have you ever met someone, or maybe you are someone, who attracts stray animals?  You don’t have to call to them, they just come to you.  A dog will walk down the street and ignore everyone in a crowd yet seek out the one person with animal magnetism.  If you haven’t learned how to handle this gift, it may frighten you to encounter a strange animal in such a way.  If you have accepted this gift and developed your own animal senses, stray animals will submit to you and stay or greet you and move on. The animal, once greeted and having given you proper submission, will act on your behalf for spiritual/magical purposes.  The animal may be used in dreamwork or for stealthwork, when you want something carried to another place without recognition.

Animals love being spiritual helpers.  Always reward them for their efforts with affection and treats.  Cats and dogs are most commonly used but birds, bears, foxes, squirrels, waterfowl and raccoons are all equally effective.

Difficult people – they’re everywhere!  In the workplace, in the neighborhood, in the family, sometimes you find yourself married to one.  What to do?  The best solution is to get as far away as you can from them, but that’s not always possible.

First things first.  You have to emotionally detach yourself from this person.  This can be difficult, especially if they are family but you must remove your feelings from the situation and deal with this person in an objective and detached manner.  Oftentimes, difficult people are abusive.  Verbally, emotionally or worst case scenario, physically abusive.  By removing your feelings from the situation, you are better able to view them as a stranger would and see them for what they are.  Are they likely to change?  Remember, you’re being objective so “hope” and “want” don’t play a role in this question.  If you think they are able to change, then work to make them change.  Sweeten them toward you and ask Spirit to bless them with whatever is missing in their life that is causing them to act in such a way.  The key here is to be realistic about their ability to change.  If they are not nice people in general, if all their relationships are crap then they aren’t likely to change so this tactic may make you feel better at first but it’s not likely to have an effect on them.  If this is a workplace scenario and the difficult person is making more than one person’s life miserable (and using minions to do it), here’s one little trick I used to make things tolerable until I could find another position.  I made a batch of “potpourri” in a small jelly jar with a lid.  It wasn’t potpourri but looked like it and had a pleasing scent.  Basil, Cinquefoil, Rosemary, Slippery Elm, Cloves and a bit of Patchouli tossed together with a tiny bit of Cedar essential oil will do the trick.  I kept the jar closed when I wasn’t in work and opened it first thing every morning.  I also kept a bowl of peanuts and candies on my desk to attract co-workers and supervisors.  Everyone commented on how nice my area smelled.  The difficult person kept their distance from me and I was able to negotiate my exit from the company on my own terms at exactly the right time for me.

Dealing with difficult family members is not as simple.  I have had to cut ties with family members because of their behavior toward me.  Yes, we are supposed to love one another but you need to love and respect yourself first.  If you don’t love and respect yourself, believe me, no one else will.  Sometimes, taking a stance shows others where the line in the sand is and they eventually figure out where/how they crossed it.  Send them love, send them blessings but protect yourself by not putting up with the bad behavior.

There is no one single magical solution to dealing with difficult people.  The world is full of them and they will vex us on a daily basis as long as we let them.  If you can put yourself in your “higher mind” and not let them affect you emotionally, you’ve won half the battle.

No matter what your spiritual or magical path, honoring your ancestors will only benefit you and help you to reach your goals in life.  The DNA of your ancestors is what you are made of and it is my belief that many of the memories that people call “past life” memories is actually DNA memory passed down from our ancestors.  Your ancestors are your first spiritual line of defense, they have a vested interest in seeing their bloodline survive.

I hear from many people who come from troubled families that they want nothing to do with their family of origin and they are resistant to any thought of honoring ancestors. I tell them they need to look farther back.  Generations back, to your unknown ancestors, or if you’ve had a family genealogy done, to those whose names you know but you’ve never met.  Your blood is their blood.  They will protect and guide you.  They will get you stronger spirit helpers.  They will often speak to you, either via clairaudience, dreams or signs and give prophetic messages if you develop a strong relationship with them.  If you have been hurt by your immediate family, you need to reach past that pain and connect with those ancestral spirits who handed down their DNA to you.

Starting an ancestral altar is a simple matter and needn’t be a formal affair unless you are following the precepts of a particular spirituality such as Vodou or Santeria.  You can create one on your kitchen counter or a bookcase in your living room if it pleases you.  Flowers, fresh water, a candle, leaving a cup of coffee or other favorite beverage occasionally in front of pictures of your ancestors is a great way to start.  Symbols of your ethnic heritage is always pleasing to them.  You should start seeing  or hearing results fairly soon.  Blessings will come to you in unexpected way.  Perhaps you’ll get a whiff of a scent you haven’t smelled in a long time that will remind you of a deceased loved one.  Your ancestors want the best for you.

July 24th 2010 I had a dream..I gave birth to a baby girl who was pre-destined to die shortly after birth for a reason…she was needed for spiritual purposes.  I held her chubby body and lay her down, watching her sleep peacefully but losing vitality.  I felt I should try to breastfeed her and reached out but pulled back when I remembered she was not going to make it.  I cradled her instead until she died.  A group of women in black took her from me and as they lifted her from my arms I cried out her name – “FIONA” – and they tried to shush me, saying I shouldn’t name her that name but I did.  Afterwards I saw her whirlwind of spiritual energy outlined in purple light dance with extreme mischief.  I called to her – “Fiona!” thinking because I gave birth to her I could control her, but I soon realized she was uncontrollable and watched her whirl through a crowd and out of sight.

What are the signs/symbols/omens in this dream?  Do you recognize them?  This dream is true.  I wrote this in my journal 7/25/2010.  I invite interpretations.  You should know I was born in the hours before the 2nd hurricane to directly hit Rhode Island in 1954, the only year this happened in recorded history.

It seems one of the hardest things for people to do is to listen to the voice of spirit.  With technology blaring at us from all directions, folks have such a difficult time quieting their minds and letting spirit speak.  Often, I get clients who come for a reading hoping to hear from me what path or direction they should be taking in life. I tell them they need to go deep within and listen to the voice of spirit and unfortunately, many do not know how.

Finding a peaceful place such as the ocean or a wooded area is my first and best recommendation.  Getting in touch with nature, away from the hustle-bustle of day to day life, can do wonders for the soul and work wonders in clearing your mind.  Sitting next to any body of water, looking into the calmness, asking the water to wash away whatever is blocking your vision should clarify and affirm whether or not you are on the right path.

Going into the woods, sitting under a tree, listening to the nature sounds gives you a sense of your place in the world. How small we are compared to the giant trees…how all the inhabitants of the woods interact with each other gives us cues as to our place in life.  However, these  are not always options for many people.  Life is too busy, they live in an urban area with no access to woods, ocean or silence.  What to do in such a circumstance?  Put some music on and DANCE!

People have been dancing to spirit since the beginning of time. Tribal dance, trance dance, twirling dance, all bring you closer to spirit.  Of course, you can’t just put on your favorite songs and get hopping.  The music must be chosen carefully.  Pick something that is instrumental or sung in a foreign language.  Build a playlist that starts slow but gets energetic, makes you work and fully involves your body to the point you can’t think, when that happens your mind is free!  You are dancing in the spirit! Dance energetically for as long as you can, from as little as 20 minutes or up to an hour.  Set your playlist so that the music slowly unwinds you, your movements become slower and you can sit or lie down and relax for the final 10 minutes or so.  Once the music stops, record your thoughts and impressions.

You’ll be surprised at how empowered you feel after listening to the voice of spirit, whichever method you choose.  Practice this at least 3 times a week to stay on track and attain your highest goals.

Do you believe in magic?  Folk magic, ceremonial magic, black magic, wishful thinking, all have their roots in the human desire to make changes using outside forces.  But believing in magic and understanding its limitations are sometimes two very separate and far apart things.  Many clients come to me, wanting to make serious changes in their lives.  Some are in situations beyond their control or believe someone has been working magic against them.  Others are stuck in a rut and need a boost to open doors and remove obstacles from their path.  Still others don’t know the path to follow so seek spiritual help to guide them along the way.  As long as you understand  the limitations of spiritual work and are willing to make the necessary mundane changes that go hand in hand with magical working, I am happy to work with most clients.  However, there are always the unenlightened clients who think I can make pears grow from an apple tree without any effort on their part.  Not so!

Magic, or spiritual work,  requires effort from both the worker and the client.  It can be an incredibly rewarding  and deeply enriching experience to be able to assist someone achieve their life’s goal, open new roads, and accomplish what they thought was out of their reach.  When I take on a client, we become spiritual partners, working toward a realistic goal with a set game plan in place.  My clients do their part as I do mine.  You can’t just send someone money and sit back and wait for miracles to happen.  You have to believe and you have to work!

A positive mindset is a must for change to take place.  If you’re convinced that someone is working against you, then someone is – and that very person may be YOU!  A negative mindset will defeat the most powerful uncrossing spell on the planet.  A simple affirmation such as “I will not be defeated” repeated daily works wonders in empowering yourself and helping you to overcome anything you are facing – be it a curse, roadblock or just one of those “crap happens” periods of life we all go through.  Start your day by looking in the mirror and repeat that phrase and BELIEVE IT!  Soon you will feel a power rising deep from within, and all your obstacles will start shrinking.

In addition to a positive mindset, a client needs to cleanse their body, home and workplace of all negative, stagnant energy that has built up.  Yes, this is a lot of work but you need  to make a fresh start so you must start with your surroundings.  Cleanse, rinse and repeat!  Once you’ve cast away all the built-up crap, it’s time to draw in good stuff to replace it.  Anoint your body with the proper oils and powders suited to your purpose, burn the proper incense or oils in your home and then lay down good strong protection to keep it all in.  You’ll be amazed at the difference.  Refreshed, renewed and ready to get to work?  You gotta believe!

So, you’ve cast your net (and love spells), used a honey jar or lodestone or other spell to attract the perfect mate and voila! here they are!  Now what?  How do you ensure this develops into a lasting relationship?  First of all, you’ve got to gather some personal concerns…clothing, hair, pictures, handwriting, saved voice mails.  I can hear  you now: Mother Susan, how am I going to get hair and clothing?  Think simple and sneaky!  People shed hair all the time.  Next time you’re with your beloved, look for a stray hair on their clothing, the back of their car seat, check out their hairbrush in the bathroom!  Regarding clothing, borrow a sweater or jacket even if you have to fake a chill.  Take a sock or pair of underwear from their hamper in the bathroom.  The bathroom is a great place for gathering personal concerns  - check out the bar of soap in the shower, or their shower sponge or even the bathtub drain!  Get a string from their clothing if you can’t get an entire article of clothing.  Be creative!  Save all their voice mails because you can utilize those in knot magic.

Your goal is to make this person want and need you and only you.  You want to be in their thoughts and in their dreams.  Take one of your own hairs and braid it together with theirs.  Slick it nice with honey or corn syrup.  Cut three lengths of embroidery floss, roughly the length of your forearm.  I like color so I would use red, pink and white.  Tie a knot in one end of the three strings and start braiding.  While you’re braiding, pray with all your might both of your names “together forever bind us as one”.  When you get to the middle add the braided hair and braid it in.  When you reach the end tie another knot.   Tie a knot in the center where the hair is.  Tie a knot to the left of the center knot then to the right of the center knot.  Continue in this manner for a total of 9 knots (including the end knots) each time you tie a knot state your name and the one you love “together forever bind us as one.”  If you have saved a voice mail in which the person says your name use this when tying the knot.  Say the person’s name, play the voice mail saying your name and tie the knot.  That way you are capturing them good!

You can either wear this knotwork on your person, add it to a honey jar (inside or wrap around) or wrap around a picture of the person.

You should also make a honey jar for the two of you, using whatever other personal concerns you’ve gathered, clothing, etc.  Fill the jar with honey, rose petals, cinnamon, calamus root and lavender.  Wrap the jar with your own undies and circle with powdered sugar.  Burn pink or red candles anointed with Song of Solomon oil every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Word to the wise, don’t rely on magic to accomplish EVERYTHING for you:  you still must be kind, attentive and loving.  Treat the other person as you want them to treat you and the love will continue to flow.

Many, many of my clients, both male and female, ask about LOVE.  Either they want to draw new love, save a relationship or just met someone and they’re sure it’s THE ONE.  There are hundreds, probably thousands of love spells on the web and in print but the best way to start is to LOVE YOURSELF.  If you are not loving yourself, you will not attract a healthy wholesome person who will give you the true long lasting love you crave.  If you’re already there, you’re self confident, you’re happy with yourself and know your path in life, then and only then are you  ready to attract a mate.

So, let’s start with drawing a new love.  You’ve done your work, you’ve gone deep within, taken a look at yourself and you’re happy with what you find.  Now you want to find the right person to share your life with.  Sounds good?  Here come the questions…what do you want in a mate?  What is important to you in a relationship?  Are you focusing on the outer person and not on the inner beauty?  A person’s character speaks volumes.  Do you want someone who will stand beside you through thick and thin, give you space when you need it and support you in your darkest hour?  Ah!  Now we’re getting somewhere!

When working with Love clients, I tell them to make a list of the characteristics they desire their mate to have.  Not physical, because physical looks change due to time and circumstances.  Personal characteristics, values, what you’d like to have in common with this person and also how this person will provide balance in the relationship.  If you love to talk, the other person should be either a good listener or enjoy a good debate, depending on your needs.  MAKE A LIST!

Once the client has their list prepared, I usually go over it with them to make sure they are being realistic and focused.  The list is then transcribed to a petition paper, which is dressed with the proper powder and oils.  If  the client is doing the work themselves, the paper is placed on a saucer under a newly cleansed and baptized lodestone.   I advise them to place a ring of 9 pink chime  candles around it that have been dressed with the appropriate oil and as you light them one by one, call out for your new lover “Come To Me!”  As the candles burn down, recite the Song of Solomon from the Old Testament.  I suggest this work begin on a Friday, if you can start on a Friday when the moon begins to wax so much the better.  Every Friday thereafter, light one pink candle and feed your lodestone a tiny bit of magnetic sand and repeat your recitation.

You should also carry yourself with confidence, knowing that your new love is on the way.  Let your inner light shine.  People who feel good about themselves give off a glow.  Like a moth to a flame, that glow, along with the magickal work, will draw your new mate.

I wish I had a dollar (ok, let’s make that a ten!) for every time I’ve heard someone say they were born under a bad sign.  What is a bad sign?  What do you know about signs and symbols?  I didn’t study semiotics in college but I did learn to pay attention to certain things as as a child and later as an adult.

You can’t blame everything on the circumstances of your birth.  Whether the stars were in your favor when you were born or not only means you may face more obstacles than most on your journey.  How you choose to deal with those obstacles are up to you.  The choices you make are what impacts your life.

What are factors are you considering when making life choices?  Here’s where the signs and symbols come in.  Are you making choice based strictly on wants/needs/desires or being objective and looking around for a sign as to which way to go?  I’m speaking from experience when I say, the easiest way to take the wrong path in life is ignore objectivity, reason and signs of divination and go with carnal desires, emotional needs and wants.  Trust me, you will learn a lesson the hard way!

I can hear you now…so tell us what are the signs and symbols we need to look for?  How about the clouds in the sky?  Do they look like shapes to you?  Is there an animal nearby?  How about a representation of a particular animal?  What does that animal symbolize?  For example, if I had just met a man who was sweeping me off my feet, oozing charm and I saw a coyote or maybe someone wearing a sports team jacket with a coyote on it, I would take that as a sign to back away slowly from this trickster.

If you are familiar with runes, I-Ching or other forms of divination that use shapes, take note of these appearing in your surroundings.  Signs are everywhere!  Listen to sounds…are church bells ringing at an odd time?  Train whistle blowing? Hear someone call yours or a relative’s name only they weren’t talking to you? Look at the clouds, pay attention to birds and animals, look for repetitions of particular numbers and colors.  Read up on the meaning of each and every one of these. Your spirit guides speak to you in many ways and the signs and symbols found in your environment is a very important one.