Milagro Roots and Readings

Client Confidentiality

I just had a client ask me about confidentiality.  This is not the first time I have gotten the question--and it comes up a lot around the holidays because people want to give their friends/family members a gift of a spiritual reading, but in some cases they have also had me do root work on said friends and family members during the year!  I just recently wrote a post on what types of behavior a reader/worker might expect from their clients, and this is part of the other side of that equation--what type of behavior can a client expect from their reader/worker as far as confidentiality goes?  What I tell my clients is that I am like a doctor.  Everything that we discuss and any work I do for you is strictly confidential as far as I am concerned.  I am ethically obligated to let the proper officials know if someone's physical life is in danger and if I encounter a client in a situation with rampant physical abuse I will let them know upfront that if I feel that they or any innocent parties (like children) are in danger then its my call to let the authorities know, but other than that all secrets are safe with me.  Of course, there are situations where a client will want someone to know what came up in their reading and in those cases I try to be as cooperative as possible.  But the most important thing to know is that the information you get during a reading or doing rootworker services is strictly for your ears only as far as I am concerned.

 

Mercury in Retrograde--what does it mean for your work

The last Mercury in Retrograde for the year of 2010 will begin on Thursday, December 9th and will end on Thursday, December 30th.  Mercury is one of the inner planets of our solar system and has long been associated with the faculties of speech, communication, and reason.  Astrology is one of the most ancient occult sciences and back in the day when folks were first learning to read the skies there were times where the planets appeared to go backwards as they travelled around the sun on their elliptical orbit.  Mercury is also associated with the Roman God of communication, travel, and messages and his Greek predecessor, Hermes.  Along with the well known aspects of organization and communication, Mercury has a trickster nature and that can come out during these retrograde periods. Which brings us to the most essential question: what does Mercury going retrograde mean for you and your conjure work?  

Well, the first thing to do is not panic!  A lot of clients come to me and they are freaking out because, in their words, "all of my work will be ruined since Mercury is in retrograde!"  That is simply not true.  In fact, the time of retrograde is excellent for certain types of spell work, and it is perfectly fine to finish up any spell work that has been started prior to mercury going into retrograde, even if the end of the spell falls during the retrograde cycle.  The types of work that you may NOT want to start during this time will typically deal with contact, communication, starting new ventures, and making deals.  So all of the tricks we have for contacting people and getting them to contact you are probably not your best bet during this time period.  

Now, as to the kind of work that does especially well during this time: any work that involves inflammatory confusion and communication would be very good to do right now, so if there is a couple you are aiming to break up, or a clique at work or school that needs to break apart, now is the time.  Mercury in retrograde is also a good time to go back over old projects/old relationships and tie up any loose ends.  Depending on the case, aspects of reconciliation work can actually be very good to do right now.  Likewise, if individual's feel like they need to cut and clear this can be a potent time to do it and the same goes for general cleansing and uncrossing.  If you have some work that you are considering or a situation that may need work and you are not sure if now is the appropriate time or if you should wait, the best thing to do is contact a reader and worker for some magical coaching on the subject.  Finally, protective magic and practical behaviors are recommended for this time period.  If you know that you have difficult communications with a person, then start work now so that you are less effected by the period of retrograde.  Make sure you back up your computer files and any data that you cannot afford to lose.  Finally, understand that technical glitches just will happen during this period.  Plan for it and deal accordingly.

 

Featured Product: Protective Bracelets

Sometimes folks ask me what they can do to increase Protection and Safety for themselves and their loved ones.  Many of the oldest Conjure tricks for protection are low-cost or even free, and there are several great formulas out there which can be used in protection rituals in a variety of ways.  Nevertheless every now and then there is a feeling that you might need something a little extra.  I have always been a fan of the wards against the evil eye.  I started gathering these talismans around me as a child and now I have quite a collection.  When I was in college I was given a beautiful glass bead bracelet of evil eye charms that a friend bought in Crete.  The woman who gave it to me told me to wear it for protection and that if I was ever in danger the bracelet would "take the hit" for me, much like Conjure doctors of old worked with Mercury Dimes.  Well, I wore my bracelet and then one day it suddenly snapped!  A few hours later I was in the ER with a severe medical issue that could have been fatal had it not been caught in the nick of time.  Needless to say, I am a big proponent of evil eye charms generally and I have a special fondness for the bracelets.  So I was thrilled when I got a small shipment of the classic blue and silver as well as multi-colored glass bracelets in stock for the store.  Supplies are very limited so if you feel like you need extra protection and safety, order yours today.  Once the bracelet is ordered I will ritually consecrate it and pray over it for YOUR specific personal use.

 

    Now, a little bit more about the Evil Eye.  There are many different types of Crossed Conditions.  One such is the infamous Evil Eye.  Growing up around my Southern relatives I was taught about the Evil Eye early on, by my grandmother and my mother.  They would shoot us kids the Evil Eye as a way to make us straighten up and behave.  The legend handed down to me was that throwing the Evil Eye was a special talent, first brought to light by Gypsies.  Women were especially talented at casting it, and it should only be used when necessary.  Protections against the Evil Eye included anything made of blue glass, glass generally, and water.  Later I learned that this version of the story I had grown up with was a pretty mismatched tale indeed.  The Evil Eye is a type of crossed condition prevalent to the Mediterranean, Middle-East, India, parts of Africa, and Mexico.  It is unique from other crossed conditions because typically the caster of the Evil Eye does not mean to send it--it is unintentional often spurred by feelings of covetousness, jealousy, and dislike.  Different cultures have different ways of dealing with the Evil Eye--as my mother and grandmother taught me, it does seem to be associated primarily with women.  Two common areas that are ripe for Evil Eye action are weddings and births--because of this there are certain taboos concerning announcements and invitations surrounding both of these events.  In some cultures it is a bad idea to let your unwed cousin/sister/girlfriend know that you are getting married too early, it might be even worse to tell her mother.  Same goes for pregnancy and new born babies.  Rituals for protection and blessing have grown up around these life events in no doubt partly because of belief in the Evil Eye. 

    So what happens?  Those who have been struck by the Evil Eye most often experience a "drying up" of their lives.  A once-healthy marriage may begin to feel stale, a child may experience difficulties, marked loss of appetite in family members may occur, one's finances or luck   This is why talismans against the Evil Eye are often blue and made of glass or another smooth material, the symbolism invokes the element of Water which moistens and revivifies the life force.  The most popular form of Protection against the Evil Eye are the amulets and talismans with eye shaped beads or stamped images, often in blue and silver, red, or multiple colors.  Another popular way of protecting against this type of condition is to hand wards against the Evil Eye in your windows and doorways.  Protection mojo hands may assist is shielding you from the adverse effects of the Evil Eye and of course, Spiritual Bathing is a time honored way of removing multiple crossed conditions, including those brought on by the Evil Eye.