Review: Soul Shine by Denise

I am not usually big on psychic readings, but when my friend Denise offered me a reading, I took her up on it. Denise can be reached on Facebook at Soul Shine Psychic Services by Denise, and she is linked to the Briefs and Brooms page.

Soul Shine psychic services by Denise

We did the reading at Denise's home. In the interest of full disclosure, Denise knows me well enough to feel okay having me to her home; but we are not so intimate that she could easily "cheat" on my reading.

Denise first read my aura, which showed up as light green. Denise associated this with earthiness and water. I truly love rivers. Interestingly, Denise spoke of waterfalls, lakes, and rivers--but not the "go-to" for most people, oceans. In fact, I don't care for oceans compared to lakes. I particularly enjoy time by rivers, and one of my favorite memories is taking my dog to a waterfall in a state park. I would have picked purple or orange for my aura, but light green made sense in terms of who I am.

Denise saw some spirits around me--an older man and two young girls. The older man, my grandfather, was no surprise at all. It took some thinking for me to realize the two young girls are likely my great aunt who died very young, and her sister. While I would not have thought of the sister, who lived to a ripe old age and with whom I got to spend a lot of time, as a child, I think it makes sense for her to manifest in this way after death. I am glad to have these souls near me.

Denise saw some angels, but not ones that are coming to the fore--I'm not in a particularly precarious situation now. Angels are around, but not getting a much-deserved break from active, minute-by-minute intervention.

Finally, there was a malevolent entity nearby. It would actually be more surprising--given the day-to-day encounters with boogey men I have in the legal system--if I did not have such an entity. I will be working up a plan to ask the entity to move along, and Denise does offer banishings.

This was a terrific experience, and offered a lot of insight as well as some quality time with a warm, friendly person. I highly recommend Soul Shine by Denise.

Working with Blackhawk

Justice often comes wrapped in a swift kick. I often win cases only to have a judge include a snide aside about my attitude toward the other side, or I might win and then have trouble collecting. This is not unusual given the illusion of impartiality that is necessary to uphold the legitimacy of the court system.

However, I recently had a run of luck where every case turned around on me. Even in a case where I represented fifty people across three or four different courts on a pro bono basis and won them a large settlement, the case went bad--the clients wrote the judge, the press, and my opponents degrading letters about me. My sins are grievous. For example, I once declined to attend a meeting the clients set unilaterally because the time was the evening of my wedding anniversary--yes, I was expected to drive the three to four hours to their location whenever they blanneyed about it, and no, I wasn't reimbursed for gas, tolls, parking, etc. (I made 30 or more such trips--all at my expense--over the four years of free representation, but what they remember is the ONE meeting I ever declined.) Further, they alleged I harmed them by working "pro bono," which they asserted (after the fact) meant I took 1/3 of their settlement (never mind that no one actually gave me any money, I never asked for any, and I never got any).

While in New Orleans, I discovered a lot of my problems stemmed from sending out spirits and not calling them back in. I blogged about that here. I had a cleansing, and almost all of the negative conditions began clearing. However, one last problem remained: a letter so salacious that it was sealed by the court remained dangling--it was received right after my cleansing. I saw this timing as the snake's body twitching after the head is cut off.

Preparing for the hearing on how "badly" I had treated my pro bono clients, I did all the things one should do. I arranged for court support from lots of activists who know my history and had even helped with the case (as with me, the help was at no charge). I hired a lawyer, and I prepared responses.

However, I also began work with Blackhawk. I visited some of his memorial sites. I read Mama Starr Casas' book on the subject, set up my altar, and ordered supplies.I will post a review of this excellent book later, but here is an excerpt.

Her most recent book is here:


The work I did was a bit more intense that the one set forth above--I used a work set forth in the book that is a bit more directed at people when you have lost all concern about their well-being. It is not a light work to do because of a social slight, and it is not easily reversed. I also made offerings to Blackhawk and to my own ancestors, made protection packets, and even placed a paper with the target's name in my shoe so I could tread on and control him with every step.

Court was a farce. The target was so hateful and untruthful in his statements that his behavior spoke for itself. I don't think I said five words. The judge admonished him she would hold him in contempt if he said my name again, to which he replied, "But [my name] . . .". There really are people that are just too dumb to live. I feel pretty confident this guy will drown in the rain for having his nose up too high without my help or even that of Blackhawk!

Everything worked in my favor, and I think this was the end of the chaos caused when I did not call spirits I sent back in. It is a lesson learned, but I am particularly grateful for the way the work could be used.

I arrived home to find a hatchet I ordered for Blackhawk's altar had arrived. It is blessed and in place with my sincere thanks!

Witching Hours and Holy Days!

Even though the cool winds of fall aren't really here yet (with some of us having an unusually warm fall), it is time to plan ahead for next years sabbats! These are two calendars I used (and loved) in 2017! The datebook has kept me on time (and centered) in court and meetings, and the wall version has provided my family with daily magickal reminders!

If the Creek Don't Rise (Book Review)

CONTAINS SPOILERS

If the Creek Don't Rise isn't a "witchy" book, unless you consider the high level of faith it takes to keep going with absolutely nothing. The title sentiment was also expressed by my Grandma as, "If I live . . . ". (Perhaps hearing, "If I live, we'll . . . " as the condition under which we would do things as mundane as making cornmeal mush made me prone to reach for a protection amulet and some lavender salt!)

However, magik is more expressly present in the book in the voice of Birdie Rocas, the neighbor (and protector) of the protagonist, Sadie Blue. Sadie Blue is in an abusive marriage, and, as such, needs a bit of help with details like delivering the baby her husband killed in utero or whipping up some hemlock root poison for . . . those who need it. Birdie Rocas tells us that her last name means crow, and that some folks call her a witch--a good thing for hunting ginseng (apparently because her appearance scares those who would steal her valuable harvest). When Birdie scrys for a dead body and the killer turns up dead himself, one begins to suspect she uses her magik for more than hunting ginseng.

Magik is sprinkled throughout the book as charms, amulets, potions, and folk wisdom. However, Birdie does share her scrying method:

--Fetch shallow bowl the color of blood

--Put on tree stump

--Pour spring water one finger width deep

--Kiss and put on personal amulet (Birdie's is a horn-shaped amulet)

--Make repeated "X" with thumb on forehead until coated with oil from skin

--Rub oil on item belonging to person you seek (handy to have crows to retrieve these for you!)

--Drop item into water

--Watch for answer to form

Although Birdie seems to get her answers, she leaves us with some lingering questions and an observation:

"Why are young girls dumb and men surprised?

"What does evil look like to crows from up in the sky?

"They're brave to play hide-and-seek with the dead."

While by no means a craft "how-to" book, this novel includes a few pages worthy of any book of shadows. It is a respectful window into the misunderstood and sometimes-popular world of granny magik or hoodoo, and deserves to be read.

The dialect in the book is southern Appalachian. It will sound "off" to readers from Kentucky or West Virginia. It does not seem to be intended disrespectfully.

Those of us not apt to find a hag stone shaped like a horn might appreciate a commercially-produced amulet like Birdie's:




(Note: links are designed to make me richer than a moonshiner with a revenuer cousin!)