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The Spider and the Serpent
The Official Newsletter of Charlotte’s Web
Volume 2, No. 1, January 2004
In This Issue
Nature’s Rhythm: Investments
Life’s Simple Gifts: A Mere Matter of Thought
Perspectives: Who Do Hoodoo?
Open Mind: Open to new possibilities!
Monthly Calendar: Workshops
Valentine Specials: Product discounts
Small Print: Gettin On and Off the List
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NATURE'S RHYTHM: Investments
Making investments is serious business and can make or break a person
financially, emotionally, and physically. Prior to putting our money in
the stock market or savings account one typically investigates all
possibilities and then the decision is made based on the potential
‘appreciation’ value of the investment. Keyword here is ‘appreciation’.
The most precious commodity that we own is our time and energy. How we
invest it will make a difference in the return value and quality of
life. Every day we’re faced with choices. Choices on how and where we
will focus our attention. The ultimate decision that is made will
determine if the investment in the choice will appreciate or depreciate your
life’s value as perceived by you.
The simplest way I know to improve and ensure that life is giving you
everything that you need and want is to embrace the challenges as well
as the good with ‘appreciation’. Appreciation allows us to let go of
criticism, self-abuse, depression, judgement, and all the other
‘depreciating’ emotions and conditions in our lives. It allows your experiences
to be a power tool that will grow in value.
To some this may sound easier said than done. But believe me, from my
own experiences, I can say that it does work. Appreciation will
transform a negative or bad experience to one that is a growth opportunity.
Appreciation will turn on the light at the end of the tunnel.
Appreciation will turn all situations to win-win opportunities.
‘Invest’ a few minutes each morning to ‘appreciate’ your life AS IT IS.
Give thanks to the universe for all opportunities presented to you.
Most of all, appreciate who you are.
Invest in appreciation of the talents and gifts that have been bestowed
upon you.
Invest in a smile. Smile at yourself in the mirror and to others
throughout your day.
Invest in laughter. Laugh at yourself, with yourself, with others.
"You can never get to peace and inner security without first
acknowledging all of the good things in your life. If you're forever wanting and
longing for more without first appreciating things the way they are,
you'll stay in discord."
-- Doc Childre and Howard Martin
Namaste,
Charlotte
<================================================================>
LIFE'S SIMPLE GIFTS: A Mere Matter of Thought
- by Coral
What Are We Teaching the Little Ones?
Growing up many moons ago, when society was far different from now, and
as the youngest of 6 children with a Very Christian mother, you can be
sure I was in the church every time the doors were open. Sunday
Morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and when I was a teenager, Friday
night "Youth Service". Like it or not! I was there. 4 times a week.
Camp in the summer. Of course, all that exposure ended up to be good for
me in the long run, as it gave me the opportunity to evaluate and THINK
about that path, and it actually led me to my current journey. So, I
am thankful for the upbringing I had, for it was what I learned there
that led me to here. The observations I made, the questions I asked,
and, yes, the answers I received all had something to do with leading me
down my Now path of Spirituality.
I have been thinking about the structure of that previous path, and how
it might have been really good for me, which of course led me to think
about our Pagan children, actually, ALL children, but I am particularly
thinking of the children I am exposed to frequently, as well as my own
grandchildren. Are we providing enough structure in their lives to
enable them to gently learn the ways of Spirit? Do we take valuable and
scheduled time to teach them the ways of the God and Goddess or Divine
Spirit, whatever your inclination? If we have discarded 'Organized
Religion' as a viable tool for our family, have we replaced it with
anything of value which will enable our children to KNOW Spirit, instead of
having to fight for it, like we did? Do we know what THEIR thoughts are
or ideas or questions about Spirit based topics? Do we teach them to
THINK, so that they may know the truth of any situation, rather than
just believing or having an opinion? Do we teach them of their power? Do
we give them the freedom to make any of their own decisions regarding
Spirituality?
There are many ways we can teach our kids about the beauty of Life.
Starting very early, really. We can teach them of the plants and herbs,
the stones and crytsals (of which MANY of them are already aware), the
planets and their motion, the turning of the seasons, how to do the
'right thing' regarding treatment of others, being respectful, and
thoughtful, on and on and on. I'm sure many of you have your own teaching
plans, and I would like to encourage you to share them with me. (Please
be sure to let me know if you do not want your ideas printed in The
Spider and The Serpent.) I think that by sharing the responsibility of
our young ones, by getting input from others who share similar
experiences, and by being able to openly share ideas, (whole lotta sharin goin
on!) we may discover that guiding our kids is a real honor in the grand
scheme of things.
For those of you able to take the time to respond, please be sure to
include any group activities you know of for Metaphysical Families.
I look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions....please email:
coral@charlotteswebstore.com.
Until next time.....Coral
<================================================================>
PERSPECTIVES: Who Do Hoodoo?
– by Elizabeth
It’s the Mississippi Delta in the fifties. It could as easily and is
New Orleans. Everyone knows the Root Doctor. Dr John He is a wizen old
man who lives down a gravel road in a rather large white house. The
house is in a grove of trees in the middle of a large cotton field. The
house and trees looks like a green island in the ocean of cotton. In
back of the house is a barn, a shed and a couple of other structures.
On further back down the road is an old white church, one room little
more, and an ancient cemetery surrounded by an iron fence. Down the
middle of the fence is another iron fence dividing the cemetery into two
separate cemetaries – one for whites another for slaves and some of the
descendents who were free. The church itself is well kept but mostly
empty. Behind it all is the scatters or the swamp. Doctor John sees
this as his cemetery for indeed he owns the land up into the scatters
(swamp).
My cousin Jenny who was married to a local farmer lived in the
neighboring farm. I loved to go to visit Jenny, even though I was not a quite
twelve, I thought of her as being my age. I developed a friendship
with another girl, Margo, who was black. We spent hours poking around and
exploring.
One day I was sitting on the side of the road with Jenny. We were
throwing rocks into the drainage ditch when a long black car came driving
by slowly (to avoid pot holes and throwing too much gravel). There was
someone driving and someone in the back seat. All I could see in the
back was a top hat, and half of the head of an old black gentleman with
snow white hair. I could see he was wearing sunglasses. "Who is
that?" I asked.
Margo said, "that’s the Root Doctor, he’s been gathering roots".
"For what?" I asked.
"For spells – you know – Hoodoo". Was the reply.
"What’s Hoodoo?". I just had to ask. This began an exploration of Doc
John’s place until we both got caught. Doc John fortunately was kind
as I began to learn. "Now don’t tell nobody or they’ll try to take your
powers – best not til you got a good hold on them."
Hoodoo is similar to Voodoo, but it’s not exactly Voodoo. Voodoo is a
religion, hoodoo is a magickal system. Hoodoo does not have the
negative connotation as Voodoo even though Hoodoo is slang for "bad fortune"
or someone out of luck has been Hoodood’ed. The term Hoodoo came about
when the U.S. Government attempted to enforce already enacted Louisiana
laws forbidding Voodoo. So each time an arrest was attempted people
would say they were practicing Hoodoo – there was no such word as Hoodoo
on record so of course there was no case. Although, Voodoo was against
the law in Louisiana, one person has ever been arrested and convicted
of Voodoo.
Louisiana (and Delta) Voodoo was Haitian in origin. By 1987 Haitian
Voodoo died out leaving only the commercial parts of Hoodoo – Hoodoo is
not Voodoo.
Does any of this really work? Of, yes it does. If you don’t believe,
it won’t affect you, right? Wrong! Some little something in the back
of minds persist in believing in magick – or so I’ve been told. I have
personally witnessed one case of Hoodoo working as a nurse in a Delta
hospital. I saw a 26 year old woman come into the emergency room of
being "Hoodoo’ed’. The woman had been sleeping with another woman’s man.
The woman, "LD" was breathing hyper-voluntarily, the pulse was ‘120’
and the heart was becoming enlarged. "LD" said she had a severe pain in
her head because "they" were sticking pins. "LD" said she has the gris
gris. What was evident was that "LD" was in a panic and that the
stress was beginning to cause serious problems. The emergency room doctor
ordered IV valium (she had an IV by then) – 5 – 10 mg. "LD" was
becoming wilder. All of a sudden LD went into cardiac arrest. No amount of
shocking or CPR or medications brought her back. An attendant noticed a
small bag on the floor. It had fallen from LDs hand. We opened the
package to see if anything could have caused the arrest -–like a poison
or some other substance. What was inside was chicken feathers, hair,
bone, herbs (one of which smelled awful), etc. The bag was sent off to a
lab and analyzed. There were no poisons. During my visits with Doc
John, I learned to make bath mistures designed to purify and do other
things. Whenever I see some one smudging I remember the technique of
fumigating or smoking the body to remove unwanted negative energy that was
not removed by a spiritual bath.
The subject steps out of the ritual bath and is draped in a white
sheet. It is preferable to be nude. The subject sits on a chair. The sheet
covers the person and the chair – covering from the shoulders to the
floor. A container containing a minimal amount of charcoal for burning
resins or incense is placed under the chair. Sprinkle incense or resins
on to the burning charcoal. The subject should remain under the sheet
for at least ten minutes. The sheet traps the smoke. This way the
smoke will stay close to the body. It is important that the subject pray
for the desired effect. This works for negative energy or for the
removal of foreign entities.
Suggested ingredients for fumigation: Cinnamon and frankincense –
calming; coffee beans (not ground) with benzoin (negative spirits),
frankincense or copal with honey, honey and brown sugar, tobacco in the form
of a good cigar (protects from the evil eye), myrrh is never burned
alone. There are many other ingredients you could use. This technique of
fumigating is effective when linked with the bath. And, of yes, do not
forget the Psalm or Psalms that accompany the ritual.
Until next month – Blessed Be – Elizabeth
(For more information on this and other related spiritual/psychic
development, join us in a course of study beginning February 26, 2004).
Elizabeth welcomes your comments, experiences, and questions. She can
be contacted at Charlotte’s Web by sending an email to
cws@charlotteswebstore.com, or call Charlotte’s Web at (770) 516-0571.
If you would like to have a telephone psychic reading with Elizabeth
call Charlotte’s Web to arrange an appointment at (770) 516-0571 (local,
US and international calls welcomed).
<===========================================================>
OPEN MIND: Open to new possibilities
"Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have
one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go.
Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain.
The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a
new life."
-- Mary Manin Morrissey
Journaling is a great way to release and let go. To get things off your
chest. Our minds are our own worst enemies. The same thoughts go round
and round in the same old ways and keep us stuck.
If something bothers you, write about it. Get it out so you can see it
from a different perspective. Let it out. Let it go.
Owning and healing your pressure cooker is an important step in
claiming your power, building your esteem and making your stand.
"In truth, to attain to interior peace, one must be willing to pass
through the contrary to peace. Such is the teaching of the Sages."
-- Swami Brahmanada
This article was provided by Higher Awareness. If you would like to
subscribe to their free newsletter Inner Journey, click on the link
below.
Higher Awareness has 75 Intuitive Resource Lists with 100 ways to 'Do
different things and do things differently.' Create new experiences.
To subscribe to Inner Journey go to http://www.charlottesweb-atl.com
and click on the Higher Awareness button.
<===============================================================>
MONTHLY CALENDAR: February 2004
For workshop reservations or more information, please contact Coral at
coral@charlotteswebstore.com or call Charlotte’s Web (770) 516-0571.
All workshops are held at Charlotte’s Web, 3595 Canton Road, A-4,
Marietta, GA.
Every Friday, 7:30p – 8:30p WEEKLY MEDITATION - $5.00 donation
Guided meditation sessions with Ann Bastuba every Friday night. This
is a great way to unwind from the week and start your weekend. Call
(770) 516-0571 for information and reservations.
Sunday, February 8, 5:00p – 7:00p TAROT - $15.00 donation
Advance Tarot Workshop – Bring you favorite tarot deck. Please call
for reservations - Charlotte’s Web (770) 516-0571.
Sunday, February 15, 5:00p – 7:00p – Astrology -$30.00 donation
Understanding your Natal Chart – Bring a copy of your natal chart. If
you do not have one, please call Charlotte’s Web to provide pertinent
information and we will have your natal chart ready for you. We need at
least 24 hours notice in order to have your chart available for the
workshop. Coral will provide instructions on how to interpret your chart.
This is a basic but informative workshop. This is a two-part workshop.
Part II will be held on Sunday, February 29th. The donation covers
Part I and Part II. Call (770) 516-0571 for additional information and
reservations.
Saturday, February 21, 1:00p – 4:00p Shadows of a Witch -Book Signing
Meet the author of Shadows of a Witch. Shewolf Silver Shadows will be
here at Charlotte’s Web for a book signing. Bring your book for a
personal autograph! Books are available at Charlotte’s Web. Call (770)
516-0571 for information.
Sunday, February 22, 4:00p – 6:00p Kabbalah - $15.00 donation
Extreme Truth: The Ultimate Reality Show! Introduction to the Kabalah.
Four Worlds, Ten Dimensions, Twenty-two Pathways. Explore the basics
of the Tree of Life and the possibilities of applying this Ancient
Wisdom to your own path. Call (770) 516-0571 for information and
reservations.
Sunday, February 29, 5:00p – 7:00p Astrology
Part II of Understanding your Natal Chart. Pre-requisite, Part I.
Sunday, March 7, 3:00p to 5:00m – Wheel of the Year - $30.00 donation
Come to understand the magic of the Sabbats and how they can be a guide
for transforming your reality and creating the life you want. Learn to
utilize the Sacred Sciences and ancient calendars to reveal the hidden
path of death, rebirth. Discover how flowing with this energy releases
pain, struggle, and suffering. Learn to balance it with your needs and
desires to manifest health, joy, love, prosperity, all your dreams and
aspirations.
Spring 2004 – Let’s go digging in a crystal cave in Arkansas. Plans
are underway for a road trip to play in the crystal earth and see what we
can dig up. Details will be provided as they are solidified. To get
your name on the list early, send an email to
charlotte@charlotteswebstore.com.
May 2, 2004 – Singer/songwriter Karen Drucker will be playing in
concert at Unity North Atlanta Church. That following Monday she is holding
a workshop on ‘writing your own chants’. Charlotte’s Web will be
working with Karen to help promote this event. More information to follow
in the weeks to come.
Valentine Specials
Kama Sutra – all Kama Sutra products – 25% off (sorry, these items are
not available for online purchases).
Gift Certificates – Buy a $35.00 gift certificate for $30.00 (sorry,
not available for online purchases).
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