The Place Where I Work

I took this pics today at The Old Riga Tea Bar, the place where I make my Tarot readings every Tuesday and Friday. Before you enjoy the eye-candy, keep in mind that 90% of what you see here was made by a team of crafters, which includes the two owners, a Fine Arts teacher, a metalsmith and my husband, who made the electricity work. The wood and metal pieces were from salvage and all the furniture and ornaments are either handmade by them or re-made from salvaged/thrifted pieces.

You enter through a tiny, shady terrace…

To find this superb work of art… the cabinets in the lower bar’s wall hold a collection of Clive Barker miniature deluxe figurines.

Every room is crowned by a wonderful chandelier…

Pretty details in every corner…

My little table…

and the wonderful moroccan-style patio.


And here’s Domingo, one of the most kind, generous and hard-working human beings I’ve ever met.

As you can see, I can call myself a very lucky person. I love this place, I love this people, I love my consultants!

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New At The Shop: Downloadable Book Of Shadows Pages

The name of Book Of Shadows has nothing to do with the “dark side”! As Witches were prosecuted for centuries and oral transmission of knowledge was not always possible, these kind of texts were kept in the “shadows” – that is, hidden. Thank the Goddess, today Witches can work freely (at least in some parts of the world), and technology and Internet are the new realms of potions and spells!

To be honest, I’ve always had my favourite spells, articles and such in a normal ring binder, protected by plastic folders. A leather binded book is very beautiful, I admit it, but not very practical! As you grow as a Witch, your tastes and knowledge of herbs, spells and potion will change, or pages can get dirty when you work outside, or you need to perform at a consultant’s house and you simply don’t want to carry all your book with you, just the spells you need. You will be permanently adding content – and believe me, you don’t want to go back to a book you wrote ten years ago to look for one specific herb description! I’ve been there and, my dears, it’s been a real pain in the broom.

Pack of three downloadable Book Of Shadow pages: left page, right page and chapter page, all in a voodoo/santeria style for your most secret spell bags, hoodooing recipes, bayou spells, magick chants… or just your thoughts and emotions. You can even print them to write a beautiful letter to a friend!
You can find this set at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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Full Moon Ritual

My contribution to Ed’s (gaywizard123 on flickr) and Lorianne’s (Plumevine on flickr) ritual: herb tea sweetened with Oshum’s honey and homemade mulled cider to celebrate with the glorious full moon.

The moon is a paper mache piece I got as a gift more or less 20 years ago.

Now, crawling to bed….have sweet dreams!

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Perfect Skin Rose Water Recipe

Due to the heat of burning candles in an altar, flowers don’t last much on them. The roses I got on Saturday were already fading, so this morning I had the perfect excuse for a little bit of recycling making my own version of rose water. My own skin is very thin and sensitive and tends to dry, so I can’t use commercial beauty products – no problem! One of the best things of being a Witch is the amount of recipes you can experiment with, not only for potions and magick, but also for health and beauty.

Pic taken five minutes after finishing it.

Ingredients:
- Fresh Rose petals
- Essential Rose oil, 3-5 drops per jar
- Sweet Briar Oil (Rosa Rubiginosa), one tablespoon per jar
- One tablespoon of alcohol/vodka per jar – this is optional because it’s used as preservative only.
- One lemon slice per jar
- Distilled water

- Sterilized jars – mine are recycled; I boil them first and then rub them with alcohol – pay special attention when cleaning jar lids, because most moulding comes from there.

Pic taken 1 hour after making it – see the change in the colour of the water?

Recipe:
- First, take petals off the roses, discarding stamens, and cut off the white part of the petal, where it “hooks” to the flower stem.
- Fill up the jar with petals and add the oils, the alcohol and the lemon slice.
- Add boiling water, filling it as much as you can, and close tightly – be careful and use a dishcloth to help you tighten the lid, the jar will get hot as hell in seconds!
- Let it cool, filter and then keep in fridge – without the alcohol it lasts about a week if managed carefully; with the alcohol, it can last for months if kept in the fridge.
- As it cools, you will see how the water gets into a wonderful deep red colour – this only happens with red and dark pink roses, which are the ones traditionally used for rose water.

Properties and use:
This water is hydrating, relaxing and healing for the skin. It is perfect for dry skin because the Sweet Briar Oil is used to lessen eczemas, scars and stretch marks; it is a wonderful soothing balm for sun burnt skin also. The little addition of alcohol and the lemon slice will dry and purify spots and unwanted grease on the skin, so anyone with acne or allergic swellings can use it too. It also has anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties – and of course smells like Rose Heaven!!!

It can be used as a face mist, body mist, added to bath water… anyway you like! I personally use it after a very hot shower, and also before putting on any make-up (make-up dries my skin a lot). Avoid contact with eyes, mouth and genitals.

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Finger Painting

My husband is in the way of becoming a pro tattoo artist, so he takes most of his free time sketching and improving his drawing skills. I don’t know if you know this fact, but most of the tattoo artists that I’ve met hardly did any drawing or painting before learning how to make tattoos, and that is his case too.
He usually sketches with a pencil on his tiny sketchbook. I asked him today why he never uses colour pencils and he answered he thought he was “not ready yet”.

Whaaaaaaat?????????

An artist can’t say not ready yet. I took out a roll of paper and my acrylic paintings and asked him to join me on a good finger painting session.

He was shy at first – he is a shy person in everything – but after a few minutes he was enjoying it completely… and I have to say I enjoyed it as much as him. He told me he felt liberated after finishing it.

Our hands, covered in muddy paint. This pic is more romantic for me than a wedding picture. Actually I’m printing it and framing it so he never forgets this day, this experience. Call it silly, I don’t care. But before you call this silly, give it a try with your loved one.

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The Legend Of Obi, The Coconut

The story you are going to read is a traditional Pataki (Yoruba legend) which tells the story of Obi, the coconut. Obis are sacred in Santeria, both as Eleggua’s sacred food and as a divinatory item by itself, which consists on four pieces of coconut shell that are used to ask simple questions to the Orishas. This is the story of how Obi, first an Orisha himself, ended up being the servant of all them.

I would like to dedicate this Pataki to my dearest Lorianne, who asked for it yesterday :) .

According to the Yoruba legend, Obi was well loved and respected by Olofi (God), because he had a pure and sincere heart. To award his good deeds, Olofi made him white and shiny and placed him at the top of the highest palm tree, so everyone could see him from afar.

As soon as Obi saw himself in such high position, he turned vain and arrogant. Obi asked Eleggua, who was one of his closest friends, to invite all of Eleggua’s friends to a party that he was preparing. Eleggua, who could see how much he had changed, invited all the beggars, homeless and poor people he could find.

When Obi saw his beautiful and spotless house filled with all those dirty, smelly, ragged beggars, he almost had and attack and pulled them all out, yelling. The guests left the house and so did Eleggua.

A few days later, Olofi asked Eleggua, who is the divine messenger, to take a message to Obi, and Eleggua refused. When Olofi asked why, Eleggua told him the story of the party; filled with sadness, Olofi himself dressed up as a beggar and went to knock at Obi’s door. When Obi opened the door and saw the beggar, he told him to leave his home and slammed the door on Olofi’s face. Olofi walked away a few steps and called Obi out loud, saying:
- Obi Meye Lori Emi Ofe!!!!
Which means:
- Obi, see who I really am!!!!!

When Obi saw the beggar was Olofi, he got really scared, and trembling from head to toes asked forgiveness from Olofi. Olofi forgave him, but as a reminder of his arrogance he was condemned: he would stay white and sweet inside, symbolizing his previous goodness; he would have a black hard cover, to remind him of his sin, and he would have another green cover that would mean the hope that he could learn from his mistake and become pure and honourable again. By falling from the palm tree and rolling in dirt until someone would pick him up, he would always be reminded of the poor he would not accept by becoming one of them; and by turning into the Obi oracle he would serve Eleggua forever, the only friend that wanted to show him the truth about his vanity, and always be the messenger of the voice of the Orishas.

Despite Obi’s behaviour, today he is much loved and respected; he is a wonderful divination tool as the Orishas speak through him. I hope you liked this legend, I personally love it as it reminds us that whoever we reject, we may become one day.
Mareferun Obi! (Blessed be Obi!)

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Caught In The Act….

….of writing a new Witchcraft book! My husband just took this pics today, and as I was uploading them to the computer I noticed I hardly ever post pictures of myself, so here they are.

Can you hear my brains frying in this one LOL?

I am (hopefully) finishing Quantum Physics For Witches, an essay on the analogies of this scientific approach with Witchcraft that I’ve been working on in the last two months – I a trying to make it approachable to anyone, but hey, it’s Quantum Physics! No easy task, more when I’m writing in a language that’s not my native tongue.
As soon as it is finished, I will reopen my Lulu bookstore and put it for sale at Dawanda too.

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Into The Future

I made a custom online reading for a friend today and got these beautiful pics. Gosh, I love giving good news :).

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A New Place For Eleggua

All the images you will see in this post, except the one of the Child of Atocha, are from my new Eleggua altar. I can’t reveal many details from the ritual, which was both a homage to Eleggua and a cleansing ritual, but you can enjoy the eye-candy! Instead of explaining the ritual I’ll post about Eleggua himself, so you can know my Santo better…

Who Is Eleggua?
Eleggua is my “santo” – he is my father, adviser, guardian, my everything. In the Yoruba-origin religions, Eleggua is the first Orisha – that means that no matter which is your santo, everyone has to “receive” an Eleggua, and it has to be praised and attended before and after every ritual. The Pataki (legend) says that Olofi (primary God, God of all Orishas) was very ill and none of the doctors could do anything to make him feel better. Eleggua, who was very poor, offered himself to cure Olofi; he went into the woods and cut many herbs and plants, preparing a concoction that healed Olofi; Olofi then told him to ask for whatever he wanted: Eleggua chose to be fed before all Orishas and to be positioned at the entrance of Olofi’s castle, so that everyone would have to salute him first. That’s why today, Eleggua is placed at the entrance of the house, and has to be saluted and fed before all Orishas, whether if the ritual is for him or not. The is a Cuban saying that goes like “nothing is achieved without Eleggua”, meaning that he is the beginning of all rituals in Santeria, Palo Mayombe and other religions coming from the Yoruba root.

In an archetypical side, Eleggua is a threshhold between this world an the others, the Divine Messenger, the one who knows it all from everyone, as he hides behind the doors listening to all conversations. He is the owner of destiny, the “abrecaminos” or road opener, and he controls the good or bad luck in humanity’s life. There are 101 “caminos” or aspects of Eleggua, all with very different looks, powers and characteristics, and every witch/wizard (which are called santeros and/or babalawos) has one of them – I can’t reveal mine because that is a secret. He is the owner of the “Aché”, which could be translated as luck, destiny, power, and surveys that whoever is at peace with the spiritual world is filled with Aché and protected from all evil. Eleggua is, without a doubt, the most controversial of all Orishas, as he is much loved and much feared as the same time, as his rage closes the paths of man. He can see evil and trouble from afar and there is no-one like him in making creative solutions for a problem. Leaving aside his playful nature, Eleggua is one of the four Warrior Orishas (Eleggua, Oggun, Ochosi and Osun), so he is also very fierce and protective with their sons and daughters. He loves children and protects them from harm and illness.

His colours are red and black, his animals the mouse and all insects (small animals that can enter the houses unnoticed). His favourite foods are coconut, guava and green bananas, and all kind of candies and toys are offered to him as he often appears in this world as a small child, often poor and abandoned. His magick numbers are 3, 21, 13 and 33. As all Orishas, he is offered candles, cigars and rum and other spirit alcohol. His week day is Monday. I do not sacrifice animals in any ritual, but in case you wanted to know, mouses, chickens and goats are offered – it is banned to offer doves to Eleggua.

When the African slaves were taken to America and forced to take Christian faith, they syncretized all the Orishas into christian images, giving Eleggua the image of the Holy Child Of Atocha.

(this statue is not mine, just a reference image)

Eleggua’s sons and daughters are extravagant, playful, talkative and completely out of the norm, as He is. They prefer to work on their own and love food, music and dance. They can be mischievous, unpredictable and ungovernable. As Himself, Eleggua’s sons are full of contradictions, though Olofi (God) is extremely tolerant with their behaviour as they are “living talismans” for the people around them. As in the legend said above, all of Eleggua’s sons are great “yerberos” or herbal healers, and also heal through words and singing.

Well I hope you enjoyed this little trip into Santeria! I’m really looking forward to talk more about it as I’ve found it’s not easy to find good info on it in English. Until them, MAREFERUN ELEGGUA!!! (Blessed be Eleggua in Yoruba language)

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Another Happy Customer!

“Hand made with love , this is the most beautiful necklace that I feel I own. Bought for me from Debbie and created by Carolina Gonzalez. I shall wear this at Gari Glayshers grand launching at Indigo2, The Dome London on June 20th as Fluff and I are VIP guests there, I shall wear it with Love knowing full well that Carolina made this with love, I shall wear it when I do any of my very powerful ritual and wizardry work. I shall use it as the greatest talisman against evil. This piece can only bring good luck , health and wisdom. Inside the large crystal is a scorpion hence me calling it the “Scorpion King” necklace. Especially as I once lived in the Land Of the Paharaohs many thousands of lifetimes ago. Thank you with all my heart Carolina, it had to be dedicated to you and of course dedicated to the lovely Debbie who chose it and bought it especially for me.”

My dear Ed, I am so happy you like it! When I showed this piece to Debbie, we both agreed instantly it was perfect for you! I am thrilled and honoured that you feel its energy and I’m completely sure the spirit of the scorpion will help you and guide you in your magickal work.

You asked me where the scorpion piece came from: it’s a vintage resin piece that was given to us as a gift from a friend, years ago. I kept the piece untouched for a long time, always waiting for the perfect design to enhance it. I’ve loved this piece very much and really, I was about to keep it for myself, but now I’m really glad that you own it, as I know you will love it and feel it just as much as I did. Thanks so much for posting this pic and the wonderful testimonial!!!!

Here are some closeups of the necklace:

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