Hi from seaturtle777

[seaturtle777]

Hi everyone! I'm Ellyn, and I am a client of the wonderful Miss Athena, and a prospective student of the awesome Miss Cat's Hoodoo and Rootwork Correspondence Course. I had an amazing reading with her (hi Miss Cat!) and I'm currently waiting on receiving the last of the course work supplies before I can schedule my interview.

So I have only been studying/learning/applying Hoodoo specifically since the Fall when I read Deliverance! by Khi Armand and realized how much of it made sense and clicked (especially regarding crossed conditions in my home/family, thanks to my first amazing reading with Miss Athena after my father-in-law passed away in November); however, I am not new to magic, spell casting, working with my own psychic abilities, or spirit communication/mediumship. I was pretty much born "open" to the spirit world. One of my first "imaginary friends" when I was 3/4 years old was a little boy my age named Malcolm. I remember writing his name (correctly, with the silent "l" and everything) at the age of 3. He was probably a spirit (benevolent). At various times in my childhood I encountered spirits. I was also always drawn to witchcraft and wanting to cast spells (mostly fantasy/imagination like, for example loving the movie Teen Witch, loving Sabrina the Teenage Witch, etc). I read The Power of the Witch by Laurie Cabot when I was in middle school, and did the exercises to teach myself to go into "alpha" or the trance state, develop my intuition/clairvoyance (all the "clairs" actually). I also began getting premonitions when I was a young teenager. Unfortunately, my first premonitions were very frightening as they predicted the impending death of my father. He died when I was 16. At that point I turned to my mom's faith, the Episcopal Church, which was a very healing place for me for awhile. (My parents divorced when I was 6, and so I was partially raised Episcopalian when at my mom's house.) In college (I am originally from Texas, and I went to the University of Houston and have a BA in Psychology, minor in Women's Studies from UH) I got back into Wicca and was a seeker in a coven there that was partially based in Beaumont, which is close to Louisiana, so I also learned about the folk magick of that region -- for example Charms, Spells & Formulas by Raymond T. Marlborough was a staple in my book collection.) My first experience of (spontaneous) mediumship was after a coven ritual actually.

Fast forward to my early 30's and I was drawn to more New Age-type spirituality. I was in a spiritual development group here (I live in NJ now) for a couple of years and practiced psychic abilities (psychometry, energy reading, energy work, I was certified Reiki I and II) and mediumship. I've never read professionally, but the mediumship readings I did then probably blew my socks off just as much as it did the sitters'! The feeling of connecting and passing on the information, and feeling the love and the healing (I'm an empath in case you couldn't guess, ha ha) I mean, I felt like I got as much out of the readings as the sitter did! I receive information from all the clairs, and it just never ceases to amaze me when I receive accurate information. I sometimes just feel like a "spirit radio" lol. I also practiced working with angels, spirit guides, etc. (I have also been able to sense angels since childhood, and elementals, nature spirits, communicate with crystals, etc.) I also went with our teacher once to a house to help the family who had a couple of earthbound spirits "stuck" in the house. The teacher and I "double-linked" and we both communicated with the spirits and helped them cross over and helped energetically cleanse the house as well. I ended up moving on from that group and got married and had babies, and after some time where I was doing a lot of personal work on myself (processing and healing from trauma, dealing with and healing from Post Partum Depression etc) I have found myself back on the spiritual path full-force.

As so often happens, it was a series of personal crises (this time, my wonderful father-in-law being diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and having a rapid decline-- he passed away 8 weeks later, due partially to a surgical error, just gut-and-heart-wrenching) combined with multiple bizarre things (me and our dog being attacked by two dogs when just walking in our normally boring neighborhood, in front of my 7 year old son; my husband's business suddenly under attack by his business partners, and more) that led me to picking up Deliverance! and feeling the pieces fall into place. Shortly thereafter I had my first reading with Miss Athena, and she has helped me to do a lot of things to turn things around, and I'm so grateful. I began reading many of Miss Cat's books and just devouring everything I could read about Hoodoo! I just love it and it works!! It also reminds me of my childhood. I was blessed to grow up in a very diverse, multicultural region (Austin TX and then Houston; I also lived in Philadelphia for 2 years before moving to South Jersey) and have found that Hoodoo seems to bridge the gaps between folk magick I picked up in my childhood/teen/college years and the skills I have worked on in New Age spirituality as well. I have just fallen in love with Hoodoo, and want to learn it in a deep and serious way. I don't want to just use it sometimes, I want to really dig into it and understand it and honor the roots of Hoodoo being the enslaved Africans, --I am deeply moved by reading the accounts of the slaves, as I have a heart for social justice--and want to be respectful and honor the Ancestors of Hoodoo in learning to use it correctly. I have tons more I could write, but this is so long already! lol. It's wonderful to be here and I look forward to getting to know everyone. Sorry for the long post! One thing about me, I am never good at being concise! lol ;-P

[Mr Christopher]

Welcome EllynJ,

We are excited to see you here.

I would also ask you to refrain from posting your birthday, and all three zodiac signs as it personal connection in a public space.

You may also want to visit the Crystal Silence League http://crystalsilenceleague.org/ we always need someone to help pray for others.

I'm sure you have been exploring a lot on your own, but these are links to general information on Hoodoo to give you a jumping-off point:

Hoodoo History:
http://luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html

Mojo Hands:
http://luckymojo.com/mojo.html

Oils:
http://luckymojo.com/oils.html

Baths:
http://luckymojo.com/baths.html

Powders:
http://luckymojo.com/powders.html

Incense:
http://luckymojo.com/incense.html

Candles:
http://luckymojo.com/candlemagic.html

Herbs:
http://herb-magic.com

Conditions and how we can address them:
http://luckymojo.com/hoodooataglance.html

Best of luck,
Mr. Christopher

[seaturtle777]

Oh, thank you so much! Got it on the birthday and signs. Thank you for the links!

[catherineyronwode]

Hello, Ellyn --

It's good to see you at the forum. I am happy to be your conductress as you venture deeper into the study and practice of rootwork. I am here to answer your questions about the historical background, botanical basis, spiritual traditions, magical premises, and contemporary techniques that comprise this vital form of folk magic.

[seaturtle777]

Hi Miss Cat!! Thank you soooo much!!! I'm looking forward to learning all of the above! <3

[Miss Athena]

Hello Ellyn!

It's wonderful to see you here! You are one of my favorite clients and you've already impressed me as a fantastic student, so I know you will thrive in Miss cat's course.

I hope you find the many pages of ideas and information in this forum to be helpful and inspiring. It is a wealth of education in itself.

Many blessings to you, and I look forward to our next conversation!

[seaturtle777]

Hi Miss Athena!!

Oh my gosh, thank you SO much!! You are such a wonderful reader and rootworker, I just feel so honored to be here! I have gotten such wonderful advice and help from you, and I got wonderful advice and encouragement from Miss Cat, and I’m always reading and learning! I will be doing a lot of reading today about making my first mirror box reversal! I know I am gushing but I love this path so much. I’m so grateful and blessed to be here! Lots of love!!