Jun 15, 2013

Time of power, Pentacost Sunday and The Holy day of Voodoo



Ahead of  us are two magnificent holidays, particularly for Christian practitioners. The power of Sun and Solar magick is at it’s peek in this particular period, and on the Northern hemisphere , currently, the Moon is crescent as well ( read; waxing ) making this an ideal period to power up, heal, ensure success in Your endeavors,  increase Your   fortune and any other  sun-correspondent  operation. These are the  times of such overwhelming Solar power, than Cancers may start experiencing fatigue, and start feeling warn out due to all that fiery energy.  And also, these are   chances to be seized and grabbed, for spiritual people and  practitioners of magick, for that extra “oomph” in their  workings, and a nearly-guarantee of success.

Sunday of Trinity, or Pentecost Sunday ( in Orthodox Christianity )

Sunday of Trinity, Pentecost Sunday, Feast of The Holy Trinity, Trinity day, Descent of The Holy
Artistic depiction of Holy Trinity,
"Holy Trinity" by Hendrick Van Balen
Spirit, all  refer to Christian holiday,  celebrating the Holy Trinity and commemorating the  gifts received by disciples from Holy Spirits.

On the fiftieth day after  Resurrection of the Lord Christ ( according to Orthodox Christian  doctrine ) , disciples were praying, along with many other faitful people, as instructed by Lord Christ Himself, when a miracle occurred.  Holy Spirit, in a form of miraculous flame came down from heaven, with a rushing wind sound, and split in form of “cloven tongues” each of which had touched one of the disciples.  As a result of this wondrous event, disciples had instantaneously  gained abilities to speak in languages they have never previously spoken, as well as to heal , and perform miracles.  The Hebrew visitors of Jerusalem,  present at the time,  hurried to see what was what took place there, and to investigate the noises. And ,  they were bewildered and astonished  indeed, for they heard   the disciples speaking in their own languages, preaching about Lord’s sacrifice and his  righteous place at G’d’s right side. Most were amazed, yet few mocked, stating how the disciples had a bit too much of the vine, but Peter addressed to them, and carefully explained them  how Lord  Christ was ascended into Heaven, as  prophet David had foresaw, long time ago. Inspired and touched, the Hebrews asked what are they to do and  St. Peter instructed them :

 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” [1]

And they indeed got baptized.

This  holiday reminds us of the  of one of the core  beliefs and teachings of Christianity,  that of tree personas of one Single Essence, God Father, God Son, and God Holy Spirit, that are One, and worshiped as Christian G’d , who is not some impersonate force.  

In Orthodox Christian Church, the image of Three Angles that appeared to Abraham is set at the Centre of the Church, Church is adorned with flowers and grass, and often green vestment and coverings are often used.  All this to symbolize the breath of G’d enlivening the nature, and bringing prosperity and abundance.

Another beautiful part of tradition, I myself love to take participation in, each year, are the Kneeling Vespers , when in addition to Vespers the “three sets of long poetical prayers” by St. Basil the  Great [2] are read, as the faitful kneel in prostration , touching the floor with their foreheads.  Additionally, where I am it is customary to bring some fresh plants to the Kneeling Vespers and wreath a garland, a ring with it, sometimes with a Cross in the middle. These “amulets” are after the service taken home, and hung in houses , usually near the icons to ensure protection, prosperity and health  throughout the years. Those made last year are burnt, or buried in the garden.

This holiday is in Orthodox Church celebrated also on the two consecutive days, Monday , being called “Monday of the Holy Spirit”, and the Tuesday being called “Third day of the Trinity”.   Monday is believed to be idal time to begin with some task, business , practice , for it will  ensure it’s proficiency, productiveness and success. On the Third day of the Trinity ( Tuesday ) it’s good to do things we love doing, and also for philanthropic acts and alms giving and alike.

Ritual for Sunday Trinity

Technically speaking, as a Christian, I’d abstain from casting spells on “large” Christian holidays , but a ritual, like I am suggesting, seeking guidance and strengthening spiritual awareness, should not be seen as blasphemous

Set one purple and two white candles so they form a Triangle. Dress the candles with “Holy spirit oil” ( I love the New Orleans style formula  ) or If You can not get that one substitute with “Master key oil” or “King Solomon’s wisdom oil” . In the centre of the triangle place a vessel with Spring water. Light the candles, first the white ones than  the purple one and read the following texts and prayers:

"To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophesy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (vs. 8-11).  [3]

Then the following prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints.

I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.

O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.

Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.

Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.

Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.

Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.

Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.

Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen. [4]

Then finish up by reading Psalm 23rd

Have a sip of the Water, Sprinkle some on Your bed, sheets and pillow, and pour the rest over Your head. Using “Holy Spirit oil” ( or Master key oil, or King Solomon wisdom oil, If You lack Holy spirit oil ) draw a cross on Your forehead.  It is done.

Midsummer, St John the Baptist and Holy day of Voodoo

The Nativity of St John, which coincides  with the third day of Midsummer , or Sumer Solstice  celebrations , 24th of June,  is a holiday that commemorates birth of St John the Baptist, or also St John the Forerunner, as called in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. He was born from his elderly mother Elizabeth and his father Zechariah,  both who had been beyond the age of child-bearing at give point.  During one of the services in Holy Place ( putting up the incense on Gold Altar ) Archangel Gabriel appeared  to the Zechariah, and announced to him the upcoming birth of his son, as well as told him that he is to name the child John.  Zechariah initial disbelief and doubts about the Angelic revelation, rendered him speechless, up until the 8th day after his son was born, when he was asked about the child’s name, and he wrote “John” , which resulted in return of his speaking faculties.   King Herod sent his men to kill the son of Zechariah, but Elizabeth seeing them, fled and hid him, which enraged the Herod greatly, so he ordered for the Zechariah to be slaughtered in front of his temple. It is said that the blood Zechariah shed, had  instantaneously firmed like it was a stone, and could nevermore be washed, reminding people of his murder.

Archangel  Gabriel also informed Elizabeth that shill will give birth to a son,  and Mother Mary ( Elizabeth was her cousin  ) went to see her.

St John foretold the coming of Christ, as well as prophesized  how he will be Messiah, and baptized the Lord on river Jordan.   I have written of StJohn’s  holiday and role in folk magick before , but on this occasion I’d love to pay some attention to  his feast day, which is in Louisiana, and throughout southern part of the States, celebrated as Holy day of Voodoo, by those into this spiritual path.

The actual Saint has little to do with rituals themselves though, they are in New Orleans traditionally done ( on his Feast day ) on the Bayou St. John, which is believed to have been practiced that way ever since Mamzelle  Levaux ( Marie Levaux , Voodoo Queen   ) had started initiating people there on this night.  
Bayou St. John in New  Orleans, where "the magick happens"
 So technically on the 23rd  June eve, in New Orleans, the head-washing ( lave tet )  initiatory ceremonies are held, as well as ceremonies of honoring Loa Marie Leveaux ; all appropriated with drum music, dances, lighting candles on Mamzelle’s  altar , and leaving offerings in form of head ribbons, gris gris of all kind, Catholic Saint medallions or Catholic food.  People that wish to get initiated, must come dressed in new white clothes, and bring good will and offering to Marie Leveaux. [5]

This day is however in the world on Voodoo considered to be extremely powerful, and that all 
People  singing ritual songs on the Holy Day of Voodoo, at
St. John's Bayou,  from 2011th
the conjure and work done on that day are even more empowered by energies of the day, and spirits who are  generality in a good mood and willing  to help on this holiday.   Many  light to honor and work with Loa Ogun on this day, probably because he is syncretized with St. John the Baptist in New Orleans Voodoo.

It is also a very good day for communing with Loa spirits, and asking for their guidance and help. In fact Loa will often reach out to practitioners themselves on this eve.   The first time I ever got to know about “The holy day of Voodoo” was few years ago, and by accident. Somewhere around the sunset I felt an  sudden and extremely strong  sensation of fatigue, and could not help myself but lay down for a nap, which  I hardly ever do, once in a blue moon, or less.  As I fell asleep, I had vivid dreams about swamps, canals, snakes, alligators, and a black lady whit a white headscarf, who made me company as we drove in a chariot that went insanely fast. She spoke to me about things, and showed me thing. No need for details here, it’s not of essence. Anyhow, as soon as I woke up, I went online to talk to some friends who were into Conjure and NO Voodoo , and they told me how this is perfectly normal thing to happen on “Holy day of Voodoo”  , and that is when I first heard of it.

If You can not get to New Orleans  , to attend the rituals at Bayou St.John You can take a bath or do dedication ritual to Mamzelle Leveaux, in the comfort of Your home, and there is a wonderful ritual suggested on examiner page on Voodoo, by D.A.

Another practice is collecting the river water in bottle that  is used to keep away the bill collectors, and pestiferous people out, according to testimonies of person from Algiers ,  given in “Hoodoo-Conjuration-Witchraft-Rootwork” which is famous Hoodoo collection of contributions and testemones about folk magick by Henry  Middleton Hyatt .

Here is the description of the rather simple gathering process, and it’s applications, for Your convenience :

St.John the Baptist water

St John the Baptist water is the water which is ritually collected from the  body of river on 24th of June, followed with speaking prayers, as You collect the water. It is then taken home, securely closed and kept in home at all times, pointing to the entrance doors to repel law enforcers, landlords, and all sort of pestiferous peoples and enemies. 

Miss Alvarado, at her examiner page, suggest following use of St. John the Baptist bottled water :

“Lay the bottle on its side with the head of the bottle pointing out of the door. When the law, your landlord or any undesirable person comes, call out to St. John and Marie Laveau and ask them to help you keep the undesirables away. While doing that, take that bottle full of St. John the Baptist water and roll it with your foot to the front door. If they come to your door, when they leave roll the bottle with your foot back to its position with the mouth of the bottle pointing out the front door. This bottle of water is to be kept from year to year and never emptied out.” [6]

Incense for Holy day of Voodoo

Use the following incense to fumigate Your altar, house, Yourself and bed, to draw positive spirits on this day. Combine:

·         Star Anise seeds
      ·         Sandalwood
      ·         Frankincense
      ·         Myrrh
      ·         Lavender

Burn the mixture in Your censer, on charcoals.

There, hopefully this article gave You few ideas on how to take   advantage of the powerful energies of these holy days .
Many Blessings, Shadow J
 
NOTES:  This article was written and composed by myself, so If You wish to use any part of it  elsewhere online feel free but add credits: Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com , or , a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFRENCES:
[1] Bible, Acts 2, retrieved from : http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=NIV
[2] as described at http://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost
[3] Retrieved from : http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7080
[4]  retrieved from, http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Prayer_Gifts_HS.htm , posted here for educational purposes, without any  ill intentions
[5] According to Miss Denise Alvarado as stated in her Examiner.com post here: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-holy-day-of-voodoo-st-john-s-eve
[6] Retrieved from the same source as under [5]
 
IMAGE CREDITS : The image depicting Holy Trinity is from:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hendrick_van_balen_Holy_trinity.jpg  used here for  educational and explanatory purposes only , without any ill will
the second image is from: http://blog.nola.com/news_impact/2008/12/large_bayoux075.jpg , the  third image depicting people during ritual is from http://fsjna.org/2011/06/real-voodoo-on-the-bayou/ used without ill will, for illustrative purposes here. Both second and the third picture were edited by myself

 

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