Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Ask Angus

Home
Pagan
AskAngus12: Sports cannot hold a Candle to Marie Laveau

AskAngus12: Sports cannot hold a Candle to Marie Laveau

Last updated on: April 30, 2013 at 5:42 am by Angus McMahan

AskAngus12: Sports cannot hold a Candle to Marie Laveau 2013-04-30T05:42:32-07:00 Angus McMahan

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sadie: Can I use magick to influence the basketball playoffs?

Dear Sadie,

No. Aside from the monumental technical job involved, there is that pesky Rule of 3 / Freewill thing to consider.

Plus Basketball players are too smart and independent.

Try Hockey.

Illuminated: What is the proper method of extinguishing candles?

Dear ‘Lum,

Ah yes. The available literature is chock-a-block with tips on candle size, length, color, and precise time for ignition. But on how to relieve our waxy assistants the books remain strangely silent. And as with everything else in Witchcraft, there are several contradictory schools on this which do not get along. And, as always, the answer is to try them all and see which makes sixth sense to you.

Using a snuffer is very frilly and Victorian, – but critics say that you would be “snuffing out” your spell as well as the flame.
The ‘pinch’ is very intimate and ‘hands on’, no implements ‘tween you and your magick (and its the least smoky) – but They will say that you are likewise “pinching out” your spell.
Finally, there is the classic ‘birthday cake blow’ – but the Greek chorus points out that you are just scattering your spell everywhere.

So which to use? Ideally we would utilize the ‘none of the above’ option and NOT extinguish our candles at all; just let them burn down till the spell is finished when it simply runs out of fuel. This of course has several drawbacks. Candles are fairly inexpensive but burning your house down gets expensive after a few times. Certain spells and situations specifically call for ‘all-nighters’. In those cases many of us employ the ‘ol bathtub trick for fire safety, but make sure your housemates are aware of this before they stumble sleepily into the shower the next morning.

So you gotta get the things out somehow – try the snuffer, the pinch and the blow and see which feels best for you. (And don’t listen to what ‘They’ say.)

Me? I usually blow. It’s cheap, I am a big baby about pinching – no matter how wet my fingers are, and my snuffer often wanders off. My rationalization for this magically (and rationalizing is a surprisingly large part of effective spellwork), is that I am ‘releasing the energy to the four winds’.

Yes, THAT Ronnie Dio also recorded it.

Don’tyouDAREprintmyname: I am asking this only for historical accuracy, and its not even for me, its for a friend of mine, but what exactly IS Love Potion #9?

Dear um, Dear,

‘Love Potion #9’ is an R&B song from the 50’s that was most successful for the English group the Searchers, who took it to #3 in the U.S. at the end of 1964.

Anything else?

Oh, wait; ‘historical accuracy’. Are you sure you want to know what it was, Dear? The Searchers alude to “kissing the cop down at 34th & Vine” after all. Do you have some deep-seated tendency that you’d like to keep hidden? Hmmmm?

Well there were certainly enough hidden problems in Reconstruction-era New Orleans, and a young ‘creole of color’ widow named Marie Paris saw an opportunity. Changing her name to Laveau she opened a small voodoo shop which was instantly infamous.

Its notoriety was due, in part, to the system developed by Marie to safegaurd the secrets of her often high-born clientele.

1794-1881

At Marie’s one did not have to walk in and announce one’s problem to the burning ears of the other patrons. Instead she used a number system for her rich and/or steady customers so they could be spared the embarrassment.

Love Potion #9 was just one of many brews that she kept in stock, and the ultimate success of her plan is the fact that to this day nobody for certain can say just what ailment that or any of her potions cured.

Have your ‘friend’ say hello to that cute cop down at 34th and Vine for me.

~AskAngus

Angus McMahan

@AngusMcMahan

Send your questions to: [email protected]

(Photos from Gizmodo, vijithforever.com, musicmasteroldies.com and ginalanier.com)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 17, 2013

AskAngus11: Boston Marathon Bombing

Next Post

May 19, 2013 AskAngus13: Sad on the sidelines

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2020 December 2019 February 2019 January 2019 September 2018 July 2018 April 2018 February 2018 October 2017 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 April 2016 July 2015 March 2015 February 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter John the Baptist Paul Thomas