SOMETIMES, THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE
A few years back, a friend needed my help at the relatively last minute, through no fault of his own. A situation turned urgent for him, and he reached out for help. I had not long had a specific spirit who worked quickly in communication and commerce, so I knew immediately to go to that spirit and see what I could negotiate to help.
I did as I had learned, calling out to the spirit and divining. Sure enough, he agreed to assist. Then came the part that always makes me pause a little—the payment!
It was the first time I had worked with said spirit for someone other than myself. See, people like me, when we receive new spirits, we know not to ask them to do a bunch of stuff, even for us. The first several weeks I usually spend sitting, meditating and talking. Sometimes, I will light a candle or blow some smoke or rum. But this person needed me to act, so act, I did.
Do you know what this spirit wanted? It was nothing more than a candle with some specific herbs rolled onto it.
I was floored. I expected a significant ask/demand for such a last-minute situation. But instead, it just wanted light. Now, to be sure, light is no small thing in ATRs/ADRs. Those of us who practice espiritismo often say that all you need to work with spirits is a candle and a glass of water. I have done this enough to know that it is that simple.
But I digress a little. Light is essential for several reasons. One is that it is an offering of light to the spirit. It makes it easier for them to see in some ways. It brings light to darkness, whether that is the situation, something someone is hiding, or to ease my communication with my spirit. Light also uplifts prayers. It is akin to what the Bible calls the “sweet burnt offering” going up to the Divine. Light means many things.
For my friend, this meant that all the spirit needed was some light and herbs to procure money to get things moving. My friend had what he needed in precisely three days. This spirit has an uncanny ability to accomplish goals in three days, so much so that I know that’s how it works.
But this post is really about the power of simplicity. I am learning of another related ATR system that is far more straightforward than most. We live in an age of oversaturation of many things, so when something simple yet effective comes along, there can almost be a tyranny against believing it has real power. For some of us, we get stuck thinking that what’s powerful is what takes hours and hours to carry out. Some things are this way, yes. But other ways are not.
This is yet another reason why I teach Hoodoo the way I do. To be sure, there are complicated rituals in Hoodoo. But the vast majority of its tools are simple, direct, and effective. Hoodoo was not borne out of a state of luxury but of necessity. It also had to be something that could work on the move because Hoodoo’s original forebears often had to keep it moving while still doing what needed to be done spiritually. If you want to learn more about the simple spiritual practice I teach, please join me in my current cohort of Working the Roots. You will be glad you did!
The link to the class is here: https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/working-the-roots/.
See you in class!
