Happy Hungry Ghost Festival from Hoodoo Psychics!

Dos and Don'ts For Your Hungry Ghosts!

Seven months into the Chinese Calendar, in this year of the Earth Dog, the Hungry Ghost Festival marks the opening of the Gates of Hell. During this time, which lasts an entire month, it is said that the Spirits of the Dead roam the earthly plane. It is customary during this period for Buddhists and Taoists to pray, make offerings and entertain their visitors from the other side. It is common to find the streets eerily quiet and empty in the evening during the Festival of Hungry Ghosts because, if you are paying attention to tradition, you are already home by dusk.

There are numerous taboos associated with this Festival:

Entertainment:

* Leave the front row of chairs roped off and empty - ghosts like to sit up front!
* Don’t play with a Ouija board.

Altars:

* Altars are for leaving offerings, so never leave a child sitting on one.
* Do not complain, make jokes or otherwise disturb temporary altars placed along the road. (In case of any transgression, be sure to apologize to the spirits.)
* Do not pick up any coins you may see as they probably belong to spirits.
* Do not look under the altar.

Home before dark:

* Try to be indoors before sunset, especially children and child-bearing women.
* Should you find yourself out at night, don’t whistle. At home, don’t hang wind chimes near your bed. Spirits are drawn to these sounds.
* Do not take the last bus. That’s the one with the ghosts on it.
* No photos at night. You may catch a ghost who'd rather not be photographed.
* Better to stay home and not travel by plane or sea and do not buy a new car.
* Do not go near the water. Don’t swim the pool. Or go into a jungle. Or go camping.
* Once home, keep the front door shut at night.

Stay away from cold places:

* Do not stand under a tree or lean against a wall, as that is where spirits like to stay cool.
* Should you become cold suddenly, do not react. Just keep going straight ahead without making a sound.
* Same goes for anybody tapping you on the shoulder or calling your name. Ignore it.
* Don’t be curious or follow strange or sweet scents to their source.

Personal attire:

* Do not leave your clothes hanging out to dry on the line overnight or risk spirits inhabiting them and entering your home.
* Don’t paint your fingernails black or risk being thought a ghost.
* Don’t wear black or red.
* Do not open an umbrella indoors.
* High heels may leave one open to the world below.
* Do not cover your forehead. You will need to leave it open as a channel for yang energy.

And finally:

* Don’t cuss. Especially anywhere spirits may be insulted. Don’t even talk about ghosts or joke about the supernatural.
* Do not kill visiting grasshoppers, butterflies or even moths in your home. They may be your ancestors.
* Do not talk to yourself. Spirits may think you are initiating a conversation with them.
* Do not poke your rice with your chopsticks.
* Do not get married, have surgery, visit a friend in the hospital or attend a funeral.

ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PERSONAL BELIEFS BUT IT NEVER HURTS TO PLAY IT SAFE.

Astrological Trends With Sister Jacqueline

I don't know about you, but I have had a slew of things absolutely GO WRONG during this summer's retrogrades, and I am SO THANKFUL Mercury and Mars are now Direct!

Mercury went direct at 4:25 am on Sunday, August 19, and though we might have some residual things to work with, we can now get back to life being somewhat normal.

Mercury, the planet of communication, stations in retrograde three times a year, each lasting three weeks. Many times this stationing in retrograde will affect partnerships and relationships, letters and checks taking longer than usual to be delivered (or mail disappearing altogether!). It also affects computers and other forms and devices of communication. It is best to wait for car repairs, signing contracts, and making permanent plans for your life during the times that Mercury is in retrograde.

Now that Mercury is direct, it's a fine time to do a backup on your computer, install any upgrades or updates, check your apps on your phone and actually turn off your phone for a few minutes so that all settings update.

Mars went direct on August 27, 2018, and it is currently stationed in the astrological sign of Aquarius, the Water Bearer. Peace and freedom loving Aquarius (remember the old 5th Dimension song "Age of Aquarius"), has a deep conviction of equality and personal autonomy that is a natural effect for those who are ruled by this sign. During this retrograde, you may have struggled with "losing your cool" over the thought of others' rights being compromised. At the same time, it was difficult to express yourself without imploding or setting off a personal nuclear warhead at the perpetrator. During Mars retrograde we must use caution, as recklessly forging ahead might not be in our best interest. In a perfect world, we come out these retrogrades with a little more control over our tempers. We like to think that once the retrograde period is over, we can "go back" to what we had been able to do like before. Not so fast this time!

At the tail end of the retrograde cycle, Mars slipped back into Capricorn, the Sea Goat, on August 13, and all your ambitions and "to do" lists just changed again. Capricorn is considered a "father figure" type of astrological sign, and if you felt restricted/constricted already, now "big Daddy" is coming in to tell you "quit yer whinin'" and get a MOVE ON! If you have been trying to make some waves or moves within your career or social community, the direct movement of Mars in Capricorn is the 'rocket fuel' you need to make you pretty darn unstoppable! Go out and get it NOW!

There are other planets in the sky that are in retrograde and they too, can affect your everyday plans.

Currently, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron are all still in retrograde -- and they too, can affect your everyday plans.

* Uranus will go direct on January 6, 2019. Until then it stations retrograde in the sign of Taurus, the Bull. It will make it harder to restrain the erratic and impulsive urges of Uranus.

* Saturn will go direct on September 6, 2018. It is now stationed in the sign of Capricorn, the Sea Goat. Re-evaluate your long-term commitments and priorities. Changing directions or freeing ourselves of trapped situations are easier during retrograde times.

* Neptune will do direct on November 24, 2018. It is sitting retrograde in the sign of Pisces, the Fish. This is an ideal time to work on your spiritual self and seeking your Truth. Release your karmic victimizations at this time.

* Pluto will go direct on September 30, 2018. Until then it sits retrograde in the sign of Capricorn, the Sea Goat. Reflect now on the Inner Person that you are. Let go of fear and stand up to the tormentors and cruel, power-hungry people that are controlling your life.

* Chiron will go direct on December 8, 2018. It is in the sign of Aries, the Ram. Not a planet but a comet, Chiron represents wounds you carry through this lifetime and your past. This is an important time for healers to "heal thyself".

Keeping these notes on your desktop or jotting them in your calendar will help you know when the pressure is off of you and when it is the best time to "make your move."

Please note that the third and final Mercury retrograde will occur on November 17, 2018. This retrograde will last three weeks, ending on December 6th, just in time for an enjoyable Winter Holiday season.

Good Luck and God Bless,

Reverend Sister Jacqueline

Author, educator and prognosticator, Rev. Sister Jacqueline (ext. 9999) is one of the talented readers on Hoodoo Psychics. Please visit her biography page on Hoodoo Psychics to read about what she does and how to contact her for a reading.

Hoodoo Tricks From Deacon Millett

Although most folks think of sweetening spells as purely the province of love conjure, there is a long tradition of sugar spells in other places, particularly the courtroom and on the job, both spots where conflicts often arise. These tips and tricks will help anyone wanting to soothe a dramatic situation or swing someone important (a boss or judge) to their favour.

* Attract others to you with confectioners sugar and powdered cinnamon sifted to a light tan tone. Sprinkle it over resumes, business cards, legal papers, official forms — anything you send or give to your target. Call our their name as you make a wavy “S” through the powder. Remove it with several quick taps, leaving no actual powdery traces.

* Keep up your cash flow with a doorstep wash of brown sugar, red brick dust, and cinnamon. Add to water and scrub your doorstep inward.

* To get a judge on your side, write his or her name nine times and place the paper with cinnamon and sugar in your left shoe. Now you have the judge under your feet and working for you!

* To sweeten your workmates and bosses, trick out any sugar packets from the break room. Layer a name-paper for each of your coworkers in a bowl with sweetening packets and loose sugar. Recite Psalms 33, leave overnight, dust the sugar off the packets and take them to work for daily use.

* To get a loan or other financial request granted, create a tea of five finger grass, fenugreek seed, honey, and licorice root. You can drink the tea or bathe in it, but also make sure to wash your hands in some before meeting any bank people.

* To keep a happy boss, crush blue flag root, gravel root, and allspice into a powder. Blend with sugar and dust it where your boss is sure to step. (Under a desk or next to a car door can be perfect!)

* If you have a loved one in jail, paste their photo on a wide-rimmed jar filled with sugar. Get a skeleton key and shove it straight into the sugar, like a key in a lock. Turn the key daily and recite Psalms 23 to .

* To get a job back, take a clear jar of powdered sugar, powdered cloves and allspice. Add a name-paper for your old employer. Burn nine white lights upon this jar for nine successive days, asking for the boss's heart to be softened.

* To cut through obstacles in the workplace, make a lemon cake into which you call the names of any difficult person. Drizzle with a powdered sugar and lemon juice icing over which you have recited Psalms 65.

Hoodoo Psychic Deacon Millett is the author of Hoodoo Honey and Sugar Spells and Hoodoo Return and Reconciliation Spells.

Mercury & Mars Get Into Gear

Sweetening The Courtroom and Workplace