[image error]There’s been a lot of buzz for the Fairy/Mermaid Jars that I have been posting on online; so, this post will be threefold.

First, I would like to thank everyone who purchased the, About Series, during the Super Summer Sale Spectacular. I can’t wait to see your reviews up on Amazon, Goodreads and Smashwords.

 

Free Mermaid/Fairy Jars! Oh My! Find out how to get yours by clicking here!
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[image error]Second, I will explain how the Fairy/Mermaid Jars came into being, how to use them, how you can get one free and how they tie into the my work in progress (WIP) Rituals Lost.

And Lastly: Since, October is the month of Halloween (All saint’s eve)/Day of the Dead/Shamhain and all things spiritual, I will share my genealogy journey that prompted me to write my latest (WIP), Rituals Lost, in which the Fairy/Mermaid Jars hold a significant part in the storyline, in a four part series entitled: Honoring Our Ancestors.

A Bit Of Background: Not only have I read the Bible cover to cover, but during the last three years researching Rituals Lost, I have studied all things mystical spanning ancient text from, The Kabbalah, to self-proclaimed masters, like Gerald Gardener and Aleister Crowley to the Hermetic, Gnostic and secret societies of the past few centuries to learn what is missing in our common knowledge to create my new series. My reviews on Goodreads are a good indication of the text that I have covered during my research.

Now for the genealogy component: Are you interested in your genealogy or to learn who you are, and how you came into being?

Have you ever thought about all the people that came before you to bring you into existence?

October is a great month for honoring our ancestors by being grateful for the sacrifices they made to bring you into being.

[image error]It is amazing to think that any slight differential could change the whole picture and you might not have been here at all. It is also amazing to think about how your genes and family lineage have survived these 65 million years to bring you into being. With that said, I will give you a small snippets of my personal journey in a four-part series : Honoring Our Ancestors, each Monday in the month of October, that were the catalyst for me to write, Rituals Lost.

(A very brief history) Keep in mind there is too much to unpack in a simple blog. So I am just hitting the most relevent points: Judaism was the first monotheistic religion followed by Christianity who took Judaism’s Torah (Old Testament of the Bible) and added their own to it, and wrote the New Testament of the Bible. Next came, The Muslim/Islamic Faith (750 AD) who wrote the Koran. And if you look closely at all three, they are very similar and yet these three religions have been fighting each other and reeking havoc on the global stage for centuries.

[image error]Ancient artifacts span the globe raising questions as to who we really are and how we got here.

Genealogy combined with world history creates an interesting scenario. If you think about it, the three main world religions have only been around for less than 2,500 years. When you consider how long people have been on the planet; each and every one of you are a descendant of a pagan faith, a time when the people of the earth, worshiped nature and the natural order that we live.

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The three main world Religions seems to remove people from nature, so I wanted to get back to nature. What better way to accomplish this than to go back in time when people celebrated the seasons and worshiped their mother earth and father sky? There is currently a movement spanning the globe where people are getting back to nature, people of the Pagan/ Wiccan faiths are reclaiming their heritage. A heritage that was made evil by Catholicism over the past millennium. So, of course I would be remiss if I didn’t include the Wiccan Faith in my series. The people who have suffered the most, during the hundreds of years that Witch hysteria spanned Europe and America. People were burned at the stake or drowned because they dared defy the Catholic Church, by having knowledge or practices that didn’t fit into the fire and brimstone of Christianity.

[image error]Ancient Alien theorist believe we have been visited by extraterrestrials. This guy looks like he is wearing a space suite.

Combining genealogy with history is how Rituals Lost began. One of the first books I ever read as a preteen was, Chariots of the Gods, by Erich Von Daniken. Have you ever watched the show Ancient Aliens on the history Channel? All of the content of VonDaniken’s books and more are covered in the 13 seasons series on the History Channel. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to come to the realization that there is more to our history than any world religion has even come close to acknowledging or discovering,

 

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While researching I have created boards on Pinterest and have collected spells and have joined many Facebook groups to connect with individuals who are currently practicing magic and are of the Wiccan and Pagan faiths, see acknowledgements in my new book, Rituals Lost, for details of my biggest influencers.

 

[image error]During my research, I came across spell jars, but most prescribe that you take a few herbs and add them to a jar and put it to the side or bury it in the earth. So, I can honestly say that the Fairy/Mermaid jars are my own creation. Although, Rituals Lost is a book of fiction, I always do my best to be as authentic and realistic as possible.

Keep in mind that I only subscribe to that which is positive, loving and good, as the Wiccan Rede states, “An’ ye harm none, do what ye will.”

 

[image error]The Fairy/Mermaid Lamps

These Lamps have been charged by the Mabon Full Moon, and Himalayan seasalt lamp. I have put the utmost care in creating these jars and have used the strongest symbolism to acquire the greatest strength. These jars are one of a kind as they are made by hand with love and logic and are not mechanically reproduced. They are imbued with blessings and positive energy and retail for $30.00 each. But I am not planning on selling them. I will gift them to my beta readers who are interested in receiving a free copy of the manuscript, Ritual Lost, in which you will read and write an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads and Smashwords. One review copied and posted to three sites.

Fairy/Mermaid Jars Explained:

[image error]Mermaid Jar Symbolism: Water is the element connected to healing, cleansing, and purification, associated with passion and emotion. Blue, is associated with spirit, healing, protection, wealth and dreaming. The blue and green sea glass at the bottom of each jar is associated with: communication, one’s deepest truths, intuition, tranquility, serenity, forgiveness, sleep, and dream work. The sea shells, made from the elements of the sea, like calcite crystals and the body chemistry of the invertebrate, their exoskeleton and homes during their lifespan are discarded upon their death and washed up on the shoreline. Seashells are energy amplifiers absorbing negative energy and releasing positive energy to creative roadblocks. The Silver speckled material of the plush cap also draws out the negative and replaces it with positive energy. The rechargeable battery-operated light symbolizes fire, and the opal glitter: love, passion, desire, intensifies emotional states and releases inhibitions and acts as an emotional stabilizer bringing about loyalty and faithfulness. Dive deep into the core of your subconscious and become one with your spiritual being in order to achieve true and total authenticity.

[image error]Fairy Jar Symbolism: Air is the element connected to the soul and the breath of life. Green, is connected to the earth and symbolizes luck, life, and the heart chakra. The Spanish moss on the bottom will protect your thoughts and dreams from negative energy. The heart and spirit are the same and not associated with logical thought or our earthly being, wholly spiritual. Copper, in spiritual alchemy, is said to bind silver with gold and represents experiences with love, sympathy, and affection, Copper conducts spiritual energy back and forth between individuals, crystals, auras, the mind and the spirit world binding our emotional and logical thoughts together to create something new.

[image error]The rope binds heart and mind, memory and knowledge, spirit with terrestrial being, so our intention is pure. The pine cone throughout the ancient world is the symbol of the pineal gland, third eye, intuition, a reminder to look inward for the answers you seek. The Fire of the little light is to ignite your burning desires and the fairy dust to awaken the spirit within so the magic can begin. Fairy wings give flight to your intentions so they will reach the universe. Wings to give flight to your dreams.

Keep in mind, we must know the right questions to ask before we will receive the answer we need.

My ancestor, Agnes Lennox, of Scotland in the 19th century, is the basis for my fictional main character in my new novel, Rituals Lost. She uses a version of these lamps steeped in the folklore of her ancestors to teach her daughters the ways of their foremothers, as the mermaids guided them to Scotland centuries ago and the fairies guide them to this day. The storyline vacillates between the present day and the 17th century.

Subscribe to my website to read excerpts from Rituals Lost, in the following months until the release in October of 2019!

Can you find the answers you seek without these little lamps? Of course, with today’s modern-day sophistication, all of this can be done during meditation. During, transcendental meditation, with practice and experience, one can travel the astral plane and view the Akashic record for the answers they seek, but this takes great practice and is only attained by the spiritually enlighten. These lamps are a nice place to start, to learn to do things with intention. Doing things with intention brings about a clearer understanding of the subconscious mind and puts you in touch with your spirit.

But in all honesty these lamps are just a cute accessory to add to your decor, the fact that they are steeped in magic and mystery is just an added bonus.

So, make this a nightly ritual;

[image error]Every night before bed, lift the lamp and make the bells jingle calling spirit to your side. Twist open the lid and make a wish, or ask a question to find eternal bliss. Light the light making your wish or asking your question and put it back in the jar, twist the cap back on to lock it up tight. In the morning, you will get your answer, you will receive the gift that makes true intentions known …

When you wake, lift the Fairy/Mermaid jar in your hand and think about your question or wish!

Twist off the lid and shut off the light until, again, it is night.

You can personalize these jars by putting a few drops of your favorite essential oils on the plush lid or add herbs and crystals to the jar to heighten or clarify your intentions.

Sweet dreams…

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A lot of thought and positive energy went into creating these jars. Below is the simplified version, sometimes it is best to keep things simple.

 

 

 

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Sweet Dreams Ritual

Take the  lamp in hand

Breathe deep and think about your intention.

Concentrating on your wish or question.

Twist off the cap and pour out the light

Light the votive while making your wish/question.

Cap it up tight and sail away to dreamland.

In the morning lift the lamp

Twist off the cap

Shut off the light, until again, it is night.

Sweet Dreams!

If you would like to have one of these $30.00 Fairy/Mermaid Jars, free, email me. All I am asking in return is that you read my manuscript and leave a review before the book is published online in October of 2019. Once that is accomplished I will send you your $30.00 retail value jar as a thank you!

And now for the inception of, Rituals Lost, and how it all started:

I have decided to make this a four-part series of posts for the month of October, giving a little more information each week leading up to Halloween.

Honoring our Ancestors

Part 1: October 1st, Mysterious Documents (read below)

Part 2: October 8th, Indian Mound Builders and Missing graves.

Part 3: October 15th, The mysteries of my Grandmother with the Glass eye and my 2nd great grandfather’s will.

Part 4: October 22nd, The Family Farm up in Wisconsin: Did my grandfather travel with Houdini?

Here is Part 1 of the 4 part series and the inception of my new novel, Rituals Lost.

The Mysterious Documents of Agnes Lennox Whyte Small:

As Americans, we lose touch with our homeland, customs and native languages and get thrown into the melting pot and often times don’t even know our heritage. Americans often have several different nationalities until at last we just call ourselves, Americans.

Considering that my grandmother had my mother when she was 38 years of age, and my mother gave birth to me when she was 39, the generations are widespread.

If we are lucky, our families pass down stories that we can hang onto as part of our identity, but like the game of telephone, these stories often changed over time until they contain only a granular of truth. Even written histories get distorted over time, language changes and people update it and perhaps change the original meaning of the text.

In August of 2015, my mother’s sister, Aunt Balbina called me to tell me about her daughter’s death. As you can imagine, it is always shocking news, you never expect it, unless the person had been sick for a prolonged period or they are elderly.

Unfortunately, I had not spoken to this cousin in many years, always thinking that I would soon. She moved down to Tennessee and I was busy raising my children and we just drifted apart. I did think of her often and always thought that I would go down for a visit once I was an empty nester and had free time. My cousin was into genealogy and I thought we would get together and work on it. This brings up the old adage of, ‘never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, as tomorrow is promised to no one’.

Sadly, I will never have that chance to get together with my cousin. Memories from my childhood flooded my mind as I learned of her death. She was the only relative outside immediate family that included me in her family gatherings and had me over for sleep overs and took me camping, I was deeply sadden hearing about her departure and I wanted to do something to link us together, and to help her mother and daughters cope with their grief. So, I decided then and there to do our genealogy.

Luckily my Aunt Balbina is quite a story-teller and has shared some interesting stories with me over the years.

She told me that her father, my grandfather, Edward Balke was the second born, first son of 17 children! He was raised on a 500 acre family owned farm in Wisconsin where Steven’s Point University stands today.  She said he was German and Welsh and might be a descendent of Captain Blood? His mother’s name was Roselin Schultz and came from Boston.

She mentioned that she went up to Wisconsin to look up records and that there was a fire and most of the records were burned and so there was no way of knowing anything further. She had said that my grandfather was given over to the Franciscan Fathers to be raised as a priest. That the first-born son is always given to the church. Since Edward didn’t want to be a priest he left home, built roads across the country and traveled with Houdini for a time and entertained audiences in a pre show. She said he was a hansom cab driver and finally ended up in Chicago where he applied for work at my grandmother’s restaurant as a dishwasher. She also told me that his parents sold the farm in Wisconsin and retired in Bakersfield California.

My aunt is full of cute euphemisms, saying that my grandfather often refered to himself as my grandmother’s, pearl diver, another word for dishwasher as my grandmother valued her dishes like precious pearls.  He was born in 1894, and my grandmother was born in 1888. My grandmother  was a ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ of her time, a business owner, marrying a man 6 years younger than her in the 1920’s!

That is the story about my grandfather according to my aunt Bal.

Here is my grandmother’s story as told by my aunt in snippets.

My grandmother, Balbina was born in Chicago in 1888. Her father Martin from Ireland and her mother Agnes from Scotland met and fell in love on the boat to America, where they met a wealthy woman who would become their patron,  and wanted to adopt their daughter because she had no children of her own. Martin and Agnes named their first-born daughter after Balbina Morrison a rich hotelier, who was married to a sea-captain. When my grandmother was very young she had an accident where she lost her right eye, tripping on the boardwalk where an exposed nail entered her eye socket, damaging her eye beyond repair, especially when considering the medical treatment in or around 1890. My grandmother had a glass eye from that point forward. She also had another accident that my aunt only recently mentioned where a meat truck ran over her leg leaving one leg shorter than the other, leaving my grandmother handicapped and disfigured. She owned a restaurant in Chicago on 5th Avenue and Cicero with her uncle Duncan where she hired my grandfather as a dishwasher and married him shortly afterwards. She sold the restaurant after she married Edward and they owned a candy and cigar store for a time where they lived in the back of the store. When my mother was born, they made a crib by opening up a drawer and filling it with blankets for my mother to sleep in those first few months before the sold the candy store and bought the house in Chicago, that I grew up in.

[image error]About twenty-five years ago, my aunt sent me copies of, a marriage certificate from my 2nd great grandmother, Agnes Lennox marrying John Whyte in 1849, along with another marriage certificate to a James Small in 1857, and a death certificate of John Whyte in 1874. There was also a mustard role for James Small serving in the British Army during the Crimean War along with a certificate of his receiving a medal for his service.   And finally a letter to an aunt Agnes from an Agnes Hopf written in 1929. In the letter, Agnes writes about a picture of Granny taken on the ranch in Idaho by a traveling photographer. I don’t have a copy of the picture, but I remember taking a glimpse of it once, when visiting my aunt. An old woman sat in profile on a rocker, wearing a bonnet and a Victorian era long sleeve dress coming down to the floor.

There were a lot of mysteries to be solved and many unanswered questions.

[image error]Unfortunately, I was too busy to stop and consider the mystery of these materials 25 years ago while I was raising my family. I often thought about how my 2nd great grandmother could be married to two men at once during the 1800’s in Scotland. And I wondered how she ended up on a ranch in Idaho and who Agnes Hopf was and which Agnes was her aunt?

 

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My aunt also told me that her grandmother’s brothers went to New Zealand and that no one had ever heard from them again.

So it was all a big mystery and I am still searching for answers, but here is what I found out on ancestry . com website.

As fate would have it I found a message board where a Diana Whyte from New Zealand, my 3rd cousin once removed, born in the same year as me, was asking to find descendants of Agnes Lennox Whyte Small. In fact she wrote a booklet about her life and included pictures of actual buildings of how Scotland looked during her time there. This is what I learned from Diana:

My 2nd great-grandmother was born in 1827, the daughter of temperance Inn Keepers, John Lennox and Agnes McDonald. Agnes married John Whyte in 1849 and was pregnant with her fourth child when John Whyte died on February 4th 1855. Agnes gave birth to Duncan in September of that year. Leaving my 2nd great-grandmother, Agnes Lennox Whyte a widow with three live children to raise on her own in 1855.

[image error]She later met and married James Small who was in the battle that Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote about in his famous poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade“ in 1854  about the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. He wrote it on December 2, 1854, and it was published on December 9, 1854 in The Examiner.”   If you get a chance to read the poem you will have a good idea of the struggle and terror that battle was and that a dragoon survived it, is a miracle. My aunt had also given me copies of James Small’s mustard records that show he was honorable discharged in 1856 and received a medal for his service. He stood, 5’1″ and was a police officer at the time he married Agnes Lennox Whyte on October 20th, 1857.

James and Agnes had five children together, unfortunately, her son Duncan Whyte died in 1868, followed by the death of her husband, James. James had suffered from Typhus fever for 12 days resulting in his death on November 27th 1869. Their fifth and youngest child Agnes’s (my great-grandmother’s) was 4 years old, leaving Agnes Lennox Whyte Small a widow with 7 children to raise on her own in November of 1869!

It is difficult to imagine, losing two husbands and two children and finding the will to go on, but Agnes Lennox Whyte Small did go on and supported her children as a 1871 census lists her as Pork and Milk dealer.

In 1873, Agnes’s daughter, Elisabeth Whyte goes to Quebec Canada and met and married John Milne Duthie and gives birth to her daughter Agnes in Canada and moves to Chicago where they had three sons.

My 2nd Great grandmother, Agnes Lennox Whyte Small, comes to America via the State of Indiana ship as the passenger records show, She arrived in New York, on the 17th of August 1882. She then traveled to Chicago with her two youngest children, Agnes Small (my great-grandmother) who was 16 years old and her son Duncan Small who was 14 years old, to be with her daughter Elisabeth in 1882.

I would never be able to keep any of this straight if it wasn’t for ancestry . com. Once you enter the names and certificates and pictures it is there as long as the internet survives.

The death certificate for John Whyte in 1874 was for her first grandchild from her son, John Whyte who went to New Zealand.

Unfortunately, Elisabeth dies in 1885, just two years after her mother and half siblings arrived.  Agnes sent inscribed books to her grandchildren in New Zealand after her daughter’s death in 1885 that the family in New Zealand still has today!

The next thing I found was a solicitation for a marriage certificate for an Agnes Duthie to a Cecil Herbert Hopf in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 4th 1895. Then there are records of the birth of Agnes Duthie Hopf’s children in Idaho along with an obituary of my 3rd great-grandmother Agnes Lennox Whyte Small in 1909.

The Agnes Hopf in the letter written in 1929 was my 1st cousin twice removed and the Aunt Agnes she was writing to was my great grandmother, Agnes (Nee Small) Cottingham living in the house that I grew up in years later.

I searched for Elisabeth Whyte Duthie’s grave. I found the cemetery, Forest Home and went to look for her grave, but it turns out that graves over a hundred years old are no longer recorded. I still need to look into this, because while I was there, I also found out that the civil war soldiers buried there, no longer had markers nor the Haymarket riot victims, that fought and died for an eight-hour work day were also gone. In there place, plaques stating how many people were buried there. So, Elisabeth is still there, but I was unable to find out where, as the cemetery just puts another grave over or around it. I will write more about this in next week’s post, Indian Mound Builders and the missing graves.

Thank you for sticking with me and reading to the end here. Stay tuned for next weeks blog post about the Indian Mound builders, the Haymarket victims and the Civil War soldiers at the Forest Home cemetery.

Subscribe to my website to get the next installment of the 4 part series and excerpts of my new novel, Rituals Lost. Also learn about my new release, The Ivory Tower, due out on November 20th, 2018 parts previous published in my, About Series, are now developed into a full length novel.

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Until next week, live in the appreciation of those that came before you. Remember you wouldn’t be here without them.