The Secret of… Seaweed Soap

Seaweed conjures up images of swimming in the ocean, snacking on sushi, and The Little Mermaid.  Beauty products containing seaweed have been found in China, Japan, and coastal Asian countries for over 600 years and seaweed soap has a number of loyal followers. The secret is the unique properties of Wakame seaweed make it an excellent soap for cleansing and revitalizing your skin. Not only is wakame seaweed a vitamin-packed food, it can actually help exfoliate and nourish your skin. 

Sage - In addition to its anti-aging benefits, sage can be used as a toner for oily skin or for treatment of skin problems. The antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties in sage essential also make it effective for alleviating skin conditions such as acne or eczema.

Exfoliation
Seaweed soap cleans the body as traditional soaps do, plus it exfoliates the skin. The gritty bits of seaweed within the soap remove dead cells on the skin. This action reveals the newer skin growth beneath the skin’s surface, while helping unclog pores and reducing acne breakouts.

Gentle on Skin
Even though it is an excellent exfoliator, it is gentle enough not to dry out your skin.

Nourishing
Wakame Seaweed contains several beneficial minerals and vitamins that nourish the skin during the exfoliation process, leaving your skin healthy and toned. These include vitamins A1, B2, B6, B12, and minerals like potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Seaweed soap also encourages blood circulation around the skin, creating a rejuvenated appearance.

Animal Friendly
Wakame Seaweed soaps are made by blending vegetable oil fats with seaweed. This makes the soap a great choice for people who prefer products without animal ingredients or complex chemicals.

Animal Communication
Animal communication is a telepathic conversation with an animal through a skilled facilitator. The facilitator is a person who receives images, emotions, words, colors, and/or sensations telepathically from the animal, expresses them in English to the human companion, and transmits what the human wants to say back to the animal in a way the animal understands. The facilitator promotes a clear conversation between the animal and human, and helps both parties understand the other’s point of view.

Sacred Work
For many, this is not work; it is love made visible. It is a privilege to facilitate conversation between [humans and] animals. I consider this to be sacred work and have witnessed many miracles through the animals’ eyes. I take a very holistic and client-centered approach to problem-solving with a spiritual aspect to all my work. 
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Shamanic Animal Healing
As shamanic practitioners, we know humans are a part of the web of creation, as much a part of nature as animals, plants and trees. So why shouldn’t we be able to communicate with our fellow nature beings? The answer is we can. By employing the age-old practice of shamanic journeying into non-ordinary reality and asking for guidance from helping spirits and power animals, those who are adept in journeying can engage with animals, plants and other nature beings and be shown what may be happening with a particular animal, person, or situation. These helpers provide wisdom and guidance which is helpful and loving to those involved. 

An Ancient Skill
The link between animal communication and shamanic practice is very close, if not overlapping. They are both nature-based practices and spirit communication. Once a person has made a shift to be able to open to all that is, communication with all that is follows naturally. We were all born with the capacity to do this. Some of us “remember” the ancient skills when humans and animals spoke to each other.

How to Make the Water of the Rose of Jericho
​It has also been known as the Blessed Water, the Resurrection Water or the Light Water.
To Create this Magical Water of Jericho you only have to put the Rose of Jericho in a bowl or dish or Spring Water. Regular tap water will do the trick but its even better to fetch some Spring Water as the remaining procedure is really simple. 

​Once you’ve put the Rose in the Water chant close to the plant for 3 times
“I, … (state your name) wake you from your eternal sleep
and I name you … ( love, money, blessings, protection, or any other thing you like).
Give me … (state what’s your desire like love, friendships, money, beauty, good luck etc)
and I promise to take care of you. Blessed be! ”
You now just have to leave the Rose in the Water waiting for it to bloom. This usually takes few to 24 hours but sometimes it requires several nights to bloom. Once the Rose blooms keep the Water in a clean bottle. 
I use this water to wash all my crystals and bless my bath or cleaning rituals. 

If you wish to purchase the Rose of Jericho please visit our shop --->Rose of Jericho

Regularly cleansing your aura and your personal energy is an essential act. Whether or not you know it, you come into contact with various people and environment, all of which have their own energy vibrations. Not all of these frequencies are high and positive; because your energy field is constantly taking in and putting out vibrations, some of the vibrations (including your own thoughts, as well as external influences) are low and will bring you down if left unchecked. While our energy body is constantly readjusting itself to bring our energy back into harmony, the negative energies can linger and build up over time. A monthly Spiritual bath is an easy and very relaxing way to cleanse your aura of negative energy.

We’ve mentioned other methods before, so why a bath? It’s because it’s a great ritual to tie in body and spirit. When you immerse yourself in a ritual bath, you are participating in an initiation to open yourself up to spirit. Ritual bathing cleanses you from physical grime and negative spiritual grime, thus purifying both your body and your aura. It is a signal that you are willing to listen to your Higher Self and begin to trust something outside of your rational mind. It indicates that you are open to ask the universe to transform what you believe needs to be changed in yourself.

Taking a ritual bath is meant to cleanse and protect a person spiritually, thus making it different than a normal bath you might do every day. There are very specific directions to follow in order to maximize the effect. Among these instructions is not using any soap, shampoo, or bath oil, as once you step into the water, you are entering a spiritual experience, so it’s important to distinguish regular bathing from ritual bathing.
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Though they are different, ritual bathing can have great effects on your physical well being, as well. 

• The skin is an organ of elimination, and a salt water soak will draw toxins and heavy metals from the tissues.
• The essential trace minerals your body needs are absorbed through the skin to enhance your health
• Skin conditions can be aided, as bacteria and other debris are also drawn from the skin, leaving it feeling fresh and rejuvenated
• Salt water baths can help to relieve muscular aches and pains as well as sore joints
• Circulation is increased, which your body can always use

Papa Candelo is a very popular and powerful loa. He is said to originate in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but his influence has spread far beyond to the Caribbean and mainland United States. He is a wise and fiery spirit who demands respect.
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The Origin of Papa Candelo
Papa Candelo may have come from a folk hero. Some stories say that, before he became a deity, he was an enslaved African man. Even as he was forced to labor on a sugar plantation, he was regarded as a source of knowledge of Yoruba traditions and someone of great spiritual power. In other versions, he was never truly human. Instead, he was a powerful spirit who lived as a human in order to give spiritual wisdom and inspiration to the people around him. He was there to comfort enslaved African people and give them the secrets they needed to survive and keep their religious traditions.

Whether he was once a man or always a powerful spirit, Papa Candelo now exists as a powerful, lively loa who loves dice games, cockfights, dancing, and fireworks. His friend and partner, Belié Belcan, is a deity who defends people against enemies, injustice, and evil. He is syncretized to the Archangel Michael. The Archangel Michael is also petitioned for protection from fire. This shows the balancing effect Papa Candelo and Belié Belcan have on each other, and explains why they are often honored together as a team.

Honoring Papa
CandeloPapa Candelo is a fire spirit. Like fire, he can be severe or lively, punishing or warm. He demands respect and adherence to tradition, but is also humble. Though he has seven paths, not many are seen during actual possession -- the most common is Candelo Sedifé, from the Kreyol words meaning "is fire."

Papa Candelo is not a loa that should be approached lightly. He is not for an inexperienced practitioner of Santeria or Voudou. Much like fire, he requires knowledge, caution, and the same respect you would give an open flame. Do not be careless in working with him, or you will get burned!

His favorite offerings include fiery things. Red candles are lit on his altar. Some light cigars for him and set them horizontally on a glass, to allow Papa Candelo to smoke them. Others take puffs of the cigar, and blow the smoke over an image or statue of Papa Candelo (sometimes, he is served with an image of San Carlos Borromeo). He also enjoys offerings of alcohol-based things, like yellow rum or Florida Water cologne, that are set on fire. Papa Candelo is also a popular figure for portable shrines, particularly for protection. Small statues of him are often set up in cars or other vehicles to help keep passengers from harm.

Some sources give his feast day as November 4th, the same as San Carlos Borromeo, while others consider it to be November 3rd. His devotees dress in red and give him his favorite offerings, dance, offer prayers, and give thanks for his aid.

Petitioning Papa Candelo
He is the patron of those born under fire signs, and a protector of women and children. As a deity tied to fire, he is called upon to burn away unwanted things. This makes him ideal to call upon for unhexing or uncrossing, cleansing, protection, and fighting disease. As an old man, he is a source of very good advice for fixing your life, but he can become very angry if he is not given the respect he deserves. When giving him offerings and asking for his aid, it is a good idea to exercise fire safety -- he likes to make a scene and show his presence with fire, so flaming offerings, candles, and other open flames may flare up.

Papa Candelo is wise, old, and as lively as a flame. He contains a vast amount of knowledge, and is very good at burning away evil influences, whether they are sickness, hexes, evil, or just unclean influences. Call upon him when you need good life advice, or the help and protection of this fiery loa. Just be careful -- he knows his worth, demands respect, and loves tradition. Always approach him correctly when calling upon him, and practice common sense fire safety when working with him or setting out offerings.