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by MissMichaele » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:05 pm
Lucky Mojo Hoodoo Rootwork Hour #08-09: Reducing Debt and Drawing Money (Miss Cat, Dr. Kioni)
April 30, 2008
Transcription Notes by Miss Michaele
[MUSIC INTRO: Jug Band Waltz by Will Shade and the Memphis Jug Band]
[DR. KIONI introduces self, MISS CAT]
DR. KIONI: Chris is from New York, and he tells us that he wound up with a Mount Everest of student loan debt -- right over $250,000. And this debt just continues to build and build and build, like a pimple on your face that just keeps multiplying, one pimple after another, until it erupts like Mount Krakatoa. So he's got a huge mountain of debt that he wants to get rid of, and we want to talk to him about it tonight. Chris, are you there?
CHRIS: I'm here.
DR. KIONI: I don't know if that analogy of Mount Krakatoa fits your situation --
[Laughter]
DR. KIONI: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Chris, and about your situation, and what has brought you to us tonight.
CHRIS: Well! A little bit about myself: I set out a long time ago on a pretty ambitious academic track. My plan was to finish off a series of graduate degrees and get my Ph.D., which I did, and then go into academic teaching -- university teaching. Specifically, seminary teaching, because my education is in theology and religious studies.
[Dr. Kioni commences shuffling cards]
CHRIS: My career looks very, very promising. I actually ended up publishing my doctoral thesis. At the same time, I was having to deal with some long-term chronic health issues that began to get worse and worse, when I should have been starting my career. When I wrapped up my Ph.D. and my seminary studies, I got ordained, and was doing okay healthwise. But my first jobs were not enough to pay what the lenders were asking from me. I couldn't negotiate any kind of income-sensitive repayment plan: it was either a minimum of $1400 a month on a $39,000-a-year salary, or forbearances, or defaults. Those were really the only options available to me.
So I chose to take the forbearance option, since it was the only one, really. And the way that system works is that they capitalize the interest, so that it compounds and compounds. And my earnings have never been able to keep up with the compounding interest.
And then, three years ago, my health took a turn for the worse, and I ended up moving on to disability, and retiring on disability, January of 2005. So officially, I'm retired with a private disability pension; money is coming from the state. But it didn't make my loan go away, and I don't qualify for any kind of disability-based discharge. I don't meet the standard, which is very, very, very constrained. You have to be on your deathbed, pretty much. That's their standard. So the upshot is that, in the past seven years, I guess, my loan has gone from $120,000, which is already a lot, to $250,000.
MISS CAT: Oh, my!
CHRIS: And I'm really tired of running away from it.
MISS CAT: I would expect so, too; with theological training, you have a sense of morality that many would not have.
CHRIS: I really feel I have a responsibility to repay. I'm also torn, too, because I feel that I've been shanghaied by a system that was hijacked in the late 90s by that predatory kind of lending -- the lobbyists, the lending lobby system. So there's what I owe, and then there is this massive burden of debt that has been laid on me because I've been trapped. At no point along the way have I ever been able -- and I've worked so hard! -- to find an equitable solution that helps me bear the responsibility -- responsibly. You know, I really bear the responsibility.
I was on the horn with Federal Student Aid today, and I was asking, "What will happen to me if I default?" And every direction I look is just really, really ugly. Right now, my pension isn't astronomical, but it's ample. So right now, I'm in a place were I can pay. But it's going to be about 30% of my income, which just feels like -- well, I can do it -- but the prospect of 30 years of that ahead of me --
MISS CAT: Yeah, that's a huge, huge commitment. Do you believe that the amount that you've been pensioned on would be enough to live on? In other words, with the cost of living -- you said it's "ample."
CHRIS: Yeah. It's enough to -- I made my first payment of $1800 today. (And [laughing] it's remarkable that I should be on the show today, when I made that first payment!)
MISS CAT: That's an interesting coincidence, isn't it?
CHRIS: Yeah. But I choke on those words "eighteen hundred dollars"!
MISS CAT: I have another question: Although you are retired, are you planning to publish more? In other words, can you develop other income streams, or do you wish to?
CHRIS: I wish to. And I have a small position in a congregation on Long Island. It's not a paying position, but I get a residence out of it. That helps me a lot. So it's not luxurious, but I do have a house. It's not going to last forever, but I feel like I'm in a place were I can do some other things about creating some other income streams.
MISS CAT: All right. All right. I think I have a pretty clear picture. How do you feel, Dr. Kioni? I think I understand the situation. My focus would be on -- let's do what we can to bring in this extra income, because the "nut" is there, you've gotta crack this nut every month. You've agreed to, and you've made that choice. But what you need is lucky money, extra money.
Well, let's see what Dr. K. has to say. I heard him shuffling the cards, so let's see what Dr. Kioni says.
DR. KIONI:
Past: Seven of Cups, reversed. It's obvious that you are in a position now where you are looking at things -- not "through a glass darkly," but you have a realistic view of your situation and you know what is going on. And you know what you need to do.
Present: Five of Pentacles shows material difficulty, which is what you're having.
[Chris laughs]
DR. KIONI: Mercury-in-Taurus energy is associated with this card.
[Laughter]
DR. KIONI: As we say, a tough row to hoe, you know?
Future: Four of Cups -- a little bit bittersweet. Moon-in-Cancer energy here. It gives us a mixed feeling about the future, some mixed emotions about the future. I think you can look at the future as being the glass half-empty or as being half full.
MISS CAT: Can I just say something about that Four of Cups?
DR. KIONI: Please. Go ahead.
MISS CAT: One-fourth of his income is being subtracted! That's a pretty clear indication right there. [Referring to the picture on the card -- see standard Rider-Waite Tarot deck] He's got three cups there, and one's going away.
[Laughter]
DR. KIONI: That's a good parallel to draw, there. I missed that one. It was the obvious one, too.
Outcome: Chariot. I think that is an indication of the amount of fortitude, discipline and willpower that is required in order for you to overcome what seems to be this insurmountable financial mountain. I like the Chariot card in the outcome, because it has a lot of other energies associated with it, such as help from the heavens. You know, there is power here that is associated with this card, and the ability to control forces -- both light and dark, if you please. This card says to me, "You have the ability; you can handle this. But it is going to take an extraordinary amount of fortitude and discipline." And also, using the forces that you know are available to you. Now, you are an astrologer, too, correct?
CHRIS: I am.
DR. KIONI: OK. It's interesting that, in the Rider-Waite deck, the Chariot card has in its imagery a canopy that is over the chariot -- you know what I'm talking about, Cat. And the canopy is painted to reflect the heavens -- the cosmic power. So -- you hear what I'm saying, Chris? Perhaps you need to look at some astrological remediation, and also look to see if this is a recurring or constant theme that may even show up in the Major Arcana cards, or on a larger scale in your life. You follow me?
CHRIS: I believe I do.
MISS CAT: Let me ask, because I'm an astrologer myself, and I believe if you are an astrologer -- let me just get a few quick ideas from you. What sign are you?
CHRIS: My sun sign is Scorpio.
MISS CAT: Scorpio. And what's your rising sign?
CHRIS: Aries.
MISS CAT: Aha! And what's your moon sign?
CHRIS: Taurus.
MISS CAT: Taurus moon. OK, that's interesting.
DR. KIONI: That's why we laughed about that card.
MISS CAT: And you had mentioned, in your note to us, that this stuff is coming due just as Pluto retrogrades on your midheaven in opposition to your natal Jupiter, which is a pretty good [clear indicator], I mean -- you know -- especially for a Scorpio -- to see Pluto retrograding on your midheaven in opposition to your natal Jupiter does indicate some definite loss of money, loss of wealth, loss of income. I'm just pointing that out for those people [listeners] who are astrologers; they can follow what's going on here. The Aries rising, of course, has made you drive forward and just keep on being -- and the Scorpio energy is -- you're dogged, here.
I think that what Kioni has said here is -- it's such a clean card reading -- it's almost like, "Why have a card reading," it's so clean. It's exactly what you would expect to see. I don't see anything here that is surprising. The Outcome of the Chariot is the only thing that's a little bit interesting; it opens up some interesting thoughts.
The Chariot is also sometimes associated with Merkaba mysticism and ideas like that, and, as Kioni said, it is also associated with the governing of the positive and negative poles of energy. So it's something about your work; the outcome will actually be transformative to you, in that you may use this in some way as a meditation, or a lesson.
CHRIS: Or, even literally, a vehicle.
[Dr. Kioni resumes shuffling cards]
MISS CAT: As a vehicle. Exactly. The Chariot is an intensely interesting card, and a lot of people don't understand it, because its imagery is so shockingly disoriented, compared pfor example] to the Five of Pentacles -- it's right there; or the Four of Cups, it's right there; but this, the Chariot, everyone is like, "What's going on in this picture?" It really is something that points very heavily toward mystical development, in my experience.
Now, Kioni's throwing another four cards, I hear. And what is this on?
DR. KIONI: I'm going to look to see exactly how his financial prognosis looks, and if I can get a time fix for the removal of this debt.
MISS CAT: OK. Now, I know that what you asked for is to drive out fear and to bring in money; and I think this is an interesting combination of ideas that you're asking for. And this also gives me the idea of the Chariot, of the two different animals who pull the chariot. The idea of reducing your own fear and bringing in money is something that a lot of people don't think about. I can see that you've thought this through, because people will often say, "I need money! I need money!" But they're still frightened, and attracting negative energy by being fearful. So you really have the right idea, here. Now let's see what those cards say. Have you got those yet?
DR. KIONI: Yes, I was just laying them down. I was kind of fascinated with what I was looking at here [laughing]. It's good, it's good, it's good. My question to the cards was: "Show me the outcome of magical remediation on this case, and give us a fix, if you please, on the time it will take for him to clear things up." All right? And I love what I got here!
Past: Two of Cups starts us off. This is really, really, really good. It said to me right away: "This is something that can be dealt with magically and satisfactorily."
Present: Queen of Pentacles. Ah, yeah! Now it's getting good! Mm hmm! I like that. That's the "Oprah" card, as I like to call her.
[Chris laughs]
DR. KIONI: Yeah.
Future: Emperor, reversed, interestingly enough! I think that's the government out of your pockets! Finally! As a friend of mine used to say, "I gotta get this man's hands out of my pockets," and The Man's hands are finally out of your pockets.
Outcome: Ace of Cups.
MISS CAT: Really!
DR. KIONI: Yeah! I think you've really got a great, great chance of solving this situation magically, as well as doing the mundane. All of the things that you need to do: work, come up with ideas, look for opportunities, etc.
A time fix -- we're probably looking at perhaps three to five years. I won't say three to five months, because I think that would be a little bit unrealistic, and you wouldn't believe me anyway. It could be sooner, but I'm comfortable with saying that. There you go.
MISS CAT: I just wanted to say one thing about the Queen of Pentacles. This is a very good card to have as far as, "Will the magical remediation work," and "What is the outcome of that?" The Queen of Pentacles is excellent. And the Emperor reversed in the Future is also -- interesting. [Laughs] Very interesting!
Let's get to the type of work that we're going to recommend, then.
First of all, because I know that you're familiar with this kind of work, and I don't want to go over things that you've probably heard before, but I'm going to give you some ideas. You may have heard these, but just be patient and bear with me; a lot of this is done for our listeners, who may or may not have heard these things before. And they may be listening five years from now. We don't know what they know.
The first thing that I would say is: you need to put into place some sort of an ongoing "non-loss of money" work. I wouldn't call this exactly a spell, but "spell" is a good enough word for it. There was a guy who taught me to do some of this type of work; his name was Brother Felix. He had a shop in Georgia. He'd send you flyers, and he'd send you products, and things like this; this goes back a number of years. But he had a little slogan: "It's not how much you bring in, but how much you can keep."
[Chris laughs]
MISS CAT: And he was the person who taught me "Money Stay with Me" type spells, or the reason that one might want a Money Stay with Me type spell. He was dealing with an interesting part of money work that a lot of people never talk about or think about. You see, people say, "Oh, I need to get that money at the casino," but they don't figure out what they're going to do with that money when they have it, so it slips through their fingers and they're back to Square One. So he got me to think about non-hemorrhaging-money situations, you know what I mean? -- where you have to batten down the hatches. [Situations where] you're not going to need your car repaired; you're not going to have that tree fall on your house; you're not going to have the electrical wiring go out, you know, and you're not going to need to call in the plumber, and all those things. Money is going to stay with you for a number of reasons; one of which is that your physical living space is going to be more secure, [so] that emergency money will not need to be used.
Another reason that you're not going to need to have the emergency money to be used is that your health will continue to be on a good, even keel. We know you have a chronic health problem, but that's just going to stay at that [manageable] level; we're not going to have hospitalizations, we're not going to have [any need for] emergency care.
What he taught me was that there's other ways of thinking about increasing your wealth, besides "hitting lucky." And one way is to not lose your money. "Money, stay with me until I spend it the way I want to spend it." So that's one of the kinds of work we're going to do, which is blessing and protecting your income. And then you're going to add to that, blessing and protecting your environment, that it will keep you afloat; blessing and protecting your health, that it will keep you afloat, that there will not be unexpected expenses. I don't know whether you own a car -- and you told me that you have a home provided for you by the congregation for whom you work. But whatever it's going to be, we're going to try to stabilize those things.
One of the first things you're going to do, you're going to stabilize that home. I've mentioned this on the radio show a number of times; I'm going to quickly run through it again.
You're going to nail down that property. Have you ever heard of that, or know how to do it?
CHRIS: I've heard you describe it before, and I actually have the nails! [Unintelligible comment about the size of the nails]
MISS CAT: People will use square-cut nails, and they often will use small nails, like finishing nails, inside the house, under the carpet where no one will see them. Another thing is to put the square-cut nails at the four corners of the building (or at every corner, if it has more than four corners). And then, at the four corners of the property (or at every corner, if it has more than four corners) they will use railroad spikes.
CHRIS: Right. Right.
MISS CAT: Those are to nail down the property so that you will not be forced to move. Another thing that is added, because you have a situation where you're on their sufferance, you know, because this place you live has been given to you: you might just want to make a little packet of five-finger grass, which is always used by those who seek favors of others -- and you're seeking a favor here. And you put that little packet of five finger grass -- [put it] is a little paper envelope or cloth bag, whatever you want to do -- and put that behind a picture or a mirror; if possible, so that it faces the front door or in the front hall, or over the fireplace mantle, if the place has a fireplace. Someplace comfortable in a public room, such the hall, the foyer, or the living room; where it can be seen but not seen, because it's behind a mirror or a picture frame. And over the mantle -- it's very traditional to put it there, if there is a mantle, and if there's a place to hang a picture over the mantle -- that little packet of five-finger grass is basically to keep your landlord or landlady on your side. And it just stays there. You're going to bless it and dress it, but you have to understand that the idea of five-finger grass is to get them to just favor you in money issues.
That's important, to nail down the property, because that is part of the key to your having a disposable income to pay back the loan.
CHRIS: Right.
MISS CAT: Then -- do you have a car?
CHRIS: I do.
MISS CAT: All right. So now we want to get some protection on your car. We want to bless and dress the car for long running. This is going to be one of those 250,000-mile cars, right? It's not going to be one of those 90,000-mile cars. Every once in a while, one of those just comes off the conveyor belt. They keep on running. That's YOUR car.
Chris [laughing]: I really like that.
MISS CAT: So you're going to bless and dress your car for long-time, continued, smooth operation. And there are ways to do that. There is another [condition] oil you can add into it [the Blessing Oil] , of course: Safe Travel, because you don't want anyone hitting your car.
These are your major expenses that you're going to do away with. And that's going to make it easier for you to spend the money you need to spend to pay back the loan. So bless and dress the car.
And the third thing is your own health. I would like you to undertake, on the day that you send the money -- are you going to mail it in, or do you turn it in in person?
CHRIS: No, I pay it electronically.
MISS CAT: Electronically! And is that set up for a certain date of the month?
CHRIS: I just paid it today, when I got my disability disbursement. So, the first of the month is when it's due.
MISS CAT: The first of the month. OK. So what I've like you to do, on the first of the month, the day the money is subtracted [from your account], I'd also like you to do -- you don't need to do a full-scale ritual bath, but if you'd like, at least do some blessing of yourself with holy water or clear water, at least with some [kind of] health or Blessing Oil. Anoint your body. Look your body over and take stock, and say, "This is another month in which my health is blessed."
Because this is also a key to keeping the financial wheel turning. This is like the Chariot, right? The chariot is moving forward, right? We got to stop all the negativity from running the money down before we build up more money.
So: you're going to bless and dress the home, the property -- "Let me live here in peace for many, many years, as long as I need to be here. And let me only leave if I leave of my own free will, to a better situation that costs nothing."
We're going to do the same thing with the car: "My car is one of those one-in-ten-thousand cars that is going to run and run until the upholstery is worn through." Not the engine, but the upholstery!
[Chris laughs]
MISS CAT: "And I'll duct-tape it, and we'll keep going."
And then the third thing: "My body is blessed; my body is doing well this month, and this is another month in which my chronic health problems will not have flare-ups, and this is another month in which I will be inhabiting my body in peace and harmony. No doctors for me this month; no hospitals for me this month. This is a month in which I am blessed."
Every month, on the day that you pay, which is the first, I want you to attend to all three of those things. That's to stop the leaks, or the potential for leaks, before it even starts to leak.
Now, there's another thing you can do, which is a very traditional Money Stay with Me spell. This is one of the ones that I learned from Brother Felix.
You take the lodestone, a large lodestone. Now, some people say a lodestone isn't large unless it's as big as a baby's head; some say "Well, as big as my computer mouse -- that's large." Others say, "Large? Why, the end of my thumb is pretty large." But whatever you call large, I want you to get one. I'd like it to be a flat lodestone. The reason I say "flat" is that it's going to be used as a weight on your money. If you don't get a flat one, get one that's got a nice shape, like a little mountain that's flat on the bottom. You don't want a big, round, roly-poly one; you want one that's going to sit there. A flat lodestone, and you're going to dress it with magnetic sand. And you're going to be doing an ongoing money spell. I was taught to do this on your bureau, in your bedroom. That's where a lot of people, when they get undressed, they take all the change out, and they just throw it on the bureau, right? So do that. That's what you're going to cultivate. You can do it in the top bureau drawer, if you don't want your money out where everyone's going to see it.
If you have a business -- which you don't, but I'm going to say this for those listeners who might -- I was taught to do this in the cashbox in the business.
So you have a lodestone, and it's going to hold your money down. When you come home, whatever money you've got on you, just put it around that lodestone. The next day, take up some money to spend; but make sure that you don't take out quite as much money as you put down the night before. Now, sometimes you have to: "Oh, I'm going out for dinner, and I know the bill's going to be higher than my normal dinner; and I've got to take out that $40, or that $50, for that fancy dinner I promised I'd go to with somebody." OK, then you go ahead and do it. But what you're trying to do is actually use that lodestone to draw money to you.
The money that sits under that lodestone should sit there for at least seven days before you use it. And you could mark it if you want. I put it in crisscross piles. [Arrange it] any old way you like to do it. But seven days is good. Then you mark that money to come back to you. Now, you can mark on it the "success" sigil, which is the word success spelled out in dollar signs and cent signs: "$$¢¢$$" spells "success." You can mark the money with the words "Return to Me," or "RTM." You can write a whole prayer of your acceptance of the blessing, such as, for example -- I have seen money marked, and I have marked money [this way]: "I have received money sufficient for my needs, by the grace of Jesus, Lord. Amen." Sign your name to it and put that on the money. I've seen it signed, and I've seen it unsigned. I've seen bills that I get in change, and I've seen things like, "My rent has been paid by God." Or I've seen dollar bills that come up, and they just simply say, "Thank you, Jesus." So what we're talking about is an affirmation of the return of the bread that's cast upon the waters [Ecclesiastes 8: 11 -- MCM]. The money will come back to you.
And these kinds of Money Stay with Me -- people call it a spell, but it's really kind of an ongoing job. It becomes second nature; that lodestone is your friend. I've talked about that before; my lodestone that I have here in the shop is my demonstration money lodestone. It's called Piggy. It looks more like a guinea pig than a pork pig. It's just the cutest little lodestone. Everybody loves Piggy once they look at it: "Oh, it does look like a little pig!" So Piggy sits on the money, and the funny thing is -- we have a store here, and sometimes when I need to make change, I'll go get a dollar bill from under Piggy, [and find that] people have put extra money under Piggy! And people love to give little gifts under Piggy. So your money can really draw money. I'm not saying that people will wander into your bedroom and put money down, but you'll find that more money will end up there. Then you'll have some money for major expenses that can be paid out of that cash.
But the money that you spend, that's come out from under the lodestone, should not be spent trivially. Because the lodestone gets angry; it wants to be working for you. It's like a border collie or something; it's trained. It's trained hunting money, and it wants to have a good job; it doesn't want to be -- "Oh, I went and spent that money on video arcade games," or some silly thing. It wants to be spent on what you need. So you can have the other video arcade money someplace else, but under your lodestone, you want to have money, and you can mark that money, you can dress it with oil (the kind of paper that dollar bills are made of will accept a little oil. Some people prefer to powder the money. And you can oil the coins, too; just throw your coins under there). It's a simple way of building up a reserve of trained hunting money. That money will just bring more money in to you in different ways. So that's the Money Stay with Me spell. One of the things that goes with that teaching is: the money that's put there, stays there for seven days. But always have a rolling amount. You might have a month's worth of money there. Just keep on rolling it over.
And that lodestone, you talk to it and you feed that lodestone. You feed it magnetic sand. And give it its own name, like Piggy, or whatever it is. And you talk to it: "Here, Piggy, I brought you a dollar, and I want you to train this dollar to bring me more money when I spend it. Keep this dollar till I call for it again," and, "Good Piggy, here's your magnetic sand," you know, just like it was a little funny working guinea pig that was my friend. And that's one way to do a Money Stay with Me spell also. So that's going to keep your money coming in.
Now, the next stage is developing the extra income streams. Let me have Dr. Kioni say a few things here. I'm curious, as to the things that I've outlined so far: would you add anything to those?
DR. KIONI: I like what you said thus far, Cat. All those things are sound hoodoo remedies to use in bringing in money. I will hasten to talk about the Hotei Buddha.
MISS CAT: Oh, very good, yes! Very good.
DR. KIONI: Work him! And go to one of these little stores where you can buy a Hotei Buddha, and place him in your bedroom, or give him some nice place of prominence, and you want to offer him a Joss incense stick. You may want to do this once a week, along with a small shot glass of water. And you rub his belly and you tell him what you want. Now you can place your wish [on paper] under him as well, or you can place it under the incense. One of the things that we often don't do is to burn our incense on top of our petition paper; or reduce our petition papers to ashes and add them to the incense. I like the former; I like to place my petition paper under the incense and work the spell that way.
But coupling Cat's Money Drawing incense along with your Hotei Buddha is going to definitely improve your financial opportunities. But be specific with the spirit of the Buddha in telling him exactly what you want and when you require it. And also --
MISS CAT: Before you go on, I just have to interrupt. Do you know that there are statues of him that are stick incense holders?
Dr. Kioni [laughing]: I haven't seen those, no.
MISS CAT: We have them in our shop. They're cute. They're little ones from China, and they cost three dollars retail! And it's just a little resin Hotei Buddha, but he holds an incense stick [laughing]. He's an all-in-one -- put the petition under him, and light it up. They're cute. A lot of times, you can get them in golden [color]. People like the golden ones -- that represents money.
DR. KIONI: Yes, mine is gold.
MISS CAT: I'm just going to throw a little bit of sidelight on him. I'm sorry; I'm going to be pedantic here for just a moment.
People call him a Buddha, but there's history of him in China as a wealth god. But he got associated with the Buddha, so he's a Buddha now. Especially among the Cantonese people; they call him the Hotei Buddha. But he was originally a rice god, so you'll see him with a big sack of rice. And sometimes he'll have other things with him, a walking stick with a little gourd of medicine. You know what I'm talking about, Chris?
CHRIS: Yes.
MISS CAT: All right. Now, since you do have chronic health problems, you might want to get a version of him that has that little Elixir of Life medicine bottle, where he's got the gnarly walking stick and that Elixir of Life. That makes him a little bit more [suited to] your needs, you know. Sometimes you'll find him standing or walking on cash coins, or on those boat-shaped gold bullion [ingots]. There are many, many forms he comes in, as many forms as the sculptors can make him -- a sculptor just comes up with a new idea. But just try that one. This is a really good one, and I thank Dr. Kioni for mentioning him, because he's not like St. Expedite, who's like, "Give me the money now! I have cash problems!" This is a much more long-term solution. And the Joss sticks -- I would give Chinese Joss sticks. That's just my idea, rather than Indian or Nepalese [incense] or something, because -- he's a Chinese guy. And you can buy Chinese Joss sticks at your local Chinese grocery store, if you have one.
CHRIS: I happen to have a supply here at home.
MISS CAT: OK. And that's what they're used for. And another thing you'll sometimes find used is an orange or a tangerine [as an offering,] but water is sufficient. And I think it's a brilliant idea. The idea, again, is repetition, consistency, and a personal relationship with that spirit.
DR. KIONI: You also want to get yourself a Jericho rose, because they are really wonderful little botanicals that will help keep your money renewed and coming in. At times when people are so frightened by all the talk of shortages and recessions, which are MAN-MADE, folks! -- they're man-made! They're not real -- but people get caught up in it -- you want to have something like this working for you: a Jericho rose in a large dish of water, and you can add a couple drops of essential Rose oil. Write out your petition for your financial needs on a very small square of brown paper, and fold it to you. Place it in the middle of the Jericho rose, and then place your coins on top of it. And then add your water and a couple drops of the oil. Stir it, and -- I say something to this effect: "Jericho rose, just as your color is renewed, so shall my finances be renewed; just as your color is renewed, so shall my finances increase," you know, because it goes from brown to green.
And when you dispose of the water -- on Fridays, normally -- you don't just throw it away, because Jericho rose water, especially in the Palo traditions, can also be used as a substitute for holy water. You can also add several types of Cologne, such as Florida water and Rose Blossom cologne and Kananga, to name a few. And use some to wash your door down, and spill some across the threshold of your door. Mix in the Basil water with it, if you like, because "where Basil is, evil can't enter, and blessings follow." Add these two together, and wash down the front and the back of your front door and the entryway, and then dress it in any other manner that you please. But the Rose of Jericho is wonderful to have, because it will keep your money renewed -- keep it coming in.
MISS CAT: That's a good one. A lot of people who use those do -- again, we're talking about a regular ritual; a weekly ritual of changing the water, and then using the water for blessing. And just as with the idea of Hotei Buddha, just as with the idea of Money Stay with Me, we're looking at long-term continuity spell work. It's not going to produce instant profit, but it will keep you on this upward-bound path for a very long time.
Now, the next thing I'm going to get to is the other income streams. Let me ask a few questions here, because I don't want to guess too much. You're a writer; you said so.
CHRIS: Yes.
MISS CAT: All right. Do you have book proposals that you're thinking of working on? Magazine articles?
CHRIS: Well, as a matter of fact, I do. In the past two or three weeks, I've been getting the urge to write again. And, a couple of days ago, my partner was saying to me, "You've got to do another book, you've just got to do another book!" And we went ahead and had Chinese food for lunch; I cracked open the fortune cookie, and it said, "You will write a book in the near future"!
MISS CAT: Wow!
[Chris laughs]
DR. KIONI: Synchronicity!
CHRIS: Yeah, I handed it to him, and he said, "There you go!"
MISS CAT: That's great. So when doing this project for the book -- I presume you are thinking of a publisher, or have a type of publishing house in mind?
CHRIS: I don't yet have that.
MISS CAT: Well, first I'm going to give you some practical advice; then I'll give you some magical advice. As a person who's done nothing but support myself by writing since I was a teenager, and has never held a job except for writing, let me give you some advice.
Develop at least three, but preferably six, topics, that are good for books, and write a proposal to pitch. Pitch that proposal. If it goes -- good. But if it doesn't, set it aside, and write up another proposal. When you find the proposal that is accepted, ask for a three-book deal and bring out the other two proposals that you've already written!
CHRIS: Aaahh!
MISS CAT: A three-book deal is better than -- or at least ask for a one-book deal with an option for two more, or something like that. I'm just trying to tell you how you live from paycheck to paycheck when you're a writer. "Have a few in the can" is what's called. You may not get to all of them. You know, I've still got book proposals in my head that I never wrote from 20 years ago -- but they're there, and I could pitch them tomorrow if I had to!
So when you think of yourself as a writer, don't just think about "What could I write about?" but of the whole gamut of what these topics could be. As a friend of mine who was a publisher, and for whom I worked as a writer for a number of years, said: "Every publisher dreams of a line of six related books." Six books is a line.
One book is just an accident. Two books is a coincidence or a plagiarist; three books means you might have an audience; six books is a line!
[Laughter]
CHRIS: That's funny.
MISS CAT: I like to have six proposals that I could pitch to any publisher. If any publisher walks in my door, I have six proposals I can pitch. They might only bite on one, but I got the line for them, in case they want a line. So think about it. That doesn't mean you have to do all the research; you just have to be able to pitch it. I just had to say that; I see people who know how to write, but they just don't know how to sell. You can learn this from any book on how to be a published author, but I just had to say it.
Now, next comes the magical aspect of it. When you are dealing with a publisher, and nowadays we all deal electronically, it's [still] very nice to follow that with a confirmation letter [via snail mail], which can be dressed. So you want to dress the letter with Crown of Success type powder, with Money Drawing type powder -- these are the kinds of things you want. Maybe Attraction if you're submitting these things cold and you need to draw attention to the letter. Look Me Over would be good, as well as Attraction.
Make a little blend of these types of powders and dress the papers. It can never be stressed enough that a good presentation and a nice packet looks better. And if each component of the packet is dressed separately, for instance -- About Yourself. "Oh, here's this book proposal. Who is this guy?" A little part of the packet -- but separate -- says who you are, your history, and other things you've done. That's maybe dressed with Attraction and Look Me Over. The proposal itself is dressed with Crown of Success and Attraction and maybe Money Drawing. The personal letter to the agent or to the editor (or whoever you're dealing with) will also be dressed with, again, a slightly different combination of things, such as Money Drawing.
That's a good way to keep your material in their mind. It can become much more difficult, what with electronic submissions now, to do this kind of work. And I've spoken before about dressing your keyboard, dressing your monitor, with oil; don't use powder on your keyboard. But I still think there's nothing quite like that physical, personal touch.
If you go to meet with them, you're going to want to, if you can, without [raising suspicion] -- and again, this depends in your subject matter; i just recently had a meeting with a publisher who publishes occult books. So I was able to very casually ask, "Oh, what's your sun sign? Do you know your moon sign? Your rising sign?" When I got those things, I wore [to the meeting] clothing that was copacetic with those signs' generally favored colors. Do you understand?
CHRIS: I do.
MISS CAT: I didn't want to clash with [their likely colour choices] -- and sure enough, when they showed up, we were all dressed very nicely together!
[Laughter]
MISS CAT: You could take it farther, and have jewelry that would go with them. [For instance, you discover that] Oh! The person who's going to come talk with you is a Leo. You could break out that gold jewelry, you know. Or, let's just do our hair in a little more bushy way. We want to impress that Leo with the bushiness of our hair, because we know that Leos like bushy hair, right? [Like a lion's mane. -- MCM]
So these are ways that you can influence people. Of course, you want to wear that very nice Solar type oil, if the person is a Leo. If they're a Taurus, you definitely want to wear some Venusian -- Venus-oriented oil, and maybe more modest clothing, like a Taurus would like, those earthtones, you know -- a forest or hunter green thing, like Tauruses do -- the leather shoes. So those are ways to influence a person, if you can get their zodiacal information. If you can't, you're going to have to do a little divination on them, maybe, and wing it.
When I'm working as an author, I like to go in completely in command of the situation, as best I can. And that includes preparing an atmosphere for them. It includes my magical invocation of my power.
For instance, if I'm going to meet them at their office, and I'm going to light a candle for my success, a golden or yellow Crown of Success type candle -- I'm going to leave a vigil light burning to back me up. And I'm going to create a sphere of power around myself and around that candle. I'm leaving, I'm taking that trip, and I'm just going to trail off from that candle, and that candle is going to be an anchor to my power back at home, and I'm going to meet them at the office.
But even though I've left my space, I've carried with me the power of that candle. It's at home, burning steadily (one hopes) for my success. And that's called "backing up your business with a candle."
So those are things that you can do. You might want to create a special small altar for your writing success. Are there writers of the past, deceased writers, whom you admire or aspire to be like?
CHRIS: Yes.
MISS CAT: Can you name one?
CHRIS: C. S. Lewis.
MISS CAT: C. S. Lewis. OK. A wonderful man.
Get a picture of C. S. Lewis. Get a very nice frame, and just put that up there. Or whatever you like of his writing -- whether it's Narnia, or more serious things, or whatever it is that you wish for. On my altar, I have a picture of Benji -- the dog Higgins, who starred in the movie Benji. And when I worship at my altar, I see Benji.
Why? Because Benji represents to me the Christ archetype in a dog. You may call that sacrilegious, but I've seen the movie Benji. Benji has the nobility of Christ, to me.
We all do our own altars our own way. And people can laugh -- "She's got Benji on her altar! Right next to Jesus!" I've got Jesus, I've got Shiva in the center, and Benji on the right. And people go, "What is that?!" And I say, "Benji is the ideal male dog." It's an altar to male deities. So -- we do what we can.
But put C. S. Lewis up there. Or any of [his] characters that you prefer, or whatever. And ask for guidance and for help. And on that altar of your success, DON'T put any rejection slips. Put the business cards of those whom you address yourself to. If you want to be published in a magazine, get a copy of the magazine, and maybe cut out the masthead, or the logo. Put it on the altar. Burn a candle to the people who are the editorial department. You see where I'm going with this?
CHRIS: I do, I do.
MISS CAT: And this is going to be a special altar for your success in writing. Also -- I don't know if Episcopalians work with saints, but get St. Expedite, because you're always going to follow your deadlines, everyone is. St. Expedite will help you stop procrastinating. He's just good for that [laughs].
The writing will be bringing in the extra money. But to get the extra money from the writing, you need to do the writing. So that's what I want you to do. But as far as success in writing, I can sense it; I have a strong feeling that's not going to be a problem for you. You will actually develop fans, and you will become quite popular and successful in that field.
CHRIS: Wow!
MISS CAT: Well, it just seems very obvious from talking to you, and from -- I don't know, sometimes you just get a hit on it!
CHRIS: It's fascinating that you jumped right on top of writing. My partner's been talking about that with me, and I've been feeling it lately. Having thought that there was no future in that for me anymore --
MISS CAT: Yeah, but you see, actually, there's a blessing in disguise. There now is time for you. You have retired. So now you have the time. But the extra money will help, and it's going to develop. And I think the key here is: because of your background in theology and what that represents, and what religion represents, the more your work is of a helpful nature rather than a didactic nature, the more success it will find. You have something to tell people about life, and about their relation to the Divine and to Spirit. And they will want to read that, I know that. And that will be your extra source of income. I don't think you're going to win the lottery. I'm not recommending playing the lottery to you; I'm recommending writing.
CHRIS: If you saw my birth chart -- I'll have to agree with you [laughs]. It's not there -- it's not in the stars (winning the lottery, that is).
MISS CAT: I've got one of those charts, too. That's my best advice. I hope we've helped you. Hope we've given you the kind of advice you were looking for.
CHRIS: Oh, you have! You have, and much more, too.
MISS CAT: Do you have any further questions?
Chris [looking over notes]: I was furiously scribbling everything down --
MISS CAT: Well, you're going to be getting a transcription of this, too. It'll be available, because if you're a member of my Yahoo group, which I think you are --
CHRIS: I am.
MISS CAT: -- I know that our dear Michaele Maurer will make a transcription available eventually. And you can also play back the radio show to yourself by going to drkioni.com.
I'm going to add one more thing about courage. I'm still thinking of that Chariot, and the fact that you're a Scorpio with Aries rising. I'd like you to use yarrow herb.
CHRIS: Yarrow.
MISS CAT: Yarrow herb in oil --
DR. KIONI: For divination and dreams.
MISS CAT: For divination and dreams, and it's used for courage, too. And you might want to think of Crucible of Courage Oil. And you might want to experiment with herbs that are used for courage, and blending some oil for yourself that way.
CHRIS: I shall.
DR. KIONI: I'm going to add that adding chamomile to any of your formulas [such as] incense powders is only going to increase their power of attraction as far as money is concerned. Correct, Cat?
MISS CAT: That is absolutely right. Any golden flower that is disk-shaped -- chamomile is one of the easiest to get, because people drink it for tea -- but there are other types, and coreopsis is another, and calendula.
DR. KIONI: I'm also going to indicate that you might want to try Life Ever After.
MISS CAT: Life Everlasting.
DR. KIONI: Yeah.
[Laughing]
DR. KIONI: It's late. It's two preachers here; he knew where I was coming from. Life Everlasting; thank you very much.
MISS CAT: Life Everlasting: that's good. And there are several different varieties. One of them is yellow. That's the one we happen to sell.
DR. KIONI: That's the one I'm talking about.
MISS CAT: There's a white version that grows wild, and there's a yellow version. They're different species. The yellow Life Everlasting would be very good, and can be used definitely for money and also for health.
DR. KIONI: That's the one I use. I use it a lot here. And I really got a strong hit here, Chris -- and I know we're three minutes over the hour now, but we'll do this here, because I think it's necessary that you should cast and consecrate a Mercury talisman for communication, and also to get things moving for you; a Jupiter talisman for wealth and renown, and a Sun talisman as well for good health and wealth. Those three talismans, cast at the hour of the planet, on the day that that planet rules, during a waxing phase of the Moon, I think, would serve you very, very, very well. Use those talismans. They work. Add them to the things that Cat has told you to do. Because you are an astrologer, the heavens like you; I feel the energy around you. And if you're not working astrological talismans such as the ones I just mentioned -- you can find them in the Key of Solomon -- you really should.
MISS CAT: That's a very good idea. And speaking of the Jupiter talisman, I just have to say one thing: you can buy cast metal Jupiter talismans on eBay. [Such] a Jupiter talisman is quite nice, but we're talking about making one by hand. But I've known people, in a pinch, to use various coins or various things like that; there are different ways to do them. But, you know, you're an astrologer; you know what we're talking about.
CHRIS: Yes.
DR. KIONI: Chris, thank you!
CHRIS: Thank you so much!
DR. KIONI: We appreciate your sharing with us tonight; and there are a lot of people I know who are able to identify with your situation, and we hope that the remedies that have been shared will not only benefit you, but benefit, as Cat said, those who are listening, and the many hundreds and thousands -- dare we say millions, by faith? -- who will listen in the future. So thank you for sharing with us and opening your life to us, Chris.
CHRIS: And thank you so much. It was helpful and uplifting.
MISS CAT: Good luck to you. And when you do get the book published, I want you to send one copy to me, and one copy to Dr. Kioni.
CHRIS: I promise that.
MISS CAT / DR. KIONI: OK!
DR. KIONI: God bless you, sir.
CHRIS: God Bless.
MISS CAT: Goodnight.
[MISS CAT announces Hoodoo Party May 3, 2008 and Hoodoo Workshop May 4, 2008.
Station ID by Dr. Kioni
MUSIC OUTRO: Jug Band Waltz by Will Shade and the Memphis Jug Band]
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