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Ceremonial crafts are items created from natural materials and are used for sacred or ceremonial purposes. These items can be
placed on altars or in nature, they can be buried or burned, or released
in water, depending on the intent of the creator. The most important
ingredient in any spirit craft is intention.
If you are interested in taking my course on Art Medicine: Creating &
Consecrating Spirit Crafts, see more information at
soulschool.htm.
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BOTANICALS: CEREMONIAL HERBS & OIL
HERBS
Plant spirits are present in
every herb, flower, bush and tree. Shamans, witches, and healers have communicated directly with plant
spirits to find out their properties and purposes. Herbs are valued for medicinal properties,
spiritual properties, flavors, and scents. They can be used for spiritual
ceremony, healing, mood enhancement, protection, cleansing and purifying, for
smokeless smudging, for filling medicine bags, and for leaving an offering in
nature. This blend of Sacred Shaman Herbs was chosen based on the energy of the
plants spirit. It includes the 7 most powerful and frequently used plants in
shamanism.
Ingredients of Sacred Shaman Herbs (Medicine Bag Mix):
Tobacco, White
Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, Lavender, Rosemary, Cornmeal
OIL
Essential
oils are the essences and aromas of plants. These oils can be used for
anointing, massage, and inhalation. Essential oil molecules are easily inhaled
which provides triggers to our brain that effect our emotions. This blend of
Sacred Shaman Herbs in oil was chosen
based on the energy of the plants spirit. It
includes the 7 most powerful and frequently used plants in shamanism.
Ingredients of Sacred Shaman Oil (Sweet Almond Oil Base):
Tobacco, White Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar,
Lavender, Rosemary, Corn
PURPOSE OF INGREDIENTS
Cedar:
Healing, protection, grounding, safety, balance, spirituality, courage, dreams,
prosperity, wisdom, calming, comforting, bless houses, purifies & attracts good
energy, decreases negativity,
Sweetgrass:
Cleansing sacred space, call Spirits, Ancestors, & Spirit
Helpers, protect sacred objects, bring in positive energy after negative
energies are banished by sage
White
Sage: Ceremonial offering, immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection,
wishes, drive out evil spirits, negative thoughts, feelings, & entities,
purifies the mind, body, & spirit before prayer, meditation, ritual, divination,
or ceremony, purifies sacred items, spaces, and houses.
Rosemary:
Protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep,
youth, protects against evil, cleanses, ensure fidelity.
Lavender:
Love, protection, sleep, longevity, purification, happiness, peace of mind and
inner calm, promotes passion, romance, harmony, friendship, and cooperation with
a lover.
Tobacco:
Purify space, offering to Spirits, amplifies prayers, allow communication with
spirits.
Cornmeal:
Fertility, healing powers of people, animals, rituals, & objects.
White cornmeal is male, yellow is female. Corn pollen sprinkled on both unifies
it.
Corn:
Protection, plenty, drawing luck, divination skills. One of the 3
Sisters in Native American lore.
Almond:
Prosperity, wisdom, sweetness; wealth; love; living presently.
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DRESSED CANDLES
Candles absorb
one's personal energy and release this energy when burned. The birthday candle
ritual is based on 3 key magical principles: 1. Decide on a goal. 2. Visualize
the end result. 3. Focus your intent, or will, to manifest that result. Candle
magick is based on the same 3 principles.
Candles that I
dress are marked for your specific purpose. Reiki energy is also applied to it.
HOW TO BURN YOUR CANDLE
Take a
spiritual bath before you begin. Dress in light colored, comfortable clothing.
Work in a sacred space or at your altar. Burn incense. Say prayers to your
Spirits.
Time your candle-burning to
correspond to the cycles of the moon. To bring something into your life, do your
rituals when the moon is waxing (or growing). To rid yourself of something, do
it when the moon is waning.
Hold the candle
between the palms of your hands. Breathe deeply. Visualize your goal. Push
personal, programmed power into the candle between your hands. Feel the energy
streaming into it. Meditate briefly before lighting the candle to help still the
mind and bring your desire into focus. When you light the flame, state your
intention out loud, in simple, clear terms. Imagine that you already have what
it is you want in your life. Focus on being receptive and open to what it is you
want. Hold your hands around the candle's flame. Feel the energy. Visualize
strongly. You can also write your petition on a piece of paper while visualizing
your goal and burn it completely in the candle flame. While burning it
concentrate completely on your goal. Then let the candle burn all the way out.
It is customary
not to blow out magick candles. Candle snuffers or wet fingertips are preferred.
When you extinguish a candle, thank Spirit for helping with your request. When
done, do not think of spell again. Keep silent so that outside forces do not
interfere with your desires.
Once you have
used a candle for a specific purpose, keep it for this purpose. Allow it to
build up the vibration that you are using if for. When storing candles, it is
the custom in hoodoo to wrap and tie them. This secures their spiritual energy
and marks them as still being in use. The most common way to wrap candles that
are being burned in sections is to place them in a brown paper grocery bag and
twist the top shut. Melted wax can also be analyzed for images of divination,
similar to reading tea leaves.
To dispose of
used candle wax, bury it, burn it, throw it over the left shoulder in running
water or into a crossroads.
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HOMEMADE FLORIDA WATER 
Florida
Water (also known as Flower Water or Agua de Florida) is a eau
de toilet of floral essential oils in a water-alcohol base.
Florida Water is used for: magick and rituals, protection and
spiritual cleaning, to scent bowls of water set out for the
spirits of the dead, for phukuy (the process of ritually
clearing objects and areas by blowing from the mouth).
One way
to smudge or clear is to pour some into the hands, rub and clap
the hands together, inhale the vapors, then brush the fumes over
one's body.
Medicine
people of Latin and South America Florida Water in much the same
way as Native Americans burn sage. It is a form of cleansing
known as smudging. Because the base of Florida water is wood
grain alcohol, it is toxic. It is highly recommended that you do
not take this commercial form into your mouth to blow. Homemade
Florida Water with a vodka base can be used to blow from the
mouth. Following are the ingredients that you can use to make
your own. You can experiment with different mixtures and amounts
until you get your own very special recipe.
BASE
Vodka (can be diluted with distilled water or rose water)
ESSENTIAL OILS
Angelica Root
Bergamot
Chamomile
Chamomile Roman
Cinnamon Bark
Clary Sage
Clove
Eucalyptus
Jasmine
Lavender
Lemon
May Chang
Musk
Neroli
Roman
Rosalina
Rose Attar
Rose Otto
Rosemary
Ylang Ylang
PINCH OF BOTANICALS
Orris Root
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MAGICK WANDS
The wand focuses magical forces
(intentions and affirmations). It represents the element of Air or Fire. The
wand serves to direct energy during ritual.
Wand energy can be used for healing, concentrating amulets,
programming common items, balancing and grounding yourself, increasing a skill,
or to create your future the way you desire.
Each wand
I create is smudged with sage for cleansing & purification and charged with
Reiki life force energy.
WAND CONSECRATION
To consecrate
your wand for magickal use, burn some incense, such as cinnamon. Pass your wand
through the smoke, saying: I consecrate thee, rod of
skill to focalize my truest will. May my power flow through thee, as I do will,
so mote it be! When you are finished, wrap it in linen
or silk.
DEDICATING YOUR WAND
Sit in
front of a lit candle and hold your wand out, saying: By the
power of the elements I dedicate this magic and to heal the Earth, to channel my
power, to harm none and find truth. I dedicate this magic and in name of the
wizards and witches of ancient times. By the power of all that is good, all that
is true, my wand honors & amplifies the magic in me and the magic in you. So
mote it be!
CLEANSING CEREMONY
Wands should be cleansed on a regular basis to keep the energy
clean and pure. Hold your wand out, saying: Through the power of divine love, I claim and cleanse this space for the
purposes of light and truth. I welcome all spirits of eternal love and demand
all agents and energies that seek darkness to depart. I call forth protection
into this space. Only by light, love, and learning I exist here. I boldly claim,
declare, and decree that this space is worthy, sound, and receptive to the
working's of light now.
To recharge: place the wand in
sunlight or moonlight (preferably full moon). Or hold the wand in both hands and
send energy from your hands into the wand. Envision the wand glowing with a
brilliant white light. It is best to keep your wand wrapped in cloth, to keep
the wand isolated from the outside world and the energy pure to you, with no
contaminants. Another way to cleanse is to use burning sage (smudging). Hold the
smoking sage under the wand and envision the smoke absorbing all the negative
energy from the wand as it passes.
USING THE WAND
Rub your hands together vigorously for about 10 seconds or more to open up the
energy pathways in your hands. Hold the wand in your dominant hand. Hold the
base end in the palm of your hand and point with the pointed end. Visualize your
energy being gathered and focused through the wand. In divination, use your wand
to point to the cards, or runes, or whatever you are using, to help focus your
concentration and receive the correct message. When you work spells, use your
wand to point towards whatever you want your energy to reach, such as healing an
injured friend, or protecting an endangered forest. Treat your wand as a part of
your own body. And always keep it wrapped whenever you are not using it! Lay it
on the front of your altar or at the East (right) side.
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MEDICINE BAGS
Medicine Bags are a container
for your portable living altar. Meditate with them. Fill it with your intent.
The reasons to carry a medicine bag are for guidance, healing and protection. By
wearing it close to your heart, you are connecting with your spiritual self and
always remembering who you are. Sleep with the bag under your pillow if at all
possible. Your medicine bag is a holy item and should never be opened by anyone
else.
The contents of a medicine bag
can change over time. Items no longer needed can be discarded or passed on to
someone else. New items may be added. Added items are those that you have a
special attraction to or resonance with. The essence of these special items
creates an energy that represents you.
Wear it until it needs to be replaced. If you
should pass away, it's a good idea to have your medicine pouch buried with you.
You can give your medicine pouch away, but you must also pass along the stories
that go along with the items that are within.
MEDICINE ITEMS
Objects should
include representatives from the following kingdoms:
1. Plant:
Plant, leaf, bark, wood, or root.
2. Mineral:
Crystals, minerals, rocks or stones.
3. Animal:
Feathers, claws, fur, skull, especially something that represents your power
animal.
4. Technology: Computer chips.
I typically
fill medicine bags with the following:
Bird Feather Symbol of spirit & flight, message
between heaven & earth
Bell
Used to
dispel evil spirits & ward off evil eye
Pine Cone
Symbol of growth
Arrowhead
Represents the masculine, the Peaceful Warrior with martial readiness &
alertness.
Shells
Represent the feminine. The cowrie shell is used in divination in many
cultures.
Tarot Card
Symbol of your energy.
Crystal
For clarity, spiritual attunement, & solidity. The amethyst is the gay quartz
that helps amplify the 3rd eye and psychic ability.
Tobacco
Sacred offering to the Spirits. Amplifies prayers, introduces sacred spirit,
provides healing and purification and allows communication with spirits
Sage
- Clears and purifies sacred spaces. Drives out evil spirits, negative thoughts
and feelings, and to keeps negative entities away.
Sweetgrass - Bring positive
energy in after negative energies are banished by using sage, to call spirits,
ancestors, and spirit helpers.
Cornmeal Offering for
protection and abundance.
Cedar
Attracts good influences. Purifies, protects, cleanses, grounds, balances,
heals, calms, comforts, and decreases negativity.
Rosemary
Protects against evil and
cleanses.
Beans
For nurture & nutrition.
Corn
For harvest, abundance,
fertility, & blessing.
Squash Seeds
The 3rd of the 3 Sisters. The 3 sisters are the principle crops of
Native Americans. Iroquois legend says that corn, beans, & squash are 3
inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together.
Sunflower Seeds
Considered the 4th sister by many Native American tribes.
Represents the sun, happiness, and growth.
MAKING THE BAG
The bag needs to be empowered.
Lay all the objects and the bag itself on a table. Hold each object in your
hand, close your eyes, and think about what you would like it to do. Thank it,
and put it inside the bag. Do this for each item, one at a time. You can cleanse
each object in the smoke of incense or sage. When the bag is filled, hold the
bag in your hand, and concentrate on what it should do for you. Hold your pouch
close to your heart and use your imagination and see the bag helping you in your
minds eye. Then thank the animals, minerals, plants, etc. that gave of
themselves so that you could have this bag. I
smudge each bag with sage for cleansing & purification and charge with Reiki
life force energy.
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MOJO BAGS
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Safe Travel & Roadblock Removal |
Good Luck |
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Love, Attraction, Romance, & Passion
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Power & Protection |
Clear
Vision, Spirit Communication,
& Psychic Vision |
Money, Wealth, & Prosperity |
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Home Blessing & Protection
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Uncrossing & Hex Removal
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Tranquility, Peace,
& Healing |
Hoodoo is a form
of folk magic created from the beliefs and customs of American
African slaves.
Hoodoo also incorporates beliefs and customs from Native American, Christian,
Jewish, and Celtic folklore. The word is derived from the Ewe word Hudu. Some
synonyms are: conjure, witchcraft, or rootwork.
Mojo,
also called: mojo bag, mojo hand, conjure bag, trick bag, lucky hand, root bag,
toby, jomo, or gris-gris bag is a hoodoo amulet. The word mojo comes from the
African word mojuba meaning a prayer in a bag. A mojo used for divination is
called a jack, jack bag, or jack ball. In the Caribbean, a bag is called a wanga
or oanga bag, from the African word wanga, which means charm or spell. Once a
mojo bag is sealed, it is usually not re-opened whereas a medicine bag or pouch
can be opened and items added or removed at any time.
The mojo bag is a portable altar
that reminds you of what you are manifesting and keeps you immersed in the
energy of the spell. It amplifies your affirmations. The mojo bag can be filled
with different items depending on the purpose of the bag: herbs, roots, coins,
minerals, lodestones, parts of animals' bodies, bodily fluids, full name, date
of birth, personal items (hair, photo, fingernails, body fluids), a petition
paper, and various other objects of magical power.
MAKING THE BAG
There are always an odd number of
items in the bag (the bag not included in the count) but no more than 13 items.
The items should come from at least 3 different elements such as: root, mineral,
herb, oil, nut, metal, and personal concerns.
The energy that provides the power
to the mojo bag or spell is the intention that goes with the action of creating
and maintaining the bag. Each item is talked to as it is placed in the bag. When
the bag is filled, it is given the breath of life. This is done by blowing into
the bag.
AWAKENING THE BAG
The bag is anointed with oil as a
symbol of the bags life blood. It is then shaken awake. Also rattles, bells,
drums, or verbal declarations can be used to energize the bag. Next the bag is
purified and blessed by passing it clockwise through smoke (from smudge stick or
incense). Or rootworkers typically use a cigar and shot-gun the smoke into the
bag. Tobacco sends the petition directly to the spirit world. The bag can also
be heated up (made hot) with alcohol, coffee, or condition oil by spraying the
bag with a small amount. In addition, I create smudge
with sage for cleansing & purification and charge with Reiki life force energy.
To seal or not to seal the bag depends on its
purpose. Sealing makes it final and if opened, the spell is done or ready to be
disposed of. If this is an ongoing spell that will need to be fed you may choose
not to seal it.
If your bag is already sealed, do not open it. Bags are tied specifically in a
traditional way
and untying the knots will release its power.
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE BAG
You will need to feed your bag at
least once a week. The most common liquids used are alcohol, such as whiskey; a
perfume, such as Hoyt's Cologne or Florida Water; bodily fluids, such as spit or
urine, or a condition oil. You can also do a mouth spray with alcohol or coffee.
When anointing your bag with oil, dab it 5 times, once for each of the 4
directions and once for the center. Talk to you bag aloud and tell it how it has
helped you and what you need it to do next.
Other forms of energizing your bag
include: laying it in the sunlight and/or moonlight for 24 hours. The time of
the full moon is perfect for this, holding a clear crystal pendulum over the bag
and passing it slowly in a clockwise circle 9 times, to cleanse, pass the
pendulum slowly anti-clockwise 9 times. Also Reiki can be used to energize your
bag. If you are not attuned, ask a Reiki practitioner to perform the Reiki for
you.
WHERE TO KEEP THE BAG
Mojos either draw something to you or expel things away from you.
Mojos are typically carried on the body, close to the skin. Some people carry
them in their purse or pocket. You can also put them under your pillow while you
sleep. Do no not allow anyone to look at your mojo bag or touch your mojo
bag!
Safe travel mojo bags can be placed in your
vehicle. Home blessing bags can be kept hidden above the front door. Protection
bags can be kept at the 4 corners of a room. Prosperity spells can be kept in
the kitchen. Love and fidelity spells can be kept in the bedroom. Cleansing and
uncrossing spells can be kept in the bathroom. Protection bags can be buried in
the corners of the yard or under the steps of the main entrance. In a new
construction site, a bag can be placed where it will remain for as long as the
building stands.
If you want to expel things
away from you, you can take your bag to a crossroads where the energy will be
dispersed by passing traffic. When you are doing a cleansing or uncrossing mojo,
natural running water is a place that will cleanse and empower.
DISPOSING OF THE BAG
Mojo bags die. This may be due to the bag being worn, from it
being touched, looked upon, not being fed, or the spell is complete. It is
important to dispose of your mojo properly. All of the items should be buried
upon completion. Bury them at a strong tree if possible. You can also burn the
sack or throw it in the garbage far away from your home or work. When you do
so, do not look back.
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PRAYER TIES
 
It is a Native American belief
that you must offer a gift that will delight the higher spirits in order to gain
their attention and blessings. Usually the more work and effort put into an item
for offering, the more inclined the spirits are to bless the request put to
them. This requires more focus upon the intent of the prayer by its creator,
hence giving it more energy.
Prayer ties are the oldest and simplest way to pray using
tobacco. Tobacco is a sacred botanical in the Native American tradition. It
amplifies prayers, provides healing and purification, extracts negativity in
spiritual healings, and allows communication with spirits.
Prayer ties are made by using pieces of cloth
that are approximately 2 to 4 square inches. Each color represents a direction.
Prayer energy is offered
into the tobacco by holding the tobacco in your left hand lifting it to your
heart and saying your prayer. Then the tobacco is placed in the center of the
cloth. The 4 corners are drawn up forming a small pouch which is tied to a
string by using a clove hitch (2 half hitches). When completed, smudge the
prayer ties. Usually prayer ties are released into the universe through burning.
This releases the prayers in the smoke and allows them to be carried to
Grandfather, Grandmother, Great Spirit.
Here is just one model of how prayer ties can be made. Each
tribe that uses prayer ties has their own system of creating them. For instance,
the Lakota only use 4 colors: red, black, white, and yellow.
1 East
- Yellow Air - New Beginnings, Rebirth, Prosperity, Longevity
2 South - Red Fire - Motivation, Creativity, Growth
3 West - Black
- Water Healing, Transformation, Introspection
4 North - White
Earth - Wisdom, Spirit, Strength, Clear Vision
5 Above - Blue
Father Sky, Masculine Energy, Spiritual Healing
6 Below - Green
Mother Earth, Feminine Energy, Physical Healing
7 Center - Purple
Balance, Harmony, Self, Mental Healing
8 Parallel Universe
Orange
- Soul Mate, Twin Flame
Prayer ties are
released into the universe through burning. This releases the prayers in the
smoke and allows them to be carried to Grandfather, Grandmother, and Great
Spirit. The ties should be burned within a year of being created.
Tobacco is a sacred botanical in the Native American tradition. It amplifies
prayers, provides healing and purification, extracts negativity in spiritual
healings, and facilitates communication with spirits.
 
I imprint each
prayer bundle with a special prayer then smudge them and infuse with Reiki
energy.
PRAYER BUNDLES
Prayer bundles can be created for many different purposes. They can be
buried or burned to activate the prayer energy. Use your own symbolism
and creativity in making these bundles. Of course, all items should be
environmentally-friendly such as 100% cotton material.
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SPIRIT
STICKS
Prayer sticks were largely used
by the Pueblo. The Hopi Indians had a special prayer stick to which a small bag
of sacred meal was attached. Green and blue prayer sticks are often found in the
Pueblo graves.
When collecting the wood try to find some already fallen to the
ground. If this is not possible, ask the tree for permission to cut a branch.
Always leave give thanks to the tree spirits for offering themselves by leaving
an offering. In Native American culture it is customary to leave tobacco or corn
mean. In the Celtic Druid culture, it is customary to leave whisky. If none of
these are available, use a piece of your hair or your own spit.
The prayer energy is offered into the creation of prayer sticks
by thinking good thoughts, healing thoughts, or thoughts of forgiveness. Smudge
the prayer sticks. The prayers are released into the universe through the prayer
sticks being stood up in the ground with the stick exposed to nature (air). A
vision prayer stick provides a connection point between you and the Spirit
World. It will help you focus and see. Beads and noisemakers are meant to make
connections with the wind spirits.
Keep the stick wrapped in red cotton cloth when you are not using
it. When you bring the stick out smudge it. Then sit with the stick and pray
about your vision and feel the power of the stick. In prayer, the stick will
help you connect with spirits and the symbols of your vision.
Each prayer stick
I create is smudged with sage for cleansing & purification and charged with
Reiki life force energy.
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SPIRIT
TRAPS
The
universe is populated with spirits who vary greatly in character, temperament,
and purpose. The malevolent spirits can bring trouble and harm to people who do
not employ protective means to ward off their influence. Spirit traps are used
to protect a person or place from the disruptive influence of evil and malicious
spirits by capturing them.
The purpose of a spirit trap (aka spirit bottle or witch
bottle) is to draw the spirit into the bottle by forcing it to count
items like poppy or mustard seeds, or by luring it down into the
bottle with a spiral trail of herbs, knotted string, or nails. The
spirit trap attracts and traps hostile spirits by tricking them into
believing they have found their target i.e. you.
Spirit traps
originated from African, European, and Middle Eastern practices.
They were used by the ancient Hebrews in some parts of Babylon to
drive away evil manifested as illness, demons, the evil eye, or
curses.
INGREDIENTS
1. Container:
Cobalt Blue Bottle (with lid or cork)
2. The Lure: Black
Mustard Seeds (to lure the spirit into counting the seeds)
Black Poppy Seeds (to lure the spirit and trip it up)
Urine (for protection or to lure the spirit into the bottle)
Hair, Blood, and/or Nail-clippings (to lure the spirit into the
bottle)
Knotted Strings (to bind and tie the spirit)
3. The Tie Down:
Devils Shoe Strings (to tie up devils)
Spanish Moss (to tie up the spirit)
Knotweed (to bind up and trap)
Nails (to nail the spirit in place)
4. Protection:
Red Pepper (crushed)
Salt (to protect and drive away)
Black Pepper (to ward off evil)
Broken Glass and/or Broken Mirrors (to reflect back evil)
With intention and
focus, place all the items in the bottle in the following order: 1st
put the lure in the bottle. 2nd put the tie downs in the bottle. 3rd
put protection in the bottle. Then blow your prayer with your breath
into the bottle and immediately seal with the lid or cork. Tie a
string with 9 knots around the outside of the bottle.
The bottle can be
placed at the front door, in the chimney, hung from a windowsill, or
hung in a tree outside your home.
If the bottle falls
and breaks a Spirit has been drawn to the trap. Dispose of the trap
(not on your property) in running water, at a crossroads, or bury
under a tree. Then build a new trap.
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Drake Bear Stephen. Except as Acknowledged. All Rights Reserved. |