One thing that is de rigeur in magical practices, whether Deity-based or not, is the concept that you must learn to keep your lips shut. More often than not, the client is their own worst enemy when it comes to magical work because the ‘itch’ of telling their secrets of something to somebody that incites gossip and envy, which will then stop any work the client was having done for them (or doing on their own).
I cannot tell you how many times that I have heard from someone that ‘things were going so well then something happen and now …” (various endings inserted here). More often than not, it is because of a question that was asked of them, and in a decision that the client needed to answer the question, gives some information that is “the saw that cut their legs off”. The client is blocking their own success. Some of these questions from inquiring minds and snoopy people might be:
“Why you burning that candle?”
“What’s that hanging over your door?”
“What ‘s that stuff sprinkled all over your stoop/steps/walkway?”
“What’s that hanging around your neck?”
The client reveals the reason, whether purposefully or by accident, because of an awkward moment between them and the Inquisitor, and then the ‘secret’ is out. You could be opening your mouth to the wrong people. Sad but true, there are those who you consider friends of different calibers, who do not wish good things to happen for you.
Private and personal altars, candles, and other symbols of spiritual faith an belief almost always invites curiously to the lesser informed. If I personally were to visit your home, I would not need to ask if I came upon your candle burning discreetly in a corner of a room, but others are attracted to things they do not know about, and their questions will create and awkward situation if you do no prepare a general but vague answer for them if they ask. Here are some examples:
“That candle is lit for my Aunt/Cousin/Grandparent in ______ (say a State or City) for their health/birthday/remembrance.”
“It is a family altar not to be disturbed.”
“Just something I do to bring good vibes.”
In your private time, formulate and practice a “pat answer” and a strategy to get them away from your work or to change the subject on them.
Here may be the reason: they may feel envious or jealous of what you are, achieved, and possess. When they are in the same room as you -or- when conversation comes around about you, they begin a process of comparison with you that gets them in a tizzy. When your light shines for a moment, it makes them feel like theirs cannot compete with your flame, and it pits them against you. You may be higher evolved spiritually, you may have better education or a position in employment that grants you a better wage than them, or you may have experienced life events such as a marriage or childbirth, that they have not been as successful in as you. Standing side-by-side with you crates a mirror effect when they have to look inwards to themselves and reflect on how they failed to take advantage of their years, education, or other blessings and how well you did when given the same chance.
So what are you to do? The best thing would be not to bring up the subject regarding big or little victories, spiritual beliefs or practices, and if they do get brought up in conversation in a group, kindly appear humble and say as little as you can, despite bursting at the seams with pride and joy or in the spirit of sharing knowledge. The less they know, the less you will have to do any “clean up” work or “damage control” from wagging tongues.
Mama said “Loose lips sink ships” (as well as the U.S. Navy) when she was warning us to not be a braggart and draw attention to our good fortune and hard work, lest those will the Evil Eye, Wagging Tongue, or and jealous, envious individual spoil our Good Luck.
