Can't really do anything...

[Dark_Xen]

Hi guys! I've been trying to do a few spells, and i think i do everything that i'm meant to. I mean sure, i do do some things differently, such as instead of using salt in water to purify a circle, i just walk along the circle with a stone to represent Earth, and sprinkle the water by itself. Also, i dont have a compass, which could probably be why none of my spells work, for i have no idea where north, south, east or west are in my room... Could this be a reason that my spells dont work? I dont think it's my self doubt that causes it. Before i do a ritual, i usually feel a little silly, but once i get into it, then it all just flows out of my mouth, and i say things without having to really think about it, so it all seems to run smoothly. What else could be causing my spells to fail? I am new to this, am i missing something important?

Thanks


Dark_Xen

[Rain Gnosis]

Do you have strong grounding, centering, visualization, and sending skills?

Look for the sun in the morning (best done at dawn, though not necessarily) to find east, then you can find the directions.

[Dark_Xen]

Thanks for helping me find the directions, i never thought of that!
I don't seem to have any strong skills, although i can visualise well. I think my problem may be that when i call to Gods and Goddesses, i can feel their presence, and sometimes it seems that i can see them in my minds eye, but i can't communicate with them, so they may not know what it is i want them to help me with. Also, when i say my rites, i don't rhyme my words, i just talk. is that ok?

[Rain Gnosis]

Grounding and centering are, for many people, fundamental to successful spellwork.

The Gods can always hear you because they are always there.

My guess is you seem very unsure of what you're doing - to do a spell you have to have a solid focus on a well defined goal, you can't be worrying about where the elements are, etc. I would suggest, you work on grounding and centering, meditation, circle casting, etc. and do more ritual then spell right now. If you are interested in working magic with the Divine it would serve you to first connect with the Divine more clearly. You might do sabbats and esbats or simply cast a circle to meditate in prior to spellcasting.

Do you have solid ideas on how magic works? What are the God and Goddess? Why do we look to the elements and God and Goddess when casting a circle? Why do you think rhyming is necessary? What tools are necessary, and why? Ask yourself some questions.

For what it's worth, I think we're all pretty unsure and confused in the beginning. I know I was!

[Dark_Xen]

OK, i think you just summed me up there. To be honest with you, i dont really know what Centering is... does it mean being focused or something??
In the past, i usually meditated, then cast circle, and then blunded through a ritual. I had many problems, like spilling wax on the carpet, setting my sleve on fire, there being a huge gust of wind from nowhere blowing out all my candles, me trying to relight them and running out of candles, ect. These obviously lost me concentration, and i suppose ruined the spell. I think i did have some success in calling Athena into a candle once. Normally when i put a match in a candle to light the match, i can barely get the match to light, but when i put a matchin Athena's candle to light the match, it went up in flames so suddenly and violently that i screamed and ran out of my room (i'm a whimp i know).

[Rain Gnosis]

Don't worry, I think we all go through that in the beginning. Nobody starts out knowing just how to do it perfectly! :)

Centering is what you do after grounding, it's like centering yourself or centering energy within yourself. You're trying to find the part of you that is serene and connects with Goddess - if you can imagine, Goddess is always there around us and in nature. Goddess is always in the grass and the trees and the wind and the sky, but most of the time we don't focus on that - we don't think about how she's there. So when you're grounding and centering, you're connecting with Goddess and the universe around you. There are exercises for that in books and online you can look at - and many ways to do it (like some people ground by imagining they are a tree, some people center by imagining there's a sheet in them that they let blow out and pull back into their center, each time letting it out a little more, until it's a tight ball at their center).

[Dark_Xen]

Great! Thanks for the tips. I'll do that, and then try those spells again, or could they just not have worked yet? I read that burying certain things helps them work, so would you recommend i do that? I kept small momentos from all my spells, in case they help.
Do you centre and ground after closing circle or before?
Sorry to ask so many questions. I've read all these books that tell you how to do things, but they miss out little bits like time periods, probably because the author expected the reader to have some common sense, but i'm afraid i have none

Thanks again!

[Rain Gnosis]

Many people ground and center before casting circle, and after opening it/removing it. Grounding and centering before lets you connect with the Divine and raise some energy (you don't want to use your own energy so much or you'll end up exhausted and/or ill, energy is all around you though), grounding and centering after lets you take a moment to let go of excess energy left over. After you will probably also want to eat and drink something and focus on going back to mundane life. Some people feel very skittish or jittery if they don't do that.

You can bury things if you like, or burn them, or throw them away, or destroy them, etc. It depends on what you want to do and what it makes you think of - for instance if you're doing a ward (a type of amulet for protection) for your home you'd want to bury it in the ground outside (so it's near your home and hidden in the earth). Or you might just throw the stuff out when you're done, if that's what seems right to you.

I find too a lot of books don't say anything about time. This is because, in general, it's hard to tell if and when a spell will manifest. A spell to find love, for instance, might not work for months until the time is right. A spell for healing might work immediately or after a few weeks. Depending on the spell and it's importance, you might wait a month and try again. For instance, if I did a spell to attract a friend and it didn't work within a month I wouldn't worry too much - after all, a new friend isn't absolutely integral to my existence, I'm not going to die if I don't find one tomorrow, and maybe it's not the time for a friend to show up. Sometimes you have to be patient and believe that it'll happen at the best time. But if I did a healing spell, and a month later the person just got worse, I might repeat it. Mostly it's up to you to decide what feels right.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Rain has said a lot of good things, but I've got a big mouth and can't help but put my oar in.

What sort of spells are you trying to accomplish? It may very well be that the spells you're attempting are simply beyond your level of competence (that's not meant as an insult - spells have varying levels of difficulty).

Additionally, as Rain mentioned, you can't expect to see results overnight. The majority of the spellwork I've done takes between 3 and 6 months to show results. Prosperity spells, love spells, fertility spells, etc. take a long time to work.

So just keep at it!

[Rain Gnosis]

Can't say I agree with you there, I'm afraid, Ben. I see magic as dependent on one's Will, ability to focus, and external factors. I don't see some spells as harder or easier, but I do see some spells as more effective or less depending on what the goal is, how one is able to work towards that goal, and what is working for against that goal.

In theory, any spell should be just as easy to perform, but whether it's results are true depends on the factors I mentioned above.

For instance, it's just as easy to cast a spell to get a lambourghini as it is to cast one for healing, but you're never going to see a lambourghini magically appear in my driveway :)

[Dark_Xen]

Hi there! I tried a love spell, and I tried to gain knowledge from the God Troth. Also, I tried a healing spell on a friends relative, but i dont have a picture of her, so i did not really complete the spell properly, but i tried.
I am very new, so i guess you're right. I'll start lower and work my way up.

Thanks again!

[Ben Trismegistus]

Originally posted by Dark_Xen

Hi there! I tried a love spell, and I tried to gain knowledge from the God Troth. Also, I tried a healing spell on a friends relative, but i dont have a picture of her, so i did not really complete the spell properly, but i tried.
I am very new, so i guess you're right. I'll start lower and work my way up.


You mean the god Thoth? Maybe he's ignoring you because you spelled his name wrong *wink*

Healing spells are very difficult, especially long-distance and without a picture or some other piece of her. Your best shot there is simply good thoughts and a burning candle.

And love spells take a long time, if they work at all. You're not manipulating the universe in order to make love fall into your lap -- you're changing yourself in a way that makes you open to love. Obviously that will take longer.

Why don't you try some candle magic? That's pretty easy and can be done by a beginner. Buy one of those tall candles in a glass jar, where you can remove the candle (I think they call them pull-out candles). Within circle, carve or otherwise decorate the candle with whatever symbols speak to you on what you'd like to manifest in your life in the next season -- love, knowledge, etc. Then, simply burn the candle every night until it burns down entirely. Then see what happens! (within 3 to 6 months, of course)

[Dark_Xen]

Thanks again for your advice, and yes I know, i can't spell to save my life!
I tried candle magic, but let me tell you, my carving skills are awful! I went out and bought this really nice candle. I meditated, cast circle, put the knife to the candle, and cut the candle in half!!! So, i tried again. I bought another candle, cast circle ,etc, and tried to carve a circle, which turned into moe of a curved square, and then managed to stab myself in the hand. So i said to myself, "third time lucky", boughtanother candle, sat down to carve it, but then my sleve touched a lighted candle and went up in flames! I had to jump around the room as quiety as i could, for my parents are christians, and would kill me if they found out i was a pagan. Anyway, during my panic, i knocked the lighted candle over, which melted the candle i was trying to cut, and now i have this permanent reminder of my clumsyness on my new carpet (sigh).

[Ben Trismegistus]

Heh - sounds like you haven't had much luck so far.

Well, you don't need to carve -- you can draw symbols on with ball point pen if you like. All that matters is the intent.

[Rain Gnosis]

To get wax out of the carpet put an old towel or tshirt over the wax and iron the towel, the wax will be transferred onto the heated towel and off the carpet.

[Dark_Xen]

Thanks you guys! I'll do that iron thing, and draw with a ball point. These things never occur to me, i need a brain!
My excuse is that i'm doing my GCSE's at the moment ( a slight hint to anyone that wants to wish me good luck!), and so all my brain space is full of my studdies.
I find that doing rituals really helps kepp me calm though, and happy! Nothing really depresses me now, woohoo!
So, if i manage to perform a few cangle spells, how long do you think it would take me to complete some more changelling ones? The ones that i did attempt felt as though they worked. This smell of roses seems to follow me now, and whenever it grows very strong, i can feel a presence. I think is is that of Venus, for I called on her to help me calm down about my exams. It seems she's done the trick!

[Erincelt]

You might also try sticking a sheet of wax paper between floor and towel, too. The candle wax will stick to the wax paper instead of the towel that way.

[Dark_Xen]

Heh, oh yeah! Great idea! Funny, this is a pagan site and i'm being given advice on how to clean a carpet!
Thanks alot guys, i'm feeling more confident now, and ready to try and perform another spell. I'm determined to do that healing spell, for i promised my friend that i would do my best for her aunt. I realise now i should have thought before i leapt. Maybe i should do more meditation, i wish i'd thought of that earlier!

[Ben Trismegistus]

Originally posted by Dark_Xen

So, if i manage to perform a few cangle spells, how long do you think it would take me to complete some more changelling ones?

Well, this is purely my personal recommendation (which is worth virtually nothing), but I would recommend that you don't attempt any challenging spells without the help of a mentor or teacher.

There are so many variables, and so much to think about, and I'm of the opinion that there's only so much you can learn from reading books (even though books are very very handy). So I would suggest finding someone in your area who can mentor or teach you, someone with more experience in this sort of thing.

Best of luck!

[Dark_Xen]

Thanks. The only problem is ( i seem to have a problem for everything!), that my parents would be highly suspicious is they found me hanging around with someone that they didnt know. Also, I dont have any income with which to pay them, and i dont know how to actually find one.
I guess I could turn this into an open aplication for anyone that would like an apprentice that knows nothing and would probably annoy them to death with my pointless questions. Seriously though, if there is anyone out there with patience, then i would be willing to be their apprentice :)

[Lunacie]

Hello, Dark Zen. I haven't seen you asking any "pointless questions" so far. Asking questions is a good way to learn things. As you learn more and become more confident in your knowledge you will find you can reason out more things for yourself without asking so many questions. Whenever I begin something new I have about a trillion questions. :)

[Erincelt]

Also, I dont have any income with which to pay them

That shouldn't even be a factor. I'm of the opinion that a teacher that charges you for this sort of thing is not a teacher to study under. Your only cost should be supplies. It is their priveledge to share their knowledge with you -- as well as yours to receive it.

As for finding people... well try witchvox.com and/or paganprofiles.com (i think its still up) and search on Google for other such listings. Other than that... I dunno. :) My teachers found me, so I didn't have that problem.

[Rain Gnosis]

The networking listings are actually at http://www.witchvox.com/xwotw.html or http://witchvox.net You can find there individuals and groups in your area; find your location at left.

Don't feel obligated to find a teacher, as most people never have one.

And of course Pagans know about picking up wax from a carpet, look at all the candles we burn :D

[Dark_Xen]

Hi again guys, thanks for the advice. I just came back from my english gcse (gulp), and the guy i like sat next to me!!!! :) Sorry, i'm so happy! Anyway, thanks again, i'll see what i can do without a teacher at first, and let it go from there. I probably will need one though, but as long as i believe in my magical abilities, that's all i need right?

Thanks again for all the help. I'm honoured that you spent the time in aiding me.

[Demeter]

And just a point ... you asked to gain knowledge from Thoth ... and then you came here, and now you have lots more knowledge than you did before. So that one seems to have worked. :D

You can even look at your early experiences as ways of learning. The Goddess Eris, in my experience, is the first to arrive at any circle and the last to leave. In more than 20 years of practice, I have *never* seen any ritual or spell go 100% perfect. In time, you learn what you can work through or around, what is absolutely necessary and what you can fudge, when to recenter and go on, and when to pack up your things and try again at the next full moon. Being flexible and ready for the unexpected is always a good thing. (My coven, too, had a "lighted candle" experience, and now we always make sure there is a small fire extinguisher in the altar kit. A first aid kit is also a good idea. :D)

You see, the spell didn't make knowledge suddenly appear in your head. It was a statement that you were making yourself more open to it, and calling the sources of knowledge to make it available to you. You have now shown that you are willing to accept what was offered, even though it wasn't in a form you expected, so more will come to you in time, in little bits as you are ready to absorb it.

[Dark_Xen]

Oh, i see! Yeah, you're right! Well, that's boosted my confidence :) Thanks for pointing that out.
So, i guess it seems many people have learnt the hard way that candles are not to be messed with! I'll probably have to wear a boiler suit next time!

[Demeter]

Originally posted by Dark_Xen

Oh, i see! Yeah, you're right! Well, that's boosted my confidence :) Thanks for pointing that out.
So, i guess it seems many people have learnt the hard way that candles are not to be messed with! I'll probably have to wear a boiler suit next time!

Fire is dangerous all the time. You have to be careful what you do with it. I really, really like little lanterns and covered candles and candles in jars for that reason. Never leave a candle burning if you are asleep or out of the house. If you want more cautionary tales: I almost set my altar on fire once by leaving a candle burning in a small cauldron when I went to sleep. I was awakened by the smoke detector and found the entire cauldron filled with liquid wax, the surface of which was burning merrily. The cauldron had absorbed enough heat to melt the entire candle, and the wick had tipped over to ignite the surface. I put it out by putting my (glass, fireproof) pentacle on top of the cauldron to cut off the air, and then stood fanning the smoke detector with a magazine until it shut up. I was having visions of the fire department breaking in to discover a naked witch trying to put out her altar ... At that, I was lucky. I heard about someone who left a jar candle burning and her cat tipped it over. Melted wax got all over the cat and the wick caught the cat's wax-saturated fur on fire. The flaming panic-stricken cat then charged all over the room and set fire to everything else. The cat, alas, did not survive, and most of the house was charred. I never put a candle where my cats can get at it.

If you're using a container candle and/or have no cats or small children, you can do something like put it in the kitchen sink or bathtub or shower enclosure and close the door. That's usually safe enough. I knew somebody who did this once in a hotel room and freaked out the maids until she got one of those colored "blessing candles" with pictures of saints on the jar ... the mostly Hispanic Catholic maids all of a sudden understood what she was doing and made sure not to put the candle out... :D

[Dark_Xen]

Hey, luckily the fire fighters didnt see you! And the poor cat! I don't have any cats so there's no risk of that happening, but i do have parents that aren't really that happy with me lighting candles, so i mainly light them in my room when they're out.
I have a real problem with spells involving throwing a written spell into a fire. The smoke is way too much for me, and made my eyes sting so much! And so, for now, I'm sticking to simple candle spells, only lightining them for short time periods. Those jar candles sound great, i have to get them. This is sure one heck of an expensive craft! I've been constantly poor since i began it :( I think a money spell is called for!

Thanks again

Dark_Xen

[Demeter]

It doesn't need to be expensive. Candles are what you will go through the most of, probably, so you will have to figure out cheap sources.

Plain white candles work for all purposes. If you can find a big bag of tealights inexpensively (try Ikea if there's one near you), it's worth the investment. Also plain white votives are good for inscribing, and are usually not terribly expensive. The symbols show up nicely if you rub the candles with oil and then rub herbs or glitter on. They accumulate in the places where you carved.

I don't know if you have these where you live, but the supermarkets here carry really really cheap candles (not pullouts) in tall jars (sometimes with saints' pictures on them) and in smaller jars (called yarzheit candles). If you can get one in a plain jar, you can use a marker on the outside of the jar to write your symbols. If you get a saint one, try to find a saint compatible with your purpose. (Virgin Mary candles are good for all goddess stuff, St. Michael for protection, etc.)

Using seven inexpensive tea lights in a row, lighting one each day and letting it burn down, is just as effective as buying the more expensive "seven-day" candle.

Poke around the cheap stuff (odd-lots, factory seconds) stores. You can usually find lots of cheap candles and other supplies there. Around the holidays, you can usually pick up candles on special which are very appropriate for magickal use (my husband nabbed a six-pack of spherical gold and silver candles one year around Christmas - perfect for God and Goddess candles). Grab the red and green ones at Christmas, black and orange ones at Haloween, etc.

If you want the scented votives, go to the candle store at the end of the season and buy what's on special.

Learn how to make your own candles. It's a fun hobby, and if you make some nice ones for your home, your folks probably won't object (they may even help you buy supplies!). If you wind up with a bunch of jars from old candles, you can clean the markings off and make your own candles in the jars. They can be reused many times. Make candles in colors they don't make normally, and mix in whatever herbs you want for your spells. They work very nicely.

Incense can get expensive, too. Using common kitchen herbs and spices works very nicely; growing your own works best.

Your other tools will be one-time purchases, and you can take your time accumulating them. You don't need them all at once, and you can find inexpensive ones as you go. For example, if you go out in the woods and find a nice stick ... peel the bark off, sand it down, and voila! a wand! Look in a kitchen supply store and find a wine glass on sale because it's the only survivor of a set that got broken ... voila! a chalice! If you find a big seashell, you can use that for an incense burner; or a flat round rock can become a pentacle. A simple wooden box can hold everything and also double as an altar, with a single fabric napkin as an altar cloth. Once I put together an entire altar kit as a gift for less than $20.

Remember, your most important tools are your hands and your brain; with them you can do anything.

On the subject of burning of papers: put them in the cauldron at the right time but do not set fire to them. Visualize them consumed with flames and sending their energy out. Then after you have opened your circle, take the cauldron outdoors and burn the papers safely outside. Make sure the ashes are safely out (they stay hot for a surprisingly long time); pour water on them if necessary, and pour them under a bush or tree as an offering. (Any remains of herbs, papers, flowers from your altar, food offerings, etc. should be respectfully returned to the earth when you are done with them. This includes putting them in the compost, but not the trashbin.)

I'm running off at the mouth; I'll shut up now.

[Erincelt]

Yes incense can get expensive, but keep your eyes open for deals... I found a bundle of 100 Egyptian Musk sticks for about $3 once, to give you an example. Visit novelty stores, gift stores, places like that. (I found that bundle at a Spencers!)

[~*Ginger*~]

Those little Birthday candles may be an idea also...
Just make sure that you find something secure and stable to put them in.
And they don't last long in burning either...

[Dark_Xen]

Thanks, those ideas are great! I managed to get a cheap athame today... OK, so it isn't actually an athame, but i'll use it as one. It's actually a letter opener shaped like a sword. It's gold and fits in my hand perfectly. I adore it! It cost me £2. I dont know how many dollars that is, but it's really cheap!
I cant believe you put all that effort in answering me! Thanks soo much! The sale items sound great! I never thought of that either! My oil and incense supplies are rather high at the moment, so it wont be a while until i need to splash out again, which i'm grateful for!

[Erincelt]

Oh, extra advice it took me forever to figure out: look for candles that say "dripless" on their label. :D A local store, Myanza's, sells the one-hour dripless candles for 55 cents (aka slightly over half a UK pound)... unfortunately the big fullsize dripless tapers are like $2.25 (aka about 1.3 pounds). But dripless is to die for... you can also watch for beeswax candles, as they don't usually drip any either.

And of course we take time to answer you! Its what we're here for, yes? :)

[Dark_Xen]

Yes, they sound very good. I heard of beeswax, but can't find any. Many of the wicca books i have mention them but the only candles i can find are the ones that are made to fall over or set fire to your sleve, etc. And i just can't find any candle holders that fit the tall think candles. I swear, beofre i discovered wicca, every single shop sold millions of them, but now all of a sudden they've all dissapeared :( Oh well, never mind, i'm content with what i have.
One last thing, how do you pronounce "anthame"? I thought it was pronounced "an-th-a-m-e", ok, that makes no sense... err, OK, like this "an-tha-me". Anyone understand that? Anyway, when i asked in this shop if they sold any, she couldn't understand me at all and raised her voice and made my casual question seem like a life or death situation and started to panic and tried desperately to understand what i was saying. Everyone else in the shop stared at me and i just felt so embarrased. I dont really need to pronounce it now, since i have one, but I'd like to know, just as a matter of interest.

[Lunacie]

I'm not sure, Xen, but maybe the sales person didn't understand because you were adding an extra "n" to the word. Here's how you spell it: athame. And there are many different ways to pronounce it.

a tha may (accent on the second syllable)

ath a me (accent on the first syllable)

And probably a few more that I haven't heard myself. But it sounds like the sales person could take a few lessons in being more tactful and helpful with customers. Crikey.

[Erincelt]

Of course I can't speak for a dead guy :D but Gardner is said to have pronounced it ah-THAY-mee which just tells you how varied a pronunciation there can be. I personally prefer uh-THAW-may but.. *shrug* Whatever suits your personal taste is probably fine.

[Demeter]

I actually prefer "knife." But there's no accounting for tastes.

(And look in those odd-lot shops for candle holders when you look for candles ... I found a neat pair of glass ones in a three-lobed design, that were made to be used with tapers OR votives, at the dollar store! And I got gold and silver tealight holders for about a dollar and a half each at Ikea. Keep your eyes open! They'll turn up when you least expect them!)

[~*Ginger*~]

If you can't find a candle holder, how about a saucer? ;)

[moonchild]

try a craft or art store also for cheap tea lights...

also, if you have trouble with fire....how about drawing (with markers or chalk or whatever tickles your fancy) fire on a piece of paper. remember it is the intent that matters. then you don't have to worry about catching things on fire or your parents freaking out. if you still want to use candles, Demeter had a good point with the religious candles, and someone else too, if you use the religious ones it wouldn't tip your parents off to the path. but i would definately pick similar saints for what you need (actually something i hadn't thought of, but i have an adversion to those candles:)) if tipping candles over is the main problem, pick candles that are short and stocky....wide bases are great with candles, minimizes the tipping probability.

incense---some companies will send you free samples of incense...i did this once when i went away to college. got some wonderful asian incense...hang on maybe i still have the company name...Here!

Shoyeido Incense company...see if they are on the web. let me know if you need anymore info on them. they are out of Japan and the States.

also, do you have dollar stores where you are? stores that sell things for a dollar (around 1 pound) are great for incense...just becareful, they are usually strong smelling:)

also, maybe you could use a fan to symbolize air....just a thought:)


MC

[WillowSageheart]

You could always check with your local metaphysical bookstore - or wherever you buy supplies to see if there are any classes being offered locally. Also, check in your area for any magickal get-togethers. Not only can you participate in different rituals led by those with many years experience, there are a number of people to ask questions to.

I started out in a coven where I was taught quite a bit, but I still go to public rituals to learn more. It's also a great way to speak freely without someone trying to make you feel like a freak.

[Prudence Rose]

I'm not exactly new to wicca. Ive always been intersted in being a witch. however, its only been a year or so since ive done in dept studies of the craft. im quite informed and do pretty much everything i should. Yet my spells, I have conducted many, seldom work, and when they do, they are rather weak.

[Erincelt]

Do they not work, or do they not work as you expected?

Were they weak, or were they subtle?

By "doing what you should" do you mean that you focused, empowered your intent, and sent out your thoughtform to accomplish its task?

Maybe you aren't as incapable as you think you are, and in that case your only limiting factor is your modesty. ;) Just keep practicing and studying, the "power" comes in time, and really has been with you always.

[Prudence Rose]

thank you for the encouragement.

[Dark_Xen]

Sorry for replying late. I just went to the beach for a while. That really is the perfect place to go! All the elements are there, i love it!
Once again i'd like to thank everyone for their help. I now feel more positive in myself, and have gotten in touch with my guardian angel, well, sort of. I found out that he's male, and called something like Zogita, but i couldnt hear him properly, so i asked if i could call him something else and i agreed. I know this has nothing to do with anything in this thread, but there you go. What i meant to say is that i have now developed patience to meditate and the patience to wait for my spells to work. I also accept that the results could take many forms. I also ironed out the melted candels from my carpet :) Thanks for that!

[Rain Gnosis]

I'm glad things are making more sense for you.