The Highly-Effective, Never-Fail, Magical Parking Space Word by Barbara Ardinger

“In the beginning was the Word.” Yes, we’ve all read that. Although I’m not sure precisely what that Word was—does anybody know?—I’m pretty sure that Word started the process of creation. It was an active Word. A powerful Word. A Word that got things done.

I modestly propose another creative, active, powerful Word. ZZZAAAZZZ. It actively and powerfully creates parking spaces for us. Although I have always believed this Word just somehow came to me, my son has recently said that he once heard it from one of his high school buddies. I dunno. I’ve been using the Magical Parking Space Word for maybe thirty years. I’ve been writing for the Llewellyn Publications annuals since about 2004 and have put the Magical Parking Space Word (with its own spell) in the last three Llewellyn Spell-a-Day Almanacs. I get positive responses from readers all over the U.S. The Word is spreading.

Why do I need this Word? Because there’s no place to park in Long Beach, California, a city that is so filled with apartment buildings that house many people but offer maybe three or four spaces for street parking (on narrow streets built to accommodate Model A’s) that I know people in my own neighborhood who, if they come home late, may have to drive two or three streets away to find a parking space.

Why do you need this Word? There’s probably no good (free) parking spaces where you live, either. Have you gone to the mall lately? How far away from the entrance must you park? At your favorite grocery store, how far do you have to wheel your cart full of bags of groceries before you arrive at your car? Where do you park when you go to the theater or the movies at night? The best parking lot that used to be catty-corner from the Hollywood Pantages is now another new office building, so we have to go to the valet lot behind the W Hotel across the street from the theater and pay $20 to park. (There’s no power in any known or unknown universe that’ll get you a parking space on Hollywood Boulevard.)

Here’s an example of the effectiveness of the Word. My friend Lianne and I sometimes go to the theater together. One afternoon we were going to a theater in a shopping center in Huntington Beach. That mall is always packed. So I’m standing outside The Cheesecake Factory waiting for Lianne when my phone rings. “I’m here.” It’s Lianne. “But I can’t find a place to park.” “Remember the Word,” I say clearly into my phone. “It’s ZZZAAAZZZ.” Seconds later: “A car just pulled out three spaces in front of me. Your Word even works over the phone!”

The Word is best said when you turn the last corner before where you want to park. When I’m on my way to the Long Beach Animal Hospital (busy street, tricky parking), when I turn that last corner, I say (with great energy), “ZZZAAAZZZ. Parking place at the animal hospital.” Other times: “ZZZAAAZZZ. Parking place right outside McDonald’s.” “ZZZAAAZZZ. Parking place in front of the post office.” “ZZZAAAZZZ. Parking place in the lot next to the hair salon.” Et cetera. You get the idea.

Say the Word aloud and with great energy and tell it where you want to park. Sometimes, I admit, you may have to drive around the block before it works, but it never fails. Wherever you live, try it yourself. (College campuses are famous for insufficient parking.)

So…I’ve been speaking the Word and teaching other people to speak it for years, when, all of a sudden, my daughter-in-law tells me she also regularly appeals to the Goddess Zazz. Huh?? Goddess?? Here’s what she recently wrote on her Magical Manifestation group page on Facebook:

May I introduce you all to Zazz, Goddess of Parking. When I first met my mother-in-law (nearly 20 years ago), I picked up on a spell Barbara worked for manifesting a parking spot. As we entered the parking lot, she would say ZAZZ, and magically a parking spot would appear as someone nearby would be pulling out of their space. Back then, like a baby witch in training, I emulated what I saw and it worked. I would need a spot and I would call on ZAZZ.

As the years went by, my calling on Zazz would be less a declaration and more a prayer said in request of assistance with details of where I would most like to park. I call on Zazz nearly ever weekday as I near my office building and hope to have a parking spot in front of the building. More times than not, she provides by holding a space for me. Blessed Be!

Recently I shared with Barbara how I envision Goddess Zazz. She looks like an Art Deco-uniformed meter maid carefully directing traffic around choice parking spots saved for magic-makers like us. Barbara was confused. “Zazz is a Goddess??”

For Barbara, Zazz has been the magic word for parking all this time, but I got to introduce the woman known for Finding New Goddesses to my good friend, Zazz. Happy manifesting.

And here is my daughter-in-law’s drawing of Zazz, the Found Goddess of Parking.

Readers, you can pronounce the Magical Word or you can invoke the Found Goddess. Either way, magic happens, power works, and creation begins. A parking space opens up for you. Try it yourself!

Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D. (www.barbaraardinger.com), is a published author and freelance editor. Her newest book is Secret Lives, a novel about grandmothers who do magic.  Her earlier nonfiction books include the daybook Pagan Every Day, Finding New Goddesses (a pun-filled parody of goddess encyclopedias), and Goddess Meditations.  When she can get away from the computer, she goes to the theater as often as possible—she loves musical theater and movies in which people sing and dance. She is also an active CERT (Community Emergency Rescue Team) volunteer and a member (and occasional secretary pro-tem) of a neighborhood organization that focuses on code enforcement and safety for citizens. She has been an AIDS emotional support volunteer and a literacy volunteer. She is an active member of the Neopagan community and is well known for the rituals she creates and leads.

Author: Barbara Ardinger

Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D. (www.barbaraardinger.com), is a published author and freelance editor. Her newest book is Secret Lives, a novel about grandmothers who do magic. Her earlier nonfiction books include the daybook Pagan Every Day, Finding New Goddesses (a pun-filled parody of goddess encyclopedias), and Goddess Meditations. When she can get away from the computer, she goes to the theater as often as possible—she loves musical theater and movies in which people sing and dance. She is also an active CERT (Community Emergency Rescue Team) volunteer and a member (and occasional secretary pro-tem) of a neighborhood organization that focuses on code enforcement and safety for citizens. She has been an AIDS emotional support volunteer and a literacy volunteer. She is an active member of the neopagan community and is well known for the rituals she creates and leads. View all posts by Barbara Ardinger