Hoodoo Bible The 7 in 1 Root Doctor Companion To Get Your Mojo Workin by Mama Marie

The Hoodoo Bible
The 7-in-1 Root Doctor’s Companion

to Black Folk Magic
Herb and Rootwork, Conjure Oils and Mojo Bags,
Easy and Advanced Spells, Candle Magic and
Divination to Get your Mojo working
Mama Marie
Disclaimer
The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy,
applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this book. The information contained in this
book is strictly for educational and entertainment purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas
contained in this book, you are taking full responsibility for your actions. There is no guarantee that
your life will improve in any way using the techniques, ideas, and information presented in this book.
Self-help and improvement potential is entirely dependent upon the person using the ideas and
techniques. Your level of improvement in attaining results depends on the time you devote to
developing your skill, commitment to learning the ideas, techniques, principles, and skills mentioned,
and your personal belief system. Hoodoo, Rootwork, and Conjure are faith-based systems, meaning
if you do not believe in your own power to effect change, change is unlikely to occur. Since these
factors differ according to each individual, there is no guarantee of your success or improvement
level. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for any of your actions, whether you use the
information for positive or negative purposes. As always, the advice of a competent professional
should be sought. The information contained in these pages is not meant as a substitute for the advice
of health or mental health professionals. Readers should use discretion before performing any rituals
or spells. The author is not liable, or in anyway responsible, for any actions that readers may take as a
result of the information contained in this book. The reader is encouraged to cast spells responsibly.
First Printing Edition, 2021
Printed in the United States of America

Available from Amazon.com and other retail outlets
Copyright © 2021 by Mama Marie

All Rights Reserved
TABLE OF CONTENTS
· THE HOODOO BIBLE 1 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION
TO THEORY AND PRACTICE ………
Introduction
History of hoodoo
Slavery and the Making of Hoodoo
High John the Conqueror
Excursus: An overview of Traditional Religion in West Africa
and the Americas
Emancipation and the Transformation of Hoodoo
Black Belt Hoodoo between the Two World Wars
Excursus: Hoodoo as Healthcare
Post World War II Hoodoo
Cultural impact of hoodoo on African-American culture
Beliefs and practices in hoodoo
Excursus: Differences between Hoodoo and Voodoo
Days of feast and charged power
The role of Christianity and the bible in hoodoo
Conclusion

TO THEORY AND PRACTICE
Introduction
A short encyclopedic vocabulary of hoodoo
The gift of magic
The hoodoo altar
The spirits of conjure
Relevant Spiritual Ancestors from Hoodoo Ancestors
Elements of power: the primary tools of conjure
Places of power
The basics of rootwork and herbal magic
Introduction to Rootwork
Equipment and Tools
Harvesting and Gathering Herbs
A few powerful herbs to get you started with Rootwork
Bottling up your magic: an introductory guide to contained spells
How to make an hoodoo doll
Introduction to hoodoo divination
It's on fire! Introduction to candle magic
Watch your steps: an introduction to foot track magic
Clean magic: an introduction to spiritual cleansings
Basic bath and floor wash principles
Beginner’s Ritual Baths
Beginner’s Floor Washes
Basic hoodoo spells for the budding root doctor
Protection Spells
Love Spells
Luck Spells
Spells for Success and Wealth
Spells for Justice
Conclusion

TO HERB AND ROOTWORK
Introduction
Part 1: introduction to herbal magic
History of herbal magic
Excursus: Appalachian folk magic
Herbal magic for specific purposes
Herbal magic in New Orleans
The ritual process
Charms in herbal magic
The doctrine of signatures
The role of rootworkers in hoodoo
Wildcrafting
Equipment and tools
Blessing your tools
Storing your herbs
Part 2: magical herbs
Rituals and their corresponding natural elements
278 magical herbs, roots, spices, minerals, and other elements of
power and their applications
Part 3: workin’ dem roots
Poweful herb bundles
Magical garlands
Tonics, tinctures, and teas
Herbal tonics for fevers, colds, and coughs
Herbal tonics and teas for wounds and joint pain
Herbal tonics for stomach pain and bowel complaints
Goodluck tonics
Teas to enhance male sexuality
Herbal tonics to enhance femininity
Crafting powerful conjure oils
Anointing oils
Dressing oils
Rubbing oils
Liniments
Oils for magical lamps
Salves
Powerful cleansing rituals
Conclusion
TO BASIC SPELLCASTING AND CONJURE
Introduction
Inscribed Spells
Tools
Inks
Techniques
Psalms used in Scriptural Magic
Inscribed Spells
Love Spells
New love
Improving a relationship
Bring back an old lover
Sweetening spells
Same-sex love spells
Peaceful home spells
Fertility spells
To increase fertility
To make a woman barren
Spells for success
Money spells
Money drawing spells
Financial stability
Gambling
Rightful compensation
Setting up a money altar
Luck spells
Gambling Luck Spells
Lucky Gambling Mojos
Good lucks oils (To be Used in Spells)
Magic Broom Good Luck and Prosperity Spells
Healing spells
To combat malevolent forces
Heal physical pain
To Treat Mental Illnesses
Spells for justice
Crossroads spells
Conclusion

TO ADVANCED SPELLCASTING AND CONJURE
Introduction
Conjure the spirits
Hoodoo and Religion
The Role of the Conjure Doctor
The Dead and Deathways
How to Conceal Your Conjure Work
The Ethics of Conjure Work
Protection spells
Types of Magical Attacks
Negative Energies in the Home
Bewitched or Possessed Objects
Create a Spiritual Barrier
How to Prevent Magical Attacks
How to Render Null Magical Attacks
How to Reverse a Magical Attack
Protection while sleeping and dreaming
Banishing Spells
To Banish Illnesses
To Banish Enemies
To Banish Someone from your House
Reversing and Revenge Spells
Reversing Spells
Binding Spells
Crossing Spells
Curses, Jinxes and Hexes
The Original Curse
To Create Confusion
Cross ‘o Stones
The Curse of Marie Laveau
Keep a Big Man Down Spell
Marie Laveau’s Punishment Ritual
Foot Tack Magic
Bottle Spell
Get Rid of a Hateful Husband
Running Feet
Graveyard Spells
How to Collect Graveyard Dirt
Buried Spells in a Graveyard
Spells that Use Graveyard Dirt
Graveyard Spells for Protection and Legal Work
Graveyard Spells for Love
How to Lay Sneaky Tricks
Menstrual Blood Tricks
Keeping your Altar Hidden
Sneaky Bath Tricks
Giving Someone a Bad Mojo
Where to lay sneaky tricks
Powerful Hoodoo Spells for the Advanced Practitioner
Negra Cinta
The Mirror Box Ritual
Thirteen Days of Eradication Spell
The Protection Ritual
Ancestor Summoning
Angel Summoning
Summoning a Djinn
Gullah Jack Crab Claw Work
Conclusion

TO DIVINATION
Introduction
The art of divination
Natural signs or omens
Animal omens
Weather omens
Traditional bone reading
Choosing the bones
Blessing the bones
The position of the bones
Reading the bones
Pyromancy - Heated and Cracked Bone Reading
Geomancy - Mathematical Bone Reading
Symbolic method
Bone Scrying
Protection During reading
Crystals for protection
Meditation
Affirmations and amulets
Final tips
Dice Casting instead of Bone Throwing
The yes/no method of reading dice
The three dice method
Divination Rituals for the experienced Hoodoo Practitioner
The O-Possum Bone
Yes or No Method
The seekers personal answer
Card reading
Tarot Cards
Types of Card Spreads
Ancestor Cleansing
Other Decks
Interpreting the cards
Major Arcana
Minor Arcana
Dream divination
Tips and techniques to dream
Lucid dreams
Hag riding and other sleep demons
Divination by jack ball or pendulum
Cold reading
Conclusion

TO CANDLE MAGIC
Introduction
Learn to harvest the gifts of fire
Candle colors
White candles
Yellow candles
Orange candles
Red candles
Pink candles
Purple candles
Blue candles
Green candles
Brown candles
Black candles
Candle shapes
Candle shapes and uses
Anointing and dressing candles
Apllication of dressing
Dressing to Draw In Money
To Remove A Hex
Dressing a Candle Of Devotion
Healing Dressing
Protection Dressing
To communicate with the spirits
Simple Love Dressing
Tell Me the Truth Dressing
Burning candles discreetly to lay sneaky tricks
Oil lamps
Love Thyself Lamp
Road-Opening Lamp
Domination Lamp
Buildin an Altar
How to build a basic Altar
Building an Altar for love
Building an Altar for money
Building an Altar for success
Building an Altar for fertility
Building an Altar for luck
Build a Cairn and Cross Altar
Building an Altar to aunt Caroline Dye
Building an Altar to Big mama
Build an altar to the queen of waters
Psalms for spells and their corresponding candles
Candle protection spells
Fiery wall of protection spell
Basic purple candle protection spell from bad and enemy spirits
7- day candle protection spell
Moving candle spells
Come to me moving candle spell
Break up and love spell
To attract your unknown lover
TO SEAL A BUSINESS DEAL
To gain investment
To gain a business partnership
To cause separation or divorce
Outhouse spell for jinxing or cursing
Reversing spells with candles
Reversing candle spell
Reverse and return to sender
Butting the light double action reversal candle
Butting the light double action love life jinxes
Reversing money and luck jinxes with double action candle
Black skull candle to reverse and revenge a spell.
Black candle revenge spells
Black candle revenge spell for cheating partner
Black divorce candles spells
Black clothed woman and clothed man candles spell
Divination by candle wax
Incense magic
Popular types of incense
How to burn incense
How to make your own incense
A typical incense: traditional hoodoo burning rituals
How to smoke someone
How to dispose of candle wax and incense ash
Conclusion
· THE HOODOO BIBLE 1 ·
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO THEORY AND
PRACTICE
The Beginner’s Guide to Rootwork and Conjure
History and Traditions
INTRODUCTION
T here are many paths to Hoodoo and I am glad you have chosen this
book to start your journey, I hope it will bring light and joy in your
life. May it help you embrace your spirituality and your roots and
may the ancestors guide your path!
I hope to accompany you in years to come as you become an experienced
and wise rootworker that your friends, family, and even strangers can rely
on.
One book wouldn’t be enough to encompass the complexity of this subject,
so I have written seven books, here conveniently compiled into one
powerful bundle. They are still not enough, but I hope they will allow you
to gain insight in the subject and allow you to explore further standing on
solid ground.
The first volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root Doctor’s
Companion to Theory and Practice, Vol. 1. Beginner’s Guide to Rootwork
and Conjure History and Traditions will give solid theoretical basis that are
necessary to approach conjure work and rootwork.
The second volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root Doctor’s
Companion to Theory and Practice, Vol. 2. Beginner’s Spellbook to African
American Conjure and Rootwork will guide you through your first spells
and rituals, as well as beginner’s herb and rootwork practices and will give
solid practical basis to further explore the subjects.
The third volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root Doctor’s
Companion to Herb and Rootwork. The Complete Herbal Dispensatory for
Hoodoo Rootwork and Conjure with 278 Magical Herbs, Roots, Spices, and
Curios will be your first advanced guide on Hoodoo Rootwork. It is an
exhaustive guide on the materia magica of Hoodoo. It addresses every herb,
root, spice, mineral, and magical object ever been used in the practice of
Hoodoo.
The fourth and fifth volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root
Doctor’s Companion to Basic Spellcasting and Conjure and The Hoodoo
Bible: The Root Doctor’s Companion to Advanced Spellcasting and
Conjure are the heart of this work. In them you will find working spells to
address any trouble that may come your way. If you are looking for love,
success, justice, money, or health you will have a magical aid and if you
need protection or you want revenge you will discover powerful rituals that
will allow you to do just that.
The sixth volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root Doctor’s
Companion to Divination will explore the traditional Hoodoo practices to
predict the future: natural signs, bone throwing, card reading, and dream
divination.
The seventh and final volume of the series The Hoodoo Bible: The Root
Doctor’s Companion to Candle Magic will focus on one of the most
important aspect of Hoodoo: candle and fire magic, as well as the proper
way to build an altar, another essential part of Hoodoo magic.
The book are meant as a progressive introduction to the practice, so I would
suggest that you read them one after the other to gain full insight and
develop your skills gradually. However, each book stands on his own and
you have to find your own path to Hoodoo, so feel free to read in the order
you are drawn to the most. Following your instinct will be just one of the
invaluable lesson you will have to learn if you decide to become a
rootworker.
Like many of the tools you will be taught to gather, bless, and use, treat this
book as a spirit in itself. Make notes, read it when learning, and return to it
when you want to step up your skills in time.
Before we start exploring one of the most beautiful and little known aspects
of our culture, and before we dwelve into the depths of Hoodoo and the
many advantages a respectful, conscious, and careful practice of it can bring
to your life and those of your loved ones, it is of fundamental importance to
understand exactly what Hoodoo is.
The definition may surprise and enlighten you. Hoodoo is neither a religion,
nor a scam, nor dark evil magic.
Unfortunately the answer not so clear-cut and, like many other aspects of
African-American culture it is often misconstrued, prejudiced against, and
simplified to the point that even practitioners are confused.
Simply put, HOODOO IS A CULTURAL REPOSITORY OF BLACK
AMERICAN TRADITIONAL FOLK MAGIC AND MEDICINE PRACTICE, born
as an adaptation of various traditional African religions in the slave
plantations and gradually transformed during the reconstruction and the 21st
century as the African American needs and beliefs evolved.
It is a fascinating subject even for non-believers, as it is a practice that
encompasses and seamlessly combines wildly different traditions, it’s a
testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and
the need to find magic and meaning even in the darkest of places.
To understand any cultural phenomenon, religious practice, or traditional
folkloric practice, you must first know its origin and history, but this
couldn’t be truer for Hoodoo. To know the history of Hoodoo, is to
understand its practice.
Hoodoo, as it is its history and the pain, suffering, hope, and joy
experienced by those who have practiced it through the centuries that has
made it such a powerful force that should be reckoned with.
The strength of the rituals is the strength of those who came before us, the
power of a mojo bag is the power of those who have struggled to find the
right herbs, oils, and curios to build it, and the workings of spells,
recitations, and the flame of the candles that we burn for our spells are the
flames of the ancestral spirits that brought us forth.
The first book of this series on Hoodoo aims to dispel any doubts about the
history and development of Hoodoo and give you a clear vision of its
foundational beliefs and modern practice.
May our ancestors guide your journey and bless your knowledge!
HISTORY OF HOODOO
H oodoo is a complex, ancient aspect of Afro-American culture, a

practice that is as old as the concept of Afro-Americanism itself. In
today’s hyper-connected world of social media, online streaming,
and millions of internet websites discussing the core components of Afro-
American culture in a bid to appeal to this extremely significant
demographic, most of the core components that form the cultural
phenomenon called Hoodoo have been misrepresented.
It is, therefore, critical at this time, more than ever, for budding practitioners
and rootworkers, as well as anyone interested in Afro-American culture in
general, to truly understand what Hoodoo is, its origins, and how this superb
aspect of our culture has influenced our lives over the past decades.
As mentioned in the introduction, trying to define Hoodoo is a rather
complicated task on its own. Unlike its close cousin, voodoo, Hoodoo cannot
be referred to as a religion. For a set of practices and beliefs to be defined as
a religion, there usually needs to be a supreme powerful figure for people to
compulsorily worship on a regular basis, and Hoodoo doesn’t have that.
Therefore, Hoodoo is a set of practices, traditions, and beliefs practiced in

several parts of the United States and other places around the world, such as
Haiti and the Caribbean, that evolved from traditional religions and cultures
practiced in several parts of Africa prior to the onset of the slave trade.
The practice of Hoodoo became known by many different names.
“Rootwork” or “conjure” or “conjuration” also referred to the numerous
practices of healing associated with African Americans. Conjure is actually
an Old English word used to describe “calling up spirits.” Depending on the
region of the country, terms such as cunning and tricking have also been
used to describe these practices.
There appears to be some dispute over the origins of the term Hoodoo, as
some suggest that it was a term used by whites to describe Voodoo practices
of African slaves. Some observers draw a connection between the word and
the word ju-ju, a term used to describe a magical belief system practiced in
Nigeria. Others have proposed that the term comes from the Hausa people of
Africa. The Hausa word hu’du’ba was a word used to refer to “produce
retribution.” This term was later picked up and used to describe “malevolent
forces” by early American aborigines. Early white observers called the
practice of Hoodoo “Negro occultism,” as the practices seemed to project an
element of “anger” to outsiders.
In the 1960s, it was common to hear the term Spiritualist used to describe a
Hoodoo devotee. According to writer Carolyn Marrow Low, practitioners
came to use the term over Hoodoo because of the public’s negative
perception of the traditions. Many of the practices of Hoodoo were practiced
privately by some African Americans who identified themselves publicly as
traditional Protestant Christians. These practices were not formally
organized. Hoodoo served more as an umbrella term describing the many
various practices of these traditions. There was no concrete dogma or
ideology to which practitioners subscribed. The practices of Native
Americans and even Europeans became part of the “stew” known as
Hoodoo. Edward Komara and Phoenix Savage-Wiseman wrote, “Hoodoo
adherents in slave-holding areas dominated by the Protestant faith were
forced to collapse their understanding of multiple spiritual forces into the
Protestant spiritual forces: Jesus or the Devil.”
SLAVERY AND THE MAKING OF HOODOO
Hoodoo was born in the darkest of times, the time of the African diaspora
and in the worst of places, the slave plantations.
When the slave trade was booming in the 1800s, millions of Africans were
shipped away from their motherlands in chains, transported in ships under
the most deplorable and inhumane conditions across the Atlantic, and
brought to plantations, farms, and homes in America, Haiti, Brazil, and the
Caribbean to work as the property of the slave masters.
Prior to their capture from several parts of the African continent, most of the
slaves trafficked during the transatlantic slave trade practice had traditional
beliefs, religions, and spiritual convictions that they held on to as a link to
the divine.
Most of these practices required the believers to worship specific gods, offer
periodic sacrifices and libations to deities, participate in specific festivals, or
even carry different types of amulets and spiritually-fortified objects on their
person. However, upon their arrival in the American plantations, most of
these slaves were cut off from their communities, their spiritual leaders, and
even some of the natural components that were significant to their religious
beliefs.
Upon arriving in America, the harsh treatment meted out on these slaves by
the American slave masters, as well as the different climate meant that
access to materials such as roots, herbs, plants, and even animals that were
essential in preparing potions and concoctions used in practicing the African
Traditional Religion was almost impossible. However, at that point, more
than ever, they needed something to believe in, something to hold on to.
The general principle among the slave owners in the 1800s was that slaves
should be regarded as property, not people. When these slaves arrived at the
several ports in the United States of America, one of the most notable of
these being the port of New Orleans, they were purchased like one would
buy horses or cows, put in chains, and then transported to the plantations.
They were seen as tools that needed just enough sustenance to be kept alive.
They were purchased to maximize the output from their owners’ plantations,
and any slave who dared to challenge a master or who was seen not to be
performing to the best of his ability was subjected to the worst of the very
worst kind of treatment.
Beaten with whips under the sun of the Southern American summer within
an inch of their lives they lived with lacerations and tears that eventually
became scars, scars that these slaves bore with pride because it meant that
they had stood up to their oppressors and won. The inhuman treatment of the
slaves went beyond just extreme whippings, however.
Women were often used by the plantation owners and white workers as sex
objects. After several excruciating hours of working under inhuman
conditions under the sun, they would still be raped mercilessly by their slave
masters and then tossed out like animals back into the barns and deplorable
living quarters in which the slaves slept.
The extreme, inhuman treatment meted out to the African slaves did not stop
at that: several American scientists purchased African slaves for slightly
different and unconventional purposes instead of just using them as
workhorses on the plantations. There are several reports of painful and
unbearable medical experiments carried out on African slaves during the
slave trade era. Some of these slaves were chained and mutilated for their
agonizing experiments.
The infamous Tuskagee syphilis experiment is just one example and the
doctor conducting the experiment had a long history conducting
experimental procedures on female slaves’ sexual organs without any form
of anesthesia.
You are most likely already familiar with the history of slavery and this
might seem a needlessly brutal introduction to the beautiful and many-
layered practice of Hoodoo. You would be right, but I believe that is
necessary to bear in mind that the slave trade brought unique and unbearable
challenges to our ancestors, none like they had ever faced before. And I
strongly believe that there is power in channeling the strength of our
ancestors and we can only do it if we understand their pain and suffering.
They needed something that they could believe in; they needed to know that
when it mattered the most, they were not alone.
Hope is the most powerful force in the world, and it can get a man through
the most perilous and damaging of times. In Hoodoo, the African slaves in
America found hope in the middle of the chaos, pain, and suffering. When
they were beaten mercilessly and hung to die from trees, their beliefs kept
their spirits from being completely broken.
Hoodoo also allowed to keep their traditions alive, albeit modified, and even
if the horrors of slavery tore apart the lives of African communities, yet
many customs and traditions lived on.
Jeffrey E. Anderson noted, “Yet even while the institutional foundations of
African religious life were disrupted, a diminishing form of African
spirituality was kept alive by individual slaves. Though the exposure of
blacks to their ancestral traditions was in all likelihood fortified by the
occasional appearance of new native Africans among the bond persons,
slave culture after the mid eighteenth century reflected its African American
experience.”
Traditional healing and spiritual practices were preserved many times in
secret on plantations in the New World, where it changed and evolved into a
set of practices that sought to connect the needs of the physically ill with the
world of the supernatural. As in Africa, sickness was believed to have a
spiritual component and therefore must be addressed spiritually as well as
physically. The practices of African peoples from the Yoruba, Fon and
Kongo regions were combined in the formation of these practices.
In Jason R. Young’s Rituals of Resistance: African Atlantic Religion in
Kongo and the Lowcountry South in the Era of Slavery, art historian
Michael Harris painted a tremendous picture of the rootworker: “Here is the
transplanted African learning to conjure with new roots, new herbs and old
meanings. Here is that scorned dark woman going into the woods, tearing off
the burlap sack dress to cloth herself in the protective culture of her ancestral
legacy.”
W.E.B. Du Bois also concluded, “Some traces were retained of the former
group life and the chief remaining institution was the priest or medicine
man. He early appeared on the plantation and found his function as the
healer of the sick, the interpreter of the unknown, the comforter of the
sorrowing, the supernatural avenger of wrong and the one who rudely but
picturesquely expressed the longing disappointment and resentment of a
stolen and oppressed people.” Some writers have gone on to describe
Hoodoo as a form of “cultural resistance.”
The practice of Hoodoo became known by many different names.
“Rootwork” or “conjure” or “conjuration” also referred to the numerous
practices of healing associated with African Americans.
Conjure is actually an Old English word used to describe “calling up spirits.”
Depending on the region of the country, terms such as cunning and tricking
have also been used to describe these practices.
There appears to be some dispute over the origins of the term Hoodoo, as
some suggest that it was a term used by whites to describe Voodoo practices
of African slaves.
Some observers draw a connection between the word and the word ju-ju, a
term used to describe a magical belief system practiced in Nigeria. Others
have proposed that the term comes from the Hausa people of Africa. The
Hausa word hu’du’ba was a word used to refer to “produce retribution.”
This term was later picked up and used to describe “malevolent forces” by
early American aborigines. Early white observers called the practice of
Hoodoo “Negro occultism,” as the practices seemed to project an element of
“anger” to outsiders.
On many plantations in the South, slaves recognized that there were those
among them who were recognized as having certain spiritual abilities.
These ritual specialists provided healing to the slave population and also
provided magical services. The spiritual realm provided a shelter amid the
abuse and violence of slavery. Slaves could seek out conjurers to provide
them with supernatural protection. Slaves could carry roots and materials
secretly in the hope of finding spiritual protection from slave owners. The
practices of African traditions now had a new face. The practice began to
focus primarily on issues related to love, luck, fate, prosperity and
protection. Yvonne P. Chireau pointed out that “Hoodoo was a means by
which African American slaves and their descendants sought to manipulate
invisible forces so as to influence the human condition for purposes of
empowerment and protection as well as to commit acts of aggression and
self-defense.”
In his book Folk Beliefs of the Southern Negro, folklorist Newbell Niles
Puckett documented the story of a slave who sought the services of a
rootworker in order to obtain a charm that would allow him to cuss the slave
owner. The slave returned to his master and, after cussing the man, received
a violently brutal beating. The slave went back to the rootworker and
accused him of not producing an effective charm. The rootworker
exclaimed, “I gi’ you a runnin’ han! Why didn’t you run?”
Those who specialized in the powers of Hoodoo went by many different
names: conjure doctors, secret doctors, goofer doctor, rootworkers, treaters
and conjurers. Names tended to differ depending on where they were located
geographically. Throughout the Carolinas, some of the healers were known
as “guffer doctors,” while in Virginia the phrase “trick doctors” was
commonly used for ritual specialists. The healer or conjurer could be male or
female.
The rootworker was said to be supernaturally “called” to serve as such.
African Americans who had physical deformities were believed to be
supernaturally “gifted” with powers. Some rootworkers were noted as
having characteristics like “red eyes,” strange birthmarks and even speech
impediments. One conjurer from Mississippi named Ed Murphy was said to
have three birthmarks on his arm believed to represent “Father, Son and
Holy Ghost.”
Rootworkers and conjurers could gain their abilities through a number of
paths. Many were believed to have been born with a “gift.” This gift allowed
the person to interact with the spiritual and receive knowledge from the
unseen realms. Some practitioners were trained as apprentices by established
folk healers and conjurers. Many were “called” in a spiritual experience that
many preachers and priests have claimed to have received as they were
moved into ministry.
In order to identify themselves, some rootworkers would carry items like
ornate wooden walking sticks that were seen by some as visible signs that
someone was involved in conjure. Earlier African counterparts were
recognized in many communities by specific head coverings, bags and
distinguishable visible indictors. Many Hoodoo doctors were believed to
have psychic abilities. Some could see the spirits of the dead and even speak
to them.
Many rootworkers were also known as conjurers. However, some have
drawn a clear distinction between the two. Anthropologist Zora Neale
Hurston noted that “nearly all of the conjure doctors practice ‘roots’ but
some of the root doctors are not hoodoo doctors.” Conjurers were said to
work with “two heads.” They were said to be able to create charms with a
“left hand” and counteract with the “right hand.” Conjurers operated on the
premise that people’s behavior can be controlled through the manipulation of
material objects such as candles and roots.
The power of rootworkers among the slave communities was respected and
feared. Slave owners became frustrated with the role of the rootworker not
only because it reminded the slaves of their African identity but also because
it empowered the slaves.
There is a long history of incidents involving African religions and the
ability of spirituality to provide empowerment to slaves. Most notably, the
beginning of the 1791 Haitian Revolution began with the sacrifice of a pig at
Bois Caiman during an African-based Voodoo ceremony.
Hoodoo was seen as rebellion by many slave owners. In New York City in
1712, a group of Africans formed a resistance against the authorities. The
group came from the Carmantee and Pappa people of West Africa.
Mental strength and resilience are the most important traits that a man can
have. Hoodoo served as an avenue for most of the African-American slaves
to build emotional resilience and confidence, and not only as a form of
resistance. When the slave masters hung their friends and family members
from trees and left them to dangle to serve as painful examples to the other
slaves who might try to prove stubborn in the future, their hoodoo-driven
principles led them to believe that the slaves who died at the hands of the
slave masters didn’t just perish, they had simply transformed their presence
from the physical world into the spiritual. This belief is in line with the
principles of some African Traditional Religions like those of the Yoruba in
the South-western region of Nigeria in West Africa. The beliefs that
ancestral spirits still have control over the affairs of the physical world is
also held by the Kongo people of Central Africa.
Therefore, the beliefs held by the majority of the slaves prior to their capture
and sale into the American plantations served to affirm their beliefs in the
existence of a powerful spiritual world into which dead people transition
into.
Unity is the greatest form of strength, and this is definitely a fact that the
American slave masters realized all too well. Therefore, they did all that was
possible to keep the slaves from banding together and uniting against them.
Any form of rebellion, revolution, or obstinacy was met with stiff
punishment, from ruthless, merciless beatings with the whip to hanging
stubborn rebels from trees. In a lot of the plantations in South America
during the peak of slavery, gatherings and meetings between slaves were
prohibited. Therefore, it was more than just a little difficult for the slaves in
America to form cohesive groups to defend themselves against the slave
masters.
Plantations owners, scared of the power of the rootworkers, also portrayed
the religious beliefs held by the imported African slaves were evil (a belief
that unfortunately has carried on to this day). In the plantations, therefore,
practicing any form of the African Traditional religions was strictly
forbidden. Instead, the white slave masters sought to reform and “purify”
their slaves by introducing them to the doctrines of American Protestant
Christianity.
Despite the brutish treatments meted out onto the slaves by the white slave
masters, Hoodoo endured. It was unspeakably difficult for the African slaves
to hold tenaciously to their beliefs, but they did.
Meetings were kept minimal

to prevent suspicions from the white slave masters.
The practice of Hoodoo on the plantations all through America was kept a
secret as much as possible from the slave masters. The punishment for going
down the ‘heathen’ paths of evil in those days was, more often than not,
death.
Therefore, Hoodoo began in America as a practice that was only passed
along through hushed whispers and secret rituals usually carried out only
when the slave masters were out of sight.
As Hoodoo grew stronger (in secret, of course) on the American plantations,
the white slave masters strove as hard as they could to instill the principles
of Christianity into their slaves.
In a lot of the plantations, the slave owners organized gatherings to teach the
basics of Christianity and forced the slaves to go to mass.
However, as the slaves began to learn the basic tenets of the white man’s
religion, they began to infuse its principles into the fabric of the traditional
African religions.
Though enslavement was a powerful deterrent to African cultural survival
and maintenance, its power was not enough to force enslaved Africans to
completely relinquish all their traditional spiritual and worship practices,
thus significant traditional practices persisted through the conflict and
tension necessary for Hoodoo's emergence as a dynamic spiritual form
functioning at the boundaries of slavery's power; there are numerous
examples of African traditional practices retained by Africans and their
descendants in North America.
In order for African religious traditions to contest or be combined with
Christianity, they had to remain alive and viable on their own, outside of the
supports of Christian practice; and they did. Further supporting that process
were the numerous aspects of Christianity that resonated with certain
African cultural traditions.
The most sacred of Christian symbols, the cross, resonated both with African
notions of the crossroads as a supernatural site and with the sacred cross of
the Kongo Yowa cosmogram.
The Old Testament reference to animal sacrifice and the use of ritual water
immersion would certainly have been familiar to many traditional Africans,
including those enslaved in North America.
Enslaved Africans in the United States and early colonies apparently
retained aspects of traditional African religious practice with ferocity and
created a place for its safe existence. In that safe space, Hoodoo was born
and maintained.
Neither uniformly located nor uniform in their parameters, those safe spaces
sustained a regrouping of regional fragments that would later come together
and contribute to a new whole.
In addition to both a variety of African religious fragments and
Protestantism, Native American belief undoubtedly impacted on the
formation of African American New World spiritual belief. Africans and
Native Americans were often in close contact with one another as slaves,
held by either white American or European settlers. Additional cultural
contact occurred when Native Americans both held African slaves
themselves and hid runaway slaves from patrollers. Native Americans and
Africans have a long history of intermarriage, tribal adoption, and shifting
identities that make it difficult in some instances to locate where one
community ends and the other begins.
With this in mind, it is safe to say that Native American spiritual belief
remained comparatively intact when encountering fragmented African
spiritual belief disrupted by insufficiently concentrated numbers in the
enslaved African ethnic groups as well as by their removal from the African
homeland.
There existed certain cultural elective affinities between Africans and Native
Americans in their spiritual reverence for nature, the wind, the moon, the
rivers, the ocean, the forest, as well as living creatures. These cultural
affinities would ease the use of substitutions and facilitate any possible
exchange between African and Native American spiritual beliefs.
For a period of time, intact Native American spiritual belief systems could
have been a somewhat secure backdrop that contributed to and supported the
retention of African spiritual belief.
Therefore, as slavery progressed in America, the slaves began to integrate
the principles of Roman Catholicism and Native Americans belief-systems
into Hoodoo, and till date, the influences of Roman catholic teachings and
Native tribes remain central to the practice of Hoodoo, with psalms being
used for spells and recitations and traditional Native healing herbs being
used for rootwork.
Hoodoo is not a religion, but folk magic, most of its practitioners nowadays
are protestant catholics or Baptists and their beliefs don’t clash with their
magic practice, because it has always been an integral part of Hoodoo.
One of the most exemplifying symbols of how history, rootwork, and belief
are interwoven in one of the most syncretic folk magic practice that ever
existed is the the role of High John the Conqueror.
HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR
John the Conqueror was said to be a son of an African king and had been
sold into slavery. He was said to bring about laughter and hope to African
slaves. He would even bring laughter to the faces of the slave owners. John
is one of the many “archetypes” said to be able to match wits with the slave
owners. Other characters like “Big John” and “Old John” were said to share
their tricks with characters like “Br’er Rabbit.” John the Conqueror was said
to have made his “secret dwelling” inside a root of a plant that he was said to
have created. His root could be carried by slaves to help them overcome
hardships. Some researchers believe that High John may have been carried
by slaves to avoid beatings from slave owners.
The popular story of John the Conqueror was simple and meant to pass a
specific message of hope, uncommon bravery, and perseverance in the face
of persecution. The story was told among the slaves to assure them that
someday they would gain enough strength and power to confront their
oppressors and take away the power they have over them.
Since New World enslavement exacted a high price from both the slave's
physical body and his spiritual apparatus, “hope” was indeed the tool that
enabled the enslaved to salvage his own humanity. That vision of hope,
resistance, rebellion, and triumph had no stronger expression in Hoodoo than
in the sacred High John the Conquer myth.
Though it is only partly documented, there is evidence that a powerful
culture of slave resistance developed in the American colonies and later in
the United States. Examples of resistance culture included the use of song to
facilitate escape, the use of quilts carrying messages aiding escapees, the use
of conjure for protection in violating slaves codes and confounding
patrollers, and folktales and myths that specifically nourished the seeds of
resistance and hope. The story of High John the Conquer was one such
myth.
Zora Neale Hurston describes High John the Conquer as “our hope bringer.”
The picture she draws of him appears at first both ambiguous and
contradictory yet all-encompassing. “There is no established picture of what
sort of looking-man this John de Conquer was. To some, he was a big,
physical-looking man like John Henry. To others, he was a little, hammered-
down, low-built man like the Devil's doll baby. Some said that they never
heard what he looked like. Nobody told them, but he lived on the plantation
where their old folks were slaves.”
Her examination and description in 1943 draws from history, literature,
sociology, and folklore in presenting the scope of High John's domain.
For Hurston, High John de Conquer is a cultural trope. He is the
mythologized spirit of hope, resistance, and safekeeping. But equally
important, he is a conveyor of significant values, particularly the values of
justice and universal reciprocity.
High John seems to take on the qualities of a savior, a personal protector for
the enslaved, informing them that freedom was on its way, so they must
persevere.
The notion of High John also conveyed the spirit of kindness, humor, and
morality while wrapping the embattled slave psyche in a protective package
of functional values.
High John was not merely a hope bringer, he also was an intermediary
between man and God, a warrior martyr, dying for “us,” a soul saver, a
sustainer, and a virtual saint of the old Hoodoo religion.
Known among Santeria/Lukumi believers as Juan el Conquistador, the idea
of High John the Conquer is perhaps the most widely known non-Abrahamic
folk spiritual figure in the black Atlantic New World.
High John was an African prince, the son of an African king, who was
kidnapped and sold into slavery. He was never to be a slave. He could not be
broken by the slave breaker and he disobeyed the slave master at every
opportunity. He was a troublemaker for the white man. He ran away, stole
food, destroyed property, and led a band of rebels in many slave rebellions.
Finally he was captured and publicly executed for all the slaves to witness.
But before he died, he told the crowd of slaves looking on that before his
spirit flew back to Africa he would leave a bit of it in the root of a certain
plant. That whenever they needed hope or whenever they wanted to rebel
and needed the spirit of protection to help them, to get that root and they
would have a bit of his spirit.
Scholars have largely viewed the John stories as a natural response to
enslavement. In the character John, many have seen the trickster character
familiar in the animal stories in which an underdog triumphs over a stronger,
larger adversary.
In oral tradition there are often expanded and sometimes humorous
continuations of the High John the Conquer legacy. The effectiveness of the
John stories lies in the juxtaposition of black and white under racial
oppression. Though John is reduced to servitude, he still manages —
through some quality of his personality or behavior — to debunk the myth of
white racial superiority and get the best of the white man. Though he is
ostensibly a mere “niggah,” he is capable of outwitting members of the
master race, thus challenging and undermining white superiority and
challenging the white right to authority and control over black lives, thus
restoring the significant principle of balance.
Like the blues, the John tales developed and grew by incremental repetition.
As they grew, the very concept of John began to convey a certain generic
anonymity and familiar distance; but it also galvanized a community and
became part of the commonly understood mythology and folklore of African
American culture. High John the Conquer may have been the first deified
ancestor of the Hoodoo religion who gradually became a secularized
spiritual alternative.
One of the most bawdy and popular tales attributed to John went as follows.
John was so defiant that he promised himself that he would never respond to
a question from whites with the proper answer of “yes'm” or “yes, sir.” And
he never did. There was nothing that the white folks could do to make John
say “yes, ma'am” or “yes, sir,” he just wouldn't do it. Whenever John was
asked a question by white folks that would normally solicit a “yes'm” or
“yass'r” answer, John would answer affirmatively like this. If the white folks
asked John, “John, did you chop the wood?” John would reply, “Stacked it,
too.” “John, did you water the horses?” “Groomed ‘em, too.” “John, did
you weed the garden?” “Watered it, too.” John always avoided the
deferential answer that the white folks wanted to hear. Well, the white folks
decided that they had had enough of John's impudence and they devised a
plan to force John to answer appropriately. The twenty-year-old unmarried
daughter, Lisa Belle, was to hide in the shower naked and surprise John with
a question that would force him to reply “yes'm.” So, Lisa Bell went upstairs
and hid behind the shower curtain, naked in the shower. She called out to
John as he cleaned the bathroom, “John, did you wash the dishes?” John
replied, “Dried ‘em, too.” “John, did you cut the hay?” “Baled it, too.”
Finally in total frustration, Lisa Belle threw back the curtain, revealing her
naked white body to John. As she stroked her breasts, she demanded that
John look at her as she asked him the final question, “John, have you ever
sucked a white woman's tittie?” John replied, “Pussy, too.” And with that
reply he left the bathroom.
Through these and other stories, as well as in jokes, proverbs, and folktales
in African Americans' daily conversations, John the generic Negro resisted,
outsmarted, and exacted justice on whites.
The notion of John celebrated African American ingenuity under adverse
circumstances and could be applied to the daily encounters of the average
black man. John represented all African American men.
However, High John might actually have a historical model: Gaspar Yanga,
the enslaved Afro-Mexican Maroon rebel leader.
Gaspar Yanga was a kidnapped member of one of the royal families of the
African country of Gabon. Early on, he became the Spanish authorities' most
feared and dreaded rebel and Maroon leader. He lived nearly four decades in
the mountains between Xalapa and Puebla, where he eventually established
a successful Maroon community in the hills of Veracruz, similar to the
Quilombo del Palmaires in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Brazil as
well as numerous other Maroon communities.
In 1612, a mass public execution of thirty-three blacks, four of them women
accused of plotting an uprising, quieted the spirit of rebellion for a while and
forced the Maroon rebel spirit into silence only temporarily. In the
mountains of Veracruz, the only native habitat of jalap root, the Yanganista
Maroons continued to raid plantations and Indian settlements. The best
known of all Afro-Mexican Maroon settlements, Yanga's Maroon
community was founded after a bloody rebellion in the sugar fields in 1570;
Yanga was its leader. Hostile relations between the Spanish authorities and
slave rebels continued for the next sixty years, and finally the Maroons were
officially settled near the slopes of Mount Totutla in 1630. The town was
moved again to better farmland and survived, known as the city of San
Lorenzo de los Negros. At the time of Mexican independence in 1821, the
small town had 719 people. Today it is a city of over twenty thousand.
Like High John, Yanga was a kidnapped African prince who could not be
broken. He made trouble for slave masters and managed to get the better of
them.
Yet the Yanganistas' quest for freedom and the vision of hope they provided
those still enslaved were tempered by public executions in the area where
jalap root grows most abundantly.
Could Gaspar Yanga or executed members of his rebel party be the original
model for the African American High John the Conquer? Or could one of
the many Maroon leaders in Spanish America be the model? There were
certainly a significant number of them. And Spain could have traded slaves
from other Spanish territories, as well as from Mexico, into the mainland of
North America.
Certainly there were other possible models, like Benkos Bioho in Cartegena,
Columbia, in 1603. Maroon rebels were responsible for beginning the
revolution in Haiti. The Maroons of Accompong, Jamaica, were regarded as
fierce fighters. Maroon communities existed from Virginia to the
southernmost slave societies of South America. And each of them had their
rebel leader.
Pointing to a potential Afro-Mexican or Afro-Hispanic origin, the name Juan
el Conquistador contains a reference to the Spanish conquerors. No such
equivalent term for the British settlers was ever used by North American
Indians or enslaved Africans; this further points to potential Afro-Mexican
or Afro-Hispanic origins of the story. But if High John was Afro-Mexican
originally, how could such a story achieve such a high degree of penetration
into the black communities of North America? The answer may lie in several
possibilities, not the least of which is the infamous slave pens of old New
Orleans under the Spanish occupation.
Just as Spain traded slaves from Mexico into its new center of commerce,
New Orleans, it easily traded slaves from other Spanish colonies where there
were Maroons and stories of their triumphs.
Slave traders had well-established slave-trading networks and followed the
same routes that had proved successful year after year. Slaves who were
traded also learned these routes and networks and had knowledge of the
major southern slave trading centers like Lexington, Richmond, Charleston,
Atlanta, Savannah, and New Orleans, among others.
The stories, tales of hope and triumph, spread along these networks. Each
slave state had its slave sales and brokers. Slavery as a stable institution with
social networks was important to the forging of social identity, and white
men's social selves were known and respected according to a code deeply
dependent upon slavery for its existence. In the major slave-trading centers,
particularly the slave pens of New Orleans, tales of triumph spread, slaves
received and sent messages thousands of miles to distant relatives, to stolen
and sold children, to other family members and friends.
These slave communications networks reached out, obtained, and
disseminated information and tales of hope from around the nation as well as
internationally.
Noteworthy in this respect is the role of slave stewards, hired-out slaves, and
errand boys working in the pens.
Slave stewards were responsible for escorting other slaves in the pens; they
carried the slaves' baggage as well as clothing, and they were in and out of
the slave pens regularly. They carried messages to and from slaves from
different regions belonging to different traders. They performed favors for
slaves such as obtaining food or tobacco. Hired-out slaves brought in news
from the outside and disseminated it inside the pens and vice versa and so
did the errand boys. These slaves who circulated in and out of the slave pens
accelerated the movement of all types of information, including folktales of
resistance, articles, letters, seeds, messages, conjure bags, medicinal roots,
and reminders of a former life in Africa or elsewhere.
Because these stewards and errand boys were sometimes owned by the
owner of the slave pen, they were traded less frequently and represented a
linkage, a site for continuity, limited stability, and consistency across time as
well as region. This increased the reliability rate for sociocultural transfers of
all types.
The story of Yanga as well as other Maroons or rebels could easily have
moved into the slave pens of New Orleans when Louisiana was under
Spanish control in the mid to latter eighteenth century.
Certainly the slave population was, because of its condition of forced
servitude, predisposed to embracing a hope bringer. Though the resemblance
of Yanga to High John is remarkable, the Afro-Mexican Yanga was not the
only famous slave rebel, nor was his the only Maroon community; there
were others who could have provided a model of resistance like that found in
the tale of High John the Conquer.
Throughout the New World, particularly in Latin America, from Mexico to
Peru and throughout the Caribbean, over a three century time frame, Maroon
communities and encampments, with their rebel leaders, sprang up. They are
too numerous to list here, however just a few examples will show you the
magnitude of the phenomenon.
In 1545, two hundred Maroons living in the swamps and marshes north of
Lima, Peru, engaged in a bloody fight in which all the rebels were killed.
More than two hundred fifty years later in 1795, thousands of Venezuelan
slaves rebelled and established a Maroon settlement retreat that was
eventually destroyed by the Spanish.
In Columbia in 1603, Maroon rebel leader Benkos Bioho founded Palenque
San Basilio in the area of Cartagena, Columbia.
In Mobile, Alabama, a Maroon stronghold was destroyed by local vigilante
planters in 1827.
The most famous of all Maroon settlements is the Quilombo dos Palmares in
Pernambuco, Brazil; it is estimated to have contained upward of ten
thousand runaways.
The numerous Maroon communities in Spanish America would certainly
strengthen the myth as it entered and passed through the Spanish-controlled
slave pens of old New Orleans.
There are several possibilities that could be drawn from the widespread
activities of Maroons and rebels within the present limits of the United
States.
One notable possible model for High John is the Louisiana Maroon rebel
known as St. Malo. According to historian Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, runaway
slaves in lower Louisiana adapted to the conditions of the cypress swamp
and established Maroon camps throughout the region.
During the Spanish period in Louisiana, St. Malo and his party of runaways
were the most troublesome of several Maroon rebel bands in the area south
of New Orleans between the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne.
Like most Maroons forced to live as fugitives, St. Malo's band both raided
nearby plantations carrying off needed supplies, food, and munitions and
fought fiercely to preserve their freedom from bondage.
St. Malo and most of his band were captured, tried, and publicly executed on
June 19, 1784. We know that before his death he made a final statement
proclaiming the innocence of two of his fellow Maroons. What else did he
say before his life was publicly taken?
The story of St. Malo opens many speculative possibilities concerning the
myth of High John the Conquer, particularly when one considers the high
concentration of African slaves, especially Bambara, in the area of New
Orleans.
The Bambara as well as other African ethnic groups believed that special
amulets could be created that preserved the souls of individuals especially
those who died in warfare or through the administration of justice.
Among the Bambara, amulets were created to be carried into battle that were
believed to contain the soul of the warrior ancestors. These amulets were
created to support both physical and spiritual struggles. If St. Malo's body
was left hanging to rot publicly, as stated in the Creole slave song about his
capture and execution, then it is not beyond the realm of possibility that
amulets and protective charms could have been made from his body parts
such as bones, hair, nails even clothing. Amulet making certainly was
traditionally African. Perhaps clothing, hair, or other items were ritually
confiscated from the bodies of publicly executed rebels by slaves who knew
of or witnessed the executions.
Could St. Malo be the model for High John the Conquer? Could his spirit or
a part of his soul have been placed in the root that could have grown in the
area of Louisiana below New Orleans possibly imported there by the
Spanish? Or could the life of St. Malo simply have acted to strengthen the
already existing story of the kidnapped, unbreakable Maroon prince who
was publicly executed, and whose soul flew back to Africa after leaving a bit
of his warrior essence in the root of a certain plant?
The Maroon rebel story was acted out in many places in the New World;
including the area now the United States of America. Maroons established
communities and camps from Virginia to Florida, from South Carolina and
eastern coastal areas to Louisiana.
The possibilities are numerous, but I am inclined to think that St. Malo's and
other slave rebel and Maroon stories further strengthened the already
existing archetype of the unbreakable warrior prince developed through
centuries of rebellions and maroonage. And that the traditional African
belief in a plant or bush possessing a “spirit” was enlivened and infused
within the framework of the “spirit plant” model common in African
traditional religion. And that wherever Africans were enslaved in the New
World in significantly concentrated numbers, the circumstances of
enslavement predisposed and readied them for the appearance of a “hope
bringer.”
The legacy of High John de Conquer, though transformed, is continued
today in African American Hoodoo practice and by those that keep the
remaining fragments of the Hoodoo faith.The High John the Conqueror root
is still sold in spiritual hoodoo shops all over the United States. It is a
fundamental herb in hoodoo culture and has numerous uses ranging from
protection and good luck to being useful in attraction spells.
The significance of High John the Conquer root in Hoodoo cannot be
overstated. In the old conjure tradition, High John roots were often tied
around either the waist or other body parts; it was embedded into walking
canes and constructed into necklaces. Capable of being used in nearly every
traditional Hoodoo ritual, High John has at least three namesakes, running
John, cut from pieces of the High John vine and carried for good luck;
middle John, whose uses are most obscure of the three; and low John, the
galanga root used in courtroom ritual. Galanga root, a relative of the ginger
plant, is the famous chewing John.
The single most important root in contemporary Hoodoo practice, High John
the Conquer root, a member of the morning glory family, has long been
invested with magical and spiritual potency. Contemporary scholars of
Hoodoo exhibit some confusion about what this root is and the source of its
power. Some have even stated that High John derives its power from the fact
that it resembles a black man's testicle. The latter explanation reveals white
supremacy's fear of, and fixation on, black sexuality, especially as it reflects
black male sexual potency; neither is true. Its power is derived from its
relationship with enslavement and the spirit of rebellion and resistance.
John the Conqueror has various incarnations in recent literature: the term is
incorrectly used to describe a number of herbs, including Solomon’s seal,
Indian turnip, beth root, and the root of St. John’s-wort. However, the term
refers to bindweed or jalap root, its botanical name is Ipomea jalapa or
Ipomoea purga which indicates its kinship with the sweet potato, Ipomoea
patata. It is sometimes classed as convulvolacea jalapa. Its most commonly
known name, jalap, is derived from the region in Mexico — Xalapa,
Veracruz — where this native plant grows in abundance and from where
most of the stock used in Hoodoo has been imported.
Best and most potent if dug before September 21, the last day of summer,
High John is used in numerous types of Hoodoo work and has been the most
utilized Hoodoo root. That was probably not always the case. Within the old
black belt plantation tradition, High John's uses were probably more specific
than in more recent usage. Across time, High John's uses appear to move
from the specific to the general. Once used for only a few and very specific
needs, High John eventually would be used as a substitute for increasing
numbers of Hoodoo roots and plants. The specificity of High John's earlier
uses was first tailored to the gender of the work to be done. Was the work
predominantly male or female? Once determined, the High John root was
selected based on its gender. The distinction between male and female High
John was lost in the turn-of-the-century spiritual marketplace, as was the
distinction between male and female mojoes.
It can simply be carried and rubbed, it can be worn as an amulet, included in
a mojo bag, incorporated into a potion to be drunk to relieve the symptoms
of an illness, or even combined with other plants to create body washes for
spiritual baths.
CHECK OUT ALL THE USES OF THE HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT
IN THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE SERIES ON HERB AND ROOTWORK.
EXCURSUS: AN OVERVIEW OF TRADITIONAL
RELIGION IN WEST AFRICA AND THE AMERICAS
As I have mentioned in the introduction, Hoodoo is a Christian folk magic
tradition. The African Traditional Religions that it stemmed from are no
longer part of the practice of Hoodoo and haven’t been a part of it for
centuries.
However, to understand the history and beliefs of Hoodoo we cannot simply
rely on the Christian tradition, as we have seen the first Hoodoo practitioner
were trying to reclaim their ancestral faith and had to transform it under
duress and cohercion. It is therefore vital to know which are the beliefs that
they carried along with them to understand how it influenced early and
modern Hoodoo practices.
Traditional African civilizations were some of the most sophisticated in
history, with extremely organized ethnic groups, cohesive communities, and
large, prosperous kingdoms.
The practices of the African Traditional Religions were undoubtedly central
to the amazing cohesion that historians have discovered in the systems of
governance of the ancient African kingdoms. People generally believed in
the power of deities and the supreme creator to reward good deeds and
punish bad ones with resounding vehemence. The consequences of their bad
or good actions extended to the realm of the supernatural.
The spirits, deities, and ancestors in the African traditional religions
communed with the people through their designated messengers, the chief
priests, diviners, herbalists, and medicine men. Spirits also fought alongside
the soldiers. Before going out to the battlegrounds, soldiers wore protective
charms and amulets. In some cultures, the weapons of war were sanctified
with specific potions and rituals to ensure the victory of the warring men. In
most cultures, the generals that led the battalions in the armies themselves
had connections to the supernatural that helped the armies to win the wars
against their enemies.
The traditional African beliefs were more than just events and rituals of
cultural significance to the society; they were everyday practices that were
deeply embedded into the very fabric of the family and community life.
In West Africa during the slave trade era, it was not unusual for most
families to have their own shrines where acts of worship and sacrifice were
regularly carried out to the deities to ensure continued prosperity and
protection against the forces of evil. However, obviously, the African
traditional religion was not one unified set of beliefs that operated uniformly
across all territories within the African continent.
The African traditional religions are the indigenous spiritual faiths of the
various ethnic groups throughout Africa. There are more than three thousand
different ethnic groups throughout Africa. Each ethnic group has its own
religious system and spiritual beliefs. The religions are quite diverse and
differ in their aesthetics, customs and rituals. There are also a number of
common elements found in African religions. Many of these formed the
basis of contemporary Hoodoo and conjure practices.
BELIEF IN A SUPREME BEING
Among African traditional religions, there is a commonly held belief in a
supreme being or a “higher God.” The name of this deity varies depending
on the people and language. For example, among the Kikuyu of Kenya, the
creator is known as “Ngai,” while some of the Fon people of Dahomey use
the term “Mawu.” While the name changes among cultures, the deity is
typically viewed as being all-powerful and all-knowing. This practice is
reflected in Hoodoo, as many devotees commonly refer to the Judeo-
Christian concept of a creator deity. Documentation of a supreme being
among African traditional religions has been found as early as 1650.
SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
One of the concepts seen in the Hoodoo culture that originated with African
traditional religions is the practice of honoring the dead. The spirits of the
dead are considered links to the spiritual realm. The dead can protect and
give wisdom or they may haunt and create havoc in the lives of the living.
The dead are frequently revered in Hoodoo and conjure culture. Materials
related to the dead, such as graveyard dust and coffin nails, provide
connections to the dead in Hoodoo culture. The dead also include ancestral
spirits that provide spiritual guidance for the living. The practice of
“channeling” and holding séances among some Hoodoo devotees,
particularly in Spiritual Churches, hearkens these traditional African
concepts.
RITUALS
African traditional religions utilize a number of rituals. Rituals are acts that
are performed to bring about a specific desired effect. In African society,
rituals may be performed to bring about results such as a good harvest or to
protect a household from spirits. For example, the Bedik people of Senegal
utilize a planting ritual to ensure a good harvest for the community. In this
ritual, sacred masks are created from the bark of trees in the forest and worn
by members of the community. The masked figures are believed to have the
ability to chase away evil spirits and anything bringing discord to the
community. Another example can be found among the Taita people of
Kenya. The Taita follow a traditional religion they call malago ga kutasa.
The central practice of this religion features a ritual in which the Taita would
squat and in one hand hold a container of sugar cane beer or unfermented
cane juice. The Taita would take the liquid and spray out mouthfuls of the
liquid while uttering mystical phrases, prayers and blessings. Healing rituals
are performed among the many African traditional religions in order to bring
about good health and healing to members of the community. The office of
the traditional healer has been labeled by some outsiders as “witchdoctor”
and by some religious scholars as the “shaman.”
Healers in the Kongo region are known as nganga, while healers in
traditional Kenyan Luo society may be known by a similar word, mganga.
Like rootworkers and conjurers, the traditional healer is believed to have a
special ability to interact with the spiritual realm. It is within this realm that
the healer has the ability to see what spiritual powers may be at work in the
life of their patients. The healer may use tools such as bones, shells or stones
to divine the source of the sickness. These same healing practices were
sought out by slaves who encountered illnesses in the New World. While
slave owners might have provided some medical care to slaves in order to
protect their source of labor, the medicines of the West were viewed by some
slaves as being “natural” and not as effective as spiritual medicines that the
Africans had become used to in their native land.
HERBS
African traditional healers had the ability to harness the medicinal and
spiritual powers of plants, roots and herbs. Natural materials could be
collected, dried and crushed into powders as forms of medicine. The
importance of natural medicine not only became a lifesaver for many slaves
and their descendants but also was something that was part of a deep African
tradition. West African traditional healer Malidom Patrice Somé noted about
African traditional medicine in The Healing Wisdom of Africa, “This means
that within nature, within the natural world, are all of the materials and
tenets needed for healing human beings. Nature is the textbook for those
who care to study it and the storehouse of remedies for human ills.” On
many slave plantations, diseases like malaria and yellow fever were
devastating. Plantation conditions for slaves included being exposed to
unsanitary conditions that led to sicknesses like dysentery and cholera.
Herbs provided treatment for the sicknesses that would develop from these
conditions. Herbs, plants and roots could also be used for their spiritual
powers. Some could be carried or worn to provide protection and luck.
These traditional practices are still utilized today in the Hoodoo culture.
AMULETS
The use of charms is a traditional African practice. Many charms became
known among Europeans as “fetishes.” The name “fetish” comes from a
Portuguese word, fetico, which means “made” or “artificial.” The term was
used by Portuguese sailors to refer to objects used to represent deities seen
among African slaves from the West Coast of Africa. The fetish is a
manufactured object that is used to contain a spirit or power. Artist Douglass
Dawson called the fetish “a tool between negotiation with the known and
unknown.” Those who were initiated into the mysteries of the fetish could
control the object to perform good or evil. Rituals are performed that infused
spiritual power into these objects. Some objects contained animal and human
bones that held the essence of a spirit. Objects were frequently “fed”
materials such as blood, alcohol and tobacco. These objects were used to
protect individuals or to cause harm in enemies. Similar objects in the form
of charms and amulets can be seen in Hoodoo.
The modern-day “gris-gris” or “mojo” bags are empowered charms that are
very similar to artifacts known as minkisi in the Bakongo culture of Africa.
These medicine bundles were typically an object made of materials such as
clay from the bottom of the river, a place typically associated in Kongo
culture with spirits of the dead. Herbs, animal bones, bird feathers and stones
would be included in the minkisi packet. The packet was consecrated or
blessed by a ritual specialist. Jeffrey E. Anderson shared in his book
Handbook of Hoodoo, Voodoo and Conjure that many of the minkisi packets
contained a spirit known as “mooyo,” which was the soul of a person. He
suggests that this word mooyo may be where we get the word mojo. Once
the packet is “charged” with the spirit, it is then considered “alive” with
spiritual energy. It could then be used to protect communities or inflict harm
on enemies. The materials that were used to create these magical charms had
to be replaced when colonialism sought to oppress the Kongo religions. In
some regions, like Cuba, the charms then took the form of ordinary-
appearing objects, like ink pens, eyeglasses and cooking pots.
Africans began to use these ordinary household objects in order to covertly
practice healing and spirituality. In his book Face of the Gods: Art and Altars
of Africa and the African Americas, Robert Farris Thompson described this
process via an anecdote from Afro-Cuban history:
In Cuba, according to a legend shared by the late Alejo Carpentier, police
once burst into a meeting of an underground religion called Abakúa,
deriving from eastern Nigeria. There they confronted four men calmly seated
with Panama hats in their hands. Other men were standing. Two European
dolls, apparently for children, reclined against a wall. The police could do
nothing. There were no “pagan instruments” for them to seize and take away,
no signs of a black religion for them to persecute. But the moment they left,
the hats became drums, tapped lightly that none outside might hear, giving
voice to moral admonitions (nkame) from beyond the seas. The “dolls”
resumed their roles as icons of founding spirits of Abakúa. The room was in
fact their altar.
The mojo bag, or “hand,” in Hoodoo traces its history back to the African
fetish. The small cloth bags appear mundane when compared with the
African versions in statue and anthropomorphic form. The object is also
infused with spirit, as the owner of the bag places some of his or her spirit
into the bag. This is performed by spitting in the bag or placing inside an
item that belongs to the bag’s owner, such as hair, nail clippings or skin. The
bag is also “fed” alcohol or camphor to nourish the spirit residing inside the
object.
Several of the practices seen in Hoodoo also have cultural ties to traditional
African religious customs. For example, Hoodoo practitioners would
frequently “nail” objects down using carpenter’s nails. In the Kongo
religions, a practice known as Noma Nloko, or “nailing a curse,” utilized a
ceremonial “nailing” of an object as a magical operation. The use of
elements such as pepper and gunpowder in Hoodoo can also be traced back
to the Kongo religions.
Here also follows a list of seven loas whose worship has been translated to
both early Hoodoo practice and modern Voodoo belief system
PAPA LEGBA (ELLEGUA, LEGBA, EXU, ESHU)

Often mistaken for the devil, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the
spirits of the Guinee and the human world. You will find it in the dead of
night at crossroads.
In New Orleans, the gates of Guinee are thought to be the gates to the
afterworld, and Legba alone holds the keys to pass on your message to the
spirits that reside there.
As his permission is needed for communication between the two worlds, he
is always invoked first and last in any ceremony. He is the most important of
loas as he can accept or deny your request at his whim.
He also is the gatekeeper of the spirit world, opening and closing the gate.
He appears as a man in black or as an old man with a straw brimmed hat. His
animals are the dog and the rooster and these symbols are important to him.
He is often associated with Saint Peter who holds a similar position of
gatekeeper in the Catholic faith.
In Haiti, he is most widely known as Saint Lazarus or Saint Anthony.
Elleugua is mostly associated with Legba as they are both deities who are
said to be messengers for the afterworld.
Similarly, Orunmila, the orisha (spirit) of prophecy who taught mankind how
to use the mighty oracle, is also associated with him.
Legba, Ellegua, and Exu are similar, but they are not the same spirits.
Ellegua is said to respond to things that children would enjoy such as candy,
toys, and even coconuts as offerings.
In return, he is said to help people overcome situations they would not be
able to see their way out of otherwise.
OGUN (OGOUN)
Ogun is the god of war, blood, and iron and has a symbiosis with Ares in
Greek mythology. He is the chief of warriors but also the patron of progress
in civilization and technology.
When blessing tools such as farming equipment or surgeons' knives, he is
the god to call.
He also commands leaders such as presidents, royalty, police chiefs, and
army generals.
He is usually associated with trains and all manner of locomotives.
Although he is mighty, powerful, and wise he can be destructive and
combative, as is his base nature.
Ogun is the deity to call upon when attempting to get people in government
to hear your plea.
He is also called upon to bring work to the unemployed.
Ogun brings strength to those who call upon through gifts of prophecy and
magic.
As he enjoys progress and enjoys railway lines, offerings to him are often
made there.
A traditional offering to Ogun is 3 railway ties.
Ogun is a husband to Ezrulie, Oshun, and Oyá.
He is aggressively masculine and rules the head of females, or effeminate
males, which he takes a liking to.
As the chief of warriors, blood is a close link to his nature so when you have
a case of healing a blood disease, an offering to him will help your cause.
However, a word of caution when petitioning Ogun. As Ogun enjoys blood
offerings, it is a bad idea to petition this deity whilst you yourself have a
bleeding wound, open surgery scar, or while menstruating yourself.
CHANGÓ (XANGO, SHANGO)
Changó is a warrior, the Orisha (or spirits) of lightning, dance and, passion.
He is the pinnacle of masculinity and dispenses vengeance for those who
have been wronged, offering vindication to their souls.
He is a powerful god with the ability to win wars, defeat a multitude of
enemies and gain power over others.
A successful call to him will ensure victory in hopeless situations and
powerful good fortune befalling you.
Changó was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom, and he was only deified
once he had passed on to the afterlife.
The symbol of this warrior deity is unsurprising, the double-headed ax with
the colors red and white being representative of him.
Changó is said to have 3 wives Oshun, Oba, and Oyá.
His third wife Oyá is known to have stolen the secrets of his powerful
magic.
Changó had his main house with his 3 wives' houses next to his. He would
visit them, in turn, to eat and sleep with them. Oba noticed that when
Changó went to Oshun’s house he would eat all her food due to her excellent
cooking skills. Oba wanted a closer relationship with Changó so she
approached Oshun to find out the secret of her cooking.
Oshun resented the inquiry as, being only a concubine, her children would
never have the status of Oba’s children as she was his first and true wife.
Oba’s children would inherit Changó’s riches and great powers.
Oshun decided to trick Oba and told her that years ago she had sliced a piece
of her ear, dried it out, and ground it into a fine powder which she sprinkled
on Changó’s food to increase his desire for her.
Believing this lie, Oba went to her house and decided if a tiny sliver could
have that effect, a full ear would have Changó completely devoted only to
Oba and in a moment of insanity she sliced her entire ear off.
when Changó next visited her she made him a rich soup and placed the
whole ear into it. Changó started to eat the soup but when he saw the ear
floating in the soup, he assumed she was trying to poison him and drove her
from the house.
She wailed and in her despair, she fell to earth where she became a river.
Oshun is another river goddess and where the Oshun and Oba rivers meet
there are dangerous rapids still symbolizing to this day the tumultuous
relationship between these two goddesses.
OBATALÁ
Obatalá is known as the Androgynous Sky King of the White Cloth, the
supreme deity, and the creator god.
He is the eldest of all the Orisha and white is his symbol as it combines all
the colors of light. He is the supreme ruler of all the colors of the rainbow,
the mind, intellect, male, female and is considered to be beyond the sphere
of direct communication.
He rules above all.
Obatalá is said to have created the human body through the power of another
supreme deity Olorún (God). He created the form while Olorún (God)
breathed life into them.
His animal symbols are known to be a cockerel and a pigeon. While his
symbol is a calabash of dirt.
Somewhere in the line of creation, it is said that Obatalá got drunk on palm
wine and the humans he created in the drunken state were deformed and
'defective'.
As such he is hailed as the patron saint of those who is handicapped or
differently-abled.
Due to his mistake, he must never be worshipped with palm wine, palm oil,
or salt.
His followers and worshippers can consume palm oil and salt but must never
let palm wine pass their lips.
OYÁ (YANSA)
Oyá-Yansan, is her full name which means "mother of nine."
Oyá is the goddess of winds, hurricanes, lightning, fire, fertility, and magic.
She is the goddess of the marketplace and the guardian of cemeteries and the
underworld.
Her purpose is for ancestral connection and success in the marketplace and is
called upon when a great change is needed. Oyá is a powerful warrior, and
the wife of Changó. She epitomizes female power and righteous anger.
Her feast day is February 2nd.
YEMAYÁ (YEMOJA, IEMANJA)
Yemayá is the Mother of the Seven Seas, the Creation Goddess, and Santeria
Orisha of fertility and motherhood. Yemayá is known by several different
monikers such as the Queen of Witches, The Constantly Changing Woman,
the Motehr of Dreams and Secrets, or Yemayá-Olokun (powerful dream
aspect). Yemayá’s counterpart is known as Lasiren, the mermaid. Signified
by a mirror and comb, she is rwidely regarded as the daughter of Mamiwata
(Mamma Water), another African water-spirit.
As such she is often depicted as a mermaid or sea siren and is associated
with the moon, the sea, and female mysteries.
She rules the subconscious and creative exploits and governs the household
regarding women, namely:
Childbirth, conception, childhood safety, love, and healing.
She oversees dreams, the moon, deep secrets, ancient wisdom, saltwater,
seashells, and the collective unconsciousness with extreme compassion and
mercy.
It is believed that Yemayá originated as the Ancient Goddess Isis of Egypt
and as such when the first man and woman came forth, they did so from her
womb. It was her waters breaking that caused the great flood creating
oceans.
Legend states that she also gives birth to the 14 gods and goddesses of
Yoruba.
It is thought that Yemayá picks her own followers and worshipers of hers
will disappear for a period of up to 7 years. When they return, they often tell
elaborate stories of learning her ways in her undersea dwelling.
Yemayá will respond offerings of doves, but has been known to take up a
grudge with those who offer fish, as sea animals are considered her children.
OSHUN (OXUM)
Oshun is an Orisha of love, intimacy, beauty, wealth, and diplomacy. She is
the “unseen mother at all gatherings”.
As she represents the cosmological forces of moisture, water, and attraction,
she is considered omnipresent and omnipotent.
Oshun is a harmonic force - harmony seen as beauty, felt as love, and
experienced as ecstasy. According to a variety of ancient proverbs, 401
Irunmole were sent to create the world from the spirit realm. Among them,
she was the only female. As such, she is "YeYe" - the sweet mother of all
creation.
It is said that in the process of creation the other Irunmule tried to subjugate
Oshun and enslave her due to her femininity. Her response was to remove
her divine power (aché) from the process and all progress had to stop. The
Irunmole tried to progress in vain without her and when they realized their
mistake came begging for her forgiveness to continue together in creation.
She declared that creation would not continue until after she had birthed a
son.
This son was Elegba, a trickster who is known as a conduit of aché in the
universe.
Osun is the mother outside of the home due to her business prowess and
expertise.
She can also be referred to as "She who has ears' because of how quickly she
responds to prayers.
She is known to possess her followers who then dance, flirt, and weep.
Weeping because she perceives she will never be loved enough and that the
world will never be as beautiful as the potential it has.
Though she is difficult to enrage, she still does have a terrible temper.
Mainly, she is remarkably generous, kind and has excellent cooking skills.
As a river goddess, she rules the sweet waters, brooks, and streams.
Her preferred offerings are honey, copper jewelry, and coins in
denominations of 5s.
Her colors are yellow and gold.
In Voodoo, Oshun is also called Ezrulie. However, Ezrulie is known for her
fierce temper and is a formidable protector of women and children and
avenger of domestic violence.
Her color is shades of pink and she is the loa of lesbians.
EMANCIPATION AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
HOODOO
The period following emancipation was transformative in every sense for
African Americans. Both the physical and social boundaries of their cultural
lives would be expanded and would develop a more prominent national
profile. It was a period of fragmenting and recoalescing values and practices
as the nation shifted gears between the Civil War and World War I. Black
belt traditional Hoodoo would find itself approaching a critical crossroads in
its identity and existence.
Though emancipation would prefigure the forthcoming loss of certain
traditions, freedom of movement would simultaneously provide the social
backdrop from which regional cultural variations would cross-fertilize one
another. The crisis that was approaching would challenge Hoodoo's
adaptability and would confront black America's desire and ability to
reinvest in a tradition that clung to the sociohistoric bones of an ever-
evolving African American culture.
The old tradition, the Hoodoo of the old black belt region plantation, would
be modified and transformed under the influence of both internal and
external factors as an interregional cross-fertilization process would disperse
locally potent customs, traditions, and knowledge throughout the newly
emancipated African American nation more rapidly than had been done
previously.
In some locales, the breakup of the old slave-quarter community manifests
its impact immediately as destruction of the slave quarter meant that new
and different cultural spaces would have to be located or created.
Prior to emancipation, the larger plantation slave communities, as well as
areas of high black concentration, had functioned as culturally potent
repositories and cultural germination sites where, partially due to
demographics, the culture-making process was intensified. The
intensification process supported African cultural retention, especially in
slave communities where recently imported African slaves were brought in.
The end of Reconstruction and withdrawal of federal troops from the South
after 1877 left most African Americans at the mercy of local white citizens,
many of whom were former slave owners.
With a reign of racial terror raging around them in a violently antiblack
atmosphere, freedmen had few defenses. The increased stress attending the
movement from slavery to freedom, coupled with the terrorism and racist
exclusion of the period, strained every role in the black community,
exacerbated both psychological and physical malady, and made successful
assimilation and individual societal adjustment difficult if not impossible for
all but a minority of blacks.
Legal marginalization and racial terrorism unraveled still-developing and
stabilizing community traditions and propelled blacks into a mass exodus,
starting off the decades-long Great Migration, first into southern cities then
northward into large urban areas, many lured there by the promise of “good”
employment made by labor recruiters.
The massive migration began as a trickle, hardly resembling the great deluge
it would soon become. In this massive flow of humans from the rural
countryside into more urban environments, certain aspects of African
American cultural life, including Hoodoo, would become more visible to the
wider society than they previously had been.
In the postemancipation environment, blacks would continue to depend on
Hoodoo's support and protection both to anchor and to provide them with a
degree of certainty in an uncertain new world. With the black community
confronting an unfamiliar and less certain future, Hoodoo workers
experienced an increased demand for protective mojoes during this period.
There was certainly an increase in the visibility and number of Hoodoo
practitioners in at least one southern Hoodoo center, New Orleans.
Having been freed from constraints imposed by chattel slavery, conjure after
emancipation would continue to figure significantly in black consciousness
of self, family, and community under the new freedom.
Just as newly enslaved Africans brought their historic memory of traditional
African life with them into American bondage, the newly emancipated slave
retained and carried part of the enslavement experience into the environment
of freedom as well as into the next century.
Since both the conjurer and the belief in conjure were often maligned,
creating and sustaining Hoodoo involved a battle of spiritual and
psychological energies for the ex-slaves as it had for their bondsmen
predecessors.
Following Hoodoo's birth under bondage, a new and constantly shifting
battlefront for its existence would reinforce the belief that only through a
highly adaptable profile could Hoodoo sustain itself. Initially, Hoodoo's
dynamic and ever-evolving roles were partly a response to immediate as
well as long-term needs among the bondsmen. Included among those roles
were religiomedical practitioners such as treaters, midwives, healers, and
slave “doctors.”
These individuals continued to appear in the slave population, and their
overlapping roles as well as the role of conjurer would later broaden among
freedmen and become both stabilized and institutionalized within Hoodoo
practice.
Hoodoo's first phase of development occurred under enslavement and ended
with the period surrounding emancipation. Hoodoo's second developmental
stage began after Reconstruction and continued until World War II. This
period marked the birth and development of marketeered Hoodoo,
remodeled and controlled primarily by “middlemen minorities,” in this case
European Ashkenazi Jews who were outsiders to the Hoodoo tradition, even
as old tradition black belt Hoodoo was fully functioning among African
Americans. This second phase was roughly a seventy-year period that was
distinguished by the full emergence of both the conjurer/ treater as an
independent practitioner and the intensified homogenization of the three
regional variations into one Hoodoo practice with a newly emerging national
African American profile; this second phase of development occurred in two
stages. Both stages are marked by the development of the figure of the root
doctors
Early on during this second developmental period, there is diversification
and specialization by those offering various types of Hoodoo services both
inside of and outside of the African American community; the conjurer often
also functioned as a treater or folk doctor.
Often known as a root doctor, he or she, like their plantation counterparts,
had the knowledge of herbal medicines and could use plants, animals, and
other objects to cure or ward off illness or to attract good fortune. He or she
was a master of spells and recipes — the term preferred by old tradition
Hoodoo workers — potions and amulets, and could use plants and other
objects not only to heal but also to cause harm. Supporting the root doctor's
use of Hoodoo herbal remedies, patent medicines were both extensively used
and advertised in early black newspapers in an attempt to reach black
clientele. Already well established among blacks, the herb and root tradition
would face “competition” from medical professionalization.
The role of conjurer doctor transferred directly and intact from slavery into
the postemancipation environment. In some instances, the role of conjurer
would split into two roles, and the two roles would not always diverge
completely. In other instances, the dual function of root doctor and conjurer
would continue to further diversify into completely separate roles, with the
conjurer performing fewer and fewer of the healing functions and the root
doctor performing fewer and fewer of the religiomagical tasks.
By relinquishing more of the religiomagical functions, the root doctor could
both function as an herbalist and divorce himself from the association of
Hoodoo with “devil's work,” a troublesome and pejorative label that would
stubbornly persist in more than a few quarters.
Early in this second stage, immediately following Reconstruction, there
appears to be a firm and visible stabilization of the old Hoodoo tradition
resulting from the establishment of new internal norms and conventions as
well as the strengthening of existing ones. Couched in a widely occurring
transformative process, these modifications in the older plantation Hoodoo
tradition were in part the result of the unprecedented movement of hundreds
of thousands of newly freed slaves immediately following Emancipation.
This massive migratory movement of people rapidly transported regional
Hoodoo customs and traditions to new areas where they were quickly
integrated into existing practice, contributing to a newly emerging national
rather than regional profile.
The national identity of Hoodoo parallels the redefinition of African
American identity following Reconstruction. A new African American
national profile sparked by migration and movement toward urbanization
was influenced by forces similarly impacting upon Hoodoo. There was also
further diversification in roles related to Hoodoo as well as in the division of
labor within Hoodoo tradition, particularly between midwives-treaters and
conjure men and the respective traditions they represented.
It is in the early years of this second stage that Hoodoo established a durable
national profile as an African American spiritual-medicinal tradition while
maintaining some regional uniqueness.
In this stage Hoodoo rapidly transformed into a self-contained national
African American institution complete with several divination systems,
including the walking boy, the dancing dime, bones, playing cards, dice,
dominoes, as well as animal signs such as low-flying birds and “frizzlie
chickens” used as divination devises.
Incantations in the form of Christian prayer, particularly the Psalms, would
eventually totally replace the traditional West and Central West Africa chants
and prayers. An example can be seen in slaves' traditional use of Psalm 10
when requiring protection during travel, especially when running away,
Psalm 53 for God's divine protection, and Psalm 109 to curse and damn
those who are wrongdoers.
Regional Hoodoo beliefs like the belief in witches, haints, and demon spirits
like Plat-eye, Robination Horse, Jingo's Horse, or Hampshire's Horse spread.
These spiritual entities were believed to be capable of changing form and
luring away or chasing its victim into danger, confusing the mind and
leaving the victim to die.
There were sacred days in Hoodoo, particularly Friday, about which it was
believed that no new project or piece of work should ever begin.
Established procedures for recruitment and training of Hoodoo successors
existed. They included training in the magical and medicinal uses of plants
and other substances as well as training in reading signs in nature, such as in
cloud formations and in the behavior of certain animals like barking dogs
and low-flying birds.
During this period, there were also socially strengthened Hoodoo myths and
legends, some in the form of personal testimonials or syncretized African
and perhaps Native American and European folk beliefs and tales. These
were often delivered as stories like those of High John the Conquer, the
fabled Dr. John of New Orleans, Marie Laveau, the Seven Sisters of Algiers,
famous East Coast Hoodoo legends Dr. Bug and Black Herman, and the
most famous of them all, Dr. Buzzard of St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
Hoodoo truly had entered its golden age, and it had not yet fallen under the
exploitative and controlling influences of occult marketeers; it was largely an
African American dominated and controlled institution.
Root doctors, midwives, conjurers, treaters, and those doing “the work”
gained increased access to other occult traditions and supply paths, and all
interfaced more freely than they had under slavery's inhuman confinement.
Most locales with significant black populations had someone who provided
the community with Hoodoo services. So a Hoodoo ritualist was available
whenever the need arose. Some of them became very well known both
inside and outside of their regions. Their clientele usually learned of them by
word-of-mouth testimonials and referrals.
Early in this second stage, Hoodoo had its ritual practices and had achieved
some degree of consistency with respect to philosophy and material culture.
Though limited, ritual animal sacrifice, sometime performed at the
crossroads, persisted.
Though some regional variation still existed, implements, materials,
formulas, incantations, and initiation rites all attained a degree of widespread
consistency across regions during this phase.
While some remaining African elements such as animal sacrifice were
eventually lost or discarded, other practices such as amulet making and knot
tying stabilized and remained part of the old black belt Hoodoo tradition.
Black worship during this period was already highly African, and there was
a continual movement of both African spiritual practices and approaches to
worship into African American Christian worship. This simultaneously
resulted in the formation of both a new Hoodooized Christianity and a
nonchurch spiritual and controlling tradition.
In the Hoodoo church, Hoodooized Christianity would become infused with
African American Hoodoo sensibility and practices from the African
Religion Complex (ARC), including water immersion, sacred dance, head
shaving, spirit possession, faith or spiritual healing, amulet making, and rites
of passage.
However other Hoodoo practices were also dragged kicking and screaming
into the black Christian experience, where they were frequently contested
and denounced yet precariously balanced between toleration and
condemnation. Hoodoo belief was so strong in some Afro-Christian
churches that ministers resigned their posts in acquiescence to the strength of
Hoodoo belief in their congregations.
Hoodoo-informed lifestyle developed and lasted in certain local and black
communities. In some of these communities, such as that found on Sapelo
Island, Georgia, everything was done under the canopy of luck and
protection and laid upon a foundation of sign interpretation, including
dreams as signs.
Though Hoodoo's early religious components could not coalesce into a
recognizably sustainable religion, as traditional African religion did in the
Caribbean and parts of Latin America, they heavily influenced the
foundation beliefs and life approaches of a majority of African Americans.
For most American blacks, the spiritual world in which they lived was one
that included both Christian practice and Hoodoo belief in a
noncontradictory coexistence. Hoodoo belief functioned as an
epiphilosophical canopy and commonsense guide to life.
Following Reconstruction, the descendants of African slaves in America had
a new independence thrust into their lives as they became responsible for
administering to their own needs.
A reign of racial terrorism gripped the black communities of the South
following emancipation and subjected the nation's newest citizens to the
most brutal forms of murder, public beatings, torture, lynching, and
starvation; nevertheless, this period was filled with both new fear and new
hope.
Harsh forms of repression touched all areas of black life, coupled with
public pogroms in which racists openly dragged thousands of African
American citizens from their homes and burned or otherwise destroyed their
property and murdered them and their families.
The wider American society felt little obligation toward its former chattel
and outright denied people of African heritage refuge from terror as well as
life-sustaining materials and services, frequently thrusting them back into the
terror and to their own socially circumscribed, marginalized, and limited
resources.
There were new contingencies to their existence, and the conjurer/treater
was one sure resource for dealing with instability, insecurity, poverty, and
anxieties that invaded the lives of African Americans of the period.
Intensified community anxieties and concerns centered on issues of securing
a livelihood, family and marriage, health care, housing, police harassment,
legal issues, vigilante terrorism, and the numerous dangers of the new
freedom.
All this was coupled with an onslaught of both public and private
psychological intimidation and economic crippling that constantly
circumscribed and limited black advancement while both state and federal
governments turned a blind eye to the terror.
Hoodoo's second phase was additionally marked by role diversification,
specialization, and increasing Christianization. Though neither the plantation
preacher's work nor the ordained reverend's calling was totally separate from
many of the tasks and functions of the conjurer, the African American
preacher, as a separate role, firmly emerged during this second phase of
Hoodoo and presented itself as a full-blown alternative to the old-style
plantation conjurer. Further diversification and specialization were evident in
the widening split between medicinal herbalist, Hoodoo workers, lay
midwives, and conjure women.
The roles of preacher and conjurer diverged in a process, influenced initially
by the same regional variations that influenced the character both of early
Hoodoo and of early black Christian belief and worship. Significant numbers
of early African American preachers allowed, even maintained, traditional
African spiritual practices, and many of them had and today have a thorough
knowledge of both Hoodoo and early African American Christian practice.
Under the protective canopy of the church, Hoodoo could maintain a
connection to a theological backdrop; in this context, one Hoodoo divinity,
High John the Conquer, in some instances became associated with and
partially merged with John the Prophet. While helping to define what
Hoodoo was not, the early black folk preacher was essential in forging a new
Christianity, an African-influenced Christianity, a Hoodooized Christianity
that was socially flexible and fluid and would eventually find a future and
permanent home in both the Spiritual churches and the Sanctified Church
that would develop in numerous African American communities.
Hoodoo practice was broadened and enriched as a result of the regional
migration taking place following the end of the Civil War. It took on a new
profile as it repositioned itself to address new needs and confront new
environments and new expectations. Traditions and practices that had been
confined to isolated regions now became more available as freed slaves
migrated intra- and interregionally. Hoodoo practices and standardized
conventions, which prior to emancipation had been fairly isolated in Virginia
or Mississippi were now — more rapidly than ever before — encountering
one another with increasing frequency in cities such as Atlanta, Richmond,
Montgomery, and Memphis and mixing with local Hoodoo practice there.
Gradual and protracted, Hoodoo's transformation into its urban counterpart
was, as with many institutions, uneven, so, too, with Hoodoo's movement
into postemancipation black cultural and religious arenas. Born of the rural
environment, Hoodoo's existence and survival in the city verified its
adaptability and functionality.
Prior to World War I, Hoodoo's urban practice was barely distinguishable
from the rural tradition that gave rise to it. The site for the most potent
African American cultural creation was still in the rural South, with its high
concentration of African Americans, but the mass migration process would
create similarly functioning sites in the urban North.
Around the turn of the twentieth century, the increase in Hoodoo in the urban
environment, particularly in the North, forced certain changes and
adaptations in its practice. Changes such as the increasing use of both
commercial advertising and commercial supply houses and curio shops
became more widespread. The older rural Hoodoo men and women were
skilled herbalists who supplied their own needs, rarely using commercially
produced supplies.
These traditionalists were the direct carriers of a slowly disintegrating,
moribund African American herbal tradition sustained through a period of
forced enslavement.
The urban practitioner, on the other hand, was far more dependent on
suppliers and was exposed to a higher rate of cross-fertilization from other
spiritual traditions than the rural conjurers and the rural Hoodoo tradition.
By the 1930s, the old-profile Hoodoo priest, also known as a swamper,
would all but disappear. Zora Neale Hurston leaves us this account of one of
the last of the swampers, Dr. Duke: “Dr. Duke is a member of a disappearing
school of folk magic. He spends days and nights out in the woods and
swamps and is therefore known as a ‘swamper.' A swamper is a root-and-
conjure doctor who goes to the swamps and gathers his or her own herbs and
roots. Most of the doctors buy their materials from regular supply houses.”
By the publication of this account in 1935, the latter phase in the second
period of Hoodoo's development, marked by a proliferation of supply houses
and urban clientele, conjure's older traditions were giving way to a more
specialized practice, limited and heavily commercial. This would have
indirect psychological impact. Participation in the mainstream marketplace,
even if it were only at a Hoodoo curio drug store or supply house, allowed
blacks who had been, and in most instances were still, marginalized
economically and forced to the fringes of the American mainstream
marketplace to minimally validate their economic location and way of life
by buying from a store that targeted black specialty products. This dynamic
was exacerbated by mainstream white merchants who refused to trade with
blacks, making the reception in the Hoodoo shop all the more appealing.
By examining the visible practices of freedmen, their children, and their
grandchildren, one can draw a partial picture of the scope of Hoodoo's
domain and reveal something of the depth of Hoodoo's cultural penetration
into black life as well as its level of social tenacity during the
postemancipation period.
Some Hoodoo practices have direct African antecedents, and depending on
when they are first recorded, they allow us an extended view backward into
the invisible world of African American folk religion and magic.
Other practices were possibly derived from mingled European or Native
American practices. Both groups certainly had folk magic traditions that
likely strengthened the spiritual context in which Hoodoo could expand and
flourish.
Accounts from colonial records of European settlers give vivid evidence of
widespread belief in the supernatural, particularly witchcraft. Witchcraft
trials were well known and publicized throughout the colonies. Indeed the
evidence indicates that belief in fairies, hobgoblins, bugbears, willis,
enchantment, witches, and witchmasters was strong enough for there to be
the official office of “witchfinder general.”
Beliefs in phenomena such as shape-shifting and existence of spirits were
also found among the Native Americans.
The African American mass migration from rural areas into the urban
industrialized North would transform Hoodoo practice as it would all other
aspects of African American life. Some practices transplanted easily to the
new urban environment, others could not. Practices that in the rural
environment addressed both the individual as well as his relationship with
the community and the surrounding environment were often impossible in
the city, which dislocated the individual from nature. One such practice was
the act of erasing one's footprints or tracks.
A conjure fix, or spell, in Hoodoo can be put on someone or, rather,
“someone can work you” by either gathering the dirt tracks where you leave
your footprints or by dusting or pouring a mixture onto the footprint. The
magic is potentially more potent if the victim walked barefoot, leaving
invisible traces of perspiration and dead skin.
This picking up tracks was easy to achieve in the rural environment of an
African village or rural southern community of unpaved dirt roads and
walkways. But in the urban areas, paved roads and walks as well as the more
frequent wearing of shoes made track gathering nearly impossible.
Track gathering was the origin of the commercially marketeered hot foot
powder and would later be subtly and overtly reflected in African American
blues songs long after many blacks had given up the practice, the most
notable example being Howlin’ Wolf’s Tail Dragger.
Throughout the black belt South, African Americans could be observed at
sunset sweeping or raking the dust yards and walkways leading to their
abodes; this activity was more than mere yard maintenance. Many sweepers
were ritually removing any tracks or family members' footprints before they
retired for the night, lest an evildoer pick them up while the family slept.
Track gathering was practiced throughout West and Central West Africa as
an integrated part of many of the traditional religions of the area. It should
therefore not be surprising to observe it in African American communities of
the black belt South.
The incredible power of the gathered track was such that many African
Americans deeply feared being conjured by someone using their footprints.
What was it about track gathering that people feared? It was common
knowledge among many older African Americans that the soul rested in the
palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Rubbing the palms together could
activate or stir up the soul's special power. The belief in the palms of the
hands and soles of the feet as conductors of the soul's unique power was
further manifested in the variety of Hoodoo signs associated with those body
parts.
One of the most dreaded uses of the gathered track other than causing death
was the walkin' foot, a charm made in combination with ants, ant hill dust, or
a red ants' nest. Another greatly feared use of the gathered track was in
combination with running or flowing water, as in a stream or river. Both
ritual charms were designed to compel the target to leave and go elsewhere.
Depending on the ritual and the intention, gathered tracks can be used in a
variety of ways, including to attract a new lover, prevent a lover from
straying, return a straying lover, drive off a rival, break up a romantic union,
gain power or control over someone, force someone to leave or stay away
from you, cause itching or unbearably hot feet, inhibit one's ability to walk,
cause one to travel constantly and wander aimlessly from one destination to
another, induce insanity, induce bodily weakness and wasting, and induce a
general state of bad luck. You can check out footrack magic spells and
rituals in the second volume for the basics and the fourth volume for more
advanced spells.
Hoodoo was still largely a black-controlled rural phenomenon during the
first five decades following emancipation; significant numbers of root work
practitioners collected fresh roots and dried them for storage. Frequently an
older family member, often a female, had some knowledge of roots and
herbs and administered various treatments. Swampers still collected their
own roots, herbs, and other supplies themselves. A well-connected conjure
doctor, root worker, or two-head had access to a black-controlled
underground supply network that included, but was not limited to, midwives,
apothecary workers, root diggers, gravediggers, and undertakers.
The supply network was an economic asset among poor blacks, providing
much needed economic resources in the highly charged racist atmosphere
that outright denied and limited African American life chances. Each type of
Hoodoo traditional specialist could and frequently did supply the conjurer
with items that they had unique access to. Midwives supplied cauls,
afterbirths, and umbilical cords.
Even this marginalized pipeline to economic hope and access was attacked
and destroyed by marketeers who were well aware of the powerlessness of
the recently emancipated community. Enslaved African Americans and later
free blacks working in apothecaries had access to numerous supplies,
including Hoodoo's most sacred root, High John. High John root was kept on
hand in most apothecaries for use in making laxatives.
Gravediggers and morticians had access to graveyard dirt, human remains,
and personal articles belonging to the dead, all of which were used in certain
types of conjure work.
In addition to an underground network of suppliers, a well-connected,
reputable conjurer, Hoodoo, or two-head man or woman inherited the
conjurer's “oral textbook” and practical experience through apprenticeship,
oftentimes in families.
The secrets of Hoodoo were guarded by the true old tradition practitioners,
as access to spiritual power had been carefully protected in traditional West
and Central West African societies.
Hoodoo priests knew the guarded secrets and proper procedures for
harvesting, processing, and working certain roots, and they also knew the
scope and specifics of each plant's power, were knowledgeable of harvesting
times and techniques, and knew which roots could be harvested by human
hands and which ones should be harvested by animals only. They knew
when to harvest for maximum effectiveness and knew the particulars
accompanying each plant, animal, rock, and twig.
Roots that required harvesting by animals often were extracted from the
ground using an aged or ill dog or mule. A cord was tied to the animal and
attached to the plant, then the animal pulled the plant from the ground.
Plants that required this harvesting technique were believed to have the
power to drain life force energy from any living creature attempting to
unearth them. So an animal near death from ill health or old age, rather than
a healthy one, was put at risk. Harvested thusly, these roots were used only
in the most serious life-and-death matters.
Other plants were believed to emit a scream or to cry tears when harvested.
Still other plants like “wonder of the world root” required that it be spoken
to and ceremonially addressed before it could be harvested successfully, lest
it release forces that will harm whoever handles it.
Like their traditional African predecessors and their Native American
counterparts, an African American conjurer, well trained in the old tradition,
believed in the life force potentiality in each sacred plant, sacred animal, and
sacred inanimate object.
Conjure and root work during the postemancipation pre – World War I
period achieved and maintained some degree of public legitimacy and
visibility among blacks, enough for some African Americans to feel no need
either to conceal or to secret their belief in and use of conjuring.
Though the rituals and practices of conjuring and root doctoring were largely
secretive and invisible, their quasi-public legitimacy among blacks
contributed to Hoodoo's vulnerability to middlemen minority exploitation
and detrimental mainstream market influence.
The first two decades following emancipation witnessed the birth of two
divergent and competing lines of Hoodoo development: one, the old
tradition of African root doctor/conjurer from the plantation, the other, an
exploitative quasi rendering of the tradition from primarily middlemen
minority marketeers, the traveling medicine shows, and other similar related
venues that reached a peak in popularity during this period.
To attract potential customers, the American medicine show took on
elements of the Wild West show, the carnival, the circus, and the healing
center. It was not beyond exploiting any and all cultural themes or traditions
to make money. Indians, both Native American and Hindu, were frequently
portrayed on advertising handbills distributed prior to the show's arrival in
town. Often a medicine show featured someone dressed as and
impersonating a Native American medicine man. Native Americans, like
African Americans, certainly had acquired a widespread reputation and
acceptance as adept healers, so their presence at medicine shows and their
appearance on advertising handbills served to legitimate the snake-oil sales
pitch.
Both African Americans and African witch doctors, like other exotics,
Arabs, Hindus, and Native Americans, were often portrayed by white
minstrels in blackface.
Though the pitchmen, hucksters, and snake-oil industry had no access to
Hoodoo's deep ceremonial nature, herbal treatments, myths, beliefs,
procedures, and practices, their misportrayals and exploitation of aspects of
the Hoodoo tradition ultimately exercised influence on public discourse,
opinion, and expectations.
By selling amulets, mojoes, and “luck bags,” which they had neither
authority, traditional training, community grounding, nor experience in
making, they helped both to transform the Hoodoo tradition and to
contribute to an atmosphere of distrust, denigration, and opposition to
Hoodoo while fostering a misshapened portrayal of Hoodoo in the
imagination of a significant percentage of their displaced and well-fleeced
audience.
Traditionally, only the conjurer, root doctor, or two-head could make
effective mojoes because only the conjurer knew the incantations, prayers,
herbs, and rituals necessary to empower the charm. Only a called, trained,
and anointed Hoodoo priest or priestess could prepare an authentic,
traditional, and effective mojo bag and instruct the client in its care and uses.
We should bear this in mind even today, though Hoodoo has changed, only
proper incantations by a reputable source should be performed and are
effective.
Contact with pitchmen, hucksters, and the exotic themes they employed was
one conduit through which the Hoodoo folk tradition would be turned into a
field of exploitation, dream salesmanship, and in many instances outright
thievery of tradition as well as money.
While the true keepers and practitioners of Hoodoo's old tradition fought for
its survival, they were overwhelmed in the deluge of oppositional and
undermining forces, including attacks from certain Christian fronts,
bastardization of its practices, and an association with trickery and con
artistry. Prior to the appropriation of traditional Hoodoo charms by the con
industry beginning in the latter half of the nineteenth century, Hoodoo had
little, if any, identification with con artistry, with superstition perhaps, but
not with outright deception and financial trickery, at least not yet.
As the racial terror of the black belt continued to escalate, the great
migration intensified; urbanization and movement northward would displace
some of the migrants from their traditional web of tried and trusted old
tradition Hoodoo contacts, leaving them potentially vulnerable to con artists
and market forces beyond their control.
With at least a temporary loss of network, migrating blacks had to
reconstruct a partial web of contacts in the new environment. How was this
to be done? Hoodoo believers and practitioners had no formal advocates, no
formal institutional structures, and no nationally organized hierarchy and
regulatory body. Hoodoo's presence was visible to some and invisible to
others.
In the urban North, the problem of locating an independent conjurer or root

worker was partially solved as it had been in the rural South, by word-of-
mouth reputation. But the urban environment offered the exploiters,
imitators, and con artists a new entrée into the black community through
print media advertising, especially magazines and newspapers. Competing
with the old tradition, the snake-oil Hoodoo industry was the first to use
commercial supply houses and would come to heavily exploit the
increasingly present print media. Appealing primarily to both an illiterate
and a semiliterate clientele, snake-oil Hoodoo and its peddlers would benefit
from and take advantage of the push toward increasing literacy that occurred
in the black community during this period. They did so by advertising in
African American newspapers.
Not long after 1877, the year marking the end of Reconstruction, there was a
noticeable increase in ads for spiritual services in African American
newspapers. Like the beginnings of the great migration, the earliest ads were
few and of limited use or influence. The old plantation Hoodoo tradition was
still intact, self-contained, virtually self-supporting, and nearly independent
of mainstream market forces.
Prior to World War I, the African American population in the North was
small compared to the numbers of blacks who were still in the South, but
those less numerous, northern blacks were significant enough to support
black newspapers in cities like New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Cleveland,
and Pittsburgh. The number and types of ads would increase by leaps and
bounds as the southern black population in the urban North increased.
Newspapers and other print media would bring snake-oil Hoodoo's appeal
and hook directly into previously inaccessible areas like black-owned
businesses and households.
The pre – World War I ads were few and less elaborate than the later ads, but
their snake-oil veneer clearly established a pattern that would influence
future spiritual advertising aimed at blacks. The postemancipation pre –
World War I ads would chart the course, set the style, and establish the
conventions of future Hoodoo ads. The growing southern and northern black
urban presence would find itself in a mutually reciprocal relationship with
spiritual and occult traditions other than Hoodoo and Christianity. Unable to
sustain autonomy from market influences, Hoodoo found itself mixing with
and having an impact on other traditions as well as popular trends; astrology
was one such influence.
Unknown in plantation Hoodoo, astrology or “planet reading” began soon
after the end of Reconstruction to openly influence the newly developing
urban variant of old tradition Hoodoo. As early as 1879, ads for a
practitioner who combined psychic mediumship with root doctoring and
astrology appeared in a Baltimore newspaper that served the black
community, thus potentially expanding his clientele and establishing the
framework to lay claims of increased power and effectiveness.
Both the patent medicine ads and snake-oil handbills had established an easy
path on which outside traditions and influences would enter Hoodoo and
enable it to gradually replace aspects of the declining rural old tradition.
A natural decline in the rural-based Hoodoo, resulting from increasing
urbanization and transplantation northward would leave sociocultural
crevices, holes that would be partially filled by the integration of external
traditions and outsider influences and information. The opportunity for a
commercial supply industry, supplying both traditional and snake-oil
Hoodoo workers and their clients, would be seized and exploited. There
were several books openly advertised in pre – World War I black newspapers
that would become considerably influential among some urbanized Hoodoo
practitioners. These texts would support the newly developing urban snake-
oil Hoodoo to further disconnect from the old tradition while allowing
certain practices to strengthen their relationship within the black church as a
result of their alleged Old Testament legitimacy.
As the more earth-based aspects of old tradition Hoodoo proved
unsustainable in the northern urban environment, Hoodoo transplanted
northward as well as to southern urban areas and would become more
dependent on outsiders and outsider traditions and influences for procedures,
incantations, prayers, paraphernalia, and supplies.
The transition from the old tradition to the new marketeered urban Hoodoo
was partly facilitated by the patent medicine industry that legitimized root
doctoring and homemade medicine treatments. Like the ads for patent
medicines, many of the ads for Hoodoo specialists emphasized their
adeptness at treating both physical and spiritual concerns; these ads, their
frequency, variations, and intensity would increase as the twentieth century
dawned and unfolded. Influenced by its proximity to the rural community,
southern urban Hoodoo, capable of stronger resistance to marketeering,
faired better and sustained its connection to its rural parent longer and more
intensely than the rapidly transforming northern urban form. But it also
would eventually be altered by the forces of both the cultural marketplace
and the great migration as urbanized Hoodoo, black Christian practice, snake
oil, and the old tradition cross-fertilized and competed with one another for
both “the souls of black folks” and their pocketbooks. The migration into
both southern and northern urban areas provided a ready-made and
potentially exploitable economic community. Coping with new pressures
and driven by the desire to improve their lot in life, black migrants wrestled
with whether to retain or discard Hoodoo as a relic of their former lives,
lives filled with racial oppression in its most hopelessly barbaric form.
Some Hoodoo believers and practitioners viewed Hoodoo and Christian
practices as complementary parts of a whole. Hoodoo's presence was
justified then as it is today by the tenet that root work and spirit work are
complements to God's power through the church but that the totality of
God's power is disbursed and not totally located in church ritual, belief, and
practice. Hoodoo philosophy, the oral text that sustained and justified its
existence and that explained its motives and the spiritual foundation for all
Hoodoo procedures, evolved as migration, urbanization, modernization,
commercialization, and fragmentation all pulled to disconnect urban Hoodoo
from the old plantation tradition. The post – World War I social environment
would witness an intensification of all these trends.
In the religious dialogue between the leader and the
participants/congregation, there was the use of elongated vowel emphasis to
establish rhythm in their incantations, invocations, and prayers. These
conventions would transfer from Hoodoo into the black church as part of the
style and character of black worship, particularly black preaching. But as
some African Americans slowly and painfully struggled to publicly
legitimize their existence and to become more assimilated, some of them
would relinquish these traditional conventions in their worship styles.
The division between the root doctor and the conjurer would become even
more entrenched reflecting the pressure from the black church and the
movement toward specialization and professionalization that generally
marked the period. Some root doctors would become known as expert herbal
healers, like Dr. James Still. Specializing in natural treatments and
naturopathic healing, “Dr. James of the Pine Barrens” empowered his
treatments with a spiritual component, his strong belief in prayer, and the
sacred healing power of nature as created by God.
Despite all that raged around them and tore at the fringes of an unraveling
tradition, in some rural areas the older plantation Hoodoo traditions would
continue. Some African Americans would still call their infant's name in the
crossroads. Others wore the African healing string tied with sacred healing
knots. Others engaged in sacred healing symbol manipulation.
Still others considered the water from the forging process sacred, as it had
been regarded by their African ancestors, and they used that water in their
church's indoor baptism pool when the practice of baptizing in the river
significantly declined.
Though transformation bore down on it, the old tradition sought and found
refuge in the rural community of practitioners who would extend, but would
not be able to permanently sustain, its life in the face of accelerating
urbanization and targeted commercialization occurring between the two
world wars in the latter half of Hoodoo's second stage.
BLACK BELT HOODOO BETWEEN THE TWO
WORLD WARS
The last two-and-a-half decades preceding World War II were marked by
Hoodoo's full entry into the mainstream commercial marketplace, with full
commoditization of many of its most publicly visible implements, tools, and
supplies as well as a proliferation of exploiters of various types.
The period between World Wars I and II would play host to diversification in
spiritual merchandising that contributed to an ever-strengthening subversion
and undermining of Hoodoo's traditional old black belt practice. Aspects of
the black belt Hoodoo tradition that the snake-oil industry could not exploit
would begin a slow transformative decline into increasing invisibility while
the spiritual merchants would marketeer Hoodoo merchandise into a
lucrative and full-blown industry. The all but complete domination of the
Hoodoo marketplace by spiritual merchants and marketeers produced a
transformation in Negro supernatural folk knowledge. But the marketeers
were merely one active and essential element in the transformation process.
Another element was the medical community's attack on midwifery,
Hoodoo's thriving and powerful link with the black folk medicine tradition.
Marketeers could not penetrate and control this aspect of the old black belt
Hoodoo complex. The medical establishment's attack contributed to the
destruction of lay midwifery, an institution that controlled a wealth of
sexually specific root and herbal knowledge as well as tradition. This
destruction further disrupted the Hoodoo supply network and terminated the
supply line in items such as cauls, placentas, and umbilical cords controlled
by the midwife-conjure woman.
Old tradition Hoodoo was not an exception to the cultural change and further
homogenization that was in process throughout the United States. American
regional culture across the board would continue to become more
homogenized and more national in its potential scope. As cultural access
across regions became increasingly available, deep ethnic as well as regional
uniqueness would become less encompassing while still retaining some core
differences, but within an intensifying national identity. With the coming of
railroads, radios, automobiles, movies, dance halls, company catalogs, print
media, airplanes, standardized public education, and the birth of a free-
floating, urban, popular culture consumer, Americans were becoming more
similar; they could engage in similar experiences across regions. The two
great wars that framed the period would further contribute to an
intensification of national identity as they called forth national over regional
loyalty, sentiment, and identification.
The three regional black belt Hoodoo clusters experienced a widening access
to one another's unique Hoodoo expression in both the South and the North.
This had a twofold effect. It enabled Hoodoo to resist and decelerate the
limiting commercial standardization process by increasing regional diversity
through exchange, but it also gave a unique visibility to those elements of
Hoodoo that were not regionally specific and were widely known across
regions. In some regions, Hoodoo recipes called for the use of local plants or
other natural substances. These local supplies would not prove to be
nationally recognizable and therefore were less marketable. In all three
regions, certain aspects of Hoodoo would become even more visible in the
era of Dr. Buzzard. Though it remained alive, Hoodoo's old tradition would
be further weakened and would continue to slowly contract and transform as
market forces as well as economic and social pressures mounted on the back
of this highly vulnerable and exploitable tradition.
Advertisements in black print media for Hoodoo services, a trend started in
the nineteenth century, increased dramatically during the period following
World War I. Ads that targeted the primary areas addressed in Hoodoo ritual,
including love, health, sexuality, finances, jobs, and legal trouble or court
cases appeared in black print media, particularly newspapers and magazines.
The marketeers addressed every area except that which was a central theme
in plantation Hoodoo: protection from whites and their violent, controlling,
and exploitative behavior.
Most of the Hoodoo ads appropriated and emphasized several catchphrases
and fictive kinship names frequently used in African American churches.
Fictive kinship titles such as “Mother,” “Brother,” or “Sister” would serve
not only to identify the ad's owner as a Hoodoo practitioner, but also to
signify a connection with a church or sacred tradition, thus legitimizing the
practitioner. Phrases such as “have you lost your nature?” “do you have bad
luck?” or “are you in legal trouble?” served a similar purpose: getting the
attention of a believer in need.
Hoping to exploit and benefit from the Hoodoo belief system, the
practitioners behind the ads cast a wide net of appeal by advertising in the
black print media of several cities simultaneously as well as carrying on a
brisk mail-order trade. In addition to the Hoodoo ads, there was an assault of
ads for spiritual mediums, fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, “old Indian herb
medicine men,” and astrologers. In addition, ads for horoscopes, occult
books, Hindu occult secrets, Egyptian talismans, Hindu magic mirrors, lucky
hands, New Orleans luck powder, and root and herbal treatments and cures,
all appeared in black newspapers between the world wars.
The presence of these ads

intensified and diversified the spiritual atmosphere in which both
commercially marketeered Hoodoo and old tradition Hoodoo would compete
to exist. Hoodoo's urban face would find itself submerged in an ever-
changing sea and spiritual marketplace in which both access to supplies and
competition with outsiders and nonbelievers for clients were challenging
Hoodoo's once exclusive and self-sustaining supply market.
Urbanized Hoodoo would experience a dynamic tension between its
plantation origins and the contemporary urban marketeer-controlled
marketplace. But the marketplace was limited in what it could offer and
would eventually impact upon the direction of Hoodoo's urban development,
severely circumscribing and transforming it. It was indeed a hostile takeover.
Spiritual merchandising by nonblacks would reach a plateau in the 1930s,
1940s, and early 1950s as the black urban population continued to increase.
Once they were carried to the cities, the old practices, legends, and beliefs
did not die immediately. Instead they changed, metamorphosing into urban
forms, as did other core aspects of African American culture such as music
and dance.
But unlike music and dance, old tradition Hoodoo could not hold its own
against the negative undermining onslaught of outsider influences and
marketeers.
Hoodoo not only faced both pressure and condemnation from some Christian
quarters, but other competing philosophies as well as the spiritual merchants
sought to control the trade in Hoodoo supplies. For many of the new
migrants, the urbanized marketeered Hoodoo, with its almost total use of
warehoused and commercially supplied roots and herbs, was insufficient
when compared to the freshly harvested supplies and personal touch, cultural
familiarity, and modes of community exchange of the old swampers.
Though a number of these commercial establishments attempted to
personalize their services by offering readings in a private area of the shop
such as a back room, the down-home personal touch could not be duplicated
in the commercial atmosphere of the white-owned Hoodoo drugstore or the
curio shop with its comings and goings of customers. Even the fresh herbs of
the urban root peddlers could not keep pace with the demand and would
eventually fade away.
In addition, the newly acquired urban veneer of northern spiritual workers
— particularly the snake-oil variety, who often combined forms of exoticism
such as Islamic names, East Indian or Sikh turbans, contrived accents, Gypsy
palm reading, and astrology as well as other spiritual and occult forms —
often lacked appeal to the older southern-born Hoodoo believers.
Many of the older migrants were unimpressed with the slick marketeering
that had invaded northern urban Hoodoo. Consequently, many of them
journeyed back to the black belt
South where they believed they could find a purer and more powerful
genuine carrier of the old tradition. Many East Coast residents found
themselves journeying to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, seeking the
Hoodoo services of Stepheney Robinson, America's most famous root and
conjure doctor.
Known as Dr. Buzzard, Robinson built a reputation that spread far and wide
up and down the eastern seaboard; he worked the old tradition as his
enslaved African grandfather had taught him to.
His conjure was free of exotic influences, he used only noncommercial
products, he was a living link with the old plantation Hoodoo folk religion,
and his life spanned Hoodoo development through several of its rapidly
changing stages.
Because both Robinson's father and his son-in-law and great-grandson were
all known as Dr. Buzzard, there is sometimes confusion about the identity of
the practitioner under discussion. The title as it applies to Robinson's
progenitors had to have developed and remained well established in the
plantation culture of African American bondsmen. The name Dr. Buzzard
functions here as more of a title than a name. Probably derived from a
commingling of African and Native American religious elements, the notion
of the buzzard as spiritually significant can be found in both traditional West
African culture and among southeastern Native American ethnic groups.
The exact date of Stepheney Robinson's birth is unclear. The St. Helena
Island Cemetery Survey of 1999 gives his birth and death dates as 1860 –
1947.4 But the best-known accounts of his presence are in two books by J.
E. McTeer, High Sheriff of the Low Country and Fifty Years as a Low
Country Witch Doctor.
In both volumes, McTeer underestimates that Dr. Buzzard is around fifty
years old when McTeer becomes sheriff at age twenty-two in 1926. If this is
correct, then Robinson would have been born circa 1876. This date
contradicts other reports as well as St. Helena Island folklore, which states
that Robinson was born a slave.
These two volumes by McTeer give some indication of how deeply
entrenched Hoodoo practice was among the local residents, particularly the
African American ones. Hoodoo was so important in controlling area
residents that Sheriff McTeer found it necessary to imitate at least the
appearance as well as minimal aspects of Hoodoo practice in order to more
effectively administer justice in his jurisdiction.
Robinson was most famous for his work on legal matters, especially for
clients charged with a crime. When a client contracted his services, he would
don his famous blue-purple tinted glasses and sit in the courtroom chewing
the galanga root and spitting whenever and wherever possible. Known as
“chewing John,” “low John” or “little John,” the galanga, a member of the
ginger family, was also used in other situations requiring neutralization and
control. The practice of releasing the magical power in the root of sacred
plants by mastication is common in West and Central West Africa and was
passed on to African American Hoodoo practitioners by their parents. In the
more difficult court cases, Robinson would have dressed the courtroom
ahead of time, sometimes paying and sending in the unnoticeable Negro
janitor to deposit the root. Robinson directly and fearlessly confronted the
white man's world represented by the power of the courtroom. This was
something that few African Americans could or would do.
Robinson's reputation is legendary in black communities, especially up and
down the eastern seaboard, but it carries mythological weight on the Gullah
Coast, an area stretching from south of Savannah, Georgia, northward to
Georgetown, South Carolina, and dotted with sea islands and Gullah
communities.
Robinson's notoriety increased as the World War II draft trial of one of his
fellow root doctors, Dr. Bug, came to public attention. Peter Murray, also
known as Dr. Bug of Laurel Bay on the Broad River, was arrested in
connection with his role in administering a root designed to produce a
cardiac flutter in a man during his draft board medical examination. This
root assured the exemption of his client from service in World War II.
Murray's client was given a small amount of whiskey laced with minute
amounts of lead arsenate, which Murray apparently ordered, purchased, and
signed for through a Beaufort drugstore. He was taken into court, tried, and
convicted of aiding a young white man from Georgia to “evade selective
service.” Murray was given a one-year suspended jail sentence and ordered
to pay a $1,000 fine.
The investigating authorities then turned their attention to other root workers
in the area, particularly Dr. Buzzard. But neither the draft evasion charge nor
the mail fraud charge against him could be made to stick, so federal
authorities abandoned the pursuit of the eighty-three-year-old Dr. Buzzard to
South Carolina authorities. The state of South Carolina arrested and charged
Robinson with practicing medicine without a license. Contradicting his own
practice, Robinson did not employ a member of the root brotherhood to
chew the root on his behalf at a possible costs of $250 or $300. Instead he
hired a top-notch attorney, State Senator Brantley Harvey, to represent him.
He entered a guilty plea and paid a $300 fine in cash. It is believed that
shortly after his conviction, Dr. Buzzard abandoned his root work practice,
passing the mantle to his son-in-law, who continued working roots and being
referred to as Dr. Buzzard. Robinson died about four years later in 1947,
purportedly from stomach cancer.
Robinson's burial site continues to be a carefully guarded secret known only
to a select few. It is believed that his final resting place would be continually
plundered by those wanting graveyard dirt, pieces of clothing, and even
bones and hair if the burial site were well known. Robinson's status as a
powerful old style conjurer and root worker makes articles and dirt retrieved
from his grave more powerful in Hoodoo work than articles from the graves
of lesser-known and less-powerful conjurers and root workers. Both his
reputation and his name are frequently appropriated by marketeers and used
to sell their products.
With his life spanning from the end of U.S. chattel slavery to the end of
World War II, Robinson witnessed stark transformations in American life
and culture, particularly in Hoodoo practice and the targeting of Hoodoo by
marketeers and the growth of the spiritual marketplace.
Though Robinson rarely used them in his early years, commercially
produced and mail-order Hoodoo supplies would be used by his descendants
and, later, occasionally by him as these products became more accessible
and natural harvest grounds became less available.
Though most root workers during Robinson's earlier years maintained their
own fresh root and herb supply when possible, certain products necessary in
old tradition Hoodoo such as cauls, jalap root, sulfur, mercury, and bluestone
were almost always obtained through purchase, exchange, or barter from
African American midwives, morticians, or pharmacists. Robinson
witnessed that change.
The era between the world wars was one of rapid transformation that
cascaded and rippled throughout African American life as it was witnessing
an increase in the number and quality of streets and highways. Each time a
new highway or street was etched into the countryside, some essential
Hoodoo harvest ground was potentially disturbed or destroyed. And in years
to come, suburbanization with its concomitant malls and parking lots would
ruin a significant number of harvest grounds. The destruction of harvest
grounds, coupled with the ever-growing spiritual marketplace, would begin
to squeeze old tradition Hoodoo practitioners out of their place as their own
suppliers. In the years to come, some manufacturers and suppliers would
attempt to corner at least their regional markets, locking out African
American access to the traditional supplies and paraphernalia of Hoodoo
practice.
The Hoodoo of this period, as compared with both earlier and later Hoodoo,
was at its most diverse, culturally widespread, most complex, best organized,
and most interactive with other occult traditions. Though unstable and facing
both continuing contestation and removal from its old tradition origins,
Hoodoo during this period was at its fullest, richest, and most vibrant social
placement. Every aspect of Hoodoo overlaps into this period.
In the earlier part of the era, black midwifery was still fully functioning.
Undertakers, pharmacy workers, and swampers of the old tradition
maintained the older Hoodoo networks and were fully functioning alongside
the spiritual marketeers. Eventually the marketplace would prevail as the old
tradition continued to decline. But during a brief social moment, the old
tradition stared directly into the eyes of its Janus-faced nemesis and held its
own against both the spiritual marketeers and the assimilationists from inside
the African American community who viewed Hoodoo as a shameful relic
of barbarism, ignorance, and forced subservience.
New products, new names, and new labels were continually introduced.
These new marketing ideas were based partly on older Hoodoo images,
beliefs, and charms, a knowledge of which was gleaned from African
Americans themselves through customer requests and from the black sales
agents. The job of traveling salesman was short-lived and would soon
disappear, and with it went the door-to-door marketing of these products.
New sales venues would also appear during this period and Hoodoo product
sales would continue in a new modified sales format via catalog and direct
sales in curio shops and Hoodoo stores.
Venues such as the candle shop would emerge as successful Hoodoo
enterprises. Candle shops specialized in selling spiritual work candles. The
proliferation and success of these shops demonstrate one aspect of Hoodoo
transformation, adaptation, and functional change. Cassandra Wimbs calls
candle burning “Hoodoo's modern-day incarnation.” Closely tied to the
spiritual merchants, the production of spiritual candles is controlled by some
of the same companies that produce and market other Hoodoo supplies. The
candle shop focuses Hoodoo ritual on candle burning as a means to affect
the desired result. The process of burning replaces the intervention and old
rituals of the plantation conjurer.
Candle burning to affect change exists at the intersection of Hoodoo, New
Orleans Voodoo, and Santeria/ Lucumi. But in the precommercial days of
candle burning, a flame was sustained with a wick in the appropriate oil for
that divinity, saint, orisha, or lwa. For example, a flame for Oshun, Yoruba
orisha of female sexuality, was simply a wick in sunflower oil. Oshun enjoys
sunflowers; they and their oil are sacred to her. A flame for Obatala would
use coconut oil, and a flame to Ogun, lord of iron, would include used motor
oil. The flame consumes the oil as a sacrifice to the force that one is
petitioning.
As significant as candle burning would become to post – World War I
Hoodoo ritual, candle burning does not appear to have been a major part of
the old plantation black belt Hoodoo tradition. Candles were costly and were
rarely seen by slaves. Slaves used grease lamps in their cabins to supply
them with light.
Candle burning could have achieved some inclusion in plantation Hoodoo,
but only on a very limited basis. Southern Louisiana appears to be the
exception to this with the influence of Catholicism, Haitian Vodun, and the
emergence of New Orleans Voodoo, which all used candles.
Candle burning represents the reduction of Hoodoo ritual to one principle
ritual artifact: the spiritual candle.
Candle burning became acceptable partly because candles avoid some of the
stigma attached to Hoodoo holding agents such as mojo bags or other ritual
amulets. Some candles can be displayed and are readily available in candle
shops, in supermarkets, in drugstores and pharmacies, and in some churches.
Candle burning addresses all the areas addressed in old tradition Hoodoo,
including love and family, employment, legal matters, and mental and
physical health concerns. Unlike the traditional Hoodoo amulet in which
external color was far less important than the materials and rituals used to
construct it, candle color is especially significant. Check out the sixth book
for an exhaustive work on Hoodoo Candle Magic.
Many of the ritual items as well as the candles take their names from their
intended outcome. In both modern Hoodoo candle burning and classical old
tradition Hoodoo, intent is of supreme significance. Names such as “bend
over” candle or oil, “jinx removing” oil, “steady work” oil, “chase away”
powder, “love me” oil, “fast luck” candle, “money drawing” candle, “do as I
say” oil, and “controlling” oil and powder all speak to intent.
Candle shops are primarily an urban phenomenon, and their increasing
proliferation and visibility in urban areas are closely tied to black migration
into large urban areas, particularly in the North. By the time World War II
ended and blacks were continuing to move northward both to escape the rule
of racial terrorism and to access postwar employment and prosperity,
Hoodoo was being transformed into something observably different and
severely limited as compared with the old tradition. The spiritual
marketplace was limited in what it could deliver no matter how creative,
exploitative, and well developed it became.
Marketeered Hoodoo could not deliver the fresh herbs and roots, nor could it
tailor a ritual or a mojo to the client's specific needs. It could not know the
old incantations, it could not tie the sacred knots or use the walking boy for
individual diagnosis of malady. It could not know the proportions in which
High John was mixed with “rattlesnake master” to empower and strengthen
a client. As the old tradition slowly died, marketeers continued to make
inroads in supplying those root workers, conjurers, and independents who
claimed to still practice what was left of the old plantation black belt
tradition.
During this period, there developed a deeply intertwined relationship
between Hoodoo dream interpretation, the illegal lotteries known as “the
numbers,” and Hoodoo sign interpretation.
An important component in Hoodoo belief has always been the sign. A sign
is an unusual occurrence that portends or warns of a coming event. A sign
may be great or small, subtle or bodacious. It may be something simple that
occurs out of place or it may be something abrupt and commanding your
immediate attention. It may appear to be perfectly explainable and suddenly
become complex and mysterious. Every human interaction is pregnant with
possibilities and has potential to be a sign. Signs may come in dreams or
during waking hours.
A list of common contemporary signs includes itching palms, usually
interpreted as having to do with either losing or acquiring money. It is most
often interpreted as a sign that you will soon receive some money. Some
believers distinguish between the itching occurring in the left or the right
palm. Muscle spasms in the eyelid called “twitching eye” are seen as a sign,
usually a sign that trouble is coming. If your feet are swept by someone
using a broom to sweep a floor, that is seen as a very serious sign that either
bad luck is coming or you may be bound for jail. Dogs barking or howling
excessively at night means death is coming.
Some signs such as sweeping of feet must be neutralized by some immediate
gesture in order to deflect the coming negative consequences and to restore
the balance disrupted by the sign event. Most bad luck signs could be
immediately neutralized by gestures that became standardized, like spitting
on the broom after one's feet were swept or biting and stepping on one's
index finger if you had pointed at a cemetery or a recently covered grave.
These latter-day standardized gestures were likely derived from early
Hoodoo belief. Other gestures were displayed at the Hoodoo shout that
neutralized negative spiritual energies for the plantation slave community.
Though the relationship between sign interpretation, dream interpretation,
and the numbers would often prove to be exploitative in nature, that
triangular relationship formed a supporting component in the vibrant,
alternative, underground economy of many black communities. The daily
and sometime weekly income from the numbers was lucrative enough so
that African American men often were able to support their families with
their weekly take; others supplemented marginal or seasonal employment.
Still others prospered and some amassed small fortunes.
Numbers was an equal opportunity employer. Though men primarily were
numbers runners who carried bets to the numbers station, anyone, regardless
of gender, could make a book — as collecting and writing numbers was
known — and women often did. The money derived from such an endeavor
supplemented scarce household income.
Buttressed initially by post – World War I prosperity, then again during the
Great Depression, playing the numbers experienced tremendous growth and
expansion in urban black communities. Although the numbers began before
World War I, they grew exponentially as black urban population density
increased from northward migration. Hoping to hit on a bet as small as one
cent, gamblers often saw numbers as a hoped-for possibility for financial
gain in the face of limited employment access and the “last hired, first fired”
policy. As the growing black urban population began playing numbers,
Hoodoo would influence black participation in numbers betting as it had
done for other forms of gambling.
It was during this period that dream books and their association with the
numbers became familiar to a great many African Americans. A dream book
is a book of dream interpretation that assigns corresponding numbers to the
subject of the dream. If one dreams of a black cat, then the dreamer looks up
“black cat” in the dream book index and finds its corresponding number.
Dream books and written numerological interpretations of dreams are much
older than one would imagine.
Ancient Greek priestesses of Zeus and Apollo interpreted dreams.
Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine (460 – 370 BC), believed that
dreams could predict upcoming struggle and could reveal information about
health, including which organ was affected. Artemidorus, a second-century
physician from Roman Asia, wrote what is believed by some to be the first
book of dream interpretation. Entitled Oneirocritica and written in five small
volumes, this book is regarded as the parent of all dream books. Subsequent
books on dream interpretation were printed in Greek and translated into
Italian and English. Achmed ibn Sirin (born AD 653 in Basra, Iraq) wrote a
work of dream interpretations that was printed in Frankfurt, Germany, in
1577 and in Paris in 1603. The Universal Dream Dictionary was published
in Philadelphia and in Baltimore in 1797 and in Wilmington, Delaware, in
1817. In 1835, U. P. James published The Complete Fortune Teller and
Dream Book in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1848 he published Sibylline Oracles
or Dreams and Their Interpretations.
The earliest known dream book thought to have been written by an African
American was entitled The Complete Fortune Teller and Dream Book, by
Chloe Russel, a woman of color; it was written in 1824 and published in
1827. It contained no numbers and gave an alphabetized list of dreams and
their interpretations, from “adversity” to “weight.” The text also included a
discussion of palmistry and the reading of moles on the body.
Both numbers gambling and the spiritual marketplace experienced
tremendous growth in the period between the two World Wars. The spiritual
marketeers expanded their product lines to include not only more dream
books, but an entire line of products aimed at numbers gamblers. Cashing in
on the black community's cultural and economic vulnerability, the spiritual
marketeers added products such as lucky candles and lucky incense, which
revealed a lucky number when burned. They retooled existing products to
include luck at the numbers along with other types of luck at gambling.
Lucky oil and incense packets, when not prepared to reveal a number when
burned, simply included a list of lucky numbers in the package, but at a
price.
The older African Americans who knew the old tradition and journeyed back
down South to access it were disgusted by, yet powerless against, the urban
middlemen minority spiritual marketeers who were actively exploiting,
redefining, and helping to transform a long-standing black folk tradition. The
demise of the old tradition, symbolized in the death of Dr. Buzzard, signaled
the transformation that was taking place in Hoodoo between the two world
wars. African American health care, another area of Hoodoo tradition, would
also undergo transformation. We will now turn our attention to it.
EXCURSUS: HOODOO AS HEALTHCARE
The full dimensions of Hoodoo have been overlooked. Even recent
scholarship on Hoodoo has not included a discussion of the medicinal aspect
of the tradition. In addition, that scholarship has totally overlooked a
discussion of traditional Hoodoo healers: treaters, midwives, and root
doctors.
Even African Americans who know anything of contemporary Hoodoo will
usually not immediately associate it with medicinal herbalism. Hoodoo
marketeers were neither interested in nor had access to this aspect of
Hoodoo. While much of the magical aspect of Hoodoo would be discarded
under the strict dictates of Christianity, science, and commercialism, much
of Hoodoo's medicinal herbalism would be kept alive under another label.
Home remedies were passed down in extended families from an earlier time,
thus assuring that the postemancipation African American community would
inherit a well-developed and long-standing folk medicine tradition rich in
regional variation. That community, like African communities elsewhere,
would also inherit the deep belief that physical illness could have a
supernatural cause. This belief would persist among African Americans into
the twenty-first century. Hoodoo was believed to be able to cause all types
of illness as well as unusual physical and mental symptoms.
In a majority of poor and working-class black neighborhoods, there was
someone at least minimally skilled in administering herbal-based treatments,
some of which are used today in African American communities as well as
throughout the African diaspora.
The slave “doctor” was a common feature on most plantations of substantial
size, and on smaller plantations there was someone at least minimally skilled
in naturopathic treatments for physical, mental, and spiritual malady.
Herbal healing recipes were but one chapter in Hoodoo's oral textbook.
Herbal healers and practitioners such as midwives, treaters, and root doctors
mastered treatments and developed their regional pharmacopoeia.
In addition, there was an existing body of common knowledge and
information grounded in well-known treatment traditions that some
individuals applied to themselves. In addition to bringing healing traditions
from Africa with them and acquiring medicinal skill on their own, some
slaves were owned by white physicians and were trained by them.
One such slave named Primus assisted his master, a white doctor, at surgery
and began his own practice when his master died. Another slave doctor, who
practiced in New Orleans, bought his own freedom after having assisted and
apprenticed under three doctors, all of whom owned him at one time or
another. Other slaves were owned by pharmacists and assisted in the filling
of prescriptions and the making of medicines. And at least one bondsman,
Willie Elfe, published his own prescription book. Still others acted as nurses
both accompanying their owners and practicing independently applying their
knowledge of herbal healing. Midwives were among those who also had
herbal medicinal knowledge.
Like their plantation predecessors, most post-Reconstruction midwives
harvested their own herbs rather than purchase them. A well-stocked
midwife's cabinet would contain “digitalis, golden seal, belladonna, lobelia,
sage, henna, rhubarb, May apple, blood root, wild cherry, and numerous
others,” many that she cultivated herself.
Like the old conjurers known as swampers, most midwives were skilled
herbalists, knowledgeable in both the identification of and use of plants and
other natural substances such as natural clay dirt and insect nests. In addition
to midwifery, she often used the herbs in other types of “doctorin.'”
Sometimes known as a medicine woman, and skilled in herbal treatment, the
doctor-midwife specialized in roots related to matters of romance and of the
heart. She knew which roots, herbs, substances, prayers, and rituals would
“get a husband,” restore “nature,” and help the childless to conceive.
The midwife tradition among enslaved plantation women emerged out of
necessity and fulfilled a need in both the slave quarter and in the freedmen
communities. These women would also be called on to deliver white babies.
This aspect of the Hoodoo tradition would be handed down to the next
generation through community apprenticeships by practicing midwives.
African women who were transported to the New World as captives would
have been aware of traditional African birthing practices, and many probably
had given birth. Some undoubtedly were traditional birth attendants in their
homeland. The African American midwife in some instances was also a
competent treater of ailments and possessed skill in aspects of conjure
related to love, marriage, and family. As an essential part of a cooperative
Hoodoo network that included conjurers, root doctors, apothecary workers,
hospital workers, gravediggers, morticians, and other midwives, she
frequently had contact with conjurers and other types of root doctors.
In her close contact with conjurers, the midwife was the only direct supply
line through which conjurers could obtain umbilical cords, cauls, or other
supplies associated with birth.
Frequently the midwife was also a conjurer, and she could use any cauls,
umbilical cords, or placentas that she could obtain.
Believed by some to have been a midwife, New Orleans Voodoo legend
Marie Laveau appears to have accompanied midwives who attended births.
Whether the idea that Marie Laveau was a midwife was mythical or not, the
association of midwifery with conjure was firm. Claiming to be a midwife
and using the title imparted a level of legitimacy to women root workers and
female Hoodoos. Numerous conjure women used the title and probably
attended births, but their primary function was not in the area of delivering
babies.
Why did so many women claim to be midwives when in fact they were not
attending births or delivering babies? The title “midwife” imparted not only
legitimacy but also community status as well as a degree of legal protection
under which a conjure woman could safely operate.
Also known as granny midwives, these women were significant facilitators
in both the spiritual and physical aspects of birth. Through prayer,
incantation, potions, amulets, sacred objects, procedures, and rituals, they
treated and safeguarded the birthing woman's heightened spiritual
vulnerability. The midwife's bag contained materials from the old tradition
that she clandestinely used even after state regulation of midwife practices
forbade it. Some midwives even created two bags, one for state inspection
and one for traditional ritual use.
Where the midwife's conjure skill and spiritual belief were well developed,
she could engage in minimum ritual, something as simple as driving three
brand-new nails into the threshold of the house to distract malevolent spirits
that might interfere with the birth process. These nails served also to warn
bad spirits of the midwife's spiritual strength and power.
In cases of premature infant death or death shortly after birth, the bereaved
mother was given ritual instructions by the midwife to protect against death
claiming another of her infants. This is reminiscent of certain practices
among traditional West and Central West Africans. The Yoruba provide us
with the example of abiku, a child who is born to die. If the cycle of stillbirth
or sudden death is not broken, then the abiku will return and die innumerable
times.
African American midwifery was a place where Hoodoo ritual related to
birth and sometimes death was fully functioning, inadvertently preserving
and safeguarding what would otherwise soon become a moribund tradition.
The midwife, even more so than the conjurer, root doctor, or treater, stood in
the doorway separating life and death, natural and supernatural, spiritual
and physical worlds. Her methods were frequently part conjure ritual, part
herbal tradition, and part folk medicine. Like the conjurer, root doctor,
treater, and preacher, the midwife was often called into service through
supernatural occurrence, such as a recurring dream or a vision.
As with the many Hoodoo practitioners and believers, the midwife was
usually well connected and often prominent in several roles in the
widespread network of her church community, which frequently provided
her with client referrals. Often she was a church official such as a deaconess
or church mother. And it was there that she was important in the movement
of Hoodoo into black American church ritual that used aspects of the Bible,
especially the Psalms, in replacing lost African prayers and incantations. An
example of the Psalms used for healing and restoring ill health can be found
in Psalms 42 and 43 (to check out more psalms used for incantations and
inscribed spells, please refer to the 4th volume of the series).
A major player in the Hoodoo community, she was both a carrier of tradition
and a significant elder with the power to label and sanction behaviors.
Within her community, she was sought as a counselor, advisor, mediator,
assistant, and visionary. Her counsel was considered expert in advising
women on cultural knowledge of men. She was keeper of ritual and
procedures that would allow a woman some degree of control over her
husband's fidelity, loyalty, and devoted love. She knew the awesome legacy
of the power of menstrual blood, perspiration, and urine, and she knew how
to direct and use them with maximum efficacy.
With a good supply of cauls, umbilical cords, and placentas available to her,
she primarily controlled love charms and rituals related to conception and
female sexual potency. She advised, soothed, counseled, and supported
women, particularly in their role as mothers and wives. And she controlled
the tying of the dreaded nature sack.
This old tradition Hoodoo charm has been confused and mislabeled “nation
sack” by those who misunderstood certain African American pronunciation
patterns and who believed that blacks were mispronouncing the word nation
instead of nature, which was pronounced “naitcha.”
The purpose of the nature sack was to enable a woman to control her man's
ability to become sexually aroused and achieve an erection with another
woman. To be most effective, the nature sack had to be tied during coitus,
with the final knot tied during the man's ejaculation. The woman desiring
such a mojo was given strict details, instructions, prohibitions, and warnings.
This type of mojo was known to cause trembling in men who were Hoodoo
believers and was feared by women and approached cautiously. If a woman
was caught in the act of tying a nature sack on a man, her life could be in
peril. Even the mere mention of the nature sack could incite extreme
reactions in some men, even those claiming to be nonbelievers.
Women as well as men sometimes also sought out conjurer-midwives to
restore a man's nature. These lay fertility and sexuality specialists prescribed
herbs, potions, and certain foods to increase male sexual potency and
increase a woman's chances of conceiving.
In addition to “catchin' babies,” midwives were consulted for advice on
marital problems. They acted as lay psychologists and community
counselors. In African American neighborhoods, there was frequently at
least one well-respected church community elder who was sought out for her
advice, counseling, and support. These granny midwives performed any
number of birth-related duties, including staying on with the new mother and
infant for an extended time during the postpartum period. Like the
contemporary doula, the midwife would help with housework, cooking, and
child care. She would also instruct the new mother on diet, postpartum
bodily care, infant care, household safety, and spiritual protection.
Revered for their knowledge, ability, skill, and power, midwives were
women held in high social esteem in the rural African American
communities of the black belt South. This high esteem could possibly be
another reason that so many black women claimed that title.
Because she encountered medical personnel such as physicians and nurses
and because she also attended birthing white women, the black midwife
sometimes stood between two racial worlds, one black, one white, and
forged a link by forcing open a door in mainstream society unknown to
many African Americans of the period.
Usually called in months before the delivery, the midwife supported the
overall needs of the pregnant woman. Using parallel practices found in
traditional West African cultures, including abdominal massage, belief in
birthmarks, burial of the placenta, use of sharp metal objects to ward off a
malevolent spirits, and geophagy.
The Hoodoo-informed birthing ritual was both simple and elaborate and
included the donning of ritual clothing, usually by the birthing mother. The
items included ceremonial necklaces from either herbs, bones, animal teeth,
or other items and ritual clothing, usually one of the husband's scent-laden,
well-worn, and unwashed shirts or a hat. The midwife controlled the “sacred
birthing flame” built in the hearth. This flame was used to convert and mark
the fireplace as a temporary sacred altar with ritual care procedures. These
procedures dictated how long the flame should burn as well as when and
how the ashes were used and disposed of.
African American midwives developed and maintained a body of evolving
spiritual knowledge and information about the use of plants and other
substances as they responded to the changing needs of their clientele. They
collected and tested numerous folk remedies and rituals; among them,
remedies for diminishing childbirth pain, for avoiding birthmarks, and for
treating abnormal conditions in both the infant and mother. Their knowledge
and experience enabled them to establish and control the psychosocial
atmosphere in the birthing chamber.
While performing the necessary tasks such as cutting the umbilical cord, the
midwife would also obtain the placenta; this she used as a divination
instrument. The midwife would “read the knots” in the placenta to predict
the number of children a woman would bear.
The midwife was also directly responsible for ensuring a proper and secure
burial for the placenta.
As with the conjurers, demeanor was an essential component in the
midwife's success. She needed to move with the quiet authority of
supernatural power, conveying confidence and spiritual support to the
birthing mother. Most midwives were regarded as spiritually well developed
as they used prayers and incantations to pull down supernatural power in
supporting the birthing process and the midwife's work.
The midwife was also the essential person involved in postpartum care. As
with the birth, certain postpartum ritual procedures were followed and
brought into play.
She was directly involved in the related Hoodoo rituals of “taking up the
mother” and “calling the baby's spirit.” Frequently, on the ninth day after
birth, the mother was both helped to her feet by the midwife and slowly
walked counterclockwise, the circling direction of the sacred Ring Shout,
around the house. Then she was given a thimble of water to drink when she
returned indoors. The midwife also took up the newborn and walked the
sacred counterclockwise circle around the house, speaking to the infant and
calling its name.
During the period between the two world wars, the lay midwife profession
among blacks declined.
The rapid decline in black midwifery resulted in part from protracted attacks
by the medical profession and its promotion of the new medical specialty of
obstetrics and gynecology. The attack further included berating the midwife
and distorting the contrast between midwives and doctors. A massive
propaganda campaign was waged that used racist stereotypes and images to
support its arguments.
Midwives were by no means the only type of Hoodoo health care provider
available to the black community. Other types of Hoodoo health care
personnel included treaters. Treaters were a type of healer, either male or
female, who used herbs, roots, prayers, rituals, amulets, and incantations to
effect a positive change in a personal malady. Contemporary treaters are the
direct descendants of the old plantation conjurer doctors, though all of them,
when confronted with the label “Hoodoo,” “conjure,” or even “root work,”
denied any relationship whatsoever.
Another type of treater was simply known as “doctor.” Like the conjurer and
the midwife, the doctor stood astride the physical and spiritual worlds in his
or her approaches and techniques as well as in the supplies used. The
doctor's work overlapped with both the midwife's and the conjurer's work. In
the slave community, the doctor was often the same individual but frequently
had specialized knowledge, ability, or gifts, such as the ability to “blow out
fire” or ease the pain from burns.
Slave healers, like their African predecessors, used insects in addition to
plants and other substances to treat malady. Enslaved African Americans
were known to use maggots to treat external infections. The maggots ate
away the dead and infected tissue, leaving clean, healthy tissue in its place,
and the larvae produced a secretion that had additional antiseptic and
medical value in healing and restoring the tissue.
One technique used by all three types of Hoodoo health care providers was
the method of using string to tie sacred healing knots. Once widespread
throughout West Africa, the technique of healing and rebalancing by using
string and sacred knots was carried to the Americas by captive Africans. The
healing string would outlive American slavery and survive in isolated
pockets of African American culture at least until the early twenty-first
century.
String or yarn soaked in turpentine and worn around the waist for nine days
was used to cause abortion. Tied around the head with a knot in front, the
string was used to treat headaches. Tied around the neck or, like the
Yoruba/Lucumi “first hand of Ifa” (primer mano de Ifa), tied around the left
wrist using sixteen knots and traditional prayer, the string was seen as a
powerful protective device. One of Puckett's informants, Ms. Hattie Harris
of Columbus, Mississippi, prescribed the knotted string for treating chills.44
The healing string was photographed in active use on St. Helena Island,
South Carolina, in 1934, and its most recent use was recorded in Opaloosas,
Louisiana, in 1994 by Wanda Fontenot. Though Puckett's and Fontenot's
works were in different states and were separated by more than seven
decades, the similarities that they documented in the use, approach, and
techniques of string healing are undeniable. Tied by various peoples from
Senegal down to the Kongo, the string in West Africa was used for
rebalancing as well as for healing and protection.
Fontenot's work on African American ethnomedicine documented nine types
of healing amulets, five of which use string and knots. The nine types are the
single-knot string amulet, the multiknot amulet, the root necklace, the prayer
bead necklace, the prayer cloth, the biblical scroll, the walking cane,
religious lithography, and the silver coin, but the most widely used is the
single knot string amulet.
Of the nine amulets, the single-knot string amulet is considered the dominant
ritual artifact. It usually is made with cord string and has nine knots tied on
it. In most cases it is a part of the healing rituals of the treaters and is
commonly prescribed for children and adults. The single string amulet can
be made to be worn around the waist, across the chest (the string fits over
one shoulder and under the opposite arm), the wrist, the ankle, or the neck,
depending on what area of the body is afflicted. The common colors are
white, red, and black.
The red is used for women of childbearing age who suffer with a history of
miscarriages, difficult pregnancies, excessive bleeding after giving birth, and
irregular menses. The red string amulet is a specialty of midwives. The white
is used for any sex, any age, and any disease. The black is used for young
children suffering with worms.
The multiknot amulet, considered very powerful and worn only around the
waist, is often prescribed for adults suffering from multiple problems.
Composed of the single-string amulet with a macramé-type knot in the
center, the multiknot amulet is used less often than the single-knot type.
More difficult to tie and considered very powerful, “the multiple center
knots,” according to one practitioner, “represent every organ and bone in an
individual's body.”
The string, sometimes constructed either as a belt, an anklet, a bracelet, or a
necklace, served to focus the individual's psychic energies on that part of the
body that required medical attention. It provided the conduit for a uniting of
the spiritual and physical energies, which were constantly being refocused
and rebalanced by the string. It turned the self-healing receptors inward and
opened up the individual so that healing could occur. It also prepared the
individual for the healing process. It raised confidence and psychic strength
and tapped into the individual's ability to heal himself through positive
thinking. It focused the psychic healing resources on that part of the
individual that required treatment. Medical personnel, including doctors and
nurses, are now recognizing the healing benefits of spiritual beliefs and
supports, and some doctors are even using their patients' belief systems to
support their own treatment of patients.
Though more widely known today for his magical and spiritual
manipulations, the conjurer was also sought as a health care provider. The
conjurer, root doctor, health care tradition extended from West and Central
West Africa to the North American plantation, where conjurers were often
the sole health care provider treating both black and white patients. The
tradition that united the magical with the medicinal in a balanced spiritual
framework was the African medicinal legacy inherited by the plantation
conjurer.
Not only were herbs and roots, with incantations, ritual procedures, and
prayers used, the earth itself was used as a healing device to restore use of
limbs. In seaside communities such as Sapelo Island, Georgia, and Mobile,
Alabama, the power of the earth itself was harnessed to treat both humans
and animals stricken with impaired use of lower limbs. At the shore, a deep
hole was dug in the sand and the afflicted individual was buried in a standing
position up to the chest. A shelter was constructed over exposed body parts
to protect them from the elements, insects, and inclement weather. Water
would be continually fed to the patient to prevent dehydration; this treatment
was continued for three days while pressure from the sand combined with
the sand's mineral content and the raw power of the spinning earth
straightened out and strengthened the afflicted limbs.
The attempt to eliminate slave medical practice, which began in earnest in
1748 and probably was made more so from fear of slave poisonings than of
concern for competence, was never wholly successful among either blacks
or whites in the antebellum environment. Though the late nineteenth century
saw an increase in the attacks on the black herbal medicine tradition, that
attack, like earlier efforts, was less than successful. Blacks and some whites
continued to seek treatment, advice, and support from African American root
doctors as well as other black health care providers.
Born in 1812 and probably America's most famous nineteenth-century root
doctor, Dr. James Still of southern New Jersey was known to locals as “Dr.
James of the Pine Barrens.” The brother of abolitionist William Still, Dr.
James Still was widely sought and consulted by both blacks and whites with
medical concerns. Though he never claimed to be either a medical doctor or
a Hoodoo practitioner, he did invest his herbal potions and remedies with
spiritual potency through prayer. As the child of slaves, he was exposed to
and adhered to disconnected elements of the Hoodoo belief system.
Like his contemporaries the swampers, Dr. James Still dug and harvested his
own roots and distilled a wide range of oils, essences, and potions that he
sold to Philadelphia druggists Charles and William Ellis. He distilled
sassafras roots and peppermint and used his own healing herbal recipes
made from a range of plants and roots, including saffron, ipecac, pleurisy
root, Virginia snakeroot, lobelia, bloodroot, cloves, comfrey, horehound,
elecampane, skunk cabbage, spikenard root, Alexandria senna, mayapple,
cream of tartar, catnip, boneset, and High John root.
Nicknamed “Mr. Buzzard” by other young men he encountered one day
while chopping wood for a living, Dr. Still's nickname may have been an
appellation applied to any man who was skilled in either medicinal or
magico-spiritual root work. In African American culture, the buzzard has
appeared in dance, song, folktale, joke, and riddle, attesting to its now lost
significance as part of the Hoodoo worldview and applied not only to Dr.
James Still but also to America's most famous conjurer, Dr. Buzzard,
Stepheney Robinson of St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The reference to
the bird may have been handed down either from African cultural tradition
or from a Native American appellation easily adopted by Africans and their
descendants.
By whatever name they were designated, all the late-nineteenth-and early-
twentieth-century African American folk health care providers had one
common concern relating to the wider society: being arrested and charged
with practicing medicine without a license. It seems that this charge
particularly was used to suppress anyone functioning as a folk healer, and it
was used to suppress and legally threaten the root brotherhood.
The control, containment, and suppression of patent medicines during this
period had a further undermining influence on Hoodoo. The establishment of
regulatory efforts at the turn of the twentieth century modified the public
atmosphere in which folk medicine would be regarded and practiced.
Many of the supplies used in self-medication and self-treatment could be
purchased at the local drugstore, sometimes a Hoodoo drugstore. Hoodoo
drugstores were commercial sites where the magical and medicinal aspects
of Hoodoo were reunited; those establishments were common throughout the
black belt South. Very different than today's drugstores, these establishments
were sometimes owned by a doctor who filled prescriptions as well as
created treatments for various symptoms. Hoodoo drugstores were a
significant component in urban folk medicine and home remedies in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The most famous of all the Hoodoo drugstores was the Cracker Jack Drug
Store, located at 435 South Rampart Street in New Orleans. Founded as an
ordinary drugstore in 1897 by a white pharmacist physician, George A.
Thomas, the Thomas Drugstore eventually became a spiritual market and in
1932 was renamed the Cracker Jack Drug Store, a name it retained until it
closed in 1974.62
As a commercial folk health care site, the Hoodoo drugstore was a station at
which numerous spiritual trains stopped. These establishments would
eventually bring together a range of spiritual and occult practitioners and
traditions that had previously little if any access to one another. These were
sites for cross-fertilization and change, a place where the high practitioners
and potential patrons met and exchanged information, knowledge, and
tradition.
POST WORLD WAR II HOODOO
The aftermath of World War II, particularly its benefits in the form of
educational supports, jobs, pensions, and housing benefits from the GI bill to
returning African American servicemen, would provide the black
community with both incentives and opportunities for continuing migration
northward. Increased income, though racially circumscribed in northern
black communities, intensified the movement away from old black belt
traditions. In some cases, the old Hoodoo continuum would experience
internally generated redefinition, particularly through church-connected
Hoodoo workers. But in the northern urban environment, marketeered
Hoodoo would dominate in many black communities.
Hoodoo's first urban face, which appeared in the smaller cities and towns of
the postemancipation black belt South, was unlike its latter-day counterpart
in large northern metropolises and even some large southern cities.
The style of early, urban, black-controlled Hoodoo was very much like its
rural counterpart, sharing similar characteristics, and was intertwined in the
same supply networks. Commercial exploitation was less developed there.
This would change as marketeers moved to take over, control, and profit
from the sale of Hoodoo.
Post – World War II urbanized Hoodoo would present itself publicly as a
conglomeration of disconnected products, gestures, and procedures like
candle burning and mojo bag making.
Workers of old tradition Hoodoo would be outnumbered by and achieve
lower levels of visibility than the marketeering outsiders interested in the
commercial exploitation of Hoodoo. This would have potentially dangerous
consequences for those seeking help with medical conditions or those
preoccupied with a serious personal concern. Some of the spiritual
merchants, who had so effectively financially exploited the African
American Hoodoo belief system, would pass their businesses to their heirs
and establish a continuing legacy of intergenerational exploitation and
profiting from Hoodoo. They would further modify urban Hoodoo's face.
As old tradition black belt Hoodoo's influence and reach were weakening, it
was both outflanked by commercial exploiters and becoming more difficult
to locate inside the African American community. Concurrently, the old sites
for locating the vast array of authentic old tradition Hoodoo ingredients and
materials were becoming increasingly scarce.
For example, the supply line through the often elderly black man, who either
assisted or became the local pharmacist, and the old-style drugstore with its
compounding pharmacy selling patent medicines and ingredients used both
in Hoodoo and for other purposes would, like the old swampers, become
relics of the past.
Both the conjurer-root workers and the clients they served would,
increasingly, be forced to turn to the curio shop, the mail-order marketplace,
and Hoodoo mail-order catalogs for supplies. Though the new sources could
deliver only a limited and often insufficient inventory, the exploiting
marketeers aggressively pushed their products in an increasingly receptive
atmosphere, contributed to by black belt tradition invisibility and racism.
Several other factors would contribute to black belt Hoodoo's susceptibility
to outsider control and further marginalization as well as loss of black
control in the marketplace. The disappearance of the street-crying root and
herb peddlers, the African American community's own door-to-door Hoodoo
supply salesman, would disappear. The continuing shrinkage of old root and
herb harvest grounds and the disappearance of natural sites such as forested
lands for obtaining other old tradition Hoodoo ingredients further
contributed. The disappearance of the African American lay midwife
disrupted the traditional supply line needed for most sexually specific
Hoodoo work.
All left the black belt Hoodoo believer open to intense financial and spiritual
exploitation by those who were nonbelieving outsiders looking to make a
profit. Mail-order catalog Hoodoo would thrive in this cultural atmosphere,
but it would not go uncontested.
In addition to an increase in the number and diversity of mail-order catalogs
offering Hoodoo supplies, Hoodoo advertising would move from primarily
newspapers to the new “confessions” magazines that were penetrating
African American and white communities alike. Targeted to working-class
women, the confessions publications of the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s offered
stories that centered on themes of love, cheating, sexuality, secrecy, and
betrayal. Confessions publications gave the reader a look from behind the
“chastity curtain.” Their stories involved home wreckers, premarital sex,
out-of-wedlock pregnancies, infidelity, and young women who violated the
moral code of the day and suffered the consequences.
It is no coincidence that the characters in the confessions stories confronted
the very same problems that plagued Hoodoo help seekers, thus reinforcing
an instant identification between the readers and the characters while the
Hoodoo ads promised help for such problems. These magazines acted as
templates both by illustrating familiar thematic problems and by providing
the numerous ads that directed readers to supernatural solutions.
The late 1960s and early 1970s, the era of heightened black activism and
economic transformation would witness decline in confession market sales.
But beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s and by the 1990s, the
confessions market would experience a rebound as well as an expansion
from three to six separate magazines aimed at blacks. Since their first
publication, these magazines became a major vehicle carrying
advertisements for alleged Hoodoo practitioners.
The Hoodoo ads in the confessions magazines were not not unlike those in
African American newspapers of an earlier era. Many of the same
approaches and techniques of appeal, such as the use of fictive kinship titles
like “Mother,” “Brother,” and “Sister,” were and are still part of the sales
pitch. Because these titles are also used in the African American church,
they carry and impart a certain level of legitimacy in the world of African
American spiritual work. As in the earlier advertisements, the use of these
titles by Hoodoo workers signifies a connection with a church and thus an
implied level of both spiritual stability and legitimacy as well as an
assurance that the worker was doing only good work and not evil. But for
the marketeer, the use of the fictive title was merely a marketing device.
According to psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey, fictive kinship titles such as these
serve another important function: They raise the potential client's
expectations and they mobilize hope and confidence in the worker's ability
and experience.
In the context of the black church, these titles are earned by individuals and
bestowed by the congregation using the principle of working community
consensus. An important church mother never assumes the title on her own;
she cannot designate herself as “Mother Johnson” or “Mother Catherine.” In
core culture African American communities, these high-status indicators are
bestowed by the church, sometimes formally in recognition ceremonies, but
only after an extended period of time and only through community
acknowledgment and consensus. The marketeers who serve an African
American clientele often bestow these titles on themselves because they are
not and will never be black church “mothers” or “brothers.”
Since the introduction of Hoodoo to the Internet, there is a new twist on the
theme of “title taking” by those claiming to be Hoodoos. One can now see
the use of academic titles such as Doctor or PhD in Internet Hoodoo Web
sites. The false use of academic titles is not altogether new, as an
examination of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century black newspapers
revealed. Web sites now make tailored, misleading Hoodoo advertising
possible and available.
Black belt Hoodoo in the post – World War II period would find itself
confronted with yet another repositioning. As old tradition Hoodoo became
more invisible and marginalized, adaptations such as the candle shop would
become a more prominent feature than they had been prior to World War II.
Southern African Americans who migrated from the rural South into
northern urban black communities after the war, would give the northern,
urban adaptation of old black belt Hoodoo its last infusion of the remaining
elements of the old tradition. Other modifications involved simply importing
a black belt tradition, as did the old root doctors in Philadelphia when they
began directly peddling fresh roots, herbs, and medicinal plants in the city's
northern black neighborhoods.
Other adaptations were stimulated by both the new postwar sociocultural
environment and expansion of marketeering sites that combined the sale of
spiritual products, including roots, herbs, candles, incense, and books from
diverse traditions such as Santeria, Wicca, kabbalah, Judaism, astrology,
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, New Orleans Voodoo, and Hoodoo.
Eventually, the influence of the new age spiritual movements of the late
1960s and 1970s would be felt and demonstrated in the old shops through
the addition of products such as crystals, crystal balls, astrology charts, tarot
cards, and even spiritual wands. Some shops would hire readers, who would
perform readings and spiritual consultations right in the store. The old curio
shops and Hoodoo drugstores would be forced to diversify or close; most
closed.
In those shops that survived economically through the close of the twentieth
century, diversification would become a standard; in the 1990s, Internet
access would give a new avenue to both marketeers and legitimate old
tradition black belt Hoodoos as well as potential clients. By the end of the
twentieth century, a diversifying and widening range of marketeered Hoodoo
products could be easily located by anyone with a computer and access to
online Web sites. Many of the sites offer a catalog of products for sale and
will ship them by mail order. Some of the sites will even offer to make up a
mojo bag for a price.
Old tradition black belt Hoodoo ingredients have always been all natural,
recently harvested, or ritually preserved by traditional Hoodoo root doctor
herbalists, using old techniques, incantations, and prayers. These would have
been obtainable in the plantation environment before the emergence of
marketeered Hoodoo. Many imitated and marketeered Hoodoo products
would depart considerably, in both content and construction technique, from
their original old tradition Hoodoo predecessors.
Two examples of this exploitation can be clearly seen in the marketeering of
something known in the Hoodoo marketplace as hot foot powder and war
water. No such products existed in plantation-based Hoodoo. Hot foot
powder is an insufficient attempt to fabricate the old black belt Hoodoo
charm known to well-trained and knowledgeable old tradition Hoodoo
practitioners simply as “the walking foot.” War water attempts to duplicate
the old tradition use of a liquid substance to harm or protect. But unlike
marketeered liquids, the individually prepared Hoodoo liquids usually
contained some of the client's bodily fluid as well as the “blood” or sap from
certain plants, roots, or herbs, depending on the intensity, speed, and results
intended. According to both African tradition and old tradition Hoodoo, it
was mandatory that the recipe be mixed from fresh or ritually preserved
supplies. Unlike old tradition ingredients, some of the marketeered supplies
have sat on the shelf so long that the plastic bags containing the herb or root
became cloudy and brittle and the plant or root became stale and ineffective.
When an authentic black belt Hoodoo recipe required that it be diluted, only
sacred water was used. Only water such as rainwater caught on either the full
or the dark of the moon, water from the blacksmith's forge or foundry, or
water from the baptismal pool or “baptizin' place” in the local river or lake
was used.
If a client needed to harness the swift power of the rattlesnake, then the plant
known only as rattlesnake master was added to the mixture to speed the
work along. Certain prayers, incantations, and words of power were spoken
as the mixture was created; the words were changed to complement and call
out the spiritual power of the herbs, roots, and substances that were used.
Particular plants, with either short or extended growing periods, were used to
time the release of the power in the mixture. With some mixtures, a
counteractive substance was used to either slow, mute, or limit the time span
of the action. The counteractive substance, particularly if it were a plant, was
usually found within about an arm's radius of the root used. This rule was
also applied to poisonous plants and their natural antidotes. The root worker
simply stood astride the plant, spread his or her arms out to the side, and
within an arm's length somewhere an antidote was to be found.
In the post – World War II environment, the division between old tradition
black belt Hoodoo and the snake-oil Hoodoo of the commercial marketeers
would be wider than ever before in most aspects except one. As the old
harvest grounds continue to disappear, some old tradition workers have
succumbed to pressure to use at least some commercial supplies. Though
some African American conjurers have turned to marketeered supplies, most
old tradition workers still use freshly harvested plants, roots, herbs, and other
supplies, though they may not dig them themselves. Some still use diggers,
professional harvesters, who dig roots and herbs for them and who are
continually on the lookout for fresh wild-growing plants.
Wider sea changes in the sociocultural environment, particularly end-of-the-
century deindustrialization and its impact on the overall economic health of
African American communities heavily dependent on industry, have
impacted old tradition Hoodoo workers. Significant numbers of them, like
their clients, are forced to commit more time to their regular jobs, so they
restrict their Hoodoo practice to a preferred specialty. Though most of them
have been trained as generalists, they now specialize in a particular type of
work, such as court case work or love and family work, and they carefully
screen their cases when a request is made.
The continuing loss of black-owned farmland has also impacted old tradition
Hoodoo specialists because many of them had been independent small
farmers feeding themselves from the land and practicing their craft. The loss
of land has been a double curse upon Hoodoo that includes the loss of
traditional Hoodoo harvest grounds as well as the loss of farming land for
economic support and independence from wage labor.
In the rapidly changing post – World War II sociocultural environment,
contemporary root workers would interface with those students of and
practitioners of various traditions, including African traditional religion,
particularly Vodun, Santeria/Lucumi, Yoruba, Akan, and Kongo traditions.
Drawn together in stores that serve as botanicas, Hoodoo curio stores, and
candle shops, all under one roof, spiritual believers from a range of traditions
would encounter one another. Each overheard conversation represents an
opportunity for cross-fertilization as clients will sometime inform
contemporary root workers of their own dabbling in other traditions.
In the post – World War II cultural environment, there would be new venues
in which old tradition black belt Hoodoo would encounter and interact with
other African-derived spiritual traditions. Additionally, some children and
grandchildren of old tradition workers have become educated in the fields of
psychology and medicine and are raising important questions about Hoodoo
belief and its role in African American community health.
To subsequent generations of African Americans born in the North, three
factors would further diminish the influence and exposure of old tradition
Hoodoo as a first choice problem-solving spiritual alternative: the continuing
black migration out of the rural southern black belt northward into urban
areas, increasing income and identification with a northern urban lifestyle,
and increasing access to mainstream medical care and more money to afford
it. Though many African Americans did not trust white doctors or the health
care system, and justifiably so, greater access to health care would further
challenge belief in old tradition Hoodoo's medical legacy and would
completely and finally drive it either underground or into prayer-based faith
healing rituals. Nevertheless, beliefs from the old plantation Hoodoo
tradition would still inform behaviors of millions of younger African
Americans. There is ample evidence that in spite of black-owned supply
networks dying at least some Hoodoo belief is thriving.
Though Hoodoo would experience a diminished centrality causing
subsequent generations of African Americans to know and experience less of
Hoodoo than their parents and grandparents, many of them still turn to
Hoodoo as either their system of last resort or to support actions initiated
independently by them.
In post – World War II African American communities, the legacy and
practice of old tradition Hoodoo would continue in the more fundamentalist
African American churches. And today one can still find an old tradition
black belt root worker using certain African American church networks. A
significant number of those urbanized practitioners would increasingly be
forced into at least minimally using commercially packaged curios or
marketeered supplies such as powders, candles, roots, and soaps.
As black consciousness and political struggles of the postwar 1950s and
1960s intensified in the atmosphere of the Cold War, the influence of New
World Pan-Africanism and popular black nationalism would inadvertently
provide a new undergirding for old tradition Hoodoo. During the 1960s, a
period of heightened black consciousness, African Americans in some
quarters would view older elements of national Negro culture, including
Hoodoo, tap dance, jook activity, and the blues, as antithetical to the new
militant black man of the period. In some quarters, this view would find
compatibility with notions of racial uplift, but for different reasons. The
trajectories of Black Nationalism and assimilationist uplift would intersect in
the 1960s to further stimulate the negative perceptions of Hoodoo as a relic
of Negro superstition and backwardness. Tap dance in particular suffered a
near-death experience.
Though it would arrive at Hoodoo's doorstep in the late twentieth century
and after an ideological struggle, the influence of both modern Pan-
Africanism and African American nationalism would provide old tradition
Hoodoo with new exchange sites free from the dictates and direct influence
of exploiting marketeers and outsiders. These new sites have been allowing
old tradition workers direct contact with both continental African and New
World African traditionalists, priests, shamans, and spiritual specialists in
African traditional religion.
African-founded and controlled licensing organizations such as the National
African Religion Congress (NARC) are providing safe space for new types
of exchanges free from the fear that marketeers will appropriate the tradition
and continue the legacy of falsification, misrepresentation, and monetary
exploitation.
Founded in Philadelphia in 1999, NARC has established a governing body
of African religion practitioners that includes Akan priests; Nigerian, Cuban,
and Puerto Rican Babalawos; Olorishas; Iyalorishas; Kongo priests;
Santeros; and Shango Baptist priests. The governing body is a certification
and licensing body of African traditionalists.
At NARC's yearly conference, Hoodoos and other priests can learn the
subtly detailed tradition of making African traditional bagged amulets or
mojoes and gain exposure to the traditional African parents of Hoodoo.
Exposure to other New World manifestations of African religious traditions
allows practitioners to observe the evolutionary history and variety of
demographic circumstances and their possible influences in producing other
New World African religious traditions such as Lucumi and Shango Baptist.
These conferences are rich in the exchange of old tradition information and
ritual materials such as authentically made African traditional soaps, oils,
powders, roots, herbs, and plants. Some items must undergo long ritual
curing periods in secret, sacred locations before they can be exchanged;
these sacred places are only known to the priests and priestesses initiated in
the sacred tradition. The sites also serve as places for exchange of herbal
traditions.
Snake-oil and marketeered Hoodoo networks thrived partly on African
American disconnection from their own traditions, cultural ignorance, and
denial of self, resulting partly from racial oppression from both past
enslavement and contemporary social dislocation. Economic marginalization
and exclusion, cultural denigration, deceptive marketeering practices, and
outright racist targeting of African Americans further contributed to this
process.
In addition to serving marketeered Hoodoo, new sites in cyberspace are
challenging it through an African American reclamation of old tradition
black belt Hoodoo. Although the Internet has become a favored medium of
Hoodoo marketeers and in some instances con artists, younger African
American conjurers, root doctors, and Hoodoos who work in the old
tradition all around the United States are circumventing the marketeers and
are in close contact with one another and are exchanging traditional folk
recipes, old formulas, and rituals handed down in their families for healing,
harming, and controlling.
Hoodoo radio advertising has been limited to shows with religious content,
such as Gospel hours that featured African American Gospel music and that
attract fundamentalist believers. Certain black churches still sponsor these
shows, and their listening audiences of potential clients can readily identify a
local “prophet's” ads.
The 1990s would bring to the public access to an updated, complex spiritual
marketplace. Psychic hotlines, some endorsed by celebrities, would flood the
airways with televised ads. Individual readers and advisors such as the now
infamous Miss Cleo offered the viewing public telephone hotlines through
which they could contact a psychic, astrologer, advisor, or reader. Though
the TV psychics appealed to a wide-ranging and ethnically diverse viewing
audience, Miss Cleo targeted black potential clients by using a well
established question in Hoodoo discourse: “Has someone put roots on you?”
This language, designed to get the black viewer's attention, targeted not only
African Americans but also other blacks familiar with similar traditions such
as Jamaican Obeah.
Today in numerous communities, people still seek the help, support, counsel,
and assistance of community laypeople. Some of these skilled lay
community helpers have developed local, regional, and in some instances
national reputations as knowledgeable and adept helpers, readers, and
advisors. There are perhaps thousands of these lay community health
practitioners in African American communities across the country, and it
appears that the most effective are still associated with a traditional African
American black belt style Sanctified church.
These practitioners still address concerns that range from love problems and
the general category of protection, to the general condition of good or bad
luck, as well as legal problems and court cases, medical problems and
concerns, and personal, behavioral, and discipline problems within families,
such as disobedient youth.
They also address a major concern for economically marginalized African
Americans: the acquisition of money. Many of these lay practitioners have a
considerable degree of traditional knowledge on the uses of medicinal herbs
for healing teas and baths as well as for traditional spiritual treatments. They
are consulted not so much for their medical knowledge as for their spiritual
support and help in making important medical decisions and exploring what
questions to ask a doctor.
The most widely sought after lay helpers are still connected with a Baptist,
African Methodist Episcopal (AME), or Holiness church that retains
fundamentalist elements from the African Religion Complex in the style of
worship, exemplified by a strong interactive, participatory style between
preacher and congregation. Where these churches are the most numerous,
visible, and dominant sites of sacred worship, old tradition black belt
Hoodoo beliefs appear to be the strongest.
Though old tradition black belt Hoodoo was both originated and developed
by African American captives on plantations in the southern slave states of
America, today's workers in the tradition serve a more ethnically and
demographically diverse population than ever before. Some clients are
immigrants who have lost touch with their own folk magical and medicinal
systems and now look for something familiar and spiritually compatible to
turn to.
Some of the clients are Chinese immigrants as well as first- and second-
generation Southeast Asians, African Americans; West Indians of African,
Chinese, and East Indian ancestry; Mexican and other Latinos; and southern
as well as northern white Americans. Most of the clients were raised in a
Christian environment, and most of them live in urban areas. The problems
the workers are consulted for are in those areas of life addressed by both old
tradition black belt Hoodoo and its marketeered equivalent: love and family
relationships, work or job-related problems, financial problems, bad luck,
protection from negative forces and energies including those that cause
stress, as well as emotional and psychological difficulties, criminal court
cases, and other legal problems. Problems of love, particularly those of
finding a good mate, and finding a good job are the most requested.
Most of them do not advertise. Word of mouth among the local community
has been the primary means of advertising.
Though the location and sites for old tradition Hoodoo are severely limited
and more difficult than ever to locate, all black belt Hoodoo has not totally
vanished. Its old approach, though requiring much more effort, is still
preferred by African Americans knowledgeable of the old tradition and who
have faith in its ability to serve those in need.
CULTURAL IMPACT OF HOODOO ON
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE
H oodoo's new visibility and presence would immediately stimulate

mainstream popular artistic and scholarly interest that would
continue into the twenty-first century (think of the word “mojo”
which is now used across cultural and racial divide in the most varied way).
In the American mainstream, the rapid commercial secularization of
Hoodoo's sacred dance, the Ring Shout, would give America the foundation
for dances such as the Big Apple, a “called” counterclockwise circling dance
with high arm gestures; the Eagle Rock, derived from the traditional African
American dance play, known as the Buzzard Lope; and the Shout, a
possession dance ritual translated into a secular dance step. But more
important, African American sacred dancing's postures, gestures, and
movements would influence all American theatrical dance and would
eventually dominate American urban popular dancing even more thoroughly
than it had dominated some of the older plantation country dancing forms.
Continuing for more than fourteen decades after the end of Reconstruction,
Hoodoo's impact on American literature, though significant, was less intense
than its influence on popular dance and music.
Blues songs are a great source of hoodoo lore. Songs like Robert Johnson’s
“Stones in My Passway” and Ma Rainey’s “Black Dust Blues” describe
hoodoo practices and their purported effects in detail.
The works of early writers such as Mark Twain, Charles W. Chesnutt,
William Faulkner, DuBose Heyward, as well as more recent ones like John
Berendt and Toni Morrison are noteworthy here.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain's slave character, Jim,
lives in a world inhabited by witches, haints, signs, herbal medicine, and
magic. Through Jim we get a glimpse of the governing principles and scope
of conjure. Jim turns to the conjure tradition to interpret signs, cure
rattlesnake bite, keep off the witches, ward off loss, and deflect negative
occurrences and bad luck. He lives by the conjure code, and it informs much
of his behavior and impacts upon those he encounters. Young and
impressionable, Huck Finn has absorbed many Hoodoo beliefs and practices
from Jim in the same manner that many whites, through close association
with African Americans, had learned certain Hoodoo practices.
A thousand miles away and more than a century later, a very similar and
culturally tenacious belief would be echoed in the daily lives of Sapelo
Island, Georgia, residents, where sightings of “Aunt Nancy” the spider, were
interpreted as an especially fortunate occurrence portending good things to
come — but killing Aunt Nancy made you highly vulnerable to bad luck and
could doom you to unfortunate, even deadly retribution.
A retention from the Ghanaian Ashanti of the Akan nation, stories of the
trickster, Anansi, who comes in the form of a spider, was the subject of
children's game plays in both the American black belt South and the
Caribbean where Anansi tales and stories shaped the content of folk wisdom
in the form of riddles, stories, and proverbs.
A focal point in much of Chesnutt's work, conjure, as Hoodoo is called
there, acts as a bedrock principle in the lives of his black characters.
Hoodoo, or conjure, is the great equalizer in the face of white supremacy's
terrorizing power; when events take an uncontrollable turn for the worse and
circumstances seem insurmountable, conjure is the next resort.
Through Chesnutt's characters, we can see the post-Reconstruction world of
blacks and the deep intertwining of conjure in their daily lives. Through
conjure, Chesnutt's characters can become invisible to “patterollers” (slave
patrollers), they can administer medical treatments, ward off beatings, and
guarantee justice.
Born before the Civil War to free Negro parents, Chesnutt was intimately
exposed to the daily uses of conjure as an alternative spiritual reality. His
conjure tales reflect a well-organized spiritual philosophy achieving
centrality as a life-organizing, problem-solving, and meaning-attribution
principle. Through conjure, lives are made whole, loved ones are kept in one
place and not subjected to the master's will. In Chesnutt's work, conjure
continually challenges the assumptions of the dominant white world while
Chesnutt's portrayals of conjure give us additional information about its
capricious nature. Functioning on the principles of balance, reciprocity, and
compensation, conjure can backfire and have unintended consequences, as it
does in Chesnutt's short story “Hot-Foot Hannibal.”
In this conjure tale, which demonstrates a traditional Hoodoo principle, the
root pack or goopher to make Hannibal, a slave well ingratiated to his
master, “light headed” and “hot-footed” is fashioned in the form of a doll
with a cornstalk body, splinters for arms and legs, elderberry pith for a head,
and two little red peppers for feet.
The goopher comes with strict instructions for use, and the conjure woman
explicitly states that when the work is complete, the doll must be retrieved
and returned to her: “Fer it's monst'us powerful goopher, en is liable ter
make mo' trouble ef you leabe it layin' roun.'”
Through Chesnutt's conjure tales, we learn something of conjure's
boundaries expressed as time constraints, location restrictions, constraints on
duration, and periods of maximum and minimum efficiency and
effectiveness.
In another respect, Chesnutt's Hoodoo themes are particularly interesting
when compared with contemporary and traditional African religious belief.
Noteworthy here is the theme of a spirit embodied in a tree or bush.
In one of Chesnutt's stories entitled “Po Sandy,” Sandy, a hardworking,
obedient slave, is turned into a tree so that he can stay in one place and not
continue to be hired out by his master. The hiring-out process took Sandy
away from his wife so often that she tired of the situation and she and Sandy
agreed to have the local conjure woman turn Sandy into a tree in the forest.
Once he was turned into a tree, Sandy could stay in one place. Eventually,
through great difficulty and effort, Sandy the tree is chopped down and sent
to the sawmill where, because he is conjured, he breaks the saws used in the
milling process as workers attempt to cut him into planks. The sound of the
saw blade on Sandy's wood is said to sound like the wail of a human voice.
White writer’s work references components from the old Hoodoo belief
system as well, most notably in Faulkner. Statements about “blue-gummed”
Negroes, for example, though viewed as pejorative, reflect old tradition
Hoodoo belief in markings, particularly the belief in birthmarks.
It was believed that if a pregnant woman looked a blue-gummed Negro in
the eye during the full moon, her unborn child would be marked in some
way, often by being born as a blue-gummed child.
Best known for the 1925 novel Porgy and the 1935 Broadway folk opera
Porgy and Bess, author DuBose Heyward makes compelling use of Hoodoo
traditional belief to more completely and accurately portray southern African
American life in his work.
His short story “The Half Pint Flask” uses Hoodoo burial tradition as a core
element in the unfolding of the story. In this tale, a visitor to the area
removes a rare half-pint flask from a Negro grave. This action proves to be a
regretful faux pas for the visitor. Little did he know of the old Hoodoo
method of decorating a grave with beautiful items or items of significance in
the life of the deceased. Given to the dead, these items both honor them as
ancestors and appease the spirit of the departed. In the initial internment, the
sacred counterclockwise dance circle is convened as items are deposited on
the grave; other items are added later.
The ritual surrounding the continuing decoration of grave sites often
resembles ancestor reverence practices in West and Central West Africa and
proves to be an African American remnant form of the ancestor institution.
John Berendt, in his best-selling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and
Evil, introduces the reader to a character named Minerva, a Hoodoo woman,
alleged in the novel to have been Dr. Buzzard's mistress. Minerva's Hoodoo
work on behalf of the novel's protagonist brings him to meet her in Beaufort,
South Carolina, over Dr. Buzzard's grave. Minerva's work results in a not
guilty verdict in the protagonist's murder trial. Through Minerva, the
protagonist can access Dr. Buzzard's legendary power in the courtroom. Her
use in the novel is a pivotal point in this story filled with local color.
For these five authors — Chesnutt, Faulkner, Twain, Heyward, and Berendt
— as well as numerous others such as Ismael Reed, Toni Morrison, and
Alice Walker, Hoodoo as an important element in their portrayals deepens
and enriches their characters, setting, and tone and reveals a deeply
informative and essential cultural element rarely seen today by outsiders to
working-class black life.
Hoodoo references would also be used in monologues by performing
comics. Richard Pryor's monologue involving Miss Rudolph the conjure
woman is one of his most widely known and most entertaining. Pryor
reveals a number of interesting observations on old tradition Hoodoo's use of
insects, spiders, and urine as well as the old practitioner's willingness to
accept alternative forms of payment, other than money, such as food items.
In this monologue, Miss Rudolph requests a “goose or a turkey” at
Thanksgiving time as payment for her services. This was typically true of
old tradition plantation Hoodoos. The significance and referencing of
conjure would not end with an increasing number of literary references or an
abundance of blues lyrics; they would extend themselves into the 1970s as
black consciousness turned toward Africa. Still to this day, artists, musicians,
and writers are using Hoodoo as a source of creative inspiration..
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES IN HOODOO
M agic is a gift from the Creator, then applied by the worker, is an

act of empowered choice to become a self-created being with the
conscious power to choose one's destiny, a sacred core
component imbued in humanity by God.
Magic, in my view, is the clearest expression of the biblical concept that we
were made in God's image. Magic involves an interactive relationship with
the creator force through the agency of prayer, incantation, ritual, gathered
magical force, and the list of forms of magical practice goes on. So, what
does magic, specifically “folk magic” and the variant known as Conjure,
look like in the multifaceted subcultures of the United States?
The United States is a hotbed of diverse folk magical traditions from many
countries and cultures that made their way to its soil through colonization,
migration, and the African slave trade of the 1700s and 1800s, to name some
of the largest sources. But these influences were hardly the root of magic in
the Americas, as that was already thousands of years deep in the soil of this
land and flourishing, cultivated by the many indigenous tribes at least until
colonialization aggressively sought their land, killed their people, and
progressively eradicated many native peoples and their magical wisdom
forever.
We will never know the sacred, powerful, and much-needed magical
knowledge that was lost. Still, some of teachings and practices are preserved
in the body of conjure practices, as freed African slaves and Native
Americans encountered one another and shared their treasured wisdoms in
the petri dish of oppression. Later in its journey through the Emancipation
and Reconstruction period, the body of Conjure grew fatter with practices, as
it encountered poor, marginalized, or oppressed ethnic communities in rural
and urban areas alike. Here in the so-called “New World,” many of the
migrated practices remained intact or were able to grow and adapt as they
were influenced by the changing economic, social, and government
environment and came in contact with other oppressed or marginalized
groups, magic workers, and healers. If one were to identify the single event
in North American history that infused it with a mass of magical information
from another place, it would be the African slave trade. There are many
factors that supported the preservation and continuation of Conjure (and
other magical traditions), and one of the most effective was its ability to
change its shape without altering its soul.
Conjure as a folk magic practice does not use initiatory ceremonies like
some of the other African-influenced or Diasporic traditions. Transmission
of lore and practices to “students” or next generations of practitioners
usually happens within families or, when necessary, through apprenticeship
with hand-selected inheritors. Though Conjure is very African influenced,
and its practice more prevalent in the African American community and
under other names that may include rootwork and hoodoo, it is also found in
white and other families, depending on the community demographics and
the social and economic history of the family and individual worker.
Additionally, its shape may change from the influence of local Native
Americans where it grew and the type of Christian tradition it synchronized
with, broadly Protestant or Catholic. The integration of these religious
traditions is a part of both its beauty and its power to adapt, adopt, and grow
in ways that ensure its survival and speak to the people who will seek the
service of its practitioners. These traditions and their association with, and
access to, the tribal spirits and divinities that interpenetrate and control all
the powers of life, death, love, war, and health (to name a few forces) were
held in such high respect, honoring their inherent worth, sacredness, and
power, that they were neither destroyed nor forgotten. Rather, they “shape-
shifted” the surface appearance of the practices.
By incorporating the names, images, icons, and sacred doctrine (the Holy
Bible) of an enforced conversion to the Christian religion, while bridging
and retaining the traditional paradigm and philosophy they had heretofore,
the practitioner has been allowed a direct, personal, and accessible
relationship with the divine creator, its helpful spirits, and their power. How
could the African ancestors predict that nearly 150 years after the end of the
slave trade, these syncretic traditions would not merely survive, but also grip
the attention of many types of people, expanding their presence and power
among diverse groups across the United States and beyond.
The traditions that grew out of this approach have continued to this day,
migrating beyond the soil of the South where they were born and carrying
their seeds through post-Emancipation and reformed America to this day
where they are known as rootwork, hoodoo, Conjure, spirit-work, etc.
Though this demonstrates the deep wisdom of the African people and the
adaptability of the old ways to reshape in a different cultural setting, it was a
way to maintain a beloved relationship with the sacred, while supporting
survival through forced conversion and the severe and even deadly results of
noncompliance. In the end, it gave rise to some of the most diverse, intact,
and powerful magical practices in the world. Metaphysical lemonade from
colonialist lemons!
Like any religious or magical system, hoodoo is unique.
THE BASIS OF ALL HOODOO RESTS ON FIVE INTENDED RESULTS:
PUNISHMENT, DIAGNOSIS AND DIVINATION, CURING AND REDRESSING,
PROTECTION FROM HOODOO OR EVIL FORCES, AND GOOD FORTUNE.
Each of these has a set number of possible agents, actions, and spatial and
temporal frameworks to effect it. Nevertheless, conjurers have free reign in
choosing their spells’ subordinate features.
For example, if a hoodoo doctor plans to banish someone from a home (a
punishing act), he would use a “sender” (a type of agent used to cause
movement), but the sender’s specific material might range from red pepper
to a banana peel. The former should drive the person out by its heat, and the
latter’s slickness could speed the victim along.
Probably the most complex hoodoo spells are those designed to cure cursed
individuals. Traditionally, healing those who were thus afflicted took place
in three steps: diagnosis, curing, and turning back.
To begin with, a hoodoo doctor would use some form of divination to
determine whether the ailing person had genuinely been cursed and what had
happened. If so, the practitioner would often reveal who had initially laid the
curse.
For example, a typical diagnosis might be that the afflicted person had
scorpions in his or her internal organs placed there when the victim had
stepped over a buried charm secretly hidden by a specified enemy. Once
diagnosed, the victim expected a cure, which the conjurer was usually
willing to supply. In the case of buried charms, the cure would involve
locating and removing the source of the ailment. The uncovered charm
might be burned or otherwise ritually destroyed. In cases where live things
inhabited the ailing person’s body, the conjurer would remove them, usually
by inducing the client to vomit. Once the curse was lifted, hoodoo doctors
frequently turned the spell back onto the one who had originally cast it,
eliminating any future recurrence.
A few words on terminology
The practice of African American magic has a distinctive terminology. Most
important are the multiple names by which it has been known. During the
nineteenth century, conjure was the most prominent term. It was originally
an English word that denoted the practice of calling up and controlling
spirits. African Americans adopted other English terms to describe their
supernatural practices. A few, such as cunning and tricking, were still in use
during the first half of the twentieth century.
The term rootwork, which remains popular along the Atlantic coast of the
Lower South is likewise of European origin. Other names for conjure have
African roots. For instance, blacks from Georgia and South Carolina once
commonly spoke of supernaturalism as goofer or goopher, a term probably
of West Central African origin.
Mojo and jomo, sometimes used to describe conjure, likewise have an
African genesis and are today most popular in Mississippi and Tennessee.
Scattered reports also speak of some African Americans calling their
magical practices by terms like obee and ober, words akin to obeah, the
Jamaican word for African-derived magic. These terms, regardless of their
Old World origin, were partially supplanted in the early twentieth century by
hoodoo , another African word that had long been popular in the Mississippi
Valley but was rarely used outside of it until comparatively recent years
Words describing practitioners of conjure generally derive from the work of
supernaturalism itself. Thus practitioners of hoodoo are known as conjure
men, conjure women, or conjurers.
Titles like rootworker, trick doctor, ober man, witch, and cunning woman
likewise reflect the magical services their bearers provide.
Two-headed or double-headed doctor are some unusual designations for
practitioners that do not directly refer to their professional expertise.
According to most, the terms refer to practitioners’ possession of both
natural and supernatural knowledge. It may also derive from the belief that
children born with cauls are supernaturally gifted. Because cauls cover the
heads of those born with them, it is possible that these were originally
conceived of as the second “heads”
of two-headed doctors.
Hoodoo also has unique words for magical items and actions. Many,
however, have been restricted historically to specific regions of the country.
For instance, in the New Orleans area, zinzin, gris-gris, and wanga were the
names for different classes of charms. Zinzin referred only to positive
charms, whereas wanga and sometimes gris-gris described the harmful
variety.
Around Memphis, Tennessee, female believers carried what they called
nation sacks. These were bag charms worn next to the body, the contents of
which could be changed depending on the sort of good luck or protection
needed at the moment.
Yet another term with a limited area of usage was luck ball, a Missouri word
describing a magical ball that was usually enclosed in a small bag. Although
these terms were once confined to small portions of the South, they may now
be encountered well beyond their original range because of the rise of mail
order and Internet-based hoodoo sales.
Other words were never confined to a small area. Perhaps the most common
term for a conjure item is hand, something of a catch-all term for any sort of
magical item used for good or ill purposes.
Less widespread but still common is the word mojo. Mojos are usually bag
charms designed for positive results, such as good fortune, money drawing,
or protection. Unlike nation sacks, they are not limited to women, nor may
their contents be removed and exchanged for others.
A less common term describing a similar item is toby . The word jack
designates a fortunetelling tool. Some terms describing evil hoodoo are
poison, trick, and fix. Each of these, when used as a verb, means to curse a
victim. Poison and trick can also be used as nouns when describing an item
through which the curse was conveyed
By now you must have realized that defining the beliefs and practices of
Hoodoo is very difficult. It is a syncretic folk tradition that was and
continues to be influenced by different traditions. However there are certain
elements that are essential to the practice of Hoodoo, I am going to address
from the traditionalist’s point of view.
You will then explore further on all the facets of Hoodoo in the seven
volumes this work is composed of.
Rootwork
Where did the term “rootwork” come from? In his book on Carolina
traditions of Hoodoo and conjure, Blue Roots author Roger Pinckney noted
an interesting theory: “The root doctor probably got his name from the
herbal origins of his practice. Indeed the translated equivalent of ‘doctor’
from the West African Fon and Twi language means literally ‘observer of
plants’ and ‘workers with roots,’ respectively. But the ‘root’ may not contain
any herbs at all. The root is a charm, a mojo, a gris-gris, a hand meant to be
carried, worn, chewed or buried.”
Many of the plants and herbs used by rootworkers were used for common
medicinal purposes as forms of folk remedies. Herbs like goatweed were
used for influenza, while clove was used to cure nausea. Anthropologist
Laurie Wilkie found that “root doctors while also employing a range of
magical techniques, mainly specialized in the production and use of herbal
and animal product pharmaceuticals to combat diseases that were perceived
as being caused by natural agents of illness.” Rootwork might have some
magical components, but it was also recognized for its practicality in using
herbs and elements in the environment to combat disease and sickness.
The use of herbs in Hoodoo has been explained by some members of the
Hoodoo culture as being a practice based on the Bible. Practitioners refer to
Genesis 1:29, which explains that every plant that is on the earth is for man
to use and was placed there by a divine creator. Some Hoodoo practices are
said to be taken from the work of characters in the Bible. Moses is viewed as
an important figure who used spiritual power to turn a staff into a serpent. A
book used in Hoodoo practices, The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses,
speaks of these practices being from God — “For medicine comes from the
most High.” Examples of biblical characters using healing remedies include
how “Isaiah laid figs on the glands of King Hezekiah and healed him. Tobias
cured his blind father with fishgall, a cure that was shown him by an angel.
And even Jesus anointed the eyes of the blind man with spittle and clay.” In
her study of Hoodoo in America, Zora Neale Hurston recorded a healer’s
recipe to cure blindness that included instructions on using the gall from a
catfish to create eye drops.
Many practitioners also followed a belief known as the “Doctrine of
Signatures,” which is a philosophy that teaches that herbs that resemble parts
of the human body have the ability to heal those particular parts of the body.
Herbs are believed by some Hoodooists to contain various healing energies.
For example, ginger appears very similar to the shape of the stomach. Ginger
provides many benefits to ingestion and aids in the burning of calories.
Contagious magic and sympathetic magic
In Hoodoo workings, there are two forms of supernatural operations. The
first is known as “contagious magic.” This form of operation works on the
belief that anything that has been in contact with a person can still affect that
person. For example, a rootworker may take a piece of someone’s hair from
a brush and use it in a spell — the belief being that the hair is still
supernaturally connected to its owner and that the spell can affect the owner.
Sometimes the dirt from tracks where someone has walked is taken and used
in this type of working. A second operation concerns the use of “sympathetic
magic.” This operation works on the premise that anything that is similar to
a person can affect that person. For example, a rootworker might take a
photograph of someone and perform a spell on the photograph. The belief is
that the spell will affect the person represented in the photograph. Dolls and
names written on paper are used by conjurers to influence the target of their
workings.
Leonora Herron and Alice M. Bacon of the Hampton Institute discovered
that a Hoodoo doctor provided five distinct services, including determining
if the client has been conjured, who conjured the client, where the “trick” is
that was used to conjure the client, curing the client and turning back the
trick on the conjurer if the client wishes.
Magical Objects
Conjurers use extremely varied materials. Traditionally, most of them came
from the natural world of plants, animals, and minerals.
Despite the scope of hoodoo’s naturally occurring magical items, a few have
gained special prominence.
High John the Conqueror root is probably the most famous of all hoodoo
charms. High John was in use by the late nineteenth century and probably
before. As its name implies, it is a source of power and is almost always
used for positive ends. Among its many uses are drawing money to its
possessor, building personal power, and conquering enemies.
It is likely that a root carried by slaves to protect them from whipping was a
version of High John.
Less benevolent uses are assigned to black cat bones, which supposedly
allow their possessors to become invisible, typically for criminal pursuits.
Those wishing to find the right bone have to boil the cat alive at midnight
until the flesh falls from the bones. According to some versions, the magical
bone will be the one that comes to rest on top of the others. The possessor
should then place it under his or her tongue in order to disappear.
One of the most widely used hoodoo items is goopher dust, usually
described as dirt taken from graves.
In some cases, graveyard dirt makes up only one of several ingredients to the
dust. Compound goopher dust is usually a harmful agent and can be used to
kill or otherwise harm enemies. In a pure form, however, graveyard dirt has
numerous uses.
For example, practitioners sometimes sprinkle it in the shoes of unwitting
victims as part of spells designed to kill them. Just as common is the use of
earth from a grave to attract a lover or to win success in gambling.
Other items have long been popular in conjure but have not reached the
public consciousness as readily as High John the Conqueror, black cat bones,
and goopher dust.
Five finger grass, for instance, is an herb common in protection- and money-
related charms. Adam and Eve root has long been popular in love charms.
Puccoon root is a bringer of good luck, as are rabbits’ feet. Those involved
in legal problems use beef tongues to win court cases. Live frizzled chickens
have strong protective power and can reportedly dig up and destroy hidden
hoodoo curse packets.
These items give a taste of the varied paraphernalia of conjure, but they
represent only a small fraction of the naturally occurring items frequently
found in hoodoo, more herbs, roots and curios can be found in the third
volume on Hoodoo Herb and Rootwork.
In addition to naturally occurring materials, practitioners usually rely on a
wide assortment of manmade items.
The Bible is probably the most common human-produced conjure tool. Zora
Neale Hurston went so far as to state that, “All hold that the Bible is the
greatest conjure book in the world” (“Hoodoo in America,” 414). Verses
from it may be recited or written as parts of spells or during the manufacture
of charms. The purpose of the magic need not serve the church. Neither must
it be benevolent in character.
Candles rival the Bible as the most common manufactured hoodoo items.
These may be used in a variety of ways, ranging from finding a job to killing
one’s enemies.
In addition, colognes and perfumes have been employed by conjurers for
many years, who use them in love-drawing spells. The most popular of them
has been Jockey Club, which has been used by practitioners since at least the
early twentieth century.
In parts of Louisiana, hoodoo healers carve staffs with animal motifs. These
help their possessors walk as well as represent their spiritual powers.
Even items as mundane as tinfoil can have magical uses. At least one
Missouri conjurer was using it in his charms by the late nineteenth century.
Since at least the late nineteenth century, manufacturers have produced some
items solely for use in the conjure profession. Glass-encased candles with
magical instructions printed on them are a prime example. Several brand-
name hoodoo products are available by mail order or from spiritual supply
shops across the country. Such products include bath salts, incense, powders,
aerosol sprays, soaps, and a dizzying array of oils. In many cases, the
manufactured items reference herbal or zoological curios of the same names.
For example, numerous John the Conqueror oils
and incenses are available, although they may have no more in common with
the root than a name.
I would advise against using purchased magickal items, unless of course you
don’t have the possibilities to find your own herbs, roots, and curios. Even
so, buy only the root or herb that you need rather then prepackaged spells,
they are most likely the work of scammers and even if they are real, they
won’t work as well as your own.
Not all of the accoutrements of hoodoo are physical. For instance, certain
times, such as sunrise or midnight, are highly potent for particular spells.
Places may be equally powerful. Locales with spiritual associations, such as
graveyards or churches, are magically important. Crossroads are
exceptionally significant to hoodoo, most notably as spots where folklore has
aspiring practitioners go at midnight to sell their souls to the devil.
On a smaller scale, household altars appear as sacred space for some
hoodooists, especially in the region of the Mississippi River Valley, but I can
personally attest to their power, and I would advise you to build your own
altar for specific purposes or for general blessings as well. More on that in
the seventh volume.
Sometimes, the working of hoodoo has been as simple as placing a John the
Conqueror root in one’s pocket for protection. Magical items, natural or
manufactured, can certainly be used on their own, but far more often they
are part of a complex charm or ritual.
Even something so apparently simple as burning a conjure candle can be
more complex than one might expect.
Hoodoo’s rituals and magical materials can be mind-bogglingly complex,
but that does not necessarily mean that it is without method. Quite the
contrary, hoodoo has an underlying logic.
At the heart of all magical practices are the principles of similarity and
contagion. These apply as well to hoodoo as other magical systems.
Similarity refers to the concept that magic workers can manipulate objects or
perform actions with characteristics similar to the desired result to bring it
about.
In contrast, the principle of contagion argues that objects once in contact
continue to influence each other. Ideally, the materials used in this type of
magic are portions of the intended victim’s body or its by-products,
including but not limited to feces, hair, and fingernail clippings. When these
materials prove difficult or impossible to obtain, objects that have merely
touched the body will do. For instance, to gain a woman’s sexual favors, one
could use “a string from her drawers” to make a powerful hand. In some
cases, the items used need only to have been in metaphysical contact with
the person to be conjured.
The footsteps represented walking based on the principle of similarity, and
the fact that they were the conjured person’s tracks ensured that the spell
would affect the intended victim. Sometimes, written names can substitute
for physical contact, a practice that is most common in spells designed to
influence court cases.
The following list of magical items is meant as an introduction to the
practice of Hoodoo, for a complete list of herbs, roots, and other magical
objects used in Hoodoo for the actual practice of Hoodoo workings, please
refer to the third volume.
BATHS. Spiritual baths are a mixture of oils, waters and herbs that may be
placed in a bathtub to give the user various “energies.” Many spiritual baths
are recommended to “cleanse” away negative energies and situations. Baths
come in an array of colors and scents. Some have names such as “Come to
Me” and “Dragon’s Blood.”
BLACK CAT BONE. The black cat bone is one of the most recognized
conjure components in Hoodoo culture. Lore about the bones says that you
should take them to a crossroads along with a small mirror. Placing the
bones into your mouth will eventually result in the mirror going black. This
is an indicator that the bone has the power to make the owner invisible.
Black cat bones are believed to be very powerful objects capable of wielding
great supernatural powers.
BOOKS. There are a number of books that have been popular among
members of the Hoodoo and conjure culture. Some of them include
European metaphysical books such as The Black Pullet, Long Lost Friend,
The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses and Secrets of the Psalms. Books
known as “Dream Books,” which focus on interpreting dreams, have
historically been popular among the Hoodoo community as well.
One of the most popular books used in Hoodoo practices in the South is the
Bible. Scriptures are used in conjunction with practices to give them spiritual
power. The physical presence of biblical scriptures was believed to have a
spiritual “essence.” Scriptures were embroidered into cloths and pillows in
homes of practitioners.
The book of Psalms is a popular book used alongside prayers and practices
in folk magic. Certain Psalms would be recited while healers anointed their
clients with oil to bring about healing from sickness. The topic of a specific
Psalm would be used for particular ailments and situations. For instance,
verses that speak about weakness or sickness in the Psalmists eyes, bones or
flesh would be applied to address similar ailments in clients. A client
suffering from eye problems might utilize the following text found in Psalm
6:6 – 9: “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim;
I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it
waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath
heard my supplication; the lord will receive my prayer.”
One spell used in stopping slander requires the user to write the name of the
person causing them trouble on a sheet of paper. The paper is then placed
into a bottle of “glory water,” and the bottle is buried in the ground. The
person is then advised to read the verses of Psalm 120 for seven days in
order for the spell to work. Some healers suggested placing a Bible open to
Psalm 23 under the pillow of the sick in order to bring about healing.
CANDLES. Candles are used in Hoodoo folk practices for a number of
reasons. The candle gives a certain “ceremonial” feel to an environment and
creates an atmosphere where interaction with the spirits can be practiced.
Candles come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. They are used in
many rituals as a means of focusing energy and enhancing spiritual work.
Candles are sometimes “anointed” with various oils and herbs to enhance the
power of the object.
The color of the candle may be symbolic of the type of ritual for which the
candle is being used. For instance, red-colored candles are popular in rituals
pertaining to love and sex. Green-colored candles may be used in magical
operations related to money and financial success. It is believed that the
color of a candle can affect the vibration sent forth from the candle.
Candles are found in various shapes, including crosses, skulls, cats and
human figurines. The shapes of the candles indicate the focus of the ritual.
Candles shaped like skulls can be used in “crossing” rituals. Candles shaped
like cats can be used to bring good luck to gamblers. Candles in the glass are
very popular, with images decorating the glass displaying pictures and text
describing the use of the candle. “Money Drawing,” “House Blessing” and
many other labels are found among Hoodoo suppliers. Images on candles
feature popular saints and folk characters from African, Latin and Catholic
cultures.
Candles like the famous “Black Cat” candle may be used to turn the user’s
bad luck to good luck through the power of the spirits. A popular candle
known as the “Block Buster” is used to break up any working that has been
placed on an individual. The “Come to Me” candle is used to draw people
toward the user, such as a lost love. “Court Case” candles invoke the
spiritual to give aid to an upcoming legal matter. Candles like “Fast Luck”
and “Money Drawing” are used to bring financial success. Candles like the
“Uncrossing” or “Reversible” serve to break or turn away any negative
workings that may have been performed on the user. Candles may be used to
accompany prayers. Names written on paper and photos may be placed
under the object. Pins may also be placed in candles.
COFFIN NAILS: These are used in conjure work to drive away or harm
an enemy.
COLOGNES AND PERFUMES. There are a number of colognes that
were manufactured by non-Hoodoo companies that are used by practitioners
for their magical and spiritual characteristics. Some of the more popular
colognes include Florida Water, Strong Love, Kananga Water, Hoyt’s
Cologne and Jockey Club. Colognes could be used to cleanse objects and
people, as well as to provide protection and good luck. Jockey Club became
known for its power to bring about good luck and employment.
One of the more popular Hoodoo colognes is Hoyt’s Cologne. Hoyt’s is used
to bring good luck to gamblers. Kananga Water and Florida Water are both
recognized for their use in Hoodoo protection and cleansings. Perfumes used
in Hoodoo are used to “draw” specific energies based on their scent and
color. Perfumes can be used to draw luck or money, for hexing or removing
curses.
COON BONE: The bone taken from a raccoon’s penis is kept as a good
luck charm. The bone is believed to help in matters related to love and
gambling. These bones have been discovered among various slave quarters
in both Tennessee and Virginia.
DIMES: When drilled and placed on a piece of red thread, the silver from
the dime can take away pain. Dimes worn on the neck or ankle will protect
the wearer from being “tricked.”
FLOOR WASHES: Floor washes are liquids that contain various waters,
oils and herbs and are used to “mop” areas where spiritual work may be
performed.
GOOFER DUST: Goofer dust is used in placing tricks on enemies. It can
be sprinkled in an area where the victim will come in contact with the dust.
The dust attracts the spirits of the dead to the victim. Traditional recipes
include graveyard dirt, sulfur, brimstone and salt. Variations include snake
and lizard skins along with red peppers. The term “goofer” is a corruption of
the African word kuwfa, meaning a dead person. There was a slave belief
that if a slave placed graveyard dirt into his shoes, he could not be detected
by dogs.
GRAVEYARD DIRT/DUST: Graveyard dirt or dust is a special
component in Hoodoo. The substance is obtained by going to a grave and
offering a payment to the spirits of the dead. Typically, a silver coin like a
dime is left at the grave. Graveyard dirt may be placed on someone’s
property to cause the intended target to become sick or to leave town. One
rootworker shared with me that graveyard dirt can call attention to the spirits
of the dead. This is believed to cause calamity in the life of the victim.
GRIS GRIS: An aspect borrowed form Voodoo, popular in modern
practice of Hoodoo. Gris gris is both a noun and a verb, referring to a
powder or poison, a ritually prepared object such as a doll, or a small cloth
bag filled with magickal ingredients. Gris gris also refers to the act of
working the gris gris (spell or charm). Gris gris is an integral aspect of life
that can be traced back to the African Muslims and to Senegambians.
GUNPOWDER: Gunpowder can be used to call spirits or put a spell in
motion.
HORSESHOES: Horseshoes are traditional symbols of good luck. In
Hoodoo culture, they are believed to be able to ward off ghosts, witches and
conjurers. They were frequently placed over the doorway of homes and
businesses.
INCENSE: Incense in Hoodoo is believed to be able to send prayers to the
spiritual realm and to draw and repel specific spiritual energies. Incense
smoke can even be used to “divine” with the use of spirits. Hoodoo
practitioners refer to biblical passages related to incense and prayer as
guidelines. Incense is used in many different forms. Some incense is sold in
stick, powdered or cone forms. Some can be seen in small bundles or
“loose” forms, which are traditionally burned in an incense or charcoal
burner. Some of the different types of incense used by devotees include Bat’s
Blood, Black Art, Fast Luck, “Cast Off,” “Compelling Power,” Myrrh and
Frankincense, Van Van and “Jerusalem.”
The Hoodoo product manufacturer known as Rondo Temple Sales out of
Atlanta, Georgia, offered this to say about the spiritual origins of incense in
its catalogue, Rondo’s King Solomon’s Alleged Guide to Success: “The first
known recipe for incense is that given in Exodus, Chap.xxx Ver 34, wherein
is said that Moses was given a recipe consisting of sweet spice, myrrh, oncha
and galbanum, together with pure frankincense with the added
commandment that this incense was to be reserved exclusively for divine
worship.”
LODESTONES: These are amulets that are used for protection and to
draw success. They can be “dressed” with “Money Drawing” oil to attract
finances. Lodestones are “fed” magnetic sand to put them to work.
Lodestones are believed to come in male and female forms. Giving iron
filings to the male is called “feeding the he,” while the female feeding is
called “feeding the she.”
OILS: Oils are used to “anoint” candles, people and objects or to “dress”
objects. Oils such as the popular “Gambler’s Luck” and “Lucky Bingo” are
used to bring about success in gambling. “Fast Luck” oil contains citronella
and can be used to bring customers into a business. “Come to Me” oil and
“Drawing” oil are used in operations to attract the opposite sex. Van Van oil
was once considered the most popular conjuring drug in Louisiana,
according to Zora Neale Hurston. The oil is believed to bring about luck and
power to its user. It is also believed to be able to remove tricks.
Financial blessings are believed to come from using oils like “Prosperity,”
“Triple Fast Luck,” “Fast Success” and “Lucky 13.” Oils used to remove
negative influences like hexes include “Cast Off Evil,” “Stop Evil” and “Jinx
Remover.” “Double Cross” can be used to “turn back” tricks.
POWDERS. Powders are known as “spiritual sachet powers.” These are
typically made from talc combined with various herbs and colors. Powders
can be sprinkled and blown in specific locations to purify an area of
negativity or bring about positive success. There are a number of powders
used in Hoodoo culture, including “Attraction Powder,” to attract a love into
your life; “Magnet Powder,” used to attract good health and luck; “Money
Drawing Powder,” to bring financial success; and “Uncrossing Powder,” to
remove curses and several others. One powder that has gained notoriety in
the Hoodoo culture is “Hot Foot Powder,” which is used to drive enemies
and unwanted people away. Famed anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston
shared this spell with her readers to make someone move out of a house:
“You will take the Hot Foot Powder and sprinkle of this powder at a place
where your enemy will walk so that the fever to move will take hold of them
and enter their body and they will become dissatisfied with their place of
living and move away and not bother either you or your good neighbors
anymore.”
One popular powder among practitioners is Sonny Boy Brand Jinx Remover,
which advises users, “The alleged powers of Sonny Boy are limited only by
your personal faith. Through spiritual strength and power the rewards of
good fortune and success are possible.”
QUICKSILVER: Mercury is used as a repellant to the evil eye. It is also
used in some African-based religions to speed up the work of spirits.
Conjurers would drill a hole in a piece of nutmeg and fill it with quicksilver
to attain good luck in gambling.
RABBIT’S FOOT: The rabbit’s foot is used to bring about good luck and
was once used to repel sorcery. Some rootworkers encouraged clients to
wear the foot on a string around the neck to remove a fever.
RED BRICK DUST: Bricks are crushed, and the remaining powder is
used to provide magical protection. There are many testimonies in Hoodoo
culture about devotees who place red brick dust at the entrance of a home as
a means of protecting the residence.
SALT: Salt is primarily used for protection.
SCISSORS: Scissors are used to “cut away” crossings and protection.
Spells and curses, Bags and Tricks
The conjure doctor was

believed to be able to create “roots” that contained magical powers.
Anthropologist Jack Montgomery pointed out that these roots were not
necessarily plants and herbs but were also material components that
contained supernatural power. The object commonly known as a “mojo bag”
comes from the practice of conjure doctors where a small bag filled with the
proper recipe of materials could carry supernatural power. These bags, also
known as “hands” and “toby,” were carried by some African slaves as a form
of protection from slave owners.
Forms of “charms” can be found throughout African culture, and it is easy to
see where the concept of these objects came from. African ritual specialists
frequently took materials such as bones, herbs and stones and “charged”
them with supernatural power. Among the Kikongo people, objects known
as minkisi were believed to carry supernatural power. West African Voodoo
practitioners are given objects known as wanga that hold these energies from
another realm.
Like early African Americans, these charms might be carried for protection,
for blessings and for luck. Newbell Niles Puckett, in Folk Beliefs of the
Southern Negro, spoke of an elaborate hand composed of sandbur,
Sampson’s snakeroot and Devil’s Shoestring. These three items represented
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. They were wrapped in black cloth, sewn
with white thread and placed in a red flannel bag. The bag was then carried
by the owner and fed whiskey or camphor on a regular basis. The bag was
believed to have the ability to “draw” things to the owner, and the Devil’s
Shoestring ties was believed to tie those things closed. Another classic
example of a hand is one that included John the Conqueror root, Adam and
Eve root, a lodestone and Van Van oil placed inside a red flannel bag.
Bags were typically made from red flannel material. One writer has
pondered on the significance of the color red by saying that it was significant
in African traditional religions like West African and Haitian Voodoo. The
Bantu people of the Kongo used the color red to symbolize opposing
binaries such as birth and death. These small cloth bags were filled with
materials that functioned as “activators” to the spiritual realm. The bag may
be known as “gri gri” (or “gris-gris”), “hand” or “toby.” The word hand, it
has been noted, may have originated with the Bantu, as a similar word,
handa, was used to refer to “rescuing one from danger,” just as the bag can
rescue one from poverty or bad luck. Bags may be “fed” by the owner
pouring a little whiskey or perfumes into the bag. Some charged objects may
have whiskey being “spit” onto the object. This practice mirrors one found
in several African religious cultures where priests “spit” liquids onto sacred
objects.
Bags contained a number of materials considered necessary in conjure work.
Some of the items historically used in “mojo bags” included coins such as
dimes, dried animal skins, herbs, roots, beans, bones, nails, graveyard dirt,
snuff tobacco, lodestones, pepper, sulfur, feathers, salt, shells, a rabbit’s foot
and flour.
A common belief among the rootworker culture is that a material object is
being used to “curse” or affect the client and that the “hand” must be located
and destroyed. This belief and practice can be traced to African traditional
religious cultures. Hoodoo doctors can help clients “uncross” specific curses
that had been placed on them. The destruction of these objects results in a
breaking of the curse against the client. Some conjurers used the term “left-
hand work” to denote someone who could create and set hands, while the
“right-hand work” referred to the destruction of charms.
Some rootworkers also have the ability to “turn” the trick back on the person
who cast it. The conjurer seeks out the object used in laying the trick. This
object could be affected by the conjurer and reversed. This reversal would
send the supernatural power back onto the suspected target. Those involved
in the conjure profession needed to know how to place “tricks” on people in
order to know how to “remove” or “turn” them back. Some root doctors
would burn “hands” believed to have been used to curse a client. This
practice was one of the many reasons why rootworkers were a necessary part
of the African American culture. Their ability to remedy issues that were
caused by supernatural powers made them valuable to the community.
Natural illnesses could be caused by natural circumstances such as cold and
hot temperatures, while unnatural illnesses were caused by supernatural
occurrences.
If you want to “lay a trick” on someone, there is a number of things that you
can do to set the supernatural in motion. One of the tricks involves taking
someone’s footprints or “tracks” where they had stepped. Some tricks
involves placing something like a specific powder or herb into the path of a
person. Some charms can merely be brushed against in order for them to
send energy to their recipient. Herbs used in tricks may be chewed in the
presence of the target of the spell. Some tricks involve taking pieces of the
victim’s hair, fingernails or saliva. Clothing are taken from the victim and
used in “workings” that are believed to affect the victim. Blood, sweat and
even dandruff can be used to affect a person. Photographs of victims may be
used in spellwork to affect the intended victim. Objects known as “conjure
balls” came from taking a round bundle of materials and burying it on the
property of the intended victim. Bottles filled with various materials would
be placed around the home or business of intended victims.
EXCURSUS: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOODOO
AND VOODOO
In modern popular culture, it is common for people to classify all forms of
folk magic with traditional African origins as voodoo. Therefore, most
people misconstrue hoodoo as part of voodoo, or even as the entirety of
voodoo itself. Voodoo refers to an established religion that originated from
Haiti and is now practiced by millions of practitioners all over the world.
Voodoo is the traditional religion that emerged from the gradual evolution
of the African traditional beliefs of the African slaves that were transported
into Haitian at the peak of the slave trade. Voodoo acknowledges the
existence of a creator, a supreme God. This ‘God’ is, however, believed to
be detached from all the affairs of the physical realm and mainly rules and
interferes in the affairs of the supernatural world. However, voodoo
believers also acknowledge the existence of smaller gods and spirits that
can be reached, channeled, worshipped, and supplicated to. It is believed
that these smaller gods and spirits are under the command of the supreme
creator but possess the ability to influence changes, both negative and
positive, in the lives of their believers in the physical realm. Voodoo as a
religion incorporates a lot of the practices and doctrines of the Roman
Catholic faith. This is not surprising, as the ancient Haitian slaves were
forced by the French monarchy to adopt the principles of Roman
Catholicism, which was the official religion of the powerful French empire
back then. However, the slaves were not ready to completely let go of their
ancient beliefs. Hence, they merged their old traditional doctrines with
similar principles in Roman Catholicism, and Voodoo was born.
In New Orleans, anyone can practice Voodoo. There is no formal religious
initiation rite, no rigid orthodoxy, and there are no standard ways to
worship — though there are guidelines. Voodoo is a fluid, adaptable,
syncretic, and inclusive spiritual and religious practice that embraces the
hearts of all people, no matter their race, creed, or origin. The loas, spirits,
orishas, and mysteries — all terms used to describe the divine archetypal
forces of Voodoo — are ever-changing, manifesting in infinite ways
according to the filter of a given culture and geographic location.
The word Voodoo means “spirit of God.” Contrary to popular belief,
Voodoo is first and foremost about healing. It is a religious system based on
three levels of spirit: God, the loa, and ancestors. Voodoo believers accept
the existence of one ultimate god referred to as Bon Dieu (Good God),
below which are the powerful spirits often referred to as loas. These
powerful spirits act as intermediaries between Bon Dieu and practitioners
and are responsible for the daily matters of life in the areas of family, love,
money, happiness, wealth, and revenge. Finally, ancestor reverence is
considered the foundation of New Orleans Voodoo. The loas and ancestors
are not worshipped; rather, they are served and revered, respectively.
Voodoo is also referred to as Vodun in some parts and closely resembles the
African traditional religion practiced in Yorubaland in West Africa. In
Voodoo, ancestral veneration has remained an extremely important part of
the faith. Since Roman Catholics believe in the exaltation of spiritually-
significant saints, the old Haitian slaves simply incorporated this practice
into their religion, and in modern-day Voodoo, some saints in Roman
Catholicism are venerated during rituals and spiritual procedures.
Where voodoo is a relatively rigid set of beliefs and mindsets that
constitutes a typical religion, hoodoo is something different entirely.
Hoodoo is simply a set of laid-down practices and crafts that have been
passed down through oral narrations over generations that are meant to help
people who practice it live happier and more liberated lives. Hoodoo does
no mandate any specific form of worship, neither does it recognize the
existence of a central supreme deity. Hoodoo involves the performance of
specialized rituals such as the relatively mundane such as spiritual baths and
cleansings, to more complicated and powerful spells to conjure spirits
residing in the supernatural realm to help solve specific problems. Even
though ancestor veneration is not a compulsory component of hoodoo, a lot
of hoodoo practitioners attest to the efficacy of calling upon the souls and
spirits of dead, powerful ancestors to come to their aids in their times of
need. Hoodoo practitioners cast spells and perform rituals that lead to
supernatural results by taking advantage of the natural laws that guide the
existence of natural and supernatural realms. By combining the right herbs,
plants, roots, and other natural components, and by calling upon the right
spirits, incredible and magical things can be accomplished. According to
hoodoo beliefs, nature incorporates the force of the universe within it, and
plants are more than just docile components of the environment. When
mixed in the right proportions, processed appropriately, and the
corresponding supernatural force is summoned, plants can help believers to
transform desires and wishes into actuality. It’s all a matter of bridging the
gap between the supernatural plane – the plane where ideas and
imaginations exist – and the physical realm. The forces of nature in the
physical realm and the powers of the spirits and ancestors on the
supernatural realm help to convert imaginations into reality.
Hoodoo also recognizes the importance of parts of the human and animal
bodies as parts of the components of nature. According to the doctrines of
hoodoo, fingernails, hair from distinct parts of the body, blood, and other
bodily fluids can all be combined with other active ingredients to evoke
certain effects that manifest in the life of a particular target. The principle
behind which hoodoo functions remains simple – natural components of
the physical realm can be used to channel spiritual forces to achieve
supernatural results. In the spells and rituals that are described in this book,
you would understand how basic plants, herbs, and parts of the body can be
used to achieve personal breakthroughs or evoke effects in another person’s
life.
Unlike voodoo that involves a lot of communal activities and traditions,
hoodoo is an individualist belief. You can conveniently practice in the
privacy of your home without anyone else in the world knowing about it –
well, perhaps maybe the delivery guy from Amazon that delivers your roots
and special candles to your doorstep. Hoodoo emphasizes the power of a
personal private link with the supernatural that leads to great results. The
individualistic nature of hoodoo may be related to the fact that the slaves on
the American plantations during the days of slavery had to keep their
beliefs as private and hidden as possible from the slave masters. Hence, it
was not exactly possible for communal rituals and traditions to be practiced.
Hoodoo beams a powerful spotlight on the concept of inner peace and
personal equilibrium. In a harsh, unstable environment where mortality was
high, the ancient African slaves on the American plantations faced horrible,
uncertain circumstances. Hoodoo was therefore built on the foundation of
helping people to find inner peace and tranquility even in trying times.
Hoodoo remained a significant force in African-American culture partly
because of the institutionalized social and economic injustices that black
people in America had to grapple with before the promulgation of the Civil
Rights Act that finally abolished legalized racism. Hoodoo, with its
numerous cleansings, spiritual baths, rituals, incantations, and other specific
practices, is geared towards helping believers find order, calmness, peace,
and happiness in their daily lives. As black people continue to face
uncertain times in America, it is, therefore, more critical than ever for
people to explore their roots to find alternative means of deriving calmness
and personal satisfaction.
Hoodoo utilizes physical activities such as singing, dancing, writing,
recitations, lighting of candles, and drinking of potions, among others, to
help humans connect with and tap from the powers of the spiritual realm.
According to the principles of hoodoo, the spiritual realm is not a place that
is completely inaccessible to ordinary human beings; you just need the right
tools and ingredients to enable you to tap into the pool of power that resides
within the universe. In conjunction with specified physical activities, other
special tools such as crystals, bones, and cards can also help people to gain
unique insights and supernatural directions on knotty issues of life.
Vodun is another extremely common term that is frequently heard in
discussions about folk magic and ancient religions. Vodun refers to the
original collection of West African traditional religions practiced in parts of
Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and Ghana during the slave trade era. These religions
formed the foundations from which the fundamental beliefs of voodoo and
hoodoo were derived. Conjure is the practice of summoning supernatural
forces to take specific actions in the physical realm. Conjurers use special
tools and objects to manifest spiritual powers. Conjure is regarded as a
powerful and sometimes dangerous aspect of hoodoo as it goes beyond just
mundane rituals, cleansings, and offerings. Conjure is an ancient art of
actually summoning, manipulating, and instructing spiritual powers to carry
out the wishes of the conjurer. Despite their differences, hoodoo and
voodoo are still undoubtedly connected. However, they must be recognized
as distinct concepts and treated accordingly.
DAYS OF FEAST AND CHARGED POWER
JANUARY
6-8th: Feast Days of Jasper, Balthazar & Melchior (For obtaining gifts &
prosperity).
17th: Ogun (For work, opportunities, protection from accidents and
firearms).
FEBRUARY
2nd: Oyá, Mistress of the Cemetery (For change, readying for battle,
protection from weather).
MARCH
19th: Osanyin (Deciduous vegetation, for healing and nourishment from
Nature).
25th: Oshun - Our Lady of Charity. For love, abundance, charity, passion,
creativity (See also September).
APRIL
22nd: Earth Day - All Loa and Orisha (For renewing one’s vows to make
one’s life sacred and in harmony with the whole Creation)
MAY
15th: Ochosi - The Divine Hunter -(For justice, court cases, re- establishing
balance and universal harmony)
JUNE
21-23rd: Summer Solstice - Legba - St John's Eve - John the
Conqueror. To celebrate the summer, the warmth, fire and nourishment from
the Sun. (For opportunities, good luck and to re-align with cosmic forces)
AUGUST
2nd: Black Madonna - Virgin of the Angels. For solace, protection, fertility,
to give up one's sorrows and for protection of mothers and children.)
SEPTEMBER
7th: Yemayá (For appeasement of sorrows, abundance, love and fertility,
protection of the home).
8th: Oshun -Our Lady of Charity (For love, abundance, charity, passion,
creativity, the Arts. (See also March)
24th: Obatalá - Our Lady of Mercy (For universal peace and harmony).
OCTOBER
4th: Orunmila (For divination, psychic powers, prophetic knowledge)
24th: Erinle (For healing all)
31st: Halloween (to make hallowed before the rites of the Ancestors - to
dispel evil forces through disguise and trickery)
NOVEMBER
1st: Day of the Dead - Baron Samedi - Manman Brigitte -
Ghede (Rites to the Ancestors according to your own familial or ethnic
tradition)
3rd: St Martin de Porres (For healing and for those who have made healing
professions their chosen path)
DECEMBER
4th: Changó (For vitality, health, courage, victory in battles, to repel enemies
and negative works and evil spells)
12th: Our Lady of Guadalupe (For miracles, for abundance, solace in times
of trials and troubles, healing and for strengthening one's faith)
17th: Babalú-Ayé (For healing, particularly skin ailments, for abundance)
21-25th: Winter Solstice - Christmas - Ellegua - El Nino de Atocha – Infant
Jesus of Prague. (To celebrate the coming return of the sun, to prepare for
the winter months and their unseen transformation which will lead to new
birth in springtime, to re-align with the cosmic forces. Birth of Jesus
celebration
31st: Yemayá - La Madre de Agua. (For protection of mothers and children,
for fertility and abundance, to usher a new year of compassion and well-
being and wealth in all things).
THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE
BIBLE IN HOODOO
A s mentioned in the introductory section, Christianity has always

been a powerful influence on the cultural and spiritual aspects of
hoodoo. When the African slaves arrived on the American
plantations, the white slave masters saw their traditional beliefs as dark,
heathen, and outright evil. So, they sought to save the souls of their slaves
from everlasting torment by forcing them to adopt Christian beliefs.
Christianity since then has been an influential central force in hoodoo as a
practice in the United States.
Outside the shores of the United States, Christianity and biblical principles
also played a central role in the development of related beliefs such as the
Voodoo religion in Haiti and the Caribbean Islands and the Santeria religion
in Cuba. All these belief systems originated from the traditional African
beliefs but have since evolved over time to incorporate a lot of Christian
doctrines. Ancestral veneration in Voodoo, for instance, has evolved to
closely model the worship of the significant saints of the Roman Catholic
church. Specifically, for hoodoo, however, Christianity has impacted the
practice in a couple of very specific ways.
One significant way that Christianity and the writings of the bible have
influenced the practice of hoodoo is the replacement of incantations and
spells cast in the traditional African language with specific bible verses and
prayers. The ‘Hail Mary’ and ‘Lord’s Prayer’ texts are regularly recited in a
lot of hoodoo rituals for protection and ancestral veneration. A lot of
hoodoo rituals also involve the recitation of Psalms, such as Psalms 23 (The
Lord is my Shepherd … ) to seek favor and kindness from the spirits of the
supernatural. The African slaves being cut off from their traditional roots
forced them to adapt their practices using the resources they had at hand.
Therefore, when the white slave masters sought to enforce the principles of
Christianity upon these individuals, they quickly found parallels between
the White man’s religion and their traditional ancestral beliefs and merged
these faiths to derive the unique belief known as hoodoo.
Christianity also impacted hoodoo by reducing the degree of ‘idolatry and
deity worship’ that was originally present in the traditional African
religions. As mentioned earlier, hoodoo is not a religion per se – it is
simply a set of practices and crafts that help individuals tap= into the
powers of the supernatural real. The white men were strongly anti-pagan
and kicked against the worship f idols and smaller gods. Therefore, as the
principles of Christianity began to take root among the African slaves and
their descendants, they focused more on calling upon the spirits and
achieving inner peace and tranquility rather than offering sacrifices to gods
and deities as a regular form of worship.
Spirit possession and trances were indispensable parts of the traditional
African beliefs, at least in most parts. However, as the white slave masters
began to kick against the pagan doctrines of the hoodoo believers, these
traditional spiritual routines were modified to become more Christian-like.
Therefore, instead of terming these spiritual trances as demon-possession,
hoodoo believers began to see them as possession by the Holy Ghost and
the hosts of heaven. This modification did not fundamentally change what
these trances represented – which was a physical interaction of the human
body with the spiritual forces of the supernatural realm, but it helped to
evoke an image of purity, which allowed the White slave masters to permit
these practices. Even to this day, a lot of hoodoo practitioners still see
possession by the Holy Ghost and hoodoo-based spiritual interactions with
the supernatural world as more of the same.
The Christian Bible teaches believers that God is an omnipresent, divine
being whose presence and impact can be felt across the entirety of the
heavens and the earth. This fundamental belief has also impacted hoodoo
severely. In traditional African religions, dedicated shrines, groves, forests,
and streams were required for the worship of particular deities. However, as
the principles of Christianity have been entrenched into hoodoo, modern
hoodoo practitioners now carry out most of their rituals in their homes –
usually at dedicated altars within a corner of a room. It is rare to find
dedicated hoodoo shrines or groves in modern America. What this signifies
is that hoodoo practitioners have bought into the ‘Omnipresent God’ idea
and now believe that the spiritual forces of the universe can be accessed
from any part since the divine aura is spread evenly all over the entire earth.
Even though there are still places regarded as concentrated sites of power,
such as graveyards, cemeteries, and crossroads, it is no longer necessary for
most rituals to be carried out at designated shrines because Christianity has
taught hoodoo believer s that the universal powers of the divine flow
everywhere.
Christianity and the bible also promote the idea of God sending his
messengers and prophets to the world to help liberate people and guide
them on a path to salvation and eternal life. This belief is closely related to
the traditional beliefs of a lot of hoodoo rootworkers who believe that there
are living spirits and supernatural forces that can provide guidance and
protection to the people who believe in them and seek their help. Therefore,
instead of calling upon smaller gods and deities, like the practice in most
other Vodun beliefs, hoodoo practitioners simply make appeals to the spirits
of the universe instead, whose divine auras and powers still waft across the
universe. Even though hoodoo does not believe in the existence of a
supreme God or creator, the fact that the existence of guiding spirits is
acknowledged reflects the impact of Christian teachings of divine guidance
and protection for faithful believers.
Seventy-two percent of African- American adults in the United States today
are Christian. While a great percentage of these black Christians do not
practice hoodoo or even acknowledge the existence of the supernatural
powers and beings that form the foundation of the beliefs of hoodoo, there
are still black Christians in America who practice hoodoo alongside their
Christianity. This perhaps is the greatest evidence of the impact of
Christianity and the Bible hoodoo. Due to the remarkable similarities that
hoodoo has to modern Christianity because of the influences of the White
slave masters, it is actually now possible for people to believe in the
doctrines of Christianity and still utilize hoodoo as a channel of connecting
with the world of the supernatural and finding inner peace and tranquility in
their personal lives.
For an exhaustive list of the psalms you can use in your work, refer to the
4th volume on the series.
CONCLUSION
I hope you have enjoyed reading this book as much as I have enjoyed
writing it. May this newfound knowledge bring you joy and inner peace and
may it help you along your journey in the discovery of your power and the
ancient art and practice of Hoodoo and may our ancestors bless your path!
IF YOU ARE FEELING GENEROUS, IN THE SPIRIT OF PAYING FORWARD

WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN, I WOULD BE
DELIGHTED IF YOU COULD LEAVE A REVIEW ON AMAZON SO THAT

OTHER MAY BE BLESSED BY THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO THEORY AND
PRACTICE
The Beginner’s Spellbook to African American
Conjure and Rootwork
INTRODUCTION
on.
solid ground.
Hoodoo.
divination.
rootworker.
Strong of your theoretical knowledge of Hoodoo history and lore you are
know ready to apply some of the lessons our ancestors have left for us. This
volume will guide you through the foundational practices of Hoodoo.
A SHORT ENCYCLOPEDIC VOCABULARY
OF HOODOO
s you proceed in
your studies of hoodoo practices, you are likely to encounter a few unique
terms that are relevant to the practice of hoodoo. In this section, therefore,
we would be defining some of the most important hoodoo terms and
describing their importance to the practice of hoodoo.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of complex hoodoo vocabulary.
However, it’s a great place to start, and as we proceed further in exploring
this complex and interesting practice, we could learn more about complex
hoodoo terms and how they are applied in this age-long tradition.
AMULET: An amulet is a special charm that is worn on the person of the
individual for whom it was specially designed for. Amulets are created
through specialized rituals and spells and usually consist of a bundle of
herbs, small rocks, and other spiritually significant objects to which the
forces of the supernatural have been bound to confer protection, good luck,
or attraction upon an individual.
ANOINTING: The practice of anointing is one that was derived from the
principles of Christianity, and it is simply the act of blessing, protecting, or
fortifying an individual using a specialized type of oil. There are various
forms of anointing oils in hoodoo, and they can be utilized in different
ways. However, for a person to be said to be anointed in hoodoo, the
specialized magical oil has to be rubbed on an appropriate part of the
person's body – the most common being the head for protection and
blessing. Specialized oils may also be rubbed on diseased parts of the body
to cure mysterious ailments.
BLESSING: The act of blessing oneself or someone else can involve a
variety of processes in hoodoo. Generally, the act of blessing involves
carrying out a ritual, a cleanse or casting a spell that brings good fortune
and luck upon an individual.
BOTTLE TREE: A bottle tree is simply a dead tree whose branches are
covered with colorful bottles. It is believed that a bottle tree, when fortified
with the right spells and rituals, can serve as a means of warding if evil
spirits and negative energies from a home or an area.
COLD READING: Cold reading is the act of following a pre-defined set of
steps to find out hidden or mysterious details about a person. Cold reading
is often utilized to diagnose the root of problems, find out if a person has
been a curse or hexed, or figure out other complex details about an
individual. A successful cold reading can open the gateway to solving
pressing problems in the life of an individual.
CONDITION OILS: Just like anointing oils are revered and regarded as
sacred in Christianity, so are condition oils considered spiritually significant
in hoodoo. Condition oils are basically spiritually charged oils that have
been prepared to address very specific problems. Some hoodoo
practitioners, both online and offline, sell condition oils to help practitioners
address very specific problems in their lives. Some oils have been prepared
to help a user attract good fortune. Some are to protect an individual from
curses and spiritual attacks, while others may help a lonely person find love.
CROSSING AND UNCROSSING: Simply put, crossing refers to spiritual
works that cause harm or bad luck, while uncrossing refers to works that
reverse it. A number of products are used to aid in putting an end to crossed
conditions, particularly when used in conjunction with one or more of the
psalms. For example, products such as uncrossing crystals, oils, sachet
powders, incenses, and even chalk are believed to be particularly effective
when used in conjunction with the 37th psalm. The word cross is virtually
synonymous with the words hex, jinx, and curse.
CROSSROADS: Crossroads are simply an intersection of two roads.
However, crossroads are not just ordinary landmarks in the practice of
hoodoo; they are regarded as places of great energy and spiritual power.
Since a lot of people travel past crossroads (think about a busy intersection
in your city), these are usually places that hold great spiritual power derived
from the energies of all the numerous people that pass through these places
on a daily basis. Crossroads are, therefore, important places for carrying out
powerful rituals or placing offerings for the gods.
CURSE: A curse is a special spell or ritual that is cast to cause a specific
kind of harm to a person. Curses can be placed in different ways, using
different types of magic, some of which would be explored in this book. A
curse can lead to bad luck, sickness, financial problems, or in more serious
circumstances, death or ruin. Curses may be very powerful and can be very
devastating to a lot of people; therefore, the circumstances must be
carefully considered before a curse or hex is placed.
DIVINATION: A divination is simply a spiritual information-gathering
process. However, where cold reading usually seeks information about a
person while they are present, divination is used to gather information about
any person, circumstance, problem, or event regardless of when and where
it happened. Divination is an activity that requires extreme power as the
information being sought has to be spiritually revealed to the diviner.
DRESSING: This particular hoodoo term is frequently misunderstood.
Dressing simply refers to the application of conditioning oil onto the
surface of inanimate objects that are relevant to a ritual or spell-casting
process. These conditioning oils also have very specific impacts on the
objects they are rubbed on and influence the entire spell-casting process as a
whole. Candles, mojo bags, talismans, amulets, and offerings are examples
of inanimate objects that can be ‘dressed.’
FEEDING: This hoodoo term is another one that is frequently
misunderstood. Mojo bags and conjure bags may be ‘dressed’ with
conditioning oils to achieve a special effect. When conditioning oils are
specifically applied to a mojo bag, then that activity is particularly referred
to as feeding.
FOOT TRACK MAGIC: Foot track magic involves throwing powders and
gris gris in the path of a targeted person. That individual will suffer from
unusual problems and a streak of bad luck after they have walked on it. The
belief is that the toxic properties of the powder or gris gris will be absorbed
through the foot and “poison” the individual. Ailments such as back
problems, difficulty walking, edema, and difficulty concentrating are some
of the complaints of those who have been victimized in this fashion. Foot
tracks can also be used for other purposes, such as keeping a lover from
wandering off.
You can put a hoodoo on a person by filling an old shoe with red pepper and
placing under their house.
There are two methods of foot track magic: the direct method and the
sympathetic method. The direct method is when the powder or other
substance is thrown on the ground or a bottle is buried and the person's foot
actually touches or walks over it. Some folks take care and throw down the
mess in an “X” pattern. I was always told you just throw it where you know
the person is going to walk. The second method involves capturing the
person's footprint by gathering the dirt from an actual footprint of the target,
or by taking an old sock or shoe and doctoring it with some other powder.
GRIS-GRIS: This term originates from New Orleans Voodoo and refers to a
powerful charm prepared by combining several sacred objects into a flannel
bag and then supercharging the beg and its contents with spiritual powers.
A gris-gris bag is usually carried on the person of its user.
HAND (OR MOJO HAND): A lot of hoodoo newbies get confused when the
term ‘hand’ is repeatedly used in hoodoo in contexts that do not relate to the
limbs of the upper body. However, a hand in hoodoo refers to a mojo or
conjure bag, which is a collection of spiritually significant objects to which
supernatural powers have been bound to achieve specific effects such as
protection, supernatural strength, fortune, good luck, and divine advantage.
HAINT: This is quite a scary one. Also referred to as a hant, a haint is a
ruthless, unforgiving evil spirit that can be unleashed on an enemy to chase
them to their death. Some versions of hoodoo history also describe haints as
formless spiritual figures that can overpower their victims in their sleep and
ride upon them till their exhausted. As mentioned above, it’s pretty creepy
stuff.
JUJU: A ‘juju’ is a special charm that is mostly used for positive purposes
– to draw good fortune, increase the number of customers in a business, or
to attract and retain the love of another individual.
LAYING TRICKS: Laying tricks is another reference to the throwing of
special herbs, powders, and gris gris in a place where the intended target
will touch it, usually by walking on it. It also refers to the concealing or
disposing of magickal objects by strategically placing the ingredients in
certain places in order to fix the trick, or seal the deal. For example, if you
want to keep your partner faithful, you could take a pair of your lover's dirty
underwear, tie them in a knot, and bury them in their backyard. If it is an
enemy work, then bury the work in the person's yard, or under their
doorstep or porch or somewhere else they are inclined to walk. If it's a
money spell, you could bury the spell in the yard of a bank, or, if you can
get away with it, in the yard of a treasury mint. If you are a gambler, bury it
in a potted plant or in the garden or yard of the casino. Following this train
of thought, the same can be done for court case spells (in the courtyard),
blessings (in the churchyard), school success (schoolyard) . . . you get the
picture.
MAGICKAL OILS, INCENSES, AND SACHET POWDERS: For thousands of
years and across cultures, the belief that plant and animal aromatics (or
“odours,” as they are referred to in the old texts) have psychological,
natural, and supernatural effects on human beings. Ancient magicians
regularly made use of anointing oils, incenses, and powders as a means of
consecrating themselves, their altars, or other ritual items, or to alter their
state of consciousness. Instructions for preparing sacred oils and anointing
formulas are provided in biblical texts as well as in Egyptian papyri,
European grimoires, and other ancient and sacred books. As the art of
perfumery developed alongside the science of pharmacology, the formulas
of the various hoodoo oils, ointments, and powders coincided with this
evolution. In New Orleans, the influence of Egyptian and French perfumery
on the magickal formulary is quite pronounced, though often unrecognized.
The ancient use of oils, powders, and incenses for psychological
stimulation, as aphrodisiacs, in religious and spiritual contexts, for psychic
development, for healing, and for magickal influence persists to this day in
their application in hoodoo.
MOJO: This probably the most popular term in hoodoo and most people
who don’t even understand the beliefs and practices of hoodoo have heard
of the term before. A mojo is simply a spell that is cast usually to bring
good luck and fortune to the spellcaster or someone else. A mojo bag, also
referred to as a mojo hand, contains a variety of significant objects to which
spiritual powers are bound to achieve supernatural effects.
MOUNTING: Also referred to as possession, this term refers to a spirit or
supernatural force taking control of a human body. Mounting is usually
temporary, but can be a long-term relationship. The senses of the mounted
individual are completely in the control of the spirit as long as the
possession lasts; hence the spirit can talk or carry out actions in the physical
realm using the body it has taken over.
SPIRITUAL BATHS: Spiritual bathing is an ancient practice. In hoodoo,
spiritual baths are taken to cleanse oneself of negativity or to bring good
luck. Almost always, when someone goes to a rootworker for treatment, a
spiritual bath will be part of that treatment. A person is directed by the
conjuror to put special herbs, oils, or other ingredients in the bath water to
bring about the desired change. This is often done in conjunction with the
recitation of special psalms. Removing negativity requires washing oneself
with a downward stroke, while bringing luck or fortune requires washing
oneself in an upward motion. The left over water can be used in other
spellwork, added to floor wash, or disposed of at a crossroads.
THE GIFT OF MAGIC
Are We Born with the Gift or Do We Become Gifted?
A ccording to the fundamental individualist foundations of hoodoo,

ideally, every single individual who approaches the spirits with
clean and honest intentions is eligible to carry out personal rituals,
cleansings, and specific spells. However, hoodoo goes beyond just these
simple routines. There are more complicated aspects of hoodoo, especially
parts related to divination and summoning spirits that require a unique gift
of magic. This gift is sought by some people through rituals, offerings, and
appeasements. This extraordinary gift of magic is usually conferred upon a
person by loas, and they help the individual to manipulate spiritual powers
within the physical realm.
Therefore, there is no clear-cut answer to the question: ‘Are we born with
the gift of magic?’ Most modern hoodoo practitioners, including published
authors and experienced root doctors, confess that the more an individual
gets involved in the practice of hoodoo, the more skilled they become in
wielding herbs and roots to exploit the powers of the supernatural.
However, there have been cases of extremely young children possessing
spiritual powers. It is, however, impossible to tell if these spiritually
talented youngsters got their powers before birth or if they were blessed
with those powers early on during their childhood. The practice of hoodoo
involves a lot of grey areas; there are not a lot of concepts that are clear-cut
and crystal clear. However, there are strong indications towards the
possibility of special people being born with the power to wield magic. This
can occur as a result of their bloodlines or a special divine selection. In
other cases, a hoodoo practitioner who stays consistent in his rituals to the
loas can also gain unique supernatural insights to solve mysteries and
achieve magical results.
Developing the Gift
In some Vodun cultures, people can be initiated into temples to enhance
their powers to interact with the world of the supernatural. During these
initiation rites, special rituals are carried out to appease the gods or deities
to accept the person at the fold of the selected few who can manipulate the
powers of the spiritual world. These rites of passage are, however, more
commonplace in organized Vodun-based religions such as Voodoo and
Santeria. The gift of magic can be conferred upon anyone by the spirits.
However, as an individual, if you wish to gain supernatural insights, you
can definitely develop your gifts by carrying out specialized rituals and
appeasements, as well as opening up your mind to explore the possibilities
that abound in the universe around you. The gift of magic starts from
within, and we all possess little amounts of the universe's divine aura within
us. Therefore, to hone your gift, you need to begin to focus regularly and
deliberately on the unique force of the universe that resides within you,
hone your understanding of basic rituals and sacrifices, and become a
faithful, respectful, and knowledgeable hoodoo practitioner.
Spiritual guidance and dedication are complex concepts that have baffled a
lot of experts for years. Since hoodoo is not a religion with hard and fast
rules, the most critical aspect of developing the gift of magic is simply an
unshakable faith in the belief of the supernatural, constant practice of pre-
requisite spells and rituals, and inner introspections to grow the unique
divine aura that is already within you.
THE HOODOO ALTAR
A hoodoo altar is simply a place, spot, or surface where rituals are

performed. It helps if you have a dedicated spot within your home
or place of business to carry out your spiritual activities.
The hoodoo altar is not a complicated structure that needs to be made out of
any special material. As mentioned earlier, there are definitely places of
great power where the energies of the universe converge. However, the
omnipresent power of the universe flows through the entire world, and
anywhere you find convenient is a good place to build your altar. Your altar
should preferably be a considerably large flat surface such as a simple table,
a box, a chest, or even a clean surface on the floor in the corner of your
home. It is customary to cover the altars with a piece of white cloth. White
in many cultures signifies sanctity and purity, and a white covering shows
that you respect your personal place of worship and regard it as sacred.
Other specific colors, may be used for specific works. Check out the
seventh volume of the series to find out more.
Most altars also include CANDLES. You should design your altar as you find
convenient, candles can be a very potent means of focusing your energies as
you attempt to commune with the spirit world. Over the centuries, candles
and fire generally have played significant roles in spiritual practices, rituals,
and spell casting processes. Experienced hoodoo practitioners recommend
getting two normal candles for a start and putting them at the two opposite
ends at the back of your hoodoo altar. Learn more about candle magic and
its role in the building of an altar in the 7th volume on Hoodoo Candle
Magic.
Another important component of the typical hoodoo altar is a FIGURE,
CARVING, OR SCULPTURE. Some people purchase special sculptures sold at
hoodoo shops which can serve as physical forms through which the powers
of the spirits can be manifested. Photographs of yourself and loved ones can
also be present at the back of your hoodoo altar. This way, when you say
prayers, perform cleansings, or cast spells for protection and good fortune,
you can focus your efforts on the photographs in front of you. Photographs
and figures should be placed at the back of the altar, in between the two
candles.
An INCENSE BURNER is another extremely important component of the
hoodoo altar. Burning incense helps you to harness and focus the divine
aura within you better, and it can aid your concentration as you carry out the
rituals. It is also stated that spirits love the smell of burning incense. Hence,
this handy tool can help you to achieve better and more effective results.
The incense burner is advisable placed at the middle of the surface being
used as the hoodoo altar.
WATER is another indispensable component of the hoodoo altar. Water
represents change and fluidity, and it’s a very effective medium for
channeling spirits and harnessing surrounding energies. According to the
fundamental hoodoo beliefs, the universe is founded on four fundamental
elements: water, fire, earth, and air. Air is formless and is always present on
your altar. Fire can be supplied by your candles and represents strength,
power, and spiritual energy. Water represents calmness and fluidity.
On your hoodoo altar, you also require dirt. DIRT represents the final
element of the universe – the earth. You can use dirt from virtually
anywhere for your hoodoo altar – the sand from your backyard should do.
However, there are special kinds of dirt that are believed to be imbued with
supercharged spiritual powers, which can help to make your rituals and
spells many times more effective. A very common and potent example is
graveyard dirt. The graveyard is literally the place of the rest of dead
bodies, and as the bodies decay, they release their stored energies and auras
into the surrounding soil. Therefore, soil collected from the graveyard can
be extremely useful in channeling energies of the supernatural.
Other natural elements such as flowers and special herbs such as the John
the Conqueror root may also be present as a part of your altar. There are
specific herbs, plants, and stones that must be present for certain spells to be
carried out. However, decorating your altar with flowers, plants, and
spiritually important herbs can help to beautify your place of worship while
also helping you to focus your energy better. Crystals, special rocks, bones,
sticks, and a dish of salt are other relevant element s that can be included in
your hoodoo altar for their spiritually significant properties.
Offerings at the Altar
Special offerings can be made at your altar to appease the spirits of the
different loas depending on the type of ritual you are attempting. Offerings
are simply a token of your gratitude or devotion to the spirits of the
supernatural. Offerings may also be made at more concentrated places of
power. In modern hoodoo cultures, however, offerings can be made in the
forms of assistance rendered to people who need help around your
community. Therefore, giving a homeless man some food or donating to a
charitable cause with the intention of using that donation as a form of
sacrifice to the spirits of the supernatural realm are more efficient ways of
appeasing the spirits while at the same time helping people in need. Some
special rituals, however, require specific offerings to be made using pre-
determined objects or supplies.
THE SPIRITS OF CONJURE
S pirits are simply the living inhabitants of the supernatural realm who
can be called upon through specific processes to help to solve a
particular problem. In other established Vodun-based religions,
spirits are regarded as emissaries of the Almighty Creator who serve
specific purposes on the earth. Spirits can be appeased and called upon at
the altar or at their places of power through rituals and spells. Spirits are not
regarded as deities, but hoodoo acknowledges the fact that spirits possess
mystic powers that can be harnessed to reveal hidden information, heal
diseases and carry out other special tasks. Conjure is the general term for
the practice of summoning spirits through spells, charms, and rituals.
Evoking a Spirit
Spirits can be summoned through specialized spells. Different kinds of
spirits usually require different spells. However, the rituals generally
usually involve a material for binding the spiritual energy and a medium
through which the spirits communicate with the person who has invoked
them. A spirit might manifest its presence, for instance, by the sudden
mysterious lighting up of a candle or a sudden gust of wind. Some spirits
can be present after an invocation, and all you have to do is focus and hone
in on their unique energy signature. Evoking a spirit can be a very
dangerous and complicated process and must be carried out carefully. After
communicating with the spirit to carry out the activity you desire it to from
the spiritual realm, you can conclude your ritual, and the spirit disappears
from the object it has manifested in. You will learn more about it in the 4th
and 5th volume of the series on Hoodoo spells and incantations.
Specific altars to powerful spiritual ancestors will be extensively addressed
in the 7th volume on Hoodoo Candle Magic.
RELEVANT SPIRITUAL ANCESTORS FROM
HOODOO ANCESTORS
Hoodoo practitioners believe that some of the most powerful individuals to
have ever walked the face of the earth did not indeed die as regular mortals
do. Instead, they transitioned into the spiritual realm and still have the
ability to influence happenings and events in the world. It is even said that
some of these spirits are in charge of certain natural phenomena such as
lightning, metals, and water bodies. In this section, therefore, we would be
examining some of hoodoo’s most historically significant ancestral spirits
and Christian saints.
Workings with loas are considered controversial, since as I have said in the
first volume Hoodoo is Christian folk magic, however the power of the
African loas cannot be ignored, as the role they play in the contemporary
reconstructionist Hoodoo practice cannot be ignored.
What I am calling the “historical ancestors” are those who fought against
the unjustness of slavery, of the wrongness of one man owning another
man, or someone who fought against the odds and achieved something that
was almost unachievable for a nonwhite. It is important that these great
people be remembered and that the power they held within their spirit also
be remembered. It is that same power we all hold but most folks don't know
how to draw it up when they need that power for success. I hope some of
these great ancestors will inspire the reader to try a little harder, push a little
harder, as the ancestors of this work did to reach their goal.
Historical Ancestors
GABRIEL PROSSER: Gabriel (1776-1800), commonly known as Gabriel
Prosser, was born on the Thomas Prosser tobacco plantation in Henrico
County, Virginia. Gabriel was one of the slave ancestors that were taught to
read and write as a child. By the time he was ten years old, he was training
to be a blacksmith along with his brother Solomon. There is no information
found on their parents, but most of the time a gift like blacksmithing was
passed down from father to son, generation to generation. By the time
Gabriel was twenty, he was reputedly over six feet tall, a large, broad man.
He was a born leader, and he was very intelligent. The elders also saw him
as a leader.
Things seemed to go well until 1798, when the elder Mr. Prosser, owner of
the plantation, passed away and his twenty-two-year-old son, Thomas
Henry Prosser, inherited the plantation. It is said that the younger Prosser
was tightfisted and cruel. He began to hire out Gabriel and his brother, so
they had more freedom. For those who don't know the term “hired out,” it
means that even though Gabriel was a slave he was allowed to travel and
work for other folks with pay. Not all the folks in Virginia liked the idea of
the ancestors being hired out. They thought it was dangerous, but such folks
were cheaper to hire than their white counterparts. Even though the state of
Virginia tried to stop them from being hired out, it was hard to enforce the
law. Gabriel was allowed to hire himself out to others to work. He tended to
his own hiring out, so I'm just wondering was there Conjure going on here?
He met and associated with many ancestors who were being held as slaves,
as well as free blacks and also white laborers. Even though the free
ancestors were discriminated against, they managed to prosper. Just about
all the cities in the Southern states passed laws to try and stop free and
enslaved ancestors and working-class whites from socializing. This was
seen as a threat.
Gabriel had strong feelings against the white slave owners who cheated the
slaves they hired to do work; also some of the folks he hung around with
had some strong views about the way the lower white folks were treated.
I'm sure in those days they would have been called radicals or worse. He
dreamed of being free and being able to prosper as a blacksmith.
Gabriel, his brother Solomon, and a fellow named Jupiter stole a pig in
September of 1799, and they were caught. The white overseer of the
plantation got into it with Gabriel, who bit a large chunk of his ear off.
There were laws against blacks putting their hands on white folks, so that
crime was punishable by death. Gabriel was found guilty in the white court,
but he found a loophole called “benefit of clergy” where he could choose
branding over hanging. All he had to do was recite a verse out of the Bible,
which he did, and he was branded on the hand in court. He also spent a
month in jail. It seemed after that trouble followed him until he rebelled.
Gabriel thought if they all rebelled that the poor whites would join them; he
planned on capturing Capitol Square in Richmond. When he told his
brother and a few other folks what he had planned, they started recruiting
folks. Some were free, some were ancestors, and some were whites they
bonded together with for freedom. Gabriel was inspired by the battle at
Saint-Domingue, where the Haitian slaves won their independence and their
nation.
Gabriel and his followers had weapons and were making bullets; they were
also making swords. They were spreading out and getting more recruits; the
movement was growing. The plan was to move on August 30, 1800. Some
area white folks learned about it and told the governor, who just blew it off,
but the flooding rains came and so Gabriel and his followers had to
postpone it until the next night. Before they could move the next night, two
slaves who had been caught broke under the pressure the law and their
owners put on them and told what was gonna happen. Governor Monroe
called in the white patrols, and they searched the countryside for them until
the state militia arrived. By September 9 they had captured thirty slaves, but
Gabriel and Jack Ditcher, his right-hand man, remained missing. They were
sentenced without a jury by a special court. Thomas Henry Prosser who
owned Gabriel brought forth one of his slaves named Ben who told all he
knew as did others. Solomon and others were hung.
Gabriel was on the James River when he saw a schooner named Mary.
Swimming out, he boarded the boat and asked to speak to the captain. There
were two blacks on the boat, one named Isham and the other named Billy.
The captain was a Richardson Taylor, and he had once been an overseer.
Billy knew who Gabriel was and what he had tried to do. The captain
agreed to get Gabriel to safety, but when the boat docked in Norfolk,
Virginia, Billy went to the law and told them who Gabriel was. It's assumed
that he turned him in for the promised three-thousand-dollar reward, but in
the end he was given only fifty dollars.
Gabriel Prosser was hung on October 10, 1800. He died alone. He had
refused to make any type of statement in court. He simply wanted to be
hung alongside the other six that were hung on the same day, but even that
was denied him. The state of Virginia had to pay out more than $8,900 to
the slave owners as compensation for hanging their slaves. I honor and
respect this ancestor.
MOTHER SOJOURNER TRUTH: Every woman in America should honor
Mother Sojourner Truth. She battled for women's rights and equal
treatment. She was a true warrior for the women's rights movement. She is
best known for her speech on racial equality “Ain't I a Woman?” delivered
in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention.
She was born a slave in New York around 1797. Her birth name was
Isabella Baumfree, and she could only speak Dutch. Her parents had twelve
children, and the whole family was owned by a Colonel Hardenbergh. The
colonel had kept the family together, but when he passed, the whole family
then belonged to his son, who separated them and sold them off. Mother
Truth was sold on the auction block with a flock of sheep for a hundred
dollars. John Neely bought her, and he was a cruel man as she remembered.
She was sold twice more in the following two years until she ended up on
the property of John Dumont.
During her years with Dumont, she was taught English. She fell in love
with a guy from a plantation next to hers and they had two children, but his
owner wouldn't let them marry. They were never allowed to see each other
again. Dumont forced Mother Truth to marry an elder in approximately
1817. They had three children together: Sophia, Elizabeth, and a son Peter.
On July 4, 1827, slavery was abolished in New York, but Mother Truth had
left New York with her daughter Sophia. The other two children had to be
left behind. Peter had been sold illegally to a man in Alabama, and when
Mother Truth found out, she went before a white court and got her son
brought back to New York. This case was the very first where a black
woman had successfully won a court case in America.
Mother Truth worked for a preacher named Elijah Pierson in 1829 for a
while. Then she worked for a man named Prophet Matthias. It soon came to
light that the Prophet Matthias was a con man, and shortly after they left
Elijah Pierson's home, Elijah passed away. Believe it or not Prophet
Matthias was accused of poisoning him. He and a couple who followed
him, “the Folgers,” tried to implicate Mother Truth in the crime. Prophet
Matthias was eventually let go for lack of evidence. The Folgers were
brought to court by Mother Truth in 1835, and she won a slander suit
against them.
In 1844, she joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry
in Northampton, Massachusetts. The association had been founded by
abolitionists for the reform of women's rights. All the members lived
together on five hundred acres. Mother Truth met William Lloyd Garrison,
Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles there. The community broke up in
1846, but Mother Truth was just getting started as a reformer and activist.
She was right up there with Mama Moses. Some folks saw her as a radical,
but as she became more well known, she drew larger and hospitable
crowds. She fought for equal rights for all women and civil rights for all
blacks. She fought for black and white women to have equal rights.
Mother Truth spoke with President Abraham Lincoln about her beliefs and
her experience; she also encouraged her grandson, James Caldwell, to enlist
in the service. She was bold and had a backbone of steel. In 1865 — years
before Mother Rosa Parks — Mother Truth attempted to ride in a
Washington streetcar that was designated for white folks. For many years,
she battled Congress for land grants for elders who were former slaves, but
she was never successful. She passed away November 26, 1883, at her
home in Battle Creek, Michigan.
NAT TURNER: Nat Turner was an educated man who could read and write;
he was also gifted with the sight. He was born on October 2, 1800, in
Jerusalem, Virginia. His given name was Nathaniel Turner. He had a strong
faith, and he believed God had sent him to free the ancestors from slavery.
He had three visions that proved this to him. He was a man of God and a
strong spiritual leader. Many ancestors looked up to him and trusted him
and his mission. Most had known him since he was a young man, and they
knew how gifted he was. He prayed often, fasted, and read his Bible.
There were four others he trusted and told his plan to. They trusted him and
knew Spirit was guiding him to help set them free; they were just waiting
for Spirit to give them the go-ahead. The sign finally came when there was
an eclipse in the spring of 1831, but Nat became ill and so the plans had to
be canceled. They waited for another sign, and on August the 13th of that
year the new sign came. Nat noticed that the sun appeared to be blue that
day, and so a week later on August 21st it began. Nat and his group of men
killed the plantation owner and his whole family while they slept. They then
went from plantation to plantation killing every white person they came in
contact with. Many others joined him, as they wanted their freedom. There
were at least fifty in his army.
Nat and his men were headed to Jerusalem, but they were ambushed. They
had killed sixty whites who were slave owners, and they had planned to kill
more and take their weapons. Nat got away. He stayed in the woods near his
former plantation hiding out; he hid for six weeks. But after that they
caught him, and he died on November 11, 1831. They tried him in court,
and then they hung him and skinned him. White folks angry over the killing
of the other white folks tormented and murdered over two hundred black
people, free and enslaved — men, women, and children. The state decided
to limit the movements and the education of the ancestors after the uprising.
Nat Turner's revolt was the only slave rebellion on American land to be
successful. He sowed the seed of fear that then ran rampant throughout the
South. Folks feared that others would pick up the battle again. Here again
we find a gifted man of God battling for freedom. No one can deny he was a
conjure man who had visions and trusted them. He simply wanted to be free
as all of us do. Honor and respect to this ancestor.
CHARLES DESLONDES: Charles Deslondes was a mulatto from Haiti who
started a revolt in New Orleans in 1811. There is very little written about
him although there were a few newspaper articles on him at the time. It's
almost as if history forgot this great ancestor existed. He led five hundred
African slaves who were well organized. They were armed with hoes, a few
firearms, and axes. They marched into the city from a plantation in German
Coast County. They say the plantation was around thirty-six miles from
town. They attacked the Andry Plantation, killing the owner's son, before
they moved on to meet up with more ancestors. Within hours it is said that
folks from all around the area started pouring into New Orleans when they
heard of the revolt.
They marched down along the river towards New Orleans, attacking
plantations as they went. They had flags flying and were beating drums.
When they reached the Trepagnier Plantation, they killed the owner, Mr.
Trepagnier, then they moved on and by the next afternoon they had made it
to the Jacques Fortier plantation. They killed chickens, cooking and eating
them and drinking. Manuel Andry, who had lost his son in the revolt,
gathered up eighty troops and started out after the ancestors. They found
them at the Francois Bernard Bernoudi plantation and attacked them.
On January 11th, Charles Deslondes was dead and the battle was over.
General Wade Hampton reported that sixty were killed and sixteen were
captured for trial. The trial was fast and the judgments swift. Twenty-one of
the ancestors were placed on poles along the German Coast. Three were
found innocent of charges, and six just fell through the cracks and got away
— no one knows what happened to them. Court records hold additional
details. They identify Charles Deslondes as the head of the group and an
ancestor named Black Zenon as the main rebel. These ancestors gave their
lives for freedom in a time when it was ok by the world for one man to own
another. They should be uplifted with prayer and light.
HARRIET “MAMA MOSES” TUBMAN: Harriet Tubman was born around
1820; she was a field hand and servant. She was descended from Ashanti
people.
Because of a severe blow to her head, Mama Moses developed epileptic
seizures, but this didn't stop her. After her own escape from slavery, she
would spend the next ten years returning to the South to help other slaves
reach freedom. It is obvious that she had the sight and was crowned by
God, and not only that, but she was very clever and cunning. She had a
determination and a strong will, and it shows with all she accomplished.
She made at least nineteen trips back to the South. Like many of the
ancestors, she attributed her success to her faith in God. She was blessed
with prophetic dreams that helped lead her on the paths she would travel on
her journeys; she knew where the traps were. She was a small woman, and
in a man's world back then I am sure they underestimated her skill and her
power.
Although many now try to deny it, Harriet Tubman was a conjure woman
and very gifted at that. It is well known that she treated folks with herbal
remedies and healing works. She served in the Union army as a nurse, cook,
and scout. Mama Moses was sent to Florida at one point to help with the
plague. Folks who were interviewed in St. Catharine's in 1860 believed that
she had supernatural powers. She would walk in the graveyard around
midnight praying and gathering roots and herbs. Yes, Mama Moses was
indeed a Christian; she was just not a mainstream Christian, being more of
the conjure worker type.
John Brown, whom so many consider a martyr, went to St. Catherine's to
visit with Mama Moses where she was living. She conducted all her
business out of her home. He wanted her blessings and for her to help him
recruit folks for his raid on Harpers Ferry. He stayed about two weeks with
her. She had planned on helping him with the raid; she shared her
knowledge with him. Everything was planned out for victory! Or was it?
Captain Brown had a strong respect for Mama Moses, so much so that he
dubbed her a general. No one really knows why she missed the raid at
Harpers Ferry, but she lived on to save many more of her people. She would
come to be known by many names in her lifetime, but for me “Mama
Moses” says it all! Like Moses in the Bible she gave her life to getting her
people to freedom. Just like in Exodus 9 V 1 when God told Moses to tell
Pharaoh to let his people go, she had that same calling.
EXODUS 9 V 1
1 THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, GO IN UNTO PHARAOH,
AND TELL HIM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF THE HEBREWS,
LET MY PEOPLE GO, THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME.
Harriet Tubman was known as Mama Moses and sometimes Black Moses,
but her favorite name was “General Tubman,” the title given to her by
Captain John Brown. When you look at her life, you can see how respected
she was, how folks depended on her for her healing skills, for her wisdom,
and for the spiritual power God had gifted her with. Not only was she
depended upon for the spiritual needs of others, she was also in charge of
protecting those that moved with her along the freedom rails of the
Underground Railroad. She could shoot as good as any man. She not only
had to defend her charges against slavers, but also bounty hunters because
there was a large bounty on her head. There was also the issue of other
runaway slaves who didn't always mean well. She was an allaround warrior
woman!
When Captain Brown was leaving with his army, he turned to Mama and
said to her that if he ever needed her, he would call her name “General
Tubman” three times. She was so moved by this declaration that she gave
her permission for him to do so. If you feel you need her help, then you
simply have to call on three times, too: “General Tubman, General Tubman,
and General Tubman.” Since Mama Moses was a warrior, healer, strategist,
and soldier, you can petition her for a multitude of needs. She was a very
gifted seer, so she could also be petitioned to help find information that is
hidden. Check out the the Cairn and Cross Altar in the 7th volume.
GULLAH JACK: Jack Pritchard and Denmark Vesey have a special place in
American history. You can't talk about one without talking about the other.
They organized what would have been one of the largest slave uprisings in
American history, if they hadn't been betrayed.
Denmark Vesey was a literate slave in Charleston, South Carolina, who
purchased his own freedom for $600. He helped organize the African
Methodist Episcopal (AME) church where he lived. Like many African
American leaders of his time, Denmark was a devout Christian who
believed in the Holy Trinity and the power of scripture; however, he
practiced a different type of Christianity that was unlike the slave masters'
religion.
Vesey worked with the book of Exodus and taught the Old Testament out of
his home. He preached that the enslaved children of Africa were God's
Chosen people like the Hebrews and that they have a birthright to be free.
His theology inspired hundreds of slaves, if not thousands, which allowed
him to incite a slave rebellion with the help of Gullah Jack.
Gullah Jack, a well-known and highly feared conjure worker and spiritual
leader, was born in Angola. Little is known of his early life, other than he
was shipped to America from Zanzibar as a slave. Like Denmark Vesey,
Gullah Jack wanted to give his enslaved and oppressed kin a taste of
freedom. Denmark enlisted Gullah Jack's assistance for the planned
rebellion. Through Gullah Jack, thousands of enslaved bondsmen joined the
ranks for Denmark's rebellion, bringing the number to a total of nine
thousand.
Gullah Jack and Denmark Vesey worked hand in hand to carry out their
revolt set for July 14th, the same day that had launched the French
Revolution. While Denmark led prayers and teachings out of the Old
Testament, fueling the fire of rebellion in the hearts of Charleston's slaves,
Gullah Jack worked strong roots and Conjure to reassure his people that all
involved would be protected and spared, out of harm's way. Gullah Jack's
power as a two-headed worker was so feared that throughout most of the
planning no one said a word, until just a month before the rebellion, when
the plot was leaked by other slaves, who may or may not have been
coerced. Denmark Vesey and Gullah Jack Pritchard were tried in court and
executed, along with thirty-four other conspirators.
Denmark Vesey and Gullah Jack were both devout men, who fused their
Christian beliefs with African culture and traditions in ways that
empowered them and their followers. Check out his defensive crab claw
work in the 4th volume on powerful Hoodoo spells.
MARY FIELDS AKA BLACK MARY AKA STAGECOACH MARY: Mary
Fields was born in slavery in 1832, but she made her way to freedom and
made history. It is said that she was over six feet tall and she could shoot as
well as any man. She was a legend in her own time. Folks say she could
fight as well as any man, she loved whiskey and smoked cigars, she toted a
ten-gauge shotgun and wore a pair of six-shooters. She worked and made
her own way in a time when no women had rights, much less a black
woman on her own. In 1884 she made her way to Cascade County in
Montana. She was looking for a better life. Her first job was at St. Peter's
mission where she worked for the Ursuline nuns. She did all the heavy
work and hauling. She did a little of everything from chopping wood to
carpentry. She would also make supply runs to Helena and Great Falls.
She became a legend, and like all legends, there have been plenty of tales
told about her. She lost her job at the mission for being in a gunfight as the
story goes, so she found herself out of a job and a place to live. She tried
her hand at cooking and opened up a small restaurant, but that soon closed
because she didn't have the best cooking skills. Not all the legend was
folktales; the fact is in 1895 she became a mail carrier for the United States
Post Office. She had always liked her independence so this was just the
right job for her, and she was good at it. She had a reputation of getting the
mail delivered no matter the conditions of the weather or how far in the
mountains she had to go. She and her mule Moses would travel to remote
miners' cabins as well as to far outposts. Rain, sleet, snow, or raging heat
wouldn't stop her from getting the mail through. She got little credit for her
efforts.
She was in her mid-sixties when she stopped carrying the mail; it just
became too much for her. She still needed money to live on, so at that age
it's said she opened up a laundry in town. She passed away in 1914 of liver
failure; a simple cross marks her grave at Hillside Cemetery in Cascade.
She is a woman for all women to admire. She was the first African
American woman to carry mail and the second woman to work for the
postal service. It's said that when the law passed in Montana that women
couldn't go into saloons, the mayor gave her permission to enter. She was so
very well known and respected.
AUNT CAROLINE DYE: Aunt Caroline Tracy Dye was a descendant of the
Gullah people born somewhere around 1843-46 on the CC Tracy Plantation
in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She spent her early years as a house
servant. Some folks claim that she belonged to William Tracy, but
according to the South Carolina Wills and Probate Records, Mr. William
Tracy was deceased in 1842, so it is not possible that he owned her. Mr. CC
Tracy was his uncle, and it is assumed that he transferred Caroline to
William Tracy's wife, Nancy Griffin Reynolds Tracy. This explains who
owned Caroline when she was a slave. So many old plantation records have
been lost or destroyed that the information about her is sketchy. At some
point Caroline traveled with Nancy Griffin Reynolds Tracy and her children
to Arkansas. This would have been around 1860 or 1861. Mrs. Tracy passed
away in 1861. It would seem, even though there is no record of it, that
Caroline was freed either before Mrs. Tracy's death or right after her death.
Caroline married Martin Dye in Arkansas. It is said that she adopted a lot of
his family as her own. She had only one child of her own: a daughter name
Hannah. Aunt Caroline was known for her gift of sight as a child, but when
she moved to Arkansas, her fame grew. She was a very gifted reader with
the playing cards, and she was a healer. She was a devout Christian as well.
Many times over she offered money to the local church to help with repairs
and such, but the church always refused her kind gesture because of the
type of work she did. Folks say when she passed, she was very rich, not
only in fame but also in money. They say that she had so many clients
coming to her home that she had to hire a cook so she could feed them all
while they were waiting for their readings. There are many songs written
about her and her gifts. She was a powerful gifted worker and one that
should be honored. She is buried in Gum Grove Cemetery in Newport,
Arkansas, next to her husband, Martin.
Check out how to build an altar to her spirit in the seventh volume.
Saints and Spiritual Ancestors
BIG MAMA: The Big Mama family of spirits derives from the archetypal
Big Mama, the house slave, who served as the mother over the plantation
house. Although in life these brave women had names, those were rarely
recorded and are now mostly unknown. Their spirits survive as important
and sacred ancestors of Conjure, where they are called Big Mama. Never
call them by that disrespectful name, “Mammy.” Aunt Jemima is a
representation of a Big Mama.
Back in slavery days, it was Big Mama's job to take care of the house and
everyone in it. She did all the treating of the ill. She had to cook, clean, let
white babies suckle at her breast, and wait on folks hand and foot. Big
Mama did what she had to do, which takes a very strong spirit and faith that
most folks don't possess. Many Big Mamas also had spiritual gifts: they
were gifted healers and card readers. Big Mama is the patron of card
readers and healers. You should remember and honor her, even if you just
read cards.
The caricature of “Mammy” during slavery and continuing through the era
of Jim Crow was used to brainwash white America into thinking that the
African American woman was happy cooking, cleaning, and being in
service to the white folks. This implied that these ancestors were more than
happy and more than willing to be slaves. It is insulting, degrading, hurtful,
and obnoxious to think that privileged white Americans really thought they
had the right to degrade a woman so. These actions have caused many black
folks to hate and despise the image of Big Mama and with good cause.
However, Big Mama was someone who had intelligence, power, cunning,
and a strong backbone. Big Mama is a powerhouse. She is very wise when
it comes to family affairs. She is full of knowledge of roots and herbs, of
healing, and of maneuvering around authorities. She has the wisdom to help
you see what is missing or being hidden.
MOSES: Moses has been regarded as one of the most powerful conjure
workers ever born. Since the days of slavery, conjure workers have looked
to him for power and guidance because Moses spoke directly to God. He is
the only living person who was allowed to see God. He was allowed to see
God's back. Because of his faith in God and the fact that he allowed God to
use him to help his people, Moses was ordained with many gifts through
which miracles took place. God used Moses to restore faith in his people
and lead them to the Promised Land.
Moses, like all God's folks, had a mission assigned to him by the Spirit of
God. Moses was sent by God to deliver his people and set them free. He
worked his conjure stick to hammer Pharaoh and his army. By his calling
on God, Moses's conjure stick turned into a snake and swallowed the rods
of Pharaoh's magicians, which had also turned to snakes. This tells us that
Moses can defeat any enemy known or unknown.
Moses can be petitioned for any situation where you need a helping hand. If
you feel defeated or left out in the desert — or maybe you feel deserted —
Moses is the one to petition and call for help. He will lead you out of
despair into the land of milk and honey.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH: Elijah is one of God's very powerful prophets.
God gave Elijah the power to take a life or to bring the dead back to life.
God also gave Elijah the power to make fire fall from the sky.
The Prophet Elijah is like a double-edged sword: he can be gentle, as he
was with the widow who fed him, or he can bring fire raining from the sky.
He will serve up justice with his mighty sword and defend you against your
enemies.
THE QUEEN OF THE WATERS: Momi, the Queen of the Waters ruled over
everything in the waters, and sometimes she would take to humans if she
thought they were hers.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA - Find lost objects, works wonders. Helps with
the recovery of lost or stolen items and also helpful in finding new jobs or
partners. He is also the protector of children and the poor.
ST. BARBARA - For love and friendship, conquer enemies.
ST. BERNADETTE - For healing.
OUR LADY OF CHARITY - Protection of home, find lover, bring prosperity.
ST. CHRISTOPHER - Protection during travel.
ST. DYMPHNA - For mental disorders, demonic possession.
ST. EXPEDITUS - Settle disputes, for pressing needs.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - Overcome fear, protection from jinxes.
GUARDIAN ANGEL - Protect self and children from danger and evil spirits.
INFANT JESUS OF ATOCHA - Be free from punishment, guilt and sin.
ST. JOSEPH - find job, sell or rent house.
ST. JUDE - For impossible situations. Saint Jude can be called upon when
you are in a desperate situation, when all else has failed. He is the patron
saint of lost causes. He can be requested when miracle healing is needed.
ST. LAZARUS - Healing and Sickness.
ST. LUCY - The patron saint of writers.
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES - For comfort, health, friends - good life.
ST. MARTIN CABALLERO - Business, draw customers.
SAINT MARTHA THE DOMINATOR - Saint Martha works well with
victimised or abused women and men. She can be called upon to dominate
and control people and situations. She is a good saint to call upon for break-
up spells and to defeat your enemies.
ST. MICHAEL - Overcome obstacles, defeat enemies, remove evil. Saint
Michael can be petitioned by anyone whose heart is in the right place. He
can bring strength and support. Also, he is a good saint to call upon for
protection.
MERCY, O.L. - Studies, mental clarity
MIRACULOUS MOTHER - Bring good things of life.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP - When in need of help.
ST. PETER/CEPHAS - Open roads, bring opportunities for success. Opens
the way for you to get things that you need, but also closes doors to your
enemies. Saint Peter will also close doors to you if you don’t keep your
word. He is also called upon for justice and success.
If you look at Galatians 2 V 9, you will see that James, Cephas, and John
were perceived as the pillars of the church.
GALATIANS 2 V 9
AND WHEN JAMES, CEPHAS, AND JOHN, WHO SEEMED TO BE
PILLARS, PERCEIVED THE GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN UNTO ME,
THEY GAVE TO ME AND BARNABAS THE RIGHT HANDS OF
FELLOWSHIP; THAT WE SHOULD GO UNTO THE HEATHEN, AND
THEY UNTO THE CIRCUMCISION.
He is very powerful and was given the power to bind things in heaven.
Look at Matthew 16 V 19, which says that whatever Peter binds on Earth is
also bound in heaven. So whatever work he does on Earth can't be undone
because it is also bound in heaven. The work you do with him is powerful,
but is also binding and therefore dangerous.
MATTHEW 16 V 19
AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL
BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON
EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.
All door-opening works or crossroads work can be given to St. Peter. This
means that anything you need to draw or to remove or block from your life
can be given to St Peter. In the ole days, folks would get a picture of him
and place it behind their door. If you want to work with St. Peter, you can
just print out a copy of his picture off the internet. I have found that the one
of him upside down on the cross works best. Some folks think he is the
devil and that is why he was crucified upside down, but that is absolutely
not true. He was crucified upside down because he didn't feel he was
worthy to be hung upright like Jesus was.
ST. RAYMOND - Stop gossip and slander, silence enemies.
ST. RAPHAEL - "The Healer of God".
ST. ROSE - The Saint with the key to open the doors to Paradise. She is
also the provider for women of a new husband or a better boyfriend.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS - Blessed, peaceful life.
SACRED HEART OF MARY - Serenity and spiritual blessings.
Loas and African Powers
PAPA LEGBA: This ancestral spirit is the guardian of the portal that leads
from the physical world into the supernatural realm. He is, therefore,
generally regarded as the first port of call in most rituals that involve the
summoning of spirits. Papa Legba is usually associated with crossroads
because, as stated earlier, crossroads are places of high spiritual energy. In
ancient Traditional African Religions, sacrifices for this particular spirit
were commonly placed at crossroads and intersections. Papa Legba is said
to be able to understand all human languages, so it does not matter if you
attempt to cast your spell in English, French, German or Chinese; this spirit
can understand your desires and decide whether or not to grant you entry
into the spiritual realm.
Papa Legba is usually represented in hoodoo literature as an old man
wearing a straw hat symbolizing this powerful spirit as a figure of
experience and great wisdom. Papa Legba is also one of the oldest ancestors
– almost as old as the universe itself. He has basically seen it all, and he
possesses great knowledge about how the world works and the good and
evil that humans are capable of. Dogs and roosters are regarded as the
sacred animals of this ancestor; hence these animals are not utilized in
sacrifices made to this spirit.
OGUN: In ancient Yoruba folklore, Ogun was popularly regarded as the god
of iron. He had absolute control over any kind of metallic object, and to this
day, he still remains the ancestral spirit of iron. Ogun is also the spirit of
war and blood. Ogun is described in historical texts as an unbelievably
powerful and mighty spirit who can be devastating in his punishments of
those who cross him. In the old Yoruba kingdom, it was common for armies
preparing for battle to sacrifice dogs to this ancestor, soak their swords,
machetes, guns, and other weapons in the dogs’ blood, and even drink part
of the blood to fortify themselves spiritually in preparation for the war
ahead. Ogun is a spirit of unspeakable vengeance and strength, and rituals
made to him can confer supernatural physical and spiritual strength upon an
individual. Ogun is also the spirit of locomotives since he is the guardian of
iron; hence sacrifices and rituals were frequently made to him at the railroad
tracks. Because of Ogun’s dominion over blood, sacrifices and rituals to
help cure diseases of the blood are also directed to this powerful ancestral
spirit.
SHANGO: This incredibly popular spirit is the god of lightning and thunder.
Shango is quite similar to Ogun in his raw power, his anger, and his ability
to order destruction over an individual. Shango is also a guardian spirit that
embodies the concept of passion and strong emotional affinities. Ancient
Shango worshippers were known to go into a dance frenzy during festivals
and rituals to commemorate his blessings, mercies, and protection. Shango
was a king in the old Oyo kingdom, the most powerful organized empire in
the ancient Yorubaland. Shango was rumored to become so taken over by
his emotions that he would spew fire from his mouth when angry. When he
transitioned to the spirit realm, he became deified by his people because of
his heroic role in protecting and safeguarding the powerful Oyo empire
when it came into conflict with its enemies. Shango is said to have a strong
affinity for red and white, so rituals to be made to this god should preferably
feature these colors – candles, altar cloths, and even the ritualist’s clothes.
As the spirit of lightning, Shango has the power to kill disobedient and evil
humans by hurling bolts of thunder at them.
Shango’s most powerful insignia is the double-bladed ax. This ax was said
to be Shango’s most favored weapon, and he would charge fearlessly into
battle, his lethal hammer in hand and fire blazing from his mouth as he
mercilessly slew his enemies. Shango is supplicated for power, conquests,
and victory in daily endeavors. Therefore, a person seeking victory in a
court case or in a tussle against someone else can seek for spiritual strength
to overcome his enemies or opponents from this incredibly powerful spirit.
In his lifetime, Shango had three wives, all of whom are recognized in the
hoodoo pantheon – Oba, Oshun, and Oya.
OBATALA: This spirit symbolizes the power of the mind. He is the spirit of
wisdom, intellect, and intelligence. In ancient Yoruba folklore, Obatala was
believed to have been sent to the earth by Olodumare, the supreme deity
himself, to prepare the earth for the arrival of human beings right at the
onset of creation. According to the ancient tales, Obatala landed in South-
west Nigeria in a town called Ile-Ife, and he came to the world with a jar of
dirt, a cockerel, and a pigeon. He spread the jar on the spot where he
landed, and the cockerel and pigeon spread the dirt with the aid of the
spiritual powers conferred on him to all the corners of the earth.
Obatala is in charge of cosmic equilibrium. This spirit maintains the
delicate balance between the spirit world and the physical realm and
ensures that nothing falls out of place. Apart from being able to power the
mind, Obatala is the patron spirit of the handicapped and the disabled
people. Obatala worshippers in Yorubaland are not allowed to drink palm
wine because of an incident involving this spirit when he was still in his
human form when his drunken state led to the destruction of a lot of people.
Palm wine, palm oil, and salt cannot be included in the materials used to
appease this spirit.
OYA: This is the first feminine spirit in the central hoodoo pantheon, and
she is the patron spirit of marketplaces. In her lifetime, Oya was one of
Shango’s wives and was said to have cunningly taken some of his magical
powers for herself. Oya is also said to be the patron spirit of the cemeteries
and the underworld and therefore mediates communications between the
dead and the living. In the Santerían religious beliefs, Oya is represented by
our Lady of Candelaria. Oya is also influential in the control of wind and
fire, and she plays a significant role in infertility.
YEMOJA: This is another feminine spirit on the list and one of the most
powerful of all spirits that constitute the traditional hoodoo pantheon.
Yemoja is regarded, according to ancient Yoruba beliefs, as the goddess of
the seas and all water bodies. She is the patron spirit of creation, fertility,
and motherhood. In the old traditional Yoruba society, rituals and sacrifices
were constantly presented to this spirit to help barren women conceive and
birth their own children. Yemoja, therefore, plays a significantly central role
in issues concerning childbirth, love, conception, mercy, and compassion.
Objects significant to the Yemoja spirit include saltwater and seashells. Fish
must never be sacrificed to his particular spirit.
OSHUN: Oshun was regarded as Shango’s favorite wife according to Yoruba
mythology. Oshun is the goddess of love, peace, intimacy, harmony, and
beauty. Basically, Oshun is a spirit that symbolizes the power of feminine
energy even in the world of the supernatural. The Oshun spirit may be
consulted in issues related to love and wealth, as she was believed to be
kind, generous, and compassionate in her lifetime. According to the
folktales, Oshun was slow to anger but could be very destructive when
angry, symbolizing the calm yet possibly volatile nature of femininity.
ERZULIE DANTOR: Erzulie Dantor is a mother. She watches and cares for
children, but she is also a disciplinarian and does not tolerate badly behaved
children. She will defend women, families and children to the very end. She
can also be petitioned for love, art, jealousy and sex magic.
BARON SAMEDI: Spirit of the dead, sex, resurrection and endings.
Although he is a Loa of death he is also a big party animal and he has a
good if sometimes naughty sense of humour. He will also be extremely
honest, if you want a no-holds-barred truth answer he is the one to give it.
He advises us to respect the dead and asks that we make sure that we
honour our inner happiness too. He can help with endings, not just as in
death but endings of relationships and situations.
PAPA GEDE: Said to be the first man who ever died, Papa Gede waits at the
crossroads to take souls into the afterlife. He never takes a life before its
time and always protects children. He knows everything that goes on in all
worlds.
MAMAN BRIGITTE: Loa of the dead (wife to Baron Samedi), protector of
gravestones, she is queen of the cemetery and a fair and just judge. She has
a fiery personality and is a very passionate woman who likes a drink and
curses quite a lot!
AYIZAN: She is a rot Loa and covers rites of initiation and is regarded as
the first priestess. She covers knowledge, mysteries and the natural world.
AGWE: Agwe rules over the sea and all that is contained within it and all
and everyone who sails on it.
ELEMENTS OF POWER: THE PRIMARY
TOOLS OF CONJURE
A s you prepare to take on your first steps in the world of casting

hoodoo spells, it is important to first understand some of the most
important tools of the trade. These tools differ from the regular
household equipment that is needed to prepare you for the rituals and
appeasements you would be carrying out. Those ones are discussed in a
later chapter. In this section, however, we would be considering some of the
most important physical elements of conjure and their importance.
Dirt
This element symbolizes one of the four key elements that make up the
universe. Dirt also signifies a medium of connection to nature and can be
channeled to harness spiritual forces. As mentioned earlier, dirt can be
collected from different places for different purposes. Graveyard dirt can be
collected for more powerful spells and for summoning spirits. Graveyard
dirt can also be a potent component of charms and amulets. Dirt taken from
the grave of a child is said to be imbued with sweetness and innocence and
can be applied in corresponding rituals. Dirt from the grave of an elderly
individual, on the other hand, is believed to possess the traits of wisdom and
may also be applied for corresponding spells. Dirt collected from racetracks
is said to possess the power to confer luck on a gambler when used to
prepare a mojo bag that the gambler carries on his person. Dirt from the
grounds of a court may also be useful in making charms or casting spells to
earn a person supernatural favor in a court case.
Basically, the point at which dirt is collected can have far-reaching effects
on how powerful and appropriate the dirt is for the spell that is to be cast.
Therefore, dirt can generally be collected from anywhere for regular rituals.
However, if you are really looking to add an extra charge of power to your
charms and spells, then be selective with where you collect your dirt, and
you can get extremely startling results.
Right and Left Hand
Of course, you knew that you would need your hands to carry out rituals
and -perform spells, but did you realize that the right and left hands actually
differ in their capabilities when it comes to the doctrines of hoodoo? The
hands are sources of action, and they carry out the will of the mind. The
right-hand functions better for casting spells that involve domination,
banishing, cleansing, and control. Therefore, if you are looking to win a
conflict, prevail upon an opponent in a contest, drive out a competitor, or
eradicate the effects of evil from your body and your surroundings, then it
makes sense for you to primarily use your right hand for these kinds of
processes. This does not mean that using the left hand would render spells
in these categories ineffective; it just means that you would be able to
harness and focus energies needed for these spells better when you use your
right hand.
On the flip side, the left hand is more appropriate for casting spells related
to attraction, protection, and foresight. Therefore, if you are considering
casting a spell to win over the love of a person or to retain that love, then
using your left hand for the major processes in the ritual might be the way
to go. If you are seeking to create an amulet or talisman to protect you from
evil forces as you go about your daily activities, then the left hand also
carries the kind of energy that you want to harness for these categories of
charms. Finally, if you are seeking information about the future, or you’re
trying to gain supernatural insights into a knotty issue, then your left hand is
also more appropriate for carrying out the required divination procedures.
Conjure Waters
When carrying out rituals and casting spells in hoodoo, water is usually an
indispensable element. Even if water is not required as a primary ingredient
in the spell being cast, it still helps to have it present on the altar. Water can
help to direct and meld your inner energies and the energies being
channeled from your ritual items to achieve the desired results. However,
there are some special kinds of water that may be required for specific
conjure processes. Florida Water is a particularly special kind of ‘holy’
water that is sold across a lot of hoodoo shops that is used in casting spells
for protection and attraction. However, I will list only conjure waters that
are naturally found. Of course, store-bought conjure waters can also be used
and I will refer to them in the upcoming volumes, but I think it is important
to understand water the way our elders did and see its powers how they saw
it. For specific kinds of spiritual baths, specialized components may also be
required to be added to the bathwater to get the specific kind of mix
required for the cleanse or bath to be effective.
Conjure waters are also used in washes which are processes to ‘wash away’
evil energies from a dwelling or place of business. The applications of
water in the conjure practices are numerous, and we begin to go through the
spells, you will grow to appreciate the mystical powers of this unique
universal element.
BLUE WATER
Blue water is made by adding bluing (also known as laundry blue) to river
water. You petition the spirits of the river to help you see what you need to
see when you are doing divination. Blue water is also good for protection
washes and sprinkles or to dip herbs in during cleansings to be brushed
down on the client or whomever you are doing a cleansing on.
Fresh waters can also be worked with in the same manner. Fresh waters are
well water, springwater, rainwater, and creek water. They are all used in
spirit workings and also to refresh the spirit of one's work.
CHAMBER LYE
I know there are some workers who like to use their own urine in works.
My issue is that urine sours when it is closed up. So what happens when the
urine in the work goes bad? I would think that whatever work had been
done would go bad also. I mean, my common sense tells me this would
happen. I do understand the concept of it, but I don't think it was meant to
be closed up. The idea is just like an animal marks their spot: one's own
urine can be worked with to nail down a property and such. In this instance
I do believe it would work and work well, but I don't advise anyone to lock
their urine up in a bottle or a jar. Let me say this: I have heard about witch's
bottles containing the witch's urine for protection; someone in a class I gave
once pointed this out to me. This is what I said and I stand by it: “I can only
speak from a conjurer's point of view. I am not saying anyone is wrong,
only that it is not conjure work and that's all I know.”
DISHWATER
If there was a lot of arguing in our home, my mama would work the
dishwater to bring peace. So dishwater is worked with for a peaceful home.
If there is fussing and fighting in the home, then after supper wash the
dishes in a dishpan and throw the water out the front door of the home.
HOLY WATER
Water that has been blessed by the church can be worked with for
protection, healings, and adding power to your conjure work. Some workers
make their own holy water, but I'm sure it holds the same power as the
water made in the church if we believe in the power of places. Most
Catholic churches will let you get holy water if you ask for it.
HURRICANE WATER
Hurricane water is exactly that: water that was collected during a hurricane.
It is worked with to stir things up just like a hurricane. This type of water
can be worked with to stir up an enemy's life or to turn their world upside
down. When working with this type of water, please remember that
justification is the key. If you throw at someone just because you don't like
them, that work can be reversed if they know what they are doing — just a
bit of a warning.
RIVER WATER
Water from a river can be used for all types of removal work. You do the
work, and then you throw the work in the river, where the current takes the
issue away from you as the tide goes out. This is a simple but powerful way
to remove something or someone from your life
STAGNATED WATER
This is any type of water that is not moving. It can be found in the swamps,
ponds, and also stumps. It is worked with when you are trying to stop the
target or if the work is being done for bindings, confusion, crossing, and
enemy work. After this type of work you need to do some cleansing work to
make sure you don't have any residue on you. Stump water can be used in
the same way; only stump water and the spirits of the tree can also help
with all manner of healing works.
STORM WATER
This type of water is worked with to stir things up, just like a storm does. It
works great when things have been building and coming to a head.
Lightning water is worked with in the same way and is also used for
crossing work, healing, and for stirring things up. Be careful because you
might heat up the work too much.
TAR WATER
Tar water is used for protection and uncrossing as well as the reverse. Back
in the day it was easy to get tar because tar was used to pave the roads and
the workers would share a little with you. Today it is hard to find, but you
can get Creolina, which is a commercial brand sold in some ole feed stores.
Creolina is made with a base of coal tar and sold as a deodorant cleaner for
the home. It can be used to spiritually clean the inside and the outside of the
house. I have written about this before, but I think it is important to share
again as the ole ways are being lost.
You need to be careful with Creolina because it will burn you if you get it
on your skin, but it works. Just a capful in a mop bucket or in a spray bottle
can be used to cleanse the house. If you mop your house, make sure you
clean the corners. Once you have mopped the whole house, take the leftover
mop water and pour it at the end of your walkway in a straight line. This
will put a straight line of protection across your walkway; if anything or
anyone tries to cause you issues, they have to cross that spiritual line.
Creolina mixed with a little holy water and salt can offer an added
protection to your yard. Make a bucket up and dress the four corners of the
yard and around the house. Creolina will also kill any tricks that have been
thrown in your yard. You can also wash your door, stoop, and sidewalk
down once a week to bring in blessings. Make sure you only work with it in
a water base.
TOILET WATER
This is good for all types of work where you are trying to remove someone
or something from your life because you just flush them away from you. It
is also good for enemy work when a heavy hand is needed for justice.
WAR WATER
War water is a work that was thrown against an enemy's door. In this day
and age if you tried it, you might go to jail. As times change, we must adapt
to these changes. War water is used in a campaign to start a war against
another person. Today that would definitely not be a very good idea, but
you can use the same technique — just in a different way. I understand the
reasoning of busting the jar against the door: glass cuts, not only that but
there is a violent element of throwing the jar at the door.
But it is the ingredients in the water that make the water work. Instead of
busting a jar, you can use the war water as a sprinkle, by laying a trick on
the person you have a conflict with. You need to collect some storm water.
To the storm water you need to add some rusted nails, some broken glass,
rose thorns because they prick and make you bleed, needles, and dirt where
three dogs had fought in a yard. You also need to get some dirt or a rock
from the target's yard or driveway. While you have the war water setting up,
you need to go daily and shake the container while you pray your prayer
and petition over the container. You need to go at least three times a day and
work the jar, making your petition and prayer for the purpose of the water.
Let the water sit until it becomes stagnant, then it is ready for you to drop
somewhere the target will get in it by walking through it. You can adapt
anything to make it work without changing the meaning of the work. Don't
get yourself in trouble trying to follow an old way of doing things when you
can just do the work a little differently and have the same effect. Make sure
you take a cleansing bath after dropping the water for the target. You don't
want to cross your own self up. Always be mindful.
Rocks
Much like the dirt, rocks are often overlooked components of nature.
However, rocks have the capacity to exist and remain strong for a very long
time. Hence, they can trap surprising amounts of mystical energies within
them from having to be around for such a long time. Spiritual energies can
be bound to rocks, and these handy materials can also be used for
channeling powers drawn from surroundings. Rocks and crystals are critical
parts of most hoodoo altars, as they are solid, reliable ways of collecting
and channeling spiritual energy.
For more powerful spells and charms, rocks may be charged first to set off
the historical, mystical energies that have lain dormant within them for
years. In the practice of hoodoo, rocks can be charged through a variety of
different means ranging from burying the rocks and digging them up again,
leaving them out in the sun, or soaking the rocks in mystical waters to
enable them to absorb the energies from these special preparations. Charged
rocks generally deliver better results in the spellcasting process,
Fire, Candles, and Incense
Once again, fire, fire, and fire! Fire is an indispensable element in hoodoo
– it basically symbolizes raw, unrestricted power. Fire cannot be controlled
or restricted – it burns brightly and consumes everything in its path.
Therefore, candles have been long utilized by hoodoo practitioners in most
charms and spells as manageable sources of fire. However, an indoor
fireplace can also be a wonderful source of a larger fire that can lead to the
channeling of more power and energy for your rituals and spells. Incense
helps to condition the atmosphere of the rituals, inviting in the spirits. The
light from the fire and the smell of incense may also help to stimulate the
unique energy within you and help make the interaction between the
physical and spiritual realms more seamless. Scented candles may also be
used to generate both fire and a desirable smell for the hoodoo altar. In a
subsequent section focusing on candle magic, the effects of candles and
fires on specific rituals and spells would be extensively discussed.
Moreover, seventh volume of the series will focus solely on candle magic.
Lodestones
Lodestone is a stone-like mineral resource with natural magnetic properties.
Because of its natural ability to attract metals, lodestone s also believed to
be infused with the natural powers of attraction. Therefore, whatever it is
that an individual is trying to attract – a lover, good luck, and fortune or
money, lodestone can be very helpful in drawing an individual's desire to
him. Lodestone is prepared for use by initially soaking it in whiskey and
blessing the stone with love or money incense, depending on what exactly
you are trying to attract. Afterward, you call the exact thing or person that
you want in your life by name and then say Psalm 23.
When using lodestone for attracting fortune or a person, it is important to be
extremely specific about exactly what you want. If you want to attract one
man, then the man’s name only is what must be mentioned. If you are trying
to attract money, then you must be specific too. Lodestone’s power of
attraction work on the principles of specificity. After this process, you can
store your lodestone in a non-magnetic container and ‘feed’ it with bits of
iron and sand once a week. Lodestone may also be used in other important
rituals for drawing things or people closer to you. A lodestone pierce would
also be a great addition to your normal hoodoo altar.
Personal Effects
Whether you are trying to attract a person or place a curse on them, you can
never underestimate the power of having an item that belongs to the
individual in your possession. From actual removable parts of the person’s
body such as fingernails and hair from different parts of the body to less
closely attached associated elements like bodily fluids, biological elements
collected from an individual are great ways to directly access the person’s
spirit to bless the person, place a powerful curse on them. Other possessions
such as the person’s clothing, their photographs, or even more mundane
things like their combs or shoes can also be extremely important in gaining
access to a person spiritually for ritual purposes.
When people use items over a period of time, some of their aurae get
infused into these items, making it possible to draw the person’s unique
energy signature from these items. This is why a person’s old shoes can be
potent enough to be used in foot track magic, a form of placing a curse on
someone through the energy imprints from their feet.
PLACES OF POWER
A s mentioned earlier, in the practice of hoodoo, it is believed that the

energy of the universe is universal – the divine powers are all
around us, waiting to be harnessed through the appropriate
channels. However, it must be noted that there are certain places where the
spiritual energies present in the physical realm are more concentrated
because of the sacred nature of these places or because of certain events that
have taken place there in the past. In this section, we would be checking out
some of these ‘power spots’ and how they are significant to rituals and
spellcasting processes.
The Graveyard
Graveyard dirt has been mentioned numerous times in this text already; that
goes to show you how powerful the graveyard can be as a place of great
spiritual power and energy, which, when channeled appropriately, can
enhance a person’s magical capabilities exponentially. Icross over to the
ancestral plane. However, as their bodies decay into the ground, bits of the
spiritual energies left in them dissipate into the surrounding environment.
The presence of multiple corpses decaying within the ground also confers
additional power to the environment of a graveyard. Therefore, when
looking to conduct a powerful spell that requires lots of spiritual energy,
people can use graveyards and cemeteries to draw power from the
environment and power their spells. The bigger a graveyard or cemetery is,
the more power can be drawn from it, in most cases. The caliber of people
buried in a particular graveyard may also dictate the amount of power that
can be channeled from that kind of environment. A graveyard full of dead
witches and diviners might be a site of enormous power that can lead to
explosive effects when channeled by an equally powerful diviner.
Crossroads
Crossroads have been mentioned previously to be places of great power and
spiritual energy7 because of the volume of people that ply these busy areas
on a daily basis. As these crowds throng these areas, everyone leaves a little
imprint of spiritual energy as they go, making these areas hugely
supercharged sites of spiritual power. Papa Legba, the ancestral spirit that
guards the portal between our world and the spirit world, is the patron spirit
of the crossroads, and in ancient West African cultures, sacrifices and rituals
were commonly placed at crossroads to appease this particular ancestral
spirit.
The Home
You may not believe it, but your home probably contains more spiritual
energy than you imagine. Residential buildings, especially ones with
numerous residents, can be great reservoirs of unique individual spiritual
energies. Compared to deserted buildings and business places where people
only visit and leave, a home is a significant place to a person – and they do
the majority of the things they do there -they sleep and wake up there, eat,
freshen up, and entertain visitors there. Therefore, as you continue to leave
in your ho, me, you slowly deposit considerable amounts of spiritual energy
in there over time. When evil people live in a house and infuse the house
with their negative energies, such energies may remain active even after
these people die, making the house a habitation for evil and mischievous
spirits. Therefore, your home can be a very significant place to carry out
your rituals and offerings to the spirits.
The Bank
Money is said to be a spirit in some cultures. Everyone wants money, and
we all spend considerable amounts of our lives trying to get it. Because of
the significance of money in people’s lives and the charged spiritual
energies that surround money, banks can be extremely potent sites of
spiritual power. Banks usually house large amounts of money, making them
great places to cast spells to attract good fortune and riches since the
spiritual energies related to these entities are abundant in banks.
The Church
It may seem contradictory, maybe even blasphemous, for hoodoo rituals
and spells to be cast in a Church, but the truth is that Churches are regarded
as places of extraordinary power in hoodoo tradition and as you have
learned in the first volume, historically the development of Black churches
and Hoodoo have gone hand in hand.
People come to churches to pray and commune with the divine. People
literally come there to devote themselves to the service of the supernatural.
The church is a place of worship of a higher power, is, therefore, a
remarkable place of power. Apart from the specific form of interaction that
goes on within the four walls of a church, the presence of large amounts of
people in a church can also make it a site of remarkable spiritual energy.
The Hospital
People go to hospitals to get cured of various diseases. Illnesses themselves
are manifestations of negative spiritual energy within a person. Positive
energies brew strength, vitality, wellness and health, riches and vigor.
Negative energies, on the other hand, however, connote sickness, poverty,
weakness, lethargy, and, in extreme cases, death. When carrying out rituals
and casting spells at a hospital, care must be taken. However, a hospital can
be a supercharged site of negative energies surrounding sickness and death.
However, negative or positive, power is power, and when channeled
appropriately, a hospital can be an incredible place to derive extraordinary
spiritual powers.
THE BASICS OF ROOTWORK AND HERBAL
MAGIC
INTRODUCTION TO ROOTWORK
H erbs, plants, and roots have always been inseparable from the
hoodoo practice right from its onset. The Vodun beliefs that
evolved into hoodoo, voodoo, and Santeria all focused strongly on
harnessing the power embedded within different plants to heal the sick and
achieve other extremely powerful results. Roots, in particular, are a
particularly delicate aspect of the hoodoo practice as a whole. Roots do not
immediately grow back when harvested – you are literally uprooting an
entire plant from the earth. Roots are naturally infused with considerable
amounts of spiritual energy, and they must be used carefully and sparingly
in spells since they are not easily replaceable.
As hoodoo has evolved over the years, rootwork has also been developed to
become a more specific and exact science. Scientific studies have been
carried out, especially in the fields of botany and pharmaceutical chemistry,
to understand the actual biochemical compounds within roots and plants
that affect certain natural changes within the human body. When it comes to
casting spells and making charms, herbs are indispensable as a method of
binding spiritual energies to a physical object. Plants and herbs can easily
absorb spiritual energies as they are actually living things, making them
perfect not just for medicinal purposes but for spellcasting operations as
well. When casting a spell, it is, however, critical to follow instructions laid
out to the very latter to obtain the optimal results. Decades of research have
gone into finding out which exact combinations of roots, in what particular
quantities can produce the results that practitioners desire.
Therefore, rootwork is basically the practice of using herbs and roots for
casting spells and creating specialized preparations for varying purposes in
hoodoo. The unique absorbent nature of living plants makes them perfect
conduits for holding spiritual power needed to power charms such as
amulets, talismans, mojo bags, among others.
This section is meant as an introduction to Rootwork, the third book of the
series will dwelve more extensively on all the herbs and roots used in
Hoodoo magic.
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS
Rootwork, spellcasting, and herbal magic all follow a series of specialized
procedures. To get started as a hoodoo newbie, it is critical for you to obtain
the essentials. These include:
APRON: The preparation of potions and decoctions is going to involve a lot
of grinding, mashing, mixing, and in some cases, heating. It, therefore,
helps for you to have a dedicated plastic apron for your hoodoo practices
that helps to protect your clothing from splashes and stains. The plastic
apron can also help to protect you from some of the particularly harmful
chemical agents you might be working it when making certain preparations.
BLENDER: A blender is an indispensable agent to help you mix and

combine herbs and other agents required for your preparations thoroughly.
A blender is also a convenient way of liquefying your herbs and roots.
BOTTLES AND JARS: The herbal preparations that have been made for
specific purposes have to be stored appropriately. Bottles and jars are handy
means of keeping your preparations over the required period. Recycled
containers are perfect for rootwork purposes as they help to protect the
environment. Therefore, bottles originally used to package mouthwash table
water or even soda can be useful in this regard. Solid glass storage jars such
as those used for mayonnaise can also be very useful in storing your
preparations.
CAULDRON: When it comes to cooking up your herbs, you can never go
wrong with a good old big cast iron pot. This solid metal pots can withstand
relatively high temperatures needed for some decoctions and infusions that
you would be preparing, and they help to conveniently combine all the
materials you would be needing. It helps to have one dedicated cauldron
specifically for your spiritual adventures.
CHIMINEA (OR FIREPLACE): Not everyone has the luxury of an actual

fireplace. However, fire rituals and the burning of incense are integral
components of hoodoo. Therefore, a miniature fireplace can be a great way
to accomplish tasks that have to do with burning certain substances during
your rituals.
COFFEE GRINDER: This equipment helps to efficiently grind dry roots and
spices into a fine powder that can then be efficiently mixed into your
preparations. Therefore, instead of wasting time manually trying to
manually pound the roots into powder, a coffee grinder can help you save
lots of time and prevent stress.
DOUBLE BOILER: At times, you might need to include waxy components

such as candle wax and ointments in your preparations. A double boiler
helps to prevent the waxy compounds from heating up too quickly and
ensures that you get the actual results you require.
DROPPERS: The herbal magic preparations are an exact science. Therefore,

you need exact amounts of the required liquids. A dropper helps you to add
just the right amount of liquid to your preparations to help you achieve the
intended results.
FUNNELS: Sometimes, you have to transfer liquids from one bottle or jar
into another. Funnels provide a convenient way of transferring those liquids
while making your herbal preparations. Funnels are also strongly
recommended because they prevent spillage of precious liquefied herbs and
roots.
GRATER: At times, roots and herbs just need to be shredded for certain
preparations. A grater provides a convenient means of shredding your herbs
to pieces without wasting time cutting manually with a knife.
MEASURING CUPS: For larger amounts of liquids that don’t require a

dropper, a measuring cup can be used to determine the exact amount of
liquids such as water or other specialized preparations that need to go into
your main herbal mixture. Measuring spoons can also be used for
transferring both liquid and herbal components during the preparation
process.
MIXING BOWL: Hoodoo involves a lot of mixing and combining. A

mixing bowl is an essential tool that helps you to mix and mash all the
herbs and roots needed for your preparations.
HOTPLATE OR STOVE: You need to heat up some herbs, and a good

standard hotplate or a traditional stove are great ways to go. If you decide to
use a gas cooker, be very careful to prevent your herbs from getting burnt.
STRAINER: After soaking your herbs and roots in water and you need to
collect the herbs back, a strainer can help to prevent an unnecessary mess.
You should therefore, get a dedicated strainer for your mojo and concoction
needs.
THERMOMETER: This may come as a surprise, but at times, your

preparations need to be at an exact temperature for the best effects to be
realized. Therefore, investing in a good meat thermometer will help you to
determine the actual temperature of your preparation at different stages of
the process.
WHISK: A whisk helps to efficiently combine all the components of your

preparations in a mixing bowl to give a uniform, homogenous mixture.
You may eventually require more tools for your hoodoo practice. However,
these are great basics that would help you to conveniently get through a lot
of rituals and spells as a newbie. As you move on to more complicated
spells, you can then begin to shop for more complex tools to aid you in your
spiritual journey.
Blessing and Empowering Your Tools
Since you are going to be utilizing these household equipment for spiritual
purposes, you can carry out a simple cleansing or blessing ritual to
empower your tools to give the results that you desire.
To bless and empower your equipment and the components of your altar, a
simple preparation known simply as ‘Altar Oil’ can be used. Altar oil
requires:
16 drops frankincense
8 drops Myrrh
4 drops cedar
8 oz. Olive oil.
These can be delicately mixed or blended to give an even mixture and
sprinkled sparingly over your equipment and altar components while you
say a silent prayer to ensure the effectiveness of your rituals and spells.
Depending on the work you intend to do, you might use different psalms.
Take a look at the psalms in the 4th book of the series on Hoodoo spells and
incantations.
HARVESTING AND GATHERING HERBS
As mentioned earlier, herbs and roots are considered sacred in the practice
of hoodoo and must therefore be treated with respect. Hoodoo is an
individualistic practice where no strict hard and fast rules apply as to how to
collect your herbs. If collecting the herbs personally can be bothersome,
you can simply walk into a corner store or shop online for the herbs and
roots that you require for your spells.
Before shopping for herbs at specific stores, however, be sure to confirm
that the herbs, roots, and barks that you are purchasing are organically
grown. Naturally grown plants tend to work better in spells as they
incorporate more of the natural spiritual essence that we require for the
spells. Also, ensure that the packaged herbs and roots have not expired yet,
as this may limit their efficacy in your preparation.
If you intend to collect your herbs and roots by yourself, however, there are
few specific rules that apply. When harvesting leaves, be sure to pick out
only the green, healthy leaves without any blotches or spots. Leaves are
best harvested around mid-morning after the morning dew has evaporated
from plants that have not to begin to flower yet, as the flowering process
reduced the spiritual energy embedded within the leaves. After collecting
the leaves, be sure to keep them tied in bundles to help you keep track of
the actual plant you collected the leaf from. Also, keep track of your
collection dates to prevent the leaves from rotting or drying up before
usage. Plucked leaves should be stored in an airy space away from direct
sunlight at about eight degrees.
Some specific spells require certain flowers. The flower-collection process
is a bit complex as the flowers are delicate and easily damaged. Only
healthy flowers are to be selected, and they are best plucked early in the
afternoon. The petals are not to be touched at all – they are the most
delicate parts of the flower and contain a lot of spiritual energy. It is
advisable to use flowers in your spells immediately after collection to
prevent the rapid drying that follows.
Roots are best collected from plants that have already begun to wither, so
autumn is the best time to collect roots. The roots should be pulled clean
from the ground, cleaned and dried, and then dried in an oven at about 120
degrees. Until they are fully dried. At this point, they are ready for long-
term storage. Barks should also be collected from dying or fallen trees if
possible, as stripping too much bark away from a young tree can cause
irreparable damage to it. Keep in mind that the gifts of nature must be
conserved if the practice of hoodoo is to survive. Dried berries may also be
required for certain rituals. These berries can be collected when they are in
full bloom and then dried until they have turned brown and light. They can
then be conveniently stored away from sunlight until they are required for
usage.
Storing Your Herbs and Roots
It is recommended to store herbs separately and away from sunlight. Your
leaves should not be locked up in cupboards or drawers. Leave them to
hang where they can get circulating air instead. Dried herbs can be stored in
glass or stainless-steel jars. Be sure to label the jars appropriately to prevent
mistakes during the preparation of your herbal mixtures.
Extraction Techniques
To properly collect the healing powers and harness the spiritual energies
contained within the herbs and roots, three specific extraction techniques
are commonly used. These techniques result in decoctions, infusions and
tinctures.
To prepare a DECOCTION, the herbs and roots whose medicinal compounds
you aim to extract must be simmered in the cauldron over medium to high
heat for between thirty minutes to one hour. For some really tough roots and
herbs, the extraction period may last more than an hour. The point of
decoction is to cook the herbs at high temperatures to collect the deeply
ingrained biochemical compounds within these plants for the medicinal
purposes they can serve.
INFUSIONS, on the other hand., are more careful preparations with require a
bit more skill and finesse. Infusions may either be water-based or oil-based.
The point of this kind of extraction process is to gently and gradually
withdraw the medicinal properties of the herb from it. Water-based
infusions are called teas, and they involve soaking the herb in hot water for
thirty minutes to one hour to gradually retrieve the active agents within the
herb in hot water.
OIL-BASED INFUSIONS, on the other hand, take even more time. The herbs
are soaked in specified oils and left to soak in oils for up to a month. Every
single day, the jar containing the mixture is shaken to allow the herbs to
surrender their active biochemicals into the oil. Oil infusions are difficult to
prepare and require extreme patience and tact. They are, however, usually
quite concentrated and usually have powerful medicinal properties.
TINCTURES can be regarded as alcohol-based infusions. They also require a
great deal of patience. Concentrated alcohol such as vodka or ethanol is
used as the infusion both, and the herbs are simply soaked in the alcohol for
up to six weeks. The bottle or jar containing the mixture is shaken once a
day as the herbs slowly surrender their active biochemical agents into the
alcohol. Tinctures are also extremely concentrated and volatile mixtures and
can help to achieve extremely potent herbal preparations. The type of
alcohol used in the tincture dictates the kind of result that is given, so you
must be careful to get the right kind of alcohol for your tinctures. Vinegar,
for instance, is utilized in the preparation of acidic tinctures.
A FEW POWERFUL HERBS TO GET YOU STARTED
WITH ROOTWORK
Your immediate environment is filled with herbs that can have potentially
powerful effects when utilized properly and subjected to the right
preparations. Specific herbs have been proven to work best for specific
spells and purposes. Some herbs are best used in love and attraction spells,
some are best used to confer protection, while some other herbs function
best in attracting good luck and fortune. We also have herbs that promote
happiness and inner peace, herbs for preventing unwanted visitors and
causing pain to an enemy, and even herbs that aid in granting wishes and
getting psychic visions. Therefore, in this section, we would be examining
an array of herbs and the functions they are commonly used for in spells
and rituals.
Herbs for Love and Attraction
Herbs absorb different kinds of spiritual energies according to their natural
make-up and physiological structures. There is a specific array of herbs that
have been naturally designed to help in attracting positive emotions from a
desired partner. Some of these herbs include the Adam and Eve root, the
Amber herb, basil, catnip, clover, and jasmine.
Herbs for Goodluck and Fortune
There is quite an array of herbs that also specifically function in helping a
person to attract wealth and luck. These kinds of herbs may be useful to
businessmen, professionals, and even gamblers who are trying to appeal to
the forces of the universe to bring them good luck and good fortune in their
lives. Herbs for good luck and fortune include the Alkanet root, chamomile,
devil’s shoestring, ginger root, and Irish moss.
Herbs for Protection
The herbs in this category are imbued with natural spiritual energies to ward
off evil and protect an individual from physical and spiritual harm. Herbs
that function in protection include High John the Conqueror root, cedar, five
finger grass, cinnamon, dragon’s blood, and eucalyptus.
Herbs for Psychic Visions
This category of herbs helps to enhance a person’s capabilities to interact
with the supernatural realm. Some particularly potent herbs that aid psychic
visions are dandelion, mint, and rosemary.
Herbs for Attacking Enemies
Sometimes offense is the best defense, and this maxim is recognized and
appreciated in hoodoo. Therefore, there are specific herbs and roots which
can function powerfully in launching targeted attacks at enemies through
jinxes, curses, hexes, and other kinds of spells. The herbs used for this
purpose include licorice root, cayenne pepper, cactus, black peppercorns,
and Spanish moss. ‘
As you continue with your studies of hoodoo, you will better understand the
use of herbs in the preparations of herbs for specific purposes and how these
herbs are all combined to give the desired effects.
BOTTLING UP YOUR MAGIC: AN
INTRODUCTORY GUIDE TO CONTAINED
SPELLS
T he rise of commercialized hoodoo greatly increased the popularity

of contained spells in the form of mojo bags and talismans that were
sold to people for specific purposes. A lot of people were seeking
spiritual aid in one form or the other, and a quick and efficient way to obtain
good luck and fortune, love, and protection were spiritually fortified objects
onto which spells had been cast to provide these abilities.
As a newbie hoodoo practitioner, it is important for you to understand the

various types of fortified objects used to channel spiritual powers for
specialized purposes, most commonly attraction, protection, and good
fortune. The forms of contained spells that would be examined in this
section include Mojo bags, conjure bags, sachet powder, bottles, eggs, gris-
gris, and talismans. The third, fouth, and fifth volume will further explore
the subjects of contained spells.
MOJO BAGS: A mojo bag, also called a mojo hand by some hoodoo
adherents, is a portable pouch or bag that contains herbs, rocks, powders,
and other spiritually significant components to which some form of spiritual
powers have been bound to confer a special advantage upon the bearer of
the bag. Specialized mojo bags are used for different purposes – there are
mojo bags for love and attraction, wealth, protection, and good luck in
contexts such as sports and gambling. The types of herbs used in a mojo
bag and the overall composition of the bag would greatly determine what
exact function the mojo bag would serve to the bearer. Therefore, if a mojo
bag is going to be designed for protection, specialized herbs that confer
protection, such as High John the Conqueror and cinnamon, are likely to be
included in that type of mojo bag. Mojo bags are usually designed to serve
one specific purpose – hence there are usually specific rituals for different
types of mojo bags.
CONJURE BAGS: These specialized pouches are extremely similar to mojo

bags. They contain specialized herbs and other components that confer a
specific kind of spiritual power upon the bearer. Conjure bags, however,
tend to be used for lethal purposes such as jinxing an enemy, as opposed to
mojo bags that are used in less nefarious applications. Creating a conjure
bag also requires powerful spells and rituals that usually involve
summoning a powerful spirit, hence the name, ‘conjure.’
SACHET POWDER: A sachet powder is simply a bag that contains a special

type of powder that has been infused with specific magical powers. The
contents of a sachet powder may also be conditioned to serve specialized
purposes. A sachet powder can be created for attraction, good luck,
protection, and other purposes. When using sachet powder to jinx a target,
the powder can be spread across the path of the target so that once they step
on it, the curse automatically takes effect. However, spreading target
powder in the path of a target may also be used for attraction, gaining
control over someone, or seeking favor from a figure of authority. Sachet
powder does not only work on human targets, however. In specific
circumstances, the possessions of a target, such as their clothing or shoes,
may also be used in sachet powder magic to achieve results that affect the
owner of those objects. Letters and gifts treated with sachet powder can also
be sent to a target for the powder’s magic to take effect. Sachet powder is
an undoubtedly powerful and versatile form of magic, and it is still
extremely relevant and common even in the modern world. A simple
internet search brings up the names of conjure stores and the types of sachet
powders they offer for sale. Sachet powders can be created by grinding
specific herbs, roots, barks, seeds, and other elements into a fine powder
and then casting the necessary spells to activate the powers of the
components within.
BOTTLES: Bottles have always played an extremely significant role in

several magical narrations in history. There have always been constant
narrations of old-school witches bottling up dreams, visions, and spells.
Pirate magic also features the use of bottles to cast spells to ward off
enemies or improve their luck of finding treasure. In hoodoo, bottles can
also be used to gather a collection of herbs and roots to which a spell has
been cast. This kind of bottle may be planted in the residence of a target if a
curse is to be placed on the person. If the spell is for good luck and good
fortune, the bottle containing the necessary herbs and associated objects can
simply be kept in the home.
EGGS: Eggs are actually more spiritually significant than you might think.
Eggs are extremely important elements in unhexing, cleansing, and
removing negative spiritual energies. Basically, eggs are reputed for their
ability to absorb evil powers. Eggs are also important in spells to improve
fertility and boost the chances of conception in a woman. This is because
the egg itself represents a unique phase of reproduction in itself – the
average egg can be incubated to give a chick at the appropriate temperature.
The shell of an egg can also be grounded and used in specific spells for
attraction and cleansing.
GRIS-GRIS: Gris-gris is extremely similar to mojo and conjure bags. It is

also a form of contained magic that utilizes specialized objects and herbs to
which spiritual energies have been bound to achieve specific purposes.
Gris-gris bags are unique for their flannel pouches. The typical gris-gris bag
is prepared for protection, extraordinary strength, and overpowering
enemies. Stones, personal effects, and charms may also be parts of the
contents of the regular gris-gris bag, depending on the kind of ritual
performed to activate the hoodoo magic of the bag. Gris-gris bags must also
only contain an odd number of component items, never even. The
maximum number of components that can be carried within a gris-gris bag
is thirteen. The items are blessed during the ritual, and the bag itself is
anointed with a specialized oil. When using the gris-gris bag to attract a
particular desire, the bag should be held while you visualize your wishes in
your mind.
TALISMAN: The final form of contained magic we would be examining is

the talisman. A talisman is basically a form of an amulet that is carried
around to protect the bearer from evil spirits and negative spiritual energies.
Talismans can help to ward out negative spells and curses. Some talismans
are specially formulated to protect the carrier from harmful spells and are
even equipped with the interesting capability to ricochet the evil sell back to
the sender. The process of creating a talisman involves the collection of the
appropriate herbs, roots, and stones and binding them to form an amulet.
The talisman must be consecrated using light incense and three white
candles in a triangle, while the talisman stays at the center. Salt is sprinkled
on the talisman, and the person performing the ritual verbally consecrates
the talisman with the four elements of fire, water, earth, and air. The
talisman is afterward passed through the incense and then placed back on
the altar. The spellcaster places his hands on the talisman, visualizes a
bright light emerging from the bundle, and then extinguishes the candle.
With that, the talisman is ready for use.
HOW TO MAKE AN HOODOO DOLL
A hoodoo doll is a powerful, dangerous, and extremely potent form of
contained magic. A hoodoo doll, if well made, can be used to hurt a person
or control them in real-time from a distance. Hoodoo dolls can also be used
to draw attraction, love, and riches.
The process of making a hoodoo doll begins with getting something that
belongs to the person, preferably a piece of clothing that can be stitched
onto the doll. You can then get two pieces of wood (regular pencils can also
serve this purpose) and bind them together with twine. This wooden
contraption serves as the skeleton. The hoodoo doll can be stuffed with
shredded cloth, cotton, or feathers. Spanish moss is a very effective stuffing
material for hoodoo dolls. The doll’s wooden skeleton and the materials for
stuffing are consequently covered with a rather large piece of fabric. The
color of the fabric should correlate to the purpose of your hoodoo doll. If
you are creating the doll for wealth and good luck, a green covering is
preferable. For issues concerning justice, a brown covering is preferable. A
hoodoo doll being created for peace and protection should be covered with
a white fabric. When casting a hex, you can use a piece of the target’s
clothing for the covering of the doll.
After getting the basic outline, you can use twines and ribbons to highlight
the head, arms, and legs of the doll. You can make the doll as similar to the
person you are targeting as possible to increase its efficacy. The color of
their hair and eyes should be similar to the color of your doll’s hair and
eyes. If the person has brown eyes, for instance, you can use brown buttons
to signify your doll’s eyes. If they have jet black hair, you can stitch in a
small black piece of clothing on top of the doll.
At this point, the hoodoo doll can then be baptized in the name of the father,
the son, and the holy spirit. Speak the function that you want the hoodoo
doll to perform into existence. For special rituals, you can bury the doll in
the earth to maximize its powers. From this point, begin to visualize and
imagine your wishes coming true. The doll should be held as you visualize
your desires coming to fruition. More spells and rituals involving a hoodoo
doll can be found in the 4th, 5th and 7th volume of the series.
INTRODUCTION TO HOODOO DIVINATION
T he art of divination is a vast, ancient one, and bones and special

tarot cards have been important components of this art for centuries,
even beyond Hoodoo. As you have learned in the first volume bone
reading was practiced already in plantation Hoodoo, whilst card reading
was incorporated in the tradition later on in the Hoodoo and Curio shop.
Both are now part of a powerful tradition of divination, which includes also
dream divination. All of these practices, will be widely discussed in the 6th
volume of the series on Hoodoo divination. This chapter will simply give
you a quick overview of bone and card reading.
Bone Reading
Bone reading involves the use of selected animal bones for seeking
information via the spiritual realm. The bones used in the divination process
are usually spiritually fortified using rituals and spells. Bones are extremely
powerful conduits of spiritual power. Even long after the death of a very
powerful person, there may still be waves of spiritual energy wafting
through the person’s bones. Bones are also structurally resistant, and when
the entire body decays within the ground, they remain in the soil, only
growing fossilized over time but never really disappearing. Bones
symbolize immortality, and therefore, are a perfect means of
communication with the world beyond. Bone reading is carried out by
placing an array of pre-fortified bones on an altar and then casting a spell to
seek the guidance and insight of the spirits. The patterns of the bones are
then studied to decode the message that the ancestor is trying to pass. Bone
reading requires years of practice to build expertise. However, as concerns
continue to rise about animal cruelty and building a sustainable world, a lot
of environmentally-conscious hoodoo practitioners opt for other means of
channeling spiritual powers for divination.
Card Reading
Card reading, on the other hand, is a slightly more recent form of
divination. The tarot deck contains a wide array of cards. Specific spells are
cast, and the individual casting the spell or the person on whose behalf the
spell is being cast, is asked to select randomly from the deck of cards
presented to him. The cards chosen are then studied and interpreted to
understand the message that the spirits are trying it passes across. Tarot card
reading is quite ancient, and each card on the deck represents a specific kind
of message. The tarot deck, which is the main type of card deck used in
divination, consists of the Major and Minor Arcanas. There are 22 cards
making up the major arcana, while the minor arcana comprises the
remaining fifty-six, bringing the total of the cards in a tarot deck to seventy-
eight.
The cards all have unique interpretations and must be drawn at random if an
accurate prediction about the future is to be made. The card ‘Zero’ in the
Major Arcana, for instance, is called ‘The Fool,’ and this card symbolizes
the dawn of a new beginning. This particular card indicates that the person
is going to be starting out a new journey, voyage, or escapade in their lives
very soon. As long as the rituals are carried out properly to ensure spiritual;
guidance and the cards are picked at random, tarot readings can help to give
a diviner or a person whom the spirits are being consulted for very powerful
insights about what lies ahead in their lives.
IT'S ON FIRE! INTRODUCTION TO
CANDLE MAGIC
Candle magic is another ancient art in hoodoo that has evolved uniquely
over the years to become a more precise spiritual art form. Fire is by far the
most powerful element of the four fundamental elements that make up the
universe. Fire signifies power, strength, will, energy, and in some cases,
destruction and ruin. Fire is also an extremely significant channel to
communicate with the spirits. Candle magic has therefore been developed
as a means of communicating with the supernatural realm. The candle in the
ritual process is regarded as a focusing tool, and it helps the hoodoo
practitioner to focus their energies and direct them to the spirits.
In hoodoo, different colors and types of candles are utilized for different
specialized processes. For candle magic to be successfully carried out, the
specialized type and color of the candle needed for the intended spell must
be lit, and then the appropriate psalm or recitation made, followed by a
statement of intent. Therefore, if an individual desires good fortune, the
appropriate candle color for good fortune must first be selected, this candle
must be lit, and the corresponding psalm or recitation made. Then a clear
statement of intent telling the spirits about his need for wealth and good
fortune should follow. Afterwards, the individual may then visualize the
type of life that they desire against the backdrop of the candle flame.
The following list is just an introduction to the workings of Candle Magic.
For a more extensive look on Candle Magic, refer to the seventh volume of
the series.
WHITE CANDLES are useful in spells that have to do with blessing an
individual or seeking wealth and good fortune.
YELLOW CANDLES are common in spells that have to do with the removal
of curses and hexes, and they are also used to seek calmness in the middle
of a storm for an individual.
ORANGE CANDLES symbolize positive energies, and they are used to seek
courage as an individual attempt to take on a daunting task in their life.
Orange candles are also used to appeal to the spirits of the supernatural to
help bring a person’s desires to fruition.
RED CANDLES signify virility, life, and power. Red itself is a powerful
color that makes an extremely bold statement. A red candle is used to cast
spells to seek power, strength, and courage. This candle may also be useful
in casting spells to seek good health and promote virile sexuality.
Blue is the color of water, and it signifies calmness, peace, and tranquility;
the exact things that BLUE CANDLES are used to seek. A blue candle in a
hoodoo spell may also be used to enhance spiritual clarity and the
concentration of a person's energies to make the casting of complex spells
possible.
Black is truly beautiful; however, in hoodoo, black is the color of darkness
and evil. BLACK CANDLES are therefore useful in casting hexes and places
curses against enemies.
Green is the color of nature, and GREEN CANDLES are primarily used in
supplications for good health, especially if an individual is suffering from a
debilitating illness. Candle magic done using green candles calls upon the
forces of nature and the universe’s natural healing energies to be infused
into the person to grant them, god, healthy. Green candles may also be used
in spells to attract wealth, prosperity, and success in business endeavors.
BROWN CANDLES are used when trying to solve specialized life problems.
Perhaps a person is facing an insurmountable challenge in their life, making
them feel stuck and helpless. Brown candle magic can be used to summon
spirits and cast spells to help the person find solutions to their intractable
problems.
GOLD CANDLES are used to imbue a person with confidence and vigor.
Candle magic done using gold-colored candles may also be used to seek
divine intervention in a person’s life when they are feeling weak or helpless.
Apart from the different colors of the candles used in candle magic, the
figures represented by the candles used may also be significant to the results
gotten from candle magic spells. A candle =carved in the form of a black
cat may be burned to ensure good luck for a gambler. Therefore, when
people are participating in contests that require luck or border majorly in
chance, then a black cat-shaped candle can help to cast powerful spells to
tip the scales of the universe in their favor. A candle carved in the shape of
a male or a female can be useful in casting a spell that targets a particular
individual – perhaps to subdue a mean boss, attract and retain the love of
another person, or to cast a hex on someone.
A skull-shaped candle represents death and is usually used to invoke the
spirits of the deceased to seek help to solve difficult problems. A candle
carved in the form of a snake is said to be useful in casting spells to bind or
control someone. Candle magic is simple; however, it is quite specific, and
using the right kinds of candles can go a long way in helping a spellcaster
achieve their goals and objectives.
WATCH YOUR STEPS: AN INTRODUCTION
TO FOOT TRACK MAGIC
Foot track is an interesting, ancient form of magic that has remained largely
unevolved over time. The principle behind which foot track magic works is
pretty simple; the energy imprint carried by a person who dissipates through
their feet as they walk through the earth is harnessed to curse or hex the
individual. There are various ways in which foot track magic can be carried
out. However, in most cases, a sachet powder that has been created to
perform the intended purpose must be procured.
If a hex is to be placed on an individual through foot track magic, then a
sachet powder for hexing is created or procured. Then the powder can be
thrown subtly in the path that the target would take. For this to be effective,
a spell specifying the details of the intended target must have been cast.
Once the feet of the target make contact with the powder, the curse
automatically takes effect. However, if predicting the path that the target
would take is difficult, then the footprint of the person on the earth can be
tracked, and the dirt on the spot of the footprint gathered. The dirt gathered
can then be used in casting a spell to direct a hex or a curse at the target.
Foot track magic is lethally effective. This form of hexing can lead to a
wide range of sicknesses such as walking problems and water retention in
the legs. This curse can only be undone by an expert rootworker who is
experienced in undoing hexes and negative spells. In some cases, an old
shoe of the target or their sock that holds the spiritual energy that has been
dissipated through their feet may also be used to cast foot track magic
spells.
More on Foot Track Magic in the 5th volume of the series.
CLEAN MAGIC: AN INTRODUCTION TO
SPIRITUAL CLEANSINGS
S piritual baths and cleansings are extremely potent forms of hoodoo

magic that have been in existence for centuries. A spiritual bath is
usually recommended by experienced hoodoo practitioners when an
individual is trying to eradicate the effects of a negative mojo or just
remove negative spiritual energies from the body. Spiritual baths are also
recommended to bring good luck, fortune, and wealth.
For the desired effects of a spiritual bath to be realized, specific additives

may be required to be added to the bathwater. These additives may include
crystals, herbs, roots, and oils. Special recitations are also usually made into
the bathwater to further spiritually fortify the bathwater and make it even
more potent for the required purpose. To remove negative energies or
eradicate the effects of a negative mojo, the body should be washed
downwards, signifying that the negative energies are being washed away
from the body and into the earth. To bring good luck into a person’s life
through a spiritual bath, then the washing should be done upwards.
Specific floor washes and baths can be found in the third volume of the
series on Hoodoo Herb and Rootwork.
BASIC BATH AND FLOOR WASH PRINCIPLES
How to run a bath
1. The bathwater must be properly blessed by invoking the spirits of the
relevant spirits into the water before beginning the bath at all. This
process helps to fortify the bathwater and increases the chances of your
desires coming true.
2. As you gradually soak your body in the bathwater, you must begin to
verbally pronounce your problems out loud so that the bathwater can
wash them away. If you desire a specific kind of a blessing in your life,
then you must verbally speak out that blessing too as your body gets
soaked in the bathwater.
3. The standard ritual bath should involve your entire body being in contact
with the fortified bath water for at least fifteen minutes. Experts advise
visualizing the life of your dreams as you lie languidly in the bathtub.
You may speak your desires into existence, say prayers, or simply
meditate. However, the point is, as your body stays in contact with the
ritual water, let your dreams come alive.
4. As the bathwater flows down the drain after your ritual bath, visualize
your problems going down along with the water. This imagination helps
to connect the powers of the bath to the powers of reality, setting the
mechanism of change in motion in your life.
5. Finally, once the water is completely drained off, wash your bathtub with
saltwater to eradicate any lingering negative energies that may be present.
All objects in the bathtub should also be cleaned with salt water.
Floor washes
Floor washes are another form of spiritual cleansing. However, where
spiritual baths are used to eradicate negativity and invite positive energies
and good luck into an individual’s life, floor washes are used to cleanse a
dwelling, purge it of negative energies, and invite good fortune into the
residence or site of business. The principles of a floor wash include:
Use Florida Water for the process. Florida water is reputable in the hoodoo
community for its supernatural power to expunge negative energies and
invite good ones into space. Florida water can be purchased from your local
hoodoo store. However, if you have the time, you may also prepare this
extremely handy and useful spiritual water from yourself. Florida water is
made by combining the following in a large bowl:
3 oz. Oil of Bergamot
1 oz. oil of lemon
1 oz. Oil of English Lavender
12 drops Oil of cloves
20 drops Oil of Cinnamon
Tincture of Benzoin
1-gallon Alcohol
1 pint Rose Water
1. The premises being sanitized for negative energies should be washed

specifically from the back of the space to the front door.
2. The entire room or dwelling should be scrubbed thoroughly – the walls,
ceilings, corners, windows, and doors. Every single inch of the space
being sanitized should be cleaned properly. No inch of the space must be
left untouched.
3. The left-over water from the wash should be disposed of through the
front door of the house, preferably eastwards.
What kind of Water Should be Used?

For spiritual baths, regular water infused with the necessary herbs, oils, and
other components must be used for the bath. For the bath to be truly
effective and the negative energies eradicated completely from your body,
then all the necessary components should be present. For floor washes,
Florida water should be used. It can be prepared following the list of
ingredients above.
Prayers, Petitions, and Psalms in the Bath
While performing a spiritual bath, a variety of prayers can be said. Psalms
may also be recited to help attract the positive energies that you desire. As
you recite the psalms and prayers in the bath, visualize your wants and
desires. The psalms and petitions to the spirits of the supernatural work in
conjunction with the active elements in your bath water to cleanse you from
the inside out.
Placement of Candles in the Bath
Candles and incense can be extremely helpful and powerful components of
a spiritual bath. Therefore, before settling down into the bathtub, a candle
can be lit – it helps if it's scented – to help to channel positive spiritual
energies to eradicate the invisible negativities from your body.
Scrubbing the Floors
During floor washes, every square inch of the floor of the premises being
cleansed must be scrubbed using Florida water and a blessed brush. The
brush can be sanctified through candle magic. The floors should be washed
from the back towards the front door of the premises.
Right Time and Space for a Spiritual Bath
The best time for a spiritual bath is after experiencing a negative spiritual
encounter -perhaps you are experiencing a string of bad luck, you feel
stuck, fatigued, depressed, and imbued with negative energies. A spiritual
bath helps to cleanse your spirit. Spiritual baths can be taken very early in
the morning at the crack of dawn, and your bathroom is a great place to use.
BEGINNER’S RITUAL BATHS
Different kinds of spiritual baths can be used to achieve different purposes
and effects in your life. Spiritual baths are usually specific in nature, and the
exact effect that you want to derive from the spiritual bath should dictate
the contents of the bathwater. In this section, we would examine spiritual
baths for the purpose of spiritual purification, attraction, and protection.
More baths and floor washes can be found in the third volume of the series.
Purification Bath
This form of spiritual bath is also referred to as a white bath and is used to
eradicating negative spiritual energies from an individual’s life. White baths
can also help to revitalize a waning spirit and may be helpful in clearing out
symptoms of flu and cold. To perform a purification bath, the bathwater
should include:
4 cups Milk
4 tablespoons Anise
2 tablespoons salt
To increase the efficacy of the bath, a white or blue candle can be placed in
the room, and incense can also be burnt.
Attraction Bath
This kind of bath is taken to eradicate obstacles and problems in a
relationship, attract the attention of a love interest, or gain favor from
people in authority. Attraction baths, also called Yellow baths, are also
helpful in helping to correct skin conditions. The attraction bathwater is
prepared by including the following components:
A sprinkling of yellow food coloring.
Parsley and Yarrow flowers’
2 tablespoons honey for washing.’
Yellow or orange candles can be burned during the bath, and cinnamon-
flavored incense is strongly recommended to boost the efficacy of this bath.
Protection Bath
This type of bath is taken to help protect an individual from spiritual harm.
This bath should be taken if you are feeling stressed, paranoid or anxious. A
protection bath, also called a blue bath, helps the cleansed individual feel
secure, protected, and calm even in worrisome circumstances. The blue
protection bath should be infused with:
Blue food coloring
Lavender and rosemary herbs
Seashells for washing
Blue or white-colored candles can be used for the protection bath.
Watermelon-flavored incense is strongly recommended.
BEGINNER’S FLOOR WASHES
To help eradicate negativity from your environment and residence,
specialized floor washes may be used. The most common floor wash
remains the Florida Water solution recommended above. The Florida water
solution can be added to the main supply of water used to wash the
premises. Another example of a floor wash is a solution of one tablespoon
of ammonia in the water meant for the cleaning of the premises. The
ammonia-infused floor wash is potent in eradicating negative energies from
the environment.
Finally, to protect your dwelling from negative energies, the following
combination can be added to the floor wash:
Sweet basil
1 tablespoon ground eggshells
Consecrated water.
Sprinkling or Spraying:
For the swift blessing of a dwelling or living space, the floor wash may
simply be sprinkled across the premises, and prayers said to eradicate the
negative energies within and invite blessings and fortune.
Foot Washing
The purification, attraction, and protection baths described above may also
be used to cleanse the feet specifically. This helps to eradicate negative
energies from this particularly delicate area of the body and direct one’s
steps in the direction of wealth and fortune. Feet washes are not as powerful
as full spiritual baths, but they can be incredibly effective.
Cleansing with an Egg
Eggs have natural powers to absorb negative energies, boost fertility and
help to remove negative powers from a person's body and life. A simple
cleanse can be done by rubbing the egg from the base of the skull at the
back of the head to the shoulders. To cleanse off negative energies of
barrenness, an egg may also be rubbed across the belly of a woman
struggling to conceive a child while specialized ritual prayers are said.
Rub-Down Rites
During spiritual baths, hoodoo practitioners are encouraged to wash their
bodies downwards in the bath to eradicate negative spiritual energies
embedded within the body. Rubbing upwards helps to bring in good luck
and fortune.
Post-Bath Rites
After completing the spiritual bath, it is advisable to let the body dry
normally. Allow your body to absorb the positive energies imbued in the
ingredients of the bath, and watch yourself feel energized, calm, confident,
and secure. For the disposal of the bathwater, some hoodoo experts
recommend throwing away the water at crossroads while visualizing your
problems being thrown out alongside the water. If that is not practicable,
simply visualize your problems disappearing alongside your bath water as it
flows down the drain.
BASIC HOODOO SPELLS FOR THE
BUDDING ROOT DOCTOR
PROTECTION SPELLS
Creating a Spiritual Barrier
T hese spells are used to create a mystical protective barrier between

you and evil forces. This spell involves the preparation of a spiritual
protection magic oil prepared by combining the following:
Angelica essential oil
Rosemary essential oil
Bay leaves
Mandrake root
These components are added to an almond oil base and then applied to
specific regions in the house,
such as entryways, windows, and doorknobs, to prevent the entry of

negative forces and energies.
Red Brick Dust
This particular spell is used to bar negative forces, energies, and evil mojos
from home. Simply find an old red brink, ground it to dust, and sprinkle the
dust generated generously across your doorway.
Salt and Black Pepper Floor Wash
This spell helps to protect the individual from the forces of evil. Salt and
black pepper are to be dissolved in a bucket of water and used to scrub the
entirety of a home before sunrose. This helps to keep out negative energies
from the dwelling and its residents.
LOVE SPELLS
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of love spells, it is critical to note that it
is not advisable to direct these spells towards one particular person, as
tempting as that thought might be. Love spells work better when you simply
wish for the love and affection that you desire to come to you from the right
place and person, instead of tying someone to you against their own free
will. More on love spells in the 3rd volume of the series.
Attraction Love Charm
This spell must be cast on the night of a full moon. A silver ring should be
wrapped in a clean white cloth. A hole should then be dug, and the ring
buried within. After the ring is buried, focus on the kind of love you want to
attract, visualize it as vividly as you can. Pour some wine over the spot at
which you buried the ring as you visualize the love you want. While
visualizing, recite these words:
“Blessed Mother fair and true,
This Gift I offer unto You,
Bless this ring and make it shine,
Bring a lover to be mine,
Let it be So!”
The ring should then be left buried till the next full moon. After a full
month passes, the ring should be dug up from the earth and worn on the
ring finger of the left hand. The love that you seek shall be drawn to you.
Attraction Love Spell
This spell is also for attracting a lover, and like the first love spell described,
the effects are most potent when this spell is cast during a full moon. To
cast this spell, you would require one pink candle, your favorite fragrance,
and a toothpick.
To begin the spell, the toothpick should be used to engrave the shape of a
heart within the pink candle. The candle should be lit and then placed on a
windowsill, with the engraving of the heart coming in contact with the
moonlight. The essential oil or fragrance should then be placed in front of
the candle while saying the words:
“Oshun, bestow upon me the love that I need; let this scent attract my lover
to me!”
The candle must then be left alone to burn out naturally. The perfume
should be worn every time you go out to meet people, and as you spray the
perfume or fragrance on your body, repeat the chant above.
Bring Back Yo’ Ex
This spell is used to draw back the attention of a lover that has been loved
and lost. This spell requires the following:
The target’s dirty left sock (or any other personal effect, if
unavailable).
A piece of paper
Fresh basil
A red candlestick
A glass of water
Your ex-lover’s name should be written three times on the piece of paper.
Next, you dig a hole and insert the piece of paper with your ex-lover’s name
inscribed on it into the hole, then follow this up with the dirty left sock or
whichever other personal item you managed to secure. The red candle
should be lit exactly at noon and left to burn for one exact hour. The flame
should be extinguished after an hour, and then the candle re-lit at six in the
evening. The candle should be left to burn for another one hour, and then
the fame should be extinguished. While the candle is burning, cover the
hole where you buried the paper and sock with a barrel. Let the barrel
surround the burning candle and then knock on the side of the barrel to call
out the spirit summoned within. Say the following words:
“Tumba Walla, Bumba Walla, bring (your lover’s name) home to me.
LUCK SPELLS
A luck spell is usually cast to confer good luck or extraordinary fortune
upon an individual. Luck spells can be especially effective if you are
planning to gamble and are hoping for a huge windfall. Luck spells can also
simply be cast to invite good luck into different aspects of your life. You
can find more spells to attract good luck in the 4th volume of the series.
Lucky Gambling Mojo
This spell involves the putting together of a mojo bag to be carried on the
gambler’s person as they go to gamble. The mojo bag must contain a High
John the Conqueror root, a dime with the gambler’s initials inscribed on it,
and a lodestone dressed in magnetic sand. The mojo bag should be carried
preferably in the gambler’s pocket.
Winner’s Luck Spell
This spell can help invite good luck and fortune into your life and can as
well be extremely useful if laying a game or contesting against other
people. The heart of a bat should be tied with a silken red string to the right
arm. Whenever the carrier of the charm plays a game, he would win.
Good Luck Charm
This spell is simple but can be extremely potent. It simply involves wearing
an alligator’s tooth around the neck. The charm invites good luck and
positive energy to the carrier. Care must, however, be taken not to visit an
ocean or a river while wearing the charm as it would lose its spiritual
effects.
SPELLS FOR SUCCESS AND WEALTH
Everyone wants money, and we all try to pursue this sometimes elusive
entity every single day. With success and wealth spells, however, you can
attract the forces of wealth, money, and success into your life. You can find
more spells to attract success and wealth in the fourth volume of the series.
These spells include:
Money Attraction Spell

This simple spell works to attract the divine forces of money to you. A
dollar bill should be wrapped around a buckeye and then anointed with the
fast luck oil. This charm should be carried in the pocket to attract money.
Trinka Fire Money-Drawing Spell
This spell only requires a bowl and three coins. The bowl must be placed at
a conspicuous location where it would be seen every day. The coins should
be held in the right hand and the following words recited:
“Trinka fire, Trinka fire,
Ancient Spirits come Alive,
Money grow, and money thrive,
Spirits of the Trinka fire.”
The coins should then be dropped in the bowl, and the ritual repeated daily
for nine days.
Oshun Prosperity Spell
This spell is actually a supplication to the goddess Oshun, a loa believed to
possess the powers of conferring wealth and success upon an individual
according to ancient Yoruba folklore. This spell requires the following
components:
An orange rind
Dried orange leaves
Brown sugar
An iron pot.
The ingredients should simply the deposited in the pot and burnt. The fire
should be put out, and the burning mixture should be left to smoke heavily.
The incense should then be offered to Oshun using the words:
“Oshun oguao mi inle Oshun igua iya mio, igua iko bosi iya mi guasi, iya
mi omo iyalode, oguo mi inle ashe Oshun.”
Alternatively, you can simply say a short prayer to Oshun, asking for the
success, money, and prosperity that you desire.
SPELLS FOR JUSTICE
Justice spells are quite popular in hoodoo because of the numerous travails
that a lot of black slaves and their descendants in the United States have had
to face as a result of the biased American Justice system during the days of
legalized slavery and racism. You can find more in the 4th and 5th volume of
the series.
Day in Court Spell
This spell should be cast before an accused person goes to court to help him
get acquitted. The spell requires the following:
Cinnamon Oil
Calendula Oil
Frankincense Oil
Carnation Oil
A piece of devil’s shoestring
Galangal Root
The above oils should be blended within a carrier oil, and the piece of
devil's shoestring and a bit of the galangal root should be added in. The
mixture should be prepared three days before your appearance in court and
added to the water for bathing for the three days prior to the court
appearance. On the court day, the mixture should be used to anoint the
arms, chest, and throat. The mixture may also be used to rub the hands
before important legal documents are signed.
Court Trial Victory Spell
This spell is performed by writing the names of all opposing witnesses, the
judge, and the opposing lawyer on separates pieces of parchment paper. The
pieces of paper on which the names have been inscribed should be placed in
a dish, and some sweet oil poured over the dish. Every morning from nine
in the morning to ten, a white candle should be burned beside this dish. On
the day of the trial, the dish is to be placed on top of your hoodoo altar,
where it must remain until the trial is over.
Court Case Victory Spell
This simple spell is performed by writing the name of all your legal
opponents on a piece of paper. The paper is to be placed in a can to which
soot and ashes from a chimney or fireplace are added. After that, get six
white candles and stick pins in them in the shape of a cross. Burn the
candles, and then set the can in an ice bucket. Afterwards, recite Psalm 120
before the court session and inside the courtroom.
CONCLUSION

WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN, I WOULD BE DELIGHTED IF YOU COULD
LEAVE A REVIEW ON AMAZON SO THAT OTHER MAY BE BLESSED BY
THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO HERB AND
ROOTWORK
The Complete Herbal Dispensatory for Hoodoo
Rootwork and Conjure with 278 Magical Herbs,
Roots, Spices, and Curios
INTRODUCTION
on.
so I have written seven books, here conveniently compiled into one powerful
bundle. They are still not enough, but I hope they will allow you to gain
insight in the subject and allow you to explore further standing on solid
ground.
American Conjure and Rootwork will guide you through your first spells and
rituals, as well as beginner’s herb and rootwork practices and will give solid
practical basis to further explore the subjects.
Hoodoo.
Bible: The Root Doctor’s Companion to Advanced Spellcasting and Conjure
are the heart of this work. In them you will find working spells to address
any trouble that may come your way. If you are looking for love, success,
justice, money, or health you will have a magical aid and if you need
protection or you want revenge you will discover powerful rituals that will
allow you to do just that.
divination.
rootworker.
Herbs and other forms of plant life have always been significant aspects of
folk magic practices across different civilizations through time. Herbs are
revered in hoodoo as agents of nature, and they have been employed over the
centuries by several generations of hoodoo practitioners for their medicinal
and spiritual purposes.
The seed of a plant gets lodged in the soil a lot of times, unintentionally and
without any supervision or care. This seed can develop within the soil and
gradually grow into a huge, towering woody behemoth. Trees are a brilliant
representation of the magic of life and the universe as a whole. Herbs imbue
amazing amounts of spiritual energy that get built up within them as they
evolve from seedling to fully-developed plants.
As they evolve within the earth and grow to spring stems, leaves, and
flowers, herbs manifest the remarkable spiritual energies that live within
them. It’s a little sad that as human beings, we live such fast-paced lives in
the modern era that we barely stop to think about how fascinating nature
truly is. A lot of these herbs grow even under the most unfavorable
conditions, survive in almost nothing, and still grow incredibly fast to have
startling green leaves and beautiful red, yellow, orange, or even blue flowers.
Plants are a stark manifestation of the supernatural energy that flows within
the universe. Plants are able to tap into the pools of energy flowing through
the earth and use these energies to power their rapid, mind-blowing
transformations. Therefore, in hoodoo, the spiritual energies that plants
naturally store within them are utilized for various purposes. Various herbs
usually harbor different kinds of spiritual energy signatures and are therefore
used for different applications. Some herbs, because of their distinct spiritual
signature, are more suitable for applications related to love, relationships,
romance, friendships, strengthening family bonds, and the overall fostering
of relationships and togetherness. These herbs are useful for these purposes
because they contain unique spiritual signatures that relate to relationships
and togetherness and are therefore best harnessed for these purposes. Some
other herbs, on the other hand, contain spiritual signatures that are the best
suite for applications related to wealth, prosperity, success, and
breakthrough. The spiritual energies in these herbs have been studied and
noted to work well in the realm of riches and success and are therefore better
adapted to those purposes.
This specificity of spiritual energies in herbs does not, however, mean that
one herb must always have only one possible spiritual application. Hundreds
of herbs have been recorded to contain powerful spiritual energies that help
foster success, build romantic bonds, and even protect an individual from the
forces of evil. These herbs contain reserves of spiritual energy that allow
them to function across all the applications where they have been useful.
Herbs are also used in hoodoo in the conjuring of spirits. Herbs are
reservoirs of spiritual power, and when trying to access the spirit world, the
powers housed by herbs can be channeled to help penetrate the barrier
between our world and the supernatural. Specific herbs may also function
better when trying to communicate with spirits, as opposed to other herbs.
Herbs that enhance mental clarity, psychic vision, and lucidity of the mind
may help to enhance the ability of a hoodoo practitioner to connect with the
supernatural, request for hidden information, or even seek help on pressing
issues.
Rootwork in hoodoo is the study of herbs and their physical and spiritual
applications, and it forms the most significant part of hoodoo. Herbs are used
for almost every application in the hoodoo practice. They can be boiled,
soaked in water, alcohol or oils to extract their essence, there can be ground
and added to other herbs, they can also be used for spiritual baths, the
making of charms and even in some face, they can simply just be hung in the
home to perform their jobs. Herbs are a brilliant and abundant symbol of the
immense and astonishing power that resides around us – a power that the
modern world has made irrelevant to a lot of people. As a hoodoo
practitioner, herbs do not just help you to prepare herbal remedies or charms;
they also remind you of the incredible power that surrounds us. These
magnificent spiritual energies reside in all of us, and they are the foundations
of greatness. We can choose to recognize the foundations of greatness that
already exist within us, and like plants, use these foundations to grow and
build ourselves into remarkable individuals.
It’s time to take off them training wheels, you are ready to explore the
mysterious and dangerous world of Hoodoo Herb and Rootwork. You have
learned the basis and perhaps are even able to perform a few easy spells, but
by studying the essential components of Hoodoo, namely roots, herbs, and
other curios, you can finally start to call yourself a rootworker.
Above all, hoodoo is a complex, individualistic practice. Guidelines exist,
but at the core of it all, hoodoo is not a religion. It is a means of achieving
inner peace, joy, happiness, and contentment in life. Hoodoo proffers
methods to help you deal with everyday problems in your life with a little
supernatural support gotten by harnessing the powers of the agents of nature
present in the environment. In this book, therefore, we would be examining
the spectacular powers of herbs found around us and how these herbs can be
harnessed to help make our lives even more riveting.
PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO HERBAL
MAGIC
H erbal magic is the central defining concept in hoodoo that involves

the use of specified herbs, roots, barks, spices, and other forms of
plant life in addition to other defined objects to perform rituals,
formulate remedies, cast spells, and perform other spiritually significant
functions. From time immemorial, plants have constantly been regarded as
stores of power – both medicinal and spiritual, and they have constantly
played central roles in many folk magic beliefs.
In hoodoo, different plants are believed to be capable of different medicinal

and spiritual functions and are therefore used specifically for their pre-
determined uses. Herbal magic harnesses the spiritual energies that plants
are naturally imbued from the unlimited reserves of power that flow through
the universe. The objects that are utilized in the rituals and spellcasting
processes alongside the herbs are used to amplify the spiritual energies of the
herbs by contributing their own forms of supernatural effects to allow a
practitioner to conjure up enough power to perform a spiritual process. One
critical belief in hoodoo is that as living things, we all possess spiritual
energies within us, albeit to varying degrees. Some people recognize the
existence of this unique power signature within them and seek out to develop
their instincts, refine their psychic abilities, and use their natural powers to
break the barrier between the physical and spiritual realms to help
themselves and other people solve life’s pressing problems. These people are
known as rootworkers, and they utilize the spiritual energies flowing through
plants and the powers that can be drawn from other objects for making
incredible things happen.
Apart from herbs, some of the other common spiritually significant
requirements for a lot of spells are candles, dolls, incenses, powders, oils,
and spiritual washes. Candles can be lit and burnt to give a steady and safe
supply of fire for rituals and spells. Fire, being the strongest of the four
elements of the universe, is an incredible means of channeling power from
other objects such as herbs, blood, and other components of rituals. Candles,
therefore, play extremely an extremely critical role in hoodoo and are used
in a wide variety of spells and other procedures. Candles are routinely lit
before virtually every spell in hoodoo and are listed as parts of the
components of the standard hoodoo altar. Due to their paramount
significance in hoodoo, different kinds of candles are used for different
applications. Just like specific classes, if herbs function best for their
corresponding spells, so do specific candle colors, shapes, and types function
best for their corresponding spells too. White candles, for instance,
contribute immensely to the spiritual energy of the hoodoo altar, helping the
hoodoo practitioner to channel a lot of energy from the reserves of power
present in the herbs and other ritual objects around. White candles represent
purity and faith and are therefore used in spiritual cleansings. When people
feel their spirits polluted either by their own atrocities or by curses and hexes
placed on them by other people, white candles can help them to find peace,
calmness, and tranquility in their lives.
Red candles, on the other hand, represent love, good health, virility, and raw
sexuality in hoodoo. Therefore, when casting spells to attract love or boost
virility and sexual appeal, red candles can help to supercharge the entire
ritual process with the special kind of spiritual energy that their flames
convey. Hoodoo is an art, but it is also a precise science in a lot of ways, and
it is therefore important to study the best objects that can be used for your
rituals, understand how best these objects can serve your purpose, and use
them as appropriate to help boost the efficacy of your rituals. Red candles
are used in love spells, for instance. There are also incenses, powders,
charms, and herbs that are commonly used to cast spells related to love,
attraction, and romance. All these separate objects bring their own unique
spiritual signatures of the hoodoo altar and contribute to the potpourri of
spiritual power that eventually sets off the spiritual roller-coaster of events.
Therefore, the fact that you do not have the red candle does not necessarily
mean that your love spell will not work. It just means that you will be
missing the unique spiritual imprint that the flame of the red candle brings to
your ritual. Since it is worth doing well to do whatever is worth done, it,
therefore, makes sense for you to get all the possible objects that can help to
enhance the efficacy of your spells and rituals through the unique spiritual
energy signatures that they contribute.
Dolls are another extremely important aspect of hoodoo magic derived from
the ancient traditional African Vodun beliefs. A hoodoo doll is basically an
effigy that serves as a miniature representation of another existing person.
Hoodoo dolls have been used since the onset of hoodoo to achieve several
purposes, some positive and some downright diabolical. Hoodoo dolls work
on the laws of similarity and the laws of contact. What does this mean
exactly? In folk magic practices, two of the most central principles that fuel
the transmutation of spiritual energies imbued in objects into magical forces
that change the course of reality are the laws of similarity and contact.
Similarity law states that if a particular object or entity is similar enough to
another, then one of the objects (the target) can be affected by actions carried
out in the other (the representation).
The law of contact, on the other hand, states that if someone has been in
contact with something long enough, then that object can be used to cast a
spell on its owner. In the creation of hoodoo dolls, the law of similarity is
utilized by making the effigy a close physical resemblance of the person that
the ritual is being directed. Therefore, if a hoodoo doll is being created for
the purpose of attraction, and the target is a tall, heavily-built man with jet
black hair, then the hoodoo doll used to represent this person should also be
relatively long, thick-set, and can have a patch of black cloth stitched onto
its head to represent the person’s hair. To even make the ritual more
effective, other characteristics possessed by the target can be conferred on
the hoodoo doll too. If the person has a scar running across their back, then
the hoodoo doll can also be marked with a scar running along its own back.
If the person has brown eyes, then brown-colored buttons can be attached to
the face of the hoodoo doll too. The entire concept of the law of similarity is
that the more remarkably similar a representation is to the original, the more
effective the sell being vast would be.
The second critical law guiding the use of hoodoo dolls is the law of contact.
This means that objects that the person owns and uses regularly can be
attached to the effigy to confer the person’s unique spiritual signature onto
the hoodoo doll. This law operates on the basis that when we use things
regularly over a relatively long period of time, some of our unique spiritual
energies linger on hose items. It’s just like wearing a shirt and leaving your
unique scent on it. However, unlike scents, unique spiritual signatures do not
disappear when clothes are washed. They just simply accumulate as people
use their items repeatedly. The more spiritual energy that a person
contributes to a particular object, the more effective that object can be when
casting a spell involving that person. The spiritual connection between
people and their items of clothing can sometimes be noticed when people get
extremely attached to certain items over time for inexplicable reasons. Items
of clothing, however, are not the only pieces belonging to people that can be
used in rituals involving them. Fingernails, hair, blood, and even sometimes
other body fluids may be collected and used for these targeted spells and
rituals. Rituals that make use of parts of a person’s body can even be more
remarkably effective, as these items tend to carry more concentrated
amounts of the individual’s spiritual energy within them.
Dolls are commonly used for attraction spells. The effigy can be made out of
clothing, wood, or even clay and must be formed to resemble the target as
much as possible in terms of physical features. The power of the effigy is
reinforced by the presence of specific items of clothing belonging to the
person who the doll is meant to represent. Once the doll is fully created, the
appropriate rituals may then be performed on it, and the doll is kept as
required. For spells where the doll is intended to serve as a conduit for
attacking an enemy, the corresponding rituals may also be carried out. If you
desire for your enemy to have a pain in their chest, for instance, once the
spell is cast and the doll is linked to the target, you can stick a pin in the
doll’s chest region, and the target would also feel the pain in his chest. For
more extreme rituals, the doll may be buried in the earth or placed near a
chimney where it slowly burns. When the doll is entirely burnt, the target
dies. Hoodoo dolls are not compulsory for all attraction spells, but they can
help to serve as a powerful physical representation of your desires, thereby
making the visualization of your intentions and the harnessing of your
spiritual powers easier and more coordinated.
Incenses are another important aspect of herbal magic. Where candles light
up the altar, stimulating the sense of sight, incenses imbue the altar with the
scent and aura of magic. Incenses are composites 0f various spiritual
materials, including herbs, roots, oils, tinctures, and even fruit essences. All
these spiritual components of incenses bring their individual spiritual
energies to the altar, and when the incense is burned, these energies are
liberated, further charging the altar with the spiritual power of nature needed
to perform rituals and cast spells. Powders are also made from a combination
of specified herbs and roots that are grounded into a fine dust which can then
be spread in the path of a target, blown on a target’s body, or simply carried
on the person of a hoodoo practitioner to ensure the actualization of their
wishes. Powders are commonly sold in hoodoo shops and spiritual stores and
can even be ordered online. Like incenses and candles, powders are also
quite specific in their action and must be created from the right herbs and
pre-requisites to ensure that they effectively perform their functions they are
intended for. If a powder is going to be used in a charm to attract good luck,
wealth, and fortune, then the herbs and other components of the powder
must contain the relevant spiritual energies that will transfer this power into
the powder once the appropriate spells are executed.
Oils are another common component of hoodoo spells and charms. Oils are
usually made by combining extracting the essences of spiritually significant
herbs with natural carrier oils such as extra virgin olive oil. Oils are usually
utilized by cutaneous application (i.e., rubbing the oil on the skin). One can
also use oils for anointing objects and can be made into sprays that can be
sprayed in the presence of a rival or enemy. Oils are also specific in other
applications and may be used to cause confusion, attract love, earth, good
fortune, and luck, and in some cases, they can be used to enhance psychic
vision and the ability of an individual to commune with the forces of the
spiritual world. All the components that are significant in hoodoo bring their
own unique spiritual signatures to the rituals and spells they are used in.
Using herbs, oils, candles, incenses, and powders that contain the right
energy signature for the spell of your choice helps you to harness the
collective powers of these objects and helps to make your spells more
powerful and effective. However, the most important component of any spell
is the hoodoo practitioner. You are the biggest and most critical piece of the
puzzle, and you must be ready for the process ahead of you when you
attempt a ritual. Rituals are more than just recitations, lighting candles, and
combining herbs. Rituals are periods of connecting your soul to the forces of
the universe. The herbs, oils, and candles do not make the magic happen;
they just serve to complement the existing pool of spiritual energy that
already resides in you. In extremely dire conditions, there are practitioners
who can conjure spirits and communicate with the supernatural without
candles or incenses – these people have learned to focus on the powers that
lie within them and use the power of desires and visions to bend reality to
their wills.
Herbal magic, at its core, is the process of altering a current reality to

conform with the will of a practitioner. However, the universe is guided by
balance, and reality cannot be altered without certain effects being
experienced as a result. In the end, something has to be removed for
something to take its place, and in cases of extremely harmful forms of
hoodoo where an enemy is attacked, the repercussions may be quite severe.
Therefore, before proceeding with a spell to harm another person in any way,
you must consider the possible repercussions of your spells. A lot of people
put hexes and evil mojos on other people only for the afflicted people to
consult more powerful hoodoo practitioners who cast terribly debilitating
spells on these individuals leading to unsavory effects ranging from bad luck
to ill health paralysis, and in extreme cases, death. Therefore, before taking
any spiritual steps, be sure that you know what you are getting into and that
you are ready to stomach the consequences of your actions if the
repercussions arise.
Generally, hoodoo experts and practitioners advise that people should not
use the powers of the spiritual forces to oppress people that have never
wronged them. Rituals that force a person to bend to your will when they
have never actually done anything to offend you can also be quite risky as
these can backfire and lead to extremely grievous consequences. Hoodoo is
an incredible spiritual belief with a wide array of rituals, spells, and charms
which can be used for protection, good luck, wealth, fortune, fertility, good
health, virility, and others. However, the spiritual forces that can be
manipulated through hoodoo practices can also wreak untold havoc, and
deep caution must be taken when undertaking these risky engagements.
HISTORY OF HERBAL MAGIC
Herbal magic did not begin with Hoodoo. The art of combining herbs for
medicinal and spiritual purposes is one that stretches back for centuries,
probably as far back as the middle ages. Illnesses and diseases were some of
the most debilitating challenges that the early man had to grapple with. Due
to the natural diet and active lifestyle of the typical early men, most of the
risk factors that predispose people to diseases today did not really affect
them. However, at times, bites from insects, dangerous animals, or the
consumption of toxic food items could lead to diseases. The early men
eventually figured out through trial and error that they could actually use
certain herbs to cure certain ailments, and herbal medicine progressed from
there. Herbal magic, on the other hand, can be traced t different civilizations
around the world, from the Wicca magic of Pre-Christian Europe to the
spiritual beliefs of the people of the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, to the
structured African Traditional Religions of the kingdoms in the tropical
forests of Africa. Herbal magic is a universal force that was discovered by
different people from different regions of the world without any interactions
or communications. Before the onset of sea travel, the Chinese have been
burning incenses, lighting candles, and summoning spirits in their sacred
temples using specified herbs to seek protection, divine healing, good health,
and wealth. In Pre-Christian Europe, Wicca magic thrived. There were
specified witches who had the gift of magic and could channel the spiritual
energies within herbs, rocks, bones, blood, and other objects that had live
energies running through them and use those objects together with specified
incantations and spells to achieve supernatural effects.
However, as Christianity began to take root in Europe, especially in
territories such as Britain and France, the stronghold of the magical beliefs
began to wither. The upper ruling class accepted Christianity first and then
imposed these beliefs on their people, leading to numerous devastating
conflicts and executions such as the infamous Salem witch trials. Despite all
the persecution that herbal magic as a belief has had to endure, however, it
has remained perseverant and enduring over the years, and as the world
gradually grows tolerant to beliefs that they do not fully comprehend, it is
hoped that confidence and belief in herbal magic will rise again.
The herbal magic that hoodoo developed from was practiced mainly in the
structured societies of tropical West Africa. West Africa is famous for its
lush, abundant rainforests with thriving trees, beautiful green vegetation, and
diverse wildlife. The traditional African societies consisted majorly of
farmers and hunters. The soil is fertile in most places, and the herbs that
were required for rituals and healing grew abundantly in every nook and
cranny. More often than not, the practitioners did not even have to lant the
herbs or roots that they needed for their rituals; they just needed to identify
the required spots in the forests where they could obtain these herbs and visit
these spots every time an herb was needed.
From time dating far back to the middle of the sixteenth century, the
Africans had already established a culture of environmental conservation.
The herbs were respected and regarded as powerful agents of nature. They
were not just used as remedies for diseases but were also useful as means of
communicating with the spirit world. The importance of the herbs in
medicinal and spiritual use was passed down as part of the general tradition,
and people generally respected these significant herbs. There were
established rules on which trees could be felled and which ones were
spiritually sacred and must be left alone. In some areas and cultures, some
trees were even worshipped as deities in themselves. In some parts of
Yorubaland in West Africa, for instance, it was believed that the Iroko tree
could house invisible spirits; hence it was taboo to cut down these trees.
Herbal magic and religion went hand-in-hand in the traditional West African
societies. It was basically impossible to separate the concept of herbal magic
from the concept of believing in the gods or deities. The ancient West
Africans believed in the existence of a Supreme being who held sway over
the affairs of the physical and spirit realms. However, the Supreme Creator
was not worshipped directly. Instead, it was believed that the Supreme
Creator had appointed specific spirits who basically divine ministers to
handle several aspects of the physical realm. Therefore, there was Shango,
the god of Thunder, who held sway over punishing offenders who
contravened established rules by striking them dead with lightning. There
was Ogun, who was feared and respected as the god of iron. He held sway
over all affairs related to battle, transportation, and hunting, and he was the
patron deity of the hunters. There was Yemoja, a female goddess who was in
charge of fertility and wealth, to whom a lot o of women supplicated to for
children when they could not conceive. The adherents of the African
Traditional Religions understood the powerful spiritual essence that ran
through plants and respected them, and treated them with care. Herbs, bones,
stones, dirt, blood, live animals, and other components that had the spiritual
energy of nature running through them were frequently utilized in rituals to
contact the spirits of the supernatural realm for help in terms of crisis, o to
express gratitude for bumper harvests.
Hoodoo has incorporated a lot of the herbal magic practices of the African
traditional religions, as well as Native American herbal and spiritual
traditions, as you have read in the first book of the series. However, we have
overlooked another tradition that has heavily influenced and was heavily
influenced by Hoodoo, especially in respect to Herb and Rootwork
EXCURSUS: APPALACHIAN FOLK MAGIC
Appalachian folk magic is a relatively reclusive folk magic tradition
practiced in the remote Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States.
Appalachian magic is not as widely studied as hoodoo, Wicca, and other
ancient folk magic practices. However, it has a very interesting history and a
rich plethora of traditions that have endured over the centuries. Interestingly,
Appalachian folk magic in the United States also owes its origination to
Christianity.
In the 1600s, Protestant Christianity had just begun to gain a strong foothold
in Britain. The empire had previously been a realm of the Catholics, and a
lot of people still held on to ancient traditional beliefs rooted in paganism,
idolatry, and magic. However, as the century progressed, most wealthy
members of the ruling class became enamored with Christianity, and the
monarchy wanted the entire British empire to be a Christian domain. At that
point, King James I, the supreme ruler of the British empire, was also in
charge of the territories of Scotland and Ireland. The Irish were obstinate
Catholics, and most of them were not ready to switch from Catholicism to
Protestantism. The Scots, on the other hand, had also grown enamored with
Protestant Christianity. However, political conflicts frequently arose near the
borders where the Scots resided close to England. In a bid to solve these
concurrent problems, King James I donated a huge expanse of land at Ulster
within the Irish territory to the Scots. With the harsh land and the unforgiven
terrain being almost unnavigable, a good number of the Scots still moved to
Ulster anyway since it was free land. King James hoped that the relocation
of the border-tribe Scots would help to reduce the political skirmishes with
the English crown while also impacting the religious beliefs of the Irish. The
solution worked temporarily. However, most of the Irish were still not
comfortable with converting to Protestant Christianity. Note that a significant
percentage of the Irish still retained their pagan beliefs well into the 1700s.
In the seventeenth century, America had already grown prosperous to the
extent that it was the primary exporter of flax in the world. Merchants
frequently transported flax from America to Britain using large cargo ships.
As the rifts between the Scots and the Irish began to fester in Ulster, the
American merchants noticed a window of opportunity. Every time they
voyaged across the seas to sell flax to the British, they had to return back to
America with empty ships, with mostly no cargo to transport back to
America to sell. This reduced the profitability of their trade missions. They,
therefore, came up with a plan to transport people back to America aboard
their ships and charge them money for this service. The American cargo
merchant knew that the Scots and the Irish in Ulster and in some other parts
of Ireland and Scotland were not too comfortable with the way their
religious beliefs were being repressed by the English crown. They told the
locals tales about huge, uninhabited expanses of land in America where they
could live comfortably, free from the harsh treatment of the English
monarchy.
The story began to spread about the availability of land for settling and their
opportunity of a life of freedom and peace in the New World, America. Soon
the Scottish and Irish people who inhabited Ulster and some other parts of
the British empire began to pack their limited belongings and started piling
onto the ships. It was a very profitable era for the flax merchants. They
would bring in the flax, sell them to the British, and when they were ready to
sail back to America, there was a ship full of humans who were ready to pay
to be transported back to the New World; a land reportedly flowing with
milk and honey. When the British immigrants arrived in the United States,
most of them were disappointed with the uninhabited expanses of land that
were actually available for them to settle in. The vacant regions were in the
mountains, had harsh weather, almost untillable land, and the terrain was
also extremely difficult to navigate. The bright side, however, was that in
this region, they actually had the freedom to live as they pleased without any
overbearing monarchy forcing them to practice Protestant Christianity.
Therefore, the Scot and Irish settlers decided to settle in the Appalachian
Mountains alongside the Native Americans who inhabited some parts of the
land.
This was the beginning of the practice of Appalachian folk magic in
America. The Scottish and Irish immigrants formed strong, tightly knit
clans, and they hunted and farmed to survive. They were minor skirmishes
with the Native Americans due to differing beliefs at first. The Native
Americans had the belief that the land was free for all. Therefore, they could
hunt anywhere. However, the Irish settlers believed in segregation of land
and were not comfortable with the Native Americans invading their territory.
As time passed, both opposing sides learned to understand each other and
began to coexist in peace. The Native Americans and the Scottish and Irish
immigrants interacted closely, married each other, and formed integrated
communities in the mountains as the decades passed. The Appalachian tribes
currently inhabit parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia,
North and South Carolina, and Southern Ohio.
In the late 1800s, after the abolition of slavery, the freed African slaves also
settled in some of these areas, influencing the practices of the Appalachian
people along the way. Due to their isolation in the unnavigable terrains of the
mountains, the Appalachian people were kept away from civilization and
development for a very long time. When modern hospitals and healthcare
facilities were opening up all over America, no healthcare specialists were
ready to start building hospitals in the mountains. Moving supplies and staff
into the region was just too difficult and costly, so the mountainous areas
remained largely underdeveloped while the rest of America was getting
rapidly industrialized. Due to the lack of modern healthcare facilities, the
Appalachian tribes had to settle for alternative forms of medicine, relying
majorly on herbs and roots for healing, much like in hoodoo. The magic
practitioners in these regions also learned to harness the spiritual energies
flowing through nature to cure ailments, solve common problems, foster
romance, and love, protect families and tribes, and promote bumper harvests.
The results of their harvests were extremely critical to the survival of the
Appalachian people since getting food from the outside world was almost
impossible. Therefore, they invested a remarkable amount f spiritual and
physical efforts into ensuring the adequate growth and development of their
crops to prevent famines and sustain the population.
Much like in hoodoo, the basic traditions of Appalachian folk magic were
mostly transmitted by oral narration. Therefore, documentation about their
beliefs is quite scarce. The Appalachian tribes lived in small, isolated
communities and formed strong clans. The difficult nature of the terrain
made inter-communal communications tough, and various strains of the
tradition developed within these isolated communities over time. Therefore,
it is common to hear that two distinct Appalachian tribes conduct a certain
ritual in two different ways. The Scottish and Irish traditional beliefs
remained the origins of the Appalachian tradition. However, the influences
of the Native American beliefs and the hoodoo traditions of the liberated
black Americans can be detected in the modern form of Appalachian folk
magic.
Appalachian folk magic is more like a religion than just an individualistic
belief. Most of the young children were taught the basics of the traditions
from their young age, and virtually everyone in the Appalachian Mountains
grew practicing the folk magic beliefs. The children would often participate
in rituals or assist their parents with traditional endeavors, and they’d
gradually learn how the beliefs and rituals worked. The Appalachian magic
version of rootworkers was divided into four groups: The Granny magicians,
the Goomer doctors, the seers, and the water witches. Even though most of
these groups consisted of dominant genders, for instance, granny magicians
were mostly women, both men and women were able to perform any
spiritual function in the Appalachian traditional practice. The rootworkers in
Appalachian folk magic are united by one binding goal: utilize the forces of
the spiritual world to help the tribes thrive. A major aspect of Appalachian
folk magic involves spells, rituals, and prayers related to Agriculture due to
the defining role that crop cultivation and livestock farming played in the
survival of the Appalachian people. Apprentices commonly learned the
basics and intricacies of the various divisions from Appalachian rootwork
from more experienced practitioners. An apprentice could be chosen to work
under an older rootworker if such a person had demonstrated significant
interest and talent in the area of folk magic under question from their early
ages. In other cases, apprentices were selected based on the visions of seers
in the communities, while some folk rootworkers simply trained their
descendants in the art of folk magic.
The Granny doctors were the actual root doctors of the Appalachian tribes.
As the name suggests, they were mostly women. However, men sometimes
practiced Granny's magic too. The primary role of the Granny doctors was to
utilize herbs, roots, and other forms of plant life for healing. Basically, the
Granny doctor role imbued the job functions of a doctor and a pharmacist.
The typical Granny doctor would be consulted by an ailing client, and she
would examine the patient and make a diagnosis based on the symptoms
exhibited by the patient. As experienced practitioners, most f the Granny
doctors were knowledgeable about most f the diseases that were rampant in
the area and the appropriate remedies. After identifying the sickness that the
patient was suffering from, the Granny doctor would then prepare an herbal
mixture by combining herbs, boiling them, extracting their essence, or
grounding them and soaking them in water. Once the herb was prepared, the
patient would be required to drink the preparation. In some cases, patients
had to bathe with certain herbal mixtures or even inhale the vapors of some.
Granny doctors were also in charge of midwifery and supervised the
childbirth process. The Granny doctor in a neighborhood was in charge of
recommending herbs for pregnant women, herbs to boost fertility, and herbs
to protect the mother and the child after the birth. The role of the Granny
doctor fell majorly to the women because the average Appalachian man had
to farm and hunt to feed the family. Healthcare was generally viewed as a
feminine domain. Childcare and healing were deemed to come naturally to
the women because of their feminine spiritual energies and their natural
sensitivity. Granny doctors attended to babies, children, and adults, but they
mainly handled physical bodily ailments and injuries. Granny doctors
utilized tonics, herbs, roots, tinctures, and other preparations in the healing
process.
Goomer doctors are the close equivalent of conjure doctors in the
Appalachian folk magic practice. In the ancient Appalachian tribes, the
typical Goomer doctor was in charge of the spiritual aspect of healing.
Goomer doctors utilized charms, chants, spells, and even the power of touch
to help to heal their patients of ailments that were deemed to be of a spiritual
origin. In some cases, relatively mundane health issues such as intense
fevers and hemorrhage could be treated using spiritual tools by the Goomer
doctors. The Goomer doctors were also in charge of the preparation of
charms, talismans, and amulets worn to confer special magical powers on
the user. Therefore, if a person wanted a talisman for protection from evil
forces and physical harm in a fight, for instance, they went to a Goomer
doctor and had a special talisman made for them. The Goomer doctors
utilized the spiritual energies in a naturally-occurring object such as animal
blood, herbs, and other materials to conjure spiritual energy to achieve
extraordinary results. Goomer doctors focused mainly on healing with magic
and spiritual means. However, they also rendered other magical services to
help their clients. The reversal of curses was one of those cogent magical
services. When a person suspected that he had been cursed by another
Goomer doctor, they could visit a Goomer doctor close to them to seek help
and advice. After consulting the spirits, the Goomer doctor would
understand the origin of the problem and advice the client on the rituals and
cleansings to perform to erase the curse and probably get back at the enemy.
To solve complex health issues, such as hemorrhages or paralysis caused by
a spiritual attack, Goomer doctors frequently worked in conjunction with the
Granny doctors to eradicate the ailment of good. The Granny doctors would
handle the preparation and administration of the herbal mixtures to cure the
symptoms, while the Goomer doctor would address the spiritual aspects of
the problem, drawing out the negative spiritual energies causing the
symptoms. In some areas, some Goomer doctors were also referred to as
Power doctors, and they could help clients attack their enemies by placing
curses on the adversaries in question., Goomer doctors taught the art of
spiritual magic to their descendants of the opposite gender, so there was
frequently a mix of males and females in this particular profession. Some of
the chants formulated and used by the Goomer doctors were often adopted
and used by the general population to attract good luck, protection, and good
health.
Seers were another extremely important set of spiritual professionals in the
Appalachian folk magic practice. The seers were majorly women, and their
main roles were to read spiritually significant signs and omens to foretell the
future. The average seer learned to read physical objects that could give
insights into spiritual information from their mother. Seers also consulted the
oracle through divination processes to unravel hidden knowledge and
foretell the future. The seers played great roles in the spiritual aspect of
Appalachian agriculture. Seers were tasked with the observation of natural
phenomena such as the movements of animals, the constellations of stars in
the sky, meteorological events such as rain patterns and moon cycles to give
unique insights into which crops should be planted and when cultivation was
supposed to begin. The seers didn’t just serve individuals, they also served
the community, and their expertise was critical to the survival of the
Appalachian tribes. Seers could also be consulted for matters of personal
importance. A seer could commune with the forces of the supernatural using
spiritually charged items such as dirt and bones to read the information being
communicated across. Most of the seers in the Appalachian Mountains
tended to use a bowl full of sacred water and simply read the patterns that
the air made in the water after their spells and chants to understand the fate
of a particular patron. In other places, the seer could use a large bowl of dirt
to commune with the spirits. Typically, the seer would draw patterns in the
sand and then watch for the effects that the movement of the air had on the
sand to predict the future of the person whom the spirits were being
consulted for.
Seers were experienced in reading all kinds of signs and learned from their
childhood what specific omens meant. If a certain part of the body was
itching, then it could be a sign that a particular event was impending. If the
clouds formed a particular pattern, it could be a sign from the spirit world for
the seers to decode to the people. The seers help people to find out important
information but rarely involved themselves in the preparation of charms or
talismans for the people who consulted them. Seers concerned themselves
with finding out necessary information from the spirit world by reading
physical signs and using specialized rituals, chants, and spells. The seers
played extremely critical roles in the Appalachian communities by helping to
ensure bumper harvests, understand the migration patterns of animals for
hunters to get enough game, and predict the future so that people could
prepare for impending events, whether good or bad, in advance.
Water witches, the final group of professionals to be examined under
Appalachian folk magic, were saddled with the responsibility of spiritually
finding water and other significant entities within the mountainous
Appalachian regions. Food was important for survival, but the water was far
more critical, and in the extremely harsh mountainous terrains of the
Appalachian region, finding water could get extremely difficult. The water
witches, therefore, communed with the spirits using spells and specialized
objects to predict where water could be found for a well to be dug. Water
witches also helped to find precious metals and important missing objects by
casting spells and using a tool known as a dowsing rod to detect the unique
energy signature of the target entity. The primary tool of the water witch was
a dowsing rod, which was a straight or forked stick that was used to detect
the specific energy signature of water. The water witch would be able to feel
the unique vibrations through the rod, showing that there was indeed water
in the vicinity. Water witches were also important in helping farmers to
identify where to site their farms. Farms sited in extremely dry areas would
lead to poor harvests. Therefore, when people intended to start farms or
gardens, they would request the services of a white witch to help them
determine the parts of the available land that held enough water for the
growth and development of their crops.
Some powerful water witches could detect unique energy signatures through
their dowsing rods, indicating the abundance of spiritual energy in a
particular place, indicating that the environment was a place of power.
Dowsing rods were commonly stems of flowering plants imbued with
spiritual powers that helped the water witches to detect the unique energies
emitted by eater and other valuable entities. The specific energy vibrations
are extremely subtle, and according to Appalachian folk magic beliefs, are
transmitted along the ley lines with the earth. The ley lines connect and
intersect at several points, and through these ley lines, water witches can
follow these unique energy signatures and find the entities being sought. The
typical dowsing rod was usually made out of dogwood apple or peach trees.
The closer the rod was to a target entity, the more powerful the vibrations
being transmitted would be. With this phenomenon, the water witches could
follow the energies being emitted to find the valuable entities being sought.
Appalachian folk magic and its traditions were embedded into the way of
life of the Appalachian tribes, much like hoodoo. The folk traditions
influenced every sphere of human endeavor of the Appalachian people, from
how they cultivated their crops to how marriages, childbirths, and funerals
were handled. In the ancient Appalachian culture, water witches would help
to find the best land to grow crops, and the seers would predict exactly when
it was best for the crops to be planted using astrological and meteorological
signs that they observed. The movements of the moon were also studied, and
the positions of the sun. All these phenomena were used to understand
exactly when it was most favorable for a crop to be planted and when a crop
would not perform well. The Goomer doctors also played their role in the
Agricultural sector by casting spells to protect the plants from plagues and
destructive forces and undertaking rituals to ensure bumper harvests. The
Granny doctors utilized the herbs from the fields to prepare herbal mixtures
to heal the sick.
The Appalachian tribes typically took marriage very seriously. It was a
grievous taboo for a girl to be defiled prior to her marriage. The young girls
were typically married off to their husbands by the time they were sixteen.
Late marriages were frowned upon, as it was believed that the younger a
woman was, the more fertile she was for bearing babies. Special rituals were
frequently conducted prior to the marriage ceremony to prepare the new
young wife for her new abode. The wedding ceremony itself was usually
celebrated with pomp and pageantry, with members of the tribe coming
together to wish the new couple the best as they began their new lives
together. The common wedding phrase ‘something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue is actually sourced from the
Appalachian culture, where the bride had to have an entity that fulfilled each
of those requirements during her wedding. Childbirth usually followed
weddings closely, and the timing of the girl’s conception would be closely
monitored. If it was observed that a girl gave birth before nine months, then
it would be a shameful birth, as it would be believed that the girl got
pregnant before she was legitimately handed over to her husband. Grammy
doctors presided over childbirth and prepared all the herbs and mixtures that
were needed to ease the pains of childbirth and ensure the healthy delivery
and growth of the baby. However, the lack of essential medical equipment
and advanced knowledge led to high maternal mortality rates in those areas.
This did not deter most couples from having numerous children, however, as
Appalachian households are renowned for being rather large, with lots of
children. Children were regarded as blessings, and birth control was
uncommon,
Much like in hoodoo, death among the Appalachians was regarded as a
transition to the spiritual realm, and the funeral process was also quite an
elaborate one. The corpse would usually be sat upright in the cemetery for
family, friends, and other loved ones to come to say their final goodbyes
before the body would be interred. Specific rituals and special prayers could
be conducted by Goomer doctors to ease the transition of the dead person
into the world beyond. The Appalachians didn’t delay burials, as they did
not have any embalming technologies to preserve the body of the dead.
Therefore, after the body of the corpse had been bid goodbye by family and
friends, the body would immediately be interred in the earth.
HERBAL MAGIC FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
Herbal magic in hoodoo is extremely specific, and there are particular tools
that are associated with specialized purposes. Amulets and talismans, for
instance, are usually worn by a carrier for protection from physical and
spiritual harm. Talismans are usually won on the neck or concealed in a
pocket, and even though certain amulets may be prepared to attract good
luck, fortune, and love, in most cases, talismans and amulets are tools of
protection., The herbs and spiritual objects used in the preparation of
talismans usually contain spiritual energies that confer protection and safety.
In some cases, the talisman can serve as an invisible shield that repels the
invisible forces of evil from the person whom the talisman was made for.
Most protective talismans and amulets are specific in nature. An item of
clothing or personal belonging of the owner may be included in the
preparation f the talisman, making the charm specifically effective for that
person alone. In commercial hoodoo establishments, however, protective
charms may be made and offered for sale to customers. These classes of
protective charms are not user-specific. However, talismans are not the only
source of protection in hoodoo – they are just a common tool used to confer
supernatural protection in a carrier at all times.
Other forms of protection can include decoctions and infusions that are
actually drunk after rituals have been made upon them. These preparations
would, of course, be made from herbs, roots, and powders that imbue
protective spiritual energies. Spiritual washes can also be used to confer
protection on an individual. If a person senses that they are being attacked
spiritually, a ritual bath may be recommended. These baths serve mainly to
clean off the effects of the hex or harmful spell but may also be modified to
protect the individual from further attacks. Protective spiritual baths are
mostly taken periodically and can be extremely effective at repelling the
forces of evil. Magical floor washes are similar to spiritual baths, except that
they are used to protect places, not people, from potentially harmful spiritual
forces. A floor wash can be used to clean an entire house, temporarily
creating a barrier between that home and any forces of evil that might want
to reside in it to attack the residents. Floor washes can confer protection and
also help to invite good luck, fortune, and good health into a home or work
premises. Rings and charmed pouches made out of herbs and associated
components with the appropriate spiritual energies may also be used as
magical ways to protect a person from spiritual attacks while they are on the
move.
Gris-gris or mojo bags are special pouches made out of specified materials.
Mojo bags are mostly used to invite good luck and good fortune into the life
of the person for who the charm is created. Mojo bags were commonly
carried by black gamblers shortly after the slave trade era to help boost their
winning chances where large sums are involved. They are still commonly
used to attract good luck and fortune across all spheres of life today. Mojo
and gris-gris bags may also be user-specific as they may need to contain the
personal belongings of the person for who the charm is meant. Gris-gris bags
for good luck are made using specific components that contain spiritual
energy that attracts good fortune and wealth.
Mojo bags are not only used for wealth and luck. They are also used to spur
the most powerful force in the world – the force of love. The ethics of using
hoodoo charms to attract other people are quite complicated, however. If it is
certain that a particular person has no interest in being romantically involved
with you, then using spiritual forces to force them to be in a relationship
with you is simply creating a foundation for disaster. Hoodoo practitioners
recommend love charms to be created without specific targets in mind.
Simply allow the forces of attraction that abound in the universe to bring the
lover that you deserve to you. A lot of times in life, we are not even perfect
for the people that we desire. A lot of people fall in love with people who
they believe have the ability to give them everlasting happiness, only for
them to end up disappointed, disillusioned, depressed, and poor. Now
imagine how terrible the repercussions could be when you fore someone to
be in love with you against their natural will – it’s simply a conflict of wills,
spiritual forces clashing against one another; and one day, that brewing
volcano is going to erupt explosively.
However, in cases where the foundation of love already exists but the love is
beginning to wane, or a woman is trying to keep her lover from being
attracted to other women, then love charms may be prepared using herbs,
roots, and other spiritual elements that imbue the spiritual energies of
attraction to help solidify a relationship, spur renewed attraction and bliss,
and help to create sustainable, happy relationships.
HERBAL MAGIC IN NEW ORLEANS
Hoodoo herbal magic has its most significant roots in New Orleans,
Louisiana. The port of New Orleans was a central point of entry for slaves
coming from West and Central Africa, and many of the slaves brought into
the United States worked and eventually settled in New Orleans even after
the era of the slave trade. The city OF New Orleans gave hoodoo a place to
thrive. After the era of the slave trade, a lot of hoodoo practitioners set up
shop in the city and provided spiritual assistance and advice to their black
patrons. Despite the condescending disposition of most of the White
American population to hoodoo, the practice continued to thrive through the
efforts of dedicated practitioners who were truly committed to the cause of
the liberation and freedom of the blacks in America. From New Orleans, a
lot of the slaves transported into the United States were moved to plantations
in the Southern United States from Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi to
North and South Carolina. These areas formed the primary axis for the
practice of hoodoo in America. Following the Great Migration of the African
slaves out of the Southern United States, however, hoodoo gained immense
prominence in other parts of the US, too, from the North to the Midwest.
However, hoodoo still owes its success to its humble beginnings in the
colorful city of New Orleans. In a lot of historical texts, hoodoo has been
referred to as ‘New Orleans Hoodoo.
THE RITUAL PROCESS
Before starting off any hoodoo ritual at all, it is important to first prepare a
space for your spiritual activities. A hoodoo altar is a sacred place, but the
spiritual powers of the universe are present all around us, so you don’t have
to visit any sacred forests, rivers, or mountains to cast your spells. You can
cast them right in your home. As a matter of fact, residences can be amazing
sites of spiritual power. The alter can be any clean surface, meaning a table,
a clean floor, or any sturdy flat surface at all would do the job. The hoodoo
altar should contain candles, incense burners, holy water, and earth. These
materials help to channel the forces of the four elements of the universe,
thereby enabling access to the realm of the supernatural. The four elements
— fire, earth, air, and water — are reported to be the critical components that
make up our physical world, and channeling the power in these forces
alongside the right spells and incantations helps practitioners gain access
through the veil between this world and the one beyond. However, the
hoodoo altar may also contain pictures, sculptures, and other materials that
can help to generate the spiritual energy needed to power spells and rituals
that would be performed on the altar.
Apart from the space of rituals, the timing of rituals is also extremely
essential to the process of hoodoo magic. The universe plays a huge role in
supplying the energy that’s needed to make magic happen. The physical
realm passes through several cycles as time passes and the periodic cycles
that the earth goes through all affect the efficacy of spells cast at that time.
Since the universe holds all the power that is being channeled during ritual
processes, the state that the planet is currently in determines the kind of
energies that are most potent at that particular point in time. Just as we have
the earth circling around the run to give day and night, so do we have the
earth going through different phases, making certain spells more effective at
specific times because of the increased activity of specific spiritual factors.
The phases that the earth goes through that most affect the timing of rituals
are related orbiting journey of the moon around the earth. The moon makes a
full cycle around planet earth once every twenty-nine to thirty days, enabling
the splitting of years into months. When a new moon rises to signify the
commencement of a new lunar month, the moon is just a tiny silver crescent
high up in the sky. However, as the month progresses and the moon
progresses in its journey around the earth, then it becomes bigger to the
human observer. The moon’s journey around the earth within its orbit
continues steadily, and the moon continues to get gradually bigger and more
visible to the inhabitants of earth until, by the middle of the month, the moon
is full. Bright, majestic full moons are indications that the moon is halfway
through its journey around the earth, and it is now ready to begin the second
phase of its journey, which is a journey back to where it started. Therefore,
for the remaining second half of the month, the moon moves steadily in its
orbit towards its original starting point until it becomes a tiny little silver
crescent again, ready to begins the cycle all over at the beginning of a new
lunar month.
The phases of the moon are not just meaningless natural occurrences. They
are signs of the powers and energies that are most active within the universe
at particular points in time. The moon exerts a great influence upon the earth
both physically and spiritually. However, the spiritual effects of the moon’s
movements around the earth are grossly understated. The first phase of the
moon’s movement around the earth during the lunar month is known as the
waxing phase of the moon. This is the phase where the moon becomes
gradually more visible, little by little, with every passing day. The waxing
phase is a phase of progress, success, development, and growth. The moon
shines brighter with every passing day in the waxing phase, its light beams
down brilliantly upon the earth, and the light of every subsequent day is
brighter and more astounding than that of the day before. This pattern
continues until the moon reaches the peak of its brightness. The full moon is
one of the most breathtaking natural phenomena that exist. It is bright, lights
up the night sky and the earth below. The waxing phase of the moon is a
phase for constructive spells because the positive spiritual energies of the
earth are most active at this point. As the moon shines brighter every night,
the constructive spiritual energies within the planet get even more super-
charged, waxing alongside the moon. Constructive energies usually peak
during nights of the full moon, and spells can be lethally effective at this
point. You do not, however, necessarily need to wait until the night of a full
moon to cast your constructive spell; all you need to do is understand that
the lunar month is in the first phase, where the moon gets brighter day by
day.
Positive spells that can be cast in the waxing phase of the moon include
spells for luck, protection, good health, good fortune, love, and victory. They
are spells that harness the positive spiritual energies which the earth is
already charged with at that point. This does not mean that casting these
positive spells when the moon is in its waning phase would render the spells
ineffective. The whole point of taking note of the waxing and waning phases
of the moon is to maximize the effectiveness of your spells and rituals. There
are a lot of factors that contribute to the success or failure of a spell, from
your own ability to clearly visualize your desires to the spiritual energies that
your ritual herbs and objects are endowed with to the timing of your ritual. If
you will be investing your time and effort in casting a spell, then you might
as well put everything in place as much as possible to ensure that the odds
are stacked in your favor.
The latter half of the lunar month sees the mooning start to wane. The period
usually starts from the sixteenth day of the month down to the twenty-ninth
or thirtieth day before the moon begins to wax again as the new month
begins. The waning phase of the moon is a phase when the earth is gradually
increasingly consumed by dark energy. The brightness of the moon begins to
gradually lessen; the nights get progressively darker, and the forces of
darkness grow stronger and more powerful as the days go by. The waning
phase of the moon is perfect for hexes, curses and other forms of negative
spells meant to harm someone, hamper their success, or prevent them from
being able to harm you. Once again, negative spells must be considered very
carefully, and when in doubt, experienced hoodoo practitioners should be
consulted.
Apart from the phases of the moon affecting the efficacy of rituals, the days
of the week also have effects on the power of the rituals and spells cast by a
hoodoo practitioner. The different days of the week from Sunday to Saturday
are also charged with different spiritual energies according to hoodoo
beliefs, and once again, choosing to do a spell on a day when the spiritual
energies of the universe are in correspondence to your desires can make
spells extremely powerful. Sunday represents the sun and is associated with
the color yellow. Sunday is a day of peace, favor, wealth, new beginnings,
and happy relationships. Therefore, casting spells that relate to these
concepts on a Sunday can once again help to improve the efficacy of the
spell.
Monday is represented by the color blue. It is associated with the moon.
Monday is associated with reconciliations, psychic visions, love, voyages,
and female fertility. Therefore, if you have had a terrible conflict that you are
trying to resolve with the aid of supernatural forces, then Monday is
probably the best day to cast your reconciliation spells. If you are looking to
hone your spiritual visions and improve your ability to foretell the future or
supernaturally seek information about the past, then Monday generally holds
the spiritual energies that are needed for your spells. A woman that is
seeking the fruit of the womb can also take advantage of the spiritual
energies of fertility and multiplication that abound on Mondays to cast a
fertility spell. The spiritual energies of the moon that prevail on Mondays
also support casting spells to aid safe travels and voyages. The moon itself is
a traveling entity – it’s always on the move in its orbit around the earth.
Therefore, the spiritual energies associated with the moon that is in
abundance on Mondays can be channeled to help keep you safe during your
travels and to help you achieve the goals for which you have voyaged.
Finally, Mondays can also be great days to cast spells related to love and
attraction. The energies of the moon that characterize Mondays make it a
great day to harness the naturally attractive powers of the moon to cast spells
to retain the love and attract a suitable lover.
Tuesday is associated with Mars, the earth’s closest neighbor in our local
solar system, and by extension, Tuesday is represented by the color red. The
spiritual energies associated with Tuesday are suitable for spells related to
courage, overthrowing an enemy, and breaking spells causing hardship,
strife, and fracas. Mars and its fiery color red represent bravery, vigor,
strength, and innate fearlessness. Therefore, when you are faced with a
terrifying situation and are seeking supernatural courage and bravery to face
your demons, then Tuesday is the perfect day to harness the fiery powers of
Mars to draw courage and supernatural valor from the spiritual energies
overrunning the earth.
If you are also looking to unseat a reigning champion, challenge for a
position of power, or contest for victory against stiff competition, then
Tuesday is also a great day to harness the fiery spiritual energies flowing
through the earth and attract supernatural strength, bravery, and endurance to
weather the storm of the competition ahead and emerge victoriously. If really
powerful spells have been cast against you by an adversary and you are
hoping to undo those spells, the blazing red spiritual energies of Mars can
also be channeled on Tuesdays to help you summon supernatural energies to
break every single yoke of evil acting against you.
Wednesday is Mercury’s day and is represented by the color purple.
Wednesday features spiritual energies related to health, spiritual
development and communications, divination, and wielding influence over
others. Being the closest of all planets to the sun, Mercury’s representative
color in herbal magic is purple. It symbolizes spiritual wellbeing and
completeness. Therefore, if you are feeling spiritually empty or isolated and
feel like your life is lacking the verve and excitement that it used to have,
then Wednesday may be a great day to carry out rituals to liven up your
spirits and power up your innate spiritual energies. Channeling the healing
power of Mercury on a Wednesday can also help you to achieve spectacular
results with the resolution of illnesses and sickness.
The connecting power of Mercury can also aid the clarity of spiritual
communication and psychic vision. Therefore, if you want to enhance your
ability to commune with the spirit world or harness the spiritual energies of
the universe for good, then Wednesday is a great day to tap into the reserves
of connecting, healing power that can help to enhance your spiritual
wellness. If you are looking to command respect and influence others, the
connecting power of Mercury can also be harnessed to create spells and
enchantments that draw people to look up to you and follow you.
Thursday is Jupiter’s day, and it's also symbolized by the color blue. The
spiritual energies of Jupiter that flood our physical world on Thursdays are
perfect for spells and rituals related to wealth, honor, friendship, luck,
success, ambition, and even make fertility. Jupiter represents the spiritual
energy of male domination and royalty, and its attendant energies that can
best be harnessed on Thursdays can help to supercharge spells meant to
bring wealth, success, and riches. The value of a man, in most global
societies, is tied very closely to his financial success and the respect that he
commands in society. The energies of Jupiter can help to awaken the beast
within a man and give him the unique motivation ad strength needed to
propel him to achieve his financial and social goals.
The spiritual energies of male domination that flow from Jupiter on
Thursdays can also help to greatly facilitate spells connected to make
fertility. Every king needs an heir, and virility and physical vigor are also
essential components of being a man. Therefore, Thursday is an amazing
day to cast spells for men hoping for children or simply looking to improve
their sexual performances for their partners. Being a successful man in every
ramification also involves having a network of trusted allies that you can
always rely on for every single affair -from your business and profession to
your family and health. The unique energy signatures of Jupiter that are
especially active on Thursdays can easily be channeled to help men build
stronger, lasting, and mutually beneficial friendships that truly stand the test
of time.
Friday is the day of Venus, another close neighbor of the earth and the planet
named after the goddess of love. Friday is represented by the color green,
and the spiritual energies that flow through the earth on Fridays symbolize
love, romance, beauty, kindness, and change. If you are looking for love in
the form of a whirlwind romance, then Friday is the day to formulate your
attraction spells. The energy of Venus when it comes to attraction is
powerful and explosive, and Venus is closely associated with breath-taking
romantic conquests that blow your mind to smithereens. So, if you are
looking for raw passion and a romance that excites the very depths of your
soul, then Friday is a great time to harness the spiritual energies of Venus to
cast spells that help you attract the love that your heart desires.
Friday is also a day to seek beauty and attractiveness. Just as the energy of
Venus attracts love, it also attracts beauty and irresistibility. Therefore, if you
are seeking to spiritually enhance your appeal to look more beautiful and
undeniably attractive, then Friday is a great day to have a spiritual bath or a
ritual wash to cleanse and purify your skin and imbue yourself with the
supernatural forces of beauty and attractiveness.
The spiritual energies of Venus are also renowned for their conveying
kindness and mercy. Therefore, if you are seeking favor, help in any form, or
in need of rescue, then Friday is a great day to tap into the spiritual energies
of Venus to attract the help and kindness that you need to move forward
from where you currently are. If you are simply seeking to encounter
kindness and mercy in your daily endeavors, probably at your business or
job, then the spiritual energies of Venus can also attract the positive energies
of compassion and empathy towards you. Finally, Venus symbolizes change.
Change is something a lot of aspiring for in many areas of our lives, from
our careers and businesses to our romantic relationships and our friendships.
The abundant energies of Venus that flood the physical realm on Fridays can
help to elicit change in our lives when properly harnessed.
Saturday, as the Saturn’s day, is represented by the color black. Saturday,
being the week’s last day, is a day to muster spiritual protection and
weaponry for defense and attack. The energies of Saturn that are charged and
flowing through the earth on Saturdays can be easily channeled to help
fortify protection spells to prevent danger from happening to a person or
erect a spiritual barrier that repels all forms of evil forces. Because of the
volatile and fierce nature of the energies of Saturn, these energies are perfect
for all forms of rituals that involve spiritual warfare. Therefore, if you
believe that someone has placed you under a curse or a hex, then Saturday is
also a great day to harness the power of Saturn’s unique energies to protect
yourself from further attacks and give your enemies a taste of their own
medicine. Saturdays are also perfect for protecting the home from the forces
of evil. Therefore, if you are thinking of preparing a spiritual floor wash to
fortify your home and prevent evil energies from gaining access, then
Saturdays are great days for performing these sorts of rituals. Using the
energies of Saturn is, of course, not a compulsory pre-requisite for your
protection spells, but it can help to greatly improve your chances of
achieving the results that you desire.
When you want to begin your rituals, it is important to eradicate all
distractions. This means that no music should be playing in the background,
and no noise should be present in the environment at all. As much as
possible, optimize your hoodoo altar for efficiency and productivity. Your
mobile phone can even be kept in another room entirely so that the sounds of
notifications coming in do not distract you from the deep visualizations and
inner retrospections that would be needed to transmute your desires into
reality. Modifying your environment to achieve perfect silence, order, and
tranquility are critical to the success of your rituals and spells. During a
hoodoo ritual, you are trying to harness intangible forces. You need deep
concentration that allows you to connect with the spiritual energies within
you and channel the energies of all the objects you have and of the universe
around you. Your altar should be set up prior to your rituals to contain all the
items you would be needed beforehand, from the appropriate colors of
candles required for the type of spell you have in mind to the incense,
magical oils, sachet powders, and spiritual washes. All mundane household
equipment that you would be b=needing for your rituals should also be
prepared beforehand. You don’t want to be in the middle of your ritual
process and then find out that you can’t boil an herb that you have blessed
because you ran out of gas. As much as possible, keep all materials on hand
before starting your ritual, ad make sure that your hoodoo altar is perfectly
arranged with all the necessary items.
For intense concentration and focus, experienced hoodoo practitioners
recommend turning out the lights before starting your rituals. This practice
helps to hone all your senses, even more, to focus on just one single over-
arching goal, reaching deep within you to visualize your desires and harness
the spiritual energies within you. Turning out the lights reduces the
possibility of distractions by random things that might catch your eye. If
possible, shut all doors and windows, and let the only source of light in the
room be the flames of your candles. After lighting your candles and
watching the dark room glow with the calm flames, you should also light up
your incense. Incense introduces an aura of spiritual calmness and tranquility
into the room, and this is the exact kind of mood that you need to be in as
you prepare to visualize the most important desires to you. Rituals and
visualizations if desires work better when all your senses are laser-focused
on one goal, and the sight of the flames, the absence of any intruding sounds,
and the smell of the incense all help you to attune all your senses to the task
at hand.
After priming your environment to get you into a sober and tranquil state for
your rituals, the next thing to do is to anoint yourself. Your tools and
equipment should have been previously anointed, but if they haven’t, then
you should anoint them with a blessing oil, as would be described later in
this book. However, when in the ritual process, anoint your forehead with
anointing oil that consists of thirtyfive drops of frankincense and 35 drops of
Myrrh, all combined with one ounce of extra-virgin olive oil. The anointing
process should be done by drawing a cross with the anointing oil on your
forehead. As you do this, you should visualize a bright light beaming onto
you from above. The light first beams down in a straight line, focusing only
on you like the beam of a searchlight. As your mind beginning to expand to
take in your environment, you should imagine the light gradually covering
the entirety of the room until the whole environment is lit up by this
imaginary light. When you’re done with that, sprinkle holy water calmly
around the room and recite the following words:
“Where this holy water is cast, no spell or thing of darkness lasts, that is not
in harmony with me, from this moment, you must flee.”
Once this is done, return the Holy Water back to the altar, and if possible,
take a seat in front of your altar. Some practitioners recommend sitting in a
lotus position on the ground in front of your ritual objects. Now, depending
on the kind of procedures that you have to perform to execute your ritual,
your actions from here might differ. If you have to take a spiritual bath, then
it might be time to simply step into the bathtub and begin to visualize your
goals and aspirations – probably visions of you being rich, wealthy,
successful, and respected. If you are doing a protection spell, then your
visualizations should involve the creation of a visible barrier between you
and your enemies, preventing their forces of evil from ever affecting you.
The processes of the rituals should be strictly followed, and visualization
should be a core part of the process. The connection between our vivid
visualizations and the spiritual energies that we are trying to channel must be
strong enough to help to transform our desires into reality. The spiritual
plane is the place of significant yet intangible aspects of this universe –
spiritual energies and forces, imaginations, thoughts, ideas, desires,
knowledge, secrets, and so on. The fact that we cannot see these things does
not mean that they don’t exist. The spiritual plane is where desires truly gain
the energy that they require to become a reality. Therefore, if you are trying
to attract wealth, you need to sit quietly, feel the smell of the senses wafting
through your nose, and focus all your senses on the visualizations of your
desires. Now, begin to create the image of what exactly you want out of life.
Do you want a thriving business? Great. Visualize that business in all its
entirety, down to the location, the building you want it to be situated in, the
products and services that you want to sell, the amount of money you want
to make, the luxuries of life that you’d like to purchase, and so on.
Making your visualizations extremely specific helps you to better channel
your spiritual energies and connect your thoughts to the spirits of the
supernatural. As you visualize your desires taking form, imagine the process
that would get you from where you currently are to where you actually
desire to be. Think of every single detail of the process, and link every step
of the process to the spiritual energies. Allow the spirits to take charge of
every step and just commit every step to them. As you clearly visualize
every process, feel yourself accomplishing every milestone along the way.
Perhaps the first milestone is writing a proposal and securing a loan from the
bank to secure your loan. Visualize that step. Then visualize procuring the
equipment you will require to start your booming venture. Visualize setting
up your business, employing competent workers, and getting amazing
customers who pay a premium for your products, Visualize the money
coming in.
Being lazy with your visualizations makes it tougher for the spiritual
energies to help you control every phase of the process. However, when you
mentally layout your entire plan while visualizing the spiritual energies
taking control of the process, and helping you to accomplish your tasks, then
you move a few steps closer to living your dream life.
Once you are done with all the ritual processes and your intense
visualization, the next thing action is thanksgiving to the spirits for
answering your prayers, and then extinguish your candles in the reverse
order of lighting them, extinguishing the last one you lit first.
CHARMS IN HERBAL MAGIC
Charms are means of trapping magical energy within a physical object and
then harnessing that energy every time the need comes up. Gris-gris bags are
mainly used to attract good fortune and wealth, and they contain herbs and
other components that contain spiritual energies that attract wealth, good
luck, and fortune. Talismans and amulets are mainly used for spiritual
protection. Therefore, these charms are specifically prepared to contain
protective magical energies derived from natural agents that imbue these
energies.
The use of charms in herbal magic requires faith and extreme patience. A
charm to attract good luck will help to attract the amazing spiritual energies
that will help you get rich. However, you need to believe that the charm is
attracting these positive energies as you go about your daily business
activities. Expecting overnight results while using charms can be a
dangerous mindset. The fact that you’ve had a mojo bag prepared for you to
attract money and success dies not necessarily mean you’d become a
millionaire within a week. It, however, means that you now have
extraordinary spiritual support that you did not previously have; you now
have a homing beacon for the spiritual energies of wealth and prosperity
hanging from your neck or tucked in your bag. Therefore, you need to apply
the very best efforts as you have visualized and believe that the charm is
going to attract the needed spiritual energies needed to transform your efforts
into astounding results.
THE DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES
The doctrine of signatures is the belief that plants, herbs, and other natural
agents that are imbued with spiritual energies can be used for medicinal
purposes according to their shapes and structures. The basic idea behind the
doctrine of signatures is that if a plant bears a resemblance to a particular
body part, then the parts of that plant contain the natural spiritual energies
needed to heal the ailments affecting that specific body part.
The doctrine of signatures is believed to be a means of divine guidance –

the creator of the herbs and plants designed and structured the plants in a
specific fashion to help humans recognize the medicinal uses of those plants,
and therefore, harness the plants to cure specific illnesses and ailments.
One of the earliest mentions of the doctrines of signatures was by
Dioscorides, a Greek physician, philosopher, and surgeon, and author of ‘De
Materia medica,’ one of the oldest existing manuscripts on medicine. Galen,
a roman physical and surgeon, also made mention of the doctrine of
signatures in his writings. However, it was Jakob Bohme that first expressly
propounded the doctrine of signatures to be a form of divine guidance by the
creator to help people find the herbs that heal the diseases that plague the
earth by making herbs resemble the body parts that they cure.
Several instances of the doctrine of signatures were recorded in medical
texts, and the parts of the human body that certain plants resembled were
used to name those plants.
Liverwort (Marchantiophyta) was observed to have its leaves shaped like the
human liver and was therefore utilized in treating cases of extreme levels of
toxins and harmful products being retained in the liver. Lungwort
(Pulmonaria) was also observed to have it sleaves shaped like lungs and was
therefore used to treat ailments related to difficulty in breathing. Spleenwort
(Asplenium) was observed to be shaped like the spleen and was used for
treating spleen ailments. Toothwort (Dentaria) was observed to resemble
human teeth and was used in the treatment of toothaches and dental pains.
However, the doctrine of signature was not a precise science, and
sometimes, the prescribed herbs for curing ailments of the different body
parts according to the doctrine of signature had no effect at all on the disease
that was being battled. In some extreme cases, it was even found out that the
herbs actually acted against the user.
Birthwort, for instance, was perceived to resemble the human uterus and was
used for treating ailments that were associated with pregnancy. However,
eventually, extreme pain used to result from the use of this herb, and in dire
cases, the patient could lose her life. It was eventually found out that
birthwort contains aristochloric acid, a toxic biochemical compound that
caused cancer and led to problems with kidney function. Some plants
naturally contain harmful toxins that serve as natural defense mechanisms to
prevent predation in these plants and ensure the survival of the plant species.
Even if the doctrine of signature is not a precise science when it comes to
medical therapy, it is extremely relevant in the spiritual practice of Hoodoo.
In Hoodoo the doctrine of signature can be applied as the Law of Similarity
states that if two objects are similar enough, then one can be used to elicit
change in the other. Therefore, if an herb is similar enough to a diseased
body part, then such an herb can be used to elicit a change in the state of the
body part that it clearly resembles. In the use of dolls and effigies for placing
curses and attracting love, the law of similarity also takes effect. The closer
the resemblance of a hoodoo doll to the actual target, the more potent the
charm is likely to be. The law of similarity was also used in the utilization of
other natural agents for the curing of ailments. Yellow sap of plants was
believed to resemble the color of a human eye suffering from jaundice and
was therefore used in the treatment of the condition. The deep red color of
red beet juice was also believed to closely mirror the color of human blood
and was used to treat blood-related ailments. Roots that are shaped like a
phallus were commonly used in the treatment of importance and male
fertility problems.
The doctrine of signatures is, therefore, simply a means of associating
elements of nature with the problems that they can help to solve.
THE ROLE OF ROOTWORKERS IN HOODOO
The term ‘rootworker’ is an extremely commonly used term to describe
experienced hoodoo practitioners who have mastered how to process,
combine, and utilize roots for both medicinal and spiritual purposes. In the
heydays of the transatlantic slave trade, the rootworkers who already had
experience with herbs and herbal magic from the traditional African
societies took on the roles of spiritual leaders among the slaves and taught
them how to use structured rituals, herbs, and incantations to protect
themselves from the torment of the slavemaster. The rootworkers on the
slave plantations were also in charge of preparing herbs to cure diseases
among the slaves as they had no access to the modern healthcare facilities of
the time. It was possible practise for a slave to be taken to a hospital used by
whites to be treated with orthodox medicine. Practically all the slaves have
treated with herbal medicine anytime a disease or an injury had to be
mitigated. In rare circumstances, for instance, when a slave master
impregnated one of his slaves, then the delivery could be done at an actual
hospital.
Rootworkers were, however, more than just herbal doctors and pharmacists
in the plantations of the Southern United States. They were also spiritual
leaders, prophets, and advisers. They possessed intimate knowledge of the
supernatural and how the agents of nature could be used to seek answers and
supernatural aid. Therefore, the slaves consulted the rootworkers to seek
advice and help to solve the seemingly intractable problems in their lives.
Over the decades, the roles of rootworkers in hoodoo have evolved quite
significantly.
In the modern era, one of the most significant functions of the rootworker is
the preparation of herbal mixtures to specifically help clients fight certain
diseases. The classes of rootworkers that serve this function exclusively are
herbal healers. If a client has a stomach upset, a pain in a limb, or probably a
fever, they examine the client and then prepare the herbs that the client
would consume right there in the spot. Once the mixture is complete, the
herbal concoction is handed over to the client, and instructions for use are
recommended. In many cases, however, most of the herbal healers who
serve this function already have preparations of herbs on hand, ready to be
dispensed the moment a client with a disease or discomfort walks in.
Rootworkers are also experts in the preparation and recommendation of
charms. Rootworkers that focus on the magical aspect of things are mainly
called conjure doctors. The practitioners in this class specialize in the
preparation of charms, talismans, amulets, sachet powders, mojo, and gris-
gris bags, and even the date and recommendation of spiritual washes and
floor washes for various purposes. Conjure doctors may also recommend
herbs or prepare herbal mixtures imbued with mystical energy to help cure
mysterious illnesses that are believed to be the result of a spiritual attack.
The conjure doctor almost always works with the forces of the supernatural,
and he has the ability to connect easily with the spiritual realm. In some folk
magic practices, it is believed that some people are born with the gift – i.e.,
specific, i.e., spiritual energy signatures that make psychic vision and
communication with spirits come easily to them.
The gift of psychic vision and spiritual power may manifest physically in the
body of a gifted conjurer. In some folk magic practices, conjurers may have
double-sight, which is the ability to see entities of both the physical and
spiritual worlds. People with double sight can identify spirits taking
possessions f human beings, and that can see intangible spiritual energies,
ghosts, wraiths, and other elements of the spiritual realm that are invisible to
the normal human eye. Another trait that was commonly associated with
conjure doctors with the gift of magic was albinism. It was believed that
albinos were specially selected servants of nature who have been specially
marked to show the presence of the gift of magic within them. Dwarfism was
also regarded as a physical sign that a person was endowed with the gift of
magic. It was believed that these unusual physical characteristics, which
were possessed by a negligible percentage of the population, indicated that
the people who possessed them were actually spiritually blessed.
In modern hoodoo, rootworkers also prepare charms for various purposes.
These charms may be specialized and prepared on-demand, or they may just
be generalized and solid in stores or e-commerce stores online. Experienced
hoodoo practitioners advise formulating your own charms using your own
spells at your personal altar. However, if you are not sure of your skillset and
knowledge, then you can consult an experienced spiritual practitioner to
help. The charms made by modern hoodoo rootworkers are diverse in their
form and function. Specialized charms are made for general sale and on-
demand for luck, protection, love, and attraction, attracting wealth and
boosting sales, getting lucky during gambling sessions, improve strained
family relationships and friendships, and even avoiding the law and staying
out of trouble. Most of these charms are prepared following standardized
procedures and can be carried on the person of the user. A common modern
form of packaging charms made for special purposes is in the form of sachet
powders.
A conjure doctor, in the olden folk magic beliefs, could only be selected
either by inheriting the profession and the gift, serving as an apprentice
under an experienced conjure doctor for years or in rare cases, being called
by the forces of the spirit to help people solve their problems spiritually. The
conjure doctor in hoodoo offers a five-pronged service. First of all, the
conjure doctor examines the clients and carries out spiritual investigations to
understand the nature of the problem that the client is facing. At this point, it
is ascertained if the client is simply battling a natural ailment or if they are
being cursed or hexed by an enemy. For this reason, most renowned conjure
doctors are also spiritually endowed diviners with the ability to commune
with the spirits to find solutions to knotty problems.
If it is ascertained that the client has truly been hexed or cursed, leading to
the ailment or spiritual problem at hand, then the conjure doctor sets out on
another round of divination to figure out exactly who hexed his client and for
what reason the hex was placed. If, however, it was determined that the
ailment or problem was not the handiwork of any adversary, then the
required herbs for cleansing, healing, protection, and good luck may be
prepared and administered to the client.
If an enemy is involved, the conjure doctor identifies the enemy and then
sets out to detect the actual mojo and charm that was used to curse the client.
In most cases of curses and hexes, the physical form of the charm that is
used to curse an individual has to be found and destroyed. Therefore, if the
client was cursed with a hoodoo doll, for instance, the conjurer may use his
divination skills to find the doll then find a way to destroy the doll, thereby
breaking the yoke of the curse. The next step is then to cure the patient if
they have any physical manifestations of the curse that was placed against
them, such as body paralysis, a swollen limb, or a fever. Once the patient is
cured, then the conjurer and the client would agree on whether to avenge the
attack and which form of curse or hex would be placed on the enemy. In
most cases, the conjure doctor places a more powerful curse on the enemy to
punish them for attacking their clients in the first place.
Some hoodoo practitioners in the modern era specialize mainly in spiritual
consultancy. These rootworkers rarely prepare herbal mixtures or charms.
Instead, they offer spiritual advice on which herbs, rituals, oils, spiritual
washes, and related spiritual components are best used to solve a client’s
specific problems. It is common for a spiritual consultant to also sell the
items that he recommends. However, some people simply just focus on
providing valuable advice and recommendations. Spiritual consultants may
recommend where the required materials for certain rituals may be sourced
from, and they may even supervise the ritual process to ensure that the
client’s problems are solved. A spiritual consultant listens carefully to the
problems of his client and may conduct spiritual investigations to trace the
origins of the problem before suggesting solutions and supervising
corrective rituals.
The roles of the spiritual consultant, the herbal healer, and the conjure doctor
are often interwoven, and as rootworkers gain experience in these areas of
expertise, they usually expand their services to provide more value to their
clients. In ancient forms of hoodoo, there were respected members of the
society simply referred to as ‘Old Ladies.’ These were elderly women who
served in the capacity of spiritual consultants, usually recommending herbs
and roots to be used by people who were battling specific ailments. The old
ladies were often experienced in the art of combining herbs to prepare
remedies, but they rarely ever prepared the herbs for the people who called
on them. They simply offered advice on how to solve the health-related
problems they were consulted for. In special cases, the old ladies could also
offer advice on how to utilize the spiritual energies in herbs and other
naturally occurring substances to solve basic problems like a straying
husband or a paucity of money in a household. Traditionally, the old ladies
do not often collect monetary compensations for their services. Instead, they
accepted food items or basic items of clothing.
Another extremely important class of practitioners in the ranks of the
hoodoo rootworkers is the midwife. On the slave plantations in the United
States at the height of the transatlantic slave trade, most of the pregnant
female slaves did not have access to modern maternity care. Therefore, they
relied on the advice of the hoodoo midwives on which herbs to take and
which ones to avoid as their fetuses grew in their wombs. The midwives
basically played the role of a traditional gynecologist. They handled all
affairs related to female fertility and reproduction and recommended herbs to
enhance female sexuality. The midwives were in charge of every stage of the
process of birth, from recommending herbs and rituals for the woman hoping
to have a baby to prescribing mixtures to aid the baby’s proper growth and
development. The most significant role that midwives in hoodoo were
recognized for, however, was in the delivery of babies. Black women
became midwives after years of apprenticeship, watching the child delivery
process very closely, learning about the appropriate herbs to ease childbirth
and ensure proper child growth, and even understanding the basics of rituals
that could be employed to ease childbirth.
After the delivery of the baby, the traditional midwife still offered post-natal
services, recommending herbal mixtures and food choices to promote the
good health of the new mother and her baby. During the post-reconstruction
era, traditional midwives frequently worked under root doctors and even, in
some cases, white physicians to aid in the process of delivering babies.
These midwives had already understood the child delivery process and
provided valuable assistance in the hospitals in black neighborhoods when
children were being delivered. The majority of the black babies delivered in
the United States prior to World War 2 were delivered by black midwives.
However, as modern medicine began to gain more ground, the roles of black
midwives began to slowly phase out. In the modern era, there are probably
only a handful of traditional hoodoo midwives left. The midwives believed
strongly in the fact that childbirth was a deeply spiritual process and
frequently conducted rituals or called upon the spirits of fertility and health
to guide pregnant women through the pain of the process and to protect
them.
Magic vendors are another hoodoo practitioner class that have gained
prominence since the Post-reconstruction Era of hoodoo. Magic vendors
specialize mainly in selling charms and other items such as spiritual washes
and sachet powders to people who require these items for their rituals and
spells. In some cases, the rootworker who creates the spiritual items also
sells them. In other cases, however, the magic vendor only concerns himself
with marketing the products, demonstrating their efficacy, and finding the
customers to purchase the products. The business of selling magical items
has boomed since the Civil Rights Movement, and both white and black
people are in the business of selling these items nowadays. However, people
are advised to be wary of products that promise quick fixes and impossible
solutions as they are most likely false. Magical items work by helping a
person harness the spiritual energies of the universe, and most magical
vendors also teach their customers how to use their products to gradually
solve their problems.
Magic vendors can also play the roles of spiritual psychiatrists. Despite the
fact the main goal of the magic vendor’s establishment is the sale of as many
magic products as possible, the vendor can also listen to the problems that
clients have and suggest the appropriate solutions that they require. It is not
all the time that a client walks into a vendor’s shop with a firm, concrete
knowledge of exactly what they want. Most times, they know that they have
a problem, and they are hoping the magic vendor can suggest the right
products to help them find solutions to their problems. So, except in cases
where the client actually understands exactly what they are looking for,
perhaps an attraction oil or a magical bath, magical vendors also double as
spiritual consultants who listen to the problems that their clients have, ask
valuable questions about the origin of those problems and then recommend
the products that the client should buy. In cases where the vendor does not
have all the products that a client needs in stock, a prescription can be
written so that the client can find the item they need somewhere else. Most
times, magical vendors also give directions as to how their products should
be used. In today’s era of highly commercialized hoodoo, most magical
products come with pamphlets or package g that describes exactly how the
product is to be used, so it’s easy for magic vendors to simply sell their
products online without any extensive consultations.
Specialist hoodoo folk healers solve very specific health problems for their
clientele. These folk healers usually combine the natural powers of herbs and
other naturally occurring remedies and the powers 0f magic through the
summoning of spiritual energies to heal patients. Bone-setters are popular
examples of traditional specialist folk healers. When a patient has an
accident that involves a fracture or a complicated bone injury, the services of
the specialist bone-setters were usually sought. These practitioners had years
of experience in their particular field and rarely dabbled into other areas of
magic. The healer would use both physical means such as herbal remedies to
heal the pain and physical means to set the bones. The healer would then
finish up the process by calling upon the healing powers of the universe to
eradicate the pain and grant the person full function of their body again.
Some folk healers can, however, solve multiple problems, but most still kept
the scope of their services narrow. Some folk healers can help to heal burns,
eradicate fevers, cure toothaches and back pains, chase out warts, and help to
control excessive bleeding by ‘stopping the blood.’ These specialists use
both their knowledge of herbal medicine and their ability to manipulate the
spiritual energies of the universe to help heal their clients.
Finally, the last class of hoodoo practitioners we would be examining in this
section are the spiritual prophets. These are revered spiritual consultants who
seek important spiritual information on behalf of their clients. The spiritual
prophets relay messages and instructions from the supernatural realm to
clients, thereby helping clients avert danger or disasters or helping clients
take advantage of unforeseen opportunities. These spiritual prophets can also
offer special prayers on behalf of their clients to appreciate the spirits for
their guidance and support through a particular process or period. Spiritual
prophets often prescribe herbs, spiritual washes, and other rituals for their
clients according to t the messages that are decoded from the spiritual realm.
If the prophet foresees a looming danger on the client, for instance, he may
advise the client to do a spiritual bath or a cleansing to help protect himself
from the danger ahead. Spiritual prophets are often consulted to find out the
reason behind general life problems such as barrenness, poverty, and bad
luck, and they may seek information spiritually to help their clients answer
their questions. Afterward, they may then recommend solutions to help their
clients surmount their life challenges.
Like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and other common religions around the
world are getting infused into hoodoo in the contemporary era, a subtype of
spiritual prophets has emerged -the evangelistic faith healers. These people
identify with a specific religion, meaning that they are not fully hoodoo
practitioners. However, they still believe in the power of the spiritual
energies embedded in naturally-occurring entities such as plants and animal
blood and, therefore, consult the spirits on behalf of their clients to help
solve the client’s problems and overcome their challenges.
The role of the hoodoo rootworker has been greatly segmented in today’s
world. However, the majority of root doctors today still offer bundled
services to their clients to increase patronage and to help their clients avoid
the stress of having to patronize multiple practitioners. As hoodoo begins to
gain relevance again, it is anticipated that these areas of specialization within
rootwork will gain more prominence and attract more eminent scholars and
practitioners.
WILDCRAFTING
Wildcrafting is simply the act of collecting herbs from their natural habits
for use in preparing herbal mixtures and conducting rituals and spells. When
collecting herbs for any hoodoo-related purpose, it is important to remember
to respect nature at all times and be as kind and compassionate as possible
when plucking the plants. They are the gifts of nature to mankind; however,
they also have spiritual energies running through them, making them living
things. Only green, healthy leaves are selected for mixtures and rituals. No
yellowed or browned leaves should be picked – they are signs of waning
spiritual energy in those affected plants. A bright green coloration of a leaf
shows that the leaf is bursting at the seams with vibrant spiritual energy and
would be perfect for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Leaves are also best
collected in the mid-morning after the dew has evaporated, but the sun is not
too hot yet. This is the point where the spiritual energies and vibrations
within the plants are at their most vibrant. Collected herbs are to be tied in
bundles using twine, and care must be taken to know when and where you
collected your herbs.
Wildcrafting also involves the harvesting of flowers for medicinal and ritual
purposes. Flowers are the most delicate part of a plant and must be plucked
with care. The petals should not be touched as they are focal points of
spiritual energy within the flower. Simply pull the brightest colored flowers
by their stalks and, if possible, use the flowers right away, as they may begin
to deteriorate in quality if kept for too long. Specific preparations and rituals
also require the usage of certain roots. In this case, the roots should only be
harvested from plants that have already withered or whose leaves are already
exhibiting discolorations.
A plucked leaf and a plucked flower do not mean the end of a plant’s life;
however, a fully harvested root implies that the plant’s life is over.
Therefore, roots must be used sparingly and stored properly. If possible, the
seed of the plant whose toots were pulled can be planted back in the place of
the pulled root. Roots can be preserved by treating them in the oven at 120
degrees. Barks are also best pulled from dying or older trees. Older trees
have more layers of wood protecting them from environmental damage.
However, the younger trees have not yet grown to develop the layers of
wood that might protect them if a part of the bark is stripped away. The
central idea remains that the plants should be treated with care, and no
unnecessary damage should be done, especially if there is a less harmful
alternative. Some ritual processes may necessitate the collection of berries
and fruits. These items may be used fresh or dried and stored for their
eventual use.
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS
The spiritually significant pre-requisites of rituals in hoodoo have already
been discussed in the introductory segment of this book. These items include
candles, incense, oils, spiritual washes, and others. In this section, we would
be examining some other essential equipment and household tools that are
important in the execution of rituals and the preparation of herbal remedies.
1. APRON: An apron protects your clothes and your body from hot
splashes, stains from liquefied herbs, and other potential dangers in the
process of preparing your herbal mixtures. Plastic aprons are preferable as
they can be easily cleaned and reused.
2. BLENDER: This handy piece of equipment can be very essential in
helping to combine all your herbs and grind them into a fine liquid form.
This saves time and helps to make your preparations more palatable and
uniformly mixed.
3. BOTTLE AND JAR: These are indispensable for holding the products
of your botanical adventures – your decoctions, teas, oils, tinctures, tonics,
and others all should be stored in bottles and jars. They can also be
extremely useful in holding important liquids like spiritual washes and holy
water.
4. CAULDRON: This is a slightly mysterious name for a large iron pot. A
cauldron would be suitable for doing any kind of cooking required to get
your herbal mixtures ready for use.
5. CHARCOAL BLOCKS: Charcoal is a very neat fuel for burning your
incense without leading to any uncomfortable smells or dangerous situations.
6. CHIMINEA: This is a simple, portable fireplace in which your incense
can be burnt. Chimineas can also be used for rituals that involve burning an
herb or two.
7. COFFEE GRINDER: This amazingly helpful piece of equipment can
help to pulverize even the toughest roots, spices, and berries that you need to
grind. The coffee grinder also helps to make your blender last remarkably
longer as it takes care of the tougher ingredients.
8. DOUBLE BOILER: Thi is a special container used for slow heating.
Where your normal pots or pans get relatively fast. Your double boiler has
been specially cast to get heated up only half as fast. That way, you can
slowly heat up waxy preparations such as candle wax and ointments without
worrying about making a huge sticky mess.
9. DROPPERS: Herbal preparations and rituals are going to require lots of
precise measurements. Droppers help you to achieve the transfer of just the
right amounts of liquids into your preparations. Droppers are commonly
used to measure essential oils, body fluids, and other important and rare
liquids that are only usually needed in minute quantities to serve their
purpose.
10. DRYING RACK: This is a specialized tool to help you dry your herbs,
leaves, stems, and other natural elements conveniently. Hang thr herbs
securely on the rack, and voila, you get a uniformly-dried herb after a day or
two.
11. FUNNELS: During the preparation of your herbal mixtures, you might
have to transfer quite a lot of fluids between vessels and containers. Funnels
help you to avoid unnecessary soils and prevent wastage of important
liquids.
12. GRATER: Graters can help to shred tough roots and spices to make
them usable in your herbal preparations. Graters also help to save you the
stress of cutting up your roots with your knife.
13. KETTLE: You will be doing quite a lot of heating during the
preparations of your herbal mixtures, especially when it comes to teas and
decoctions. A good, quality kettle will help you to get your hot water ready
every time you need it. ‘
14. MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS: Once again, getting an amazing
herbal preparation is all about precision and conciseness. Measuring cups
and spoons help you to ensure that you are adding just the right amounts of
ingredients into your preparations to obtain the most effective results.
15. MIXING BOWL: Herbal mixtures are all about combining suitable
herbs to achieve targeted mixtures. A reliable mixing bowl for combining
your essential ingredients is, therefore, an indispensable need.
16. MORTAR AND PESTLE: This pair can really come in handy when
you need to pound a solid into dust very fast. Your pestle might not give you
the same fine consistency as a coffee grinder, but it is a fast way to crush up
some ingredients.
17. STIRRING SPOONS AND WANDS: These are useful for stirring
herbal mixtures on and off the fire. Multiple stirring spoons help to avoid
cross-contamination while handling multiple aspects of preparation.
18. HOTPLATE/ GAS COOKER: Either of these can serve as your source
of heat for your little herbal adventures. Be sure that you have enough gas
beforehand to ensure that your preparations are not interrupted, as this may
compromise your results.
19. STRAINER: A strainer or sieve with a muslin cloth can be helpful in
helping to collect only liquids of fine solids from your natural ingredients.
Sieves help you to get the aspects of your ingredients that you need for your
rituals while keeping the pulp or stones away.
20. THERMOMETER: Once again, ladies and gentlemen, precision is the

name of the game. Thermometers help you to determine the actual real-time
temperatures of your preparations to know when it’s time to add a new
ingredient or get your mixture off the heater.
21. TWINE: This small yet incredibly handy little tool helps to keep your
herbs tied in bundles and stacks and prevents them from getting scattered all
over the place as they are getting dried.
22. WHISK: A whisk helps to uniformly mix multiple liquids to achieve a
well-homogenized mixture.
BLESSING YOUR TOOLS
After procuring all the necessary equipment and tools needed to get you
started on your herbal adventures, it helps to sanctify your tools to spiritually
empower them to deliver the results that you desire. The altar anointing oil is
also perfect for the purpose of blessing the equipment. Altar anointing oil is
simply prepared by combining 16 drops of frankincense, 8 drops of Myrrh,
and 4 drops of cedar into eight ounces of extra Verigin olive oil. This
preparation can be used to anoint you’re your tools and spiritually fortify
them so that they can help you to achieve the goals that you desire.
Holy water is also an important element of consecration. As you sprinkle
holy water on your tools, simply say: “Through this holy water, no
negativity endures, consecrated as you should, be dedicated for good.”
With that, your equipment has been blessed and is now ready to be used to
power your hoodoo journey.
STORING YOUR HERBS
Being able to source for your herbs is one thing, but being able to efficiently
store your herbs so that they remain viable till you need them is a different
ballgame entirely. Storing of herbs can be quite complicated, but it doesn’t
have to be. First, you want to keep in mind that once you have harvested
your herbs, you want to store them away from moisture and excess sunlight.
The most strongly recommended form of storage for your dried herbs is to
simply tie them in bundles with a twine and hang them from a ceiling or a
nail on the wall. In this position, they get just the right amount of air and are
safely kept away from the havoc of moisture or sunlight. This method is
preferable for storing dried herbs.
For herbs that contain strong flavors and volatile oils, storage has to be
compartmentalized. Don’t just shove all the herbs together, as this may
affect the strength of the natural essence within them. Tinctures and oils
needed to be stirred in tinted glass jars to prevent damage that can be caused
to these volatile mixtures by the ultra-violet rays from the sun. All jars must
be carefully labeled to ensure that you conveniently keep track of all your
mixtures and extractions.
Herbs can also be kept frozen in your freezer for long-term storage. Herbs
that need to be kept fresh can be kept in a refrigerator, but they must be used
as soon as possible. Some other herbs can survive by just staying
undisturbed on your kitchen counter.
PART 2: MAGICAL HERBS
I n this section, we would be examining individual processes and herbs

in detail. Every single herb is imbued with its own unique spiritual
energies, which can be harnessed to give targeted results. For an herb to
be optimally utilized, however, it is crucial to know the most suitable
application of the herb. Therefore, first of all, we would be examining some
common endeavors in hoodoo and the best herbs and other natural elements
that can be utilized in executing those rituals. Afterward, we would be
examining herbs and other natural elements in exhaustive detail to know
which herbs are best for certain spells and rituals.
RITUALS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING NATURAL
ELEMENTS
Here follows a list of roots, herbs, spices, minerals, animal parts, and other
elements of power listed by spiritual and magical Effects. You can use them
as you wish for your altar, to build a mojo bag, or to run a spiritual bath.
To Summon and Converse with Spirits and the Dead
Skull-shaped candle
Fern (Pteris aquilina)
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Henbane (Hyosycamus niger)
Uva Ursi (Arcostaphylus uva-ursi)
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)
Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
Datura (Datura stramonium)
To Write Pacts
Cascara Sagrada Bark (Rhamnus purshiana)
Little John (Alpinea galangal)
Sumac berries (Rhus glabra)
Meadowsweet (Piraeae ulmaris)
For Divination
Woodruff (Asperula odorata)
Meadow Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata)
Sandalwood (Sanatalum album)
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Chicory root (Cichorium intybus)
Knotweed (Polyganum aviculare)
Orris root (Iris florentia)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus)
Tarot deck
Graveyard dirt
Bones.
To Cast Off Bad Habits
Larch (Laris europaea)
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)
Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum)
To Remove Sins
Betony (Betonica officinalis)
Meadowsweet (Spiraea officinalis)
Aztec Sweet Herb (Lipea dulsis)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
To Make Wishes
Mojo Beans (Vicia faba)
Hops (Humulus lubulus)
Tonka Beans (Coumarouna odorata)
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
To Change your Luck

Tulip (Tulipa vierge)
Heather (Caluna vulgaris)
Golden Rod (Solidago valgurea)
Persimmon (Diospyrus virginiana)
Sunflower (Helianthus annus)
Saltpeter Bath
Hebrew amulet
Horseshoe
Louisiana Van Van Oil
To Cleanse and Purify
Horseradish (Cochlearea amorata)
Cotton (Gossypium barbadense)
Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
Pepper Tree (Schinus molle)
Camphor
Frankincense
Jasmine
To Receive Blessings
Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)
Lotus Root (Nelumbo nucifera)
Lemon Verbena (Alloysius triphylla)
Mulberry (Morus nigra)
Mace (Myristica fragrans)
White candle
Copal incense
Quartz crystal
To Gain Wisdom
Solomon Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Dittany (Origanum dictamnus)
Spikenard (Aralia racemosais)
Turkey Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
Purple candles
Cowrie shells
To Break Up Old Conditions

Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum)
Cancer Bush (Sutherlandia frutescens)
Fern (Pteris aquiline)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Buckeye nut
Saltpeter
To Attract Good Luck
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Roses (N.O. rosaceae)
Sunflower (Helianthus annus)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Corn (Zea mays)
Amber
Aventurine
Gold
For Protection
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos)
Banana (Musa sapientum)
Alder (Alnus Serrulata)
Wax Plant (Hoya camosa)
Ruby
Topaz
Turquoise
Arrowhead
Black beans
Brick dust
To Keep Away Unwanted Visitors
Cherry (Prunus avium)
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
Hemp (Cannabis sativa)
Pineapple (Ananas comusus)
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Amethyst
Flint
Jade
Jasper
Broom
Black salt
Lapis Lazuli
To Repel Evil and Bind Enemies
Squaw vine (Mitchella repens)
Pennyroyal (Mamentha pulegium)
Little John (Alpinia galangal)
Alder (Alnus Serrulata)
Moonstone’
Mother of Pearl
Turquoise
Arrowhead
Black beans
Brick dust
To Prevent Thefts
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
Masterwort (Imperatorial ostruthium)
Pineapple (Ananas comusus)
Broom
Black salt
Lapis Lazuli
To Prevent Accidents
Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Aloe (Aloe vera)
Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium)
Pepper Tree (Schinus molle)
Obsidian
Tiger’s eye
To Stop Gossip
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Heliotrope (Heliotropium Peruviana)
Blueberry (Vaccinum frodosum)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginana)
All Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Moonstone
Mother of pearl
Red coral
Bluestone
Chain
Coffin nails
For Safe Travels
Winter’s Bark (Drimys winteri)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Bladderwrack (Focus visiculos)
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Buckeye Nut (Aesculus glabra)
Chain
Brick dust
Egyptian Ankh
For Love, Sex, and Marriage
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
Meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaris)
Skullcap (Scutellaria galerirulata)
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)
Flowers from a wedding
Tonka beans
Pink candle
For Peace in the Home and in the Family
Bergamot (Mentha citrate)
Meadow Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Salt
Holy water
Olive oil
To Reconcile with a Lover
Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia)
Sumac Berries (Rhus glabra)
Dulse (Palmaria palmate)
Willow (Salix alba)
Magnetic sand
Black-eyed peas
Arrowhead
For Fertility
Patchouli Leaf (Pogostemon patchouli)
Pine Needles (Pinus sylvestris)
Alfalfa (Medicavo sativa)
Amethyst
Hematite
Jade
Flint
For Marital Fidelity
Vetch (Vicia sativa)
Magnolia Leaves (Magnolia acuminata)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Gotu Kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica)
Spikenard (Aralia racemosais)
Lapis lazuli
Malachite
Moonstone
For Friendship
Bishop’s Weed (Carum copticum)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Acacia (Acacia Nilotica)
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)
Sulphur
Rose quartz
Opal
To Attract Money
Sesame (Sesamum indicum)
Cedar Wood (Cedrus libani)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Mojo Beans (Vicia faba)
Patchouli Leaf (Pogostemon patchouli)
Dice
Green candles
Gold
27. Draw Paying Customers
Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Alder (Alnus serrulata)
Cattail (Typha latifolia)
Sugar
Magnetic sand
Lodestones with fillings
To Find Treasures
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensi)
Caraway Seed (Carum carvi)
Salt
Saltpeter
Tonka Beans
Graveyard dirt
To Protect your Money
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Larkspur (Delphinum consolida)
Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Holy water
Nails
Silver
To Get a Job or a Promotion
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Celery (Apium graveolens)
Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
Sugar
Green candles
Gold
Egyptian Ankh
To Jinx, Hurt, or Cause Unnatural Illnesses
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
San Pedro Cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi)
Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum mimimum)
Spider Wort (Tradescantia ohiensis)’
Horseradish (Cochlearia armoracia)
Sulphur
Black cat hair
Bat nut
To Get Revenge
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
May Apple (Popophyllum peltatum)
Black salt
Blue stones
Broom
Coffin nails
To Repel Someone
Wheat (Triticum sativum)
Grass (Bromus hordeaceus)
Cedar (Cedrus libani)
Peach (Prunus persica)
Oak (Quercus robur)
Crucifix
Epsom Salt
Goofer Dust
To Control Someone
Bladderwrack (Focus visiculos)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Geranium (Pelargonium maculatum)
Epsom salts
Graveyard dirt
Needle
Vinegar
To Destroy a Relationship
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Mistletoe (Viscum album)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
Rowan (Pyrus aucuparia)
Lotus Root (Nelumbo nucifera)
Epsom salt
Goofer dust
Broom
Black salt
To Reverse Evil
Aloe (Aloe vera)
Chinese Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes anguina)
Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)
Arrowhead
Ammonia
Black Beans
Chain
To Break Jinxes
Larch (Larix europaea)
Hawthorn berries (Crataegus oxyacantha)
May Apple (Popophyllum peltatum)
Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris)
Devil’s Weed (Datura stramonium)
Black salt
Graveyard dirt
Saltpeter
For Physical Health
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
Ti (Cordyline fruitcosa)
Cherry (Prunus avium)
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Mustard seed
Marble
Copper coins
To Prolong Life
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium)
Sassafras (Sassafras officinale)
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Sapphire
Sodalite
Holy water
For Courage
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus)
Adder’s Tongue (Ophioglossum pusillum)
Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
Bloodroot (Sanquinaria canadensis)
Apache tears
Brick dust
Flint
Jasper
For Mental Health
Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus oriental)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Black-eyed peas
Quartz crystal
Opal
To Gain Power and Respect
Gardenia (Gardenia jasmenoides)
Corn (Zea mays)
Apple (Pyrus malus)
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Cedar (Cedrus libani)
Vinegar
Witch hazel
Cowrie shells
Graveyard dirt
To Settle Legal Matters
Little John (Alpinia galangal)
Sumac Berries (Rhus glabra)
Endive (Cichorum endive)
Thistle (Carduus nutans)
Marigold Flower
Deer’s Tongue
High John the Conqueror (Ipomoea jalapa)
For Musical and Artistic Skills
Alfalfa (Medicavo sativa)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Aster (Callistephus chinesis)
Horseradish (Cochlearia armoracia)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Egyptian Ankh
Four-leaf clover
Buckeye nut
For Painless Teething for a Baby
Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Dill (Peucedanum graveolens)
Marble
Holy water
Mustard seed
To Increase Lactation
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
Carrot (Dancus carota)
Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Salt
Brick dust
Petrified wood
For Beauty
Poke (Phytolacca decandra)
Henna (Lawsonia alba)
Geranium (Pelargonium maculatum)
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Sapphire
Aquamarine
Jade
To Restore Sexuality and Sensuality
Celery (Apium graveolens)
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Buckeye Nut (Aesculus glabra)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemose)
Witch Grass (Panicum capillare)
Malachite
Moonstone
Rose quartz
To Discover a Murderer
Frankincense incense
Saltwater
Black candle
Red ribbon
A poppet (to represent the target)
For Invisibility
Amaranth (Amaranthus hydrochondriacus)
Black Cat Bone
Deer’s Tongue (Liatris odoratissima)
Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus oxyacantha)
Star Anise (Illicium verum)
Mint
Purple candle
Florida Water
To Make Hoodoo Dolls
Cardamom seed (Elettario caramomum)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules)
Orris root (Iris florentia)
Cowrie shells
Mandrake roots
Spanish moss
Needles
278 MAGICAL HERBS, ROOTS, SPICES, MINERALS,
AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF POWER AND THEIR
APPLICATIONS
ACACIA (Acacia nilotica): Acacia is a small spiny bush that can grow into a
small tree that is found in parts of Northern Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Acacia aids in promoting peace and harmony and attracting wealth and
prosperity. Using acacia in rituals can also help in enhancing psychic
abilities and strengthening friendships. Acacia can be combined with
sandalwood to create amulets for protection.
ADAM AND EVE ROOT (Aplectrum hyemale): The Adam and Eve root is
mainly found in the Eastern United States and Canada. This root is most
popular as an herbal component of love spells and charms. However, the
Adam and Eve root may also be applied in charms for good luck and
fortune. The root may be utilized in rituals for attracting wealth and success
and protecting a practitioner from the dangers of the evil eye
Adam and Eve's Root

ADDER’S TONGUE (Ophioglossum pusillum): Adder’s tongue grows in an
extensive carpet of leaves covering the lush forest floors of Southern
America and the tropics of Africa and Asia. Adder’s tongue is applied in
healing emotional, spiritual, and physical wounds. The herb helps in
creating a protective environment, deepens your spiritual connection with
the supernatural, and can help to enhance your writing abilities when
soaked in hot water and drunk as tea. Adder’s tongue thrives amiably in the
dark corners of the forest floor and is, therefore, powerful in improving
strength and courage. Adder’s tongue can also be used for the rapid healing
of wounds.
Adder's Tongue
AGARIC (Amanita muscaria): Agaric is a small colorful mushroom that
thrives in the dense forests of Northern Europe. Agaric is used in rituals to
enhance fertility and boost the connection a practitioner has with the divine.
Agaric, when burnt as an incense, can also help in enhancing dreams.
Agaric is a potent poison and must, therefore, be handled with extreme care.
AGRIMONY (Agrimonia eupatoria): Agrimony is a perennial herb that
grows in the woods and open fields of Canada, Europe, and the United
States. Agrimony is imbued with natural spiritual energies that help to
reverse evil spells and cleanse the home and body of any negative spiritual
influences. Agrimony also helps in accelerating spiritual healing.
ALDER (Alnus serrulata): Alder is a hardy woody tree found across all
climates from the United States to Asia, Europe, Africa, and even some
parts of Australia. Burning the bark of the Alder tree helps in attracting
positive spiritual energies. The herbs and twigs are powerful elements un
rituals for recovering lost items, attracting success and wealth, and building
courage and mental strength. The leaves of the Alder plant can be made into
a tea for treating diarrhea, coughs, and toothaches. Alder also helps to ease
the pains of childbirth.
ALFALFA (Medicago sativa): Alfalfa is a deep-rooted plant that is found all
over the United States and Canada and grows up to two to three feet tall.
Alfalfa is imbued with potent spiritual energies to attract prosperity,
fertility, and harmony within the home and family.
ALKANET ROOT (Alkanna tinctoria): Alkanet is a purple-colored perennial
herb that blooms across the fields of the United States and Europe. The
spiritual energies flowing within the alkanet root make it effective for
cleansing home and dispelling negativity. The root is also used as a cure for
snake bites, and the infusion made from it helps to relieve the pain of
arthritis.
ALLIGATOR FOOT: The foot of a dead alligator has been a powerful
component of the gambler’s mojo bag for decades. The alligator foot is
potent in attracting wealth and fortune, drawing luck for gamblers, and
generally warding off evil energies.
ALLIGATOR TOOTH: The tooth of an alligator is also used as a component
of mojo and gris-gris bags in hoodoo. An alligator tooth is used as a
spiritual element to attract protection, good luck and fortune, and success.
ALLSPICE (Pimento officinalis): This herb is characterized by its bright red
flowers and its distinctive scent that has hints of clove, cinnamon, juniper,
and pepper. Also called Jamaican pepper, allspice thrives mainly in the
Caribbean Islands and the fields of Southern America. The herb is
especially dominant in Jamaica. Allspice is perfect for use in rituals for
attracting good luck and protecting a person from physical and spiritual
harm. Allspice can also be burnt as an incense to ward off evil energies, and
the herb can be used for attracting love.
ALOE (Aloe vera): Aloe vera is a unique plant with thick succulent leaves
with sharp spiny outgrowths. Aloe grows up to three feet high and is found
in the tropical rainforests of Africa and the dense woodlands of the United
States and Europe. Aloe is infused with natural spiritual energies that ensure
the protection of the home from evil energies. Aloe can also be deployed in
rituals to invite good luck and fortune. Mojo bags containing aloe can help
in preventing accidents and easing the pain of loss.
ALTHEA (Althea officinalis): Althea is a colorful, four-foot-tall herb that is
native to Europe but can be cultivated in the United States. Althea is
imbued with spiritual energies that help in inviting a love that soothes,
commanding protection from physical and spiritual harm, and attracting
wealth and fortune. Althea’s natural spiritual essence can also help to attract
helpful spirits. The herb can be burnt as incense during rituals to improve
psychic abilities
Althea officinalis
ALUM: Alum is hydrated aluminum sulfate and can be found all over the
world. Alum’s natural spiritual energies are associated with purification,
making this ubiquitous stone capable of dispelling evil energies from the
home and improving psychic abilities. Alum can also be used in mojo bags
for boosting love and attraction.
AMMONIA: Liquid ammonia is a volatile compound that freezes on contact
with the skin. This compound can be found anywhere in the world and
contains natural spiritual energies that aid in attracting genuine love and
attraction. Ammonia is also useful in rituals for attracting wealth and
fortune and commanding spiritual protection from evil energies. Ammonia
can be used in spells for punishing an evil-doer.
ANGELICA (Angelica archangelica): The Angelica herb was originally
native to Syria but now grows in the temperate regions of Europe. Angelica
contains natural spiritual energies that enhance protection from physical and
spiritual harm and help in dispelling negative energies. Angelica can be
included in mojo bags for attracting wealth, fortune, and abundance, and
burning the herb as incense can help in improving psychic abilities.
ANISE (Pimpinella anisum): Anise is a three-feet tall annual plant that is
native to Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean. Anise is notable for its
dazzling white flowers and its characteristic fragrant smell. Anise’s spiritual
energies can be harnessed for bringing good luck. When burnt as an
incense, the plant can be used to expand your psychic powers and improve
your connection with the spiritual realm during rituals. The leaves can also
be kept next to your pillow to ensure a good night’s sleep.
ANTS: Ants are believed to be a spirit guide in hoodoo; hence, they can be
included in rituals for repelling evil energies. Ants are reputed for their
communal lives and hence are also valuable components of rituals to ensure
strong friendships, peace, and harmony.
APPLE (Pyrus malus): The apple tree thrives across Europe and the United
States. The blossom of the Apple tree is reputable for its incredible smell
and its pink and white veins. The blossoms of the Apple tree are powerful
components of rituals for attracting love and granting wishes and desires.
The blossom of the apple tree can also be used for attracting wealth and
good luck and warding off heartbreak and sadness.
ARROWROOT (Maranta arundinacea): Arrowroot is a hardy, tropical tuber
that grows primarily in Indonesia. Arrowroot is reputed for its ability to
protect the home from evil energies. The tuber can also be cut up and used
in charms for inviting good luck, ensuring peace and harmony, and boosting
creativity. Arrowroot can also be kept in the home to ensure good health.
Arrowroot
ASAFETIDA (Ferula foetida): Asafetida is the dried latex collected from the
Ferula plant. Asafetida is native to the plains of North Africa, Afghanistan,
and Iran, and this ground element possesses spiritual energies that help in
attracting love and granting wishes. Asafetida, due to its pungent smell, is
also potent in curing blockages of the respiratory tract and also has the
ability to exorcise a demon possessing a human.
ASH TREE (Fraxinus excelsior): Ash is a tall, regal tree with a light gray
bark whose trees bloom between April and June. The ash tree grows all
over the United States and Canada and is potent in attracting good luck,
promoting good health, boosting creativity and knowledge, and promoting
peace and harmony.
BADGER TOOTH: The tooth of a honey badger is a potent good luck charm
in hoodoo. This element is, therefore, usually included in the gris-gris bags
or mojo bags curated for gamblers and businessmen to invite money,
wealth, and luck. The honey badger is found across the United States and
Europe; however, the tooth itself can be purchased from reputable online
stores.
BALM OF GILEAD BUDS (Commiphora opobalsamum): This biblically
significant herb is found all through the United States, Europe, and parts of
Asia. Balm of Gilead has its leaves bloom from late summer to early fall
and is imbued with spiritual energies that help in expelling negative spirits,
promoting good sleep, and ensuring safety at home and during travels. The
herb can also be used to prepare infusions to strengthen the body system
and fight off diseases.
Balm of Gilead
BARBERRY (Berberis vulgaris): The berries of the Berberis plant are a
remarkably potent source of magical power in hoodoo. The Berberis plant
grows up to five meters tall and is found in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North
and South America. The bright red berries can be dried and used in rituals
for attracting love, granting wishes, and attracting wealth and good luck.
Barberries are also great at helping to fight diarrhea and stomach upsets.
The leaves of the barberry plant should not be consumed, as they are linked
to Lyme’s disease.
Barberry
BASIL (Ocimum basilicum): Basil is found across all tropical regions of the
world, from the Americas to Europe, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It belongs
to the mint family. Basil’s leaves are characterized by a very strong minty
scent, and the leaves can be dried and kept in the home to protect the home
from evil energies, invite good luck, and ensure peace and harmony. Basil
can also be taken as an infusion to enhance good health. A basil bath can
help to eradicate stress and cleanse off negative energies. Basil tea can also
help to treat the symptoms of emphysema and bronchitis.
BATS AND BULLBATS: Bats are used in hoodoo to expel negative spirits
from an environment. Bats can also be used during rituals to help enhance
psychic vision. The blood of a bat is sometimes included in mojo bags to
enhance supernatural protection and ward off evil spiritual energies.
BAY (Laurus nobilis): The bay plant thrives in mild climates and is found in
the fields of North America and Europe. The leaves of the bay plant have a
strong, distinctive odor, and when tied in a bundle, they can help to protect
the home from evil energies, invite good luck, and ensure peace and
harmony in the home. Bay leaves can also be burnt as an incense to enhance
psychic capabilities during rituals. The scented leaves of the bay plant are
also reputable for helping to alleviate pains associated with sprains and
dislocations in the limbs when soaked in hot water and prepared as an
infusion.
BAYBERRY (Myrica pensylvanica): This dense, deciduous plant is native to

the Eastern United States and thrives abundantly in the fields of
Pennsylvania. Bayberry leaves are perfect for treating sore throats and
making ointments to treat wounds and ulcers. The leaves can also be used
in rituals for attracting good luck, promoting good health, and boosting
creativity and knowledge.
Bayberry
Beans and Peas
BLACK BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris): Black beans are common in the
Southern United States and other parts of Latin America. Black beans can
be used during rituals to help expel negative spirits and evil spiritual forces.
Black beans can also be cast on the altar to help enhance a practitioner’s
psychic energy.
BLACK-EYED PEAS (Vigna unguiculata): Black-eyed peas are grown all
over the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. These rich legumes are
famous for their positive spiritual energies and are potent in helping to
attract luck and good fortune. Black-eyed peas also help to ensure good
health and increase courage and wisdom.
BEARBERRY (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi): Bearberry is a low-growing plant
that grows up to a maximum height of 12 inches in the forests and
woodlands of the United States and Europe. Bearberries are characterized
by bright, red fruits that grow on them and white waxy flowers that bloom
between May and June. The leaves of the bearberry flower contain natural
spiritual energies that help in protecting the home from evil energies,
inviting good luck, and ensuring peace and harmony. The leaves of the
bearberry plant can also be made into an infusion to ease kidney and
digestion-related pains.
Bearberry
BENZOIN: Benzoin is the hardened sap or gum that is gotten when the barks
of trees of the Styrax family are cut. As a product of the Styrax tree,
benzoin carries the spiritual energies of the tree, making benzoin a potent
component of rituals for achieving justice, repelling fear, and enhancing
natural psychic powers. The styrax tree from which benzoin is derived is
popularly found in the Persian Gulf and parts of India, where the gum is
popularly used for making perfumes. Benzoin can also be used as incense,
which can be burnt to protect a home from negative spiritual energies.
BERGAMOT ORANGE (Mentha citrata): The bergamot plant is a hardy
perennial that is commonly found in the woodlands, fields, and dense
forests of Northern America. Bergamot orange contains spiritual energies
that make it potent in rituals for achieving mental clarity and balance,
restoring youthfulness, and removing negativity. We can also serve tea
made from bergamot plant leaves to relieve headaches, nausea, and
menstrual pain.
Bergamot Orange
BITTERSWEET (Celastrus scandens): Bittersweet is a rambling woody vine
that is native to the central and eastern United States. Bittersweet contains
natural spiritual energies that help to fill the home with peace, attract great
friends, and provide protection from negative spiritual forces.
Bittersweet
BITTER WEED (Hymenoxys odorata): Bitterweed is a flowering plant of
the daisy family that is predominant in Southwestern and Central America.
Bitterweed would commonly be found in fields in California, Texas,
Kansas, and Colorado. The plant grows up to 2 feet tall and is historically
used in the cure of colds, coughs, and fever. Magically, the spiritual
energies of bitter weed make it potent for inviting forgiveness, cleansing
and protecting the home and its occupants, and protecting an individual
from the forces of evil.
Bitter Weed
BLACKBERRY (Rubus villosus): The blackberry plant thrives throughout the

United States and Europe, and the fruits and leaves bloom best between
April and July. Blackberry plant’s leaves can be made into infusions to
treat hemorrhoids and diarrhea. The infusion is also useful in the treatment
of acne. For magical uses, blackberry leaves can be used for inviting joy,
happiness, and peace of mind and enhance a practitioner’s connection to the
divine.
BLACK CAT BONE: The black cat bone is primarily a lucky charm that is
frequently included in mojo and gris-gris bags carried by gamblers. The
black cat bine is believed to contain spiritual energies that help to attract
good luck, success, and wealth.
BLACK CAT HAIR: Ten pieces of hair plucked from the fur of a black can
be used for potent charms to attract a lover, keep a spouse or lover, or settle
disputes and conflicts between lovers. We can also use Black cat hair to aid
natural instincts, strengthen a person’s natural psychic powers, and enhance
divinations.
BLACK COW’S MILK: The fresh milk collected from a black cow is
frequently used to placate spirits and ward off the forces of evil from a
dwelling or from the life of an individual. Black cow’s milk can also be
used to ensure protection from unforeseen problems and facilitate healing
and wholeness in a sick individual.
BLACK DOG HAIR: The Black Dog hair is a special ingredient for causing
conflict. This element is therefore frequently used in rituals to cause
quarrels and enmity between partners or spouses. Black dig hair can also be
used to curse a person or place a hex on them.
BLACK HEN’S EGG: The egg of a black hen is used in the cleansing and
purification of the body from negative spiritual energies. The black hen’s
egg can also be placed in the home to ward off harmful vibrations from
home, boost fertility, and invite good health and wholeness
BLACK HEN FEATHERS: The feathers of a black hen are used to deepen
spiritual awareness, provide physical protection, and help people overcome
grief and pain.
BLACK PEPPER (Piper nigrum): Black pepper is commonly grown in
Southern India and China. Black pepper grows up to twelve feet and is a
perennial plant. Black pepper is used to relieve constipation and to cure
Urinary Tract Infections. Magically, black pepper is used for placing curses
and hexes on enemies, repelling negative spiritual energies, enhancing
psychic connections and divination powers, and protecting the body and
home from evil forces.
BLACK ROOT (Veronicastrum virginicum): Blackroot grows abundantly in
the United States and Canada and is medicinally used in the treatment of
constipation, liver ailments, and infections of the gallbladder. This seven-
foot-tall herb can also be utilized magically in the invitation of fortune and
abundance and protection of the home from negative spiritual energies.
Black Root
BLACK SNAKEROOT: (Cimicifuga racemosa): Also known as black
cohosh, black snakeroot grows in stout, blackish rhizomes in North
America, specifically Canada and the United States. The plant thrives in
June and early July. Black cohosh is a powerful antidote against poisons
and snakebites and is also used in the mitigation of menopausal symptoms.
Black cohosh is magically utilized for attracting good luck and abundance,
boosting happiness and mental clarity, and attracting peace and tranquility.
Black Snakeroot
BLESSED THISTLE: (Cnicus benedictus): Blessed Thistle is a two-foot-high
shrub found primarily in Southern Europe and Asia. This plant is also found
in specific regions near the Mediterranean. Blessed Thistle blooms best
between May and July, and the leaves are used for purifying the blood and
improving circulation, improving memory and recollection abilities, and
stimulating milk production in lactating mothers. Magically, a blessed
thistle is useful in sanctifying the hoodoo altar, dispelling negative energies
and vibrations, and attracting love and passion.
Blessed Thistle
BLOOD ROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis): Bloodroot is a perennial herb that
grows primarily in Eastern Asia. In folk medicine, bloodroot is used for the
treatment of fever, diarrhea, and tooth pain. In hoodoo folk practice,
bloodroot helps in inviting all-round protection, attracting genuine love and
happiness, and protecting the home from the forces of evil.
Blood Root
BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium frondosum): Blueberries grow abundantly in the
United States and other parts of North America. The leaves of the blueberry
plant can be made into an infusion to help lower blood cholesterol levels,
control obesity, and combat urinary tract infections. Blueberries are also
used in hoodoo magic practice for attracting wealth and good luck,
preventing diseases and illnesses, and summoning protection from the evil
eye.
BLUE COHOSH (Caulophyllum thalictroides): Blue cohosh is a perennial
woodland herb that grows in the Southwestern and Eastern United States.
Blue cohosh is used to help relieve menstrual pain and ease the pains of
labor. Blue cohosh must, however, be avoided by pregnant women. In folk
magic practices, blue cohosh is used for attracting money, wealth, and ease,
enhancing an individual’s natural mental capabilities, and enhancing
divination and psychic connections.
Blue Cohosh
BLUE FLAG (Iris versicolor): Blue flag is a perennial herb that grows
primarily in North America. An infusion made from the blue flag herb can
be used in the treatment of wounds, colds, earaches, and even cholera. In
folk magic practices, spiritual energies of the blue flag herb are harnessed
for granting wishes and secret desires, providing protection from negative
spiritual influences, and enhancing psychic clarity.
BLUESTONE (Copper Sulphate): Bluestone is primarily used to aid stability
and focus. Copper sulfate is available all over the world, from Africa and
Asia to Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Copper sulfate can be placed
on the altar during hoodoo rituals to enhance psychic clarity and improve
connections with the divine during divination practices.
BOLDO (Peumus boldus): Boldo is a unique, unusual herb with bright white
and yellow flowers that thrives primarily in the fields of Central Chile.
Boldo is used to ease spasms of the Gastrointestinal tract and cure diarrhea.
Infusion made from boldo plant leaves are also used to mitigate the pains of
rheumatism and to eradicate bladder infections. In folk magic practice, the
boldo plant is used for facilitating healing and wholeness and filling the
home with peace.
BONESET (Eupatorium perfoliatum): This North American herb grows up
to three feet tall when fully matured and is used in fold medicine for the
treatment of fevers and for accelerating the healing of broken bones. In
magical spiritual practices, boneset is used to promote rapid healing from
physical and spiritual hurt. The herb also contains potent spiritual energies
for increasing fertility and enhancing good health and vigor.
Boneset
BORAGE (Borago officinalis): Borage is a hardy annual plant that is native
to the Middle East but is now commonly grown in the United States. The
leaves of the borage plant bloom best between March and June, and they
can be collected and made into an infusion which is potent in reducing eye
irritation. In folk magic practice, borage helps to enhance psychic clarity,
imbues an individual with protection, and generally helps a practitioner feel
safe and secure.
BORIC ACID: Boric acid is popular as a potent disinfectant and is popularly
utilized in folk magic practices for the treatment of vaginal infections. In
folk magic practice, boric acid is used to eradicate negative vibrations and
spiritual energies from an environment, attract love and passion and protect
an individual from physical harm and disease. Boric acid can also be used
in spells to improve fertility and aid conception.
BROOM: Brooms are agents of discord in hoodoo. A broom can be used n
spells to protect a home from negative spiritual energies and prevent
harmful spiritual vibrations from entering the home in the future. Brooms
are also employed to place curses and hexes on people leading to
misfortune, illnesses, and even in severe cases, death. Brooms are also
utilized for sowing seeds of enmity and discord and may be used to break
up partners or make a relationship go sour.
BUCHU (Agathosma betulina): Buchu is a flowering herb that thrives
primarily in South Africa. The leaves of the Buchu plant are collected
between Late May to early July and can be used to cure Urinary Tract
infections and bladder ailments. In folk magic practice, Buchu can be used
to help bring balance to relationships, provide protection from physical and
spiritual harm, and boost fertility.
Buchu
BUCKEYE (Aesculus glabra): Buckeye is a hardy perennial herb that is
native to the woodlands of North America. The buckeye tree grows
abundantly in Ohio and Mississippi and reaches lengths of up to fifty feet in
some parts. The oil from the nuts of the buckeye tree can be collected and
rubbed on painful joints to relieve the pain. The oil is also used to relieve
headaches and rheumatism. In folk magic, the buckeye is used for bringing
good luck, enhancing sexual performance, and protecting the home from
negative spiritual energies.
BURDOCK (Arctium lappa): Burdock is a biennial herb that thrives
primarily in Europe and North America. An infusion made from the
burdock leaves can be used to treat arthritis and facilitate the healing of
wounds and ulcers. In folk magic practices, the leaves of the burdock plant
are used to purify the soul and the home and to bless the altar to improve
psychic visions and divination practices.
BUTTERFLY WEED (Asclepias tuberosa): Butterfly weed is a colorful plant
with bright yellow flowers and nectar that attracts butterflies. This plant
thrives in the East and the Northwest United States and grows up to two
feet tall. The infusion made from the leaves of this herb can be used to treat
pleurisy and [other respiratory elements. In folk magic practice, butterfly
weed is used to invite happiness and joy into a home, enhance safety from
negative spiritual forces, and invite wealth, success, and good luck.
BUTTON SNAKE ROOT (Eryngium yuccifolium): The button snakeroot is a
perennial North American herb. The herb’s leaves can make infusions for
improving the efficacy of the kidneys and the sex organs. The button
snakeroot is also used as a natural antidote for snake poison. The button
snakeroot is also used in magical folk practices to attract wealth and good
luck, enhance divination and psychic abilities, and protect an individual and
a home from negative spiritual forces.
CACTUS (Trichocereus pachanoi): Cactus is used in folk spiritual practices
to place curses and spells on enemies, protect the home from negative
energies, bring good luck and abundance, and heal the mind, body, and
spirit. Cactus is native to the hot, harsh deserts of North Africa and the
Middle East. Cactus may, however, also be found in North America,
especially in areas such as Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. Cactus is used in
folk medicine to treat high blood pressure, nervous disorders, and cardiac
disease.
CALAMUS (Acorus calamus): Calamus root is used in folk magic practices
to attract good luck and abundance, attract healing of the mind and body,
and protect an individual and home from negative spiritual forces. Calamus
root grows all over Europe, Japan, Northern Asia, and the United States.
Calamus root is used in folk medicine to treat sore throats and indigestion.
CALENDULA (Calendula officinalis): Marigold, also known as calendula, is
used in hoodoo magic to help grant wishes and dreams, provide spiritual
protection for an individual, and repel negative and harmful spiritual
energies. Calendula blooms all through the summer and is found all over
the United States, Europe, and Canada. In folk medicine, calendula is used
to heal varicose veins and chronic ulcers. The flower of the calendula plant
can be rubbed on a wasp bite to relieve the victim of the pain and accelerate
healing.
CAMPHOR (Cinnamomum camphora): Camphor is an organic compound
extracted from the wood of the camphor tree that is used by hoodoo
practitioners to attract good luck and abundance and invite peace and
tranquility. Camphor can also be used to ward off negative spiritual energies
and enhance divination and psychic clarity. Camphor trees thrive all over
the United States, with marked presence in Florida, Georgia, and Western
Texas. In folk medicine, camphor is used to treat parasitic infections and
reduce the pain of toothaches.
CARAWAY (Carum carvi): Caraway seeds are used by folk magic
practitioners to prevent children from getting sick, ensure fidelity between a
couple, and ward off negativity from the life and dwellings of a person.
Caraway plants are biennial herb and can grow up to two feet tall and
blooms in Central Europe and Asia. Caraway seeds are used in folk
medicine to relieve colic in babies, ease indigestion, and cure earaches.
CARDAMOM (Elettaria cardamomum): Cardamom seeds are by hoodoo
practitioners to improve the male libido, enhance the passion in a
relationship, and attract genuine love and affection from a partner.
Cardamom plants are large perennial herbs with thick fleshy roots that are
native to Southern India. Cardamom is used in folk medicine to relieve
indigestion, cure bad breath, and relieve the pain of headaches.
CASCARA SAGRADA (Rhamnus purshiana): The bark of the Cascara
Sagrada tree is used by hoodoo practitioners to help individuals gain favor
in courts of law, settle disputes, and emerge unscathed from perilous
situations. The bark is also used to invite protection and attract abundance
into a person’s life. The Cascara Sagrada tree is native to the Pacific
Northwest and blooms best in fields of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The
Cascara Sagrada bark can be boiled and used as a mild laxative to relieve
constipation. It can also be
Cascara Sagrada
CATNIP (Nepeta cataria): Catnip is used by hoodoo practitioners to invite
love and happiness into an individual’s life, enhance a person’s
youthfulness and good looks, and dispel negative spiritual energies and
vibrations. Catnip has strong-smelling leaves, grows up to two feet high,
and blooms in Southern Europe and North America. The leaves of the
catnip plant can be made into an infusion for the treatment of fevers and
sleep disorders.
CAT’S EYE SHELL: Cat’s eye shell is a native term used for the operculum
of the shell of the sea snail Turbo smaragdus. The term ‘cat’s eye shell’ was
adopted because of the similarity of the shell to the eyes of a cat. Cat’s eye
shells are used by hoodoo practitioners to channel spiritual energies in
spells for good luck and fortune, healing, and protection from negative
spiritual forces. The sea snail is found in coastal areas of the United States,
Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Cat’s Eye Shell

CEDAR (Cedrus libani): Cedar is used by hoodoo practitioners to dispel
negative spiritual energies from the life of an individual or from a home or
space. Cedar is also used to enhance psychic abilities and reduce the
incidence of nightmares. The herb is also a critical natural element of spells
to attract love and deepen the passion in a relationship. Cedar is a
coniferous species found in North America, Asia, and Europe. The oil
collected from the leaves of the cedar plant may be combined with beeswax
to help combat the pains of rheumatism and arthritis and to relieve the pains
of bruises.
CELANDINE (Chelidonium majus): Celandine is utilized in herbal magic to
help a victim get out of an abusive relationship, dispel the negative spiritual
energies that cause depression, and ensure success in legal cases. Celandine
is an aggressive weed that grows in moist habitats all over Europe and
North America. In folk medicine, celandine can be used to treat eczema,
acne, and other skin disorders. It is also used to cure liver and gall bladder
disorders.
CELERY (Apium graveolens): Celery is used by hoodoo practitioners to
help to improve sleep quality and cure insomnia. This hardy plant is also
used in spells to boost concentration, focus, and psychic abilities to ensure
seamless connections with the spiritual realm. Celery is native to the
Mediterranean region but is now grown all over the United States, Canada,
and Europe. Celery is included as a component of a lot of plant-based foods
and is useful in cleansing the body of toxins, easing indigestion, and curing
Urinary Tract Infections.
CHAMOMILE (Anthemis nobilis): Chamomile is popular across numerous

folk magic practices as an herb that helps to relieve stress. In hoodoo,
chamomile baths are useful for cleansing away negative spiritual energies,
attracting love and affection, and inviting abundance and wealth.
Chamomile leaves can also be made into an infusion that can help to
improve confidence, strength, and vigor. Chamomile is a perennial herb
with feathery leaves and bright yellow and white flowers that bloom
brilliantly between April and July. Chamomile is used in folk medicine to
eradicate insomnia, cure depression, and ease indigestion.
CHERRY (Prunus avium): The cherry plant is used in hoodoo magic to
attract love, improve spiritual awareness, and increase male and female
fertility. The sweet-smelling cherry plants grow throughout the United
States and Europe and are utilized in folk medicine to reduce the pain from
inflammations and improve sleep quality.
CHIA SEED (Salvia hispanica): The seeds of the chia plant are used in
hoodoo to protect an individual and a household from negative spiritual
energies and cleanse a home of negative spiritual energies. The seeds may
also be used in rituals to attract wealth and abundance. The chia plant is
native to Central and Southern Mexico and also grows in parts of
Guatemala. Chia seeds are used in folk medicine to help obese people lose
weight and heal cardiac diseases.
CHICKWEED (Stellaria media): Chickweed is used in folk magic practices
to attract love and affection, increase fertility and improve psychic clarity
for clearer divinations and connections to the spiritual realm. Chickweed is
a hardy annual herb found in the Central United States and Europe. In folk
medicine, a poultice made from chickweed can be wrapped in muslin and
used to treat external abscesses. Chickweed infusions are also used in the
treatment of sore throat, colds, and coughs.
Chickweed
CHICORY (Cichorium intybus): The leaves of the chicory plant are used in
the magical hoodoo practice to eradicate obstacles from an individual’s
bath, open closed doors, and ensure the achievement of even the most
difficult desires. Chicory is a perennial herb with strong tap roots that
bloom from July to September in the United States and Europe. Chicory
leaves are used to make infusions used to treat constipation and indigestion.
CINNAMON (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): Cinnamon is used in hoodoo
herbal magic to attract success and wealth, effect change and
transformation, and protect an individual from negative spiritual forces.
Cinnamon is native to Ceylon and India but thrives abundantly in parts of
Jamaica, Mexico, and Tropical Africa. Cinnamon trees grow up to thirty
feet tall, and the bark can be stripped and burnt as incense to charge the
positive spiritual vibrations in a space prior to a ritual. Cinnamon leaves can
be made into an infusion to cure vomiting, indigestion, and diarrhea. The
infusion can also be used to prevent infections of wounds and sores.
CITRONELLA (Cymbopogon nardus): Citronella is the essential oil
extracted from the Cymbopogon plant. Citronella oil is used in hoodoo folk
magic practices to invite abundance and prosperity, accelerate physical and
spiritual healing, and ward off worry and apprehension. The Cymbopogon
plant is a hardy perennial grass native to South Asia but also grows in parts
of Europe and North America. Citronella is used in folk medicine to heal
wounds and cure parasitic infections.
FOUR-LEAF CLOVER: (Trifolium repens): The four-leaf clover is an
extremely rare variation of the more common three-leaf clover plant. The
four-leaf clover’s rarity and uniqueness are extremely remarkable, and the
leaves of the plant are used in traditional folk magical practices to attract
good luck, wealth, success, and money. The four-leaf clover originates from
Europe but can grow in parts of North America and Southeast Asia. Folk
medicine practitioners used the herb to heal sores, fevers, and Urinary Tract
Infections.
Four-leaf Clover
RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense): The red clover herb is native to the
fields of Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. The red clover plant is
used in hoodoo herbal magic to enhance natural psychic capabilities, invite
good health and wellness, and attract genuine love and passion. In folk
medicine, the leaves of the red clover herb are used to treat the symptoms of
menopause and relieve pains in the bones and joints.
WHITE CLOVER (Trifolium repens): White clover is the more common
form of the four-leaf clover, and it is characterized by its distinctive white
flowers. White clover is native to Europe and the British Isles and also
grows in Northern America and South Asia. The white clover herb is used
in traditional hoodoo magic for attracting wealth and good luck and inviting
love and passion. The leaves of the white clover are also used to make
infusions to cure fevers and heal urinary tract infections.
CLOVES (Syzygium aromaticum): Cloves are used in hoodoo herbal folk
magic to attract abundance, love, and passion and dispel negativity and evil
gossip. The clove tree originated from the Molucca Islands but is now
grown all over the United States, Europe, and Canada. Cloves are used in
herbal folk magic to relieve indigestion and nausea and reduce the pains of
toothaches. Cloves may also be burnt as incense to attract positive spiritual
vibrations and improve psychic capabilities.
COCOA (Theobroma cacao): The seeds and leaves of the cocoa tree are
used in hoodoo magical practice to invite good luck, attract peace and
tranquility into the life and home of a person. The cocoa tree is native to the
tropical forests of West Africa and Europe, and North America. The
perennial tree produces large pods which contain seeds that are used in folk
medicine to relieve the pain of respiratory ailments and cure intestinal pain.
COFFEE (Coffea arabica): Coffee is a popular commodity crop whose
seeds are used in making one of the most popular stimulating beverages in
the world. In hoodoo, the leaves and seeds of the coffee tree are used to
attract abundance and wealth and dispel negative energies and spiritual
forces from premises or environment. Coffee originates from the tropical
rainforests of Africa and Asia but is now grown in parts of the United States
and Europe. The seeds of the coffee tree have been historically used in folk
medicine to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
COFFIN NAILS: The nails used in the construction of a coffin can be
removed and used for a variety of uses. The nails of a coffin symbolize
death and darkness and are used in spells to separate a coupe or cause
conflict or quarrels. Coffin nails may also be used to place a curse or a hex
on an enemy. Some hoodoo practitioners also use coffin nails to create
protection spells to repel negative spiritual forces and enhance natural
psychic abilities.
COLTSFOOT (Tussilago farfara): Coltsfoot is used in traditional hoodoo
magic to attract peace and tranquility and to improve the quality of psychic
visions for divination purposes. Coltsfoot grows in most parts of Europe,
North America, and Southeast Asia and has bright yellow flowers shaped
like a horse’s hoof. In traditional folk medicine, the leaf of this herb is used
to treat cough, colds, and asthma.
COMFREY (Symphytum officinale): Comfrey is used in traditional hoodoo
magic to ensure safety and comfortability during travels. Hoodoo
practitioners and believers often include the leaves of these plants in their
traveling bags or luggage to protect their belongings and ensure safe
journeys. The comfrey plant is also used in hoodoo magic to attract wealth,
abundance, protection, and good luck. The Comfrey plant is native to North
America, Europe, and temperate Asia. The plant can grow up to three feet
high, and the leaves are often covered with fuzzy hairs. The leaves of the
comfrey plant are used to make infusions that are used in treating whooping
cough and lung diseases. This infusion can also be used to help heal boils,
abscesses, and external wounds.
COTTON (Gossypium barbadense): The popular cotton plant is used in
hoodoo folk magic to repel negativity, attract good luck, and aid spiritual
cleansing and healing. Cotton originated from Asia Minor but is now grown
in the United States, Egypt, India, and the Mediterranean. The cotton plant
can grow up to six feet tall, and the seeds produce the hair-like cotton balls
that are processed into fabrics. In folk medicine, the seeds of the cotton
plant can be sued to ease the pains of childbirth and stimulate milk
production in lactating mothers.
COPAL (Protium copal): Copal, in this case, refers to the aromatic resin
gotten from the Protium tree. Copal is used in traditional hoodoo folk magic
to attract peace and tranquility into the home, strengthen relationships and
friendships, and ensure safety and protection from negative spiritual forces.
The resin is also commonly burned as an incense to invite positive spiritual
energies and enhance psychic clarity during divination processes. The copal
tree is native to East Africa and is also currently grown in Mexico and
Central America. The copal resin can be used to help improve sleep
disorders and relieve the symptoms of cough and cold.
CORAL ROOT (Corallorhiza trifida): The coralroot plant is used in hoodoo
traditional practices to achieve mental clarity and balance, restore
youthfulness, and protect an individual from negative spiritual forces.
Coralroots are native to North America, where they grow as parasitic plants
on specific fungi hosts. Coralroot is used in folk medicine as an infusion to
cure fungal skin diseases such as ringworm. The infusion of coralroot’s
dried leaves can also help to relieve cough and colds.
Coral Root
COREOPSIS (Coreopsis gigantea): Coreopsis is used in herbal folk magic to
enhance an individual’s natural spiritual energies, repel fear, and achieve
enlightening divinations gotten through enhanced psychic clarity.
Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is native to South and Central America
and is characterized by bright yellow flowers. A decoction of tickseed is
used in herbal medicine is used to quell internal pains and bleeding.
Coreopsis is also used as an infusion to treat diarrhea and gastrointestinal
discomfort.
CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum): Coriander is used in hoodoo traditional
magic to attract love and passion, fill the home with peace and harmony,
and ward away strife and negative energies. Coriander is an annual plant
that grows u t0 three feet tall and is native to Peru and Egypt. The plant,
however, now grows comfortably in several parts of Europe and the United
States. Coriander seeds are used in folk medicine to relieve colic in
children. The sweet-tasting extracts of the coriander seed are also used to
make other herbal infusions more palatable.
CORNFLOWER (Centaurea cyanus): Cornflower, also known as the
bachelor’s button, is used in hoodoo traditional folk magic to attract love
and peace and to enhance natural psychic abilities. Cornflower originated
from Southern Europe but now grows abundantly in parts of North
America. A typical cornflower can grow some two feets tall and is
characterized by startling purple blossoms. The infusion of the cornflower
plant is used to treat wounds and bruises and also used to reduce swellings
of the eyes.
COUCH GRASS (Agropyrum repens): Couch grass is utilized by hoodoo
practitioners to protect the home from negative spiritual energies and
unwanted visitors. Couch grass also contains natural spiritual energies that
help to improve psychic clarity and visions and attract wealth and success.
Couch grass is an aggressive weed that thrives across Europe, North and
South America, Africa, and Australia. The juice of the leaves of this plant
can be squeezed out and rubbed on painful joints to relieve the pain.
COWRIE SHELLS: Cowrie shells are a remnant of West African Vodun
practices that have remained in hoodoo practices over the ages. Cowrie
shells are most abundant in the Indian Ocean but also thrive in water bodies
across the United States and Europe. Cowrie shells are used in magical
spells to attract wealth and protect an individual from negative spiritual
forces. Cowrie shells are also used in folk medicine to cure strokes and
cardiac disease.
Cowrie Shells
CRUEL MAN OF THE WOODS (Strobilomyces strobilaceus): Cruel man of
the woods, as the name suggests, is a powerful ground herb that is used in
hoodoo folk magic to deepen spiritual awareness, cast spells for protection
from negative energies, and place curse or hexes on enemies and
adversaries. The cruel man of the woods herb is native to the coniferous
forests of Europe, North America, and Asia and can grow up to four feet in
length. Cruel man of the woods can be burnt as an incense to help relieve
stress and improve the quality of sleep.
Cruel Man of the Woods

CUBEB PEPPER (Piper cubeba): Cubeb pepper is a woody herb native to
Indonesia that grows up to twelve feet high. Cubeb pepper is important in
folk magic for inviting fortune and abundance, protecting the self and home
from negative spiritual energies, and increasing fertility and good health.
Cubeb pepper is used in folk medicine to treat indigestion and respiratory
disorders.
CUMIN (Cuminum cyminum): Cumin is used in traditional hoodoo magic
practices to ward off negative spiritual energies and vibrations from a home.
Cumin is popularly used in herbal bundles to prevent theft and spells from
inviting peace of mind into a dwelling. Cumin grows up to two feet tall and
is native to the Persian Gulf. Cumin is used in herbal medicine to relieve
indigestion in adults and colic in babies. Crushed cumin seeds are also used
to make poultices that are used to heal swellings and bruises.
DAMIANA (Turnera diffusa): Damiana is burnt as incense by hoodoo folk
magicians to increase their psychic abilities, achieve clearer and more
enlightening divinations, and invite peace and tranquility into a home.
Damiana is also used in spells for protection and attracting good luck.
Damiana is native to Southern Texas in the United States, bit is also grown
all over South America, Central America, and Mexico. Damiana has
characteristic yellow flowers with a strong, distinctive fragrance and grows
up to two feet tall. In folk medicine, damiana is used to cure stomach
upsets, depression, and poor sexual performance.
Damiana
DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale): Dandelion is used in hoodoo folk
magic to attract love, grant wishes, summon positive spirits, and calm fierce
storms. Dandelion is a perennial herb with a thick taproot that grows in
North America, Europe, and most parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In folk
medicine, dandelions are used to heal wounds and cure warts. The leaves
can be made into an infusion to cleanse the kidneys and the gallbladder and
clear off Urinary Tract Infections.
DEER’S TONGUE (Liatris odoratissima): Deer’s tongue is primarily used in
Hoodoo folk magic to invite love and passion into the life of a person. This
distinctive herb is, however, also used to enhance psychic connections and
invite success and wealth. Deer’s tongue is native to the North American
pine forests but also grows in South Europe. The leaves of the deer’s tongue
tree are narrow, resembling the tongue of a deer, hence the name given to it.
The lant blooms best between August and September, so you can choose to
collect the leaves and flowers within this time frame. The leaves of the
deer’s tongue plant can be made into an infusion to cure fevers, colds and
cleanse the blood.
DEVIL’S POD (Trapa bicornis): The devil’s pod plant is an annual herb
found in Europe, Asia, and Africa that grows predominantly in aquatic
habitats. The roots of the plant can extend up to five meters into the water
body, and the plant is most renowned for its uniquely shaped fruits which
closely resemble flying bats. The devil’s pod is used in folk magic to repel
negativity from life and dwelling off an individual, enhance psychic
connections, and cleanse the body. In folk medicine, the devil’s pod is used
to treat rheumatism, arthritis, and pains in the joints and muscles.
Devil’s Pod
DEVIL’S BIT (Succisa pratensis): The devil’s bit is a flowering plant that
bears purple flowers and thrives mostly in damp environments such as
marshes and bogs. The devil’s bit is native to the British Isles and other
parts of West and Central Europe. The herb also grows in North America
and Central Asia. The devil’s bit is used to provide protection from negative
spiritual influences and promote good health and peace of mind. In folk
medicine, the devil’s bit is used to treat scabies, eczema, and other skin
disorders.
DEVIL’S SHOESTRING (Nolina lindheimeriana): The devil’s shoestring is a
perennial rosette herb that blooms primarily between April and June.
Originally native to North America, the Devil’s Shoestring can also grow in
Europe and parts of Asia. Devil’s shoestring is used by hoodoo practitioners
in spells and charms to invite prosperity and wealth, protection against
enemies, and to help a person get a job or win a keenly contested position.
In folk medicine, the devil’s shoestring is used to cleanse the kidney and
cure urinary tract infections.
DILL (Peucedanum graveolens): This herb is used in hoodoo folk magic to
invite abundance. Protect the home from evil spiritual forces, ward off envy,
jealousy, and gossip, and enhance passion and sexual attraction. Dill is a
hardy annual herb native to Southern Russia and the Mediterranean but also
grows in other parts of Europe such as Spain and Portugal. In folk
medicine, dill is used to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort, improve
appetite, and stop vomiting. Oil extracted from the Dill leaves plant can
also be mixed with water to cure hiccups.
DIRT DAUBER NEST: The nest of the dirt dauber (Sphecidae) is made out
of mud and other natural particles. The nest is usually oblong and shaped
like a cigar. The nest is usually found in cracks and crevices, and the dirt
dauber is native to North America. In hoodoo folk medicine, the mud from
the dirt dauber’s nest can be used to cure boils, swellings, and joint pain.
The dirt may also be used in folk magic to invite protection and safety and
ward off any evil spiritual energies or visitors from a home.
DITTANY OF CRETE (Origanum Dictamnus): Dittany is used in hoodoo
folk magic practices to attract love and passion, connect with spirits, and
enhance the realization of dreams and wishes. Dittany originates from the
Crete Islands Crete but is now grown all over North America and Europe.
Dittany can be grown in potted plants in the home to ward off negative
spiritual energies and to foster peace and harmony. The leaves of the dittany
plant can be sued to make an infusion that accelerates the healing of
wounds, heals snakebites, and eases the pains of childbirth.
Dittany of Crete
DOGBANE (Apocynum cannabinum): Dogbane is a lethally poisonous plant
that was named after its fatal effects on dogs. In hoodoo folk-magic,
dogbane is used to enhance psychic connections to the spirit world, place
curses and hexes on enemies, and protect a person from negative spiritual
forces. Although a perennial herb native to North America, Dogbane also
grows in parts of Europe and Asia. In ancient folk medicine, herbalists used
to carefully boil the leaves of the dogbane plant to cure syphilis.
DRAGON’S BLOOD (Daemonorops draco): Dragon’s blood is used in
hoodoo folk magic to attract love and passion, ensure good health and
vitality, and bring joy, peace, and happiness into a person’s life. Dragon’s
blood is native to Malaysia and Indonesia but also grows in parts of North
America and Europe. Dragon’s blood is a climbing plant with prickly leaves
that is commonly found growing in fields or around structures. The leaves
of the plant may be made in an infusion to treat syphilis.
Dragon’s Blood
EARTH SMOKE (Fumaria officinalis): Earth smoke is used in traditional
hoodoo folk magic to ward off negative energies from a residence, protect a
home from unwanted visitors, and enhance psychic clarity for divinations.
Earth smoke blooms best between May and September and is found majorly
in West and Central Europe. Earth smoke is also used in folk medicine as in
incense to prevent insomnia and ease breathing difficulties.
ELDERBERRY (Sambucus nigra): Elderberry is used in hoodoo folk magic
to heal emotional wounds, revitalize the spirit, and invite wealth and
abundance into a person’s life. Elderberry is native to Europe and North
America and has elongated leaves with hollow states. In traditional folk
medicine, elderberry is combined with beeswax to relieve the pains from
sprains, bruises, and cuts.
ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium): Elecampane is used in hoodoo folk magic
to enhance protection, attract love and passion, and charge up the psychic
energy in an environment for clearer and more insightful divinations.
Elecampane grows in Europe, temperate Asia, and India and grows up to
five feet tall with stout stems and pointed leaves. In hoodoo folk medicine,
the leaves of elecampane are made into an infusion to cure coughs, colds,
and bronchitis. When combined with honey, elecampane can be used for the
effective treatment of hemorrhoids.
EPSOM SALT: Epsom salt is Magnesium Sulfate. The use of Epsom salts in
folk medicine originated from Epsom in Surrey, England. In hoodoo folk-
magic, Epsom salt is used to disarm enemies and prepare spiritual baths to
purify the body and soul and ward off negative energies and vibrations.
Epsom salt is also used to make floor washes that are used for spiritually
cleansing a space and inviting blessings and fortune. Epsom salt is also used
in traditional folk medicine to relieve constipation and cure insomnia.
EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus globulus): Eucalyptus is used in hoodoo folk
magic for spiritual healing and cleansing, protecting the home from
negative spiritual forces, and inviting wealth and money. Eucalyptus is
native to the fields of Australia but also grows in Southern Europe and
India. The herb is characterized by leathery leaves, which can be processed
into an aromatic oil that is used in spiritual baths for cleansing the body and
soul. In dark folk magic, the dried leaves of the eucalyptus plant are stuffed
to make hoodoo dolls which can be used for cursing or hexing an enemy. In
folk medicine, eucalyptus is used to ease cardiac ailments and chest pain.
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare): Fennel is used by hoodoo practitioners to
protect homes from harmful spiritual forces, purify the mind and body, and
imbue an individual with uncommon confidence and courage. Although a
perennial herb native to the Mediterranean, Fennels also thrive well in
temperate Europe. The fennel herb is five feet in length and blooms from
July to August. In folk medicine, the seeds of the fennel herb can be steeped
into boiling water and allowed to stand for up to ten minutes before being
drunk. This preparation cures constipation and eases gastrointestinal
discomfort.
FERN (Pteris aquilina): Ferns are used in hoodoo magic to contact the
dead, attract love and passion, enhance beauty and youthfulness, and protect
people from physical and supernatural harm. The typical fern plant is a
tough, creeping rhizome that grows very close to the ground. Ferns are
native to North America, Europe, and Africa. The oil from the rhizomes is
used in folk magic to expel worms from the body.
FEVERFEW (Chrysanthemum parthenium): Feverfew is used in folk magic
to protect people from accidents, keep homes peaceful and happy, and ward
off sicknesses and poor health. The feverfew plant is native to North
America and Europe and is characterized by distinctive flowers with white
outer rays and a yellow inner circle. In folk medicine, feverfew is used to
heal insect bites and relieve itching.
Feverfew
FIG (Ficus carica): Fig is used in folk magic practices to predict the future
and find out hidden information, attract love, and enhance good health and
fertility. Native mostly to the Middle East, Figs grow up to twenty feet tall
with heavily lobed leaves. Figs are used in folk medicine to cure
indigestion, toothaches and dental disease, and warts.
FIVE FINGER GRASS (Chloris virgata): This tough herb is a weed native to
North America. Five-finger grass grows very close to the ground and is
characterized by leaves separated into five lobes. Five-finger grass is used
in spells and charms to invite confidence, toughness, and resilience. Five-
finger grass is also used in folk magic practices to enhance spiritual
protection and invite abundance and wealth. In folk medicine, the leave of
the herb can be made into an infusion sued to treat diarrhea, fever, gum
pains, and toothaches.
FLAX (Linum usitatissimum): The seed of the flax plant is used in hoodoo
folk magic to protect an individual from physical and spiritual harm,
increase abundance and wealth, and enhance psychic clarity for healing
rituals. Flaxseed is an annual herb with bright blue flowers that bloom
between May and August. Flax is native to the Southern United States but
also grows in Europe and parts of Africa. Flaxseed oil is used in folk
medicine to lower blood pressure and treat arthritis. The crushed seeds can
also be combined with ground mustard to form poultices to treat abscesses
and local infections.
FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia thurifera): Frankincense is used in herbal
magic to purge the home of negative spiritual energies, enhance peace of
mind, and improve focus and concentration. Frankincense is a resin gotten
from the Boswellia tree, which is native to the Middle East and Somalia.
The tree is characterized by white to pink flowers which bloom between
May to September. In folk medicine, frankincense can be burnt as an
incense to heal laryngitis and asthma.
FROGS AND TOADS: Frogs (Pseudacris regilla) and Toad (Bufo bufo) are
used in traditional hoodoo magic to invite good luck and create spells for
protection from evil spiritual forces. Frogs are also used to enhance spiritual
awakening and improve psychic connections for divinations. The secretions
on the skins of the common toad can be used to treat skin infections, insect
bites, and inflammations.
GALANGAL ROOT (Alpinia officinarum): Galangal root is used in hoodoo
folk magic to attract wealth and abundance, repel negative energies, and
enhance psychic abilities in practitioners. The galangal root is native to
China and Indonesia and is closely related to the ginger plant. The plant is
characterized by long, tender leaves and thick, ringed rhizomes. Galangal
root is made into a decoction in herbal folk medicine to treat indigestion
and vomiting and to help relieve fevers and hemorrhoids.
Galangal Root
GALL OF THE EARTH (Prenanthes trifoliata): This three-leaved plant is
native to North America and grows close to the ground. Gall of the earth is
used in spells for protection, healing, and the enhancement of psychic
abilities. In folk medicine, gall of the earth is made into an infusion that is
used to cure dysentery, asthma, and coughs.
GARLIC (Allium sativum): Garlic is used in hoodoo magic practices to
invite good luck, repel jealousy and envy, and protect sleeping children
from nightmares and evil spirits of the night. Garlic is a close cousin of
onions with long, narrow and flat leaves and a strong, distinctive flavor.
Garlic grows in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Garlic is used in
folk medicine to disinfect wounds and relieve the pains of swellings.
GENTIAN (Gentiana alba): Gentian is used in traditional folk magic for
spiritual healing, protecting a person from harmful spiritual forces, and
attracting love and passion. Gentian is native to Europe but grows in North
America. The plant has intense blue flowers and grows up to a foot high.
The flowers may be squeezed onto the surface of wounds to prevent
infections and accelerate healing. Gentian leaves can also be made into an
infusion to cure indigestion and diarrhea.
Gentian
GERANIUM (Geranium maculatum): Geranium is used in hoodoo folk
magic for spells and charms to attract wealth and abundance, improve
fertility, enhance spiritual protection, and encourage love and passion.
Geranium is an annual herb with feathery leaves native to North America
and Europe. In folk medicine, geranium is used to make an infusion used to
wash the face to treat skin infections.
GINGER (Zingiber officinale): In hoodoo folk-magic, ginger is used to
enhance protection, attract love, and enhance psychic capabilities. Ginger is
a hardy perennial rhizome that is native to the West Indies, Asia, Jamaica,
and parts of Africa. In folk medicine, ginger is used to treat diarrhea and
upset stomachs. The root can be boiled to make a tea that is potent in curing
sore throats and colds.
GINSENG (Panax quinquefolium): Ginseng is used in magical hoodoo
practice to cast spells to ward off illness, invite fertility and abundance, and
attract love and passion. Ginsengs are perennial plant that are mostly native
to the woodlands of North America. Ginseng is used in folk medicine to
reduce aging and treat diarrhea and stomach upsets.
GOLDENSEAL (Hydrastis canadensis): Goldenseal is used by hoodoo
practitioners in spells and charms to attract money and wealth, chase away
negative energies, and spiritually heal the mind and body. The herb is a
fibrous rhizome that thrives in Canada and the eastern United States.
Goldenseal is used in herbal folk magic to treat indigestion and clear
congested respiratory airways.
GOOFER DUST: This special mixture is a legendary component of hoodoo
magical spells and charms. Goofer dust consists of graveyard dirt, black
salt, ground sulfur, snakeskin, magnetic sand, and dried pigeon feces, all
ground into a fine consistency. Goofer dust is primarily used in spells to
curse enemies and cause discord and quarrels. Goofer dust may also be used
to cast powerful protection spells for an individual or an entire home.
GRAINS OF PARADISE (Aframomum melegueta): This perennial herb is
native to the swamps of West Africa but grows in North America and parts
of Europe. Grains of paradise are used in hoodoo folk magic to attract
success and wealth and for protection from evil spiritual energies. In folk
medicine, the grains of paradise plant are used to treat wounds, ease
stomach upsets, and boost male sexual performance.
GRAPE (Vitis vinifera): Grape is used in magical hoodoo spells to attract
happiness, joy, and harmony into a home. Grapes are also used to attract
abundance and prosperity and are used in special charms to enhance fertility
in married women. Grapes are native to the Mediterranean but thrive
actively in the temperate regions of Europe and the Americas. The grape
plant is a deciduous vine with heart-shaped leaves. Grapes are used in folk
medicine to treat syphilis, purify the blood, and ease indigestion and
constipation.
GRAVEL ROOT (Eupatorium purpureum): Gravel root is used by hoodoo
practitioners to attract wealth and abundance, help individuals secure high-
paying jobs, and generally grant wishes and desires. Gravel root is native to
North America and thrives particularly well in Florida and parts of Canada.
A typical Gravel root can grow up to six feet tall, has purple stems, and
rose-pink flowers that bloom between July and September. Gravel root can
be boiled and used to treat kidney and bladder problems.
GRAVEYARD DIRT: The dirt sourced from a graveyard vibrates with
enormous spiritual power, making a powerful means of summoning spirits
and enhancing psychic abilities for divination. The specific capabilities of
graveyard dirt differ according to the grave from which dirt is collected.
Dirt collected from the graves of young children is used for spells to invite
peace and calmness, while graveyard dirt from the tombs of old, aged
people is used for rituals to attract wisdom and good health. Graveyard dirt
can also be placed on the hoodoo altar to help charge the natural spiritual
energies of the present elements.
GUNPOWDER: Gunpowder refers to a finely ground mixture of saltpeter,
sulfur, and charcoal. This explosive mixture must be handled with care,
especially around the naked flames from candles. Gunpowder is available
all over the globe, from Europe to Asia, Africa, the Americas, and
Australia. Gunpowder was originally developed in Europe and is used in
hoodoo to cause quarrels and fights, break up a couple, cast spells for
protection and safety from evil external forces, and repel negative spiritual
energies.
HAWTHORN (Crataegus oxyacantha): The berries of the hawthorn plant are
used in hoodoo herbal magic to protect the home from negative spiritual
vibrations and invite happiness and joy. Hawthorn is a thorny bush that
grows up to five feet tall with long, narrow leaves. Hawthorn grows
abundantly in Europe, North America, and Western Asia. The juice from
hawthorn berries has been used in folk medicine to treat cardiac
complications. An infusion made from the berries and leaves of the plant
can be used to treat coughs, colds, and sore throat.
HIBISCUS (Hibiscus sabdariffa): Hibiscus is used in hoodoo folk magic to
cast spells to attract love and passion, predict the future with supernatural
accuracy, and simply let go of one’s fears and tackle challenges with
renewed confidence. Hibiscus is native to tropical Africa and South
America but is also grown in parts of North America and Europe. Hibiscus
plants can grow up to three feet tall and usually have distinctive red flowers.
Hibiscus flowers are used in folk medicine to regulate menstrual cycles and
relieve indigestion.
Hibiscus
HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT (Ipomoea jalapa): Described as the
most versatile herb in hoodoo, High John the Conqueror root is popularly
used by practitioners for attracting wealth and abundance, protecting a
home or individual from negative spiritual forces, reverse the effects of a
curse or hex, and even attract love and passion, High John the Conqueror is
native to North America, but also grows in parts of Europe and Asia. High
John the Conqueror is used medicinally to improve male sexual
performance, relieve indigestion and constipation, and treat joint pains and
rheumatism.
High John the Conqueror Root

HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium): Holly is used in hoodoo folk magic to protect the
home from evil supernatural forces, invite good luck and fortune, and foster
an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Known as an evergreen shrub, Holly
grows up to forty- feet tall. This tree is native to Europe but thrives
abundantly in North America. In folk medicine, the leaves of the holly plant
are made into an infusion to treat influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, and
fever. The berries of the holly tree are, however, poisonous and must not be
consumed.
HOPS (Humulus lupulus): Hops are used in hoodoo folk magic to eradicate
nightmares, cure insomnia, and cleanse the mind, body, and spirit of any
negative spiritual energies. Hops are perennial herbs with stout roots that
are native to North America. Practioners of herbs and voodoo use Hops’
leaves to infusions that help to improve the appetite and relieve an upset
stomach.
HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare) Horehound is used by hoodoo
practitioners to cast spells that help to bring calmness and balance, enhance
creativity, and invite spiritual healing for the mind and body. Horehound is
found throughout Europe and North America and blooms from June
through September. This herb has been historically used in folk medicine as
a decongestant and in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.
HUCKLEBERRY (Vaccinium myrtillus): The leaves of the huckleberry plant
are used in hoodoo magic to make charms for good luck and to repel
negativity. Huckleberry leaves are also used to enhance the manifestation of
innate desires and dreams. Huckleberry is native to the forests of Europe,
Asia, and North America. In folk medicine, huckleberry leaves are made
into an infusion that is used in the treatment of eye irritation, hemorrhoids,
and arthritis. The berries of the huckleberry plant are also used to treat
stomach ulcers and stop diarrhea.
HYSSOP (Hyssopus officinalis): Hyssop is used in hoodoo magic to protect
an individual or a home from negative spiritual forces, eradicate depression,
and purify the altar where hoodoo rituals are being carried out. Hyssop is
native to the Mediterranean and Eastern Asia but now grows throughout
Europe and North America. This evergreen shrub is used in folk medicine
for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism, to relieve stomach ache, and
as a poultice to disinfect and
INDIAN HEAD CENT: The Indian head cent is an antique coin made of
copper that was used in the United States in the early 20th century. This
copper coin is famous for use in hoodoo magic to invite success, wealth,
abundance, and good luck.
IRISH MOSS (Chondrus crispus): Irish moss is a red alga that grows in
Europe and North America. This herb is used by hoodoo practitioners in
spells to protect individuals and homes from danger and harm. Hoodoo
magicians also use Irish moss for love spells and to attract wealth and
prosperity. In folk medicine, Irish moss is used to help people lose excess
weight and manage cardiac ailments.
JASMINE (Jasminum officinale): Jasmine is used in traditional hoodoo
magic to help people overcome their fears and allow them to achieve peace,
balance and tranquility in their lives. Jasmine is a perennial herb native to
Persia but grows in North America and Europe. Jasmine is used in hoodoo
folk medicine to help relieve muscle spasms and contractions and help to
increase fertility and sexual performance.
JEZEBEL ROOT (Iris hexagonae): The Jezebel root was originally used by
conjure doctors to create charms for sex workers to help attract men. The
herb is a potent element of love and attraction spells but is also used to
attract wealth, abundance, and money. The jezebel root is a perennial herb
that thrives in North America and Europe. In folk medicine, the Jezebel root
is used to relieve symptoms of kidney disease and to ease the pains of
menstruation.
Jezebel Root
JOB’S TEARS (Coix lacryma-jobi): Job’s tears is used in hoodoo magic to
ease the pain of teething in babies, to cleanse the mind and body of negative
spiritual forces, and to lead to the accomplishment of dreams and desires.
Job’s tears is native to Eastern Asia but are grown all over the Southern
United States. In hoodoo folk medicine, Job’s tears are used to cure
diarrhea. A poultice made from the leaves of the plant is also used to
disinfect wounds and accelerate the healing of eternal abscesses.
JOHNNY JUMP-UP (Viola tricolor): Johnny Jump-up is used by hoodoo
herbal doctors in spells to attract a lover and deepen the passion in a
relationship. The herb is also used to boost fertility and enhance good
health. This uniquely named herb thrives in North America. Europe and
Asia, and is used medicinally to cure skin diseases, asthma, and
rheumatism.
JUNIPER (Juniperus communis): Juniper is used in hoodoo folk magic for
spells to protect an individual and a home from evil spiritual forces. The
herb is also used to attract love and affection and prevent unexpected
accidents. Juniper is native to Europe, Northern Africa, and Northern Asia.
Practitioners use Juniper plant berries in hoodoo medicine to treat infections
of the bladder and the urinary tract. Practitioners also boil the Juniper leaves
to make a decoction used to treat asthma, flu, and colds.
Juniper
KANANGA WATER: Kananga water is a specialized spiritual bath that is
made out of the essential oils of rose, cassia, almond, orris rhizome, storax,
grain musk, civet, and tonka beans. All these essential oils are blended in
90% alcohol and left to stand for one month, and then the mixture is filtered
and kept in an airtight jar away from moisture and sunlight. Kananga Water
is usefully added to bath water to cleanse the body of negative spiritual
forces, invite wealth and good luck, and strengthen a relationship or attract
a new lover.
KNOT WEED (Polygonum aviculare): Knotweed is used in hoodoo magic
to expunge sadness and depression from an individual’s life and to improve
psychic visions and spiritual awareness. Knotweed is an annual herb that is
native to Europe and Asia but is also found in parts of North America and
Africa. The leaves of the knotweed plant are used in hoodoo medicine to
make a poultice to treat bleeding hemorrhoids. The juice from the leaves is
also used to stop nosebleeds.
LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia): Lavender is used in traditional
hoodoo magic to invite the spirits of peace and harmony into a home.
Lavender is also used to help to control anger and rage and expunge
bitterness and hatred. It is also used to deepen spiritual awareness and repel
negative forces. Lavender is an evergreen shrub that grows up to three feet
tall. The herb has lilac-blue flowers that bloom from June through
September. Lavender is especially remarkable for its strong, pleasant scent
that makes it an integral element of most perfumes. Lavender is used in folk
medicine to heal bacterial and fungal infections.
LEMON (Citrus limonum): Lemon is used by hoodoo practitioners to help
to purify the home and rid it of negative spiritual forces. The fruit is also
used to attract love, deepen friendships and relationships, and enhance
beauty and youthfulness. The lemon tree is native to Northern India but is
widely cultivated in tropical regions and the Mediterranean. Lemon is used
in hoodoo folk medicine to cure scurvy and heal fevers and sore throats.
LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis): Lemon balm is used in hoodoo folk
magic to attract love, release hatred and bitterness and enhance psychic
abilities and spiritual connections. Although native Europe, Lemon balms
are cultivated all over the world. The herb grows up to two feet high, and
the leaves have a distinctive lemon-like smell. In hoodoo folk medicine,
lemon balm is used to reduce anxiety, promote good sleep, and relieve
bloating, indigestion and gas.
LEMONGRASS (Cymbopogon citratus): Lemongrass is used in traditional
hoodoo folk magic to eradicate snakes, boost fertility and sexual
performance, and improve psychic abilities to enhance clearer and more
rewarding divinations. Lemongrass is a tall, broad-leaved grass native to
India. It is, however, now grown across Asia and Europe. In hoodoo folk
medicine, lemongrass is used to ease indigestion and relieve the pains of
menstruation. An infusion made from the leaves of lemongrass can also be
used to treat nausea.
LEMON VERBENA (Aloysia triphylla): Lemon Verbena is used by hoodoo
herbal doctors to chase away bad dreams and purge the home of negative
spiritual vibrations. Lemon verbena is also used in spells to attract love and
bring happiness and joy. A bushy shrub that grows up to five feet tall in
tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Europe, lemon verbena infusions can
be used to relieve indigestion, cure nausea and treat menstrual pain. The oil
extracted from the plant is used in the treatment of asthma and depression.
LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra): The licorice root is used by hoodoo
practitioners to help attract love and passion and deepen the relationship
between existing partners. Licorice root is also used to help people stop
smoking and attract good luck and wealth. Licorice is native to
Southeastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The plant, however grows in
North America and parts of tropical Africa. Licorice root is used to make a
decoction that is used in traditional folk medicine to help treat cough,
congestion, bronchitis, and chest pain. |
LODESTONE: Lodestone is the native name for magnetite. This ore is native
to Europe, and is used by hoodoo rootworkers as an element of attraction.
Lodestone, is, therefore, usually a key element of mojo and gris-gris bags
used to attract wealth, good luck, abundance, and money.
Lodestone
LOVAGE (Levisticum officinale): Lovage is used in traditional hoodoo folk
magic to attract love and passion and enhance safe travels. Lovage is a
stout, perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean and Greece. Lovage
is used to treat stomach disorders, relieve indigestion and used treat colic
and gas. The infusion can be used as a mouthwash to enhance oral freshness
and relieve dental pain.
LUCKY HAND ROOT (Evernia prunastri): The lucky hand root is another
important element of a mojo bag that is primarily used as an element for
attracting money and good luck. The root is usually included in mojo bags
curated for gamblers to enable high winnings. The lucky hand root grows in
Australia, Asia, and Europe. In folk medicine, the lucky hand root is used to
treat rheumatism and disinfect wounds.
Lucky Hand Root

LYE: Lye is the native name for sodium hydroxide. This powerfully caustic
compound is used in hoodoo folk medicine to disinfect wounds. In hoodoo
magic, lye is usually included in very small quantities as a purification
agent in spiritual baths and floor washes. It is believed that the cleansing
powers of lye can help to eradicate negativity and rid the home, body, and
spirit of negative spiritual forces.
MACE (Myristica fragrans): This herb is used in hoodoo magic to boost
fertility and sexual performance, invite wealth and abundance, and bring
good luck. Mace is native to New Guinea and the West Indies. It is,
however, currently grown in North America and parts of Europe. Mace can
be added to bathwater to increase the chances of conceiving a child. For
cleasing the home of negative spiritual forces, add Mace to water and
sprinkle around. In hoodoo folk medicine, mace is used to treat indigestion.
An infusion of mace combined with ginger, lemon juice, and honey can be
used to relieve a sore throat.
MAGNETIC SAND: Magnetic sand is also used as an element of attraction.
This powder contains ground magnetite and is used in hoodoo folk magic to
attract wealth, good luck, abundance, love, and money.
MAGNOLIA (Magnolia acuminata): Magnolia is used in hoodoo folk magic
to prevent cheating and infidelity in romantic relationships and to provide
protection to an individual from spiritual and physical harm. The herb is
also used in spells to purify the home and cleanse it of any negative
spiritual vibrations. The magnolia tree is a regally magnificent one, standing
up to eighty feet tall. The tree has oval leaves with pointed tips and is native
to North America. The tree is, however grown in parts of Europe, tropical
Africa, Asia, and Europe. Magnolia leaves can be placed under the bed to
enhance fidelity and on the hoodoo, altar to enhance psychic clarity and
purity. In hoodoo folk medicine, magnolia is used as a laxative to ease
indigestion. The infusion made from the leaves is also used to cure malaria
and purify the blood.
MANDRAKE ROOT (Mandragora officinalis): Mandrake is used in hoodoo
folk magic to aid conception, attract love and bring good luck and wealth.
The mandrake tree is native to Southern Europe and grows in warmer,
tropical climates. Mandrake, however, rarely grows in temperate regions as
it is not adapted to survive winter. Mandrake root can be hung in the home
to chase away demons and cleanse the home of negative spiritual energies.
The root can also be hung over your bed to improve your chances of
conceiving a child and to ward off bad dreams. In hoodoo folk medicine,
mandrake root is made into an ointment to treat cuts, bruises, and burns.
The leaves of the mandrake plant can also be made into a poultice to treat
ulcers.
Mandrake Root
MARJORAM (Origanum majorana): Marjoram is used in traditional hoodoo
folk magic to attract love and passion, protect the home from negative
spiritual vibrations, and repel all forms of evil. Marjoram is indigenous to
Portugal. The typical Marjoram plant can grow up to two feet tall, and has a
fibrous, fleshy root with reddish stems. The dried leaves of the marjoram
plant can be sprinkled around the home to repel all forms of negativity. The
sprigs of the plant may also be hung over the front door to ward off
unwanted visitors. When dried and ground, Marjoram dried leaves are worn
in an amulet to attract a lover. In traditional herbal medicine, the fresh
marjoram leaves can be rubbed on the forehead and temple to relieve
headaches. The leaves can also be boiled, and the steam inhaled ti treat
tonsilitis, bronchitis, asthma, and colds.
MASTERWORT: (Imperatoria ostruthium): Masterwort is used in hoodoo
magic to enhance courage and bravery to take on daunting tasks and
challenges. This root can also help to strengthen confidence and willpower,
and protect the family and the home from negative spiritual energies.
Masterwort is native to Central Europe but thrives in meadows in North
America. This perennial herb has stout stems and grows up to three feet tall.
To gain the strength to tackle a difficult task, the plant can be worn on the
body. This enhances willpower. Masterwort can also be kept in the home to
protect the family from spiritual attracts and negative influences. In folk
medicine, the Masterwort root is made into a decoction to treat stomach
diseases and menstrual pain.
MASTER ROOT (Eryngium yuccifolium): The master root grows in
extensive carpets of grass near the ground. This herb is used to attract good
luck and abundance, boost happiness and joy, and enhance psychic abilities
for divination and spell casting. The plant is found in North America and
parts of Asia. In hoodoo medicine, masterwort is used as a remedy for
snakebites.
MERCURY (Mercurialis perennis): This plant grows very close to the
ground and possesses serrated leaves. Mercury is native to Europe and is
used in hoodoo folk magic to protect the home from negative spiritual
energies and increase fertility and good health. Mercury is used in folk
medicine to induce vomiting when a poisonous substance is consumed. It is
also used to relieve menstrual pain.
MINT (Mentha piperita): Mint is used in traditional hoodoo magic to help
purify the thoughts, enhance peaceful, energizing sleep, and improve
psychic abilities to improve divinations. Mint is characterized by its fresh,
tangy smell and the menthol-induced cool taste. Mint is native to North
America and Europe. Mint leaves can be placed underneath a pillow used to
sleep to cure insomnia. The leaves can also be rubbed on the money in your
purse to attract abundance and wealth. When in doubt, mint leaves can be
held to the forehead while the problem is pondered upon to help arrive at
the best decision. In folk medicine, an infusion made from mint leaves can
be used to cure indigestion, stomach cramps, and menstrual cramps. A
dilute form the infusion can be used to cure colic in children.
MISTLETOE (Viscum album): Mistletoe is an evergreen parasitic plant that
grows on the branches of Apple, Oak, Hawthorn, and Cedar trees. The
leaves of mistletoe are shaped like a tongue, and it has small flowers that
appear in clusters. Mistletoe is found in North America, Europe, and parts
of Asia. Mistletoe can be hung in the home to attract peace and blessings.
The leaves of the plant can also be placed on the hoodoo altar to sanctify it
and enhance insightful divinations. In folk medicine, mistletoe is used to
treat epilepsy and other forms of convulsion. It is advised to avoid the
berries of the mistletoe plant as they can be poisonous.
MOJO BEANS (Vicia faba): Mojo beans are characterized by five distinct
red petals that hang from the stem. This plant is three feet tall and thrives in
North America and Europe. Mojo beans are used in hoodoo rituals to attract
abundance and prosperity and to help overcome pressing difficulties. It can
also be placed on the hoodoo altar to enhance psychic abilities. In hoodoo
folk medicine, mojo beans can be used to enhance male sexual performance
and to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Mojo Beans
MOTHERWORT (Leonurus cardiaca): Motherwort is used to help
strengthen the bond of the family, release hatred, bitterness, and anger, and
enhance self-acceptance. Motherwort is native to Europe, and naturally
grows along riverbanks and under hedges. The herb can be placed on the
altar and sprinkled around the home to enhance the powers of positive
spiritual vibrations. The infusion made from motherwort leaves may be
added to bathwater to improve the mood and enhance relaxation.
Motherwort can also be placed under the pillow before sleeping to absorb
all feelings of bitterness and anger, and self-hate. In hoodoo folk medicine,
motherwort is used to regulate the menstrual cycle, strengthen the heart, and
relieve depression.
MUGWORT (Artemisia vulgaris): Mugwort helps to enhance refreshing and
enlightening dreams, protects an individual from spiritual harm, and heals
the body and spirit. Mugwort is native to Europebut grows in North
America and parts of Asia. The plant is three feet tall with angular stems.
The leaves of the Mugwort plant can be placed under your pillow before
you sleep to help you achieve enlightening dreams. The dried leaves of the
Mugwort plant can also be hung over the front door of a home to chase off
evil spirits. In hoodoo medicine, Mugwort is used to relieve depression,
mood swings, and menstrual cramps.
MULLEIN (Verbascum Thapsus): Mullein is used to protect individuals and
homes from negative spiritual forces, enhance wisdom, curiosity, and
understanding, and imbue a person with courage and confidence. Mullein is
native to Europebut grows in temperate regions of Asia and North America.
This hardy biennial herb is usually identified by its bright yellow flowers,
which bloom best between July and August. The stalk of the mullein plant
can be placed under a pillow to banish nightmares. Bits of dried mullein
leaves can also be placed in one’s shoes to ensure the presence of positive
spiritual vibrations around at all times. Mullein can also be added to
bathwater to enhance confidence and bravery. In hoodoo folk medicine, an
infusion made from mullein leaves can be used to cure indigestion, clear
congested respiratory airways, and stop internal bleeding.
Mullein
MUSTARD SEED, BLACK (Brassica nigra): The black mustard seed is used
in traditional hoodoo magic to achieve mental clarity and balance, restore
beauty and youthfulness, and eradicate negativity from an environment.
Black mustard seed is native to Chile and Argentina but grows well in
Europe and the United States. In hoodoo folk medicine, black mustard seed
is used to heal cold and relieve the pains of arthritis.
MUSTARD SEED, WHITE (Brassica alba): The white mustard seed is an
annual herb characterized by stalkless leaves. Mustard Seed white is mostly
native to North Africa and the Middle East, but has also been found
growing in parts of Europe. White mustard seed is used in hoodoo magic to
fill the home with positive vibrations of peace and harmony, attract
abundance and wealth, and enhance psychic abilities during rituals. Mustard
seed is used in traditional herbal medicine to prevent wound infections, heal
sore throats, and help to treat coarse voices.
MYRRH (Commiphora myrrha): Myrrh is used in traditional hoodoo magic
to enhance the feminine auras of a woman. It also helps to elicit feelings of
peace and joy and facilitates spiritual healing. Myrrh is native to Arabia,
East India, and North Africa. The myrrh plant can grow up to nine feet tall,
and the bark contains pale yellow secretions that harden into an aromatic
mass. This mass is burnt as an incense to invite positive spiritual vibrations
and enhance psychic visions during divinations. Myrrh is worn in amulets
to attract a lover and deepen passion. Myrrh can be burnt with frankincense
as an incense to ward off negativity and evil spirits and invite peace and
tranquility. Myrrh can also be added to a sachet and hung in the home to
invite joy and success into the home. In hoodoo folk medicine, myrrh is
used for treating respiratory congestion and upset stomachs.
MYRTLE (Myrtus communis): Myrrh is used by hoodoo practitioners to add
a spark of excitement and passion into a romantic relationship that is
starting to feel boring. Myrtle also helps to enhance beauty and
youthfulness and attracts wealth and abundance. Myrtle is native to
Southern Europe and North Africa and is an evergreen shrub with white,
star-shaped flowers. Myrtle can be carried by a bride on her wedding day to
ensure a long-lasting marriage and to increase her fertility. A myrtle bath
can help to ward off negative energies from the body and fill the soul with a
sense of peace and tranquility. Myrtle can also be placed on a window sill to
keep the home safe from negative spiritual energies. An infusion made from
myrtle leaves is used in hoodoo folk medicine to treat urinary tract
infections, bronchitis, nasal congestion, and sinusitis. Myrtle can also be
used as a douche to treat vaginal infections, prevent smelly discharges, and
relieve vaginal itching.
NEEDLES [Steel Sewing Needles]: Needles are primarily used in hoodoo
folk magic to sew hoodoo dolls which can be used to attract a lover or place
a curse or hex on an enemy. Specialized needles are also used to write
inscriptions on candles while performing candle magic. The inscription can
be the name of a lover the person hopes to attract or an enemy he hopes to
curse.
NETTLE (Urtica dioica): Nettle has used in hoodoo magic to lift emotional
burdens off people. It is also used in rituals to ensure the success of a new
endeavor and is used in spells to increase self-confidence and courage.
Nettle is a perennial plant native to Europe but also grows in North America
and parts of Asia and Africa. Nettle has serrated elliptical leaves with up to
five veins. Dried nettle leaves can be sprinkled around the home to surround
the space with an aura of love and harmony. An infusion made from nettle
leaves can also help to enhance creativity, logical thinking and repel
negative thoughts. A fresh nettle leaf can be wrapped in a piece of cloth and
then kept in a purse or wallet to attract money and abundance. In traditional
hoodoo folk medicine, nettle leaves are wrapped around aching joints to
relieve the pain. Nettle infusions also help to cleanse the kidneys and the
bladder.
NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans): Nutmeg is used to attract good luck, prevent
unexpected illnesses, and attract joy and happiness into a person’s life and
home. The nutmeg tee is native to North America but grows in Europe and
parts of Asia. The tree grows up to twenty-five feet tall and produces fruits
only after nine years. Nutmeg can e carried in the purse to attract good luck,
wealth, and abundance. Bits of nutmeg can also be sprinkled around the
home to imbue the space with auras of peace and joy. In hoodoo folk
medicine, nutmeg is used to stop vomiting, relieve indigestion, and treat
nausea. Nutmeg can also be mixed with beeswax to make an ointment for
hemorrhoids. The infusion made from the leaves of the nutmeg tree can also
be added into a bath to relieve the pains of arthritis and rheumatism.
OAK (Quercus robur): Oak is used in traditional hoodoo magic to attract
money and power, to invite good health, improve fertility and sexual
performance, and protect the home from negative spiritual forces. Oak is a
huge, sprawling, magnificent tree with great historical significance. The tree
is native to England but grows all over Europe and North America. The oak
tree lives up to eight hundred years and can grow up to a staggering 125
feet. A piece of oak can be hung in the home to attract good luck and
fortune. An oak branch in the home also helps to prevent unexpected
natural disasters, enhance fertility, and repel sicknesses. Oak acorns can be
laced in the hoodoo altar to enhance wisdom and psychic abilities. In
hoodoo folk medicine, the bark of the oak tree is used to treat chronic
diarrhea. An infusion made from the leaves helps to treat sore throats and
relieve the pains of bleeding gums.
ORANGE (Citrus aurantium): Orange is used in hoodoo folk magic to
attract love, eradicate negative spiritual forces, and invite prosperity and
abundance. The orange tree is native to India and China but is now grown
all over North America, Africa, and the United States. The tree has
characteristic sweet-smelling blossoms and orange-colored fruits. The seeds
of the orange fruit can be included in an amulet to attract a lover. Orange
blossoms can also be scattered around a home to invite joy, peace, and
happiness. Adding orange blossoms to bathwater helps to lift your emotions
and enhance psychic abilities. A bowl full of orange fruits can be placed
anywhere within the home to invite abundance, wealth, and prosperity. In
hoodoo medicine, oranges are used to treat colds. Practitioners also use
Orange peels to disinfect wounds and accelerate healing.
OREGANO (Origanum vulgare): Oregano is used in traditional hoodoo
magic to invite freedom and liberation, protect individuals and homes from
adverse spiritual forces, and ensure safety and comfort during long
journeys. Native only to the Mediterranean, Oregano is used for native
dishes in Mexico, Italy, and Spain. The oregano herb is perennial, with
leaves that have a distinctive minty smell. The herb grows up to two feet
tall and has white or pink flowers. Oregano can be sprinkled around the
perimeter of a home to attract joy and laughter. While traveling, bits of
dried oregano leaves can be sprinkled in your shoes to ensure safety and
comfort. In hoodoo medicine, oregano leaves are crushed to make a
poultice that is used to treat inflammations. The infusion from the leaf eases
indigestion and cleanses the liver.
PALMAROSA (Cymbopogon martinii): Palmarosa is native to India and
China but also grows in parts of the United States and Europe. Palmarosa is
in traditional hoodoo magic to attract wealth and good luck, ward off
negativity and attract love and passion. In hoodoo folk medicine, palmarosa
is used to treat inflammations and relieve the pain of sore feet and stomach
aches.
PARSLEY (Petroselinum crispum): Native originally to the Mediterranean,
Parsley also grows in Europe and North America. This perennial shrub is
used for inviting all-around protection in the life and dwelling of an
individual. Parsley is also used to attract love and deepen spiritual
connections. In hoodoo folk medicine, parsley is used to cure high blood
pressure and relieve the pain of inflammations.
PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora incarnata): Passionflower is used in
traditional hoodoo folk magic to repel negative energies and remove
bitterness and adverse emotions. It is also used in spells to attract and
preserve friendships and to enhance sound sleep. Passionflower is a
perennial root with three-lobed leaves. Keeping a bundle of passionflower
stalks in the home invites peace, ease, and tranquility into the dwelling. The
flowers of the plant can also be kept on the hoodoo altar to enhance the
clarity of divinations. Including petals of the passionflower plant in an
amulet can help to strengthen relationships and help you curry favor from
others. In hoodoo folk medicine, passionflower is made into an infusion to
lower blood pressure, treat epilepsy and diarrhea, and ensure sound sleep.
Passionflower
PATCHOULI (Pogostemon cablin): Patchouli leaves are used by herbal
doctors in hoodoo to attract money and prosperity, improve fertility, and
deepen an individual’s connection to the earth and the spiritual realm.
Patchouli is native to the East Indies and Paraguay. It has distinctive egg-
shaped leaves, white flowers with a purple tinge, and grows up to three feet
tall. The leaves of the patchouli plant can be burnt as an incense to enhance
psychic abilities and awaken positive spiritual energies within the home.
The leaf can also be placed in an amulet to attract love and arouse sexual
interest in a lover. When placed under the bed, the patchouli leaf can help to
enhance the chances of conception. When rubbed on money put in a wallet,
the leaf attracts abundance and prosperity. In folk medicine, patchouli is not
consumed orally as it causes nervous attacks and insomnia. It can, however,
be applied externally on wounds to accelerate healing.
PENNYROYAL (Mentha pulegium): Pennyroyal helps to ward off negative

energies, enhance innate strength, and brings peace and tranquility.
Pennyroyal grows in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia and has
bright green leaves with a distinctive minty smell. The herb blooms
abundantly in July and August. Pennyroyal can be placed in the shoes
before a trip to ensure safe travels. Dried pennyroyal can also be placed in a
hoodoo doll to eradicate stomach upsets. Dried leaves of the herb can also
be mixed with sea salt to eradicate adverse spiritual energies from the
home. An infusion of the pennyroyal herb can also be added to sea salt, and
bath water to increase natural physical energy and strength, relieve stress,
and invite feelings of peace and calmness. In folk medicine, pennyroyal can
be mixed with honey to cleanse the lungs and get rid of coughs and colds. It
is also used to relieve arthritis and rheumatism.
PEONY (Paeonia officinalis): Peony is used to protect the home, eradicate
negative spirits, and invite good luck and abundance. Peony is native to
Southern Europe but also grows in North America and temperate Asia. The
hardy perennial herb grows up to four feet tall and has bright, pink leaves.
Peonies can be kept in the home to attract peace and good luck. Burning
dried peony as an incense also helps to invite positive spiritual vibrations.
In folk medicine, peony is used to treat epilepsy. A decoction of the peony
root helps to ease the pains of childbirth and relieves the symptoms of
menopause.
PERIWINKLE (Vinca minor): Periwinkle helps to attract wealth and
abundance, increase psychic abilities, and enhances intelligence and
wisdom. Periwinkle is an evergreen herb with leaves that grow in pairs and
flowers that bear five purple petals. Periwinkle is native to North America
and grows in Europe and parts of Africa. Dried periwinkle can be burnt as
an incense to attract wealth and fortune into a home. Periwinkle flowers can
also be added to bathwater to alleviate stress and attract psychic clarity. A
bouquet of periwinkles can also be kept near a study desk to boost retentive
memory while preparing for an examination. In hoodoo folk medicine,
periwinkle is used to treat internal hemorrhages and to ease indigestion.
Periwinkle
PINE (Araucaria heterophylla): Pine helps to protect the home and all
individuals within it, dispels negativity and adverse spiritual energies from
a home and attracts wealth and abundance. The pine is a coniferous plant
indigenous to the Norfolk Islands and Australia. Various species of pine
also grow in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Pine can be grown
as a potted plant within the home to invite positive spiritual energies, joy,
and abundance into the home. In hoodoo folk medicine, the bark of the pine
tree can be used to make a decoction to clean wounds and prevent
infections. When mixed with beeswax, this decoction can help to relieve the
pains from sprains and bruises.
PINS: Pins are primarily used to piece together the parts of a hoodoo doll,
especially when an item of clothing of the target has to be attached to the
doll. Pins can help in spells to place a curse on enemies or attract the love
and affections of the desired lover. Pins can also be used in candle magic to
inscribe desires on a special candle before casting a spell.
PLANTAIN (Plantago major): Plantain helps to heal the mind and body,
protects you and your home from negative spiritual influences, and
increases strength and tenacity. Plantain grows as a short rhizome that
thrives in tropical parts of South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. The
plantain leaf can be rubbed in the soles of the feet to eradicate fatigue and
increase spiritual strength. The root of the plant can also be carried in your
pocket to repel all negative spiritual forces. In hoodoo folk medicine,
plantain is rubbed in ti the skin to relieve the pains of sores and clear up
skin infections.
POKE (Phytolacca decandra): Poke helps to attract spirits of courage and
bravery and is used to break curses and hexes. Poke is native to North
America but also grows in the Mediterranean region. The perennial herb is
characterized by a large, fleshy rot, white flowers, and deep purple berries.
A clean poke root can be carried in your pocket to enhance courage and
bravery to face daunting challenges. An infusion can also be made out of
poke leaves to enhance beauty, confidence, and youthfulness. Dried poke
leaves and flowers of the violet plant can be sprinkled around the home to
help find a lost item. In hoodoo folk medicine, poke is used as a poultice to
treat sprains and bruises. When combined with beeswax, poke can be used
to make a salve that relieves the pains of arthritis and rheumatism.
Poke
POPPY (Papaver rhoeas): This famous medicinal plant is used in hoodoo to
increase fertility, attract wealth and abundance, and help to overcome
bereavement and emotional pain. Poppy is native to Europe but grows in
North America and parts of Asia. Poppy has bright red petals and deep
green leaves. Dried poppy leaves can be sprinkled around the home to
eradicate negative energies. The seeds can also be eaten to increase fertility
and boost good health. An infusion made from the poppy leaves helps to
deepen an individual’s spiritual connection ti the earth, thereby enhancing
psychic abilities. In hoodoo folk medicine, the stems of the poppy plant can
be crushed to extract a liquid used to treat insect bites. The petals can as be
used to make an infusion used to cure skin infections.
PRIMROSE (Oenothera biennis): Primrose is used in hoodoo for spells to

ensure the achievement of a particular set target, for successful hunting, to
ensure protection from negative spiritual forces, and to imbue a person or
home with a feeling of safety and security. Primrose is a tall biennial plant
with a stout, erect stem that grows up to five feet high. Primrose is native to
North America but grows in parts of Europe and Asia. The petals of the
primrose flower can be arranged on the altar to enhance clear divinations.
The oil extracted from the primrose is used in hoodoo folk medicine to treat
joint pain and inflammations. The oil also helps to calm the uterine muscles
to relieve menstrual cramps. An infusion made from the leaves of Primrose
can be used to treat obesity.
PURSLANE (Portulaca oleracea): Purslane is native to North America,
North Africa, and South Europe. This herb grows up to sixteen inches in
length and is used in hoodoo medicine to repel all forms of spiritual attacks.
Dried purslane leaves can be included in an amulet worn on the neck to
prevent danger, sickness, and spiritual harm. The dried leaves can also be
sprinkled on the hoodoo altar to enhance a practitioner’s psychic abilities.
In hoodoo folk medicine, purslane is used in the treatment of headaches,
burns, and arthritis.
Purslane
PYRITE: Also known as fool’s gold and iron disulfide, pyrite is a significant
metal in hoodoo, which is frequently included on hoodoo altars. Pyrite
helps to strengthen the natural spiritual energies present within the hoodoo
practitioner and enhances psychic abilities. Pyrite is also used to cast spells
to protect an individual from spiritual harm and to ward off negative
vibrations from a home. Pyrite is useful in spells for spiritual healing and
cleansing and to attract love and passion.
QUASSIA (Quassia amara): The root of the Quassia lant is used in hoodoo
to invite love and passion, strengthen relationships and friendships, and
help people heal from emotional hurt. Quassia is a magnificent tree that
grows up to a hundred feet tall, with flowers that bloom between October
and November. The tree is native to Jamaica and bears distinct pea-sized
fruits which ripen in January. The Quassia root can be collected, dried, and
worn around the neck as an amulet to attract love and passion into one’s
life. To prevent a spouse or romantic partner from cheating, Quassia roots
can be placed under the bed that both partners sleep on. The bark of the
Quassia tree can be boiled in water and then added to bathwater to heal
emotional pain and heartbreak. In folk medicine, a decoction made from the
Quassia root helps to speed up healing from illnesses, improve appetite, and
relieve indigestion. The infusion is also used to treat fevers.
QUEEN ELIZABETH ROOT (Rhizoma iridis): Also known as Orris root, the
Queen Elizabeth root I used in hoodoo to enhance psychic abilities, shield
the home from negative spiritual vibrations, and invite love and passion into
a person’s life. The Queen Elizabeth plant can grow as high as six feet and
matures in three years. The plant is native to Italy but grows in North
America and temperate parts of Europe. To help solve extremely difficult
problems, the root can be kept near when meditating to help gain unique
insights into possible solutions. The root can also be ground to powder and
sprinkled around the home to ward off evil vibrations and attract peace and
harmony. The Queen Elizabeth root can also be included in love amulets to
attract the desired mate. In hoodoo folk medicine, the juice of the Queen
Elizabeth root is extracted and used to clear blemishes, freckles, and acne.
When dried, the root is used to cure coughs, hoarse throats, and breathing
difficulties. The incense can be burnt in the home to enhance positive
spiritual vibrations and ward off illnesses.
Queen Elizabeth Root

QUEEN’S ROOT (Stillingia sylvatica): Queen’s root is native to the
Southeastern United States, grows up to four inches in length, and is used in
hoodoo folk medicine to enhance urine flow, cure indigestion, and curb
excess vomiting. In hoodoo traditional folk magic, queen’s root can be kept
in the home to ward off unpleasant energies and protect the home from
unwanted visitors and spiritual harm.
RABBIT FOOT: The foot of a rabbit is considered a powerful good luck
charm in hoodoo. Therefore, the rabbit’s foot is used as a key part of spells
and charms to attract wealth and good luck. The rabbit’s foot can be
included in an amulet carried around by a gambler or trader to increase
chances of winning and enhance the inflow of customers, respectively.
RACCOON PENIS BONE: Raccoon penis bone is used in hoodoo as an
element for enhancing male fertility. This bone is also used in spells to
improve overall health and vigor and to boos a man’s sexual performance.
The bone can be worn on the neck as an amulet or kept beneath the bed to
enhance sexual passion and improve fertility.
RASPBERRY (Rubus idaeus): Raspberry leaves are used in hoodoo to
protect the home from negative vibrations, attract love and passion, and
ensure unproblematic childbirths for women. Raspberry plants have upright
stems covered in small thorns with bright red berries that bloom between
May and July. Raspberries are native to most of Europe and North America.
Meditating while burning dried raspberry leaves as incense helps to deepen
your connection to the earth and helps to improve focus, concentration, and
problem-solving skills. A bunch of raspberry leaves can also be hung over
the front door of a home to protect the dwelling and the very single person
who enters. When a pregnant woman is about the give birth, the leaves can
be placed beneath the bed to reduce the pain of childbirth and ensure safe
delivery. In traditional hoodoo medicine, an infusion made with raspberry
leaves can be used to cure sore throats or mouth cankers. This infusion can
also be sued to clean the surfaces of wounds and abscesses to ensure rapid
healing and prevent infections. An infusion made from raspberry and
slippery elm leaves can help to accelerate the healing of scalds and burns.
The infusion made from raspberry leaves is also effective in curing diarrhea
and nausea.
RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus spp): Rattlesnakes are revered in hoodoo for the
mysterious spiritual powers that flow through them. The head of a
rattlesnake is a powerful element used in amulets to ensure protection from
negative spiritual forces and all forms of attacks. Rattlesnakes are also used
in charms to attract wealth and good luck.
RATTLESNAKE MASTER (Eryngium yuccifolium): Rattlesnake master is a
perennial herb native to North America. The herb is used in hoodoo folk
magic to prevent diseases and illnesses and to cleanse the mind, body, and
spirit for any negative spiritual vibrations. Dried leaves of the rattlesnake
master herb can be sprinkled around the home to ward off any negative
spiritual forces. In hoodoo folk medicine, rattlesnake master is used as an
antidote to rattlesnake venom.
Rattlesnake Master
RED BRICK DUST: The dust collected by pounding part of the red brick
taken from an old house is an extremely potent element of protection in
hoodoo. Red brick dust can be sprinkled at the doorway and window sills of
a house to keep out negative spiritual vibrations and enhance peace,
harmony, and joy in the house. Red brick dust can also be used as an
element of rituals and spells to ward off evil energies from the home, and
imbue a dwelling with calmness, prosperity, and tranquility.
RED ONION (Allium cepa): Red onions are native to Italy and are used in
traditional hoodoo folk magic to ward off negative spiritual energies and
enhance good health and prosperity. Red onions can simply be kept in the
home to absorb negative spiritual vibrations and enhance ease and harmony.
In folk medicine, red onions are used to treat inflammations and skin
diseases.
RED PEPPER (Capsicum annuum): Red peppers are native to Mexico,
Central America, and South America. They are essential parts of various
cuisines around the world, and they are used in herbal magic to attract good
luck and abundance, protect an individual from negative spiritual energies,
and enhance natural psychic abilities. To improve the efficacy of your
divinations, a single red pepper can be kept on your altar. In traditional
herbal medicine, red pepper can be sued to enhance rapid wound healing.
RICE (Oryza sativa): Rice is a crop of abundance, wealth, and prosperity.
Rice grains are therefore used in hoodoo folk magic to attract wealth and
money, and the leaves can be kept in the home to attract peace and
abundance and to ward off negative spiritual energies. Rice is native to East
Asia but is now grown in North America, Europe, and Africa. Rice is used
in herbal medicine to treat dysentery and eradicate skin infections.
ROSE (Rosaceae): Roses are used in traditional hoodoo magic to invite
peace, bring love and affection, heal the emotional pain of a loss, and imbue
a person with strength and tenacity. Rose is an ancient perennial shrub that
originated from Persia. There are over ten thousand rose varieties, most of
which bloom between May and September. Rose is primarily used in
hoodoo magic to attract love and passion. Rose can be placed on the altar
while casting love spells to enhance attraction and deepen the love in a
relationship. Rose petals may be sued in spiritual baths to improve self-
acceptance and eradicate stress and negative spiritual energies. Roses can
also be kept within the home to invite abundance and good luck. In hoodoo
folk medicine, the essential oil extracted from the rose flowers is used to
purify the liver and ease depression. Rosewater can also help to ease shock
and headaches and cure nausea.
ROSE OF JERICHO (Anastatica hierochuntica): Rose of Jericho is an
annual herb native to the Middle East and North Africa. This herb is used in
hoodoo for attracting good luck, enhancing a person’s chances of victory in
difficult circumstances, and enhances good health and spiritual healing. The
herb can be kept in the home to invite positive spiritual energies associated
with peace and abundance. In folk medicine, the rose of Jericho is used to
relieve menstrual cramps. The leaves of the herb can be made into an
infusion to induce labor and ensure smooth delivery in pregnant women.
Rose of Jericho
ROSEMARY (Salvia Rosmarinus): Rosemary is an annual evergreen herb
native to the Mediterranean. In hoodoo folk-magic, rosemary is burnt as an
incense to ward off negative spiritual energy from an environment and
invite in positive spiritual vibrations. The herb is also included on the altar
to enhance the clarity of divinations. In hoodoo folk medicine, rosemary is
used in the treatment of wounds and sores. Practitioners make infusions
from Rosemary leaves to improve memory and cognitive abilities. The
poultice of the rosemary herb is used to relieve muscular pain.
SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius): Safflower is an annual herb that
originated from ancient Mesopotamia. Safflower thrives in Spain and most
parts of temperate Europe and North America. Safflower is used in hoodoo
folk magic to attract good luck, wealth, and abundance. The flowers of the
plant may be included in the altar to enhance the granting of wishes and
desires. Safflower is also used in spells and charms to protect an individual
from spiritual harm and ward off negative spiritual vibrations. In hoodoo
folk medicine, safflower infusion is used in the treatment of fever and
cough. To ease breathing difficulties, the herb may be steeped into boiling
water, and the patient is made to inhale the steam.
SAFFRON (Crocus sativus): Saffron is used in hoodoo folk magic to invite
wealth and fortune, enhance visions into the future, and summon joy,
happiness, and love into a home or a person’s life. Saffron is a distinct
reddish plant with large lily-0shaped flowers. Saffron is commonly found in
the Middle East as a native plant, but grows in North America, Europe, and
tropical Africa. A pinch of ground saffron can be sprinkled on the tongue to
help improve a person’s clairvoyant abilities. Sprinkling bits of ground
saffron on a matrimonial bed will help to ensure longevity and lasting love
in the union. Saffron can be burnt as an incense in a home to increase the
positive spiritual vibrations of love, peace, and joy in the home. In hoodoo
folk-magic, saffron is used to make infusions to calm anxiety, cure fever,
and relieve indigestion. Saffron can also be used to relieve the pain of
menstrual cramps and arrest excessive bleeding.
SAGE (Salvia officinalis): Sage is a member of the mint family native to
Asia and the Mediterranean. Sage grows up to three feet tall and has purple,
white, or deep red flowers that bloom between June and September. Sage is
currently grown across North America and Europe. Sage can be carried in
your pocket to sharpen your mind and help you come up with creative
ideas. Dried sage leaves can be sprinkled around the home to cleanse the
home of negative spiritual vibrations and enhance clear spiritual divinations
within the home. Keeping a bundle of sage at the doorway of a house helps
to attract success, abundance, and prosperity into the home. Sage is used in
hoodoo folk medicine to create an infusion used to treat bleeding gums and
sore throats.
Sage
SAINT IGNATIUS BEAN (Strychnos ignatii): The Saint Ignatius bean plant
Is native to the Philippines and China. This herb bears pear-shaped fruits
which contain beans. The Saint Ignatius beans are used in hoodoo folk
magic to enhance mental clarity and balance. The bean can also help to
enhance psychic clarity and improve insightful divinations. In hoodoo folk
magic, the Saint Ignatius bean is used to help relieve indigestion, prevent
convulsions, and treat extreme fevers.
SALT: Sodium chloride or table salt is an essential element in hoodoo folk
magic. Sodium chloride is used in rituals and charms to attract abundance,
wealth, and happiness. Salt is used for flavoring food. Its unique abilities to
improve taste make it viable in hoodoo for charms used to invite positive
spiritual energies into a home. Salt is also used for cleansing off negative
spiritual energies from a home, and wash away harmful spiritual vibrations
from within an individual. Little amounts of table salt can be included in a
spiritual bath to ward off all forces of evil and invite calmness and
happiness into a person’s life. In hoodoo folk magic, a warm salt solution is
used to treat sores, sore throat, dental pain, and nasal congestion.
SALTPETER: Potassium nitrate is commonly know as Saltpeter. This
compound is primarily used in hoodoo folk magic to remove negative
curses and hexes that have been placed on an individual. This process is
known as uncrossing, and saltpeter is believed to have supernatural
absorbent abilities that help to extract all the negative forces bound to an
individual and render them cleansed and free. Saltpeter is also used to gain
control over an individual and exert a supernatural influence over them. In
hoodoo folk medicine, saltpeter is used to cure food poisoning and relieve
indigestion and stomach pain.
SAMPSON SNAKE ROOT (Orbexilum pedunculatum): Sampson’s snakeroot
is a flowering legume native to the Southeastern United States. The herb is
a perennial plant that blooms in the summer. In hoodoo folk-magic,
Samson’s snakeroot is used to purify and cleanse the mind, body, and spirit.
It can also be placed in strategic corners in the home to ward off all evil
spiritual forces and invite positive spiritual vibrations into the home. In
hoodoo folk medicine, the snakeroot is used to treat snakebites and to
cleanse the body of all types of toxins and parasites.
Sampson Snake Root
SANDALWOOD (Santalum album): Sandalwood is used in hoodoo folk
magic to enhance focus, attention, concentration, and cognitive abilities.
Sandalwood is used for love attraction and deepening passion, improving
psychic abilities, and summoning powerful spirits to help solve difficult
problems. The sandalwood tree native to India, Malaysia, and Australia.
This semi-parasitic evergreen tree grows up to thirty feet high and has a
smooth, grayish-brown bark. Sandalwood can be burnt as incense to give a
pleasant, heady smell that helps aids insightful meditation and helps to fill a
home with positive spiritual energies. Sandalwood can be placed on the
altar to summon powerful spirits to solve knotty problems. Placing
sandalwood on the forehead while meditating helps to expand one’s thought
and improves clairvoyance. In hoodoo folk medicine, sandalwood is made
into an infusion to treat chronic bronchitis and gonorrhea. As a poultice,
sandalwood can be used to treat joint pain and rheumatism. Epsom salt and
sandalwood can be combined in a spiritual bath to cleanse the entire body
of toxins and disease-causing parasites.
SARSAPARILLA ROOT (Smilax ornata): Sarsaparilla root is a thick, flexible
plant that is native to the Southern United States. The flowers bloom
between May and August and ripen into red and blackberries. The root can
be burnt as an incense in hoodoo folk magic to attract money and
abundance. To make good financial decisions in tricky situations, you can
simply meditate with the root in your right hand to get clearer visions about
the appropriate financial decision to take. To attract love and deepen the
passion in a relationship, you can wear the sarsaparilla root on your neck as
an amulet when you go out in search of love or when spending time with
your partner. To attract abundance, sandalwood can be combined with
cinnamon in a mojo hand. In hoodoo folk medicine, sarsaparilla root can be
made into a decoction that is potent in treating open wounds and sores. The
decoction is also helpful in treating anxiety and eradicating stress and
muscular tension.
SASSAFRAS (Sassafras albidum): The sassafras tree is native to Eastern
North America and grows up to fifty feet tall. The barks and roots of the
tree have a characteristic fragrant smell and a caustic, bitter taste. To attract
money, wealth, and abundance, a piece of sassafras may be placed in your
wallet or purse. To experience a sense of calmness, happiness, and a general
feeling of security, sassafras can be burnt as an incense in the home,
especially while meditating. A piece of dried sassafras placed underneath
your pillow before sleeping will help to chase off nightmares and ensure
relaxing, energizing sleep. In hoodoo folk-magic, sassafras is combined
with sarsaparilla root to treat rheumatism, syphilis, and skin disorders. AN
infusion made from sassafras leaves can also be used to treat mouth
infections.
SCAMMONY (Convolvulus scammonia): Scammony is native to the Eastern
Mediterranean region and is used in hoodoo folk magic to provide
protection from negative spiritual influences. Dried scammony leaves can
be placed in amulets to help invite positive spiritual vibrations and ward off
harmful energies. Scammony leaves can also be sprinkled around the home
to banish any forces of evil from home and attract love, abundance, and
peace. In hoodoo herbal medicine, scammony is used as a laxative to ease
indigestion. Practitioners also use it to treat stomach aches and can help to
stop vomiting.
SELF-HEAL OR HEAL-ALL (Prunella vulgaris): Self-heal or Heal-all is
edible and medicinal. It can be used in salads and soups, or boiled as a
tisane (tea) and used medicinally. It is really a sort of panacea, as it’s name
implies! It was once called a holy herb, and people claimed it was sent by
God to help cure them of all earthly ailments. In these tales, it was said to
drive away disease and the devil himself. It can be used as part of any
healing work in general. Added to ointments, and salves, or oils – it brings
healing energy to the work being done with the plant. Spiritually, allheal
can help with spiritual growth and help to give people hope. Purple is often
associated with spiritual energies, and allheals beautiful purple blooms are a
perfect match. Some like to include it in purifying floorwashes. It has been
a part of hunter's magic; the Ojibwa made the root (which hot and bitter,
would be ruled by Mars) into a drink consumed to sharpen the eyes before
hunting.
Self-heal or Heal-all
SENECA SNAKEROOT (Polygala seneca): Seneca snakeroot is a flowering
plant native to North America that also grows in Canada and parts of
Europe. This herb, like most snakeroots, is used in hoodoo to ward off
negativity and imbue a person or household with supernatural protection.
Seneca snakeroot leaves can be hung at the doorway and placed at window
sills to prevent any negative spiritual forces from gaining access to the
home. The root can also be placed on the alter to enhance the efficacy of
divination. In hoodoo folk medicine, the Seneca snakeroot is used to treat
snakebites and to ease respiratory difficulties.
SENNA (Cassia acutifolia): Senna is a shrub native to North Africa and
Arabia. The shrub has a smooth, erect stem and small, vibrant yellow
flowers. Senna is primarily used in spells to attract love and passion. The
leaves can be ground into a powder wrapped into an amulet to be worn
around the neck to attract the desired soulmate. Senna can also be sprinkled
on the altar to attract beauty, joy, and excitement into your life. In hoodoo
folk medicine, a bath containing senna can be used to cleanse the entire
body of parasites and toxins. An infusion made from senna leaves can also
be used to ease constipation, indigestion, and gas. Cloves, cinnamon, and
senna can be used to make an infusion to treat nausea.
SHAME BRIER (Mimosa nuttallii): Shame brier is uniquely named because
of its tendency to fold up when touched. The plant has receptors on the
surface of the leaf that make it close up when the plant is touched. Shame
brier grows up to four feet tall with flowers that bloom between May and
September. Shame Brier is native to North America and is used to invite
safety, protection, and peace into a home. Shame brier leaves can be
scattered around the house to invite an aura of love and healing into the
home. Shame brier leaves can also be placed beneath a pillow when
sleeping to deepen your spiritual connection to the divine and prevent
nightmares. The infusion made from the leaves of the plant may also be
included in bathwater to eradicate negative spiritual vibrations from your
body and help you feel calm and protected. In hoodoo folk medicine, shame
brier is used for flushing out bacterial infections. The infusion made from
the leaves can help to ease muscle pain, improve urine flow, and calm stiff
nerves.
Shame Brier
SILVER DIME: A silver dime is a type of coin minted in the United States
and used as a legal tender between the 1920s and the 1960s. Silver dimes
are used in spells and mojo bags to attract riches, abundance, and wealth.
Keeping a silver dime in a wallet or purse can help to attract money and
good luck. Silver dimes may also be used in specialized gris-gris bags and
mojo bags for gamblers to invite good luck and improve chances of
winning.
SKULLCAP (Scutellaria galericulata): Skullcap is a perennial herb with a
short rhizome and stems that grow up to two feet in length. Skullcap is
indigenous to North America and thrives predominantly between New York
and West Virginia and in the Southern US states of South Carolina,
Alabama, and Missouri. Skullcap has characteristic hooded flowers that
bloom between May and August. Skullcap can be burnt as an incense to
bring peace, order, and calmness into your life. The positive energies that
the incense generates will also help to fill the home with auras of peace and
harmony. Keeping skullcap leaves on your later can also help to achieve
clearer divinations. Drinking an infusion made out of skullcap leaves can
help to strengthen a person’s psychic abilities and achieve insightful
meditations. Sprinkling skullcap at the site of a wedding can help to make
the marriage last long and imbue the relationship with enduring love and
passion. In hoodoo folk medicine, a skullcap is used in treating
inflammations, easing muscle cramps and spasms, and improving sleep. An
infusion made from skullcap is also used ti treat epilepsy and anxiety. If a
person is struggling with withdrawal symptoms caused by quitting an
addictive substance, then skullcap can be used to reduce the cravings for the
drugs. Skullcap is not suitable for use by pregnant women as it is known to
cause miscarriages.
Skullcap
SKUNK CABBAGE (Symplocarpus foetidus): Skunk cabbage is so named
because of the characteristic fetid smell that is released when the leaf of this
plant is torn. Skunk cabbage is native to North America and grows mainly
in wetlands and marshes. It also thrives in Europe and parts of Asia. Skunk
cabbage is used to ward off negative spiritual energies and summon
spiritual healing and protection into the life of an individual. In hoodoo folk
medicine, skunk cabbage is used as a worm expellant, and is also used to
treat scabies and rheumatism.
SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus rubra): Slippery elm is a deciduous medium-sized
tree that typically grows up to sixty feet in height. The slippery elm tree is
found mostly in North America where it is a native plant. It thrives
primarily in fields in North Dakota, Maine, Florida, and Texas. The inner
part of the bark is used to treat open wounds and accelerate healing. The
infusion made from the leaves of this plant is used to treat chronic cough,
sore throat, boils, ulcers, and an upset stomach. In hoodoo folk-magic,
slippery elm can be sprinkled to the four corners is a home to get rid of
negative spiritual vibrations and ward off envy and jealousy.
SMART WEED (Polygonum spp): Smartweed is a close relative of
knotweed native to North America. The juice extracted from the eaves of
knotweed has a characteristic sharp, peppery flavor. In hoodoo folk-magic,
smartweed is used for achieving increased enlightenment from meditations
and improve natural psychic abilities. Smartweed can also b dried and
sprinkled around the home to imbue the environment with positive spiritual
auras and ward away negativity. In hoodoo folk medicine, smartweed is
used to make an infusion that is used to arrest bleeding from hemorrhoids
and curb menstrual pain. The poultice made from the leaves is also used to
disinfect wounds and accelerate healing.
Smart Weed
SNAIL (Cornu aspersum): Several species of land snails across different
habitats across the world from Africa and Asia to the Americas, Australia,
and Europe. Snails are used to make charms to enhance protection and
increase spiritual strength and vigor. Snails are also important spiritual
components of rituals to attract wealth and prosperity. Snails’ slime trail, let
behind where snails have crawled past, can be used to remove warts and
treat minor skin infections. The shell of the snail is also used to treat
wounds and calm fevers.
SNAKE: Several species of snakes are also found colonizing different parts
of the globe. Different parts of snakes are sued for different purposes. The
head of a snake, for instance, may be used in charms to gain spiritual
control over someone and get them to do your bidding. Snake oil is one of
the most popular spiritual elements in the world, and the origins of this
mystic liquid can be traced to China. Snake oil is a special tincture used to
treat inflammations and arthritis. In folk medicine, snake oil may be used to
eradicate negative spiritual vibrations, invite wealth, prosperity, and ease,
and enhance psychic capabilities. The skin of snakes are also magically
potent elements. Snakeskin is a symbol of change and is, therefore, a potent
component of spells to enhance positive transformation and promotion.
Snakeskin can also be used in amulets for protection and safety from
negative spiritual vibrations. In hoodoo folk medicine, snakeskin can be
used to cure seizures and epilepsy and treat open wounds to accelerate
healing.
SNAKE HEAD (Balmony / Chelone glabra): Balmony is a perennial herb
native to North America, thriving in most parts of the United States and
Canada. Balmony is an important component of spells used in cursing or
hexing an enemy or adversary. Balmony also imbues you with patience and
emotional strength and gives you a supernatural tenacity to confront life’s
most pressing problems. Snakehead has white flowers that bloom between
May and July, and these flowers form a characteristic shape that closely
resembles the head of a snake; hence the name snakehead. To gain control
over a person using balmony, simply sprinkle bits of dried balmony on the
person’s picture and whisper whatever commands you would love them to
follow. In hoodoo folk medicine, balmony is used to treat bloody coughs,
cleanse the liver and gall bladder, and expel worms from the body.
SNAKEWEED (Gutierrezia sarothrae): Snakeweed is native to North
America, growing predominantly in Western Canada and Northern Mexico.
Snakeweed is used in hoodoo magic for charms to attract good luck and
abundance. Snakeweed can be sprinkled around a home to eradicate all evil
forces and cleanse the environment. An amulet containing snakeweed will
help to repel all negative spiritual forces and reveal friends with evil
intentions. Hen combined with frankincense and burnt as an incense,
snakeweed can help to attract good luck and wealth. In hoodoo folk
medicine, snakeweed can be steeped in hot water, and the steam is then
inhaled to ease respiratory difficulties. The decoction of the herb also helps
to cure coughs, colds, and dizziness.
Snakeweed
SOLOMON’S SEAL (Polygonatum multiflorum): Solomon’s seal is
indigenous to Northern Europe and Siberia. The herb grows up to two feet
tall and is characterized by a thick creeping root and clusters of pale red
flowers. The dried leaves of Solomon’s seal herb can be burnt as an incense
to attract wisdom and understanding and to achieve insightful meditations
and visualizations. The smoke from the incense also helps to cleanse the
home of all negative spiritual vibrations and invites peace, happiness, and
joy to reside within. The root of the plant can be cut and placed in strategic
points within the home to protect the home from unwanted visitors and evil
machinations. In hoodoo herbal medicine, Solomon’s seal can be made into
an infusion to treat bloody coughs. The infusion also helps to relieve
menstrual pain and regulates a woman’s menstrual cycle. The root can also
be ground into powder and used to make a poultice to treat bruises,
inflammations, and tumors on the skin surface. Solomon’s seal is combined
with beeswax to make a salve to treat bruises and cuts.
Solomon’s Seal
SOUTHERN JOHN ROOT (Trillium spp): The Southern John plant is native
to North America and parts of Asia. In hoodoo folk magic, the root is used
in charms and spells to attract money and luck. An amulet made out of the
root can be used to attract a lover or strengthen a failing relationship. The
root can also be placed under a bed to deepen sexual passion between
lovers. The root can be ground and sprinkled around a home to attract
wealth and prosperity. Bits of the rot can also be placed in a purse or wallet
to invite abundance and money. A decoction made out of the root can be
sued as a uterine stimulant to induce labor and ease the pains of childbirth.
The decoction may also be used to arrest diarrhea.
SOUTHERNWOOD (Artemisia abrotanum): Southernwood is a flowering
plant of the sunflower family. This herb is native to Europe, Asia, and
Africa. Southernwood, however, now grows in most parts of North
America. This herb can be dried and ground into a powder which can be
carried in a sachet to attract love and passion and strengthen the bond
between a couple. The leaves can also be burnt as incense to improve
psychic abilities and achieve more insightful divinations. Southernwood can
also be sprinkled around a home to attract peace and tranquility and ward
off evil spiritual forces that cause chaos and unrest. Southernwood is used
in hoodoo folk magic to disinfect wounds and accelerate healing. An
infusion made from the leaves can help to cure coughs and colds, diarrhea,
and tumors.
SPANISH MOSS (Tillandsia usneoides): Spanish moss is an epiphyte that
can only survive on the surface of other trees. Spanish moss is native to
New Mexico, Bermuda, and Central America. The plant has extensive
creeping roots, which allow it to derive nutrients from the parent tree.
Spanish moss can be found on bigger trees like cassia, sequoia, mahogany,
and sweet gum. This epiphytic moss is used in hoodoo magic to stuff
hoodoo dolls. These dolls can now be customized to attract the desired
lover, curse an enemy, or control an intended target. Spanish moss can also
help to bring spiritual healing and repel negative spiritual forces from the
home when sprinkled all over the surroundings. The leaves of the herb are
used in hoodoo folk medicine to make a poultice to treat rheumatism,
hemorrhoids, and open wounds.
Spanish Moss
SPIKENARD (Aralia racemosa): Spikenard is used in hoodoo to invite love
and attraction, prevent infidelity and straying in relationships, and solve
pressing problems. Spikenard is indigenous to North America and grows up
to six feet in some cases. Small greenish flowers bloom between July and
August. Spikenard produces round, deep purple berries. To attract love and
passion, you can pop a few spikenard berries into an amulet and wear them
around your neck. Hanging a branch of spikenard over a front door can help
to strengthen the bond of family within the home. Pieces of the roots and
berries of the spikenard pant can also be -placed on the alter to increase
psychic abilities and enhance enlightening meditations. In hoodoo folk
medicine, a decoction made from the roots of spikenard can be sued to
relieve backaches and chest pain. Spinekard plants infusions are used to
ease the pains of childbirth. A poultice from the roots of the spikenard plant
is used to treat wounds, prevent infections, and mend broken bones. The
juice from the berries of spikenard is used to treat earaches.
SQUAW VINE (Mitchella repens): Squaw vine is used in hoodoo to open up
the mind to new possibilities, repel envy and jealousy, and increase
confidence, courage, and decisiveness. Squaw vine is indigenous to the
United States. The plant has creeping vines that grow very close to the
ground with small reddish flowers that bloom between June and July. The
berries of squaw vine can be used in amulets and charms to attract love and
sexual partners. Placing the berries of the squaw vine plant on the alter
helps to increase the quality of divination and improve psychic abilities.
The leaves of the plant are also used to make a spiritual bath which can help
to cleanse a pregnant woman and protect her child from any negative
forces. In hoodoo folk medicine, squaw vine is used to ease the pains of
labor. Squaw vine infusions help to relieve menstrual pains and cure urinary
tract infections. The infusion can also be added to bathwater to ease stiff
joints from rheumatism.
SQUILL (Drimia marirtima): Squill is native to Eurasia and North Africa.
The herb is characterized by a large bulb that bears a rosette of leaves.
Squill is generally found in rocky, coastal habitats. In hoodoo medicine,
squill is used to treat jaundice, prevent convulsions in cases of high fever,
and relieve coughing and breathing difficulties as a result of asthma. An
infusion made from the eaves is a potent laxative to ease stooling and treat
indigestion. In hoodoo folk magic, the bulb bearing the rosette of leaves can
be hung on the front door of the house to repel evil spirits and protect the
home from all forms of harmful spiritual vibrations. To attract money and
wealth, the dried leaves of the plant can be kept in a purse or wallet.
STAR ANISE (Illicium verum): Star anise is named after its characteristic
star-shaped leaves. This evergreen herb is indigenous to China and Vietnam
and grows in parts of Europe and North America. Star Anise produces hard,
brownish seedpods, which can be processed to give a powerful, fragrant oil.
A whole fruit from the star anise plant can be placed strategically at each of
the four corners of a dwelling to invite good luck and abundance into the
home. The fruit can also be included on the hoodoo altar to enhance psychic
clarity and increase the frequencies of positive spiritual vibrations. Putting
star anise under a pillow used to sleep can help you to visualize events yet
to occur while you sleep. In hoodoo folk medicine, the star anise fruit can
be used to treat colic in babies. The juice from the fruit can also be used to
make a poultice to treat rheumatism. The fruit also helps to relieve upset
stomachs.
SULFUR: Elemental sulfur is a soft yellow solid. This element is used in
hoodoo folk magic to purify a space and purge it of all negative vibrations
and evil forces, Sulfur can also be used in protection spells and amulets to
ward off negative emerges and ensure safety and security during travels. In
hoodoo herbal folk medicine, sulfur can be used to ease pain and redness on
the skin, cure inflammations, and ease muscular aches.
SUMAC BERRIES (Rhus glabra): The sumac plant is a magnificent fifteen-
foot-tall herb with magnificent reddish-green foliage and pale gray bark.
Sumac Berries are found mostly in North America as native plants. They
grows in clumps in abandoned lands across the United States, Canada, and
parts of Southern Europe. Dried and ground leaves of Sumac Berries can be
sprinkled around the home to bring peace and harmony. A small pile of
berries can be arranged at the four corners of the home to avoid conflicts
and enhance the resolution of quarrels and misunderstandings. When
heading to court for a trial or hearing, carrying nine sumac berries in your
pockets helps to ensure that you get a lenient verdict. In hoodoo folk
medicine, the bark of the sumac tree is used to make a decoction that is
used to treat Sexually-transmitted diseases. The decoction can be combined
with slippery elm to treat dental pain, mouth sores, and a sore throat. The
mixture can also be used to disinfect wounds and accelerate the healing of
lesions and sores.
Sumac Berries
SWEET GUM (Liquidambar styraciflua): Sweetgum is also known as
American storax, and this huge magnificent tree is native to North and
Central America and Mexico. The tree also grows in temperate regions of
Europe and Asia. Sweet gum tree’s fruits are used in hoodoo folk magic to
make amulets for protection and ward off evil energies from a home. A
bunch of the berries can be hung from a doorway or placed at window sills
to prevent the entry of unwanted visitors and purge the home of harmful
vibrations. The fruits of the tree can also be collected and placed on the
altar to improve psychic abilities. In hoodoo folk medicine, the fruit of the
sweet gum tree can be used to ease the pains of rheumatism and swellings
at the joints. A decoction made from the bark of the tree is used to arrest
excessive bleeding after a wound. The resin collected from the tree is used
to treat cough and inflammations
SWEETENERS [Cane Syrup, Corn Syrup, Honey, Molasses, Sugar]:
Sweeteners have diverse magical and medicinal applications in the
traditional hoodoo practice. Sweeteners like honey and sugar are used as
antiseptics to treat wounds and facilitate healing. Honey can be mixed with
warm water to cure coughs and colds, soothe a sore throat and clear out a
hoarse voice. Sweeteners are also used in hoodoo magic for cleansing a
person of negative spiritual influences. Honey is used in spiritual baths to
enhance beauty and youthfulness, while sugar is used in charms and spells
to attract love and passion into a person’s life. Sweeteners can be sprinkled
around the home to attract joy, happiness, and positive spiritual vibrations
into the home.
TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare): Tansy is a resilient perennial herb with an
erect, bald stem and bright yellow flowers. The herb is native to Asia and
Europe, but it grows in most parts of the United States and Canada. Tansy is
used in hoodoo folk magic to eradicate spiritual vibrations that cause
disease and illnesses. Therefore, to ensure long-term good health, strength,
and vigor for an entire household, simply hand a sprig of tansy in the
doorway. Tansy can also be used to fan a sick person to ensure rapid
healing. The plant must be burnt or buried immediately after being used for
this purpose so that the negative spiritual energies of the disease can be
completely eradicated. Dred tansy can be sprinkled into shoes before
traveling to ensure safe and comfortable voyages. In herbal folk medicine,
tansy is used to cleanse the kidney and treat urinary tract infections. Tansy
leave infusions are used to relieve indigestion and ease stomach cramps that
arise due to menstruation.
TEA (Camellia sinensis): Tea is a commercially significant plant that has
been recognized as a valuable commodity for centuries. Tea originates from
East Asia but is now grown in most parts of America, Europe, and tropical
Africa. Tea leaves can be dried and burnt as an incense to ward off negative
spiritual energies and increase the efficacy of divination. Tea leaves can also
be kept in the home to invite auras of peace, calmness, and tranquility.
Placing tea leaves beneath your pillows enhances sound sleep and prevents
nightmares. In hoodoo folk medicine, tea leaves are used to treat high levels
of blood sugar and to disinfect wounds. The extract from tea leaves can also
be used to reduce the sting of insect bites.
TENBARK (Cinchona officinalis): Ten bark is native to South America but
is currently found in Africa, India, and Central America. The decoction
made from the bark of the Cinchona tree can be used to heal fever. The bark
contains high levels of quinine, which helps to cure malaria. The decoction
also helps to increase a sick person’s appetite, addresses bloating, and eases
stomach disorders. Ten bark is used in hoodoo folk magic to attract good
luck and strengthen the love and passion in a relationship. Ten bark is also
used to protect the home from harmful spiritual forces.
THYME (Thymus serpyllum): Thyme is used in hoodoo to enhance relaxing
sleep, purge the home of negative spiritual energies, and attract love and
passion into the home. Thyme thrives in North America, Europe, and parts
of Asia. Thyme grows up to six inches and has uniquely fragrant leaves
characteristic of the mint family. The flowers of the thyme plant bloom in
the summer. Dried thyme leaves can be burned as an incense to ward off
negative spiritual energies from home. An infusion of thyme added to
bathwater can also help to infuse a person with a feeling of peace,
tranquility, and calmness. An amulet made from dried thyme can be worn
around the neck to attract love and favor from the desired love interest.
Thyme leaves can also be arranged underneath a pillow to eradicate bad
dreams and ensure a good night’s rest. In hoodoo folk medicine, thyme
leaves are made into infusions to treat chest pain. Mixing honey into the
thyme infusion calms anxiety and relieves chronic headaches.
TOBACCO (Nicotiana tabacum): Tobacco is used to purify an environment,
expunge negativity, and improve psychic abilities. Tobacco is native to
North America and is currently grown in China, Turkey, and tropical
Africa. Tobacco is an annual plant with characteristic wrinkled oval leaves.
Dried tobacco leaves can be burnt as an incense to eradicate negative
spiritual vibrations from a space. Tobacco smoke also helps to clear the
mind and enhances insightful divinations. Sprinkling tobacco and ground
cornmeal along the perimeter of a property helps to ward off forces of evil
and ensures the safety and protection of the inhabitants. People planning to
go on a ship or boat trip can sprinkle a pinch of dried tobacco into a water
body before boarding to help ensure safety and prevent any accidents. Dried
tobacco and cornmeal are also traditionally used to express appreciation to
the spirits after a successful ritual or spell.
UNICORN ROOT (Aletris farinosa): Unicorn root is a perennial member of
the lily family native to North America. The unicorn root currently grows in
parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The herb can be sprinkled
across the home to ward off evil energies and enhance spiritual protection
and a feeling of safety and wellbeing. Two pieces of the root can be used to
make a cross, which is then hung at the doorway of the home to prevent
unwanted visitors. Carrying a sachet of the dried unicorn root when you
have a court case can help to ensure a favorable verdict. In traditional
hoodoo folk medicine, unicorn root can be used to make a decoction to
relieve an upset stomach and cure urinary tract infections.
Unicorn Root
VANDAL ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Also known as valerian root, the
vandal root is used in hoodoo folk magic to attract love, ensure refreshing
and relaxing sleep, and establish a powerful barrier around the home to
repel all forms of negative energies. Vandal root has a grooved, hollow stem
with a shirt fibrous root. A perennial herb, Vandal Roots are found natively
in Europe and northern Asia. The root can be hung over the front door of
the home to prevent negative energies from entering the home. The root can
be used to make an amulet that is worn around the neck to attract love. The
root can also be used to prevent conflicts and resolve long-standing
quarrels. In hoodoo folk medicine, vandal root is used as a painkiller to
relieve muscle aches, joint pain, and the pain of wounds, burns, and scalds.
The root is also used to make a decoction that helps to enhance good sleep.
VANILLA (Vanilla planifolia): The vanilla herb is primarily used in
traditional hoodoo folk medicine to attract love and passion. The herb is
also useful in helping to clear the mind and improving a practitioner’s
psychic capabilities. Vanilla is actually a seedpod produced by an orchid
native to Mexico. Vanilla beans are rare and expensive and hence must be
used sparingly. A vanilla bean can be placed in a bowl containing sugar to
strengthen the bond of family within a home and increase loving
communications. A vanilla bean can also be kept in coarse salt to purge an
area of any negative spiritual vibrations. The bean can also be carried in a
wallet to attract wealth, money, and abundance.
VERBENA (Verbena officinalis): Verbena is used in hoodoo to chase away
negative spirits and attract love. Verbena, also known as vervain, is native
to Europe and North America. Verbena is a perennial herb with pale lilac
flowers. A small sprig of verbena can be kept in your pocket to ward away
negative spirits and keep evil vibrations at bay. Verbena can be buried near
the home to attract money and abundance. Verbena can also be added to a
floor wash to cleanse a home or space of all negative vibrations and attract
good luck, peace, and tranquility. In hoodoo folk medicine, verbena is used
to ease fevers and reduce the pain of ulcers. Verbena can also be made into
a poultice to treat rheumatism.
VETIVER (Chrysopogon zizanioides): Vetiver is a perennial bunchgrass
native to India and grows in parts of tropical North America, Europe, and
Africa. Vetiver is used in hoodoo folk magic to lift the mood in a home and
imbue a space with peace, joy, and tranquility. Vetiver can also be sprinkled
around a home to ward off all negative energies and invite positive spiritual
auras into the building. Vetiver can also be included in an amulet to ensure
protection from spiritual and physical harm. Vetiver is also used to facilitate
spiritual healing and cleansing. Vetiver is used in traditional hoodoo folk
medicine as a poultice to reduce the pain of arthritis, stings, burns, and
rheumatism. The infusion can also be used to treat insomnia.
VINEGAR: Vinegar, also known as acetic acid, is fermented ethanol. In
hoodoo, vinegar used for medicinal and magical uses is mostly fermented
apple cider. Vinegar is present all over the globe and can be made from a
variety of base alcohols. In hoodoo folk medicine, vinegar can be used to
soothe a sore throat, treat skin infections, and stop hiccups. In hoodoo folk-
magic, vinegar can be sprinkled around the home to eradicate negative
spiritual energies and enhance the positive spiritual vibrations in the
dwelling. Vinegar is also an important element of spells to protect people,
banish enemies, and banish enemies preventing success.
VIOLET (Viola odorata): Violet is primarily used in hoodoo to attract love
and passion and strengthen the bond of friendships and relationships. Violet
also invites joy, ease, and happiness. Violets are characterized by heart-
shaped leaves and light purplish flowers. The flowers have a characteristic
sweet scent. Violets are native to North America and Europe but also grow
in parts of Asia and tropical Africa. Keeping sprigs of violet in the home is
used to attract love and positive spiritual energies onto the home. Violets
can also be made into an amulet to attract a lover and attract positive
spiritual auras. Violets can be placed on an altar to improve psychic abilities
and enhance divinations. In hoodoo folk medicine, violets can be used to
make an infusion to cure indigestion and ease an upset stomach. The violet
infusion can also be used to curb inflammations, soothe a sore throat and
reduce stress and anxiety.
VIRGINIA SNAKEROOT (Aristolochia serpentaria): The Virginia snakeroot
is a perennial flowering plant native to North America. Keeping this root in
the home can help to prevent the entry and action of evil supernatural
forces. The snakeroot is also used in uncrossing spells to reverse the effects
of a curse or destructive spell. The snakeroot is also a common component
of spiritual baths and floor washes to help cleanse an individual and
environment of all negative spiritual forces and attract positive auras of
strength and beauty. In hoodoo folk medicine, the snakeroot is used to cure
fevers and cold and to relieve the pains of sore muscles and stiff joints. The
active biochemical component in the root, aristolochic acid, makes sit
potent in accelerating healing and treating snakebites.
Virginia Snakeroot
WAHOO (Euonymus atropurpureus): The wahoo plant, also known as the
spindle tree, is a smooth-leaved shrub native to North America and Europe.
The plant bears colorful red berries which are not fit for consumption. In
hoodoo herbal magic, the wahoo root is used to attract success and
abundance by cutting it into pieces and spreading the bits around the home.
The roots and bark of the herb can also be used to imbue the soul with
courage and give a person the tenacity to carry out difficult tasks. In hoodoo
herbal medicine, wahoo root is used in small doses to ease indigestion. The
decoction is also used to cleanse the liver and arrest fevers.
WALNUT (Juglans nigra): Walnut is used in hoodoo to increase fertility
and improve psychic abilities. Walnuts are native to Persia and now grow in
Europe and most of the Northern hemisphere. Walnut trees have huge
trunks and grow up to sixty feet tall. The walnut tree bears edible nuts after
ten years of growth, and the nits ripen in September. The oil extracted from
walnuts can be used to light an oil lamp to enhance psychic abilities and
improve the clarity of divinations. To aid conception, walnuts can be placed
beneath the matrimonial bed prior to copulation. Walnuts can also be held
during meditations to help find solutions to complex problems.
WHISKEY: Whiskey has been renowned in hoodoo as an element for
blessing and attracting abundance and good luck. Whiskey is used in
hoodoo folk magic for exorcism and to eradicate evil spirits from an
environment. Whiskey can be sprinkled at the doorways and windows of a
home to remove negative spiritual vibrations from a home. Whiskey can
also be used in potions to ensure change, progress, and transformation.
Whiskey is combined with rosemary to make potions to strengthen
friendships and heal emotional wounds. To cleanse an area of adverse
vibrations, whiskey can be sprinkled into a floor wash to clean out the
home. In hoodoo folk medicine, whiskey is used to soothe sore throats, cure
menstrual pain, and calm fevers.
WILLOW (Salix alba): The willow tree is another large, historically
significant tree in American and European cultures. Willow has flexible
branches and a rough gray bark, which can be easily pulled off to make
decoctions and amulets. Willow is often found near rivers and other water
bodies. In hoodoo folk magic, the willow tree can be used to create
makeshift brooms, which are then used to cleanse an area of negative auras
and chase away evil spirits. Willow can also be kept on the altar to enhance
a practitioner’s psychic abilities and enhance the clarity of divinations.
Keeping a willow branch under the bed, you sleep on can help to attract
your true soulmate. In hoodoo folk medicine, the willow bark is used to
make a decoction to soothe sore throats, reduce fevers, and treat joint pain.
The poultice made from the bark is used to disinfect open wounds and
accelerate healing.
WINTERGREEN (Gaultheria procumbens): Wintergreen is a small shrub
native to North America. The herb grows up to about six inches in height
and has drooping white flowers that bloom between June and July.
Wintergreen is used in hoodoo folk magic to protect children from negative
spiritual vibrations and ensure rapid growth, development, and success.
Wintergreem dried leaves are ground and sprinkled all around the home to
ensure protection and repel evil machinations and spiritual attacks. An
infusion of wintergreen leaves can be included in a spiritual bath to wash
off stress and anxiety and fill a person with a renewed sense of calmness,
joy, and hope. In hoodoo herbal medicine, wintergreen is externally applied
to relieve the pains of arthritis.
Wintergreen
WORMWOOD (Artemisia absinthium): Wormwood is used to attract love
and summon protection against evil spirits and spiritual attacks. Wormwood
is a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean with small yellow flowers
that bloom in July and August. The wormwood tree is now found in North
America and parts of Europe. Dried wormwood leaves can be burned as
incense to eradicate all negative spirits in an environment and enhance
psychic abilities. The leaves can also be included in protective amulets to
ward off negative spiritual energies. Wormwood is currently banned by the
Food and Drug Administration in the United States, as it is said to alter a
person’s state of mind.
Wormwood
YARROW (Achillea millefolium): Yarrow is native to Asia and Europe. This
luxuriant herb is almost three feet tall and has pale lilac flowers that bloom
from June to September. Yarrow can be carried in one’s pocket to eradicate
fear and doubt and infuse a person with confidence and emotional strength.
Dried yarrow can be placed underneath a pillow to ensure relaxing sleep
and insightful dreams. Yarrow plant infusions can be added to a spiritual
bath to uplift a person’s natural spiritual energies and enhance psychic
abilities. Dried yarrow is also burned as incense to attract vibrations of
peace, love, and satisfaction into a home.
YELLOW DOCK (Rumex crispus): Yellow dock is a perennial flowering
herb that is native to Europe and West Asia. Yellow dick is used in spells to
improve fertility and enhance spiritual healing. Bits of yellow dock leaves
can be kept in a wallet to attract money and abundance. Yellow dock can
also be included in a floor wash to scrub a place of business to eradicate
negative spiritual energies and attract specific auras of prosperity and
wealth. This floor wash helps to attract customers and patrons to the
business. When used to wash the face before dawn, a solution of yellow
dock in water helps to attract the desired lover. In hoodoo herbal folk
medicine, yellow dock is used to cure inflammations and clear nasal
congestions. An infusion of yellow dock leaves is also used to soothe an
upset stomach and eradicate sexually transmitted diseases.
YERBA SANTA (Eriodictyon californicum): Yerba Santa is native to North
America and is usually found blooming in fields in Oregon and California.
Yerba Santa is an evergreen herb commonly used in illusion spells.
Therefore, if you are trying to confuse a person or hide a secret from them,
using Yerba Santa helps to create a perfect illusion that prevents them from
understanding your true intentions. Yerba Santa is also commonly included
in the hoodoo altar to enhance psychic abilities and achieve insightful
divinations. The herb is also used in spiritual baths to achieve thorough
cleansing of the mind. In hoodoo folk medicine, Yerba Santa is used to
make an infusion used to treat coughs, tuberculosis, and respiratory
blockages.
YUCCA (Yucca glauca): Yucca is a perennial herb with fibrous, rigid leaves
and narrow, pointed leaves with small thorny projections on the sides.
Yucca grows best on arid lands and is believed to be native to the Mojave
Desert. Yucca blooms in the Middle East and parts of North America.
Yucca leaves can be braided into a hoop and placed on the altar to enhance
psychic abilities and achieve clearer divinations. The root of the herb can
also be included in a spiritual bath to wash away auras of doubt and
negativity and imbue you with confidence and self-assuredness. A wreath of
yucca in front of the door of a home helps to prevent unwanted visitors and
negative spiritual forces from gaining access to the home. Yucca is used in
hoodoo folk medicine to cure dandruff and treat skin infections. A
decoction made from the root helps to ease childbirth pains and enhances
speedy expulsion of the placenta. A poultice made from the yucca root also
arrests bleeding and accelerates the healing of open wounds.
PART 3: WORKIN’ DEM ROOTS
POWEFUL HERB BUNDLES
A n herb bundle is simply a bunch of magically potent herbs tied

together with twine or special ribbon and hung in a significant part
of the home to invite good luck and positive energies and ward off
the forces of evil. Herb bundles in hoodoo usually consist of several pieces
of the same herb stied firmly together and simply hung within the house.
Doorways and window sills are common places to position herb bundles for
maximum effect. The specific effect of the herb bundle deployed depends
on the spiritual energies flowing through that particular herb bundle.
Therefore, before preparing an herb bundle, it is important to determine the
exact spiritual effect you are looking for – are you trying to ward off the
forces of evil from your home? Are you trying to cleanse the home of
negative energies? Are you attempting to invite good luck and fortune into
the home? Being specific about your desires helps you choose the herb
bundle that’s best for you.
To prepare a simple herb bundle, it is best to go wildcrafting by yourself.
Pluck the herbs carefully together with their stalks, and avoid wilted or
yellowing herbs. Once your herbs have been collected, you can then tie
them together into a bunch using a red ribbon or twine. Once the bundle is
secured, you can anoint it with the regular anointing oil while visualizing
the effects that you want the bundle ti to have on your home and life in
general. You can then whisper a short prayer and proceed to hang the
bundle wherever you deem appropriate. Some powerful examples of
magical herb bundles include:
SAGE BUNDLE: Sage specifically helps to cleanse the home of
negative energies and purifies the home. Sage also helps to enhance the
spiritual vibrations within the home, helping to make divinations and rituals
more fulfilling and rewarding. Sage may be burnt as an incense to enhance
psychic clarity and wisdom. Sage bundles also help to enhance good health
and help people live longer, happier lives.
APPLE BLOSSOMS AND BRANCHES BUNDLE: The branches
and blossoms of the apple tree are renowned for the ability to attract
positive spiritual energies, enhance good health and promote happiness, joy,
and overflowing abundance in a home. Practitioners advised that care be
taken while cutting the branches and blossoms in order not to hurt any other
part of the tree. The blossoms and branches are secured firmly together with
twine or red ribbon and can be placed preferably on the windowsill of the
house for best results.
CHAMOMILE: The spiritual energies summoned by the chamomile
herb bundle help to remove stressors of all kinds from home and confer an
atmosphere of peace, harmony, and tranquility on the home. Chamomile
also helps to attract love into the home and can be a very potent helper to
bring together the inhabitants of a home, especially in times of a fracas or
crisis. The chamomile bundle is best utilized by hanging it in the doorway,
where it can also act as a powerful barrier against spiritual attacks on the
home.
HYSSOP: Traditionally, hyssop purifies, protects, and dispels. This
powerful herb grows throughout Europe and North America and can be
found in full bloom between June and August. A bundle of hyssop will help
to purify and purge your home of any negative energies already contained
within. Hyssop will also protect you from illnesses, depression and ward off
any negative energies that may desire to enter the dwelling. Hyssop is
commonly hung on the doors of homes but can also be spread around the
perimeter of a property to fortify the home and its occupants.
LAVENDER: Lavender bundles invite love, calmness, and peace into the
home. The lavender bundle also helps to ease sleep disorders and ensures a
good night’s rest for every single person in the home from the moment it is
hung. Lavenders are also used in herbs for purification and cleansing of the
body from negative energies.
PATCHOULI: One of the most renowned effects of the Patchouli herb
bundle is attracting money. The patchouli leaf is abundantly blessed with
spiritual energies that help to attract success, prosperity, and the desires of
the occupants of a home. The patchouli bundle is also extremely effective at
repelling negative energies from home and protecting the occupants of a
home from the forces of evil. Patchouli bundles also help to attract love and
passion, and they can help to deepen the divine connections established
within the home.
PENNYROYAL: The pennyroyal herb bundle eradicates negativity and
invites peace and tranquility into a home. The aim of pennyroyal is simple
– help you to find extraordinary peace and calmness in your home by
warding off all negative energies that cause stress, fatigue, depression, and
tension. Pennyroyal bundles are also extremely effective at attracting wealth
and prosperity into a household, providing extraordinary strength for the
members of the home to face any challenges they might have and protecting
the entire household from the dangers of jealousy and envy.
ROSEMARY: The rosemary bundle is primarily used in cleansing the
home to eradicate negative energies. The herb bundle is also renowned for
chasing off criminals, burglars, and other unwanted visitors from home.
When burnt as incense during rituals, rosemary bundles can help to increase
clarity and deepen the practitioner’s connection with the spiritual realm.
Rosemary also helps to invite positivity, hope, and happiness into the home.
CEDAR: The cedar bundle helps to eradicate negative energies from your
dwelling and invites positive vibrations from the spiritual plane. Cedar also
helps to boost the spiritual awareness of the inhabitants of a dwelling and
improves psychic abilities during rituals and spellcasting processes. You
can also place the cedar bundle beside your bed at night. This helps to avert
any spiritual mishaps that might be targeted to you through your sleep and
also helps you to have good, refreshing dreams. Finally, a cedar bundle
helps to bring the members of the family together and strengthens the bond
of love between them.
JUNIPER: The juniper bundle helps to protect the family from negative
spiritual forces and also helps to prevent household accidents and injuries/.
You can carry a juniper bundle in your bag to ensure safe travels. The
juniper bundle helps to ward off all forms of sadness and calamities when
hung on the door of a home.
MAGICAL GARLANDS
Magical garlands are extremely similar to herb bundles, as they are most
usually also hung in the home. However, instead of just bundling the herbs
together in a bunch, the garland is much more elaborate and can even be
decorative if well made. Magical garlands also serve to ward off negative
spirits from home, attract invigorating spiritual vibrations and improve the
psychic visions and abilities of inhabitants. The magical garlands described
in this section can be made using a circular embroidery hoop and ribbons
for attaching the herbs to the hoops. Once the herbs are attached, the
garlands can then be blessed or charged with special anointing oil to help
them protect the home and invite positive spiritual energies. Magical
garlands that can be used in the home include:
BUTTERCUP GARLAND: This herbal garland helps to invite an
abundance of wealth and wisdom into a home and also aids psychic clarity
and divination practices. The Buttercup herb is simply collected from a field
and attached to the embroidery hoop. The garland can be anointed with a
special anointing oil made out of 35 drops of frankincense and 35 drops of
Myrrh blended with eight ounces of olive oil. A lovely bonus is that this
particular garland looks absolutely incredible as a piece of home décor.
JASMINE GARLAND: Apart from its amazing looks and its inviting
scent, jasmine is also a spiritually powerful herb. The jasmine garland can
be used to attract good luck and fortune into a home and deepens the
connections of the inhabitants with the supernatural.
CARDINAL FLOWER: Cardinal flower garland invites happiness, joy,
and good health into a home. The garland also has the power to repel
negative forces and aid divination.
CROCUS: The crocus garland primarily helps with spiritual
enhancements. Crocus can help to enhance your connection with the divine
and make your rituals more fulfilling, insightful, and rewarding. Crocus also
helps to attract love and passion into a home, and when the garland is hung
on the door, it can prevent evil forces from gaining access into the dwelling.
HORSERADISH: The horseradish garland symbolizes strength and
courage. This garland can help to wipe out nay spirit and cause of fear
within a home, causing inhabitants to feel at peace, safe, and protected. The
horseradish garland also imbues the home with a pure aura, cleansing off all
firms of negativity and helping to protect the home from intruders.
TONICS, TINCTURES, AND TEAS
H erbal tonics have been prepared in hoodoo and associated folk

magic practices for centuries for their unrivaled healing powers
and their ability to cleanse the body of negative spiritual energies.
In this section, we would be examining some important liquid herbal
preparations and how they can be used to solve common everyday ailments.
The liquid herbal mixtures in this group are mainly teas. This means that to
prepare any of the topics in this section, you must collect the herb and wash
it thoroughly to eradicate any dirt or foreign particles. When the herb has
been washed clean, you may then proceed to boil a kettle of water. Ensure
that the water boils properly, and then turn off your stove. Once this is done,
put your herbs in a clean bowl, and then pour the hot water over them. You
must then leave this preparation to stand for up to one hour to allow the
herbal essences within the plants to be infused into the water. As the herbal
essence seeps into the water, you will note the color of the water begins to
change. After forty-five minutes to one hour, you may then strain the
infusion with a clean muslin cloth, and your herbal tonic is ready for use.
HERBAL TONICS FOR FEVERS, COLDS, AND
COUGHS
THISTLE TEA: Once properly infused in hot water, the essence of the
thistle tea is potent at lowering high body temperatures. Thistle tea can be
administered three times daily until the symptoms are gone.
QUININE: A quinine infusion helps to get rid of symptoms of colds,
nasal congestion, sore throat, and fever. The patient feels relieved within an
hour of drinking the tonic. The quinine tea can be administered up to thrice
a day until the symptoms clear out.
BLUE FLAG TEA: This infusion is potent at curing colds characterized
by severe, repeated sneezing. This infusion may also be consumed up to
thrice a day.
ANGELICA TEA: This infusion is perfect for curing colds and dry
coughs. This infusion is, however, not suitable for diabetic patients.
ECHINACEA: This infusion is perfect for the eradication of diphtheria

and high body temperatures. The patient can drink the tea up to thrice a day
until the symptoms clear out.
HERBAL TONICS AND TEAS FOR WOUNDS AND
JOINT PAIN
Herbal infusions and tinctures do not always have to be consumed
internally; they can be utilized topically, too, as evidenced by the use of
herbs in treating wounds to accelerate healing and prevent infections.
Herbal tonics for healing wounds include:
DULSE: This herb can be used as a cold compress on the surface of the
herb. The juice of the herb can also be squeezed and applied to the surface
of the open wound to disinfect the wound. Dulse is also perfect for relieving
the pains of sprains sustained at the joints.
WILLOW: The bark of the willow tree can be boiled in hot water to
properly extract its essence. This preparation is then allowed to cool and
applied to the surface of open wounds to disinfect them and speed up the
healing process. The infusion from the bark of the willow tree is also
helpful in relieving pains at the joints and treating rheumatism.
ANISE: The infusion gotten from the star anise herb is perfect for cleaning
and f=dressing open wounds. Anise has spectacular bactericidal properties
that help to prevent the infection of the wound. The application of anise
also aids the body’s immune response to accelerate wound healing.
SARSAPARILLA ROOT: This root must be carefully collected.
Preferably, the root of a dying plant may be used to aid environmental
conservation. The sarsaparilla root infusion is made by first grounding the
root into a fine powder and then dissolving this powder in one quart of
boiling water. This mixture may then be added to the surface of open
wounds for treatment.
JOB’S TEARS: This extremely versatile herb is a powerful disinfectant

and embrocation. The infusion made by soaking the leaves of the Job’s
Tears herb in hot water can be used to relieve intense joint pain. The
infusion is also perfect for the treatment of abscesses and already infected
wounds. Additionally, the infusion can help to relieve the symptoms of
diarrhea.
HERBAL TONICS FOR STOMACH PAIN AND BOWEL
COMPLAINTS
Stomach upsets are commonly caused by the debilitating activities of
bacteria within the stomach. Herbal infusions can help to calm the bowels,
ease the passing of stool and curb frequent watery stooling and vomiting.
Herbal infusions for this purpose include:
LOTUS ROOT: The lotus root herb is perfect for calming upset
stomachs. So, if you feel your stomach rumbling or you are constantly
passing watery stools, simply soak this herb in hot water, let it cool a little
and drink a cup of the infusion. The effects would be noted within an hour
of use. Lotus root also boosts liver health and aids the proper functioning of
the heart and spleen. Passing watery stool and vomiting as a result of a
stomach upset can sap you of your energy. Lotus root enhances your
stamina and makes it possible to head back to your daily activities faster.
The lotus root infusion is also reputed to help cure anemia in women.
ALOE VERA: It is no exaggeration to claim that Aloe Vera is one of the
most popular herbs in the world. When kept in the home, aloe can help to
invite good luck and great health. However, when stomach upsets come
calling, aloe can also be soaked in hot water to get an herbal remedy that
relieves upsets and difficulty in bowel movements fast. Aloe is also a
powerful herbal remedy for skin problems ranging from eczema to acne. It
is said that drinking aloe infusion regularly enhances beauty and
youthfulness.
GALANGAL ROOT: The infusion made from the galangal root rapidly
helps to mitigate the symptoms of an upset stomach. If your bowel
difficulties are accompanied by vomiting and passing of gas, then the
infusion made from the Galangal root will help to rapidly ameliorate these
symptoms. The galangal root infusion is also perfect for treating fevers.
SAFFRON: This distinct herb is definitely the cherry of the gods when it
comes to treating stomach upsets. Just a cup of the saffron infusion helps to
mitigate the symptoms of an upset stomach and helps passing stool more
conveniently.
GOLDENSEAL: The Goldenseal infusion is perfect for calming a
rumbling stomach. When you have symptoms of constipation or
indigestion, simply down a cup of goldenseal infusion, and the discomfort
will slowly clear out. The Goldenseal infusion is also perfect for fighting
colds and strengthening the immune system to fight diseases.
GOODLUCK TONICS
Specific herbal infusions can be drunk regularly to help invite the positive
spirits that bring good luck and fortune. These herbal infusions may also
help to protect you from physical and spiritual harm. Good luck tonics can
be made by steeping the herbs in this section in hot water and drinking them
daily.
IRISH MOSS: The Irish moss tea helps to attract healing, good fortune,
and good luck. This tea also enhances your spiritual vibrations, bringing
happiness, contentment, and love.
CINNAMON: Cinnamon is an extremely versatile herb, and its infusion
is utilized for numerous applications. Drinking a cup of cinnamon infusion
before you leave the house in the morning will help to attract good luck and
fortune to you, and you’d encounter extraordinary luck and mercy in your
endeavors for the day.
LEMONGRASS: Lemongrass tea brings sweetness and happiness to you
as an individual. It also allows you to radiate positive, infectious energy that
draws people to you. Lemongrass tea attracts wealth, success, and generally
positive spiritual vibrations.
CHAMOMILE: Apart from helping to cure symptoms of cold and
fevers, chamomile tea is also reputed for helping to attract positivity and
repel negative forces. Drinking a cup of chamomile early in the morning
and once at night before you go to bed will keep you protected and lucky
throughout the day and ward off the forces of evil as you sleep at night.
BASIL: Basil is a unique excellent herb that is imbued with extraordinary
spiritual energies that attract wealth, abundance, and good luck. Drinking a
cup of the basil infusion just once a day can help to make a huge difference
to your fortunes, help you win at contests and games, and help you find
fulfillment and happiness in your daily activities.
TEAS TO ENHANCE MALE SEXUALITY
The teas in this section will help you to improve your sex drive and libido
as a man and also imbue you either positive spiritual energies that enhance
your confidence, courage, bravery, and a sense of purpose as a man. The
teas in this section are made by steeping the herbs and hot water, allowing
the essences of the herbs to diffuse into the hot water, and then drinking.
Teas to enhance male sexuality include:
JASMINE: This sweet-smelling herb is useful for more than just making
fragrance oils. Jasmine tea can help to lift your mood, enhance your libido,
and improve strength and confidence. Jasmine also helps to enhance the
spiritual vibrations around you, thereby helping you to attract the ladies.
PATCHOULI: This is another incredible infusion to help you get your
groove back in the bedroom. Simply by drinking a cup of Patchouli tea
once in the morning and at night, you can greatly improve your
performance in the bedroom, stay stronger for longer, and helping your
partner to achieve mind-blowing orgasms. Patchouli also imbues you with
powerful masculine energies that naturally bring confidence and strength –
traits that attract the females.
WINTER’S BARK: The winter’s bark tea is actually made as a
decoction. The bark is tough and, therefore, must be placed in the cauldron
alongside the water and boiled thoroughly to properly extract the herbal
essence of the herb from the bark. Once the herb is thoroughly boiled for up
to one hour, you can allow it to cool and then store it in an airtight jar. The
winter’s bark herb is helpful in curing issues in the bedroom, from weak
performances to premature ejaculation. Winter’s bark also confers an air of
authority and confidence on you and helps you to feel in charge and in
control.
SKULLCAP: The skullcap infusion helps to improve sexual potency and
also improves overall health. Therefore, if you have issues pertaining to
weak erections, premature ejaculations, or a terribly low sex drive, then this
infusion is the perfect solution for you. The skullcap infusion rejuvenates
your masculinity from the inside out and reawakens the beast within you.
Skullcap also attracts success and good fortune and functions as a mild
sedative. Skullcap should not be drunk by pregnant women.
GINSENG TEA: Ginseng has long been reputed for its calming effects.
This infusion is made by steeping the ginseng leaves in boiling water for up
to thirty minutes, sieving, and serving hot. Ginseng tea awakens the
masculine aura within you, solves problems related to sexual potency, and
helps you to feel empowered and enthusiastic about life.
HERBAL TONICS TO ENHANCE FEMININITY
Femininity is more than just a trait – it’s a raw aura, a state of being that is
fueled by spiritual energies and vibrations that are in harmony with the
human soul. Therefore, herbal teas with the right spiritual energies can be
used to enhance the feminine energy within a woman to be her feel more
confident, attractive, articulate, and most of all, happy and joyful to be a
woman. The herbal teas in this section are also made by steeping the leaves
of the herb in boiling water and allowing the essence of the plant to seep
into the solution. Herbal teas that enhance femininity include:
ENDIVE: Red endive can be collected and steeped in hot water and then
sieved and drunk once a day to help you feel younger and more passionate
about life as a woman. Endive also attracts the right kinds of lovers and
helps to improve your sex drive.
GALANGAL’S ROOT: The infusion from Galangal’s root can be made
by boiling the root in hot water and then collecting the resulting liquid.
Galanga’s root helps to attract love and good luck and is also a powerful
sexual performance enhancement herb.
LEMONGRASS: Lemongrass leaves steeped in how water can help to
increase your feeling of control and desirability as a woman. Lemongrass
helps to attract love and imbues you with an aura of femininity.
DEER’S TONGUE: Deer’s tongue tea attracts beauty and peace of
mind, boosts eloquence, and invites happiness and joy.
CARDAMOM SEED: The infusion of the cardamom seed herb will
help to depend on the passion in your relationship. Cardamom seed will
help to build the desire between you and your partner and give your
relationship a new lease of life. Cardamom seed is also helpful in helping to
resolve quarrels between couples, and it will help you discover the beauty
of love all over again.
CRAFTING POWERFUL CONJURE OILS
H oodoo not only utilizes roots, herbs, and candles in its spells; it
also uses conjure oils, spiritual oils, anointing oils, incenses, floor
washes, sprays, waters, and powders. Many spells are candle-
oriented for added power. The color of the candle is always in sync with the
nature of the spell. By dressing the candles with oils and rolling them in
powdered herbs, you are amplifying the power of your candle, making it
that much more effective.
Oils are an indispensable part of the hoodoo practice, and they are used for
a wide variety of applications. Oils can be applied to equipment, tools,
herbs, and other pre-requisites for rituals, and they may also be rubbed on
the body in some circumstances. Conjure oils are powerful means of filling
your body and soul with the desired spiritual energies and vibrations.
Conjure oils can also help to protect you from the forces of evil and ward
off negative energies from you and your home. In this section, therefore, we
would be examining some of the most powerful common conjure oils in
hoodoo and how to make them.
This chapter reveals an extensive selection of conjure, spiritual, and
anointing oils used in hoodoo. Most traditional rootworkers make their
own, although modernization of the practice and the Internet has made it
easier for folks to purchase what they need. Do whatever you want; there is
no law that says you have to make your own oils. The advantage of making
your own, however, is that you know exactly what goes into the product,
and you can charge it with the desired intent yourself. .
Many traditions of magic work with plant materials, and most assign some
symbolic meanings to these ingredients. Many hoodoo and Voodoo spells
require certain blends of oils and powders to accomplish a particular work
or to enhance a spell. Always use a natural carrier oil to blend your
magickal oils, as unblended oils can burn the skin. You should only use a
drop or two at a time on the skin. I use grape seed oil and almond oil for
blending magickal oils, and olive oil for blending holy oils. Jojoba oil is a
good alternative because it won't go rancid, although it is more expensive
than the others. Mineral oil is good for negative works and oils using
magnets, minerals, and lodestones as ingredients. You should always add
tincture or liquid resin of benzoin or vitamin E oil to prevent the oils you
create from going rancid. This additional ingredient is not needed if you are
using mineral oil or jojoba as the carrier.
CARRIER OILS
Essential oils do not go rancid, but carrier oils do — unless they are fixed
with a natural preservative. Below you will find a list of carrier oils that can
be used to make magickal anointing oils. This is important information
when considering how often you will use the particular oil you make.
GRAPE SEED OIL
Shelf life is approximately three to six months. Solvent extracted grape seed
oil has a shelf life of nine months. Keep refrigerated.
JOJOBA OIL
Indefinite shelf life.
OLIVE OIL
Shelf life is approximately twelve to eighteen months if stored properly in a
cool dark place.
SWEET ALMOND OIL
Shelf life is approximately three to six months if not refrigerated. If
refrigerated, the shelf life can be increased to twelve months.
SUNFLOWER OIL
Sunflower oil doesn't get the attention it deserves. It is one of my favorite
oils because it has a light texture, is odorless, and is easily absorbed in the
skin, making it ideal for wearable oils. Sunflower oil is naturally rich in
vitamins A, D, and E, which gives it a shelf life of about eight months
without the addition of an additional preservative. Look for the sunflower
oil with a high oleic formula — this will extend its shelf life. Natural
preservatives such as additional vitamin E, rosemary extract, or grapefruit
extract go well with sunflower oil because they will further slow down the
oxidation process, helping the mixture last significantly longer.
MINERAL OIL
Simply put, mineral oil is liquid petroleum. It is used for anointing objects,
but not people.
TROPICAL OILS
Some conjure oil formulas call for the use of tropical oils such as coconut,
palm, and palm kernel oils. These oils are inexpensive and have a long shelf
life.
As a general rule, you can use the following method for creating magickal
anointing oils. In a mortar and pestle, pour two ounces of your base oil
(olive, almond, grape seed, etc.) and then add the herbs and other
ingredients. Gently crush the ingredients and transfer the mixture to an
airtight container. Store in a dark place. After four days, check the oil to see
if the fragrance is to the desired strength. If it is, you can either strain the oil
with cheesecloth into your final container, or simply leave everything
together. Store in a dark place. If you do not have the right aromatic
strength, then strain the oil in cheesecloth back into your mortar, add
enough of your base oil to bring it back to 2 ounces, and repeat the process
of adding your ingredients, crushing them into the oil, and storing away for
three days at a time. Repeat this as many times as necessary to achieve the
desired strength.
Some herbs and resins are more readily absorbed than others. If you have
an essential oil of an herb used in a recipe, you can add some to the recipe
to enhance the aroma. Be sure to add a few drops of tincture of benzoin or
vitamin E oil to your formulas or they will go rancid (unless you are using
jojoba oil as a base).
PRECAUTIONS
Please note that it is always possible to have an allergic reaction to any oil
or oil blend. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using any
essential oil that will have contact with the skin. This is to determine if you
may be allergic or have a sensitization reaction to the oil. Other precautions
include:
1. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.
2. Pregnant women and persons with health problems must consult a
doctor before using essential oils.3. Essential oils should never be used
undiluted on the skin.
3. Essential oils should not be taken internally.
4. Products made with natural ingredients may still cause allergic reactions
in some individuals.
When using oils on skin, be aware of any reactions that seem to be
happening, and take first aid measures immediately. Flush the area with a
lot of clean water and seek medical attention. Take the same steps (flush
with clean water, seek medical help) if you spill undiluted essentials on
yourself, or get them in your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound.
Working with essential oils requires knowing the properties and safety
issues associated with the oils you use.
Making conjure oils and potions is like being a Creole cook: you use a little
bit o' dis and a little bit o' dat until you get one tasty gumbo that does the
trick (figuratively and literally). Formulas vary from rootworker to
rootworker, and while the main ingredients may be the same for a
“standard” formula such as Van Van, one person might use more
lemongrass while the next may go heavier on the vetivert. Both formulas
contain similar ingredients, but the exact formulas are proprietary and are
not typically shared. Let your knowledge, intuition, and the sprits be your
guide.
For formulas that tend to get a lot of use, like Van Van or Fiery Wall of
Protection, you may want to create a mother bottle. This is a large bottle
that holds the herbs and oils. You can transfer the oil into smaller dram
bottles from the mother oil, and strain the oil through cheesecloth to keep
the herbs from entering the smaller bottle, unless you prefer to have herbs
in the small bottles. Just remember to top the mother bottle off with more
oil as you use it, and use dried herbs instead of freshly picked, green herbs.
I leave some of the herbs and roots in each bottle I make, as the old-timers I
knew and know don't concern themselves with straining out the herbs.
I was taught that a spiritual union occurs between the oils and the herbs; all
of the ingredients combine to create one oil that is comprised of the many
spirits of the little sisters (plants and herbs). As such, to remove the plant
materials would break the spirit of the magick you created and lessen the
effectiveness of the oil — or even render it ineffective.
ANOINTING OILS
These are oils that are used for attracting blessings and positive energies to
a body or place. Typically anointing oils usually consist of herbs steeped in
olive oil. The preparation is left on a window sill or in a secure space
outside the home where it can have access to moonlight for an entire month.
The reflection of moonlight into the oil enhances the spiritual vibrations of
the oil, thereby making it more effective for consecration. When storing
oils, it is best to use a cool and dark environment. Anointing oils include:
WALNUT OIL: Walnut oil is a powerful anointing oil that attracts
positive energies and invites the spirits of good luck and fortune. To prepare
an anointing oil from walnuts, the walnuts must first be boiled for fifteen
minutes to soften the nits. The nuts can then be crushed until a powdery
consistency is achieved. This powder can then be dissolved in 8 ounces of
anointing oil and left to stand in the moonlight for a month. Once a month
passes, the oil can be sieved with a muslin cloth and then stored in a tinted
bottle. Walnut oil is important in consecrations, attracting positivity, and
enhancing good health.
ABRAMELIN OIL:
Abramelin Oil, also called Oil of Abramelin, is a ceremonial magical oil
blended from aromatic plant materials. Abramelin Oil became popular in
the Western esoteric tradition in the twentieth century after its description in
a medieval grimoire called The Book of Abramelin by Abraham of Worms,
a fifteenth-century Jewish Kabbalist. The recipe is adapted from the Jewish
Holy Oil of the Tanakh, which is described in the Book of Exodus attributed
to Moses.52
The original biblical recipe contains olive oil, calamus (sweet flag),
cinnamon, and myrrh. Olives are one of the seven “native” fruits with
which the land of Israel is blessed.53 In the Jewish tradition, the olive is a
symbol of peace, hope, and steadfastness. The word “calamus” in Hebrew
is qaneh, which means “a stalk or aromatic reed.” Calamus is a sweet-
smelling herb that is associated with moral uprightness and humility in the
Bible. Magickally speaking, it is often associated with male fertility and
virility because of its phallic shape. Cinnamon is exceptionally fragrant and
aromatic and is favored for its warming ability.
Biblically speaking, myrrh symbolizes luxury and beauty, equal in weight
value to gold. It is associated with love and the death of Christ, embalming
and anointing the dead, and was used as a perfume, cosmetic, and
medicine.54 The Hebrew word for myrrh is mowr, meaning “distilled,” and
comes from the root word marar, which means “bitterness.” Myrrh is
extracted by piercing the tree's heartwood and allowing the gum to trickle
out and harden into bitter, aromatic red droplets called “tears.” Thus, myrrh
tears are also associated with the suffering of Christ.55 Interestingly
enough, myrrh essential oil contains a high amount of sesquiterpenes,
organic compounds that directly affect the parts of the brain (hypothalamus,
pituitary, and amygdale) considered to be the seat of our emotions.
The symbolism of the four spices is a bit different when viewed from a
hoodoo perspective. Myrrh's correspondences are similar to its biblical
correspondences in that it is associated with love and is considered holy. It
is also used to create an atmosphere of peace and serenity and is often
mixed with other resins for specific purposes. Olive is used as a carrier oil
for many conjure oils because of its pure nature. Cinnamon is used for
money, good fortune in business, luck in games of chance, and to “heat up”
spell works. Calamus is used for uncrossing and breaking jinxes, as well as
dominating and controlling others.
This is an ancient anointing oil that can be used for consecration fi the altar
or the body prior to a ritual. This oil helps to enhance psychic clarity during
divinations and wards off the forces of evil. Abramelin oil is made from the
following ingredients:
4 parts of cinnamon bark
2 parts of finely ground Myrrh
1 part of chopped calamus root
7 parts of olive oil.
All the herbs are to be processed into a fine powder and allowed to settle in
the olive oil for one month. Once this s done, the oil can be collected
through a muslin cloth, but not if you don’t want to, and stored in a glass
jar.
ALTAR OIL: This oil is primarily used to anoint the altar and ward off
forces of evil before a ritual. Altar oil also helps to charge the components
of the hoodoo altar with positive spiritual energies needed to make the ritual
effective. Altar oil is made by 1 drop of Cedar and 2 drops of Myrrh in 2
ounces of Olive oil. This mixture is kept for a month in the moonlight and
used to anoint the altar at specific intervals.
HOLY ANOINTING OIL: This anointing oil is perfect for anointing
the head and the equipment to be used for a ritual process. Holy anointing
oil combines 35 drops of frankincense, 35 drops of Myrrh, and 1 ounce of
olive oil. This mixture is kept in the moonlight for an entire month and is a
powerful component for consecration and blessings.
ST. JOHN’S WORT OIL: This oil is made by soaking the leaves of the
St. John’s Wort herb in olive oil and then put the mixture in a bottle where
moonlight can be reflected onto it for an entire month. The oil is then sieved
out and stored away from moisture and sunlight. St. John’s Wort Oil is
perfect for enhancing psychic abilities, warding off negative spiritual
energy, and enhancing the clarity of divinations.
DRESSING OILS
These are anointing oils that are applied onto the surface of materials in
hoodoo such as candles, incenses, and voodoo dolls to help charge these
materials with necessary spiritual energy to enhance their spiritual powers.
Just like anointing oils and all other oils in hoodoo, dressing oils are made
by storing the herbs in a carrier oil (usually olive oil or almond oil) and then
keeping the mixture safe for a month with unfettered access to moonlight.
After a month, the mixture is then sieved to collect the filtrate. Important
dressing oils in hoodoo include:
LEMON OIL: This dressing oil is used to anoint candles, dirt, and the
surface of the hoodoo altar. Lemon oil is made by combining grated lemon
flowers and Lovage in a bowl and then adding powdered lodestone to the
mix. This mixture should be ground to a fine powder and then poured into 2
ounces of grapeseed oil. The oil must be left for a month in the moonlight
and then sieved for use.
BEND-OVER OIL: This oil is used to control people or get them to
bend to your will. It is also important in uncrossing spells to break curses
and harmful hexes placed against you. Bed-over oil is reputed for its ability
to repel negative spiritual forces. The oil is made by combining the
following:
Calamus Root
Licorice Root
Bergamot Leaf
These ingredients are all blended to give a fine powder, and a few grains of
frankincense is added to this powder. The mixture is then loaded into a jar
containing two ounces of almond oil. The oil must be exposed to sunlight
for a month before it is ready for use. The Bend-Over oil is primarily used
to anoint candles and voodoo dolls.
CONSECRATION OIL: This oil can be used to introduce positive
spiritual energies into any ritual object. Consecration oil is made by
blending Myrrh, Cassia, Calamus, and Cinnamon into a smooth powder and
storing the powder in olive oil for a month with access to moonlight.
REVENGE OIL: This oil is powerful for supercharging spells for
vengeance and repelling spiritual attacks. Revenge oil combines red pepper,
sulfur, wormwood, and ground ivy root in a smooth powdery blend that is
poured in two ounces of olive oil. This oil then helps people to get revenge
on individuals who have wronged them.
LOVE AND FERTILITY OIL: This oil contains verbena, basil, and
anise. The love and fertility oil helps in consecrating the elements used for
spells to attract a lover or life the yoke of barrenness from a woman who
desires a child. This oil is made by grounding the constituent elements into
a fine powder and storing them in grapeseed oil for a month with constant
access to moonlight.
RUBBING OILS
The oils in this group are applied directly onto the skin to achieve a variety
of spiritual purposes. Rubbing oils are powerful in protecting individuals
from spiritual harm, attracting good luck and fortune, bringing love and
passion into a relationship, inviting wealth and abundance, and warding off
forces of evil and discord. Just like all the other oils mentioned above,
rubbing oils are made by steeping the herbs in a carrier oil for a month or
more with constant access to moonlight. Significant rubbing oils in hoodoo
include:
PEACE OIL: This oil combines powdered forms of rosemary, basil,
lavender, and sandalwood in two ounces of olive oil. After being left in the
moonlight for a month for the diffusion of the herbal essences into the oil,
the peace oil can be rubbed on the body to attract peace, calmness,
happiness, and tranquility. Peace oil also helps to attract positive spiritual
energies and wards off all forms of stress, worry and problems.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST OIL: This particular oil confers protection
in a user and serves as a spiritual barrier between the user and negative
invisible spiritual forces. St. John the Baptist Oil is made by combining two
tablespoonfuls each of Eucalyptus and Rosemary in two ounces of olive
oil. Optionally, practitioners can add just a pinch of rock salt to the mix to
help chase away all forms of negativity from the life of the user. The
preparation is kept for a month with access to moonlight before sieving and
storing in a dark jar.
LOVE-DRAWING OIL: This essential oil is used to attract genuine
love and passion and strengthen existing relationships. This oil combines
the spiritual energies of several herbs that are used to attract love and
passion and distill them into one invigorating mix. To make this oil,
combine the powdered forms of patchouli, dried orange peels, jasmine, and
rose petals in two ounces of olive oil and allow the mixture to stand for a
month with constant access to sunlight. Sieve after a month and store the oil
in a tinted glass bottle away from sunlight.
MORNING GLORY OIL: This simple rubbing oil combines ground
rosemary with olive oil. Store the mixture for a month with unrestricted
access to moonlight. The Morning Glory oil helps to attract positive
spiritual energies related to good luck, fortune, wealth, good health, and
love.
COUNTRY MALLOW OIL: This oil combines one cup of powdered
dried country mallow leaves in one cup of olive oil. The oil is then left to
stand for a month as usual while exposed to moonlight. Country mallow oil
helps to expunge negative energies from the life of the user, cleanses the
soul, mind, and body of the user, and invites positive energies to stay.
LINIMENTS
The oils in this group are used as soothing agents to help relieve pain,
especially at joints. Liniments can also be rubbed on the body surface to
soothe aches and throbbing dislocations, and sprains. As with all other oils
described above, some of the liniments described in this section are
composed of herbs allowed to macerate in a carrier oil for a month with
access to moonlight. However, some of the liniments are made by
dissolving the herbs in rubbing alcohol for deep tissue penetration.
Common liniments used in hoodoo include:
FENNEL SEED OIL: This oil combines ground fennel leaves in olive
oil for relieving muscle and joint pains and can help to speed up the healing
of internal injuries.
ARNICA OIL: This liniment combines powdered forms of arnica, black
pepper, and calendula, all blended into almond oil. Arnica oil is perfect for
deep tissue massages to soothe body pains caused by stress.
CAYENNE OIL: Cayenne oil is made by combining ground cayenne,
chamomile, and meadowsweet powder. Two tablespoonfuls of each of these
herbs are transferred into olive oil and left to marinate in it for a month. The
oil can be used to relieve body pains from working too hard or the sprain
from a fall.
ECHINACEA OIL: Echinacea oil is a popular favorite for relieving
muscle aches and joint pains. Echinacea oil is made by combining St.
John’s Wort, Thyme, and Echinacea, all ground to a powder in rubbing
alcohol and allowing the tincture to marinate for a month with access to
moonlight. Kindly note that that the carrier liquid for this liniment is
rubbing alcohol.
EUCALYPTUS OIL: This infamous liniment combines eucalyptus,
yarrow ginger, and the bark of the willow tree. All the components are
ground into a fine powder and then dissolved in rubbing alcohol. The
solution is allowed to stand for one month with undisturbed access to
moonlight. This liniment is also perfect for joint pains, sprains, and body
aches.
OILS FOR MAGICAL LAMPS
Magic lamps can be used as replacements for candles when a spell that
requires fire has to be cast. Magical lamps can also simply be lit to invite
good luck, fortune, wealth, and happiness into a dwelling. The oils used in
magical lamps that are described in this section all utilize olive oil as their
carrier oils, and they all have to be kept with access to moonlight for one
full month. Oils for magical lamps include:
CANOLA OIL: Canola oil is pretty famous for its use as both dressing
oil and oil for magical lamps. The canola herb helps to invite good luck and
fortune and wards off negative spiritual energies.
WALNUT OIL: Walnut oil, as described in a previous section, is made
by boiling the walnuts in hot water, crushing the softened nuts into a fine
powder, and then transferring the powder into two ounces of olive oil for a
month until a full moon cycle is complete. Walnut oil also helps to repel
negative energies, invites good luck and love, and can be used to enhance
psychic visions during divination.
BERGAMOT OIL: This oil is made by crushing Bergamot leaves and
letting the essence in the eaves flow into olive oil for a month while the
moonlight constantly beams upon the mixture. Bergamot oil helps to attract
love and passion, removes curses and negative energies from a dwelling,
and invites happiness, joy, and calmness into a home.
FLAXSEED OIL: This oil is made by grounding flax seed to powder
and storing the powder in olive oil for a month. The mixture should be
allowed access to moonlight all the time, and then the oil can be sieved and
stored for use. Flaxseed oil helps to make a dwelling safe from evil forces
and unwanted visitors such as thieves and other criminals. The flaxseed oil
also invites wealth, abundance, and prosperity into your dwelling. Finally,
when burnt in a magical lamp, flaxseed oil can help to make healing rituals
smoother and more effective.
SESAME OIL: Sesame oil is made by grounding sesame seeds into a
fine powder and storing them in olive oil for a month with moonlight kept
constant. Sesame oil can be burnt in a magical lamp to invite wealth and
abundance into a home. Sesame oil also helps to protect the occupants of a
home from curses, hexes, and other negative forces. Finally, burning
sesame oil in your bedroom can help you achieve better sleep and improve
your sex life rapidly.
SALVES
Salves are herbal oils that are primarily created for healing and protection.
Salves are made by dissolving ground herbs in olive oil and keeping the
mixture in the presence of moonlight for a month. For increased
effectiveness, however, the herbal oils are then combined with crushed,
melted beeswax in a double boiler and stored for up to three years. Let’s
take a look at five herbal salves and how to make them in the comfort of
your home.
BASIL SALVE: This salve combines the refreshing healing properties of
basil with the natural soothing capabilities of beeswax. This ointment is
prepared by first making your basil oil. After steeping the ground basil in
olive oil for a month with constant moonlight, the basil oil is collected and
stored in a dark, airtight jar. Fresh beeswax is then crushed with the help of
a hammer or a mortar and pestle. The crushed beeswax is cooked over low
heat in a double boiler, and the basil oil is then added in. The salve is them
gotten off the stove and transferred into a tinted glass jar.
SAGE SALVE: This salve uses the spiritually significant capabilities of
sage for healing bruises and scalds. The preparation process of sage salve is
the same as that of basil. The sage salve, in addition to healing bodily
wounds, also helps to cleanse your spirit and prevent harm from befalling
you.
EUCALYPTUS SALVE: The Eucalyptus salve is prepared by first
getting the herbal oil done. After a month of steeping the eucalyptus in a
carrier oil such as almond or olive oil, the eucalyptus oil is then combined
with melting beeswax in a double boiler to get the salve. Eucalyptus Salve
is great for healing bruises and burns and can also help to invite positive
spiritual energies into an individual.
LAVENDER SALVE: The lavender salve is prepared by first making
lavender oil and then combining this with melting beeswax. The lavender
salve helps to heal open wounds and body aches. Lavender salve also
harnesses the natural spiritual energies of lavender to invite blessings, joy,
and peace into the life of the user.
CLOVE SALVE: This salve is made by grounding cloves to a fine
powder, steeping the powder in almond oil for a month with moonlight kept
constant, and then mixing the oil with melting beeswax, as with the other
salves. The clove salve helps to dispel negative energies from the life of an
individual and enhances psychic visions and mental clarity.
POWERFUL CLEANSING RITUALS
Cleansing rituals are carried out to cleanse the mind, body, soul, spirit, and,
of course, the dwelling of an individual of negative spiritual energies and
vibrations. Cleansing rituals can also help to invite good luck, wealth,
peace, abundance, and tranquility into one’s life and dwelling. So, how do
you go about a cleansing ritual? Cleansing can be done by taking a ritual
bath, using an herbal scrub to wash your body, or using dedicated floor
washes to clean your home.
Herbal baths
Herbal baths are used to take care of the body’s spiritual energies. The herbs
that would be included in your herbal bath would depend on the effects that
you hope to derive from the cleanse. Traditionally, it is advised that you use
candles and even burn incense during your spiritual cleansing session to
further attract the kinds of energies you want in your life and environment,
and of course, remove the negative energies and vibrations. Herbal baths
include:
CHAMOMILE BATH: There are numerous ways to prepare a
chamomile bath; however, a quick, convenient way to get your herbal bath
read is to ground a bunch of chamomile leaves into a fine powder, transfer
the powder into a muslin bag, and then run a hot bath. Once the tub is filled
with warm water, place the muslin bag in the bath and allow the chamomile
leaves to infuse the bath with their essence. After fifteen to thirty minutes,
after the bath has cooled down to your liking, you may then take your bath.
A chamomile bath is a fantastic way to extract negative energies causing
stress and fatigue from your body and fill your body with good, peaceful
vibrations. Chamomile baths can also help to increase bravery, confidence,
and courage to take on the challenging tasks of your life. Therefore, if you
are facing a daunting task and are feeling ill-prepared to take on the
challenge, perhaps it may be time to take a soak in some chamomile for
some spiritual confidence while you visualize yourself conquering your
fears. Chamomile baths also invite abundance, love, and good luck into
your life.
BASIL BATH: Every little detail about basil screams ‘Invigorating!’
from its bright green leaves to its sharp, tangy scent. However, perhaps the
most invigorating aspect of basil is the spiritual energy that flows within
this extremely useful herb. Just like a chamomile bath, a basil bath can be
taken by grounding your basil leaves into a fine powder and allowing them
to soak in a hot tub for up to thirty minutes. After the essence of the bath
has diffused into the tub long enough, you may then step in and take your
bath. As you are taking your bath, visualize the negative energies leaving
your body and imagine your mind and soul getting purified and cleansed. It
is also a good idea to imagine a bright beam of light streaming into you as
new positive energies take over your body. Basil baths can help to attract
love, banish evil energies, attract wealth and prosperity, and invite luck and
peace into the life of an individual.
EUCALYPTUS BATH: Eucalyptus baths are famous for their calming
effects. Eucalyptus baths also bring healing, confer spiritual protection on
the individual, and attract wealth and prosperity. As with all the other baths
listed above, soak a muslin bag with ground eucalyptus in a hot bath for
half an hour before taking your bath, and visualize all your wishes and
desires as you are in the bath.
FENNEL BATH: A fennel bath follows the pattern of the herbs
described above. Soak your fennel leaves in a hot tub and then step in to
visualize your desires. Fennel leaves also help to protect you from
unwanted negative energies, curses, and hexes, and they purge the body and
soul of all negative spiritual energies and stressors. Fennel leaves are
imbued with spiritual energies of courage and confidence, so a fennel bath
might be a good way to begin a daunting endeavor.
LAVENDER BATH: Lavender baths smell like a piece of heaven, but
that’s not the most interesting aspect of this common bath. A lavender bath
can help to attract peace, joy, and contentment into your life. Lavender
baths also help to strengthen your connection to the divine, so this means
that if you are trying to perform a complex spell, a lavender bath might help
to invigorate your natural spiritual energies. Lavender baths can also help to
repel negative energies and spiritual vibrations.
LEMON BALM BATH: This particular bath helps to invite love,
passion, and attraction into your life. If, therefore, you need of a partner, or
are having problems in your relationship, then taking a lemon balm bath
with your partner or alone can be a great way to get things exciting for you.
Lemon balm baths also help to soothe the body and soul, removing all
vibrations of worry and stress and replacing them with calmness,
tranquility, and satisfaction.
ROSEMARY BATH: Rosemary baths are perfect for attracting wealth
and riches. If you are pursuing a business deal or applying for a job, taking
a rosemary bath before your interview or meeting can help to turn the tides
greatly in your favor. Rosemary is filled with positive spiritual energies to
making desires transform into reality, and a rosemary bath can be a great
way to invite good luck and fortune into your life.
SAGE BATH: Sage is by far the most popular incense across folk magic
cultures., Sage is renowned for clearing off negative energies and inviting
peace and tranquility. A sage bath can help you to find peace and joy in the
middle of chaos. A sage path can also help to heal a sad soul and restore the
purity of your connection to the divine.
CALENDULA: Calendula can help to protect you from negative
vibrations and spiritual energies and ward off bad people with evil
intentions from your life. Calendula baths can also help to make your
wishes come true.
YARROW: The yarrow herb is imbued with elements of courage and
love. Therefore, taking a yarrow bath can help to imbue you with natural
confidence and courage to tackle the daunting challenges in your life.
Yarrow leaves also help to spur change and transition from an old paradigm
to a newer, better, and more energizing one. A yarrow bath can also help to
boost your psychic powers and enhance your connection with the divine.
CATNIP: A catnip infusion bath invites the elements of love and
attraction into your life. Taking a catnip bath with your spouse can help to
restore the spark in your relationship and help you to rediscover the
romance that has gotten blurred with time. Catnip also helps to restore
beauty and youthfulness and generally has purifying effects on the skin.
HYSSOP: A hyssop bath will help to protect and purify you from
negative energies, dispel all forces of evil and malice, and eradicate all
forms of stress and worry. Hyssop’s unique scent has been proven to have
mitigating effects on depressive patients.
SENNA: Senna is the herb 0f love and beauty. Taking a senna bath can
help you attract the lover that you desire. Senna can also restore your
beauty and impart your body with a calm, smooth glow.
AGRIMONY: An agrimony bath will help to reverse dangerous negative
spells cast against you, clear all forms of negative energies within you, and
leave you feeling refreshed, happy, and at peace. Agrimony baths can also
help to heal deep emotional injuries and help you start feeling whole again.
BLACK COHOSH: A black cohosh bath attracts vibrations of love and
passion. This bath also enhances your natural courage and confidence and
helps to purify the body and soul from negative energies and forces.
Herbal body scrubs
An herbal scrub helps to purify the skin, remove all negative force and
vibrations, and eaves you feeling refreshed, energized, and calm. Herbal
body scrubs can imbue different herbs to achieve different effects.
However, one central preparation method may be used. To make your
homemade herbal body scrub:
Heat half-an-ounce of olive oil and your herb in a saucepan for two minutes
at medium heat.’
Leave the mixture to stand for two hours for the herbal essence to be
diffused into the olive oil
Strain the mixture with a muslin bag to collect the solid residues
Collect the filtrate and put it in a double boiler so that it heats up slowly.
Add two tablespoons of beeswax to the double boiler and stir the mixture
gently until the beeswax melts
Continue stirring until your desired consistency is achieved.
Transfer the mixture into a dry jar and use it when needed.
As stated earlier, the herb that you heat with the olive oil in the first step of
the procedure above depends on the kind of effects you are looking for in
your herbal scrub. Herbs that are famously used to make scrubs include:
ALFALFA: Alfalfa helps to purify your body and soul, clears off negative
energies, and invites love and passion.
HONEYSUCKLE: A honeysuckle scrub helps to deepen your spiritual
connection with the supernatural. If you are planning divination or ritual, a
honeysuckle scrub might be a good way to charge up your natural spiritual
energies. A honeysuckle scrub will also help to protect you from negative
spiritual energies
CINNAMON: Cinnamon invites ease. Therefore, a cinnamon scrub can
be a great way to fill your body with the spiritual energies to ease your
affairs and bring calmness and rest to your troubled soul. Cinnamon is also
imbued with the natural spiritual energies of change and transformation.
Therefore, if you are looking to make a quantum leap in your life, using a
cinnamon scrub for your baths can help to get your spirit in tune with your
endeavors.
OREGANO: An oregano scrub invites passion and verve into your life. If
you currently find yourself disillusioned with the happenings in your life, or
you are just constantly bored and pensive, and oregano scrub can help you
to find excitement and passion in life again. The oregano scrub can also
help to protect you from accidents and mishaps when you travel.
CHAMOMILE: A chamomile scrub helps to remove stress and worry
from your life. Just like the chamomile bath, a chamomile scrub can also
help to eradicate negative energies from your life and help attract positive
energies associated with success, wealth, and good fortune.
CALENDULA: The calendula scrub will help to protect you from any
form of physical harm and will also create a barrier between you and
negative spiritual energies. The herbal scrub will also help to invigorate
your natural spiritual energies and enhance psychic visions.
YARROW: The yarrow scrub gives you the energy and supernatural
support that you require to make your dreams come true. If you have big
plans ahead to execute, using a yarrow scrub can help to align your innate
spiritual energies with your aspirations. A yarrow scrub can also help to
repel negative spiritual energies and helps you curate the future that you
desire.
CHICKWEED: A chickweed scrub is a perfect scrub for love. If you are
looking to attract love, passion, and affection into your life, then a yarrow
scrub is a great way to go. Chickweed also helps to increase fertility and
can be used by both husband and wife if you are hoping for a baby. The
chickweed scrub is also helpful in enhancing the effect of other rituals.
PEPPERMINT: A peppermint scrub will leave you feeling fresh and
energized and also smelling great. However, peppermint also helps to repel
negative spiritual energies, attract love and passion, and also helps purify
your thoughts. Therefore, if you have been having negative thoughts about
yourself and the life you have, a peppermint scrub can help you see things
from a different perspective and alleviate your worries. Peppermint scrub
can also help to relieve insomnia if used to bath just before bed.
LAVENDER: A lavender scrubs helps you smell perfect and eradicates
negative spiritual energies from your body. Lavender also helps to attract
wealth and riches and imbues you with natural confidence and courage to
take on challenging opportunities.
Floor washes
If you sweep trash out of the house after dark, you will sweep away your
luck
.
The cosmic element of water has been used across cultures and over time
for purifying, cleansing, baptizing, scrying, and a variety of magickal
purposes. It is an important tool for hoodoo and Voodoo, and is considered
powerful and transformative. Through the addition of special flowers,
herbs, sticks, and other natural ingredients, ordinary water becomes
spiritually charged floor wash, cologne/perfume, and spiritual water.
Many of the spiritual waters used in hoodoo were originally created as
colognes or perfumes. They gained special symbolism in the spiritual world
because of their natural ingredients. Added to floor washes, they provide an
effective means of cleansing away negativity and crossed conditions,
drawing in good luck and prosperity, and purifying one's space. Following
is a nice selection of recipes for floor washes to help you achieve luck,
prosperity, better business, health, blessings, and success.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR MAKING FLOOR WASHES
Floor washes are used to clean the premises of a home or a place of
business to get rid of negative energies, invite good luck and fortune, and
prevent sickness and disease within the surroundings. Floor washes can also
be used to enhance the natural psychic vibrations in an environment to
make rituals and spell more effective and fulfilling.
Use these guidelines to make any of the following floor washes for storage
in a bottle. Unless otherwise noted, combine the ingredients in one quart of
water and bring to a boil. Allow the concoction to boil for twenty minutes.
Allow the mixture to cool, and add one cup of ammonia to the liquid. Add
½ to 1 cup of the spiritual water or cologne, depending on the desired
strength. Pour the mixture into a plastic spray bottle for use at a moment's
notice. You can also simply combine 8 parts of alcohol with 1 part of
rosewater, and then ground your herb into a fine powder and add it to the
mixture. This mixture is then added to the water for cleaning the premises.
The typical floor wash can also be made by following a general set of
instructions, and the herbs contained in the wash can be altered according to
your needs and desires as a user. The herbs that can be used to make
specialized floor washes and their applications include:
WINTERGREEN: This herb helps to repel negativity from your
environment, eradicates any negative spiritual forces already present, and
invites calmness and tranquility into your home.
CEDARWOOD: Cedarwood is used to purify the home and cleanse it of all
negative energies. This herb is also used to prevent nightmares and enhance
quality sleep.
SWEETGRASS: Sweetgrass floor wash will help to cleanse and purify you
and attract positive spirits.
LOBELIA: Lobelia floor wash is useful in improving spiritual awareness in
a home, enhancing psychic vision, transforming unpleasant circumstances
into positive ones, and protecting the home from physical and spiritual
intrusions.
LITTLE JOHN: Little John is helpful in inviting spirits of ease and comfort
into a dwelling, and the herb can also help to protect your dwelling from
evil forces. Little John also helps to prevent conflicts and quarrels in a
home.
SAGE: Sage helps to eradicate negative energies from home, promotes
positive spiritual vibrations, and wards off unwanted visitors.
HYSSOP: Hyssop can help to purify the home and purge it of all negative
energies. A hyssop floor wash can also help to expunge energies of sadness,
depression, and worry out of a home.
PERIWINKLE: Adding periwinkle to your floor wash will help you to feel
safe and secure in your home and will attract spirits of good fortune and
wealth.
NASTURTIUM: A nasturtium floor wash will help to purify your dwelling
and give you strength and vigor to pursue your goals and desires. A
nasturtium floor wash will also help to enhance the spiritual vibrations in a
home, deepening the connections of the inhabitants with the supernatural.
VERVAIN: A vervain floor wash helps to eradicate negative spirits and
forces of evil and helps to protect the inhabitants from unexpected disasters
and calamities.
BABALÚ-AYÉ PROTECTION FROM THE EVIL EYE FLOOR WASH
For protection against jealousy, envy, and coveting, or to ward off the evil
eye, use the following formula as a floor wash.
2 drops eucalyptus oil
3 drops lime oil
2 drops myrrh oil
3 drops wintergreen oil
1 tablespoon buffalo ammonia
Add the above to a bucket of hot water. Start by scrubbing the back of the
house, making your way out to the front step to banish the effects of the evil
eye. It is best to start before dawn. Throw the remaining water to the east at
or before sunrise.
CHANGÓ'S VICTORY FLOOR WASH

This floor wash draws on the powers othe orisha Changó, who rules over
fire, thunder, lightning, and victory. Use it to overcome all obstacles, ensure
victory against enemies, and for protection from psychic and spiritual
attacks. Best used as a preventative. Use this wash on a Friday, or on the
fourth day of any month. You can use either the herbs or the essential oils.
1 cup Palo vence batalla (short sticks that are used in Palo and Santería .
. . they can be found at any botanica)
1 cup heather flowers
1 cup lavender flowers
1 cup sasparilla
1 cup cedar
Voodoo Mama's Cologne de Chàngó
Start by scrubbing the back of the house, making your way out to the front
step to drive away evil spirits, anger, or general negative energy. It is best to
start before dawn. Throw the remaining water to the east at or before
sunrise.
CHINESE WASH
This is a great all-purpose floor wash. Use to clear away negative energy, to
draw luck and clarity, and to keep your home and space open to receiving
new opportunities.
Louisiana Van Van Oil
Broom straws
Piece of blessed rock salt or frankincense
Murphy's Oil Soap
Dilute with water.
DRAGON'S BLOOD FLOOR WASH
This floor wash is used to drive away negative energy, banish evil spirits,
and eliminate anger directed at you. It also creates a barrier of protection.
1 cup dragon's blood powder
1 cup High John the Conqueror root
1 cup quinta maldicion herb
1 cup kosher rock salt
1 cup espanta muerto herb
Florida Water
Start by scrubbing the back of the house, making your way out to the front
step to drive away evil spirits, anger, or general negative energy. It is best to
start before dawn. Throw the remaining water to the east at or before
sunrise.
FAST SCRUBBING ESSENCE
Fast Scrubbing Essence is a mixture of thirteen oils and is used for business
success. It can also be used in initiation baths.
Cinnamon essential oil
Wintergreen essential oil
Geranium essential oil
Bergamot essential oil
Orange flowers essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Anise essential oil
St. Michael conjure oil
Rosemary essential oil
Start by scrubbing the front doorstep. Go from the front to the back to draw
in business. It is best to start before dawn. Throw the remaining water to the
east at or before sunrise.
FAST LUCK FLOOR SCRUB
This is a very simple but effective recipe. Add a tablespoon of oil of
citronella to a bucket of hot water and scrub the floor. This floor wash
brings luck in business, pulling customers into a store. Start by scrubbing
the front doorstep, and go from the front to the back. Throw the remaining
water to the east at or before sunrise.
RED FAST LUCK FLOOR SCRUB
Add the following oils to a bucket of hot water. Use as above to bring good
luck to the premises.
Vanilla essential oil
Wintergreen essential oil
ESSENCE OF VAN VAN
Used for luck and power of all kinds. This is considered by many to be the
most popular conjure drug in Louisiana.
10 percent oil of lemongrass
Grain alcohol
Start by scrubbing the front doorstep, and go from the front to the back to
draw in business. Throw the remaining water to the east at or before
sunrise.
FLOOR WASH FOR FIDELITY
To keep your lover faithful, prepare the following floor wash and scrub the
entire house, paying extra attention to the bedroom.
9 large magnolia leaves
1 large magnolia blossom
Brown sugar
Florida Water
Rain water or river water
Soak 9 large magnolia leaves and one large magnolia flower blossom in a
bucket of rain water or river water overnight. Use spring water if you don't
have access to rain or river water, but be sure to pray Pslam 23 over the
water (or recite a comparable prayer in a tradition comfortable for you). In
the morning, pour the water into a large pot and heat it up to just before
boiling. Remove it from the stove and pour the water back into the bucket.
Add one cup of brown sugar and some Florida Water, and scrub your entire
home, starting from the front doorstep and going inward, front to back, to
draw fidelity to your relationship. While you are scrubbing your home, you
should be focusing on what you want, and claiming that which is yours.
Throw the remaining water to the east at or before sunrise.
PEACEFUL HOME FLOOR WASH
This floor wash is used to restore harmony, eliminate conflicts, and bring
peace and tranquility to a home.
1 cup gardenia flowers
1 cup violet flowers
1 cup lilac flowers
1 cup sea salt
Florida Water
Add the above ingredients to a bucket of hot water and wash your home
real good with it. Leave some for your front porch if you have one, or for
right outside your door. Throw the remaining water to the east at or before
sunrise.
SEVEN AFRICAN POWERS FLOOR WASH
This floor wash calls on the blessings of the Seven African Powers to bring
success, protection, luck, love, and money.
1 cup abre camino herb
1 cup gardenia flowers
1 cup violets
1 cup rosemary
1 cup peppermint
1 cup anise
1 cup brown sugar
Florida Water
Add the above ingredients to a bucket of hot water and wash your home
real good with it. Leave some for your front porch if you have one, or for
right outside your door. Throw the remaining water to the east at or before
sunrise.
Hoodoo powders for mojo bags and gris-gris
Mojo and gris-gris bags typically consist of an odd number of items, each
of which confers a particular characteristic or benefit to the user of the mojo
bag. Most mojo bags are curated for a specific reason – for good luck
while gambling, to attract good fortune, for protection from the forces of
evil, and in some cases, to enhance psychic visions and enhance divination.
Powdered herbs are a common component of mojo and gris-gris bags.
These herbs are simply ground into a fine powder and poured into the
pouch. In some cases, the hoodoo powder may be wrapped in a sachet and
deposited within the mojo bag. The following list includes the most
common powdered herbs used for mojo and gris-gris bags with their
specific functions. Refer to the chapter Rituals and their Corresponding
Natural Elements for more ideas
1. Oregon Grape Powder – Attracts money
2. Henna – Invites romance
3. May Apple – Attracts abundance and repel negative energies from the
user
4. Calamus Root – Increases good luck and attracts abundance.
5. Senna – Attracts love and beauty
6. Ague Root – Erases bad luck and banish evil
7. Black Cohosh – Gives courage and enhances fertility.
8. Orris Root – Attracts love.
9. Cumin – Invites peace of mind and a calm spirit.
10. Acacia – Attracting abundance and deepening friendships
11. Dragon’s Blood - Increasing vitality and attracting love
12. Allspice – Attracting good luck and abundance
13. Chamomile – Attracting love and abundance, increasing confidence.
14. Sarsaparilla – Attracting love and inviting passion, preventing
wasteful spending.
15. Cascara Sagrada Bark – Helping you win court cases and attracting
abundance and justice.
16. Galangal – Attracting abundance and enhancing psychic abilities
17. Turmeric – Protection from evil spiritual forces
18. Balm of Gilead – Attracting love and boosting sexual performance
19. Lavender – Attracting wealth and abundance.
20. Epsom Salt and Saltpeter – Controlling someone else.
CONCLUSION
Search within your own self to find your connection to the scripture. It is a
wonderful and extensive source of peace, and it serves as a constant
reminder that good will triumph over evil. It will deepen your sense of
compassion, forgiveness and love for both yourself and for those around
you. Surround yourself with good energy, put goodness out into the world,
and you will receive goodness in return.
While your path is still entirely yours to choose, you are not the only one
your actions will affect, so practice your craft with grace and responsibility.

THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO BASIC
SPELLCASTING AND CONJURE
Get your Mojo workin’ with Easy Working Spells to
Attract Love, Luck, and Success
INTRODUCTION
on.
solid ground.
Hoodoo.
divination.
The books are meant as a progressive introduction to the practice, so I
would suggest that you read them one after the other to gain full insight and
rootworker.
This book is a simple guide to help you start your Hoodoo journey in
conjure and magick. I hope you enjoy reading this book and it helps you on
your first steps into Hoodoo conjuring, the spiritual world, psychic clarity,
and much more. There are blessings for gambling, luck, love, and firming
up your relationship. There are floor washes, mojo bags, conjures, deity
calling, and original crossroad magick.
May you find what you are looking for here! As I have alluded to
previously, Hoodoo is so much more than what can be contained in one
short book. It is a lifetime of worth of study and introspection. It is a study
of the plants, herbs, elements, deities, the spirit, and what is above and
below. As we are never done growing spiritually, we are never done
learning new things.
INSCRIBED SPELLS
TOOLS
P etition papers are pieces of papers used to write a wish or request

that correlates with the intent of your spell work. The first part of
writing petition papers is to make sure that you have the right tools
for your petition. The tools you use to write your petition are equally
important to the petition itself. Each item you use has a different meaning,
so your choice of paper, ink, ink color, and writing tool is critical to the
outcome of your spell. Let's start with the type of paper.
The best paper than can be used for petition paper is brown paper, like a
paper grocery bag. However, you should choose your petition paper based
on your situation and intention. For example, if your spell is a type of
prosperity or financial gain spell then you might want to tear a piece of
blank paper from a bank statement or a pay stub. If your spell is about love
or happiness, you can tear a piece of paper from a romance novel or even a
bag of sugar as a symbol of sweetness. Photographs can be used if there is
a specific recipient for your spell. You can also use photographs to enhance
the effectiveness of your spell. Regardless of the paper that you choose, you
should tear the paper on each side by hand. Tearing your petition paper by
hand symbolizes purity and is thought to make the paper pure. Tearing your
petition paper by hand also allows the magic to bleed out of the torn edges.
In some instances, you might want to use a pair of scissors instead of
tearing it by hand. Using a pair of scissors is ideal for banishment spells or
intentions of separation. Use a pair of scissors to cut your petition paper if
your intention is to cut ties with someone. You should also use scissors if
your intention is to drive a wedge between two people. The use of scissors
to cut a petition paper symbolizes weapons against an enemy, such as a
sword or knife.
Your writing tool, the type of ink that you use, and the color of the ink that
you use should also vary depending on the situation. Generally, petition
papers are written with lead pencils, pens, or markers. You could use a
pencil if the intention of your spell is temporary or to erase. You could use a
permanent marker if your intention is to command with permanence. Quills
and pens are most used because you can easily alter the color that you are
using with these tools. The color of the ink that you use should correspond
with the overall goal of your spell. Traditional colors for inscribed spells are
black and red. However, different colors symbolize different meanings so
choose a color that best represents your intention. For example, if you are
writing a money spell then you could choose to write that spell in green. If
you are writing a love spell, then you could write that spell in red. You
could also use multiple colors on the same spell for contrast. For example,
you could write a money spell using black ink and then use green ink to
draw symbols of prosperity around the spell, such as a dollar sign. For more
specific magickal inks, let’s take a look at the next chapter.ù
INKS
Many spells and rituals require the use of special ink. Early varieties
include Egyptian ink and various natural dyes made from metals, the husk
or outer covering of beans or seeds, and sea creatures like the cuttlefish (this
ink is known as sepia). India ink is black and originated in Asia. Iron gall
ink was used by many of the old masters for drawing. Early cultures
developed many colors of ink from available berries, plants, and minerals.
Scribes in medieval Europe (about 800 to 1500 AD) wrote on sheepskin
parchment. One twelfth-century ink recipe called for hawthorn branches to
be cut in Spring and left to dry. Then the bark was pounded from the
branches and soaked in water for eight days. The water was then boiled
until it thickened and turned black. Wine was added during boiling. Then
the ink was poured into special bags and hung in the sun. Once dried, the
mixture was mixed with wine and iron salt over a fire to make the final ink.
Approximately five thousand years ago, an ink for blackening the raised
surfaces of pictures and texts carved in stone was developed in China. This
early ink was a mixture of soot from pine smoke, lamp oil, gelatin from
animal skins, and musk.
As an alternative to making your own inks or using the suggested ink, you
can take a regular pen in the required color and consecrate it for use in
ritual. Here is a ritual that was adapted from the Key of Solomon the King
that will prepare your pen for ritual use.
Holding your pen up in front of you, recite the following:
ADRAI, HAHLII, TAMAH, TILONAS, ATHAMAS, ZIANOR, ADONAI,
banish from this pen all deceit and error, so that it may be of virtue and
efficacy to write all that I desire. Amen.
Smudge the pen with pleasant-smelling incense such as sandalwood.
Sprinkle the pen with holy water, and place it aside in a silken cloth of any
color except black or gray.
For love spells, you may let a woman write her sweetheart's name with
some of her menstrual blood, and he will fall in love with her.
For those who are so inclined (meaning you have patience and time), I have
listed some recipes for a few different inks below.
BAT'S BLOOD INK
High quality red ink
Myrrh essential oil
Blend together and use as ink for writing spells.
BAT'S BLOOD INK (SLATER'S FORMULA)
Dragon's blood
Myrrh resin
Cinnamon oil
Indigo color (synthetic)
Alcohol
Gum arabic
Steep the ground resins in the alcohol until dissolved. Then add the
cinnamon oil, indigo, and ground gum arabic. Filter and bottle.
DOVE'S BLOOD INK EASY FORMULA
Essence of rose
Blend together for writing love spells and drawing love talismans.
DOVE'S BLOOD INK
1 part dragon's blood resin
2 drops cinnamon oil
2 drops bay oil
10 parts alcohol
1 part gum arabic
2 drops rose oil
Steep the dragon's blood resin in the alcohol till dissolved, then add the
cinnamon oil, bay oil, rose oil, and ground gum arabic. Filter and bottle.
DRAGON'S BLOOD INK
“Dragon's blood” refers to the bright red gum resin of the dragon palm tree.
The red resin was used in ancient times as varnish, medicine, incense, and
dye. It was also used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy. It continues to
be employed for the aforementioned purposes by some. In hoodoo and New
Orleans Voodoo, it is used in mojo hands for money drawing or love
drawing, and is used as incense to cleanse a space of negative entities or
influences. It is also added to red ink to make Dragon's Blood Ink, which is
used to inscribe magical seals and talismans.
To make your own Dragon's Blood Ink, you will need:
Dragon's blood resin
Blend together for writing luck or protection talismans.
DRAGON'S BLOOD INK
1 part dragon's blood resin
15 parts alcohol
1 part gum arabic
Steep the dragon's blood resin in the alcohol until dissolved. Then add the
gum arabic and bottle.
Invisible Ink
To make an ink that enables you to write invisibly, combine some alum with
a bit of water until you have a watery paste. Write your petition with the
paste. Allow to dry. This can only be read by steeping the paper in clear
water.
LAMPBLACK INK
This is a time-consuming way of making ink, so only use this recipe if you
won't be needing very much, have hours to spare, and really need to focus
your energy in the work in a super-amplified way. Light a beeswax candle
and hold a spoon over the flame until black soot forms on the spoon. Scrape
this off with another spoon until you have a small pile of it. Add an equal
amount of gum arabic and mix carefully and thoroughly. Add water a few
drops at a time until the mixture has the consistency of ink. Bottle it up and
it's ready to use.
PURPLE POKEBERRY INK

Since purple is the color used for works of domination and control, you
may want to have some purple ink on hand to write your commanding
petitions. Pokeweed or pokeberry (Phytolacca Americana) and Indian
pokeberry in particular (Phytolacca Acinsoa) have been used in production
dyes, so they make great agents for the creation of purple magickal ink.
Indian pokeberry is a perennial herb that grows clusters of purple berries
and small white flowers. When the purple berries are crushed, they produce
a natural purple dye and ink. Gather a cupful and crush them, removing the
seeds from the berries. Add some gum arabic to thicken the liquid to the
consistency of ink. The seeds and the roots are poisonous, so keep this ink
out of the reach of children.
Pokeberry has some magickal properties, including uncrossing and breaking
jinxes. When the poisonous parts are dried and powdered (seeds and roots),
they make for a great crossing agent when added to other ingredients in foot
track magick.
Indian pokeberry has been used in Native American medicine as an emetic,
a laxative, and for rheumatism, among other things. Scientists are now
discovering why. Apparently, the plant contains chemicals called pokeweed
mitogens that are being studied for use in the treatment of autoimmune
diseases including AIDS and rheumatoid arthritis.
TECHNIQUES
The most popular technique for inscribing spells onto petition papers is
called crossing and covering. There is a multitude of ways to perform this
technique, and many spell workers choose their technique based on
personal preference while others choose their method based on their intent.
Other popular techniques are prayer papers, which are more for those who
are asking God to fulfill their wish or request. Below is a combination of
seven types of crossing and covering methods or prayer paper methods that
can be used to write your petition paper spells. All of these methods can be
used by writing each spell down a certain amount of times which should
depend on the purpose of the spell. Common numbers used in petition paper
spells are three, seven, and nine. Odd numbers are considered best practice
because they are believed to be more powerful and more dynamic than even
numbers. People choose the number three because of its association with
the Holy Trinity, and because it is considered an all-purpose number. You
can use three for manifestation spells, for healing spells, or any type of
spell. The number seven is a number that symbolizes fortune, so it is
typically used for prosperity or good luck spells. Seven can also symbolize
the seven days of the week, so any spells that involve goals or change can
benefit from using the number seven as well. Nine is an extremely powerful
number and is used to control others or to impose your will upon them.
Basic Name Technique: The simplest method for writing petitions on
paper is a “basic name” paper. To use a “basic name” technique, you will
write the person’s name or your wish down an odd number of times on a
square piece of paper.
Two Crossed Names Technique: The “two crossed names” method is
used when there is an intent of domination involved. To use the “two
crossed names” method, you will first write the name of the person you
wish to dominate and then your name or the person who is meant to
dominate over the first name any number of times. For example, if you
are wishing for someone to stop bullying you, you would first write the
name of the bully and then you would turn the paper once and write your
name over the bully’s name to symbolize domination and control.
Wish Covers Name Technique: The “wish covers name” method is
implemented by doing exactly what the name implies, covering a name
with a wish. This method is the same as the two crossed names method,
except that you first write the person for whom the wish is for and then
the wish on top of their name. A perfect type of spell for the “wish covers
name” method would be a love spell. You would write the name of the
person you wish to love you, turn the paper once, and then write your
wish for them to love you across their name.
First Name Covers Second Name Followed By Wish Technique: The
"first name covers the second name followed by wish" technique is a
combination of the "wish covers name" technique and the "two crossed
names" technique. For this method, you will need to first write down the
recipient's name your chosen number of times. Then, you will turn the
paper once and write down your wish for that person across their name
the same number of times. Last, you will finish by turning the paper one
more time and then writing your name over both the recipient's name and
the wish for that person. For example, if you are trying to purchase a
home and are applying for a loan, you could write the name of the person
who has the authority to grant you the loan, then write "approve loan"
over that person's name, and then your name above both of those.
Name Written Backwards Technique: The "name written backward"
technique is used for reversal spells or for spells that wish to move
someone or something away from you. The backward writing symbolizes
a mirror and is often called mirror-writing. To use this method, write the
name of the person or object you wish to move away from you as many
times as you want. You can also use this method to reverse any jinxes,
any hexes, or any type of negative energy that a person has directed at
you.
Affirmative Prayer: An affirmative prayer differs from a petition paper in
that it is centered on God. An affirmative paper is used for a wish the
same way that a petition paper is, but it typically takes the form of a
prayer and is directed to God as the entity whom you wish to grant the
wish. To write an affirmative prayer, you must first write your recognition
of God as the highest power as well as your unification with God. When
you write your wish (or prayer), you must write it in the context of having
already manifested it into existence. Make sure to include your gratitude
for having achieved your wish (or prayer), and then release your wish (or
payer) into the Universe.
Dressing Loading and Folding Technique: Each petition paper or
affirmative prayer should be finalized with a combination of dressing it,
loading it, and/or folding it. You can dress your petition papers or
affirmative prayers with various types of oils that match the goal of the
wish or prayer. To dress your petition paper, place a drop of your chosen
oil into each corner of the wish. If your petition paper is directed at
someone specifically, you can place someone that belongs to that person
in the center of your petition before folding it. Personal possessions that
are commonly used are hair and nail clippings. Finally, the way you fold
your petition is also symbolic of your desired outcome. For instance, if
you wish to draw someone or something towards you then fold the
petition paper towards yourself three times and rotate the paper with each
fold. If you wish to repel someone or something instead, then fold the
paper away from you three times and rotate with each turn.
PSALMS USED IN SCRIPTURAL MAGIC
Psalms are used in scriptural magic to enhance the results of your spell
work in hoodoo. Below is a list of psalms used in scriptural magic as well
as their purpose to help you decide which psalm is best for your situation.
PSALMS 1: For removal of the ungodly from a group; for a safe pregnancy.
PSALMS 2: To aid in disbanding and breaking up enemy conspiracies.
PSALMS 3: For relief from a severe headache or back pain.
PSALMS 4: For restful and peaceful sleep; to change one's luck from bad to
good.
PSALMS 5: For finding favor with authorities or superiors in business.
PSALMS 6: For healing diseases of the eye; for protection in the dark.
PSALMS 7: To stop conspiracies, enemy pursuit, for court cases.
PSALMS 8: Business success through the goodwill of associates; blessing of
oils.
PSALMS 9: To punish enemies; to restore health to male children; for court
cases.
PSALMS 10: To cleanse off an unclean, restless, or intranquil spirit.
PSALMS 11: To cast off fear; for righteous retribution against your foes.
PSALMS 12: For protection against severe persecution or oppression.
PSALMS 13: For safety from unnatural death; for curing painful eye
diseases.
PSALMS 14: To stop libel and slander from tarnishing the trust others have
in you.
PSALMS 15: To exorcise evil spirits and devils from a person; for mental
peace.
PSALMS 16: To identify a thief; to change sorrow to joy and to heal pain.
PSALMS 17: For safe travel abroad and to help bring a loved one safely
home.
PSALMS 18: To drive off approaching robbers; for anointing the sick to
cure them.
PSALMS 19: For help in childbirth, for release from jail, to remove evil
spirits.
PSALMS 20: Protection from danger for a day; to be justified in a court
case.
PSALMS 21: To both calm a storm and to offer protection for seafarers and
sailors.
PSALMS 22: For travel protection from dangerous storms, pirates, beasts,
and men.
PSALMS 23: For prosperity, love, protection, wisdom, and guidance.
PSALMS 24: For protection from floods and escape from rising waters.
PSALMS 25: Forgiveness of the sins of youth; protection from capture.
PSALMS 26: For the release of someone from confinement or jail.
PSALMS 27: For protection and hospitality while one is traveling abroad.
PSALMS 28: To bring back estranged friends who have become hostile to
you.
PSALMS 29: To drive out devils and restore peace and tranquility to the
home.
PSALMS 30: For protection from enemies; for recovery from severe
illnesses.
PSALMS 31: For protection from conspiracies, back-biting, and gossip.
PSALMS 32: To gain respect, love, grace, and blessings from Heaven.
PSALMS 33: To protect, unite, and bless all of the members of a family.
PSALMS 34: To reverse evil; for protection while traveling, for bone health.
PSALMS 35: For justice to prevail in court cases and legal matters.
PSALMS 36: For protection from slander and gossip and to expose liars.
PSALMS 37: For protection against slander, gossip, lies, and evil-doers.
PSALMS 38: To help in court cases where slander fouled up the
proceedings.
PSALMS 39: To turn around a court case when false testimony has been
given.
PSALMS 40: For protection against evil spirits and to cast them out.
PSALMS 41: To restore a good name if slander and gossip have ruined a
reputation.
PSALMS 42: For spiritual guidance; for answers in dreams; for love
reconciliation.
PSALMS 43: To work against slander and wicked people; to turn back evil.
PSALMS 44: To guard and protect against enemies, invading armies, or war.
PSALMS 45: For peace between husband and wife; to calm an angry
spouse.
PSALMS 46: To help a struggling marriage; to soothe marital tensions.
PSALMS 47: To gain favor from those in power; for mastery over people.
PSALMS 48: To destroy hateful and envious enemies; to seize them with
terror.
PSALMS 49: To help heal and ease serious illnesses, diseases, and fevers.
PSALMS 50: For healing; to overcome fevers and other forms of sickness.
PSALMS 51: For cleansing and removing sin, especially after acts of
revenge.
PSALMS 52: To end all manner of gossip and calumny by poison-tongued
people.
PSALMS 53: To protect from enemies whose names are known or unknown.
PSALMS 54: To give protection by reversing works of evil and malice.
PSALMS 55: To call upon the Lord to bring down retribution against
attackers.
PSALMS 56: For intercession by the Almighty to remove temptation and
bad habits.
PSALMS 57: To turn around one's luck, changing bad luck into good luck.
PSALMS 58: For warding off snakes and wild beasts; to reverse evil unto
enemies.
PSALMS 59: To bring down the vengeance of the Lord against one's
enemies.
PSALMS 60: For the Lord to march into battle and protect His soldiers.
PSALMS 61: For a new home to be fixed with good fortune, happiness, and
peace.
PSALMS 62: For forgiveness of sins and to gain the blessing of the Lord.
PSALMS 63: To protect from being victimized by business partners and
investors.
PSALMS 64: For protection, especially while at sea, and for a safe return.
PSALMS 65: For road opening that breaks through barriers and leads to
success.
PSALMS 66: To remove evil spirits; to heal those possessed; for wishes to
come true.
PSALMS 67: Against illness and fever; to free one imprisoned or bound; for
protection.
PSALMS 68: Recited while preparing baths that are used to exorcise evil
spirits.
PSALMS 69: To free one from slavery to addictions and unhealthy habits.
PSALMS 70: To cast down and reverse the wickedness wrought by enemies.
PSALMS 71: To release clients from prison, for acquittals in court cases.
PSALMS 72: To craft talismans that bring favor; to bless children for
success.
PSALMS 73: To protect travelers against religious persecution, for a healthy
heart.
PSALMS 74: For an end to persecution and to destroy oppressors and
persecutors.
PSALMS 75: Used along with specially prepared baths for the cleansing of
sins.
PSALMS 76: For the Lord's intercession, to protect from all attacks.
PSALMS 77: Used against danger, poverty, chronic illness, drought, and
famine.
PSALMS 78: To gain favors from kings, princes, and other government
officials.
PSALMS 79: To utterly destroy the wicked and also to cast fatal curses.
PSALMS 80: To end spiritual doubts and to prevent people from falling into
unbelief.
PSALMS 81: To save people from error and mistakes, for safety from
accidents.
PSALMS 82: To facilitate business deals and assist those making
investments.
PSALMS 83: To keep clients safe during times of war, persecution, and
captivity.
PSALMS 84: For healing, especially when the body has contracted unusual
odors.
PSALMS 85: To soften hearts and restore peace to friends who have become
enemies.
PSALMS 86: To bring goodness, spiritual peace, and happiness to the
community.
PSALMS 87: To cleanse the community before starting healing and blessing
work.
PSALMS 88: To remove evil and bring blessings; used with baths and
talismans.
PSALMS 89: To anoint the sick, to secure a release from prison, for psychic
vision.
PSALMS 90: Used with Psalms 91 for protection; also to bless the work of
the hands.
PSALMS 91: For protection from distress and harm; to exorcise evil spirits.
PSALMS 92: Prayed over herbal baths used to bring good fortune and high
honors.
PSALMS 93: Against prosecution by unjust and oppressive men; to win in
court.
PSALMS 94: For protection and to turn all evil back onto your enemies.
PSALMS 95: To cleanse sins; to pray for guidance and forgiveness for
enemies.
PSALMS 96: To bless a family and bring happiness, peace, and joy to them.
PSALMS 97: Used with Psalms 96 for healing, blessing, and cleansing a
family.
PSALMS 98: To restore peace between two hostile families; to bless a
home.
PSALMS 99: For praise and devotion to God; to gain conversation with
God.
PSALMS 100: To bring victory against enemies by uplifting the client.
PSALMS 101: For protection against enemies and to be rid of evil spirits.
PSALMS 102: For assistance in matters of fertility and to be granted grace.
PSALMS 103: For help in conceiving of a child and for the forgiveness of
sins.
PSALMS 104: To cleanse away evil; to bless natural curios and spiritual
supplies.
PSALMS 105: For healing illnesses, especially recurrent or periodic fevers.
PSALMS 106: For healing and to restore one to health, especially from
fevers.
PSALMS 107: For remission or healing from periodic or recurrent fevers.
PSALMS 108: Utilized in a spell for financial success in your place of
business.
PSALMS 109: Used in a powerful curse against oppressive, slanderous
enemies.
PSALMS 110: For victory; to cause enemies to bow before you and beg for
mercy.
PSALMS 111: Recited to acquire many friends, as well as respect, and
admiration.
PSALMS 112: To increase in might and power, for success, abundance, and
blessings.
PSALMS 113: For those in need; to stop infidelity, for fertility, pregnancy,
and childbirth.
PSALMS 114: Used in a spell for success in matters of finance, business,
and money.
PSALMS 115: To foster truth-telling, for victory in a debate over scoffers
and mockers.
PSALMS 116: Recited daily for protection from violent or sudden death or
injury.
PSALMS 117: For forgiveness of a failure to keep a vow or promise that
you made.
PSALMS 118: For protection against misguidance; to find a new home to
live in.
PSALMS 119: The longest Psalm, its 22 alphabetic divisions cover all
human problems.
PSALMS 120: For success in court and protection against snakes and
scorpions.
PSALMS 121: For safety at night, both during sleep and while traveling in
darkness.
PSALMS 122: For peace within a city, and to gain the favor of those in high
station.
PSALMS 123: Employed in a spell to cause a servant, trainee, or employee
to return.
PSALMS 124: Cleansing of the soul, protection at sea and from being
wronged.
PSALMS 125: For protection in foreign lands and against those who work
iniquity.
PSALMS 126: After a miscarriage or the death of a child; for the next child
to live.
PSALMS 127: Placed in a mojo for the protection and blessing of a
newborn baby.
PSALMS 128: For a fortunate, accident-free pregnancy; for uncomplicated
childbirth.
PSALMS 129: Recited daily to prepare one for a long life of virtue and
good works.
PSALMS 130: Recited to the four quarters when passing by sentries in a
war zone.
PSALMS 131: Recited three times a day to reduce one's sin of pride and
scornfulness.
PSALMS 132: To remediate one's unpunctuality and failure to perform
duties on time.
PSALMS 133: To retain the love and respect of friends and family, to gain
more friends.
PSALMS 134: For altar work in matters of higher education and for success
in school.
PSALMS 135: For repentance, spirituality, and rededication of one's life to
God.
PSALMS 136: Recited on behalf of those who wish to confess and be
cleansed of sins.
PSALMS 137: For cleansing of the heart and soul from hate, envy, evil, and
vice.
PSALMS 138: Recited daily to bring love and friendship from the Lord.
PSALMS 139: To nurture and maintain love, especially within the context
of marriage.
PSALMS 140: To restore tranquility and to preserve and maintain
relationships.
PSALMS 141: To ward against terror and fear and against looming
oppression.
PSALMS 142: To heal the body, restore health, and alleviate pain and
suffering.
PSALMS 143: To heal bodily limbs, especially the arms and to alleviate
pain.
PSALMS 144: To speed up healing and to ensure the perfect mend of a
broken arm.
PSALMS 145: To cleanse and purify clients who are beset by ghosts or evil
spirits.
PSALMS 146: Used with altar work for healing and recovery after being
wounded.
PSALMS 147: To heal wounds, snake or insect bites, heartbreak, and heart
surgery.
PSALMS 148: Used with Psalms 149 to keep clients safe from accidents by
fire.
PSALMS 149: Used with altar work to protect against fire-related accidents.
PSALMS 150: For the glory of the Lord and to give thanks for His
intervention.
INSCRIBED SPELLS
Inscribed spells are those which utilized the power of a name or word from
which to draw power. This can cover a large variety of different spells, as
most involve some sort of inscription. You’ll see several of these
throughout this work alone.
While pens are fine to use for this, many who explore traditional magickal
paths prefer to use natural goose or bird feather quills to increase the spell’s
efficacy and connection with the natural world. As you may have guessed,
however, the color of the quill used is important to the overall effect of the
spell. Here are a few basic color and what they mean:
WHITE: Quills that have been bleached white are excellent for healing and
protections spells, as the color white represents purity and sanctity. As such,
they are also good for sanctifying new decisions.
GREEN: As you probably guessed, quills that have been dyed green are
traditionally used for wealth and gambling spells. It can also be used for
spells that regard fertility or Earthbound possessions.
RED: Red is the color of intensity, and quills that sport this color are
excellent for love and seduction magick. If you’re looking to inject some
passion into a relationship or stir up intensity between yourself and another,
this is the quill color you want.
BLACK: Black quills are mostly utilized for spells that verge off into the
destructive category. This can include things like revenge or hexes, but it
can also signify intense protection to ward off the darkest of energies.
BLUE: Blue is a color of peace, perfect for clarity and calm. This color is
ideal for matters that involve a need for muted emotions or calm
communication,
YELLOW: Yellow signifies joy, and, as such, quills of this color are used for
for with depression and sadness. Yellow quills can be used for inscription
spells that involve healing from grief or processing pain.
ORANGE: This color is ideal for unblocking the creative senses, as, much
like yellow, it is a color of flowing energy and happiness.
Note that, in purchasing a quill, nearly all are sold intact with their original
rounded tips. Once your quill arrives, you will be expected to cut the end
into a fine V shape for writing. Once the tip becomes worn, you may recut
it. This process can then be done over again until the stalk of the quill
reaches the feathering. Once this happens, it is time to purchase a new one.
Additionally, one can expect to find specialized inks in occult shops that are
designed to work in tandem with specific spell types to accomplish a given
goal. The three most common of these are Dragon’s Blood ink (for spells of
wealth, protection, power enhancement and blessing), Dove’s Blood ink
(for love spells, romance, passion, or fidelity), and Bat’s Blood ink (for
destruction and revenge magick.
Use a combination of the above elements for any spell requiring an
inscription to boost the spell’s power and efficacy.
LOVE SPELLS
P ractitioners generally advise against performing a love spell to attract

a specific person. Rather, perform the love spell to attract new love
or love in general, and allow the universe to deliver the right person
to you. This takes it away from the manipulative form of trying to control
and change a person's will.
Another consensus is that the optimal time to perform a love drawing spell
is on a Thursdays with a waxing or full moon, or a similar Sunday.
NEW LOVE
ATTRACTION LOVE CHARM
In a still place outside, such as a garden, wrap a silver ring in a clean white
cloth while basking in the light of the full moon.
Bury the package in a small hole whilst focusing on all the general, positive
aspects of the lover you would like to attract.
Once the package has been buried and you have focused clearly on the
aspects, pour a deep, red wine into the ground and recite these words:
Blessed mother fair and true
This gift I offer unto You
Bless this ring and make it shine
Bring a lover to be mine
Let it Be So!
At the next full moon, unearth the ring.

Wear it and give thanks. If your lover is near, they will gravitate towards
you.
LOVE-DRAWING INCENSE
Incense is a powerful way to increase and hasten the effects of a spell.
When you are focusing on attracting your love, burn this Love-Drawing
incense.
If you have a date or a social occasion, use this incense while you interact
with them to draw your love to you.
Gather:
2 cups dried orange slices (see below)
1 cup cinnamon bark mixed with cinnamon chips
1 whole cracked nutmeg
½ cup dried rosebuds (crumbled)
¼ cup whole cloves
Method:
Grind the above ingredients separately first, then combine and grind
together in the order given above.
Add the following to the powder in the order given and stir in between:
1 tablespoon dragon’s blood
7 drops cassia oil
7 drops neroli oil
7 drops sweet orange essential oil
½ cup of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground, and dried orange
peel, ground bay leaves, and powdered Queen Elizabeth root.
Once combined, form into spheres and store in an air-tight container.
Method:
Take a large seashell, give thanks for bringing your love to you, place a
white-hot charcoal block in the seashell and burn the incense on top.
To make dried orange slices, preheat your oven to 185 degrees F (85
degrees C).
Slice around 4 medium oranges (3 large or 5 small) to a ¼ ".
On foil, place the orange slices in the oven and bake for 7 hours (or until
completely dried).
Turn as needed.
This recipe will yield you approximately 3 cups of dried oranges which can
be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 year.
ATTRACTION LOVE SPELL

If you have a particular person to attract or even if you want to simply
attract love in general, this is a very strong love spell and can be used with
the Love-Drawing Incense.
Wait until a full or waxing moon and perform this spell by its light for the
most powerful effects.
Gather:
A pink candle
Your favorite scent that sparks joy in your soul (a perfume or essential
oil are both acceptable)
A toothpick
Method:
Focus on the pink candle and give thanks for the love it will bring you.
Take the toothpick and engrave a heart in the candle, concentrating on
the positive aspects or name (if known) of your intended lover.
Place the candle on a windowsill that catches the most moonlight and
face the heart towards the moon.
Gather the desired scent and face it towards the moon.
As you still yourself and concentrate on your greatest love, light the
candle and say:
Oshun bestow upon me the love that I need; let this scent attract (my
lover / or lover’s name, if known) to me!
Give thanks and allow the candle to burn out naturally.
Before you leave the house, spray on your desired scent, repeating the
charm, and give thanks.
IMPROVING A RELATIONSHIP
MAKE YOUR LOVE STRONGER
Improve your love with this 6-night ritual.
Gather:
Parchment paper – cut into 7 small squares
60 straight pins
6 red candles
Cinnamon incense
Method:
Use one red candle for each night.
In the evening by the light of a full or waxing moon (a soft lamp can be
put on to help visibility but make sure to position yourself and your
work area in the moonlight).
See all the good things about your lover clearly in your mind's eye.
Focus intensely on all the ideal aspects of their personality.
Prepare your candle each night by sticking 30 pins down one side of the
candle, and then repeating with the other 30 pins on the other side of the
candle.
As you stick in each pin give thanks for something about your lover. It
can be the same character trait or different ones.
Write the name of your lover on the parchment paper 3 times.
Take the parchment written with your lover's name and put it under the
red candle.
Light the candle and let it burn down.
While it is burning down, write your lover's name 3 times on each of the
remaining parchment papers.
Give thanks for all their positive aspects.
Save the pins for the next night's use.
In the morning smudge the parchment papers with the cinnamon incense
and take 4 pins and stick one on each side of your lover's name on the
paper parchment (above, below, to the left, and the right).
Take the wax from the burned-out candle, the parchment, and the pins
and bury it under your doorstep.
That evening put 28 pins down one side and 28 pins down the other side
of the next candle and repeat the process.
On the 7th morning gather all the wax, papers, and pins, give thanks for
the improvements of your relationship as you bury them all in the same
hole beneath your doorstep.
SPIRIT OF LOVE FLOORWASH
To increase love and good feelings in your home make this floor wash and
wash in all the areas you and your lover frequent.
Gather:
1 bucket of rain or mountain spring water
5 drops neroli oil
4 drops sweet orange oil
2 drops cassia oil
½ cup orange blossom water
⅛ concentrated lemon-scented dish detergent
Method:
Mix the ingredients in the order listed above.
As you mix the ingredients slowly, give thanks for the best aspects of
your partner.
Focus intently on all their positive traits.
Protect your hands and scrub the surfaces where you will be together.
Continue to focus intently on all the things you love about them.
Give thanks for the improvement.
Seal any remaining wash in an airtight container and use it within 3
months.
LOVE POTION
A delicious potion to drink with your lover to increase love and passion.
Gather:
Red wine
Cardamom Pods
3-4 orange slices
Method:
Gently heat the red wine
Add 2 cracked cardamom pods
Heat slowly for 10 minutes or until warmed through.
Focus intently on your lover's desirous aspects, the parts of them that set
your soul on fire.
Give thanks for your lover.
Add 3-4 thick, juicy orange slices in the last minute of heating.
Pour into 2 glasses and drink with your lover.
Toast to your love and give thanks for each other while drinking it.
BRING BACK AN OLD LOVER
BRING BACK YO EX
If you want a lover to return to you, this is a powerful spell and must be
used wisely.
Gather:
Your ex-lover’s dirty left sock
White paper
Sweet Basil Oil
Red candle
Glass of water
A barrel (or large bucket, wooden is best)
Method:
On the piece of paper, write your lover’s name three times.
Go to the garden or still place in nature and dig a hole in the morning.
Place the paper in the hole first.
Next place the dirty sock on top of the paper.
Concentrate and see your lover returning.
Light the red candle and burn the sock and paper using the candle flame.
At noon, put a few drops of sweet basil oil in a glass of water and place
them next to the candle.
Light the candle and burn for 1 hour. Be sure to pinch the candle out
with your fingers at 1 pm.
At 6 pm return and burn the candle for 1 hour.
At 7 pm place the barrel over the candle flame.
Knock on it 3 times to call the spirit.
Recite the following:
Tumba Walla, Bumba Walla, bring (lover’s name) home to me.
Remove the barrel, take the water, and extinguish the flame of the candle
with it.
Give thanks to the spirit.
COMPEL AND COMMAND SPELL
This is a spell that should be used with caution as it is used to command
some to love you.
When forcing or commanding someone to change their will, be sure you are
certain before entering into this realm as there is always a risk with these
endeavors.
Gather:
Brown paper – cut into a square
Pen with red ink or red pencil
Red candle
Method:
Find a still place. Perhaps burn some Love-Drawing Incense and center
yourself at a place where you can comfortably write and focus.
Light the red candle.
Using your red pen or pencil write your lover's name 9 times on the
brown paper.
Turn the paper 90 degrees to the right and write your name over theirs
nine times.
Breathe and focus intently on your heart's desire.
While staying in the place of focus, fold the paper in half, three times.
Hold the paper to your heart and say:
I command you, I compel you
Love me, as I love you
I command you, I compel you,
(Name) return to me now!
Burn the paper in the flame of the red candle.

Gather the ashes and spread them to the wind, giving thanks for the
return of your lover.
The universe will now take control.
Once spells are cast there is an incubation period of between 27 to 29
days, which follows the moon cycle.
If you have not been reunited with your old flame within this time
period, repeat the above. You can repeat once every moon cycle to
strengthen the intention.
TO MAKE YOUR EX COME HOME
Gather:
9 deep red or pink candles
A few drops of Van Van oil
White, hand towel or cotton cloth
Some boiled and semi-cooled water
Brown paper
Red pen or red pencil
Method:
Wait until just before the hours of seven, nine, or eleven.
Write your ex-lover's name three times on each candle (if the ink proves
difficult, carving the name with a toothpick or a pencil will work just as
well).
Put a few drops of Van Van oil in the purified water.
Wash the candles in the water and dry with a white cloth.
Give thanks for your lover's return.
As you continue to give thanks for his return, write his name on the
brown paper three times.
Place the 9 candles as the hour is striking.
Call his name three times while lighting the candles.
Allow to burn for an hour and give thanks for his return while pinching
out the candles with your fingers.
SWEETENING SPELLS
PASSION OIL
Gather:
1 ¼ cup sweet almond oil
¼ cup sesame oil
½ cup apricot or peach kernel oil
1 vitamin E capsule
1 essential oil set**
Method:
To create the carrier oil, mix the first 4 ingredients together.
Once you have combined those, use a dropper to add your chosen
essential oils, and swirl.
Using a funnel, pour into a glass bottle.
** Family Essential Oil Scents
Earthy Musk Scent – patchouli, lavender, sandalwood, vanilla (absolute
or fragrance oil)
Sweet Floral Scent - ylang ylang, palmarosa, neroli, vetiver
Green Citrus Scent – lime, rosemary, clary sage, lavender
One set is 4 drops of each oil mixed together.
Use:
Use this Passion Oil as a romantic rub before lovemaking or after a hot
bath to lift your spirits.
This makes about 2 cups and can be kept on the shelf for up to 6 months.
LOVE MOJO BAG

The mojo is a powerful device to keep your beloved, and anyone who
comes into contact with you, sweet.
This work should be performed on a Friday during a waxing moon. Friday
is the day of Venus.
Gather:
Red flannel to create the bag with red string
1 whole nutmeg
Pinch of dried Gilead buds
1 pair of lodestones (male and female)
3 dried rosebuds
1 dried chili pepper
A handful of magnetic sand
3 drops of attar roses
Method:
This work should be performed using your dominant hand only.
Fill the bag with the first 6 ingredients.
Sprinkle with magnetic sand and seal the bag.
Feed the bag with the attar roses immediately after sealing.
This can be repeated twice a month, on a Friday, or as needed.
LOVE BUD LIP SMACKER
Gather:
1 teaspoon cocoa butter
1 teaspoon shea butter
½ teaspoon beeswax pastilles
1 tablespoon safflower or grapeseed oil
1 vitamin e capsule (or ½ teaspoon wheat germ oil
1/8 teaspoon fragrance oil (either watermelon, peach, strawberry, or a
scent that ignites your joy)
Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the first 4 ingredients in a stainless steel or Pyrex container. Allow
to bake in the oven for as long as it takes to melt. Keep a close vigil to
make sure it does not burn.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes but not congeal.
Swirl the vitamin e capsule and fruit-flavored oil.
Pour into the desired lipstick or lip balm container tin and leave to set.
You will get about an ounce of lip balm and it has a shelf life of 6
months.
SAME-SEX LOVE SPELLS
LOVE POTION
Proceed with caution. This is one of the strongest love potions so be clear
and sure of your intentions before proceeding.
Make sure no one other than your intended looks, touches, or tastes the love
potion.
Gather:
9 oz. sweet red wine (try non-alcoholic red wine or red grape juice if you
require)
9 basil leaves
9 red rose petals
9 cloves
9 apple seeds
9 drops vanilla extract
9 drops strawberry juice
9 drops apple juice
1 ginseng root, cut into 9 equal pieces
9 pink votive candles
Method:
This Love Potion can only be performed at the 9th hour (9 am) on the
9th day of the 9th month of the year.
Light the 9 candles and by their light heat a cauldron or metal pot.
Add the 9 ingredients in the order above.
With a wooden spoon, stir the pot 9 times and recite:
Let the one who drinks this wine
Shower me with love divine.
Sweet love potion number nine
Make his/her love forever mine.
Bring to a boil then drop the heat to allow to simmer for 9 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Once it has stopped bubbling and is only steaming blow on it 9 times
and for each time you blow on the potion bless it in the name of the 9
goddesses (below).
Allow to cool down and strain through a cheesecloth.
Pour in a glass, airtight bottle, and refrigerate until serving.
When your beloved is in your sights, pour the potion for them to drink
but be sure before you pour it that this is the one.
The effects of this potion are strong and can be difficult to control or
reverse.
LOVE JAR
Gather:
Lavender
Honey
A small mason jar with a lid
Coriander seeds
Cherry bark
Honeysuckle flower
Ginger root
Method:
Fill half of the jar with honey.
Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time, focusing on the love you
feel and the type of partner you would like to attract.
Fill the remainder of the jar with honey.
Give thanks for the love they will bring to you.
Seal the jar, and if you have a particular person in mind, write their name
on the top.
RULE DA’ MAN SPELL
This spell is to help you garner some control of the man you desire.
Gather:
His dirty sock
One silver coin
A lock of his hair
Piece of paper
Male lodestone
Steel dust
2 needles
Whiskey
Method:
At your altar or workspace, layout his dirty sock, with the sole facing up.
On the paper, write his name 3 times and place the paper on top of the
sock.
Place the silver coin on the paper.
Place the hair on the silver coin.
Place a piece of male lodestone on top of the hair.
Sprinkle this with steel dust and recite:
Feed the he
Feed the she
This is feeding the lodestone.

Fold the sock with the heel on the toe and roll the entire thing into a
parcel, tightly.
Pin it all with two crossed needles and wet it with whiskey.
Set this over the door to your home.
PEACEFUL HOME SPELLS
PEACEFUL WATERS
Gather:
White candles (one for each room)
Oil of white rose
Purified water (mountain spring or boiled and cooled)
Method:
In the light of a full moon, light white candles about your home, one for
each room.
Give thanks for the joy your walls have seen.
Concentrate on peace and stillness and invite it in.
In a bowl mix, 2 tablespoons of water and 5 drops of white rose oil FOR
EACH ROOM.
So if you want to invite peace into 5 rooms you will mix 10 tablespoons
of water and 25 drops of white rose oil.
Sprinkle the scented water in each room and give thanks for the peace it
brings.
Pinch each candle out and know that peace is here, each time reciting:
Let it be so!
ELLEGUA CLEANSING RITUAL

This ritual is done every day for 3 days.
Gather:
3 eggs
Palm oil
Rum
Cigar
Paper bag
Method:
Take the 3 eggs, rub them with palm oil, and spray them with rum and
cigar smoke.
Place the items in a paper bag then rub all over your body from head to
toe.
Visual the negative energy leaving whilst praying to Ellegua to cleanse
you.
Then, crush the 3 eggs on 3 separate corners away from your home.
Once again, pray to Ellegua to cleanse you and remove obstacles from
your path.
Ellegua's day is a Monday, so the ritual should be started then and end
on Wednesday.
HOME BLESSING
Gather:
Your family
Holy water, enough to sprinkle in each room of the house.
Method:
Gather your family and say the prayer together, moving from room to
room and sprinkling holy water as you go.
Lord, our God, You whose home is in heaven and on earth,
Surround this shelter with Your Holy Spirit. Encompass
our home with the power of Your protection so that no evil
or harm will come near. May Your blessing and protection
shield our Home and family from destruction, storm,
sickness, and all that might bring evil to those who live here. (Members may
take
turns praying the following and sprinkling water in each room)
Blessed be this doorway. May all who come to it be treated with respect and
kindness. May our comings and goings be under the seal of God’s loving
care.
Blessed be this living room and family room. May we truly live within it as
people of peace. May prayer and playfulness never be strangers within its
walls.
Blessed be this dining room. May all our meals be reminders of the
presence
and love of God in our home, lives, and world.
Blessed be this kitchen. May our meals remind us always of the many
blessings of this life, and may the ill seasonings of anger and bitterness
never
poison the meals prepared here.
Blessed be this bathroom. May the spirits of health and healing abide here
and teach us to honor and love our bodies and minds.
Blessed be these bedrooms. Here we shall find rest, refreshment, and
renewal. May the spirits of love and affection together with the spirits of the
angels touch all who shall use these rooms.
Blessed be all the rooms of this home. May each of them be holy and filled
with the spirit of happiness.
May our door be always open to those in need and may the holy light of
God’s presence shine brightly in this home.
May it be a blessing for all who live here and for every one who shall come
to
our door.
FERTILITY SPELLS
F ertility spells are less tricky then love spells, yet you should still
proceed with caution, especially if you are performing it for
someone else. It is a subject that can bring up fraught emotions.
However, if you are successful, aiding a new life into the world is one of the
most beautiful experiences as a rootworker. May your journey be blessed!
TO INCREASE FERTILITY
YAYA POWDER
Gather:
Vetiver
Cinnamon
Sage
Rose
Method:
Grind each ingredient into a fine powder.
Mix with a base of cornstarch or baby powder.
Lie in bed and sprinkle this powder on you to increase fertility, increase
male potency and protect against miscarriage.
PINE PROTECTOR
Pinecones are known for their powers to aid in health, protection, and
fertility.
Gather:
As many perfect, unopened pinecones as you may need for your house.
Method:
Keep perfect unopened pinecones in the corner of your bedroom,
personal bathroom, and workspace.
They are good for fertility, long life, good health, and warding off the
Evil Eye.
If they open and begin to shed their seeds, plant and replace.
ROYAL CONDITIONING FRAPPE – QUEEN OF SHEBA

Gather:
3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
5 drops frankincense essential oil
5 drops myrrh oil
5 drops sandalwood essential oil
5 drops attar of roses or rose geranium essential oil
1 teaspoon avocado oil
½ cup coconut water
½ cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon raw clover blossom honey, gently warmed
2 tablespoons red wine
Method:
This is best made in a waxing or newly full moon.
Pulse the aloe vera gel, frankincense oil, myrrh oil, sandalwood oil, attar
roses, and avocado in a food processor for 30 seconds.
Add the coconut water, coconut milk, honey, and wine and blend for a
further minute.
Seal in a glass jar.
Best used immediately in a bath bathed in pink and white candlelight.
MAWU’S LATHER
This lather is the first step before embarking on fertility rites and love
rituals. Very potent under a new moon.
Gather:
1 cup fresh yucca leaves (roots can be used too. If leaves are dried halve
the amount)
½ cup soapbark
1 cup fresh soapwort (roots can be used too. If leaves are dried halve the
amount)
1 cup fresh burdock leaves (If leaves are dried halve the amount)
1 cup fresh southernwood (If leaves are dried halve the amount)
1 cup fresh sage leaves (If leaves are dried halve the amount)
4 cups spring water
1 cup Irish moss
½ cup ground Queen Elizabeth root
5 drops sandalwood essential oil
5 drops frankincense oil
5 drops ylang ylang oil
5 drops vetiver oil
2 tablespoons 100 proof vodka
Method:
Take the yucca, soapbark, and soapwort and either pulsate in a blender
for 90 seconds or put in a bag and mash 50 times with a hammer.
Heat in a cauldron or metal pot until it starts to bubble.
Add burdock, southernwood, and safe and simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool.
When the brew is cool, pour it into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Set out under the moon (The Mawu) and allow to steep overnight.)
The following day blend the brew in small batches and strain through a
cheesecloth.
Put the Irish moss in a small pot and cover with the brew, put the
remainder to the side.
Heat slowly for about 20 minutes.
With a whisk beat in the Queen Elizabeth powder into the remaining
brew until creamy.
Once the moss has rehydrated, usually about 20 minutes, strain the moss
and add it to the creamy brew as a thickener.
In a small bowl mix the vodka and oils.
Take the thickened, creamy brew and blend with the oil mix.
Funnel into a glass bottle with an airtight lid.
Store in the refrigerator.
You should get about 8 washes from this recipe, and it will last about a
month.
Use as a preliminary to lovemaking and before other fertility spells to
increase potency.
NEFERTITI’S MILK BATH

This bath should be used together as a couple before lovemaking to increase
potency and fertility.
Best with pink and white candles and in a new moon.
Gather:
1 cup whole milk or cream
1 cup orange blossom water
¼ dup aloe vera gel
5 drops rose geranium oil or attar of roses
5 drops myrrh oil
½ cup white kaolin
1 cup fresh flower petals from your favorite flower that sparks the most
joy in you.
Method:
In the light of pink and white candles, run the bathwater and add the
milk.
In a bowl, whisk the aloe vera gel and orange blossom with the rose oil
and the myrrh.
Pour this mixture under the running tap.
Once the desired depth is achieved call your partner, light some incense,
and sprinkle the flower petals once you are both immersed.
SENSUAL FOREPLAY OIL
Use this oil for head, foot, and full-body massages.
Increases fertility and potency.
Gather:
1 cup sweet almond oil
½ cup rosehip or sweet almond oil
1 vitamin E capsule
5 drops white lotus oil
5 drops neroli oil
5 drops sandalwood oil
Method:
Mix ingredients in the order given.
Swirl to mix and decant to a squirt-top bottle.
Keep in a cool dry, place away from direct sunlight.
Warm oil in the palms of your hands before use.
PRENUPTIAL WASH
This powerful spell creates a magickal space for positive visualization and
increased potency and fertility.
Gather:
4 cups spring water
1 sweetgrass braid
1 cup fresh yucca root (If dried, halve the amount)
1 cup fresh corn silk (If dried, halve the amount)
1 tablespoon slippery elm bark
2 tablespoons dried elderflowers
A handful of fresh flower petals of your choice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon sunflower oil
10 drops white pine oil
10 drops cedar oil
10 drops juniper berry oil
1 tablespoon 100-proof vodka
Method:
Step 1: Draw the Spirits of the fire
Boil the water on an open flame in a cauldron or metal pot. A gas stove
or campfire grill will do.
Light the sweetgrass braid on fire to begin the sacred ceremony, blow
out the flame and smudge the space (slowly wave the smoldering braid
above your head and in the space, you are working), focusing on the
cleansing and protection it gives before the work you are about to
undertake.
This invokes the Native American spirit of the prairie. She will pull you
through any ordeal with her openness and perfect beauty.
Inhale the vanilla smoke and give thanks.
Focus on releasing anxiety and building positive thoughts while
breathing through your nose to slow counts of 6.
Circle the smoking braid around the heating cauldron and visualize your
positive energy and good thoughts having a scalding heat and as they
build they bring the pot to a boil.
As the pot boils move to a state of complete calm and stillness.
Step 2: Invite Earth and Water

In a bag, pound the yucca 50 times with a mallet until it is pulp.
For each pound you make, release any tension you feel to the earth.
Hold your head over the pot and allow your sweat to drip inside.
Add the pulverized root.
Add corn silk, slippery elm bark, elderflowers, and your flower petals.
Allow to reach near boiling over a medium heat.
Each of these ingredients are well known Native American beauty
medicine.
Step 3: Invoke the Air

Strain the brew.
Mix the sunflower, white pine, cedar, and juniper oils in a small bowl.
Swirl in the vodka and inhale the gentle fragrances.
Slowly drop the oils into the brew.
Pour the entire brew into a pitcher and give a last swirl before use.
Light pink and green candles around the bathtub, pour the bath.
Light incense.
Bless the bathwater and bathroom with smoking sweet grass.
Share the bath with your lover and use the brew as both a shampoo and a
body wash.
Can be stored for up to 30 days.
TO MAKE A WOMAN BARREN
It goes without saying that this is terrible curse to unleash upon someone, so
be careful why and how you do it. Hoodoo is a play of balances, if you take
something away, you must be prepared to lose something as well.
TO MAKE A WOMAN BARREN
Gather:
Guineafowl egg
Cayenne Pepper
Goofer Dust
Rainwater
Paper
Red Ink
Method:
Write the name of the woman 3 times in red ink on paper.
Take the egg of a guinea fowl, and roll it in cayenne pepper and
Goofer dust.
Boil it in a pot of clear rainwater until it is hard.
Bury the paper and the egg in a graveyard
This will cause the woman to be barren.
BREAK UP A COUPLE JAR

Gather:
1 ½ pint Mason jar with lid
Vinegar
Lemon verbena
Red pepper flakes
Walnut leaves
Petition (paper and pen)
Method:
Best performed in a waning moon
Fill the jar up with vinegar leaving room for the herbs.
Write the names of the couple you want to split up on a piece of paper
and add to the jar.
Seal the jar.
Leave to steep in the light of a waning moon for 2 weeks.
SPELLS FOR SUCCESS
FEED THE SAINTS
Gather:
Egyptian Paradise Seed (Ammonium Melegrcta)
2 small bags
A picture of St. Peter
A picture of St. Michael
Method:
Split the seeds into the 2 bags.
Put the picture of St Peter on your front door with 1 bag of seeds behind
the picture.
Put the picture of St Michael on your back door with 1 bag of seeds
behind the picture.
7 BEAN MOJO WISH SPELL

Gather:
7 Job’s Tears or 7 Mojo beans.
Method:
In the waxing moon period place on bean or tear in your pocket for 7
days.
On the 7th day take all the beans or tears and go to a running body of
water such as a stream or a river.
Make your wish and finish with:
… in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Throw the beans over your left shoulder so they land in the running
water.
Leave and do not look back under any circumstances or your wish won't
come true.
PROSPERITY JAR
Gather:
Honey
Petition (paper and pen)
Allspice
Bayberry
Patchouli
Tonka beans
Strawberry leaves
Cloves
Method
Best performed in a waxing moon period.
Fill the jar halfway with honey.
Add the ingredients one at a time, focusing your intent as you do.
Write down your desired outcome of the situation.
Visualize your desired outcome clearly and add as much detail as you
can.
Top off the jar with honey and give thanks for it is done.
As you seal the jar say:
Let it be so!
Seal the jar and leave it in the light of a waxing moon until it is full.
Discard of the jar.
Can be repeated every moon cycle until your desired vision is complete.
PROPHETIC VISIONS JAR

Gather:
Vinegar
Epsom salt
Talcum powder
Calamus Root
Method:
Fill the jar halfway with vinegar.
Focus on the visions you would like to see to garner success.
Add the salts, powder, and root individually.
Seal the jar and say:
Let it be so!
Place the jar under your bed where your head rests and discard it after
one week.
SALT AND SALTPETER BATH FOR PUTTING ENEMIES UNDER YOUR

FEET
This spell is taken from Hyatt’s Folklore from Adam’s County and left in its
original form.
Now, if -- when yo' wanta be lucky an' stay lucky so yo' kin jest --
yo' know, thrive and have prosperity, yo' git chew a nickel worth of saltpeter
an' a tablespoonful of that and put it into yore water, five quarts of water an'
take a tablespoonful of table salt an' mix with that an' let it boil down.
An' after yo' gets dat five quarts of water, yo' heat it. Whenever it
start tuh, look like it gon'a boil, yo' jest stir this salt an' brimstone together
an'
then when yo' begin tuh lie down {at night}, yo' ake yore bath with it. An'
when yo take yore bath with it, yo' save dat water an' throw it east. An'
every
time yo' throw yo' explain lak dis -- say, "Lord, moves thine evil influence."
An' that [is called] puttin' de enemies under yore feet.
[Waycross, Ga., (1118, small-time root woman), 1796:1]
MONEY ATTRACTION SPELL
Gather:
A bill in your currency.
Buckeye.
Fast luck oil.
Method:
This simple spell works to attract the divine forces of money to you. A
dollar bill should be wrapped around a buckeye and then anointed with
the fast luck oil. This charm should be carried in the pocket to attract
money.
OSHUN PROSPERITY SPELL

This spell is a supplication to the goddess Oshun, a loa believed to possess
the powers of conferring wealth and success upon an individual according
to ancient Yoruba folklore.
Gather:
An orange rind.
Dried orange leaves.
Brown sugar.
An iron pot.
Method:
Add the ingredients to a pot heated on the stove.
Burn them until they smoke heavily.
Remove from heat and recite over the burnt offerings:
Oshun oguao mi inle Oshun igua iya mio, igua iko bosi iya mi guasi, iya mi
omo iyalode, oguo mi inle ashe Oshun
Note: if you are uncomfortable with the language, you can offer a short
prayer to Oshun asking for success, money, and prosperity.
MONEY SPELLS
A s with every other spell I have described, this type of magic will
not create something out of nothing. Instead, it works as a magnet
for the thing that you desire. In this case, money. When you are
setting your expectations, it is important to be realistic about it so that it
aligns with your intentions. If you are hoping that somehow money will fall
from the sky or that a tree in your garden will suddenly start sprouting
dollar leaves, you will be disappointed, no spells can bring you money
overnight. However, a more realistic expectation would be the hope that
your business will begin booming or that you will find favor with
financially influential people who would be happy to share their wealth with
you.
Attracting money and creating a sustainable source of income is a desire
that we all have and is not a wish to be ashamed of. As we all know, wealth
does not always go to the most hardworking among us. It goes to those who
have the greatest opportunities and know what to do with those
opportunities. Hoodoo spells work with this kind of logic. You are not
tipping the balance of power by being greedy. Instead, you are bending the
elements that guide and control wealth and manipulating them to do your
bidding. You receive wealth by ensuring that the right conditions are
aligned to deliver the results that you want.
MONEY DRAWING SPELLS
It is more useful to set up an altar to attract money rather than a one and
done spell. To see how to build a money-attracting altar refer to the end of
the chapter and the seventh volume of the series.
TRINKA FIVE MONEY-DRAWING SPELL
Gather:
A wooden bowl or trinket bowl that you find beautiful.
3 silver or gold coins.
Method:
Hold the coins in your right hand and recite:
Trinka fire, Trinka fire,
Ancient Spirits come Alive,
Money grow, and money thrive,
Spirits of the Trinka fire
The coins should be dropped in the bowl.

Place the bowl in a conspicuous place in your house where you can look
at it every day.
Repeat the ritual daily for 9 days.
PLANTING GREEN
Invite prosperity spirits into your home by attracting them with fragrant
gifts and giving them a handy place to live.
In pots place:
Honeysuckle
Jasmine
Bergamot
Camellia
Roman Chamomile
Place these pots around your home, especially if you have a home office,
altar, or studio where money transactions or business is done.
MONEY DRAWING SPIRITS ALTAR OFFERINGS
Gather:
Fenugreek
Cinquefoil (Five finger grass)
Alfalfa
Basil
Marjoram
Vervain
Bay
Place these leafy green herbs around your money altar or workspace to
attract money-drawing spirits and invoke prosperity.
MONEY-BRINGING SPIRITS ALTAR OFFERINGS
Gather:
Sandalwood
Vetiver
Nutmeg
Black tea
John the Conqueror
Little John Chew
Ginger
Cinnamon
Allspice
Horse Chestnuts (Buckeye)
Cloves
Money-bringing spirits are drawn to these musky plants that have an aroma
of the Great Mother, like freshly tilled earth.
MARIE LAVEAU'S FLOOR WASH FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
Here is a formula used by Marie Laveau for washing the floors of a
business to bring in customers. It smells divine.
Ammonia
1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered cinnamon
30-40 drops cinnamon essential oil
1 cup nutmeg
1 cup cloves
1 cup mint leaves
20 drops mint oil
Pint of whiskey
Add the above dry ingredients to a bucket that you have filled 3/4 full with
hot boiling water. Stir well, then add the oils. Stir again and add the
whiskey. Stir again. Pour some of the mixture into the four corners of your
place of business; then mop the floors with it. Throw the remaining water to
the east at or before sunrise.
MONEY, PROSPERITY, AND LUCK OFFERINGS

Ancestral spirits enjoy the following offerings of food, money, and drink.
Include them in your offerings on your altar or combine them with herbs in
a jar to attract money, prosperity, and good luck.
Honey
Molasses
Red wine
Gin
Vodka
Rum
Blackberries
Grapes
Oats
Corn
Wheat
Oranges
Coconuts
Pineapples
Coins and paper money
FINANCIAL STABILITY
A CHARM TO GET A BETTER JOB
Gather:
Green flannel cloth (small, the parcel should fit in the palm of your
hand)
Salt
Magnetic sand
Pyrite blend
Hemp string
Money drawing incense
Charcoal block
Method:
Lay the green cloth down and throw a pinch of salt, magnetic sand, and
pyrite blend in the center.
Take up the corners until you create a bundle and tie closed with the
hemp string.
Heat the charcoal block and place it on a fireproof dish.
Burn the incense on the charcoal block.
Pass the parcel through the smoke 9 times and recite with each pass:
Essence of light, earth, and fire, send me the job that says, "please hire".
Send me better money, a better job, that I will be happy, wealthy,
prosperous, and proud!
Before each interview, hold this parcel and visualize yourself walking
into the room radiating confidence.
See yourself being able to pick and choose from amazing jobs.
Give thanks and finish with:
Let it be so!
Carry this charmed parcel into each job interview in a pocket or bag.
HIGH JOHN MONEY POWDER
Gather:
1/3 cup John the Conqueror root chips
½ cup dried rose petals
¼ magnetic sand
5 drops attar of roses or rose fragrance oil
Method:
Grind the root chips and rose petals into a powder
Add in the magnetic sand.
Mix in the rose oil or attar of roses.
Shake well.
Seal in an airtight glass jar and let mature for 5 weeks.
Shake the contents every Tuesday and Thursday in the moonlight to
charge with air spirits.
Once the 5 weeks have passed open in the light of a waxing moon (full
is fine too, but never waning) and sprinkle on your money.
Add this High John Money powder to anything you want to add
prosperity to.
Money jars or mojo bands, money altars, coin plates around the house,
and, of course, wallets and purses.
The powder can be stored for up to one year in an airtight glass
container.
MONEY BATHING RITUAL
Gather:
2 cups coarse sea salt
2 cups Epsom salts
A handful of mixed vervain (leaves or flowers), peppermint, and
elderflowers.
½ cup sea kelp
5 drops pine oil
5 drops eucalyptus oil
5 drops Teatree oil
¼ cup fool’s gold (pyrite) chips
2 handfuls fresh pine needles
1 cup dried vervain
1 cup dried basil
1 green candle
Ground allspice
Ground cinnamon
Olive oil
Method:
Put Epsom and sea salts in a bowl.
Crumble the elderflower, vervain, and peppermint over the salts.
Stir in the kelp.
In a separate porcelain or clay bowl, swirl the oils together.
Using a dropper, drop the oils over the salt mix.
Add the fool’s gold and stir.
Stow away in an airtight container for 2 weeks.
Shake nine times daily at the 9th hour (9 am) with your dominant hand
and focus on giving thanks for the prosperity and abundance you already
have thus allowing more to flow.
After 2 weeks, mix a little olive oil with the cinnamon and ground
allspice.
Go to the bathroom you would like to commence the ritual in. You may
scrub with a cleansing floor wash or smudge with sage prior to this to
ready the space.
Rub this mixture onto a green candle while focusing on allowing a
stream of prosperity.
Light the candle and place it where it will bath you in its light while you
bathe and as close to the window as possible.
Tear the pine needles and crumble the vervain and basil leaves.
Spread the leaves along the windowsill and floor in your bathroom.
Draw a warm bath.
Add 2 cups of the salt blend to the water whilst blessing the bath.
While bathing allow yourself to focus on your desires and how uplifted
you will feel when you. Receive them.
Once out of the bath, pinch the candle out and proclaim:
Let it be so!
GAMBLING
This is in no way an incitement to gambling, it can be a dangerous affair,
and if you can avoid it, do so. However, historically Hoodoo has always
been a gambler’s aid, so I would be remiss not too include this (also, who
doesn’t want to win at poker?). Proceed with caution.
LUCKY PRAYER
Gather:
A petition (pen and paper)
Whole nutmeg
Green ribbon
Fast luck oil (find the recipe in the chapter on Good Luck Oils)
Method:
Write the Apostles Creed Backwards (see below) on the petition.
Fold it around a whole nutmeg.
Bind the package with a green ribbon, thanking the spirits for their luck
and the wins you will receive.
Anoint with Fast Luck Oil
Proclaim:
Let it be so!
And carry with you when you gamble for a winning streak.
The Apostles Creed (original):
I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin
Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
LUCKY GAMBLING MOJO

Gather:
A green small bag.
Green hemp string.
A pinch of ground John the Conqueror root.
A coin with your initials scratched in.
A pair of lodestones (male and female).
Magnetic sand
Method:
Place the male and female lodestones in the green bag.
Place a pinch of magnetic sand in the bag and charge the lodestones by
saying:
Feed the he, feed the she.
Add the root powder.
Seal the bag with the hemp string and focus on your good luck.
Give thanks for it is done.
Carry in your pocket when gambling.
WIN AT CARDS
Gather:
Bat heart root or Devil’s pods
Red silken string
Method:
Before an evening of cards, tie the bat heart root or pods to your
dominant arm with the red, silken string.
You will win every game of cards you play.
RIGHTFUL COMPENSATION
TO GET A LAWSUIT DROPPED
Gather:
A straw broom
A growing Shame Brier
Red flannel
A growing Rattlesnake Master
Needle and red thread
Black thread
Method:
Cut one straw from a broom for each party that may harm you in court
(judge, lawyer, witnesses); cut each straw precisely 4 inches long.
Brooms are used to sweep away evil, and the straws will help sweep
these people from your life.
Find a Shame Brier. Dig up and cut 4 inches of the root.
Bundle the straws around the root with the black thread making one full
turn around the straw and one knot for each straw.
As you do this recite:
(Name) be shamed.
Go to the Rattlesnake Master and dig out and cut 5 inches or more of the
root.
As you dig and cut the root, recite:
I, (your name), am the master.
The master root represents you and the longer length reinforces your
dominant will.
Wrap and tie the master root to the bundle with the red string.
Make one turn and one knot for each straw reciting:
(Name), thus do I master you.
Roll the bundle in red flannel and sew it up into a tight package.
Carry this package in your person for the next 7 days and every time you
go to court.
The lawsuit will either be dropped or if it progresses to court, it will be
settled in your favor.
SWEET COURT JAR

Gather:
Glass Jar with a tight-fitting lid
A petition (pen and paper)
The person's hair, if available, or anything of theirs including an image
of them.
Honey, molasses, corn syrup, or cane syrup. Some practitioners work the
syrup closest to the skin color of the person they want to influence.
A brown candle.
Method:
Write the person’s name you want to influence.
Place in the jar with their hair or image or other personal item.
Fill the jar with the sweetener closest to their skin color. Whilst doing so
visualize the desired outcome.
Seal the jar and burn a brown candle on top.
Burn for 7 days and visualize your intent.
Pinch out the candle and every time declare:
Let it be so!
A SEVEN-HERB COURT CASE MOJO

Gather:
Petition of brown paper.
A pinch of calendula.
A pinch of anise seed.
A pinch of deer’s tongue.
A pinch of celery seed.
A pinch of tobacco snuff.
A pinch of cascara sagrada.
A pinch of dill seed.
Brown thread.
Little John Root.
Small hessian brown bag.
Method:
On the paper write the adversary’s name 3 times.
Turn the paper 90 degrees and write your name 3 times, crossing their
name.
Add the ingredients one by one to the center of the brown paper.
Folding the paper into a roll, away from you, recite 3 times:
May this trouble be removed from me.
Tie the packet with thread and put it in the hessian bag.
On your way to court chew a Little John root and spit it on the package
to feed the mojo hand.
Seal with brown thread.
SETTING UP A MONEY ALTAR
The Hoodoo altar varies from practitioner to practitioner, however, what
remains the same is that it is a safe space where you will not be disturbed.
Be it a space on your floor or the dresser in the bedroom, create a safe space
where you can store your herbs and tools and work in peace.
As Hoodoo comes from humble origins this does not have to be flashy nor
the tools modern.
This is merely a place for you to do your work without disturbance.
Setting up your altar should be undertaken with love and care. From
smudging the space and charging the right candles to putting out the desired
offerings for the spirits you want to attract; it is a personal endeavor and one
which thought should be given.
THE BASICS
1. First off find a flat surface to do your work, a large stone, a dresser, a
table; these are all appropriate.
2. Next, cover the surface in a white cloth.
3. Two white candles should be placed at the back, on either end of your
altar.
4. In front of the image on your altar, in the middle is where your incense
burner should go.
5. To the right of the incense burner place your holy water or purified
water you have blessed.
6. Your altar and everything on it should be blessed or consecrated.
7. Your candles should be blessed and dressed.
8. All the bowls and other containers should be washed with salt water
after each use.
MONEY DRAWING ALTAR

Gather and place:
Green candles.
Burn incense with any of the following ingredients:
Vervain
Peppermint leaves
bay leaves
cloves
Orange peel
Sandalwood
Cinnamon sticks or chips
Oils to sprinkle include:
Lavender oil
Lime oil
Clary sage oil
FINANCIAL STABILITY ALTAR

Gather and place:
Green pillar candles with dollar signs carved in.
Rub the candle with a green cloth with a few drops of bay laurel oil.
Place seven money pod seeds around the candle.
When doing any work, light the candle and allow it to burn for 2
minutes.
Pinch out the flame and add a few drops of bay laurel oil near the wick
and relight.
Burn the financial stability candle when doing your work.
GAMBLING ALTAR
Gather and place:
Green or gold candles
Bowl with 3 blessed coins (scratch your initials in if desired)
Dress altar with any of the following:
John the Conqueror powder
The gambling Mojo bag
Powdered ginger in a bowl
Bat heart root or Devil’s pods
Black-eyed pods
Buckeye nut
Dice
Ace of diamonds
RIGHTFUL COMPENSATION ALTAR

Gather and place:
Brown candles
Dress with any of the following:
Fast luck oil
The apostles' creed written backward.
Lucky gambling mojo bag.
A pinch of deer’s tongue.
A pinch of celery seed.
A pinch of tobacco snuff.
A pinch of cascara sagrada.
A pinch of dill seed.
LUCK SPELLS
T he best time to undertake work that draws luck in money & love is
Thursday & Sunday under the Waxing Moon or Full Moon.
Colors associated with this type of work include Gold (Money),
Green (to Draw), Pink (Luck in Love) & Red (Sexual Luck).
GAMBLING LUCK SPELLS
ALLIGATOR POWER
Wear an alligator's tooth around your neck. Do not approach either the
ocean or river while wearing it, or it will lose its power.
Goddess sea scrub for prosperity, luck, and compassion
Gather:
¾ of a bucket of rainwater or lightening water
3 Anil balls
¼ cup coarse sea salt
1 cup Bulgarian rose water
Pinch baking soda
Dash vinegar
Method:
Add the ingredients to the bucket of water in order.
Allow to sit for 30 minutes, stirring periodically until the balls and salt
dissolve.
If you are having a gambling night at your house, scrub the entryway
and door with it as well as the area you will be hosting in.
If you are going elsewhere, scrub the soles of your feet and the soles of
your shoes to carry the luck where you go.
LUCKY HAND WASH

Gather:
2 cups fresh chamomile flowers
2 chamomile tea bags
3 cups rainwater
2 tablespoons 100-proof vodka
8 drops German chamomile oil
Method:
Boil the water and remove it from heat.
Leave for 3 minutes.
Put the chamomile flowers in a bowl and pour the hot water over and
allow to steep for 15 minutes.
Strain the chamomile brew over a new bowl.
Stir in the vodka.
Add the oils one drop at a time.
Funnel into a glass spritz bottle when tepid.
Spritz on your hands before you gamble and between games (in private).
LUCKY GAMBLING MOJOS
BASIC GAMBLING MOJO BAG
Gather:
A red small bag.
Red hemp string.
A pinch of ground John the Conqueror root.
A coin with your initials scratched in.
A pair of lodestones (male and female).
Magnetic sand
Method:
Place the male and female lodestones in the green bag.
Place a pinch of magnetic sand in the bag and charge the lodestones by
saying:
Feed the he, feed the she.
Add the root powder.
Seal the bag with the hemp string and focus on your good luck.
Give thanks for it is done.
Carry in your pocket when gambling.
VARIATION 1
Make Basic Gambling Mojo Bag as above.
Add Five Finger grass with Lucky Hand Root and Alligator foot.
Feed the bag with Hoyt's Cologne before play.
VARIATION 2
Make Basic Gambling Mojo Bag as above.
Add Five Finger Grass, cinnamon chips, cloves, and three Mojo beans.
GOOD LUCKS OILS (TO BE USED IN SPELLS)
LUCK AND CLARITY BLESSING OIL
Gather:
2 ounces of carrier oil such as Apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, sweet
almond oil, or vegetable glycerine.
2 tablespoons frankincense
1 tablespoon benzoin gum
Method:
In an earthen bowl place, the carrier oil.
Drop in the frankincense and benzoin gum.
Swirl to mix and place in a stoppered bottle with a narrow neck.
Anoint your temples and forehead after you bathe in the morning to
bring luck and clarity throughout the day.
FAST LUCK OIL

Gather:
2 tablespoons of citronella oil.
Method:
Drop in the citronella oil.
For business, put in a scrub and scrub the doorway to attract customers.
For money-drawing or gambling use in your altar or mojo band to feed
the bag.
RED FAST LUCK OIL

Gather:
2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
2 tablespoons of vanilla.
Method:
Drop in the cinnamon and vanilla oil.
Use to clean the soles of your shoes to clear a lucky path for your day.
Add to a scrub to wash your front and back doors in conjunction with
Feeding The Saints Ritual.
MAGIC BROOM GOOD LUCK AND PROSPERITY
SPELLS
MAGIC BROOM GOOD LUCK AND PROSPERITY SPELL
Gather:
A block of charcoal
Cowry shell
Money drawing incense
Hemp cord
Any Coin
Piece of abalone shell
Miniature broom
Method:
Light a piece of the charcoal atop a fireproof dish.
Place a small pinch of your incense on top of the smouldering charcoal.
As it burns, take your hemp cord and knot it around the handle of the
broom. Once this is complete, add your charms:
The cowry shell represents general good luck
Your coin’s purpose is to bring wealth
Abalone adds protection for your business and personal finances.
The cord should have seven knots in it. As you tie each one, focus on
what you specifically desire.
When you are done recite:
Spirits of the wilderness
I appeal to you,
Bring into my home
All that is shiny and new.
Spread hope and prosperity,
Contained within this grass,
May my life with wealth and
prosperity be amassed.
So be it.
Once you are finished, hand the created talisman in your home or office, or
simply anywhere you want your efforts to be concentrated.
WHISK BROOM RITUAL

To make the Magickal Whisk Broom gather:
Natural, unbleached raffia
Hemp string
A string of cowry shells
Felled pine branch for luck, about 18 inches long (better if you can find
one struck by lightning)
Dried stems of any or all:
lavender
Artemisia
Rosemary
Peppermint
Sage
Juniper
Hyssop
Method:
Sand down any rough parts of the branch to form the handle.
Place the herbs to form the sweeping end of the broom, wrapping with
raffia a layer at a time.
Once desired thickness is achieved, thread cowry shells onto the hemp
string and wrap around the handle.
Method for the Whisk Broom Ritual:
At sunset, lay the whisk broom outside in the grass and allow to sit
overnight.
At sunrise when the first rays start to hit the broom take up the broom
and sprinkle the dew in your home reciting:
Spirits of the wilderness,

I appeal to you,
Bring into my home
All that is shiny and new.
Spread hope and prosperity,
Contained within this dew.
Like this special sunrise,
May my home be renewed.
After the ritual, carefully dismantle the broom.

Burn the raffia and hemp.
Bury the cowry shells on their string.
Go to a body of water (a stream or river is best), and toss the herbs into
the water over your left shoulder.
Walk away and do not look back.
HOODOO BROOM LORE

Once you have started practicing Hoodoo, your power will be awakened,
therefore it is important that you watch your actions even when you are not
practicing. For the broom there are two important rules that you should
follow:
Never sweep your house once the sun has set. Your luck will be swept
away with it.
Never sweep while you have guests in your home unless you want them
never to return.
HEALING SPELLS
A part from a few all-encompassing root doctors, rootworkers

nowadays cannot fullfil the role of healers as they once did (not
unless they are also herbalists, doctors, or therapists). However,
your magic can still stave off malevolent forces, aid physical pain, and even
treat mental illnesses. Please be careful how you perform these spells,
sometimes when we mean to do good, but are still unexperienced we may
cause more harm than we think.
TO COMBAT MALEVOLENT FORCES
TO SPIRITUALLY CLEANSE THE HOME
Gather:
Pentagram of Solomon, cleansed and blessed, to wear as a
necklace
Ammonia
Chinese Wash
Florida Water
A brand-new mop
A bucket
2 spray bottles
Method:
In the bucket mix all the ingredients apart from the mop and pentagram
necklace.
Wear the necklace and in a new moon wash the floor of your house from
the front door to the back door.
Sleep with the necklace on until you can feel the spirit has left.
Afterward, you can hang it above your bed for continued protection or
place it on your altar as part of your work.
THIRTEEN HERBS FOR THIRTEEN-DAY BATHING

Gather:
Choose twelve of the following herbs (plus salt to make thirteen) for
Thirteen-Day Bathing:
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria): Wards off curses, provides protection.
Angelica (Angelica archangelica): Contains uncrossing properties.
Bay leaves (Laurus nobilis): Wards off evil.
Boldo (Boldoa fragrans): Wards off evil.
Boneset (Eupatorium ageratoides): Wards off jinxes.
Burdock/bat weed (Arctium lappa): Contains both uncrossing and
protection properties.
Caraway (Carum carvi): Protection and healing.
Celandine (Chelidonium): Protection, especially against witches.
Cinquefoil/five finger grass (Potentilla anserina): Uncrossing and
protection.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus spp.): Eradicates evil and
protects.
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum): Wards off evil.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis): A purification herb.
Lemongrass (Andropogon): Wards off evil and brings in good luck.
Peony (Paeonia): Jinx breaker.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis): Used for cleansing and purifying
negativity.
Rue (Ruta graveolens): Jinx breaker and protection.
Salt (sodium chloride): Preferably kosher salt or sea salt, which is used
for purification and protection.
Method:
Place thirteen tablespoons of every herb/ mineral into a plastic bag or a
jar and mix well.
Use one tablespoon of the mixture per day for 13 days.
Place the herbs in a small pot with hot water to steep.
Strain into a bath and bathe every night by the light of purple and white,
charged candles.
QUIET THE SPIRIT JAR

Gather:
Vinegar
Fern
Pine needles
Wood betony
Boldo leaf
Blackberry leaves
Anise seed
Method:
Fill the jar with the vinegar of your choosing halfway up.
As you add each ingredient, focus on banishing the spirit and protecting
your loved ones. Fill the remainder of the jar with vinegar and screw
shut.
This can be placed under your bed, under your front porch, buried in
your family and friends' homes to ground the magic, or be put in your
place of business.
HEAL PHYSICAL PAIN
HEALING THE BODY PAINS
Gather:
The clearest piece of amethyst you can find, or, alternatively, a piece of
Fluorite.
Method:
Find a spot that allows for meditation and clear your mind.
Hold your crystal in the hand closest to the physical pain you feel.
(Should the pain reside in the center, simply hold the stone in your
dominant hand. If you are true ambidextrous, hold it in your right hand.)
Once you are in position, visualize a bright white light gathering at your
fee and moving slowly upward toward your head. Imagine it filling up
every part of your body and banishing the pain. Then, recite:
Bright light, shining light
Heal my hurts with all thy might.
Cite this several times as the light migrates from place to place within
you. As the light finally reaches your head, visualize it expanding to fill
the area around your head as well.
Then, push all your healing energy at once into the painful area.
If this doesn't work the first time, repeat it as many times as it takes.
In ending the spell, repeat the prayer but finish with
So be it.
VOODOO DOLL HEALING SPELL

Gather:
A white voodoo doll.
A personal effect of the person who needs healing.
White silk ribbon.
A petition (pen and white paper).
White candles.
Holy oil or blessing oil.
Method:
Write the person’s name on the white paper 3 times.
Attach the paper and the personal effect to the voodoo doll with the
ribbon.
Anoint 2 white candles with holy oil and set them on either side of the
doll.
Anoint the doll with holy oil.
Light the candles and pray for good health and healing.
HEALING PRAYER
Gather:
Hyssop
Sandalwood
Olive oil
Sieve
Funnel
Decorative bottle
Method:
This spell should only be cast on a Monday evening in a waxing moon.
Strain the olive oil into a bowl.
Strain out the herbs using a fine sieve.
Recite the following:
Wholesome herbs of hyssop and sandalwood
Release your ashe
For it contains all that is pure and good
Gently swirl the oils into the strained olive oil

Fragrant nuggets so rich and warm
Imbue this peace oil with your magick
Swirl the blend again and began pouring it through a funnel into the
decorative bottle
No more harm,
No more harm!
Herbs, leaves, and stones work like a charm.
TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESSES
TO HEAL THE MIND
Gather:
Single Peony root
Mojo bag
Small cross
The hair of the person who is affected
A petition (paper and pen)
One or more of the appropriate oils:
Protection oil
Blessing oil
Cast off evil oil
Run devil run oil
Method:
In the mojo bag place the single pony route.
Place the small cross and, the hair of the person.
On the paper write their name three times.
Place the name in the bag.
Seal the bag and anoint (or feed) the bag with the appropriate oils
according to the circumstances.
SALT BATH FOR UNDOING TRICKS

Gather:
Saltpeter
Hot water
Natural sea sponge
Method:
Draw a hot bath.
Mix the saltpeter and hot water in a small bowl.
With the natural sea sponge, use downward strokes to wash yourself in a
hot bath at night.
Start from the face and move to the bottom of the body nine times.
Take the leftover water and throw it towards the first light of sunrise.
HEALING THE MIND

Gather:
2 blue candles
A palo santo stick and fireproof dish
White paper and a blue pen
Method:
Any time you feel the need, light the candles and palo santo and recite 3
times:
Begone from me, worry and woe!
I have the strength to break free and the wisdom to know.
As I breathe this sacred smoke, my calm will grow.
I call upon my inner guide to help me take it slow.
My serenity and tranquillity will overflow.
With harm to none, blessings to all.
Wave the pen and paper in the Palo Santo smoke.

Trust yourself and trust your heart.
Write down whatever may pop into your head. Feeling a tingling in your
head at this point in the spell is a very good sign. Once you are finished,
pinch out the two candles.
Keep the message close for further healing in the coming days.
SPELLS FOR JUSTICE
DAY IN COURT SPELL
Gather:
15 drops Cinnamon Oil
15 drops Calendula Oil
15 drops Frankincense Oil
15 drops Carnation Oil
A piece of devil’s shoestring
A pinch of Galangal Root
Method:
This spell should be cast before an accused person goes to court to help
him get acquitted.
The above oils should be blended within a carrier oil, and the piece of
devil's shoestring and a bit of the galangal root should be added in.
The mixture should be prepared three days before your appearance in
court and added to the water for bathing for the three days before the
court appearance.
On the court day, the mixture should be used to anoint the arms, chest,
and throat.
The mixture may also be used to rub the hands before important legal
documents are signed.
COURT TRIAL VICTORY SPELL

Gather:
2 petitions (paper and pen)
A dish
5 drops sweet almond oil
3 white candles
Method:
This spell is performed by writing the names of all opposing witnesses,
the judge, and the opposing lawyer on separates pieces of parchment
paper.
The pieces of paper on which the names have been inscribed should be
placed in a dish, and some sweet oil poured over the dish.
Every morning from nine in the morning to ten, a white candle should be
burned beside this dish.
On the day of the trial, the dish is to be placed on top of your hoodoo
altar, where it must remain until the trial is over.
COURT CASE VICTORY SPELL

Gather:
As many petitions as you have opponents in court
A tin can
Soot or ashes from a chimney
6 white candles
30 pins
An ice bucket with crushed ice.
Method:
This simple spell is performed by writing the name of all your legal
opponents on a piece of paper.
The paper is to be placed in a can to which soot and ashes from a
chimney or fireplace are added.
After that, get six white candles and stick pins in them in the shape of a
cross.
Burn the candles, and then set the can in an ice bucket.
Afterward, recite Psalm 120 before the court session and inside the
courtroom.
Psalm 120:
In my distress, I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false
tongue?
Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
OCHOSI SPELL TO OBTAIN JUSTICE

Gather:
3 fresh fruits
3 bird feathers
3 rooster feathers
Cat hair
Dog hair
John the Conqueror powder
10 Power powder
Petitions for all those involved (pen and brown paper)
Crimson and green ribbons
Method:
Ochosi is the Voodoo loa for justice.
Write the names of all involved on a piece parchment paper with a
pencil. If applicable, also write their office or position.
Take your feathers and powders and wrap them with the paper you’ve
written on and finish my binding it with the crimson and green ribbon.
Bury the pouch in the courtyard until the case is solved.
Offer Ochosi the three fresh fruits you’ve selected by taking them to the
woods or mountains and politely asking for your desire. Be sure to
replace them when they rot.
TO SLOW DOWN AND CONFUSE COURT CASE OPPONENTS

Gather:
Poppy seeds
Celandine herb
Calendula Flowers
Inflammatory confusion oil
Brown candle
Toothpick
Method:
Take the toothpick and inscribe the names of the persons whose
testimony or paper filing you wish to confuse.
Mix the poppy seed, celandine herb, and calendula flowers with
inflammatory confusion oil and rub the mixture on a brown candle.
Burn the candle.
Say a prayer to dominate and prevail.
Finish off with:
Let it be so!
TO CONFUSE COURT PROCEEDINGS

Gather:
Poppy seeds
Black mustard seeds
Small, brown hessian bag
Hemp string
Method:
Mix the poppy seeds and black mustard seeds.
Place in the hessian bag and seal with this string.
Carry in your pocket to disrupt and cause confusion in court.
This is particularly effective in disrupting the activities of troublesome
people.
JUSTICE MOJO BAG
Gather:
A Brown hessian bag
Hemp string
Male and female lodestone
Magnetic sand
A petition (pen and brown paper)
Fast luck oil
Blessing oil
Method:
On the petition write down the desired verdict.
Place in the hessian bag.
Place the male and female lodestone in the bag.
Place the magnetic sand in the bag, on the lodestones.
Add the pinch of calendula and the anise seed.
Seal the bag.
Feed the bag with fast luck oil and blessing oil.
Sew into an item of clothing you will wear for court or if you are unsure
of the court date, sew into a pillowcase.
CROSSROADS SPELLS
"If you want to learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar, and
your go-to where the road crosses that way, where a crossroads is. Get
there be sure to get there just a little ' fore 12 that night so you know you'll
be there. You have your guitar and be playing a piece there by yourself … A
big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and he'll tune it. And
then he'll play a piece and hand it back to you. That's the way I learned to
play anything I want." - Tommy Johnson
In conjure, rootwork, and hood, crossworks magic is very powerful.

Using crossroads magick can help you access the power to be completely
proficient and gain enormous talent in a particular skill seemingly
overnight.
Be it playing an instrument, singing, dancing, or throwing dice, heading to a
crossroads at midnight or just before dawn allow you to be able to petition
for your chosen gift.
At the crossroads, it is said you will meet the loa Legba, often confused for
the devil, and if petitioned correctly, he can bestow upon you the legendary
skill your heart so desires.
In many cultures and folk tales, crossroads are said to be where the different
realms meet and where slipping from one to the other is easier as they
touch, if only briefly.
These crossroads, approached at the right times, with the right intentions,
present a place which is “neither here nor there” or considered “between
worlds”.
The crossroads then beckons to those who want to touch the other side,
contact the spirits, and bear witness to paranormal events.
More than anyone else, the blues musicians have proclaimed the magick of
the crossroads and have kept both the legends and the magick alive with
their musical tales.
In blues legends, they specifically talk about the crossing of highways 49 &
61 in Mississippi as the site where many musicians went to sell their soul to
the devil (or as we know it to be, Legba) in exchange for abilities beyond
this world and notoriety.
The better-known original blues musician who sold his soul to play the
blues is Robert Johnson. However, it is a lesser-known fact that Tommy
Johnson was the first to petition Legba in the black of night.
It is Tommy who is credited with the corssorads legend.
The loas of the crossroads are Papa Legba, Ellegua, and Exu. These three
'gods' act as go-betweens, roaming between worlds, and playing spiritual
messengers between the spirit world and humans trying to contact them.
Legends state they can speak all human languages and can choose to pass
on your message to the spirits of Guinee or deny your request at their whim.
In both Hoodoo and Voodoo, the crossroads are treated with respect as they
play a crucial role and set the scene for a myriad of different rites, rituals,
and petitions.
Ritual remains can be left at the crossroads, you can dispose of spiritual
bath waters, curses can be lifted and many spells are performed and
amplified here.
Below are 7 crossroads spells and variations.
THE CROSSROADS SPELL

Gather:
3 shiny pennies
Method:
Hold the coins tightly in your right hand.
Tell Legba your problem.
Switch the coins to your left hand as the solution forms in your mind.
Once you are finished, cup your hands together and move the coins to
the seam of your palm, praying to Legba to make your vision come true.
Go three blocks from your house on foot in any direction.
Stop only when you come to a crossroads. Then, walk the four corners.
As you approach the last corner turn and walk diagonally towards the
center.
As you stand at the center, throw the pennies behind you, over your left
shoulder. Go straight home and do not worry any longer.
Legba’s influence will reveal the best option. (Teish, 1985).
QUICK DECISION CANDLE SPELL

Gather:
1 Red Glass 7 -day Novena Candle
3 Pennies
3 pieces of candy
3 Cigars with 3 Wooden Matches
A small bottle of Rum
A petition, written on paper
Method:
Clean the candle with saltwater and let it air dry.
Write on the petition paper the issue about which you need to make a
decision.
Take all of the items to a crossroads.
Lay down the petition paper on the ground, covering it with the pennies
and candy.
Place the candle in the center of the petition paper.
Arrange the cigars at the 12 o'clock, 4 o'clock, and 8 o'clock positions.
Place the candle in the very center. Place the unlit wooden matches at
the 2 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 10 o'clock positions.
Next, open the bottle of rum and take a small swig, swishing it but not
swallowing.
Spray it out over everything.
Place the remaining rum in the bottle down next to the candle.
Light the candle and depart without looking back.
Return home but do not take the same route you used to get there.
Repeat the offering every three days until change occurs.
LEGENDARY CROSSROADS RITUAL

The following rituals are from the oral tradition and recorded as such in
"Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft - Rootwork," a 5-volume collection of
folkloric material gathered by Harry Middleton Hyatt, primarily between
1935 and 1939. The narrative has been left in its original form to retain the
authenticity of the oral tradition.
Version 1:
Bring the item you wish to master -- your banjo, guitar, fiddle, deck of
cards, or dice -- and wait at the crossroads on three or nine specified nights
or mornings. On your successive visits, you may witness the mysterious
appearances of a series of animals. On your last visit, a “big black man"
will arrive. If you are not afraid and do not run away, he will ask to borrow
the item you wish to learn. He will show you the proper way to use the item
by using it himself. When he returns it to you, you will suddenly have the
gift of greatness.
Version 2:
If ah want tuh go gamblin', go to a crossroads 'fore de sunup
and have de dice in yore han's, an' look at de sun when she start tuh peepin'
up, an' yo' stay dere an' shook dem dice at dat crossroads until de sun gets
up where yo' kin see it. Ah'll do this -- thrown 'em out, thrown 'em out. Ah'll
do this *In de Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost.* An' ev'ry time yo'
throw
'em out *pop yo' fingers* -- "Dat ah may be lucky in my travels"
[quotation?]. Ev'r time yo' throw 'em out pop yore fingers an' aftah while
yo' see de sun rise. It will rise jes' a little bit up, after yo' done say de names
-- yo' see, it will
rise jes' a little bit up. Ah used to be a gambler but ah quit it.
(That will teach you how to be a good gambler?) Yes.
[Fayetteville, North Carolina, (1415), 2547:3).]
Version 3:
If you want to know how to play a banjo or a guitar or do magic tricks, you
have to sell yourself to the devil. You have to go to the cemetery nine
mornings and get some of the dirt and bring it back with you and put it in a
little bottle, then go to some fork of the road and each morning sit there
and try to play that guitar. Don't care what you see come there, don't get
'fraid and run away. Just stay there for nine mornings and on the ninth
morning there will come some rider riding at lightning speed in the form of
the devil. You stay there then still playing your guitar and when he has
passed you can
play any tune you want to play or do any magic trick you want to do
because you have sold yourself to the devil.
[Ocean City, Maryland, (14), Ed.]
Version 4:
You go out there [to the forks of a road] about four a'clock, jis'
commence dawnin' day, jis' about crack of day -- an' start a-pickin' at de
guitar. Yo' go jis' onest. An' they says de devil came out an' take it -- jis'
somepin will pull it from you, you jis' give up to it. An' he'll tune up an'
hand it back to you and you start to play . You can pick any song you want
to pick.
[Wilmington, North Carolina, (241), 239:4.]
Version 5:
Now de fo'ks of de road -- now, in case dis is whut chew wanta
do, if yo' wanta learn hoodooism. See, if you wanta learn hoodooism, you
go to de fo'ks of de road. Go dere -- yo' leave home zactkly five minutes of
twelve an' have yo' a fo'k. Git chew a bran'-new silver fo'k an' git to de fo'ks
of de road an' git down on your knees an' stick dat fo'k in de groun'; see, an'
anything on earth yuh wants tuh learn an' know, things will come 'fore yo'
an' tell yo' what to do. See. But chew got'a be dere zactly twelve 'clock -- go
dere de third day but it's got'a be in de night, twelve 'clock in de night.
Version 6:
If you want to make a contract with the devil, first trim your finger nails as
close as you possibly can. Take a black cat bone and a guitar and go to a
lonely fork in the roads at midnight. Sit down there and play your best
piece, thinking of and wishing for the devil all the while. By and by you will
hear music, dim at first but growing louder and louder as the music
approaches nearer. After a time you feel something tugging at your
instrument. Let the devil take it and keep thumping along with your fingers
as if you still had a guitar in your hands. Then the devil will hand you his
instrument to play and will accompany you on yours. After doing this for a
time he will seize your fingers and trim the nails until they bleed, finally
taking his guitar back and returning your own. Keep on playing; do not
look around. His music will become fainter and fainter as he moves away.
You will be able to play any piece you desire on the guitar and you can do
anything you want to in the world, but you have sold your eternal soul to
the devil and are his in the world to come.
Version 7:
9 Sunday mornings go to crossroads at 9:00 read verse from psalm 36-136 .
9th Sunday you meet storm, rain, wind, snow after this you can do tricks –
anything you want.
10550. Go down to a crossroad, where a road crosses, nine Sunday
mawnin's. It's a very he'd [hard] thing tuh do. When yo' thought of doin' one
thing fo' nine Sunday mawnin's it's a good long while. An' meanwhile ah
come an' maybe somebody try tuh hol' him off, but yo' gotta meet at dis
same
place at de same time of day. Jes' lak ah say ah'll be dere at nine a'clock,
yo' gotta meet dere at nine a'clock fo' nine Sunday mawnin's at de
crossroads. An' yo' gotta read a verse out de Bible. (Do you know what the
verse is?)
It's de 36 Psalms, an' ev'ryone ends wit de same words - the 136th Psalms,
an' ev'ry verse ends dis chapter heah wit de same thing, de same words.
Well' yo' start wit dat an' yo' read it fo' nine Sunday mawnin's, an' de ninth
[Sunday] mawnin' yo'll meet what yo' didn't expect. Yo'll meet trouble dere,
storms, high winds or sompin of dat sort. Yo' cain't tell exactly whut's it
goin'
be, diff'rent, de ninth mawnin'. But anyhow yo' continue wit it an' when yo'
git through wit it, yo'll do whut chew wanta do so fur as tricks is concerned
an' wit'out bein' religious atall. But chew kin do anything yo' wants tuh do.
[Wilson, N.Car., (1476), 2655:3.]
Psalm 136
1: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth forever.
2: O give thanks unto the God of gods:
3: O give thanks to the Lord of lords:
4: To him who alone doeth great wonders:
5: To him, that by wisdom made the heavens:
6: To him that stretched out the earth above the waters:
7: To him, that made great lights:
8: The sun to rule by day:
9: The moon and stars to rule by night:
10: To him, that smote Egypt in their firstborn:
11: And brought out Israel from among them:
12: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm:
13: To him which divided the Red sea into parts:
14: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
15: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea:
16: To him which led his people through the wilderness:
17: To him which smote great kings:
18: And slew famous kings:
19: Sihon king of the Amorites:
20: And Og the king of Bashan:
21: And gave their land for an heritage:
22: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant:
23: Who remembered us in our low estate:
24: And hath redeemed us from our enemies:
25: Who giveth food to all flesh:
26:O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
CONCLUSION

THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO ADVANCED
SPELLCASTING AND CONJURE
Curse your Enemies and Protect your Friends with
Advanced Working Magic Spells
INTRODUCTION
on.
solid ground.
Hoodoo.
divination.
rootworker.
As you know, Hoodoo can be traced to when slavery was rampant in
America. In 1712, enslaved Africans dissented and set fire to buildings in
the downtown area of New York. They were led by Peter the Doctor, who
was a free man and a conjurer. He prepared an enchanted powder and
rubbed it slaves’ bodies, that would protect and empower them. During this
time, it was also common practice to use conjure bags as resistance against
oppressors. Those enslaved were known to carry protection charms. For this
reason, those who practiced Hoodoo were perceived as a threat by the
people who enslaved them.
The practice of Hoodoo, however, is far more extensive and complex than
just protection charms. It channels parapsychological power into manifest
one’s deepest desires. Over time, it has also been referred to as the
mindfulness of all things mystical, and as spiritual hypnosis. The practice is
adaptable and continuously evolving.
Simply put, Rootworkers are Hoodoo conjurers or practitioners. They likely
learned from their ancestors, and most practicing families are known to
make alterations to traditional forms as they deemed fit. However, the long-
standing ritual of Hoodoo is still rooted in self-empowerment and spiritual
growth. Hoodoo is entirely faith-based, which means you have to place
complete faith in the rituals and spells you perform. If you do not fully
believe that the spells will work, they will not work.
This book contains spells and rituals of varied degrees of difficulty. Start by
understanding the basics of the craft, before you attempt to progress onto
more advanced spells.
CONJURE THE SPIRITS
HOODOO AND RELIGION
F or a more exhaustive discussion on the subject, refer to the chapter

“The Role of Chrisitanity in Hoodoo” in the first volume of the
series. This short paragraph is only a modest introduction to much
more complex subject and it is only meant as a brief overview to establish
context for the practice. The Role of the conjure doctor, briefly discussed in
the upcoming chapter, can also be found, discussed more extensively in the
first volume of the series.
Hoodoo is a culmination of spiritual practices and traditions that was first
created by slaves in North America. As such, the beliefs associated with
Hoodoo are tied closely with traditional African religions while containing
a broadened scope to include certain botanical knowledge, among other
additions.
Due to the nature of its development, many Christian elements are
contained in Hoodoo, though they are wildly different. Hoodoo is also not
to be confused with Voodoo or Vodoun, a West-African religion with little
Western influence.
In fact, to understand Hoodoo, one must differentiate it from Voodoo.
Hoodoo roots its beliefs in many naturalistic and botanical materials that
can be obtained from outside the realm of civilization such as herbs,
minerals and sometimes even animals, whereas Voodoo (an Americanized
version Voodou) is a religion that worships an omnipresent creator and a
pantheon of other deities.
Hoodoo and by association, Hoodoo conjure, is a system of magick,
herbalism, witchcraft and divination that is all too often referred to as
“wicked sorcery.” It is important to recognize that while Hoodoo is not a
practice rooted in malevolence, it is also not a practice rooted in
benevolence. Hoodoo is used for both helping and harming, vengeance and
generosity. This is because in Hoodoo, spiritual energy is regarded as
neutral and the nature of a particular conjure hinges almost entirely on the
will of the practitioner.
This is primary reason Hoodoo and Voodoo are so often confused: both
consider spiritual energy a neutral force, used both for hexing and healing.
The distinguishing factor between the pair is that Hoodoo practices do not
require the conjurer to believe or adhere to the philosophies and religious
beliefs that Voodoo does. Hoodoo conjure is both learned and studied
without initiation into the Voodoo religion.
Additionally, Hoodoo is an unestablished folk tradition which has no
documents to pass down because it focuses on the natural world and its
ability to heal and was born under repression and shrouded in secrecy.
Therefore, Hoodoo is not passed down through books and documents like
Bible or a code of ethics. Instead, the practitioners of this religion pass their
powers and knowledge down to their descendants. In this book, I have tried
to pass down Hoodoo as I have learned to you, so that you may discover it
for yourself.
THE ROLE OF THE CONJURE DOCTOR
The conjure doctor is a paramount role Hoodoo. These practitioners are
traditional healers who utilize natural remedies to cure both physical and
spiritual woes. There is no gender bias, and Conjure Doctors can be either
male or female. Occasionally, they are also called rootworkers, conjurers,
trick doctors, ober men, witch, cunning woman and even two-headed or
double-headed doctors. Historically, almost anyone could become a conjure
doctor.
A community is generally aware of their conjure doctor, these figures will
help residents to heal, dispel monetary worries, solve disputes within
families, and virtually anything else. They do this through a process of
either casting spells or dispelling spells that have been previously cast by
other practitioners who could have possibly been ill-meaning.
The role of conjure doctor has many synonyms, all of which refer to
someone who is a practitioner of Hoodoo. The practices and ideals that
came to define one as a Root Doctor undoubtedly can be sourced from
Hoodoo’s origins in west Africa, where folk stories would often be passed
around regarding these mysterious healers.
Today, they traditionally treat people with homemade remedies such as
those made from mint, milkweed, sassafras, jasmine, wormwood, mugwort,
and more. Some of these plants are known to have legitimate medicinal
properties while others are used simply for the soothing aromas they
produce in order to accomplish a sort of psychosomatic affect.
Conjure Doctors also treat people of afflicting spells, though this process is
a little more complicated. First, the conjure doctor must determine that the
affliction is indeed, a spell. Indicators of a spell could include the affected
person suddenly developing extreme anxiety, being drawn toward a
particular person or place, or falls ill with no apparent cause.
THE DEAD AND DEATHWAYS
While death is ubiquitous, it holds an unparalleled importance in
communities practicing Hoodoo. Since the craft of Hoodoo is not
documented, people rely heavily on their ancestors to pass down
generations’ worth of knowledge. This knowledge often varies between
communities, and sometimes even families within the same community
have varied practices. This is why those involved the practice of rootwork
highly revere the dead, and pay heed to deathways. For instance, the Kongo
Yowa Cosmogram depicts a circle enclosing a cross, which represents the
human soul’s death and rebirth. The cross at the center symbolizes spiritual
communication.
Deathways give outsiders cultural insight into the community, because
practices considered frightening or odd by some may be considered as
sacred by others. They shed light on how a community perceives religion
and the afterlife. Hoodoo has life – it evolves and transforms to provide
strength to those who practice it. This strength is carried from one
generation to the next.
In Hoodoo, it is believed that when a person dies, their soul returns to God
but their spirit remains among their descendants in order to protect their
family. This is why communities of Rootworkers have historically preferred
to bury the dead, since they are a part of a culture with endless respect for
embodied funeral traditions. Funerals are long and elaborately planned,
with an equally long wake when friends and family of the deceased gather
around and reminisce. Stories are told, and their life is honored as they pass
on to the afterlife.
Rootworkers often visit their local cemeteries to know their ancestors, if not
in life, then in death, through the practices they have passed down.
Cemeteries are revered as a place of learning, but they become less
welcoming once the Sun begins to set. Some Rootworkers visit cemeteries
after dusk only during Samhain, which is the first day of November. It is
meant to encourage harvest and welcome the “darker” parts of the year.
It is also believed that during Samhain, the barriers between the physical
world and the spiritual world are the weakest. Rootworkers are known to
take soil and dirt from the cemetery on Samhain and leave dimes in buried
in the soil in order to thank the spirits for their generosity. They ask for
permission from the spirit the grave belongs to, and if the spirit does not
agree, they move on to the next grave. Rootworkers are extremely cautious
of which graves to collect from, because the energy of the dirt depends
entirely on the energy of the spirit laid to rest there.
HOW TO CONCEAL YOUR CONJURE WORK
Concealing your conjure work is also called “laying tricks.” It is the
practice of throwing ingredients or special herbs where the intended target
is likely to touch it. It can also mean concealing an object of majick by
placing it where it will not be found. This can be done in many ways,
including but not limited to the following:
PLACING THE OBJECT IN A TREE: It is believed that trees can conceal
negative energy and evil. Therefore, any rootwork with evil intention can be
buried at the base of a tree to neutralize its effect. Additionally, these evil
intentions can also be delivered to someone after being concealed in a plant.
ARTIFICIAL CROSSROADS: Indoor crossroads can be created by drawing a
cross mark or an X indoors. This is often done as part of protection spells,
fixing spells or to harm an enemy.
CROSSROADS: Placing evil mojo at the center of a crossroads will ensure
that the evil is destroyed when a vehicle runs over it. This method can also
be used to dispose of the remnants of a ritual.
UNDER CARPETS OR RUGS: Sweeping things under the rug works here,
both literally and figuratively. Placing a trick under rug or carpet effectively
grounds the trick.
BURYING THE TRICK IN THE YARD: Burying the trick or mojo under dirt
in the person’s house yard will also ground it, and ensure it keeps working.
You can also protect your own family and bring in good luck by burying
protection charms and blessings under your porch or front steps.
BURYING WITHIN A BUILDING’S STRUCTURE: Burying a trick in parts of
an unfinished building will ensure that the trick lasts as long as the structure
is still standing. The building’s function should align with the trick’s
purpose. For instance, placing a protection charm within the framework of a
church can bring protection to you and your descendants for as long as the
church exists.
DISSOLVE IN FOOD OR DRINK: Powders dissolved in food or drink can
work in domination spells, jinxes or to keep your partner faithful.
SEWN INTO FABRIC: Good mojo is often sewn to fabric, like clothes,
curtains or pillowcases. When those enslaved protested against their
oppressors, the conjure doctors would place protection charms within their
clothes so they did not get hurt during the protests.
BURYING IN A GRAVEYARD: Hoodoo objects using extreme magic, such as
those used for death and severe illness, have to be buried in the soil of a
graveyard.
THE ETHICS OF CONJURE WORK
Conjure work was born from a need to survive and overcome extreme
adversities, so it is not uncommon to see a complete lack of ethical
boundaries, especially in more traditional forms of the practice. A
Rootworker’s own self-restraint and discipline will often influence what
they consider to be “ethical.” In fact, because of the lack of a higher power
or a “God,” most Rootworkers will hold nobody but themselves
accountable for their own actions. Even if they do not have their paths set in
stone before them, the awareness of the power they hold causes them to
tread with caution.
In the absence of religion, Conjurers rely heavily on their ability to analyze
actions and their subsequent consequences. Since this habit has been
organically cultivated as opposed to being indoctrinated, Rootworkers are
far more likely to stay within the boundaries of what they consider to be
ethical.
We shall also remember that most traditional rootworkers were bound by
the rules of the religion they practices, most often than none they were
Protestant or Baptist. Today, even though most rootworkers are usually still
believers, they might have looser spiritual creeds or believe in other
religions altogether. While an interesting subject, discussing the intersection
between ethics and religion is definitely not a subject that can be exhausted
in a few sentences. So, I’ll simply say that as you have read since the first
volume of this series, Hoodoo is a balancing act of natural forces: giving
someone a bad mojo has consequences, you have to be prepared to deal
with it.
While not strictly bound to Hoodoo traditions, I think that it is important to
acknowledge the two most commonly referred to laws, in the context of
ethics, regarding magickal practice: the Rule of Three [which is also called
the Three-fold Law or Law of Return] and the Tenets of Karma.
In order for a Rootworker to make a conscious decision about which
principles they would like to incorporate into their craft, they must first
understand the laws in their entirety.
THE RULE OF THREE:
The Three-fold law is a religious belief that can be traced back to Wiccan,
Neo-Pagan and Occultist practices. The rule is simple – the energy you put
into the Universe, regardless of whether it is positive energy or negative
energy, shall return to you three times over. In the words of Occult author
and researcher John Coughlin, the law provides a “literal reward or
punishment for one’s actions, particularly when it comes to working with
magic.” It is essentially a law of return. Some Rootworkers believe that the
energy can either be returned at the same intensity three times, or once at
three times the intensity. Regardless of the intensity, these returns will
happen within this lifetime, and will not be carried over to the after-life as
there is no concept of putting off or postponing both rewards and
punishments in the practice of Rootwork. This law also provides people
with the incentive to consciously refrain from doing harm unto others, in
order to avoid the negative consequences for oneself.
Conversely, the law is that it actually dictates that when Rootworkers
receive good energy or the goodwill of others, they must pay it forward
threefold. Another interpretation of the threefold law is that a person’s
actions will affect them on three different levels – the physical level, the
emotional level and the spiritual level. This explanation calls on people to
examine how their actions might possibly affect their mind, body and soul,
well before they actually perform the action. While this interpretation is not
as widely accepted, it deters people from making hasty decisions out of hurt
or spite.
THE TENETS OF KARMA:

Karma is a Sanskrit word, which in the literal sense, means action, work or
deed. However, in the context of spirituality, Karma can refer to “cause and
effect.” This concept is rooted in faith that the intentions and deeds of an
individual (cause)will directly influence the future of that individual
(effect). The major difference between the Tenets of Karma and the Rule of
Three, is that karma will be carried forward even beyond the present
lifetime, and may affect the individual’s afterlife or rebirths. The western
interpretation of Karma is that the events which follow a person’s actions
may be called natural consequences. Karma can also mean causality, be it
ethical or non-ethical, or the ethicization of one’s actions. One of the first
associations of Karma to causality occurs in the Upanishad, which is a
Hindu scripture. It states:
“Now as a man is like this or like that,
according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be;
a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad;
he becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds;
And here they say that a person consists of desires,

and as is his desire, so is his will;
and as is his will, so is his deed;
and whatever deed he does, that he will reap.”
The Twelve Laws of Karma are the following:

THE GREAT LAW OR THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT – The key
takeaway from this law is that in order to receive good energy, you have to
embody equally good energy and be worthy of receiving this energy. You
reap only that which you sow.
THE LAW OF CREATION – This law states that a person’s life experiences
can often be influenced by the person themselves – life does not just
happen, and you can influence your own fate. You have to take action
towards achieving what you want, instead of waiting for things to happen to
you.
THE LAW OF HUMILITY – According to this law, the only way a person
can grow is by being humble enough to accept mistakes, and learn from
them.
THE LAW OF GROWTH – Growth is entirely an internal experience, and
starts from within the person’s soul. Personal growth is the only thing a
person can control, so that should be their primary focus.
THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY – Whatever happens in your life is entirely
your responsibility. Your life is essentially a sum total of all the decisions
and choices you have made.
The Law of Connection – Your past, your present and your future are all
inter-connected. Your life today is a result of your previous actions, and
your future will be a result of your present actions.
THE LAW OF FOCUS – Channel your focus towards things that truly
matter to you, because focusing on too many things at the same time can
lead to frustration and resentment.
THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY – Give what you want to
receive – for instance, if you want to receive love, be more loving to those
around you.
THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW – The most important step to achieve
peace of mind is to live entirely in the present. This will help you to stop
dwelling on the past happenings.
THE LAW OF CHANGE – History will keep repeating itself until you learn
to be a better version of yourself by learning from mistakes that you have
made in the past. The only way that you can carve out a new path for
yourself is to make a conscious effort to change yourself.
THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD – Consistently make good choices
and do good, without expecting immediate rewards. Believe that good
things will appear when you are meant to receive them.
THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION – Your actions, no matter
how insignificant and small they may seem to you, will have an effect in
both other’s lives and in the grand scheme of things. You have purpose,
your life has purpose, your actions have purpose.
The most (unreasonably) controversial topic within the ethics of conjure
work discussion is reasonable defense. Since Hoodoo was founded as a
result the basic need for survival, Rootworkers strongly believe in
reasonable defense. The concept is simple – if someone were to hurt you,
then you have the right to defend yourself to the best of your abilities. In
this case, the tenet of Karma or the three-fold law do not apply, because you
have a fundamental right and obligation to defend yourself and your loved
ones.
Magical energy is simply … energy. It is not innately positive and negative,
and depends on the energy person who uses it. It is fueled by intentions of
the practitioner, both good and bad. Though there is no ethical denunciation
involved, the terms “Dark Magic” and “Left-Handed Magic” are often used
to describe any magical act performed, that others in the community do not
particularly agree with. This is an entirely subjective concept, and just like
every other community, there are people who abuse the power they hold.
In Conjure, work can either be “justified” or “not justified.” Each
Rootworker has to reach into their own soul, and determine whether the
ramifications of their actions are justified by their intent.
PROTECTION SPELLS
P rotection spells can either protect your home, yourself or a loved one
from a magical attack, negative energy and even reverse magical
attacks. These spells are most effective when they are done on a
Tuesday or a Thursday in the presence of a waxing moon or a full moon.
The colours associated with protection spells include red for standing up for
oneself, and white and yellow for purity and blessings.
It is recommended that you recite the 109th Psalm while channeling energy
into your protective spell.
It reads as follows:
1. My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
2. for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths
against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
4. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
5. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6. Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his
right hand.
7. When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn
him.
8. May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
9. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
10. May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from
their ruined homes.
11. May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his
labor.
12. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless
children.
13. May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next
generation.
14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may
the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15. May their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may blot out
their name from the earth.
16. For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the
poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17. He loved to pronounce a curse may it come back on him.
18. He found no pleasure in blessing may it be far from him.
19. He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
20. May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever
around him.
21. May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak
evil of me.
22. But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the
goodness of your love, deliver me.
23. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
24. I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
25. My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.
26. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake
their heads.
27. Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.
28. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it.
29. While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to
shame, but may your servant rejoice.
30. May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as
in a cloak.
31. With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of
worshipers, I will praise him.
32. For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from
those who would condemn them.
TYPES OF MAGICAL ATTACKS
Magical attacks can be often cause extreme adverse effects on the targeted
person. They are deliberate, consistent attacks and attack the victim’s
mental and physical well-being. Most magical attacks will start at the
surface level (the victim’s body) and work their way through to the person’s
mind, almost like a Domino reaction of bad energy that manifests itself in
the victim. These attacks are kept active till they do their jobs, and are often
sustained for extended periods of time. The duration of the attack will have
a proportional energetic repercussion on the victim. The most common
types of magical attacks are:
THE RECHARGE METHOD: This method requires “a battery,” which
simply put, is a source of energy that will keep the attack functional for the
required amount of time. This source will often be a person or a group of
people who practice magic, who are sometimes unaware that their energy is
being tapped into. Once an energy source is obtained, the attack is synced to
a natural cycle, like the full moon. The break between phases of the attack
is used to “recharge” the negative energy being used. The victim will be
able to feel ebbs and surges in the attack, which can be used to find the
cycle along which the attack is timed. The victim is then given a boost of
energy or a talisman to help them fight the next phase of the attack.
THE CREEPING METHOD: This method is usually performed by a very

skilled individual or a very skilled group of individuals who have staunch
beliefs. In fact, the reason for the attack would likely be that the victim
behaved in a way that opposed these beliefs. This person/ group will do
anything to uphold their world-view and rigid beliefs. The attack is done by
using a specific pattern that will be connected to the target. This pattern can
be an astrological chart, a clay doll of the target or a picture of the target.
This is used linked to the person’s fate patterns and the inner landscape of
their mind and spirit, so it affects both their mind and their body
simultaneously. This is the reason why this type of attack is particularly
vicious. The first stage of the attack is “restriction,” wherein the person’s
link to their creativity is blocked. Then, their axis of balance is disrupted,
usually by attacking the right side of their body. This will make the victim
feel like their mind-body coordination is lacking. Then, they will feel an
elemental imbalance which will make them feel either too hot or too cold in
their own body. When the peak of restrictive power is reached, their organs
will stop functioning one by one, but medical tests will not show any
illnesses.
NEGATIVE ENERGIES IN THE HOME
There is a deep connection between a home and its inhabitants. The
different areas of our homes symbolize different aspects of our lives, so
sensing negative energies in a home can often dampen the spirits of all
those residing there. In performing a cleansing of the home, we are also
sub-consciously cleansing the aspects of our lives that are tied to parts of
the house. Negative energies, simply put, are just feelings you may
experience in specific parts of your home. They can make you feel odd or
unsettled. Additionally, plants placed in a space with negative energy may
not bloom.
Negative energy may reside in a home as a result of bad things happening
there over extended periods of time, or even if someone in the house has
been behaving in a way that encourages negativity to settle in the home. In
this case, it is better to find the cause of the behavior before cleansing the
house.
Here are a few identifiers to help you check if negative energy is affecting
your home:
ENERGY COLD-SPOTS – Pay attention to spots or rooms in your house that

feel particularly negative or draining. This space could also potentially
make you feel uncomfortable for extended periods of time, or could even
foster unnatural fights and arguments.
FEELING DRAINED OR CONFUSED – You will likely feel extremely

drained and confused for apparently no reason, because the negative energy
will cling onto your positive energy.
FEELING EMOTIONAL – You will likely feel heightened emotions,

especially emotions of sadness or anger, that will leave you feeling uneasy
with your own emotions. These emotions will likely have no apparent
cause.
A STREAK OF BAD LUCK – A series of unfortunate occurrences within a
very short period of time could also hint toward your house being a host for
unwelcomed negative energy.
INFESTATIONS – Negative energy could also cause a sudden infestation of

bugs and insects in a house that was previously clean.
Ways to get rid of the negative energy in your home:
CLAIM YOUR SPACE:

Claim the house as your own, by decluttering the space and chanting
positive affirmations.
You can also renovate the space and add new things that make you feel
calm and happy.
SALT CLEANSING
This ritual should only be done at night.
You will require:
A white bowl
A glass bowl
Sea salt
Gem charged water
Method:
Pour sea salt into a large glass bowl.
Work your hands through the salt and focus on getting rid of the
negative energy. Visualize your house being a host for positivity and
goodness.
You can recite a prayer of your choosing, if you are religious, the 55th
Psalm is recommended. It reads as follows:
Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore, teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19 then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Take the salt out of the glass bowl and make a circle big enough to fit
your white bowl. This circle should not have any gaps.
Place the white bowl at the center of the salt circle, and fill it with the
gem charged water. Black Tourmaline is recommended.
Take the bowl of salt and place it in every corner of your house,
including cupboards and closets. Salt is believed to absorb all negative
energy, so by doing this, you are essentially collecting all the negative
energy in this bowl.
Now, pour the salt into the gem charged water.
Pray once again that the negative energy be removed from your home.
Sweep up the salt in the morning, and flush the water in the white bowl
down the toilet, making sure not to spill it.
SAGE CLEANSING
For ages, Sage had been considered as a holy herb that can effectively
cleanse spaces, chase away any negativity and bless the people inhabiting
the space.
You will require:
1 bundle of Sage
1 Stainless-steel frying pan with a lid
Matches.
Method:
Make sure your home is receiving ample amounts of natural light and
ventilation before you begin, by opening all the doors and windows.
Take the bundle of Sage and place it in the stainless-steel pan.
Use a match to light the Sage, and blow on it while praying, while
focusing on ridding your home of all the negative energy.
Make sure the ends of the Sage are burning well, and allow them to burn
for a moment.
Then, use the frying pan lid to dampen the flames, till the Sage is
smoldering hot, but not on fire.
Hold the pan in one hand and the lid in the other.
Walk through your entire house, wafting the smoke from the pan. Begin
at the back of the house.
You can also use a feather or a fan to waft the smoke.
The Sage will usually not reignite once it has been put out. If the Sage
does reignite, that means you are in a hot-spot for dense negative energy.
Stop for a bit, and pray in these spots.
While wafting the smoke, command the negative energy to leave your
house and never return.
CRYSTALS TO REMOVE NEGATIVE ENERGY

SMOKY QUARTZ – The Smoky Quartz is a very effective stone to help you
overcome negative emotions and energy. It has a grounding effect that will
help you align the Place pyramids in main rooms and place smaller bits of
the crystal in drawers, cupboards or closets.
Black Tourmaline – Black Tourmaline is known to absorb negative energy,
and it is used to protect people from radiation and pollutants. Use this to
make crystal water and place it in spots that feel particularly saturated with
negative energy
BEWITCHED OR POSSESSED OBJECTS
The conjure bag or mojo bag is derived from the Bantu-Congo term “Nkisi
or Nkishi” which means “an object that a spirit inhabits.” Nkisi is when a
spirit or a group of spirits inhabit an object, which has been created by
hand. The bag itself can be a gourd, a shell or a container. Items are placed
within the bag to enable the spirit inside to do the work it was called upon
for. The essence of Rootwork lies in creating an object and channeling
energy into it. It is the process of moving the energy that we possess into
the object to create positive or negative changes.
Every single object on the planet possesses a unique energy, that may not be
found in any other object. Skilled Rootworkers will be able to match an
objects energy to a task with ease. For instance, a certain stone may attract
love, or a certain plant may accelerate healing. Since Hoodoo is not based
on the existence of a divine power, Rootworkers believe that the energy
created by the universe is supreme.
A conjure bag is also called a “gris-gris bag” or a “conjure hand.” Here,
“hand” refers to a mix of ingredients. The bag itself is normally made of red
flannel material, but colour symbolism is considered important by some
Rootworkers. For example, they may use a green bag to carry money mojo.
The ingredients and the proportion in which they are mixed depends
entirely on the conjurer. Commonly used elements include herbs, roots,
animal parts, coins, crystals, minerals, tokens and carved amulets. The bag
is usually more effective if more personalized ingredients are added to it.
The process of fixing a mojo requires a ritual to be put in place to prepare
the mojo and awakening it by filling it with life. This is usually done by
lighting candles, smoking incense or by breathing on the bag. Some
Rootworkers also say prayers or chants during this step. Then, the bag is
“fed,” usually with perfume, alcohol, water or bodily fluids. This keeps the
bag alive and the mojo working. This bag is then hidden within the clothing
of the person it was created for.
The efficiency of the bag depends entirely on the amount of faith the user
places on the spirit residing within the elements in the bag. The bag is
generally named, and to make it work, the person using them has to squeeze
the bag and call it by its name.
CREATE A SPIRITUAL BARRIER
The ideal time to create spiritual protection is either on a Tuesday or a
Thursday under a full moon or a waxing moon. The colour symbolism for
protection includes Red for the courage to stand up for yourself, and White
and Yellow for blessings and purity, so try to incorporate these colours into
your attire while creating a spiritual barrier.
To create a spiritual barrier between yourself and any negative energy that
you might be feeling, you can create a spiritual protection oil containing
Bay leaves, a piece of Mandrake root, Rosemary essential oil and Angelica
essential oil. This protection oil must be added to an Almond oil base. Pour
the oil on your home’s entryways, the doorknobs of every room in the
house, and anywhere else you find the negative energy to be overwhelming.
You can also pound an old red brick to dust, and sprinkle the dust across the
doorways in your house to ward off any negative energy.
Salt scrubs are also excellent source of protection. You can add one cup of
salt to half a cup of oil and store the mixture in an airtight container. Castor
oil is a great carrier oil for protection, but since it is quite thick, you can
dilute it with other carrier oils as well. Ground salt can also be used if you
want the scrub to be less abrasive. This mixture has to be rubbed in gentle
circular motions over your body.
You can also create a salt boundary line by grinding three peeled cloves of
garlic, a handful of fresh Rosemary and a handful of sea salt. Use this
mixture to create a protective boundary line. In case you experience a
sudden burst of negative energy, cast a circle with salt or black salt and sit
within the circle till you feel the energy subside.
HOW TO PREVENT MAGICAL ATTACKS
Magical attacks can be especially dangerous if they are carried out with
extreme ill intentions. These spells will help you prevent and repel magical
attacks:
TI PLANT FLOWER ESSENCE
The Ti plant is a sacred plant of Hawaii, and its flower essence remedy can
help thwart magical attacks.
Method:
For the first bath, add 20-30 drops of the essence to a bath just before
bedtime.
For subsequent baths, do not use more than 6 drops of the essence.
PROTECTION BOTTLE
Protection bottles work to shield you from both negative energies and
magickal attacks so that you can remain safe in the area where the bottle is
kept. For best results, keep one on your person.
For this, you will need:
A glass bottle with a seal
Castor Beans
Method:
Place a single Castor Bean in a sealed glass bottle in every room of the
house.
Change the Beans every time a new Moon is born.
Note: Castor Beans are poisonous, so ensure that the bottle is sealed.
KEEP ME SAFE BOTTLE

Gather:
1 Vial or small bottle
Mercury
1 Larger vial or bottle
Water
Sea shells, sand, and beach pebbles
Method:
Fill a vial or small bottle with mercury and seal it.
Place this within a larger bottle filled with water.
Seal the second bottle shut and place it within an even larger bottle filled
with sea sand, shells and pebbles from the beach.
Seal the last container and bury it in the hearth of the house or beside the
front entrance.
HOW TO RENDER NULL MAGICAL ATTACKS
Rendering a magical attack null means that you are casting a spell to
counteract the effects of a hex or an attack on yourself or a loved one. These
spells will render the hex powerless and make them inactive. You can
render an attack or hex powerless using the following spells:
CURSE BREAKER BATH

Rub the Essense of Bend Over Oil onto your skin.
While the oil is still absorbing into your skin, enter a salt water bath.
CURSE BREAKER POWDER

Grind and powder sweet Calamus or Flag, Licorice Root, Peppermint
and Vetiver.
Combine this mixture with Arrowroot powder and then sprinkle it all
over your body.
SEVEN WAVES BATH

Pour sea salt into a bath containing quartz crystals.
Submerge yourself in the bath exactly seven times.
While submerging yourself in the bath, visualize all the negative energy
leaving your body.
HOW TO REVERSE A MAGICAL ATTACK
A magical attack need not necessarily be a hex by nature. If the person
casting the spell has malicious intentions, any spell can be converted into a
hex by simply channeling their negative energy. But there are numerous
spells which can reverse the malicious spells. Reversing spells break the
hex and return its negative impacts to its sender. While some of these spells
require prior knowledge of who cast the hex, some can be cast without
knowing their identity.
BLACK CROSS REVERSING SPELL

Gather:
Black Cross altar candle
Uncrossing Oil
Flying Devil Oil
Method:
Dress a Black Cross altar candle with Uncrossing Oil and Flying Devil
Oil.
Uncrossing Oil is a mixture of Frankincense essential oil, Angelica
essential oil, Hyssop essential oil, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a pinch of
black pepper, a pinch of sea salt, a Rue sprig, fresh Garlic and a section
of a broken chain from a necklace
To make Flying Devil Oil, blend Red Pepper flakes and Cayenne Pepper
with Olive oil.
Channel your energy towards picturing the hex leaving your body and
entering the body of its sender instead.
ELM REVERSING SPELL

Elm trees are associated with the magic of Elves and Fairies.
For this spell, simply grind elm twigs and leaves to a fine powder. Add
the powder to your bath water to break a hex and reverse its effects.
PINE BARK REVERSAL
You can reverse spells with malevolent intentions by burning pine barks
and letting the fragrance waft through your house.
Ensure that you have saturated the space and yourself with as much of
the fragrance as possible.
You can combine the pine bark with benzoin to make the reversal even
more effective.
PROTECTION WHILE SLEEPING AND DREAMING
You require protection while sleeping and while dreaming, particularly if
you have been experiencing night terrors, nightmares, insomnia or if you
feel unsafe sleeping in a new environment. These spells will protect you in
your sleep and in your dreams:
TRAVELER’S MIRROR CHARM

Gather:
1 garlic clove
1 small mirror
Method:
While sleeping in a room that has not been blessed, peel and crush a
single clove of Garlic.
Rub the clove of Garlic on a small mirror and place the mirror facing
upwards under your bed.
IRON CHARM
Gather:
Mugwort or Wormwood
An iron object, such as a knife, horseshoe or dagger
Method:
Wrap Mugwort and Wormwood around an Iron object, preferably a
knife, horseshoe or a dagger. Now, place it under your pillow.
QUEEN OF THE WATERS PROTECTION CONCOCTION
Gather:
Whiskey or Rum
Agar-agar
A Glass cup
Method:
Mix agar-agar with Whiskey or Rum. Then, place it in a glass on your
nightstand.
PSALM 91
You can recite the 91st Psalm before going to sleep, to put your mind at
ease and pray for protection. It reads:
1. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow
of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in
whom I trust.”
3. Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly
pestilence.
4. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find
refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6. Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that
destroys at midday.
7. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but
it will not come near you.
8. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the
wicked.
9. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your
dwelling,
10. No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your
tent.
11. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you
in all your ways;
12. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.
13. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the
great lion and the serpent.
14. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I
will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in
trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
BANISHING SPELLS
B anishing spells are used to expel and exile any malevolent energy or
people from your life. These spells can help protect you, your home
and your family from unfavorable people and circumstances and
from ill-intentions. Banishing spells are the most effective when they are
performed during a waning moon.
TO BANISH ILLNESSES
Banishing spells can be used to banish particularly stubborn or chronic
illnesses, and allow good health to flourish.
MUGWORT “EASE-IT” SPELL

For this spell, you will only need mugwort.
Hang bunches of Mugwort throughout your home as needed
Concentrate especially on vulnerable areas such as bedspaces and
common living areas.
GLOWING COALS SPELLS

Gather:
Exactly seven glowing coal pieces from the hearth of your home.
A Bowl of water
Method:
Circle each one around the head of the affected person seven times,
making a total of forty-nine circles.Place each piece into a bowl of water
after using it.
A post-menopausal woman or a pre-menstrual girl should take the bowl
to a crossroads and pour out its contents.
They should not look directly at the water or walk back home in the
same route.
AGRIMONY BATH
For this spell, you will simply need agrimony leaves and a white cloth.
Method:
Pour boiling water over Agrimony leaves and make a strong concoction.
Allow it to cool and strain the leaves out.
Dip a pure White cloth into the mix and gently bathe the affected person
with it.
TO BANISH ENEMIES
While these spells are effective to banish your enemies, they should not be
used to solve very minor problems. For instance, it is not recommended that
you use these spells to make sure a nosy neighbor leaves you alone. Use
these spells only when you are absolutely sure you never want to banish this
person from your life completely.
PAPAYA-MANDRAKE SAFETY SPELL

Gather:
A flannel charm bag
Mandrake roots
Papaya leaves
Method:
Take a flannel charm bag.
Place Mandrake roots and Papaya leaves in it.
Seal the bag and hang it over the doorways and windows of your house
to prevent those with malevolent energy from entering.
PEACH BLOSSOMS DISPEL SPELL

Method:
Place Peach blossoms at the doors and windows of your house to guard
it from those with evil intentions.
ASAFETIDA BLEND OIL

Gather:
Asafetida
Bay Leaves
Hyssop
Rue
Yarrow
Castor Oil
Cotton Balls
Method:
Blend Asafetida, Bay leaves, Hyssop, Rue and Yarrow with Castor oil.
Saturate cotton balls with this mixture and leave them in the vicinity of
your enemies.
TO BANISH SOMEONE FROM YOUR HOUSE
These spells can be used to banish someone from your house, like a
neighbor who is unwelcome, or a guest who has overstayed and is refusing
to leave.
AJENJIBLE BANISHING SPELL

Gather:
Ajenjible (edible ginger)
1 Pot of boiling water
Method:
Pour boiling water over Ajenjible and make a strong infusion.
Strain the water and use the liquid to wash your target’s clothes. This
will cause them to leave your house.
NAIL MOJO BAG

Gather:
1 rusted nail
1 iron hammer
1 flat rock
Red mojo bag
Dirt from a crossroads or graveyard
Method:
Hammer a rusted nail against a flat rock. An iron hammer is preferred.
Do not pierce through the rock, but score its surface three times.
Visualize the target being unable to enter your home.
Bury the stone far away from you and your home.
Place the nail in a red mojo bag containing dirt from a crossroads or a
graveyard.
BANISHING POWDER
Gather:
Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Cinnamon
Sea Salt
Sulfur
Target’s Shoes
Method:
Sprinkle a mixture of Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, Sea
Salt and Sulfur in the shoes of the target or on the ground that they will
walk on.
You can also use a mixture of Asafetida, Cayenne Pepper and Sulfur
instead, to encourage immediate departure.
REVERSING AND REVENGE SPELLS
REVERSING SPELLS
R eversing spells are used as a counter-attack to hexes or other forms

of magical attacks which have been performed with ill intentions. A
reversing spell prevents the hex from having an adverse effect on
you and reverse these effects so they affect the person who hexed you
instead. There are spells to reverse a hex even if you do not know who
placed the hex on you in the first place.
HORSERADISH SPELL
For this spell, you will simply need horseradish root.
Method:
Grind or grate dried Horseradish root. Sprinkle it over any thresholds,
windows and corners of your house.
HEX REVERSAL
Gather:
1 black cloth
1 small mirror
A personal item from the target
Paper and pen
Method:
Lay down a Black cloth and place a small mirror on it.
Place a personal item of the person responsible for the hex on top of the
mirror.
Write their name on a piece of paper.
Chant “I cover you; I cross you” while writing your name over their
name.
SPELL REVERSAL CANDLE
Gather:
1 new seven-say candle
Knife
Matches
Method:
Turn a new seven-say candle upside down.
Carve out the bottom of the candle till the wick is exposed and can be lit.
Cut the top of the candle off so the candle can be placed on a flat
surface.
If you know the person who cast the spell, carve their name onto the wax
and dress the candle.
Light the wick at the bottom end of the candle and chant:
“Let the evil done against me reverse itself as I have reverse you.”
BINDING SPELLS
Binding spells are an extremely powerful type of Rootwork, and should
only be used if you are absolutely sure of your intentions for performing the
binding. The energy channeled into these spells will depend entirely on
your intentions for performing the spell.
LIFE-BINDING SPELL
For this spell, only a brass wire is required.
Method:
Encircle the ankles and wrists of a terminally ill person with a Brass
wire to bind their soul to the Earth.
KNOT BINDING SPELL FOR TWO

This spell protects the bond between two partners.
Gather:
A handkerchief or square cloth
Love oil (see the third volume of the series)
Method:
One partner should tie two knots in a handkerchief or a square cloth.
The second partner should then tie two more knots.
Then, the two partners should tie these four knots and tie them into one
large knot.
This should be done by both partners together, and they should pull the
knot as tight as possible.
The knot should then be placed in a safe place, and periodically dressed
with love oil. If the partners choose to separate, they should untie the
knot together.
SPELL TO BIND SOMEONE DANGEROUS

Gather:
1 Black Candle
1 Poppet
Salt water
Method:
Light a Black candle and burn some Frankincense incense.
Make a poppet that resembles the target and sprinkle it with salt water.
Say the following spell:
“Blessed be, thou creature made of art. Thou art not cloth. But flesh and
blood. I name the [victim’s name] thou art he[she] between the worlds, in
all the worlds. So be it.”
Tie the ribbon around the poppet firmly, binding all the parts of the doll
that can harm.
Activate the spell by saying
“By air and earth, water and fire, so be you bound, as I desire.”
Bury the poppet somewhere far from your house, during a waning moon,
either under a heavy rock or beneath a tree.
SANTA ELENA BINDING SPELL

This spell is used for tying two loved ones together.
Gather:
An altar of love
1 small bowl
Spring water
Florida water
5 cloves
5 sticks of cinnamon
5 sprigs of mint
1 tbs of honey
Method:
Build an altar of love and fill a small glass bowl halfway with spring
water.
To this, add a few drops of Florida water, five Cloves, five sticks of
Cinnamon, five sprigs of Mint and a tablespoon of Honey.
Dress a White candle and tie a White ribbon around the candle.
Place the candle in the center of the bowl.
Request to the universe that two people will be tied together just like the
ribbon is tied around the candle.
Light the candle and allow it to burn out completely.
Repeat this for seven consecutive nights.
IRISH HAIR BINDING SPELL

Braid a lock of your hair into a bracelet for your partner.
This spell is binding only if your partner accepts it.
AMAZON BINDING BAG

Gather:
Amazonian herbs such as Cat’s Claw
Mucura
Ajos Sacha
2 mojo bags
Method:
Make two ritual mojo bags with your partner and decorate them with
items that symbolize your love. Fill the bags with Amazonian herbs,
Mucura and Ajos Sacha.
Exchange the bags and carry them with you.
LODESTONE BINDING
Gather:
Rice Powder
Magnetic Sand
Lodestone Oil
Feather or powder puff
Method:
Combine rice powder with magnetic sand.
Massage Lodestone oil onto your partner’s body and brush the powder
onto your partner’s body using a feather or a powder puff.
POMEGRANATE BINDING
Method:
Break two Pomegranates open.
One partner should eat exactly 284 seeds and the other partner should
eat exactly 220 seeds.
Both partners should count the Pomegranates together, before eating
them.
ENEMY BINDING CHARM

Gather:
Cobwebs from around your home
Black cloth
1 Dead fly
Paper and Pen
Cord
Method:
Collect cobwebs from around your house and place them on a Black
cloth.
Place a dead Fly on top of the cobwebs.
Take a piece of paper and write the following words on it.
"North, South, East, West
Spider’s web shall bind him best
East, West, North, South.
Hold his limbs and stop his mouth.
Seal his eyes and choke his breath
Wrap him round with ropes of death."
Fold the paper four times and place it on top of the fly.
Wrap the bundle up and tie a cord tightly around it, while leaving
enough cord so the parcel can be hung.
Hang it in a dark corner of your house till it is covered entirely in dust,
and then bury it near the target’s home.
BINDING SPELL
Gather:
Peace Oil
Guardian angel candle
1 Twig
A piece of thick thread
Method:
Splash some peace oil onto a Guardian Angel candle and light the candle
along with some Frankincense incense.
Take a twig and write all the things you wish to bind in your life onto the
twig. Wind a thick thread around the twig and bury it in an area far away
from your home.
After burying it, recite Psalms 130 and 133 nine times each.
Psalm 130: A song of ascents.

1. Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
4. But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve
you.
5. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my
hope.
6. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more
than watchmen wait for the morning.
7. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and
with him is full redemption.
8. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Psalm 133: A song of ascents of David.

1. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
2. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
3. It is as if the dew of Hermon,Were falling on Mount Zion. For there the
Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
FOOT TRACK BINDING SPELL

Gather:
1 Needle (see below)
Method:
Take a needle which has been used to sew a shroud.
Poke the needle into your partner’s footprint found on your property,
preferably somewhere close to your front door.
LAMELLA BINDING
Gather:
Wax tablet or sheet of copper or tin
1 nail
Method:
Write your desires in a wax tablet or a sheet of copper or tin.
Roll up the tablet or sheet and pierce it with a nail, before placing it in an
underground place, like a well, a cave or a sewer where it will not be
disturbed or tampered with by anyone else.
FOOT TRACK BINDING SPELL 2

Gather:
Flowerpot
Shovel
Marigold buds
Method:
Find a footprint left by your partner and make a complimenting footprint
using your own foot.
If theirs is a left footprint, use your right foot and vice-versa.
Dig up the soil used for both footprints entirely and place it in a
flowerpot.
Use more soil if needed, but mix everything together so the soil cannot
be separated.
Plant Marigold flowers in the pot.
CROSSING SPELLS
Any spell that has been cast with ill intentions in order to inflict harm onto a
specific target is called a crossing spell. These spells are especially
dangerous since they depend entirely on channeling negative energy
towards the target. The spells below are crossing spells:
CROSSING POWDER
This powder is used to levy a curse against a person.
Gather:
Target's cigarette ashes
Goofer dust
Method:
Take ashes from the target’s cigarettes.
Grind the ashes to fine powder and then spit on the powder.
Add Goofer dust to this powder.
Sprinkle the powder onto a cross drawn with wavy lines on the ground
in the path that your target is likely to take.
CROSSING OIL
Gather:
Cayenne Pepper
Grains of Paradise
Wordwood
Glass bottle
Cemetary pebble
Mineral or baby oil
Method:
Grind Cayenne Pepper, grains of Paradise and wormwood and place it in
a bottle with a pebble from the cemetery.
Fill the bottle with mineral oil, preferably baby oil.
CROSS AN ENEMY SPELL

Gather:
Black cross candle
Matches
Method:
Carve the name of the person you want to cross on a Black Cross candle.
Turn the candle upside down and cut the bottom of the candle till the
wick is exposed.
Burn the candle upside down and dispose the remaining wax in a
cemetery.
Empty Wallet Hex:
Give the target a brand-new wallet which is still in the box.
The target has essentially accepted a wish for an eternally empty purse.
DISSENSION SPELL
Gather:
Cayenne or Habanero Pepper Powder
Powdered Wild Ginger
Method:
Mix Cayenne or Habanero Pepper powder with powdered wild Ginger
and sprinkle it on the target’s doorstep or on a path they are bound to
take.
This will create disharmony and disagreement.
CACTUS NEEDLES
Stab a clay or wax doll of the target with cactus needles while muttering
curses.
Always prick the needles in series of three or nine.
JINX POWDER
Gather:
Magnetic Sand
Ground stinging needles
Method:
Sprinkle a mixture of magnetic sand fine iron shot and ground stinging
needles on a path that the target will likely walk on to create turmoil in
their life.
CURSES, JINXES AND HEXES
THE ORIGINAL CURSE
T he original curse is from the Bible, and is called the father of all
curses. When Adam and Eve are forbidden to eat fruit from one of
the trees, Eve is tempted to eat from it by a serpent. She then gives
some to Adam, who eats it too. God curses the serpent to forever go on his
belly and suffer the enmity of both man and woman. He curses Eve to the
pain of childbirth and subordination to her husband. He curses Adam to a
life filled with hard labor, followed by death. The curse in Genesis 3: 14-19
reads as follows:
“And the Lord God said unto the Serpent, because thou hast done this, thou
art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy
belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Unto the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy
conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall
be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
And unto Adam he said, “Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy
wife, and hast eaten from the tree, of which I commanded thee saying Thou
shalt not eat it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat
of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to
thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou
taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
When his people sinned against him, what did the all-powerful God of the
universe do? He went on in search of them, discovered them, and talked
with them. As stated in Genesis 2, by communicating to his people, God
established a very special relationship with them. He merely spoke the rest
of creation into being. He communicated and built relationships with
humankind. He chose us to be his people.
One of the most important takeaways of the original curse in the context of
Hoodoo is that our actions have consequences. Just like the actions of
Adam, Eve and the Serpent affected not only themselves but all of
humanity, any sin of ours affects others too, sometimes for generations to
come. Therefore, it is vital that you think about the possible repercussions
of your actions before you decide to move forward.
TO CREATE CONFUSION
Gather:
1 Black skull candle
Confusion oil (See below)
Method:
Create confusion by carving the name of the person you want to confuse
onto a Black skull candle.
Rub confusion oil on the candle and sprinkle Black salt on it.
Burn the candle and dispose of the remaining wax in a wooded area.
Confusion oil is a mix of Black poppy seeds, Black pepper, Asafetida
and Sulfur, which is ground to a fine powder and added to a blend of
castor oil and jojoba oil.
CROSS ‘O STONES
Note: For this spell, you will need a button that belongs to your target.
Method:
In order to unleash chaos in your enemy’s life, lay out a set of stones in
the shape of a cross on the path your target is likely to walk on.
Place a button belonging to the target at the center of the cross as a
sympathetic link.
DAMNATION SPELL
This spell will undo any harm your enemy has done to you and take away
their power to harm you any further.
Gather:
Two drachmas of damnation powder
Two drachmas of water powders
1 package
Method:
Make a package of two drachmas of damnation powder and two
drachmas of water powders.
Send the package to the home of the person who has harmed you.
THE CURSE OF MARIE LAVEAU
The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. More than anyone else, Marie Laveau
put New Orleans Voodoo on the map with her powerful magic and
infamous ceremonies held in what are now Congo Square, Bayou St. John,
and Lake Ponchartrain. Oral tradition suggests that the occult part of her
magic mixed Roman Catholic beliefs and saints with African spirits and
religious concepts. She is believed to have been born in 1794 in a French
and Spanish city, where the Catholic Church dominated the lives of its
citizens. She is celebrated every year on Saint John's Eve, the foremost
Voodoo holiday in New Orleans. Saint John's day corresponds with the
summer solstice. This same celebration has taken place for almost three
hundred years; many of those years in Congo Square, though today the
celebrations are much more discreet.
There are many legends about Marie Laveau that stem from the folklorists
and newspaper reports of her day; they are mostly sensationalized accounts
of her orgiastic Voodoo parties on Bayou St. John or Lake Ponchartrain.
Most of these accounts tend to dismiss any real spiritual powers she
possessed, and instead attribute her skills to conning as opposed to cunning.
For this curse, gather:
Black candles
Vinegar
Method:
An altar has to be set for the curse with Black candles that have been
dipped in vinegar.
Carve the name of the person you want to curse on the candle and place
fifteen cents in the lap of death on the altar to pay for the spirit to grant
your wishes.
Lay your hands flat on the table and chant the following curse:
“To the Man God: Oh, great One, I have been sorely tried by my enemies
and have been blasphemed and lied against. My good thoughts and my
honest actions have been turned to bad actions and dishonest ideas. My
home has been disrespected; my children have been cursed and ill-treated.
My dear ones have been back-bitten and their virtue questioned.”
“O Man God, I beg that this that I ask for my enemies shall come to pass:
“That the South wind shall scorch their bodies and make them wither and
shall not be tempered to them. That the North wind shall freeze their blood
and numb their muscles and that it shall not be tempered to them. That the
West wind shall blow away their life’s breath and will not leave their hair
grow and that their finger nails shall fall off and their bones shall crumble.
That the East wind shall make their minds grow dark, their sight shall fail
and their seed dry up so that they shall not multiply.”
“I ask that their fathers and mothers from their furthest generation will not
intercede for them before the great throne, and the wombs of their women
shall not bear fruit except for strangers, and that they shall become extinct.
I pray that the children who come shall be weak of mind and paralyzed of
limb and that they themselves shall curse them in their turn for ever turning
the breath of life into their bodies.”
“I pray that disease and death shall be forever with them and that their
worldly goods shall not prosper, and that their crops shall not multiply and
that their cows, their sheep, and their hogs and all their living beasts shall
die of starvation and thirst. I pray that their house shall be unroofed and
that the rain, the thunder and lightning shall find the innermost recesses of
their home and that the foundation shall crumble and the floods tear it
asunder. I pray that the sun shall not shed its rays on them in benevolence,
but instead it shall beat down on them and burn them and destroy them. I
pray that the moon shall not give them peace, but instead shall deride them
and decry them and cause their minds to shrivel. I pray that their friends
shall betray them and cause them loss of power, of gold and of silver, and
that their enemies shall smite them until they beg for mercy which shall not
be given them. I pray that their tongues shall forget how to speak in sweet
words and that it shall be paralyzed and that all about them will be
desolation, pestilence and death. 0 Man God, I ask you for all these things
because they have dragged me in the dust and destroyed my good name;
broken my heart and caused me to curse the day that I was born. So be it.”
KEEP A BIG MAN DOWN SPELL

This spell is intended to humble people who have gotten too arrogant, likely
due to the fame or money they have amassed.
This spell is fairly complex, and you will need:
Blue candle
Black pen
Piece of paper
Bitter Aloes
Cayenne Pepper
Black poppet doll
Black thread
Black lace.
Once you have all the required components, proceed as follows:
Place a Blue candle at an altar and light it.
Write the person’s name on a blank piece of paper with Black ink.
Then, take a small Black poppet doll, rip its back open and place the
piece of paper inside it.
Sew the doll back up using a Black thread and tie the doll’s hands
behind its back.
Make a veil out of Black lace and tie it in a knot over the doll’s face to
symbolize that the target will be “blind,” and in turn, make decisions
that will prevent them from moving forward in their career or life.
Prop the doll into a kneeling position and place it in a dark corner where
it will not be tampered with or moved.
The spell will remain active as long as the doll is not disturbed.
MARIE LAVEAU’S PUNISHMENT RITUAL

This ritual is to ensure severe punishment to someone who has already been
indicted for a crime or to penalize to a person who has hurt someone you
love.
Gather:
Paper and pen
Deep bowl or dish
Red pepper
Black pepper
Eightpermy nail
Ammonia
2 Door keys
Vinegar
Method:
If you want to punish someone who has already been indicted, write
their name on a piece of paper and place it in a deep bowl or dish.
Sprinkle Red pepper and Black pepper into the bowl, followed by one
eightpermy nail and a small amount of Ammonia.
Then, drop one door key into the bowl and place another door key
against the side of the bowl.
To keep the ritual active, turn the key that you placed against the side of
the bowl every day at twelve o’clock.
Each time you turn the key, add a little vinegar into the bowl.
The target will remain in jail as long as you keep turning the key in faith.
FOOT TRACK MAGIC
F oot track magic uses dirt from underneath the target’s footprint to
keep the spell active. The dirt is placed in a bottle and buried where
the person is likely to walk over it. It is also done by placing
graveyard dirt or Goofer dust along the path that the person is likely to walk
on, or inside their shoes. The spell is activated when the person walks over
the buried bottle or the dirt, causing unexplained damage to them, both
physically and mentally. Across history, people wore ankle amulets
consisting of nine pieces of Devil’s Shoestring and a silver coin to
safeguard against harmful foot-track magic (dime). Silver was regarded to
be magically neutral in many cultures, as it would neither contain nor allow
contamination from the spirit realm. Silver can also detect the presence of
Sulphur (a typical element in messes) by turning black, indicating that
something bad is going on. Silver is also associated with the Moon and all
Lunar Goddesses, and it is traditionally worn to attract love. As a token of
love and good intentions, the bride’s father traditionally placed a silver coin
in her shoe.
BOTTLE SPELL
Gather:
Dirt (see below)
Hot Foot Powder (see below)
Glass bottle
Method:
For this spell, gather dirt from underneath the target’s footprint and
combine it with hot foot powder inside a glass bottle.
Hot foot powder is a mixture of Chili powder, Red Pepper, Black
Pepper, Sulfur with a base of either Rice Flour or Corn Starch.
Bury the bottle in their front yard or under their front porch.
The spell will remain working as long as the bottle is buried, and it can
only be broken if the bottle is dug up and tossed into a fire.
If the bottle exploded in the fire, the spell is broken.
GET RID OF A HATEFUL HUSBAND
Gather:
Dirt (see below)
Cayenne pepper
Dirt dauber’s nest
Dark-colored bottle
Matches
1 Tin frying pan
1 Dirty sock
Method:
Dig the dirt under your husband’s right footprint and place it in a dark-
colored bottle.
Then, add some Cayenne Pepper and a Dirt Dauber’s nest. Burn the
mixture on an old tin frying pan and pour it into a dirty sock.
Tie the sock up while turning the parcel away from you.
Take the parcel to a river at noon.
When you are less than forty feet from the water, run as fast as you can
to the water’s edge.
Then, spin and hurl the parcel over your left shoulder into the water.
Chant the spell, “Go and go quick in the name of the Lord.”
Do not look back towards the river as you walk away, and take an
alternative route home.
RUNNING FEET
This spell is considered severely harmful, and can even cause a person to
run themselves to death. Proceed with caution.
Gather:
Red pepper
Dirt (see below)
Method:
Remove the dirt from underneath the target’s footprint and mix it with
Red Pepper. Throw only a part of the mixture into a running body of
water to activate the spell.
GRAVEYARD SPELLS
HOW TO COLLECT GRAVEYARD DIRT
G raveyard dirt, or Goofer Dust, is a major ingredient in Hoodoo

spells. It can cause serious harm to the target, and is often used in
pure form by Rootworkers as a part of spells cast with the intention
to gravely injure or kill the victim. It is also used in spells cast to bind
lovers together or to attract money. This ingredient is especially powerful
because of how directly connected to the dead it is. It is ill advised to
attempt to collect Goofer Dust or enter a graveyard after dusk, except on
Samhain, which falls between the 31st of October and the 1st of November.
During Samhain, the veil between the physical world and the spiritual
world is at its thinnest.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE SPIRIT

Graveyard dirt is used good and evil alike.
The efficacy of the dirt depends entirely on the character of the person
from who’s grave the dirt is dug.
You should always ask permission from the spirits before entering the
cemetery, and listen for cues on what behavior is welcomed and what
behavior is not.
Since the effect of the graveyard dirt is entirely dependent on the
character of the spirit resting there, base your decision on the nature of
the spirit. For instance, you should not use graveyard dirt taken from the
grave of a malicious person for spells which are well-intended.
The most sought-after graveyard dirt is that which has been taken from
the ground near the grave of honest police officers, who have been
known to not take bribes.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE GRAVE

Make your intentions known to the spirits, and ask for their permission
to dig near their grave.
If they grant permission, then you may proceed to gather dirt.
If they deny you or remain silent, thank them and proceed to the next
grave.
It is extremely ill-advised to gather graveyard dirt without permission.
HOW TO PAY THE SPIRIT

To establish peaceful boundaries while collecting graveyard dirt, the
person collecting the dirt must pay the spirit exactly nine silver dimes.
This payment must be given at every grave that dirt has been collected
from.
HOW TO DIG THE DIRT

If you have been given permission, remember to treat the grave and the
spirit with respect.
Ask the spirit where they would like you to collect from – the hands,
the feet or the head, and they will tell you.
Use a trowel to dig from only that particular location, till the spirit tells
you to stop.
Then, smooth over the dirt beside the grave before burying your
payment within the remaining dirt.
Some Rootworkers like to bring potted, flowering saplings to plant in the
area the dirt has been dug from, almost like a transplant of dirt.
Thank the spirit for its generosity before you leave.
BURIED SPELLS IN A GRAVEYARD
Remnants of spells are often buried in a graveyard, especially if they have
been case with extreme intentions – either extreme good or extreme evil.
This is done because the soil of graveyards is considered to be particularly
potent, because it contains the blessings of the spirits of the people who
have been buried there, who will most likely be ancestors of the person
casting the spell.
TO CROSS AN ENEMY
For this spell, you only need a carving tool and a black cross candle.
Method:
Take a Black Cross Candle and carve the name of the target on it.
Then, turn the candle upside down and cut the wax at the bottom till you
can see the wick.
Burn the candle upside down and bury any remaining wax in a
graveyard.
TO CROSS AN ENEMY 2
Gather:
1 Black image candle
Revenge oil
Carving tool
Method:
Take a Black image candle and carve the name of the target on it.
Place it upside down and splash a few drops of Revenge Oil on it.
Recite the Psalm 55 nine times over the candle, while it burns. Psalm 55
reads as follows:
1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3 because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.
4 My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert; [c]
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change —
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.
20 My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21 His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.
After reciting the Psalm 55, dispose of any remaining wax in the
cemetery.
BANISHMENT AND EQUALIZER SPELL

Gather:
Parchment paper
Black arts oil
Voodoo doll
Sharp pins
Black cloth
Method:
Write the target’s name on a piece of parchment paper and anoint it with
Black Arts oil.
Place the paper within aa Voodoo doll of the target and recite Psalm 55
nine times over the doll.
Stick one pin into the doll through the parchment.
Place the doll in a Black cloth and hide it in a dark place where nobody
can find it or tamper with it.
For eight more days, take the doll out, recite the Psalm 55 nine times and
stick another pin in it.
At the end of nine days, bury the doll in a cemetery or burn the doll and
scatter the ashes in a cemetery.
FOOT TRACK SPELL

Method:
Measure the target’s footprint with a stick.
Cut the measured portion off of the stick and bury it in the cemetery.
HAND HEX
Gather:
Footprint dirt
Target's nail clippings or hair strands
Red flannel mojo bag
Red pepper
Pins and needles
Method:
Collect dirt from under the target’s footprint, along with their nail
clippings or strands of their hair.
Place the items in a red flannel mojo bag.
To this, add graveyard dirt, red pepper, pins and needles.
Bury the bag in a cemetery.
HEX CONJURE BAG

Hex bags can be dangerous and, if found, can easily be deflected back at the
caster. Proceed with caution.
Gather:
A picture of the target
Mojo bag
Sharp pins and needles
Broken glass
Graveyard dirt
Method:
Tear up a picture of the target and place the pieces inside a mojo bag. To
this, add pins, needles and pieces of broken glass.
Sprinkle graveyard dirt into the bag and bury it in a cemetery.
COFFIN SPELL
Gather:
Coffin materials of your choosing
Black paint
Black candles
Red or black cloth
Method:
Make a small coffin out of any material of your choosing, and paint it
Black.
Imagine the coffin containing the hex or any negative energy that has
been sent toward you. This will reverse any adverse intentions directed
at you.
Place Black candles all around the coffin and light them.
When the candles have burned out completely, place the coffin and the
remaining wax on a Red or a Black cloth and fold the cloth away from
you.
Bury the parcel in a cemetery.
SPELLS THAT USE GRAVEYARD DIRT
Graveyard dirt is an ingredient that is used often in Hoodoo, because it is
considered to be extremely powerful. It is viewed almost like a connection
between Rootworkers and their ancestors, and since the dirt is taken with
the spirits’ permission, it is believed that using graveyard dirt in spells is
way to get the ancestors’ blessings for the task you intend to accomplish.
SPELL TO BANISH EVIL

For this spell, you only need a hammer, rusted nail, graveyard dirt, and a
red gris-gris bag.
Method:
Hammer a rusted nail against a flat rock.
Use the nail to score the rock without fully cutting through it.
While scoring the rock, imagine the evil being banished from your life.
Place the nail in a red gris-gris bag along with some graveyard dirt and
bury the stone far away from your home.
EXU’S BANISHING POWDER

Exu, Ellegua and Papa Legba are considered to be the loas of crossroads in
Hoodoo tradition. They are all different manifestations of the crossroads
god, and they act as intermediaries between the human world and the spirit
world. They are known to stand at crossroads and either grant or deny
permission to speak with spirits.
Gather:
Seven handfuls of graveyard dirt
Pemba de Exu
Correderia herb
Brown paper bag
Rum or cigars
Method:
Gather seven handfuls of graveyard dirt and grind it into a fine powder,
along with a package of Pemba de Exu and the Corredeira herb.
Put the powder into a Brown paper bag and take the bag to a crossroads
precisely at midnight.
Call on Exu and appeal to him to bless your powder by telling him about
your problems.
Thank him and leave him a gift of either Rum or Cigars.
Sprinkle the powder inside the home of your target to activate the spell.
PUMPKIN MAGIC LAMP BANISHING SPELL

This spell is time consuming and includes a lot of specific instructions that
have to be followed to the tee, but it is far more effective than any other
spell to banish particularly troublesome people from your life.
Gather:
Lost-and-Away powder
Hollowed pumpkin
Banishing powder
Grains of paradise
Cayenne pepper
Graveyard dirt
Soot
Castor oil
Olive oil
Cotton wick
Method:
Burn some Lost-and-Away powder. This powder has numerous uses,
including banishment. It is also used to establish psychic boundaries and
personal boundaries, in addition to preventing someone from
The powder should create a Lampblack ink as it burns.
Using this ink, write a note stating the name of the person you want to
banish and your reasons for wanting to banish them.
Then, make a magic lamp using a hollowed Pumpkin.
Place your note facing upwards inside the Pumpkin.
Cover the note completely with banishing powder, grains of paradise,
Cayenne pepper, graveyard dust and soot.
Fill the Pumpkin halfway with a blend of Castor Oil and Olive Oil.
Place a cotton wick at the center and burn it outside for seven
consecutive Fridays.
Afterwards, take the Pumpkin to a river or a sea and let the water carry it
away from you.
SHUT YOUR MOUTH SPELL

Gather:
Stinging needles
Graveyard dust
Freely shed bird feather
Gris-gris bag
Method:
Mix stinging needles and graveyard dust along with a freely shed feather
from a bird that is noisy.
Leave this on your target’s doorstep in a gris-gris bag.
ANTI-STALKER SPELL
Gather:
Graveyard dirt
Van Van oil
Method:
Take a handful of graveyard dirt, preferably from the grave of a family
member and drizzle Van Van Oil on it.
Using this mixture, draw boundary lines around your home, paying
special attention to any thresholds.
Coffin Nail Transformation Spell:
Use this spell to transform regular nails into coffin nails.
Place the nails on your palm and charge them with your intentions.
Then, place them in a bag filled with graveyard dirt for exactly seven
days during the dark moon and repeat your intentions over the bag
periodically.
Ideally, bury the bag and mark it with a headstone to make the spell
more effective.
REST IN PEACE SPELL

Place a doll in a small coffin and pray that the restless soul finds peace at
last.
Bury the coffin in a cemetery.
FERTILITY SPELL
Gather:
Tarot deck
Ancestor graveyard dirt
Dried rose petals
Hibiscus flowers
Lit charcoal
Method:
From a tarot deck, retrieve the Empress, the Sun, the Ace of Cups and
the Fertility Incense and place them under your pillow.
Gather dirt from your ancestor’s grave and mix it with dried and
powdered Rose petals and Hibiscus flowers.
Sprinkle this powder on lit charcoal till it burns.
FERTILITY MOJO BAG

Gather:
Red flannel or silk cloth
Ancestor graveyard dirt
Corals, shells, and silver charms
Method:
Fill a Red flannel or silk mojo bag with dirt from your ancestor’s grave.
Place other fertility charms like Corals, shells or silver charms in the bag
and carry it with you at all times.
STINGING NETTLE HEX BREAKER

Grind nettles into a fine powder and combine it with graveyard dirt.
Burn a part of this blend and waft the fumes where needed.
Carry the rest of the mix in a conjure bag.
EARTH PROTECTION SPELL

Gather:
Graveyard dirt (see below)
Holy water or spirit water
Method:
Collect graveyard dirt from your ancestors’ graves and sprinkle Holy
Water or Spirit Water over the dirt.
Let the dirt dry, place it in a mojo bag and hang it over the entrance to
your home.
SULPHUR PROTECTION BAG

Carry a mojo bag containing small pinches of Sulphur powder, Kohl
powder, Henna powder, graveyard dirt and Tobacco for protection.
GRAVEYARD SPELLS FOR PROTECTION AND
LEGAL WORK
These spells can be used for a variety of purposes – to protect yourself,
your home and your family, or in order to ensure you succeed in all your
legal ventures. For spells to ensure legal victory, make sure to use brown
candles for victory, or purple candles for more power against your
opponent. While praying or channeling energy, it is recommended that you
recite the 7th Psalm and the 35th Psalm.
JUSTICE SPELL
Gather:
Graveyard dirt (see below)
White bowl
White candles
3 Tbs sugar
3 Tbs Sulfur
Method:
Travel to a cemetery and gather dirt from the graves of nine children
with your right hand.
With the dirt in your white bowl, place the two at your altar. They should
be facing east. Then, put three white candles around them.
Light the candles and add three teaspoons of both sugar and Sulphur.
Recite the 35th Psalm and ask the spirits to help you.
The 35th Psalm reads as follows:

1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin[a]
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise —
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
After this, purchase a new pair of underclothes and a pair of tan socks.
Turn the clothes inside out, dress them with the graveyard dirt and leave
them at the altar till your court date.
Read the 35th Psalm every night until your court date.
On the court date, turn the clothes back to the right side, and wear them.
Keep only the left sock turned inside out and wear it.
FOUR THIEVES NINE NIGHT BANISHING SPELL

Gather:
Paper and Pen
Banishing Powder
Target’s Hair, nail clippings, or a thread from their clothes
Matches
Four thieves vinegar
Black fabric
Cord
Method:
For nine consecutive nights, write the name of the person you need
protection from across a slip of paper along with the words “Go home.”
Sprinkle banishing powder over the paper, along with the person’s hair,
nail clippings or a thread from their clothes.
Burn everything and collect the ashes in a bottle of Four Thieves
Vinegar.
On the ninth night, wrap a Black fabric around the bottle and secure it
with a cord, making nine knots.
Throw the bottle into a cemetery and take an alternative route home.
LAW, PLEASE COME SOON SPELL

Gather:
A handful of dirt from the area police need to investigate
A handful of graveyard dirt.
Bowl
Black seven-day candle
Commanding oil
San Cipriano oil
Method:
Blend them together in a bowl.
Carve and dress a Black seven-day candle with Commanding oil and
San Cipriano oil.
Place the candle at the center of the bowl and light it.
When the candle is completely burnt on the eighth day, mix the wax and
the dirt together and toss the mixture into the target’s property.
BRING A RAPIST TO JUSTICE SPELL

Gather:
Phallus-shaped candle.
Carving Tool
Powdered Alum
Matches
Method:
Carve the candle with information about the perpetrator.
Charge the candle with your intentions and dress it with a mixture of
Essense of Bend Over and Tabasco Sauce.
Then, roll the candle in powdered Alum and burn the candle.
This spell must be performed in a cemetery.
JUSTICE DOLL
Gather:
A doll resembling your opposer
Clean white cloth
Command and Compel oil
Courtcase oil
Fiery Wall of Protection oil
San Cipriano oil
Crushed vervain
Frankincense
Myrrh
Method:
On the night before your court date, make a doll that resembles your
opposer and place it on a clean White cloth.
Dress the doll with Command and Compel oil, Courtcase oil, Fiery Wall
of Protection and San Cipriano Oil.
Toss small amounts of crushed vervain on the doll.
Tie a string around the doll’s waist before burning Frankincense and
Myrrh, and then recite the 7th Psalm nine times. The 7th Psalm reads as
follows:
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a
Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands —
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe —
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure —
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
After wrapping the cloth around the doll, bury it in a cemetery.
BURIAL PROTECTION SPELL

Carry the deceased person around a cemetery sunwise either once or
three times before burial for protection during their journey to the next
realm.
REST IN PEACE JUNIPER SPELL

Burn Juniper Berries at the gravesite of the deceased during the funeral
to ensure that they rest in peace and protect them from malicious spirits.
REST IN PEACE ROWAN SPELL

Plant several Rowan trees overlooking gravestones, throughout a
cemetery to watch over and protect the spirits of all those who are laid to
rest there.
PROTECTION FROM A LOVED ONE BEYOND THE GRAVE

Fill a Red flannel mojo bag with a pinch of dirt taken from the person’s
grave, one flower from the funeral and one pebble from the cemetery.
Splash a few drops of the person’s favorite perfume on it.
PROTECTION FROM A STRANGER BEYOND THE GRAVE

This spell is to protect the spirit of a deceased child from malevolent
spirit.
A parent of the child should take dirt from any grave in the cemetery and
toss it over their own head when the child isn’t looking.
BAMBOO PROTECTION SPELL

Bury a Bamboo cane in a cemetery and leave it there overnight.
Retrieve it the next day and place it on your husband’s bed while he is
sleeping to protect yourself from abuse.
GRAVEYARD ROOT LONGEVITY SPELL

Roots pulled from plants in a cemetery will provide protection and good
health to their bearer. These roots should only be taken after seeking
permission from the spirits buried there.
GRAVEYARD SPELLS FOR LOVE
MOON FOAM
Gather:
A pitcher
Spring water
Method:
Walk towards the gates of a cemetery during the New Moon and remove
all your clothes.
Fill a pitcher with pure spring water and place it in the moonlight.
Gallop around the cemetery counter-clockwise seven times on an
Oleander branch.
On the seventh circle, the lunar spirit will show herself to you and you
can now negotiate with her.
If she agrees, the water will now contain silver foam. Strain it and
reserve for future use to induce passion, love and fidelity.
CEMETERY SCROLL
Circle the cemetery three times while staying completely focused on
your intentions for your relationship.
Spirits will now be visible to you and you will be able to ask them for
help.
GRAVEYARD DIRT BINDING

Dig some graveyard dirt with the back of your right hand and place it
into a mojo bag.
Place the bag under your partner and recite “till death do us part.”
SEEKING NEW LOVE

Gather:
Strands of hair or thumbnail clippings
1 bowl
Dried rose petals
Grains of paradise
Vervain
Method:
Place a few strands of your hair and some thumbnail clippings to a bowl
containing dried rose petals, grains of paradise and vervain.
Burn the contents like incense and stand over the rising fumes wearing
clothes, but no underpants.
Inhale the fumes and walk towards a cemetery.
Walk through the cemetery in two directions, forming a cross.
Walk back home in a different route.
SPELL OF NINE
Gather:
1 candle
Honey
Rose petals
Fabric and ribbon
Method:
Carve your name and your partner’s name on a candle, along with other
details of your relationship.
Mix honey, rose water and rose petals and roll the candle in this mixture.
Light the candle at 9 p.m. for 9 minutes on 9 consecutive nights.
On the ninth night, take the remaining portions of the candle, wrap it in
fabric and tie it with a ribbon.
Bury the package in a cemetery.
WAX IMAGE BINDING

Make a flower garland and wrap it around a wax figurine resembling you
and your partner together. Inscribe your desires on the figurine with a
rose thorn and tie the figurine with 365 knots.
Then, bury it in a cemetery.
ATTRACTION SPELL
Gather:
Graveyard dirt
Dried rose petals
John the Conqueror Root
Method:
Mix one part graveyard dirt, one part dried rose petals and one-part
grounded John the Conqueror root.
Place the mixture into a small mojo bag and carry it with you.
GRAVEYARD SPELLS TO DO HARM:
INDUCING SLEEP
Toss graveyard dirt into a house you intend to rob. This will make its
inhabitants sleep throughout the night.
WASTE AWAY HEX

Gather:
Graveyard dirt
Asafetida Powder
Babel Powder
Black cat oil
Damnation water
Four thieves’ vinegar
Goofer dust
Jezebel root powder
Lost and away powder
Mummy oil
Method:
Combine graveyard dirt with Asafetida powder, Babel powder, Black cat
oil, damnation water, four thieves’ vinegar, Goofer dust, Jezebel root
powder, lost and away powder and mummy oil.
This is mixed with a personal belonging of the target and placed in a
small bag.
The bag is then buried near the target’s home to make them lose vitality
and life force.
GOOFER DUST SPELL

Throw a handful of Goofer dust behind the target’s back as they walk
away.
GOOFER DUST SPELL 2
Throw a handful of Goofer dust on the path that your target is likely to
take.
GOOFER DUST CANDLE SPELL

Cut the top of a Black candle off and carve the bottom so the wick is
exposed. Place the candle on a plate containing Goofer dust and burn it
upside down.
GOOFER DUST JACK BALL

Gather:
Black candle
Target’s fingernails, hair, or clothing thread
Goofer dust
Method:
Carve and dress a Black candle according to your desires and burn it.
Take some of the melted wax and form a ball of it in your palm.
To this, add your target’s fingernails, hair or thread from their clothing
and Goofer dust.
Bury the ball on the target’s property.
HAND HEX
Gather:
Dirt (see below)
Target’s fingernails, hair, or clothing thread
Goofer dust
Method:
Gather dirt from the victim’s footprint, their nail clippings and strands of
their hair.
Place these items in a red mojo bag along with Goofer dust and bury the
bag on the target’s property or at a cemetery.
HEX CONJURE BAG

Gather:
Photo of your target
Sharps, such as needles, pens or broken glass
Goofer Dust
A mojo bag
Method:
Tear up a photo of the target and place the pieces inside a mojo bag
along with sharp items like needles, pins and shards of broken mirror,
and Goofer dust.
Spit in the bag and close it.
Bury the bag in a cemetery.
COFFIN SPELL
Gather:
Material to build a small coffin (wood or paper)
Black paint
Black candles
Red or black cloth
Method:
Make a small coffin and paint it Black.
Focus on containing all the negative energy that has been directed
towards you in the coffin.
Surround the coffin with Black candles and burn them.
When the candles burn out completely, wrap up the coffin and the wax
in a Red or Black cloth, while folding the cloth away from you.
Bury the parcel in a cemetery.
SELECTIVE IMPOTENCE SPELL
Take a piece of a dead man’s shroud and bury it where the target will
walk over it. Once they have walked over it, dig it up and place it inside
a Goat’s horn. Take the horn to the grave of an unknown person and
bury it there.
HEX PAPER PACKET

Gather:
Black ink and red paper
Goofer Dust
Asafetida Camphor
Black Salt
Black Fabric
Nine pins
Method:
Write the target’s name with Black ink on a red piece of paper.
Sprinkle Goofer Dust, Asafetida, Camphor and Black salt onto the paper.
Fold the paper away form you, knot it with red thread and wrap the
packet in Black fabric.
Pierce the parcel with nine pins and bury the packet on the target’s
property.
DRESSED EGG HEX

Gather:
Guinea hen egg
Cayenne pepper
Goofer dust
Pot filled with egg water
Method:
Roll a Guinea hen egg in Cayenne pepper and Goofer dust.
Place the egg in a pot filled with rainwater and boil it for an extended
period of time.
CANDLE HEX BLACK POWDER

Gather:
Stick of charcoal
Black salt
Goofer dust
Purple candle
Pins
Method:
Grate a stick of charcoal until it becomes coal dust.
Blend the powder with Black Salt and Goofer Dust.
Carve a purple candle with your intentions, slice the end of the candle
off till you can see the wick. Roll the candle in the powder and set it on a
plate.
Light the candle, remove all your clothes, jewelry and hair ties.
Channel all your anger and frustration into the candle and stick one
hundred pins into the burning candle.
Leave the remnants on your target’s doorstep.
HOW TO LAY SNEAKY TRICKS
H ow to conceal conjure works and lay sneaky tricks has already

been discussed in the first chapter, but here we will explore a few
old-school types of sneaky tricks. You should be careful how you
use them, they are very powerful and you might suffer consequences from
an improper use of these practices.
MENSTRUAL BLOOD TRICKS
Like other bodily fluids, menstrual blood of the person performing the spell
can be used in order to increase the potency of the spell.
If a woman writes her sweetheart’s name with her menstrual blood, he
will fall in love with her.
Adding nine drops of your menstrual blood into something your husband
eats or drinks will ensure that he never leaves you.
PUBLIC HEX
Write your target’s name on a whole raw egg using menstrual blood.
Toss the egg on their doorstep.
ATHENA’S CHARM BAG

Fill a hoodoo bag with Olive twigs and leaves, a snake charm and a
charm of the Gorgon’s head.
Add a few drops of menstrual blood to the bag.
GROW SOME CASH SPELL

Bury a Golden object and allow three drops of menstrual blood to fall on
the soil and plant a money plant on top of the object.
DOOR GUARDIAN
Smear menstrual blood on thresholds, lintels and doorknobs to create a
protective boundary around your house.
MENSTRUAL FLOORWASH
Add a few drops of menstrual blood to a bucket of salt water. Add
vinegar and scrub the steps to your home.
This will protect your home and your family.
KEEPING YOUR ALTAR HIDDEN
Make sure your altar is in a part of your house that does not get a lot of foot
traffic. Not many people should be able to see the altar. You can even use a
closet space for it to hide it and keep it safe from questioning eyes. Do not
keep your altar in your bedroom, unless you have a separate area within the
room for the altar.
SNEAKY BATH TRICKS
This spiritual baths can be discreetly used in a loved ones bath to protect
them from harm. They all smell amazing and you don’t need to disclose that
they have spiritual powers as well as great bodily beneficts.
CENTAURY SPELL: Adding an infusion of Centaury to bath water will

provide personal protection.
CINNAMON: Adding Cinnamon Hydrosol to bath water will provide

protection.
IRON SPELL
Place an iron nail into a bag and hang it from the tap, so water flows
through the bag into the bathtub.
Then, reverse the nail, allow it to dry and put it away.
ORRISROOT: Add a concentrated Orrisroot infusion to bathwater to protect

from negative energy.
DRAGON’S BLOOD BATH

Mix a handful of sea-salt and a handful of Dragon’s Blood powder.
Add this to your bathwater to protect from ill intentions.
FIVE FINGERS PROTECTION BATH

Draw a warm bath and add one cup of sea salt to it.
Then, squeeze five limes into it before tossing the lemon into the water
as well.
To this, add five dried Bay leaves, a splash of lemon vinegar, a glass of
spring water and a glass of rose hydrosol.
INDIGO: To a tub of warm water, add sea salt, Epsom salt, saltpeter and
indigo water for cleansing and protection.
GIVING SOMEONE A BAD MOJO
Giving someone bad mojo is quite common in Hoodoo, provided the person
feels that their actions are justified. For instance, if someone has caused you
harm, you could give them a Horseshoe with both ends pointing downwards
and this will bring them a streak of bad luck. Foot track Magic is also
frequently used as an act of revenge on someone with ill intentions.
Rootworkers are also known to take a mixture of bad vinegar, beef gall, filet
gumbo with red pepper in a bottle and put a piece of paper with the target’s
name on it inside. Harm can be done to the person by shaking the bottle and
telling it what you want to do. You can also put a mixture of salt and pepper
on someone’s doorstep to bring them bad luck.
While Hoodoo does not have a set of ethical obligations, it is always wise to
consider the repercussions your actions could have on someone else before
moving forward. While you do not have to answer to a God, you still
certainly have to answer to your own conscience.
WHERE TO LAY SNEAKY TRICKS
The following are some frequently employed places for laying tricks.
BURIED IN A BUILDING STRUCTURE. A common place for laying tricks is

in construction sites, because the tricks will last forever — or at least for as
long as the building stands. Bank construction sites are good for attracting
money; courthouse sites are good for keeping the law away; hospitals and
doctor's offices are good for healing; and church sites are good for
protection.
PLACED IN A CHIMNEY. To bless the home, a trick can be laid inside a

chimney.
Buried in a garden or potted plant. When you want to attract love, luck,
fertility, or success, bury a trick in a garden in spring and summertime or in
a potted plant anytime. A trick to work against someone else can also be
planted in the person's garden or in a potted plant at their place of residence.
BURIED IN THE EARTH IN THE HOME YARD. To ground a trick and keep it
working, bury it in someone's yard. Plant good luck works in your own
yard, under your porch, or beneath the front steps for fixing blessings, love
drawing, money drawing, and protection. Plant a bad luck trick in someone
else's yard to hex them.
PLACED UNDER CARPETS OR RUGS. This is reflective of adapting hoodoo

to modern times. When you don't have a yard to work with, the same
principle can be employed by placing a trick under someone's rug or carpet.
BURIED UNDER THE ENEMY'S DOORSTEP OR PORCH. To hex or jinx and

enemy, place a trick under their doorstep or front porch.
PLACED IN FOOD OR DRINK. This method is typically employed in
domination spells, to keep a mate faithful, or in enemy works. Scrape some
skin from the bottom of your foot and bake it in some food that will be
eaten by someone you wish to dominate or jinx. Add semen or menstrual
blood in your lover's food or drink to keep them bound to you.
THROWN INTO A FIRE. To neutralize a jinx, burn it in a fire and spread the
ashes around a tree. For example, to cause harm to your enemy, burn a bad
wish written on paper in a fire and spread the ashes around their doorstep or
front porch. Prayers and well wishes can also be accomplished in the same
manner. Burn a special prayer in a fire and scatter the ashes near the home
for special blessings.
PLACED IN CLOTHING OR ON OBJECTS. For love spells, money spells,

protection spells, and court cases, mojos are often sewn into clothes,
curtains, pillowcases, and mattresses.
DISPOSED AT A CROSSROADS. To dispose of ritual remains such as candle
wax, ashes from incense, and the like, leave them at a crossroads. Bad luck
tricks can also be disposed of in the middle of a crossroads where cars will
run over them and destroy them. Tossing coins in the middle of a crossroads
is considered good luck.
BURIED IN A CROSS MARK INDOORS. As an alternative to a crossroads, an

artificial crossroads can be created by making a cross mark indoors. The
basic method of creating an indoor crossroads is by drawing an “X” with
cornmeal, chalk, or cascarilla on the floor. The cross mark is used for fixing
spells, harming an enemy, or as part of protection spells and likely has its
origin in the Kongo cosmogram.
BURIED IN A GRAVEYARD. Ritual objects used in extreme magic — like

causing serious illness or death — can be buried in a graveyard.
THROWN IN RUNNING WATER. Throwing a spell into running water is best
used for wishes and banishing.
PLACED IN A TREE. Trees are believed to absorb negativity and evil, so bad
works are often buried at the base of trees to neutralize them.
PLACED IN A BOTTLE. An old practice with origins in the African Congo

involves making wishes and placing cobalt blue bottles onto branches of a
tree to make a bottle tree that functions as a talisman. My mama always had
a bottle tree in the yard. This practice used to be common in the South, but
over time the practice seemed to fade away. In recent years, however, it
seems as if bottle trees are beginning to make a comeback all over the
country.
POWERFUL HOODOO SPELLS FOR THE
ADVANCED PRACTITIONER
NEGRA CINTA
N egra Cinta means Black Ribbon, and ribbons form an integral part
of Hoodoo spells. Tying ribbons secures something, both literally
and figuratively. They are also used to bind things together, and
tying a ribbon in your hair or clothes can help direct your energy where you
want to, in a more effective way. The colour Black symbolizes both the
removal of evil and to send harm. It is normally used in binding spells,
hexes and jinxes, curses, enemy tricks, coercive magic and summoning dark
spirits.
Gather:
1 black candles
1 sheet of cigarette paper
alacrán oil (scorpion)
snake fat
1 black pin
black ink
1 parrot feather
1 black ribbon (=black belt)
black/dark salt
Method:
Engrave on the candle the name and data of the person to whom the
ritual is addressed by using a knife. Anoint it with Alacràn oil and then
sprinkle it with black salt.
Let it rest for a few hours and then light it up. Put the map next to the
candle with the data of the person to be hit and any wishes/requests and
curses against her/ him with black ink and a parrot feather.
Cover the map with snake grease and leave it be while the candle is
consumed in its totality. Then fold the map and close it with the black
ribbon making 7 knots. Close the knots in the center with the black pin,
and at each knot recite:
"Forces of evil, that since the times of times you rule the destinies of men, I
invoke you to subdue with all your immense strength, every thought, word
and work of (name of the target), that all go wrong to him, that no one
listen to his cry and that all the evil that has caused me return back to
him/her and his/her family thousand-fold and so be it".
Collect the remains of the candle and together with the map, wrap it with
the ribbon and pin stuck, buried in a place far from everything covering
it with earth at the cemetery.
THE MIRROR BOX RITUAL
Being inside a mirror box can either be enlightening or traumatizing, so
tread carefully. The person who will be in the box for ten minutes is called
the “witness.”
Gather:
6 Square sheets of metal
5 Mirrors
1 Ladder
Clock
Method:
Take six square metal sheets preferably made of graphite or lead alloy,
all slightly taller than the witness.
One of the sheets should be larger than the rest of the sheets.
Seal five nearly perfect aligned mirrors onto each of the metal plates,
forming the sides and the bottom of an inner “box.”
The witness should use a small, unattached ladder to enter the box.
Once inside, the witness can use the light source and the clock.
Once the witness is ready, the lid should be placed over the box and
sealed.
The witness can now use the light.
Once ten minutes have expired, someone needs to open the box
regardless of the witness’s protests.
If you meet a witness, don’t trust what they say about the mirror box,
under no circumstances should you ask them for the time, and most
importantly, do not ask them where the Antumbra meets.
THIRTEEN DAYS OF ERADICATION SPELL
Gather:
A candle
Method:
This ritual requires your house to be spiritually cleansed prior to
performing the ritual.
Then, select a location to place your candle.
Place a picture of yourself facing upwards and set the candle on top of
your picture.
Make sure the candle stays alight and pray over it once a day.
The candle will likely burn for five to seven days, so do not be
concerned if the candle melts completely before the thirteen days are up.
For the remaining days, light a tealight or a votive candle while reciting
the 29th Psalm. The 29th Psalm reads as follows:
A psalm of David:
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
State your intentions and wishes clearly before you pray, and always end
the prayer by saying “Amen.”
THE PROTECTION RITUAL
Gather:
A knife
Red string
Sacrifice or stuffed doll
Glass of water
Mint leaves
Method:
Take a knife and wrap the blade with red string.
Once the blade is completely wrapped, wrap the handle with the same
string.
Then, tie the neck of whatever you are sacrificing.
If you do not wish to sacrifice anything, then cut open a stuffed doll, add
a few drops into the doll and then sew the doll back up.
Take a glass of water and put a few mint leaves in it.
Place the glass of water on the right of the table, the blade on the left of
the table and the sacrifice on the middle of the table.
To initiate the ritual, say:
“With the blood of mine, and the blood of an inferior, I beg for protection.”
Then, prick your finger with a needle and add at least one drop of blood
into the glass of water.
After this, if you are sacrificing an animal, cut off the head and collect
drops of its blood with the finger you just pricked.
Just dip your finger in the blood, but do not mix it with anything.
If you have a stuffed animal, cut the red string and say:
“For Peace, I justify, my blood is spilled twice.”
Take the glass containing the water, mint and your own blood, and drink
the water completely.
Finally, burn all the materials you used for the ritual for at least 7
seconds.
ANCESTOR SUMMONING
Gather:
Anisette Liquor
Pure spring water
A glass
Photographs and mementos
Food and beverages (see below)
Method:
Add one teaspoon of Anisette Liquor into a glass of pure spring water.
Place the glass on a table and reinforce the ritual with photographs and
mementos of the ancestor and your family.
Provide food and beverages that they might find hard to resist and focus
all your energy towards summoning them.
ANGEL SUMMONING
Gather:
A silver or white candle
Mirror
Dark silk cloth
Method:
Light a Silver or White candle and announce your intentions.
Seek angelic blessings.
Burn Frankincense incense and look in your mirror.
Try to see beyond yourself and impartially look at another being.
This may require several attempts before you finally get it right.
You may see a face, a figure or even just a light or a glow.
Communicate with this spirit, and when you are done, wrap the mirror in
a dark silk cloth and keep aside, it can be used only for this ritual.
SUMMONING A DJINN
Gather:
Aloes wood
Graveyard dirt
A metal flask
Red silk cloth
Sheep’s shoulder blade bone
Silver or bone needs (7)
Method:
Place a small piece of Aloes wood and graveyard dirt in a metal flask.
Wrap the flask up in a square of red silk, along with a cleaned Sheep’s
shoulder blade bone.
Tie the package and pierce it with Seven silver or bone needles, while
chanting, “I knock on Earth’s door to summon the Djinn.”
Place the bundle where Djinn are likely to gather and wait for a
response.
GULLAH JACK CRAB CLAW WORK
As you have learned in the historical ancestors section in the second book
of the series, Gullah Jack is a powerful spirit. This is very own spell, he
used to give his followers crab claws to defend themselves. When you are
under attack, this is a powerful spell that will protect you. It should not be
used lightly.
Write your petition on your photo or a photo of a target and burn the photo
to ash. Load the crab claw with the ash from your photo, a pinch of angelica
root, gunpowder, Master of the Woods, and licorice root. Seal the opening
of the claw with red wax. Place the loaded crab claw in a cross setup of
candles in which you will place the candles in the order of top to bottom,
right to left, then you light them in the same order you set them down in.
(See details for this candle setup in the 7th volume of the series.)
Pray over and work your setup for at least five days and carry that little
claw with you.
If you are under attack, this little work will move your enemies to the side
and far away. It is a triple action work because your spirit is locked down
inside the hard shell of the claw for protection while the claw itself nails
down your enemies. Then we can't forget that crabs move backwards and
side to side, which is what we want our enemies to do so they can move
along to the side while we move straight ahead to name and claim our
blessings.
God bless and honor to all the ancestors who died and suffered for conjure
work to be here today. Amen.
CONCLUSION

THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO DIVINATION
Get your Mojo workin’ with Bone Reading, Hoodoo
Tarot, Playing Card Magic, and Dream Divination to
Manifest your Desires
INTRODUCTION
on.
solid ground.
Hoodoo.
divination.
rootworker.
Welcome to volume six of the series. You will learn about ways to talk to
your ancestors, ask questions, and use the many tools at your disposal on a
daily basis, to the traditional and unusual tools used to practice divination.
Many Divinations used by the Hoodoo have evolved into modern life and
some have been watered down to storytelling rather than the true and
powerful forces of the past. This book will reignite the traditional practices
and educate you in the true practices of the Fortune teller, rather than the
image portrayed in the modern movies and stereotypes.
Use this book as a guide and teacher to learn to make better choices, lead a
healthier and more fulfilling life by finding solace in the knowledge that
those that have past before you are watching and keeping you safe.
From beginners to the experienced Diviner this book will introduce you to
the Hoodoo form of true communication with the supernatural and lead you
down a path to experience and expertise that will give you the confidence in
your abilities you previously doubted or were too inexperienced to really
give foundation to.
THE ART OF DIVINATION
T he Art of Divination is how a Hoodoo Rootworker can gain

information about the past, present, or future. Divination always
employs tools or objects to provide assistance to the communication
from the supernatural or your guidance. Many tools and objects can be used
in Divination by a practicing Hoodoo. Some tools are used to give the
supernatural the ability to communicate without the risk of hostile invasion
or a complex situation that needs an answer. Divination is nearly always to
seek a solution to a problem or concern for the future. The experienced
Hoodoo Root worker will use the information given to formulate a course
of action or identify a spell that will either give the person seeking answers
to work towards a solution or evade a bad situation by seeking protection or
blessings.
The main objects or tools used for the Art of Divination are, but not limited
to:
Roots and herbs (as covered in volume three and four)
Astrology
Bones
Runes
Tarot Cards
Playing cards
Candles and
the Environment and Spontaneous Signs.
Over thousands of years and different cultures, there have been many types
of Divinations developed and practiced. However, there are three main
types of Divination to gain insight from the supernatural or guides, but not
limited to
INDUCTIVE DIVINATION
Those who use this style of Divination observe, interpret, and read certain
signs and omens. The Hoodoo Rootworker that practices this type of
Divination may believe that because the signs are caused by a change that
cannot be influenced or bought about by human interaction, this divination
is more valid and less vulnerable to human influence behaviour or thoughts.
Certain circumstances, be it the environment, animal behaviour, or signs
you were born with, cannot be altered to fit your preferred message. So,
therefore, they appear to be genuine and not manipulated or created by
humans. Examples of this type of divination are many, but not limited to
Astrology
Palmistry
Shape of the clouds
Wind movements
Flights of birds
INTERPRETATIVE DIVINATION
Interpretive divination is the combination of non-human tools or objects
and human action. For example, with Tarot cards, the cards have to be
shuffled and chosen by a human, and the meaning is interpreted. However,
the cards are not human, and the chosen cards are "destined" to be picked or
placed out for you. When bones are thrown for guidance, the placement of
the landing, be it they are near a symbol or one bone lands close to or on
top of another, is a sign created by human action, even if the bones are not
human. It is also up to the human's skill, intuition, or ability to be guided by
the supernatural to explain bone placement's meaning concerning the
problem, ailment, or question that the person asks. Some objects or tools
used to aid in the art of Interpretive Divination are
Tarot cards
Playing cards
Throwing bones
I-ching
Dominoes
INSPIRED DIVINATION
Inspired Divination is the appearance of one's spirit leaving the body,
leaving the space open for another to enter and speak or take over the
person's body, allowing the visiting spirit the ability to communicate
through the body and voice of the host. This can be bought on by the
individual's direct effort with meditation, rituals, some cultures by the
ingesting of drugs or specific herbs and roots or can be spontaneous.
The way the information is received can vary greatly through visions,
dreams, voices, or thoughts. Some allow the deity or presence to speak
through them. This is the most dangerous and perilous of all the Divinations
and is not advised without a great and experienced supervisor. The forms of
Inspired Divination are as follows, but not limited to
Clairaudience
Clairvoyance
Clairsentience
NATURAL SIGNS OR OMENS
A n omen is a sign that proceeds an event. It can signify great

success, good fortune or bad luck, great evil, or a warning of an
event that can be avoided if correctly prepared. Diviners have used
omens for thousands of years to predict the outcome of wars, predict the
severity of winter, predict the harsh weather approach, and be aware of birth
or a remarkable event in their life.
Hoodoo, in particular, can receive awfully specific messages that the
divination of omens and signs can receive. Particularly in nature,
specifically animals, and the environment.
Some Omens and Signs are spontaneous, such as lightning; others are
looked for at times, such as the blossoming of specific trees. Then, others
called upon to solve a problem or indicate a solution as a cloud formation
divination.
Dreams can also be Omens. Look for more information on this unique type
of divination later in the book.
As you can now imagine, thousands of Omens and Natural signs can be
interpreted to give messages and warnings. Here I will cover the most
common and popular Omens to learn to read nature's messages and may
you never miss a notice for caution or a reason to celebrate again.
ANIMAL OMENS
Animals and their behaviour are, without doubt, one of the most significant
categories of Omens. Depending on where you live, there is a wealth of
creatures around you to draw upon.
Bird omens
OWL - In Hoodoo, the Owl is believed to be a companion and a bringer of
messages. The Owl can see into the darkness beyond what we can and bring
caution and protection messages from hidden paths unseen.
There are several specific Omens and messages the Owl can bring.
If an owl hoots at your window, they are giving you a message. This
usually is a warning but can also be a bringer of good news.
One hoot means there may be a nightmare coming to someone in the
household.
Two hoots may mean a wedding is approaching or will be announced
soon.
Three hoots are a message of birth.
Four hoots are a message of death, or a spirit is lingering near or in the
household.
Finding an owl feather is a signal that a spirit or ancestor wishes to
communicate. Sleep with an owl feather under your mattress if you want to
know who a fake friend is or a hidden enemy sabotaging you.
CROW - The Crow is seen as mischievous and a trickster. However, the

crow can carry messages from the spirit world and the dead to the world of
the living. In Hoodoo, although the playful and trickster element is
acknowledged, the Crow is also seen as wise, and at times allied friend.
If you see three crows sitting or flying together while traveling to do
something, be it a chore or a trip, turn around immediately and go home.
This is a warning that today is not a good day for this particular task. Try
another day again.
If a crow flies into a house, this is an urgent message of impending
doom, death, or great danger. This strong omen indicates that you must
immediately cleanse the house and the people that reside in it to avoid
the death or injury on one of the members.
DOVE - Dove is a positive sign for any relationship you are currently in or
are praying for.
Seeing a Dove after the passing of great love is a sign of love from that
person beyond this world.
If you see a white dove while you feel the effect of an argument or are
asking how it will end, they are a sign of the end of conflict and reunion
of unity.
Seeing a grey dove signifies a long-lasting love.
If you feel unfaithful or unloyal to move on or let go of a love lost to
death and ask for a sign,
the appearance of a black dove means a release from all promises.
AUGURY
Augury is the practice of divination from bird behaviour. This can be any
bird. However, there can be specific messages from certain birds. Mainly it
is the practice of watching flight or flock behaviour.
If a bird flies into your window, it has an urgent message for you. Watch its
behaviour straight after. It could be a warning, so observe. Does it look
comfortable, confused, sick, or hungry?
In addition to where the birds appear, watch the pattern they are flying in.
This means any shapes, dancing behaviour, or aggression formed in flight,
such as flying in a circle, a V-shape, passing in uniform lines, spirals, or
crashing into each other, speed, etc. Each figure and symbol can mean
something different. Receive the message on intuition and what you think
first it is trying to tell you is probably right. For example, if crows are flying
to the north and spiral patterns, this could be a sign of a spiritual death
resulting in a rebirth of the personality or spirit. For example, if you drive
home and see a flock of birds spiralling and flying in formation, that seems
to show chaos. It may be a warning that the household or the destination
will be chaos when you arrive.
Insect omens
GRASSHOPPERS
These happy little creatures are considered good omens, but specific
behaviour can deliver a straightforward message.
Sighting a grasshopper can be a good omen for a favourable business
deal or wealth and prosperity.
If one hops across a doorframe into a house, it signifies a new and happy
home.
Associated with a recovery from illness or a sign of a long lifetime.
If you are serenaded at work with their cheerful song, it is a sign of
possible promotion.
Singing to you at night means money will come to you the next day.
Landing on your clothing is a sign of a new outfit coming to you.
Crossing your path is a sign of a windfall or prosperity coming to you
soon.
Jumping into your drink is a sign that you will win a bet soon.
LADYBUGS
Ladybugs are a sign of love, marriage, happiness, and unity. If they appear
after some love magic, it is an excellent omen that it has or is working.
Some other prophecies from this loved up little bug are:
Found one where you keep your jewellery? You may be getting a ring of
commitment soon.
If one lands on your hands, your love prayers have been heard.
If one lands on your wallet, purse, or directly on your cash, a wealthy
lover is coming to you.
Finding one on your bed could mean your lover is missing your intimate
touch.
Finding one on your letterbox or on your mail means there will soon be
communication from someone who loves you.
GENERAL BUG OMENS

Seeing a bee or more on a flower is a good omen and signifies good
fortune, success, and great love.
If you see a spider near your spell work, this is a good omen that your
spell will work, and someone will be bound by your will.
Other animal omens

CATS - Black cats can be viewed by some as a bad omen or a negative
sign. However, in Hoodoo, there are many messages from a black cat that
are a positive message or signal.
Seeing a black cat on the way to place a bet or gamble is a good omen.
If you see a black cat that you do not know seven days in a row, you will
be coming into money soon.
If you see a cat, come to your window three days in a row, a Hoodoo
woman has her eye on you.
SNAKES - Snakes may bring a warning of curses or dark spirits nearby.

Seeing a snake that appears to ponder you and then move on can be a
sign of significant changes and a new start.
Snakes are symbols of wisdom and change. A time of growth at the
snake's ability to continuously shed its skin as it grows can be a positive
sign that you are about the move on from the old and grow into the new.
Dreaming of snakes can mean there is a traitor in your life. Pay attention
to the place of the snake in your dream. This may help indicate who the
snake is.
WEATHER OMENS
Once again, this is an Omen and sign divination you can practice anywhere
you happen to be. Weather and nature are everywhere, but as long as you
can see your environment, you can get messages from your ancestors,
guides, or spirits if you know what to look for.
CLOUD DIVINATION - also called Aeromancy, is a form of Augury.

Specific shapes, cloud formations, or movements can send particular
messages or tell communities or individuals' fortunes.
• On a wintery cold day, rain clouds can be seen as a bad omen of doom
or gloom to come.
• On a sunny summer or spring day, rain clouds are a positive sign of
new starts or cleansing to the earth.
LIGHTNING - Lightning can be a warning and a blessing. If lightning

strikes, pay attention to what it hits. This typically has a bearing on the
message.
Lightning can mean a destructive end is coming. If it strikes concerning
money work, it means a quick and abrupt change, but brings excellent
fortune, although life will never be the same.
If you are looking for a sign concerning your personal life, it can signal
significant change and obliteration of a significant obstacle to your
success.
TREES- Strange behaviour in trees, weird happenings like a tree swaying

without wind? These are signs or omens. The message can be dependent on
what's on your mind or and answer that you are seeking.
Trees that grow in strange places, even though you have pulled the
seedling, it keeps growing back. This could be a sign of encouragement
to persevere in life.
A tree that blossoms in the wrong season
If an acorn from an oak tree falls on you, this is a good omen of a
windfall and superior wisdom and strength coming to you.
A tree falling close to you is a sign of impending great danger, be wary
of risky travel or arrogance. Be aware of your behaviour, or you may fall
from a great height.
If you need an answer to a predicament and ask for a sign, just keep your
eyes open for repetitive or unusual happenings around you. For example, if
you are afraid and sitting in a park wondering what to do and are
approached by a white dog. This is a sign you will be protected and not to
be afraid. Someone has your back, even if you do not know it.
If something happens involving nature or animals and it seems unusual,
makes you feel a certain way, or you have been asking for a sign and
something strange and out of place happens, chances are it is your sign. If
you do not know what it means, contact a senior or experienced Hoodoo
Diviner for interpretation.
TRADITIONAL BONE READING
T hrowing of the bones is often also traditionally referred to as

Ossomancy or Osteomancy. Throwing Bones is an ancient form of
Divination believed to have originated in Africa. However, throwing
of bones is also known to be used in China and several other countries.
Each piece in a Bone Throwing kit means different things to the owner and
the way they land assists in foretelling the future or Divining the past.
The Bone thrower will place the bones in a basket or their hands and then
throw them into a circle or surface. This may be a hard surface with
markings on it or just a surface that they choose to use, although the
traditional practice prefers a hard surface. Bone throwing is a very natural
and earthy practice that requires the casting of bones and, in some cases,
other items such as seashells, stones, crystals, small twigs and sticks, and
other items that you may choose. The pattern and method of landing then
allow you to read messages from the past and present depending on the
position of the items to each other, or the visibility of symbols etched or
drawn onto the items.
CHOOSING THE BONES
Starting your own Ossomancy set can feel overwhelming, but it does not
have to be. Choosing your bones and items that accompany you can be fun,
and remember, once you decide this is your path, they may find you.
If you eat locally and naturally, your body has accepted and bonded with
the ground you are living on. When you are working with nature, it is best
to be natural and choose from the environment that feeds and nurtures you.
If you choose to add pebbles or stones to your kit, keep your eyes open
when in nature and look to the earth that provides you with food and a
home to gift you a stone or two to your kit. Small twigs and sticks may call
to you as you take a walk. Keep your eyes open for what calls to you.
For the bones, this is a personal choice; however, if you are not familiar
with ensuring that bones are hygienically cleaned and safe for use, I
recommend finding and buying a set of throwing bones from a reputable
source for health reasons. If you are familiar with working with bones and
nature's gifts, then choosing your bones and cleaning them can be a journey
of observation and time.
Like the stones, peddles, and sticks you find in your area, you may also find
an animal that has passed, and its earth form is there for you to use. There is
a variety of paths that you can take to add these bones to your kit. You can
let nature do its work and leave it somewhere exposed for six months where
you know it will not be taken by other animals or offend a person that may
not expect to see your bones curing. After the time has passed, for health
and sanitary reasons, have them cleaned with at least 35% hydrogen
peroxide. If you are not familiar with using this chemical, find a specialist
to do this for you.
You do not need to sacrifice the animal yourself or be present. Finding a
skeleton or choosing an animal from a chicken farm and receiving the body
after a professional humanely kills the animal is sufficient, as is finding
bones on a walk or purchasing them. The most important part is that you
choose the bones and ensure that you treat them respectfully.
Once you have chosen your bones, either by purchase, collection, or gift
from nature, and they are ready for use, you must bless them before your
first casting.
BLESSING THE BONES
It is imperative to cleanse, consecrate, clean, and charge your bones before
your first reading, especially if you have chosen to purchase bones for your
set. When collecting or receiving your bones, you must remember that an
animal has passed on for you to receive them. Some pass natural and
peaceful deaths, but keep in mind that nature rarely allows this to occur, and
animals can die from any number of traumatic deaths or negative
experiences. You do not want this energy attached to your bones.
Even if your bones are a gift, they still require cleaning and be charged with
your energy. They are your gift to communicate or receive messages from
the spirit guides and ancestors, so you must be charged with your energy
and positive intentions to give a clear and truthful reading sent by your
guides.
You may see some recommendations that state a simple sage process may
be enough, and this may be true for a simple monthly or energy cleanse
once you have had your bones for a while, but to truly claim, clean, and
bless your bones, a more specific and involved purification ceremony and
charging process must be performed to have your bones attach to you, and
you to them.
I prefer these two cleansing rituals due to the spiritual and connection
process closely touching, talking to, and bonding with the bones and your
guides involved. Both are equally effective and depend on the mood and
resources I have on the day I feel called to use. It is recommended to do a
thorough cleanse at least every 12 months and the smaller cleaning and
blessing throughout the year. The bones should already be physically clean
and completed the hygienic and sanitizing process. This is a spiritual and
energetic cleansing and blessing ceremony.
CLEANSE AND BLESSING RITUAL
Gather Florida water, frankincense oil, Muhr oil, sea salt, rainwater, and a
sage stick.
Florida water is used as it is an amazing cleanser and attracts beautiful
spirits. Frankincense and Muhr are considered gifts to the ancestors and
spirits to attract them and show reverence to their presence.
Sea salt is to cleanse negative energy, and rainwater is a symbol of washing
and cleansing away negative energy.
Using a jar or bowl, depending on your bones' size, place enough
rainwater to half fill the container. Pour a little Florida water in, about a
quarter of what is already in there in rainwater. Add some drops of
frankincense and Muhr. Gentle mix the water and ask your guides/spirit
guides or ancestors to bless the water as you mix.
Place the bones gently one at a time in the water, gently swirl them in
the water and pray to your guides/spirit guides or ancestors to clean and
bless these bones. Place them on your altar or a safe place in the
sun/moon to cleanse and charge and leave them to rest for 24 hours
minimum.
Collect the bones and gently out the water. Remove the bones one by
one and gently place them on the material or paper towel to dry. You can
gently pat them dry if you choose. It is optional at this point to place a
drop of Frankincense and Muhr on your palm and rub your palms
together to coat your palms in oil. One by one, pick up each bone and
gently rub between your palms, and you can pray to your guides/sprits or
ancestors, gently asking the animal permission to use the bones and to
bless the bones. As for encouragement to those who need to hear the
messages from them that will pass through the bones. Thank the animal
for the gift of using their bones for good.
Next, you need to light a sage or incense stick (sage is best for its
spiritually cleansing properties of dispelling negative energy and calling
on positive energy). You want the flame of the sage to be hot and smoky.
Ensure you have a window open or are in an open space so that the
negative energy can escape and does not end up agitated and swirling
around in your space and attaching to you instead.
Pass each bone through the smoke of the incense again, asking for your
guides to bless the bones and bring encouraging messages for those that
need it. Make sure to thank your guides and the bone each time you pass
one through for cleansing and blessings.
Once this is complete, you can place them in a bag or on a tray to rest
them on your altar or in the direct light of the sun and moon for a
minimum of 24 hours to rest and charge.
If this is a yearly cleaning and blessing ceremony, they will be ready to
use again after step 6. If this is a new set of bones or a new object or
bone for your kit, carry it on you, or have it near and touch and connect
to it often for the next week to a month to ensure that the bone connects
to your energy and you connect to your bone.
This second Ceremony is simpler and shorter and is suitable for cleaning
or cleansing, blessing, or for objects that may be damaged if placed in
water for a long time.
Place the object or bones on a tray in front of you.
Ask for access to the spirits or ancestors through meditation or prayer.
Ask the spirits/guides / your ancestors to bless the bones and give you
the wisdom to give accurate readings and ask for encouragement for
those who ask for guidance that they may have positive readings for
healing.
Vow to your guides/ancestors to tell the truth and represent their
message accurately.
Pass each bone through the smoke of sage or incense, thanking it and
asking for the blessing to use. Thank the animal for the gift of their
bone.
As you say, the above prayers gently sprinkle the bones by flicking your
fingers that have droplets of saltwater on them, either directly from the
sea or created with water and sea salt.
Mark the bones with your own sweat or blood, either directly from your
forehead or navel area one by one.
Thank your guides/spirit guides or ancestors for the blessing. Lastly,
thank the animal for the gift of the bone. With other items such as a shell
from the sea, a twig from the ground, or an item, thank the relevant
gifter, be it the sea, the earth, or the person that gifted you.
Your bones are the bridge that joins you to your guides/spirits or ancestors.
They like to be cleaned and cared for regularly. If they are getting visually
unclean, a quick wipe over with a damp cloth is enough but do all things
with your bones with reverence. Respect and be grateful to your bones for
the messages they allow you to convey. Regularly spiritually cleanse and
bless your stones to clear their energy and regularly charge them to ensure
they are joined to you, as you are to them.
Remember always to thank them if you gain a new friend or money to assist
you in giving a reading or assisting in healing. Be grateful always to your
bones and guides, and they will be kind to you.
THE POSITION OF THE BONES
The position that the bones settle in once cast is how you can read them. It
is not just the symbols on them (if you choose to mark them) or what they
symbolize but where and how and on what they might complete their
journey to tell their message.
Ideally, it should be onto a tray, thin batting, quilt, or cloth when casting
your bones. If using a piece of light fabric, roll the edges slightly to stop the
bones from rolling off the reading surface.
The tray, batting, quilt, or cloth (reading surface) may also be referred to as
a compass. This compass may have markings suck as circles, symbols, and
written prompts. As you develop your skill and connection to your guide of
choice, you may feel the pull to use an animal skin marked with symbols or
prompts.
A traditional Hoodoo Root doctor may draw a circle in the dirt with a stick
and cast a handful of Opossum bones into the circle. The surface, markings,
and written prompts will depend on your learning source, your guides, and
your skill level.
The way you cast your bones can also influence the way you can read your
bones. While it will not change the message, you are asking to receive, it
can make it more difficult depending on how they fall. There are several
ways to cast your bones onto your reading surface or compass.
If you are using large bones, you may choose to use the basket casting
method to sprinkle the bones from the lip of a large basket onto the compass
reading surface.
If your bone kit fits into your hand, this is ideal and a much easier way to
cast your bones. It is essential to be aware of the method you cast with this
method when you begin. Too high and the bones will scatter, too low, and
they will land in a big pile or clump. Neither is ideal, and it is better to have
a graceful cast that allows the bones to fall rather than be launched or tip
onto the surface. Practice casting your bones from a height that allows for
even distribution. This practice will make your reading and interpretation a
more straightforward and more precise process.
The size and weight of your bones will influence this, and it is a purely
personal choice.
Once you have cast the bones, the bones' position on the compass or surface
is as important as how they lay in proximity to each other and the direction
they point.
In traditional Hoodoo, there is a cross on your tray or compass. This can be
referred to as the crossroads. Some find it helpful to have this marked, and
those with more ample experience may choose to use their minds to see the
intersections and have their compass marked with symbols to deepen the
reading further.
This cross that divides the circle into four Quarters is considered where the
realm of spirit and the world of men intersect. This is where we are
confronted with choices, and negotiations or blessings can be requested
from the guides you chose.
This circle is divided into four sections, and it is common for each section
to represent an area of life for the reading. The crossroads symbol is a
common symbol you will find in many Hoodoo Divinations, not just bone
readings. Section one might represent love, section two money, section
three health, section four the unknown, or the future.
Apart from the crossroad marking the centre’s distance, it can put more
depth into a reading. Reading from the centre means that they start at the
centre issue or the heart of the problem. There are many ways to identify
the heart of the issue or the most crucial part of the reading. Make sure you
make it clear in your mind and to your guides, depending on the casting
method you are choosing, if your centre issue should be identified by
placement or symbol, so you do not confuse your guides when they design
the bones' falling for you to read.
Some choose to read the position as follows for a general reading when
there is a large kit involved. Depending on the healing or question asked of
the guides, not all listed will be relevant to the reading you are making.
However, the position at the crossroads is as follows. (think along the lines
of the layers of an onion)
CENTRE
If a bone lands in the centre, it may have a message concerning fire, the
soul, base matters (the ultimate issue ), the glands, the thermogenic
mechanisms of the body, or metabolism.
NEXT LAYER
If a bone falls in the next layer out from the centre of the crossroads, it may
have a message concerning earth, land, day-to-day life, practical matters,
flesh and muscles, and food digestion.
THIRD LAYER
If a bone falls on the third layer from the centre of the crossroads, it may
have a message concerning water, sea, motivation, emotion, currents,
trends, blood, hormones, and liquid digestion.
FOURTH LAYER
If a bone falls on the crossroads' outer edge, it may have a message
concerning air, the cosmos, intellect, spiritual matters, and the brain.
The direction the bone is pointing has significance to the bone reading also.
For this, you can look at the message of the direction bone if you have
marked your bone with symbols.
Look at indications for meaning in the placement. Are they close to your
position? Are they furthermost away from you? Is the bone or object upside
down? If so, this may mean a reversal or a negative of whatever the pieces
mean to you.
Did the bones land on top of or across another bone? Are some pointing or
touching others?
As you add to or observe and connect with your bone collection, you need
to understand what each bone or item means to you. The position means
little if the bone does not have any intention or meaning attached to it.
For example, you may choose to add a pen lid of significance to your bone
collection to symbolize employment or work. This landing across a seashell
you have also added may mean that you are all work and no relaxing, and
this landing in your love section may mean that work is keeping you from
making connections to those you love or finding love. If it is near the
Compass centre, then this may mean it is an issue that is happening now or
will soon. If it is in the compass's outer section, this may mean it will
happen or is happening, but it is not a huge issue right now to be aware as it
may be in the future, so be aware and mindful of your priorities.
READING THE BONES
R eading the bones is collectively gathered under the name of

Cleromancy. Cleromancy is the art of reading or interpreting
objects, the objects' shapes, and arrangements if they are tossed
(cast) or randomly fall into.
Most commonly used are Runes, Bones, Shells, Stones, Dice, or dominoes.
Left natural, inscribed with markings, numbers, or colours, they are
believed to have the ability to receive messages directly from your guides,
spirits, or ancestors. There are three main types of bone divination, and they
all vary depending on the culture, the individual, and the area in the world
that it originated.
PYROMANCY - Heated and cracked bone reading
GEOMANCY - Mathematical systems of bone reading
CLEROMANCY - Spirit/guide/ancestral lead interpretive bone reading.
All three vary significantly but come under the umbrella of Bone
Divination. To understand the differences, you need to understand the
process of preparing to read, how they are treated to receive the message,
and how the message is interpreted.
PYROMANCY - HEATED AND CRACKED BONE
READING
Pyromancy is divination by fire or heating bones and reading the marks and
cracking left on the bone from heat to gain messages from the supernatural.
Hoodoo uses pyro-Osteomancy as a form of divination involving the bones
of a turtle or ox scapulae in fire and then reading the cracks that result from
it. Often called Oracle or Dragon bones, the Diviner sought answers to
questions that would foretell the future.
The most prized bones to use are the turtle Plastron (the undercarriage is
most desired due to the flatter surface and the lighter shade) and Ox
scapulae. More commonly used are the shoulder blades of deer, sheep,
cattle, and pigs can also be used as they are easier to obtain.
Pyromancy has a long history in many countries, traditions, and forms.
Many believe that fire has life and the ability to support and bless life.
Diviners can use the dancing of the flames, the formation of smoke to
cleanse households, people, and divination tools. Certain woods, leaves,
and herbs are burnt, for they have special abilities and protection in the
smoke.
Fire also brings heat that protects in winter, cook’s meat and food for
sustenance, and the heat can create human tools. The fire in itself is treated
and believed to have the power to send messages from spirits, ancestors,
and spirits.
Pyro-Osteomancy is believed to have originated in ancient china in the late
Shang Dynasty.
Pyro-Osteomancy is the art of reading the future, from burning and heating
bones to get messages from beyond the living world. There are many ways
to apply divination to pyromancy. Hoodoo traditionally cast bones
(sometimes marked with symbols) into the heat and read the cracks,
discolorations, and marks left by the heat, smoke, and fire.
Pyromancy involving bones is believed to be over 3000 years old. Although
not specific to China, it is believed to have the oldest findings of Pyro-
Osteomancy. Mongolians also have a history of making Oracle bones. It is
made by cutting the turtle's Plastron into a pentagon shape and then incising
certain Chinese characters into the bones, dependant on the question.
The Diviner would insert a burning twig into the grooves and characters
until they could hear a loud cracking. Once they also saw radiating cracks,
diviners filled the cracks with ink to make them easier to read. The cracks
would be interpreted to give information on future or current events and
questions. Specific questions would be carved into the bone, and the
resulting cracks would provide particular answers to the question.
Oracle bones, also referred to as Dragon Bones, have been found in many
Archaeological sites from the Shang Dynasty in China. This is the oldest
proof of Pyromancy. Found in domestic homes of the poor villages, to the
rich and homes of royalty, it is believed that Pyromancy was widely used to
guide the decisions in this time. The King himself at this time learned to
perform and read the bones himself. It is thought that this early practice laid
the foundations for modern Chinese writing.
The wealthy and royalty usually had their Diviner at their disposal.
However, the commoners and poor would attend a diviner's shop or home
and pay to answer travel, marriage, and farming questions.
For example, they may have wanted to know if they should travel to a city
on a particular day and want to see if it was a safe or sound day to travel.
They would visit a diviner who would take their question and inscribe a
bone with the person's symbols, travel, date of travel, and future travel date.
The Diviner would drill a hole into the centre of the bone, invite the
supernatural (depending on the culture, the invitation may vary, as would
the supernatural being asked to assist), and a hot poker inserted until the
bone cracked. If the crack went towards the symbol for the proposed travel
date, then it was an excellent sign to travel that day. If it went away from
the date, then do not go at all. If it went towards a future date, then do not
travel on the date asked. A future date is best.
Other questions on love, marriage, or dates to sew seed would be marked
with a good day, bad day with the date. The exact process would follow,
and the crack towards a symbol is the answer, so if towards "yes" or "good
day," then a positive response.
Although not one of the more common or popular forms of divination in the
modern world, a small handful of experts and cultures still practice this
form of divination. If you wish to practice and learn this yourself, you can
use symbols that already exist in the Hoodoo world and mark bones with
these. It is recommended you keep a divination diary as the King of Shang
Dynasty did to record your readings and refine your practice.
Use a four-step system to record your readings as follows.
Date of your practice
Question asked, symbols used, and form of Pyromancy (fire or hot poker
)
Answer to your question as you read it. Sketch the result.
What happened. Look back over your answer and see if that message
was there and if you missed or misread it.
Keeping a solid record, being honest, and recording your intuitive thoughts
will refine and develop your pyromancy skills.
GEOMANCY - MATHEMATICAL BONE READING
In this chapter, I will not be teaching you how to read the Hakata. The
Hakata is a profoundly cultural practice, and only family members of
Diviners are guided through many years of training or develop their system
through years of experience.
Geomancy, also known as Hakata, Akata, or Ditaola, is considered the
mathematical system of reading bones. The first confirmed use of Hakata
was in a report written in 1616 AD. The report states a priest was sentenced
to death by the Mutapa King in 1561. The report written by a man called
Godigno says that the tribe member used four tablets during a trial to
determine the intentions and sentence to be received by the priest.
The Hakata is a set of four tablets made originally from bone, but most so
in modern times from wood; however, bone is considered the most
desirable medium to use. Inscribed with distinctly designed motifs on one
side, they are used to forecast events and diagnose illnesses. Before the
Diviner casts the Hakata, they meditate themselves into an altered or trance-
like state so they can direct specific questions to the Hakata and the spirits
and ancestors.
The Dice can have many meanings but are most commonly represented
with male, female, good luck, and bad luck entities attached. It is also
believed in the traditional teachings that they represent masculinity and
manhood, motherhood, youthfulness, virginity, and purity.
All four of the tablets have one side decorated with carvings, commonly
representing the four adult status's being:
CHITOKWADZIMA - old and senior man
KWAMI - old and senior woman
CHIRUME - young and junior man
NHOKWARA - young and junior woman
The tablets are easily identified with a zigzag border on the front to identify
the right side up. Two of the tablets have notches on the bottom. These are
the junior tablets. The junior man (CHIRUME) has one notch, the female
tablet (NHOKWARA) has two notches.
The art of reading the Hakata is a gift that is passed down through family
generations. This is not to say that each generation will receive a Hataka
Diviner; some have several generations pass before a successful Diviner is
discovered to have been blessed with the gift.
Each set is made with individual and unique markings, but the four names
and meanings remain. A layperson or a specific person usually carves them
with the artful gift of carving. Unlike the animal bone casting or bone
casting sets where the preference is to collect, mark and collect the set
personally, it is believed that a "Root Doctor" or "Diviner" should not carve
their bones, or they will not be truthful and could be used to deceive.
There is, however, no objection to the Diviner collecting their bones to
present to the layperson for marking. The bones they choose can vary
extensively, with the most desired being the skull of animals, the shell of a
tortoise with the pinnacle, and the most preferred being Lions Bones.
Skulls, tortoise shells, and concaved bones add the extra element of the
concave shape, adding further meaning to a reading.
While it is preferred to kill the animal personally, the bones of dead animals
discovered by the layperson or the Diviner can be added without issue to a
tablet set.
All Hakata sets are considered "blind," "sleeping," or "unborn" until they
are prepared or charged to contact the spirit world or ancestors' past. To
"wake" or bring the Hakata to see, there are varying methods.
Some doctors chew unique roots until they are a paste and spit the paste
onto the Hakata. The Hakata are then left at the front door at sunset, placed
under a pot for protection. At sunrise, the Hakata is considered to have
"seeing" or " is awoken" and gifted to receive messages from the spirits.
Another method used is to soak the bones in a pot of water with tortoise and
cows' hearts from sunset to sunrise.
Some choose the method of boiling in a pot of water with the bark of the
Maranga Tree.
To cleanse the Hakata, they are boiled in a pot of water with a specific mix
of roots and lark faeces collected from a river's surface. at each new moon,
every month to refresh and recharge the "seeing."
How Many Hakata sets are thrown at once is personal preference, is also
dependant on the experience of the Diviner or complexity of the question
asked. Some use just one set, and others use two, three, or even four groups
at a time. This is where the mathematical system is applied, as it is
considered a random generator of outcomes, and depending on the number
of tablets used, the expansion of possibilities grows.
Before each reading, the Root doctor or Diviner will spit a specific mix of
roots onto the tablets to cleanse and ensure they are clear of past energy and
ready to answer for this particular person.
The Diviner will then place an animal skin to cast the tablets onto to be
read. In most cases, they will then meditate to take themselves into an
altered or trance-like state, and once they are ready, they will cast the tablets
onto the skin. If they use a set of Four tablets, sixteen different
configurations can appear. Each has an equal chance of occurring.
There are more significant numbers of configurations if the Diviner chooses
to use more than one set.
Assuming they choose to use just one set of tablets, each of the sixteen
configurations is given a name and meaning by the Root doctor or Diviner
performing the reading. When each configuration lands, the name given to
it by the Diviner is said in reverence and recognition of its appearance.
Each Diviner will name and give meaning to the individual 16 results that
can appear. This is a catalog that is kept in the head and memory of the
Diviner itself. This knowledge is memorized and learned through years of
training and practice.
There is also a series of different ways this catalog can be interpreted
depending on the question asked, and sometimes read multiples ways
simultaneously through one cast. The various methods are ancestorial
questions, sorcery questions, property, totem animals, clans, body reference
(health), and spells to heal. There are many options available to the Diviner
to provide a reading to the client to solve their problem.
A reading can vary from 20 to 40 throws of the tablets, with the client able
to ask further questions under the Diviner's guidance. As the reading
progresses, the tablets will reveal "why" and the "solution" through the
expert supervision of the Diviner.
This divination system is the mathematical method. Although some cultures
dispute the link, and the thought is considered controversial, it has been
linked to the complex and very involved Arabic Divination of "ilm al-raml"
or science of the sand.
Both work on the same principle of random generators selecting numbers
and symbols to read and have a complex interpretive catalog. Both
extremely difficult, involving numbers and passed from family members
only, this mysterious and well-protected form of Divination is fascinating
and is considered as old as the history of the people and villages that
practice them.
SYMBOLIC METHOD
A further element that can add to the Divination of Bone reading depth is
marking Symbols onto your bones. Many symbols can be used depending
on your origin, where you learn, culture, and tradition.
Symbols can be etched, drawn, or painted onto the bones or onto the casting
compass that the more experienced Diviner can bring into the reading.
However, there are a few symbols that seem to be in most traditions and
cultures. Although the sign may vary slightly, the meanings are always
similar and of the same family of thought and luck, coming from Africa
within the Diaspora.
AN EYE = This symbolizes jealousy, either from you or towards you.
There is an element of possessiveness and ownership that should not be.
SANKOFA HEART = This symbolizes telling you to learn from your past.
Return to something you have lost or recover something you have failed in
the past.
GYE NYAME = (the power of God) God, the spirits or ancestors have
the matter under control. Fight the urge to take control and leave it in the
hands that already know the best outcome. Trust.
AKOBEN = (war horn) There is a great deal of conflict; someone is

talking behind your back, beware of someone slandering you.
COFFIN = There will be a death or loss. Perhaps this is a resolution or an
ending to something.
OVERLAPPING = Expect unity, there will be a joining, a togetherness,

and you will feel oneness and belonging.
SEPARATED = This is a symbol of divorce, a breakup, or separation. You

can apply this to friendships OR lovers.
FISH = Is a symbol of an abundance of sex, you may be particularly

fertile, that a woman you love will come of fertile age, it a sign of a
mother, a whimsical woman, or whimsy.
COWRIE SHELL = Prosperity, coming into money and a vested interest

will pay off.
SPIDER = This has two meanings depending on where it may land. It can
mean you will acquire wisdom. It can also mean a craft and tricky
person is planning something against you.
AFRICAN/EGYPTIAN HEART = This is a powerful indication of love.

This could lead to marriage. You may be attending a wedding where this
is powerful love. It can also indicate the power of motherly love and
familial love. On the flip side, it can also show an irrational attachment
and loving someone despite lousy behaviour.
WESTERN HEART = Keep an eye out. This symbol indicates you are
already or will soon be surrounded with love and romance.
ACE OF SPADES = A potent and feared symbol it indicates death or

extreme danger
THE DAGGER = You have a person or a group backstabbing you or a
close loved one, beware of the double-cross by someone trusted, a scam
or shady deal will be put to you. Keep your wits about you.
PEACOCK = This symbol represents tremendous pride and high self-

confidence. Be careful of the arrogant boaster. It can also symbolize a
physically beautiful person.
A COMB = Don't neglect your self-care while caring for someone. It is

also a symbol of femininity.
LIGHTNING BOLT = An explosion of angry from you or directed at you.

It also represents a time of power and a fast change in direction.
THE STAR = A sign to hold onto hope. You have a great deal of
charisma at this time; something or someone special will appear.
THE GRID = This represents a substantial unity of the family, of society,
a strong marriage will begin soon, a kind civilization, and politeness.
A SPOON = This is a symbol of comfort, be careful not to turn to food

completely for comfort if stressed or sad. There is some practical
nurturing coming to you, or you will provide comfort to another.
LEAF = This symbolizes herbs, plants, farming. A period of significant

growth is coming and will begin soon. You will benefit from the
prosperity that you have sown in the past.
So, to put one of these symbols in a hypothetical casting, let's say the bone
marked with a dagger lands to the left of the marked crossroads in your
compass. You can read this as you have suffered from backstabbing in the
past, and perhaps your trust was breached by someone you felt you could
trust.
The leaf-marked bone may land in the centre of the compass, signifying that
you are experiencing remarkable growth, perhaps because of the lessons
learned from the past. Although you have suffered, you have continued to
grow from it rather than be bitter, and you will see the benefits from that
very soon.
Two bones land to the right of the centre of the compass. These are the
Peacock and the Cowrie Shell. You can read these two bones together to
show that you will come into great success and wealth. Although it is not by
chance and hard work, do not turn into a peacock and strut around the place
boasting. Do not be arrogant and lofty with your success, be confident in
yourself and know that you can achieve, but don't use this new positivity in
your life to hurt others.
Of course, these are just the leading and most commonly used symbols on
bone markings. Many can be marked on the bones, and there is no right or
wrong way to mark your bones. As in many Divinations, it depends on your
traditions, your guides, and your teacher. However, the above examples are
a great way to start learning and developing your skills as a Bone Diviner.
As your experience and knowledge grow, so will your Bone collection.
Some bones may join your set, while others become redundant or need to
be rested. Most Bone diviners have an ever-changing and evolving set of
bones, with just a select few particular bones remaining as forever pieces in
their collection. This is acceptable and encouraged. Be guided by your
intuition and continue to study the Art of Bone divination for Inspiration
and growth.
BONE SCRYING
The Bone Diviner can also read the position that the bones may land
concerning each other, so see if they form a shape or pattern. This reading
method is called "Bone Scrying" and is a method that not all bone readers
use. Using this method, you should read the bones by the position BEFORE
reading the particular meaning of where they landed and the symbols. Bone
Scrying is to be used only by the highly gifted and intuitive, and the bones'
spirit gives this message, rather than the guides, ancestors, or spirits. There
are many ways to read the positioning on the bones, and sometimes they
may fall in a way that makes a clear picture, such as a box symbolizing "a
gift or entrapment." However, the most commonly used that you can also
take into account during a reading are:
Upright Triangle- When the bones form an up-facing triangle, it
indicates something's growth and manifestation. The bones that form the
triangle will reveal what is growing or manifesting.
Upside Down Triangle- A reversed or upside-down triangle means that
someone or something that influences you or the condition you suffer or
tolerate is shrinking away.
The Letter T. This indicates a blockage. There is one circumstance
blocking another in your life. The meaning of the bones will explain this
further.
The equal sign- Bones that form an equal sign, running parallel, indicate
harmony between the symbols represented by or on the bones.
Criss Cross- Bones that form a crisscross indicate a strong desire; the
bones that form this pattern can either for or against each other,
depending on what they represent.
Vertical Lines- Vertical Lines are masculine and dynamic. They
represent a yes answer.
Horizontal Lines- These lines represent a no answer.
Diagonal Lines- Diagonal lines represent the separation or ending of
something. The bones that have fallen in this way have meaning, and it
is their meaning that will tell you what is parting ways.
Horseshoe shape- This is a symbol of good luck. When the bones form
this horseshoe, it represents good luck; but when the U is upside down,
it means luck lost.
PROTECTION DURING READING
O nce you start reading for others, you may find that you feel
exhausted or drained after some. Yes, divination of any kind can be
exhausting, but knowing the difference between normal fatigue
and like you have been robbed of energy and joy or that you feel unusually
heavy or irritated, is essential.
During any divination, you are opening yourself to the spirit world and
supernatural. Connecting with the supernatural can be a beautiful and
healing experience; however, do not be naive and think that just because
your intentions are pure and loving, you will only attract loving and pure
spirits. Empaths are also extra susceptible to absorbing the pain, negativity,
and emotions of those they may choose to read for. If you are learning how
to be a diviner, you MUST know how to protect yourself from outside
emotions, spirits, and negativity. To give the best and clear reading (which
is what we all want), we must be a clear and clean canvas, not dragging in
the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of past readings and evil spirits. It is
also not spiritually healthy to carry around and have that junk inside you.
In this chapter, you will learn some straightforward but equally effective
ways to protect yourself from the invasion of negative energies, absorption
of clients' energies, and psychic attack.
There are many ways to create protection during a reading. However, the
simplest is sometimes the best and most effective. Regardless of your belief
and reading system, the following methods are effective and can be adapted
to most forms of divination. Remember, with all protection spells,
techniques and acts, the intention is the most potent part of the action you
will perform. Make your intention strong, set your spiritual boundaries
strong, and do not waver.
CRYSTALS FOR PROTECTION
Many Crystals can be used for protection in everyday life and as a specific
tool at certain times for concentrated and targeted protection. I have chosen
to discuss three: they are all relatively budget-friendly, easy to obtain, and
available in most countries.
LABRADORITE
Labradorite is an attractive and robust crystal. They are commonly used as
protection from unwanted energies. Crystal users may place them in
pockets when they feel intimidated or around those joy stealing types at
work or family functions to protect from projected energies of anger,
negativity, or hate.
CLEAR QUARTZ
When used as a protection from Negative or intrusive

energies or psychic attack during a reading, I always recommend pairing
Labradorite with clear quartz. Clear quartz, particularly a clear quartz point
paired with any protection stone during reading, supercharges the other
crystal while still using its qualities to assist and guard you. Alone it will
boost intuition and enhance protection. Paired with another protection
crystal, you will have strong binding protection and enhanced intuition
towards the energies you want to attract.
AMETHYST
Amethyst is a beautiful crystal that is also well known and readily available.
Although it is most commonly known for its abilities as a simple healing
crystal, it is not as famous as it should be as a powerful crystal to encourage
divination and communication with the supernatural through opening the
third eye. Amethyst is a powerful protection stone that will guard you
against negative energy, block evil energy and spirits and protect against a
spiritual attack. It provides protection, enhances communication and
spirituality, and will also purify your surroundings, keeping you safe. Use a
clear Quartz to supercharge the abilities of this calming, strong crystal.
BLACK TOURMALINE
Black Tourmaline is the granddaddy of all protection Crystals. A faithful
bodyguard against spiritual attack, psychic attack, and negative energies,
this the big bad daddy you need if you are a true empath and tend to forget
to set boundaries through misplaced empathy.
This stone connects you to your root chakra, keeping you grounded to earth
at strong in your foundations. Staying grounded in your truth, own feelings,
and energies is a solid foundation to repel emotions, powers, and thoughts
that do not belong to you.
By being firmly grounded, you can receive messages without the underlying
fear of being drained of energy or poisoned by negative and psychic attacks.
Negative and evil energies cannot penetrate an aura that is strongly certain
and rooted in their spirit's truth. Pair this powerful masculine crystal with
clear quartz to fire up turbo-charged protection for divination.
If you choose a crystal for protection, there are many options on how to do
this. However, all require you to charge the crystal with your intention and
communicate your wish to it. Use one of the crystals mentioned above or
pick another if it is a protection crystal and resonates with you. I
recommend before starting your reading that you hold the crystal or crystals
of choice in your left hand with the single or handful of clear quartz (if you
choose to boost your protection crystal) in your right.
Close your eyes and imagine a shield around you in the colour of the
Protection Crystal. I use Black Tourmaline so imagine a black dome over
me with swirls of clear (to incorporate the clear quartz). I imagine the clear
quartz swirling through the black dome, strengthening, and encouraging the
protection from destructive or harmful energy and spirits. I imagine
negative energy striking and falling away from the dome as I am protected
and safe from their approach and attack.
Once I feel confident and protected by that image, if I have chosen to use
one tourmaline crystal and one clear quartz, I place the crystals together
directly in front of me but above where I will put the cards. This positions
the crystals directly between me and the receiver of the message if I am
reading for another. If I am using multiple tourmalines and clear quartz
crystals, I place one of each together in an arch between the person I will be
reading. One of each to my left, one of each to my right, then at a 45-degree
angle, then front and centre as I would place if I were only using one.
Remember to cleanse and recharge your crystals after a session of readings
or a particularly exhausting reading regularly. Just like your clothes and
your body, they need to be cared for, rested, and charged, ready for another
day protecting. Crystals carrying residue from previous readings will not
defend and energize like a freshly cleansed and charged set will do.
MEDITATION
A mind is a potent tool and a diviner's greatest asset. Don't underestimate
the power of your mind and control over your body and spirit. Meditation is
a popular and easy way to protect yourself during a reading once you
practice and know the power of protection meditation. It does not need to
be an extended meditation as long as your intention and faith is strong and
clear.
Set up ready for your reading and close your eyes. Imagine a white light
surrounding you with golden flecks floating through the white light and
dancing and sparkling through the light. Ask your spirits/guides or
ancestors to protect you with white light and golden love. Ask them to
protect you from harmful energies and evil intentions that only spirits that
you want to communicate with be allowed to pass into the light to speak.
You may also wish to light a white candle near you to remind you and
signify that you are protected by white light and golden warmth like a
candle. It is essential to use a white candle as this indicates the white candle
of healing and the flame of heat, that you are protected, purified, and clean
of negative influences.
You may also wish to sprinkle some white table salt onto the surface used to
place the cards as salt repels evil, bad spirits, and negative energies. You
may want to reinforce this by stating out loud.
"This salt will not let you enter or approach me. I am protected and safe."
AFFIRMATIONS AND AMULETS
Affirmations are a powerful way to set boundaries with yourself and others.
This also works for the spirit world as long as your intentions are pure and
robust. You can use the following or adapt them to make them your own.
The main ingredient in affirmations is what you believe, and if you use
words that are different from others but have the same effect on you, they
will work.
Sit at the place you will be doing the reading and state the following
affirmations or your adaptions:
"I am surrounded by love."
"I am surrounded by light."
"I am protected from negativity."
"I am wise and guided by positive energy."
After a reading, to be sure you are clear and there is no lurking energies,
state the following:
"Love and light protected me."
"I am clear of all negative energy."
" I am free of all emotions that are not mine."
" I bring and allow only positive energy into my life."
If you choose to wear an amulet or talisman for protection, such as a

jewellery piece with a crystal, something symbolic such as an owl or wolf,
treat them as you would a crystal. Just as you need rest from your job, they
also rest, cleanse, and recharge your amulets and talisman regularly. Treat
your protectors with respect and show them you are grateful and
appreciative by not neglecting them. A dirty, tired, and clogged system of
protection is not going to be effective.
FINAL TIPS
Not only does burning rosemary and sage smell lovely, but the scent and
slight smoke can be extra insurance against negativity and those spirits that
do not have good intentions. If you choose to burn some during a reading,
remember to have a window or vent open. There is no point in having a
repelling agent if you trap the negativity or evil spirits in the room where
they will be agitated by the protecting but unable to escape. If you want
them to "get out," remember to "let them out."
As a final word, remember to cleanse and recharge your divination tools
after every session or reading. You can do simple cleanses every couple of
days, other than the more involved monthly deep cleanse.
Treat your bones, candles, Tarot, or dice as you would your bed. If you
invite guests and stay the night in a room of your house in a bed, you would
change the sheets after leaving, wouldn't you? You would not expect a new
visitor or even yourself to sleep in the bed straight after it, and likewise, do
not use dirty tools to read for yourself or others until you have cleansed
them. To avoid spiritual contamination or infection, "remember to change
the sheets" after guests.
DICE CASTING INSTEAD OF BONE
THROWING
D ice casting is also a form of divination called Astragalomancy

which is Greek for "Astragalos" meaning Dice or knucklebone.
Dice Casting is a type of Cleromancy, divination by the use of Dice
in place of bones.
Dice casting has been used traditionally by many cultures and people within
the human race for centuries. The oldest dice found in Modern times was
from Iran and was over 5000 years old. There is a suggestion that art and
scripture depict dice casting and that Astragalomancy was actively practiced
over 8000 years ago.
The Antique and original dice were called knucklebones and were fashioned
from animals' vertebrae, most commonly sheep. Knucklebones is where the
term of throwing the bones about Dice casting originated. Throwing the Dice
is remarkably similar to Bone casting, but the dice numbers rather than
symbols are used to interpret the message. These Dice only had four sides,
whereas the modern-day Dice has six sides.
Knucklebones used in Roman times were called "Tali" and were numbered
with the Roman numerals I, III, IV, VI. When the choice was made to use
six-sided dice, they were called "Tasserae." China evolved the Dice into
what Modern culture refers to as Dominoes.
Traditionally the Dice were considered to give definitive answers, meaning
the answer was fate and very rigid in interpreting the reading. The reading
was seen as absolute, and there was no room for changing the fate that was
forecast read for you. However, in our more modern times, we can now
recognize that they give insight and show what your future may be leaning
towards if you continue with your current path and choices.
We now understand that any choice to change our future is a matter of
listening to our intuition, and the options are there to change the path we
tread in the future by our own hands.
We now understand that the Dice will not spell out the future for you, but
rather, they are a tool to ask questions that will help you make decisions to
go the path you are dreaming of or desire.
There are a few different casting methods or throwing the Dice to read the
Dice and quite a few different ways of reading and interpreting the reading
given. It is personal choice or dependant on your learning method or teacher
to choose how to read the Dice as per most divination practices. The only
important part is to have decided on the method that you will use each
reading before you throw the Dice so that your guides/spirits or ancestors
know how to place the Dice for your message to be accurate. Ancient and
traditional occults state that the most favourable days to cast the Dice are
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and should not
be cast on Fridays and Sundays. However, other cultures believe that a dice
reading should not be done on a Monday or Wednesday due to the planets
and the moon's placement and should not be cast in stormy weather.
However, for others, this is not a consideration. Be guided by your intuition
on this matter.
Dice's message is said to come true within nine days, so the advice is to only
give one reading per week to yourself or others.
You can choose to use one, two, or three dice together for throwing and
divination. It is more common to use three dice for reading in modern times,
depending on the method you interpret.
Before throwing your Dice, you will need to identify a 20cm ( 8 inches)
compass ( or reading circle ) to cast your Dice into. You can do this with a
marked and prepared hard surface, chalk on a hard surface, or a permanently
marked alter for this reason. Roll the Dice into this circle and read them
from where they rest still.
The first to consider is will you include the Dice if it lands outside the circle?
Some believe that if it finishes outside the circle, it makes the entire reading
null and void, and if this happens twice, it is a sign that today is not a good
day to read the Dice for this person, be it you or a for a friend.
Some decide to ignore any dice outside the circle and interpret the Dice's
message that remains within the circle.
Others take a dice outside the circle as a specific message in itself. Again,
there is no right or wrong. You have a choice, but you must decide before
you throw.
If you choose to read the Dice that fall outside the circle, there are several
ways to interpret this. A dice falling outside the circle may mean that a
disagreement may be about to happen because someone may be isolated by
conflict and not included in a circle of family or friendship group. It can also
simply signify difficulties or upset is coming.
If two dice land outside the reading circle, this can mean there will be an
argument or disagreement. It may not be for you, but you will be involved
by knowing or supporting someone through this difficulty, and it will have
negative impacts on you.
If three dice fall outside the circle, this can be a sign of great luck coming to
you, or a wish you have held for a while will come true. This is a great time
to consider profound manifestation practices, either for yourself or the friend
you are reading for.
If the Dice falls on the floor, this could signify death or grief. It is commonly
read this way because the distance between the Dice and the others within
the circle shows a great distance and inability to see each other. It can also
simply symbolize some problems are going to arise that are going to cause
you some significant worry or annoyance.
Centuries ago, a dice landing and resting on another was interpreted as a
partner may be cheating. However, this has evolved to be seen more like a
good omen or a sign of a great gift will be received by the person the reading
is for.
The primary consideration is to know all the above interpretations and
decide which one is suited to you. It is a personal choice and dependant on
the amount of Dice you use and your teachings, guides, spirits, or ancestors.
If in doubt, trust your intuition.
There are many ways once the dice have rested to read them once they are
sitting. It is best to hold your Dice and ask the question in your mind. Some
also find it helpful to say it out loud or to pray to their guides/spirits or
ancestors to ask the question and request guidance and a blessed reading.
Once you have focussed on the question, you may cast the Dice into the
circle.
Once you have decided how you will interpret the Dice that land outside the
circle, look to the Dice within the circle and prepare to read the message.
Once again, there are many ways to read and interpret the message sent in
the Dice.
THE YES/NO METHOD OF READING DICE
If you have a single question that needs an answer such as:
Will I marry the man I am in love with?
Will I have children?
Will I get a promotion?
The YES/NO method is the simplest way to get an answer to this question.
For the YES/NO method, you only need to use three dice. Hold the three
dice in your hand while you ask the question in your head. Then say the
question out loud. Once you feel focused on the question, cast your Dice into
the compass area.
ODD numbers signify a NO
Even Numbers indicate a YES.
There are two different ways to get the odd or even numbers.
Add the total sum of all the dice within the circle. For example, you may
have a three, a six, and a four. 3 + 6 + 4 = 13. The total of the three dice
is an odd number, so the answer is NO.
Two out of three or Majority rules method. Three = odd, six = even, 4 =
even therefore the majority is even numbers. The answer is YES.
THE THREE DICE METHOD
Traditionally Dice readings were considered absolute and rigid, in that the
answer was your fate and there was no way around it. However, in these
modern times, we understand that we have choices, and the choices we make
after the reading can completely change the outcome. Dice read the future to
how the situation sits in that exact moment. Knowing that if you get an
unfavourable reading, you may be able to change the outcome, and the
reading may be a warning to change the path rather than a doom and gloom
prediction.
There are thousands of ways to interpret the three dice method, and none are
right or wrong. It depends on where you learn, what calls to you, but more
importantly, what feels right. Some ways are traditional and passed down
through generations, so it depends on your heritage and belief path. I will
start with the most popular and utilized methods, starting with the simplest
and moving towards those more experienced readings as you learn more.
This method is perfect for the "right now" situation in your life.
For example:
Is the trauma from my past relationships stopping me from committing to
a good man, or is my intuition telling me to run for a good reason?
or
I am attracted to moving into a completely new career path. Is this my
avoidance of a hard patch in my current field or a true heart calling to
change my direction?
So, you are not looking for a simple no or yes answer for this question, but
more in-depth and some explaining and advice.
Once again, hold your Dice in your hand and focus on the question. Ask
your guides, spirits, or ancestors to guide you, say it in your head, say it out
loud, then cast your die.
Once they have landed, look at the position of the Dice. If they landed at the
left of the centre of the circle you drew, then it is relevant to the past. If they
land in the centre area, that is the present, to the right is the future. If the
Dice has an even number, then that is a positive income; if the Dice has an
odd number, then that is a negative outcome.
Let us imagine you have cast your Dice, and you have 4 on the left, 1 in the
middle, and 6 in the future. You could interpret this as you have had a
blessed life so far with minimal struggle. Right now, you are struggling with
something, stay strong, and follow your heart. The future will be blessed and
joyous soon, depending on how close the six landed to the centre (the
present ).
Once you get use to and proficient in this method, you can try to learn some
more involved techniques like the following:
You can also add all the numbers to get a total of a single number for a more
detailed reading. Cast your Dice as already described and see how the dice
fall and rest. At this point, you can add the numbers all together to get a
total. Using the same cast as above, you can add the numbers together 4 + 1
+ 6 = 11.
Using the Numerology principles, which is to eliminate double digits if the
number is a double-digit (which we have here), cut it down to a single
number by ignoring the digit on the left. In this example, we will be left with
the right number = 1
There are many ways to read the numbers; however, the following two seem
to be the most used and popular.
Firstly, many see a result of a one or two to be a void or a display that today
is not a good day for reading. However, there is a second method that gives
these numbers meaning. The choice of which you use is entirely up to you.
Zero, one, or two = The cast has no meaning. Ask another day or throw
again — a maximum of three times per day. NEVER roll the Dice more than
three times for a person per day.
3 - Circumstances are going to change very soon. The dark is lifting, and
good luck is coming. Start manifesting your dreams, or a wish will come
true.
4 - Unpleasantness, arguments, misunderstanding, a setback will cause
disappointment.
5 - An unexpected surprise or information, your plans, and wishes will be
fulfilled, and a stranger will bring new happiness.
6 - Loss of some kind, most likely financial, possibly material, or a
relationship, a new blessing comes disguised.
7- There are currently Potential hardships, gossip, finances, etc. They will
eventually be resolved, but beware of fiction, and absolutely do not take part
in others' gossip as it may turn back on you.
8- You should not act too hastily. Lack of discretion may lead to misfortune;
confusion can cause unwise decisions so take your time to ponder the answer
truly.
9- A possible union in love or business, success in romance and/or gambling,
possibly a reconciliation.
10- There will be new beginnings, possibly a birth or a new job/promotion.
Success in career and finance is coming. Keep working towards your goals.
11- Potential loss of a person, death, short-term illness, or the return of an
estranged person from you, Short-term disease causes you anxiety.
12- A communication will arrive soon. It will be frightening, not necessarily
in the wrong way, but in a life-changing and challenging way. Be sure to see
legal counsel if it is a legal matter or you risk getting burnt. There is the
potential for a large amount of money.
13- Continuing your current path will only lead to misery and difficulty. Stop
the Self-pity and take charge to wallow will cause delays or problems.
14- You will receive the offer of assistance from a loved one, possibly a new
romance arrives. Socializing may bring excitement.
15- Proceed with caution, avoid starting new projects for the next week, do
not be drawn into gossip. Follow your intuition about false friends.
16- A short trip will provide relief, entertainment, and potentially profit. A
short journey brings profit and pleasure.
17- Change of perspective, adjustment to plans may be needed, be receptive
to the counsel of others, even those whom you do not know. A stranger from
overseas brings a proposition.
18- Luck, Success, Blessings, Attainment and Fulfillment, Happiness,
financial success, and a rise in status
Some additional items to note.
If you choose to read the Number 1, 2, or 3, then follow this guide.
1.Family changes are coming, perhaps a difficulty, a new arrival.
2. Look closely at the situations that worry you. It may not be quite what
they seem. A fork in the road is present, and sometimes the longest route is
the best choice.
3. Expect pleasant surprises very soon. Your circumstances will change, and
a dream may come true.
4. A setback or some unpleasantness will disappoint you. Expect arguments
or a disagreement — an unpleasant surprise.
5. A stranger will create a surprise that brings you great joy. Plans come to
fruition. Unexpected information or assistance. A new friendship.
6. Misfortune and loss. A friend may ask a favour of you.
7. You become the victim of gossip or scandal — possible difficulties in
business or money trouble. You will be expected to solve a problematic
matter. A new romance may arrive.
8. Take it slow, making essential decisions; haste will lead to regret. Do not
be recklessness the result could lead to distress.
9. Success in love and reconciliations. Marriage or union with implications
for you. A gambling win.
10. This is a time of birth and new beginnings. Success is about to come
your way in your career, and money matters. Legal action will involve you.
11. Short-term illness gives you some grief. A parting causes you sorrow —
a trip for entertainment. A death may concern you.
12. There is a message of importance on its way but seek advice to deal with
all legal documents. There is a large sum of money to be received by you.
Karma will revisit past kindness to you.
13. You will enter a time of unhappiness. There will be tears. Do not pursue
the current situation causing you pain or misery. There is no place for self-
pity at this time. Take positive action to create happiness and balance.
14. New friends or a lover will create excitement in your life. Someone you
do not expect will step up to the plate and offer assistance.
15. False friends will lead you into trouble. Listen to your gut feeling here.
Put new projects off for a few days. This is not a good time.
16. Don't delay that short trip; it will be both fun and profitable.
17. A change may soon be necessary. Do not fight it; it is for the best —
dealings with a person or persons from afar, probably overseas that will be to
your advantage.
18. Success, a significant profit or windfall will occur in a short period.
Promotion at work or a side hustle pays off quicker than expected.
THE 6-SIDED METHOD

There are two methods to the use of 6-sided dice. You can read each Dice
individually or use the same manner as above and void or remove the
number on the left. Using six-sided Dice is more complex but also allows for
more detailed information.
To read each Dice individually, take three six-sided Dice, and cast in the
same method as the three-sided Dice.
You will then look at the circle's place that they have rested in and read them
as follows.
Remembering that the left of the circle as you cast is the past, the centre is
current, and the right is the future.
6 - Watch for evil people or evil intentions.
5 – You doubt your goals. This is the time to resolve to hit your best
work and focus on your efforts as success is close.
4 – You are a good luck magnet! Take some risks and maybe even buy a
lotto ticket.
3 – You will be going on a journey, this may mean physically, or a
message or call will bring massive change to your life path.
2 – There will be a severance of something that no longer serves you. An
ending that may feel painful but will lead to more extraordinary things.
1 – Build your strength and build mental strength; complications are on
the way.
For example, let us say you cast your Dice; they land with 2 in the past, 5 in
the centre, and a 3 in the future. You could read this as:
In your past, there has been a severance of something that does not serve
you. A job, a career, a friendship, or a lover. Do not grieve for that past
anymore. It was not meant for you, and that is why it left your life. Leave the
history there and stop asking "what if." This past was taken from you as a
blessing, better things are coming, and it is time to turn your eyes forward.
You are currently feeling like you are treading water. You have been working
hard on many things and feel like you are getting nowhere. This is not the
truth, and the goal you are working towards is within reach. If you give up
now, you are guaranteed to fail. Double down on your efforts and keep
learning, working, and looking forward to success because it comes to you if
you work for it.
In your future, there is a significant journey for you. This may be an
extended holiday, work travel, or a new life path. It will be a massive shift, a
life-changing event, and a blessing.
There are many more ways to read a Dice casting, such as Four six-sided
Dice or Five Six-sided Dice. The more Dice used, the more detailed the
reading. However, this is for the very experienced and something to work
towards in the future.
DIVINATION RITUALS FOR THE
EXPERIENCED HOODOO PRACTITIONER
T here are some traditions and rituals that you should only attempt
once you are an experienced practitioner and have a firm and
confident grasp of the art of Bone Casting and reading.
When you are feeling confident in your ability to join new pieces and read
them or allow others to cast a bone while it is still connected and bound to
your intuition, then you may want to try these forms of readings.
THE O-POSSUM BONE
The very experienced or traditional Hoodoo practitioner may have or be on
the lookout for possum bones to add to their set. Possum bones are seen as a
sign of experience or a traditional practitioner with ties to a family of older
Hoodoo root doctors in their ancestors. For centuries, O-Possums were
believed to be more connected to spirits and ancestors than other animals
due to their habit of often being found in graveyards. Their nocturnal and
curious nature made graveyards on the edge of town a prime habitat to them.
O-Possums preference for the company of the dead to the living formed a
belief that they could communicate and be close to the spirits and past loved
ones buried there.
Over time having the bones of O-Possums was seen as a sign of superiority,
and the diviner had a supercharged bone divination set. These bones were
hard to come by, as the culture preferred that the bones were found after
natural death, not sacrifice. Those who had O-Possum bones were
considered to be from a gifted family Diviners (passed down through the
family) or were chosen to find a deceased O-Possum and "gifted" the bones
by fortunate find. To have even one of these bones in your set is a powerful
and fortunate gift. Be sure if you have one to treat it with absolute respect
and thank it after reading.
Including a possum bone, you can give it your meaning if you are the first
owner, but most handed down to have a marking or meaning already
assigned. Owners will rarely change this. You will need to cleanse and
recharge the bones regardless of if they are passed down or found. Make
sure you carry this bone on you daily for at least a week to bind you to its
magic, and so it learns that you are its human, and it is now part of your
collection. Thank the spirits for this great gift, and feel extremely fortunate.
These are hard to come by and a great addition and powerful ally to any
bone diviner.
YES OR NO METHOD
Most bone castings are for comprehensive readings where each bone, the
position within the compass, and other bones allow the Bone Diviner to tell a
story that will answer a question. It is usually advice and reason-based and
does not give a clear or definitive answer. I like to say it advises like a wiser
elder. However, if you require a clean-cut solution, you can try the Yes/No
reading method. This is a reasonably quick reading, but the preparation for
such can be the part that experience comes into it.
Most bone Casting collections are deeply personal items, and it is not
recommended that you allow others to use or touch your tools. The simple
reason for this is that you make a deep and personal connection to your
bones, and allowing others' energy to permeate may damage the relationship
with your bones, or worse, cause hostile or evil intent to seep in. The very
experienced Hoodoo Practitioner can protect the integrity of their collection
but still allow touch and connection with another. Do not attempt this
method with a questioner touching the bones without feeling absolute
conviction in the solid deep connection with your bones.
If the questioner or seeker of answers is not you and requires a yes or no
answer, this is the best method to use. It is simple in action but because of
the above reasons only recommended for experienced practitioners.
Place out your compass or reading surface. This is usually a cloth with a
circle on it, divided into four sections. It may also have symbols on it.
However, the more experienced traditional reader may choose to draw a
circle in the dirt or sand for this type of divination.
Show the seeker your bone collection and ask them to select one that
resonates with them. Ask them to make sure it has a length to it so that the
direction may be easy to see. Once they have chosen a bone, ask them to
hold it in their cupped hands and concentrate on the question. Asking it once
inside their head and then once out loud. You will direct them to give you
the bone so that you may ask the question and cast it, or you may allow them
to cast it themselves.
Hold the bone above the centre of the compass with the length pointing
down, then release it.
If it falls horizontal, the answer is yes.
If it falls Vertically, the answer is no.
THE SEEKERS PERSONAL ANSWER
The experienced Hoodoo Practitioner will allow others to be involved by
adding a person item to the set for a specific reading.
If the seeker has questions about a particular person or a particular area of
their life, the practitioner or you may allow them to add an item related to
the subject. The questioner may use a personal item like a button from their
clothing or a small jewellery item such as an earring.
The practitioner may want this item 24 hours before the reading to allow
them to cleanse it of negative energy and introducing it to their set by
spending overnight on their alter with the rest of the collection. Some prefer
the piece to be fresh from the questioner or seeker. This is a personal
preference.
At the reading, get the questioner or seeker to ask the question in their head
then aloud and place it at the centre of the compass or casting area.
The practitioner can then ask the question again in their head and then aloud
and cast the bones over the compass area and the personal piece.
How and where the bones fall concerning the personal piece is the message
to be received.
CARD READING
TAROT CARDS
T arot Cards are by far the most used and famous form of divination
and fortune-telling. Originally based on the playing deck of cards, it
evolved from the earliest beautifully hand painted art cards to today's
bright, colourful, and flashy cards. Today anyone can find and appreciate a
Tarot Card deck that appeals to and resonates with them.
Tarot is enmeshed in many cultures and a widely accepted and used form of
modern fortune-telling and advisory for many, even those that may not
realize the rich history attached to the Tarot.
Tarot cards are said to have first appeared in 14th century Europe. This can
be narrowed down to the 1430s in Italy when a fifth suit was added to the
playing deck. Playing Cards and decks had always been associated with
luck, fortune, and chance. Through time and changing the symbols on the
cards, they also became associated with love, justice, and future positive
prospects.
These were illustrated cards called "Trionfi" (Triumphs) that trumped the
other suits. They also added an odd card called "il Matto" (the Fool). I
should mention that the Fool should not be confused with the Joker, a
separate card original to the playing cards.
Trifone, the fifth suit, was decorated differently from the suit marks of
playing cards they originated. It appears that the artwork that adorns the
illustrations on the cards represents the characters that were part of medieval
processions, customarily celebrated during a win or battle by the Romans.
During the early use of these cards, they were unnumbered, so their order
had to be remembered.
When Diviners added this suit to the pack of playing cards, they were
considered superior in power and therefore "trumped" the other four suits.
They were called "Trumps" or a suit of triumphs.
In France and Italy, the wealthy would commission artists to hand-paint
these extra cards. Mostly family members and loved ones would be featured
as the characters in the Trump cards. Therefore, ordinary citizens could not
afford to have a set of these cards until the printing press made it affordable.
Originally the trumps were used as a parlour game and not for divination
until the 1700s. The evolution of Tarot cards of fortune-telling happened in
France in the 1780s. In fortune-telling, each card has meaning rather than
number or symbols based, they are meaning-based, and the illustrations
represent different areas in life that may need to be addressed in a reading.
In 1971 Jean-Baptiste Alliette in France designed and released a deck
specifically created for divination. Fortune telling became immensely
popular from this point, and it was very common to attend an upper-class
party and have a Tarot reader in attendance for the guests to utilize.
In 1909 British occultist Arthur Waite created the Rider-Waite Tarot deck,
which was first published in 1909. In this deck, the artist Pamela Coleman
Smith, and Arthur Waite, defined human forms, characters, and symbols, and
their purpose narrowed down to the Tarot Deck we are most familiar with
today.
The standard modern Tarot deck is modelled on the Piemontese or Venetian
Tarot.
The Piemontese is a Tarot of Italian Origins. This deck is considered part of
Piemontese culture and appeared in the 2006 Winter Olympics closing
ceremony; such is the close cultural tie to Tarot Reading.
In Hoodoo, traditional playing cards are used for seeking answers from
spirits, fortune-telling, and spells. They can be used in spells to bring luck or
love, protection, cursing, and countless other issues. Playing cards are placed
in mojo bags for protection, with candles and standalone magic spells and
curses. Tarot cards are used to speak to the ancestors and gain insight into
the future and personal issues. As with other cultures, the practice started
from playing cards and evolved into the extra suit to diversify the messages.
Tarot Card sets consist of 78 Cards Divided into two main groups.
Major Arcana - which has 22 cards in the group.
Minor Arcana - which has 56 Cards in the group.
Major Arcana
Major Arcana are 22 cards with pictures of different forces - Characters,
Virtues, and vices that a person has present in their personality and through
their life.
The 22 cards are numbered 1 through to 21. The Fool is unnumbered, as he
is said to be relevant to all the other 21 cards as he flows through the deck on
the "fools Journey." The fools' journey will be discussed more when we
delve deeper into the Major Arcana cards shortly.
The Major Arcana Tarots are in order as follows.

1) The Juggler or Magician
2) The Papess or female Pope
3) The Empress
4) The Emperor
5) The Pope
6) The Lovers
7) The Chariot
8) Justice
9) Hermit
10) Wheel of Fortune
11) Strength or Fortitude
12) Hanged Man
13) Death
14) Temperance
15) The Devil
16) The Lightning-Struck Tower
17) Star
18) Moon
19) Sun
20) Last Judgement
21) World or Universe and lastly, the Fool.
The 56 Cards in the Monir Arcana are divided into four Suits of 14 Cards
each. Some of the suits are comparable to playing cards and originated from
these original divination tools.
1) Wands
2) Batons
3) Rods (clubs)
4) Cups (Hearts)
5) Swords (Spades)
6) Coins
7) Pentacles
8) Disks (Diamonds)
Each suit has four Court Cards. King, Queen, Knight, Jack, and ten
numbered cards. In order of value from Ace to ten, Jack, Knight, Queen,
King, although sometimes the Ace, are given a higher value.
Cleansing and Charging the Cards

In most cultures, but especially Hoodoo, it is essential to cleanse the Tarot
Deck you will use. It is believed that divination tools can pick up and carry
the energy of others that touch them. Like a virus, if they are negative,
energies can infect the diviner if they are not spiritually, and energy cleansed
of all others they have had contact with. Cleansing also resets the Tarot and
allows charging or bonding to occur that connects you and your tarot cards
so that you may relate and work together for the greater good. Cleansing
does not just happen when you first receive the cards. This should often
occur as different readings require different energies. Cross-contamination of
intentions such as a love reading, and a career reading can skew the reading
to be inaccurate or easily misread.
SHUFFLING
There are several ways to cleanse your Tarot Cards, and you can choose
which suits you at any time. For example, between readings, the best and
quickest way to cleanse your cards is to shuffle them — precisely seven
times. Not only is this a lucky number and the fastest way to cleanse without
too much fuss, but it is mathematically proven that shuffling the cards seven
times results in even distribution of the cards.
THE MOON
Place your deck somewhere safe where it can bask in full moonlight for the
evening. This is an excellent way for a deep cleanse to reset the cards
completely. Do this in a full moon for a deep cleanse and full recharge. The
moon is used to cleanse many divination tools this way, and it is believed
that a full moon also supplies a considerable boost to the cards. Cleanse and
charge your cards like this once a month for powerful and pure results.
THE SUN
Give your cards a sunbath by placing them in direct sunlight for a few hours.
How long is up to you, but at least three hours is the recommended
minimum. The Tarot cards will absorb the sun, using the light and warmth to
clear all the dark and negative energy that may be lurking and be recharged
by the sun's energy.
SMUDGING
Choose and light your favorite incense. I prefer lavender, white sage, or bay
leaves for their cleansing properties and protection. Hold your cards three by
three and let the smoke swirl over and around them for a short period until
you feel satisfied. The smoke draws out and carries away any spiritual
contamination and repels negative energies.
Do this in a well-ventilated area, or at least have a window open so that the
negativity and spiritual contamination can escape the room or space.
This practice both cleanses and charges the Tarot. Remember to focus on
your intention to cleanse and charge your cards, so your energy flows in the
right direction.
CRYSTALS
Place crystals such as Selenite, Black Tourmaline, Blue Calcite, Quartz,
Labradorite, or amethyst, or even a combination of them around your cards
on your altar. To supercharge the Cleansing and Charging, add clear quartz.
Leave the cards surrounded by the crystals for at least three hours or
overnight to cleanse and charge. Surround the desk with four points, top,
bottom, left, and right, to clear the deck's four corners. Or place the crystals
on top of the deck to ensure complete cleansing.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Suppose you are aggravated by smoke or prefer a fresh smell. Perhaps you
are struggling to get the necessary herbs and incense to cleanse your Tarot
deck. You can do a quick cleanse with essential oils. Much the same as you
would with innocence, place your essential oil into a diffuser and hold the
full deck a few inches above the diffuser, allow the vapor to flow gently
around the desk. Please do not hold the deck too low or keep it there for too
long, or you might make the deck damp.
The best essential oils to use for cleansing that also smells amazing are
Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, Frankincense, and
Cypress. You can use them alone or as a combination. Remember to think
and imagine the cleansing and set your intention to have a clear, fresh, and
rested Tarot Deck while you do this.
SLEEP AND REST YOUR DECK

If you use your deck daily, you might find that your readings become
muddled, and you feel sluggish. Like people, your deck can get tired and
suffer from burnout, especially if you are only doing quick cleanses and it
does not have time to rest and settle.
Just like you take holidays, give your deck rest too. Cleanse your deck with a
full moon cleanse and then run through incense or diffuser vapor the next
day. Once your deck has been run through the mist or smoke, four cards at a
time, wrap the deck in soft silk and place gently to bed in a wooden box.
Speak gently to your deck and tell it to rest and recharge. Imagine how you
feel after a refreshing holiday and imagine that energy for your Tarot deck.
You can keep the deck in there for as long as you feel it needs. You are
essentially bathing the deck and tucking it in a luxurious bed for a tarot nap.
TYPES OF CARD SPREADS
You may have bought yourself a pack of Tarot cards or been gifted a pack of
Tarot cards and looking at them, wondering where to start.
Many different kinds of tarot card spreads can be created for actual depth
and meaningful draws. In most cases, it is advised to start simple and choose
a beginner's spread until you know your mind and the cards well. A simple
spread like a three-card draw is best to start. Over time your knowledge and
skill grows, as will your connection to your cards. Once you have a solid
relationship with your guides and knowledge base to work from, you can
start delving into the more complicated and in-depth draws.
There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of different spreads that can be
used to get a message or answer through your cards, but they all fall into
three categories concerning depth and complication.
SIMPLE (BEGINNERS) SPREADS

These are precisely what they sound like, spreads that are simple to learn and
perfect for a beginner to learn the ropes. The primary purpose of the simple
spreads is for quick and basic answers to single questions or problems.
Starting with the simple spreads, you can take your time to learn about the
Tarot cards and their meaning without a lot of pressure. You will learn how
to trust your intuition, connect with each card and see the connection
between the cards as a team and individuals. You will be able to observe
your thoughts and how you relate to each card. All skills are desirable and
necessary to give a truthful and accurate reading, either for yourself or for
another. As stated by the cards, trusting your inner voice and predictions is
imperative to being an honest reader.
The reader can use these simple spreads for different questions. However,
they have similar layouts. Such as a variety of three-card spreads, a five-card
spread, and a dream exploration spread.
MEDIUM (INTERMEDIATE) LEVEL SPREADS.

You can explore Medium-level spreads once you know all your cards in the
deck well. You will likely have more than one Tarot card set at this point and
will be well down the rabbit hole of Tarot Reading. It would be best if you
were confident in the knowledge of each card's name and meaning. Knowing
the process that your thoughts go through, trusting your intuition, and
trusting your voice will be second nature to you by now. You will not
hesitate to read and understand each card's meaning and message when
related to the others that appear throughout the reading. You will be
confident and excited to try some more complex and detailed spreads.
Once you are at this stage of your journey, I suggest turning your new skills
to the following intermediate Spreads. Celtic Cross spreads, Cross Spreads,
triangle spreads, and planetary spreads are great to learn and popular for if
you decide to share your skill with family and friends. There are many more,
but the above are the most common and asked for.
COMPLEX OR ADVANCED TAROT SPREADS

The complex Tarot Card spreads are used when you are confident in all areas
of Tarot Card reading. You know all the cards, their meaning alone, with
other cards, and you do not need to reference any material to remember their
names or symbols to life choices. You are now ready to start reading to
others, clients, strangers and tackle the serious questions that many face in
life and will come to you for guidance. These spreads are very complex, for
example, the Mandala Spread, Star guide Spread, and Tetraktys Spread.
Questions that may require complex answers or have difficult questions can
be applied to these. They can also look much further into the future and go
up to a year ahead month by month in one reading.
Easy (beginner’s) card spreads

THREE CARDS SPREAD
The Three
Card Spread is a simple way to get clear and concise answers to complex
answers. Primarily used to look at the past, present, and the future, you will
also see it stated as context (history), present (focus), and future (outcome)
depending on the question you are asking.
With this type of spread, it is usually a short-term reading as it takes into
account the week before the reading, the present (the day of reading), and a
week ahead. Although the reading can apply to the longer-term readings
depending on the focus of the question you are asking, it is recommended
that you use the shorter time period when you are learning until you are
confident with the meanings of the cards.
When you are first starting with your cards, ask just one question for a three-
card spread. For Example, "Should I apply for that job I want to try?" or
"Will I have a good time at that party I am dreading this weekend?" The
cards will indicate why you might be dreading the party, how to combat that
feeling in general, and advise on making the most of it or having the courage
to follow your truth and not go.
Once you have mastered this with one question, you may want to try a multi-
question spread such as three cards, three questions. Try to keep them
related, so the cards do not get confused.
For Example, on Sunday night, you might try:
"Will this week at work be a nightmare like last week?"
"How can I get my slack workmate to pick up the pace?"
"Should I apply for the manager's position and get off the floor for good?"
The cards usually will give messages concerning your workplace that will
advise on building confidence, knowing your worth, and improving your
mindset. Tarot Cards provide answers on how you can improve your
situation positively, be that perseverance or severance. They are the wise,
all-seeing friend that is not afraid to tell you the truth.
Shuffle your deck and state your question; lay your cards out left to right in
order of one to the left, two in the middle, and three to the right.
Card 1 is CONTEXT or PAST Card.
(Short Term Reading) Look to card one for the lessons that you have learned
in the past week. How that made, have made you feel and act, and if this is a
positive or negative reaction.
(Long Term Reading) How you have dealt with issues in the past within
your life. The card will advise on how your personality affects your reaction
to specific triggers or incidents. It helps you understand if this is negative or
positive.
Card 2 is FOCUS or PRESENT Card.
This card is your focus right now. How do you feel about the current
situation? How you might be making positive steps to change it or how your
behaviour is sabotaging moving forward. Suppose there is a negative or
positive influence. Perhaps even why you are feeling a certain way because
of others' behaviour or actions.
Card 3 FUTURE or OUTCOME Card.
This card explains the energy you need to move forward. It will illuminate
the path to a positive outcome or how to navigate the challenge to work in
your favour. This card can be hard-hitting in that it will sometimes not be
gentle if the cards feel you need a kick up the pants. A firm and assertive
card may show that you or the person you are reading for already knows this
but is trying to avoid the "work" or the issue because there may be short-
term pain involved. Do not gentle the message. This has been sent because
it's what they need to hear.
The outcome card is focused on the outcome that at this point. The card will
address mindset if that is the issue that is stopping the positive result.
This is the point it can be helpful to look back at the past and present cards.
A pattern may immerge that you can address and apply to many areas of
your life. Perhaps you lack the confidence to set boundaries, maybe you are
stubborn, and the cards tell you to soften a little. The cards should be read
individually then looked at as a group to see the journey and message as a
whole story. The cards' full tale may also be applied to you or your growth as
an individual in general.
FIVE CARD SPREAD

The five-card spread is a fantastic spread to assist in a decision that may
have you confused or conflicted and causing you anxiety. The Cards rarely
give a step-by-step guide to success or what some may consider the correct
choice. They deliver a clearer picture of the options open to you and gentle
advice on solving the problem or making a decision that will lead you
eventually to peace.
This spread may share with you difficulties you may face and give you
insight into if you are ready for a big decision that could be life changing.
The cards give you the information to look into yourself and have the
confidence to make the choice you want to but are afraid to make. Or they
may show you the difficulties along the way so that you are more informed
of what the future holds if you choose wrong.
The cards rarely tell you what to do, but place the tools and clearer image in
your mind to make a decision that suits you. It may reveal what MAY
happen depending on the cards that are drawn. Remember that the card
indicates the truth as it is in that moment of being pulled. A change of
mindset, a new determination, or a decision can change that path at any time.
Many believe that Tarots are fortune tellers, which in specific Spreads they
can be, but with a spread such as the Five Card Decision Spread, it is
intended to be a guide that will reveal the positive and negative aspects of
either choice before you.
Some choose to use the Major Arcana only for this spread as the meaning of
these powerful cards is more precise and more definitive than the Minor
Arcana. This is something I urge you to try for your first few Five Card
Spreads that involve decisions.
Shuffle your cards and begin to draw and lay them out. Cards one, two, and
three are placed vertically from top to bottom. Place Card one first at the top,
card two under card one, and card three under card two. Card Four is set
down to the left of card two as option one. Card Five is set to the right of
card two as the second option. You should see displayed in front of you all
your cards placed vertically in a cross formation. Before you begin the
reading, decide on the left and right cards (Three and Four) you have two
options in each decision. Declare out loud which card represents the two
options you face. Some prefer to state this as they are shuffling. It is a
personal choice.
Cards One, Two, and Three represent YOU.
Card One - Your Motivation - This card represents what gets you fired up
and motivated. This card will reveal your drive to success when you are
tired or feeling defeated and push yourself and work hard. The question
is, "How does this affect your decision? Can you implement this to keep
you going in the tough times?"
Card Two - The Ideal Outcome - This is the card at the centre of the
cross. This card represents and guides you on the best outcome. It gets
you to ask yourself if your dreams come true. This card reveals what
would happen. Do you want, or are you ready for this? Sometimes it's a
beautiful picture. It may also be "Be careful what you wish for."
Card Three - Your Values - This is what you hold as your truth, values,
and authentic self. Are you serving your truth, or how you want others to
see you? How will this decision hold up against your morals? Will you be
successful and miserable? Or successful and happy?
Card Four - left card - this is option one (designated before your reading
or at the shuffle stage. )
Card Five - Right Card - This is option two (designated before your
reading or at the shuffle stage.
Step through the cards card one to three and read their meaning as message
as individual cards. Then pick the left card (four) and read that as a separate
card, then the same with the right (five) card. Then as you did with the three-
card spread, read card one to three concerning each decision as a group with
an entire message. Do the same with the card to the right. At this stage, the
message should be clear. It is up to you if you choose to listen.
DREAM EXPLORATION SPREAD
The dream exploration spread helps get the meaning and to decipher your
dreams with the Tarot Cards. It is a great beginner's spread due to once again
only having a three-card spread. This spread is a fantastic way to connect
with your mind and gently learn the cards' meanings in your deck in a fun
and non-confronting way.
It can help decipher the meaning of a vivid or reoccurring dream that may be
bothering you or seem too persistent to be just a dream.
Many cultures believe that a recurring dream can be a warning or a message
trying to breakthrough. It may also be an internal desire that you are stifling
and is trying to break back into your consciousness. Pulling this spread will
help you receive the message or warning and may alleviate the dream,
giving you rest at night once again.
Lay your cards out Left to Right.
Card one to the left, Card two in the middle, and Card Three to the right.
Card one - left card - This card will speak of the dream's relevance to your
life you are living now. This card could be about a situation, a feeling, or a
decision.
Card two - middle card - This is about the lesson that is to be learned from
the dream. It could be a warning, an explanation, or clarity.
Card Three - Right Card - This is about how to apply the lesson to your life.
This card is the guiding card on how to deal with or resolve the situation or
dream issue.
Once again, read the Cards as individuals with their message, then look at
them as a group. Sometimes the news is in the singular, and sometimes it is
better explained as a journey through the group of cards.
There are many more beginners Spreads you can try; however, learning the
above and mastering the power of them will give you fantastic grounding to
grow and develop into the intermediate Spreads.
Intermediate level card spread

There are many medium and Intermediate level spreads, and by now, you
will be adapting some of the beginner's spreads to reflect your thoughts and
needs. When you feel ready to challenge yourself to learn new spreads and
know your cards and thoughts well, you are prepared to start learning the
more complex and in-depth Spreads. Intermediate spreads will allow you to
get more information from more cards, feel more informed to assist another,
or enhance your own life with Tarot card guidance. Celtic Cross Spread is an
example of an Intermediate Spread to learn and master as your skills grow.
CELTIC CROSS SPREAD

The Celtic Cross Spread is a great way to start exploring the intermediate
Spread range. Using lines and directions you are used to reading and
interpreting by now, you will graduate from straight lines and five cards to a
shape and ten cards. When the Celtic Cross is placed correctly, it holds a
cross shape with an accompanying line. Do not feel overwhelmed. Just take
a card when you always have and take your time to start to read each card.
The Celtic Cross Spread can be applied in two ways, to gain insight into
your life as it is right now or to ask a specific question or about a particular
situation. There are a few slight variations of the Celtic Cross Spread. The
one you will learn now is the most popular and commonly used and the most
effortless reading flow to follow.
Shuffle your cards and focus on the question or situation in your mind. If
you are doing a general reading, relax and connect to the cards as you shuffle
them.
CARD ONE: Draw your first card, this is card one, and you will place
this vertically where you want the centre of the cross to be.
CARD TWO: Draw the second card and place this horizontally across
Card One. The cards should form a cross.
CARD THREE: Draw the third card and place in the space beneath card
one and two.
CARD FOUR: Draw this card and place to the left of card one and two.
CARD FIVE: Is placed above card one and two.
CARD SIX: to the right of cards one and two.
You should now have a cross shape in front of you with card two laying
ACROSS of card one in a smaller cross shape.
Cards seven, eight, nine, and ten are then drawn and placed in a vertical line
to the cross's right. Start with seven at the bottom and ten at the top in a
single-layer line.
The cards you have drawn each represent a different area or time in your life
or the situation, problem, or question you have.
CARD ONE: Right Now – Card one represents what is going on in
your life, what the situation is for you right at that moment. It may
indicate what you’re thinking, your state of mind, and your mindset.
CARD TWO: What helps and/or hinders – This card can either tell you
what is blocking or challenging you. This can be helpful, depending on
the meaning of the card. Often this represents your inner thoughts and
feelings rather than other forces. Often it is something you need to
resolve within yourself to avoid getting stuck or not moving forward.
CARD THREE: Unconscious Influences – Your unconscious reveals
what is truly driving your desires and your beliefs. This card will bring to
the surface feelings that you may have forgotten but have a surprisingly
powerful effect on your choices and dreams. It may reveal an influence
you didn't realize you turned to for guidance.
CARD FOUR - The Past – How is your past affecting your ability to
live a good and prosperous life today? Are there events in your history
still affecting you today? This card will help you see the truth. This card
can represent fears that you need to face and defeat that may still haunt
you or positive experiences that you can use to inspire you to achieve
even with fear.
CARD FIVE - Goals & Ideals – This card represents your true dreams,
life desires, and goals that you are drawing on in the moment of now.
CARD SIX - The Future – This card reveals the direction that your
situation is moving in the near future. This card gives you a short
snapshot of what's to come in the next few weeks, and this is your
opportunity to change the short-term outcome. If you do not like what
you are hearing, this is the pivotal point to be assertive and make good
decisions to turn the future around.
CARD SEVEN - The Approach – Card Seven represents how you feel
about yourself and approaching things right now. Your mindset, your
feelings about the situation, and your doubts may come to light harshly
here. Or you may get showered in praise.
CARD EIGHT - Your Environment – Card Eight enlightens you on the
surrounding energy that may be supportive or secretly sabotaging. Your
loved ones, work colleagues, and neighbourhood can be bought into this.
Are you around someone that leaves you feeling sucked dry of life, but
you do not know why? This card will probably discuss this person.
CARD NINE - What You Need to Know – This card tells you what you
need to be aware of right now. This is an advice or wisdom card, telling
you a little secret about something you should not overlook.
CARD TEN - The Final Outcome – Card Ten represents what is
possible to achieve based on current circumstances. Remember that cards
state the truth as it sits at that moment. SO, if the outcome is not what
you truly desire, then look back over your cards that talk about your
environment and outside influences. Are they positive? Can you change
the outcome with positive and affirmative change? The cards carry
inspiration and warnings and listening can help you shift a warning sign
to an inspirational event.
Experienced card spread

When you feel ready to start an experienced card spread, you must have a
clear and easy understanding of all the Tarot cards and their meanings.
Know how to read them as individual cards and understand the
interpretations that can be made when they appear together. When you can
read the beginners and intermediate spreads without referring to this book
for meanings and interpretations, you are ready to take on the big spreads
and get some depth and clarity for yourself or your friends asking for
guidance.
The following card spread is for advanced Tarot Readers and should only be
attempted once you have an absolute grasp of all the Tarot meanings as they
stand alone and as a group. You should have been practicing for at least 12
months regularly.
This spread is the YEAR AHEAD TAROT SPREAD. This spread uses 13
cards — one for each month of the year and one as a summary that you place
in the middle. It can be a new year spread for an overview of the year ahead
or on any month to summarize the 12 months to come.
This is also called the astrological spread and covers the 12 Astrological
signs and a single card for the year's message. The version I am showing you
is the year ahead spread. Being an advanced Tarot reader, you are likely
doing readings for others at this point, and this spread is a great way to
introduce others to the Tarot.
Start by shuffling the cards seven times. As you shuffle the cards, ask, "what
does the next year bring me ( or questioner ) help me succeed and thrive" say
this as you shuffle and lay out the cards. Lay the cards starting from the top
of the deck.
Imagine a clock face and place card one at the top of the clock. Working
clockwise, lay them out with four at the right, seven at the bottom, ten to the
left up to card twelve near the top. It should form a circle. Place one more
card, card thirteen, in the middle.
Cards one to twelve will talk about what you will face in each month ahead.
Card one is the current month, so if you are doing this spread in April, it will
be the April card, card two is for May, card three is for June, and so on.
Card thirteen is guidance for the next 12 months.
Turn the cards one starting with card one, the month you are in now. The
card will give you guidance on what to expect this month. Let's say you turn
the FOUR OF CUPS.
This may be interpreted that the last few months have been rough on you.
You can, however, see this as an opportunity to grow and fill those cups up.
Do not despair if your first card is a bit tough on you. It shows that the
following 12 months is likely to be a year of growth.
Turn Card two.

Five of Pentacles may appear. This can be a sign of poverty. But once again,
do not despair. This is the ability to continue growth. If you look at it
concerning the FOUR OF CUPS, it is a recovery card when it follows a
CUPS card. This is here to show you that you must not forget where you
have come from and although it appears this will be a year of growth,
remember the dirt that you rise from. This may feel like a tough month, but
this is where if you remain on the grind and forge ahead, you are laying solid
foundations for success.
Turn Card Three
QUEEN OF PENTACLES may appear. This is a Major Arcana card and a
card of nurturing and fruit. A clear and strong indication that this is the
month you will start to reap the benefits of your work and the past rough
time. She is also a sign of a great caregiver and that you are looking out for
others. The queen is a symbol of the feminine and maternal character. You
are raising or caring for a group of people, and there will be enough help
those you shelter from this effort.
Turn all the cards through to 12, and they will continue to give you guidance
on what is expected each month ahead.
If the cards you turn tend to be in the low numbers - up to number 6 -
indicates it would be a year of developing something. So the start of a
project, study, or business is going to lead to success. If they are number
higher than seven as a majority, it may indicate a year of significant growth,
or you are starting to see the fruits of your labour.
Therefore experienced Tarot Readers should only attempt this spread. As
messages from the combination, like looking at the numbers, how many
Major Arcana there are, what suit they are from, and what trumps there are
present, all influence the outcome of the reading. So, a simple reading of the
cards as stand-alone may give you a quick breakdown of each month.
Looking at the group and the more profound messages is a gift and should
not be overlooked.
Card 13 is an overview card and will give you a summary of the next twelve
months and the energy that you will have to create to overcome the obstacles
and enjoy the good without arrogance. If you get a card like a Major Arcana,
it will most likely indicate you will love the job or have the opportunity to
make money doing what you love.
Remember that you can make a decision that changes the future at any time,
so I recommend getting this done monthly and recording the reading to keep
track of what you are predicting and see how your actions change it. When
you first attempt an extensive and in-depth spread like this for the first few
times, do your reading without references.
Then record your interpretation. Once this is done, look at the meanings in
this book again, then see what you may have missed.
Congratulations on challenging yourself to this level. Experience and
practice is your best teacher, so keep reading, researching, and returning to
this book as a guide to develop your intuition with the Tarot, and you will
soon be a master of the craft.
ANCESTOR CLEANSING
If you wish to gain support and messages from the spirit world, a great place
to start is with your ancestors. Hoodoo greatly relies on and believes that the
ancestors are there to protect, guide, and advise from the other side.
One way to gain favour and encouragement from your ancestors is to have a
small respectful alter to them. Start as simple as a small photo and a glass of
water to further strengthen and call them to your aid. You can have a small
amount of dirt from the grave on the altar as well.
There is a specific ritual and respectful way to be gifted the dirt from an
ancestor's grave. Because you cannot take it, it must be paid for and granted
by the ancestor. When you attend the grave, take a couple of coins, a small
container, and some whiskey. Please introduce yourself to the ancestor and
tell them a little about yourself and your family.
Respectfully ask them if you may have a little dirt from their grave and why
you are asking for it. Then pour some whiskey on the grave as a gift and
place the two coins in the place where their hand may be. Then you have
both gifted the ancestor and paid for the dirt. Take two small scoops of the
earth from the grave and gently smooth over the area you take it from.
Please make sure you are respectful and do not leave their resting place with
any unevenness or holes.
Once you are home, place the dirt in a small but respectful container suitable
for the earth — a small glass container or jewellery container that is not just
some old Tupperware container from your kitchen. The earth is precious and
sacred, be respectful of it. If you cannot get to your ancestor's grave or
cremate, and the ashes have been spread, a personal possession may also
suit — a piece of jewellery or an item that they passed onto you.
Saturday is the traditional day of respecting the dead. If your ancestor had
food, they enjoyed, specific music they liked to hear, or if you feel the need
to put something specific there, it may be a request from the ancestor. Trust
your instincts. This is also a great day to sit and talk to your ancestor after
your offering. Tell them about your week and the highlights and
disappointments. This does not need to be precisely done every Saturday but
do this at least once a month. It refreshes and cleanses the altar and rekindles
the connection.
You may choose to light incense or diffuse essential oils once a month. Sage
or lavender work well. Have a window or door open. When you first light or
turn on your diffuser, sit near your altar and state.
" I welcome those ancestors and spirits that seek to guide, protect and advise
me. I am love and light and tell any spirit or ancestor that wishes me harm or
is of mean spirit to leave my house now."
"I am surrounded by love and light and only allow positive, protective
energy and spirits to surround me. If you wish me harm, you must leave."
You can make this part of your monthly cleaning routine with your bone set
and Tarot cards. Keep your Divination tools close to your Ancestor' Alter is
another way to keep all your treasures together and safe.
OTHER DECKS
While Tarot cards are well known for use in Divination, Hoodoo has used
playing cards for centuries. The use of playing cards as Divination tools
began in china in the 9th century, with playing cards originating from
dominoes. Dominoes, in turn, evolved from Dice.
In the 12th-century, playing cards were found and used in Egypt and
consisted of four suits with 52 cards. These suits were coins, polo sticks,
cups, and swords. For centuries, many cultures used these cards for games of
luck and chance before they evolved into cards that symbolized love, justice,
wealth, and possibilities.
Hoodoo Diviners started using these cards to seek guidance from the
supernatural, ancestors, and spirits. Hoodoo Diviners often used these cards
or other divination tools to seek advice for spell work, such as asking if a
spell will work, or which should be used.
Playing cards were and still are a popular tool for Divination because they
are cheap, easy to obtain, and used for other spell work and Divination. Still,
most are easily replaced and available just about anywhere to anyone.
As with most divinations, there are many ways to use playing cards.
However, I will take you through a couple of the most popular and easiest to
learn.
The three card draw
Shuffle your deck seven times to make sure it is thoroughly cleansed. Then
take the top three cards and lay them out left to right in front of you facing
up.
Red cards are yes.
Black cards are no.
To receive the answer, the following applies.
Three Red Cards = Definite Yes.
Two Red Cards = On the balance Yes.
Two Black Cards = On the balance No.
Three Black Cards = Definite No.
If you get an answer that is "on balance," it is advised to ask more questions.
It may be that there is a catch or that more action on your part is required to
get a definite answer.
Asking the ace
Shuffle your card seven times. While you are shuffling, ask the cards to
answer your question. This question must be a simple yes or no answer.
Once you have finished shuffling, lay the cards out from the top of the deck
until you pull an Ace card and lay it out. If the first Ace you layout is red, the
answer is yes. If it is black, the answer is no.
Another way to ask the Ace to answer a yes or no question is to count the
Aces. Once again, shuffle the cards seven times. Ask the deck to answer
your question while you are shuffling the deck — one by one, lay out the
first 13 cards of the deck in front of you.
Your answer is in the number of Aces that appear in the thirteen cards.
You count four Aces. The answer is Yes, with great success, more than you
were hoping. If you pull three Aces, this is also a yes, with fantastic results
you expect to get. Two aces is a yes with good results. One Ace is a simple
yes.
Meaning of each card in fortune telling
There are also meanings in the Playing Cards used in a similar way to Tarot
Cards and were used in this way before Tarot Cards were affordable to all
with the Printing Press's invention.
In 1935, Harry Middleton Hyatt published a book about Hoodoo Root
doctors, practitioners, and Divinations, called "Folklore from Adams County
Illinois" One section of this book covered Playing as fortune-telling cards.
This book included the Hoodoo interpretation of each card's meaning from a
playing deck and how diviners interpreted supernatural messages using each
card to answer questions from love to wealth and farming. The spreads used
were similar to that of the Tarot Card Spreads. However, Hoodoo's diviners
tended to use playing cards as they were readily available and affordable to
all.
The cards are spread into four groups for the four meanings of life and
being.
Hearts: Relationships, love, friendships, and influences
Diamonds: Business, work, money, and finances
Clubs: Creativity, ventures, skills and talents, energy, and rewards
Spades: warnings, changes, unexpected incidents.
Diviners can interpret the ten numbered cards or pips in relation to human
emotions and states of mind. They are also associated with the planets,
which give a further dimension to a reading as follows:
Ace (The Sun)- how you shine, for example, your ego, your sense of self-
worth, and a conscious will.
Two ( The Moon)- Your expression of emotions, creativity, intuition, and
instincts.
Three (Mercury)- Any travel, your ability to communicate, and finance.
Four (Venus)- How affection is shown, your love life, your artistic traits.
Five (Mars)- Your assertiveness, how you express aggression, your
sexual desires.
Six (Jupiter)- Your good luck levels and charm, an abundance of wealth,
sharing wisdom.
Seven (Saturn)- Lack of or dedicated discipline, restrictions ( real or
perceived), limitations placed on you by others or yourself.
Eight (Uranus)- A card that signifies significant changes, sudden
freedom, perhaps through upheaval.
Nine (Neptune)- your imagination, how you perceive things, illusions by
others or for others.
Ten (Pluto)- A rebirth, either by personal transformation or unavoidable
destruction, leads to improvement.
The game players, also known as the trumps or referred to like the
characters, represent the twelve types of people that roles can be divided
into. They are also associated with the star signs, again bringing greater
depth to readings.
The King of Clubs (Aries) This card represents a leader. A person with a
clear sense of self. Ego and outwards appearance are solid and
authoritative.
King of Diamonds (Taurus) Represents a provider of money and
beautiful things. Materialistic.
King of Spades (Gemini) Sits in judgment. Represents your siblings, a
short journey, or an enthusiastic communicator.
King of Hearts (Cancer) The Adviser. the glue that holds together the
home and family unit.
Queen of Clubs (Leo- The Achiever) A creative high achiever.
Represents deep love and love of children.
Queen of Diamonds (Virgo) Incredibly supportive. Represents your
health, your job, and pets.
Queen of Spades (Libra) Always worries for others, Represents
agreements, partnerships, and marriage.
Queen of Hearts (Scorpio) A healer and adviser. Represents sexuality,
sex, terminations, and death.
Jack of Clubs (Sagittarius) The adventure card. Represents long journeys
of spiritual growth and the realization of dreams.
Jack of Diamonds (Capricorn) A risk-taker and gambler. Focussed on
career, overly ambitious, assertive, and professional.
Jack of Spades (Aquarius) A troublemaker or gossiper. Represents
enemies, associations, and friends.
Jack of Hearts (Pisces)The lover, passionate, believes in and dishes out
karma. Represents a sudden transformation and perhaps self-sabotage.
Jacks can represent a male or a female. The suit establishes the relationship
with the questioner. Jack is usually a potential or future influence. Therefore,
a Jack of Spades can be a warning to look out for an approaching enemy that
will cause trouble.
The Queen will always represent a female or the seeker herself if she is
female. Again, the suit indicates the connection to the questioner or the
question. For example, the Queen of spades may show an upcoming
marriage or partnership that the questioner or a female monarch of the
family has concerns about.
The King Will always represents a male connected to the questioner or the
questioner. The suit will indicate the connection or how the question is
related. King of Hearts often means a Father or Grandfather, or older relative
accepted as the family's head.
The Joker is not associated with any suit and is a bit of a mystery or
wildcard. Some Diviners choose not to use this card in readings, while others
use him to be the centre of the reading. If you decide to use the Joker, you
can place your meaning on him or use him for the questioner to hold to
connect them to the cards and bring their energy into the reading.
Remember, if you choose to let the asker have the Joker, cleanse your deck
before any further readings.
To conduct a reading with Playing cards, ask your question, or ask the cards
the question you seek to answer for another. You can request this question
while shuffling the cards seven times to cleanse them and ensure even
distribution.
Hand the cards to the questioner to shuffle them while asking the question.
Once this is done, you can choose one of two simple beginner's readings to
do.
METHOD ONE
Fan the deck out in front of the questioner in an arch. Ask them to pick three
cards and lay them out face up left to your right. Starting from the left, read
the meanings. Left is the Past. The middle is current, and the right is the
future. Read the purposes individually and then see if there is a pattern to
combine the implications or see the relationships at play between the past,
present, and future.
METHOD TWO
Shuffle the cards while asking the question and cut them into four piles.
Each pile will have an answer to a section.
Pile One - Spirit - This will discuss your motivation for asking the question.
Pile two - The present. This will discuss your current situation and why it is
this way.
Pile Three - Destiny - Where your life or the question is going as of now
with your current mindset.
Pile Four - Outcome - The best result for you at this point. What energy you
will need to get you there.
Then look at all the cards as a total picture and see if the cards complement
or clash. This may give you an idea of what areas of your life are not in
alignment and the means on how to achieve this.
Other uses for playing cards
Playing cards are not just used for Divination, but also protection, spells, and
luck.
You can use King and Queen of hearts placed in a red mojo bag with Adam
and Eve roots for a love spell. You carry this mojo bag on you everywhere
and place a drop of Van Van oil in the bag once a week, and you will be
blessed with great love.
Certain cards marked with symbols combined with a spell are nailed above
doors to protect the household and residence from negative energy and evil
spirits.
Playing cards were, and still are, used extensively in Hoodoo, and the uses
are endless. As a talisman, as lucky charms, and to end a curse. They are
incredibly diverse and, because of their ability to be easily sourced, are
included in many spells and rituals.
INTERPRETING THE CARDS
MAJOR ARCANA
M ajor arcana tarot cards cover the life lessons that create the person
you are or could be if you respond appropriately to the task. It
addresses the supernatural, spiritual, and Karmic influences in
your life. The meanings can be complex and profound. Only practice will
assist you in learning the purpose of these cards. They are commonly
referred to as the trump cards due to the powerful nature of these cards'
messages trumping the less powerful or specific Minor Arcana cards. The
Fool is the main character of Major Arcana. The Fool travels the Fools
Journey. He travels through the Major Arcana card, meeting teachers,
learning new lessons, and eventually reaching the world card. Many
compare the Fool to the questioner, and this is why he is considered the main
character.
If you pull a Major Arcana card during a reading, you are being called upon
to reflect on the life lessons and problems that are currently affecting your
life and influencing your destiny. Major Arcana cards often set the scene for
the Monir Arcana cards. Reading the cards solo and then as a group, you
may find that the message will almost always relate back to the Major
Arcana cards' life lesson.
When the Majority of the cards pulled are Major Arcana cards, you or the
questioner are about to experience some life-changing events or face some
life-changing questions. The questioner will need to be prepared to pay great
attention to the lessons and the message to further progress spiritually and
personally through a likely traumatic or sudden event in their near future. Do
not be afraid if this happens. Not all significant events are severe or
traumatic. It may indicate a sudden job offer that will bring great fortune, but
a faraway move involving leaving family and friends behind. However, be
the best thing that they will ever do. The cards may simply indicate that if
they move forward with a positive and bright attitude, they will be
successful and maintain their relationships through the challenge of physical
distance.
The Card meanings are as follows:
THE FOOL
UPRIGHT: New Beginnings, Innocence, Spontaneity, a free spirit,

REVERSED: You are Holding back, are being reckless, or taking
unacceptable and dangerous risks.
The Fool has no number as he can be the first or last card in the deck.
THE MAGICIAN OR JUGGLER

UPRIGHT: Manifestation, resourcefulness, Power, Inspired Action,
Determination, Skilled decisions
REVERSED: Manipulation, Poor planning, Untapped talents,
Communication blocks, lack of energy.
THE HIGH PRIESTESS OR FEMALE POPE

UPRIGHT: Intuition, Scared knowledge, Devine feminine, Subconscious
mind, Hidden Talent, mystery
REVERSED: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal, and silence,
lack of personal harmony.
THE EMPRESS TAROT
UPRIGHT: Femininity, Beauty, Nature, nurturing, abundance, new

opportunity, pregnancy, and fertility.
REVERSED: Creative block, dependence on others, domestic issues,
financial problems, unplanned pregnancy, insecurity, lack of progress, and
negligence.
THE EMPEROR
UPRIGHT: Authority, establishment, structure, a father figure, stability,

protectiveness, logical, practical.
REVERSED: Domination, excessive control, lack of discipline,

inflexibility, abuse of power, absent father.
THE HIEROPHANT
UPRIGHT: selfless advice, others' approval, well-deserved success, a

faithful and loyal person, an outsider, a mentor, a figure we respect and can
follow as a role model.
REVERSED: Placing importance on others' approval, dependant decision
making, Allowing others to lead you in the wrong direction. Excessive
moralism.
THE LOVERS
UPRIGHT: stands for love and harmony, honour, trust, new romance, and
positivity. This card symbolizes passion and feeling passionate through
friends or lovers. An excellent bond forming.
REVERSED: unreliability, separation, frustration in love,
untrustworthiness, disharmony, imbalance, conflict, detachment, bad
choices, and indecision.
THE CHARIOT
UPRIGHT: perseverance, a journey, a rushed decision, adversity, and

vengeance. Motivation to get a stagnant situation resolved quickly.
REVERSED: defeat, failure, and being vanquished. Your feelings may
fluctuate, and you feel out of control, not on top of a situation.
JUSTICE
UPRIGHT: harmony, balance, equality, righteousness, virtue, honour, and
advice. Time to adjust, Bring all four corners of yourself into balance,
physical, emotional, social, and spiritual need to unite.
REVERSED: bias, false accusations, intolerance, unfairness, and abuse.

You may feel victimized. Fix a problematic situation that is unjust.
THE HERMIT
UPRIGHT: counsel, inner strength, prudence, caution, vigilance, patience,

and withdrawal. The need to be alone. Impatience with others. Time for
self-reflection
REVERSED: imprudence, hastiness, rashness, and acts of foolishness and
immaturity. You have withdrawn but need to get out again. You need to
focus on your problems and stop avoiding the issues. Anxiety will not fade
until the issue is dealt with.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
UPRIGHT: a stroke of luck, an unexpected windfall. You feel like the world
is working with you. Use this time to get your life working with you. The
world is your oyster.
REVERSE: failure, bad luck, or an unexpected loss. Lack of control, too
many risks that will not pay off. This lousy luck will pass. Try to work with
it for now.
STRENGTH
UPRIGHT: strength, courage, conviction, energy, determination, and action.

Doubts or worries are holding you back. Summons your strength and fight
back.
REVERSE: weakness, pettiness, sickness, lack of faith, and abuse of power.
Insecurities and lack of self-esteem are stopping you. Build yourself and
fight back.
THE HANGED MAN
UPRIGHT: suspension, change, reversal, sacrifice, readjustment,

improvement, and rebirth. A time for reflection.
REVERSE: false prophecy, useless sacrifice, laziness, Making bad
decisions to distract yourself from pain or troubles. Attitude adjustment is
required to change course.
DEATH
UPRIGHT: transformation, making way for the new, loss, failure, illness or
death, and bad luck. End of a story and beginning of a new account. Don't
let this scare you. It can be the death of a bad relationship, rebirth, or
positive change.
REVERSE: immobility, slow changes, a narrow escape, and cheating death.
Resisting change, being stagnant and negative. Stuck and too stubborn to
grow.
TEMPERANCE
UPRIGHT: harmony, peace, and patience. Moderation, temperance,

patience, balance, fusion, good influence, and confidence. Your moral code
is robust. You are living your best life.
REVERSE: discord, conflict, disunion, hostility, frustration, and
impatience. Overindulgence and reckless behaviour. Out of sync with
yourself and others. Feel disconnected and unbalanced.
THE DEVIL
UPRIGHT: temptation, addiction, and depression a downfall, unexpected

failure, controversy, violence, disaster, an ill-tempered person. Be
passionate and unrestrained.
REVERSE: release, enlightenment, overcoming handicaps, and divorce. Let
go and move on. See what has been holding you back and let go.
THE TOWER
UPRIGHT: the downfall of old ideas leads to chaos and changes, but the
difference will be significant and positive. It may be a sudden change like a
strike of lightning. A sudden, massive change. A period of upheaval.
Abandon the past.
REVERSE: stuck in a rut or trapped in a bad situation. Procrastinating
about making a significant change. Out with old bad habits and in with new
positive habits. Change things up for the better.
THE STAR
UPRIGHT: the future, clarity of vision, and spiritual insight. Hope, faith,
inspiration, optimism, wisdom, spiritual love, pleasure, and balance. Stay
calm, stay positive. Unexpected help is coming to you.
REVERSE: unfulfilled hopes, disappointment, crushed dreams, bad luck,
and imbalance. Feelings of hopelessness. Low self-esteem is holding you
back. Work on your self-worth for successful outcomes.
THE MOON
UPRIGHT: deception, trickery, disillusionment, error, anxiety, danger, and
double-dealing. Someone is leading you astray — a time of emotional and
mental trials.
REVERSE: discovering deception before damage can be done, minor
mistakes, and taking advantage of someone, let go of negativity and fears.
THE SUN
UPRIGHT: satisfaction, accomplishment, success, joy. Everything is

looking up. Your day is coming. Prepare for the spotlight — an abundance
of goodness to share.
REVERSE: unhappiness, doubt, cancelled plans, or an uncertain future.
You may have overstepped. You may be arrogant and creating abrasive
situations. Loneliness and feeling separated from friendships.
LAST JUDGEMENT
UPRIGHT: awakening, renewal, a well-lived life, better health, and a

quickened mind. Facing challenges and facing them head-on. Accepting
responsibility and consequences gracefully. Coming out the other side to
success.
REVERSE: fear of death, failure, possible loss, and ill-health. Turning your
back on responsibility. Need to face up to consequences and resolve
negative situations.
WORLD OR UNIVERSE
UPRIGHT: completion, perfection, and recognition, in addition to honors,

the end result, success, fulfillment, triumph, and eternal life. Praise, a
celebration of success and good fortune.
REVERSE: imperfection, lack of vision, and disappointment. Trouble
reaching your goal. Lack of planning leads to a deficiency. Don't let
frustration lead you to shortcuts and failure.
MINOR ARCANA
WANDS
Wands cards cover your actions, your passions, and your enterprises — the
hobbies you have to pass the time with joy and your creativity. Wands is the
joy and excitement in your life. The things that make you glow from the
inside and release your happiness on the world in the things you dream up
and create.
Many wands signify a time of awakening and realization. If there are too
many wands, this may indicate you are close to burnout, and balance is
essential.
Ace of wands :
Upright - New beginnings and inspiring times. Births of ideas and babies.
Reverse - New beginnings are blocked. Little to no growth.
Two of wands :
Upright : Will and strong mindset. Consider your options carefully.
Reverse: Difficulty making decisions. Fear of making bad choices.
Three Of wands:
Upright: For writers, freelancers and authors. Manifesting big dreams.
Reverse: Delay in rewards, out of your league, development required.
Four of Wands :
Upright: Connecting to someone special or community.
Reverse: The foundation is not ready. More work is required.
Five of Wands :
Upright: Stand up for yourself, even if it means arguments.
Reverse: Lost in the crowd, competition is high, be unique.
Six of wands:
Upright: Popularity, Progress, victory, and success.
Reverse: Success delay or defeat, not recognized for efforts.
Seven of wands:
Upright: Protecting your position. Being defensive, putting up boundaries
and walls.
Reverse: Unable to hold your ground. Lack of boundaries.
Eight of Wands:
Upright: A visitor or visiting. Immediate action or progress
Reverse: Lethargy, poor time management. Lack of action.
Nine of Wands:
Upright: Strength, resilience, bravery.
Reversed: Weakness, stubbornness. Lack of waste of energy.
Ten of Wands:
Upright: Need to delegate, lots of work. More responsibility.
Reverse: unable to keep on top of things. Lack of responsibility.
Page of Wands:
Upright: Enthusiastic, eager to explore and gain experience. Probably
young
Reverse: A bully, a show-off, cruel person.
Knight of Wands:
Upright: excitable, the life of the party, enthusiastic
Reverse: Manipulator, bully, win at all costs.
Queen of Wands:
Upright: warmth, kindness, and goal orientated. Passionate.
Reverse: Intimidation and domination. Lack of faith or turning to black
magic.
King of Wands:
Upright: entrepreneur, loves his partner: charisma and natural leadership.
Reverse: Violence, dictatorship, arrogance, and bad temper.
CUPS
Cups involves your heart and feelings. Your subconscious thoughts and
feelings, creativity, relationships, love life, spiritual connection, and
humanity are all of your emotions. Cups reflect on your ability to express
your feelings, be that distress or joy.
Ace of Cups:
Upright: love, compassion, joy, and creativity.
Reverse: Emotional shutdown, lack of creativity, spirituality blocked.
Two of Cups:
Upright: real intimacy, true love, very close relationship.
Reverse: Wanting love, but the fear of rejection is blocking action.
Three of Cups:
Upright: Celebration and community. Can indicate engagement and
marriage.
Reverse: Competition, ruined celebrations, jealousy, and catty behaviour.
Four of Cups:
Upright: Need for contemplation, Not sure what is being offered.
Reverse: Avoidance and head in the sand behaviour about a sticky situation.
Five of Cups:
Upright: Disappointment and regrets for a failed love.
Reverse: Emotionally draining relationship.
Six of Cups :
Upright: Nostalgia, memories, innocence, return of childhood connection.
Reverse: Difficult and disturbing childhood. Possible nightmares and
trauma.
Seven of Cups:
Upright: lots of choices. Use your dreams and wishful fantasies to choose.
Reverse: Fear, Anxiety, and lack of vision. Creativity Blocked.
Eight of Cups:
Upright: Stop daydreaming and take action. Turn you back on the toxic.
Reverse: Giving up dreams to please another. Working a job you hate.
Nine of Cups:
Upright: Dreams coming true. Be proud of your achievement.
Encouragement.
Reverse: Not getting what you want, bad lifestyle choices causing
disintegration of relationships.
Ten of Cups:
Upright: A life in harmony. Perfect balance. Harmonious love and
relationships.
Reverse: Ignoring problems in a relationship. Pretending. Naïve
Page of Cups:
Upright: A sensitive young person. Naive and gentle.
Reverse: Hard to motivate, a person who promises the world and delivers
very little. Unmotivated.
Knight of Cups:
Upright: A singer, writer, a poet. A bold declaration of love. Very lovable.
Reverse: Cynical and walking away from love or a project. Their bitterness
hurts others.
Queen of Cups:
Upright: Intuitive, in touch with your emotions, Compassionate, and Cares
deeply.
Reverse: Emotionally unstable, numb, or dark feelings.
King of Cups:
Upright: Kind and fair, Warm and honest male. In control of emotions.
Reverse: Blocked feelings, Unmotivated and unmotivating, Selfish, fear of
rejection.
PENTACLES
These cards are the areas of your life that control your decisions and actions
control what happens in these areas. These cards give advice to success in
Money, Career, property, home, house, family, and property. Pentacles deal
with the material possessions in your life.
Ace of Pentacles
Upright: Financial new beginnings. More security.
Reverse: Loss of finances, less financial security. Disappointing financial
decisions.
Two of Pentacles
Upright: Juggling finances, multiple income streams. Investment
Reverse: Loss of financial insight, Unable to juggle financial demands.
Three of Pentacles
Upright: High job satisfaction, good work ethics. effort equals results
Reverse: Low quality work performance.
Four of Pentacles
Upright: A need for security. Wanting control over your finances and
possessions.
Reverse: Unreliable foundation. Feeling uncertain
Five of Pentacles
Upright: Financial loss and hardship. Poor health through stress.
Reverse: Poverty and lack of spirituality. Chaos and stress.
Six of Pentacles
Upright: Generosity to and from others. Giving to the less fortunate.
Reverse: Greedy and lack of generosity
Seven of Pentacles
Upright: The seeds of a fortuitous project are being laid. Don't give up.
Reverse: Unemployment, impatience will cost the prize.
Eight of Pentacles
Upright: An apprenticeship or mentorship in business or craft.
Reverse: repetitive and unrewarding work. Due to a promotion, you may not
get.
Nine of Pentacles:
Upright: Lavish Lifestyle, luxurious surroundings, and life.
Reverse: Lonely and unhappy. Your home is a prison — unfulfilling life.
Ten of Pentacles
Upright: Inheritance money from a passing, retirement, or investment
ripening.
Reverse: Wasted wealth, delayed gains, a burden revisited.
Page of Pentacles
Upright: recreation, study, a new venture, a new job offer, or business
opportunity.
Reverse: Intellectual arrogance, wasted study, or unrealistic ambition.
Knight of Pentacles
Upright: Works hard in service, love routine, efficient and reliable.
Reverse: Snobbery, ignoring the less fortunate and flattering the rich. Sloppy,
bitter, envious.
Queen of Pentacles
Upright: Enjoys success but able to set a work/life balance. Got it all
together — the perfect balance of life.
Reverse: Poor taste and lack of empathy to others.
King of Pentacles
Upright: Successful man in authority with responsibilities. Dependable,
reliable, and hardworking
Reverse: Miserable and too conservative. Hates taking chances and tends to
hoard — poverty mindset.
SWORDS
These cards deal with your mindset, thoughts, beliefs, and moral compass.
They deal with your problem solving, intellect, thought processes, and
ability to deal with conflict and challenges.
Ace of Swords
Upright: time for new thoughts and adjustment of belief systems.
Reverse: Struggling to think of new ideas and communications.
Two of Swords
Upright: Avoiding conflict, a time for compromise, and do not rock the boat.
Reverse: Unavoidable conflict, creating drama around others for fun.
Three of swords
Upright: Separation, temporary or final, heartbreak and sorrow.
Reverse: Grief and inability to deal with it. Hide’s emotions and
internalizing.
Four of Swords
Upright: Self-care is required. Plenty of sleep, meditation, and self-love.
Reverse: beware of burnout, Restlessness, and racing thoughts.
Five of Swords
Upright: conflict and lies about you. Unhealthy competition and betrayal.
Reverse: Holding onto grudges and continuing arguments. Unforgiving
Six of Swords
Upright: Moving from conflict to calm. Assisting others to do the same.
Reverse: Challenging maths or science issues. Travel delays.
Seven of Swords
Upright: Lack of trust. Lies to avoid responsibility.
Reverse: Clumsy lies and fumbling stories. Forgetfulness in deceit.
Eight of Swords
Upright: Confusion and disorientation due to listening to others and not your
intuition.
Reverse: Self-doubt, fear of failure, and losing momentum due to anxiety in
decision-making.
Nine of Swords
Upright: Guilt and regrets cause worry and sleepless nights.
Reverse: Past problems that were pushed aside come back to haunt.
Ten of Swords
Upright: in the aftermath of a conflict that caused significant disruption.
Time to rebuild.
Reverse: inability to let go of anger and pain from a betrayal. Healing
needed here.
Page of Swords
Upright: brilliant, quick thinking, and clever person who learns quickly.
Reverse: A person who can't keep secrets and loves to gossip. Lies
frequently and is a know it all.
Knight of Swords
Upright: Opinionated person with a competitive streak. Never backs down.
Argumentative.
Reverse: Knowledgeable person who struggles to communicate through
speech.
Queen of Swords
Upright: A professional and emotionally bitter woman who hides her
heartache well. Probably single and has been hurt.
Reverse: Accuses without facts. Can’t problem solve and struggles to
communicate.
King of Swords
Upright: An expert in his field who is recognized to be top of his area. Has
studied and worked hard to get there.
Reverse: A male with a lack of integrity and is opinionated. Manipulative.
When learning the Tarot, practice is the key. Keep a tarot diary and go back
over your reading monthly to see if the readings were accurate or if you
missed something or misread the spread. As your knowledge of the cards
and their meanings standalone or in company with other cards grows, your
readings will grow in depth and accuracy.
Tarot is undoubtedly an art of divination where practice makes perfect.
DREAM DIVINATION
D ream divination, also called Oneiromancy, is a form of divination

where it is believed that, if interpreted, it is a form of fortune-
telling and communication with the spirit world. With Hoodoo,
there are three different dream divination types, when you are asleep, When
you are awake, and when the subject is sleeping.
Dream divination is not something that you can teach. It is a gift that some
receive, and some do not. The ability to dream and remember the dream is a
gift for only a few. However, the slightest sign of this gift can be developed
and become a reliable form of divination to most dedicated to learning.
Most dreams that come to those listening to the messages are warnings,
positive encouragement, or helpful solutions to problems they face.
Having and being able to interpret your dreams and the dreams of others is
often one of the first signs of being gifted with high intuition and the gift of
communicating with the spirits and elders. Many Hoodoo practitioners start
with Dream Divination, and the introduction to this form of divination
encourages the movement into spell work and other forms of
communication and spell work.
The Hoodoo Practitioner takes an efficient view of dreams and how they or
you should interpret them. There are two specific categories: physical or
Spiritual related, which are either warnings, messages, or encouragement.
There are four main ways to interpret dreams.
Through Opposites, for example, if you dream of a marriage, there will be a
death soon. If you dream of money, you will lose your wealth soon. These,
as stated, are warnings, and anyone can change the paths with good
decisions and cautious behaviour.
Through Folklore and family traditions. Many generations have their form
of divination symbols for dream divination. For example, many of them are
united in that if you dream of a black dog, someone will die. However, the
interpretations of signs in this form are passed down through the family
members and are unique to each culture or family.
The third way to interpret dreams is to consult previously written dream
books. This is especially prevalent among gamblers who may use their
dreams to predict horse races and use the symbols they dream of to predict
winners. There are many dream books to consult for this form of dream
divination, and they are easy to obtain. A quick search of the internet these
days can bring up many choices to use as a guide.
The fourth way is a direct message from the spirits. If your grandmother
appears in your dreams and clearly says, " Do not marry the man," then take
that as a direct message and don't marry the man!
If you plan a holiday and dream of an ancestor saying to you, "Do not get
on a plane this year. Danger" Then LISTEN and do not go. These are direct
and absolute messages. Take it seriously and listen to those wiser than you.
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO DREAM
If you do dream but can't call on a dream at will, there are ways you can try
to bring on a dream.
The simplest way is to keep a dream diary. Before you go to sleep:
Ask your guides to appear in your dreams and your ancestors to guide
you with a particular question.
Keep a dream diary near your bed, and as soon as you wake up, write
down what you can remember about the dream.
Interpret it by referring to a dream interpretation book.
Keep going back and reading your dreams, and you may start to see a
pattern of symbols or spirits that arrive or appear.
When you dream, thank your ancestors or guides for appearing to you or
sending the message.
Do not ignore your dreams if you ask for them. Act on them or record
them. Ignoring the dream you ask for is disrespectful, and it may offend
your ancestors or guides, and they will not send on for a while.
If you are struggling to remember a dream, you can ask for a short and
specific dream to help you learn and interpret it easier.
When writing down your dream, record the highlights first. Don't be
afraid to write down something embarrassing that happened in the
dream. Be honest, as there may be a strong message in the activity.
Don't forget to record any emotions that the dream brings out in you,
which is also essential.
If you have a dream, you are struggling to interpret it. Read your diary
entry, ask for the dream to repeat, and ask for further clarity about the
message the spirits or ancestors are sending.
Another form of bringing on a dream can be to place your question in an
envelope with a dollar bill. Place it by your bedside with a glass of water,
under the pillow, or your bed with a glass of water. This will attract your
ancestors and guiding spirits. Ask the dream and meditate and think about it
as you fall asleep. The following day burn the letter and give the dollar bill
to charity. This is a particularly popular way to get a dream about the future
that may bring good fortune.
These two mojo bags can help you along your quest:
Artemisia Sachet
Fill a small sachet with equal parts of Mugwort and Wormwood.
Place this under your pillow or beside your cheek while you sleep to
enhance your psychic powers.
To Locate missing articles in your dreams

Mix Heliotrope Blossoms and Bay Laurel leaves.
Fold the mixture into a White cotton handkerchief and sew it into a flat
sachet.
Place the sachet under your pillow and the location of the missing object
will appear in your dreams.
Burning a specific type of incense or herb may also help to induce dreams.
It can vary from person to person, but Lavender and Frankincense are often
used to invoke a dream on a night that you are requesting it. Be patient and
form your dream requests and recordings as a habit. You will develop the
ability to recall your dreams accurately and interpret them with reliability.
You may even be able to start interpreting the dreams of others.
LUCID DREAMS
Having a Lucid Dream, or dreaming true as it is also called, is when people
know they are dreaming and, on some level, can control the dream and what
happens to some degree. Lucid dreamwork is the more potent form of
Oneiromancy. It is a gift for some and is not something that you can learn.
You can either Lucid Dream or not. Many people can go a lifetime and
never have a lucid dream at all.
Suppose you wonder if you may learn the art of Lucid Dreaming as yourself
if you have ever had a Pre-Lucid dream. This is the state where you are
dreaming, and you actually can ask yourself if you are dreaming while you
are dreaming. Pre -Lucid dreaming is the state that can lead to a Lucid
Dream if you can consciously recognize and progress the state.
An intellectually Lucid Dream is where you know you are dreaming, but
you are still affected by emotions during the dream. For example, if it is a
nightmare form of dreaming and your vision is of death, you will still feel
grief and fear. Experientially Lucid dreams are where you are aware you are
dreaming and can control the dream without profound emotion.
Lucid dreaming can also give you the ability to contact others in your
dream. Some are gifted enough to pull others into their dream and ask them
to get them or pass on a message. This person may not remember the dream
and feel the urge to contact the Dream Diviner, or they may have thought
they dreamed it and not understand the message was sent by the diviner. In
any event, they will almost always do as asked in the dream because Lucid
Dreams feel very real, even to those that don't understand that they have
just had one.
Lucid dreams can be beneficial to solve issues and ask for help with health
issues or other problems. Dream Diviners can send messages and warnings
to others. You can receive news and alerts or find the source of negative
energy or evil projected onto you.
So, in summary, they can lead to healing. You can influence the thoughts of
others or hagride. Hagriding will be covered in the coming chapters.
TO VISIT SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM WITH LUCID DREAMING
To visit or influence someone in your dreams, it is understood that it is
much easier to do this with someone you have slept with or shared space
while sleeping. Therefore, it is beneficial to try with a lover, ex-lover, or
family member that you have shared a bed with or slept near as a child
when you start.
To be able to lucid dream, there are a few methods to use. Find one that you
are comfortable with and that you can easily recall in a deeply relaxed state.
This is an easy beginner's method to use if you want to try Lucid Dreaming.
It is best to try this when you are reasonably sure the target is asleep. Some
recommend early morning at about 4 am.
Imagine you are sitting nearby in a chair in their bedroom, watching them
sleep.
If you have a picture of them, place it nearby, preferably to the right.
If you choose to use incense, have this to your left.
Carve their name on a white candle.
Dress the candle with an appropriate oil, such as Spirit Guide, or an equally
appropriate dreaming oil.
Set the candle in front of you
Knock three times on the table or floor to start the work. And cleanse the
area you are in from negative energies or evil spirits.
Stare into the candle until your eyes naturally close.
Imagine floating up out of your body.
Imagine your spirit floating up and hovering over them in bed
Find a place to sit beside them and say, "I am here to visit and talk to you. I
mean no harm to you. You are dreaming, so don't be alarmed. Keep
dreaming."
Now You can talk to them. You can give them a warning message if another
person is mistreating or betraying them, asking them to contact you or
asking them to come home, etc. Please keep it simple so it easy for them to
remember.
If you want them to do something when they wake up, such as meeting you
somewhere or getting in contact with you somehow, tell them they'll wake
up thinking about it and do it as soon as they can.
When you are satisfied, you can leave the same way you went in, floating
away or simply walking through the wall.
Imagine returning to the place you were sitting and open your eyes. Don't
forget to knock three times to cleanse the area and yourself in case of
negative or evil spirits attached to you during your travel.
During the day, speak to yourself and say, tonight I will visit (target’s name)
in their dreams, and they will hear me. Repeating this to yourself will
enforce the idea to those listening and yourself. When you are learning and
starting belief in your abilities are as important as knowing the process.
Keep practicing and keep track of this in your dream diary also. It may be
bought up in six months, and you will be able to look back and remember it
and perhaps show them.
HAG RIDING AND OTHER SLEEP DEMONS
HAGS
Hags are demonic witches or entities capable of shape-shifting, usually
appearing as old ugly women, most often show up as nightmares. In
Hoodoo, it is believed that they are capable of “hag-riding” by
immobilizing their victims, while choking and cursing them.
If you are experiencing these sensations, first visit a licensed physician to
ensure that this is not a medical condition known as sleep paralysis. This
disorder occurs in cases of narcolepsy, low potassium, seizures, and other
physiological dis-eases while causing body and speech immobilization
accompanied with visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations.
When and if sleep paralysis is ruled out, make all attempts to prevent these
episodes by maintaining protection both on your person and in your
bedroom. It is said that if they leave a wet spot, it is their skin that they will
return to retrieve. Saturate the wet spot with salt to wither away their skin
and ultimately destroy them.
INCUBI AND SUCCUBI
If you are sexually assaulted by these demons, they will most likely return a
second time. Rubbing Vicks Vaporub, a camphor-based ointment, on your
body and especially between your legs — without touching your genitals,
where it might cause irritation or be painful — will act as a repellent. The
ointment may also be applied to the four corners of your bedsheets.
When All Else Fails
Just as bacteria may resist or become resistant to certain antibiotics,
negative forces may resist the spiritual armor set up to repel them. When
this occurs, it is usually because these forces have already anchored before
you became aware of their presence, thus a task-oriented eradication ritual
must be implemented. Refer to the protection spells in the 5th volume of the
series, particularly the 13 days eradication spell.
DIVINATION BY JACK BALL OR
PENDULUM
I f you have ever had an older lady in the family take your wedding ring
and hang it above your belly with long hair from your head to foretell
the gender of your baby, you have witnessed Divination by Pendulum.
Divination by pendulum or Jack ball is commonly classed as an accurate,
easy, and quick way to get answers to simple questions.
Using a pendulum for divination requires connection to your higher self and
trusting your intuition.
The pendulum can be an item that you choose or chooses you. The
pendulum can heal, balance energy, detect imbalances in energy fields,
locate miss placed objects, and other uses.
Step one to learning this form of divination is to pick a pendulum. If it feels
good to you and you are drawn to it, it is meant for you. Some prefer to use
crystals. Some choose a pendant from a past family member's estate, and
some choose a silver pendant.
Cleanse your pendant before use. You can run underwater, place in
saltwater for a night, or pass-through herb or essential oil vapor. (be aware
of water if using a crystal. Some are not tolerant of water and may
dissolve.)
To program your pendulum, draw a circle with a cross through it on a piece
of paper. Swing your pendulum along the vertical line and say to yourself
and the pendulum - This means no.
Stop the pendulum completely and then swing it along the horizontal line
and say - this means yes.
Stop the pendulum and circle it around the drawn circle, saying - this means
neutral.
Learn the movement of your pendulum,
Vertical straight line - No
Horizontal straight line - Yes
Circular swinging - neutral answer.
Start concentrating on the question you have in mind (be sure this is a clear
answer with a positive, negative, or neutral explanation)
Reasonable questions should be phrased like
Am I having a girl? (pregnancy)
Will he propose this year?
Will I get the job I have been interviewed for?
It is imperative that before you ask your question, you set your intention to
receive your answer in a truthful manner and with no harm to others.
Something like "I am grateful to receive an answer today that is truthful and
of no harm to others" Say this with peace in your heart and faith in your
mind.
You are now free to ask your question. You may need to ask a few questions
to get a clear answer to your problem or query if your situation is more
complex than a simple yes or no.
To receive your answer, you will need to swing the pendulum without any
perceived or formed opinion on the matter, or your subconscious may
influence the response.
Finally, to receive your answer hold the pendulum still at the cross point of
the circle, make sure it is still. Close your eyes and say the question slowly
and with intent three times. Open your eyes and relax. Wait patiently for the
swing of the pendulum to start. Record your answer.
As with all divination, I suggest keeping a record of answers and questions
in a diary to refine and look back. Sometimes solutions can take a while to
make sense.
Another form of pendulum divination is the Jack Ball. This is a highly
personal item that is hand-made and crafted by the diviner. It is much like a
mojo bag because it can repel or attract certain spirits and entities. It is quite
different in that a mojo bag is thought to have its individual spirit and self;
the Jack Ball is an extension of yourself, your will, and spirit.
They can be used as a "lucky ball," you can use them to control another
person's actions, and, when correctly prepared with personal concerns at the
centre of the ball, they can be used as a pendulum. I this book, I will teach
you how to use them as a divination Pendulum.
Jack balls are made by the diviner and can hold items such as herbs,
toenails, hair, and personal items connected to you.
To make your jack ball, melt some wax from a white candle and bind the
items into a bundle the size of a small marble.
This is your own personal Jack Ball and should never be touched by another
person, or it will be tainted and unclean. This can make it unusable. So I
advise wrapping it in a small layer of paper.
Next, attach the end of some yarn to the ball with wax and wrap it in the
wool by wrapping it around the Jack Ball. Rotate the Jack ball until it is
completely covered with wool and you cannot see or touch the inner ball.
Thread the length of wool through a needle and pass it through the ball to
the other side. Once there, it would be best to cut the tail to a length of
about 5 to 10cm.
Thread the needle with a double thread twice the length of the tail. And run
the needle twice through the bottom of the ball where the tail is located.
You will now have three tails. Braid or plait the tails to make one thicker
and stronger tail. Tie it at the end.
To charge your Jack Ball, keep it on your body for at least a week. Each day
remove it from its vervet or material pouch, also called a mojo bag, and
breath intensely over it, saying, " I breathe my spirit into you. I breathe life
into you. You become me."
If you wish to, you can also add a drop of your body fluid onto the Jack Ball
each morning for the week. Tradition states that Diviners use to place a
drop of the first-morning urine onto the ball when charging it. However, we
know that if this is not for you, a drop of saliva will also do.
You can now use your Jack Ball as a pendulum in the same way you would
a crystal or metal pendulum. However, it is believed a Jack Ball has extra
abilities than a pendulum due to the personal connection. Do not allow
anyone to use your Jack Ball but you.
Jack balls are more powerful and precise than a material pendulum, and you
can place symbols or names and dates on paper within the circle cross.
Asking a question correctly can see the Jack Ball moving towards an
answer rather than just using the movement interpretation of the simple
pendulum.
Keep your Jack Ball safe by placing it on your altar with your other tools of
divination. Please keep it in its mojo bag safely and remember to cleanse it
regularly.
COLD READING
C old Reading is not a form of Divination. It is a skill to obtain a large

amount of information about a person by their body language,
education, clothing, hairstyle, and personal mannerisms.
People use it to convince of psychic or mediumship or that you possess
some sort of supernatural abilities. This is an unethical practice when used
in Divination. Although I don't believe it is a form of Divination, it does
deserve a section in this book to teach you how to spot unethical or
fraudulent diviners. Some of these simple techniques can make anyone look
like a gifted mind reader or fortune teller.
Look for the following methods,
Shot gunning.
Shot gunning is where the person will throw out a heap of general
information and questions and watch the body language to see when
something hits the target.
Barnum Statement
These are very general statements that can come across as very personal to
an individual. For example, saying, "You are a timid person that suffers
from anxiety and social situations."
It takes a short observation, and a comment like this can be made, gaining
the seeker's confidence, and relaxing them to reveal more.
Generally, statements like
You are a confident person, but recently you have doubted yourself. -
happens to us all.
You have had an argument with someone you love lately, and there is
unresolved tension - again, this happens to us all often.
There are endless statements, questions that can be used, and many people
spend years learning how to trick people. This reading started many years
ago with gypsies and tricksters traveling and creating readings with crystal
balls and using a taught script. Many saw it for what it was at the time, a
form of entertainment, but some took the advice to heart and made life-
changing decisions based on stories with no founding in truth or spirit.
Divination is working with the elders, your spirits, and your guides to get
advice and give advice.
Cold reading uses others' reactions and their body language to trick them
into believing you have contact with the supernatural.
There is no need to cold-read when I passionately believe that all of us can
learn a form of Divination that with practice can become a reliable and safe
way to get advice and make good decisions.
CONCLUSION

THIS KNOWLEDGE.
THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION TO CANDLE MAGIC
Get your Mojo Workin’ with Candles, Oils, and
Altars to Banish Negative Energy, Protect your
Home, and Attract Love and Success
INTRODUCTION
W elcome to volume seven of the series. Here, you will learn about
the Hoodoo Practice involving fire and the tools associated with
the sacred flame. You will learn the history behind the practices
and be given the information and tools to start your own practice. With a
comprehensive list of different objects, how to bless them, create your own
unique pieces and cast some of your own beauty into the world with the
skills you will learn.
You will be taught about candles, their colours and what they mean
traditionally, How they are used in the modern age and how you can use
them to enhance your life or the life of friends and loved ones. Learn how
to create spells to bring luck, love, and money into your life and how to
repel and protect negative energy and spells. Use the skills you have already
leant in the previous five books with herbs, bones and tarots to foretell the
future. Use the skills in this book to influence the future for yourself and
others.
This book will provide comprehensive education on how to use candles and
oils to create spells. How to make the spell and correctly use the
supernatural world of your spirits, guides, or ancestors to guide you in this
life.
Create altars to bring forth lost or treasured wise ancestors, create a
spiritually safe space to rest your divination tools or a place of prayer for
gifts of wealth, fertility, or love. Manifest and bring these life-enhancing
gift to your life with the wisdom and powerful world that Hoodoo brings
into existence.
Dispel and learn that religion and Christianity are part of Hoodoo, and they
do not work against each other. Learn to incorporate the Psalms into your
Hoodoo Candle practice with confidence and powerful results.
Suppose you want to create beauty or repel evil. This book with assist you
to learn and practice step by step traditional Hoodoo to compliment and
engulf your life in the sense of power and control that centuries of practice
shows can bring you all the beautiful enhancements. In that case, you could
want in life for yourself and those you love.
Like the flames that you see, light up your imaginations, your spirituality,
and your life.
LEARN TO HARVEST THE GIFTS OF FIRE
W orking with candles or what some old workers call “lights” or

“vigils” is very old in Conjure, but what is even older is the oil
lamp. Oil lamps date back to before the time of Christ. Fire has
always been a part of spiritual work from the time the first people
discovered it. Whether through candle lights, lamps, or an actual fire, folks
and spiritual workers alike recognized the power of fire and what you can
do with it.
The practice of using candles, oil lamps, or a flame of some sort to
accompany prayer is also accepted by most religions. While candles are
used in many traditions, the act of burning a candle as a focusing tool in
prayer is nothing more than an act of devotion.
Candles are probably the easiest, most varied, and most accessible tools we
can use. Yet, we need to be able to harness that power.
I have found in my workings that wax acts like a magnet and will hold your
prayers or anything that you are trying to remove, and as the candle burns,
your prayers are sent out. I was taught there is one rule that one needs to
follow if you want your work to be a success, and that is before you do any
type of candle work, you need to give yourself a good cleansing. You can
do a quick cleansing using a small stick candle, a small broom, or a chicken
foot. You simply brush yourself going downward while praying to the Holy
Trinity that everything be removed that is not good for you or that could
hinder your work. Once you do the cleansing and dress your head and
hands with some type of oil, then you are ready to start your work. This
may seem like a lot of effort just to light a candle, but it is the little things
that can make or break a job.
I take extra steps with my works because I don't want to have to redo works
over and over. I feel if I put a little extra into my work from the start it will
be a success. The first thing I do when I am going to start a new candle
work is of course a quick cleansing, then I wipe the candle down with a
wash I make to clean my candles with before I put them to work. This
cleans off anything that the wax might have picked up in the making of the
candle or from folks handling the candle in the store.
You need three tablespoons of salt, three bay leaves, and a pinch of rue.
Pray over each ingredient, and then add it to your pot of water. Bring the
ingredients to a boil and remember to pray over them. Once the mixture
comes to a boil, turn the fire off and let the wash cool. Once the wash is
cooled, use a white cloth and wipe the candles that you will be working
with off. Make sure to wipe the inside wax that is in a glass-encased candle
off too. Let them air-dry before you light them.
Then I wake the candle up; I stir up the spirit in the wax by blowing three
breaths into the wax and tapping the candle on the altar three times. This
will get things moving so you can fix the candle to do the job you need
done. I load a little of my ingredients into my candles by either using an ole
screwdriver to make three holes in the wax of a glass-encased candle or a
hole in the bottle of a pillar candle. If you can't make the hole, then you can
set the candle in a bowl and sprinkle the ingredients around the candle. Any
of these methods will work. Once you have the candle fixed, you need to
call Spirit into the candle; call the Holy Trinity first and then whatever spirit
you will be working with. It may seem like a lot of work, but once you get
into the habit of it, then the steps will become natural. There are different
types of candles you can work with, we shall explore them all extensively
in the upcoming chapters
If you want to draw something to you, then you roll your candle in the
ingredients towards you while praying your prayer and your petition. To
draw and sweeten, you can use magnetic sand (sand that has been
magnetized), powdered sugar, the herb Master of the Woods, and cinnamon.
To remove someone or something from you, roll the candle away from you;
the ingredients for removing are a photo or petition burned to ash, calamus
root, red pepper, and a dirt dauber nest. Oil the candle well with some kind
of spiritual oil, and then you roll the candle away from you while saying in
the name of the Holy Trinity that the person or situation is removed from
you and state your petition and prayer in a strong, firm voice. I was taught
to work with stick candles for this type of work although nowadays there
are a variety of candles to choose from.
I think one of my favorite candles other than the stick candle is the pull-out
candle. They are good for candle burning because you can mark the candle
before you load it into the jar and then feed the jar that will contain your
candle with powders, roots, herbs, photos, and so much more.
It is also easy with a vigil candle — a candle that is encased in glass and
usually burns about six days — because you can read the wax as the candle
burns and find signs in the glass as the smoke rises from the wick. Here are
a few ways to tell what is going on with the burn as the candle flame does
the work. If the vigil burns black in the flame or in the glass, then you need
to do an uncrossing on yourself and redo the work because there are blocks
standing in your way. If the flame is small or keeps going out, then there are
blocks in your work or someone is trying to stop you from getting what you
want. If the flame is strong, then that's a good sign your work will be a
success. You can read these signs in any candle you burn including oil
lamps. You simply have to understand the way the flame works. If you
watch the flame as the candle burns, you'll get an idea of where your work
is headed because the candle flame will always tell you how the work is
going and what actions might need to be taken.
REMEMBER THAT PRAYER PLAYS A BIG PART IN SUCCESSFUL CANDLE
BURNING. SO DOES FAITH. WHEN YOU WORK, YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WITH ALL YOUR HEART THAT THE JOB IS A SUCCESS. THERE CAN BE NO
ROOM FOR DOUBT; OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT CROSS YOUR OWN HARD
WORK AND EFFORTS UP!
CANDLE COLORS
C andles are available in all kinds of colors, types, and shapes. Some
of the hoodoo candles are multicolored; some are one color or
specialized, such as the green lucky lottery candle. Some of these
candles are made for specific orishas and saints. The most common candles
are the seven day glass-encased candles, self-standing candles, and figural
candles.
One of the basic areas of knowledge necessary for conducting effective
hoodoo rituals is understanding color symbolism. Practitioners must choose
the correct colors when purchasing candles, making mojo bags and oils,
creating altars, performing ritual bathing, and otherwise pleasing the loas,
orishas, saints, and numerous divine entities. This is necessary for what is
referred to as “working the rainbow” in New Orleans Voodoo.
However, you must remember that in Hoodoo, the colour of the Candle is
not what creates the magic. The magic comes directly from you, your
intention and your ability to interact with the supernatural, being your
guides or Ancestors.
The colour and shape of the Candle was something that was developed over
time, and a simple white candle can be used for all magic and intentions.
The colours and varieties of candles in shape remind you of your intention
at a glance and supercharge your ability to focus and visualise your goal.
So if your budget or locality means you only have a simple white candle,
this will do the same job, as long as your intention is focused and true. The
use of coloured candles assists us all in keeping the intent at the forefront of
our mind when practising this ancient and powerful skill.
WHITE CANDLES
White candles were the first candles ever used in Hoodoo. They can be used
for any spell or intention at a pinch. However, there are many options for
coloured candles in modern times, and each has been assigned meanings to
assist with a laser-sharp focus for success.
White candles are used in spells with intentions to bring peace, blessings,
and healing to the subject of the prayer or intention. White is considered the
colour of cleanliness, so it is also used to focus on purity, which often
translates to protection from "dirty" energy when performing other
divinations — often seen lit during Tarot and Bone divination for protection
from energies that you do not want to enter you and create an unhealthy
spirit. In turn, white is often used for healing, truth and sincerity.
Traditionally white candles are still used in truth, purity and cleansing
spells. However, you can use a white candle for any practice that this colour
may represent to you as long and you believe it will bring forward a strong
representation of your desired outcome.
White is a colour that encourages the intentions of purity, generosity,
expansion and clairvoyance.
YELLOW CANDLES
Yellow candles are predominantly used to create great fortune and to
encourage unity and success. The colour of the sun and gold can focus on
intentions that involve money ( colour of gold ), success, concentration and
great success.
The colour of sunflowers reminds the practitioner to focus on the intention
of the spell-like, the happiness and positive things in life, including spells of
universal love, creativity, cheerful attraction, devotion and prayer.
Yellow is also used in spells and practices involving bringing an action or
great activity to promote understanding or manifest fast change. Other
intentions a yellow candle is used for is to develop your occult powers or
invoke the spirits.
ORANGE CANDLES
Orange is the bright colour of positivity and fresh inspiration. This Candle
is used to open doors that lead to success, enthusiasm, clarity, and energy.
Orange is a happy colour that helps with intentions that create friendships,
stimulate the intellect, and encourage being adaptable and receptive to
challenges and new opportunities.
Orange contains the colour of the flame, so it can also stimulate the intent of
removing obstructions and opening the way to open roads and changes even
if they are sudden. They are also used for spells that include attraction,
marriage, and self-discipline. Orange is a colour that attracts the ability to
have prophetic dreams.
RED CANDLES
The colour of blood, the liquid of life and the universal shade of passion red
is used in many spells and intentions that involve life-giving, love and
attraction.
Practitioners can use a red candle to encourage a vibrant sex life between
couples or encourage sexual attraction. Also, the colour of love is the most
used Candle when spells of love or magnetism between people are the
subject of the intention.
Red being the colour of blood means it is also commonly used in workings
that involve victory in battle and promote strength, vitality, health, fiery
passion and courage.
Red is a colour that is also associated and used in workings to encourage
affection, energy, willpower and magnetism.
PINK CANDLES
Pink is a colour associated with sweet romance, so it is used with intentions
for romance naturally, love, togetherness and unselfishness.
Most spells celebrate or draw in the gentle and loving feminine energy of
attraction, affection, acts of service and healing of the spirit. A nurturing
colour that symbolises the intentions and workings of reconciliation,
diplomacy, leadership and spiritual awakening.
Pink is also used in spells for clean living, honour and drawing in success
and excellent health for the subject.
PURPLE CANDLES
Purple is associated with power and, therefore, often used in workings that
involve victory, triumph ( cause harm to enemies ), and control and
command. Purple candles are used to work for mastery, encourage
ambitions, and bring about the rulership of a person or situation.
On a gentler note, purple candles are also used to bring wisdom, progress,
and independents that create honour and dignity to the subject. The depth of
purple also encourages the subjects' psychic abilities or spells to enhance it;
it is a colour associated with spells for pride and protection. Lighting a
Purple candle can strengthen your ability to interact with the spirits while
also protecting you from any negative or draining energies.
Purple has also been used in spells for idealism, rulership, and control over
a person or circumstance.
BLUE CANDLES
Blue candles are associated with the sky and predominantly used for
intentions related to peace, happiness, harmony and joy. The gentle colour
of blue is also used in workings that bring about kindly intentions, healing,
patience and serenity in the home or a relationship.
Blue is considered a pure colour, so it is used in workings for sincerity,
fidelity, honesty and devotion for the subjects either as an individual or as a
couple, in friendship, romance or business.
Also associated with success and protection, the blue Candle is diverse and
called upon to bring about the inspiration for good health, immortality,
wisdom and loyalty.
GREEN CANDLES
Green is naturally associated with material wealth, and its colour is related
to money in most areas of the world. Therefore it is not hard to understand
why this Candle is used to bring cash draws, abundance, money magic,
ambition and business success.
Green is the colour of gains, so it is primarily used for gambling, success,
luck and employment spells to bring wealth to the subject or actions that
will create wealth.
Other good intentions this colour is used for are bringing good crops to the
season, co-operation to benefit many, generosity, fertility, harmony, and
healing the health of a subject.
The darker side of green is to remind intention for spells that create or repel
greed, drive off competition in business, and create envy or drive it off.
Also, the colour of most foliage can be used to grow in all areas, wealth,
spirituality, personality, and love.
BROWN CANDLES
Brown is the earthly colour of intentions for balance, communication, all
things earthly and thriftiness.
A reminder of leather and the gifts of nature are further used in workings to
clear indecision, enhance study, and enhance intuition and power.
Like the wood that lines a courthouse, brown candles are used for spells to
influence the outcome of court cases, neutral integrity and decisions that
bring justice to the subject.
Finally, brown candles can be used for spells to repel a jinx and draw in
money and people.
BLACK CANDLES
Black is a colour that has timelessly been associated with darkness and evil
or black magic. And true to its association, this Candle can be used to create
a jinx, a hex, and promote death, loss, and adversity for a subject.
Equally, it is also associated with removing hexes and crossing spells to
repulse evil and protect from evil eye and black magic.
The colour of the morning can be used to alleviate mourning, or for a period
of mourning, to create a release from sorrow, repulse dark thoughts, and
protect the spirit of the subject.
Also, the colour of protection, black candles can be used to protect from
evil spirits, create freedom from evil and create protection from a hex,
CANDLE SHAPES
C andles that have been shaped, moulded or carved are commonly

called "Image Candles" This is because they are often created in the
Image of the intention or the subject of the working or spell.
Much like the magic used with "Dolls" or "Poppets", these images can
create a spiritual and magical link to the subject of your intention as you are
vividly able to have a vision and manifest the link assisted by the Image of
your spell. Practitioners can use this intent to bring good or evil.
The history of the Image Candle started centuries ago in Hoodoo, dating
right back to the early days of Hoodoo. The first image candles were made
and carved by artists or skilled hoodoo practitioners. Pillar candles would
be used and cut an image with a knife or a nail. They would be created into
specific shapes that were only limited by the skill and imagination of the
artist, but most commonly used were naked people ( called Idols or Adam
and Eve ), genitals ( known as male or female member candles ).
In the 20th century, Image candles became more accessible to not just the
wealthy that could afford an artists touch; this occurred with the moulding
of mass-produced candles, which also created more possibility for images.
Nowadays, it is also easy to mould the candles ourselves with easy make-it
yourself candle kits and moulds. It doesn’t have to be pretty, what counts is
the intention, and if you have carved or moulded the candle yourself the
purpose and intention of the spell might be even more powerful then those
purchased.
However, as always, a few shapes and images are the more commonly used
and associated with the most used spells. The shapes and colours are not
what creates the magic but strengthen the connection with the subject by
enhancing the intention and keeping the practitioner-focused and constantly
reminded of the desired outcome of the work.
With the modern Image Candles, the colour can be equally as important as
the shape. For example, a red candle with Adam and Eve facing each other
could be used for a spell or prayer to bring sexual passion and love to a
couple. This is commonly used after childbirth when a relationship can lack
intimacy due to the mothers' exhaustion and focus on the baby. The fathers
focus on protection and concern for his family. Prayers to increase the love,
passion, and intimacy of a couple can be used to rekindle libido and bring a
couple back together in their marriage or relationship. This is why red is so
essential as Black may be to Hex or Jinx the couple.
CANDLE SHAPES AND USES
SKULL CANDLE
Skull candles are used to help to bring health back to a subject suffering
from a severe illness. To repel death and restore vitality and strength.
They are also used to promote passionate lust in a subject. Practitioners can
also use it to incite ill health and cause chronic illness that may lead to
demise.
Black is the most common shape for this candle and is used for meditation
to bring stillness entirely to the subject. Also, for creating luck for a
gambler, although you can also find it in green, specifically for gamblers.
SATAN DEVIL CANDLE

This Candle can also be known as "Devil Be Gone" in the more traditional
Hoodoo Practices. These candles repel evil spirits or presences from a
household or evil influences in your life. As the Candle burns down, its
power grows stronger.
Red to create lust and powerful sexual allure.
Green to collect a debt or wealth owed. Also, to bring a stroke of luck to a
gambler.
Black to bring misfortune and to create harm for an enemy.
BLACK CAT CANDLE
Black Cat candles draw the luck of the

black cat to the Candle and pass it to the subject of the intention. This
Candle is also used to ward off bad luck.
ADAM AND EVE CANDLES
Draw in the love of a lover, strengthen and deepen existing love. Also
called the Lovers Candle.
Also called the Bride and Groom, they are a man and
woman, usually naked and placed side-by-side or moulded together. Each
has its wick.
Red will bring passion to the relationship.
Pink for reconciliation after separation or argument.
White to attract a new lover or bring about fidelity into a relationship.
Black or facing away or both to cause harm or damage to a relationship.
Blue for peace in the home.
LOVERS CANDLE
This is a nude couple embracing,
contrarily to the Adam and Eve candle, this candle has just one wick. Red
will bring passion to a relationship that is dwindling or has had a separation.
White will attract the attention of a new lover.
LADY OR GENTLEMAN CANDLE

These candles are clothes and professional-looking figures of a male or
female. Spells used with these candles are usually related to employment,
study, school or a dream career.
White for a professional, someone new to employ, or a relationship.
Pink for the reconciliation of a friendship or business partnership.
Red for love – to attract a work colleague
Blue for peace and good health at work or home.
Black for harm to competition, a person or revenge on an enemy.
MALE MEMBER ( PENIS ) FEMALE

MEMBER ( VULVA )
These candles are most commonly used to influence the sexual behaviour or
sexual health of the subject.
White attracts a new sexual partner and also cleans or purifies the genitals.
Pink for romantic sex or to turn a friend into a lover.
Red to promote lust and passion for the subject.
Blue to create the intention of fidelity or to create the subjects sexual
attraction for only the practitioner or the intended of the spell.
Blue also is used to heal the genitals after trauma, for example after
childbirth, or injury.
Black to control a person ability to perform or bring sexual satisfaction to
another.
CROSS OR CRUCIFIX CANDLES
These candles can be for any spell, but the

intention is what creates the magic.
Commonly used with Psalm spells.
White to purify the spirit and bring insight to the intended subject.
Black to invoke personal power and used to conjure and spirit invoking
work.
Brown to influence court outcomes and legal matters.
Green for money, luck and wealth gain spells.
Red for love and relationship workings
Pink to promote romance for the subject.
Orange to create sudden and gainful change.
Yellow to bring about devotion and worship.
SEVEN KNOB WISHING CANDLE

The seven knob wishing Candle is a tapered candle with seven knobs like
balls along the Candle length. Not only is seven the number of cleansing
and new beginnings but the number of days in a week. This Candle has one
knob for each day of the week and is used in a seven-day wish, and is
burned for seven days. If white, it can be used for seven different wishes;
however, it can be used for a seven-fold strength wish for the same
intention when other colours.
While for healing. If there are multiple health issues, each day can
concentrate on a single illness or injury to bring about a complete recovery.
Black to do evil or bring harm to a subject.
Green is used for money intention and wealth spells.
Red for love and sex spells.
Pink for romance and relationship growth and intentions.
MASTER HAND CANDLE

This is a hand that is holding a thick pillar type
candle.
Depending on the colour, this Candle has specific uses usually involving
intentions of power or control of a situation or a subject.
Green or yellow is used to gain control over material gains and money.
Pink to gain control of a romantic or relationship issue.
Red to have power in lust or sexual interests or situations.
Blue and white can be used for healing and blessing workings for a subject
that will bring control back into the subjects' hands.
EYE IN PYRAMID CANDLE
This is most commonly burned for money spells and is frequently found in
either white or green.
In white, it can be used for protection during divination.
DOUBLE ACTION CANDLES

Double action and reversing candles are 9-inch jumbo candles that attract
and repel. One half of the candle is associated with the usual color
correspondence; the other half is black for removing negative conditions or
reversing troubles. These candles are popular because you get two bangs for
your buck. The black side is usually burned first to get rid of the negative
influence, leaving the best to burn last. This is done by butting the top of the
candle — this simply means cutting off the top of the candle so that it is flat
and can stand on its own when turned over. The black side is then carved to
a point, which reveals the wick, and is burned first. For example, if you get
a green and black double action candle, you can use the black half to get rid
of debt and the green half to attract money and economic stability.
The Red and black combination is for intentions that will reverse an
undesirable outcome as it is, to repel the energy and effect for someone that
is destroying your life.
Green and black are used to reverse undesirable money situations that are
causing your hardship or potential money loss.
TRIPLE ACTION CANDLES

Most commonly found in red, white and green. These candles work with
intentions to repel evil, gain love and bring wealth and money to you. This
is essentially the party pack of all things good that your desire type of
Candle. Great for use in manifesting your ideal love of joy, abundance and
safety.
SEPARATION CANDLE
Usually two candles with their separate wicks. Commonly an image candle
in a male / female combination facing away from each other and in Black.
However, two back tapered candles with names carved into them will also
work to focus your intention. Each had its wick, and once they both burn
down, the work is complete.
ANOINTING AND DRESSING CANDLES
A nointing and dressing of candles creates an even more vital link to

your intention or subject by blessing and further anointing the
Image representing the subject of your Candle working.
Dressing a candle means to rub or apply oil to the surface of the Candle.
Once the Candle has oil on it, and the intention is stated, it is further
considered fixed on your wishes and the subject.
Great care must be taken when you add herbs and oils to a candle as some
of them can be highly flammable, and the last thing you want is for your
carefully chosen, cleansed, blessed, fixed and loaded Candle to burst into
flames and melt. You do not want to create a fire hazard or end up with a
sooty, smoky mess to clean up.
When you dress or fix a candle, use a sharp object such as a nail,
screwdriver or a specially chosen implement. Use your preferred tool for
this intention only and cleanse and bless it often, so it isn't dragging ill
intention from a skull candle into a pink or blue intended candle for healing.
Depending on the intention of working to come, you will either poke holes
in the Candle, inscribe names or symbols on the top of the Candle. Gently
drizzle or sprinkle the oil on the top of the Candle.
If your wish to draw energy to the subject, gently rub some oil UP the
length of the Candle to symbolise the energy flowing towards the flame. If
you desire to repel energy, gently rub down the length of the Candle to
symbolise the energy flowing away from the flame.
If the fix, dressing or working requires it, you may also top with finely
crushed herbs and symbolic glitter. You then pray over it, set your intention,
and dedicate it to your use.
APLLICATION OF DRESSING
Loading a candle while technically not "Dressing" a candle is part of the
ritual, and most spells and working will require some "loading" of your
Candle.
Depending on what is required for the working or spell, the Candle is
inscribed, a hole may be created in it, and the hole filled with the required
ingredients such as powers, papers, herbs and curios.
Like with all tools for supernatural workings, when you first purchase your
Candle, it has likely passed through many hands and picked up all sorts of
trash and negative energy. You will need to cleans it before using it for any
spells or intentions to focus on your energy and not clouded or
contaminated by others energy.
You can cleanse them very quickly with Florida water or holy water, or if
you are a stickler like me apply the method I have described in the chapter
“Learn to Harvest the Gift of Fire”
Sprinkle your cleansing agent on the Candle and concentrate on cleansing
the Candle's energy, setting it free of all the energy left by previous
handlers. As your sprinkle it, imagine the energy flowing away. Remember,
as with all cleansing rituals; you need to leave a window or door open or
conduct it in the open air.
On the top of the Candle, inscribe the focus of your work, a name, a symbol
or a combination of both as is required by the spell.
Then you will write the name or intention onto paper and attach that to the
outside of the glass you will be placing the Candle in or underneath the
Candle. Some works will need you to inscribe the outside or face of the
Candle with symbols or paintings at this point of the loading.
Using a sharp tool or utensil designated for this step, poke three small holes
into the top of the Candle. These holes should align and be in a triangle
shape, each hole representing a point or an angle in the triangle. This
triangle should have the wick as close to the centre as you can manage with
the naked eye. In the holes you have now created, sprinkle a small amount
of the herbs and items required for the work. Then sprinkle a little of the
dressing oil and powders.
If you choose to use glitter of your Candle, this is a personal choice unless
it is stated in the original dressing and working. Some take messages from
the patterns formed in the glitter as the wax starts to melt and run down the
Candle. It is essential to use an appropriate coloured glitter in the same way
you choose your candle colour. Red for love, pink for romance and gold or
green for money. Like the candle colours and images, the magic is in your
intention and the ability to strengthen the intention with sight. If you want a
spectacular show of romance, perhaps use silver and gold on a red candle to
symbolise a firework and breathtaking moment of love or declaration of
love. It is the intention that gives all the power, so choose your glitter with
purpose, and it will add to the loading and meaning of your Candle. Adding
glitter so that it looks pretty will not assist and may confuse the intention
you have created.
Your Candle is now ready for your intention and working. When you are
prepared to conduct the ritual, you can light your Candle and pray over it,
saying your prayer or intention. Please leave it to burn once the ritual is
spoken. When you extinguish a candle, always use a candle snuffer; please
do not blow it out unless the working or spell calls for it, as this may
transfer body fluids and disturb the dressing or contaminate the intention.
Some spells call for a candle to be put out in specific ways, such as blowing
or dirt or ash. The extinguishing of a candle can affect the spell and the
intention, so this is vitally important.
When drawing spells involving good things to come to you, such as
success, Hoodoo traditions recommend working in the morning, preferably
sunrise. This also allows the Candle to burn for an extended period during
the day, as opposed to doing your spell at night and having to extinguish the
Candle shortly after when you go to bed.
DRESSING TO DRAW IN MONEY
Choose a candle, green is usually a choice that will align with money and
wealth creation and accumulation. Then Cleanse with Florida or Holy water
so that all previous energy is removed.
Next, you will inscribe the candle with a sharp object. Think about how
much money you would like to draw in, a specific amount is what you need
to intend to receive, like $1000.
Then inscribe a word you associate with money or a mantra like "wealth",
"Abundance", or "Property".
Hold the candle in your hand that is not dominant. Sprinkle a few drops of
Money Drawing oil onto the fingertips of your other hand and rub it onto
the candle. Begin at the top of the candle and rub the oil onto the candle.
Remember always to rub the candle the same way. Have the candle base
facing you and draw your fingers down the candle towards you so ensure
the intention to draw money to you is fixed. Continue this step until the
candle is covered with oil, except from the very bottom where your non-
dominant hand is holding it.
As you are rubbing the oil into the candle, visualise the outcome of you
receiving the money. Once this is complete, the candle is ready to apply the
working to and cast your spell.
Dressing to Bring Love Your Way
To draw in love, the best candle to use is a pink or red candle. The image
can either be an adam and eve or lovers candle; however if you cannot
obtain one, a simple red or pink candle with suffice.
This working is best used for a specific person in mind or an existing love
you wish to strengthen or invigorate romance, carve the person's name into
one of the candles, or the candle. You can also use their initials or both of
your initials. If using tandem candles, the initials or name should go on the
representing candle. Carve this lengthwise about an inch from the base.
I recommend Desire me oil, or seduction oil, holding the candle in your
non-dominant hand with the base towards you, anoint the candle with the
oil by rubbing the candle from top to the base a drawing towards you
motion. Do not rub both ways. If you want love to come to you, anoint the
oil in the direction towards you. Focus on the person you desire or the
subject of your passion as you anoint the candle. Imagine the love and
romance you desire from this person.
TO REMOVE A HEX
Black candles are the best to use for this purpose. If you wish to use an
image candle, a skull or devil candle can also be used for this purpose as
long as it is black. You will also need a purple candle for this spell.
Carve the name of the person you believe has cast the hex on the candle. If
you do not know who is responsible, you can carve "My enemy". On the
base of the candle, carve the words "Shatter" and "Purify". You then carve
your name into the base of the purple candle.
Using "Jinx Oil", rub the oil from the base to the wick. Once again, holding
in your non-dominant hand and anointing with your dominant hand. Have
the base facing you and the wick away from you. By rubbing from the base
to the wick, you are pushing the energy away or repelling it. Visualise the
Jinx being drawn out and away from you as you anoint the candle. Focus on
this as you anoint both candles. Imagine your oils is washing you clean as
you anoint the purple candle and casting off the Jinx and bad energy that is
bringing you bad luck.
Once this is complete, your candle is ready to use for your working or spell.
For this kind of Jinx working, it is better to light the candle at sunset or as
both hands on the clock are falling from twelve to six.
DRESSING A CANDLE OF DEVOTION
This working usually requires a glass-encased candle. Choose the candle
that suits your manifestation, red for love, green for money, purple for
power or white for cleansing.
Cleanse the candle first, then use a sharp round object to poke wells in the
top of the candle, the wax in these candles are usually soft, so this shouldn't
be hard to do. If you wish, you can try to make these well go all the way to
the bottom of the candle. However, if the candle is larger and you cannot
achieve this, go as deep as you feel you can, but at least an inch deep. It's
traditional to have odd numbers of wells, most commonly three or five,
which fits nicely on the top of the candle.
Alternatively, you do not have to create wells, as some choose to place a
few drops of the oil of choice to the top of the candle and use their finger to
encircle the oil around the wick. If you choose this method, be careful not
to add too much oil, as this may either drown the wick or create a fire
hazard, which will void your spell. Once the anointing is complete, your
candle is ready to use and manifest your intentions or cast your spell.
HEALING DRESSING
The candle choice of the best method is a blue or white seven-day or seven
knob candle for this working. Inscribe "health" or "healing" and
"Longevity", and any symbols or words fit your intention.
Holding the candle at the base with your non-dominant hand, anoint the
candle with the fingertips of your dominant hand. The most desired oil for
this dressing and purpose is either Healing oil or angelica oil. You start at
the middle of the candle and stroke upwards towards the wick to repel or
draw away the illness or injury. Turn the candle so that you are slowly
anointing it in a clockwise direction.
To set your intention as you anoint and dress the candle imagine yourself, or
the subject of the intention at peak health. When you finish the top half of
the candle, turn it and repeat the process on the bottom half of the candle,
still picturing you or the subject in excellent health and happiness. You may
want to have a picture of the subject that shows them happy and in perfect
health nearby or under the candle. You may also wish to roll or sprinkle the
candle in healing herbs like peppermint or arnica to encourage the spell and
assist in your imagery of the spell. However, do not leave the candle
unattended at all with the herbs as some are flammable. It would be best if
you did not ever leave a candle alone, but adding herbs, especially dried
herbs, adds an element of flammability.
PROTECTION DRESSING
For this dressing, choose a black, purple or white candle. If possible, obtain
an image candle in the figure of a male or female depending on the subject
of the work. Cleanse the candle, then inscribe it with symbols of protection.
If you have one available, use a quartz crystal point. However, if you don't,
then a sharp tool will do. The symbol can be a rune, sigil or religious
symbol. Inscribe on the face of the candle or the top as you choose.
At this point, hold the candle in your non-dominant hand and, using your
dominant hand anoint it with protective oil. The candle base should be
facing you. Use your fingertips to rub oil from the base to the tip of the
candle away from you. Imagine the oil covering the candle and also
covering you in protection and a shield against negative energy as you
anoint it.
As the candle is black, you may wish to apply a little glitter by sprinkling or
rubbing over the symbols you inscribed into it. Red nor black glitter is best
for this. Your candle is now ready for use.
When you start to burn the candle, imagine the light from the flame
illuminating a shield or bubble surrounding you. That any harm directed to
you bounces off the shield or bubble and cannot penetrate it, imagine the
energy bouncing off and being sent back to the source of the bad energy. If
you spend your time daily around bad influences or are attending
somewhere you feel you need protection, light the candle and manifest the
bubble before leaving the house.
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRITS
To deepen your ability to contact the spirits and seek messages choose a
white or purple candle. Prepare a mixture of honey and spirit oil to dress
your candle. If you decide to use glitter, purple, silver or clear glitter can
also be used.
Cleanse your candle before you begin. If there is a specific spirit, ancestor
or loved one you are trying to contact, then you can inscribe the name of
this person into your candle. This can be done into the face of the candle.
Dress the candle by holding the base facing you with your non-dominant
hand and rub the oil from the wick to the base to draw the spirit to you and
bring forth the ability of clear communication and receipt of messages.
Imagine the joy of communication with this spirit and the wisdom that you
will receive in messages. Once the candle is completely dressed, you may
want to either sprinkle or rub the glitter on the scribed name of the intended
subject.
Place the candle on a plate, glass platter or fireproof surface. At a safe
distance of an inch or, two surround the candle with dried dandelion leaves.
Your candle is now ready to use.
Light the candle and again manifest a strong and mutually agreeable
communication with the spirit you want to exchange with. Light this candle
before any divination that you wish to have the assistance of or
communication with the spirit to create the link and call them to you.
SIMPLE LOVE DRESSING
For this spell, you may choose two candles representing yourself and your
desired partner. This can be a male-female combination of candles of the
same sex, depending on your preferences. You can also use two plain red
candles; however, the imagery assists in gaining a link. This spell is best
used when you do not have a desired partner that you know but rather want
your love or soulmate to come to you or reveal themselves.
Cleanse the candles before dressing. Using either "Come to me" oil or a
combination of vanilla and patchouli oils with some saffron also added.
To start:
Carve "My Love" or "Soulmate" on the candles using your carving tool.
Dress with the oil by holding the candles one at a time with the base facing
you in your non-dominant hand, and using your dominant hand rub the oil
from the tip of the wick to the base.
Imagine the feeling of being loved, desired and in partnership with your
perfect match.
Drawing the energy and love towards you. Once they are dressed, place
them in a large bowl or server together and ensure they are touching. You
may wish to add some red glitter.
The candle is now ready to use to draw your beloved to you. When you
light the candles, light the one that is you first, then the other one second.
Imagine again the feeling of being loved and finding your life partner and
say, "By the power of all the saints/spirits, bring my love to me."
Control Over a Man – "Follow me Boy" dressing.
Choose a red or pink coloured candle. Both are the colours of love and
power. If you desire power over the man and bring his attraction to you,
pink is for him to love you and show great affection romantically. Ideally,
chose a seven day, seven knob candle to concentrate this spell over seven
days. Cleanse the candle before beginning. Use a sharp tool to inscribe his/
her name into the candle.
Holding the candle at the base with your non-dominant hand, dress the
candle with "follow me boy" oil from the wick to the base. Remembering
only to rub this way to draw the energy towards you. As you do this, ask the
spirits in the herbs of the oil to assist you. Picture the man you want under
your control as clearly and vividly as you can and imagine having him at
your bidding.
When the candle is dressed, you may want to add some glitter. Red or pink
is best for this work. The candle is now fixed and ready for use.
TELL ME THE TRUTH DRESSING
For this, you will need a purple and orange candle. Obtain them and cleanse
them before you dress them. On the purple candle, inscribe the name of the
person that is the subject of this spell. Hold the candle in your non-
dominant band. Using your dominant hand, dress the candle from wick to
base with Compelling truth oil. Remember to have the base towards you
and the wich away from you. Rub in the oil in imagining learning the truth
from this person.
Now pick up the orange candle or the "revealing candle" that represents
you. This candle and the combination of herbs you are about to dress it in
bring forward powerful psychic abilities where the target may reveal the
truth to you. You may learn the truth face to face, in a dream or through the
ability to know if what they are already saying in the truth through
divination.
Add Clary sage herb, mugwort and Celery seed powder to a carrier oil and
dress the Orange candle is the same way you did the purple candle. Imagine
that feeling of knowing the truth and knowing that they cannot lie to you
anymore and that you are open to receiving the message.
Write the subjects name on brown paper nine times with a purple ink pen if
you have one. This is preferable. Then write your name across theirs each
nine times you have written theirs. The act of writing your name over theirs
in this pattern is an act of domination. Place the paper on a fireproof
surface. Place the candle on top of the paper. You are now ready to light
your candle.
When you are ready to light your candles, light the purple one first. Chant
while you are lighting it and for a while after "I command you, I compel
you" x 2 "(name of subject) show me the truth, tell me the truth"
Then light the orange candle and say the following verses from the bible:
Zachariah 8:16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to
one another; render in your gates judgements that are true and make for
peace
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you
speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.
For seven days, light each candle and allow an inch or two to burn away.
Once you have completed it, dispose of the wax at a crossroads near you.
BURNING CANDLES DISCREETLY TO LAY SNEAKY
TRICKS
There are many reasons you may need to be discreet when burning a candle
for divination or spell work. You may live in a busy household, or the spell
work may be concerning someone in the household. There are many
Hoodoo workings that you may want to do in private, but of all of the work,
candle magic is the hardest because of the apparent fire hazard created if
trying to burn out of sight in a place you may not be able to supervise. This
is not recommended for obvious reasons.
Over time there has been ways to achieve this, and the most popular way to
do this is to burn a candle in small doses. This is called "Burning in
sections" due to the fact that rather than a full burn, it is done overtime to
keep the privacy of the spell work. It is recommended to let them burn for
at least 15 minutes each time to let it get a good flame and to allow you to
meditate and do your prayers over it while it works its magic. Never blow it
out between sessions. Pinch it out by licking your thumb and first finger and
promptly pinch the wick out. This is a traditional belief, not compulsory
practise; it is believed that if you blow out a candle, this is a signal that the
spell is over, so be sure to pinch it out as a sign of a pause rather than a
complete stop. You can also use a candle snuffer rather than pinch it out,
but tradition prefers the pinch to extinguish the flame.
Between burns, you can keep the candle on your Altar, or if it is a secret
spell, wrap it up and place it out of sight. To wrap your candle as a signal
that it is still in use and to seal the spiritual energy, there is a specific ritual
practice for this.
Using brown waxed paper, wrap the candle and twist the top shut. Then tie
shut with cotton twine. This seals the spell in the candle to keep it prepared
and sealed from any contaminating energy penetrating and destroying the
spiritual energy and fixing of the spell and candle. It also signals to any
other practitioners that the spell and candle are not finished with.
Burning candles in sections is an acceptable and practical way for the busy
or discreet Hoodoo practitioner to do candle work, and there are many
traditions based around this.
However, there is always the alternative of spiritual practitioners setting the
light and doing the candle work for you, but if you are reading this book,
you like me, enjoy and prefer to practice our workings and burning in
sections is a fulfilling way to practice Hoodoo in secret or in the little
pockets of time a busy life may allow.
OIL LAMPS
W hen I need to do a long-term work, I prefer to use the oil lamp

instead of candles. Unlike candles, as long as you keep the lamp
full of oil, the flame will never be extinguished until you choose
to turn the flame off.
In some ways, the oil lamp is safer to use than candles. For one thing you
don't have to worry about the jar breaking or the candle not burning right
because you added too many ingredients to it. You also have less chance of
the ingredients catching on fire because they are held in the base of the
lamp with the lamp oil and the fire never gets near them. I know in days
gone by people stopped using this type of lamp because the kerosene
smokes so bad and has a bad odor. The liquid candle oil doesn't have an
odor nor does it smoke when being burnt. The other good thing about
working with a lamp is the ingredients are infused into the oil, which makes
the work stronger. Everyone has their own way of working. This is just
another way to get a job done.
The first thing you need to do is find you a lamp that you like. Once you
have your lamp, you need to make up the wash to cleanse the lamp before
you began to work with it. Make sure not to get the cotton wick wet,
because it will take it days to dry, but the good thing about the cotton wick
is that cotton absorbs so it will pick up the power of the prayers, petitions,
and ingredients you add to the bowl of the lamp. Let the lamp air-dry. When
you are ready to load the base of your lamp, you need some kind of white
cloth laid out to place your roots and herbs on as you pray over each one of
them. Sometimes I will tie them up in the cloth and place the bundle in the
base of the lamp. This keeps them from making a mess when I need to
change them out.
Just like when you are working with a candle, each ingredient has to have
your prayer and petition said over them before they are added to the lamp
base or bundle. Once you have everything together, you then need to pray
over the base again before you add the oil. Your wick should be turned
down on a low flame once you have everything loaded. If it seems like the
wick doesn't want to stay lit, then use a sharp pair of scissors to trim it with.
Cut a pinch off of it and try to light it again. Below you will find a couple of
different works that will help you. They are long-term works that you can
keep going as long as there is a need for them.
LOVE THYSELF LAMP
The first lamp I want to offer is what I call a “love thyself' lamp. Oftentimes
in our busy lives we let ourselves go because we are so busy taking care of
others. Sometimes we feel like we are beat down or just lost, and yet we
always manage to keep pushing and doing for others. Do something for
yourself and make this lamp. The first thing you need to do is some strong
cleansing baths; you need to take at least three of them. It's important to
remove all the buildup from doing for others and just living before you start
your lamp. I bought a new lamp for this work, but you can use whatever
you have at home. You need a small white piece of cloth and some red
cotton thread. You need some lovage root. (This was one of the first roots I
was taught to work with. Lovage promotes love and self-love.) You need a
photo of yourself after the cleansing work. You need Jezebel root if you are
a woman and a High John root if you are a man. Each of these roots
promotes self-power in women and men. You need a pinch of bloodroot for
the ancestors, you need a magnet to draw, and you need a pinch of calamus
to give you the upper hand.
Pray over each of the ingredients and lay them on the white cloth. Burn
your photo to ash, then add the ash to the cloth. Gather the corners of the
cloth and wrap the red thread around the top of the bundle. Then you make
three knots and on each knot you call out your petition. Then you need to
feed the bundle with a little whiskey or some spiritual oil. Then you need to
set the bundle in a setup of four tealights. Pray over the bundle at least three
times while the candles are burning.
I'm sure you have noticed that I haven't told you what to pray throughout
the whole making of the bundle and the empowering of the bundle in the
candle setup. That is because this is a very personal work and you alone
know what it is you need in your life to draw back your self-love and self-
worth. When the tealights burn out, then you can add the bundle to the base
of the lamp, pray your prayer and petition into the base, and then fill the
base with the lamp oil. Light the wick and keep the lamp going with the
wick turned down low. Make sure you say your prayer and petitions over
the lamp daily.
ROAD-OPENING LAMP
I want to also share a “road-opening” lamp that can be worked to keep your
roads opened. You need your lamp, and you need dirt from the four corners
of the crossroads, as well as dirt from the four corners of your property. You
need to print out a photo of St. Peter on the cross that you will burn to ash, a
key, and you will need some shredded money. You can also add any roots or
curios you would like to the lamp. This is just a basic lamp. You need to
call on the Holy Trinity and then call on St. Peter. Petition them to remove
all blocks out of the roads that are holding you back. Petition them to
protect your home and your prosperity. Then set all the ingredients in a
cross setup. Once the candles go out, place all the ingredients into the base
of the lamp. Even St. Peter's photo is added in with the other ingredients.
Fill the base with the oil and light the wick. Adjust the flame on the wick to
a low flame. You should say your prayers and petition over the lamp at least
three times a day.
DOMINATION LAMP
The work below is for a domination lamp. Sometimes situations call for
heavy-handedness. Use your own judgment.
There are times when a heavy hand is needed. I know some folks will never
do this kind of work because they feel it is somehow wrong, but you have
to remember conjure workers don't have a lot of rules and regulation that
they have to follow as long as the work is justified. We are all responsible
for the actions we take, so always make sure you have justice on your side
before you jump in with both feet. I call this a domination lamp, but it also
controls the person it is being worked on and adds a little confusion. A dirt
dauber nest is used to control, dominate, and confuse a person. A pinch of
red pepper will also confuse a person, but I add it to this lamp to give the
lamp a little heat. Take my advice when I say a pinch: I mean just a pinch.
Master root is used just as the name implies so that you will be the master.
High John conquers all things that stand in your way. Calamus root
dominates, controls, and defeats a person's will.
You need to get the target's sock. Remove a small piece of cloth from the
heel of the sock. It needs to be a dirty sock. If you can't get a sock, then just
leave it out of the lamp. You also need to make a small wax dollie and place
a few pieces of calamus root in the head of the dollie. Name the dollie for
the target. Then you need to write out your name paper. For this you will
write the person's name inside of a circle nine times. Once you have
everything ready, make a bed of the herbs inside the lamp; then place the
heel of their sock, the name paper, and the dollie on top of the herbs. Use
the rest of the herbs to cover up the dollie.
When you get the base of the lamp loaded, pour your oil in slowly so you
won't disturb the bed. If this lamp is being worked on someone you love,
add a little lovage and a little powdered sugar to the herbs. This will
sweeten up the person. Not everyone who uses this type of work does so
just to dominate another person. Sometimes this type of work is the only
solution they have. Like my mama used to tell us, “You don't know what
goes on behind closed doors.”
In some cases leaving and moving on may not be an option. So people do
what they have to do.
Say your prayers and then light the lamp. Work the lamp daily for at least
the first seven days, then once a week after that. Use your common sense
and always remember anything that can be done can be undone. If your
target is smart enough to do reversal work and you have been unjust in your
workings, then look out 'cause you're gonna get hit.
BUILDIN AN ALTAR
n Altar is where the

world of humans and the supernatural, be that your spirits, guides ancestors,
god or angels meet and cross over. It is a centrepiece of divination where
guidance, protection, prayers and spells are worked to ask for assistance and
give gifts to your ancestors are placed. Some may think that because this is
such a unique and sacred place, it must be graced with expensive articles
and extraordinary items to show reverence and gratitude. This is just not the
case at all. Hoodoo is a tradition created in a time of slavery. The original,
traditional practitioners of ancient times did not have access to expensive
materials and extravagant items when they practised their spells and
divinations. Neither did their ancestors expect them to. Hoodoo has always
been a simple and accessible to all budgets practice, so keep this in mind
when setting up and planning your Altar or altars.
When you decide you are ready to have an altar, you may find yourself
feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to start. Don't get caught up in
thinking there needs to be a specific design for each purpose or that you
must have several altars for each form of practice or particular spell. The
use of several alters came about when practitioners started opening stores
and had altars ready and prepared to service customers' needs. It is not
traditional hoodoo practice. Traditionally alters were assembled of side
tables, on top of draws or temporarily in a small platform somewhere in the
living quarters of slaves, so you don't need to have several all over your
household cluttering and oppressing your living space. Although they have
all the space they need to have several, some practitioners decide to have
one and use it as needed, changing and moving irrelevant items to the days'
practice and replacing it later when complete. To have one or many is a
personal choice, and using just one will not void or damage your works in
any way.
In saying that, though, having several altars can be an advantage if you have
a few works going at a time, or if you have altars for your ancestors for
dream visitations or divinations support. Some practitioners have a main
altar, and others are dedicated to specific practices that they regularly
undertake. Altars can be as straightforward or as glamorous as you wish,
but if you are on a budget, do not think that the simple things will not be
worthy, as they were enough for the ancient times and will be enough now.
In this chapter, you will learn how to set up the main six altars that the
Hoodoo practitioner commonly uses, and you may find that several items
are used in all, while one or two items need to be removed and replaced for
specific workings.
However, remember that the Altar is a powerful, sacred and deeply personal
space, so make it your own. As with all things Hoodoo, the intention and
focus is your greatest asset, and that's where the magic is.
HOW TO BUILD A BASIC ALTAR
To build a basic Altar, you will only need a few simple necessities that can
be bought or easily sourced in your house if you are on a tight budget.
Please do not get too bogged down in the value of the items used;
remember the root of Hoodoo and that it was created in slavery. All are
welcomed in Hoodoo, and expensive items will impress the supernatural no
more than a second-hand item sustainably repurposed. However, if you
choose to buy new, this will not work against you. It is personal choice and
budget subjective.
Even the most diverse practitioners only need a few items for a basic altar.
This can be your only Altar or one of a few you use. Your tools and items
can be for use on one Altar alone or can move between them to the one you
are using at the time.
It is recommended that you have at least the following base items for your
primary or main Altar.
CANDLE HOLDERS - Bought specifically, or a jar, sturdy heat resistant
glass or mug will also do.
SAUCERS - You can purchase specifically decorated saucers or use one that
is from your cupboard or second hand.
CANDLES - Specific shape colour if you wish, or a simple taper candle will
do — your budget your choice. The main thing is if it is multipurpose to
make it white.
MIRRORS - These are for spells to reverse hex or Jinx. You can use a small
palm-sized or larger if you choose. They do not need to match.
INCENSE BURNERS - Fancy store-bought or specifically adorned, to an
upside-down mug or saucer from the cupboard.
ALTAR CLOTHS - White is the best colour for a principal or basic Altar to
make it multipurpose. This does not need the most expensive fabric, a cut
and edged white bedsheet will do just fine.
STATUES OR PICTURES - This is optional, but as this is the portal that joins
the supernatural and human world, it is prudent to have something that
honours your guides. It does not need to be a gold statue or an expensive
item. A feather if your guides are angels, a photo of your ancestors, a statue
of your faith. Something that will help you focus and connect is all that is
needed.
1. FIND A SUITABLE FLAT SURFACE. This can be anything from a side
table, bedside table, coffee table, bookshelf or a dedicated space that you
have purchased specifically. Some choose to use a chest of draws or an item
that has storage in it.
This way, your candles, bones for divination, Tarot cards, herbs, and curios
can be stored near to the place of use. This way, in a busy household, the
others will know this is your sacred place, and the items in the storage are
not for general use. The only crucial point is to ensure that it is a safe place
to burn candles and incense. A place where curtains will not billow in the
breeze and catch fire, or a gusty wind will not topple over hot or burning
items. Keep fire safety in mind when choosing your location.
2. Once you have all your items and a surface to set them up on, CLEANSE
EACH ITEM before set up with Florida water or Holy Water or smoke them
with incense or sage to ensure the Alter is fresh and clear of negative
energy. Especially if the items were previously belonging to others or been
purchased. Think of all your items as your hands: Before cooking and
always wash and freshen them for spiritual safety.
3. PLACE YOUR ALTAR CLOTH ON THE SURFACE AND THEN SET IT UP in
a way you like and look pleasing. Don't over clutter or make it a dark place.
It's that easy, and you now have a basic all-purpose altar.
BUILDING AN ALTAR FOR LOVE
The items on a love altar should be specific to your personal needs. For
example, at different times in my life, I have set it up differently. When I
was searching for love, I had the items needed for a candle work for
drawing in love. The bible for the Psalm that assisted, a red candle of a
naked, intertwined couple. A statue of two swans intertwined in a love
shape. Above the red candle, I had a picture of a silhouette of two people
passionately embraced on the wall. My candle holders on either side of the
Altar were from a friends wedding and had hearts on them and small pink
tapered candles to draw in romance. I also had a tourmaline to protect from
ill-intentioned suitors. Placed in a gold box was my supplies of love oils,
herbs and ointments that I needed for my divinations and practices to draw
in my soulmate.
Once I met my now partner, I changed it slightly to an Adam and Eve
candle in pink, blue or red depending on the workings and support our
relationship required.
Pink if we lacked in romance and deep gentle love for each other.
Blue for harmony and loyalty in the relationship.
Red if I felt the need to spice up the intimacy or boost the passion.
I also kept a small red box that I placed items of personal significance to our
relationship like tickets from dates, small gifts and trinkets that bought up
good memories.
If you are single and have an intention towards someone, you may have an
item that reminds you of them and a seven knob red candle that you burn
daily to draw in your love.
The love altar should have items that provide imagery that brings forth the
feelings, visions and focuses you on the needs at the time. You will find
throughout your life that this Alter will be fluid and continuously change,
just like the nature of your relationship. Remember to cleanse your items
after each spell to keep your intentions clear and focussed on the needs of
the time.
BUILDING AN ALTAR FOR MONEY
Building an Altar for money is not that different to building your love altar.
Needing, wanting and living a better life because of an abundance of money
is very much like falling in love and having an enriched life because of
another person. You need to see it as building and maintaining a healthy
relationship with money and its benefits.
Suppose you feel like you are always running out of money. In that case, it
is a matter of not trusting money, and just like a human relationship, you
need to build that trust by handling, talking to, interacting and handling
money with a feeling of abundance.
A money Altar can be as simple and a single white candle and a bowl of
change with a note in it. A small amount will do to start with. Like a single
pound note, a five-dollar note or a ten-pound note. Whatever you feel
comfortable with. You may wish to add to it with time, but real money must
be placed on the Altar somewhere so that you can touch, feel and smell it,
and build a relationship with it.
There are many things you can add to a Money altar. I suggest a green or
gold candle. Both of these are the colours that attract abundance. Start with
a small amount of money in a jar or glass bowl. When you are reading the
Psalm or talking to your guides, you can hold the money to focus on the
subject of your Altar.
Crystals are also helpful to have on a Money Altar if you like them. The
feeling of not having money can affect your self-esteem, so I always have
rose quartz to remind myself I am worth receiving abundance. Any other
stones that draw money and abundance are also great to have on your Altar.
Your money-drawing herbs can be kept in glass or see-through jars, so they
are ready for dressing the candle if you do candle divination.
An incense burner so you can burn the abundance incense that helps you
focus and as a gift or offering to your spirits to draw them to assist you.
Finally, any statutes that may be relevant to your faith. A statue of St
Joseph, the saint of luck in your career, or an elephant with the trunk up.
Any statue that focuses your mind on being comfortable is receiving money
and not being afraid of running out.
There are many spells, divinations, and candle works you can do to attract
money. However, when I have mine set up, I light the candle and meditate
while holding the paper money. Imagine the feeling of having no financial
worries. Believe that you are in that place now. Imagine it is done.
Remember, if you choose to leave the candle on for a period longer than
your meditation, spell or working, to snuff the candle with a snuff tool or
your fingers. Do not blow the candle out, as this may break the spell.
BUILDING AN ALTAR FOR SUCCESS
The success Altar is very similar to the Money Altar, and some choose to
combine them if they are looking for success in business or employment,
which leads to abundance.
Remember to cleanse the items before placing them on the Altar.
For this, you may use a purple or brown alter cloth.
Success may be in another area for you, such as a legal battle. In this case,
you may want to write your petition and keep it on your Altar near the
centre. A brown or purple Success dressed candle or candles. Suppose you
have any trinkets that remind you of court, perhaps a gavel, or a picture of
the scales of justice in a frame. If it is a lawsuit, place some money on the
Altar. If it is for work, you may want a statue of Saint Joseph again, the
patron saint of luck with employment. Perhaps you are going for a
promotion, again money and the statue of St Joseph.
I have at times needed success for Court matters and had a brown candle, a
bible because that is to draw out the truth by swearing to tell the truth. I
have a tiger eye crystal to protect from the evil eye from the opposition in
court.
I also have the finding as I want them to be written down and placed in a
frame to remind me of my intention to succeed. Money is a honey jar to
remind me why I am there.
By reading the candle section and finding the appropriate candle for your
mission, adding some personal items that remind you of your goal will have
a Success Alter. Remember, it is the intended outcome that has the magic,
not the items.
Place the items that you have chosen in a manner pleasing to the eye in a
safe place. You are now ready to do successful divination and spells.
BUILDING AN ALTAR FOR FERTILITY
Building an Altar for fertility is a profoundly personal altar. For some, it
may just be that they have decided to start their journey into parenthood.
For others, it may be that they have been trying this path for a long time and
have struggled to meet their destination.
You can use a red altar cloth for this purpose. Lavender incense is the scent
that I recommend for this as it is calming and will decrease your stress if
you have been o this journey for quite a while. Place a red candle on either
side that you have dressed and fixed in blessing oil and fertility herbs.
Please write your name on the base of the candle to ensure it is related to
you. A naked female or a female member candle may assist you in having
your focus on fertility. You may also choose to have a male member candle
to assist in your partners' fertility. Remember, there are two walking
together on this journey. Even if you are the same sex and using a donated
egg or sperm, the spells are generally for a sperm to meet an egg and
impregnate the female. This is to help you visualise the process. However, it
is a personal choice in this matter, so do what your intuition tells you for the
candles if you choose to use image candles.
Depending on your faith, you may also choose to have a bible on your alter.
If you choose to do candle work on your Altar to assist fertility Psalm 102
and 103 are recommended to be used during divination and prayers over
your candles and Altar. You may also wish to add a statue of the virgin, or
Saint Ann, both the patrons.
If your faith is with Yemaya, the goddess who is the mother of all living
things, you may wish to place items on the Altar in her honour. She is the
goddess of fertility who resides in the ocean. You may want to place blue or
transparent crystals, shells or a statue of her if you have one. Herbs and oils
for fertility and dressing your candle. An item of a baby such as a dummy,
blanket, or small babysit.
If you wish to place a fertility amulet on your Altar, you can look into the
following amulets depending on if you have particular issues that you want
support with.
Fertility Amulets:
Bull Amulet: Said to increase fertility in women and men. Wear or place
the amulet under the bed before intimacy.
Ram Amulet: To increase and support fertility for women.
Goat Amulet: This amulet increases fertility if worn, carried or placed on an
Altar.
Fish Amulet: Shaped like a pair of fish, this amulet will increase fertility,
virility, prosperity and protection when worn, carried or placed on an Altar.
Unicorn Amulet: This amulet will promote fertility and increase sexual
magnetism.
Cleanse all your items and place them as they are pleasing to the eye on
your Altar. Remember, you do not have to have everything on it at once.
Avoid it being cluttered and keep it fire safe.
BUILDING AN ALTAR FOR LUCK
An altar for luck usually involves the colour green. You can have a green,
white or gold for luck. This Altar is generally set up for a person that feels
like they have had a run of bad luck or a gambler that wishes to win money
and gain abundance and wealth.
You may choose a green candle or a black cat candle as your candle or
candles. You may wish to place a glass, green or gold bowl with some
money in it: coin or notes.
If you can obtain one, a buckeye nut is an excellent good luck talisman.
Cleanse and anoint it in fast luck oil. Keep it on your Altar, then carry it on
you when you gamble. This is particularly lucky for men. A small clear
container of nutmeg is an excellent asset for luck. It has been a valued trade
article because when it is kept whole, it keeps its scent so it can be stored
for a long time. Like the Buckeye, it is a symbol of health, strength, and
money luck. Oil it with fast luck oil and carry it in a mojo bag or kept in a
pocket while playing games of chance. You can also keep this on your Altar
to carry when you are gambling or in a situation where you need luck.
Depending on your religion, you may wish to have a statue of Saint
Christopher, the patron Saint of Luck.
Cleanse your items before setting up your Altar. You can use anything you
believe will bring you luck. Perhaps you were gifted an item, and perhaps
you have something that has already been used to bring luck. Set your items
up in a way that look pleasing to the eye and keep them bright, clean and
fire safe.
BUILD A CAIRN AND CROSS ALTAR
To build your own Cairn and Cross, find a spot in your yard. Make the cross
and bless it. Place the cross in the yard, and build a pile of rocks around it.
Pray over the altar. Call on Mama Moses and the spirits that walk with her.
Petition her to come and sit on the altar. Dedicate the Cairn and Cross to the
souls that have been lost and lay in the ground that we walk upon. Sing ole
spirituals and pray from the Old Testament. The spirit of the Cairn and
Cross will link with all those built around the world. It will become a power
place.
General Tubman Prayer
General Tubman, General Tubman, General Tubman!
Mama Moses, who led so many to freedom,
I ask for your blessings and powers to unshackle me from that which binds
me,
Free me of those obstacles that hinder my growth.
Bless me, Mama Moses, as I gaze upon the North Star, your celestial gate
and shining mystery, always present in the night sky.
May my roads always lead to freedom and may I never be enslaved.
Lend me your powers of healing and perseverance, cunning, and Conjure.
May peace always be upon you and may my prayers be heard.
Amen.
BUILDING AN ALTAR TO AUNT CAROLINE DYE
If you would like to set up a small space for Aunt Caroline, you need some
haunt blue material; this light blue color represents water in the Gullah
culture. As Caroline was part of the Gullah Nation, this would be a good
color, as it is something she would have been familiar with. There is a photo
of Caroline Dye which you can find all over the internet, so you can easily
print out an image of her.
You will also need a new deck of cards, a cross, and a Bible. Set the altar up
and set her photo to the left side and the Bible to the right side of her deck
of cards in the center of the altar. Set the candle on top of the cards and call
her. Invite her to sit on the altar and petition her to fill the deck of cards
with her wisdom and her gift of sight so that you may help those who come
to you. Give her a cool glass of water. Go back to the altar as long as the
candle is burning and pray your petition. When the candle burns out, pick
up the deck of cards, hold them up to your mouth, and then you blow three
breaths on the deck and shuffle the cards. Ask a question about something
you already know the answer to, then lay out the cards. If the cards read
true, they are ready, but if they don't, then you need to repeat the process.
BUILDING AN ALTAR TO BIG MAMA
Big Mama should be honored and held in high esteem. To honor her will
draw great power into your life. If you feel drawn to Big Mama and would
like to set up a space for her, so that you can honor her and uplift her spirit,
then you need a few items, although you can also just light a red or white
candle for her and say some prayers. If you decide to set her up on an altar
space, then you need a statue or something to represent her. If you are gifted
at dollie making, then you can make a dollie to represent her.
To honor her, you need to place her image in a large cast-iron pot, the kind
that the elders used to cook with over an open fire. Iron is almost
indestructible, and so she is basically housed in a fortress. The iron pot is
also forged by fire so that also adds power to her home.
Big Mama has many tools that she works with to remove crossed conditions
and blocks. The broom is one of her favorite tools, as is the machete. Each
one of them can be worked with when doing cleansings, protection works,
and cut and clear works. One of her favorite offerings is molasses. She is
the only spirit that I give molasses to as an offer since molasses is usually
worked with when you want to slow down a target. That is except when it is
given to Big Mama as an offering.
Give your Big Mama her own deck of cards and a set of bones; she will
work with both of them to help you find the answers you are seeking. When
I can't find the answer to a situation, I borrow her deck of cards or set of
bones to read with. Most of the time everything becomes crystal clear and I
find the answer I am looking for. She will bless and empower you as she
has so many others.
Big Mama needs her own cast-iron pot, a new deck of cards, a whisk
broom, a candle, chalk, a bowl of molasses, some dirt from the four corners
of your property, and some type of blade.
The blade puts the power of defense and cleansing in her hands.
The cast-iron pot is her fortress and home.
The cards are for her so that she can communicate with you.
The broom is for cleansings and protection.
The candle is to give light to her spirit.
The chalk is to mark the pot by putting a cross in the bottom of the pot
where Big Mama will sit to nail down the power. (Instructions to
follow.)
The molasses and whiskey are to feed her.
The dirt from the four corners of your property is given to invite her into
your home. You are giving her the property to protect and nurture and to
make her home.
You can also give Big Mama five tealights and some whiskey steeped
with dried red peppers.
There are many Big Mama spirits. Each one may have a different
personality. You won't know which spirit and personality has come to you
until you start to work with her. I work with a couple of different ones, and
each one's power feels different.
Big Mama will draw you towards the things she needs or desires in her pot,
so just start out slowly and don't overthink it. Once you have everything
together, make sure you cleanse the tools you can with cool running water:
Cleanse the broom under cool running water, then allow it to air-dry. Once
the broom has dried, sprinkle a little salt over the head of the broom.
Similarly, clean and air-dry her cast-iron pot. Then use the chalk to make a
cross in the bottom of the pot. Now make a small cross on each of the arms
of that cross.
On each marking of the cross, respectfully call Big Mama and invite her
into the pot. Next take the dirt from the four corners of your property and
put it over the cross; then take the five tealights and set them in a cross
setup. You light them in whichever order you set them down. Repeat your
prayers for her and your petition to invite her into your home. I offer you a
petition below or you can use one of your own.
Petition
I call on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
I call on Big Mama, I ask, mother, that you come and sit with me,
I honor your power of motherhood, your suffering and giving spirit,
I honor you in this place and time that you may never be forgotten,
I call to you, Big Mama, come and rest, I call to you, Big Mama, come and
rest, I call to you, Big Mama, come and rest!
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
In the name of Big Mama, I greet you with love and joy!
Say the prayers and petition over the candles until they bum out. Once the
candles have burned out, you can place her in her new home. You need to
repeat your prayers and petition to her as you add each item to her home.
The last thing you give her is the whiskey and the molasses with the candle.
Take some of the dirt from your property and sprinkle it into the molasses
while saying your prayers, then pour a little whiskey into the bowl, then you
place the candle into the bowl and light it. If her pot is large enough, you
can set the offering inside the pot. If it isn't large enough, then just set the
offering in front of the pot. Through the years of honoring and working with
her I have found that she likes to have a candle burning in her pot. She
needs her own candle to do her work, whatever that may be. She is a
wonderful loving spirit, but she can be heavy-handed and “tough” at times.
Honor her well and you will be blessed for it.
BUILD AN ALTAR TO THE QUEEN OF WATERS
If you feel drawn to the Queen of the Waters, then you can set up a small
space for her. You can add things to the altar that you feel should be placed
there. On my altar I have a bowl filled with rocks and river water. I also
have seashells, because she is over all waterways. The altar is your own
personal space, and there are no set rules for decorating it. I do give her a
nice bottle of perfume; it seems to help with the work.
Fishhook Drawing Work
I am going to give you a small drawing work that can be done for any type
of drawing. You need a blue candle, fishing line, and a fishhook. On your
altar, place a photo of whatever it is you need around a blue candle. Say
your prayer and petition, then light the candle. On the other end of the altar
“hook” the photo or petition to the fishhook and tie the fishing line on the
hook. Every day say your prayers and petition, and as you are saying them,
pull the hook a little closer to the candle. You continue this until the hook is
right next to the candle. Once that first candle burns out, if your petition
hasn't been granted, then you repeat the process until you have what you
were petitioning for.
When your petition has been answered, remove the photo or petition from
the hook, then burn it to ash and blow it to the east. Keep the fishhook and
work with it when you need to draw something into your life.
PSALMS FOR SPELLS AND THEIR
CORRESPONDING CANDLES
PSALM 1
For a Prompt Delivery
Red Candle to Attract
PSALM 2
Purple Candle to Repel
For Storms of the Sea
PSALM 3
Blue Candle To Attract
For Healing Backache or Severe Headaches
PSALM 4
Green Candle To Attract
For Attracting Good Luck and when you need Financial backing or capital
for your business
PSALM 5
Purple Candle to Attract
For Positive Outcomes when dealing with the Government, Bureaucratic
Authorities and people of Authority.
PSALM 5
Blue or Brown Candle to Attract
Successful Court Outcome
PSALM 6
Blue Candle to Attract
Healing eyes and vision.
PSALM 7
Breaking a Hex, repel harmful energy, and overcome evil caused by
enemies.
PSALM 8
Green Candle to Attract
For success in business and positive transactions.
PSALM 9
Blue candle to Attract.
To heal a Sick Child
Purple candle to Repel.

To protect and have power against enemies and their manipulations.
PSALM 10
To remove and repel evil or harmful spirits. Driveaway the restless souls.
PSALM 11
Protection from tyrants and oppression. To overcome fear and falsifications.
PSALM 12
To be aloft to gossip from malignant enemies.
PSALM 13
To be safe and protected for 24 hours from evil or enemies.
PSALM 14
Pink candle to Attract
To be seen favourably and gain trust.
Purple candle to Repel
Protection for corruption and the Corrupt.
PSALM 15
To rise above and overcome depression.
PSALM 16
Red candle to Attract.
To be Happy and Joyful. Content
PSALM 17.
Purple candle to Attract.
To have a safe journey and be protected.
PSALM 18
To win a battle against those who wish to rob or attack you.
PSALM 19
Blue candle to Attract
To heal from a severe or debilitating illness.
PSALM 20
Purple candle to Attract
To be free from suffering and danger for 24 hours.
PSALM 21
To avoid a storm at sea or deflect a feud. Protection from environmental
elements.
PSALM 22
For Repelling lousy luck or danger.
PSALM 23
Blue candle to Attract
To have vivid dream divination to receive a message or instruction.
White candle to Attract

Bringing great blessings and benefit to your employment and place of work.
PSALM 24 AND 25
Red candle to Attract
To be in receipt of bravery and strength in the face of the enemy or
opposition.
PSALM 26
Green candle to Attract
To gain that dream job, a promotion or employment.

Protect from dangerous elements of nature, either weather or animal, land
or sea.
PSALM 27
To be welcomed and accepted in a new or unfamiliar place.
PSALM 28
To reconcile with a person, you have argued with or fallen out with and
gain peace.
PSALM 29
To master and defeat a troublesome or evil spirit and to empower others.
PSALM 30
Purple candle to attract
To gain power and be safe.
PSALM 31
Purple candle to repel
For slanderous behaviour of others to have not affect and not be believed.
PSALM 32
To receive Mercy or practice it, to give or receive love and act with grace.
PSALM 33
To protect a young child from death.
PSALM 34
Green candle to attract
To be given preference and be in the good favour of people of importance.
PSALM 35 AND 36
Purple candle to Attract
To be seen favourably In a court case.
PSALM 37
Blue candle to attract
To overcome Alcohol or substance addiction.
PSALM 38 AND 39
Purple Candle to repel
For slander to be overcome.
PSALM 40
Purple candle to Repel.
To be freed from oppression and evil.
Red candle to Attract.

To make positive wishes come to life and become a reality.
PSALM 41, 42 AND 43

To regain credibility and be cleared after slander.
PSALM 42
To receive instruction in a dream.
PSALM 44
To be safe from all enemies and foe.
PSALM 45 AND 46
Red candle to attract.
To restore love romance and peace in the marriage.
Pink or red candle to Attract.

Bring love and passion to a romance.
PSALM 47
Pink candle to attract
To bring love.
PSALM 48
To master and defeat those who envy you.
PSALMS 49 AND 50
To heal and recover from fever.
PSALM 51
To feel and be free from guilt
White candle to repel
To cleanse and purify, cast our negative energy.
PSALM 52
To be free yourself from slander and rise above.
PSALM 53, 54 AND 55

To rise above the prosecution by enemies.
PSALM 56
To release attachment to material things.
PSALM 57
To attract and be blessed with good fortune and abundance.
PSALM 58
To have free and peaceful communion and blessings by nature and animals.
PSALM 59
Protection against possession and evil spirits
PSALM 60
To be safe at war and be uninjured.
PSALM 61
To be incredibly blessed and have blessings when moving into a new home.
PSALM 62
The gift to forgive with grace and have peace in your heart. Let go of anger
and grudges
PSALM 63
To sever and be granted freedom from a business agreement or deal.
PSALM 64
To have safe travels on land, air or sea.
PSALM 65
To have a successful endeavour, to gain luck in employment.
PSALM 66
To avoid and gain self-control with compulsive behaviour and obsessions.
PSALM 67 AND 68
For support and not to be affected by destructive or tragic events. Protect
energy for empaths.
PSALMS 69 AND 70
Discipline to break bad habits
PSALM 71
To be released from bondage or obligation.
PSALM 72
To be blessed with abundance, prosperity and happiness with other people.
PSALM 73 TO 83
All-purpose psalms
PSALM 84
Blue Candle to attract
TO heal from chronic illness, to be relieved from offensive odours.
PSALM 85
Peace restored between you and an acquaintance or friend.
PSALM 86, 87 AND 88

Success for others
PSALM 89
For healing for an absent person
PSALM 90
For protection in your household, Overcoming a wild animal.
Brown candle to repel
Protection from evil influences
PSALM 92
For support to be Honourable
PSALM 93
For success and good favour in court cases. Triumph in court.
PSALM 94
To overpower and dominate an enemy.
PSALM 95
To help a friend avoid disaster and make a bad decision
PSALM 96 AND 97
Happiness and great blessings to relations and family.
PSALM 98
Peace, unity and togetherness of family members
PSALM 99
For inner power and mastery
PSALM 100
To defeat sneaky and unknown enemies
PSALM 101
Purple candle to protect
Protection from the evil eye. Assistance to break bad habits and be wiser.
PSALM 102 AND 103

Red candle to attract
To gain fertility, healing and renewal.
PSALM 102
Blue candle to repel
protection against evil affliction
PSALM 104
To be released from melancholy emotions
PSALM 105, 106 AND 107

To be healed from fevers.
PSALM 108
To have a blessed and abundant homelife.
PSALM 109
For overcoming and triumph over a worthy and robust enemy or opponent.
PSALM 110 AND 111

Purple Candle to attract.
To become and remain charming and loveable.
PSALM 112
To increase your mastery, might and power in general.
PSALM 112 AND 113
Purple candle to attract.
To develop tranquillity, balance and harmony within yourself.
PSALM 114
Green candle to attract.
For success in a business venture, to attract luck for gambling.
PSALM 115
Purple Candle to attract
To be a patient and skilled teacher.
PSALM 116
For safety, protection from sudden violent death.
PSALM 117
To help you keep a promise, to avoid imprisonment.
PSALM 118
For strong and positive willpower
PSALM 119
Blue or green candle to attract
For courage to settle a financial argument.
PSALM 119 VERSE 17 THROUGH TO 24

Cure the vision or eye of another so that they can see.
PSALM 119 VERSE 25 THROUGH TO 32

Cure the left eyes vision or injury.
PSALM 120
For a just result in court
PSALM 121
Safe nocturnal travels
PSALM 122
Favourable interactions with a person in authority.
PSALM 124
Safe water travels by sea or river.
PSALM 125
For mastery at the late hour of your enemies.
PSALM 126 AND 127
To protect a newborn, protection of children.
PSALM 128
Protection of a pregnancy
PSALM 129
Power against oppression, gain spiritual power.
PSALM 131
To be humble and relinquish pride.
PSALM 132
To be reliable and keep a promise.
PSALM 133
To find, maintain and value true friendships.
PSALM 136
To break negative cycles and pessimism
PSALM 137
To release resentment and find peace.
PSALM 138
To gain love and friendship.
PSALM 139
Red candle to attract
To gain more profound love in a relationship.
PSALM 140
Elimination of marriage challenges and problems.
PSALM 141
To be brave and let go of fear.
PSALM 142 AND 143
For relief of arm, thigh and leg pain.
PSALM 144
To quicken the healing of broken bones in the limbs.
PSALM 145
Protection and banish bad and enemy spirits — protection from evil.
PSALM 146
Heal a wound after surgery, curing an injury or wound.
PSALM 147
For the cure to infection
PSALM 148 AND 149

Protection from a destructive fire to prevent a catastrophic fire.
PSALM 150
To convert sadness and pain to joy and gratitude.
White candle to attract
To give praise, be thankful and grateful.
CANDLE PROTECTION SPELLS
FIERY WALL OF PROTECTION SPELL
S ince ancient times, the fiery wall of protection is one of the most well
used and traditional candle protection spells used. Archangel St
Michael is the messenger of God, protector of the military, God and
armed forces. He is victorious always in the face of evil, and there is
nothing and no one that Archangel St Michael will not defeat. There isn't a
situation, person, enemies or evil that Archangel St Michael cannot defend
you against. He is the saint you want as an ally going into any battle and
provides the protection that you require when things are serious, and you
need a fortress of protection around you. Archangel St Michael has your
back and will bring the fire of protection for you.
The fiery wall of protection is not a spell of reversal or a punishing spell for
the enemy. It more of a shield to the ill intention or threat from another. It is
more of a message to your enemy that you are tired of their games and will
not take their threats anymore. This is a severe protection spell.
Use the fiery wall of protection spell when there is no doubt that you need
serious protection. TO use this protection spell, you will need:
1. Fiery Wall of Protection oil
2. One white utility candle
3. One black utility candle
4. Seven purple utility candles
5. 1 red Saint Michael vigil candle or a plain red candle and a picture of
Saint Michael
6. Heat safe dish or ashtray
7. A few pieces of Paper
8. Optional – Some Protective herbs or powder
** If you do not have access to all the coloured candles, you can use white
candles as the traditional Hoodoo practitioners did. Remember that
coloured candles and image candles are a modern addition to the Hoodoo
toolbox. Although a welcome addition to assist in intention, they are not a
necessity**
Cleanse all candles and items before using them to clear the energy of the
previous handlers energy.
Take your white candle and inscribe the name of the person who needs
protection on the face or on the base. I like to inscribe it on the face of the
candle; however, this is a personal choice if you wish to be discreet. In your
non-dominant hand and hold it with the base towards you. Using your
dominant hand, anoint the candle with the fiery wall of protection oil by
rubbing the oil starting at the base to the wick. This will repel the evil
energy away from you. If you are in any way antagonising your enemy at
this point, this is the time to stop, this spell requires you to take the moral
high ground, and you must act like you deserve the divine protection you
seek.
This candle represents the subject of protection, be it yourself or someone
else. It represents the person in their pure and innocent state where they are
blameless and the subject of evil intentions.
Place this candle at the back of the setting on its own. As the vulnerable
blameless victim of evil, it stands alone and strong.
Take the seven purple candles and as you take each one in your hand,
dedicate them to your deity or faith. I personally thank each one for being
part of Saint Michaels army and for their service of protection. As I place
each one, I imagine a line of soldiers standing in front of the subject of
protection, pure in their intention to protect the innocent and ruthless in
their mission. As you place each candle, imagine and feel the fearlessness
and strength build in your every fibre. Use this to protect yourself or send
that to your subject. This fearless and ruthless line of purple candles is your
fiery wall of protection. Take some time to look at this line of candles
standing in front of the single white candle and feel and believe the power
of the protection this line provides, Focus and feel the power of this spell.
For it is indeed the last and most potent line of defence to destroy and repel
a most vicious enemy.
Now take the red candle and dress and fix it with the fiery wall of defence
oil. Hold the candle In your non-dominant hand and anoint it with your
dominant hand base to wick to repel the enemies energy. You should be
feeling the energy of the spell by this point. Feel the power of the candle
that represents St Michael in your hands. Treat this candle with the most
reverence, for this represents Archangel Saint Michael, who fights to
protect you with the fiery sword of purity and savage protection.
Now take the black candle in your non-dominant hand. Do not anoint it. Do
not inscribe it. This candle represents your enemy and does not deserve
your energy or attention ( although it was cleansed beforehand began with
all the items and candles ). Please place it in front of the other candles, but
in alignment with the white candle and directly in front of Saint Michael (
the red candle ).
Your enemy is now alone facing saint Michael, his army, and you are
protected behind them. Write the name of your enemy on paper, fold it three
times away from you and place it under the black candle.
If you use herbs of protection such as rosemary or oils, sprinkle your oils ( I
like to use frankincense ) around the white candle.
Taking your time, thank each purple candle as you light it, left to right.
Thank them individually for being part of Saint Michaels army called to
arms for protection. This is your fiery wall.
Then light your white candle. Once the army is in place, you are ready to
step forward or place the subject in place.
Then light the red candle of Saint Michael. Thank him for his protection
and then light the black candle. The black candle is the enemy. Now state
what you want to be removed. The threat of harm, do not wish harm. It
would be best if you were on higher ground. Think of karma and wish the
threat or enemy gone and that they no longer have power over you.
Now recite the prayer of Saint Michael.
St Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebukes him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into
hell Satan and all other evil spirits who roam the world, seeking the ruin of
souls. Amen
Let the candles burn down. As the black candle gets close to burning
through, burn the paper and place it in a bowl to become ash.
If you cannot do this over one day, then burn in sessions until the black
candle is almost done. At this point, burn the paper.
Once the candles are done, dispose of the wax and ash at a crossroads. Bury
the ash to bury the issue.
BASIC PURPLE CANDLE PROTECTION SPELL FROM
BAD AND ENEMY SPIRITS
You will need a purple candle, a tourmaline crystal, the bible, Florida or
holy water and protection oil for this work. You may also wish to add some
herbs of protection, but that is optional.
Before starting:
Cleanse your tools for working with Florida or Holy water.
Sprinkle the candle with the waters and imagine the energy of the past
handlers being repelled from the candle and taken away on the breeze.
Remember to have a window or door open so that the negative energy can
escape.
Cleanse your crystal in the same way, or if you have cleansed and charged it
lately for protection, and you are the only energy, it knows this does not
need to be done.
Now take the purple candle in your non-dominant hand and anoint it with
your dominant hand with the protection oil. With the base of the candle
facing your body and the wick facing away. This is a repelling spell, so the
direction of anointing should be from the base of the candle to the wick.
If you wish to, you can sprinkle some protection herbs on the candle. This
is optional as the oil contains protection qualities.
You should place the candle on a fire-safe surface and light it.
Take the Tourmaline in your hand and read aloud Psalm 145. The Psalm of
protection from evil spirits. Read this out loud several times over the lit
candle and then holding the Tourmaline feel the protection around you.
Imagine the purple candlelight surrounding you and protecting you from
spirits that try to enter your space.
This is an excellent protection to perform before divination, such as bone
reading or Tarot reading, so that when you call on the spirits, only those that
have good intentions can enter your space and communicate.
When you feel you have protection, if you use a large candle and it has not
burnt down, snuff the candle with a candle snuffer or with pinched fingers
to finish the spell. You can then continue to use this candle for further
protection and before other readings. If you wish, you can let it continue to
burn while you conduct the reading and snuff it out afterwards. It is up to
you because you will carry the Tourmaline on you to the reading, and it will
hold the protection from the purple candle with it also.
7- DAY CANDLE PROTECTION SPELL
For this spell, you will need a seven-day blue candle, camphor oil, dried
onion and Cloves.
Cleanse the candle with Florida or Holy water before starting the spell.
Write the person's name to be protected, either yourself or the subject, seven
times on a piece of paper. Place this paper on a fire-safe surface, this can be
set up on your main altar as it is a seven-day protection spell, so it will need
to be a permanent set up for at least a week.
Poke three holes in the top of the candle at least two inches deep with a
sharp tool, either a screwdriver or a specific tool you use for this job. The
three holes should form the shape of a triangle, with each hole at the top of
a point.
Place four drops of camphor oil into one hole. Sprinkle the dried onion and
cloves into the other two holes and place the candle onto the paper with its
name.
Light the candle and then pray Psalm 91 over the candle. Let it burn until
the first knob is melted or until the glass holder it comes in indicates to
snuff it. Remember that to snuff it with a candle snuffer or your fingers, do
not blow it out as this spell is to continue.
Light the candle and pray Psalm 91 over it for seven days. On the seventh
day, let the candle burn until it is done.
MOVING CANDLE SPELLS
COME TO ME MOVING CANDLE SPELL
T his spell is for having someone find attraction just in you if they are
dating others and you at the same time, or to have a couple reconcile
after one has moved onto another interest.
Gather your supplies for this spell. You will need one male image candle in
red or pink and one female image candle in red or pink. (for same-sex
relationships, you can use two females or two males) To dress and fix the
candles, you need "come to me oil" for the rest of the spell, gather some
rose petals, one lodestone, paper, and pencils, and some red or pink ribbon.
You will also need a flat baking tray with a lip lined with alfoil.
Cleanse your candle by sprinkling it with Florida water or holy water,
imagining the negative energy of others that may have had contact with the
candles floating away. Sit them to let them dry. One dry, you will want to
carve the names of both people into the candle. If you are using an image
candle, you can do this on the base if you have chosen to use a pillar or
tapered candle. This can be on the face of the candle.
Hold the candle in your non-dominant hand and anoint the candles one at a
time with the come to me oil with your dominant hand. Rub the oil in an
upward motion to draw in the people together. The candles are not dressed
and fixed.
If you have a hair from the person or people, place this under the candle
before putting it down to start the spell.
Place the baking tray, put the hair from each person, and then place the
candles down on their hair. Each candle should be at the edge of the tray but
facing towards the other candle, leaving enough room to sprinkle rose
petals around each candle, forming a ring around each of them.
Take your piece of paper and write your name on it seven times. Then turn
the paper and write the person you want to come to you seven times so that
they are intertwined with yours.
Anoint each corner and the centre of the paper with come to me oil, then
place it in the centre of the try between the two candles.
Light each candle. As you light the candles, state your intentions and what
you want to happen.
E.g. "I want "insert
subjects name" to want to come to me and me alone. I want him to stop
dating other people and just want to be with me. I want him to commit to a
relationship with me."
Each then minute interval move the candles closer to each other by an inch
or so, stating the same intention and outcome. Repeat this until the candles
are touching in the middle and are on top of the paper. The candles have
now found each other, and you let them burn down now until they are
finished. The wax from both candles will intertwine and be symbolic of
joining. Observe this and believe this is how it will be.
If you cannot let the candles burn down until they are finished in one sitting,
you can snuff them by candle snuffer or with your fingers and do "burning
by session"; however, the spell Is not complete until both candles have
burnt down.
The next day after they are finished, gather the rose petals from the surface
and place them in a mojo bag. The next time you see them have a bath in
some of the petals before you see them and place some come to me oil
behind your ears and on your wrists for the occasion.
Keep the mojo bag on your altar or near your bed. Gather the foil with wax
and paper in it and tie it up with a pink or red ribbon. Sleep with this under
your bed for the next seven nights and then bury it in the ground or a pot
plant near your front door to attract them to visit you.
BREAK UP AND LOVE SPELL
This spell is usually used to return a lover to you or the subject. Most
commonly, after a break-up and one person has moved to a new partner or
is dating two people at once and the subject wants them only to want to be
with them typically though it is for reconciliation but can be used for both
situations.
Gather your supplies for this spell. You will need three candles for this
spell. Depending on who it involves, you can have a combination of three
females or males for a same-sex love triangle, two males and a female, or
two females and a male. The candles can be image candles or pillar candles
as it is available to you or by choice. I recommend using red or pink candles
for the two people you want to reconcile and a black candle for the person
you want to go away or be broken up with. You will also need
reconciliation oil, hot foot oil, rose petals and vandal foot. And a lined
baking tray, lined with alfoil.
Cleanse your candles with Florida water or holy water first to clear the
energy of previous handlers, so they are clean of all other intentions and
energy.
If you are using image candles, carve the names of the people involved on
the bottom of the candles.
Please pick up the candle representing the person wanting their partner to
return in your non-dominant hand and anoint it with the reconciliation oil
with your dominant hand. Place this facing towards the centre of the tray at
one end. Pick up the returner candle, which represents the person who
wants to return to them or only choose them and anoint it with the
reconciliation oil in the same way as the subjects candle. Place this on the
opposite side of the tray facing the subjects candle, about three-quarters of
the tray along, leaving a quarter of the tray behind them. Wash your hands,
making sure there is no reconciliation oil left on your fingers.
Then pick up the intruders candle in your non-dominant hand and, with
your dominant hand, anoint this candle with hot foot oil in the same way as
the other two candles were dressed and fixed. Place this candle back to back
with the returners candle but not touching.
In front of the subject at the finishing point for the returner, some rose
petals for it to finish on in front of the subject. At the opposite end of the
tray, the intruder will finish place some vandal root for the intruder.
Once the candles are lit, state your intentions out loud as you light them.
E.g. "I want him/her to return to me and abandon the intruder in our
relationship. Reconcile this love and banish the intruder and all interest in
them so that they only see and want me."
Every ten minutes, move the reconcilers' candle an inch or two towards the
subject and state the same intention as you move it. Move the intruder
slightly too. This will slowly separate the couple and bring the returner
closer to the subject and further away from the intruder.
Once the couple is touching and reunited, let all the candles burn down to
the finish.
The next day cut the foil separating the reunited couple and the intruder.
Fold up and tie the reunited couple with a red or pink ribbon and sleep with
this under the subject's bed for seven nights. Take the intruder and tie it with
a back ribbon or string and bury it at a crossroads.
After the seven nights, bury the united couple near the front door so that
they are drawn to your door.
TO ATTRACT YOUR UNKNOWN LOVER
Gather your supplies for this spell. You will need Florida Water or holy
water. A male and female candle or two male or female depending on your
preference in pink or red, attraction oil, rose petals paper, a tray and alfoil.
Place your tray on a flat surface in a fire-safe area like your alter or a table
away from curtains and strong breezes. Line it with alfoil.
Inscribe the names of the two people involved on the base of the candles if
they are image candles or on the surface of the candles if they are pillar or
taper candles. If the person that you want to be your partner is unknown to
you, then inscribe "future lover" or "future Husband/wife" on one and your
name, or the name of the requester on the other. Then take each candle in
turn and dress and fix them with attraction oil. Place each candle at the edge
of the tray facing towards the middle of the tray. Take the paper and write
your name or one of the names seven times on the paper, then turn the paper
and write the second person name to touch and intertwine. Anoint the
corners and the centre of the paper with the attraction oil.
Place the paper in the middle of the tray and sprinkle it with the rose petals.
Now light the candles, and as you do, state the following intention to speak
the spell into the candles.
"[Name and Name], as you yearn for one another, may you burn for one
another. Draw closer now, and may your desires be consummated in one
another."
Every ten minutes, move the candles closer to each other by an inch or two,
and as you do, state the intention again.
If you are using image or taper candles, you may choose to do the spell over
one day and complete it that day. If you choose to burn in sections over
seven days to complete the spell, remember to snuff the candles with a
candle snuffer or pinch between fingers to extinguish the flame, do not blow
it out. Also, be sure to try and burn it equally each day and move it equally,
so they meet and burn down on the seventh day.
The day after they have burnt down, wrap the alfoil in pink or red ribbon
and place this under your bed for seven days, then bury it near your front
door or in a pot plant to draw them to you.
TO SEAL A BUSINESS DEAL (two options)

This can be done when you want to seal a deal that involves someone
investing in your business or a partnership deal if you want an investment to
keep the subject candle still and move the investment candle towards you.
Suppose you want a partnership to move the candles towards each other.
You will need two candles; I suggest using the image candles of a dressed
male or female candle depending on the people involved or your
preference. You can also use a purple pillar candle for the subject and a
green candle for the investor. Or two green candles to form a successful
business partnership. Magnet oil and paper money.
As always, line your tray with alfoil.
Cleanse your candles and paper money.
Carve the partners or subject and investor names into each candle, anoint
them with magnet oil, and place them at either end of the tray.
TO GAIN INVESTMENT
Place the paper money at the finish line in front of the subject or requester
candle.
Light the candles and state your intention
EG "I want this investor to see the merit in my business and make an
investment of $....... that will expand my business too ( state intention for
investment)."
Every ten minutes, move the investment candle toward the subject or
requester candle ( which stays still and does not move to show dominance )
and state the intention until the candles are touching. Again this can be done
in one session or over several days. Once the candles are touching ( or on
the seventh day when they meet ), let them burn down with the wax
intermingling.
On the next day, roll up the wax and keep it on your altar or your success
altar for seven days.
TO GAIN A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
Place the paper in the middle of the tray.
Light the candles and state your intentions, eg
"I wish us to meet and form a successful and equal partnership that will
bring fortune and abundance to us both equally"
Every ten minutes, move BOTH the candles towards each other in the
centre of the tray as you state the intention. This again can be done over
seven days or in one session. Once they are touching in the middle, and are
both standing on the money, let them burn down and finish.
On the next day, roll up the foil and keep it on your success altar or main
altar for seven days to seal the spell.
TO CAUSE SEPARATION OR DIVORCE
( or business partnership to end )
For this, you will need two candles. Black is preferred. It can be two
females, two males or a male and female couple. This can be used to break
up a relationship, a toxic friendship, or a business partnership.
You will also need a tray lined with foil, Florida or holy water, break up or
separation oil, destruction oil and hotfoot oil.
Cleanse your candles with Florida or holy water. Inscribe the names of the
people on the candles on the bottom if image candles or on the face of pillar
or taper candles. Then dress and fix both candles with separation oil, then
destruction oil, then hot foot oil. The separation oil will cause them to
separate, the destruction oil will destroy the relationship, and the hotfoot oil
will cause one or both of them to leave town. If you only want one to leave
town, then only anoint the one you want to leave town with the hot foot oil.
Place both the candles in the middle of the tray, facing away from each
other toward the outside of the tray. If one has hotfoot oil and the other
doesn't, they do not need to be touching but close to each other.
Light the candles, and as you light it say your intention.
DIVORCE EG "I wish this couple to grow apart, the relationship to be
destroyed, for them to divorce, and I want "insert name/s) to leave town and
never or rarely return."
You can adapt the above or use a PSALM as listed in the previous chapter.
You can also write your own as long as the intention is clear.
This can be run as a single session spell or as a seven-day spell. So either
every ten minutes, move them an inch or two apart while stating the
intention. Or each day, light them and move them for seven days stating the
intention.
When they reach the edges of the tray, or on the seventh day, when they
reach the end of the tray, allow them to burn out.
The next day cut the foil down the middle and place them at different
crossroads apart from one another.
OUTHOUSE SPELL FOR JINXING OR CURSING
This is the simplest of the moving spell candles, but it still holds a powerful
punch for the spell's subject.
For this, you will need a black candle, perhaps some pins or twine and a
hole in your yard.
Cleanse your candle with Florida or holy water. Then write the name of the
person you wish to curse on the base of the candle if it is an image candle or
on the face if it is a pillar or taper candle.
Take up your pins and push them into the candle. Think of this as causing
harm to your enemy as you do. Or you may choose to tie a piece of twine
around the candle several times while imagining your enemy caught up in
bad luck and harm.
On the first day, place the candle near to the hole, perhaps a couple of feet
away and light it, as you do imagine and state the curse you wish to put
upon your enemy. Let it burn one-seventh of the candle and then snuff it out
with fingers. Do this for seven days until on the seventh day. You kick the
candle into the hole. You may wish to urinate or defecate into the hole
beforehand so that when you kick it into the hole, it lands in a mess. You
then bury it.
This comes from when outhouses were in use, and the candle would be kept
and lit in the outhouse, finally on the last day kicked into the hole and
landing in the waste material inside. Modern days means there are very few
if no outhouses, so this has been adapted to suit. You do not need to put
your waste in the hole if you do not want to, perhaps some rubbish or
animal waste will suit you better. As long as the intention is for your enemy
to suffer landing in a hole and wallowing in waste, you can complete the
spell.
For the intention each day, it can be as simple as just stating their name and
stating that you hope they land in a hole and can't escape the rubbish or a
further curse.
REVERSING SPELLS WITH CANDLES
R eversing spells range from simply reversing the curse or hex placed
on a person to reversing and seeking revenge from a curse. They
can be just and straightforward release from a curse or be set to
wreak havoc on the sending tenfold.
REVERSING CANDLE SPELL
This is the simplest and most popular reversing candle spell using a
reversing candle, to reverse only. It has red wax inside and black wax
outside. You will also need reversible oil, a mirror and crab shell powder.
1.Cleanse your candle with Florida or holy water.
2.Dress and fix the reversing candle with reversing oil.
3. Put the reversing candle on the mirror
4. Sprinkle crab shell power clockwise around the candle.
5. As you light the candle, read out Psalm 37.
6. Write out your petition. State that you wish the curse from an unknown
source to be reversed.
You can do this spell in one day until the candle burns down or over several
days in sessions until the candle burns out on the seventh day.
Dispose of the remains of your property at a crossroads, or bury it in the
sender's yard if you know who they are.
2. To add the element of revenge and punishment.
If you wish to reverse the spell and send the curse back to the sender, read
Psalm 55, which will Reverse the curse, send revenge, and righteous
punishment to the sender.
This is when it is a potent spell or when ill-intended evil supernatural
elements are sent to torture the receiver.
Dispose of the remains off your property at a crossroads, or bury it in the
senders' yard if you know who they are.
REVERSE AND RETURN TO SENDER
Gather your supplies of a black candle, either image candle or pillar candle,
Florida water, and olive oil.
Please the candle with Florida or holy water.
Bless the candle stating
My Heavenly Father,
As I light this candle, I invoke Your Power to Remove all Curses and Blocks
from me.
Let the light of its flames radiate love and protection to me in all aspects of
my life.
I ask at this time that any negative energies be released from the heart, soul,
and body.
With a bath of white light, I ask that this candle be cleansed and
neutralised.
Let this candle do its work in Your Name
May it be the foundation for Your Divine Love.
3. Inscribe the name of the person that send the curse if you know it. If you
do not simply inscribe "The person who cursed me."
4.State your intention out loud "The curse that is in my life shall be
reversed now and sent back to the person who cast it against me, in the
Most Holy Name of Jesus."
5. Dress and fix your candle with olive oil that you have blessed to the
service of the holy trinity. Start at the centre, go to the wick, hold it with
your non-dominant hand, and use the dominant hand to anoint.
6. Next, go from the centre slowly to the bottom before again returning to
the centre.
This is a 13-day ritual that should start on the first Saturday after a full
moon. Light the candle and pray Psalm 51 over it for 13 days.
Dispose of the remains of the spell outside your home.
BUTTING THE LIGHT DOUBLE ACTION REVERSAL
CANDLE
For health and spiritual jinxes.
For this spell, you will need a double-action reversal candle In Black and
White.
Cleanse your candle with Florida or holy water.
Inscribe the name of the person that jinxed or cursed you backwards on the
face of the candle on the black end from the centre to the end. If you do not
know, then write "the sender."
Inscribe your name forwards on the coloured end. From centre to end.
Cut the tip off the candle off the coloured end. Turn it over and carve the
new wick out on the bottom of the coloured end.
Place the candle on a mirror and light it.
The black portion will burn away first, reversing the spell, then the coloured
part will burn away to restore the damage done to the receiver and bring
back health.
BUTTING THE LIGHT DOUBLE ACTION LOVE LIFE
JINXES
For this spell, you will need a double-action reversal candle In black and
red.
1. Cleanse your candle with Florida or holy water.
2. Inscribe the name of the person that jinxed or cursed you backwards on
the face of the candle on the black end from the centre to the end. If you do
not know, then write "the sender."
3. Inscribe your name forwards on the coloured end. From centre to end.
4. The tip off the candle off the coloured end. Turn it over and carve the
new wick out on the bottom of the black end.
5. Point the black end of the candle to where the sender lives. Using
reversal oil, dress the oil making the strokes run from the centre of the
candle to the end with the intention of sending the jinx back to the sender.
6. Dress the candle on the red side facing you, the good side of the candle,
using attraction oil and love oil, dress the candle by stroking from the
middle towards you to draw your love and affection back towards yourself.
7. Place the candle on a mirror and light it
The black portion will burn away first, reversing the spell. Then the
coloured part will burn away to restore the damage done to the receiver and
bring back your lover or partners love and affection.
REVERSING MONEY AND LUCK JINXES WITH
DOUBLE ACTION CANDLE
For this spell, you will need a double-action reversal candle In black and
green.
1. Cleanse your candle with Florida or holy water.
2. The name of the person that jinxed or cursed you backwards on the face
of the candle on the black end from the centre to the end. If you do not
know, then write "the sender."
3. Inscribe your name forwards on the coloured end. From centre to end.
4. Cut the tip off the candle off the coloured end. Turn it over and carve the
new wick out on the bottom of the black end.
5. Point the black end of the candle to where the sender lives. Using
reversal oil, dress the oil making the strokes run from the centre of the
candle to the end with the intention of sending the jinx back to the sender.
6. Dress the candle on the red side facing you, the good side of the candle,
using black cat lucky oil and prosperity oil, dress the candle by stroking
from the middle towards you to draw your luck and money-back towards
yourself.
7. Place the candle on a mirror and light it
The black portion will burn away first, reversing the spell. Then the
coloured part will burn away to restore the damage done to the receiver and
bring back your luck and a healthy bank balance and wealth.
BLACK SKULL CANDLE TO REVERSE AND
REVENGE A SPELL.
For this, you will need a black skull candle, reverse oil, a photo of the
sender, Florida water and a fireproof surface.
1. Cleanse the candle with Florida or holy water.
2. Carve the name of the person on the base of the candle.
3. Dress the candle with reversing oil by rubbing from the base up to the
candle's wick, away from you. If you know where the person lives, point
the candle's wick in their direction as you dress it.
4. Place the photo face down on a mirror.
5. Place the skull candle on top of the photo on the mirror.
6. Light the candle and state your intention or read Psalm 51.
This can again be done over seven days or in one day. Once the candle is
burnt away and finished, dispose of it either off your property or bury it in
the receiver's yard.
BLACK CANDLE REVENGE SPELLS
B lack candle revenge spells are spells done with solid black candles
seeking revenge or harm the person represented by the black
candle. I never tire, but remember that you are not playing, these
are real natural forces that you are dealing with, forces that have been
around much longer than you are and will stay on this Earth much longer
than you. Before casting such a virulent spell, be sure you are doing the
right thing and that you are not causing undo harm, because to put it plainly,
it will come back to bite you in the ass!
BLACK CANDLE REVENGE SPELL FOR CHEATING
PARTNER
For this, you will need a black candle in the male or female member,
whichever applies, or a single black candle.
1. Cleanse the candle and allow it to dry.
2. Carve the name of your partner on the bottom of the candle.
3. Anoint with sweet revenge oil from the base of the candle to the wick,
rubbing away from the candle to the tip.
4. On a fireproof surface, either place a photo of your partner, a paper with
their name on it, or a hair.
5. Light the candle and state over it how you want your revenge to be
E.g., "As I light this candle, I send ill health to (name). He/she will not be
able to perform to please others and will suffer ill health in their genitals to
prevent intimacy with anyone but me."
Burn this over seven days, and on the seventh day, let it burn out.
Place the remains in a foil-wrapped and tied with black ribbon under their
bed for seven days. Dispose of it off your property after seven days.
BLACK DIVORCE CANDLES SPELLS
Man and woman back to back candle to break up a couple
1. Cleanse and allow the candles to dry.
2. Inscribe the names of the couple on the bottom of the candles.
3. Anoint in separation and destruction oil from the base to the top at the
wick.
4. Prepare a fireproof place to burn the candles. Both should have their own
wick.
5. If you want them to leave town after divorce, also anoint in hot food oil.
6. Light the candles one at a time and state your intention.
EG: "I wish you to be divorced. I wish that your relationship be completely
destroyed, and you both be humiliated. I wish you to leave town and never
return."
You can do this spell over seven days or in one day.
When the candles have burnt out, take the remains and bury them at a
crossroads near you.
BLACK CLOTHED WOMAN AND CLOTHED MAN
CANDLES SPELL
This spell is to hurt competition in business or people with whom you work
that you are not intimate.
1.Choose the candle that suits your intention, either male or female.
2.Cleanse the candle with Florida water or holy water and leave it to dry.
3.Write the name of the person, company, or "The Competition" onto the
bottom of the candle.
4.Anoint the candle from the base to the tip with "Be Gone Oil" and
imagine their company folding or them getting sacked.
5.Write down your petition or wish on a piece of paper and put it on a fire-
safe surface.
6.Place the candle onto the petition
7.Sprinkle crushed crab shells around the candle clockwise.
8.Light the candle and state your intention for the spell, be it to have their
company fold or them lose their job.
9. This can be a single burn or a session burn over seven days, whatever
you choose. Each time you light the candle, state your intention.
10.When the candle has burnt down and is finished, put the remains in foil
and wrap them in a black ribbon. You can dispose of this off your property
or if you are able, tape it to the bottom of the persons' desk or under their
desk for seven days and then dispose of it.
DIVINATION BY CANDLE WAX
D ivination by candlewax melting patterns is called CARTOMANCY.

This is done by either watching how the candle melts are reading
the drips and rivers to see if the spell is going well, has been blocked in any
way or is struggling against something.
As a candle melts, it can leave droplets or tears. This may mean that you are
suffering sorrow. If when the candle melts, the droplets and tears are
completely melted. This means that the suffering may end soon. However,
if the wick melts down into the centre and is snuffer out by drowning in
wax, this may mean that your suffering will continue for a while, and you
will have to ride out the tears and pain for a little longer.
The puddles left after a spell can also be significant. For example, if you are
conducting a love spell and the puddle that is left by the candle is a heart
shape, this is a splendid omen.
For a marriage spell with a bride and groom candle, the one that burns the
fastest may be the more in love and keen to be married.
If burning a candle inside a glass jar, black soot at the top indicates the
blockage is released, while soot all the way down shows the blockage will
continue, and you will still struggle with it. White Sook may indicate a
successful spell.
A lot of wax at the bottom of the jar may indicate more work is needed.
Lots of wax on the edges of the jar show you are blocking the result
subconsciously yourself.
Pouring melted wax into water is called CEROMANCY.
This is achieved by using a candle that is burning and then pouring the wax
into the water to see the patterns it forms to read the messages in it or
melting an entire candle and pouring that wax into a bowl of water to see
the patterns.
Sit and focus on the question you are asking. Anoint the candle with oil-
related to your question, for example, affection or love oil if it is a love
question. You may also wish to drop one or two oil drips into the bowl of
water.
Write down your question and focus on it.
Light your candle and hold it over the water focussing on the question you
are asking. Let a good amount of wax pool in the candle, and once there is a
sufficient amount there, pour the molten wax into the water while asking
your question.
Do this similarly by melted a candle in a pot after anointing, then pouring it
into the water, asking the question.
Let the wax and water interact and settle naturally in the base of the bowl.
Once the wax has cooled and settled, you can pick it up and read it.
You can look at it and use your imagination to see what you see or look up
others meanings for guidance.
However, some will be obvious,
If you see a car or plane, that may mean travel.
A cat may mean good luck.
I suggest you look at others and what shapes they use for divination. Keep a
diary and start your list of shapes and what you see in it and start your list.
Think of it similar to cloud divination and see what you can see in the
shapes, and take your message from it.
INCENSE MAGIC
I ncense is included in many cultures during Divination and traditional

rituals. In many cases, it is burnt to set the mood, purify a space, carry
prayer on smoke to the heavens, and amplify a spell's intention.
In this section, you will learn about popular incense, how to burn and make
your own, different types of incense and how to use it traditionally.
POPULAR TYPES OF INCENSE
Three types of incense are prevalent in everyday use and also popular for
Hoodoo and other divination practices.
When most people think of incense, they instantly think of stick incense as
this is used most in the mainstream for fragrance and perfume reasons.
Many fragrances are made, and most are for the public to make their home
or space smell fresh or scented.
The other two types of incense are cone and loose-leaf. Cone is made of
resins and herbs formed into a cone shape and burned on a fire-safe dish.
Loose-leaf herbs or resins are burned on a charcoal disk. The charcoal disk
is placed in a fireproof bowl partially filled with sand, and the herbs and
resins are placed on the disk and allowed to burn and smoke. This type of
incense produces a lot more smoke than the stick or cone incense.
Popular incense smells lovely but also has magical properties. Some you
can obtain from your local fragrance hall or are easy to obtain and use in
your spells. Some of the famous mainstream stick and cone incense you can
get that you can use in your hoodoo practices are:
Cinnamon - for love, protection, prosperity and money spells
Coconut - for innocence and protection.
Dragons Blood - Protection, amplifying spellwork.
Frankincense - growth, money spells, and confidence. Also, an offering to
the gods.
Jasmine - increase intuition and mood magic.
Lavender - calming and sooting, for love, purification and calming anxiety.
Lavender can also use it for sleep and dream magic.
Rose - To increase self-love, to connect to maternal ancestors, and healing.
Sage - To cleans a house, person or divination tools. Protection and
purification.
Vampires Blood - Amplifies any ritual, for lust and love spells, and lunar
magic or passion.
Sandlewood - Pleasing to the spirits, healing and consecration.
As you can imagine, the list is vast of the incense available on the market,
as it the magical ability of each fragrance, oil or herb used to create it. If
you have an incense that you love and use but it is not on this list, do some
research and find out if it has a place in your divinations or can remain a
favourite scent.
HOW TO BURN INCENSE
The main thing to remember when burning incense is to place your safety
first and foremost. Never burn it in a wholly enclosed space, near a
billowing curtain or anything unsafe.
Stick incense is incredibly easy to burn. All you need is an incense holder.
This can be upright or at an angle as long as the stick is held away from the
ground, and not up against anything. Also, keep it at a distance from
anything flammable because the ash can be hot and start a fire if it falls on
flammable materials. Keep in mind for some spells, you are also required to
retain the ash.
When lighting a stick incense, the general guide is to light it, so there is a
flame and then allow the flame to burn for up to 5 seconds. Gently blow on
the stick to put out the flame but retain a burning glow in the contents at the
end of the stick. Once this is glowing well and letting go of smoke without
a flame, you can place the wooden end in a holder, and your incense is
doing its job for the day.
Cone is slightly different and needs to be burned on a specifically designed
burner or a fireproof dish or plate. These cones are shaped like an upside-
down ice cream cone and can be very compact if mass-produced or loose if
homemade.
Generally, they follow a similar rule of thumb to the stick incense in that
you hold it with a small set of tongs and light the tip with a lighter or match.
Wait until the flame has caught hold and gently blow the flame out. If it is
smoking and has a red glow, then it is alight, and you can place it down on
the fireproof surface or burner designed for it.
To burn loose-leaf incense, you will need a few more pieces, charcoal disks,
the incense itself, and a fireproof bowl partially lined with sand and a pair
of metal tongs.
Hold the charcoal disk in the tongs and light it. Once the charcoal disk is
holding a flame, put it out, and as long as it has a glow and greyish ash on
the lit section, it is ready to use. Please place it in the fireproof bowl on the
sand. Then sprinkle the incense on top of the disk, and it should start to
smoke. Beware, this form of incense makes a great deal of smoke, and for
this reason, I recommend you use it outside as it will set off any fire
detectors inside your home.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN INCENSE
There are two types of incense, there is combustible and non-combustible.
Combustible usually includes an agent such as Potassium Nitrate to hold the
burn and allow it to keep burning until all gone.
The second kind is non-combustable, which is loose incense, and this is
usually smoked or burned on top of something such as the charcoal disks
required to allow a natural burn without flame.
To make your loose incense, you should gather your ingredients and recipe.
As there are many recipes available, I will keep these instruction generic to
allow you to experiment and come up with some unique and personal
incense fragrances.
First, you will need to grind your ingredients, wood first, herb, then resin.
Mix the dry ingredients, the wood and the herb. Then mix in your resins
and, if you choose at this point, add any essential oils.
Keep this mix in a marked airtight container. It is suggested that leaving it a
few weeks to mix and combine well will make it a better scent and longer-
lasting.
You may choose to use this as a loose-leaf mix and burn of charcoal or
press into cone shapes by using a candle snuffer to shape it into cones and
allow it to dry a few weeks in a sealed container.
Some of the most common ingredients used in incense mixture are:
RESINS
Amber, Aloe, Benzoin, Camphor, Dammar, Dragons blood, Frankincense,
Galbanum, Mastic, Myrrh, and Storax.
WOODS
Aloe, Cedar, Juniper, Sandalwood, Spruce, and pine.
HERBS
Cassia, Chamomile Flowers, Cinnamon Bark, Calamus Root, Cardamom
Seeds, Clove buds, Galangal Roots, Hops, Iris Flowers, Juniper berries,
Lavender, Rose, Rosemary, Saffron, Vanilla, and Star Anise.
To make a base for an incense, you can combine five parts natural charcoal
with one part ground Bezoin, two parts Sandalwood, one part ground Orris
root. If you are adding essential oils, six drops is a standard amount. You
can then add the herbs or oils for the spell you are working on.
Experiment and play with the combinations, mostly have fun and enjoy the
process.
A TYPICAL INCENSE: TRADITIONAL HOODOO
BURNING RITUALS
Unlike incense burnt to bring the essence of a herb into a spell, or for
fragrance reasons, Hoodoo practitioners can burn items that are not your
typical choice for incense and call it just that.
For centuries, they have burnt items as part of rituals and for specific
practices that don't have a very fragrant smell or may even smell quite bad.
Although you may practice Hoodoo in the modern age, you may choose to
add essential oils or herbs to improve the scent somewhat. This is current
practice and not necessary for the following typical items that Hoodoo
Practitioners may burn.
Hoodoo practices can involve burning onion skins, mainly the papery
wrapping over the onion, Shoes and shoelaces for good luck, money spells,
and Sulphur. None of which any person would burn for the not so pleasant
odour this would cause. However, it is common in this day and age to add
some herbs that may assist the spell or even essential oils in masking the
spell smell so the neighbours don't get wind of what's happening.
ONION SKIN
It has long been the practice in the South, the home of Hoodoo, to burn
onion skins and not just throw them out. It is said to do so is to refuse andy
good luck that is sent for you.
Rootworkers believe that burning onion skins brings good fortune,
abundance and blessings to the household, and rather than this be an actual
ritual planned, the skins are not saved when cooking but burned when the
onion is being used. So as a meal is being prepared and the onion skin
peeled, it may immediately be placed into a fireproof bowl to be allowed to
burn, as not doing so is seen to be bad luck. To burn onion skins is to
welcome blessings. To throw them away is to be seen as throwing away or
refusing good things sent your way.
A short prayer such as Psalm 23 may be said as the skins burn.
SHOES AND SHOE SOLES
Shoes and Shoe soles are often burnt in Hoodoo in support of business.
This practice seems to have started in the early brothel days where
customers old shoes would be kept until a Friday evening and burnt in a
pile somewhere at the year of the yard to attract customers. It was seen as a
signal that they were open for business and evolved into a practice to invite
customers to all business spiritually. As the practice has grown, its changed
to only the left shoe, the right shoe, or even the shoe's sole. Some choose to
burn areas of the shoe with incense while stating their intent so that the
houses nearby did not get offended by the smell of burning men's shoes.
Some would take the ash from the burning shoes and mix it with ammonia,
salt, sugar and urine. They would then mop the path out the brothel's front
with this mixture to draw customers into the building to attract men and
increase the customers using the service.
This is something that the business owner would have to do themselves. It
is not something a Hoodoo Practioner would do for them, although they
may teach and guide them in practice to accurately do this themselves.
SULFUR
In traditional times, Sulphur was readily available in rural areas and was
used to cleanse and clean the home spiritually. You would imply close up
your residence tight, light the Sulphur in a metal container on the centre of
the floor and come back when it had burned out.
The house would then be opened right up, windows and doors and scrubbed
clean with three-ingredient floor wash and considered pure and spiritually
clean as a newborn baby, or the day the house was built but not yet lived in.
This was a prevalent and often used system to clean the evil spirits out of a
home in the 19th and 20th century.
HOW TO SMOKE SOMEONE
To smoke someone is to use incense to bring good luck or remove a jinx.
The method and type of incense you use is the magic in this relatively quick
and straightforward practice.
To bring good luck to a customer, choose the relevant incense and set it to
smoke in a brazier on the floor. Once the incense has a good smoke going,
ask the client to step close to the brazier in front of you, get low down,
couching or on your knees and direct the smoke upwards to your client or
friend. Using your hand, waft the smoke upwards to them. Ask them if they
are in pants or long skirt to expose their ankles so that smoke can make
contact with the leg. When you get to their head, be sure to spiral some
smoke around their head to finish.
To remove bad luck, a jinx or hex, smoke down the body. This can be done
by hand but usually done with a fan to ensure the smoke is going down the
body entirely without too much effort.
You can stand holding the brazier and ask them to turn as you smoke them
down, or you can walk around them smoking them down.
This practice can be done for clients going into an important meeting, going
to court, or feeling they are suffering from a curse or hex. It is one of the
quickest and simplest methods available for a fast and straightforward
blessing or removal of bad luck.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF CANDLE WAX AND
INCENSE ASH
M ost spells are not complete until the remains of the ritual have
been disposed of properly. A spell can be void or open-ended if
the remains are not sent to the right place.
For example, in some of the spells you have already learnt in the moving
candle and reversing candle chapters and in the other volumes of the series,
it was clearly stated where the remains should end up. You must follow
these instructions to end the spell and tie up the magic so the spirit you are
working with can grant your wish.
To dispose of candle and other ritual remains, put leftover wax, ashes, etc.
in a plain paper bag and leave at a crossroads. I keep a pack of those small
brown paper bags around for this reason, as they are the perfect size for
candle wax and spell remains. Remains can also be thrown into a running
stream or river, or even a creek if it is moving. Burial is another way to
dispose of ritual remains. Where to bury the remains will depend on the
work, but a simple rule of thumb is keep it close to you if it is something
you want drawn to you, and as far away as possible if it's something you
want taken away.
If you are attracting love, new love, an old lover, money, success, or
protection, you should bury the remains by the front door or in a pot by the
front door or crossroads. This will attract the spell's subject to your door or
the crossroads in their life that will lead them to you.
To remove something, such as a hex, curse, illness or bothersome person,
take the remains and throw it into a source of running water such as a river
that leads away from your house, a crossroads, or bury it to the west off of
your property.
Each spell will have directions, but the general guide is to bring a spell into
your home or keep it there, bury it in your property or near your front door.
To remove or drive away:
Take it somewhere to prevent its return, such as running water or a
crossroads that will hold it there.
If you want to reverse and return a spell and you know the sender, bury the
remains in their yard to send it back and hold it there. This will also
increase the strength of the spell.
Never throw the remains away, as this will void the magic. If you are
unsure of how to dispose of the remains, do some research or reach out to
an experienced practitioner to assist you.
The disposal of remains at the end of a spell is as vital as the Amen at the
end of a prayer.
CONCLUSION

THIS KNOWLEDGE.

Hoodoo Bible The 7 in 1 Root Doctor Companion To Get Your Mojo Workin by Mama Marie

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The Hoodoo Bible

The 7-in-1 Root Doctor’s Companion

First Printing Edition, 2021

Printed in the United States of America

Copyright © 2021 by Mama Marie

· THE HOODOO BIBLE 2 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION

· THE HOODOO BIBLE 3 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION

· THE HOODOO BIBLE 5 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION

· THE HOODOO BIBLE 6 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION

· THE HOODOO BIBLE 7 · THE ROOT DOCTOR’S COMPANION

H oodoo is a complex, ancient aspect of Afro-American culture, a

Therefore, Hoodoo is a set of practices, traditions, and beliefs practiced in

Meetings were kept minimal

PAPA LEGBA (ELLEGUA, LEGBA, EXU, ESHU)

In the urban North, the problem of locating an independent conjurer or root

The presence of these ads

H oodoo's new visibility and presence would immediately stimulate

M agic is a gift from the Creator, then applied by the worker, is an

The conjure doctor was

A s mentioned in the introductory section, Christianity has always

IF YOU ARE FEELING GENEROUS, IN THE SPIRIT OF PAYING FORWARD

DELIGHTED IF YOU COULD LEAVE A REVIEW ON AMAZON SO THAT

A ccording to the fundamental individualist foundations of hoodoo,

A hoodoo altar is simply a place, spot, or surface where rituals are

A s you prepare to take on your ﬁrst steps in the world of casting

A s mentioned earlier, in the practice of hoodoo, it is believed that the

BLENDER: A blender is an indispensable agent to help you mix and

CHIMINEA (OR FIREPLACE): Not everyone has the luxury of an actual

DOUBLE BOILER: At times, you might need to include waxy components

DROPPERS: The herbal magic preparations are an exact science. Therefore,

MEASURING CUPS: For larger amounts of liquids that don’t require a

MIXING BOWL: Hoodoo involves a lot of mixing and combining. A

HOTPLATE OR STOVE: You need to heat up some herbs, and a good

THERMOMETER: This may come as a surprise, but at times, your

WHISK: A whisk helps to efﬁciently combine all the components of your

T he rise of commercialized hoodoo greatly increased the popularity

As a newbie hoodoo practitioner, it is important for you to understand the

CONJURE BAGS: These specialized pouches are extremely similar to mojo

SACHET POWDER: A sachet powder is simply a bag that contains a special

BOTTLES: Bottles have always played an extremely signiﬁcant role in

GRIS-GRIS: Gris-gris is extremely similar to mojo and conjure bags. It is

TALISMAN: The ﬁnal form of contained magic we would be examining is

T he art of divination is a vast, ancient one, and bones and special

S piritual baths and cleansings are extremely potent forms of hoodoo

For the desired effects of a spiritual bath to be realized, speciﬁc additives

1. The premises being sanitized for negative energies should be washed

What kind of Water Should be Used?

T hese spells are used to create a mystical protective barrier between

such as entryways, windows, and doorknobs, to prevent the entry of

Money Attraction Spell

IF YOU ARE FEELING GENEROUS, IN THE SPIRIT OF PAYING FORWARD

H erbal magic is the central deﬁning concept in hoodoo that involves

In hoodoo, different plants are believed to be capable of different medicinal

Herbal magic, at its core, is the process of altering a current reality to

The doctrine of signatures is believed to be a means of divine guidance –

20. THERMOMETER: Once again, ladies and gentlemen, precision is the

I n this section, we would be examining individual processes and herbs

To Change your Luck

To Break Up Old Conditions

Adam and Eve's Root

BAYBERRY (Myrica pensylvanica): This dense, deciduous plant is native to

BLACKBERRY (Rubus villosus): The blackberry plant thrives throughout the

Cat’s Eye Shell