Pagan Portals Hoodoo

Folk Magic

By Rachel Patterson

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Copyright © 2012 Rachel Patterson
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-78279-020-4

Contents

Foreword: Who am I?………………………………………………..viiIntroduction………………………………………………………1Chapter 1: What is Hoodoo?………………………………………….2Chapter 2: Root Work……………………………………………….5Chapter 3: Laying Tricks……………………………………………19Chapter 4: Washes………………………………………………….24Chapter 5: Oils……………………………………………………34Chapter 6: Incense…………………………………………………39Chapter 7: Mojo Bags……………………………………………….41Chapter 8: Bottle Spells……………………………………………45Chapter 9: Foot Track Magic…………………………………………51Chapter 10: Powders………………………………………………..52Chapter 11: Candle Magic……………………………………………57Chapter 12: Lamp Magic……………………………………………..62Chapter 13: Sigils and Symbols………………………………………64Chapter 14: Crossroads Magic………………………………………..65Chapter 15: Miscellaneous Magic……………………………………..67Chapter 16: Disposing of Tricks……………………………………..71Chapter 17: Locations for Laying Down Tricks………………………….73Chapter 18: What if the Magic Isn’t Working?………………………….75Chapter 19: Famous People in Hoodoo………………………………….76Chapter 20: Hoodoo Deities and Spirits……………………………….80Chapter 21: Religions………………………………………………88Glossary of Terms/Words Used in Hoodoo……………………………….91Sources for Further Research………………………………………..92

CHAPTER 1

What is Hoodoo?

Hoodoo in the form that we know it can be traced back to theearly 19th Century, and possibly earlier. Hoodoo is the Americanname for African American folk magic.

Many religions sprang from the African traditions, such asYoruba, Santeria, Vodoun and Candomblé. Hoodoo came out ofthose beliefs and is the magical practice, not an actual religion. Itis definitely not Voodoo, as it is commonly called by mistake.Voodoo, or Vodou, is a Haitian African religion, while Vodoun isWest African.

Hoodoo as we recognise it was established during the times ofslavery in America using the native plants and items available tothe people at the time and probably taking a little knowledgefrom the Native Americans too, with definitely some Europeanfolk magic thrown in to the mix as well. I do believe a goodamount of the Hoodoo magical practices were brought by slaves;they didn’t arrive as slaves with no beliefs or practices at all!

A lot of the slaves at the time were forced to follow theCatholic religion. What they did was to incorporate the saints,deities and rituals into their own religion. Santeria is a goodexample of this, although they also included the darker side ofmagic such as curses and hexes as well.

If you take a look into the blues music from the times ofslavery you will find a huge amount of references to Hoodoo inthe lyrics.

Hoodoo is a practice of magic which is based on surviving andthe need for things such as healing using herbs, plants, roots,stones, minerals and the like, combined with chants, rituals andhandmade items. It is based around a main framework of intents– love, success, luck, happiness, health and wealth. It is also aform of magic that works with one’s own personal power.

However, I suspect that those practitioners of Hoodoo inAmerica rarely call it by a name, it is just what they do, whatthey grew up doing, what their mothers and grandmothers did.Hoodoo is often referred to by other names such as ‘conjure’ or’root work’ in fact a practitioner of this magical practice is oftencalled a root worker or conjurer and sometimes referred to as aHoodoo Doctor.

Like a lot of magical practices, Hoodoo uses the magicalproperties of natural items including traditional herbs, roots andminerals, but it also makes use of animal parts and bodily fluids.(No, don’t worry you won’t have to bash any wild animals, butyou will be able to use bones from your Sunday lunch roastchicken or, if you aren’t too squeamish, road kill!)

The practice includes such things as jinxing, foot track magic,crossroads magic and laying tricks. Foot track magic works withthe essence of the person by using their footprints. Crossroadsmagic works by leaving magical items at a crossroads (nosurprise there!) or a place where two roads intersect. Crossroadsare magical places and always have been. Probably the most wellknown item for a Hoodoo practitioner to use is a mojo bag, butin Hoodoo the use of candles, incense, oils, powders, talismansand spiritual washes is also common.

Originally those who worked with Hoodoo would probablyhave used whatever they could get their hands on, using lampsand plain white candles for spell work, dressing them only withblessed olive oil and using basic items and ingredients that theyhad to hand.

At some point in the history of Hoodoo, which my researchseems to suggest having been about the time of the AmericanCivil War, people started to ‘market’ oils, coloured candles andvinegars; giving them the fantastic names that we now associatewith Hoodoo products. But as with most magical practices myadvice would be, use what seems right to you and use what youhave to hand and what your intuition and instinct tell you isright. You don’t need to splash out huge amounts of cash onbranded products; you can make most things you need yourself.If you do purchase items from a shop or online I would justsuggest you check out their credentials first and what ingredientsthey use; there are some wonderful retailers out there, but thereare some bad ones too.

Come take a walk with me through the magical art ofHoodoo …

CHAPTER 2

Root Work

Root work is another name for Hoodoo; its practitioners areoften referred to as root workers. It refers to the understandingof herbs and nature and, in particular, the belief that the root ofa plant holds its power and spirit; plant roots being an importantpart of Hoodoo magical practice.

What is Used?

The practice of Hoodoo uses many things, some natural itemsthat the Earth provides and some that are not so natural!Basically, a Hoodoo practitioner will use what they have to hand.If they have natural items such as twigs and bones they will usethem, but if they need to they will also use items such as bleachand ammonia.

Ashe

Ashe is the magical element, the spirit, the power that is insideall natural things – stones, herbs, bones etc. Even when we speaka chant the words contains ashe. It is a power.

Graveyard Dirt

Don’t be afraid of going into a graveyard, they are usuallybeautiful, peaceful and spiritual places.

Graveyard dirt is used a lot in Hoodoo. It is a connection tothe dead and a link to our ancestors. To obtain it there is anaccepted process of events. First you must connect with the spiritof the person whose grave you would like to take the dirt fromand then you must very respectfully ask their permission. Youwill also need to leave some sort of offering in payment for thedirt you take. You also need to check whose grave you are takingdirt from as well. Dirt from the grave of a soldier who died inbattle will work differently from that of someone who died at theage of 90 peacefully in their sleep.

Offerings you might like to leave on the grave would be smallcoins, flowers or maybe alcohol depending again on the personwho lies therein. Leaving a tot of whiskey for a teetotal schoolma’am probably wouldn’t go down so well …

Get to know your local graveyard, get the feel of it, makeseveral visits there and see who you can connect with first beforeyou even attempt to take graveyard dirt. Have a wander aroundthe place and see what graves reach out to you (hopefully notliterally). You may find that you are subconsciously pulledtowards certain graves. Connect with the ancestors there. Alwaysbe respectful and always ask first. The spirits will most likely tellyou what they want.

Graveyard dirt is particularly useful in protection and lovespells, but is also used in binding spells as well. The dirt can beused for harmful tricks, the graveyard dirt signifying in this case– death.

Graveyard dirt has power because it is so directly linked withthe spirits of the dead, those of our ancestors.

What I would say as a caution, especially for those new toHoodoo, is to avoid collecting dirt from graves that containmurder victims and those who died unjustly. These spirits mayharbour unhealthy vengeful energies.

On the same theme as graveyard dirt there is also the use ofcoffin nails. Originally coffins would be dug up in order toretrieve the nails from them, but I would advise against this, notonly because it is illegal and I would hate for you to be sent to jailand because coffins don’t tend to have proper nails in any more,but also because I feel it is incredibly disrespectful to the personlying within the coffin! A good substitute is to use rusty nails.

Rusty nails can be used in spells against your enemies, butalso for protection.

Fluids

If you are a bit squeamish this section probably isn’t for you andit is possible to work incredibly powerful Hoodoo magic withoutthese items, but it is a part of the magical practice so I haveincluded it here for reference and just in case you want to give ita try …

Bodily fluids, hair, nail clippings and the like have been usedin magical practices, not just Hoodoo, for centuries. It is a verydefinite way of connecting your spell or trick to a particularperson. Witch bottles found in the UK lodged into walls orburied under the doorsteps of old buildings were found tocontain human hair, nail clippings and urine.

Think about fluids such as menstrual blood and semen – bothof these link directly to sex and fertility so logic says that theywould make excellent ingredients in love or fertility tricks.

You may never drink another cup of coffee after this informationbut … menstrual blood is used to gain sexual attractionfrom a man, just pop a drop or two into his morning cuppa andthe trick is worked. If you have a willing and adventurouspartner, in Hoodoo the practice of feeding him your menstrualblood with his knowledge is a way of binding him to you andkeeping him faithful.

Equally a man can use his semen in a similar fashion. Byplacing some of his semen in a drink given to his chosen woman,the man is setting a trick in motion to capture her sexualattraction to him. On the flipside of this, if a woman capturessome of a man’s semen she can then use it in spell working tobind him, keep him faithful and control him.

And then we have urine; used for centuries in European folkmagic and also used in Hoodoo. It makes a good substitute if youdon’t have menstrual blood or semen as it is a very personal fluidand links directly to its owner. In Hoodoo urine is often referredto as ‘chamber lye’ or just simply ‘water’ – be wary nexttime someone offers you a glass of ‘water’! The word ‘chamber’originates from the old chamber pot that was kept under the bedfor people to relieve themselves in during the night and ‘lye’ is anold Anglo Saxon word meaning a strong liquid with high alkalinecontent.

Chamber lye (doesn’t that sound nicer than urine?) is oftenused for luck. A person who needs some fast luck, maybe forsome quick money or in a card game, will ask a willing female toadd their chamber lye to their mojo bag. This is in essence’feeding’ the mojo bag with luck. It seems to only be a female’schamber lye that is lucky though …

What you don’t want though is an enemy to get hold of any ofyour bodily fluids. They can then use these to lay tricks againstyou, causing you all sorts of grief and harm.

If all the above leaves you feeling a bit wary, how about usingsomething like leftover bath water? Or even a half-drunk cup ofcoffee? These liquids will hold a connection to the person whoused them.

There are many items that can be used if you don’t want to godown the ‘bodily fluid’ road, such as locks of hair, nail clippings,a used piece of clothing, handwriting on a piece of paper, an itemthe person has worn or touched, cigarette butts, photographs oreven their business card.

Herbs and Roots

All sorts of herbs are used in Hoodoo magic, all of the usualhousehold ones along with a few more unusual ones. I haven’tincluded a complete list here as it would go on forever, but hereare some of the more popular ones used in Hoodoo.

Adam and Eve Root (Putty Root/Aplectrum)

This root was used a lot in Adam and Eve magic, believed topromote true love and a good strong equal partnership betweena couple. It was also used for sexual problems within arelationship. However, Adam and Eve root is now endangeredand should no longer be harvested from the wild. Unfortunately,there isn’t a substitute for the root either, so be aware if youpurchase ‘Adam and Eve’ products because they probably won’thave the true ingredients.

Alfalfa

This is a herb used for prosperity and money draw spells. It canbe sprinkled into your purse, kept in your money box or used asa powder.

Angelica Root (Holy Ghost/Archangel Root)

This has many uses within Hoodoo – warding off evil, boostingluck, health, family matters, peace, strength (especially forwomen), uncrossing, jinx breaking and as a powerful guardian.

Buckeye Nuts

Useful for gamblers, luck and sexual power. (In the UK youcould substitute a conker).

Clover

Clover is probably used all over the world for luck! WithinHoodoo it is also used for prosperity and money draw spells. Itis also considered sacred in that having three leaves it representsthe trinity.

Coconut

Coconut is used for domination within Hoodoo, a whole coconutoften being used to represent the victim’s head and mind.

Devil’s Dung (Asafoetida)

You’ve got to love the folk name for this one! It is a very strongsmelling powder (hence the name) and is used in Hoodoo forprotection, banishing, curses and working against your enemies.(When handling asafoetida I recommend wearing gloves …otherwise you will carry the scent on your hands for ages!)

Devil’s Shoestring (Viburnum Alnifolium, Opulus,Prunifolium)

These ‘shoestrings’ are roots from the plant and are used forprotection, luck, job seeking and keeping out the devil – the’shoestring’ is meant to trip him up!

Five-Finger Grass (Cinquefoil/Potentilla)

The plant has five leaves that are segmented and look a bit like ahand – hence the name five-finger grass. It is used for luck,gambling, money drawing, employment and favours.

High John the Conqueror Root (Ipomoea Jalapa, Purge,Pandurata)

High John the Conqueror root is one of the main herbs used inHoodoo magic.

The story goes that John was a prince, son of an African king,and that he dedicated himself to helping others, those who weretricked by their white masters. He is a trickster spirit and also ahero of folklore.

The roots that carry his name are: High John, Dixie John andLittle John. High John is said to carry the trickster’s spirit withinit.

High John the Conqueror root brings with it the magicalproperties of power, prosperity, strength, luck, love and theability to conquer all within its path.

Lettuce

Lettuce is used mainly in money draw spells. You can use anytype of lettuce, but make sure the leaves are fresh; the best onesare the darker outside leaves. Greens can be used in the sameway.

Mint

This is used mainly for money drawing, prosperity, uncrossingor to cool and calm a situation or person.

Orris Root (Queen Elizabeth Root)

Used in Hoodoo by women and men to attract and control aman.

Pepper

All sorts of pepper varieties are used in Hoodoo magic. Blackpepper is good for protection, banishing, curses and enemyspells; red pepper (cayenne) is good for protection, banishing,curses, enemy spells and also to add heat (and therefore power)to spells too.

Rue

Used mainly in protection spells, but also for love. Wearing asprig of rue will ward off the ‘evil eye’.

Spanish Moss

Used in spells working against your enemy and revenge spells.Also often used to stuff doll babies (poppets).

Violet

Used in powders, incense and foot track magic for innocence,purity, chastity, feminine issues and concerns of a sexual nature.

Willow

This is a good all-round herb. The leaves of the willow are usedfor love, luck, health and protection.

Witch Grass (Dog Grass/Devil’s Grass/CouchGrass/Twitch Grass)

Used for love, break-up and enemy spells and also good forstuffing doll babies (poppets).

Animal Parts

Animal parts are used quite often in Hoodoo magic, but I think itis an area that is quite often misunderstood or misinterpreted orjust plain hyped up by the media because it makes a good story.

Some practitioners would never harm an animal (I am one ofthem). However, I don’t see a problem with working with animalparts that have either died a natural death, were killed for food orwere the unfortunate victims of a fatal road accident. Others maynever harm an animal even for food, nor use any animal parts – itis a personal choice.

Some practitioners may feel OK with killing such things asinsects, spiders and snails for instance, but would never harmanything larger.
(Continues…)Excerpted from Pagan Portals Hoodoo by Rachel Patterson. Copyright © 2012 Rachel Patterson. Excerpted by permission of John Hunt Publishing Ltd..
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