Lucky Mojo Forum

The 2014 Hoodoo Heritage Festival is being advertised with postcards!



This photo of Missionary Independent Spiritual Church was taken early one morning by nagasiva yronwode and was photo-edited by Dr. E., who also laid out the card design.

These cards will go into every package we ship from our shop, and we are sending bundeles to other wholesale and retail accounts for distribution as well.

Hi, this is cat -- i apologize to all -- tickets were supposed to go on sale January 15th, but on January 14th, Eddy Gutierrez -- the person designing the workshop page, putting together the ticker codes, and also scheduled to present at the event and to set up the reader's tent -- died suddenly of a heart attack. He was only 38 years old. We are still trying to come to grips with our personal loss, and have not yet found anyone to take his place in the graphics and planning portion of the work. We will try to get the tickets on sale within the next week.

My deepest condolences to the entire Hoodoo Community and his family

Hi,
I was trying to sign up for the 2014 workshop in May, but for the life of me can't figure out how to do that? I may be rushing it and it isn't ready..however, if I am just missing the button please help!

Oh my, now I learned about the death of Dr. E. I am so sorry.....my deepest sympathy.
Regards,
Cs

Greetings y'all! I may post this in the "places to stay" thread as well; however, I also thought this thread would probably be a good informational page as well.

Here is a link for various places to stay while you are visiting the Forestville area:

http://www.russianriver.com/site/cms/pages/lodging.php

There are several places to choose from. I personally like staying on River Road. It is beautiful! It is also close to Lucky Mojo, a small grocery store (I can't recall the name, but I know where it is), The Russian River Pub (a very reasonably priced place to eat), and close to the Downtown area of Guerneville.

Tam's Tips:

If you are flying book 4 weeks or more to save money on the flight.
I believe it is worth every dime of the 15 or some odd dollars to pay for the insurance in booking your flight.
Don't over pack, as you will need room for the goodies from the Workshops as well as your shopping from Lucky Mojo.
If you rent a car, I personally recommend Enterprise. Many times you may be able to get a free upgrade; it never hurts to ask.
I personally do not book my flight, car rental or hotel stay on the "bundle sites". I found out the first year I traveled to California that I had more negotiation power as well as the ability to be refunded or credited should problems arise with the flights or hotels.
***Many things are negotiable*** Again, it never hurts to ask, the worse that can happen is that you may be told "No"--but you won't know unless you try.

General observations and opinions:

With regard to time, depending on where you are traveling from and what fits in your schedule, budget, etc., I recommend you stay a minimum of Friday through Sunday. If you are also attending the apprenticeship, you will definitely want to be wherever you are staying the Sunday before in order to be on time Monday morning.

You will want to book the passes to the Workshops as soon as you can so that those who are running them can get a "head count" for the Workshops. Do not wait until the "day of" or the "time of". A lot of preparation goes into each one not just from the presenters, but also from the Lucky Mojo staff, Miss Cat and everyone involved.

The Workshops are something I look forward to each year. It gives all of us the opportunity to meet and greet with fellow forum friends, Members of AIRR, shopping in person at Lucky Mojo and seeing the team at Lucky Mojo especially Miss Cat and Nagasiva! :):) and in general getting to know some of the online friends who travel from across the state of California, or across the United States, or from half way around the world to be there!

I can't wait to see y'all there!!!

Miss Tammie Lee

Here is a link for various places to stay while you are visiting the Forestville area:

http://www.russianriver.com/site/cms/pages/lodging.php

Special thanks to The Chamber of Commerce for providing this informational link and for those who are Members. Thank you.

There are several places to choose from. I personally like staying on River Road. It is beautiful! It is also close to Lucky Mojo, a small grocery store (I can't recall the name, but I know where it is), The Russian River Pub (a very reasonably priced place to eat), and close to the Downtown area of Guerneville.

Tam's Tips:

If you are flying book 4 weeks or more to save money on the flight.
I believe it is worth every dime of the 15 or some odd dollars to pay for the insurance in booking your flight.
Don't over pack, as you will need room for the goodies from the Workshops as well as your shopping from Lucky Mojo.
If you rent a car, I personally recommend Enterprise. Many times you may be able to get a free upgrade; it never hurts to ask.
I personally do not book my flight, car rental or hotel stay on the "bundle sites". I found out the first year I traveled to California that I had more negotiation power as well as the ability to be refunded or credited should problems arise with the flights or hotels.
***Many things are negotiable*** Again, it never hurts to ask, the worse that can happen is that you may be told "No"--but you won't know unless you try.

General observations and opinions:

With regard to time, depending on where you are traveling from and what fits in your schedule, budget, etc., I recommend you stay a minimum of Friday through Sunday. If you are also attending the apprenticeship, you will definitely want to be wherever you are staying the Sunday before in order to be on time Monday morning.

You will want to book the passes to the Workshops as soon as you can so that those who are running them can get a "head count" for the Workshops. Do not wait until the "day of" or the "time of". A lot of preparation goes into each one not just from the presenters, but also from the Lucky Mojo staff, Miss Cat and everyone involved.

The Workshops are something I look forward to each year. It gives all of us the opportunity to meet and greet with fellow forum friends, Members of AIRR, shopping in person at Lucky Mojo and seeing the team at Lucky Mojo especially Miss Cat and Nagasiva! :):) and in general getting to know some of the online friends who travel from across the state of California, or across the United States, or from half way around the world to be there!

I can't wait to see y'all there!!!

Miss Tammie Lee

Greetings Thank you so much for the information. I am new to the community and would like to plan my visit there
soon. This helps me in planning for my visit much easier-I'm so excited!
Peace and Blessings

I have 2 questions...since I am a newbie is their a recommended amount of knowledge/experience/practice I should have before attending this festival? Ive ordered several of Cats books along with other books and ive been reading and practicing as much as possible...along with alot of hours of browsing the forum to learn as much as possible. I also want to bring a friend who has no practice or knowledge but shes a spiritualist and very open. She has a basic understanding of what hoodoo is by definition but thats it. I cannot begin to express how excited I am to attend this festival/workshop! I do so much better learning things hands on & i just know this workshop will build my confidence in practice amongst other things. Its a blessing that this workshop is available so I can learn and fellowship with the best! Thank you blessings to you all

Hello, QueenofHeartsK ,
The beauty of these workshops is that they are a learning experience for those who know nothing and for experienced practitioners.
Just come as you are! You'll learn a lot and have lots of fun!!!
Take care

Well we will see you there Miss Aida bright eyed and bushy tailed

A big THANK YOU to Papa Newt for updating and adding TONS of useful information to our page of "Good Places to Stay" lists at

A LIST OF GOOD PLACES TO STAY IN THE RUSSIAN RIVER ARE
http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocatlodging.html

CHECK THIS OUT -- it contains everything you need to know about finding lodging for attending the 2014 Hoodoo Heritage Festival -- or coming to visit Lucky Mojo at any time!

Great work, Papa Newt!

Hi, QueenofHeartsK --

These one-hour intensive workshops are designed for newbies, long-time practitioners, and even professional rootworkers to attend. We guarantee that you will some away with something new -- a hand-out filled with spells, actual spiritual supplies to use, or even an entire BOOK to read when you get home.

In addition to the classes -- 5 of them each day -- you will meet conjure folks from all over the world, make friends, have a great buffet lunch, watch the trains go around, walk the labyrinth, and listen to the inimitable Madame Pamita's concert of vintage hoodoo songs!

Oh Cat dont get me any more worked up than what i already am Not only am i going to be so excited to learn from you all but the liberation of being able to practice and talk without being judged AHHH & Who wouldnt want more conjure friends! God willing I meet & connect with an experienced practitioner (preferbly 1 who lives close to me) willing to teach and help me in developing in my pratice and divination...but even if i dont i know it'll be FANTASTIC!I cant wait

QueenofHeartsK,

I am sorry to hear that you have felt you were "being judged" because of your interest in and practice of of African American conjure.

To be honest, when i hear about this sort of thing, and when i look more deeply into cases of negative judgements against hoodoo, i find, almost without exception, that the root of the disapproval is racial prejudice. This is certainly hurtful, but since racialism is so obviously counter to humanity's best interest, i meet it head-on with friendly education and engaged conversation. I think that people can rise above any distressingly prejudicial training they received as children. In any case, at MISC, we welcome all people, and no one is judged.

You will certainly meet with experienced practitioners at the annual Hoodoo Heritage Festival, i can promise you that!

Cat,
Thats so unfortunate to hear, im african american and i agree racism of any kind is a sad part of life. The judgement i recieve is mostly in the form of ppl thinking im a "witch" which translates into im everything but a Christian or devil worshipper. It's doesnt bother me at all and i'll engage them in a friendly and educational conversation. I was raised in a way as to not get locked into 1 view of the world and my brother has always told me "people fear what they dont understand". Nevertheless I will see you all in May, excited and ready to learn

I registered for the Hoodoo Heritage Festival in May, however, could not figure out how to make a reading appointment for the agenda said that appointments must be made in advance. How do I do that?

Qadesh, more information on booking readings will be available soon. It will also be possible to schedule at the event, but the earlier you can do it the better.

Thanks Ms Phoenix.

Greetings! I'm fairly new to the community. I am really interested in attending the Festival, however, I live in S.F., no car and a budget for lodging. I'm wondering if there is anyone driving from S.F./Bay Area who would like to share in travel/lodging? I can contribute gas money and am willing to camp out i.e., (share a tent ) or more preferably share a room (b&b, hotel, etc.) nearby. I can leave Friday afternoon and stay through Sunday afternoon. Thank you and Blessings!

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, which airport serves the Forestville area? I'm afraid I learned about the festival too late to attend this year, but I'd like to start planning for 2015.

Hello, jubilee ,
The Charles Schultz Airport in Santa Rosa, California. It's just a few miles from Forrestville. Alaska Airlines handles that airport through Delta and other airlines.
Take care

You can also land in San Francisco and then take the nice scenic drive out in a rented car (approx 3hrs). It's a cheaper alternative if you're flying in from an International destination.

Thanks Aura and Miss Aida!

Thank you to Cat and the MISC for hosting the Hoodoo Workshops weekend! I was able to go on Saturday and it was such an enriching experience, I learned a lot and it was so wonderful to "put faces to names" on the forum.

I have only a couple of suggestions --

First, the property herbal wildcrafting walk was wonderful, however with everyone (about 100 people) in a herd all going at once was frustrating to those who could not hear. It might be better to stagger people into five or so groups, then create 'stations' of different herbal areas, then provide a walking map and start different groups at different places to make a circuit. Gloves and shears could be positioned at each station, with perhaps a docent from MISC to describe, or even a written sign stating what the herb/flower is.

Secondly, there are portable speakers and microphones (they look like a fanny pack and a bluetooth headset) that would provide amplification at a level that would not bother the neighbors, yet allow everyone to hear more easily.

The festival is such a great experience, the food offered was wonderful. I plan on going next year, and encourage people to go as well!

Mary Thomson
HRCC #1398G

Since you're a graduate of Miss Cat's course, Mary, you can also do the apprenticeships. Wildcrafting and herbs get covered in depth, in the small group setting. Highly recommended...

And I second you on the food this year -- Awesome!

Many blessings,

Deacon Millett

Naught1usMax1mus wrote:there are portable speakers and microphones (they look like a fanny pack and a bluetooth headset) that would provide amplification at a level that would not bother the neighbors, yet allow everyone to hear more easily.

This is a brilliant idea -- I believe all the speakers should have them. I wonder how much they would cost and how much trouble they would be to set up.

But anyway, what I meant to say was: all the Hoodoo Heritage Festivals have been wonderful brain-stretchers, but 2014's was the most splendid so far. Such a high-water mark! I'm looking forward to reading the FIVE books we received, most especially Michele Jackson's Bones, Shells and Curios.

I can't believe it'll be at least another year before I see you all again.

Miss Michaele

I flew out to Sonoma for a week of R&R and had the great opportunity to attend the two day Hoodoo Festival. It was truly wonderful! I learned a lot, met some great people and gained some weight from all of that good cooking...smile. I also had the wonderful opportunity to get a reading from Madame Patima that weekend and Miss Cat a few days later before I returned to Washington, DC...who I must add was a joy to talk with. A big thanks to the ladies who work in the shop! They saw so much of me as evidenced by my luggage almost not make the weight requirement at the airport. I hope to be able to attend again. Congrats on a great success!

I just received my June Newsletter with pictures of the festival this year. I'm making this a goal of mine to attend next year for sure. I also wanted to mention that the photos of the chairs honoring Dr. E. and Rukiah Shamon were so touching to me I cried. What a loving gesture.

This is very belated, but I wanted to say how much I enjoyed attending my first Festival - I'm sorry I could only go on Saturday, next year I will be there both days for sure! For people who are wondering about attending, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn a lot, and meet fellow workers whom you may know on-line here already or make new friends. Also the opportunity for breaktime readings, etc. is wonderful. I heartily encourage people to attend!

Mary Thomson
HRCC Graduate #1398