Hoodoo Bibliography and Book Suggestions for African American Folk Magic

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:04 pm

On 9/26/06, inominandum <inominandum@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> Does anyone here know of an English translation of St Cyprians
> Grimoire (any of the versions)?
>
> The closest that I have been able to find is this page translating a
> few of the spells (which will mostly be familiar to those in this
> class).
>
> http://www.portcult.com/SAINT_CYPRIAN.0 ... SPELLS.htm

Oh wow, this book has the Black Cat Bone working in it almost exactly
as we know it in hoodoo!

"Cook the body of a black cat in boiling water with white seeds and
wood from the willow until the meat is loosened from the bones.
Strain the bones in a linen cloth and, in front of the mirror, place
the bones, one by one in your mouth, until you find that you have the
magic to make you become invisible. Keep the bone with the magic
property and, if you want to go somewhere without being seen, place
the bone in your mouth."

(Indeed it does. Thanks for copying it over to this list. --cat)

- mike rock

http://www.mike-rock.com

(You got a free ride on the lst name, Mike, due to the previous cool post. --Snarky cat)

Unread post by **Gina Karicas** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:29 am

I am a little frazled tonight, trying to get the messsages edited and posted so that i can get home to my dear husband -- and i hope you forgive my shortness. --cat)
**************

think no more of anything except getting
home to your dear husband.

Love,
Gina Karicas

(I did! And we had a wonderful time. Thanks for your patience, all. --cat, who does have a life after all!

)

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:56 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Mike R." <mojomiguel@...> wrote:
> >
> On 9/26/06, inominandum <inominandum@...> wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone here know of an English translation of St Cyprians
> > Grimoire (any of the versions)?
> >
> > The closest that I have been able to find is this page translating a
> > few of the spells (which will mostly be familiar to those in this
> > class).
> >
> > http://www.portcult.com/SAINT_CYPRIAN.0 ... SPELLS.htm
>
> Oh wow, this book has the Black Cat Bone working in it almost exactly
> as we know it in hoodoo!
>
> "Cook the body of a black cat in boiling water with white seeds and
> wood from the willow until the meat is loosened from the bones.
> Strain the bones in a linen cloth and, in front of the mirror, place
> the bones, one by one in your mouth, until you find that you have the
> magic to make you become invisible. Keep the bone with the magic
> property and, if you want to go somewhere without being seen, place
> the bone in your mouth."
>
> (Indeed it does. Thanks for copying it over to this list. --cat)
>
> - mike rock
>
> http://www.mike-rock.com
>
> (You got a free ride on the lst name, Mike, due to the previous cool post. --Snarky cat)

Oh.. don't forget my last name is in the URL in my sig

I read the posts out of order and didn't see your previous note right away.

mike rock

(I know, Mike; i'm just being thorough -- and thanks for allowing me to be that way. Also, i credited you on the Black Cat page for bringing that Saint Cyprian thingee to my attention. --cat)

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:58 pm

On 9/27/06, kineta <kineta@speakeasy.net> wrote:
> > This topic has probably already been brought up - if so, I apologize
> for the duplicate.
>

At the bottom of each message to the list we have this:

If you think your question may have been answered in the past, before
asking onlist you can go to that page and sign in and click Messages
on the left of the page, then you can search for a keyword like
"course book" in this case.

mike rock

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:52 pm

cat wrote:

> > (Also, i credited you on the
> Black Cat page for bringing
> that Saint Cyprian thingee
> to my attention. --cat)

There's a couple typos:

Europ(e)an grimoire magic. (H)ere, thanks to

just a quick heads up!

- mike rock
http://www.mike-rock.com

(Thanks, Mike. I fixed 'em. --cat)

Unread post by **Lukianos** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:24 pm

Hi cat--
This resource may be old news to some, but it was new to me:
Project Gutenburg has made several volumes of US Slave Narratives,
collected by the Works Project Administration during the 1930's and
early 1940's throughout the American South and Midwest, available for
free download (author searchterm "Works Project Administration"):

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/w#a3906

Those needing additional download formats of the Project Gutenburg
files may find them for at least some of the volumes at:

http://manybooks.net/authors/wpa.html

Best regards,

Edward Knapp (still slightly stunned at the sheer volume of material)

Unread post by **melchizedeky1** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:20 pm

Hello Edward,

Thanks for sharing these enlightening and academically informative
History with the group. There is a lot to be deliberated upon in
these volume and I'll bet there are still a lot of unclassified
historic material in both Washington Archives and at the Vatican City
secretive vaults being hidden from the public. and many of these may
never see the day light again, but then who knows? we should always
see our objective life here and now from a mystical point of view, so
putting the issue of slavery into spiritual context, we all would
have a lot to ponder upon. Isn't it possible that the though of
enslaving another man began one day with a thought in mind ?.

Bankole Banjo (LLL)

Andy · Unread post by **Andy** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:29 am

Hi Cat, just wondering if you have heard of 'Every Womans Luck Book:
What Every Woman Needs to Know to Chose a Husband" from the 1930's. My
friend gave it to me years ago as a present. It's a total scream
because of it's old fashioned language (can't say it helped on the
husband front, but very interesting nonetheless). It has every
divination system for finding a husband, including phrenology (for
finding out what he really thinks). Cards, palmistry, astrology,
charms, phrenology, omens, flowers, hand writing, body language, tea
leaves, 'reading' stamps, quizes, activitys with a pencil (close your
eyes and see where it lands, chose yoyur favourite colour and follow
the maze etc). It it a treasure. Here is a little from the intro:

'APART FROM A GUIDE THROUGH LIFE, THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU TO BE
ENTERTAINING SOCIALLY...A GIRL WHO CAN TELL FORTUNES BY PALMISTRY OR
CARDS, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY WILL BE POPULAR WHEREVER SHE GOES!'

Andrea Jean Smith

(I remember that book well. I used to have a copy -- and i loved it dearly -- but, alas, it was lost in the huge Guerneville town-flood that wrecked my book collection in 1986. I have not seen a copy since, but i would pick it up in a minute if anyone could point me to a clean copy at a decent pice. --cat)

Andy · Unread post by **Andy** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:42 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Andy" <andyjs@...> wrote:
> >
> Hi Cat, just wondering if you have heard of 'Every Womans Luck
Book:
> > What Every Woman Needs to Know to Chose a Husband" from the
1930's. My
> > friend gave it to me years ago as a present. It's a total scream
> because of it's old fashioned language (can't say it helped on the
> husband front, but very interesting nonetheless). It has every
> divination system for finding a husband, including phrenology (for
> finding out what he really thinks). Cards, palmistry, astrology,
> charms, phrenology, omens, flowers, hand writing, body language,
tea
> > leaves, 'reading' stamps, quizes, activitys with a pencil (close
your
> > eyes and see where it lands, chose yoyur favourite colour and
follow
> > the maze etc). It it a treasure. Here is a little from the intro:
>
> 'APART FROM A GUIDE THROUGH LIFE, THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU TO BE
> ENTERTAINING SOCIALLY...A GIRL WHO CAN TELL FORTUNES BY PALMISTRY
OR
> > CARDS, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY WILL BE POPULAR WHEREVER SHE GOES!'
>
> Andrea Jean Smith
>
> (I remember that book well. I used to have a copy -- and i loved
it dearly -- but, alas, it was lost in the huge Guerneville town-
flood that wrecked my book collection in 1986. I have not seen a
copy since, but i would pick it up in a minute if anyone could point
me to a clean copy at a decent pice. --cat)

Hi Cat, it has been republished http://www.iconbooks.co.uk/book.cfm?
isbn=1-84046-518-2 I think amazon has it too. Andrea Jean Smith

Unread post by **Yolaine** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:54 pm

>>>(I remember that book well. I used to have a copy -- and i loved it
dearly -- but, alas, it was lost in the huge Guerneville town-flood that
wrecked my book collection in 1986. I have not seen a copy since, but i
would pick it up in a minute if anyone could point me to a clean copy at a
decent pice. --cat)<<<

Apparently it was reprinted in 2003 as there are many copies for sale at www
abebooks.com for only one dollar or more!

Blessings,
Yolaine

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Sabrina** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:55 pm

> Hi Cat, just wondering if you have heard of 'Every Womans Luck Book:
> What Every Woman Needs to Know to Chose a Husband" from the 1930's.
My
> > friend gave it to me years ago as a present. It's a total scream
> because of it's old fashioned language (can't say it helped on the
> husband front, but very interesting nonetheless). It has every
> divination system for finding a husband, including phrenology (for
> finding out what he really thinks). Cards, palmistry, astrology,
> charms, phrenology, omens, flowers, hand writing, body language, tea
> leaves, 'reading' stamps, quizes, activitys with a pencil (close
your
> > eyes and see where it lands, chose yoyur favourite colour and follow
> the maze etc). It it a treasure. Here is a little from the intro:
>
> 'APART FROM A GUIDE THROUGH LIFE, THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU TO BE
> ENTERTAINING SOCIALLY...A GIRL WHO CAN TELL FORTUNES BY PALMISTRY OR
> CARDS, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY WILL BE POPULAR WHEREVER SHE GOES!'
>
> Andrea Jean Smith
>
> (I remember that book well. I used to have a copy -- and i loved it
dearly -- but, alas, it was lost in the huge Guerneville town-flood
that wrecked my book collection in 1986. I have not seen a copy
since, but i would pick it up in a minute if anyone could point me to
a clean copy at a decent pice. --cat)
> >
Errr cat,
i am not sure if this is the boo you are talking about but here are
the site you can get them
(sample:- http://www.iconbooks.co.uk/ewlb.cfm)
place where you can find:-
http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?R=1840465182B
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?i ... 40464240-2
http://www.amazon.com/Every-Womans-Luck ... 5182/sr=1-
2/qid=1162928666/ref=sr_1_2/102-4879571-9079316?ie=UTF8&s=books

i hope this help.
~sabrina~

Unread post by **Sabrina** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:57 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Andy" <andyjs@...> wrote:
> >
> Hi Cat, just wondering if you have heard of 'Every Womans Luck Book:
> What Every Woman Needs to Know to Chose a Husband" from the 1930's.
My
> > friend gave it to me years ago as a present. It's a total scream
> because of it's old fashioned language (can't say it helped on the
> husband front, but very interesting nonetheless). It has every
> divination system for finding a husband, including phrenology (for
> finding out what he really thinks). Cards, palmistry, astrology,
> charms, phrenology, omens, flowers, hand writing, body language, tea
> leaves, 'reading' stamps, quizes, activitys with a pencil (close
your
> > eyes and see where it lands, chose yoyur favourite colour and follow
> the maze etc). It it a treasure. Here is a little from the intro:
>
> 'APART FROM A GUIDE THROUGH LIFE, THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU TO BE
> ENTERTAINING SOCIALLY...A GIRL WHO CAN TELL FORTUNES BY PALMISTRY OR
> CARDS, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY WILL BE POPULAR WHEREVER SHE GOES!'
>
> Andrea Jean Smith
>
> (I remember that book well. I used to have a copy -- and i loved it
dearly -- but, alas, it was lost in the huge Guerneville town-flood
that wrecked my book collection in 1986. I have not seen a copy
since, but i would pick it up in a minute if anyone could point me to
a clean copy at a decent pice. --cat)
> >

Hi cat,
i post a couple of site where you can get that book. But since i have
no idea what to give you as a thank you present, i have order the
book from Powell book store for you. i hope this is the book you and
Andrea were talking about. when it arrive, i'll mail it to you, k ^_^

~Sabrina#823~
PS: sorry i forgotten to sign my ID in my first post

(Oh, Sabrina, that is so nice of you! THANK YOU. I will be very happy to have that book again -- i had no idea that it had been reprinted, so i was kinda mourning for my old copy... so thanks! --cat)

Unread post by **Rebecca** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:29 pm

Every Woman's Luck Book: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Choose a Husband (Hardcover) by Totem Editors

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/st ... aderboo-20

Rebecca Bordes
Student #512

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Chris2 · Unread post by **Chris2** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:05 pm

Hi Cat and Every one

I saw this book on amazon its called Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of
African Americans By Wonda L. Fontenot It looks very interesting
it says in the description that its about the Ethnomedical systems
of the early Louisiana Territory, with its Native and African American
indigenous traditions from 1800's. i was checking if you
have seen this book and if so what is your opinions on it before i
shell the cash for this book its like 95$ for those interested it at
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Doctors-Et ... e-African-
Americans/dp/0897893549/ref=sr_1_1/103-2346328-5124643?
ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173304820&sr=1-1 it has a review and a look
inside tab too

Blessings
Chris Roe (#508)

(Thanks for vringing this book to our attention, Chris. I have not read it, but i probably will buy a copy and then i will tell you what i think. Anyone else who has a copy, please do post a review. Thanks. --cat)

Unread post by **rootwork** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:32 am

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <cyd13cyd@...> wrote:
> >
> Hi Cat and Every one
>
> I saw this book on amazon its called Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine
of
> > African Americans By Wonda L. Fontenot It looks very interesting
> it says in the description that its about the Ethnomedical systems
> of the early Louisiana Territory, with its Native and African
American
> > indigenous traditions from 1800's. i was checking if you
> have seen this book and if so what is your opinions on it before i
> shell the cash for this book its like 95$ for those interested it
at
> > http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Doctors-Et ... e-African-
> Americans/dp/0897893549/ref=sr_1_1/103-2346328-5124643?
> ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173304820&sr=1-1 it has a review and a look
> inside tab too
>
> Blessings
> Chris Roe (#508)
>
> (Thanks for vringing this book to our attention, Chris. I have
not read it, but i probably will buy a copy and then i will tell you
what i think. Anyone else who has a copy, please do post a review.
Thanks. --cat)
> >

Chris,

I read the book a few months ago and found it interesting. It is
more geared toward modern practitioners than to those of earlier
days, though. Fontenot conducted a series of interviews with
traiteurs (a French term meaning "treaters") in rural Louisiana and
summarized their life histories and work. Overall, it was not the
easiest reading for me because of its medical focus, but I learned
some things. It only looks at a small portion of a single state,
but it is the best book I know of on traditional African American
medicine as practiced today. Another book I'd recommend for those
interested in African American ethnomedicine is Working Cures, by
(Charla or Sharla) Fett. It looks at historical treatments more
than does Secret Doctors.

Jeff Anderson

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:32 am

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <cyd13cyd@...> wrote:
> >
> Hi Cat and Every one
>
> I saw this book on amazon its called Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of
> African Americans By Wonda L. Fontenot

<snip>

> > Blessings
> Chris Roe (#508)
>
> (Thanks for vringing this book to our attention, Chris. I have not
read it, but i probably will buy a copy and then i will tell you what
i think. Anyone else who has a copy, please do post a review. Thanks.
--cat)

I've just ordered this book via interlibrary loan. My life is pretty
full right now, but when I read it, I'll comment on the parts that I
actually understand.

Michaele Maurer
#361

Unread post by **Tavane** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:59 pm

Hey Cat,

What so you think about Judika Illes' book "The Element Encyclopedia
of 5000 Spells?" It contains a lot of seeming-hoodoo recipes and
spells. If any other rootworkers have knowledge of this book, I'd
appreciate your professional opinion as well.

(We've discussed that book at length here on this list. Judika Isles is a student of this course, but has never turned in homework. --cat)

I've been looking for effective cut and clear instructions and have
yet to find it. I have a customer who is interested in removing her
ex-husband from her life while still maintaining his responsibilities
to their child. I did hear some info on a podcast, however no
specific instructions for the cut and clear.

(http://www.luckymojo.com/cutandclear.html --cat)

Thanks,
Tavane Taylor #936

Unread post by **Auntie Sindy Todo** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:23 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Tavane" <tavane@...> wrote:

> > I've been looking for effective cut and clear instructions and have
> yet to find it. I have a customer who is interested in removing
her
> > ex-husband from her life while still maintaining his
responsibilities
> > to their child. I did hear some info on a podcast, however no
> specific instructions for the cut and clear.
>
> (http://www.luckymojo.com/cutandclear.html --cat)
>
> Thanks,
> Tavane Taylor #936
>

>>Tavane and other students, I'm going to speak out here a little
bit and hopefully offer some good feedback. While you are studying
the course book, I found it IMPERITIVE to go back and forth and
visit all the various web pages on LMC to really grasp the work and
to put it into practice. I still to this! I looked over and over a
descriptions of spells and how to do something properly. Dressing
candles for instance is huge. The proper way to make a mojo goes on
and on when you start deeply researching. I believe ya'll have so
much information available to you right here that sometimes we fail
to see that. The cut and clear spell that LMC has is amazing. It is
a wonderful spell to use and very effective. You just have to do it
right and don't stray from tradition. I have a collection of books
that were recommended when I first took the course and I add some
now and then when the "wise ones" on this list suggest things. And,
being a book nut, I happened upon the 5,000 spell book myself, and
yes, I bought it, but truly I've cracked it maybe 5 times just for
entertainment more than anything. I guess what I'm saying is, try
using the spells taught by your teacher first and get down how to do
things well and with success before seeking some modern day
rendition. I find people try to make rootwork so complicated by
trying to look at a spell 5 different ways, and therefore they mess
up their work. Its amazing to me. X, Sindy Todo

Unread post by **Tavane** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:54 pm

Thanks for the good advice Sindy. I was asking about the book
because I've had it for some time and used to sell it in my shop. I
value Cat's opinion as it applied to the validity of the hoodoo
references/recipes in the 5000 Spells book. Not only have I learned
to check out the Lucky Mojo site but I'm also going back and reading
all the Group entries and listening to the podcasts repeatedly. It
has at last sunk in to search the Group history and the Lucky Mojo
site before posting a question. Since I know of no other hoodoo
worker personally other than Cat, she is indeed my only trusted
source for hoodoo information at this time. Your suggestion to keep
it simple is one I shall remember.

Tavane Taylor #936

Unread post by **Lance M Foster** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:39 pm

I was babysitting my young nephew this morning and took him to the library. There in the
kids' section I saw a book called _Black Cat Bone_, about the life of Robert Johnson. It was
prety good and nice art. It made me wonder what other books having hoodoo as an element
might be out there for kids. I came up with three:

_Black Cat Bone: The Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson_, by J. Patrick Lewis and Gary Kelley
_Mama Do-Right And The Black Cat Bone_, by Cara Johnson
_Clara and the Hoodoo Man_, by Elizabeth Partridge

For those of you who have kids, these might be worth checking out.

Lance Foster

Renee Dooley · Unread post by **Renee Dooley** » Wed May 16, 2007 7:01 pm

Two of our favorite kid books are " The Conjure Woman
"by William Miller and "My Grandfather is a Magician "
by Ifeoma Onyefulu. The first is about a boy who is
healed by the Ancestors and the conjure woman. the
other title , has a wonderful story about a child who
decides he wants to learn to heal people with roots
and plants like his Grandfather. Renee Dooley #760

Unread post by **kevinnagel1012** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:12 pm

Peace and Light Every one~

Well, I finished reading through the Course, most of the back post,
and am starting out on learning the lesson's and performing them, as
required. I know I did this a bit differently, but I like to read
through the material first and then work on them.

I am sorry, I missed out on Cat's Birthday! I only live a few hours
away and hopefully will make it next year. Happy Birthday Cat!!

As I was going through the back posts, I discovered a wealth of
information, I was wondering if anyone has gone through them and
compiled them into a useful referance guide? If not, it would be
something I would consider doing, for the good of the group, if there
was interest in this.

I of course would, compile the bookelt, as a word doc and post it in
the file section or send it to Cat, to do with as she see fit, just a
thought.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Cat, Maybe next year, I will be able to attend!

Kevin Nagel Id 1012

(No one has ever edited or sorted the posts. If you have a mind to do even a fraction of that work, my thanks would be abundant -- and so would those of many others, i know. --cat)

Unread post by **Auntie Sindy Todo** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:58 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "kevinnagel1012" <etkn@...> wrote:
> >

>
> I of course would, compile the bookelt, as a word doc and post it in
> the file section or send it to Cat, to do with as she see fit, just a
> thought.

> Kevin Nagel Id 1012
>
>>>Kevin that is a brilliant idea and fabulous offer of your time. I
know we would all be deeply appreciative. -sindy todo #564

Unread post by **glddraco** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:06 pm

I received the book for the hr course and I started chapter 1. Find it
very enlightening I started my own paper analyzing myself. I will post
most of it when I finish it if that is okay. Now I have to wait for the
Rootwork book to come in, which has become apparent that it's pretty
important. I knew I shouldn't have ordered from Amazon!

-Jeff Bunting-
Id #1056

(I"m glad you got the course book. If you are talking about posting your response to homework assignment #1 (about your family) or #3 (about yourself) here, please do NOT. I need the homework assignments to be printed out and mailed to me in paper format, clearly marked on the outside as HOMEWORK. I prefer students to mail all 8 assignments in one box, which cuts down on loss and misplacement. Thanks. --cat)

Unread post by **glddraco** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:43 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "glddraco" <glddraco@...> wrote:
> >
> I received the book for the hr course and I started chapter 1. Find it
> very enlightening I started my own paper analyzing myself. I will post
> most of it when I finish it if that is okay. Now I have to wait for
the
> > Rootwork book to come in, which has become apparent that it's pretty
> important. I knew I shouldn't have ordered from Amazon!
>
> -Jeff Bunting-
> Id #1056
>
> (I"m glad you got the course book. If you are talking about posting
your response to homework assignment #1 (about your family) or #3
(about yourself) here, please do NOT. I need the homework assignments
to be printed out and mailed to me in paper format, clearly marked on
the outside as HOMEWORK. I prefer students to mail all 8 assignments in
one box, which cuts down on loss and misplacement. Thanks. --cat)
> >

Oh I meant I am writing an article about the subject about inherit gifts
such as second sight, etc. Its sort of a reflection of my younger days
and experiences I've been through. The home work I'll work on when I
complete all the required material.

(Oh, i get it! Sorry 'bout the confusion. YES, i would be interested in reading your memories and recollections about inherited gifts in your family, and i know that others here would be too. Sharing this sort of information is particularly helpful to those who did not grow up in the hoodoo tradition and who wonder what it was like for those who sdid. --cat)

Unread post by **Stygian Shadow** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:49 pm

If you need any assistance, please let me know.

Chris Saretto #983

sidhe_fay · Unread post by **sidhe_fay** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:06 pm

hello i just wanted to say hi to everyone, my name is fay,and i'm from
canada, i finished reading "Not In Kansas Anymore" and finally found
something that i have been kinda learning on my own. i'm a hedgewitch
as was my grandmother but my trips to Ireland had me learning the fairy
lore and the plant/tree meanings of there country. i will spend the
next few days reading every post on here and waiting for my books to
arrive so i can dig into my new learning, i hope to make it down to
your shop soon, and look forward to joining in the talks on here ,warm
regards to everyone.

fay ford

(Hello, Fay, and welcome to the course and to this Yahoo group. Your book should be in your hands soon if you don;t already have i. If you have questions, just ask here. I hope you enjoy the material and turn in you homework assignments so you can graduate. --cat)

Unread post by **Tobor Experiment** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:55 pm

Can somebody of you folks give me informations on a Book called

"Famous Voodoo Rituals & Spells"
by H.U Lampe (1974)?

I've got this peculiar book in the US during my last trip. It has almost nothing to do with VOODOO, it's HOODOO.It has some errors here and there and I wonder if anybody here knows anything about the history of this book and its author and what you think about it.

many thanks
Giorgio Sancristoforo
#725

(The book was published by the folks at Marlar and Tyrad in Minneapolis, Minnesota -- Larry B. Wright and his wife -- but i never have met anyone who knew H.U. Lampe, so it must be a pseudonym of Wright's. The "real" H. U. Lampe was a avian behaviourist. See

Baker, M.C., T.K. Bjerke, H.U. Lampe and Y. O. Espmark. 1986. Sexual response of female yellow hammers to differences in regional song dialects and repertoire sizes. Anim.Behav. 35:395-401.

The Marlar / Tyrad company has been around for a fairly long time, but i only got up to that part of the country one time, back in the 1970s, and i could not run them down, as they worked out of a P.O. Box at the time. By the time i had a street address for them, i was nowhere near Minneapolis. --cat)

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:23 pm

Hi all, I'm back, this is # 360 himself. Thanks Siva!

Here are some books I had found on Google that may be of interest to folks in the course:

The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism,
Now Combined with The Book ... By Lauron William De Laurence - 1915
http://books.google.com/books?id=0w0MAAAAIAAJ

The Master Key by LW de Laurence - 1914
http://books.google.com/books?id=2doLAAAAIAAJ

The Lesser Key of Solomon, de Laurence edition - 1916
http://books.google.com/books?id=OQ0MAAAAIAAJ

Mother Shipton's Gipsy Fortune Teller - 1890
http://books.google.com/books?id=YXZM6InoCx4C

Hope everyone enjoys these, you see mentions of De Laurence and some of these books in
the Hyatt interviews. I saw cat mentioned The Master Key here recently too.

I love the ads in the Mother Shipton's book.

best

Mike Rock
Austin Tx

(Great to have you back, Mike, and congratulations on your graduation. Thanks for the neat list of books, too. These are very useful tomes. --cat)

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:26 pm

I found this book with a lot of entries that mention hoodoo:

Kentucky Superstitions
By Daniel Lindsey Thomas, Lucy Blayney Thomas · 1920

http://books.google.com/books?id=fRT5Ojg_tM4C

Some examples from page 284:

RED PEPPER:

3843. To hoodoo a person, put an old shoe full of red
pepper under his house.. North-eastern Kentucky

3844. To do harm to a person, take a lock of his hair,
burn a part, throw a part to the wind, and bury
a part.

3845. A hoodoo bag is a red flannel bag about six by four
inches in size, containing a pinch of salt, a pod of
red pepper, a rabbit's foot, a chicken spur, and
some ashes. It must be "made in dead o' night.
widout a spec' o' light." Central Kentucky Negroes

3847. To keep a person from hoodooing you, wear red
pepper in the heel of your shoe
Blue Grass Negroes

SILVER DIMES:

3849. If you wear a silver dime in your shoe, you cannot
be hoodooed Louisville Negroes

3850. Wear a piece of silver about each ankle to keep
from coming under the power of the hoodoo
Central Kentucky Negroes

FRIZZLY CHICKEN:

3851. Negroes keep chickens with the feathers turned
back the wrong way, to keep away the hoodoos...
Negroes

Cool eh? Well worth a download..

Mike Rock

(Thanks, Mike. You are a wonderful researcher. I have bookmarked the site. This is a famous book. Entry #42 ("Place a child on the floor with a Bible, a dollar, and a deck of cards...") sure brought back memories! That one was taught to me by my babysitter, Mrs. Hare, who was from somewhere in the South. She had done it with her own grandchild, she told me. Years later, when i had my own baby and had moved to the Missouri Ozarks, someone told me the same thing and urged me to try it with my daughter, so i set the three articles out on the floor, put her down in front of them -- and she chose the Gray Kitty, who had walked right into the set-up! She still loves cats to this day. --cat)

Unread post by **Miss Nina** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:52 pm

Dear Miss Cat,
I want to thank Mike for the link to the online book Kentucky
Superstitions. The nursing program which I attend requires us to pass
the ATI exam (a preparatory test for the NCLEX)in order to advance from
third to forth semester and again to graduate the program. It is not a
test that you can really study for, you have to retain what you have
learned thus far. As I was reading Kentucky Superstitions, I saw many
entries that concerned helping children in their school work. Okay, at
44 I am no kid but thought why not. I pulled out my Med-Surg textbook,
placed it on the floor and stood on it for a moment. What could be
more simple? To my suprise, I felt a tingling in my calves that lasted
for a while. The next day I passed the ATI, finishing in the 91st
percentile. I am sure it didn't hurt that I have studied like a crazy
person for all my nursing classes, but I felt that doing this really
added something special. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Nina Strickland #1078

(Very cool. Thanks for testimonial! --cat)

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:05 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "strickland_nina" <NSTRICKLAND@...>
wrote:
> >
> Dear Miss Cat,
> I want to thank Mike for the link to the online book Kentucky
> Superstitions.

And thanks from me, too! I can think of about a dozen books I
need to try this with

Michaele Maurer
#361

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:12 pm

If anyone wants a set of Harry Hyatt books, Vol. 3, 4, and 5 please
call the Lucky Mojo shop. Our hours are 9-5 Pacific time, seven days a
week. The number is 707-887-1521. The set of 3 books is $300.00 plus
shipping to wherever in the world you are. Note that Vol. 1 and 2 are
not available; likewise neither Folklore from Adams Country 1931 or
1965 are available.

These three books are sold on a first come, first served basis. We
will not hold a layaway, nor will we break up the set.

Hyatt books don't come around all that often, so if you want them but
cannot afford them right now, or if these are sold by the time you
call, i suggest that you leave us your name, number, and email address
so that we may contact you at a future time, if we get in another set.
You can also email the shop, asking to be put on our Hyatt Waiting
List. Do not email me. Send email to Ernie at order@... and
ask him to put you on the Hyatt Book Waiting List.

cat yronwode

Unread post by **chriswar7** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:31 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >
> If anyone wants a set of Harry Hyatt books, Vol. 3, 4, and 5 please
> call the Lucky Mojo shop. Our hours are 9-5 Pacific time, seven days a
> week. The number is 707-887-1521. The set of 3 books is $300.00 plus
> shipping to wherever in the world you are. Note that Vol. 1 and 2 are
> not available; likewise neither Folklore from Adams Country 1931 or
> 1965 are available.
>
> These three books are sold on a first come, first served basis. We
> will not hold a layaway, nor will we break up the set.
>
> Hyatt books don't come around all that often, so if you want them but
> cannot afford them right now, or if these are sold by the time you
> call, i suggest that you leave us your name, number, and email address
> so that we may contact you at a future time, if we get in another set.
> You can also email the shop, asking to be put on our Hyatt Waiting
> List. Do not email me. Send email to Ernie at order@ and
> ask him to put you on the Hyatt Book Waiting List.
>
> cat yronwode
>

I wanted to say to everybody, buy these books!!! If you are on this
group, you must be a student of hoodoo and Hyatt is absolutely key for
those of us that don't have access to a rootworker in our area to
teach us. Even if you are lucky enough to have some to teach you
personally, Hyatt is full of useful information.

Now, of course, Hyatt has his problems, but I bought my full set from
Cat, oh, years and years ago, and I have super happy that I did. These
books are out of print and their price is going nowhere but up!

Buy them and buy them now!!!! Take it from Student number 10!

Christopher Warnock #10(G)
Renaissance Astrology &
Astrological Magic
chriswarnock@renaissanceastrology.com
Renaissance Astrology Website
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:28 pm

(This is in part a response to Chris Warnock's post on the importance
of easy contact by clients.)

The recent offering i have made -- to host a page at Lucky Mojo of
readers and root doctors who have graduated from my class and who also
buy regularly buy at least some of their supplies from Lucky Mojo --
has resulted in my having some deep conversations with other readers,
and i am now planning to publish a booklet on the subject of how to be
a professional reader in this modern era. There have been a few such
booklets published in the past (e.g. from the 1910s through the 1950s,
that i know of and have collected), but although these books contain
rock-solid advice that has stood the test of time, new technologies
have given rise to new ways of doing business that also should be
addressed.

I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material about
how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
"Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.

cat yronwode

YouTube · Unread post by **Miss Bri** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:54 pm

This sounds great.
Would you have to be a graduate to take the course?
Would you have to currently be a professional reader?

Briana Saussy (Henderson) #1154

(Like i said:

> > This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
> Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
> and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.

graduate students only. --cat)

Unread post by **SelahS** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:56 pm

Miss Cat wrote:

> >I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
>useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
>conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
>manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
>for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material about
>how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
>Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
>"Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
>This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
>Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
>and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.

Hi Cat,

Indeed it will be useful -- thank you so much for creating this booklet. As a professional reader, I find?goodness in knowing that such a handbook can be in circulation within this community as it will help to create/deepen industry standards. [Upon graduation, I will be making arrangements to be listed on Lucky Mojo site?as a reader per your instructions-- and thank you for that generous opportunity].

I wasn't sure if you meant that you'd be including your candle service manual information?into the Reader and Root Worker's Manual - ? If not, as someone who runs a Spiritual Church Movement based candle ministry (Chalmette Candle Ministry), I was wondering if you had plans of making your candle service manual available to the public as well or would consider doing so?

I'm eager to learn the dates of the workshop this summer!

All best and kindest thoughts,
Selah Saterstrom
# 942

(Yes, the candle service manual will be part of the entire package. --cat)

Unread post by **Madame_Nadia** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:57 pm

( The recent offering i have made -- to host a page at Lucky Mojo of
readers and root doctors who have graduated from my class and who also
buy regularly buy at least some of their supplies from Lucky Mojo --
has resulted in my having some deep conversations with other readers,
and i am now planning to publish a booklet on the subject of how to be
a professional reader in this modern era. There have been a few such
booklets published in the past (e.g. from the 1910s through the 1950s,
that i know of and have collected), but although these books contain
rock-solid advice that has stood the test of time, new technologies
have given rise to new ways of doing business that also should be
addressed.

I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material about
how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
"Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.

cat yronwode)

cat, these are wonderful news!

Thanks for putting this information together. I am in the midst of growing
my own spiritual *business* (as opposed to having a few clients once in a
while), though I am currently in very early stages. My dream is to be able
to sustain myself in that way. One of the problems, of course, is how to
raise myself from anonymity, while showing that I am not just another fraud
psychic who is only after peoples' money. So I am building a website, I got
a new phone line dedicated for this work, and I have some other ideas
stirring in my pots...
But still, I have many questions on how to conduct business in a good way
that will sustain me and will serve my clients in the best way.

I've been reading closely the recent, and not so-recent, posts on the
subject. It is great to learn what other spiritual workers think and how
they conduct their businesses. But having a manual of sorts and a workshop
around these issues would be super helpful to me and what I am trying to do.

Count me in for the workshop!

Love,
Nadezda Karuna Potter 1166

> >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Auntie Sindy Todo** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:59 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >

> and i am now planning to publish a booklet on the subject of how to be
> a professional reader in this modern era. There have been a few such
> booklets published in the past (e.g. from the 1910s through the 1950s,
> that i know of and have collected), but although these books contain
> rock-solid advice that has stood the test of time, new technologies
> have given rise to new ways of doing business that also should be
> addressed.
>

>>>>>>Cat, what a wonderful idea! And how great a series of booklets
will be and gee, isn't this EXACTLY what you are called to do? I know
that for sure! hahaha. I feel like you are getting some amazing
direction and a countless ideas that will propel you foward in 2008.
This is going to be an amazing year! Yeeha and bring it on...xxx,Sindy
Todo (G)564 PS. How do I get the church booklet? I didn't know about it
and I'm a member! Thanks.

(Wait for the finished version for professional readers -- unless you really want to "collect" a copy of V.1.0 as a keepsake -- 'cause it'll be revised again soon. --cat)

Unread post by **Deborah Voith** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:36 am

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >
> (This is in part a response to Chris Warnock's post on the
importance
> > of easy contact by clients.)
>
> The recent offering i have made -- to host a page at Lucky Mojo of
> readers and root doctors who have graduated from my class and who
also
> > buy regularly buy at least some of their supplies from Lucky Mojo --
> has resulted in my having some deep conversations with other
readers,
> > and i am now planning to publish a booklet on the subject of how to
be
> > a professional reader in this modern era. There have been a few such
> booklets published in the past (e.g. from the 1910s through the
1950s,
> > that i know of and have collected), but although these books contain
> rock-solid advice that has stood the test of time, new technologies
> have given rise to new ways of doing business that also should be
> addressed.
>
> I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
> useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
> conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
> manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
> for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material
about
> > how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
> Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
> "Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
> This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
> Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
> and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.
>
> cat yronwode
>
Hi Cat,
Wow, this is so timely. I've been doing a little research since we
talked the other day about me listing as Palmist/ Tarot reader. You
really got me to thinkin' about a bunch of stuff. I've gathered some
information and- I should have an intake form, Descrption of my
service and what the client can expect from the type of reading that
I do, and also detailed instructions for how clients can get their
palm prints to me. I've decided that I will use my cell phone/ voice-
mail- I just need to change the message on it.
This all will take me a few days (I do my nursing job in the morning
and all the rest of this wonderful stuff later in the day.) I am so
excited about your planned book and workshop. I would love to come
(and maybe my sister too!) When is it going to be?

Deb Voith

(I am planning workshops for the months of May, June, and July. More details as they arise. When you send me your client intake form (via email, i presume, to nagasiva's email addy), i will fill it out (as a real client would) and then send you my palm prints for the reading. Good going, Deb -- i am glad to see you taking these steps. --cat)

Unread post by **Mother Mystic** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:23 pm

I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material about
how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
"Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.

cat yronwode

Cat, I love that you're doing this and am looking forward to owning a copy of both books, especially since I have started my own Spiritualist influenced church here in R.I.

I am wondering if you will include any information on federal laws regarding "fortune telling" as readers and root workers are regarded as such in certain instances. I know the local laws can vary from town to town so you'd need an encyclopedia to cover that but the federal laws apply everywhere...

I'm particularly interested in knowing if a disclaimer of sorts is needed in any/all advertising?

Thank you for all you do Cat!

Susan Asselin (G) #668

(As you note, the laws regarding both readings and disclaimers are highly varied. In some towns a bond must be posted or a license issued, in others a permanent address is all that is needed, or proof of having paid taxes within the region for a certain amount of time. There is a lot of historical background to this that sets the scene of the "why" behind the "how it is." I intend to cover that by explaining the historical and regional range of such laws, with clear examples, and then encouraging people to inquire within their own state, county, and township. --cat)

Unread post by **Sister Jacqueline** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:24 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Nadezda Potter" <nadezda.potter@...>
wrote:
> >
> ( The recent offering i have made -- to host a page at Lucky Mojo of
> readers and root doctors who have graduated from my class and who also
> buy regularly buy at least some of their supplies from Lucky Mojo --
> has resulted in my having some deep conversations with other readers,
> and i am now planning to publish a booklet on the subject of how to be
> a professional reader in this modern era. There have been a few such
> booklets published in the past (e.g. from the 1910s through the 1950s,
> that i know of and have collected), but although these books contain
> rock-solid advice that has stood the test of time, new technologies
> have given rise to new ways of doing business that also should be
> addressed.
>
> I am convinced that a substantial booklet on the subject will be
> useful to readers of all types, not only those who work within the
> conjure tradition. I have already written a 16-page candle service
> manual for our church practitioners, telling them how to set lights
> for clients, and i will add to this a wealth of general material about
> how to be a good, *professional* as well. Look for this "Reader and
> Root Worker's Manual" to come out from Lucky Mojo very shortly after
> "Astrology for Rootworkers" which is set for February 17th release!
> This summer i will hold a "Readers and Root Worker's Workshop" at
> Lucky Mojo and distribute the booklet to all workshop participants,
> and thereafter offer it for sale to my graduate students only.
>
> cat yronwode)
>
>
>
> cat, these are wonderful news!
>
> Thanks for putting this information together. I am in the midst of
growing
> > my own spiritual *business* (as opposed to having a few clients once
in a
> > while), though I am currently in very early stages. My dream is to
be able
> > to sustain myself in that way. One of the problems, of course, is how to
> raise myself from anonymity, while showing that I am not just
another fraud
> > psychic who is only after peoples' money. So I am building a
website, I got
> > a new phone line dedicated for this work, and I have some other ideas
> stirring in my pots...
> But still, I have many questions on how to conduct business in a
good way
> > that will sustain me and will serve my clients in the best way.
>
> I've been reading closely the recent, and not so-recent, posts on the
> subject. It is great to learn what other spiritual workers think and how
> they conduct their businesses. But having a manual of sorts and a
workshop
> > around these issues would be super helpful to me and what I am
trying to do.
> >
>
> Count me in for the workshop!
>
> Love,
> Nadezda Karuna Potter 1166
>
>
> >>>>>>>>> cat, I will be at the workshop as well.

nadezda, my advice about websites is that you clarify what you do. I
have many who call about "psychics"? I ask them to define "psychic" -
because to me, the term reminds me of butter, like Challenge Butter,
Sunnyside Farms Butter, Conuntry Crock, Imperial....etc. What type of
spiritual work do you want and what is the results you want?

I fell its' like asking them to decide if they want the toenail
removed from fungus infection or just some nail polish thrown up on
top of it.

Just some thoughts for you as you create that site,

Jackie Mathers (G) 496

Unread post by **Madame_Nadia** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:08 pm

(nadezda, my advice about websites is that you clarify what you do. I

have many who call about "psychics"? I ask them to define "psychic" -

because to me, the term reminds me of butter, like Challenge Butter,

Sunnyside Farms Butter, Conuntry Crock, Imperial.... etc. What type of

spiritual work do you want and what is the results you want?

I fell its' like asking them to decide if they want the toenail

removed from fungus infection or just some nail polish thrown up on

top of it.

Just some thoughts for you as you create that site,

Jackie Mathers (G) 496)

Dear Jackie,

Thanks for the words of wisdom and the neat metaphors!

This is definitely helpful and I totally agree with you.

I also think that being clear about the work that one offers narrows down the clients that would come � in a good way. It's like having a clear mission statement to refer to, knowing surely what are "my dos and don'ts" while attracting the type of client�le I am interested in serving.

Going back to your metaphor: "Yes, I'll remove your fungus infection, but I will not infect your x-husband with it."

Thanks,
Nadezda Karuna Potter #1166

____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **chriswar7** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:02 am

>
>
>
> Cat, I love that you're doing this and am looking forward to
owning a copy of both books, especially since I have started my own
Spiritualist influenced church here in R.I.
> >
> I am wondering if you will include any information on federal laws
regarding "fortune telling" as readers and root workers are regarded
as such in certain instances. I know the local laws can vary from
town to town so you'd need an encyclopedia to cover that but the
federal laws apply everywhere...
> >
> I'm particularly interested in knowing if a disclaimer of sorts is
needed in any/all advertising?
> >
> Thank you for all you do Cat!
>
> Susan Asselin (G) #668
>
> (As you note, the laws regarding both readings and disclaimers are
highly varied. In some towns a bond must be posted or a license
issued, in others a permanent address is all that is needed, or proof
of having paid taxes within the region for a certain amount of time.
There is a lot of historical background to this that sets the scene of
the "why" behind the "how it is." I intend to cover that by explaining
the historical and regional range of such laws, with clear examples,
and then encouraging people to inquire within their own state, county,
and township. --cat)
> >

Let me throw in my 2 cents worth about disclaimers. A typical one
is "For entertainment purposes only"

Here is a much more elaborate disclaimer I found

"There are no guarantees to the truth, likelihood, or validity of the
information obtained from our sites or services. All claims made by
are NOT guaranteed. Since Readings are based on expressed opinions,
and are not based on scientific factors, but rather subjective factors
of creativity and personal feelings, our sites and services cannot be
held responsible for and do not guarantee the accuracy of: claims or
advice. No perceived predictions, opinions, information, advice or
comments should be interpreted as factual or actual."

In the past there was a significant risk for a worker to say that,
"yes, I am doing magic/spiritual work/astrology, etc. and
magic/spiritual work/astrology really works" You could get prosecuted
for fraud for simply acting on what you believe in and offering what
you felt was a legitimate service.

The "for entertainment purposes" type disclaimer is a result of this
older official attitude. Nowadays, this is less and less prevalent
and we are, for the most part, left to pursue our spiritual work. The
line really is fraud and if you believe in what you are doing and not
setting out to defraud the client you should be in pretty good shape.
Now of course this depends on your local laws and local prosecutors,
but thank goodness, we are getting less and less harassed.

There are a number of problems with disclaimers. First of all, by
saying "for entertainment purposes only" you are saying that what you
do is just for fun, just for amusement, literally nothing but a joke!

I don't know about you, but I am pretty serious about my work and I
know it really works! I am no way going to say anything else on my
website other than this is the real thing and I believe in it myself,
from experience and from my study.

Some people say "oh, but that's just for liability purposes, of course
I think magic works" Well, as a lawyer let me tell you that you can't
expect to say one thing, and then act in the exact opposite expecting
that your words will stick, but your actions will be ignored. That's
like punching someone repeatedly and saying "I'm not hitting you!"
and expecting that you will beat an assault charge.

Thus you can't advertise yourself as doing real magic or divination in
big bold headlines all over your website and then avoid any problems
by putting, "for entertainment purposes only" at the bottom in tiny
print, unless you really are just a party astrologer or mentalist type
entertainer. Nothing at all wrong with that, but that's not what I do!

Like a lot of things laymen do to avoid "liability" there are no easy
tricks, no simple magic words that shield you from the law. As an
attorney, I can tell you the best defense is to act honestly and
fairly. If there is a legal problem with you doing spiritual work,
you need to deal with that directly, not hope that a disclaimer will
take you off the hook.

--
Christopher Warnock
HR Course Student #10(G)
Renaissance Astrology & Astrological Magic
chriswarnock@renaissanceastrology.com
Renaissance Astrology Website
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com

(I agree, Chris; the "for entertainment only" disclaimers really used to trun me off when i was young, and i never use them. As many of you who buy Lucky Mojo products know, our herb packets carry disclaimers, which, frankly, i appended because they were so old-fashioned looking they just gave me a retro thrill to go along with all the other old-timey-look stuff i like. There are numerous variations i have written over the years -- and the length of the wording i put on each label depends solely on how best i can make the typesetting fit on the label with forced justification in the last line. In one of its longer forms, my herbal disclaimer runs, "We make no claims or represenations for the spiritual efficacy of this [x} but provide it as a genuine botanical curio only." The shortest form is "We make no claims for [x] but sell it as a curio only." So, in a sense, those disclaimers are decorative, as far as i am concerned, as is the delightfully patriotic disclaimer (that still makes me smile) that i put in the opening pages of HHRM. Interestingly enough, however, i have been attacked in usenet for having such disclaimers on my products at all, with various hecklers saying that either (a) the disclaimers prove that i don't believe in my own poducts and practices or (b) the disclaimers were something the government forced me to put on my products. Neither of those statements are true -- but what this demonstrates is that ANY disclaimer, even a deliberately arch, tongue-in-cheek, retro-vintage disclaimer, can upset people who are looking to be upset. Another interesting old-time disclaimer, by the way, is the one found at the bottom of each page of "The Ancient's Book of Formulas" by Lewis de Claremont. The recipes are for well-known hoodoo formulas, and, as is typical, their names often tell the conditions for which they are to be employed -- such as Attraction, Commanding, and so forth. In order to avoid any legal repercussions associated with names that seem to promise specific results, this displaimer appears at the bottom of each page: "*These names are used only as a reminder for those used in the well known Occult Books."

--cat)

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:10 pm

Thanks, everybody, for this excellent advice on disclaimers and their use.

Miss Cat wrote:

> > Another interesting old-time disclaimer, by the
> way, is the one found at the bottom of each
> page of "The Ancient's Book of Formulas" by
> Lewis de Claremont. The recipes are for well-
> known hoodoo formulas...

I jumped on that -- and found both this book and "Legends of Incense,
Herb and Oil Magic : Esoteric Students' Handbook of Legendary Formulas
and Facts" through interlibrary loan. Thank you for the tip

Michaele Maurer
#361

Unread post by **Susan Diamond** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:33 pm

I used to post "Big Brother says For entertainment purposes only" when advertising for readings but that was long ago.

Now I post no disclaimers for readings or products (haven't for years) for the reasons Chris states. Glad to hear a lawyers opinion on it

What I do often do is, use phrases like "use in rituals for.." It implies the person who buys this is already doing rituals and that it is a tool to assist the practitioner in as few words as possible. I also use phrases like "most common uses are..." I'm not so much concerned about the legal ramifications but rather the person who thinks "if I buy this love oil I will get love" without any further effort.
I'm glad this came up and I really love what you said Chris.

-Susan Diamond
(#1184)

(Good points, Susan. I do similar things: "Used in making mojo hands for protection" or "folks say that this herb can..." --cat)

Unread post by **Lee Canipe** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:58 am

I found an interesting book at my local library I thought others might be
like to read as well. It's called Herbal and Magical Medicine: Traditional
Healing Today by James K. Kirkland. Mr. Kirkland is a professor at East
Carolina University and he writes about rootwork and other magical practices in
Eastern NC and Tidewater VA. This is the area where the famous Dr. Jim Jordan
resided. The book takes an outsider's look at these practices, so it's
rather clinical with a psycho-social, anthropological perspective. However, there
is a lot of good information.

Lee Canipe #398 (G)

**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Inominandum** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:22 pm

The following is my review of the new edition of the 6th and 7th
Books of Moses from Ibis Press edited by Joseph Peterson.

It will be published in the summer edition of Behutet Magazine, but
I thought it might be of interest to folks here on the list.

---------------

The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, By Joseph Peterson
Reviewed by Jason Miller (Inominandum)

For the last several years the "next big thing" in occultism has
been what's Old. Perhaps as a counter balance to the excesses of
Chaos magick and wild eclecticism, scholars have been digging back
into the past. Back before the Neo-Pagan movement, Crowley and the
Golden Dawn changed how we viewed magick in the twentieth century.
One of the main authors at the heart of the "Old System Magic"
movement is Joseph Peterson. His edition of the Lesser Key of
Solomon immediately put to shame all editions that came before it.
His publication of the John Dee's Five Books of Mystery instantly
put the origins of Enochian magick into a clearer light. Now he has
turned his considerable talents to a classic text that has been a
favorite of Hexmeisters, Hoodoo's, Santero's, and Witches
everywhere: "The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses."

I first ran across this tome as a teenager in a conjure shop in
Lakewood NJ. It was a cheap paperback with nearly unreadable Hebrew
seals, but it captured the imagination. Unlike the Golden Dawn
influenced magick I had been studying, most of the rituals in this
book required little more than a seal and a prayer. You could even
purchase sheets of "parchment" with the seals printed on them in red
ink. It was not only magick, it was convenient!

As I grew older I learned more about the origin of the book, how it
was actually selections from the Weimar Bible and had made its way
from Germany into European Cunning craft, African American Conjure,
and Dutch Pow-wow. But all the available publications of it were
always cheap and shoddy. I wished that someone would give it the
same attention that other magickal grammars had received. This year
I got my wish.

This edition, from Ibis Press, the same people that put out the new
transition of Abramelin, is drastic improvement over any edition
previously available in English. Its 338 pages, hardcover, well
indexed, and is the result of consulting not just one, but several
of the early manuscripts. Best all, the seals are completely
legible. The seals of the Seven Great Princes are even rendered
properly in red and black.

As with other recently published works of old Grimoires like The
Goetia of Doctor Rudd, some of the greatest parts of the book are in
the appendixes. The standard appendixes of Psalms and such that have
traditionally appeared with the book are all here but there is also
a wealth of documentation that never appeared in any previous
edition. Appendix seven is a side by side comparison of
incantations from the 6th book of Moses with those from the Versus
Jesuitarum Libellus. Appendix eight gives us excepts from Sefer
Razielis that much of the 6th and 7th is based upon on. Appendix 9
gives us Johann Faust's Fourfold Harrowing of Hell, a Grimoire
detailing the spirits of the four elements.

The Sixth and Seventh books of Moses have sometimes gotten a bad
name in Ceremonial Magick circles not only because of their
association with folk magick, but because of the cheap and
unimpressive additions that it has been restricted to. As if the
fact that it was a paperback for under $10 affected the magick
inside of it. It is my hope that modern ceremonialists, as well as
folk practitioners, will pick up this new edition and realize that
the separation between "high" and "low" magick is largely a false
one. There is a reason after all that the classic Grimoires like
the Clavicula Solomonis and Abramelin, and even more recent grammars
like Barrett's Magus have sections on "natural" magick.

Scholarly, yet readable and in a quality printing, this edition is
everything that you could want in a new translation of this work.

----------------

Jason Miller Student #99

(Thanks, Jason. I too like the new Peterson edition very much, although the price puts it beyond the reach of most hoodoo practioners, who will, of necessity, be sticking to the old Wehman Bros. edition reprint. We will be carrying both editions in the shop. --cat)

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:23 am

Jason wrote a pretty nice book himself called "Protection and Reversal Magick - A Witch´s
Defence Manual". Mixed methods but down to earth in most ways and pragmatically true
to its title. Despite the Lwellyn-like cover it was what it claimed to be, no fill out texts and
packed with practical trix.
I liked it, Benedikte liked it and I am sure many of you out there will like it as well.
Thanks for a nice book. You should send cat a copy, Jason.

Dr. Johannes Gardback #321 (GGA)

Unread post by **Inominandum** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:49 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Johannes" <votangreen@...> wrote:

> > Jason wrote a pretty nice book himself called "Protection and
Reversal Magick - A Witch´s
> > Defence Manual". Mixed methods but down to earth in most ways and
pragmatically true
> > to its title. Despite the Lwellyn-like cover it was what it
claimed to be, no fill out texts and
> > packed with practical trix.
> I liked it, Benedikte liked it and I am sure many of you out there
will like it as well.
> > Thanks for a nice book. You should send cat a copy, Jason.

>
> Dr. Johannes Gardback #321 (GGA)
>

Sorry for the delay in reply, I had some technical troubles.

I did however want to thank you for the kind words about my book. I
havent mentioned it here because it is such a mixed bag of tricks,
and I appraciate the focus of this list on traditional Hoodoo.
Though it has a good helping of hoodoo influence, it also has
Tibetan influenced rituals, Greek rituals, Ceremonial Magick, and
probably a few influences I cant think of. Having come into contact
with a conjure shop owner, a Rosicrucian teacher, and a Tibetan
Ngakpa to learn from; all within 20 square miles of each other in
NJ, and all before I was 21, I couldnt write it any other way.

Since someone else brought it up, I will take the opportunity to
mention that its recently been translated into spanish and is
available as "Magia Para Protegerse y Combatir los Hechiszos" from
Ediciones Obelisco. It has a different but equally rediculous cover.

Both Lucky Mojo and Dr Kioni's radio hour are listed in the back as
places to go for further study in Hoodoo proper.

Thanks again for the mention, and for your kind words about my book.

Jason Miller, student #99 (G)

Unread post by **mslaurakate** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:57 am

I wanted to pass this resource on to my fellow students.

-----

The text of the 1965 edition of Folklore from Adams County Illinois
[by Harry Middleton Hyatt] has been made available from the following websites:

www.justicepublications.com
www.quincynet.com

It can also be found at www.qucommunication.com/FACIpdf.pdf

I'll be making more materials available from a new press site I am
working on this summer and will keep you posted.

John Schleppenbach
Quincy University
Missouri Folklore Society President

By the way -- we'll have our annual meeting of the Missouri Folklore
Society on November 6, 7, 8 in Hannibal.

http://missourifolkloresociety.truman.e ... %20meeting%
202008/2008%20meeting%20announcement.htm

John Schleppenbach

-----

Laura Kate Barrett
#1042

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:03 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "LK Barrett" <lkbarrett@...> wrote:
> >
> I wanted to pass this resource on to my fellow students.
>
> -----
>
> The text of the 1965 edition of Folklore from Adams County Illinois
> [by Harry Middleton Hyatt] has been made available from the
following websites:
> >
> www.justicepublications.com
> www.quincynet.com

> ... www.qucommunication.com/FACIpdf.pdf

> Laura Kate Barrett
> #1042

Thanks, Laura! Hyatt's Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft - Rootwork
constantly refers to FACI, which I didn't have till now. Frustrating
- but thanks for your help!

Michaele Maurer
#361 (G)

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:04 am

Here is a sample chapter from a book called "American Shamans" by ack
G. Montgomery Jr., of Western Kentucky University. WKU published it in
2008.

If you go to this URL --

http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlts_fac_pub/3/

-- you will find "Chapter One: Beneath the Spanish Moss: The World of
the Root Doctor" -- and if you look in the upper highthand quadrant,
you will find a "download" button in red.

Click on that and download the chapter with Adobe Acrobat Reader, and
then save a copy for yourself. (If you don't already have a copy of
the Acrobat Reader, there is a button in the same area that will allow
you to download that too.)

I don't know if this article has been mentioned before in this list,
but i just found it tonight. I think it is fairly recent, because one
of the quotations it takes from my web site is something i added
fairly recently, sparked by some conversations here in the
correspondence course Yahoo group.

Enjoy!

cat yronwode

Unread post by **kcat100** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:03 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >
> Here is a sample chapter from a book called "American Shamans" by ack
> G. Montgomery Jr., of Western Kentucky University. WKU published it in
> 2008.
>
> If you go to this URL --
>
> http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlts_fac_pub/3/
>
> -- you will find "Chapter One: Beneath the Spanish Moss: The World of
> the Root Doctor" -- and if you look in the upper highthand quadrant,
> you will find a "download" button in red.
>
> Click on that and download the chapter with Adobe Acrobat Reader, and
> then save a copy for yourself. (If you don't already have a copy of
> the Acrobat Reader, there is a button in the same area that will allow
> you to download that too.)
>
> I don't know if this article has been mentioned before in this list,
> but i just found it tonight. I think it is fairly recent, because one
> of the quotations it takes from my web site is something i added
> fairly recently, sparked by some conversations here in the
> correspondence course Yahoo group.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> cat yronwode

Wow, Cat!

Congratulations! It's great to see your writing out there like this! I
love how he described you as an "authority", for you are!

As I read, I came across an idea that I understand is generally not
accepted by Rootworkers, but the author apparently believes in it. It
is similar to the Wiccan Three-Fold Law. It is on page 21 of the
downloaded document. There, he is warning someone about doing rootwork
to harm another:

"Are you sure this is what you want? Remember that things you do will
eventually find their way back to you."

He goes on further to say:

"... to intentionally inflict harm on another is to harm one's self
and those you love as well."

Is it correct that this idea is usually not accepted by Rootworkers?

Thank you, and again, kudos to you, Miss Cat!

Kendis Chase (#1344)

(Opinions about the repercussions (if any) that follow upon the performance of rootwork with the intention of disturbing social relationships, especially when motivated by simple greed or egotism -- but, for some, even when working out a justifed retribution -- are individual opinions, There is no monolithiv "board of karmic review" that decides what is moral and what is immoral. This does NOT mean that there "are no rules," merely that individuals, families, and local communities tend to have ther own rules, and these rules may dffer fro ne practitioner to another. These concepts are covered in Lessons 34 and 35, The Ethics of Conjure, Part One and Part Two. --cat)

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:59 pm

Hi Cat,

I found some more interesting information about islamic folk magic
online and I would like to add this to some sort of YIPPIE
collection /folk magic archive. Do we have such?

/Johannes

(Hold onto that thought, Johannes. YIPPIE will soon have its own announcement. Nagasiva is tending to that right now. --cat)

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:11 pm

I know that many of my students and shop customers are active purchasers of books on spirituality and folk magic, so i am taking the liberty here of inviting you all to the unveiling of the our simple, basic, no-frills Amazon Associates book store specializing in books about spirituality, divination, healing, and related subjects.

Today, with the help of course graduate and apprentice Lukianos and Deacon Millett, we have assembled the first components of our book shop. More will follow

Please think about buying from us at Amazon when you purchase such books -- they do charge less for shipping than we do through the shop.

Thanks for your interest.

cat yronwode

Unread post by **Auntie Sindy Todo** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:15 pm

LOVE the bookstores! This is just wonderful. Hi dear friend Lukianos ...so nice of you guys to do this work! Brilliant!

X Sindy Todo

beansidhe3 · Unread post by **beansidhe3** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:08 pm

Auntie Sindy Todo,

I wholeheartedly agree, I know where I'll be getting a lot of my books now.

Unread post by **Madame_Nadia** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:08 pm

catherine,

This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I know where I'll be buying my next few books.
xo

Unread post by **Lynne Sydelle Russo-Gordon** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:38 pm

Cat,

The link for Conjure Woman noted below, no longer exists. However, you
can view the HTML version here:

http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chesnu ... /menu.html

Or you can download the PDF at Google Books:

http://books.google.com/

Peace/Lynne S. Gordon, 1425, A

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, <anklebells800cows@...> wrote:
"Conjure Woman" (fiction, but accurate on hoodoo depictions) by Charles
W. Chesnutt is online atthe University of North Carolina -- the URL for
their collection of Southern Literature" is
metalab.unc.edu/docsouth/chesnuttconjure/conjure.html --cat)