Basic Understanding of Traditional African American Hoodoo

Unread post by **cabriellenil** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:01 am

Yes - I'm also a big fan of
* Van Van oil and powder, and
* Chinese Wash, though sometimes I use
* Ammonia to cleanse my apartment.

My other favorite oils are
* Attraction,
* Fast Luck,
* Money Drawing,
* Love Me,
* Follow Me Boy,
* Crown of Success.

As for herbs, roots, and minerals-
* deer's tongues for eloquence, communication in a relationship;
* master root,
* high john for power;
* cinnamon for love and money;
* benzoin gum powder for incense and self-fumigation.
* Lodestones and
* magnetic sands are essential.

I also have
* white, red, green, purple and yellow candles stocked up,
* color pencils,
* brown bag paper.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:19 pm

In addition to these all-around lists, there is also a list of items that rootworking parents like to have around as "school supplies" -- that is, spiritual goods used in spells for helping kids do well in school. It is in the section of the forum about family conjure, here:

spell-casting-do-you-have-all-of-your-s ... 14820.html

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:50 pm

Daily (or near daily) use around here is
* Van Van oil,
* Florida Water,
* Kosher/blessed salt,
* frankincense resin,
* sage.

Stuff that gets used weekly for me personally (not client work),
* Prosperity oil,
* Wealthy Way oil,
* Money House Blessing oil,
* Attraction oil,
* 7-11 Holy Oil,
* Fiery Wall of Protection oil, and
* Fast-Luck oil (I pretty much add it to most everything that is related to drawing work...I need to order a 4oz bottle of this really soon, actually).

I have a specimen size
* lodestone, 5lbs.
It is on my permanent money altar and gets fed weekly with
* Magnetic Sand and the money oils mentioned above.

Also on that alter are several lucky statues and icons of deities associated with prosperity that also get dressed in the money oils weekly.

That's the stuff that gets used MOST often.

SeekingTruth · Unread post by **SeekingTruth** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:51 pm

Does it matter if you do your spells with the lights on or off?
As most of the time i need to have them on because i prefer to do my castings at night and it's sometimes hard to see everything and then i start dropping stuff

So i was wondering if i should just use maybe a light dimmer so it's somewhat dark or does the lighting even matter at all??

Unread post by **Turnsteel** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:41 pm

I wouldn't do it with artificial lights one, either do it during the day or by candle light, but thats me. I believe ms.cat herself has weighted in on this matter too and favours working by daylight or candle light.

Unread post by **cabriellenil** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:59 pm

Do the work by candlelight, is what I've been told by Ms Cat. The artificial lights will 'waste' your candle magic, so to speak.

SeekingTruth · Unread post by **SeekingTruth** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:50 pm

Oh thank you im glad i asked beforehand!
Can i light extra plain candles for extra lighting or would that not be okay?

Maybe i should not trim the wick because i always trim the wick to my candles and maybe if i don't do that it will give me a higher flame..

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:05 pm

I usually light devotional candles everyday on my altar. I suggest you do the same to bless your work and provide more light. The "extra plain candles" would be fine. Just put a picture or statue of Jesus, Mary, a saint, an angel, or deity that you feel close to between them and light them first. Then you will have sufficient light for your work, both physically and spiritually.

Unread post by **starsinthesky7** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:40 pm

I like to obviously put the candles together in the light but I like to have it as dark as possible. Most of my spells I do at night ... i typically do it in the dark.

Wanttounderstand · Unread post by **Wanttounderstand** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:44 pm

I know this may be a silly question but can a freeze spell or a break up spell or any kind of spell to make two people stay away from each other last forever or will I have to every now and again repeat the spell? I am very new to everything and it's so much to take in, I truly believe in everything that this site stands for but I keep thinking that nothing lasts forever and maybe my spells won't either. A little help someone please, am I wrong for thinking this? I believe in God and I do love him so but I have always had a little trouble putting my faith 100% in anything because I have had a lot of disappointment but I just needed a little more faith but how do I get more faith?

Unread post by **starsinthesky7** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:16 pm

Well in my experience. I have broken up my ex boyfriend and his stupid ugly now EX girlfriend forever. I was able to break them up, but they would always get back together so the last and FINAL go I did I just made it so the break up was soo bad that they would never want each other back. I put it in the spell that everytime they are near each other they wouldnt be able to stand each other. Then I helped her get pregnant by some other guy (because she always wanted to get pregnant) I put my ex with another girl which is funny because he left the EX girlfriend just like he left me for her. Broke her heart into a million pieces

Why did this last forever? Well I made the spell so bad for them that they wouldnt get back together. THen I did some secondary things to ensure that they wouldnt. In my case, I never wanted him back...I just wanted this girl to feel what I felt and for him to get what he deserved. And everyone got what they deserved on a platter. I was way too determined

As for faith, I do not understand why everyone on this site has a lack of faith. I mean the situation can't get any worse than it already is if you are doing a love spell unless you decide to stalk or harrass the target. I mean anything is worth a try,and if it doesnt happen then it doesnt happen. The situation was no far worse than when you began the spell right? I understand many of you are emotional about your manner, but sometimes you have to put emotions aside to get what you want. Sometimes you have to dig deep and just BELIEVE. For those of you are that are religious, do you have to see your higher power to know that they are there? On a lighter note, do you have to see air to know the wind is blowing? NO. I know we like to physically see or t at least know some kind of way what we are doing is working. But sometimes you just HAVE to believe.

I know a lot of people have messaged me here asking me how do I just believe and not overthink. It is hard, and it was hard for me. But I figured I have nothing to lose if I can just do that ONE thing. and that is NOT panick. Spellwork takes WORK, and time. I can attest that things seem like they are totally going wrong, but funny thing is that usually it was working out in my favor anyways. At the time it may seem like dang this is NOT working, or that so and so is not coming back. But sometimes those things are necessary to get to the end result.

Sometimes we have to struggle to get what we want. Things are not going to come easy, and sometimes that is what separates those that are "gifted" for the work. Although I disagree with the word gifted. I believe we are all gifted in this work...I think the better word would be capable and more skilled to manage or emotions and be able to just have the ability to not overthink, obsess, and sometimes you have to fade into the background rather than trying FORCE things to work.

Honestly I could write a book, on this post one but I wont lol. But some spells if you do them right can last forever, and sometimes you just have to beiieve blindly that things are working. If you don't then you are your own worse enemy.

MaJiG_GarDen · Unread post by **MaJiG_GarDen** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:15 pm

I completly agree with what stars had just said and I want to re-instate that if you want something bad enough you will work for it. Just believe and have faith.. I was in a bad way and I'm so happy things have worked out for me. So for all of you out there.. well have moments of weakness... do NOT give up..keep at it!

Good luck. =)

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:31 pm

Hello, all!

Regarding the use of a five spot or "portable crossroads" -- the gist as I recall was that ritual items could be interred beneath a created five spot to further fix the ongoing work or that the spell itself could be worked atop the five spot to add power to the spell. One of the pages described a painting which depicted a woman and man working a five spot spell in a room. I've searched for the pages to no avail and have started to wonder if I simply stayed up too late reading...but I hope not, 'cause it's a neat-o idea! If anyone can point me back toward these pages so I can re-read them and/or describe their own use of the five spot in spellwork I would be much obliged.

Thanks for your assistance, hoodoo pros!

Unread post by **Turnsteel** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:28 pm

You might be thinking of this section from the page, Laying Down Tricks and Disposing of Ritual Remains from ms.cat's online book. http://www.luckymojo.com/layingtricks.html#quincunx

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:11 pm

Thanks for replying, HailDiscordia. I re-read the above referenced page but it does not contain the information I am looking for which is the use of a 5 spot for conducting a ritual upon as opposed to using one for dispoal. I will keep searching the archives -- if you do happen come across it and point me in the right direction -- vielen dank!

coastwitch · Unread post by **coastwitch** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:12 pm

The page is at AIRR, the Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers:

http://readersandrootworkers.org/wiki/C ... Crossroads

This contains the illustration you are looking for.

faith2008 · Unread post by **faith2008** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:49 am

I am fairly new to hoodoo and other than a few oils I have on order I really don't have much in the way of supplies. I do have some candles of various colors but I was wondering if someone could recommend some basic supplies that I will need. Mainly for luck, uncrossing, and love spells and a few good books to start with. Also maybe some basic herbs to start with. I did a search for beginner supplies but didn't come up with anything.
thanks in advance for your help.

mommystwin27 · Unread post by **mommystwin27** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:32 am

Great question, I want to know this too, I feel so unorganized right now lol.

Unread post by **Turnsteel** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:01 am

Get Ms.Cats book,
* Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic.
You'll come to swear by it.

As for herbs, well, that depends utterly on you and the kind of work you are going to do, again, Ms.Cat's book, "Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic" is a great resource for this.

As for products to use for the specific goals you mentioned, namely luck, uncrossing, and love -- buying sachet powders,oils and incense is very good.

For luck there is a huge selection to chose from, everything from the short lived but oh so fast,
* Fast Luck to
* Lady Luck for the risk takers.

For uncrossing, their is a formula called
* Uncrossing, believe it or not thats what you need,lol.

And with love again there is a huge verity of formulas, simple look through Lucky Mojo's extensive catalog.

faith2008 · Unread post by **faith2008** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:03 am

Glad to know it's not just me, lol. There's just so much information to absorb and I've been reading as much as possible but as far as supplies there are just soooo many different things out there and I'd just like to know a few basics that are good to have on hand. I'm looking forward to hearing from someone with some experience that can give me some good advice.

faith2008 · Unread post by **faith2008** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:06 am

Thank you so much for the advice and taking the time to reply to me. It is greatly appreciated!

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:58 am

faith2008,

Be more specific about what you wish to accomplish.

For example, if you want a long-term relationship,
* Marriage,
* Stay With Me;
to heat up an existing relationship,
* Fire of Love;
to keep a lover or spouse faithful,
• Stay At Home;
or to attract potential lovers,
* Look Me Over,
Attraction.

Likewise, if you want gambling luck,
* Fast Luck,
* Lady Luck,
* Lucky 13
* Lucky Number
* Black Cat;
or luck in business or a career,
* Money Drawing,
* Crown of Success,
* Wealthy Way,
* Prosperity;
or just some extra cash,
* Money House Blessing
* Money Stay With Me.

Each of these conditions will require a different formula. Fortunately, LM has something for everyone.

faith2008 · Unread post by **faith2008** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:19 pm

Well tomorrow I'm having a reading done so I'm hoping my path will be a bit more clear to me.

My husband has moved out recently and I am torn as to whether to move on (we've had a rocky relationship but we have two children together) or to move on with someone else. There is someone that I've known for a long time that I care for deeply, but I don't know how he feels about me and I'm not sure that he is even interested in having a relationship with anyone. So basically I am just looking for some basic supplies for love, luck, uncrossing (I feel as if I've been jinxed) and just other good things to have around.

Also where is a good place to get a good understanding of what different colored candles are good for.

So far I have ordered Cat's book as per the suggestion above (thanks) and several oils and powders along with some candle holders to use on top of a honey jar. Also I posted another question about the honey jar I have working now and any help with that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

GoddessMojo · Unread post by **GoddessMojo** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:57 pm

faith2008 ,

I still consider myself new and inexperienced. But I think most of us generally need good cleansing and protection; and one can think of conditions that might arise in the course of day to day life that they would like to be able to address quickly without waiting for an order, such as general love, stopping gossip or fighting, bringing or keeping money, protection from crossing, healing of health or other issues.

You want to think about the things we do in hoodoo-
• plain colored floor and body washes,
• plain colored candle burnings (and dressing),
• plain colored mojo bags,
• plain colored laying tricks for others.

Then think about the issues that you most often want to address, then go from there to order a variety of products that might meet many needs.

I figured out what my basics were by studying spells, seeing what was most commonly used, what products that I could not obtain in my own back yard had the most uses, and ordering those plus the herbs I feel a personal affinity with. As you are reading the site and forums make note of the spells that draw your interest- these will tell you what you, personally, should keep on hand.

I highly recommend getting some
• Chinese Wash - great for cleansing all around and it smells amazing.
• Florida water
• Hoyt's cologne
• Van Van oil as a good all purpose road opener and protection, and to anoint any amulets- I use mine almost every day these days.

If you have a love, perhaps some products to keep them. If not, some to draw the love you want.

For uncrossing and cleansing
• 13 Herb bath is used a lot, and it seems like something smart to always have on-hand.

I keep a supply of
• white household candles, often some
• plain colored taper candles,
• plain colored novena candles,

I keep the following oils around all the time too, to dress them:
• Master Key,
• Love Me,
• Essence of Bend over, and
• Money Drawing oils

• Cinnamon powder,
• sage,
• Deer's tongue,
• devil's shoestrings,
• rosemary if you are female,
• cardamom seeds,
• star anise,
• chamomile,
• catnip,
• rose petals,
• john the conqueror root,
all come to mind as mentioned regularly here.

For sprinkling,
• John the Conquerer Sachet Powder is good too.

Get some altar tools and supplies:
• brown paper bags for petitions,
• something to burn incense in,
• a good carrier oil (almond oil is good) for diluting prepared oils,
• an eye dropper,
• something meaningful for inscribing candles for you,
• a small bottle of good whiskey.
These are things you will most certainly need at some point.

Another pointer for beginners- I found, and still find, a lot of comfort and spiritual growth comes from tending to my altar space daily, whether working on something or not. Just taking a few minutes to organize my supplies, cleansing it, lighting some incense, and saying a short prayer at it...helped me to develop a feeling of being more 'on top' of it and in touch with it, less disorganized and overwhelmed- especially when I first started.

Good Luck!

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:12 pm

As others have stated, having gotten
• Miss Cat's book,
I would work on getting very good at various cleansings and protections. That will serve you very well all through your practice.
• Cleansing supplies will ALWAYS be needed.
If you're working a lot, then
• Protection supplies will ALWAYS be needed.

Simple drawing works would be next on the docket. So get
• Drawing supplies related to what you are working on at the momen t(money, love, job, frendship,luck, etc.).

I finally have a very well stocked hoodoo apothecary as I try to order a bit more than I will need for any work that I do - that way I have supplies for that kind of work left over and in my stock after I am finished! Keep that up for a few years and you'll find that you have a very good collection.

supper · Unread post by **supper** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:50 pm

I am planning on also Miss Cat's book it will answer alot of my question as well as this forum.....
Thank You!

Unread post by **ConjureMan** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:57 pm

Here the supplies I always recommend to any beginner or neophyte to this path:

Books:
• miss cat's Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic (absolutely great start and finish for herb work. Comes with dozens of spells that you can work at home).
• The Master Book of Candle Burning by Henri Gamache
• Magic Simplifed by Draja Mickaharic (a bit dogmatic, but overall good principles to learn)
• Spiritual Cleansing by Draja Mickaharic
• The Magic Candle by Charmine Dey

Cleansing:
• Chinese Floor Wash,
• Hoyt's Cologne, and
• Florida Water.

Oils/Powders/Incense:
There are groups of oils/powders/baths/incenses you want to work with. Buy two or three from each category:
1. Visionary (Psychic Vision, Aunt Sally's Lucky Dream)
2. Success (Crown of Success, Master, Steady Work)
3. Money Drawing (Money Stay With Me, Money Drawing)
4. Blessing/cleansing (Healing, Blessing)
5. Court cases (Law Keep Away, Court Case)
6. Love (Fire of Love, Love Me)
7. Protection (Fiery Wall of Protection, Protection)
8. Power (Commanding, Compelingl, Essence of Bend Over)
9. Reversal (Uncrossing, Road Opener, Reversing)
10. Crossing/Revenge (Break Up, Hot Foot, Crossing).

In addition to the condition incense powders mentioned above, consider getting a few resin incenses like
• Myrrh,
• Dragon's Blood,
• Frankensince).

Candles:
Get the package deals on candles from Lucky Mojo. You get a dozen of different colors at a discount. This will cover you for all your cases. Mix up your candles too, get
• Mixed dozen 4" candles
• Mixed dozen 6" candles and
• Mixed dozen 9" jumbo candles.
Throw in a few figurine candles,
• Adam and Eve,
• Devil,
• Genitalia.
The colors of the figural candles can be determined by what you want to focus on first.

Herbs/curios:
Simply look through the Hoodoo at a Glance list and choose what suits your conditions:
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodooataglance.html
But these are a must:
• Calamus Root,
• Licorice Root,
• Tobacco,
• John the Conqueror Root,
• Queen Elizabeth Root,
• 1 large lodestone,
• a pair of matched lodestones,
• magnetic sand,
• black pepper,
• salt,
• cinnamon,
• devil's shoe string,
• ginger, and
• mustard seeds.

Tools:
• Pins and needles (lots of them)
• mojo bags
• Incense burner (Lucky Mojo offers a few great ones)
• Snuffer (this is great to snuff candles and to make the incense cones.)
• paper and pencils and different color pens.
• If you don't want to use the pins to iinscribe or carve your candles get a carver.
• Candle holders (the star ones from LM are afforable and neat)
• Aluminum foil
• heat resistant plates.

That should cover it. lol. I used to give this list to all my new students. It's a lot of materials, but remember you don't need to buy them all at once, but over time you'll probably use all these products so this is what you should look for.

Good luck.

faith2008 · Unread post by **faith2008** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:36 pm

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to be so thorough for me. I have already ordered several things on the lists but now I feel like I have a better idea of what I need to be looking at. There's just so much stuff it's almost overwhelming for me at least.

Thanks again!

kevinloa74 · Unread post by **kevinloa74** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:53 am

is hoodoo traditionally for everyone ? i mean i hear about a lot of male hoodooists and their seemed to be more lots of men rootdoctors but like looking at supplies and stuff it seem really woman oriented, like to bring back a cheating husband. what about a cheating wife? i see a black penis candle for cursing but what about a black vagina or volva candle.

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:01 am

In general, more women than men are interested in religion, spiritual matters, and the occult. Go to almost any church, spiritual meeting, or class on a spiritual or occult subject, and you will see a lot more women than men. Therefore, businesses selling spiritual and occult supplies naturally are more oriented toward women.

kmew1315 · Unread post by **kmew1315** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:48 am

LM also sells vulva candles. There are also supplies like a John the Conqueror root which are geared toward men. Or oils like Follow Me Girl.

GoddessMojo · Unread post by **GoddessMojo** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:02 pm

I think it's best to look at this from the historical perspective to understand why much of the documented spellwork is female oriented.

To begin with, hoodoo is a magical system primarily concerned with day to day living - luck, love, and money; which originated with slaves who came from cultures that had different views of women, and of relationships than the western world. As the keepers of the family- the ones who were not in the fields working sun-up to sun-down, women were the ones to have concerns about family members cheating, or illnessess, or issues. In many cases it was assumed by both sexes that a man had to be 'caught' and 'kept' by a woman by means of magic, and a man wouldn't have concerned himself with keeping a woman in the same manner once she left. Not just because of social views, but later as slaves became free men, because women stood (stand) to loose more in a family when the man leaves. Often a woman and children were a big financial burden. But a man, to a woman and her child, might have been crucial not just for the emotional aspects, or finances, but for social acceptance. That is why, personally, I believe the number of spells oriented at keeping or hoodooing a man instead of a woman exist. In addition, it was women who had the time and knowledge to do this work for the most part. Medicinal knowledge and magical knowledge would have mixed quite a lot, and this would have been passed mother to daughter by simple default of practicality. It wasn't the men tending the little herb garden, wiping the sick baby's nose, worrying about the gossiping neighbor, or the wandering husband. The same thoughts can be applied to that culture of magical knowledge.

I think it's also important to realize that very little reliable written information exists, in comparison to the grimiores and older books of other traditions. What we have from history is a small slice of what happened. And that information does not consist of the whole of what you can do within hoodoo. The written spells are the ones that were simple and effective enough to share and save over generations; but many more exist, and can be made. It's a matter of knowing the correspondences, the rules, the basics, and then combining them in a way that works for you.

Where you see for example a love candle spell using a penis candle, replace it with a vulva candle. Where you see Queen Elizabeth Root, replace it with John the Conqueror Root. Just like any other recipe, they can be altered to your specific use once you know how the ingredients will react.

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:29 pm

Great response GoddessMojo!!

Simbi_Dlo · Unread post by **Simbi_Dlo** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:48 am

Greetings everyone, I hope all is well! I finally received my first package of LM supplies yesterday! I ordered a bottle each of
• Lavender Love Drops oil,
• Q oil, and a
• Lavender Love Drops Mojo hand.
First I just want to say what excellent condition everything arrived in, and how well the bottles of oil were wrapped up! Everything in there smells fantastic! I've always heard that LM products are very high quality, and it's so true! The oils feel amazing, and don't leave the skin greasy or goopy like other oils I have used in the past, and the smell LASTS! I was smelling good all day long! I haven't decided on how I want to use the Mojo hand yet ( whether for a specific person or not ), but I can't wait to fire that Mojo hand up ( which also smells amazing by the way! ) Another thing that I like quite a bit, is the instructions that come with the Mojo Hand. They are very clear and easy to understand! I also like how there is a list of the different things that are in the bag and a description of it's use. I will definitely be a repeat customer! Thank you Miss. Cat and all the others at Lucky Mojo!

Blessings,

Jonathon D.

Unread post by **jwmcclin** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:22 pm

Welcome Simbi_Dlo --

Your list of products, which is gay-oriented reminds me to post a list of oils, bath crystals, incenses, and sachet powders popular for sexual workings:

• Fire of Love
• Love Me
• Lavender Love
• Q
• Kiss Me Now!
• Follow Me Girl
• Follow Me Boy

chy clayton s · Unread post by **chy clayton s** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:08 pm

I absolutely swear by the Lucky Mojo
• King Solomon products
The turn around in my son is amazing.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:05 pm

I have another take on this.

First, thousands of hoodoo spells have been documented, from the 1860s through now, and a large part of them are for love.

When it comes to love, although both men and women do cheat, it is more common for men to cheat on women than it is for women to cheat on men. So there are more spells written for women to win back a cheating man than for men to win back a cheating woman. But both types of spells exist.

Also, if a marriage breaks up and there are children, the woman and her children generally suffer a lot more financial deprivation than the man does, so it is in the woman's best interests to save the marriage. So there are more spells written for women to save a marriage than for men to save a marriage. But both types of spells exist.

However, when it comes to looking for new love, there are plenty of formulas for oils for straight males (John the Conqueror, Nature, Follow Me Girl), straight females (Queen Elizabeth Root in Oil, Follow Me Boy), gay males (Q., Lavender Love Drops, Follow Me Boy), lesbian females (Q., Lavender Love Drops, Follow Me Girl) and for EVERYONE -- Kiss Me Now, Love Me, Attraction, Fire of Love, Come to Me, Look Me Over, Dixie Love -- and there is no preponderance of one gender over another.

Second, after love, the next most common types of spells are for money, in business and through games of chance.

These money spells almost never have a gender component. Both men and women use them.

Third, after money, the next most common types of spells are for protection from jinxes, enemy work, bad luck spells, or gossip on the job.

These protection spells almost never have a gender component. Both men and women use them.

So, in my opinion, by looking at hoodoo as being mostly about love spells and at love spells being mostly about holding a mate, you missed the wider history and structure of the work: We practice conjure for anything from safe travel to killing an enemy to getting a job or finding a mate. In all of these spells, except for love spells of fidelity, the gender of the people involved is not of great importance. Only in that one love spell area will you see a lot more spells used by women than by men, for the reasons stated.

Kajo · Unread post by **Kajo** » Sat May 01, 2010 12:19 pm

I broke a mirror yesterday and have heard it's bad luck. What should I do?

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Sat May 01, 2010 12:43 pm

Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck. This is a European folk magic belief which has been invcorporated by many African American practitioners of hoodoo -- but not all. To remove the jinx, you would bury the pieces at a crossroads, to dissipate the jinx, and go home to take a cleansing bath, for instance a Van Van bath to turn bad luck to good.

By the way, we also do sometimes deliberately break mirrors in conjure work, but only after naming them for some enemy. We try not to look in a mirror thus prepared for an enemy, and we may go so far at to even write the enemy's name on the back of the mirror. That way, when we crack it, the enemy gets the jinx.

skyme714 · Unread post by **skyme714** » Sat May 01, 2010 1:35 pm

It had happened in my family. They say if a mirror breaks, you'll have bad luck for 7 years. My family doesnt know anything about magic, but we believe in God. So my mom light up a white candle and went with it around the house (probably saying a prayer).

Kajo · Unread post by **Kajo** » Sat May 01, 2010 4:38 pm

thanks for the info

Sunshine · Unread post by **Sunshine** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:35 pm

Hi all,
I would like to get an understanding/meaning of the words 'vigil' candles and conjure. What do they do/How do they work?

Thanks in advance

Unread post by **Flamethrower** » Tue May 25, 2010 12:20 am

The search function is invaluable on Lucky Mojo site. The answers to both of your questions are easily obtained here (I could do a cut and paste of the definitions, but that's cheating you since these pages have loads of information for people new to hoodoo):

http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoo.html

http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html#hoodoo

http://www.luckymojo.com/candlemagic.html

Vigil candles and other candles can be purchased via this link:
http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocatcandles.html

ShadowyEmbrace · Unread post by **ShadowyEmbrace** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:34 pm

Hi there everyone I'm new to hoodoo although I've practiced other magic systems in the past.

I've been messing around with candles and carving out prayers / what I want out of the spell on them and using anointing oil to dress them with some success.

My questions:

1. Can you customize a spell?

2. When creating your own spell is there a formula to follow as far as prayers / chants are concerned?

3. Should you use the same chant each time?

Unread post by **starsinthesky7** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:05 pm

Yes you can customize your own spells, and create them.

No there is no "formula" per se.

However, hoodoo does not contin "chants." Some people like to say psalms, other likes to make their own petition of what they want to say, others say novenas or prayers. You would not say the same petition or prayer for every single prayer because obviously every spell and its objective is different. The petition you make on your own, psalm or prayer should be aligned with your intentions. In addition, the petition does not need to be ridiculously long either. It can be one good sentence, to a few sentences if you decide to make a petition. When I first started, I would say the command over and over again such as Come to me Michael, and I would say it 7 or 9 times for 7 or 9 days. That was just an example. I would advise you to read more in "Hoodoo in Theory and Practice," and see how to do things more traditionally.

http://luckymojo.com/hoodoo.html

ShadowyEmbrace · Unread post by **ShadowyEmbrace** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:20 pm

Thanks. I'm very facinated with hoodoo b/c unlike the other systems I've worked with it seems to be almost a freestyle and gives you alot of room to do your own thing unlike other systems that are very ritual based and you can't mess up anything it has to be to the T.

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:29 pm

I wouldn't say that hoodoo is "freestyle" -- things are done according to traditional boundaries and cultural contexts.

There's a good deal of flexibility within those boundaries, but hoodoo is certainly not an anything-goes system of magic by any means.

ShadowyEmbrace · Unread post by **ShadowyEmbrace** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:58 am

Yes sorry didn't mean to imply it was anything goes, but compaired to say the Keys of Solomon which I found just the preperations for the rituals to be next to impossible for a person to accomplish in todays world I'd say the flexability of this system is easy when you don't have days just to prepair.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 12:05 pm

ShadowyEmbrace,

Hoodoo is not "freestyle."

Each system of magic that you study has a cultural context. The Solomonic magic to which you refer is a Kabbalistic and arcane system that was developed in Europe among ceremonial magicians, some of whom were Christians, but were appropriating or adapting earlier Jewish magical texts. If you don't feel drawn to it, do not get into it.

But please, be aware that hoodoo also has cultural content. It is a folk-magical way of working that developed first among African Americans in the US South, and moved northward into urban areas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is not "freestyle" because it is intimately connected to and contextualized within African American society. The "rules" you think it does not have are there -- but they are subtextually understood by traditional practitioners.

For instance, let's look at heating up a situation or a person. This means to produce quicker action, more radical activity, and faster results. If you want to heat up a love affair, use Ginger. If you want to heat up a business deal, use Cinnamon. If you want to heat up a co-worker to the point that she explodes in fury and gets fired, use Red Pepper. We know these things -- and we know why they are like that, and how we can work with them. It is up to you to learn this knowledge from us -- but if you just dabble at "freestyling" hoodoo, using, for instance, Slippery Elm or Honey in a misguided attempt to heat up a court case, you will never amount to much.

Unread post by **nagasiva** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 12:13 pm

The idea that hoodoo is a "freestyle" way of working is a common misconception on the internet.

Ultimately, the origination of this error may have been among outsiders to black culture who want to subtly "possess" hoodoo. Such people may think that by blowing hoodoo's constraints and stylistic nuances apart into chaos, they can claim the remnant fractions as their own, but they are likely to be sadly disappointed when hoodoo's authentic culture-bearers laugh in their faces and refuse to accept their novel rearrangements of a well-known or traditional conjure trick.

Unread post by **Ms Kay** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:07 pm

Hi Everyone. I have a question about front door verses back door. I have always done a lot of work using the front door and some work using the back door. I have recently moved and my back door is my main entrance i park in the back of the building and almost never use the front door. so is my back door really my front door? "does this change the status of my "back door man?" just kidding about the man

All thoughts on the topic are welcome.
shelly

Unread post by **jwmcclin** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:55 pm

Your front door is the front of your house not the main entrance (my opinion). Remember front door is for drawing items to you and back door for items you want to stay with you.

Unread post by **cognitivedissonance** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:04 am

The Mojoceratops -- a dinosaur with mojo.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connec ... beat_name/

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:08 pm

cognitivedissonance --

Thanks for the Mojoceratops post -- that was fun!

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:56 am

cognitivedissonance,

Thanks for the Mojoceratops. That's really cool! And it's Canadian to boot!

niteraptor · Unread post by **niteraptor** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:35 pm

i am about to get my order together and i would like to know what people consider the best of the best to keep on hand.
thanks all

Unread post by **jwmcclin** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:27 pm

I consider the following to be keepers
• Van Van Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/vanvan.html)
• Special Oil #20 (http://www.luckymojo.com/specialoilno20.html)
• Crown of Success Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/crownofsuccess.html)
• Fiery Wall of Protection Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/fierywall.html)
• Money Drawing Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/moneydrawing.html)
• Peaceful Home Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/peacefulhome.html)
• Uncrossing Oil (http://www.luckymojo.com/uncrossing.html)

Unread post by **jwmcclin** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:30 pm

Unread post by **jwmcclin** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:33 pm

Curios
• Rabbit's Foot (http://www.herb-magic.com/rabbit-foot.html)
• Lodestone(s) (http://www.herb-magic.com/lodestone-medium-single.html)
• Graveyard Dirt (http://www.herb-magic.com/graveyard-dirt.html)

Waters and washes
• Florida Water (http://www.luckymojo.com/floridakanangawater.html)
• Chinese Floor Wash (http://www.luckymojo.com/chinesewash.html)
• Hoyt's Cologne (http://www.luckymojo.com/hoyts.html)
• Ammonia (http://www.luckymojo.com/ammonia.html)

niteraptor · Unread post by **niteraptor** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:40 pm

thank you everyone!