Great to be here

[RtheoneA]

I have just recently begun to start learning about the real make up of Voodoo. It seems the biggest challenge for me is availibilty of the different materials used in Voodoo. I live in Indonesia (not originally from here though) and many of the things used in Voodoo, especially conjures is unavailable to me. All should be okay for now though as I am still reading and learning. I just practice anything yet. Since I am new, I will be doing a lot of learning from you guys. Once I have started doing my own things, I will share my experiences as well.

May everyone be blessed.

[CopperFox]

Allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Lucky Mojo company forum; here there is a tremendous amount of practical information about the use of conjure for almost every condition. You have, however, confused Voodoo (an African Traditional religion) with hoodoo (folk magic of the rural Southern US) -- it happens! I practiced hoodoo-style magic for years and had never associated what I did with that particular name; I made the same mistake as you and assumed it was synonymous with Voudou. Hoodoo is not a religion, but is a magical system based primarily out of the Protestant faith. The nature of hoodoo is very rooted in the real world and provides it's users with numerous ways to improve their lives. I hope you enjoy learning more.

Michelle

[RtheoneA]

Thank you for the welcome. I realized I had made the mistake of calling it Voodoo after I was looking at some things. It is quite odd, though, that I had never heard the word 'hoodoo' until just a few months again when I really began researching into it. I am originally from the deep south (lower Alabama, otherwise known as the Florida panhandle) and come from a family whose roots are buried deep in the old south. We always called it voodoo so I guess it just got stuck. I will, however, try to not make the same mistake again.

Blessings

Richard

[CopperFox]

That's interesting to hear, Richard. I am from southern West Virginia and one does not hear the word hoodoo here in the context of rootwork and conjure. In fact, the word hoodoo is most often applied as a synonym for "cheated" or "hoodwinked" -- for example one would say, "He really tried to hoodoo me on that old junk car." I'm not sure where that usage came from, but the word is generally not regarded in a positive light nor is it associated regionally (southern WV coal field area) with rootwork as we know it.

It wasn't until I came across this forum and the related Lucky Mojo webpages that I was finally able to conclude that although I'd never referred to my practices as hoodoo, that's pretty close to what I'd been doing all along. There is a big German presence in WV so one does hear of folk magic practices referred to as Powwow or Hex. But for many who work out of a Biblical context, there is a general reluctance to label the practice at all. Oddly enough,the word conjure is accepted here in a positive context, so I usually describe my work as such. Some of the older folks who practiced herb doctoring and faith healing referred to themselves as Christos, but that term is not heard often among contemporary workers. Also absent here is the expression "doing the job" or "laying a trick" -- my great-grandparents were known as rootworkers and healers and their expression was "I'll try for you."

I hope you enjoy reading the LM webpages and learning more about hoodoo and that you will share some of your own traditions with us.

Michelle

[jwmcclin]

RtheoneA, you are definitely welcomed here...you will gain a great appreciation as I have everyday.