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These title words indicate continued African traditions in Hoodoo and conjure. The title words are spiritual in meaning. In Central Africa, spiritual priests and spiritual healers are called Nganga .
A HOODOO DICTIONARY. Following is a list of terms and phrases that can often be found among practitioners of Hoodoo, Conjure and Rootwork. This list if not exhaustive by far and I will make additions as necessary. They are:
Aug 1, 2003 · This Path Leads to and From Africa. Sticks, stones, roots, and bones are the basic ingredients found in the Hoodoo's mojo bag. To understand the concept of Conjur Craft, let us explore the African roots of Hoodoo.
Feb 23, 2021 · In the mid 19th century, cursed, abandoned “ghost ships'' were called hoodoo ships or were said to have been hoodooed. But, if you were born on a Louisiana bayou, you know it’s a word for African American folk medicine and the ancestral ghosts and spirits it conjures. It Is and It Isn’t: Hoodoo Meaning
- 10 Mojo Bag
- 9 Black Cat Bone
- 8 Four Thieves Vinegar
- 7 Goofer Dust
- 6 John The Conqueror Root
- 5 Foot Track Magic
- 4 Bottle Trees
- 3 Graveyard Dirt
- 2 Jack Balls
- 1 Holy Bible
Mojo bags, or “prayers in a bag,” originated in West Africa, where charm sacks are used to drive away evil, bring good luck, or attract lovers. Most mojo bags are made of red flannel. There are also green bags for attracting money, white varieties for baby blessings, and even leather ones found in the West Indies. The contents of the bags change de...
Black cats are often considered a bad omen. However, a bone from a black cat is one of the most powerful charms in hoodoo. It is believed that the bones can grant invisibility, bring back lost lovers, or grant fame. Often, fame seekers are lured to their deathby the bone. Bluesman Sam Taylor learned the technique of harvesting black cat bone from h...
Four thieves vinegar is widespread in hoodoo. It can be used for personal protection, illness prevention, banishing unwanted people from your life, and casting curses. Legend has it that the recipe traces it origin back to a band of thieves in the Middle Ages. The thieves were in the habit of robbing victims of the Black Death. Upon arrest, they re...
Goofer dust is a conjuring potion composed of graveyard dirt and various additives, like snake skin or salt. The name derives from the Bantu word kufua, which means “to die.” It is used as a curse or to do someone harm. A goofer bag is worn to protect against such attacks. Goofer dust is spread in the path of the intended victim or applied to their...
John the Conqueror root is comes in three varieties—high, low, and chewing John. Often, the variety used is determined by local availability. Chewing John is a member of the ginger family and is used to treat stomachaches and influence legal decisions. Low John is typically made of trillium wildflower root. High John is derived from the woody root ...
Foot track magic, in which magical poison enters the victim through their feet, runs deep in hoodoo. It involves throwing powders and magic items in the path of a targeted individual. Typical methods include placing stones in a certain configuration in your adversary’s path, or placing dirt from his footprint in a bottle. The curses can range from ...
Bottle trees emerged in the West African Kingdom of Kongo in the ninth century. African slaves transported them to Europe and the Americas. According to legend, glass bottles placed outside the house at night will capture evil spirits. Once exposed to sunlight the following morning, the spirits will burn up. Bottle trees are also thought to bring g...
According to the Bokongo people of Central Africa, graveyard dirt contains powerful magic. The dirt contains the spirit of the person buried there. Bokongo slaves brought this belief to the Americas in 1730. You can’t just take dirt from a graveyard; it must be bought. This entails communing with the deadand offering them something in exchange for ...
A jack ball (or luck ball) is a collection of magical items, rolled in wax and wrapped in string. Often, enough string is left for them to be hung. Jack balls originated as Kongo charms, in which talismans were bound with a specific number of knots. Jack balls are designed to bring luck in love or money. Some are used for divination. They can be hu...
The Holy Bible is the most powerful book in hoodoo. Most practitioners are Christian, and hoodoo traditions coalesced in the Christian South. Originally, the Bible was seen as the means by which whites enslaved blacks. Africans recognized its power and decided to turn the tables, using the Bible’s power against their captors. The Bible isn’t just a...
Mar 8, 2021 · Conjure, Hoodoo, and rootwork are all parts of what Chireau calls African American Supernatural Traditions. Conjure is African America folk magic, often for security & protection against...
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What do the title words mean in Hoodoo & conjure?
What is the difference between conjure and Hoodoo?
What are the terms and phrases used in Hoodoo?
Where did Hoodoo & conjure come from?
What is Hoodoo? Hoodoo is a tradition, a generational heirloom that is simultaneously medicine, magic, and religion. Born on North American soil to African parents, Hoodoo is a system of survival, adaptation, resistance and reclamation. Hoodoo disrupts, uproots, holds tight, brings near and lets go.
