Hoodoo, Conjure and Rootwork

This group is intended to be a forum for discussing Conjure, Rootwork and Hoodoo, a system of low magic that relies extensively on animal, vegetable and mineral curios, as well as a handful of other materials and techniques.

Hoodoo - not to be confused with Vodou - is not a religious system, though it does borrow elements of religious systems for use in its techniques. There is no pre-assumption of spiritual affiliation with Hoodoo, which borrows from a wealth of African, Native American (particularly those tribes found where the slave trade thrived) and European folk magic techniques.

Content

General Concepts & Techniques

Some basic concepts and techniques employed in hoodoo practices.

• The Magical Use of Psalms, by Sangraal
• Crossroads Magic & Crossroads Keys, by Oakthorne
• Personal Concerns, by Oakthorne
• Buying Graveyard Dirt, by Oakthorne
• Saint Cards, by Leisha
• Honey Pots, by Oakthorne
• Poppets, by Grayson
• Conjure Graveyard, by Oakthorne
• High John the Conquerer Root Lore, by various
• Weight-Loss, Conjure Style, by Oakthorne

Conjure Formulary

A variety of posts containing recipes for some of the various oils, powders and other substances used in hoodoo work.

• Conjure Oil Recipes, by Duir
• Powder Recipes, by Shawn
• Astrological Oils Recipes, by Shawn
• Vegetable, Mineral...Animal?(Curios), by Shawn
• Four Thieves Recipes, by Elise
• Hoodoo Herbal Baths, by Rachel Ann

Mojo Bags

Making mojo bags in the hoodoo traditions, small bags filled with specific ingredients intended to be carried and tended in order to cultivate certain magical effects.

• Fixing a Hand/Toby, by Oakthorne

Setting Lights & Candle Magic

The tradition of using candles to accomplish magic is very old and prevalent in conjure traditions. Here are some of the techniques and methods involved.

• Master Candles, by Oakthorne
• Making Client/Petitioner Candles, by Oakthorne
• Practical Candle Burning, by Oakthorne
• Covering with Light, by Oakthorne
• Problems Melt Away Candle, by Grayson
• Homemade Conjure Lamps, by Flammeous

Marie Laveau's Words

A series of folkloric testaments attributed to Marie Laveau, containing excellent hoodoo lore and advice. Very practical, and charming to boot.

• Advice to Spiritualists and Mediums
• Helping Hand for Person Who Has Never Had Spiritual Help

Hoodoo Blogs

Blogs written by members of this site detailing some of their hoodoo and conjure work.

• Oakthorne: Making a Healing Toby; Healing Help: A Candle Burning Octavo
• Shawn:Setting My Lights; Buying Graveyard Mud; Crossroads Connections
• Strata: Buying Graveyard Dirt ; Making My Saint Expedite Candle; Rose of Jericho/Saint Expedite Petition Ritual; My High John the Conquerer Oil; Setting My Protection and Healing Lights; Making My Conjure Graveyard; A Prosperity Working
• Rachel Ann (EisHexe):Setting Lights During a Thunderstorm; My First Petitioner Candle
• Charlie Jackson: Making & Working a Hot Foot Bottle

Basic Needs Series

A great series in which people post their top three needs in their lives, to allow the others in this group to "practice" their conjure-style evaluation and prescription of hoodoo remedies for those needs.

• Introductory Post
• Individual Posts: Alorer, Beorc Kano, charletsumtymes, Elise, EmJ, Flammeous, Grayson, Julica, Leisha, Miss Nel, Oakthorne, Seren Haf, Shawn, Strata  

Other Useful Links

• Modern Conjurefolk and Resources
• Hoodoo Blogs
• Orion Foxwood's Introduction to Southern Conjure
• "These Old Bones," by Dolly Parton
• Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
• Hoodoo Hymns, a collection of jazz songs with hoodoo as part of the subject