High John Conqueror Root
Well, Strata suggested I put this topic under the discussion forum, so here it is. My little adventure in Rootland - the day I got a tiny High John the Conqueror root, and it *demanded* my attention...
As I'm also plagued with a migraine right now, I'll keep this simple. First, here is what I have posted this morning, along with all the replies I have received, with due credits (this way, it's all in the same place):
My initial post:
Is it possible to place a request for a topic here? *shyly asks*
I'd like to hear more about High John Conqueror and Master Roots, as Oak mentionned in his January vlog, if it's possible...
I received my own High John root yesterday - I was planning to use it to make High John Conqueror oil. However, when I took it in my hand, I found out I *could not* use it for that. The best way I can put it is "I can't hurt the little critter!" and now I'm taking it with me everywhere. There is an energetical connection going on, but I'm not sure what to make of it. All I found is mentions of "that root brings love, luck, health, etc." and it doesn't help me figure out WHY I'm falling for a root. That is TOTALLY unlike me - let alone carry something around like that, be it a root, a bag, a stone, or whatever. I'm confused! O_O
And now I have to order more High John so I can make that oil! LOL
The replies:
From Strata:
Elise, if you are going to make the oil. Order the chips, NOT the whole root.
What you are experiencing, in my experience ;) , is natural. High John is a very powerful personal amulet.
I am sure you could start a discussion with your questions and get everyone's input. Also have you look at places like lucky mojo for info on working with High John??
http://www.luckymojo.com/johntheconqueror.html
From Miss Nel:
Elise, I got mine a couple of days ago as well. =^_^= It really does have a lot of... personality?... to it. You're not the only one who got the "I will love it and pet it and call it John" reaction. <3
Then I replied:
Thanks Strata! It reassures me, I have to say.
And yes, I know about the chips... Or else, the use of a hammer, I guess LOL (That's what boyfriends are for)
And Lucky Mojo was my first stop - gaww, that store is a threat to my wallet!!
Nel - I haven't named it yet... Here's an idea... (OK, Elise, you NEED a doctor. Now. ROFL) It's tempting to call it your baby, that's for sure... :)
From Oakthorne:
So, that feeling that you feel coming from it? The one that feels an awful lot like attraction, wanting to care for it? You listen to that. That's Ol' John offering his mojo, in exchange for being tended to most proper-like.
Feed him. Give him a good home (a box, or other receptacle, that is his alone). Talk to him.
Then, when you're Working, you tell him what you're doing. Remind him that he told us that he'd come when we needed him, that he'd lend us a hand, lend us his mojo, and work hard for us. He said he'd always be here to help folk who have no other recourse but conjure, and that's the need you're in. :)
*double-checks* I think that's all for now... If anyone wants to add something, go ahead. Right now, I've decided to "listen" to what the root is "telling" me, and I'll take it from there as I learn to work with it. I'm already getting some... messages?... both from the root's energy, and my patron goddess' reactions to it (that promises to be entertaining!).
And I promise next time, I'll start the discussion right away *blushes at my own lack of foresight* :D
Tags: conqueror, high, hoodoo, john, root
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Oakthorne on -
One thing to understand about High John the Conquerer (usually pronounced "KON-ker") is that he's a spirit, but not a god. In fact, in the stories about him, he's such a trickster that he sneaks his way into Hell to steal some songs (a metaphor for mojo/conjure tricks) and on his way out steals away the Devil's daughter while he's at it! He even sneaks his way into Heaven, but is a bit more polite while there (though he's there for some of those angelic songs, too).
I'm attaching a PDF that includes some info on High John by Zora Neale Hurston, an ethnographer and folklorist who recorded a lot of the information on hoodoo from a direct, practitioner's perspective, learning hoodoo from a variety of mentors (as compared to Hyatt's perspective, which was that of an outsider asking questions, and sometimes completely missing the point of what he was told).
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Permalink Reply by Oakthorne on
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Once you've read that, you'll come to understand something.
High John speaks to those who're in need of his words; he sings to those who've lost their own songs. He's a hope-bringer, as Ms. Hurston says, bringing hope to those who have none. Though the days of slavery are long past, Ol' Massa is still out there. Only today his lash is catastrophic levels of unemployment. His collar is crippling debt. His brand is expensive, debt-causing schooling for a degree that does not lead to a job.
Ol' Massa is looking to do a lot of things. He's looking to deny folks who love one another the right to marry. He's looking to crush the ability for unions to organize and negotiate. Look around you - you'll see him at work. He's always been there, working his ugliness, and there's a reason that High John is just now coming on strong into some of our consciousnesses, m'darlin's.
It's because he's needed. There's Work to be done, precious, my grandmother used to say, with that gleam in her eye and that set to her jaw. She was right then, and she'd be right now.
There's Work to be done, and High John de Conquer is here to help you do it.
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Permalink Reply by lilgem (love) on -
Okay here is my ? for all of you. My mom is going to send me High John de Conquer. In way I would love that she does but in a way I don't want her to. Make sense? Please help me this if you can. Also how does she send it to me? Like can she wrap it up by itself and then put it in the with other things she is sending me? Thank you for this help. lilgem
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Permalink Reply by Elise on
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Thank you Oak, again. That is exactly what I was looking for - for something more than the common magical uses of the herb per se.
I have read the document, and will read it again. And you are right (as I'm sure you knew ;) ), I do, indeed, need this very much right now. :)
And now that I know a bit more about what it is that now rests on my altar, my Inner Self is quieter. Time to work, like you say. :)
Oakthorne said:Once you've read that, you'll come to understand something.
High John speaks to those who're in need of his words; he sings to those who've lost their own songs. He's a hope-bringer, as Ms. Hurston says, bringing hope to those who have none. Though the days of slavery are long past, Ol' Massa is still out there. Only today his lash is catastrophic levels of unemployment. His collar is crippling debt. His brand is expensive, debt-causing schooling for a degree that does not lead to a job.
Ol' Massa is looking to do a lot of things. He's looking to deny folks who love one another the right to marry. He's looking to crush the ability for unions to organize and negotiate. Look around you - you'll see him at work. He's always been there, working his ugliness, and there's a reason that High John is just now coming on strong into some of our consciousnesses, m'darlin's.
It's because he's needed. There's Work to be done, precious, my grandmother used to say, with that gleam in her eye and that set to her jaw. She was right then, and she'd be right now.
There's Work to be done, and High John de Conquer is here to help you do it.
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Permalink Reply by Elise on
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If it can be any help, I received mine from an eBay seller from England, in a stiff cellophane bag stapled shut, which was wrapped into bubblewrap. I'm in Quebec, Canada - so it travelled overseas.
I'd say, as long as it's properly packaged so it doesn't break, it's fine.
lilgem (love) said:
Okay here is my ? for all of you. My mom is going to send me High John de Conquer. In way I would love that she does but in a way I don't want her to. Make sense? Please help me this if you can. Also how does she send it to me? Like can she wrap it up by itself and then put it in the with other things she is sending me? Thank you for this help. lilgem -
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Permalink Reply by lilgem (love) on
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Thank you that does. I will just tell her to make sure to wrap it by itself and then put with the other things thanks. Now here is other ? She wants me to make her a mojo bag but like I said she lives in FL. do I make her one and do not bring him to life and let her do that with how to do it or what?
Elise said:
If it can be any help, I received mine from an eBay seller from England, in a stiff cellophane bag stapled shut, which was wrapped into bubblewrap. I'm in Quebec, Canada - so it travelled overseas.
I'd say, as long as it's properly packaged so it doesn't break, it's fine.
lilgem (love) said:
Okay here is my ? for all of you. My mom is going to send me High John de Conquer. In way I would love that she does but in a way I don't want her to. Make sense? Please help me this if you can. Also how does she send it to me? Like can she wrap it up by itself and then put it in the with other things she is sending me? Thank you for this help. lilgem -
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Permalink Reply by Oakthorne on
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Traditionally, you need a personal concern in the bag for her. If it's too weird to ask her to send along a little bit of her hair or nails, just make a name paper for her and add to the bag. You make it, tie it up tight, and bring him to life properly, yeah. Send it back to her, tell her to feed it with an oil/perfume/alcohol once per week, to keep it next to her skin for the first week, and then on her person from that point on.
Fun stuff! :)
lilgem (love) said:Thank you that does. I will just tell her to make sure to wrap it by itself and then put with the other things thanks. Now here is other ? She wants me to make her a mojo bag but like I said she lives in FL. do I make her one and do not bring him to life and let her do that with how to do it or what?
Elise said:
If it can be any help, I received mine from an eBay seller from England, in a stiff cellophane bag stapled shut, which was wrapped into bubblewrap. I'm in Quebec, Canada - so it travelled overseas.
I'd say, as long as it's properly packaged so it doesn't break, it's fine.
lilgem (love) said:
Okay here is my ? for all of you. My mom is going to send me High John de Conquer. In way I would love that she does but in a way I don't want her to. Make sense? Please help me this if you can. Also how does she send it to me? Like can she wrap it up by itself and then put it in the with other things she is sending me? Thank you for this help. lilgem -
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Permalink Reply by Lady Bleu on -
It's been 5 months since my root arrived. I also could not cut it or shave parts of it. I don't carry all the time but when I have a bad day I automatically go to it and put it in my mojo bag (which I do carry with me).
Strata I never saw any chips, will have to do some more shopping so I can also make my oil.
I think it's interesting we have the same experiences with this root.
Blessings to all
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Permalink Reply by lilgem (love) on
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Thank you Oak for this I will let her now I wanted to make sure so I wouldn't do this wrong.
Oakthorne said:
Traditionally, you need a personal concern in the bag for her. If it's too weird to ask her to send along a little bit of her hair or nails, just make a name paper for her and add to the bag. You make it, tie it up tight, and bring him to life properly, yeah. Send it back to her, tell her to feed it with an oil/perfume/alcohol once per week, to keep it next to her skin for the first week, and then on her person from that point on.
Fun stuff!
lilgem (love) said:Thank you that does. I will just tell her to make sure to wrap it by itself and then put with the other things thanks. Now here is other ? She wants me to make her a mojo bag but like I said she lives in FL. do I make her one and do not bring him to life and let her do that with how to do it or what?
Elise said:
If it can be any help, I received mine from an eBay seller from England, in a stiff cellophane bag stapled shut, which was wrapped into bubblewrap. I'm in Quebec, Canada - so it travelled overseas.
I'd say, as long as it's properly packaged so it doesn't break, it's fine.
lilgem (love) said:
Okay here is my ? for all of you. My mom is going to send me High John de Conquer. In way I would love that she does but in a way I don't want her to. Make sense? Please help me this if you can. Also how does she send it to me? Like can she wrap it up by itself and then put it in the with other things she is sending me? Thank you for this help. lilgem -
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Permalink Reply by Elise on
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Lucky Mojo sells the chips, 3$ a bag...
http://www.herb-magic.com/john-the-conqueror-pieces.html
Lady Bleu said:
It's been 5 months since my root arrived. I also could not cut it or shave parts of it. I don't carry all the time but when I have a bad day I automatically go to it and put it in my mojo bag (which I do carry with me).
Strata I never saw any chips, will have to do some more shopping so I can also make my oil.
I think it's interesting we have the same experiences with this root.
Blessings to all
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Permalink Reply by Strata on -
Ok, I'll share my experience with High John. :P Which is slightly personal, so I'm stepping out on a limb here peeps. :P
I had a really, really, really horrible experience with a local group, specifically the HP of that group. I got burnt really bad and kinda turned in on myself. I stopped actively practicing. I still participated in group rituals and studied, but no real personal work. I kept making excuses, procrastinating on things that I knew I needed to do. I obessed over other things and allowed them to get in my way, and I tried pretty successively to cut myself off from anything magical, period.
Then, Shawn and I visited Oak, and we visited two hoodoo shops. At the first, Rondos, I picked out my very first High John root. Looked through a bag and found "mine." Though, I didn't really have to look, not really, I pretty much went straight to mine. But I chose him, or he chose me, whichever. Then, we went to Miller's Rexall, where Miss Bev basically *gave me a talkin to.* :-/ Told me to stop letting all this stuff I have going on inside me get in my way. lol
At home, I took out my High John, and found a little container. Absent mindedly I said, "I'm going to put *him* in here, so he's safe." Shawn got all excited, "You called it a him!" Hmph..*i guess i did* I placed him in the drawer beneath my altar and still kept making excuses not to actually use him or do any actual work. (But i kept thinking about him) I kept saying.. "I'll make a master candle after this and this and this..." Well circumstances kinda gave me a violent shove in that direction.
I started working, actively, again... planning rituals.. (which I ADORE) and really working... and working with John... and honestly.. it's like working with *someone*... like having a partner. I can really feel his help... I keep him on my altar now... and honestly.. there are times that I am away that I think about him... and I check on him... I placed sweetgum balls around his container for extra protection.. lol
hoodoo is unlike any work I've done... and honestly I think I'm addicted :P
Still feel strange, Elise?? :P
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Permalink Reply by lilgem (love) on
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That sounds really cool and I know it sounds that geeky and all but now I can't wait. You and Oak and everyone else is getting me motivated. Thank you for sharing this means a lot to me if that means anything to you .
hugslilgem
Strata said:
Ok, I'll share my experience with High John.
Which is slightly personal, so I'm stepping out on a limb here peeps. I had a really, really, really horrible experience with a local group, specifically the HP of that group. I got burnt really bad and kinda turned in on myself. I stopped actively practicing. I still participated in group rituals and studied, but no real personal work. I kept making excuses, procrastinating on things that I knew I needed to do. I obessed over other things and allowed them to get in my way, and I tried pretty successively to cut myself off from anything magical, period.
Then, Shawn and I visited Oak, and we visited two hoodoo shops. At the first, Rondos, I picked out my very first High John root. Looked through a bag and found "mine." Though, I didn't really have to look, not really, I pretty much went straight to mine. But I chose him, or he chose me, whichever. Then, we went to Miller's Rexall, where Miss Bev basically *gave me a talkin to.* :-/ Told me to stop letting all this stuff I have going on inside me get in my way. lol
At home, I took out my High John, and found a little container. Absent mindedly I said, "I'm going to put *him* in here, so he's safe." Shawn got all excited, "You called it a him!" Hmph..*i guess i did* I placed him in the drawer beneath my altar and still kept making excuses not to actually use him or do any actual work. (But i kept thinking about him) I kept saying.. "I'll make a master candle after this and this and this..." Well circumstances kinda gave me a violent shove in that direction.
I started working, actively, again... planning rituals.. (which I ADORE) and really working... and working with John... and honestly.. it's like working with *someone*... like having a partner. I can really feel his help... I keep him on my altar now... and honestly.. there are times that I am away that I think about him... and I check on him... I placed sweetgum balls around his container for extra protection.. lol
hoodoo is unlike any work I've done... and honestly I think I'm addicted
Still feel strange, Elise??
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