Hoodoo Roots and Herbs

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Jars of herbs at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Herbal teas may be prescribed for magical use
Fresh flowers as well as dried herbs are used in altar work as well as in hoodoo spell casting
John the Conqueror roots may be carried for good luck, protection, money-drawing, and personal power.
Custom herbal blends

Hoodoo Roots and Herbs, as well as compounded herbal preparations, are nature's gift to all of us and embody, in concentrated form, the wonders of the Spirit world in which we live. As spiritual supplies, herbs, roots, and living plants are employed in a number of ways by hoodoo rootworkers and their use is a fundamental part of conjure practice.

Plant species often gain their reputation for magically influencing situations through the Doctrine of Signatures, which holds that the appearance of a natural curio points the way toward its use in magic. A great example of this is the use of violet leaves in love work. Why do we use them? Well, it certainly is partly because they are heart shaped and when we do love work we want to influence someone's heart!

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Hoodoo's Herb-Based Formulary

Famous hoodoo formulas like Love Me, Crown of Success, and Van Van are based in specific leaves, roots, and flowers and the magical properties attributed to them through experience and tradition. If your conjure doctor prescribes spiritual supplies, they should be herb-based products.

Herbs that are grown or wildcrafted by spiritual workers may be harvested at specific times and prayed over both prior to and after harvesting has taken place, but in the case of herbs that cannot be locally grown, they may be purchased in dried form from reputable suppliers and then prayed over upon their inclusion in the work. In either case, the root doctor selects those herbs that are well known for their traditional uses in conjure.

Using Herbs in Conjure Spells

The leaves, roots, stems, seeds, and flowers of magical plants are usually dried after harvesting, and in that form they may be used in the crafting of spiritual baths and floor washes, mojo bags and jack balls, condition oils, for compounding incense, they may be placed in a bowl to attract or dispel spirits, to dress candles, or to treat certain conditions both internally and externally. Often whole roots and nuts will be prepared for use as talismanic curios by being anointed with oil and blessed. Herbs are also used by some root doctors and candle ministers in the preparation of candle spells.

Using Living Plants in Traditional Folk Magic

Many people who perform cleansings with an egg like to offer the egg to a large or powerful tree at the conclusion of the rite; likewise, petitions and prayers are often hidden in the crotches of old trees. Likewise, there are spells that employ specific living plants, such as Rosemary, Shame Brier, or Rose bushes, in traditional conjure work, according to the spiritual nature of the plant.

Using Herbs in Traditional Folk Medicine

Many of the herbal infusions, washes, decoctions, teas, and poultices used for spiritual purposes also have a long and well-documented history of employment in medicine, as well as in conditions which have both physical and spiritual components. Prescribing medically active herbs requires a fundamental knowledge of medical herbalism, especially if the ingredients are to be ingested, but many root doctors are equally adept at recommending herbs for medical conditions as well as spiritual conditions and will do so as long as the client agrees to simultaneously seek and abide by conventional medical diagnosis and treatment.

No matter which herbs, roots, minerals, or zoological curios your conjure practitioner puts together or prescribes for you, the ingredients will be selected with reference to your personal needs, whether for blessing, love-drawing, reconciliation, money-drawing, spiritual protection, court case and legal matters, or aggressive work against an enemy.

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See Also

Learn About Herbs from AIRR

See All Online Workshops from AIRR

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