Hoodoo Roots and Herbs

From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers

AIRR Readers and Rootworkers Who Prescribe Spiritual Supplies for Clients Miss cat yronwode -- JayDee Miss Elvyra -- Clifford Low Jon Saint Germain -- Lady Muse Marin Graves -- Ramona Scott Miss Michaele -- Rev. Fred Papa Newt -- Margie Blackwell Miss Marguerite -- Doc Murphy Reverend James -- Papa Gee Dr. Jeremy Weiss -- Sister Girl Ms. Robin -- Deborah Voith Brother Christopher Mama E. -- Reverend Art Valentina Burton -- Miss Bri ConjureMan -- Heidi Holton Angela Marie Horner Lukianos -- Reverend Roy Ilona Bliss -- Deacon Millett Elle DuVall -- Susan Barnes Miss Athena -- Nikki Jean Susan Diamond -- Mama Vergi

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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!

A root doctor's prescription for herbal remedies is usually accompanied by simple instructions for the client's use. This magical coaching may include prayers to be said, the timing of the work, and the number of repetitions recommended. There are also a goodly number of spell-books written by AIRR Members widely available to the public that contain specific spell instructions employing herbs in magical practices.

Contents 1 Hoodoo's Herb-Based Formulary 2 Using Herbs in Conjure Spells 3 Using Living Plants in Traditional Folk Magic 4 Using Herbs in Traditional Folk Medicine 5 Credits 6 See Also 7 Learn About Herbs from AIRR

Hoodoo's Herb-Based Formulary

Floral and herbal essences form the basis for many mundane and spiritual perfumes and colognes, as well as health care and beauty products, and they are central to the practice of aromtherapy. 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. Two traditional prayers for this purpose are Biblical Psalms which praise God for the existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species such as might be used in compounding perfumes, magical supplies, or medical remedies. They are Psalms 104 ("Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great ...") and Psalms 8 ("O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! ...")

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 floor washes, mojo bags and jack balls, condition oils, or for compounding incense, sachet powders, and bath products. They may be placed in a bowl to attract or dispel spirits or made into teas or poultices, or ingested 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 frequently used by root doctors and spiritual candle ministers in the preparation of candle and lamp spells for clients. Home practitioners also may crush or crumble herbs for use in dressing candles and lamps on their own altars.

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 or hollows of old trees. It is thought that in the same way that candles and lamps radiate one's petition into the world, so do the rustling leaves of a tree or shrub convey one's desire or command into the air, or onto the person of those who pass by and brush against the plants.

Likewise, there are spells that employ specific living or freshly cut plants, such as Rosemary, Shame Brier, or Rose bushes, in traditional conjure work, according to the spiritual nature of the plant. Gifts of floral bouquets may contain flowers, herbs, fruits, seed-pods, and branches of shrubs or trees with specific meanings according to a system of ascriptions known as "the language of flowers," or floriography. Practitions also often select appropriate floral offerings when calling for aid from spirits or saints at the home altar, and the knowledge of which plants are associated with which entities an long-standing cultural basis in both religious and magical traditions.

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.

Credits

This page is brought to you by the AIRR Tech Team:

• Author: catherine yronwode
• Contributors: Miss Michaele, Papa Newt, nagasiva yronwode
• Images: Susan Diamond and Unknown Photographers; sourced and photo-edited by Miss Michaele, catherine yronwode, and Lara Rivera

See Also

• Spiritual Supplies
• Hoodoo and Conjure Oils
• Hoodoo Roots and Herbs
• Hoodoo and Conjure Incense
• Hoodoo and Conjure Sachet Powders
• Hoodoo and Conjure Bath Products
• Hoodoo Washes and Waters
• Hoodoo Perfumes and Colognes
• Hoodoo Health Care and Beauty Products
• Hoodoo Candles and Lamps
• Hoodoo Amulets and Talismans
• Hoodoo and Conjure Altar Tools

Learn About Herbs from AIRR

"Seven Roots of Personal Power and Mastery" with Angela Marie Horner. Make a powerful mojo bag with roots only! $25.00 Get the Video and PDF Now!

"Herbal Healing" with Ramona Scott. Prevention, treatments, and cures, using traditional African-American folk-medicine. $25.00 Get the Video and PDF Now!

See All Online Workshops from AIRR