So, I went to an occult shop the other day. I got to talking to the shop owner.
I start talking about hoodoo and he’s saying voodoo/Vodou... but that’s not what got me.
We’re nearing the end of my purchase, and our conversation. This is when he got me. He pulls out a mojo calling it a poppet.
I’m just thinking “...I’m sorry sir, but that is not a poppet.”
This brings me to a topic I’ve wanted to talk about for a while: synchronizing Hoodoo and chaos magic.
Hoodoo in America and Why White People Are Not Taught
Hoodoo comes from enslaved Africans throughout the Americas (particularly the American/Antebellum South)
Whites attempted to remove African cultural and (spiritual) identities to make a docile population that tends to their desires (slaves). African indigenous/religious worship was outlawed, families and entire generations killed or separated, while racism made it hard for progress in any other area of life.
Because of this African heritage survived by families passing on wisdom verbally and practicing in secret.
Hoodoo has no roots as a religion in America, but borrows from Christianity and Catholicism using prayers and Bible verses to empower the lives and magic of Conjure (Wo)men. Similarly, Obeah, a form of Hoodoo specific to the Caribbean, has no roots as a religion. Obeah was outlawed after 1760 because its role in slave revolts across the Caribbean. Voodoo/ Vodou, unlike Hoodoo, is an organized religion with spiritual hierarchies, ritual ceremonies, customs and practices. However, due to racism, laziness and media portrayals of African-based magic hoodoo and voodoo are often used interchangeably. Obeah was “forgotten” due to its violent history.
Hoodoo‘s past has connections to European and First Nation (Native American) magic systems from when a Conjure (wo)men worked under white witches and herbalists. In those spaces knowledge was shared. Influence from First Nation animism/herbalism is present because some Africans were also kept as slaves by Native Americans.
Simply for the racial history alone:
Now we have a bit of background on hoodoo let’s get into the magic terminology and philosophy.
Magic: Hoodoo and European
Poppets are sympathetic magic which involves using/making a taglock, an object or image that looks like the target. Poppets are used to send energy to a specific person exerting an influence over their person/reality. (European)
A mojo is a talisman that is typically used to help a person to advance or attract a specific energy or outcome to them. Mojos are believed to house a spirit which needs to be ritually “birthed” and fed. (African Animism/Hoodoo)
So, again: mojo =/= poppet
Now, there is a such thing as using a voodoo doll, but, again, this is sympathetic magic which uses a taglock and a figure, made to resemble the target, to influence the persons physical/spiritual/mental/emotional state. That is not a mojo, which functions as a ritual talisman used to draw things into your life (luck, health, wealth, love, etc).
Magical Synchronicity: Hoodoo and Chaos Magick
In my understanding mojos have a similar ritual process, purpose and maintenance as a servitor.
A servitor is a being, or thoughtform, given life through ritual in which it requires a purpose, a name, a physical home, and sustenance to survive and do their intended work.
Similarly, after birthing and activating your mojo it is expected you feed it with spirits (alcohol) and oil at least once a month (preferably once a week) so it can continue to work for you.
Both a servitor and a mojo can go into the (spiritual) world to pull strings or collect knowledge and information for you. They can be used for many reasons, but can go rogue if not treated with care and respect.
Here, Hoodoo and chaos magick can come to a common ground.
You could follow the same process for creating a mojo, then enhance it by incorporating the ritual of creating a servitor. Giving the mojo: life, purpose, a name, thought form (spirit body) and even some independence in how it’s connected to you.
However, doing this removes the title from simply being a mojo/gris gris bag or servitor because the process is different, but borrows influence from both paths.
I understand appropriation is a big topic so I will say because he may not have any relationship to hoodoo the ritual process becomes something different making the mojo a “poppet” for him in his practice. Because the ritual wasn’t the same as one done by a hoodoo/conjure (wo)man it becomes a different item entirely.
I respect that. I just want it to be known that hoodoo is not voodoo and that poppets are European magic while mojos have their roots in African development in an oppressive American society.
