The Hoodoo Library
After weeks of continuous writing, research, and all-nighters, the original Hoodoo Masterpost has officially evolved into the Spirit Roots Hoodoo Library!
The Hoodoo Library is a growing collection of tutorials, traditional recipes, directories, and databases of information on everything from traditional Southern black belt hoodoo to modern urban rootwork. All content within the Library is created by and for black rootworkers, which means that all sources of information about hoodoo come from black rootworkers only.
The Library mostly contains original content written by me, but it also features quotes and posts from other black authors, scholars, and rootworkers that are fully credited as a shareable/rebloggable embedded post or via a citation.
>>> 🌿 JUJU BABY ZONE
A space dedicated to answering the age-old question, “How do I get started with practicing hoodoo?” These articles and guides are specifically for those new to the traditions of rootworking.
Hoodoo Dictionary: A guide to terminology and concepts
Hoodoo History: An overview of the tradition’s origins and development
Hoodoo vs. Witchcraft: The key differences (and overlap!)
Ancestral Foundations: The important role that our ancestors play
Basic Hoodoo Skills: A summary of key skills for rootworking
Petition & Prayers: Understanding how we communicate with Spirit
Crossroads & Road Opening: The role of the crossroads
Mojos, Hands, & Spirit Bottles: A deep dive into one of the most powerful hoodoo practices
Psalms in Hoodoo: The complex history behind the usage of Psalms
>>> 💫 HOW TO HOODOO
A gallery of tutorials and walkthroughs on rootworking techniques, skills, and methods. You’ll find step-by-step instructions for different traditional techniques and in-depth explanations of hoodoo methodology.
How to Contact Ancestors: A simple guide to making and building a relationship with your ancestors
How to Set Up Altars: Step-by-step through the process of constructing your own altar whether it’s for prosperity, love, or to honor your ancestors
How to Time Workings: A walkthrough of the hoodoo perspective on using times of the day, days of the week, and lunar cycles
How to Work the Crossroads: Tips, tricks, and traditions for working the crossroads, road opening, and meeting crossroads spirits
How to Read Playing Cards: Background on the role of divination in hoodoo and how to use this traditional rootworker’s divination tool
How to Write Petition Papers: Tutorial for writing and working petitions
How to Use Florida Water: An overview of the many different ways to use this popular cologne
How to Work Candles: An in-depth guide through the process of shaping, dressing, and working a candle the hoodoo way
How to Work Mojos & Spirit Bottles: Working mojos and spirit bottles, including awakening and feed their spirits
How to Dominate: Essential tips and tricks for putting the roots on someone to be under your control
>>> 📖 BOOK OF ROOTS
Recipes and instructions for working the roots, including a wide range from traditional Southern black belt methods to many of Yejide’s personal recipes as well as from other modern black rootworkers!
Altar Designs: Layouts and suggestions for ancestor altars, shrines for saints or spirits, or working altars for prosperity and love
Types of Dirt: Traditional uses of dirt in hoodoo and how to collect them
Cologne & Perfume Recipes: How to make your own Florida Water, Hoyt’s Cologne, and Kananga Water
Honey & Sugar Workings: Recipes and instructions for sweetening work
Spiritual Bath Recipes: Traditional and modern spiritual bath recipes
Mojo Bag Recipes: Southern black belt recipes for making mojos
Oil Recipes: YYejide’s classic oil recipes including Van Van, Fiery Wall of Protection, and “Come to Me”
Powder & Dust Recipes: How to make both traditional and modern varieties of hoodoo powders and types of dust
Hoodoo Psalms: Correspondences for the Psalms
Symbols & Sigils: An overview of different symbols across African traditions and a list of Afrocentric sigils
Card Spreads & Decks: Cartomancy spreads designed for rootworkers
>>> 🌳 HOODOO HERB DATABASE
The Hoodoo Herb Database currently includes over 70 different species of plants and natural materials traditionally used by black rootworkers.
Master List: All the entries in the whole database listed out in alphabetical order
Usage List: For entries where potential or traditional hoodoo usages are known, they are listed by type of working or properties
>>> 🗺️ ROOTWORK DIRECTORY
As a rootworker, it’s invaluable to know where you can safely learn more about the traditions and where to purchase supplies or readings. In this curated directory, you’ll only find black-owned blogs, websites, and businesses!
Books: Well-known works on hoodoo with commentary and information about the sources to uplift black authors and encourage critical reading
Websites & Blogs: Black rootworkers who share tutorials and information on hoodoo through their websites and blogs
Shops: Black-owned businesses and diviners
>>> ☕ THE NOOK
The Library is maintained and hosted by Yejide, but it will always be created for, inspired by, and guided by the needs, interests, and requests of the broader black rootworking community. The Nook is a space dedicated to Library subscribers for getting involved by sharing feedback and submitting content.
Feedback Surveys: The Library will continue to grow and evolve in the directions that the community wants to see
Content Submission: There are ways both big and small where subscribers can contribute (and be fully credited for the help!)
PROTECTED ACCESS
The Library is protected in order to keep all this content in the hands of those who truly can practice hoodoo. Only people of African descent have the ancestral link to rootworking traditions that is necessary to practice them (see more on this here).
To get access to the Library, please create an account on the Library main page here. You will see further instructions there, but feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I’m happy to help (:
Updated January 3rd, 2020. Stay tuned for future updates. See disclaimer.
Happy New Years!! It’s the first year anniversary of the Hoodoo Library, so I saved up and invested in upgrading the website to keep the content more securely protected and make access requests way faster to process. You can now create an account on the site and use your own personal password to access the Hoodoo Library. No more monthly passcodes going forward (:
In this first year, alongside hundreds of access requests, there was also an outpouring of amazing stories and folks’ personal journeys to studying and practicing rootwork and what it means to them. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me on my learning journey as well <3 Wishing yall the best and many blessings for 2020!
