❄️ practice hearthcraft magick
❄️ connect with the water and air elements since they are very present during winter
❄️ collect the last flowers you see, dry them, and use them in spells
❄️ celebrate the Winter Solstice, Yuletide, Saturnalia and Imbolc/Candlemas
❄️ try to see winter as a time for hibernation, a season to slow down and relax, so don’t be hard on yourself, each low-energy activity or spell is welcome
❄️ practice snow magick
❄️ draw sigils in the snow to attract the energy you need
❄️ try snowball magick: if you have a bad habit, negative energy, or toxic thoughts you need to let go of, shape them into snowballs and throw them far away from you
❄️ connect with nature and observe the silence and the stillness of winter
❄️ winter often brings feelings of sadness or loneliness, so it’s a great time to start journaling
❄️ if you feel full of negative energy and need cleansing, stay outside for a bit and let snowflakes fall on you
❄️ if you have a fireplace or stove, you can practice fire magick by drawing or writing your intentions on wood and letting them burn, sending your energy to the universe
❄️ make your own snow water and use it in your bath or for cleansing your face
❄️ create your own sigils to connect with certain energies or with a deity
❄️ learn rune reading
❄️ winter is perfect for drinking lots of tea, so you can use herbs with magical properties to attract what you want (rosemary, cinnamon and more)
❄️ collect pine cones and pine needles for spells or to place them in your altar
❄️ manifest your intentions and create vision boards for what you want to attract by the end of winter
❄️ burn your intentions on paper or bay leaves in the fireplace to attract your desires
❄️ since it’s the cold season, you can learn to crochet, and while you do it, visualize your desires coming true
❄️ bring holly indoors for success, luck, and balance in the coming year
❄️ light candles during the 12 days of Yuletide to welcome the return of the sun
❄️ connect with the air element when you’re outside, imagine the winter wind blowing away negativity from your life
❄️ write the name of someone with whom you want to reinforce boundaries on a small piece of paper, fold it three times away from you, place it in a plastic container or zip bag, add water, and freeze it
❄️ do lots of self-care and practice gratitude and self-love
❄️ since it’s the cozy season, warm desserts are perfect, bake your favorites and, if you want, share them with your deities
❄️ do gentle activities, recharge your energy as much as you can until spring, stay in bed if you want, read as many books as you wish, stay warm and cozy, and feel comfortable
❄️ cleanse with crystals on snow
❄️ stock up on winter herbs and seasonal spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, they’re amazing in teas and in spells
❄️ enjoy the snow and play in it to make your inner child happy
❄️ try creating ice lanterns for winter magic and atmosphere
❄️ connect with the winter deities (you can honor them by reading their myths)
❄️ work on deepening your intuition by pulling tarot cards every day and noting your interpretations in a small notebook
❄️ read about, and why not celebrate, the 12 days of Yuletide
Hoodoo Heritage Month is not just remembrance—it’s embodiment. My head (Ori) is covered in reverence, my mojo bag rests close against my heart, and I feel my Ancestors whispering through every step I take. Their wisdom moves through me like smoke rising from sacred fire, guiding my hands, steadying my spirit, reminding me that I am never walking alone. This path is older than memory, deeper than blood, and brighter than flame.
I honor them by living, by listening, by carrying their songs in my breath and their strength in my bones. Asé.
In both Hoodoo and Appalachian folk beliefs, there is a motif of backwardness or inversion as a protective measure.
Some examples recorded by Zora Neale Hurston in "Hoodoo in America" and Mules and Men are:
If you want to be sure to return (be welcomed) to any place, wear your hat backwards as you leave.
To prevent anyone's harming you, get up early in the morning and walk barefoot out of your house backwards into the road without looking back. Pick up your tracks and walk forward into your house again, and stop the tracks with sugar and rum and drink water, and no one can hurt you.
If you k*ll someone, step backwards over the body and you will never be found. (Please, for the love of G-d, no one do this. This example is just for illustrative purposes!!!)
Similar examples and motivations can be found in Appalachia, like these superstitions, as recorded by Jake Richards in Backwoods Witchcraft (2019):
Turning your hat backwards when a black cat crosses your path, until you get to where you're going, in order to avert bad luck.
If you accidentally put an article of clothing on inside-out, you should leave it that way because it means someone's trying to charm you.
When a mother is in labor, all empty vessels in the room are turned upside down to prevent the baby from being breech.
To prevent being conjured by walking over a trick, cut out the soles of your shoes, flip them over and then place them in the opposite shoe.
Bonus superstition (though I can't remember for the life of me where I read it or what tradition it belongs to):
If you encounter a spirit or creature in the woods, turn around and look at it from between your legs to scare it off.
Mars is always happy to return to Scorpio, which it co-rules with Pluto (and, if you’re me, all the other TNOs). It’s like coming home. However, it has to “up its game” here - to wield instead of a sword, a surgeon’s scalpel - but isn’t Mars always up for a challenge, anyway? And if we manage to get it right, there are rewards waiting at the end of the transit.
About Mars moving through Scorpio, US astrologer Steven Forrest wrote that “what’s worth fighting for” is
Clearing the air. An end to stiffness, phoniness, and pretending that everything is fine when it really is not. Honest resolutions which ultimately work toward everyone’s ultimate good. (The Book of Water, pg 384)
Being 100% emotionally brave and 100% emotionally honest - Scorpio is a water sign, which means feelings come into play.
Also, we need to look at boundaries between equal partners - remember back at the beginning of 2025, when Mars was retrograde in Cancer, and we all seemed to respond to Felon47’s imminent return by completely turning off “mainstream media,” or at least limiting how we “consumed” news, in order to stay sane and healthy? Something like that, but we’re more focused on one-to-one relationships with Mars/Scorpio. The toxic ones need to go.
How it could manifest in Mars’ areas:
Physical strength - the emotions of the moment lending us power, like the (apocryphal?) stories of a frightened person fending off a wild animal, or single-handedly lifting a car. How we feel affects how strong we are.
Energy levels - steady. The issue Fixed signs (like Scorpio) usually have, is knowing when to stop, or at least take a breather. Listen (harder!) to the signals your body sends you.
Sexuality - passionate, devoted, bonding on the physical level to mirror the emotional level. At times needs to learn how to take “no” for an answer.
How we go after what we want - we’re single-minded and determined. We may keep things secret because we don’t want other people interfering - and that’s not always ethical, never mind practical or practicable.
Mars through Scorpio gets off to a very rough, possibly destructive, start - and it takes a long time for “things” to finally improve. Keep on trying! “Faint heart never won fair lady,” and all that. Allow a few days on either side of these aspects.
Tuesday, September 23 - Thursday, September 25:
Mars/Scorpio inconjunct Neptune Rx/Aries, 0°46’
Mars/Scorpio semi-sextile Sun/Libra, 0°56’
Mars/Scorpio inconjunct Uranus Rx/Gemini, 1°20’
Mars/Scorpio square Pluto Rx/Aquarius, 1°27’
Mars/Scorpio (2°19’) sesquiquad North Node/Pisces, semi-square South Node/Virgo (17°19’)
Another bumpy and (thanks to the Mars-Pluto square) potentially dangerous and violent start. There are adjustments to be made, and issues with timing. The cliche “going off half-cocked” springs to mind - with Mars/Scorpio we need to be well-prepared, and if we aren’t, it’s bad. Be careful, please.
Wednesday, October 1 - Mars/Scorpio square Pallas Rx/Aquarius, 6°40’. This is more frustration. Pallas is stationary here, turning direct in a couple of days - if you can wait out the (seeming) stalemate, do so. (And don’t delude yourself that you’ve won, either!)
Sunday, October 5 - Mars/Scorpio inconjunct Ceres Rx/Aries, 8°56’. Not a very big deal in the greater scheme of things. Quarrels at home, between family members &/or parents and children. Making adjustments doesn’t make us weak.
Mars/Scorpio trine North Node/Pisces, sextile South Node/Virgo, 16°15’
The interaction with the Nodes can give us a very clear notion of exactly what we should be doing right now. The aspects to Venus and Neptune can derail us - by making us mistrust ourselves - but they’re minor distractions. Steady.
This set up can give us some clarity, too, with the added bonus of being able to articulate (Mercury) what we’re trying to do! Patience pays off.
Monday, October 27 - Wednesday, October 29:
Mars/Scorpio inconjunct Chiron Rx/Aries, 24°25’
Mars/Scorpio trine Jupiter/Cancer, 24°49’
Mars/Scorpio inconjunct Eris Rx/Aries, 25°04’
Mars/Scorpio trine Saturn Rx/Pisces, 25°54’
That Chiron-Eris conjunction is manifesting so strongly as I write this up (Sept. 18). People are fed up with feeling left out and ignored, and they’re acting out. Here, it may actually prompt some real, constructive dialogue between people. (At least that’s how I’m going to deal with it, when the time comes.) We have more in common with each other, than with the robber barons.
Monday, November 3 - Mars/Scorpio trine Neptune Rx/Pisces, 29°44’. Wow! Mars and Neptune both strong in their own signs, too. What could it be? A vision quest? (Just the thing for Mars’ imminent entry into Sagittarius.) Magnetic, passionate, and creative, the dazzling energy blesses our endeavors. (If we’ve wasted the transit, or mis-used it, though, it’s a different story: continued self-delusion about our own invincibility.)
pet peeve: whenever someone mentions voodoo and voodoo dolls when they mean poppets
i always correct them because even though i'm not initiated, that's still my people's religion and i hate that it's always conflated with negativity and poppetry.
i just wish african traditional religions and african diasporic religions never were put in the media in that negative, harmful "black magic" way.
genuinely get too worked up about this, like not anger but just :(((((
first thing in the morning—take three slow deep breaths (air/sky) more grounding than immediately checking a phone
notice your feet on the ground taking root when you stand up for the first time of the day, take a little stretch (earth/land)
wash or splash your face to get alll the way awake. then chug a big glass. (water/sea)
appreciate any trees, plants, dirt, or clouds you see
place both hands on your heart to feel your own heat and warmth. feel your heart beating. “i am alive” (fire)
wear or carry a rock, hagstone, crystal, talisman, or amulet
in times of stress or dissociation, rub your thumb in small circles on the back of your other hand to ground and soothe. (clockwise for attracting an intention, counterclockwise for banishing)
color magic with clothing
add cinnamon, lavender, or peppermint to coffee according to intention if you don’t want to drink tea
stirring tea/coffee according to intention
sometimes i pick a little affirmation for the day— “may i forgive myself” “the universe is within me/the wild is within me”
visualization—inhale a bright light and let it fill your lungs, exhaling clouds of negativity
or create a shield with breathing. with each breath, imagine a bubble forming around your body, then your aura, growing with strength.
cleansing shower at the end of the day (intending it to cleanse my aura makes me more motivated to take one, idkw)
if taking a bath, add a dash of moon water
sniff lavender essential oil before bed
look at the moon, talk to it. remind yourself that it’s the same one your ancestors knew.
Hoodoo, Rootwork and Conjure sources by Black Authors
Because you should only ever be learning your ancestral ways from kinfolk. Here's a compilation of some books, videos and podcast episodes I recommend reading and listening to, on customs, traditions, folk tales, songs, spirits and history. As always, use your own critical thinking and spiritual discernment when approaching these sources as with any others.
Hoodoo in America by Zora Neale Hurston (1931)
Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston (1936)
Tell my horse by Zora Neale Hurston (1938)
Let Nobody Turn Us Around: An African American Anthology by Manning Marable and Leith Mullings, editors (2003)
Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau (2006)
African American Folk Healing by Stephanie Mitchem (2007)
Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell (2011)
Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald (2012)
Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success by Tayannah Lee McQuillar (2012)
Talking to the Dead: Religion, Music, and Lived Memory among Gullah/Geechee Women by LeRhonda S. Manigault-Bryant (2014)
Working the Roots: Over 400 Years Of Traditional African American Healing by Michele Elizabeth Lee (2017)
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston (2018)
Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisa Teish (2021)
African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions by Lucretia VanDyke (2022)
These are just some suggestions but there's many many more!! This is by no means a complete list.
I recommend to avoid authors who downplay the importance of black history or straight out deny how blackness is central to hoodoo. The magic, power and ashé is in the culture and bloodline. You can't separate it from the people. I also recommend avoiding or at the very least taking with a huge grain of salt authors with ties to known appropriators and marketeers, and anyone who propagates revisionist history or rather denies historical facts and spreads harmful conspiracy theories. Sadly, that includes some black authors, particularly those who learnt from, and even praise, white appropriators undermining hoodoo and other african and african diasporic traditions. Be careful who you get your information from. Keeping things traditional means honoring real history and truth.
Let me also give you a last but very important reminder: the best teachings you'll ever get are going to come from the mouths of your own blood. Not a book or anything on the internet. They may choose to put certain people and things in your path to help you or point you in the right direction, but each lineage is different and you have to honor your own. Talk to your family members, to the Elders in your community, learn your genealogy, divine before moving forwards, talk to your dead, acknowledge your people and they'll acknowledge you and guide you to where you need to be.
May this be of service and may your ancestors and spirits bless you and yours 🕯️💀
Little tip for all the new Hoodoos out there who are trying to incorporate the Bible into their practice without going down that slippery slope…
Get an archaeological Bible. It legit acknowledges the influence of other religions in the region, the cultural context, misinterpretations, the archaeological discoveries and more.
🕊🤍 This is our Thanksgiving, our Day Of The Dead, our family reunion. Traditionally, this is our day to visit & honor our Dead; tend to their graves, adorn them with flowers/candles/other offerings, then share a feast meal with music, sing, and dance - as we would any Black family cookout.
For those who could, this was done under the guise of Catholicism for our protection; in regions that were subjected indoctrination under this particular denomination. And for some, akin to Catholicism, All Saints is dedicated to welcoming & celebrating our Elevated Ancestors, those we may consider Saintly within our lineages, & Hoodoo Saints in general - especially those without [known] living descendants.
Whether you're tending to graves or altars, whether you're cooking a feast or a simple meal you can manage….may your Elevated Ancestors, your Big Egun be blessed. Ase. 💀🕯
Mabon, celebrated around September 21 to September 29, marks the autumnal equinox and the second harvest of the year. It’s a time of balance, as the hours of light and dark stand equal, symbolizing the transition between summer and winter. It's a time when witches and practitioners honor the changing seasons, express gratitude for the Earth's abundance, and connect with the energies of balance and transition. The term "Mabon" for this celebration is named after Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology. It is often associated with the mythological theme of the abducted and imprisoned child who later becomes a hero, which parallels the changing seasons.
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Who is Mabon Ap Modron?
Mabon ap Modron, also known as Maponus, is a character from Welsh mythology. In some versions of the myth, Mabon is portrayed as a divine hero or a child who was abducted from his mother, Modron, and imprisoned. He is rescued after 3 years and plays a significant role in Welsh mythological tales. The name "Mabon" itself means "son" or "young man" in Welsh, and it is connected to the theme of rebirth and the return of the light.
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Hades × Persephone and the Autumn Equinox
Legend has it that on the last day of summer, Hades, the god of the Underworld, saw Persephone picking flowers in a field. He immediately fell in love with her and abducted her, wanting to keep her by his side as the queen of the dead. Upon discovering the disappearance of her daughter, Demeter, the goddess of harvest, set out to find her. Unable to locate Persephone, Demeter’s sorrow and despair were so overwhelming that the flowers, trees, and all vegetation withered, bringing all growth on Earth to a halt. The gods of Olympus, who were powerless to ignore the prayers of humans, reached a compromise with Hades regarding Persephone’s return. She would spend only six months each year with Hades in the Underworld. To avenge herself, Demeter decreed that during those six months, nature would mourn, and nothing would grow on Earth until Persephone ascended again from the Underworld.
🍎 light a bonfire and dance or tell stories with your loved ones around it
🍎 do a guided meditation to welcome the new season
🍎 clean your garden
🍎 listen to Mabon music on Youtube or Spotify(there are plenty of playlist you can find!)
🍎 spend time with your deity/deities
🍎 grab some autumn flowers and bring them into your home
🍎 rest and relax♡
🍎 read about Mabon
🍎 clean your house to prepare for the season
🍎 take a walk outside to connect with nature and be grateful for the summer that has passed and warmly welcome the beauty of autumn
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Food and Drinks:
apple pie, apple cider, wine, grapes, root vegetables, apples, cornbread, baked good made from wheat or grains, cakes with cinnamon or nutmeg, roasted meat, pork chops, mashed potatoes, peach jams, fruit tarts, apples in all forms, pumpkin pie
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useful sources: Magie Blanche by Eric Pier Sperandio