Hidden Treasure

An ode to Black Floridian Folk Culture. 1500’s to Present Day.

[fromtheethers]

Ybor City. Tampa, FL. 2024. Via E. Howard.

[fromtheethers]

Louisiana. May 2021. Via E. Howard.

[fromtheethers]

A Florida family seated on their porch. Circa 1870. Image via Florida Memory.

Love Spells

Performing love spells —like many aspects of Jomo, Hoodoo, and other African Diasporic Religions— is still regarded as an incredibly controversial and taboo act. Many practitioners argue that it is dangerous, that it infringes on other’s free will, and that it is no longer necessary as historically love spells were used to ensure the survival of marginalized groups.

While I do believe that love spells should not be approached or performed lightly, I disagree with the idea that they are no longer necessary. Furthermore, I believe the ethics or morality for love workings are contextual, akin to the ethics or morality of any form of root work. One should always have a consultation and/or divination performed FIRST to ensure any working is justifiable and appropriate.

With that said, I wanted to share some information about the type of love workings.

Love spells can be categorized into three distinct types based on their purpose or function. Attraction, Maintenance, and Repellant.

Attraction

These types of love spells are performed with the intention to attract to you the love you desire. While, there is an emphasis on romantic love, that may not fulfill or meet one’s needs. A spell for self love and esteem could be more fitting. Or one to attract friends. Again, it is best to have divination performed before any act or spell occurs.

Maintenance

These types of workings are performed to upkeep and maintain preexisting relationships. Again, they can be utilized to create peace within a household or community. They can be utilized to strengthen a bond between lovers, friends, or family members. There are even some spells performed to defend against workings that seek to cause discord in relationship(s).

Repellant

These type of workings are generally used to end a connection that causes harm or is unsafe for someone. Or to prevent a certain type of person from being attracted to someone.

[fromtheethers]

Students share an umbrella on FAMU campus. Tallahassee, FL. 2021. Image courtesy of E. Howard.

Let it Rain:

Rainmaking in Jomo

One of my earliest childhood memories is attending an outdoor church revival that my father was scheduled to sing at. One of the songs that he sang that day was Let it Rain. I remember it literally beginning to rain in the middle of him performing the song.

This memory came up for me again while reading Spirit Service, as the author described a Guinean man enslaved in Martinique who made it rain at the planters request.

I quickly called my grandfather and asked him if he’d ever heard stories from his elders of folk making it rain. He told me that he had but he couldn’t remember specific stories or rituals. He called an older family member that he thought would remember more. This family member said he remembered his elders sitting on the porch, trading stories of enslaved Africans using voodoo or roots to make it rain.

It seems the mental knowledge of the historical rituals and roots needed to make it rain no longer exists in my bloodline. However the blood remembers. If my memory has shown me anything, sometimes all the ritual you need is to lift your voice and state to the Spirits directly what you need.

Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain.

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

[blondebrainpowered]

Children playing a singing game, ca. 1940s, Eatonville, Florida. Photo by John or Alan Lomax during one of their trips through the South to make field recordings of traditional musicians, including blues musicians.

[wandering-jana]

Boneyard Beach.

Big Talbot Island State Park, Florida

Nov. 11, 2024

[agelessphotography]

Dania, FL, Sage Sohier, 1981

[pinklikeroses-artonly]

Florida (Tampa Bay Area) Miku~🐊🍊🌊

[doechiisource]

ALTER EGO (2024) dir. Omar Jones

[pariztexas-deactivated20210721]

[fromtheethers]

A couple photographed in their “backyard garden”. Sarasota, FL. 1890. Image sourced via the Florida Memory Archives.

Akoma Festival

Akoma Festival is a week-long celebration of Black Love. It’s a designated time to honor and love on one’s God(s), ancestors, self, family, framily, community, and the Black Diaspora.

It begins on February 13th with Black Love Day and continues into February 20th. The holiday, initially created by Ayo Handy-Kendi in 1993, was originally one day. Additionally, it was created with the intent to address the violence in her community, which resulted in her son’s death.

Shortly after, a festival was then further developed by TEACH in St. Louis to commemorate Black Love. This festival occurred over the course of three days. The efforts of Montsho and Nwasha Edu have extended it to a week-long jubilation, where each day is dedicated to a different virtue and principle. An illustration of the collaborative, communal, and creative approach to this holiday.

The traditional greeting throughout this holiday is “Nya Akoma.” A gentle reminder to the speaker and receiver of the phrase to return to love.

Acts or demonstrations of love are central in this festival. This is the perfect time to reset your ancestral altar. Perform love baths and feet washings. Send out love letters or make phone calls to loved ones. As well, to use condition oils to attract or deepen existing love.

[itsthesmallthing]

[fromtheethers]

This is dead what I saw in Tampa yesterday. I forgot errybody be letting their pet chickens loose on the rest of us😂

[fromtheethers]

A closed mouf, don’t get fed.

-An African American proverb.

[doechiisource]

In the murky, unforgiving waters of the Florida wetlands, a deadly predator lurks. The alligator possesses a lethal move known as "the death roll" - unparalleled power and precision to subdue and dismember prey. Some say it's best to stay calm, but the key to survival in the face of an alligator's death roll is to fight back.

[doechiisource]

Doechii photographed by Christian Soria for Interview Magazine (2024)

[illlbebetteronsaturn]

JT in alter ego