all for freedom and for pleasure.

welcome to here: a varied assortment of spirituality, diy, general health/well-being, craft, gardening and awareness: earthly or otherwise. thanks for dropping by. (side blog) roots.

[helianthusandlavandula]

Zinnias and Evening Sun Sunflowers from seeds harvested at the end of summer 2024. Mammoth Sunflowers and Vanilla Ice Sunflowers from purchased seeds.

[stthegemini]

c. Oct. 23.-Nov. 1. 2020

Money protection “green rice”//hot foot powder

Some items used include:

5 candles (past, present, future

Bay leaf (wishes granted/victory/sun)

Cloves (opportunities/good fortune/Jupiter)

Rice (growth/expansion/abundance)

Green Sand (dollar tree; I didn’t have food coloring but I had some green...use what ya got)

Green/rainbow fluorite (joy/optimism/spiritually grounded)

Quartz (protect/cleanse/amplify)

Green bandanna (money)

Intention:

Protect you as you grow your finances. Allows abundance and prosperity to come without fear of others coming in to disrupt your finances.

Dispels negativity around your finances and protects your belongings from theft.

[livinginjune]

im struggling to contact my ancestors.

part of me thinks this may be due to my lack of deep connections with my living family.

it feels like im supposed to open up to my living family first, like im supposed to learn about and from them first.

i struggle with this. my family has molded me into a pretty closed off and isolated person. i don’t talk to them about myself because they were very closed and harsh toward me when i was younger, especially when i deviated from what they believed was my perfection. which was often.

does anyone have any tips on this? have you had to do the same or something similar before your ancestors revealed themselves to you in any way?

[sweetchcraft]

Psalms for Protection Spells this Full Moon

The book of Psalms have long been used by people of different spiritual modalities as a book of spells. If you are doing protection spells this full moon here are some Psalms you can use:

1. Psalm 18:2-3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

2. Psalm 18:16-19

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

3. Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

4. Psalm 46:1-2

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.

5. Psalm 116:3-9

The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘Lord, save me!’ The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

[spiritroots]

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.

[justiceayo]

A Working Bibliography of Books On Rootwork/Conjure/Hoodoo That Are Actually Authored by Black Folk

 “Wherever there are Africans, or people of African descent, there is magic.”- Faith Mitchell

 My calling to rootwork is ancestral. However, I unfortunately I have yet to encounter elders in my life to apprentice under on this plane of existence.  Coming up, I didn’t know other people who identified themselves as rootworkers/hoodoos/conjurers etc. Being a scholar (among other identities), my entry point into hoodoo began with books, archives, and scholarly journals. As a result, I was able to garner a wealth of information as to what hoodoo is and isn’t, which recipes (old school hoodoos don’t cast ‘spells’) to use for what, to be able to engage in an intangible mentorship with the elders that came before me. All of these things have informed how I move through the world and grow stronger in my practice.

    As a result of a White spiritual hijacking of African Traditional Religions and Africana Magico-Spiritual practices (i.e. hoodoo), the vast majority of the information about hoodoo on and offline has been authored by white people, so much so that they have become the face of hoodoo (similar to white women and yoga). 

    For those of us who are looking to grow and learn from other Black practitioners, here is a working list of books. This list consists solely of non-fiction texts, however, there is a lot to learn from novels as well, perhaps I’ll create a part two some other time. 

Please hit me up if I am missing anything or if you have a personal connection with these texts, I’d love to be in conversation. 

Many of these mentioned texts can be found online for Free.99. 

Also, sorry this is a long ass post. 

My Personal Favorites:

   1. Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms & Practical Rituals - Luisah Teish

 2.  Of Mules & Men- Zora Neale Hurston

3. Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing

4. Mojo Workin: The Old African American Hoodoo System- Katrina Hazzard-Donald

5. Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition- Yvonne P. Chireau

6. Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of African Americans by Wonda L. Fontenot ( I think this one might be out of print but much of it can be found online via Google Books) 

Honorable Mention: Tell My Horse- Zora Neale Hurston

 Ok, so this is one of my absolute favorite texts though it doesnt discuss American hoodoo. It focuses on Haitian Voodoo and Jamaican Obeah. However, there is a lot that can be learned from this text and how African magico-spiritual practices are indeed “scientific” as opposed to mere superstition. 

Additional texts that I haven’t gotten to reading yet or are simply not in my favorites (no shade, no tea):

7. Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies - Faith Mitchell

8. 365 Days of Hoodoo: Daily Rootwork, Mojo and Conjuration- Stephanie Rose Bird

9. Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs- Stephanie Rose Bird

10. A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies and Rituals for Body and Spirit - Stephanie Rose Bird

11. African American Folk Healing- Stephanie Mitchem

12. Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life (Religion, Health, and Healing) - Stephanie Mitchem ED. 

13.  God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia - Cornelia Walker Bailey

14. Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success- Tayannah Lee McQuillar

15. Voodoo & Hoodoo: The Craft as Revealed by Traditional Practitioners- Jim Haskins

[livinginjune]

Get a candle and a sharpie. Think of each black person murdered at the hands of police. Think of each black person murdered at the hands of a regular, racist citizen.

Then write every name you can remember. Picture their face as you write their names.

When you've exhausted your memory, look for more names and faces whose lives were taken from us in the same manner.

You may see faces you recognize with names you didn't immediately remember. You may see names you recognize with faces you don't. You may learn entirely new information about people you've never heard of. Look for lives taken from your own neighborhoods and cities.

Read their stories.

Feel the anger. Feel the pain. Feel the loss. Feel the outrage. Feel the despair of their families. Feel the hopelessness that sometimes plagues our community.

Picture their faces and remember their stories as you write their names.

When your candle is full of names, fill out another if you have it in you. You probably won't. This is a tough, draining process.

When the candle is full, say a prayer. Pray for the peace and rest of the stolen souls. Pray for the healing of their loved ones. Pray for strength within our community. Pray for accountability.

Light your candle and sit with them. Share a meal with them. Smoke a bowl with them. Whatever offering you can give, give it to them. Your time, your thoughts.

These are our new ancestors. Show them love, respect, and dignity. Promise them that we will never forget them.

Light this candle to reflect and remember. Light this candle to remind you what needs to be done on the ground. Use it to inspire you to make changes, to focus your energy on what you can do to enact and inspire change.

As you light this candle, ask that it light a fire within you.

[livinginjune]

These are all of my California Sunsets! My favorite by far. Each of these came from the mama plant in the first picture. The three rosettes at the bottom of the mama plant were really leggy bois I cut from the mama and put back in her pot. The second and third pictures are the original two rosettes i bought about 2 years ago. They were conjoined, and repotted a few times. They started in an arrangement with two other succulents and were eventually moved to their own pot.

As they grew, the two original rosettes stretched quite a bit, and were very top heavy. I was worried they would break off somehow (a windy day, a silly pup) so I cut them one at a time and when I was sure the weather would be dry enough to close up the "wound." The first rossette I cut (second picture) was flowering, and I was worried I had messed up her flow by separating her. I didn't know she was flowering, you see. She also got a little sunburned, but as you can see she is going great nonetheless! The second original rosette (third picture) was cut about a week later and is also doing great!

The other succulents here are just rosettes I cut from the mama plant when they got to a size I liked. Each of these has had varied lighting, which varied the rosette shapes and colors. The two in the fourth picture had the least amount of sun, but are being acclimated to more sun ( along with the others on my new diy shelf, picture pending). This what I love most about this succulent, it is very responsive.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

You mentioned flying in one of your answers. What ointment do you use for this, if any?

I have tried a few different kinds over the years and I only trust and recommend Sarah Anne Lawless’s ointment. Her shop is here. She’s recently rebranded away from calling them flying ointments since much of her business now comes from marketing her products as cures for muscle and joint pain, insomnia, etc., but the recipe is the same. She’s the only maker I know to use proper animal fat and to use known historical recipes. She’s also a professional herbalist and not some random person on Etsy, which is nice since an improper nightshade dosage will give you a bad time.  

[thesunlitnerd]

Enhance your spiritual practice with this popular cologne water. 29 wqys to use Florida water.

Spiritual waters, or eaux in French perfumery, are solutions of fragrant essential oils combined with distilled water and some degree of perfumer’s alcohol or grain alcohol, with or without the addition of other fragrant substances. Often they are charged with odorous principles of flowers (i.e. Eau de Rose). They originated in the South of France or Italy, and were transported to New Orleans with the earliest perfumers. By far, the most popular of spiritual waters in the various magickal traditions is Florida water. Florida water is the American answer to Eau de Cologne, or Cologne Water. Originally valued as a unisex cologne, Florida water was preferable to other, stronger smelling perfumes. It was used in copious amounts in barbershops as aftershave and cologne. Florida water shares the same citrus base as Cologne water, but has the addition of sweet orange (rather than the lemon and neroli of the original Cologne Water), and adds spicy notes, including lavender and clove. According to the current trademark holders, Lanman & Kemp Barclay, Florida Water was introduced by the New York City perfumer (and founder of the original company) Robert Murray in 1808. The company states that their product, now sold under the Murray & Lanman brand, still uses the original 1808 formula, and that the current label is also a slightly modified version of the 1808 original.

In the 1880s and 1890s, Murray & Lanman Florida Water was advertised as “The Richest of all Perfumes” and “The Most Popular Perfume in the World." Although now obscure to most of the general American population, Florida Water remained popular among South American and Caribbean cultures. It was incorporated into magical and ritual traditions, including hoodoo.

Florida Water is popular among South American shamen, where it is believed the plant spirits of the Amazon love sweet-smelling perfumes. Thus, one way to achieve protection from malevolent spirits is to wear sweet scents and perfumes such as Florida water as a guard against evil. Shamen will often supercharge their Florida water by adding chopped camphor, tobacco, camalonga seeds and other botanicals and drink it to achieve perfumed breathe that allows them to blow upon inflictions and remove them.

In Hoodoo, Florida Water is used in spiritual cleansings and home protection. It can be worn on the body, used as an ingredient in magical works or by itself as a cologne, put in the bath water and misted in the environment to purify it. In fact, there are so many ways Florida Water can be used it is no wonder it remains a favorite spiritual water among practitioners.

29 Ways to Use Florida Water

Here are thirty ways Florida water can be used to make your life more enjoyable.

1. Enhance cleansings: Add to spiritual baths to enhance spiritual cleansings.

2. Protection cologne: Wear as a cologne for a protective shield that leaves a delicate scent.

3. Repel negativity: Mist in the environment to repel negative energy and negative spirits.

4. Attract good spirits: Mist in the environment to attract good spirits.

5. Add to floor washes: Add to floor washes for its cleansing and blessing properties.

6. Use as an offering: Place a bottle on your altar as an offering to the Spirits.

7. Wash lodestones: Use to wash a pair of lodestones in preparation for use.

8. Ancestral offering: Add a few drops to a bowl of water and place on your ancestral altar as an offering to your ancestors.

9. Prevent nightmares: Launder bed sheets with 1 cup of Florida Water to remove negative energy and attract benevolent spirits and protection.

10. As an astringent: Use as an astringent and skin lotion to tone the skin, leaving it with a feeling of freshness.

11. Rubdown for the infirm: As a rubdown for the sick, Florida Water has a beneficial, stimulating effect similar to alcohol rubs but much more pleasant due to its aromatherapeutic qualities.

12. Relief from insect bites: Applied to insect bites it provides some relief.

13. Anti-anxiety relief: For high anxiety it can be applied to the forehead and used as a rubdown, providing some relief for nervous tension.

14. Cleanse and bless candles: Use to cleanse and bless candles prior to use (be sure the candles are completely dry before lighting). *CAUTION: Florida Water is highly flammable. Use extreme caution when working with it.

15. Cleanse ritual tools: Use to wipe down altars and altar items to keep free from negative energy.

16. Spirit communication: Pour a little in a cast iron pot or cauldron and light it to aid in spirit communication through fire.

17. Energize money works: Pour a little in a cast iron pot or cauldron and light it, then place your hands over the flames warming them before engaging in money drawing activities like working and gambling.

18. Holy water: Pray the 23rd Psalm over it and use in place of Holy Water.

19. Spirit receptivity: Periodically spray a little on your altar to keep it receptive to the spirits.

20. Dream work: Place some in a crystal bowl with spring water next to your bed for prophetic dreams.

21. Attraction spray: Combine basil and patchouli essential oils, Florida water and a lodestone to a spray bottle for a wonderful attraction spray.

22. Foot bath: Use in foot washings by adding to a tub of water, washing the feet with the Florida water enhanced foot bath, then anointing the feet with rose oil while praying the 23rd Psalm.

23. Hair rinse: Add to rinse water after shampooing to clear the head of heavy thoughts.

24. Face spritz: Keep in a spray bottle in the refrigerator for a rejuvenating face spritz during the hot days of summer.

25. Doll Baby Baptism: Use to baptize doll babies by sprinkling on the doll’s head.

26. Laundry rinse: Add a quarter cup to your laundry rinse water to both cleanse and bless your clothes.

27. Scrying jar: Pour 1/2 Florida Water into a jar half filled with river water and use for divination.

28. Pendulum rinse: Use to rinse pendulums after readings to clear and prepare them for subsequent readings.

29. Bless animal companions: Anoint your furry friend’s foreheads with just a dab to bless them.

[fallingtowers]

i get voted prom queen and the mean girls drop a bucket of pig’s blood on me but i swallow it all perfectly

[goldilockscauldron-deactivated2]

Update on my pentacle garden altar - plants inside: mugwort, hosta, calla lilly, parsley, mint, petunias, bugleweed, marshmallow, chamomile, calendula, periwinkle, and rosemary.

[afrocentric-divination]

I want to start connecting with my ancestors is there a specific way to go about that? Would they be angry if I tried to talk to them I’m just wondering about some of my roots

How to Set Up Your Ancestor Altar  - High Priestess May

How to Create Your Ancestor (Ancestral) Altar - SunFiyyah TV

How to Setup and Build an Ancestor Altar, Give Offerings, Prayers and Burn Ancestor Money  - S. Ali Myers

How to Setup an Ancestral Altar for the Ancestors - S. Ali Myers

[livinginjune]

started some herbs indoors! so far only my thyme and cilantro has sprouted, it took them about a week. this is my first time growing herbs from seed 💚🌱

[livinginjune]

cilantro update, doing big things very quickly!

[livinginjune]

started some herbs indoors! so far only my thyme and cilantro has sprouted, it took them about a week. this is my first time growing herbs from seed 💚🌱

[mintygrimoir]

Tarot Fun Fact:

You can do simple readings with a 52 playing card deck since it’s made up of the minor arcana from France

♣️= wands

♥️= cups

♠️= swords

♦️= pentacles

This is really useful if you don’t want to bring a cherished (and likely a little expensive) full tarot deck around all the time. Reading a deck of playing cards can be difficult and takes good intuition and spiritual sense (especially with knight and page being watered down to the Jack), but it’s a good alternative in some situations.

[horaeetumbra-deactivated2022120]

Playing card divination

For years I didn’t have a tarot deck, so instead I used playing cards for divination! This is great for people who are trying to be discreet or who are doing witchcraft on a budget. There’s a few ways to divine with the standard 52 card deck but this is the one I use most often. (Part 1 of 2)

The suites and their meanings:

Hearts: Family, friends, and romance. Element of water. Corresponding tarot suit is cups.

Clubs: Business, learning, and work. Element of fire.  Corresponding tarot suit is wands.

Diamonds: Prosperity, success, and fortune. Element of Earth. Corresponding tarot suit is pentacles.

Spades: Trouble, loss, and change. Element of air. Corresponding tarot suit is swords.

The cards and their meanings:

King: leaders, wisdom

Queen: teachers, healing

Jack: youth, peers

10: harvest, endings

9: growth, ambition

8: decisions, ideas

7: epitome*, spirituality

6: paths, ambiguity

5: disturbance, trouble

4: prosperity, luck

3: connection, family

2: romance, friendship

Ace: beginnings, journeys

Notes:

Sevens are epitome cards, they are the embodiment of their suit. So seven of diamonds is prosperity and success.

You can leave the jokers in the deck or remove them. Typically I find that the joker is a sign that I shouldn’t be asking this question at this time.

The face cards can also represent a specific person. King is a male, queen is a female, and jack is someone (or something) not on the binary.

Spreads:

You can do pretty much any tarot spread with playing cards. I’m a fan of the three card past-present-future, body-mind-soul, and conflict-source-solution spreads.

I hope this is helpful! May all be well <3