Miss Robinson. Art by Katelan V. Foisy, from The Hoodoo Tarot.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
— Genesis 1:2
Plant: Belladonna, Hemlock
The Image
Miss Robinson is proudly displaying the funeral program of Reginald Patrick.
Miss Robinson (?-1952) was a Hoodoo from Orangeburg, South Carolina. According to the people in her small town, she was a sweet, law-abiding woman, unless someone crossed her.
One day after church, Miss Robinson saw a few parishioners gathered around a woman named Mrs. Patrick. As Miss Robinson walked by, Mrs. Patrick said loudly that she didn’t believe rootworkers should be welcome in the church and that it was a bunch of made-up nonsense. Miss Robinson tried her best to ignore her, until she noticed people started treating her differently. They were making up excuses for why she couldn’t visit, and her clients started canceling appointments. It turned out that Mrs. Patrick was trying her best to destroy Miss Robinson’s entire life, even though she hardly knew her.
Miss Robinson finally approached Mrs. Patrick after church and told her to never speak ill about her again, or she would be sorry. Mrs. Patrick laughed and elbowed her cronies and said that would never happen, so she might as well go ahead and root her then! Miss Robinson told her that she was made for rootworking, and that if she couldn’t have what she loved most, then neither would she. Mrs. Patrick howled with laughter and walked away with the other ladies, leaving Miss Robinson standing there furious.
Twenty-nine days later, Mrs. Patrick’s nine-year-old son, Reginald, died unexpectedly after having a cold. Everyone knew that Reginald was Mrs. Patrick’s pride and joy. Not only was he her only child, she also couldn’t have any more, so she was absolutely devastated by the loss. As the mourners filed out of the funeral home, Miss Robinson was seen smiling as she fanned herself with a memorial program from across the road. Mrs. Patrick, now totally broken, moved out of town the following day.
Meaning
When Miss Robinson appears in a reading, you may be involved in a negative situation that has the potential to become even more unpleasant, unhealthy, or dangerous. Stop it before things go too far.
This card may also be trying to alert you to the fact that you have an addiction or obsession involving a person, idea, intoxicant, or object, which will ultimately hurt you more than you could ever imagine. Get help if you need it.
If you are engaged in a lifestyle that attracts negative, unbalanced, or violent people, now is the time to be on high alert.
This card may also be a reminder to stop bullying or being abusive to others. Stop being so manipulative!
Beware of liars, backbiters, syndicators, and frenemies in your midst.
This is also a warning against excessive focus on worldly things, bad news, pain, suffering, and ugliness.
If you receive Miss Robinson in a reading, consider the following:
• Am I feeling trapped? By whom or what?
• Not everyone who says they have good intentions mean it.
• Evil is a point of view.
• What did I invite into my life when I said/did that?
• Don’t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash.
• An apology may be necessary.
• Maybe I have a problem?
• Am I ready, willing, and able to do jail time if I get caught?
• Things may not be as good as they seem to be.
• He or she may be cheating on you.
• Am I purposely choosing to remain ignorant because I don’t want to face the truth?
• Perhaps no one likes to talk to me because I’m often negative/depressing/expressing doubt.
• Why don’t I believe in myself?
• Why do I expect the worst possible outcome?
Text by Tayannah Lee McQuillar.