C is for Conjure

week 5 for the Pagan Blog Project

C is for Conjure

Conjure by Jeremy Worst

HOODOO, CONJURE, and ROOTWORK: AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLK MAGIC

From Cat Yronwode of Lucky Mojo

Hoodoo is an American term, originating in the 19th century or earlier. One of its meanings refers to African-American folk magic. Here is how i define the word "hoodoo":

Hoodoo consists of a large body of African folkloric practices and beliefs with a considerable admixture of American Indian botanical knowledge and European folklore. Although most of its adherents are black, contrary to popular opinion, it has always been practiced by both whites and blacks in America. Other regionally popular names for hoodoo in the black community include "conjuration," "conjure," "witchcraft," "rootwork," and "tricking."
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"Conjure -- sometimes spelled "cunjure" to express old-fashioned dialect pronunciation -- is another regional term for hoodoo. It derives from the English "conjurer," but what is described is neither invocatory magic nor prestidigitation, which is what the words imply in standard English. In the black community, a "conjurer," "conjure," "cunjure," or "cunjure doctor" is a hoodoo practitioner, and the work he does is "conjure," "cunjure," "conjure doctoring," "cunjure doctoring," "conjuration," or "cunjeration."

Generally speaking, "conjure" does not carry the negative or cursing connotation that "hoodoo" can -- and the old-fashioned figure of a "conjure man" or "conjure woman" is not quite as open to frightening associations as "hoodoo man" or "hoodoo woman."

(More information about Cat Yronwode and Hoodoo, see my post Lucky Mojo)



Conjure Craft: Hoodoo, Rootwork, and Conjuring for the 21st Century
BY STEPHANIE ROSE BIRD
To understand the concept of Conjur Craft, let us explore the African roots of Hoodoo. Until very recently, the relationship between Hoodoo and European folklore, mysticism, and magic, as well as its similarities to Native American spirituality, have been a primary scholarly focus...
As I examined the non-English words used in Hoodoo treasure troves like the collection of slim volumes by Anna Riva, I found valuable clues that led not only to West Africa but all the way back to Ancient Egypt. The words in spells, oils, powders, and incantations include Egyptian deities (Sun Ra, Isis, Osiris, and Hathor). Sacred Egyptian herbs or herbal blends like Kyphi, Khus Khus (lemongrass), frankincense, and myrrh are ingredients often required for Hoodoo...

From ConjureMan Ali

What is Hoodoo-Conjure-Rootwork?
Conjure/Hoodoo is a form of folk magick and spiritual practice that comes from African American culture. This form of spiritual practice revolves around the natural power of the earth and its spirits and like America itself draws its influence from a wide-range of cultures.

We find in conjure a mix of spiritual practices that are drawn from Germanic and European folk magic, from Near Eastern culture, and from Native American herb lore and beliefs. Along with the core strand of African magical practices and the Protestant religious base, these all melded together into the various traditions of conjure as we know them today.
It is important to note that conjure and hoodoo is not a single megolithic entity, but rather it is more accurate to view it as a spiritual paradigm with various traditional streams that stem from different family traditions and regional practices.


2 Streams of Conjure: 
Conjure is transmitted in two forms of streams. One revolves around the practices and wisdom passed down by families and the other revolves around a form of formal education.

What does it mean to work a conjure or practice hoodoo?

The practices of conjure and hoodoo revolve around the natural power of the world around combined with the drawing of power from the spiritual-realms in order to effect change in persons, circumstances, and fate. This means that the conjure doctor relies on the innate spiritual power of natural elements like herbs, roots, minerals, and similar curios along with his or her power to call upon the assistance of otherworldly spirits like the dead in order to bring power to any situation and sway the flow of things into a manner of his or her liking.
These practices are seen in the use of magical products like incenses, powders, oils, teas, and other such mixtures combined with ritual actions like baths, candle magic, creation of talismanic objects, altar work and such. What results is an elegantly straight forward set of practices that is immensely potent. By combining the power of spirit with the power of nature the conjure doctor is able to move mountains.

If you'd like some Hoodoo Materials for your own Conjure-work...
Check out Conjure Cardea
Moma Sarah carries everything from raccoon penis bones to Egyptian Kyphi from a recipe perfected over time. I've messaged Moma Sarah a couple of times and she's a super sweet person so I don't mind making a plug for her.

The Herbal Tarot – 3 The Empress – Dong Quai

The Herbal Tarot – 3 The Empress – Dong Quai

The Herbal Tarot Booklet:

Dong Quai (Angelica sinensise)

Dong quai is the supreme tonic for women, and is called female ginseng. It is an emmenagogue and a tonic for blood and hormones. It regulates the menses, relieves cramping, and aid fertility. (Venus)

Symbolically used for: Emotional and physical coldness. Lack of warmth and compassion for others. Poor circulation. Lack of fertility.

Divinatory Meaning: Mother nature. A person pregnant with ideas. New life and possibilities. Abundance and fruitfulness.

Reverse Meanings: Inability to concentrate. Flightiness.

The Empress

A Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray

“The Empress is the Earth mother, here seated in a blooming garden (in the Herbal Tarot a forest)…behind her is seen the stream of consciousness flowing between cypress trees, sacred to Venus.

She wears a crown of twelve stars, each with six points, denoting dominion of the macrocosm, as does her scepter surmounted by a globe.

The High Priestess symbolizes the virgin state of the cosmic subconscious, but the Empress typifies the productive, generative activities in the subconscious after it has been impregnated by seed ideas from the self-conscious. The subconscious has control over all the steps of the development in the material world; therefore the Empress represents the multiplicator of images.

She is the Goddess of Love, Venus, the symbol of universal fecundity. As the High Priestess is Isis veiled, the Empress is Isis unveiled."

The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells:

Fertility Dream Incubation Spell (2) Tarot Cards

Place the following cards under your pillow:

• The Empress
• The Sun
• The Ace of Cups

"Sometimes the conventional information available regarding your situation isn't sufficient. You need a dream to divine exactly what's going on or to plan your solutions. To incubate a fertility dream remove the (previous cards) from a brand new deck. Place them under your pillow and wish for a dream before going to sleep. 

Repeat, using the same cards (you don't need new decks), until you've received the dream required, or until the issue is resolved."

Dong quai

The pictured Dong Quai roots are offered through Charm City Conjure on Etsy. They provide the following description:

"Queen of all herbs, angelica is said to enhance feminine strength and power. It is also used by many people for protection, divination, healing, peace and invoking the angels. The root has a small hole so it can be worn as a protective amulet, used as a pendulum, added to a female power conjure bag, or worked on an altar."

Also read:

"Angelica Root (also known as Holy Ghost Root, Archangel Root, and Dong Quai) is widely thought to be a powerful Guardian and Healer, and to provide Strength to Women. We believe that Angelica Root is used by many people for the purpose of Warding Off Evil and bringing Good Luck in Health and Family Matters.

Some folks tell us that they place the root in a white flannel bag, anoint it with Blessing Oil and keep it near the Baby for protection. Others use it in a ritual magic spell called the Fiery Wall of Protection. It is also widely claimed that dressing a whole Angelica Root and a pinch of Lavender Flowers with Peaceful Home Oil and carrying them in a blue flannel bag will bring Peace to the Home and Faithfulness to the Marriage.

In America, Angelica root is commonly found in African-American mojo bags prepared for protection from evil, for uncrossing, and to break a jinx. In powdered form, it is an ingredient in sachet powders used for healing and blessing. It may also be dusted on magic candles used for protection and prayer in matters of spiritual peace and blessing.

In Mexico, when an adolescent girl has suffered a bout of susto (a form of supernatural fright), she may be given a white flannel bag containing an Angelica Root and a small print of Saint Michael Archangel to carry for protection.

There are actually seven Archangels in the Jewish belief, four of whose names are mentioned in scripture. Two of them are symbolically connected to this root. Archangel Michael, the eldest, is used with Angelica Root as a defender of women. Archangel Gabriel is concerned with the announcements of pregnancy, is allied with this root in its role as an herbal tonic for women's reproductive health.

Many more spells utilizing Angelica Root and its close relative, Master Root, can be found in the book Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic."