Hoodoo For Beginners: An Introduction to African American Folk Magic

Hoodoo For Beginners

An Introduction to African American Folk Magic

Clara Robinson

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Hoodoo, an Explanation

Chapter 2: Where to Begin: Crossroads, Ancestors, Graveyards, and Spiritual Cleansing

Chapter 3: Rootwork

Chapter 4: Candle Magic and Oils

Chapter 5: The First Steps to Your Own Mojo Bags

Chapter 1: Hoodoo, an Explanation

The world around us is a place of wonder and mystery. For as long as can be remembered, cultures around the world have communed with spirits, using their aid and wisdom to guide them through the trials of life. Sensing and communing with spirits and gods has been a central part of many religions throughout the world for countless centuries, and many such interactions have shaped human history as it is today. From the oracles of Delphi, favored by the god Phoebus Apollo, to the Gaelic Samhain festival, to the Faun Phii ceremony in Thailand, veneration of the dead is a common practice even in modern times. There are many different reasons for it, and each culture has its own ideas on why veneration ceremonies are important. Some believe that the spirits' continued existence depends on whether or not they are remembered by their family and friends, others wish to ensure that they stay in the good graces of the spirits, and some simply wish to garner favor from the dead and their wisdom. Different cultures and societal practices have shaped veneration practices, depending on the need and values within which they were used.

Hoodoo has become quite the well-known term in popular culture to date. Movies such as the Skeleton Key and fictional horror novels have created an image of fear and power, forming a cloud of superstition, ignorance, and misconception around the subject. When asked what hoodoo is, a common answer is black magic, bad luck, and ill omens. Misinformation spread by the media and generations of superstition