Hoodoo is a type of African American folk magic that developed in the American Southeast and uses physical objects with spiritual or supernatural powers. It is often confused with Voodoo, but is not a religion. The Christian Bible is a powerful hoodoo artifact and talismans known as mojos or gris-gris are commonly used.
Hoodoo is a type of African American folk magic with its roots in African, Native American, and European traditions. Also called summoning or conjuring, it developed in the American Southeast and spread mainly through word of mouth. While there are experts in this magic, there is no hierarchy and the practice is open to anyone. Traditionally, experts, known as hoodoo doctors, traveled to practice their craft and hired apprentices.
Many people confuse hoodoo with Voodoo, a religion that began in West Africa, and the ideas most people have about Voodoo are often actually closer to hoodoo. Practices include folk remedies, magical incantations, necromancy and fortune-telling, and practitioners are predominantly Christians rather than followers of Voodoo. While there are spiritual elements to the practice, it is not a religion.
Many spells and remedies make use of physical objects believed to have spiritual or supernatural powers. As in other magical traditions, plants, minerals, animal products, and bodily fluids are common spell ingredients. A person’s hair, nails, or objects can be used to make them the subject of a spell.
The Christian Bible, especially the Old Testament, is considered a powerful hoodoo artifact. Psalms and other passages are often read aloud as part of incantations, and the Bible itself can be a powerful talisman, particularly for protection. In this worldview, the Bible and biblical figures are reconceived according to supernatural and magical ideas; God is the greatest conjurer of all, using magic to create the world in six days. European and European-American grimoires, or spell books, also had an influence on its development.
A common practice in hoodoo is the use of a talisman known as a mojo or gris-gris. A small bag, often made of red flannel, is filled with some item chosen for the effect the charm is to have and worn by the subject of the spell. Both the choice of items within the mojo and how the bag is tied are important to the spell. The pendant is typically worn under clothing and must be regularly “nourished”, for example with a drop of perfume, to retain its strength.
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