A Rootwork, Conjure, Hoodoo Dictionary
For those who, while surfing around the internet looking into hoodoo and rootwork, run into a few words that you are unfamiliar with, here is a quickie dictionary for reference:
A Rootwork, Conjure, Hoodoo Dictionary of Terms
A general
list of terms often used in the practice of Hoodoo
Altar - A sacred place that honors
spirits, ancestors, loved ones, or even the self.
Amulet - A piece of jewelry that is
symbolic and protective.
Anointing - A term used to describe
rubbing a condition oil on an individual. It is sometimes used interchangeably
with dressing.
Anointing oil - Oil used to dress
candles and other objects (including people) to enhance their magical
properties, including protection.
Banishing - A trick to get rid of
something negative.
Blessing - A type of spell or prayer
intended to spiritually cleanse a person, place or thing while infusing it with
the positive energy of the divine and one’s hopes.
Bokor - Generally believed in Louisiana
today to be the Haitian equivalent to the hoodoo practitioner. Some bokors are
said to be uninitiated specialists in malevolent magic.
Bon Dieu - God Almighty. Also known as
Bondye or good god; the Creator who is distant from the world.
Bottle tree - Making wishes and placing
cobalt blue bottles onto branches of a tree to make a bottle tree that
functions as a talisman.
Butting - A term used in candle-magick
to describe the act of cutting the tip off of a candle, turning it upside down
and digging a new tip out of the bottom. Symbolically this is said to reverse
people and conditions as symbolized by the color of the candle or the words
carved upon it. Sometimes also referred to as Flipping.
Candle Worker - A person who mainly
only sets lights or works with candles.
Caul - The covering on the eye of a
newborn that usually predicts psychic ability.
Chant - Repetitive statement used to
enhance the magical aspect of a ritual, spell, or ceremony.
Charging - Energizing or strengthening.
Charms - A collection of symbolic
objects designed for a specific purpose, such as luck, love, protection.
Cities of the Dead - A popular term
that refers to cemeteries in Louisiana.
Cold Reading - A type of technique used
by disreputable psychics, mediums, and fortune-tellers which utilizes general
statements to determine details about a person. By gauging the individual’s
reaction to these general statements, an experienced fortune-teller can
extrapolate more information about the subject giving the appearance of having
true psychic ability. This technique is also used in the entertainment industry
by mentalist, illusionist, and stage-magicians.
Compare to Hot Reading.
Condition Oil - A term used to describe
oils which have been designed to address a specific issue or bring about a
specific condition. Examples include, Cast Off Evil Oil, Follow Me Boy, and
Money Drawing Oil.
Conjure – This is a traditional magick
system that originated in the southern United States. It is a mystical art
founded in botanical knowledge passed on hereditarily through the family, but
it may also be practiced by solitaries. It is also the added aspect of “conjuring”,
to draw magic, spirits, or energy. Contact with ancestors or other spirits of
the dead is an important practice within the conjure tradition, and the
recitation of Psalms from the Bible is also considered magically effective. It
is not a religion. See also Hoodoo, JuJu
and Rootwork.
Crossing – Spiritual works that cause
harm or bad luck.
Crossroads - A place where two roads
connect forming an X. Crossroads are places of spiritual power where magickal
items are often disposed of and rituals pacts are formed. A mystical place
steeped in magic where four roads intersect and where deals are made; a
location where two realms touch, a place between worlds where supernatural
spirits can be contacted and paranormal events take place.
Crossroads magic - Prevalent in
conjure, rootwork, and hoodoo. (See Crossroads.)
Curse - Negative energy cast upon
somebody.
Divination - The ritual process of
gaining information about the past, present, or future either with the use of
tools such as Tarot Cards, Playing Cards, Sortilege etc…or without tools
utilizing one’s own psychic faculties, or through the observation of signs and
omens.
Dressing candles - To bring additional
power to candles using herbal or mineral oils.
Dressing - A term which refers to
rubbing a condition oil on an inanimate object such as a candle, a mojo bag, or
a talisman. It is sometimes used interchangeable with anointing.
Earth Mother - A Goddess that embodies
nurturing, kindness, and fertility.
Feeding - The act of dressing a mojo
bag with oil, or a lodestone with oil/magnetic sand to nourish it and keep it
strong to work for you.
Feeding powder - Herbal or mineral
substance used to charge and sustain the life of a powerful object.
Flipping - A term used in candle-magick
to describe the act of cutting the tip off of a candle, turning it upside down
and digging a new tip out of the bottom. Symbolically this is said to reverse
people and conditions as symbolized by the color of the candle or the words
carved upon it. See also Butting.
Fixing tricks - Doing spellwork.
Foot track magic - A hoodoo spell that
involves the physical tracks and footprints. Throwing powders and such in the
path of a target who will suffer from abnormal maladies and a run of bad luck
once they have walked on it. Direct or
sympathetic methods.
Gédé loa - Spirits of the dead.
Gopher’s Dust (Goofer Dust) - A magical
dust used in foot track magic that traditionally contains snakeskin or the
rattle of a rattlesnake. Used to motivate and enforce changes.
Goofer Dust (Gopher’s Dust) - A magical
dust used in foot track magic that traditionally contains snakeskin or the
rattle of a rattlesnake. Used to motivate and enforce changes.
Graveyard dirt - Dirt taken from a
graveyard. Especially potent if gathered from a grave at the crossroads.
Great Mother - Goddess of all goddesses;
creator being.
Gris-gris - A spell, charm, or magic
depending on use in sentence structure. A ritually prepared object such as a
doll or a small cloth bag filled with magical ingredients, as well as the act
of working the gris-gris (spell or charm).
Gros Bon Ange - In New Orleans Voodoo
it is regarded as the part of the soul that connects the Voodooist to all of
creation, which is constantly in union with Bon Dieu.
Haint - Southern African-American culture's term for a ghost.
Hand - Another word for a Mojo Bag or
charm.
He and She - Male and female lodestones
that have been matched by shape and size.
Hex - Negative energy cast upon a
victim.
Honey Jar - A type of spell which uses
sweeteners such as honey, syrup, molasses, etc… in conjunction with a candle(s)
and designed to compel an individual to favor your petition in business, love,
or court-cases.
Hoodoo - A form of folk-magic
originating in Africa which, was brought and adapted in the southern United
States. It is a mystical art founded in botanical knowledge passed on hereditarily
through the family, but it may also be practiced by solitaries. The goal of hoodoo
is to allow people access to spiritual forces to influence their daily lives. Hoodoo
is an informal system that draws its influences from traditional African
practices, Native American folklore and some elements of Christian, Jewish and
European folk practices. It is not a
religion. See also Conjure, JuJu and Rootwork.
Hot Footing - A type of spell or ritual
intended to drive a person, such as an enemy or some other troublesome person,
away. It is synonymous with banishing in other magickal traditions.
Hot Reading - The use of knowledge
gained about an individual beforehand when performing a reading for another
individual. See also cold reading.
Hounfor - The name for a Vodou temple.
Houngan - An initiated priest within
the religion of Orthodox Haitian Vodou.
Invocation - A song, poem, or chant
designed to call upon the spirits or ancestors.
Job - A term that refers to a spell,
also called a job or working.
Juju - Magic, sometimes with bad
intent.
JuJu – A West African word meaning “magic”,
and refers to the African-American Folk Magick system (also referred to as
Rootwork and Hoodoo) is a traditional magick system that originated in the
southern United States. It is a mystical art founded in botanical knowledge
passed on hereditarily through the family, but it may also be practiced by
solitaries. The goal of JuJu is to allow people access to spiritual forces to
influence their daily lives. Rootwork is an informal system that draws its
influences from Appalachian, tradition African practices, Native American
folklore and some elements of Christian, Jewish and European folk practices. It
is not a religion. See also Conjure, Hoodoo
and Rootwork.
Justified – This refers to a work done
against an enemy if they feel it’s been justified. Not all practitioners will
do revenge or attack spells, preferring to leave these aspects to others who
will.
Lady Hearted - A Rootworker or
spiritual practitioner who is morally opposed to bringing harm to another
individual or animal through the use of spells and magick.
Laying tricks - Hoodoo term for
performing spells. Also refers to concealing or disposing of magical objects by
strategically placing the ingredients in certain places in order to fix the
trick; in essence, to seal the deal.
Live Things In You - A term which
refers to the belief that, through the use of magick, live beings such as snakes,
scorpions, and/or spiders have been introduced into the human body.
Loa (Lwa) - Also known as Mystères or
the Invisibles; spirits responsible in the daily matters of life in the areas
of family, love, money, happiness,
wealth, and revenge. Petitioned in
rituals and spellwork.
Loading - A term which refers to
digging a small hole in the bottom of a candle and introducing herbs, personal
concerns, oils, powders, etc… into it before resealing the hole.
Lwa (Loa) - Also known as Mystères or
the Invisibles; spirits responsible in the daily matters of life in the areas
of family, love, money, happiness,
wealth, and revenge. Petitioned in
rituals and spellwork.
Mambo - An initiated priestess in the
religion of Orthodox Haitian Vodou.
Mojo - A small bag of charms that
serves as an amulet for a wide range of purposes.
Mojo Bag - A type of talisman which
takes the form of a small flannel drawstring bag containing an assortment of
animal, vegetable, or mineral curious believed to attract or dispel certain
influences.
Nation sack - A female-owned mojo bag.
Paquets - A small charm, another name
for a toby or mojo hand.
PÉ - The name of the altar in Vodou. It
is made of masonry and is circular, forming the base of the poteau-mitan.
Personal Concerns - A term used to
describe anything that is associated with a person’s physical body either
having once been a part of it or having intimate contact to the body. Examples
of personal concerns include blood, semen, hair, clothing, one’s signature,
photograph, etc.
Petro - A major family of loa in Haitian vodou; they
are more fiery, aggressive, and warlike spirits and associated with the element
of fire; considered “bad” or “hot” spirits.
Poisoned Through the Feet - A term used
to describe when a person has walked over or stepped through a magickal powder
that has been laid down in their path for the purpose of affecting them in a
negative way.
Poppet - A small, stuffed doll or other
organic object used to represent a human. Also referred to as a voodoo doll,
baby doll, dolly and doll baby.
Poteau-mitan - The central pole of a
Vodou temple.
Pot de Tête - A small covered jar that
is constructed to help protect initiates from malevolent magic.
Rada - A major family of loa in Haitian
vodou; older, beneficent spirits, guardians of morals and principals and
associated with the element of air; considered “good” or “cool” spirits.
Reader - A Rootworker or spiritual
practitioner, who is psychically gifted.
Root Doctor – Also known as a Herb (or
Yarb) Doctor. They use herbs, roots and barks for healing disease and casting
spells, and may or may not be a rootworker as well.
Rootwork – Also referred to as Hoodoo,
JuJu, or Conjure, this is a traditional magick system that originated in the
southern United States. It is a mystical art founded in botanical knowledge
passed on hereditarily through the family, but may also be practiced by
solitaries. The goal of rootwork is to allow people access to spiritual forces
to influence their daily lives. Rootwork is an informal system that draws its
influences from Appalachian, tradition African practices (in some geographical areas,
but not all), Native American folklore and some elements of Christian, Jewish
and European folk practices. It is not a
religion. See also Conjure, Hoodoo and JuJu.
Rootworker - A practitioner of Hoodoo.
See also Two-Headed Doctor.
Runs - A term used by candle-workers
referring to the practice of lighting a new candle for the same intention
shortly before an old one has burned out until satisfactory results are achieved.
Santeria - A unique hybrid of Western
and non-Western rituals, ceremonies, prayers, and invocations primarily
practiced in South America.
Scrying - Gazing at an object such as a
flame, water, crystal ball, or mirror to see into different worlds and times.
Setting Lights - A term which refers to
the process of preparing a candle for an individual’s petition and praying over
it daily until it has burned out.
Shamanism - A type of healing practiced
by a variety of groups that combines herbalism and natural medicines with deep
spirituality. Shamen sometimes use trance induced by drugs such as peyote; are
often adept at shapeshifting.
Spirit Box - A box that will serve to
house a spirit of the dead.
Spirit Pot - A specially prepared cast
iron cauldron that serves to house the spirit of a dead person who has agreed
to serve as working spirit for its owner.
Spiritual Worker (Spiritualist) - A
synonym used mainly for a professional, a practitioner who takes on paying
clients, but which any practitioner may also use to describe them self.
Sticking - Sticking a poppet or other
object such as a candle is used to insert intent and energy into the subject.
Ti Bon Ange - In New Orleans Voodoo
tradition it is regarded as part of the Voodooist’s personality. Similar to the
conscious will.
Toby - Another name for a mojo.
To Throw For - A term which refers to
1) throwing down powders where a person will step over or walk through them 2)
placing a curse on an enemy. See also Poisoning Through the Feet.
Traiteur - A man or woman who has the
power to heal using prayer and the laying of hands. Many are knowledgeable in
the use of herbs for healing. Some may also read cards or have some knowledge
of spell casting.
Trick - The name for a spell in
traditional hoodoo.
Two Headed Doctor - A Rootworker, or
spiritual practitioner, who is also a reader.
Uncrossing - Works that reverse a
crossing (hex).
Vévé - Drawing made with cornstarch on
the earth or floor to invoke the spirit of gods or goddesses in Haitian Vodou;
intricate symbol of a loa, used in rituals.
Voodoo - The American spelling used to
differentiate New Orleans Voodoo from Orthodox Haitian Vodou. Latin American
and Caribbean ways of working with the spirit world, a blend of West African
and Catholic Christian teachings.
Voodooienne - A female practitioner of
New Orleans Voodoo.
Voodooist - A male practitioner of New
Orleans Voodoo.
Vodou - The traditional Haitian
spelling for the religion of Orthodox Haitian Vodou.
Vodouisant - A practitioner or initiate
of Orthodox Haitian Vodou.
Work or Working – A term that refers to
a spell, also called a job.
Working by the Clock: A hoodoo rootwork
term referring to using the placement of the hands on a clock: moving downwards
is for reversal/removal/banishing works; moving upwards is for good/bringing
works.
Zombie -A dead person that has been
revived after having been buried. After
resurrection, the zombie remains in the control of others, having no will of
their own. In truth, a zombie is a
living person who has never died; it is a person who is under the influence of
powerful drugs administered by an evil sorcerer.
***
Sources:
Denise Alvarado
Carolina Dean
A Witch’s Craft, Volume 1: Dictionary for a
Witch’s Grimoire by Viktorija Briggs
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