Date: November 22, 2020
Day: Sunday

Welcome to Hoodoo Hill (named for my Boxer buddy who is never too far from my side). My name is Granny Tackett and I’d like to introduce you to various aspects of rootwork and Granny Magic, which are aspects of American Folk Magic; I’ll discuss herbs, roots, potions, brews, rituals, spell works, wildcrafting, divination systems, and many other interesting tidbits of folk magic. I hope y’all will stop in, pull up a seat and set a spell while I churn out a yarn or two! ;)
Date: November 22, 2020
Day: Sunday
Chicken Foot Amulet/Smudge Wand
One of my favorite pastimes lately is making Chicken Foot Amulets/Smudge Wands. Each has a different charge to it: protection, healing, smudging/cleansing, etc., whatever it is the foot portrays to me.
Each is unique and one of a kind in both their feather designs and how the foot dried.
I have feathered or naked feet, black or white skin, painted or not, large or small. Each is placed on the altar, then blessed & charged to intent.
They range in price from $25 ~ $75, depending on size and amount of work (crafting & ritual). I will eventually put on the Hoodoo Hill Etsy Shoppe, but right now, I'm just presenting them here and on the Hoodoo Hill Facebook page.
If you're interested in having one designed & consecrated for you, email me at granny-tackett@hoodoohill.com,
Tarot Card Pull
So, I decided to pull a Tarot card today - considering the turmoil going on all over the place. I thought that maybe there would be a new message of hope or something.
Meet the Tarot card of the day...
Can 2020 Just Please END Already?!
I don't know about you, but I have HAD IT with 2020!
This year has brought devastation to the country through thugs destroying businesses, lives, and even whole cities. Disgusting. There was ZERO reason for it. Protest to your heart's content, but DO NOT destroy businesses or be the cause of someone's death over your petulant, childish, overly exaggerated reaction to a situation that has absolutely nothing to do with you personally. Fight the right way.
This year I almost lost my husband - twice.
This year my oldest son went through a divorce - his second, after waiting over 10 years after the first divorce to finally find someone.
This year my sister had a return of breast cancer - her second, having lost one breast ten years ago.
This year I lost my two special elderly furbabies within minutes of each other.
This year is an election year and with the candidates in play on all levels (state & national), we are in a fight for our great Constitution as the Founding Fathers designed it or Socialism/Communism as the liberals have been working for over a century to turn this country into. Do people not study comparative government any longer? The latest travesty of wealth to poverty is Venezuela. Do the research. That form of government has never worked to the betterment and uplifting of any peoples in any time in history. Ever.
We have 58 days left in this year. I can only pray nothing more happens. But 58 days can be a very long time!
We need to each take time each day to begin to heal ourselves - from within. By working with ourselves first, then it will begin to ripple out to those around us, which in turn ripples out further and further.
Take the time to light a candle each day/evening/night, whichever time works for you, to send healing to yourself and ultimately out to others.
With all the negative going on it is having a devastating affect on humanity as a whole. Let's do just one minor little thing for ourselves each day with full intention of nothing more than love. Share love. Send it out. Watch that candle flame and send in love to yourself, and out love to anything and anyone within your sphere of existence.
Take a ritual bath to wash away the negative. I always recite, as the water is draining out:
Make up your own - it's fun!
Ring a bell to send it's clear, true vibrations out to blast away any negative energies.
Smudging is great for sooo many things, so smudge away!
There is so much you can do to clear the vibrations around you! Let's do so and then begin anew each day, and when 2020 finally comes to a close, maybe it won't be with such a sigh of relief, but instead one of thankfulness for the lessons experienced and learned.
Double Dose of Heartache
Today, we lost two of our five dogs. Hoodoo, my Hoodoo Man, for which I named my online presence for, and his life-partner and best friend, Gris-Gris (gree-gree). They passed together within minutes of each other.
Our house is incredibly empty and my half of the bed will be very spacious. I'd trade all that space for them to be with us again right now, if I could.
My babies have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I lit a candle for them. I would appreciate if you would, if you feel compelled to, do the same.
Dia de los Muertos ~ How will YOU celebrate YOUR ancestors?
Today, November 2, is Dia de los Muertos.
It is a time when families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries.
Anything can be placed on the altar for the visiting souls, including traditional food, fresh flowers, pan de muerto (or bread for the dead), candles, copal incense (aromatic tree resin), fruits, cloths, photographs, favorite drinks of the deceased, sugar folk toys, religious images and clothing.
Decorations also include tombstones, skulls and skeletons made of clay and other materials, sugar skulls, and papel picado. Calaveras are ubiquitous during Day of the Dead. A Calavera, or sugar skull, is a decorative skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay which are used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. The skulls are often drawn with a smile as to laugh at death itself and the name of each departed is written on a sugar skull.
The names of the living are also written on these treats to introduce children to the idea of death in an atmosphere of joyful celebration. These sugar skulls are eaten and the living come to associate pleasant sensations with the sadness of death.
Calaveras take many forms, such as sugar candies, clay decorations, and most memorable: face painting. Sugar skulls are decorated and placed on ofrendas of loved ones.
Most importantly, a photograph of the departed soul is placed on the altar. Pan de muerto, bread for the dead, is sweet and baked in shapes of skulls and human figures.
Traditional loaves are round with a central raised knob of dough, representing the skull, with crossed bone-shaped decorations radiating from the central knob.
Día de los Muertos also includes traditional dishes, such as chicken in red or black mole sprinkled with sesame seeds; tortillas, tamales made from ground corn; soft drinks or aguardiente (“white-lightning” liquor),tequila and always a glass of water. It is believed that the returning souls are thirsty after a long journey. Water is also believed to be a main support of life.
Marigolds are believed to be the pathways that guide the spirits to their ofrendas. The flower’s vibrant colors and scent attract the departed souls, as they return to feast on their favorite foods. While orange and yellow marigolds are the main flowers, magenta terciopelo (ruby coxcombs) and nube (baby’s breath) are also traditionally displayed.
Copal (tree resin) is used as incense and is a symbolic transformation of the physical to the supernatural, associated with the death of the soul returning to the ofrenda.
Candles and fresh marigold flowers are placed on the altar to light and guide the way of the souls to the altar. Paths are marked with flower petals showing the departed souls the way to the altar. Day of the Dead toys are also placed on the altar. Painted clay skeleton figures portray the dead resuming their normal activities such as playing. Pull toys, coffins and crank boxes are displayed for the dead to play with. Living with death in this way means that we can learn learn to accept death as part of life.
(Sources: Day of the Dead Festival & Day of the Dead Holiday)
How will YOU celebrate YOUR ancestors?
TAROT CARD of the WEEK: QUEEN of SWORDS
Joan of Arc by Charles Lenoir (1860~1926)
Honest!
Faces the truth, even if unpleasant
Is up front with everyone
Likes everything on the table
Plays by the rules
Avoids lies and deception
Astute!
Sizes up a situation quickly
Understands hidden motives and desires
Is difficult to fool, trick or con
Figures out the unspoken rules and agendas
Is quick on the uptake
Forthright!
Is direct and open in all dealings
Gets to the heart of the matter
Acts without pretense or guile
Is straightforward and no-nonsense
Can be candid when necessary
Witty!
Has a delightful sense of humor
Diffuses awkward situations with a funny remark
Never takes anything too seriously
Laughs at everything, including him or herself
Experienced!
Has seen and done it all
Has strength due to life's hard knocks
Is free of self-righteous judgments
Has realistic expectations
The personality of the Queen of Swords combines the positive air energy of the Swords suit with the inward focus of a Queen. You can always count on her to tell you exactly how it is. Above all else she admires honesty, and she lives by her commitment to being truthful. Lies, tricks and games are of no interest to her, but she's not easy to fool. She is experienced in the ways of the world, good and bad. The Queen of Swords can size up a situation quickly. She understands human folly, but doesn't condemn it. She knows when cow manure is being thrown around and simply finds clever ways around it. She prefers being straightforward and direct. Her observations are candid, but never hurtful. In fact, this Queen has a delightful sense of humor. She likes a good laugh and always has a witty comeback ready-at-hand. She knows that life isn't meant to be taken too seriously. The Queen of Swords is refreshing in her candor and lack of pretense.
In readings, the Queen of Swords asks you be completely
honest - with yourself and others. Be direct and get straight to the point of
the matter.
If someone is trying to pull a fast one; stay sharp, ready
to straighten them out! Don't allow yourself to be fooled.
Can you see or find humor in a situation?
This Queen can also represent a person who is like her, or an atmosphere of honest, direct communication. Let yourself be inspired by this Queen in whatever form she appears in your life.
Vibrant activity and intelligence.
Power leads one to truthful self-analysis and faith in the evolution of the soul towards its creator.
A determined woman/person of power, but there is a barrier between her and others.
One who is honest, sharp witted, can be harsh, and a good organizer.
A woman of Virgo temperament.
Keywords:
Acts without pretense or guile, Astute, Avoids lies and deception, Can be candid when necessary, Candid, Clever, Committed, Communicator, Determined, Diffuses awkward situations with a funny remark, Direct, Experienced, Faces the truth / even if unpleasant, Figures out the unspoken rules & agendas, Forthright, Gets to the heart of the matter, Harsh, Has a delightful sense of humor, Has realistic expectations, Has seen & done it all, Has strength due to life's hard knocks, Honest, Intelligent, Is difficult to fool / trick or con, Is direct & open in all dealings, Is free of self-righteous judgments, Is quick on the uptake, Is straightforward & no-nonsense, Is up front with everyone, Lack of pretense, Laughs at everything / including themselves, Likes everything on the table, Never takes anything too seriously, No non-sense, Open, Organized, Personal strength, Plays by the rules, Power, Realistic expectations, Reason, "Right to the point", Sense of humor, Sharp wit, Sizes up a situation quickly, Straight forward, Truthful, Understands hidden motives and desires, Vibrant, Witty, Witty comebacks, Woman of power
The epitome of this archetype is, to me, Joan of Arc!