In my writings, I refer to the collective practices of hoodoo, conjure and rootwork in plural form as a means of recognizing and acknowledging the many regional variations of conjure that are encountered in the South. Katrina Hazzard-Donald's book Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System is a fabulous interdisciplinary exploration of hoodoo, and in particular "old tradition Black Belt Hoodoo," providing a perspective that has yet to be embraced by those holding a monopoly on the commercial hoodoo sector. Fortunately, the narrative is being reclaimed by the descendents of the ancestral traditions and Afrocentric and indigenous scholars. Water rites such as baptisms and foot washings, ring shouts, poisons and charms, and divination systems like the Walking Boy, dominoes, Dancing Dime, and playing cards - all of these are some of the integral, foundational aspects of hoodoo, conjure and rootwork that have unfortunately been relegated to history by the current internet narrative holders. Psalm 53, for instance, was said by runaway slaves for Over time, West African chants were replaced by psalms and prayers. Also, West African incantations used to be integral to the practice of Hoodoo. Fridays were considered a day in which no new projects should begin. For example, there were sacred days in Hoodoo. When taught this is the case, the medicine, lore, history, culture and cosmology are missing. The frequently regurgitated, popular definition pervading the internet: “Hoodoo is African American folk magic” is a definition that is only partially true. When referring to a conjure doctor who primarily uses herbs and roots for healing, the term root doctor is often used. Witchcraft, when referred to in the context of hoodoo, rootwork and conjure, reflects the African concept of witchcraft which closely resembles sorcery, as opposed to the European, earth-based religion. Obeah is a folk magick tradition of West Indian and African origin. New Orleans Voudou or Voodoo is a religion with a pantheon of deities that also happens to include hoodoo, rootwork and conjure in its expression. Rootwork, hoodoo, conjuration and conjure refer to magickal and medicinal practices without a specific religious connotation. Further, you will find different people ascribing their own ideas to the issue of interchangeability of the terms even among academia, there is no general consensus. While each of these traditions are similar in that they are all derived from African traditions and contain an inherent element of manipulative magick, they are not exactly synonymous. The term hoodoo is often used interchangeably with rootwork, conjuration, conjure, witchcraft, Voodoo, and obeah. Likewise, the term conjure also adheres to these grammatical rules as a noun (conjure, conjurer) and verb (to conjure). rootdoctor or rootworker), and the act of working roots (i.e. the rootwork system of herbal magic and medicine), the person who practices rootwork (i.e. We can apply the same grammatical terminology to rootwork using derivatives of the word (i.e. It is also a verb that signifies the act of working hoodoo (i.e. hoodoo is a folk magic tradition), as well as a person who practices hoodoo (i.e. Hoodoo is a noun that signifies a tradition (i.e. When referencing hoodoo, we are referencing a set of beliefs and practices evolving out of a conglomeration of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) brought to American shores with the slave trade. More recently, the transmission of this knowledge is accomplished increasingly through formal and informal education venues such as workshops and online classes. Hoodoo, rootwork and conjure are traditionally transmitted via oral tradition and imitation as a result of observation or participation, over time and space typically within families. That said, Southern hoodoo, conjure & rootwork are African at the root. The systems as we know them today are largely influenced by Native American and Latino Diasporic traditions, as well as European folk magic. Each system involves the specialized use of botanical, zoological and mineral material medica such as herbs, roots, stones, bones and animal parts that are prepared in a medicinal or ritualistic manner for practical purposes such as protection, defense, justice, healing, love or wealth. Southern hoodoo, conjure and rootwork are living, African-derived mystical, medicinal and spiritual systems of personal and psychological empowerment.
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