The Spellcaster's Source Hoodoo and Voodoo Witchcraft Blog of Talia Felix

The Queen Elizabeth Root used in hoodoo is usually nowadays an orris root. In older hoodoo it was taken from a plant called stillingia, or Queen's Root . I cannot find the exact point at which the new name was acquired, but it appears that the name "Queen Elizabeth" came to use coincidental with the time that it was being replaced in curio catalogues with orris root. In this instance, it was probably to evade accusations of fraud or mislabeling for selling queen's root from a different plant.   A similar thing happened with John the Conqueror root, where the easier to acquire jalap replaced the more traditional root, usually identified as either Solomon's Seal root or a Jack in the Pulpit root.  In hoodoo tradition, the John the Conqueror root is the symbol of masculinity; it's even (rarely) called "man root." Its properties include the ability to draw money, success, wit, virility, love, crossing, uncrossing, and luck. The female root is the Que...

OLD INDIAN HERB REMEDIES (from an old book)     1. UNASTE´TSTIYÛ=“very small root”—Aristolochia serpentaria—Virginia or black snakeroot: Decoction of root blown upon patient for fever and feverish headache, and drunk for coughs; root chewed and spit upon wound to cure snake bites; bruised root placed in hollow tooth for toothache, and held against nose made sore by constant blowing in colds. Dispensatory: “A stimulant tonic, acting also as a diaphoretic or diuretic, according to the mode of its application; * * * also been highly recommended in intermittent fevers, and though itself generally inadequate to the cure often proves serviceable as an adjunct to Peruvian bark or sulphate of quinia.” Also used for typhous diseases, in dyspepsia, as a gargle for sore throat, as a mild stimulant in typhoid fevers, and to promote eruptions. The genus derives its scientific name from its supposed efficacy in promoting menstrual discharge, and some species have acquired the “reputation o...

This is not a spell where you just do these steps one time and the effects are settled for the rest of your life, but instead you should repeat these steps regularly for as long as you feel that you need magickal assistance. The root kept in the clothing drawer can last a long time once it is put in place, but your body should be dressed with the powders and oils daily, and your house should probably be cleaned once a week or so.  You Need: Attraction Sachet Powder Master Oil Lavender Oil Salt a whole John the Conqueror Root Van Van Floor Wash or Chinese Wash Begin by bathing in water to which 10 drops of Lavender Oil and a handful of salt have been added. If you have never taken a spiritual bath before, know that you should not use any other soaps or shampoos in this bath (if you need to wash your hair or clean substantial dirt from yourself, take a separate shower first.) In the bath, scrub your body downward to remove any negative influences, and be sure to w...

With the modern hoodoo tradition, there's a pre-made formula for near everything.  Some folks accuse this of being done "just to sell products" but note that this is in fact a longer ongoing tradition than modern Wicca. It's no more done "just to sell products" than a cookbook is "just to sell groceries." It is how these spells are performed. Those with very little money can struggle with this fact. Now, it's not to say that using pre-made formulas is the only way to practice, and there are also many old workings that can be done with plain herbs . However, if you live in an urban environment as most people do nowadays, you will probably still have to purchase the herbs, and in many cases it's actually cheaper to just buy the made formula than to buy all the herbal ingredients individually.  For those who really don't like to buy specialty ingredients, I have collected several spells in my book Homemade Hoodoo that can be done using co...