More Than Mercury Dimes

The custom of using Mercury dimes in hoodoo is well known, to the point that some folks even say that the Mercury dime is the most traditional thing to use for rites like buying grave dirt.

The Mercury dime was produced from 1916 to 1945, but dimes have been produced in the US since 1792. Until 1965, it was the smallest denomination of silver coin and so was popular for use in folk magic, where silver is generally held to be a valuable ingredient for removing jinxes and protecting from harm.

Data indicates that the tradition of using silver dimes in hoodoo goes back at least to the early 19th century. Archaeologists have found drilled dimes -- such as one would use for making a protective jewelry charm -- in the remains of old slave quarters. Before the Mercury dime, here were some of the other dime styles available:

The "Draped Bust" dime, 1796 - 1807.

old time silver dime for magic

"Capped Bust" dime, 1809 - 1837.

"Seated Liberty" dime, 1837 - 1891.

The "Barber Dime" used 1892 - 1916.

When the U.S. Mint shifted away from silver in 1965, the supply of “working” dimes began to dry up. Old-timers held onto their silver coins and passed them down, while younger workers had to make do with what they could find. Today, collectors and spiritual suppliers alike sell Mercury dimes at a premium, and many folks will accept a Barber or Seated Liberty dime as just as effective. The important part is the silver content, not the portrait stamped on the obverse. Still, nostalgia and tradition have a power of their own, and the Mercury dime keeps its place at the center of the lore.

Some of this may be because of the "Mercury" association -- although the so-called Mercury Dime does not really show a portrait of the ancient god Mercury, many people mistook the portrait of liberty for him (he is often depicted with wings, either on his head, his back or his ankles.)

It’s also worth remembering that a coin is money, and money is power in itself. A silver dime in a mojo hand isn’t just a shiny object—it’s currency, portable wealth, and a reminder of prosperity. In that sense, the dime has a double virtue: its material (silver) repels harm, and its form (money) attracts good. That may be why dimes, more than nickels or quarters, took on this strong role in hoodoo tradition.

Paper-in-Shoe Spells

A popular and very traditional hoodoo spell, often used for any situation where you need to control someone with magic , is the namepaper-in-shoe spell. It's very easy: you write the target's name 3, 7, or 9 times on a paper (depending on intent and who's giving instruction) then fold it up, sometimes after dressing it with oils or powders, then put it in your shoe. This "keeps the person underfoot" or "stomps out the trouble" or "puts pressure on them" or any other number of metaphors. I have had this work several times over the years. In one instance, I was working for a very unpleasant boss, on a short-term job. It was the last day, and I only had about 3 hours of work left on the project; and I wanted him to up my pay for the day since it almost wasn't worth the trip across town for the amount he was paying me, for only 3 hours. He was very reluctant. So I wrote his name 3 times on a 5-dollar bill he'd given me, and dusted it...

Hoodoo Magic Herb List - Hoodoo Online's Handy Guide for DIY Spells

Acacia - keep away evil Adam and Eve root - good luck, especially in love Adam root (from an Adam and Eve) - to hold a man’s love Alfalfa leaves or seeds - to make money last Allspice – for success, money drawing and for good luck Aloeswood - good fortune, spirit contact Angelica root - protection from harm Anise seed - against evil eye Asafoetida - prevents disease and keeps away police Ash leaves - for luck in love affairs Balm of Gilead buds - reconciliation, protection from jinxes Basil - against evil; for purification, for luck-bringing, and for money drawing Bay Leaves – protection from evil; victory and success Bayberry - money drawing, luck drawing Betel nut - protection and luck Bistort - for good luck Bloodroot - protection, job-getting, luck Blue flag root - money drawing Buckeye root - success in any undertaking Buckeye/Chestnut/Horse chestnut - for good luck and protection Burdock - protection Calendula - make dreams come true, prevent nightmares Cara...

Perfume, Cologne, and Its Use In Hoodoo

The original recipe for cologne was reputedly given to St. Elizabeth of Hungary by an angel -- the concoction was known as "Hungary Water" and was used primarily as a medicine, rather than just a mere fragrance. Charles Godfrey Leland remarked that it therefore was appropriate hoodoo practitioners would use such a substance for feeding their conjure bags and other talismans. The term cologne actually comes from a later preparation, Cologne Water (named for the German city.) The original Cologne Water is a spirit-citrus perfume launched in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina (1685–1766), an Italian perfume maker from Santa Maria Maggiore Valle Vigezzo, Italy. In 1708, Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste: "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". He named his fragrance Cologne Water, in honour of his new hometown. The Original Cologne Water composed by Farina was used on...

The Intranquil Spirit

(EDIT: Up to date information about the Intranquil Sprit can be found in my book The Intranquil Spirit , available on Amazon. This post has some incomplete information which is clarified in the book.) The Intranquility spell is, unfortunately, the first resort of many a rejected lover. In some ways it makes sense -- the more unhappy and forlorn one is about a breakup, the better this idea of making the other partner feel just as much so starts to sound. Unfortunately, this spell is often not well suited to a case. The purpose of the standard Intranquility spell is to have the person be tormented by the spirit until they make contact with you, or whomever the spell is being cast for. This means that if a person is already in good contact with their ex OR if they're one of those people who cannot restrain themselves from initiating contact, then this already is probably not the right spell for that case. If you've had an Intranquility spell cast and you make contac...

Rumors and Myths about the Intranquility or Intranquil Spirit Love Spell

(EDIT, 4/23/16: Up to date information about the Intranquil Sprit can be found in my new book The Intranquil Spirit , available on Amazon. This post is mostly correct, but has some incomplete information.) I've done many an Intranquility Spell in my lifetime -- being that I'm a professional magic spell caster that is, of course, logical. However, there seem to be many misunderstandings about this important type of magic spell, which are circulating the internet and invading the minds of people who might (or might not) benefit from its use. #1. The Intranquility Spell is evil. The Intranquility Spell is no more evil than trying to get the same results by way of any other spell. Now, one might argue that the intent is evil, or at least selfish -- but I have had people who requested the exact effects which an Intranquility is meant to bring (desperation, obsession, pining away) yet who refused to do an Intranquility spell specifically on the belief that it's ...

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

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