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

Jim Haskins , reportedly taking his information from the Voodoo Museum of New Orleans , reports on the "Voodoo Hours" that are used for spell enhancement. He then prints a list of the hours of Venus, used to enhance love spells. Now, one familiar with European grimoire magic quickly recognizes these are the same as the planetary hours from the Petit Albert . I know from some comments I've gotten about my translation of the Albert as well as my other works that there are some people who really resent the idea that hoodoo and voodoo have any bookish European influences in them, but this is in an instance where we have undeniable evidence that, at least in the modern practice, this piece of European grimoire magic made it into the ritual repertoire. (Probably through the Petit Albert which was extremely well-known in the French speaking parts of the Americas, and spells from which actually pop up all the time in folk magic practices.) Traditional planetary hours...

  Camphor holds an unusual place in the hoodoo tradition, valued for its spiritual power to be employed toward multiple purposes. This crystalline substance, derived from the camphor laurel tree (Cinnamomum camphora), has been integrated into folk magic practices for generations, bridging Old World herbalism with New World spiritual innovation. Like many hoodoo resins, it has never been natively grown in the United States. It also has a special place in my heart, being the ingredient that brought me into hoodoo during a search for camphor soap. Nowadays much of the camphor you find is synthetic. It is made from turpentine and sometimes paraffin. If you're buying your camphor shaped in little blocks, it's probably this type. Natural camphor comes in a milky white crystal form, and is food-safe in small quantities. You can often find it at Indian groceries because it's used to flavor desserts, and is also burnt in puja offerings. (It is for one said to be a favorite fragranc...

 

Cats and dogs have been sharing homes with humans for thousands of years, and unsurprisingly, they’ve ended up sharing a place in magical practice as well. Often when people talk about animals and witchcraft, they’re picturing the classic black cat with glowing eyes, or fantasy wizards with their fierce hellhounds. But both cats and dogs have had longer, stranger magical histories than the modern stereotype suggests — and not always as cuddly companions. Let’s start with the obvious: the cat familiar. This is the most recognizable icon in pop culture today, but the origin of the familiar spirit is murky. In early modern Europe, "familiars" were spirits that might take the shape of small animals — cats, ferrets, rats, toads — and do the witch’s bidding. Some believed they were demons in disguise. Others thought they were spirits sent by the Devil.  Cats had long been associated with mystery and nighttime even before this. In ancient Egypt, the cat was a sacred animal, associat...

Henri Gamache includes a version of this Psalm in his Master Book of Candle Burning , accompanying a ritual to "Protect Against Evil Influences." The Psalm can also be read on its own or in other contexts; it can even be written out as a type of gris gris. In te, Domine, speravi In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, but rid me, and deliver me, in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my stronghold, whereunto I may always resort; thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my castle. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for; thou art my hope, even from my youth. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born; thou art he that took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be always of thee. I am become as it were a monster unto many, but my sure trust is in thee. O ...

We exist in an unprecedented era. There is now internet , a creation which allows text and images to be instantly transferred from person to person. People can have jobs and never ever see their employer or go to an office -- they might not even live in the same state or the same country as the person they work for! This has an impact on traditional magic spells. Most of your classic old time hoodoo "get a job" or "get business" spells assume you will be interacting directly with the boss or with customers. Some traditional operations of this type include: To have a successful job interview, wash your face with sugar before going to interview. To get a job, sprinkle some salt on the person interviewing you and on the floor of the business. To get customers, wash the floor of the shop with a mixture of your urine, sugar and bluing. For a successful job application, dress your resume with powder such as Steady Work or Van Van . For business success, sprinkle magneti...

Many sources online say the oldest pumpkin pie recipe is from the 1670s, but that's because they're specifically seeking American recipes. This 1650s recipe is from a cookbook by "Monsieur Marnette" called  The perfect cook: being the most exact directions for the making all kinds of pastes, with the perfect way teaching how to raise, season, and make all sorts of pies, pasties, tarts, and florentines, &c. now practised by the most famous and expert cooks, both French and English. If you like historical cookery the whole text is worth looking at here, at Early English Books Online.  To make a Tart of the mellow of Pumpkins, Gourds, or of Melons.  Take the mellow of a Pumpkin, or of a Gourd, or Melon, cut it into peeces as small as a Nut, let them be half boyled in the same water which they will yeeld, over a gen∣tle fire, and have a care sometimes to turn and stirre them that they may not burn, or stick to the pot. And that you may have the less trouble with them,...