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

Coffin nails are believed to be powerful in the tradition of hoodoo magic because the dead are seen as powerful and able to help intervene in magical spells -- this is based on African spiritual practices where one's ancestors are seen as being able to intervene with the gods on your behalf. Now, of course, virtually nobody selling coffin nails is really selling nails salvaged from a used coffin (and if anyone is, you're sure not going to be paying $3 for a set of nine.) In the photo above is a set of genuine from-an-old-coffin nails I acquired out of sheer luck (the leftmost); to the right are some quality replacements made by myself (top) and by the famous Karma Zain (bottom.) Typically, if you buy so-called coffin nails from a large hoodoo/occult supplier, all you're getting is a set of rusty nails. Smaller retailers sometimes make replacements using more elaborate methods. Indeed, since most commonly available things sold as coffin nails are not really nails ...

Chinese Wash is an old washing product that's also believed to remove bad luck and restore good; part of the movement of spiritual merchants to promote the idea that physical cleanliness equates to spiritual cleanliness. Its scent is similar to that of Van Van and Hindu Grass formulas. Originally the product was sold in a bottle and a practitioner was told to add broomcorn straws to increase its powers, but nowadays many versions are made wit the broomcorn already mixed in. The book Sticks Stones Roots and Bones , gives the following combination for a Chinese Wash recipe: 6 oz unscented liquid castile soap 3 oz Murphy's oil soap 6 oz distilled water 1/2 tsp citronella oil 1/2 tsp lemongrass oil 7 pieces broom corn straw pinch of dried lemongrass a 16 oz bottle in which to store the mix Lucky Mojo gives this recipe on their site: Start with whatever combination of essential oils of Oriental Grasses you normally use for compounding Van Van oil concentrate (e.g...