A Bucket, A Mop and A Broom

In the early hours of the dark of the morning, I move silently through my home.  I wash the floors, smoke the space and carry a candle.  I'm performing my house cleansing, an act I repeat on a regular basis.

I was taught this procedure by the one of the best, cat yronwode.  Several years ago I studied with her and completed her Hoodoo and Rootwork correspondence course.  It changed my life and was one of the best studies I have ever undertaken.

Cleansing my home on a regular basis takes me into all the nooks, crannies and spaces that one may not ever touch.  In our busy lives its hard to slow down and wash down your floors, windows and rooms.  Who has that type of time any more?  Yet each cycle I find myself drawn to the ritual even though physically I may not feel up to it.  But Spiritually it has become such an ingrained act, that I awaken and go through process, called to it from a Higher Place.

Its good to routinely cleanse your home, space, office or business on a regular basis.  Things build up.  Arguments happen, funk gathers, people may be in your space that you don't particularly want to return.  Over time this can have a cumlative negative effect on the Spiritual sanctity of your space.  And to add further to it, if you practice Magick, you definitely want to be cleansing your space on a regular basis.

When I arise in the dark, lit only by candle, moving by stealth through my home, I connect to the Old Ways.  A spirit arises in my soul that lifts me to another world and I love the feeling.  Not to mention how wonderful my home smells and feels when the cleansing is done.  When its complete I can rest assured for another cycle, my home is cleansed, blessed and protected.

With all the muck that we go through in our world, a practice of routine cleansing is essential.

Here's to all your works and may they be successful ones.

Priestess Najah

Happy Birthday Marie LaVeau!

Tomorrow is the birthday of Marie LaVeau , who was born on September 10, 1794 and left this earth on June 16, 1881.  Shrouded in mystery, feared and admired, few facts about her life remain.  We know a few things.  Her home on St. Ann and Rampart streets in New Orleans still stands.  She worked tirelessly in service to the poor and the rich, sharing her knowledge and power of the Old Ways.  Old ways of Voodoo, Hoodoo, Conjure, Witchcraft.  All the terms apply.  She was a religious woman and of strong faith. 

I've been to her tomb; http://www.craftandconjure.com/blessed_marie_laveau  One cannot practice the Art of Conjure without feeling her presence in New Orleans.  I feel blessed to have paid homage to her tomb.  

Sometimes I imagine what it must have been like to meet her.  Did one knock on her door with a secret knock, when you needed her help?  What if you were lucky enough to study with her?  How many gris-gris bags would you have to make?  How many floors would you need to wash to gain her approval?

She speaks to my heart.  I look into her eyes and see power, knowledge and secrets.  It is known and documented she performed works for the Queen of England; Bivins, N.D.P.  Seems if one was in trouble, one knew where to go.

Lyle Saxon in the book, "Fabulous New Orleans" 1928, closes her chapter:

"In the Old St. Louis Cemetery on Basin Street is a neat brick tomb, with the following inscription: Famille Vve. Paris nee Laveau.  This is all that remains of the former greatness of the all powerful Voudou Queen".

How wonderful to prove him wrong!  Happy Birthday Marie LeVeau! 
 

Misinformation in the Media

Today I was led to an article on Current.com regarding minority religions; http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93866911_struggle-for-acceptance-media-visibility-and-minority-religion.htm

 

The article cited "Hoodoo" as a religion with the following quote:
"Practices like animal sacrifice are also played up by the media for tantalizing headlines. Voodoo and related faiths, like Santeria and Hoodoo, are called into question when a dead animal is found or a seemingly ritualistic crime is committed. Yet, Deos notes, the use of animals in Voodoo is very rare, and when it does occur, it is in...

the context of a ritual of thanksgiving, and the animal is cooked and consumed by the community as a meal."

SIGH. Even in an article describing the misinformation regarding minority religions, once again, Hoodoo was described as a religion and it is NOT a religion! Furthermore, most practitioners are deeply Christian (which I am not obviously). Sad, they didn't take the time to check their facts.

This I why I do not use the words "Hoodoo" or "Voodoo" to describe my practice. I've already written a blog article about the differences, http://sistermoon13.blogspot.com/2012/07/hoodoo-voodoo-conjure-witchcraft-what.html

Hopefully my comments will help to educate the public on what Hoodoo and Conjure is and what it is not. Furthermore I do not use animals in ANY type of sacrifice or work. This is against my personal code of ethics. I find all I need through the use of prayer, Nature, herbs and roots, oils and candles and the blessings of the Goddess.

May we all be thrice blessed as we continue to carry on.

Hoodoo, Voodoo, Conjure, Witchcraft. What is it?!

I can get bogged down in terms.  Sometimes if can't name something I can't seem to move forward.  Perhaps you've experienced the same issue.

I shun from using the word "Hoodoo" from the simple fact people confuse the word "Hoodoo" with "Voodoo" and I get tired of explaining the difference.  Short and simple - "Voodoo/Voudoun" is a religion with its own set of deities and ancient, time-honored practices.  It is a religion of the African Diaspora.  I respect the tradition and practices of Voudoun, and while there may be cross-over of certain techniques, I am a Pagan Priestess of the Goddess and it is not my practice to work within the African Traditional Religions.

Hoodoo/Conjure - think New Orleans.  Think of the South and slaves, American Indians and European immigrants.  Think of the Applachian Mountains.  Think of the Mountain people, gathering herbs and roots and pieces of leather.  Think of candles lighting in the dark and walks to the graveyard.  Think of washing yourself  down to rid yourself of something negative, or washing yourself up to bring in something positive.  Short and sweet you done got yourself some Conjure.  I love the word "Conjure".  It brings to mind images of stirring a pot, speaking a mysterious incantation and something wonderful arising from the cauldron.  Sounds similar to "Witchcraft" doesn't it?

Not all Witches perform spellwork.  Witches are just as varied as any other group of people, and the performing of spells is not required to call oneself a Witch.  However for me, spellwork is one of the things I love to do and what keeps my Craft strong.  Get it? Is it beginning to make sense why the word "craft" is included in the term "Witchcraft"?  To keep your craft strong you must practice it, just like any other art.  Part of keeping my Craft strong includes honoring the Full Moons, because I practice my WitchCraft as a Goddess religion.  That is my choice and it works for me. 
There are many similarites between Hoodoo/Conjure and the Craft.  The use of candles, the crafting of talismans or mojos.  The use of herbs and roots.  However traditional Hoodoo workers are usually of a Christian background and the Bible is used heavily in their work.  Normally you would find a Hoodoo worker within the community of a Christian church. 
A Witch would normally be found in the peasant community, gathering herbs, helping to heal the sick, bless homes, the farm, the cattle, and also helping with childbirth. Sounds like a Priest or Priestess, doesn't it.  I don't shy away from the word "Witch". I love it.  I reclaim it.  It has been misused and abused and it's about time it was returned to it's rightful position in our society.  I really dislike it when women are referred to as "Witches" in a derogatory manner.  Call them what you mean, say "Bitch" not "Witch"!

In this age of the internet, there are a plethora of sites one can go to find deeper meanings and explanations of the above.  I'm not going to list them here, for that is part of the journey of the Mystery.  If you wish to know more, have fun on the journey.

As always I wish you Bright Blessings on your Journey!