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FOR THE DEAD AND INJURED AND THOSE HARMED DURING THE EARTH QUAKE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY HAITI...SHOULD WE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY BE INTERESTED IN acually learn ing about this as a part of our culture and why VOODOO is so still alive and active in this country as well as in America?!? WHAT IS VOODOO ANY WAY... AND WHAT IS ITS HISTORY....
Posted By: ROBINSON IRMA
Monday, March 29th 2010 at 6:59PM
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I think that Voodoo and witchcraft would be put in the same catagory, except witchcraft is a far more acceptable science. People incorporate witchcraft into their normal way of life, such as tossing salt over their left shoulders, burning of candles on your birthday cake, etc. Voodoo has not been taken to the higher level for good, because it has been recognized as totally evil.
Tuesday, March 30th 2010 at 6:40AM
Helen Lofton
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You wouldn't believe the problem I had trying to log in to the web site just now. It is totally ridiculous! I did not say that Rachael Ray, or Sarah Palin used witchcraft. I said that People have incorporated pagen idiology into their normal way of life.
AS an example people using remedies found in drug stores for upset stomach, chalk is the main ingredient. Are you a witch because you use chalk instead of purchasing an anti-acid at the drug store. There are several herbal sources that produce the same effect that is produced by laboratory science.
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 1:52AM
Helen Lofton
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You know that there are websites that contain some of the information that you might find interesting. I myself search for spiritual cleansing as safeguard against negativity.
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF RITUAL BATHING AND CLEANSING
The use of herb baths, mineral bath crystals, and floor washes has been a part of hoodoo practice for a very long time. Generally speaking, they combine elements of African and European magical, religious, and witchcraft traditions and also a bit of Native American plant lore.
The oldest ritual baths and cleansings known to mankind are those involving pure water (typically running fresh water or sea water) and decoctions made from water to which has been added salt, minerals, herbs, roots, and tree barks.
Herbal baths are often used when sickness is present, and are pan-cultural in their distribution. The African belief in foot-track magic -- causing good or evil to another through their foot track -- additionally calls for regular ritual cleaning of not only the person but the doorstep and yard, in order to remove harmful materials such as Goofer Dust or War Water, which may be laid down in the path by an enemy.
Since the 20th century, mineral salts, liquid detergents, room sprays, and other modern bathing and cleaning supplies have been manufactured in convenient forms for use in magical cleansing and purification rites. The basis for these modern hoodoo products is typically an anointing or dressing oil. Root doctors traditionally name their hoodoo oils after the conditions they are believed to cause or to cure. Thus, by extension, Peaceful Home Bath and Floor Wash Crystals, like Peaceful Home Oil, is said to bring about contentment and an end to resentment in the family, while Crown of Success Crystals, like Crown of Success Oil, is believed to enhance one's good fortune in school, career, business, and public life.
THE ROLE OF BATHING AND CLEANING
IN HOODOO SPELL-WORK
In hoodoo terminology, performing a ritual or spell is often called "doing a job." The simplest jobs may involve bathing or anointing oneself or cleaning the house in a prescribed way. In these cases, the entire job consists of bathing a set number of times or washing down the walls, floors, and door step of the home or place of business in a ritual manner. Generally, the disposal of used bath water or floor wash from such work consists of throwing it to the east at or before sunrise, accompanied by a short, formulaic recitation.
If a bath is intended to draw in good luck, it is common for the conjure to tell the bather to rub the body only in an upward direction after pouring the bath. If the bath is for the removal of evil conditions, the client may be told to bathe by rubbing in a downward direction only. In either case, the used bath water, enhanced by the essence of the bather, may become an ingredient in further spell work, ritually sprinkled, used to wipe away enemy tricks and witchcraft spells, or be added to floor wash.
Ritual floor-washing is likewise divided into two classes of work: washing to draw in good luck, and washing to remove evil.
To attract good fortune, business clients, store customers, or a lover, one scrubs the front doorstep inward, to draw in what is wanted. When spiritually cleaning a home or business premises to rid it of evil conditions, one works from the top floor of the building down to the bottom floor and from the back of each floor to the front of each floor, ending at the front doorstep, which is usually given special attention and scrubbing. The used wash-water may be thrown into the front yard, toward the East, or, if preferred, the washing-out may continue down the house-path toward the road and conclude by throwing the water to East at the border of the property.
More complex hoodoo spells done to improve one's condition in life in various ways might comprise dressing an amulet, burning candles and incense, or fixing up a mojo bag to be carried on the person. Spell work directed against enemies may involve laying tricks or throwing down materials for the victim to step over. Very strong jobs of both these types may take on the characteristics of elaborate magical rituals -- and in many cases when such a complex job is undertaken, ritual bathing forms the prelude to doing the job and a second ritual bath or a ritual house-cleaning followed by a ritual bath is the concluding act which marks its close.
The oldest tradition concerning ritual bathing utilizes of special herbs thought to impart certain essences conducive to love-getting, money-drawing, protection from evil, or the removal of curses. The method of preparation is generally to steep the herbs in boiling water, strain the mixture, let the liquid cool, and pour it over the body while standing in a wash tub.
Perhaps the most well-known bath-herb in the African-American Christian community is Hyssop, mentioned in Psalm 51 of the Bible as the herb to use for purification from sin. The common-encountered recommendation to use only rain water, spring water, or ocean water in preparing such a bath is very likely an example of the Jewish-kabbalist influence in hoodoo, for in Judaism the mikva or ritual bath is supposed to me made with free running water.
Other herbs used in ritual baths might include Damiana for love, Raspberry Leaves to increase a woman's attractiveness, Rue for protection, Eucalyptus to rid oneself of bad habits or evil companions, Agrimony to reverse a jinx, and Cinnamon Chips or Chamomile flowers to draw money. Special proprietary mixtures, generally sold under names like 7 Herb Bath, 9 Herb Bath, and 13 Herb Bath are used to draw good luck in love and money, to increase personal spiritual power, and to remove jinxes, respectively.
Many root doctors tell their clients to pour the bath water over their heads a specified number of times (invariably an odd number) and some also prescribe the recital of Psalms or magical phrases as the water is poured. One bath is often deemed sufficient, but for a "strong job" it is common practice to take 7 daily baths of 7 pourings each with 7 Herb Bath, 9 daily baths of 9 pourings with 9 Herb Bath, or 13 daily baths of 13 pourings with 13 Herb Bath. The number of pourings, the words spoken, and the direction which one rubs the body will vary with the magical intent of the bath.
If you plan to take a series of baths for any purpose or reason, you may prepare the herbal bath-tea baths ahead of time by pre-boiling and straining them, and then warming up each portion for use as needed. Keep the pre-boiled and strained herbal bath in the refrigerator to stay freshest. Another technique used by many folks is to make ice cubes out of the pre-boiled bath-tea, for longer storage. In order to do this, and save space in your freezer, you should boil up a really concentrated solution, strain it, freeze it in ice cube trays, pop the cubes out the tray (so you can use them for regular ice) and bag the cubes in the freezer. When you need a fast herb bath, just add hot water and there you are!
Herb bath blends are available in small packets for one bath or in larger bags for multiple-day use. The herb baths shown above and at right are Lucky Mojo brand products: 13 Herb Spiritual Bath for uncrossing and taking off jinxes, 9 Herb Spiritual Bath for increasing spiritual insight and dreaming true, and 7 Herb Spiritual Bath for good luck in money drawing and love getting.
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Order Herbal Baths and Hand Washes from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
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HERBAL HAND WASHES
Manual dexterity is highly prized by gamblers, especially those who play at cards. The same money-drawing herbs used for ritual bathing are also made up into lucky hand washes. These are used for cleaning and empowering the hands when going out to play at games of chance. The herbal hand wash shown in the picture above is Lucky Mojo brand Gambler's Gold Lucky 7 Hand Wash which contains golden Chamomile, money-drawing Cinnamon Chips, money-steadying Irish Moss, poverty-ending Alfalfa, and three other herbs reputed to bring in the winnings and forster gambling luck.
To use herbal hand washes, the practitioner makes up a batch as a strong "tea," strains out the herbs, and stores the liquid in the refrigerator, using just enough every time to thoroughly wash the hands and prepare them for their work. Herbal hand washes may also be boiled up in concentated form, then strained and frozen into convenient ice cubes, as descibed above under the heading for herbal baths.
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Order Herbal Baths and Hand Washes from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Friday, April 2nd 2010 at 12:19AM
Helen Lofton
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Me, I see all religions as the right and correct one for that person...
As for Voodoo, it ismy belief is its historical practice of putting man in direct touch with nature or their natual depencance on the earth, air, water and shelter as a main stay in mankind's ability to survive and to mutate as survivers of the fittest is its greatest short coming iwth the so called civilized world...
after all who would be able to believe that there is a natural component in life such as one must have water or one will surrely die, ect. as far as mankind is concerned. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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..oh, lets not forget how one does not need to go to a doctor and pay extra money for him or her to give you a way to get chemically filled medications is a big downer for this practice also. Nor go to buy foods taht may just kill you if you eat it or allow you child to play with man made toys be they made in China or not... (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Helen, what you say is true as some people would rather make something the some thing is not just to make their point...if throwing salt over one's shoulders is witchcraft then a lot more people actively practice witch craft and right out in the open while denying they are practicing it...
Hell it seems from what you say taht it must be true that Rachael Ray got a magazine and a tv daily series on main stream media for practicing with craft on her daily program on the Food network channel. (smile)
Oh and Sarah Palin got to become governor of a state and got to run for vice-president of America because her minister was brought from Africa to America to be the minister of her church because he was famous for casting out witches in Africa...he was seen during the last election period casting whitches out of Sarah Palin's body...
So Helen you may be on to something there. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Helen, I always deal in logic and not emotions..rachael Ray always makes sure she throws salt over her shoulders on her programs on the cooking channel and she became so popular until she got another program and a magazine...
did you see the pictures of Palin in her church where her pastor she and her church brought from Africa to come here and cast those withces out of her body right there in church and the members believe that he has protected their town from witches??????
aNd, my sister Helen...it is ironic as I had come on the site to write a blog on superstitions...
I am also having a problem trying to get my emails in...I believe this happens when we are coming in from different sites. say you are on teh woman's or teh history site and I am on BIA this will take a long time to pull a blog in...and this problem arises I have found if they are changing somethings on the site from administration. (smile)
thanks Helen, it is only diologues which make each and everyone of us correct in our statements and only sharing information from each of our view points...nothing personal at least not on my part. (smile)
OH and in truth the word Pegan actually means farmer...I guess any thing ccan be turned into a negative like black is bad and White is good...pagen is bad but those religious militia is not bad????All in how one looks at a matter/ issue...
OH and my grandmother is the doctor we grew up with and she always used plants and roots, ect gathered up in the woods or that she grew...may be pegan but she was a devoted member of her ME ZION church. (smile) Oh, they always worked. I loved to get sick just to get some of her hot lemon tea. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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I actually bleieve taht we all found all things from our social and religious beliefs as coming from mother nature...sort of like a trial and error method...I am going to have a friend help me to learn how to meditate...people who cand do tis look as if they are so totally at peace when they do this. I am looking forward to trying this as I tried it years ago and found I could not block every thing out as one is suppose to do.
I just try never to label people or hins when I don't understand or have no interest in it...every things work for someone...Me, I hate pineapple and lobster, but I solve taht people love these tings taht don't work for me. (smile)
Thanks so much Helen...I will pass this information on to my friend...that is if it is all natural. She only eats vegetables and all natural things does she allow into her life...Things like this is her thing...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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