Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure
catherine yronwode (Lucky Mojo Curio Co, 2002)
yronwode is the proprietor of Lucky Mojo Curio, Co. and a well known exponent of the conjure arts. In this book she provides a useful A-to-Z listing of commonly used herbs, minerals, and other ingredients. yronwode provides accurate botanical information along with conjure uses for numerous herbs, minerals, and “curios”. She provides detailed information about their uses in spells, mojo bags, spiritual baths, and incenses.
Deliverance! Hoodoo Spells of Uncrossing, Healing, and Protection
Khi Armand (Missionary Independent Spiritual Church, 2015)
Though a small book (<100 pages), Armand’s collection of uncrossing, jinx removing, and protection spells is packed with useful and detailed information. The topics covered comprise a wide range of possible crossed situations to be remedied. Included are numerous approaches to spells to take off rootwork, clean up old messes, heal emotional wounds, and protect yourself and your family. Great addition to one’s spellbook collection. Armand is a noted practitioner and the book is filled with information that may prove useful at some point in one’s travels. More information on Armand’s work may be found at Impact Shamanism.
Long Lost Friend: A 19th Century American Grimoire
John George Hohman, Daniel Harms editor (Llewellyn, 2012)
Der Lange Verborgene Freund was one of, perhaps the earliest magical texts published in the Americas for the American market. Originally published in 1820 for the German speaking population of Pennsylvania and translated into English as The Long Lost Friend in 1856. The work is a collection of herbal formulas and magical prayers, The Long-Lost Friend draws from the traditional folk magic of Pennsylvania Dutch customs and pow-wow healers.
This is book is represents early New World folk magic including household remedies combined with charms and spells to cure common ailments and solve rural troubles. The material included was a strong influence on American hoodoo and conjure.
Many pirated editions appeared over the years. Harms does a masterful job editing the material with reference to the extent editions to create a definitive modern version of Hohman’s collection. The current volume includes both the original German edition and the 1856 translation. In addition Harms brings in remedies added to the pirated 1837 Skippacksville edition.
A professional scholar, Harms adds in extensive notes on the recipes, magic, and supplemental information Pennsylvania Dutch customs, and the historical origin of many of the charms, indices for general purposes and ingredients, and explanations of the specialized terminology of illnesses.
Genuine Black and White Magic of Marie Laveau: Hoodoo’s Earliest Grimoire and Spell Book
catherine yronwode, editor (Lucky Mojo Curio Co, 2018)
Originally published in 1928 and compiled by the renowned anthropologist and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, Black and White Magic of Marie Laveau is arguably the first hoodoo “grimoire”. It purports to be an authentic conjure spellbook and represents an authentic view of New Orleans rootwork at the time. The book has gone through many additions and yronwode brings her editing skills to pull together a definitive edition of this classic work. The author is no doubt not the famous Voodoo Queen, the Lucky Mojo but the book serves as a useful historical record of early twentieth century US hoodoo.
The Secret Keys of Conjure: Unlocking the Mysteries of American Folk Magic
Chaz Bogan (Llewellyn, 2018)
In a conversation style with an abundance of personal anecdote, Bogan has crafted a well rounded introduction to conjure practice. Drawing allusion to the key metaphor of the title the book presents a series of chapters each ‘unlocking’ a particular aspect of Hoodoo and rootwork. Topics covered include: blessings, divination, healing, good luck, purification, protection, influencing personal concerns, sexual excitement, love, wealth, ‘justified hexes’, and spiritual conjuration. Bogan is a practicing Conjure doctor and founder of the Mystic Dream Academy and here he includes many recipes for oils, baths, mojo bags, etc. The voice of the author is evident throughout the book and makes this a very interesting and informative read.
If you missed Part 1 may be found here: Conjure Roundup (pt. 1)