Hoodoo
- Alternate use: hoodoo (geology)
Hoodoo is a
folk religion or traditional
magic which originated in the southern
United States. The goal of Hoodoo is to allow people access to
supernatural forces to influence their daily lives.
Hoodoo is believed to have influence in many areas, including
gambling, love,
divination, cursing one's enemies, treatment of
disease, employment, and
necromancy. Many patent medicines were aimed at Hoodoo practitioners. Significant use is made of various home-made potions and charms, but there are also many sucsessful commercial companies selling various Hoodoo components.
While Hoodoo and
Voodoo share some elements--the latter probably influencing the former--and may have a common
etymology, the terms generally refer to different beliefs and practices: Hoodoo is very informal, largely based on traditional
African practices, though it drew significantly from
Native American folklore, especially the use of
herbs and other
botanical elements. Elements of various
Christian,
Jewish and
European folk practices found their way into Hoodoo.
Voodoo is an established religion.
Most adherents have been black, but whites and
Native Americans also used Hoodoo.
Hoodoo is used as a
noun to describe a
magic spell or potion, as a
title for a powerful practitioner (Hoodoo Doctor, Hoodoo Man or Hoodoo Woman), or as an
adjective or
verb depending upon context. The word can be dated at least as early as
1891. Some practitioners prefer the term
Hoodooism, but this has mostly fallen out of use.
Synonyms include
conjuration, witchcraft, or
rootwork. The latter demonstrates the importance of various
roots in the making of charms and casting spells. An
amulet characteristic of hoodoo is the
mojo, often called a
mojo bag or
mojo hand; this is a small sack filled with herbs, coins, sometimes a magnet, and various other objects of magical power.
Due to Hoodoo's great emphasis on an individual's magical power, practices are easily adapted based on one's desires, inclination and habits. Knowledge is passed person to person; there is no structured hierarchy.
Like many other folk magics, great emphasis is placed on
herbs,
minerals, parts of animals' bodies, an individual's posessions, and bodily fluids, especially
menstrual blood,
urine and
semen.
Many blues musicians referred to Hoodoo in their songs, and such elements have become important to the music.
Zora Neale Hurston recorded many Hoodoo practices and tales.
See also
\n*Pow-wow (folk magic)\n*
Santerķa\n*
Vodun
External links
