hoodoo? how do i begin//learn?

[tigra]

hello!

firstly i know that it is a closed practice i promise! i am asking here as a way to be vulnerable and ask!

i am interested in studying learning more about hoodoo. i know that it is a closed practice and i am in the demographic to where i would be allowed to practice ( it would specifically be creole/lousiana hoodoo).

it is a bit harder for me since my family has switched to christianity, the person i have the connection to has passed away (was "outcasted?" by my family) and i live in the city.

if anyone practices, knows what i can do to begin, or knows if i even would be able to practice kindly let me know!

 

[Bluecrush204]

From what I know voodoo is similar to santeria, which of it self is descended from Yoruban beliefs centered around orishas which are ancestral African spirits. If you use the search function there is a thread were someone posted an ebook about Yoruban spirits, Santeria, that includes rituals to contact the various orishas among other things

 

[Witch Cat]

hello!

firstly i know that it is a closed practice i promise! i am asking here as a way to be vulnerable and ask!

i am interested in studying learning more about hoodoo. i know that it is a closed practice and i am in the demographic to where i would be allowed to practice ( it would specifically be creole/lousiana hoodoo).

it is a bit harder for me since my family has switched to christianity, the person i have the connection to has passed away (was "outcasted?" by my family) and i live in the city.

if anyone practices, knows what i can do to begin, or knows if i even would be able to practice kindly let me know!

Good morning. I would start with doing a web search for videos and sites online, I know that YouTube has some interesting pages I've looked at and it is free. There are variations of American folk magic like Hoodoo, such as Conjure, Rootwork, PowWow, and Granny Magic (to name the ones I am familiar with) and you can do searches using those practices too. Now if you like what you see and you are ready to invest a little money, there are inexpensive books online; I'd highly recommend Jake Richards' Backwoods Witchcraft, Sen Moise's awesome book Working Conjure, Starr Casas' Old Style Conjure, and the collection of books from Lucky Mojo (good authors all). You will also want to study the folklore of Appalachia and the Ozarks as well as the Deep South, as they not only have interesting legends but also describe magical practices and beliefs. Start slow, look at those free sites online before spending actual money as it may not be what you really are looking for.

 

[tigra]

thank you so much!

Post automatically merged: Aug 23, 2026

Good morning. I would start with doing a web search for videos and sites online, I know that YouTube has some interesting pages I've looked at and it is free. There are variations of American folk magic like Hoodoo, such as Conjure, Rootwork, PowWow, and Granny Magic (to name the ones I am familiar with) and you can do searches using those practices too. Now if you like what you see and you are ready to invest a little money, there are inexpensive books online; I'd highly recommend Jake Richards' Backwoods Witchcraft, Sen Moise's awesome book Working Conjure, Starr Casas' Old Style Conjure, and the collection of books from Lucky Mojo (good authors all). You will also want to study the folklore of Appalachia and the Ozarks as well as the Deep South, as they not only have interesting legends but also describe magical practices and beliefs. Start slow, look at those free sites online before spending actual money as it may not be what you really are looking for.

this is very helpful i’m researching now thank you again!

Post automatically merged: Aug 23, 2026

From what I know voodoo is similar to santeria, which of it self is descended from Yoruban beliefs centered around orishas which are ancestral African spirits. If you use the search function there is a thread were someone posted an ebook about Yoruban spirits, Santeria, that includes rituals to contact the various orishas among other things

i was researching into voodoo and i noticed that it is more religious based atleast what i have seen and initiations are needed.

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

Its more of a mouth to ear thing. My great grandmother was a root woman. Its in my blood. We black folks got hoodoo baked into our culture from traditions like jumping the broom to using the Psalms to make things move. Watch Skeleton Key, Eves Bayou, Spell and Angel Heart. Youll get an idea. Voodoo is a whole different ball of wax. The belief part is kind of essential. You cant approach it like Western magick. Like mechanical. Itll backfire on you. Its heavy on ancestor veneration so...its something for you too look at maybe incorporate this or that in your praxis but youll run into issues with African spirits if you not approved of. Heavy on Igbo, Kongo, Akan aand Yoruba influence. A lot of old school Kabbalah too. Not Qabala lol. Thats my spiel.

 

[ewiz]

I'm sure there's as many family traditions as there are families who practice, but I've never really heard Hoodoo considered to be a closed practice. Hoodoo itself is most often practiced by those from Christian backgrounds, so I'm assuming you mean Louisiana Voodoo. Compared to Haitian Voodoo, I know that Louisiana Voodoo is a lot more syncretic and a lot less closed in terms of it's initiations. Both are religions which rely heavily on initiation and community. Progressive initiations in these systems grant you access to more authority with the spirits, but in turn require more of a commitment to the community. But again, the stateside practices are a lot more varied and less strictly religious than in Haiti. Also, just like with Hoodoo, I've never actually heard of any of this being restricted to any person's race, blood lineage, or other demographic. I'd suggest that's just some modern individual's opinion against some percieved cultural appropration, rather than anything historically accurate or valid in practice.

There are ways to approach the ATR's as an outsider, without initiation into a house, and have positive results. I have done so in the past with more than one spirit from these traditions, but proceed cautiously and don't take this as a recommendation, as many people do not have a good time doing something like this. I couldn't direct you to any one particular place, but suggest if you're interested that you study as much as possible.

For Hoodoo specifically, I think you should look here

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and here

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to start with.

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

I'm sure there's as many family traditions as there are families who practice, but I've never really heard Hoodoo considered to be a closed practice. Hoodoo itself is most often practiced by those from Christian backgrounds, so I'm assuming you mean Louisiana Voodoo. Compared to Haitian Voodoo, I know that Louisiana Voodoo is a lot more syncretic and a lot less closed in terms of it's initiations. Both are religions which rely heavily on initiation and community. Progressive initiations in these systems grant you access to more authority with the spirits, but in turn require more of a commitment to the community. But again, the stateside practices are a lot more varied and less strictly religious than in Haiti. Also, just like with Hoodoo, I've never actually heard of any of this being restricted to any person's race, blood lineage, or other demographic. I'd suggest that's just some modern individual's opinion against some percieved cultural appropration, rather than anything historically accurate or valid in practice.

There are ways to approach the ATR's as an outsider, without initiation into a house, and have positive results. I have done so in the past with more than one spirit from these traditions, but proceed cautiously and don't take this as a recommendation, as many people do not have a good time doing something like this. I couldn't direct you to any one particular place, but suggest if you're interested that you study as much as possible.

For Hoodoo specifically, I think you should look here

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

and here

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

to start with.

Its not really a fixed practice to even call it an open or closed practice. My specific variation requires Igbo ancestry and the Kongo kicks in on its own. Its not about inclusion. A lot of stuff in different family practices has mixtures of European folk magic. Other Long story less long...you can practice whatever bro. If your heart is right and the spirits accept you. My thing is warning against a Eurocentric approach to it. Yall like to appropriate and commercialize stuff and its offensive to me. Catherine Yworinde is offensive to me. Im way beyond that my guy lol. Its the RIGHTEOUS ancestor veneration and the behavioral/emotional/mental requirements thats key. It aint - click- you push a button and the spirits do what you say or even like you. Lwa like Papa Legba will kill you man. I am decades deep into study and natural clairaudient, clairsentient and telepathic. The context of slavery. These spirits know what happened and have opinions that do not fit modern talking points. Im not one to restrict anybody but those are the caveats. Again...how I approach it is...you better off approaching it sincere and just generlly keep your hands clean as a person. You should be fine. Them books aint shit though Connect on your own homie. Try out an altar with your European ancestors, Hoodoo for you would be building a mixture off that base because its what your great granny did in Italy or Germany or whatever, You feel me?

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

I'm sure there's as many family traditions as there are families who practice, but I've never really heard Hoodoo considered to be a closed practice. Hoodoo itself is most often practiced by those from Christian backgrounds, so I'm assuming you mean Louisiana Voodoo. Compared to Haitian Voodoo, I know that Louisiana Voodoo is a lot more syncretic and a lot less closed in terms of it's initiations. Both are religions which rely heavily on initiation and community. Progressive initiations in these systems grant you access to more authority with the spirits, but in turn require more of a commitment to the community. But again, the stateside practices are a lot more varied and less strictly religious than in Haiti. Also, just like with Hoodoo, I've never actually heard of any of this being restricted to any person's race, blood lineage, or other demographic. I'd suggest that's just some modern individual's opinion against some percieved cultural appropration, rather than anything historically accurate or valid in practice.

There are ways to approach the ATR's as an outsider, without initiation into a house, and have positive results. I have done so in the past with more than one spirit from these traditions, but proceed cautiously and don't take this as a recommendation, as many people do not have a good time doing something like this. I couldn't direct you to any one particular place, but suggest if you're interested that you study as much as possible.

For Hoodoo specifically, I think you should look here

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

and here

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

to start with.

Heavy on the ancestral part and context of slavery. That shit matters. A LOT. Look up a scholastic document called "Making Peace With Agwu" and you will get a perfect understanding of a proper "outsider" initiation to the Igbo system. That is my base. That guy got good results. He engaged the spiritual work earnestly.

 

[ewiz]

Its not really a fixed practice to even call it an open or closed practice. My specific variation requires Igbo ancestry and the Kongo kicks in on its own. Its not about inclusion. A lot of stuff in different family practices has mixtures of European folk magic. Other Long story less long...you can practice whatever bro. If your heart is right and the spirits accept you. My thing is warning against a Eurocentric approach to it. Yall like to appropriate and commercialize stuff and its offensive to me. Catherine Yworinde is offensive to me. Im way beyond that my guy lol. Its the RIGHTEOUS ancestor veneration and the behavioral/emotional/mental requirements thats key. It aint - click- you push a button and the spirits do what you say or even like you. Lwa like Papa Legba will kill you man. I am decades deep into study and natural clairaudient, clairsentient and telepathic. The context of slavery. These spirits know what happened and have opinions that do not fit modern talking points. Im not one to restrict anybody but those are the caveats. Again...how I approach it is...you better off approaching it sincere and just generlly keep your hands clean as a person. You should be fine. Them books aint shit though Connect on your own homie. Try out an altar with your European ancestors, Hoodoo for you would be building a mixture off that base because its what your great granny did in Italy or Germany or whatever, You feel me?

Cat Yronwode's work, imo, is some of the most thuroughly researched and presented material on Hoodoo and is a great place to start. But that's in the context of Hoodoo, not the ATRs. It's important to differentiate between Hoodoo and Voodoo as they are extremely different things. Hoodoo is a big syncretic mix of European and African practices and traditions, and nearly everyone I've ever met literally does treat it as a point-and-click system, not all practitioners involve themselves with distinct ancester veneration, even in the context of family practices. I haven't read all of her work, so I'm unsure what exactly you've found offensive. She's always seemed to be respectful in her approach, and wrote specifically about collected African-American folk traditions, not ATR practice.

I think the suggestion of someone building off of their own family and heritage for their work with an ancestral alter is a good one though. Also thanks for the book recommendation, that sounds interesting. I think being sincere and respectful to tradition is important when approaching the ATRs as well as anything else, regardless of your background. Voodoo is very much a religion first, magical practice distant second or not at all in many cases. That said though, not all lwa are limited to initiates. Papa Legba specifically is widely considered to be the most approachable one, and that has been my experience as well.

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 9:09 PM

Cat Yronwode<snip>

After looking into more recent accusations of Cat Yronwode's behavior and apparent racist remarks, I get it. But I still stand behind my recommendation of her work. I haven't encountered more thoroughly researched work on the subject overall that what I've seen presented by her, and I've been at this for quite a while. Nobody has to support her business to read those books for free from this archive or annas.

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

Cat Yronwode's work, imo, is some of the most thuroughly researched and presented material on Hoodoo and is a great place to start. But that's in the context of Hoodoo, not the ATRs. It's important to differentiate between Hoodoo and Voodoo as they are extremely different things. Hoodoo is a big syncretic mix of European and African practices and traditions, and nearly everyone I've ever met literally does treat it as a point-and-click system, not all practitioners involve themselves with distinct ancester veneration, even in the context of family practices. I haven't read all of her work, so I'm unsure what exactly you've found offensive. She's always seemed to be respectful in her approach, and wrote specifically about collected African-American folk traditions, not ATR practice.

I think the suggestion of someone building off of their own family and heritage for their work with an ancestral alter is a good one though. Also thanks for the book recommendation, that sounds interesting. I think being sincere and respectful to tradition is important when approaching the ATRs as well as anything else, regardless of your background. Voodoo is very much a religion first, magical practice distant second or not at all in many cases. That said though, not all lwa are limited to initiates. Papa Legba specifically is widely considered to be the most approachable one, and that has been my experience as well.

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 9:09 PM

After looking into more recent accusations of Cat Yronwode's behavior and apparent racist remarks, I get it. But I still stand behind my recommendation of her work. I haven't encountered more thoroughly researched work on the subject overall that what I've seen presented by her, and I've been at this for quite a while. Nobody has to support her business to read those books for free from this archive or annas.

Youre not understanding. Its impossible for her to say or feel those types of things and know what she talking about. It aint about no research. Yall call it gnosis. We have more elaborate terms.

 

[ewiz]

Youre not understanding. Its impossible for her to say or feel those types of things and know what she talking about. It aint about no research. Yall call it gnosis. We have more elaborate terms.

It's not impossible for people of any background to be involved with these practices. It's not about background or race, it's a huge group of traditions. Hoodoo itself is very diverse and the stuff I've seen her write about is literally other peoples collected traditions, not about her own feelings. Hoodoo along with other related folk magic practices are universal. As for the new world ATRs it's way more complex as there are so many different traditions, but by number the vast majority of practitioners outside of Haiti, millions of people worshipping and working with the lwa daily, are Latino. Someone in Brazil might be of Japanese descent and convert to Candomble, that would be well accepted and considered normal. Just like the op coming from a Christian family background approaching Voodoo, that would also be considered normal.

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

Cat Yronwode's work, imo, is some of the most thuroughly researched and presented material on Hoodoo and is a great place to start. But that's in the context of Hoodoo, not the ATRs. It's important to differentiate between Hoodoo and Voodoo as they are extremely different things. Hoodoo is a big syncretic mix of European and African practices and traditions, and nearly everyone I've ever met literally does treat it as a point-and-click system, not all practitioners involve themselves with distinct ancester veneration, even in the context of family practices. I haven't read all of her work, so I'm unsure what exactly you've found offensive. She's always seemed to be respectful in her approach, and wrote specifically about collected African-American folk traditions, not ATR practice.

I think the suggestion of someone building off of their own family and heritage for their work with an ancestral alter is a good one though. Also thanks for the book recommendation, that sounds interesting. I think being sincere and respectful to tradition is important when approaching the ATRs as well as anything else, regardless of your background. Voodoo is very much a religion first, magical practice distant second or not at all in many cases. That said though, not all lwa are limited to initiates. Papa Legba specifically is widely considered to be the most approachable one, and that has been my experience as well.

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 9:09 PM

After looking into more recent accusations of Cat Yronwode's behavior and apparent racist remarks, I get it. But I still stand behind my recommendation of her work. I haven't encountered more thoroughly researched work on the subject overall that what I've seen presented by her, and I've been at this for quite a while. Nobody has to support her business to read those books for free from this archive or annas.

You also have to realize I read all that type of bullshit decades ago. I live it. Im past the stage of just collecting information. Especially from sources that aint on shit. A rule of thumb I've learned is when it comes to books dealing with attaining power its usually going to come with booby traps or intentional barriers to lesser energies accessing higher realms. My worldview is that the spiritual realm can be a lot like the hood. Where im from...the gam

It's not impossible for people of any background to be involved with these practices. It's not about background or race, it's a huge group of traditions. Hoodoo itself is very diverse and the stuff I've seen her write about is literally other peoples collected traditions, not about her own feelings. Hoodoo along with other related folk magic practices are universal. As for the new world ATRs it's way more complex as there are so many different traditions, but by number the vast majority of practitioners outside of Haiti, millions of people worshipping and working with the lwa daily, are Latino. Someone in Brazil might be of Japanese descent and convert to Candomble, that would be well accepted and considered normal. Just like the op coming from a Christian family background approaching Voodoo, that would also be considered normal.

Youre not comprehending what Im writing. I already said diversity is possible. You doing just what I talked about. Approaching with a white mind. You want to debate lived experience and genetically calibrated praxis with your theory. OK. Im not sure why the things Im saying about character and behavior aint registering. Catherine is a bad person. And her shit is innacurate. Like why tf is you not being humble enough to learn something? Yworinde aint shit in the Hoodoo world. She just aint. Go look up Mama Yana and thank me later. Know what you talking about before you offend people. A word to the wise. This stuff rooted in the pain of slavery is hard to shake and certain spirits mobilize on their own through the eyes of their children.

 

[ewiz]

You shouldn't be assuming someones race, their background, or what they've read based on a couple internet posts. I've said enough on the subject, have a good day.

 

[Soror Epihania]

You also have to realize I read all that type of bullshit decades ago. I live it. Im past the stage of just collecting information. Especially from sources that aint on shit. A rule of thumb I've learned is when it comes to books dealing with attaining power its usually going to come with booby traps or intentional barriers to lesser energies accessing higher realms. My worldview is that the spiritual realm can be a lot like the hood. Where im from...the gam

Youre not comprehending what Im writing. I already said diversity is possible. You doing just what I talked about. Approaching with a white mind. You want to debate lived experience and genetically calibrated praxis with your theory. OK. Im not sure why the things Im saying about character and behavior aint registering. Catherine is a bad person. And her shit is innacurate. Like why tf is you not being humble enough to learn something? Yworinde aint shit in the Hoodoo world. She just aint. Go look up Mama Yana and thank me later. Know what you talking about before you offend people. A word to the wise. This stuff rooted in the pain of slavery is hard to shake and certain spirits mobilize on their own through the eyes of their children.

Do you think a person of European descent can't understand hoodoo or ATRs based on their genetics? What if an ethnically Euro person was raised in and around, say Santeria for example, would they be able to go into the depths of that tradition, or would they hit a wall because they're not 'genetically calibrated' towards it in your words? I definitely hear you on the importance the history of black people in America bears on Hoodoo and other Afro-American traditions, but is that really a gene thing?

 

[realblackmagicni99a]

Do you think a person of European descent can't understand hoodoo or ATRs based on their genetics? What if an ethnically Euro person was raised in and around, say Santeria for example, would they be able to go into the depths of that tradition, or would they hit a wall because they're not 'genetically calibrated' towards it in your words? I definitely hear you on the importance the history of black people in America bears on Hoodoo and other Afro-American traditions, but is that really a gene thing?

Do you think a person of European descent can't understand hoodoo or ATRs based on their genetics? What if an ethnically Euro person was raised in and around, say Santeria for example, would they be able to go into the depths of that tradition, or would they hit a wall because they're not 'genetically calibrated' towards it in your words? I definitely hear you on the importance the history of black people in America bears on Hoodoo and other Afro-American traditions, but is that really a gene thing?

Yes it is a gene thing. You cant change the rules of ancestral veneration "cause inclusion". Im not hankering to learn Scandinavian folk magic for that same reason lol

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:27 AM

You shouldn't be assuming someones race, their background, or what they've read based on a couple internet posts. I've said enough on the subject, have a good

You shouldn't be assuming someones race, their background, or what they've read based on a couple internet posts. I've said enough on the subject, have a good day.

AM I WRONG?

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:29 AM

You shouldn't be assuming someones race, their background, or what they've read based on a couple internet posts. I've said enough on the subject, have a good day.

Why are you mad that I won't grant a universal all inclusive pass to hoodoo and ATR? Even after I shared with you research that would delineate HOW its possible. Why did you ignore that shit? I know. Its a veil. Its not for you. Your pride in the way.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:36 AM

Do you think a person of European descent can't understand hoodoo or ATRs based on their genetics? What if an ethnically Euro person was raised in and around, say Santeria for example, would they be able to go into the depths of that tradition, or would they hit a wall because they're not 'genetically calibrated' towards it in your words? I definitely hear you on the importance the history of black people in America bears on Hoodoo and other Afro-American traditions, but is that really a gene thing?

Also....there are culturally entrained ways of thinking that are an impediment. "Understanding" is not a factor. Its not a scholastic exercise. These things were developed and practiced in the context of community. Hoodoo is functional. Not a collection of abstracts that you gotta "understand". For instance, there is a mechanical way I draw things with my nzu chalk, a certain number of alligator pepper I put in my mouth for different declarations, ways I dress my candles for different purposes etc. None of that shit mean shit if I aint connected to my ancestors or if Im living in a way contrary to the preferences of the spirits Im interacting with. Its more a feeling than an understanding. Its like when Bruce Lee said "Be like water". A European has to have enough affinity and interaction with real life black people to "feel" where the work is coming from. To empathize with our situation. I would say good preparation for this would be watching "Goodbye Uncle Tom". Google it. It will allow you to forge a sympathetic bond.