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Hoodoo... Now what is this?...

I often hear this word mentioned around voodoo, but I was put under the impression that this is something different from voodoo.

How does this differ from voodoo? What is your insight on this, your knowledge, your opinions, or something you just heard?...

This subject has grabbed my attendtion through mystery and curiousity. Please discuss. What do you think?...

I always associated hoodoo as a mix of folk magick, myths, palo, santeria, catholosim, and such. American folk magick makes refernce too it, its by silver ravenwolf. When i do magick, i often refer to it as hoodoo, because i mix togethre soooo very many things to make my perfect lil chaotic ceremony.
~wyld

I believe the same thing that imagesinwords has stated. That is the same thing I have heard.

the only thing that i know about hoodoo is what i saw in the movie "the skeleton key", but i would like to know more

i never heard of hoodoo.. but i have heard of voodoo... and i thought the skeletion key was about voodoo..

Like Images said, just take the religious aspects away from voodoo and you have hoodoo - just magic...neutral magic....

Ah, geez. I've seen movies too. No discussion of Hollywood or possibly fictional tales, please...

If anyone wishes to research it - I would be interested in knowing more about it. Did it start in Africa? etc.

VooDou itself is a corruption of African Tribal rites and practices and Roman Catholic saint worship. The transplanted African religions like voodoo were intermixed with gods/goddesses from different traditions. Hoodoo like stated before is the bare bones ritualism of voodoo without the religion. What little I know about voodoo is from reading random articles online and a few reputable books i've thumbed through at a friends's house. But to get a good look into the ritual and some of the belief system watch 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' it was filmed in Haiti (Voodoo capital of the world) and contains alot of visual information. It also shows how 'zombies' are made. I highly suggest the film, and the few reputable books on voodoo are few and far between.

on a side note:

compare the Roman Catholic saints to the Loa from voodoo, they correlate to each other in some novel ways.

Funny thing about the word Hoodoo around where im from its used as a sslang term kinda like bull crap never new it was really related to voodoo

hoodoo is the american interpretation of voodoo. They didnt quite understand or remember the word voodoo. like when ones name is tim and is known as tom.

if u have a look at Wikipedia there is alot of info there

Wow, I'd only ever heard of this through a song in a movie. And I always thought it was a made up word. Thank you for all the information.

Hoodoo is what I explained it to be. It was born right here where I live by way of Africa and I have read a lot about it. I suggest doing some research online and you will find every word I have said is true.

PLEASE, do not make your assumptions by watching the movies.

I looked into it a little bit, and I must say it's very interesting.

It was still a good movie though. And I thought it was made up just to rhyme with "voodoo". Heehee, was I really so young?

i think hoodoo is the African-American folk magic...i also think it is sort of like wicca for African-American people..also it might have some ties into voodoo

You can get a butt load of information on Hoodoo in almost all the books by Silver Ravenwolf, but Solitary Witch is the best for this info

Its a form of magic....

sleepy man dead for days wakes up voodoo mystic herbs hoodoo

Images, you explained it perfectly. I have a book called ' Hoodoo Mysteries' by Ray Malbrough that is pretty good and is worth checking out if anyone is interested in reading more info about Hoodoo.

Silver Raven Wolf and Hoodoo? odd.

I just always thought it was a question...

"Who do voodoo? You do voodoo?"

I am pretty sure hoodoo is a form of folk magic

I think imagesinwords has the best definition for hooddo that I've read. Perhaps this was mentioned but there is a fiction series by Laurell K. Hamilton and while it is fiction several of her books give a better look into what hoodoo is and the information provided is indeed fact. Just in case you want to check it out!

~Fie

i agree aswell becouse form the reseach i did on google it resulted basicly the same....

The definition...

Hoodoo is an American term, originating in the 19th century or earlier, for African-American folk magic. Here is how i define the word "hoodoo":

Hoodoo consists of a large body of African folkloric practices and beliefs with a considerable admixture of American Indian botanical knowledge and European folklore. Although most of its adherents are black, contrary to popular opinion, it has always been practiced by both whites and blacks in America. Other regionally popular names for hoodoo in the black community include "conjuration," "conjure," "witchcraft," "rootwork," and "tricking." The first three are simply English words; the fourth is a recognition of the pre-eminence that dried roots play in the making of charms and the casting of spells, and the fifth is a special meaning for a common English word.

Has anyone here experienced or practiced hoodoo or even witnessed a ritual, spell, or ceremony as such?

Hoodoo refers to African-American traditional folk magic. A rich magical tradition which was (for thousands of years), indigenous to ancient African botanical, magio-religious practices and folk cultures. Its practice was imported when mainly West Africans were brought to the United States and enslaved.

For more info visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo

Yes, yes, but has anyone or that you know who has performed such a thing?...

I must say the information here has been very enlightening. I must thank imagesinwords for her statements. Everyone seems to agree as well. I will take those words to heart...

I only desired a deeper understanding... =)

Hoodoo is like a big stewing pot of all the magicks out there combined... It is extrememly powerful magick if you believe in it, that is its only drawback, it has to be believed in.... So in a sense it is also a mental magick

Ah, yes, I believe that is true. It seems most magics work that way. I have no doubt that it is very strong. More than likely something that should not be played with. Does anyone have any examples of what this practice maybe used for?...

Surely not only for spitefulness and curses as I've heard so very often...

I've read on wikipedia and some other online Encyclopedias that it is a derivation of Voodoo, but evolved into an amalgamation of medicine practices and ritualism from West Africa and the same from Tribal American cultures.

So are you saying it could be used to heal?...

I don't see any reason why not, since it has a wide basis in herbalism, as well as 'magickal' cleansing rituals.

Thank you, STABB, I knew it had to have had other purposes and purposes that do not nessessarily do harm. Now I am sure...

Well, then you are very welcome...

it's like voodoo.. but bad..

My question exactly, STABB. We had just discussed that it may have healing properties. I am interested to know why as well...

Last time I checked, healing was a precious quality...

It is as Images said in her post. any one who wants to use it I strongly suggest you research it first as to not make any mistakes in how you use it.....

I actually went looking for information on this subject:
To get a better understanding. I found a very informative site.

It is just what, Imagesinwords, said it is.

As far as it being a derivitive of Voodoo, I will let the page tell itself.

Some writers have said that "hoodoo" is a corruption of "Voodoo," but that seems highly unlikely. In the first place, Voodoo is a West African religion that was transplanted to Haiti and hoodoo is a system of primarily Central African magical belief and practice. Furthermore, the word "hoodoo" appears everywhere in the black community, but the word "Voodoo" co-exists with the word "hoodoo" primarily in the state of Louisiana (where it was brought by Haitian immigrants in the early 19th century) -- and even there the two terms refer to different things entirely. Finally, in other parts of the South, the word "Voodoo" is not encountered at all except in the writings of uninformed white people, and the terms "hoodoo," "rootwork," "conjure" and "witchcraft" are variously applied to the system of African-American folk-magic.


I will leave the address to the page, so others who are interested in this may find so answers.

Hoodoo Definition and History

Informative, thank you...

Just to let you guys know, I am not thinking of practicing this. I don't get into anything without knowing all the details and I do realize practices such as these are to never be taken lightly. This just merely peaked my curiousity for new knowledge... I don't need warning...

VampireFreakshow:

I am always glad to help. I want to thank you also, as I learned somthing new.

I am always looking for new things to study. You have given me a couple of new subjects that I find stir my interest.

Well, you are very welcome! -^_^- I to am always seeking new knowledges as I have said. The things that seem most mysterious or foreign to my mind always grab my attendtion instantly. I always love to hear truth as well as legend also...

IndigoBizarre:

Thank you for your comment. I thought it was appropiate. With the two being mixed together, I thought maybe it was time to go to a source and get the true facts about both.

I am happy to help clarify, if I am able.

Yes, that was very nice of you. So what are your opinions on this subject? I'm also curious to know what people think...

hoodoo is like voodoo, an old wives talk use to scare kids and weak minded people. i do not believe that there is any real truth in any of it.

Maybe, but there is much info and evidence...

werewolf666:

If you read the thread you wouold have a little more factual basis for for your statement. They too different practices.

They do not even have the same country of origin.

I heard something, but now im going to read more about it...

good info btw...

I have also noticed, that while there is some crossover, the recipes for the powders and oils are different in Hoodoo then they are in Vodou, and then again different in Santaria. There are some traditional Hoodoo recipes that are more specific to that path, but you will also find them in the afro/cuban religions. Hoodoo uses a lot of spell powders, using roots for magics, making of oils (but not as in just mix some essential oils together), the use of namepapers and so on. Like stated above, the Lwa are not called for Hoodoo, well I mean they can be if that is the practitioners path, but it is not the only way. The herbs, roots and so on are what holds the power for the spell. Hope that made sense :)

Night

Ah! Powders and oils. That's new and enlightening. Thank you for that info. I was actually half expecting that...

Good night, my Mystress...

I just wanted to wish the best for all who have added to this discussion and made it all worth while for me and everyone here and thank you.

Good night, fellow friends of dark... -^_^-