In modern Vodun and diaspora systems, a mirror box has a variety of uses. Basically, it is a box that has mirrors on the inside. The purposes of these depend on why they are there. Mirrors, aside of being sacred to Oshun, and to some degree Boyuto, capture and reflect a person’s image. This captures and reflects Ashe in some cases, or aspects of a person’s Ori in others. It can also shield or amplify, …
Four Thieves Vinegar is an infusion of lavender, sage, rosemary, and thyme in cider or wine vinegar. It is widely used in the Voudou, Hoodoo, and Conjure in the African diaspora. Like the Voodoo doll, its origin is European, but it has been very well adopted. So the legend goes, four thieves during the black plague in Europe gave the recipe in exchange for their lives. They said this is how they managed to rob plague …
Not really. Some Spirits that some have called Angels may be Orishas, but they are not really the same thing. In the west African Vodun Obatala is the king of the Orishas, and the Emissary of the Supreme God (Olorun). They have many attendants. In Jewish and Christian faith, these attendants are called Angels. The Orishas embody various forces of Nature, while Angels are beings sent to do specific jobs as individuals. Though they may have specific duties, …
In the past decade or so, many people who practice Hoodoo are turning to the Orishas. Before, the connection to the actual African, European, and Native American deities was usually either unspoken or overridden. The reasons why they are now spoken and embraced is because more people now understand that there is no real conflict between the Spirits and Christianity. Those who believe in the Omnipotent Unfathomable Creator worship the same God who Jesus did. Also, more people …
To provide a bit of background for my Hoodoo Bones system, and to show the way to the next step for those who’ve bought or made their own set, I’ve decided to write a bit on reading actual bones. There are many traditions from many cultures, but they all work well provided the reader is in tune with Eshu and Ifa or whatever the name is that they call them in their own culture. By …
