Being A Client

The relationship between a root doctor and his clients is not far off from having a regular doctor, or a therapist. Except instead of physical medicine or psychological treatment, a root doctor provides spiritual help. It's not about having a conjurer "on retainer," as it were. It's not often that someone thinks "I need some prosperity work" and just calls up their root doctor to set some lights for them (although there are those who do that sort of thing).

Generally speaking, you develop a relationship with your root doctor. He knows what's going on in your life. Like any good ethical worker with insight into your private business, he keeps that business private. A client may express things that are perhaps less-than-flattering if others knew about them, or reveal very private aspects of their life. It's inevitable when doing spiritual works that peoples hopes, dreams, fears and vices all come bubbling to the surface.

A client can expect a lot of things from her rootworker. A willingness to listen, a readiness to be severe when it's called for, compassionate when it is needful and above all else, truthful. Your root doctor is your ally, assisting you in living the kind of life you want to live, helping you tend to the spiritual aspects of your life.

Consultations: What To Expect

Many conjurefolk offer consultations, usually with a fee attached. A lot of folks new to hoodoo don't invest in those consultations, however, for a simple reason: they're not sure what to expect. Those portions of American culture that maintain a connection with conjure - mostly those areas with a solidly Southern African-American background - have operated with them for so long that many workers don't really think about explaining the idea to newcomers.

A consultation is just that: a chunk of the root worker's time, in which the client discusses what his or her problems at current are, and the root worker discusses possible remedies. Many consultations also come with other aspects, as well. For instance, a great many hoodoos do very simple divinations during the course of a consultation, just to get a bit of perspective beyond the immediate words of the client.

This isn't because they believe a client isn't being truthful, although many clients do tend to either rose-tint the situation, or paint it as more dire than it is. In truth, it's to give the root worker an additional perspective on what is going on. For that reason, many readers also employ their own psychic talents, reading the client in order to gain further insight.

Each reader has a different technique, and includes different elements as part of their services. Some of the various elements include:

Friday Reading: 05•25•2012

Seven of Cups  •  The Magician  •  Ace of Wands, Inverse

Hello, all. Hope everyone had a great week, and here's wishing you a wonderful weekend. This week's reading is something of a sombre wake-up call. It's not just a warning, but it also tells you what to be careful of. If this is for you, take heed!

Spread: Seven of Cups, The Magician, Ace of Wands (Inverse)

The Seven of Cups is a card about day dreaming and wishful thinking. It's a card about unrealistic goals - of what you'd really like things to be rather than what they are.

Anointing Oils 3: How They Are Used

Anointing oils are extremely versatile. As we already discussed,  conjure oils - called "anointing" or "condition" oils - are made in a very specific fashion, according to a recipe that incorporates a variety of ingredients - Mother Oil, essential oils and curios - all chosen with a specific "flavor" of mojo in mind.

Then, the oils are given a name that aligns with what purpose the oil is intended. See our previous post on the Types of Oils we make and sell here at Crossroads Joe's Ministrations for a sample, though these are far from the only ones out there!

At right is the short list of ways to use anointing oils, in general. Just about any oil can be used in this fashion.

Head, Hands, Heart
Anointing heads, hands and heart is an excellent way of using any oil that you would want to have an effect on you (so, not Hot Foot Oil, for instance!). Anointing the head (or "crown anointing," as its sometimes called) brings the power both to your intellect and to your higher spiritual awareness; anointing the hands brings that spiritual power into all that you do and undertake; and anointing the heart brings that spiritual power into your emotional centers and your experiences.

Mop Water
Adding condition oils to mop water is a great old-fashioned way of distributing the blessings of that oil through your home. Even if you don't use a mop bucket, you can add the oil to whatever you might use to clean the floors: add it to a spritzer bottle of cleaning solution, or a drop or two on the business side of a moist swiffer pad, for instance.

Anointing Oils 2: The Different Varieties

Fiery Wall of Protection Oil

The kinds and types of oils available to the modern rootworker can be absolutely staggering. Large producers can have dozens or even hundreds of different kinds of oils, each with their own recipe, name, label and intended use.

In this post, I'm going to talk about my oils. At current, I maintain a formulary of seventeen oils whose recipes produce oils that I am confident providing to my clients. Each has been tested by myself and other workers close to me that I trust. Sometimes, the recipe had to go. Ultimately, though, these oils provide just the level of functionality and aromatic bouquet that I want in them.


Also provided are links to entries for each of these oils, currently on the Facebook page for Crossroads Joe's Hoodoo Ministrations & Conjure Formulas. Come check us out!

• Cast Off Evil Oil: Aid in throwing off stagnant and wicked influences, habits and addictions.
• Fiery Wall of Protection Oil: For protection from harm.
• Van Van Oil: For cleansing and purification.
 

That Hoodoo That You Doo!

Hello, all. I wanted to take a moment to point folks to a wonderful blog, written by a good friend of mine, Miss Strata. In it, she details her journey into conjure. In the short time she's been Working, she's become a wonderful and talented conjure-woman. Here's a link to her blog:

http://hoodooyoudoo.blogspot.com/That Hoodoo You Doo

Anointing Oils 1: How They Are Made

This week, I'm doing a little examination of the use of anointing oils. Also referred to as "condition oils" because they're formulated to deal with specific conditions, these oils are extremely versatile and inexpensive, making them an excellent tool in anyone's hoodoo arsenal, whether a professional rootworker or someone who just does work for themselves and loved ones.

My Mother Oils

Now, the exact formulas used in my conjure oils - or in any reputable rootworker's, for that matter - are a closely-guarded secret. Many conjure-folk create their oils from a simple carrier and essential oils mixture.

I admit to enjoying the process of creation quite a bit, so I get a little elaborate. My oils consist of four things: the Mother Oil, the Essential Oils, the Curios and the Crossroads Sealing.

The Mother Oils are a selection of carrier oils that I use as a base. Each Mother Oil is an infusion of a specific root or herb that sits in the oil for a good long while. Some of them, like High John, are what are called hot infusions, in which the oil is heated to allow the properties of a tough root or bark to properly infuse the oil. Most, however, are cold infusions, in which the oil is sufficient at room temperature to draw out the botanical virtues of these herbs. Some oils have the same base as others, because the herbs I use for my Mother Oils are often potent curios with a variety of uses in traditional conjure.

It should be noted that I use almond oil in this process. If you or someone you know is allergic to nuts, you should absolutely not use any of my conjure oils in oil-to-skin contact with that person.