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Hoodoo: Folk Magic
Pagan Portals – Hoodoo is an introduction to the magical art, detailing what Hoodoo is and how to work with it as well as offering recipes and other ideas. The book details the author’s personal experiences with Hoodoo, deities, beliefs and the magical practices along with information on various Hoodoo crafts - bottle spells, foot track magic, crossroads magic, powders, spiritual washes and much more.
101 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 10, 2016
This book is well written, easy to read, and there is a lot of information in here folks.
As she explains in her Introduction: “I am not a born and bred hereditary Hoodoo root worker living in Georgia or New Orleans (I hope to come back in another lifetime as one though…), but I have studied Hoodoo in great detail. This is MY interpretation of Hoodoo and how I work with it within the Craft. I have tried to make it as accurate as possible and have drawn on many sources as well as my own experiences. I have included many original recipes for oils, powders, incenses etc and have tried to be as traditional as possible with the ingredients for the well known ones, but other recipes included here are my own blends and therefore may not be so traditional.” Rachel provides us with an introductory book, with a lot of different techniques and practices to work with, perfect for anyone wishing to discover more about ‘working the root’ and how to incorporate it into their own system of magic.
This is basically a practical guide and one that dispels some of the hidden mystery surrounding this very Southern practice, and that teaches us to use everyday items and the flexibility of ingredient substitution which is particularly appealing.
As she explains in her Introduction: “I am not a born and bred hereditary Hoodoo root worker living in Georgia or New Orleans (I hope to come back in another lifetime as one though…), but I have studied Hoodoo in great detail. This is MY interpretation of Hoodoo and how I work with it within the Craft. I have tried to make it as accurate as possible and have drawn on many sources as well as my own experiences. I have included many original recipes for oils, powders, incenses etc and have tried to be as traditional as possible with the ingredients for the well known ones, but other recipes included here are my own blends and therefore may not be so traditional.” Rachel provides us with an introductory book, with a lot of different techniques and practices to work with, perfect for anyone wishing to discover more about ‘working the root’ and how to incorporate it into their own system of magic.
This is basically a practical guide and one that dispels some of the hidden mystery surrounding this very Southern practice, and that teaches us to use everyday items and the flexibility of ingredient substitution which is particularly appealing.
January 4, 2024
I was recently asked, “Can you stop being crazy?” Crazy because I express my emotions, sometimes in ways that are uncomfortable for other people (candidness, straightforward). But also calling something crazy is how an abuser attempts to make you feel wrong, insecure, powerless. Jokes on lil bro, I’m not deterred by such accusations. I revel in my insanity. Calling me crazy encourages me and pushes me away from the abuser. I have no desire to be around those who look at me with disdain and contempt, those who don’t understand, those who find it impossible to look beyond themselves and into a universe full of wonder, beauty, unknown. They’ve never bathed in moon light or laid in a harvested cornfield on a somber and freezing night to contemplate the stars; they’ve never found the joy in burying the dead, ripping up top soil for this years garden, mending a cat’s broken leg; they’ve never let their soul leave their body, always ignorantly and selfishingly holding back their essence. Do they not know our souls can be like the stars sprinkling dust all over the universe? And when we come to our end, in a radiant supernova explosion we can release all soul material and dust into the universe to which this stellar dust will go on to create new stars, planets, and celestial bodies with galaxies? So how would they ever know what crazy is. I have to stretch my mind and soul in meditation and contemplation, conversation and actualization. Reality created by society is doomed. Some people seek power, I seek understanding. Some people seek wealth, I seek enlightenment. Some people seek success, I seek the mundane. Some people seek love, I seek to find the soul, the uncanny, the unknown. Some people seek to be right, I seek the truth. Some people seek earthly knowledge, I seek to teach the arcane reflection: what has always been is what will always be.
Magick is mostly and widely misunderstood. Some see it as evil, demonic, foolhardy, scary. I see it as taking back my power. If we project the universe, then we determine our reality. My essence was formed before my existence and I have a determinate destiny. It is power to know your worth, your use, your mission. So it comes as no surprise the African American slaves practiced hoodoo nor did they believe in any sort of karma. Like the root workers, I find comfort in knowing that karma does not exist. People do not always get what they deserve—good or bad. And thus, I hold the power to be judge and dole out curses or blessings as I see fit. You wrong me, I can lay a trick. You love me, I can pour my energy into a good luck spell.
While short, this book has been an amazing tool. It’s an easy beginners guide to the history and art of practicing hoodoo.
Magick is mostly and widely misunderstood. Some see it as evil, demonic, foolhardy, scary. I see it as taking back my power. If we project the universe, then we determine our reality. My essence was formed before my existence and I have a determinate destiny. It is power to know your worth, your use, your mission. So it comes as no surprise the African American slaves practiced hoodoo nor did they believe in any sort of karma. Like the root workers, I find comfort in knowing that karma does not exist. People do not always get what they deserve—good or bad. And thus, I hold the power to be judge and dole out curses or blessings as I see fit. You wrong me, I can lay a trick. You love me, I can pour my energy into a good luck spell.
While short, this book has been an amazing tool. It’s an easy beginners guide to the history and art of practicing hoodoo.
June 4, 2025
A good introduction to basic concepts, while adding some informational flare and some tried and true (for the author) recipes to get you started. I'd recommend it if you're just starting your spiritual path, but someone more advanced would not necessarily learn anything new here. It's still a good read, even if you are advanced, however.
November 13, 2018
Excellent introduction to Hoodoo
December 6, 2025
Really enjoyed this informative book.Would recommend to other beginners.
August 9, 2013
This book is a concise guide to practical hoodoo. Coming in at under 100 pages it contains a brief introduction to the historical origins of Hoodoo (African-American Folk-magic and root work, as distinct from the religious practice of Voodoo). The book contains well-defined sections on all of the main topics including types of root work: laying tricks and jinxes; spiritual washes; candle magic etc. The book also provides a plethora of useful recipes for powders, washes and conjure oils including some new, and some old, such as the wonderfully named Bend Over Oil (it’s not what you think – it is intended to bend another to your will….oh well on second thoughts..I suppose actually it could be for that too…). It also provides a brief introduction to various relevant deities and spirits, glossary of terms and some useful sources for further study.
I know very little about Hoodoo,other than what I have picked up from a variety of cheesy horror films, so I was very curious to find out more about this subject. As it happened I found the subject explained in a fascinating and straightforward manner. I was intrigued by the similarities and dissimilarities with European Witchcraft and the incorporation of elements of Christianity. One of the aspects that I found undeniably enticing but also a bit scary related to the dark side of Hoodoo practice. Patterson is a witch of many years standing and as such is clearly aware of the ‘And it harm none’ philosophy of modern witchcraft. However, hoodoo does not appear to have such caveats – and Patterson fully acknowledges this and gleefully delves into its dark side.
Although she does warn that if you use magic for harm you are likely to receive harm in return this is not overly stressed in the book, and I think that possibly the Hoodoo philosophy here isn’t so much ‘Do what thou wilt, an it harm none’ but ‘Do what thou wilt – but don’t get caught!’. After one particular section on laying tricks on an enemy I had an admittedly hilarious but worrying image of some over-keen Hoodoo newbie lobbing a bottle full of coffin nails, graveyard dirt and bodily fluids at the porch of some unfortunate neighbour and ending up with an Asbo!
Nevertheless, Hoodoo is not all about laying jinxes on your mortal enemies (tempting as that might be) it is primarily about positive and beneficial magic designed to improve your life, and although not a religion in itself, does form part of the practices of many religions such as Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria and West African Yoruba and as such should be given due respect.
I very much enjoyed this book, and probably will try some of the recipes for incense and washes – although will probably steer clear of jinxing anyone! As a keen history geek I would have loved a bit more on the history of the this tradition and the deities involved, but as the aim of the book is to present a practical guide for hoodoo practitioners history clearly wasn’t its primary focus. Patterson did however provide some fascinating biographies of some of the famous names associated with Hoodoo, such as Doctor John and Marie Laveau – I will definitely be doing some further reading on these intriguing characters.
Patterson presents a very individual interpretation of Hoodoo for the modern, possibly urban practitioner, an audience possibly with other Craft experience but who has not necessarily been raised within the traditions of hoodoo. As such it is not pure ‘traditional’ hoodoo – and some may object to this. Importantly Patterson is strongly against the sacrifice of animals for rituals or spells (here here!) but does suggest some harmless and innovative solutions to this aspect of the practice.
I would say that this book’s ideal audience of potential practitioners might be those who already have some expertise in their current field of magic – some of the practices might be a bit ’strong’ for newbies – and after all as the author points out no magical practice should be undertaken lightly and without proper precautions. All in all though it was an entertaining and informative book about a very misunderstood and maligned area of magical practice.
I know very little about Hoodoo,other than what I have picked up from a variety of cheesy horror films, so I was very curious to find out more about this subject. As it happened I found the subject explained in a fascinating and straightforward manner. I was intrigued by the similarities and dissimilarities with European Witchcraft and the incorporation of elements of Christianity. One of the aspects that I found undeniably enticing but also a bit scary related to the dark side of Hoodoo practice. Patterson is a witch of many years standing and as such is clearly aware of the ‘And it harm none’ philosophy of modern witchcraft. However, hoodoo does not appear to have such caveats – and Patterson fully acknowledges this and gleefully delves into its dark side.
Although she does warn that if you use magic for harm you are likely to receive harm in return this is not overly stressed in the book, and I think that possibly the Hoodoo philosophy here isn’t so much ‘Do what thou wilt, an it harm none’ but ‘Do what thou wilt – but don’t get caught!’. After one particular section on laying tricks on an enemy I had an admittedly hilarious but worrying image of some over-keen Hoodoo newbie lobbing a bottle full of coffin nails, graveyard dirt and bodily fluids at the porch of some unfortunate neighbour and ending up with an Asbo!
Nevertheless, Hoodoo is not all about laying jinxes on your mortal enemies (tempting as that might be) it is primarily about positive and beneficial magic designed to improve your life, and although not a religion in itself, does form part of the practices of many religions such as Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria and West African Yoruba and as such should be given due respect.
I very much enjoyed this book, and probably will try some of the recipes for incense and washes – although will probably steer clear of jinxing anyone! As a keen history geek I would have loved a bit more on the history of the this tradition and the deities involved, but as the aim of the book is to present a practical guide for hoodoo practitioners history clearly wasn’t its primary focus. Patterson did however provide some fascinating biographies of some of the famous names associated with Hoodoo, such as Doctor John and Marie Laveau – I will definitely be doing some further reading on these intriguing characters.
Patterson presents a very individual interpretation of Hoodoo for the modern, possibly urban practitioner, an audience possibly with other Craft experience but who has not necessarily been raised within the traditions of hoodoo. As such it is not pure ‘traditional’ hoodoo – and some may object to this. Importantly Patterson is strongly against the sacrifice of animals for rituals or spells (here here!) but does suggest some harmless and innovative solutions to this aspect of the practice.
I would say that this book’s ideal audience of potential practitioners might be those who already have some expertise in their current field of magic – some of the practices might be a bit ’strong’ for newbies – and after all as the author points out no magical practice should be undertaken lightly and without proper precautions. All in all though it was an entertaining and informative book about a very misunderstood and maligned area of magical practice.
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October 23, 2015 I've taken this quote from the opening to Rachel Patterson's book on Hoodoo. it's never straightforward when working with the traditions of another culture, and it's really important that an author acknowledges their relationships - whatever that is - with the practice they are talking about.
December 9, 2015
What a great intro to the magic of Hoodoo. This introductory book will give the reader a bit of the history, the different types of workings, helpful recipes to start off a practice and some practical advice on how to deal with difficult situations.
It is not meant to be a comprehensive look at this complex area of magical working (it is NOT a religion) but it is a nice primer.
It is not meant to be a comprehensive look at this complex area of magical working (it is NOT a religion) but it is a nice primer.
October 9, 2013
Awesome as always, enjoyed this book and gives plenty ideas, I have a feeling I will end up with her whole collection, excellent worth the money.
March 27, 2017
This is an excellent introduction to hoodoo. As other reviews have pointed out, it's short and covers the basics, but I now feel better equipped to explore this practice further. Also, it's helpful to read a hoodoo book written by a British author, she points out how to adapt this very American folk magic for magical practitioners living in the UK.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews