Young girls; patrons of the Earth. 🌙🌿

African-American Folk Healing by Stephanie Mitchem

African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities by Alex Cuoco

Ancestor Paths: Honoring our Ancestors and Guardian Spirits Through Prayers, Rituals, and Offerings by Aladokun

Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau

Black Queer Studies: A Critical Anthology by E. Patrick Johnson

Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing by Robert T. Trotter, Juan Antonio Chavira

Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing by Elisio Torres

Deliverance! Hoodoo Spells of Uncrossing, Healing, and Protection by Khi Armand

Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance: Selections from the Work of Richard Bruce Nugent by Richard Bruce Nugent

Gay Voices of the Harlem Renaissance by A. B. Christa Schwarz

Healing with Herbs and Rituals: A Mexican Tradition by Eliseo Torres

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith  Mitchell

Hoodoo Shrines and Altars: Sacred Spaces in Conjure and Rootwork by Phoenix LeFae

I Hear Olofi’s Song: A Collection of Yoruba Spiritual Prayers for Egun and Orisa by Ayoka Wiles Quinones

I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem by Maryse Conde

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish

James Baldwin: Early Novels and Stories: Go Tell It on the Mountain / Giovanni’s Room / Another Country / Going to Meet the Man (Library of America) by James Baldwin

Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston                        

Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians by John Reed Swanton 

Negroes with Guns by Robert F. Williams 

Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings by Maulana Karenga

Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman by Malidoma Patrice Some

Ona Agbani: The Ancient Path by Iyalosa Apetebii Olaomi Osunyemi Akalatunde

Palo Mayombe: The Garden of Blood and Bones by Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold

Papa Jim’s Herbal Magic Workbook by Papa Jim

Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success by Tayannah Lee McQuillar

Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy

Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston

The Big Sea: An  Autobiography by Langston Hughes

The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts by Baba Ifa Karade

The Male Herbal by James Green

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary by Maoshing Ni

Voodoo and Hoodoo: The Craft as Revealed by Traditional Practitioners by Jim Haskins

Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health by Elina Avila and Joy Parker

Working Cures: Healing, Health and Power on Southern Slave Plantations by Sharla M. Fett

Yurugu: An African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior by Marimba Ani

Alafia!Thanks for asking! This is a such a good question and I’m really glad you asked. I’m going to give a loooooong answer, hope you don’t mind.

There are two different methods of determining which Orisha owns your head.

The first is a head marking divination in Ocha-centric houses with diloggun, the cowrie shells which are the ‘mouths’ of the Orisha. This is different from a regular diloggun reading and must be done with the diloggun of the Godparent’s head Orisha (a very rare occasion - I’ll come back to this).

The second method of determining the Orisha which owns your head is done through Ifa in a ceremony called a bajada, which is done in Ifa-centric houses. It requires at least three Babalawos to be present and is performed using the ikin (palm nuts) and not the opele (divining chain). It is usually done when the person receives mano de Orula - known as Awo faka for men and Ikofa for women (there’s some debate as to which to give trans and non-binary people, very controversial).

These are the only two methods for determining your head Orisha. The Orisha who owns your head CANNOT be determined through dreams, tarot cards, playing cards, misas, I Ching, “throwing bones,” or any other crazy idea someone might try to sell you. If you someone offers to determine your head Orisha in any method except the two described above, RUN. Even when Orisha come down in possession at drummings and say “you’re my child” or otherwise indicate who your Orisha is, that is not considered definitive and must be confirmed through either diloggun or Ifa.

Do aleyos get their heads marked? Yes - head marking must happen before you are initiated. Otherwise how could we plan the ceremony, right? However, this does not mean that anyone can just get their heads marked. Having your head marked is a big deal. It’s not like finding out your astrology sign.

In Ocha-centric houses, the head must be marked by the head Orisha of the Godparent. Generally, normal readings are only done using the diloggun of Elegba because Elegba “speaks for free,” meaning that Elegba doesn’t require the sacrifice of a four-legged animal (an expensive ceremony) in order to speak because his role in the Universe is to be the messenger for all of the Orisha. Any other Orisha requires a major sacrifice of a four-legged animal in order to speak, and because of the rarity of this, their readings are considered much deeper and carrying more weight - they are called itá. To mark the head then is to essentially receive an itá from your Godparent’s head Orisha without having paid them the required sacrifice. The way my Godmother explains it, marking the head is promising to make that sacrifice at a later date when you make Ocha. So this is why it is not supposed to be determined until you are well on your way to making Ocha - which means you should already have received elekes and Warriors and been marked through divination to make Ocha.

In Ifa-centric houses, the bajada is generally done when receiving mano de Orula. This is a ceremony that usually takes place after receiving elekes and warriors (or at the same time as warriors). A person might be marked during a bajada by Babalawos but not necessarily be on a path to making Ocha in the immediate future. There are some complicated reasons behind this that honestly I don’t understand well enough to explain as I am not part of an Ifa-centric house. But it is still not something to be treated lightly.

So, in general, a person does not have their head marked during the beginning stages of entering the religion. And it is absolutely not appropriate for anyone outside the religion to claim to be a child of a specific Orisha.

Why can’t just anyone find out their Orisha? There are several reasons.

First of all, what would the point be? If you aren’t actively making preparations to go through the kariocha ceremony to become an Olorisha, there is literally no legitimate reason why you would need to know who your Orisha is. Most people want to know because it seems fun and they think it will provide insight into who they are. Some people, especially online, just want to kind of lord it over others to make themselves feel special and chosen (never mind the fact that everyone, regardless of whether they are even aware of the Orisha existing, is ruled by an Orisha so it’s not that unique at the end of the day). While often it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, it can often border on being disrespectful.

Second of all, determining your head Orisha without a direct plan to make Ocha can be harmful. Want to know the #1 reason Orisha get angry with aleyos? It’s when those aleyos have repeatedly been told to make Ocha but haven’t done it yet. Go to any drumming and I bet you a chicken that you will find at least one aleyo getting told off by an Orisha for ignoring their repeated demand that the person make Ocha or fulfill another big promise. Marking your head is making a promise to the Orisha that you will serve them, and if you aren’t ready to lay down $10k and give up a year and seven days of your life (plus have your head shaved), then you’re going to break that promise and the Orisha - while normally quite calm and generous - can get very mad about broken promises. You do not want the Orisha to be mad at you!

The third reason is that you are creating a mess of problems that someone will have to solve later. If you get marked by some random priest who doesn’t become the person who makes your Ocha, then you will be breaking a promise to their head Orisha. But it doesn’t stop there. When you go to another house and ask them to do your Ocha, now they’ll have to determine if your original head marking was valid in the first place. And even if the marking was done correctly, your head Orisha might have - in the intervening time - changed. Orisha may fight over your head in some case (especially Yemaya and Ochun, or Yemaya and Oya). Or you might have pissed off your head Orisha and so another Orisha will step in. Or, there are also a range a physical things you might have gone through that are considered automatic signs of Obatala or another Orisha owning your head which supersede a head marking. Long story short: you’re almost definitely going to have to be marked again by your new Godparent, unless it was originally done by Ifa (though I have even seen this redone, but that’s controversial). All of this confusion can create a host of spiritual problems in your life, not to mention a real headache for all of the priests involved.

At the end of the day, I totally understand the curiosity! I was so curious, too! But marking a head is a very serious part of the religion and should be treated with respect. Unfortunately, a lot of people online claim to be the child of this Orisha or that Orisha (almost always Oshun, Yemaya, Oya, or Elegba for some reason) when they have never been marked and it’s really disrespectful. Some of them are later quite shocked and upset when they find out that a totally different Orisha owns their head than the one they thought - so it’s also important not to get too attached to the idea of being the specific omo of an Orisha.

I hope that sharing all of this information will prevent at least a few people from doing that - I’d like to believe that some of those who do it are simply misinformed and perhaps will recognize the wrong they are doing and cut it out.

significance of covering hair

(Updated from this old list here.)

Shielding is a practice entirely built on your intention–if you want an eternal shield, you can have it. If you believe in your shield, it will be there. There are many ways that are incredibly powerful with just the slightest trust and a little bit of practice. As soon as possible, start to practice shielding and methods of spiritual protection, since practice, along with your intention, will create the most powerful shields. 

Also, you can never shield to much. It’s amazing and very empowering to have layer upon layer of shielding, and the energy and time you put into shielding will really save you a lot of energy and time in the future. Even just walking around, through crowds, cities, etc, drains your energy–negative energy is everywhere, and consciously seeking only the energy for your best and highest good will really, truly, and completely empower you. 

You can shield from anything and everything, just make sure to allow in things for your “best and highest interest/good.” ShCast every shield with this affirmation. This allows what people would consider “negative” emotions to still come through, so you can live a balanced life, since not all emotions that are considered negative actually are. This affirmation effectively only allows things that raise or balance your vibration, and help you to spiritually evolve. It won’t cut you off from anything necessary. Shields themselves will never overwhelm or smother you, since they are meant solely for your needs and will always let in positive energy. Here are some simple methods to begin shielding, but you can always adopt them with your own needs and intentions! Do what works for you, just make sure to shield when practicing spirit or energy work of any sort. 

Robe of White Light:

Focus for a moment on calming yourself, and once you have a clear mind, imagine a nice fluffy robe around you (I always imagine one like in the game Journey) made of white and protective light. This is the universe’s energy, and nothing ill can penetrate it once it is surrounding you.

It is recommended to repeat once or twice a day to maintain the shielding.

You can also use the affirmation of “I call upon a robe of loving and protective white light, knowing that it will protect me from all energy not in my highest interest. This robe protects me with the power of the Universe/Source/God.”

Guardian Protection:

Ask your guardian spirits (either aloud or through your mind) to protect you.

Always command that the guardians who help that they “come in light.” And if not, say they must leave. You don’t even have to know their name, but if they aren’t here to help, then they shouldn’t be around you. So just command this and all with ill intentions will be forced to leave.

Call on them for a need by need basis.

Auric Hardening:

Imagine your aura (trust whatever color you see in your mind’s eye), and then imagine it hardening, like it’s calcifying around you. It can get as hard as a rock, or like armor.

This can sometimes push away any energy exchanges, so you could feel more distant from positive interactions too. So, it’s best used when a threat is around

Usually lasts between 4 hours-2 days, depending on the strength of your intention.

Sigil warding:

Draw with a pen, marker, or with the tip of your finger (if you don’t need visible lines) a sigil with the intention of protecting yourself. A sigil is most basically an energetic line (or series of them) with an intention. The lines hold the energy and magnify the intention.

Here are examples

A post on sigil crafting

Shielding with Intention and the Universe:

Calm yourself with a short breathing meditation, then focus on what you intend to shield-yourself, another, or a place.

Imagine casting a ball of light towards the designated target, with the intention of allowing the Universe/Source to channel through you and shield whatever you intend to.

Just watch and observe as the shield is built, knowing that it is fully fueled by the energy of the Universe and will stay there, and stay strong, until the shield is released consciously by you.

You can specify this shield for certain purposes, like to only keep a spirit out, or to keep all negative spirits out.

Reiki Shielding and Protection:

In Usui Reiki, there is a technique your Reiki Masters should have taught you about warding and cleansing the room in white light. Channel Reiki energy to do this.

If you are attuned to Reiki II, you should know the 1st symbol and that it can be used to stop all energy that is not in your highest good from coming towards you, working as an effective shield when the symbol is called on.

You need to be properly attuned to Reiki for this.

Bubble shielding:

Similar to the white light or shielding with intention, but focusing on making and empowering a bubble around you.

Replenish this as often as possible, since this is dependent on your own care.

Can be in an oval or a sphere shape. If this is hard to get a hang of, then try just fitting it a couple inches away from your body, similar to auric hardening.

Waterfall shielding:

A bubble shield with the intention of existing on top of an underneath bubble shield. 

Focus on this shield and set the intention of having it move around like a waterfall. This way, someone sending negative energy has a very small chance of hitting the same place twice.

Elemental shielding:

All of these are built with a specific intention and visualization of the shield. Time around such element used will strengthen the shield, or a conscious meditation to draw the energy towards you and the shield.

Fire shield: Envision burning fire, that will destroy all negative energy/energy not for your highest good, when it tries to enter your energetic space.

Water shield: Similar to the waterfall shield, but with the visual of actual water flowing that can wash away all negative debris or toxicity clinging to any form of bubble shield underneath it. 

Earth shielding: This one can block off positive energy too, since it works more like a layer of earth around the person. Though, it can also be envisioned to only grow/manifest around you in times of need or when you’re being attacked or faced with negative energy. It can also block your third eye from seeing outside. Earth shielding can also work as a means of grounding you, which doesn’t have negative effects (as long as you don’t neglect your upper chakras). If you ground yourself to the earth, and your are harmed or shaken by negative energy, you can replenish your energy from the earth.

Air shielding: Envision a fast current of air around you that sweeps away all negative energy or malevolent beings.

Light shielding: A bright white light that totally purifies all energy that contacts it, similar to the robe of white light. Different colored lights can work too, but they all have specific purposes that you should research first.

Ether shielding: Sometimes this works like a portal, transporting all malevolent energy to another place in the universe. Just make sure to set the intention that things in your best and highest interest aren’t affected, and that the travel won’t severely harm anyone who is transported by the portal (since sometimes negative energy can come from just someone in a bad mood). 

Chaos shielding: Not always considered an element, but with the idea of scattering any negative energy–the sudden increase in entropy raises the vibration to something more positive.

Shadow and smoke shielding: Imagining either element around you, mostly for cloaking and making your energy less obvious. This is great for astral projection and spiritual travel when you don’t want to be noticed. You can infuse the energy with an intention of how you want to be perceived, like if a threat comes, then you can suddenly raise this shield and make the smoke cause you to seem dangerous, scaring off the opponent. 

Halo shielding:

Imagine a series of halos that spin quickly around you, moving to knock away negative energy if it approaches your space. This can be inside or outside of a bubble or light based shield.

Protection charms and enchanted objects:

Work made by you, when you have a lot of experience, in creating a sigil charm or enchanted object meant for protection. This can also be from someone who has passed down a family protection amulet (just research it and bathe it in light to clear any possible negative energy on it), or from an experienced energy worker making protection amulets, charms, or objects. 

We’re getting to one of my favorite types of work.

ROAD OPENING!!!

I was talking to a hoodoo practitioner who Im learning from yesterday about it cause I had some questions. So I decided to share my thoughts on it.

Its never a wrong time for road opening work and its alright to do it weekly if ya like. Road opening work is done to keep your roads/paths open so that things flow smoothly and you draw the desired things to you that you want, wether its love, money, or good health, it never hurts to do road a lil road opening.

Block buster and abre camino candles can be put under the road opener catergory and this kind of working is great if you want to open doors to new opportunities, feel stuck in a rut, to clear away blockages, remnants of a past relationship, or negative experience that’s left a yucky taste in your mouth. Also road opening work goes great along with uncrossing work or hex/jinx breaking work.

Traditionally what was used in hoodoo to open roads was an orange taper candle and prayer. Depending on your style you can keep it simple and do it that way and simply anchor your candle on a plate or get fancy with an assortment of cleansing and road opening herbs and a name paper (vetivert is one of my favorites because its great for removing stubborn energy that tends to cling and hyssop is a trusty and universal cleanser so that would be acceptable too). If you practice Ifa road opening work can also be used alongside orisha like Exu/Eleggua/Laroye (he opens roads) and Ogun (he clears the road).

When it comes to road opening work you have to keep in mind its to clear away and keep your roads fresh and open. Below is a picture of a road opening work I did where I made a mini lamp/candle out of an orange and olive oil that had a mixture of herbs and dirts mixed into it. So really you can get creative when it comes to road opening work if you have an orange but no candles.

Bible verses great for road opening in hoodoo are:

Psalms 119:105 (my favorite)

Psalms 25:4

O My Yemaya Take care, bless your children, and all those who have faith in you. Cleanse us with your sacred saltwater, Ase.

The Hair of Oshun

Yemaya felt an immense love for her sister Oshún, as it shows us a legend that Oshun, the beautiful among the beautiful, she was a very rich Queen who boasted of her splendid figure, their jewelry, her rich clothes and her silky long hair. She spent long hours looking in the mirror or seeing her face in the clear waters of the river that bears her name, while she combed and returned to comb long hair reflected from were her great pride.

Her Kingdom was bloody wars of conquests shaft; Oshun had no choice but to flee and leave everything. From that moment, great was her poverty and higher still what happened.

From her magnificent only had one that’s both wash and again wash on the yellow waters of the River, took that color; She had to sell her jewelry to eat; and to make matters worse, from suffering her hair fell out. Oshun, the beautiful among the beautiful, was suddenly single, poor, slave and in the worst misery. But Oshun was not alone. As all the rivers flow in the sea and on its background lives the older sister of Oshun, Yemaya, the owner of all the wealth of the world and the person who loved Oshun greatly on Earth, until she came the tears and complaints from her sister, swept away by the river.

Yemaya departed to try to remedy the situation and what would not be surprise to find her beloved sister destroyed materially and spiritually.

“No llores más, Oshun. Your tears dig into my heart. You were a Queen and Queen will return to be by the grace of Olofi. Today forward to you will belong to all the gold that lies in the depths of the Earth; all corals that are at the bottom of the sea will be yours so you can adorn yourself with them; you will no longer work as slaves but you will sit on a golden throne and you will refresh, as befits the Queens, with a range of Peacock, animal that is mine, but which will become yours from today.

Do and so do not torment you more, look: you see my hair? You remember that she was my pride, which is the same as yours was for you? Here you have it. “Make a wig with her so that no one sees you in that State and can wait with dignity until you grow hair”.

So said Yemaya her beloved sister Oshun, meanwhile, who with tears in her eyes, cut, in sacrifice, her lush hair.

From that day Oshun always defends the daughters of Yemaya, and Yemaya Oshun’s. That is the reason for which neither the daughters of Yemaya, nor those of Oshun should cut much hair.

Yeye O! Yalodde Yeyé Kari! Maferefun Iyami Oshun!