#highjohn

While many overlaps and connections can be made between Hoodoo and other African Traditional/Diasporic Religions, it is important to remember not to attempt to apply the tenets of other ATR/ADRs to Hoodoo. While it has roots in many older African practices, Hoodoo is in and of itself a unique and sovereign practice. Context matters. The conditions under which this religion was birthed matters. These things cannot be separated from its practice. To attempt to apply the “rules” of other ATRs to Hoodoo will lead to confusion.

Yes, Hoodoo shares some practices with other ATRs.

Yes, there are concepts in Hoodoo that mirror concepts in other ATRs.

BUT there are also so many spiritual concepts that, while based in Mother religions, are Hoodoo specific and work differently than they do in the Mother religion. And there are some things that just straight up only exist in Hoodoo. Again, CONTEXT matters. I’m not gonna spell it out. Read between the lines.

In general, it is wise to approach all ATRs/ADRs as individual practices. Note the similarities, sure. But understand that each of them is a distinct system with its own laws, tenets, and customs. Just because two concepts seem similar (to you) doesn’t mean they are the same or should be approached the same way.

Hoodoo doesn’t function like Ifa because Hoodoo ain’t Ifa.

Hoodoo doesn’t function like Vodou because Hoodoo ain’t Vodou.

Hoodoo doesn’t function like Palo because Hoodoo ain’t Palo (though it should be noted that Hoodoo and Palo are probably the closest cousins of the ATRs, more on this later).

Hoodoo is not other ATRs, Hoodoo is Hoodoo.

Hi there! So the first thing you need to know is that High John left us (Black Americans/Diasporans) his root so that we could use it for protection and good fortune in times of need/trouble. But you don’t just buy the root and carry it around. That root contains his spirit, and you must “activate” it, so to speak. But first things first..

Are you Black? (High John ONLY works with Black people, and has a particular affinity for Black Americans). If you’re not Black, High John and his root are NOT for you. Please leave it for Black folks as both varieties of the root are becoming increasingly harder to get.

Ok back to activating a High John Root. Before using it, you must call the spirit to it, and ritualize it and feed it using prayer, liquor, and smoke (I won’t say how to specifically do this publicly, but if you can somehow prove to me that you’re Black, you can message me and I’ll walk you through it). Once your root is blessed and activated, pray over it, and it’s ready to use. Keep it up by feeding/blessing your root often, and making offerings to High John.

I saw a post on here a while back that claimed Hoodoo didn’t have deities, and that could not be further from the truth! One thing to remember is that while Hoodoo has many influences from all over West-Central Africa, the core of this religion is Kongo. Kongo belief systems are largely nature-based, and so that is why nature and the spirits of plants, animals, land, and water is so important in Hoodoo. Many of our spirits are literally of the Earth. Rather than a spirit that lives in a river, the river ITSELF is a spirit to be venerated. Rather than a spirit that rules the trees, the trees themselves are a spirit that govern nature around us, and so forth. You can be initiated to river spirits, tree spirits, animal spirits, etc. Being that hoodoo is regional and practices vary somewhat depending on geographical location and ecology, what spirits/deities a Hoodoo may interact with will also vary.

They are some critics (read: uniformed, anti-Black haters) of Hoodoo that question the sovereignty and legitimacy of the religion based on a lack of personified deities. That is, nature based or other worldly spirits that have some human conseptualization. Not only do I and many others reject the idea that personified deities are necessary to legitimize this spiritual practice, but also, the idea that Hoodoo doesn’t at all have personified deities is false. We do have some.

Which brings us to High John the Conqueror. The spirit of High John is one of the most important elevated spirits venerated in the Hoodoo faith. High John is a liberator, a cunning trickster, and an all around revolutionary bad ass. High John is an ancient spirit that has been with African people for centuries. He is best known for outsmarting, outrunning, and beating the asses of white people in the name of Black Liberation. So to any white/non-Black “witches” (🙄) who *think* they’ve worked with High John, I assure you, you have not.

I could say more, but Lissah Mason of Hoodoo and Good Juju Botanica said it best. Here is her article about High John. Enjoy.

https://hoodoogoodjuju.com/blogs/hoodoo/highjohn