Sunday, March 24, 2013

Hoodoo I wanna be when I grow up?

Hoodoo, Conjure, Root Work. Folk Magic. Described in several ways, Hoodoo is a magic system I've grown more and more interested in lately. It just seems to fit. For the past several years I've created many mojo bags, powders, and fixed candles. Without realizing it consciously, I was moving towards this fascinating system of magic long before I put my proverbial finger on what exactly it was.

I've had several people influence me in this magic system. The writings of Dorothy Morrison (who I love almost more than coffee and chocolate) in her book Utterly Wicked was a major one for me. Her recipes for Hot Foot Powder, Goofer Dust, Four Thieves Vinegar, and more are a part of my personal grimoire.

I also learned a lot about folk magic from Silver RavenWolf's Hexcraft, later renamed American Folk Magick.Now, many will say "But Snowy, that's Pow-wow, NOT Hoodoo!". Well... yes, but no, but... Oh, let me explain:


Better yet, let me direct you to a site that I've recently discovered where the information is more clear and concise. Catherine Yronwode (click the link. yes. do it.) of The Lucky Mojo Curio Company has been a Hoodoo practitioner for m-a-n-y years and has this (and more) to say:

"Social conditions in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries were such that books for, by, or about members of the African-American community were very rare. During this time period hoodoo itself was quite popular, but although a great deal of commercial activity surrounded the manufacture and distribution of so-called "spiritual supplies," few attempts were made to collect or describe hoodoo practices."

She goes on to explain how John George Hohman's "Pow-wows or the Long Lost Friend" became a hit with the Anglo-Saxon folk magicians of the Appalachians after it's translation from German to English in 1846 CE.Click on her name above to read more about it. She is a WEALTH of information and I've been peeking at her site a lot lately.

I'm going to take a moment to inject here that I absolutely love and respect Silver RavenWolf. I know there are people who do not care for her works, but she had a huge and positive impact on my path. I learned. A lot.

Now where was I...? Ah, yes. I wanted to give you, my witchy readers, a better understanding of Hoodoo. Tayannah Lee McQuillar of Voodoonola writes:

“WHAT IS ROOTWORK? Rootwork is a form of folk magick that uses the elements of nature to create change in ourselves, others, or our environment. It is an African-American form of shamanism that makes use of herbs, stones, rocks, and other organic material to heal the body or the mind, or to solve a problem. Like all other forms of shamanism, Rootworkers believe that we can use the unseen forces of nature to manipulate the tangible world." ~Tayannah Lee McQuillar (2003)

So... now I have a more solid vision of what direction my path is going. I've already laid the ground work without realizing it. During the time that Eye of Nuit was open, I made countless mojo bags to help people, fixed and blessed many candles, and created my own line of spell powders which were a HUGE hit.  Pictured left here is my first powder, which has recently been packaged in my new jars. 

During the next few months, I'll be redesigning the Eye of Nuit website to include an e-commerce shop where you can purchase my exclusive blends and fixed candles. I do have a few spell blends left, which are pictured below. If you want one, send me a message quick before they get packed up and ready for their move (along with us LOL!) to Tennessee where my Witches Workshop will be housed. 




Until next time!

Wickedly yours,








Sunday, March 17, 2013

Winding down, gearing up, and being A-mused.

Over the past several months I would say to myself, "Self, you need to write in your blog". Self would just glance at me sideways and smirk. She knows me well. Of course, one of the many issues I have is this strange and twisted animal called "Time". Time just moves along at it's own (warp) speed, not caring if I catch up with it or not. Time is like a bad relationship. It leaves me the jilted lover over, and over, and over, and... ok, you get the picture.

Another issue I have is my muse, Ms. Gabby Sylent. GS is a true Gemini complete with the requisite dual personality. She occupies two large portions of my medulla oblongata. In one corner, she sits there quiet as a church mouse. *reminder to self: locate the origin of that phrase* She doesn't really do much talking, if any. She does create a lot of mental pictures. No words, just pictures. Then, all of a sudden and without warning, she will spring to life and beam herself over to the other corner of my brain. And she WON'T. SHUT. UP.  *sigh*

Writing a blog requires having something to say. I can't just sit here and implant all the pictures that Ms.Sylent gives me into my blog. And the sad part is that Gabby and Time have not learned how to play well together. So when she zips into the dreaded nonstoptalkingwon'tshutup mode, Time just keeps moving away. Doing it's own thing. While Gabby does hers. Never the two shall meet. Or come to some sort of compromise. Or meet at a crossroad. Cross paths, even.

Gabby just interrupted me, reminding me that she has some Very Important Things to do and would I please get on with it...? Honestly, my muse has no room to talk... and a heaping helping of Nerve. Perhaps one day I'll go into my relationship with said Nerve.

eyeofnuit.com
So, how many of you know that my shop, Eye of Nuit, is closing after two years of being in business? Raise your hands. Oh no... not too many hands there. <flips Gabby the bird>

Yep, it's true.  After two long years of owning and operating a brick & mortar store front, I have made the decision to close. It's been a long and sometimes arduous journey, but one that I will never forget. Many lessons learned. It's been a rich, rewarding, frustrating and maddening experience.

The doors close for good on Friday, March 22nd. We then have a week to pack up the entire shop: product, furniture, candle making supplies, and more. That stuff will all get moved to a storage unit close to the house until... **wait for it....*

We MOVE! Yep. We're moving. From Pennsylvania to Tennessee. Warmer weather. Small town. Land. Fresh air. Peace and Serenity. A neighbor with a cow. I might raise a few chickens. I'll have what I have wanted for a very long time: a STUDIO! Where I can create all of my delightfully witchy products, my amazing bath and body products, and Candles!


 Don't fret. The online stores will still be available. Eye of Nuit will host Enchanted Moon Alchemy and eventually feature even MORE Wicked-Cool products. Pagan Stuff Cheap will continue to offer you great stuff at even greater prices. And of course, ScentWerx with our line of some of the best candles, bath & body products you can find.






Until next time,