Cursing, hexing, jinxing, crossing: The Differences and Uses in Hoodoo Magic by Shade-the Shadow Witch

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Cursing, hexing, jinxing and crossing:

 

  For the longest time, before beginning my journey into root/work and hoodoo magick, I thought all of these things were basically the same thing...or perhaps each was a more or less powerful version of the other.  I came to find out the the first 2 are just about interchangeable. There is almost no difference in either the occult or dictionary "definations," but crossing and jinxing are particular types of curses that involves usually the footprint of the victim or making sigils in the path of where someone you wish to vex will cross.  Another type of crossing is when the practioner either follows the victim(creepy i know) OR knows where the victim lives or walks frequently, and gathers up one of the footprints left by the target.  This is "crossing dirt" and is used in a variety of ways. It can be used in a poppet or candle magick, and though using crossing dirt is pretty much the same as how we would use hair, handwriting, etc., it is still called "crossing" or "jinxing" because the taglock is specifically connect "walking" or "crossing paths".  The following is an article from luckymojo.com as well as a few recipes and anotations involving this touchy subject:  

 

 CROSSED CONDITIONS

Crossing is a strongly African concept in hoodoo, a sub-set of the tradition known as direct foot-track magic, whereby one can affect another by gathering up their foot-print dirt and working with it, causing them to step upon or walk across something evil, such as Crossing Powder or Hot Foot Powder, causing them to contact with their foot something that will bend them to your will (e.g. Court Case Root or Essence of Bend-Over Powder), placing something in their shoe or sock to harm them, such as Goofer Dust, collecting one of their socks and washing it in Crossing Crystals or working candle-magic with it. for example, by burning a glass-encased DUME (Death Unto My Enemies) or Black List candle dressed with a combination of Crossing Oil and magic herbs for harming. The word "Crossing" has several meanings in the hoodoo tradition. In its original form, it refers to laying down a trick in a "quincunx" "five-spot" or "X" pattern or creating a "cross-mark," such as a circle with an "X" through it, to "poison" an enemy who steps in it. Crossing is thus a form of direct foot-track magic and it may be the oldest and most African of this type of spell. Cross-marks and "wavy snake lines" intended to hurt an enemy can be laid down with small stones, inscribed in the dust with a sharp stick, or drawn with chalk or sprinkled Crossing Powder on a sidewalk or street. The marks are placed in the foot path of the victim and activated by spitting into them while cursing the one for whom they are laid. What happens to innocent people who walk over such marks is a matter of debate. Some folks will tell you that the cross-mark only affects the one it was put down for -- but almost as many people will tell you to never walk across such a mess when you see it, because you just might get crossed or "hurt through your feet" anyway.

 

 

 THE JINX

Jinxing includes all the forms of crossing mentioned above, and is sometimes used as a synonym for crossing, but it also includes a few other tricks. For instance, people who have been verbally cursed, have had their foot-tracks whipped, have had black candles burned on their names, have been "throwed after" (that is, had bad-luck herbs, sachet powders,, or minerals thrown behind their backs by their enemies after they passed by), or who have been "dressed" or "poisoned" or "throwed for" with powders, insects, snake dust, or spiders secretly placed on their are usually said to be Jinxed. In theory, while only a person who actually steps across a cross-mark or a trick laid in "quincunx" pattern could be said to be literally "crossed" or suffering from "crossed conditions," in practice those terms have almost become synonyms for jinxing and are casually applied to anyone who is jinxed or is undergoing bouts of bad luck and trouble, even if the cause is not known.  

 

 

CLEANSING AND PROTECTION AFTER  

 After you have crossed or jinxed someone, you will need to purify yourself. Many people do this by lighting 2 white offertory or crucifix candles and taking a bath in purifying herbs. Hyssop herb is what is recommended in the Bible for purification from sin, while rue herb is used to repel evil and thus ward off prossible retaliation. The hyssop bath is something you can make up yourself from hyssop leaves, or you can buy ready-made Hyssop Bath Oil, Cast Off Evil bath or Uncrossing Bath Crystals with Hyssop and Rue. ***The 51st Psalm tells you how to use the hyssop bath. After you brew it and let it cool, you don't need to fill a tub of water, just use a pan full. Stand between the 2 white candles , recite the 51st Psalm, and pour the hyssop-water over your head. After this bath, some people then use the dirty wash water as a floor wash to wash down any room where they might have performed a crossing or jinxing spells and to clean the doorstep of the house so no evil can enter in. In any case, once you are done with the bath and/or wash water, it must be properly disposed of. Carry it out of the house and pour it on the ground at a crossroads (not down the drain). Then go home and light a candle dressed with Cast Off Evil Oil. This will bring you relief from the sin of having created crossed conditions for your enemy

 

 

.   ***For those who are not practicing the more catholic forms of voodoo, santeria, or other afro-carribean traditions, you may want to replace the bible verses with those of your own creation and to your own gods.

I personally do not follow these religious paths, I simply use hoodoo and root work which are systems of magic, not religions.

 

 

 UNCROSSING

 If you suspect that someone is trying to cross you by laying tricks for you to walk over, you can protect yourself by sprinkling Fear Not to Walk Over Evil Powder in your pathway. If you have already been crossed, jinxed, or throwed for, you can perform an Uncrossing or Jinx-Breaker spell to take off the jinx.      

 

Some recipes:

 

Crossing Powder:

(this is also some of the  *other crossing ingredients* called for later) bulk recipe 1oz of powdered wormwood 1/2 oz powdered pine needles 1/4 oz graveyard drit 1Tbsp Guinea or cayenne pepper 1 dram of crossing oil 4oz talc  

 

 

 Crossing Powder 2:

 Items you will need crossroads dirt salt spiders web crushed snail black pepper red pepper ashes Instruction: mix all ingredients together, use the powdered mix to lay across the targets path so they will step in it or sprinkle their footprints with the powder  

 

 Crossing Oil: use on charms and candles in rituals designed to curse another. Mix equal amounts of wormwood and pepperwort as well as equal amounts of *other crossing ingrdients*  Of this mixture add 2 Tbsp per 2 fl oz of oil, then add a small piece of ground ivy root to each bottle. Black food coloring may be added to give it a "darker" look    

 

 

 Now whether you choose to take this knowledge and use it wisely and when needed, or use it to wreak havoc, is completely up to you. We are all responsible adults after all, and are liable to receive consequence for our actions. Being that I personally am not Wiccan I do not adhere to a 3 fold theory, but do believe there is always a price to pay. Happy castings!