Animal Sacrifice and Zoological Curios. by John Bertrum Ford

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

So lately I've been running into a lot of Neo-Pagans and Wiccans interested in incorporating hoodoo into their magical practices. I am actually really happy about this, but become very discouraged when I find out they are leaving out some crucial information and influences that make hoodoo what it is. I have great respect for these religious sects and practitioners who attempt to reconstruct the Old Ways (more or less) and I applaud their great strides, but what I am finding and also hating is the fact that they are taking something without proper knowledge or disregarding the important practices that are in set magical practices.

 

I've recently got into an argument with a wiccan about hoodoo. The person knew quite a bit about hoodoo and tried to convert me into their ways of how I should practice my magic. They don't incorporate zoological curios. (these are animal parts, blood etc.) and that I shouldn't either. I understand the wiccan views and why they (not all of them) don't incorporate such materials because the sources can be very unreliable and can be very barbaric. So this is why I am writing this here for now.

 

I CANNOT STRESS this enough for Neo-pagans who are on this group who are seeking to learn hoodoo, take what you will of it but disrespect some of the most crucial practices in hoodoo. Hoodoo isn't for the faint of heart, its not for people who are squirmish because of our practices. Now there are things I do disagree with and would never attempt myself (unless it was absolute necessary) but with that said I understand why its there how to apply that knowledge in my hoodoo workings.

 

Animal sacrifice is very common all over the world, its nothing new. All religions have practiced it in one shape or another. Hoodoo, and also Wicca is no exception to this rule. Hoodoo and Vodou are very commonly known practices that incorporate true animal sacrifice and zoological curios. to the fullest. Why? Because sacrifice is beautiful. Its powerful. Its potent and it works. How we kill these animals and for the purposes differs depending on the species and our intention. Everything in nature is used in hoodoo, because everything in nature is sacred and is connected. There is no reasons to leave anything out.

 

Typical animal sacrifices are the following:

CHICKENS- chickens are most commonly used in hoodoo sacrifices for the blood, the feet and the feathers. Black hens are especially appropriate and favored. The chicken is also cooked for spirits to eat. Everything is eaten and used.

 

RABBIT- the feet, teeth, bones and blood are commonly used in hoodoo for spells for good luck. Rabbit's are often drained of their blood and put into a bucket during a ritual of conjuring a hoodoo or demon to appease and call forth the demon to work one's will.

 

DOVE- dove is also very common in hoodoo. Although Dove's Blood Ink can be made from plant materials and resins, Dove's Blood Ink is also made from real dove's blood. However, some hoodoo conjure men and women state that its unlucky to kill a dove. Others have been known to pierce the heart of the dove to draw in the perfect lover or capture the heart of a man.

 

BAT- Bat Blood Ink is also very commonly used in hoodoo practices for hexing, can also be made from roots and resins, but bat blood is also very commonly used. Bat wings are another source of use in hoodoo conjures.

 

DOG- dogs are used in sacrifices, usually they are black and sacrificed at the crossroads. The bones, tongue, claws and fur are used.

 

CAT- black cats are very much used, the blood is very rarely used in hoodoo and is sometimes seen as bad luck. The hair is often used, so are the nails and also the eye shells of a cat. The bones are also very commonly used, and how they usually are obtained is a black cat is boiled alive. Another use for cats are they are charred alive or burned alive to rid of evil spirits.

 

Scared yet?

 

Well you should be. This isn't some fairy tale for magic users. Some of the things in hoodoo are pretty scary and shouldn't be forgotten or put aside. Again there are pretty scary things hoodoo men and women do to obtain their spells. Common zoological curios. are as followed:

 

ALLIGATOR- the teeth and feet are used in gambling charms and mojo bags.

 

BADGER TOOTH- used in gambling charms and mojo bags, but can also be described as the Tooth of Wisdom and used in such spells revolving insight and wisdom.

 

RACCOON- a yes, the raccoon is used in spells for love. A male's penis bone is used to dominate over men, and used in spells for love and passion.

 

SNAKE- snakes are also commonly used, the fangs, eyes, snake shed and the entire snake are often used. Some rootworkers stuff dead snakes with herbs, roots, minerals and powders and lay them out or hang them up for charms and spells.The rattles on rattlesnakes are also used commonly.

 

HUMMINGBIRD- the heart of a hummingbird is dried and than made into a powder. Excellent for capturing a man's heart or making someone loev you.

 

RAVEN/CROW- although two very different birds, the feet are used in healing spells.

 

So you kind of get the general idea about hoodoo, I want to hear about your opinions and what you think. If you have a formula revolving the usages of zoological curios. let me know.

 

CHICKEN FEET ARE OFTEN USED IN HEXING AND HEALING SPELLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAVEN FOOT IS PERFECT IN PURIFICATION, WISDOM, MAGIC, DEATH AND ALSO SPELLS FOR HEXING AND CURSING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A HUMMINGBIRD'S HEART IS USED TO CAPTURE THE LOVE INTEREST OF A MAN OR WOMAN AND MAKE THEM YOURS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEET OF ALLIGATOR'S GO PERFECTLY WITH MOJO BAGS FOR LUCK AND GAMBLING.

 

THE PENIS BONE OF A RACCOON IS GREAT FOR LOVE AND LUST SPELLS AND FOR DOMINATION.

 

The cat is used for spells for luck, not really hexing to be honest, its also used for love and invisibility spells. How could someone make an animal suffer? I don't know. I'm not really one of those kinds of people who boil black cats a live. The power that comes with zoological curios. often is the reason why people use them.

 

If you are raised as a farmer (such as I) killing an animal is necessary to survive (to eat for example) and so killing an animal for a just cause doesn't frighten me and I feel comfortable doing it. Its just like using plants, its all the same. It lives, it breaths and it is used in magic. People say they are not the same, but anyone who listens to the plants and actually hear them (such as rootworkers because they learn how to) know that any life whether it be animal, rock, plant, river whatever is breathing and living.

 

Killing an animal is no different than taking a plant. And that isn't to convert you or anything its just to explain some of the reasonings. In hoodoo everything is taken, everything is fairly given adn fairly take. We don't kill for the whim of it. Everything in the animal is used and incorporated in such way to pay respect and homage to that life force. Not that I'm promoting sacrifice although it may sound that way, its sound unfamiliar and alien to those who practice the art of say Neo-paganism who frown on the acts of sacrifice or animal parts. Rightly so, some of the people who do it aren't very nice people. A lot of rootworkers are not very nice people.

 

One can still practice hoodoo without the usages of animal parts, blood, urine, semen etc. but its important to KNOW that its there and is used today in hoodoo. Its like black magic (although magic has no color) Wiccans acknowledge its existence, doesn't mean they use it. Those that make any sense?

 

I myself grew up surrounding Voodoo and hoodoo, the acts of using animals doesn't frighten me and I don't think its wrong because of the way I was raised and how to do it properly and "humanily" as possible. For those who look down on these acts, please don't let it change your opinion of me.

 

I feel more comfortable taking something that is already dead, I often go through dead carcasses or animals that have been run over by cars and take the parts I need in my workings (I find it a lot easier to do it that way). But I was also taught hands on how to sacrifice an animal for its parts and how to calm it before doing it. Not all animals fear death, its how you approach it. Again was raised a farmer so animal killing as harsh as it sounds even to my ears is okay. Its always been a part of my life and its so important in hoodoo these parts that I don't forgo and set them aside. A lot of people have difficulties wrapping their heads around it because of modern urban societies and so its often looked down upon here.

 

I figured no one was talking about it and I was thinking why not? Animal sacrifice and zoological curios. are so important in hoodoo that I think it should be something to discuss about.

 

I agree with the wiccan statement strongly because 50 years ago, some European Wiccan Covens did practice sacrifice. But Sacrifice doesn't have to be something scary, I've always seen it as soemthing beautiful.

 

The only thing I wouldn't do unless I knew the people was purchase the animal parts over the internet because they might not obtain it respectfully. As for going to farmers and asking to purchase the animal parts, be careful. A lot of farmers are Christians who might honestly think you are a Devil worshiper (this happened to me in the past) and you don't want to get yourself into some kind of trouble.

 

IF you are asking for animal parts you can use the following excuses:

 

Bones are perfect in making water based food, so things like stews, soups etc. This is one way I've been obtaining my chicken feet for years!

 

Hooves are also used in stews and soups so you can also ask for them. Cows eyes, and maybe even horse eyes can be at your disposal as something nutritious.

 

Chicken blood is also very commonly asked for in cooking.

 

Its rarer these days, partially because people don't understand the meaning of sacrifice, and its not really practiced these days. But we are out there.