“I Got Voodoo, I Got Hoodoo”-Generations dig deep into their Black magic roots more than ever!

Black witchcraft or magic is more common than many may know.

In the realm of Black witchcraft or magic which is more around than people may speak on it. As we continue to live in the 21st Century, black magic is starting to get noticed and practiced more especially in the African-American culture. Yet the future of both has been antagonistically impacted by cultural appropriation and smear of its true meaning.

“Black magic is a more recent term used to signify that what hoodoo incorporates is negative. Black magic would be any form of hexing, but hoodoo has roots in justification and balance which included hexing of those who wronged us (at that part during slavery) for obvious reasons,” said Robert DeVold, The Hex Workshop employee.

Many people all across have heard of Voodoo known as “Vodou” and Hoodoo. Some may practice, some may have ancestors who created or practiced it, some may not even dare to hear about it or even speak of it. In the 21st century. Many people visit the mysterious, lively wick world of New Orleans dabble into these types of magic.

While a lot of recent mysticism tends to be an effective way to amalgamate methods from varying culture magic beliefs, some witches urge on staying authentic to their roots and facts.

Hoodoo technically is Black magic but a good kind. Hoodoo is all about learning about our ancestors and getting more in fellowship with the earth.

Hoodoo means spiritual practices, traditions, and beliefs created by African slaves in North America that were held in secret from slaveholders. This form of religion is more spiritually not as wicked as voodoo.

“Hoodoo was used to overcome slavery. We used mojo bags and the roots to overcome any injustice that was put upon us, thus the acts of hexing slave masters and doing works of justice and healing for our people were created,” stated DeVold.

In Hoodoo, it is to believe that God created all living things and that even the plants have their energy to them since they are considered living as well. It’s also important to have a connection with ancestors as they are our everyday guiding force and number one message taker to God himself.

Although Hoodoo and Voodoo have many similarities yet differences, African Americans have struggled with other races’ cultural appropriation and how this has been turned into a negative light.

The Black Witch, an anonymous fellow learner, and friend of magic said, “It’s only being culturally appropriated by those who aren’t respecting it as an African American tradition. It’s derived from slavery. We used it to overcome slave masters and to keep our tradition of communing with ancestors.”

Most people who practice or learn of Hoodoo, believe no one should learn how to hoodoo but can still learn what it is. Many past generations are brainwashed into thinking this tradition was wrong. Through Catholicism, people are taught that everything else was “the devil”.

Other religious beliefs are not right or hate God. It’s just now that Africans and African descents have only recently started taking back the culture from “cultural appropriators” and have started to share the correct history and information.

For example, famous African American writer, Zora Neale Hurston, who ingrained herself in the Hoodoo culture of the South in the 1930s. She depicted to gather information about the history and the practice that evolved from slavery. The combination of African spirituality with Christian rituals that slaves recently experienced in the Americas we’re what she learned.

Most ancestors are mainly seen as guardian angels that protect descents. They act as guides and “ third eye” to things that they are unaware of or happening.

“So working at a witch shop in the quarters did indeed open my eyes a bit. Once I read more about the history of both voodoo and hoodoo (I don’t practice voodoo). I learned that my great grandparents were hoodoo practitioners from stories told by my parents and cousins,” said DeVold.

Voodoo is a more complete life. Many people who grew up saw shows that depict it as “evil” or “never learn about it.” Voodoo is mainly known in the United States from New Orleans. Most people would not discuss Voodoo or even speak on it.

The “vodun” name comes from a West African animist, spiritual folkway. Some class it as a religion, most do not. Most people who practice it will not come forward or let it be known that they know this because of the tales.

Most people who are in the Voodoo or Hoodoo aspects are willing to teach others information about the subjects. Some are more on the not-so-friendly and helpful side of things because it is still like a secret almost. A few witches will speak out about the traditions and what happens while some will give you all the knowledge.

Voodoo and Hoodoo a Voodoo and Hoodoo are too traditions that are very sensitive to discuss that date an era of hardship such as labor. In the 21st century, it’s beginning to be a thing to talk or learn especially through tarot cards. Tarot cards can be read for good or evil; not necessarily used as “devil cards”.

“Tarot cards usually tell about a person’s love life, dark secrets, desires, future or anything. You tell the person the sign of your birth month and what you wanna know. It takes a few minutes from the universe for answers. Some always use crystal balls but I find those scarier than the cards” said Kadeshia B, fellow learner rookie of tarot cards.

For example, Hoodoo tarot cards usually represent things of past rootworkers or meaning. Voodoo Tarot cards are usually from Madame Laveau. Madame Laveau was a voodoo queen. Well, she is the Voodoo queen.

Madame Laveau was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo, herbalist, and midwife who was renowned in New Orleans. Her daughter practiced the rootwork, learned the indigenous, African spiritualism and Louisiana Voodoo. She was a free person of color in the 1800s. She was known as a Creole queen “gifted with beauty and intelligence, she ruled her race, and was made captive of many of the others”. There is a mystery surrounding this voodoo queen background. Even though she was a Catholic saint, she dabbled in the arts of magic.

New Orleans voodoo or Voudou is the only Afro-Catholic religion to be in America coming from the influence. The African nation was the sole root but also from the New World. Haiti has a huge influence on the New Orleans Voodoo. It started with a revolution in Haiti as a Vodou ceremony. This happens when a priest would lead the service that involves sacrificing a pig with a blood oath to overthrow the French. This led to the burning and killing of the white population. The Spanish port of New Orleans also influenced Voodoo.

Most Haitian slaves and African slaves were mainly coming to New Orleans to live which led to the blend of traditions. Many speculate how Madame Laveau rose to be known as the Voodoo priestess/queen.

Many gatherings were held for voodoo on St. Johns Bayou. June was a huge month for Voodoo to be celebrated in the 19th century. Many are still alive today regardless of how white journalists or people would write these traditions as “ immoral, naked, savage acts”.

Even Marie the Second is very infamous due to her background. There was a tale that Marie and Marie the second used to play “identical” that would lead people to believe that she wasn’t aging. Marie the Second was more wicked than her mother. Some of this remains a mysterious legend.

Even though there are several ways, legends, myths, and truths to learn about Voodoo and Hoodoo, people end up thinking they are experienced in the black magic but not.

This term and religious belief culture is nothing a person should play with but try to understand. Spells and hexes are things that are very known around New Orleans and the world.