I read something I never thought I
would see. This has nothing to do with Witchcraft or spell work. I don’t really
care what others believe; that is their business. Some folks who are very dear
to me are Witches. This has to do with speaking out of the side of your mouth. I
think that if you profess to be a solid Christian and you look down on folks
that aren’t then you really need to watch what you put out there on the
internet. It might bite you in the ass if your head swells too much. I leave it up to y’all to decide. Do you think
a Traditional Conjure worker who professes to be a rock solid Christian would
use the words “Old Testament Spell’s”?
The thing is that when you are busy
sweeping around other folks doors when you should be sweeping around your own
SHIT happens. Don’t throw stones at other folks when it is obvious that you
yourself once practiced a religion you now look down on. I’m just sick of all
this “Bull Shit” and all these so called big bad workers. Before you say well
Starr you use the word “spell”; yes I do I had to in order to even get my
little website into the search engines. The thing is that 90% of the folks
on-line who claim to be Traditional home grown workers, and who grew up with conjure wouldn’t
know squat if they hadn’t taken “Cat’s” http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocourse.html on-line course. Her course list of
students is on-line anyone can look at it. It’s easy to tell who is a teacher’s
student by the way they work and by the way they talk about the work. It’s also
easy to tell an old school worker by what they teach and the way they talk about
the work.
I’m saying folks need to be themselves. I mean
no insult to anyone here; but if your family came from another country where
they don’t have a clue what conjure is and you are the first born in this
country then you were not raised in a home that practiced conjure. Be proud of
what your family has taught you; don’t take someone else’s heritage to make a
buck. I’m sure some want like this but I’m tired of these Holier than Thou
folks who think they are better than other folks but have walked in the same
shoes as the ones they NOW look down on.
Momma Starr
You hit the nail on the head with this one. The funny thing about some of these workers is that when they get called out on their bs all of a sudden they change their tune.
ReplyDeleteI know that years back some online workers were singing a different tune now all of a sudden they are these big bad ass workers.
I'm not being spiteful but I am saying that some folks need to chill out with all their so-called claims. Drlovebug
From what I have learned reading Doc, in Conjure is not used the term "spell", so it is improper to do so. But it must be said that this word refers only to a magical work, and that the word Conjure is a form of expression, even though designate an African American magical tradition, that is much older and synonymous with the word "spell". This is not to include an expression that does not belong to a specific tradition, but to say that the work done in Conjure although not receive the name of "spell" that remain, an operation or work of magic.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is that in Conjure does not use the term "spell" for the jobs, and another that is not done "spells", because they are done, although otherwise are denominated and include Christian elements as their nature of being a work of magic is unchanged.
There is not a christian in this world that cast spells period nor do most traditional conjure workers. Spell work belongs to a whole different other religion. Momma Starr
DeleteI've seen this time and time again and it irks me to no end as well. I have never taken Cats course myself simply because I don't feel the need to and feel that I was taught well enough by my grammie. But some people really need to consider what they are putting out there as 'traditional' and either need to find a teacher or leave Conjure be. 'Spellbook' ... I chuckled a bit.
ReplyDeleteSomeone asked me about this post and wanted a more in depth explanation, so I gave them one and wanted to share it here as well:
ReplyDeleteWell, that's kind of a tricky subject because you would think that the two words
would be interchangeable. But basically it is just a case of semantics and the
connotations behind the words. It's about keeping tradition more or less. We all
know that Conjure workers use the bible and that a majority are Christian. We
also know that Witches cast 'spells' The etymology of the word 'Witch' literally
means 'morally or spiritually unclean' so traditionally the word witch signifies
some sort of person who is morally or spiritually unclean, so when you use the
word spell it carries a negative connotation by association. In the Bible, it
warns of Witchcraft so traditionally, conjure workers have always used the word
'work' as opposed to 'spell'. Conjure workers are not Witches and Witches are
not Conjure workers. Now, you could also argue that the word 'conjure' means to
bring something forth out of thin air by means of unseen force ie. 'magic' and
thats what makes all of this semantics very tricky. So if one is to claim to be
a Traditional Conjure Worker it only stands to reason that they are doing things
and using words that are traditional to the craft that they practice. So all in
all, it is about traditional use of/and semantics.
I hope that makes sense :)
Papa Matt
Thanks Matt for sharing this with us. I don't know a lot about Witchcraft but I think there is a really big difference between conjure and witchcraft. I do know from speaking with my dear friend Orion Foxwood there is a BIG difference. Conjure workers not only don't cast spells but we don't work within a circle either, Traditional Conjure worker worship one God. Folks who practice witchcraft have a God and Goddess and a lot of them are turned off by Christians because of the way they have been treated. It is a lot more than just the play of words that make witchcraft and conjure two totally different things. This type of thinking is what is ruining Conjure/ Rootwork today. Conjure/ Rootwork stands alone it doesn't need a bunch of things thrown in. God, Ancestors, Bible, prayers, petition,roots, herbs and your faith make up Traditional conjure. Now if you are working New Orleans style Conjure then yes you can add the things that so many are trying to bring in and call it Traditional. Momma Starr
DeleteMomma Starr, yes there is a HUGE difference between the two. But, Witchcraft isn't a religion it is a craft unless you're speaking about all the New Age stuff like Wicca for instance, that's where they have a God and a Goddess. As for the play of words, to us Conjure workers, it IS more than a play on words and they aren't interchangeable but at the same time the words 'Spell' or 'Work' both signify doing something spiritually that creates a physical change around us or to us. So in a way, I guess you could say that it is a play on words etymologically-wise. But on a personal level it is MUCH more than that to us. Witches work with the energy around them to bring about that change whereas Conjure workers work through God/Spirit, herbs/roots, Prayers/petitions... so it truly is WORK.
DeletePapa Matt
All I am saying and I don't know squat about Witchcraft or Wicca but I DO know old school Traditional Conjure. I've been learning it for 40 years and hope to learn another 40. I don't care what anyone say's I KNOW what conjure work is and what it isn't. There is to much mixing and matching going on in it today and it is mudding the waters. All these so called Traditional Conjure workers {what?}, but what I am seeing is just a bunch of stuff taken from other religions and things to compensate what folks don't know about rootwork to make themselves look good. I don't mean to be rude, I'm just stating the facts. If you ask folks about thier teachers the same answer keeps coming up {they have passed}. Well I'm almost 60 but I still have Ms Doris, and Mr.Robert. Everybody can't be dead lol. Momma Starr
DeleteI agree with you. I was actually just solidifying it with not just personal experience but good ol fact as well. On the same token, I too was raised into Conjure for lack of a better phrase. My grammie was the one who was the teacher in my case and then somewhere along the line it was a lady named Angel (She was the first lady that I heard about you from as well). Now in my family, there may have been other workers, Im not sure. But my grammie was and yes she did pass on. My mother is still alive but she is alot more skeptical so she still refers to everything as wives tales (things like telling the gender of your baby with pencil and thread) and the rest of the family, well lets just say, its the devils work according to them. So you are right there really aren't a whole slew of Traditional Conjure workers out there but I can honestly say that in my case, Yes, my teachers for the most part are dead because there was only one who would admit to it to me and even that didn't happen til about I was 16-17. And I don't even know where Angel disappeared to.
DeleteAnywho, sorry I gab alot, but yeah all in all you are right about it. Too much mixin and matching going on. And it seems like within the past few years everybody and their momma are traditional workers :/ It would be different if people actually wanted to learn but alot simply don't want to take the time.
Papa Matt
Gabbing is ok, that is what this blog is for to share. I know the Angel you speak of and I don't know where she is either.I thought that was who you were talking about when you sent me that e-mail. Momma Starr
Deleteyes ma'am the very same :) I know she had some personal things going on that she had to take care of but the shop closed down (it was right down the road from my old house) and then she just kind of disappeared :/ I wish her all the best wherever she may be.
DeletePapa Matt
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI disagree 111%.
ReplyDeleteI've had this conversation with Christians who claim they perform no spells. When they light a candle and ask Jesus for something it's religion, but when I light a candle and ask a favor of Exu then all of a sudden it's magic, and we have Nothing To Do With That, no Sir!
Seriously?
This is a matter of semantics, pure and simple. The fact that the term "spell" isn't traditional to rootwork doesn't mean that the word "spell" is not an accurate description of such a working. The fact is that the noun "spell" has been used in English for centuries, chiefly by professing Christians, to describe just such a thing. If you wish only to be understood by those who grew up in the Hoodoo tradition, fine; speak of laying tricks or setting lights or doing work on someone. The fact remains that in the minds of most English speakers, those activities are called "spells," and if you wish to be understood by them, you would do well to speak their language rather than sit there and seethe.
Moreover, the Bible has been used in spellwork for centuries not only in the grimoire tradition but in folk-magical traditions in Europe and the Americas.
This qualifies the Bible as a spellbook by any standard.
Jean Markale, that is your right to disagree. I never try to tell anyone what to think or not think. Momma Starr
ReplyDeleteI am a conjure worker plain and simple. I don't know anything about what you speak of, I can only speak about conjure work.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf "spell" isn't the acceptable term... The what are the alternative "acceptable" words used????
ReplyDelete