Intuitive Readings By Regina

10/16/2026

The Hoodoo Hammer!

The Hoodoo Hammer is where we dispel and crush common misunderstandings about Hoodoo to bring awareness and continued clarity and integrity about our sacred traditions.

So let's start busting down some rocks that have been thrown!

What is said:

" Hoodoo is an African-American folk tradition and rootwork system with no central governing body, no formal priesthood, and no mandatory/ formal initiation ceremony". In that it lacks these elements it cannot be a exclusive (or closed practice)."

This is the common argument that has been in circulation for many years. Although some of these assumptions may be true to a certain degree, once we deconstruct the assumption that is being made, we can see how a shift in perspective is required when it comes to truly understanding Hoodoo.

When it is stated that because Hoodoo..." lacks a central governing body, a priesthood, and formal initiation", what is really being presumed is that Hoodoo needs to function and operate like a formal religion to be respected as such. No person, council, or entity has the right to speak for Hoodoo, no groups have the authority to regulate Hoodoo or determine who can practice Hoodoo-there is no one voice of Hoodoo. Hoodoo is the unregulated, wild and feral child of her more structured sister Vodou.

Ok ..but I thought it was understood that Hoodoo is a FOLK Tradition/Religion. That essentially means...."of the people, for the people and by the people". I thought the FOLK had some say in the matter? So are The People of the tradition excluded from how they feel about and understand their own practices???



Hoodoo does not lack a "centralized governing body"- Hoodoo Practitioners ARE the centralized governing body! It is the voices of The FOLK that give Hoodoo it's life and breath and Hoodoo's ability to Self Determine it's existence and evolution. That is the very nature of what a FOLK Tradition is!

Let's continue...."Hoodoo has no FORMAL initiations."

Hoodoo may not have a universally standard process of initiation but there are initiations in Hoodoo without doubt. So....WHO, please tell me, determines if those initiations are FORMAL? What does that even really mean? If I undergo a process of initiation in Hoodoo that is witnessed by my family, elders, ancestors, and community WHO is trying to tell me that is not formal according to whose definitions???

Again, aren't we talking about FOLK Traditions? Practices of The Peoples????

Ok next...the big one... Priesthood. True Hoodoo has no Priesthood. BUTwe do have community recognized individuals, experienced Root Doctors, Conjure Women, Seers and Healers, Historians and Culture Keepers who have been gifted to offer healing and spiritual services to their communities and any who seek them out.

So just because these individuals don't carry the title of "Priest/Priestess that has been officiated by some "ruling spiritual institution" that disqualifies Hoodoo from having a legitimate lineage of spiritual practitioners?

Hmmmm.....again, I thought we are speaking about FOLK Religion NOT mainstream organized religion.

As we can see, outside voices are trying to force Hoodoo into a box that was never created for her to live in-that was never designed to hold her. These attempts to do so are done not only in ignorance, but also by those who really and truly DON'T honor Folk Traditions because if they sincerely did, they would acknowledge that just because a Folk Tradition does not fit the mold of a "religon" it does NOT mean it's practices should be less respected and honored.

Folk Traditions, ALL Folk Traditions, are their own unique entity unto themselves. They were never intended to function , operate, and behave like or be held to the same standards of formalized religions. This is their beauty, stregnth and power.

Folk Traditions-NOT JUST HOODOO, are People Powered, Culturally Determined, and Ancestrally Guided! Those who try to take that way, or dimmish this aspect need to practice religion instead.

If you respect FOLK Traditions, RULE 1...Listen and respect the voice of The People!

Happy Hoodoo Heritage Month!!

10/14/2026

Mojo and Gris-Gris, What's The Difference????

Let's talk about Mojo Bags and Gris-Gris Bags. Many may assume that the contrast lies in just the name and location where they are found, and carried as sacred and protective items. When we hear "Mojo" we think of deep southern Hoodoo. When we hear "Gris-Gris" we think of New Orleans Voodoo-Hoodoo. Although these both are "kissing cousins" and share common roots they are not the same.

Let's start with Gris-Gris the origin-Africa and specially with the Mende speaking tribes of West Africa. Gris-Gris traditionally were elaborate leather pouches that contained sacred phrases and prayers, with magical squares written on small pieces of paper that were folded and animated to power with the Spoken Word. This was preformed exclusively by Islamic Priests who placed heavy emphasis on the spoken and written Word as revealed in sacred texts from The Quran. This was a priestly practice that relied on religious scholarship and specialized knowledge-not someone reciting a simple blessing over a pouch. Once Africans found themselves in American due to slavery, Gris Gris evolved aesthetically from pouches to wrapped fabric of bags. In New Orleans "Gris-Gris" evolved into a complete magical system of its own.

Mojo Bags, although similar in nature, relied somewhat on prayers from the Bible, but placed heavy emphasis on the spiritual technology of Rootwork in their creation. Geographic areas, family and community traditions continue to shape the Mojo Bag (or Hand) as we know of it today.

A Mojo Bag is NOT a charm bag. It is NOT just a bag with herbs and roots thrown in there with intention. A mojo bag is a Living Spirit, an Embodied Prayer . A Mojo Bag is ritualized in a specific way by invoking Ancestral Spirits. Everything to how it's tied, how it's fed, and the skin (fabric) used has meaning, and ancestral memory.

Learn More!

Happy Hoodoo Heritage Month!

10/12/2026

My Hoodoo Heritage Month Book Club of One …😂

10/11/2026

Setting up at Tempe Center for the Arts- Indígena!

10/09/2026

What ABOUT Hoodoo Books?????

I want to thank all the sincere people who have privately messaged me with all kinds of questions about Hoodoo. Whew! You guys are working me, and I cannot respond to everyone. However, I would like to address some of the most common questions I've received so hopefully everyone can get the insight they need.... So here we go!

Assumption:

Hoodoo is NOT a Closed Practice because there are books and public information online about the tradition.

It is important to remember that what you see online is only a VERY small part of Hoodoo even from authentic practitioners. You are getting a window view, parts are purposefully left out, and background information and knowledge is keep secretive.

Secondly, although within the last few years we are seeing many more books written by people from "Hoodoo Culture", MOST of the books circulating are NOT written from those within the culture. I've explained this many times.

Lastly, let's think about it this way:

Let's say I am throwing a party at my house. I've invited my guests, they are on their way, and I leave the door open so that the people I am expecting to come can feel at home and walk right in.

Then comes a guy that is walking down the street of the neighborhood. He sees the house with cars parked out front, music playing, he can smell the barbecue and hear the laughter... fun times going on. He walks over and sees that the door is open. He can see some of the things going on inside. Hmm...he figures in that he can see somewhat inside, and the door APPEARS to be open it's for him (or anyone) to walk right in.

"After all, if this was a private party, wouldn't they have closed the door?" he says to himself.

So this guy walks into the house. He sees food and drinks sitting on the table with plates and napkins. He figures in that the host left out all the plates, napkins and utensils...that must means its an open invitation for anyone who is passing by to fix a plate for themselves and eat, and make themselves at home!

I think you all know by now where I am going with this...

I remember growing up when society once told women that if they wore a skirt that was too tight, or a blouse that was too revealing, it was like they were publicizing their sexuality and therefore they were asking to be violated. It was a... "if you show and tell expect to yell" mentality.

But here we are in 2026 STILL not getting it......Availability and visibility does not equate to accessibility!

We may be driving down a street and see a tag sale with items out for display on a lawn. Those items although visible and accessible still are part of the property of the house and belong to the people who put them there, and they determine what is to be done with them.

It's really very, very simple.

So let's honor the voice of that woman, who in spite of how revealing she dresses, holds authority over her own body.

Likewise, let's honor the voices of the people whose traditions, whatever they may be, belong exclusively to them.

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

There is no room for Ego or Pride in Hoodoo.

A Conjure Woman does not boast in the power she may have.

Instead she is grateful that The Ancestors approved and gave their blessing for her cause.

What can we really boast about, when the power that moves through us is from those that came before us?

We are nothing more than links in a chain

We can acknowledge and develop our own gifts as we should

But we also must remember, just as we cannot give life unto ourselves, there is a limit to what we can claim we do by ourselves.

In this way, we can remain humble.
Grateful
Ready to learn
Open to receive instruction and correction
Proud, but not prideful
In service for the sake of souls, instead of for the sake of self.

10/06/2026

Hoodoo's Influence in Modern Witchcraft

Hoodoo and Witchcraft-two very different spiritual paths that are both equally beautiful and powerful for those who are genuinely called to them.

Witchcraft and/or Folk Magic can be expressed or practiced within any cultural context similar to Hoodoo. There is Italian Folk Magic, Slavic Folk Magic, Romani Folk Magic, every culture and peoples under the sun has some form of magic that has developed within their specific region, and is informed by the history, various peoples, religious beliefs, superstitions and social needs of those ethnic groups.

When it comes to "American Folk Magic" (if there is such a thing) it is surely NOT one type of Folk Magic- I think we all understand that. However, within the generalized and modern umbrella term of "Witchcraft" that many practice today, elements of Hoodoo has done more to define those aspects that most people are aware of.



I have been a practitioner of Hoodoo pretty much all my life more or less, and been heavily involved within my local spiritual and metaphysical communities for a long time. I've seen the trends come and go, and have seen what "Witchcraft" looked like BEFORE it ingested aspects of Hoodoo, and how it presents itself now. Many of what the public views as "general witchcraft" actually comes from spiritual practices that were always distinctly Hoodoo.

So what am I saying?

Am I saying that candle magic is Hoodoo, or working with herbs is strictly Hoodoo? Of course not! Those are general magical practices. But what I am drawing attention to is how Hoodoo has shaped and evolved those practices.

Candle Magic is NOT only found in Hoodoo, but dressing candles with herbs and oils-THAT has always been distinctly Hoodoo. It's a perfect example of how general Witchcraft have absorbed this particular method and its become understood as "common magical practice."

I want to be very clear. My intension is NOT to imply that Hoodoo is the end all and be all of spiritual traditions. I am NOT a Hoodoo Elitist. My intent is also NOT to make anyone who practices witchcraft feel they must stop doing what they do just become some of their practices come from Hoodoo. At the end of the day, Folk and witchcraft practices cannot help but to blend and bleed into one another to a certain degree. No tradition exist in a vacuum.

However, in honor of Hoodoo Heritage Month, I believe it's important to bring awareness to the influence that Hoodoo has given to modern witchcraft practices.

So to all my Witches...continue to get your Witch on! Just be aware that many of these practices you see on SM or marketed actually have origins in Hoodoo.

So lets begin....

Road Openers- Road Opening Works/Candles come distinctly from Hoodoo. The origins being that when African Americans migrated from the South to the North during the turn of the century to escaping heavy oppression, we wanted the roads of new opportunities and prosperity to become available to us.

Dressing Candles- Dressing Candles is a practice that has been in Hoodoo since candles have been used in Hoodoo. Using specific roots, herbs, and oils, sprinkling them in or on candles before burning is traditionally known in Hoodoo as a 'Fixed" candle.

Condition Oils- Although "magical oils" can be found in every culture since ancient times-"Condition oils" that focus on a specific circumstance that one find themselves in, or wants to draw to them (think the popular Love Drawing Oil) comes from Hoodoo.

Crossed Conditions- This term distinctly originating from Hoodoo describes a host of circumstances and situations that can bring various forms of bad luck upon a person.

Spiritual Baths- As we know of it's influence today within modern witchcraft has been carried over from Hoodoo practices.

Rail Road Spikes- Some Appalachian Folk Traditions may use railroad spikes for various things. However, the popular use of them to "nail down ones property" is from Hoodoo. Railroad Spikes were used to nail down property that African Americans owned as a protective measure from their resources being stolen or illegally confiscated.

Dirt- This one may seem hard to accept because after all it's just dirt right? I'm not implying that no other magical traditions have used dirt. What I am saying is that the modern popular application of Bank Dirt, and any other type geographical dirt being used is a magical carry over from Hoodoo. Also you can throw into this category the ever popular Red Brick Dirt.

Roots- High John and the use of other roots in magical practice goes without saying...Hoodoo. Witchcraft has always placed emphasis instead on herbs.

Ancestor Veneration- Ok.....so before you jump down my throat...

I am fully aware of many Pagan Religions and Pagan Cultural/Spiritual Practices that honor their beloved dead so I am NOT speaking about those. I am talking about ancestor veneration within the context of "modern general witchcraft". The concept of Ancestor Veneration as seen in Hoodoo has directly influenced and grafted this concept into general witchcraft practices.

The Bible/Psalms - There are other Folk Practices besides Hoodoo that use the bible for 'magical work". "Granny Magic" and "Appalachian Folk Practices use it as well. However, it has been Hoodoo that has bought Bible Magic to the forefront in modern magical folk practice.

This I'm sure it not a complete list, but it is enough for now.

Hopefully this will help everyone understand how magical practices spread, influence, and merge with one another, but especially Hoodoo's role in that formation.

Happy Hoodoo Heritage Month!!!

10/05/2026

Things I"ve learned in Hoodoo....

There will be times when Karma kicks in before your Conjure hits them.
Do not rejoice in their downfall
Stay silent
Allow The Universe, Nature, and God to take them to school.
If they learn, then maybe Spirit will buffer the Conjure that is still marked to come their way.

Give Space for Spirit to do your work for you.

10/05/2026

Let’s talk about Protection Work in Hoodoo….

You see Protection Work of today sounds a lot like this:

Protection from The Evil Eye
Protection from Evil Spirits
Protection from Haters at my job
Protection from my nosey neighbors
Protection from the witch I work with
Protection from my X boyfriend
Etc, Etc, Etc…

All these are valid areas of concern.

But I’m here to tell you, that the original Protection Work in Hoodoo prevented one from LOOKING like this .

Original Protection Work in Hoodoo was needed to keep one ALIVE. To keep the whip from splitting the flesh off one’s back.

Why am I bringing this up?
Well it is Hoodoo Heritage Month. But it’s also a learning point.

Protection Work in Hoodoo ALWAYS protected Black Bodies and the physicality of the African American experience in this country.

It’s 2026 and there are STILL African Americans being lynched from trees under guise of “suicide”.

The Protection Work that our Ancestors relied on was conjured from a completely different level.

You DIED without it.
Brutally.

This man’s back is the birthplace and womb of Hoodoo. THIS is where it comes from.

So Hoodoo is not just a spiritual tradition in response to systematic oppression.

Hoodoo protected the people whose bodies bore the language of that trauma whipped into their skin.

THIS
IS
Hoodoo…