Use of Christian symbols in HooDoo

[tallwoman.9169]

Do you HAVE to use the Christian symbols to practice HooDoo? Although I have no problems with Christianity, I was a Christian for almost 50 years, and the use of those symbols, saints, angels, just doesn't work for me. It feels off.

[~Elise~]

I've never used one Christian symbol. It's not my bag, either.

[aranarose]

I use the Christian symbolism, but I don't see why you'd have to. Much of the symbolism of Hoodoo is personal, and if it has no real meaning to you, then it won't be effective. In my personal belief, I feel that all symbolism has meaning, and that the more people who are attached to that meaning, the more powerful, and the more easily manipulated, it is.

[tallwoman.9169]

I went to luckymojo.com to shop for a steady work kit, it included a cross candle and using Psalms 23. Guess I'll have to make my own, prefer that anyway, but the website says she only accepts students who have bought something, so thought I'd go shopping. I could get the bath, oil, incense and candles, and go from there. Thanks for the info.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Do you HAVE to use the Christian symbols to practice HooDoo? Although I have no problems with Christianity, I was a Christian for almost 50 years, and the use of those symbols, saints, angels, just doesn't work for me. It feels off.

No.


though there are those who might tell you differently....perhaps it is dependant upon the "type/brand/style" HooDoo practiced? In my tradition, no....in my tradition there need be no religious symbology at all.

[Teresa]

Do you HAVE to use the Christian symbols to practice HooDoo? Although I have no problems with Christianity, I was a Christian for almost 50 years, and the use of those symbols, saints, angels, just doesn't work for me. It feels off.

You use what you are comfortable with. I never got into the Saint Veneer myself, but it was important for me to understand it. As far as things go Hoodoo doesn't really use those well maybe its me that doesn't.

Santeria and Voodoo certain sects really use heavily because they are convient maybe. I really can not speak for others. I have used Saint Picture for Erzule's Altar because I found that picture to be pretty to me.

[Teresa]

I went to luckymojo.com to shop for a steady work kit, it included a cross candle and using Psalms 23. Guess I'll have to make my own, prefer that anyway, but the website says she only accepts students who have bought something, so thought I'd go shopping. I could get the bath, oil, incense and candles, and go from there. Thanks for the info.

I can help you design a Steady Work kit for yourself that doesn't have religious symbols. Most of my things do not use religious symbols.

That being said, I was taught to use the Psalms in many workings. I do not relate it to being a Christian Symbol perhaps because I was never Christian. There is a book I believe Titled "The Secrets of the Psalms" not sure of author. Many Hoodoo people regard Moses to have been a well known Hoodoo Practitioner. Just giving some background here for you as to the passages from the Bible. You can change things to suit yourself in Hoodoo. Do what is practical for you. That is why so many people take to this path. It can be altered to suit their tastes and be practical by using what you have on hand etc.

[Sage Rainsong]

I went to luckymojo.com to shop for a steady work kit, it included a cross candle and using Psalms 23. Guess I'll have to make my own, prefer that anyway, but the website says she only accepts students who have bought something, so thought I'd go shopping. I could get the bath, oil, incense and candles, and go from there. Thanks for the info.

I don't think think you have to necessarily. Cat also says on her podcast that you can call to the spirits of various plants that are used in order to work hoodoo. Maybe you can do that with the spell kit. If interested this is her podcasting site is:

http://hoodoorootwork.blogspot.com/

[tallwoman.9169]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the input. I love the psalms. I think they are beautiful poetry. I studied them while a Christian there's so much in them about praising and worshipping deity, but for now it's too closely aligned to old patterns and practices. But being a Christian for so long, I have trouble using anything from that path in conjunction with magic. Would love the help putting together a Steady Work kit. It looks like my job with AT&T fell through due to something that came up in my background check. So I'm looking again. I still have the part time job, would love to work there full time, it just doesn't pay enough for me to be able to do that.

[David19]

I don't think think you have to necessarily. Cat also says on her podcast that you can call to the spirits of various plants that are used in order to work hoodoo. Maybe you can do that with the spell kit. If interested this is her podcasting site is:

http://hoodoorootwork.blogspot.com/

Thanks for that link.

[Elemental]

The reason why Christian symbols were originally used was to mask hoodoo practice within Christian occupation and white invasion.

St Antonio = Ogoun for instance. So calling St Antonio your really aligning him to a war god.

Unless your an African slave forced to believe something you don't want too then i don't see using Christian symbols holding much importance to you.

[Godgifu]

I went to luckymojo.com to shop for a steady work kit, it included a cross candle and using Psalms 23. Guess I'll have to make my own, prefer that anyway, but the website says she only accepts students who have bought something, so thought I'd go shopping. I could get the bath, oil, incense and candles, and go from there. Thanks for the info.

Of course using stuff that you feel weird about doesn't help things any... I have been using psalm 23 but replacing the references to The Lord with "Kali"! I'm thinking I might have to use something else soon though, since the psalms have so much talk of good versus evil, and I personally see the universe as being more neutral than that.

As for the cross candles, I don't see them as necessarily being Christian. There's a lot of intersecting-line symbolism in the world, with the crossroads and quincunx being particularly common and important in hoodoo. I think the cross candles might be as much about that as anything else.

[tallwoman.9169]

You're right, the cross has many meanings. My problem is after being a Christian for 49 years, that's the one that is stuck in my head. I also don't work with angels, archangels or saints for the same reason. Too firmly Christian in my mind.

[Meisopomenos]

I've always viewed the cross as a symbol of the crossroads.

That is, after all, what was used in ancient religions for the crossroads.