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Answers to some of the frequent questions.....
Most folks are confused and believe that Voodoo (vodoun) and Hoodoo (conjure) are one and the same.
I am not a voodoo priestess, but I try to list and to answer some general questions with the presumption that most of you are slightly confused about the terminology associated with certain African-derived religions and magical practices.
1.” When is it a good time to use voodoo?” Vodoun or Voodoo is a religion. One does not "use" a religion. However, there is something called "New Orleans Voodoo" which is actually a combined form of debased Vodoun and African-American Hoodoo. It is a form of folk-magic. In every other part of the country EXCEPT around New Orleans, it is called Hoodoo or Conjure. The proper time to use it is when you want something done which cannot be accomplished by physical means...in other words, in any circumstance that would call for magical practices.
2. “When is it a bad time to use voodoo or I should say the wrong time?” Again, Vodoun is a religion, not a magical practice, so I will answer as if you asked about Hoodoo or Conjure: the only bad time to use it is when you are unsure that you want to do so. Among other things, it can be used to bring blessings, for healing, to attract love, to find a job, to bring in luck at gambling, and to drive an enemy away -- so you can see that there would be many reasons to use it.
3.” Have I ever cursed someone? “No, not really. I know how to do it, but in my life, getting along with folks and avoiding conflict are higher goals than hurting others.
4. “Have I ever been cursed?” Yes, once, by a person who admitted having done so. I broke the curse using an old German technique, the SATOR square.
5. “Have I ever made a voodoo doll?” Yes! By the way, in European magic, these dolls are called poppets. In hoodoo they are called doll-babies or dollies. They are not unique to African-American magic.
6. “What is a voodoo doll?” It is usually a cloth doll in the form of a man or woman, stuffed with herbs and personalized with something that belonged to the person one wishes to affect (either for good or for evil). Some folks make their dolls out of moss and feathers instead of cloth. They may also be carved of wood. To use the doll, one performs upon it the operations (again, either for good or evil) that one would like to see happening to the person which is represented.
Let me know if you have any more questions. I just touched on the most frequent once.....
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