Carolina Dean's Ritual of Independance

This is a ritual that I have performed every July 4th for the past several years, and would like to share with my friends here at HoodooSpace now. It is very simple to perform, and I find that the less you prepare for the ritual the more powerful it will be for you.

To begin collect one red, one white, and one blue candle of any size. These are the colors of the American Flag and which are synonymous with independence. In addition the three candles represents the three dimensions of self, that of Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Light each of the candle and say silently or aloud make your personal declaration of independence...

Today I declare Emotional Independence from depression
Today I declare Financial independence from poverty
Today I declare Physical independence from dis-ease
Today I declare Spiritual independence from negativity
Today I declare...(fill in the blank)

Continue your personal declaration until you are satisfied with what you have said. Thereafter, let the candle burn themselves out.

If you desire, you can augment this ritual by anointing the candles with oils and rolling them in herbs which you feel most empower you. In addition, you can add any symbols, written-petitions, talismans, Saint Figures, etc... to your altar or independence.

Carolina Dean

Thanks For Giving

I recently read a blog by a new member of this site describing a First Peoples ritual performed to give thanks to the great mystery power for one's blessings. His blog entry got me to thinking about these types of rituals as they pertain to the practice of Hoodoo.

As a Wiccan, I perform devotions and meditations on a daily basis to keep me spiritually centered, maintain dialogue with Spirit, and give thanks for my many blessings. Whenever I perform a spell or working (especially one in which I have called upon a specific deity or deities) I will often make an offering or sacrifice to that deity when my work has been successful.

Sometimes my offering may be something as simple as burning incense or a candle. I typically, light the candle and/or incense before a statue or image of the deity. I may say something as simple as

In honor burns this candle flame,
Iin praise of (N's) holy name;
IIn thanksgiving for, and recognition of
Iall you've done for me from love.

I often make offerings to my ancestors to keep them appeased and for thanking them for assisting in the many way that they do so. These offerings are usually very specific based on what my ancestors enjoyed in life. For example, my grandfather loved Luzianna Coffee so I will often offer him coffee; in addition he liked reading Louis Lamour western novels and I keep one on my ancestral altar for him.

At other times I may sacrifice something more personal such as a favored piece of jewelry, or even my hair. For example, the turtle is my totem. Once many years ago I was hiking at 40 Acre Rock when I found a whole, intact, turtle shell at the mouth of a bear cave. I took the shell for my altar, but had nothing to offer in return. At that time, my hair was about 6 inches past my shoulders, so I used a friend's knife to cut about an inch from my hair and left it as an offering in place of the shell.

Still at other times, my sacrifice will take the form of a charitable offering in the name of that deity. Recently I had been performing work in order to get my car repaired and at a price that I can afford. When my car was successfully prepared, I thanked God by filling a box with non-perishable food-stuffs and donating it to my local food bank.

Whenever I bake homemade biscuits, I always make one or two special ones which are set aside and used as an offering to the Fay Folk and this is set outside my back door with a small saucer of milk.

I think that as spiritual practitioners it is important to give thanks for our blessings, especially when we routinely petition spiritual powers to help us achieve our goals. These are just a few examples of how one can show gratitude for their many blessings.

Carolina Dean

Rest In Peace Minerva

Reclusive Voodoo Priestess of 'Midnight' Fame Dies


By Dana Clark Felty
Created 2009-05-08


Valerie Fennel Aiken Boles rarely allowed people to take her picture or touch her.

She believed doing so put her at risk of being hexed, according to writer John Berendt.

"When you gave her money, she didn't want you to hand it to her," Berendt said by telephone Friday. "You had to put it down on a table or on the floor, because that way you can't 'work' with her hands. If you touch her, you're 'working her hand.' "

Boles died early Friday morning at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Her age was undetermined.

She was better known as the mysterious voodoo priestess "Minerva" in Berendt's novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which is set in Savannah. She was played by actress Irma P. Hall in the 1997 movie of the same name, starring John Cusack, Kevin Spacey and directed by Clint Eastwood.

Beaufort County Coronor Ed Allen said family members had not finalized arrangements and did not wish to speak publicly as of late Friday.

Berendt described Boles' in his 1993 book as the character "Minerva," who was befriended by Savannah antiques dealer Jim Williams. Minerva leads Williams and a New York writer to a nearby graveyard to cast a spell on former Chatham County District Attorney Spencer Lawton, who had filed murder charges against Williams in the fatal shooting of friend Danny Hansford.

Other than the name change, the story about Boles in the novel is true, Berendt said.

"There's nothing I can add to that evening. It's verbatim what she said and what he said and what we did," he said.

According to the book, Minerva is the common-law wife of the late Dr. Buzzard, "the last great voodoo practitioner in Beaufort County." "When Dr. Buzzard died," Berendt wrote, "Minerva put on his purple glasses and set herself up as a root doctor. She uses some of his techniques and some of her own, too."

To the people who came to know her through Williams, Boles showed an aversion to public attention and an intense suspicion of strangers.

Berendt said he knew of only two occasions she allowed herself to be photographed: once for a national morning show shortly after the release of the 1997 movie, and once in 2004 for Life Magazine.

Williams' attorney, Sonny Seiler, recalled visits with her on a bench outdoors in Monterey Square. "We'd sit out there a few minutes, but she'd never say anything. She didn't trust me," Seiler said.

Later in 2002, Seiler accompanied friends on a visit to Boles' Beaufort home.

"The house reeked of some strange incense," he said. "I gave her some money, and she smiled. I asked her if she ever got back to Savannah, and she said she didn't. She said she couldn't travel."

John Duncan, owner of V&J Duncan Antique Maps, Prints and Books, said Savannah tour guide Martha Hicks Ellzey later became a close friend to Boles and used to take her to his shop.

"Martha brought her by several times to see us," Duncan said. "I must say, (Boles) was very strong-willed, with a foul mouth, and refused to have pictures taken."

Ellzey, owner of Southern Hospitality Tours, declined to confirm Boles' death when reached Friday.

"I was not going to call the media until I talked to the family because it has not gotten around to all the family yet," she said. "This is very private, and I don't want anything (reported) at this point."

Berendt said Boles once claimed to be "in communication" with Williams after his death in 1990.

"She said she was in contact, but she didn't say what he was doing or saying," he said.

Source: The Savannah Morning News

Carolina Dean

The Lemon Curse

This is a spell designed to banish someone, or make them go away. It includes a punishment for the victim if they do not comply with your desire to get out of your life.

You will need:

A Black Candle
Crossing Oil
A Bottle of Vinegar
A Lemon
A Glass Jar
Pins
Knife
Photo of Person

Begin by carving the person's name on the candle and then anointing it with crossing oil. As you anoint the candle, say "(Name) may all the evil you've done to me now return to you!"

Set the candle in a holder and light it. Write the person's name in small letters across their photo three times, then cross and cover this with the words "SOUR AND BITTER" in large, bold letters. Fold the photo away from you three times, rotating it counterclockwise between each fold, saying "May (N's) presence and influence in my life now turn away from me and out of my life forever!"

Cut a slice in the lemon, insert the photo. Pin the lemon shut and say "(Name) as I pin this lemon shut, I close all the doors through which you may enter into my life!"

Place the lemon in the jar and fill the jar with vinegar. Screw the lid on tightly, shake the jar and say:

"Lord as you made the blind to see, let (N) see that s/he has no place in my life! As you made the lame to walk let (N) walk out of my life forever! As you cast demons out of the possessed, cast (N) out of my life forever! Lord, may his/her life grow as sour as this lemon and as bitter as this vinegar with each passing day until s/he leaves my life forever! As this lemon rots away so may his/her health and vitality rot away until s/he leaves my life forever! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Leave the jar near the candle until it is spent, thereafter. When you are done, bury the jar in a graveyard, or throw it in a body of water. So long as the person stays out of your life and your business, nothing will happen to them, but should they continue to insinuate themselves into your life, the curse will take hold. The choice is up to them.

Carolina Dean

Dear Psycho

Dear Psycho,

It's been lovely being stalked by you, but it's grown tiresome and I believe it's time for your behavior to come to an end. I thought that I made myself clear when I told you that I wanted nothing to do with you. I thought I made myself clear when I avoided your presence. I thought I made myself clear when I ignored your attempts to contact me. However, it seems that although I've done everything that I could to separate myself from you, you continue to attempt to insinuate yourself in to my life.

While I realize that you say that you 'like' me, I must confess that I do not return your feelings. Perhaps you've mistaken my kindness in the past for some sort of romantic attraction, which I assure you it is not. Therefore let me (yet again) attempt to get my point across to you in a manner that I hope you will understand.

I do not like you.

I do not wish to associate myself with you.

I do not want you to contact me.

If you truly like me as you say that you do, please respect my wishes. You and your chaos are not welcome in my life. Any future attempts by you to insinuate yourself in my life will be opposed by the full force of all the might and magic at my disposal, as well as that of my friends and associates.

Sincerely,

Carolina Dean

Taking Off the Evil Eye

Items needed:


a potato that has 'eyes' on it
pins or needles
knife or scissors
black sharpie


The Job


Begin by writing the name of the person whom you believe jinxed you with the evil eye. If you do not know the name of the person, just write "the person who jinxed me" Next, impale each of the potato's eyes with a pin to remove their power over you and finally pass the knife or scissors over the potato to sever the ties that bind victim to perpetrator.

When you are done, take the potato and bury it on the West side of your property so that the evil will lessen each day with the setting son and the perpetrator's power will rot away as the potato rots in the ground.


Carolina Dean

Sample Reading With Playing Cards

Medium: Playing Cards
Spread: The Celtic Cross

Query: Will I be successful in my work to attract a husband?

1. The 7 of Hearts (Discipline in the Area of Love)

The Cover: You've had a series of setbacks in the area of your love life.

2. The 3 of Spades (Communication in the Area of Change)

The Crossing: You've attempted to use magic to improve the state of your love life.

3. The 6 of Spades (Expansion in the Area of Change)

Where You Are Now: Despite your setbacks, you continue to believe that change is possible. Although you fear you will always be alone, you are attempting to maintain a positive attitude.

4. The Ace of Clubs (Ego in the area of Rewards)

Where You Wish to Be: You wish to attain a state of wholeness. To achieve this state, you believe that you must reap the rewards of your hard work. That is, you believe you need a man to be happy.

5. The 10 of Spades (Transformation in the area of the Unknown)

The Past: A betrayal in your past by someone you cared for has colored every relationship that has come after.

6. The 6 of Clubs (Expansion in the Area of Hard Work)

The Near Future: Soon an opportunity will present itself for you to have that which you desire. Pay attention to what is going on around you so that when this opportunity presents itself you can seize the moment.

7. The 8 of Hearts (Freedom in the Area of Affection)

How You Feel: The love life has been an issue for you for some time. You often feel waver between wanting love and pushing it away from you when it comes close.

8. The 10 of Diamonds (Transformation in the Area of Material Matters)

How Those Around You Feel: Your friends and associates inspire you to be positive, they encourage you that your desire will soon take form.

9. The Jack of Diamonds (The Gambler)

The Best You Can Hope For: The Gambler tells you that there is no reward without risk. In order to reap the rewards of your hard work, you must take a risk and seize the opportunities that come to you.

10. The 10 of Hearts (Transformation in the Area of Affection)

The Final Outcome: You can continue to do what you have been doing and fail, or you can follow the advice of the cards. Pay attention to whats going on around you. Seize the opportunities that present themselves. Take the risk and you will find love.

Yeah, that sound right.........

Carolina Dean

Playing Card and Candle Spell to Attract a Lover

This spell can be worked on a specific individual that you desire, or it can be worked to draw the type of person that you most desire.

To perform this spell you will require:

A New Deck of Playing Cards
A Red Candle
Love Drawing Type Oils
Drawing Powder
Red Cord

To begin, remove the Ace of Hearts from the deck. Next, choose a card to represent yourself and the person that you desire. If you don’t have a specific person in mind, you can choose a card which best represents the type of person you wish to attract to yourself.

If you are familiar with playing card divination, you probably already have a good idea of the different personality types as represented by the ‘people cards’. However, for quick reference, I will share the archetypes of the playing cards as I know them. These archetypes are heavily influenced by astrology. They are:

King of Clubs (Aries) The Leader
Queen of Clubs (Leo) The Achiever
Jack of Clubs (Sagittarius) The Adventurer

King of Diamonds (Taurus) The Provider
Queen of Diamonds (Virgo) The Supporter
Jack of Diamonds (Capricorn) The Gambler

King of Spades (Gemini) The Judge
Queen of Spades (Libra) The Worrier
Jack of Spades (Aquarius) The Trouble-Maker

King of Hearts (Cancer) The Advisor
Queen of Hearts (Scorpio) The Healer
Jack of Hearts (Pisces) The Lover

Once you have chosen the cards you wish to use in this working, set them aside for now. Carve your wish for a mate on the red candle. Anoint it with an appropriate love-drawing type oil of your own choosing (gay individuals may wish to use Lavender Love Drops, while straight individuals may wish to use Come to Me Oil.). Roll the candle towards yourself in drawing powder (or the powdered form of the aforementioned formulas) and set the candle in a holder.

Place the card representing the male/Top individual on the right side of the candle, and the card representing the female/bottom individual on the left side of the candle. Light the candle and then anoint the four corners and center of the masculine cards with your chosen oil and name it for the person concerned. If you don’t have a specific person in mind focus on the qualities that you desire in a mate and name the card accordingly, for example, you might say this card represents a man who will love me and support me financially. Next, anoint the card representing yourself in the same manner and name it for yourself. Finally, sprinkle some drawing power over the cards and gently blow it away. If you wish, you can write the names of the individuals on the cards with a permanent marker as part of the naming portion of this working prior to anointing them with oil.

Pick up both cards and hold them far apart yet facing one another. Slowly draw the cards closer together as you say……

“May these two souls now be drawn one to the other. May their hearts beat as one heart. May their flesh be as one flesh and their mind me as one mind. Amen.”

Bring the cards face together, and place the Ace of Hearts on top of them. Bind the cards together with a length of red cord, then lay them before the candle and say.

“Fire burn deep! Fill our bodies with desire. Fill our minds with passion. Fill our souls with yearning for one another. Burn! Burn! Burn! Bring us together and make us one! Amen.”

Leave the bound cards before the burning candle until it is spent. Then, wrap them in a red cloth (or your underwear) and place them under your mattress.

Carolina Dean

Dammit Jim I'm a Doctor, Not a Photographer...

Look what I got in the mail yesterday......

And here are some pics from Relay for Life...my team raised almost 3 times our goal!

Me performing my duties as the Queen of Caution.

Me and my co-worker/friend Deb standing in front of another teams tent.

You can't really tell from the pic, but that's one of the Delorean's from Back to the Future behind us. The theme this year was Back to the Future.

Dam spots everywhere...trying to get me....

Don't ask.

Me yelling at the cute Marines offering to do a cancer screen on their colon for a nickel.

I just like this one.

And finally, our relay for life team.

Carolina Dean

Hoodoo Out and About

Hey all, I worked over an hour today and just got home. I have to get to bed early tonight to get up at 3 am to walk in the relay for life from 4 am to 7 am Saturday Morning.

I also want to share a recent experience with you. This morning I left for work earlier than usual so I can drop my car off at a shop for a quick inspection three blocks from where I work. After I dropped my car off I walked the three blocks to work. As I'm walking down the sidewalk, I look down and found something odd. So I took this picture with my cell phone.

What you see here is a marker put on the sidewalk by PSE (Pugent Sound Energy). Other than the PSE I do not know what the triangle or 90 is supposed to mean. However I suspect the triangle may actually be an incomplete arrow, and 90 may refer to distance?

What is interesting about this marker is that in the center of the triangle is a tea-light (candle) that has burned all the way down, and beneath the votive candle is a folded piece of pink paper. I should note that this candle was about 3-4 feet from an intersection (crossroads).

I really wanted to collect the paper petition and see what form it took, or what the person's desire was; however I didn't want to disturb anyone's work.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.....

Carolina Dean