Jeudi: Curios

We have spoken previously about lodestones.  These magnetic stones are thought to draw love, luck and prosperity to those who know how to manipulate them.  Their companion curio, which can also be used in certain kinds of root work, is known as magnetic sand.

Sometimes called lodestone hairs or anvil dust, these small iron shavings stick to lodestones.  They are used to “feed” the stones in certain tricks and to mix with other ingredients in others.  Their primary purview is luck in love or money.

Lodestone Oil is easily made by adding small shavings from a lodestone to a vile of olive oil.  This can be used to dress money to make sure you never run out or to anoint one’s hands before going out for a night of gambling.  It is also used to dress mojos for prosperity and luck.

An allegedly powerful mojo for finding treasure calls for filling a black flannel bag with five-finger grass, comfrey root and a little lodestone.  The bag should be dressed with Lodestone Oil and the lodestone should be fed with magnetic sand regularly.  This will ensure that you will find money – physically, not figuratively – when you travel.  I prefer the simpler version of this hand which eliminates the Lodestone Oil and the magnetic sand all together.  In this case the bag should be dressed regularly with Commanding Oil and carried whenever you travel, ensuring that you will never be lost or injured away from home.

Magnetic sand can be used as a throw to draw love to you.  While concentrating on attracting a certain someone’s romantic attention, throw a handful of magnetic sand on the ground where you know they will step frequently.  When their shoes pick up the little iron shavings, they will become attracted to you.

A very broad trick for attaining just about anything you desire calls for Lodestone Oil, brown paper and pen, a photo or drawing, an old plate, a lodestone and magnetic sand.  Write your desire on brown paper and sign it with your name.  Now take a picture, drawing or other representation of your desire and anoint the four corners with Lodestone Oil.  Do the same with the paper, all the while focusing on your ultimate goal.  Place the paper and then the picture on a plate and place a lodestone on top of them.  Now take the time to speak to the lodestone.  Tell it your dearest desire and end with as I give to you, so will you give to me, as you sprinkle a pinch of magnetic sand on the lodestone.  For your desire to manifest, you must be true to your word.  Speak to the lodestone each day and feed it a generous pinch of magnetic sand.  For the trick to work, you must keep it completely to yourself.  While the work is in progress, no one must find your supplies or catch you at this endeavor.  When your dream is made manifest, thank the lodestone and bury all the supplies in tact – plate, paper, picture, lodestone and magnetic sand – in your yard.  Though it sounds simple, this working requires commitment.  If you miss a day, begin to doubt your potential success or become insincere in your process, you will have to start from scratch once again.  Bonne chance ~

Header:  Strega by Pia Valentinis via Old Paint

Jeudi: Curios

We've all heard of “Fool’s Gold”, particularly those of use who live in the western United States where innumerable Gold Rushes made fools of more than one man (and just as many women). The technical term for Fool’s Gold is iron disulphide but its common name is pyrite. It is a mineral that looks deceptively like the gold one “pans” for in a river or lake. Because of the principle of like-makes-like, which is very popular in hoodoo and other “folk” practices, pyrite is said to bring success, money and luck.

Pyrite is cleansed, either with holy water or by being left out in the sun (never with salt, which is thought to take away its power), and carried with a person’s cash to draw more. Places of business will keep a hunk of pyrite in the cash register to ensure good sales. Gamblers carry mojo bags that include pyrite to increase their winnings and keep up a streak of luck.

A money drawing mojo bag is made of green flannel and includes a chunk of pyrite and a lodestone to which is added a money drawing herb such as nutmeg, cinnamon, rice or bayberry. The items in the mojo bag should total three and this should be carried daily, if possible close to the skin, and anointed weekly with a money drawing oil like Lodestone, Cinnamon or John the Conqueror oil.

I like to cleanse a few little pieces of pyrite and place one in the toe of each of my family’s stockings (currently hung by the fire with care), with a wish for great success and good luck in the coming year. They can then carry it with them until next Yuletide, when I can start the whole process afresh. Succès à vous et au vôtre ~

Header: Anonymous painting of Elizabeth Woodville wearing cloth of gold c 1495

Jeudi: Curios

The term curio is used in hoodoo to indicate something used for magickal purposes that is not an herb. It might be an animal or part of an animal, a stone, a specific kind of wood or, as in the case of today’s offering, a metal.

Lodestones, which are sometimes called magnetite, are indeed magnetic stones that are used in hoodoo and other magickal traditions for drawing things to the person that possesses one or more. There really is no limit to the creativity you can apply here and, at least with lodestones (you may occasionally see it spelled loadstone), size matters. The bigger the hunk, the more drawing power it will have.

Lodestones have been used since ancient times. In Assyria, oil in which a lodestone had been placed for several days was rubbed on the body of an impotent man (while his partner rubbed her body with oil containing metal fragments). This form of sympathetic magick was thought to create an irresistible bond between the couple that would overcome their medical situation. In Ancient Greece, lodestones were an attribute of Herakles (Hercules) and were carried to bring strength of will, body and character.

Modern workers recognize “male” lodestones, which have pointy terminations or a pyramidal shape, and their “female” counterparts which are possessed of more rounded ends. The two are often used together. After washing in salt water and being allowed to air dry, they may be put together in a red mojo bag which is worn to secure a lover or protect a marriage. Stones used for this purpose should be the same size, approximately.

Lodestones are said to be “hungry” and most root workers will frequently “feed” their lodestones with magnetic sand (iron grit). Some workers will also put their stones in a cup of water for an hour or so a week to allow them to “drink”. I know Wiccans who perform both ministrations only on Fridays.

The stones are a very common addition to hoodoo mojo bags, and are frequently dressed for this purpose with an appropriate oil such as Crown of Success, Fast Luck, Love Me or Compelling oil. The color of the bag, which is usually made of flannel, depends on the desired outcome. Green for business success or money, yellow for success in endeavors and friendships, red for love (remember to use two lodestones here). Herbs with the qualities to achieve the outcome are added and sometimes a charm like dice for gambling success are also put in the bag. After the mojo “hand” is completed it should be carried close to the body and “dressed” with the appropriate oil once a week while the lodestone(s) is “fed” with magnetic sand at the same time.

Lodestones can frequently be found on altars, usually in pairs, to ensure that the work done there will draw a successful result. Bon chance ~

Header: Painting of Adam and Eve from Mongolian Iran c 1966