By Frater S.C.F.V.
A. Introduction: Context of the Working
A client came to me today asking me to help her spiritually as she has a significant job interview tomorrow for an important new position that would enable her to help others. She consented for me to do some rootwork to aid her as well as to enlist the aid of her Ancestors in the Operation, and to use a piece of her hair to tie the rootwork to her personally. As I was grateful for the opportunity to practice applying the valuable teachings of Hoodoo, Conure, and Rootwork that I have been learning from my teacher Dr. Aaron Davis, I did this working for free and to the glory of God and gratitude to my Ancestors and Spirit Allies.
B. Timing of Operation
Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork emerged in a historical and cultural context independent of the Planetary Hours, Arabic Mansions of the Moon, and other concerns that affect the timing of Operations in traditional European grimoire magic. The development of the folk practice in these traditions emerged in the American colonies and driven by the ingenuity and survival necessities of African slaves. Their work integrated African traditional methods with insights from North American Indigenous Peoples, Appalachian traditions, Christian traditions such as the use of the Psalms, and much later historically, influences from Jewish magic and European grimoires. As a result, it is not necessary to observe Planetary Hours, factor in astrology, or Lunar Mansions in Hoodoo operations. Traditional Rootwork is eminently practical and ready-to-hand, hands in the herbs, and based on need; its methods are flexible by design.
However, since two of the wisdom traditions that influenced my practice are the Sufi Arabic tradition and the European grimoire tradition, I will note here just for my own records that this operation was completed on the Day of Mercury with the Moon in Aries in the Arabic Lunar Mansion of Al-Thurayya (Many Little Ones, linked to the Pleiades). From a grimoire magic perspective, this working would best be done on the Day of Mercury or Jupiter; however, since the client’s interview was on Thursday, the day of Jupiter, the latter would not be an option. From an Arabic magical perspective, doing the ritual with the moon in the mansion of Al-Thurayya (25°42’51″ Aries to 8°34’17″ Taurus) is perfect, however, because this is a Mansion that The Picatrix (11th c.) says is “suitable for the acquisition of all good things.” Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (16th c.) in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy adds that this Mansion is good, among other things, for “profit,” “happy fortune and every good thing.” It is a Mansion used in Arabic magic to receive blessings, good fortune, and support, and therefore, perfect for an operation designed to ensure success in a job interview context. Of course, none of these concerns would be relevant to the working of a traditional Rootworker, but it’s interesting as a circumstantial side note.
C. Preparation and Operation
I prepared for the Operation by obtaining the informed consent of the client after explaining to her the work I intended to perform on her behalf.
I then performed ritual bathing and prayers to purify myself.
Next, I prayed to the Most High that this work and the Oil to be produced through it might enable the client to charm her interviewer, protect her from negative judgments, attract good luck and favorable judgments leading to her attaining the new position, and attract money to her through the new job. I also prayed that she might be helped through this work so that she might help others through this new position to the glory of God and in accordance with His Will to extend the Good to all beings and care for all beings.
As my teacher Dr. Davis taught me, I spoke with each Herb in turn, asking for its help to aid the Operation, and explaining what I was asking each Spirit to do to contribute to the work at hand according to its unique occult virtues and strengths (e.g. to charm the interviewer, grant fiery protection against adverse circumstances and negative judgments, attract luck and fortune, “fire up” confidence, and provide peace of mind under pressure).
As I worked with each Herb, I used it to fix an offering candle and also added it to a condition Oil with a traditional base of Olive Oil. The formula used here was my own recipe drawing on the individual abilities of each herb as I learned from my teacher, Dr. Davis.
The Oil and Candle-Fixing formula I used here included the following Herbs:
a. Cinnamon, Allspice, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cardamom, and Cloves — This is a potent positive combination for drawing favor, friendship from prospective colleagues (cardamom, nutmeg, cloves), yielding fiery protection from negative judgments and self-doubt, heating up favor and energizing luck (ginger, Allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), and also relieving stress in the stressful context of an interview (allspice).
b. Consulting the Herbs to ask who else would like to be included in this Operation, I also felt inspired to include Sugar to help sweeten the situation and the interviewers to the client’s benefit. I also offered the Sugar to the Herb Spirits themselves as thanks for their help, not a traditional Hoodoo practice, but something I was inspired to do by my own Spirits.
c. In addition, Rosemary was added for its power to strengthen female clients and confer protection and positive working relationships in this case.
d. Thyme was also included to grant peace of mind and protect money and financial opportunity, a strong complement for Allspice in this formula.
e. Next, Bay Leaf was worked with to grant victory in obtaining the new job position and succeeding in it.
f. Finally, the client’s own hair was included as a sympathetic curio to link the working to her personal success.
As I stirred in the herbs, I prayed first extemporaneous prayers tailored to each Herb and empowering its role in the Operation, prayers to the Glory of God, thanking the Most High in advance for His generosity, grace, and Providence, and then prayed Psalm 23 over the Operation, Candle offering, and enchanted Oil:
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
I then sealed the container of the Oil with the top and prayed that as it was sealed, so might it seal the virtues and powers of each Herb and Spice included into the Oil.
I then placed the fixed candle on top of the container of the Oil and offered it to the Creator, once again requesting God’s aid and empowerment of the Plant Allies involved to bring about the client’s aim. I again gave thanks in advance for the successful result of the Work.
Connecting the Candle magic to the Oil magic, I prayed that as the candle burned down, that it might draw the blessings of Divine Power and the virtues of the Herbs included down into the Oil to the clients benefit.
Finally, I called upon both my Ancestors and the client’s Ancestors to aid in the success of the Operation. Thanking them in advance for their guidance and assistance.
D. Day of the Interview
I advised the client to take the Oil with her and right before the interview, to dip her finger into the Oil and trace three Crosses of it on her tongue.
Then, I asked her to pray for her success and use the tongue she has thus empowered to speak the words that would bring success in her interview.
When I gave her the Oil, I asked her if she sensed anything from it. She said that she felt it “was very powerful” and that it “makes me feel safe, protected and supported.”
She followed the instructions I gave her, anointing the tongue with the 3 Crosses of the Oil, making the prayers, and then going into her interview.
When I asked her after how it went, she said that after she applied the Oil, she “felt my stress calming, and felt at ease, more confident, and supported.”
She said that at one point, she was asked a question that she was not sure of, so she took a moment, and felt that the words just came to her, as if aided by the Herbs. The interviewers said that “the answer was exactly what they had wanted.”
She added that she also felt that the interviewers treated her with great warmth and friendliness, as was intended in the formulation of the Oil.
E. Results of the Operation
The results of this Operation were strikingly successful. Not only did the client feel supported in the interview itself, but the results came very quickly afterwards.
The morning after the interview, the client informed me that she received a call from the Director of the organization to inform her that they wished to bypass checking her references and hire her immediately.
The Director further added that they had decided to give her a more than fair salary, added on many paid sick days, and included more weeks of paid vacation than she had in her last job.
In addition, the Director explained how she would be working in a position that would enable her to work with and support others as she had yearned to do. She was thrilled and very grateful.
I asked her to thank not me, but God who aided the Operation with his Providence, the Spirits of the Herbs that assisted her, and the Ancestors who helped as well from behind the scenes.
I did my own work to give thanks in this way and offered a white candle fixed with Olive Oil and Sugar as thanks to the Most High and the herb Spirits and Ancestors who assisted. Much love also to the ancestors of the Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork tradition, for your strength, resilience, and brilliance in developing the tools and methods that enable me to help others and to my teacher Dr. Aaron Davis for his kindness, wisdom, and guidance.
Light in Extension: A Magical Journal 