MAY FOLKLORE AND CONJURE FROM THE HOODOO ALMANAC

MAY GARDENING TIPS

May Day (May 1) is a good time for planting cucumbers, watermelons, thyme, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, parsley, mint, angelica & basil. Sow seeds inside. Remove weeds as they appear. Plant outside hardy herbs such as foxglove, sage, yarrow and violets that have been grown in containers and pots. Cut back shrubby herbs such as southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum), myrtle (Myrtus spp), cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus), bay (Laurus nobilis) and rue (Ruta graveolens) to encourage new growth. Try planting mint in pots.
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MAY FOLKLORE

An old cure for a sty in the eye was to stroke it with the tail of a tortoise-shell cat—still attached. This was only effective in the month of May. While stroking, one would say:

I poke thee,
I don’t poke thee,
I poke the quaff that’s under thee,
O Qualyway,
O Qualyway.
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A rather curious custom related to Ascension Day (May 29) involves giving friends and family crickets for good luck. If the crickets chirp during the day it is a good omen. If not, bad luck will ensue until the following Ascension Day. Finally, an old Sicilian custom involves making crosses out of mugwort and placing them on the roof of your home on Ascension Day; it is believed Jesus will bless the home during the night.

It was long a popular belief in Eastern and Western Europe, that a maiden, washing herself with dew from the hawthorn on the first day of May at daybreak, would preserve her beauty for ever, the activity repeated annually, of course. Another version of the magickal May Dew entails collecting dew water from magickal plants and herbs throughout the entire month. Using a cobalt blue or purple bottle, collect droplets of dew from plants such as clover, iris, honeysuckle, roses, lemon verbena, hawthorn, daisies and violets each morning. Keep your special elixir in a cool place, even the refrigerator where it will stay good indefinitely.

COLLECTING MAGICKAL RAIN WATER

There are several ways in which to collect rain water in May. One day is the first day in which it rains. This is called May Water and is considered powerful water in the realm of conjure. It is most ideal if it is rain collected on the first of May, but if not, the first day in which it rains is the next best thing. May water can be used for any potions calling for water and will give the formula a magical boost. It is specifically good for love potions, as well uncrossings and jinx-breaking.

There is another ritual related to Ascension Day or Holy Thursday. Rain collected on Ascension Day is considered Holy water so it is yet another great day to collect your water for washes and spiritual baths throughout the year. Ascension Day is the 40th day after Easter and celebrates the ascension of Christ into heaven. You only need to add 7 drops of the water to any spiritual bath or formula to infuse it with its magickal energy.
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* This article is excerpted from the book Hoodoo Almanac 2014-2015 by Denise Alvarado, Carolina Dean and Alyne Pustanio.

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Conjure Water

$10.00

Conjure Water by Alvarado Apothecary is ideal for cleansing the home and place of business, paving the way for good luck and success. Arguably the best conjure drug around, it does a fantastic job of actual mundane cleaning and spiritual cleansing, removing stagnant energy, lingering negativity and removing obstacles. For best results, I highly recommend first decluttering your home; especially if you seem to be facing roadblocks at every turn. So, get to decluttering and reorganizing, and then wipe down your furniture and computer with Conjure Water by Alvarado Apothecary, add some to your floor wash and watch your days begin to shine!

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Thunder Water

$20.00

Thunder medicine is a fantastic example of Red/Black traditions. It combines some little known Indian conjure with common Hoodoo works like protection and gambling hands. It is an all purpose medicine and can be used in conjunction with any work to enhance commanding power, defense, protection and even gambling luck!

Thunder water is water gathered during a thunderstorm in a specific ritual manner. It can be used to empower any work and to protect and bless the home. It can also be used in defensive magick and added to other spiritual waters to boost their effectiveness. 8oz.

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Florida Water 7.5 oz

$10.00

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Florida Water is valued as a multipurpose cologne-turned spiritual water. Originally, Florida Water was known as unisex cologne, suitable for men and women. It was touted as "The Richest of all Perfumes" and "The most Popular Perfume in the World" by Murray & Lanman, the company that created it.

In Hoodoo, Florida Water is used in spiritual cleansing and home protection. It can be worn on the body, used as an ingredient in magical works or by itself as a cologne, put in the bath water and misted in the environment to purify it. In fact, there are so many ways Florida Water can be used it is no wonder it remains a favorite conjure item among practitioners.

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War Water

$14.95

In traditional modern hoodoo, root workers employ War Water in foot track magick which causes poisoning through the feet. War Water is also purportedly used for creating household disharmony and chaos, making everyone in the household argue and fight one another. Originally, a bottle of war water would be hurled at the front door or porch of an enemy to cause disharmony and bad luck in the home. Nowadays, that could get you a terrorist charge, so stick to sprinkling it around your enemy's home and yard instead. War water can also be used as a curse reversal by sending malevolent energy back to its source.

Voodoo Mama's War Water is a proprietary blend based on a traditional New Orleans recipe available exclusively at Creole Moon. Among other things, it contains rusty nails, Spanish Moss and Creosote and smells to high heaven, as any powerful War Water should. Comes in a 100 ML amber glass oblong flask with black ribbed closure and tamper evident seal to prevent leakage. It also has a pouring insert for ease of sprinkling.

Voodoo Mama's Conjure Products are taking conjure to a whole new level and weare confident you will agree!

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