A Hoppin' John New Year

It's almost a new year and I'm back.  I would apologize for the long absence, however, I was focusing on bringing my husband to the U.S. from western Canada.  I cannot be sorry for that. :)

I did make it back before the new year and that should count for something, right?

Yes.

Now, let's talk about Hoppin' John.  If you grew up in the South, like I did, I am sure you are familiar with the custom of eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's Day. My Canadian Celt of a husband thought I was joking when I started talking about preparing this meal. "Isn't black-eyed peas a band?  And what  in the world are collard greens?"  Much to my surprise, he is not the only one who seems to be somewhat in the dark.  Many, many of my southern friends and family seem to have no idea why this meal is consumed, outside of it having become a cultural/social holiday norm.  Year after year they prepare and partake with no thought as to why.  

The first historical account of Hoppin' John appears in Frederick Law Olmsted's A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States written in 1856.  It is commonly believed that Hoppin' John is a combination of French and African culinary influence and superstitions.  During the early years of slavery, Southern plantation owners discovered that rice grew quiet well and could easily turn a profit.  As a result, slave traders brought over West Africans who were experience in the cultivation of rice beds. Soon they also began to import black-eyed peas from the same region.  With rice, black-eyed peas,  and strong memories of home, West African slaves began preparing Hoppin' John.     

The tradition of consuming black-eyed peas and greens is said to bring luck to the diner. Today, the peas represent coins or money, financial luck.  The greens being...well... green,  the color of money represent the same. Cornbread, representing gold, is often used to sop up the juices for extra luck.  Several variations of the tradition have developed over the years.  Some say that you should place a coin into the pot for good luck.  Some say that you should place a coin under each dish.  Others say that you should leave three peas on your plate for wealth, romance, and health.  Still others say that you should count the amount of peas in your serving to determine how lucky you will be in the coming year.   Our tradition is to use Hoppin' John as part of our ritual offering to Marie Laveau and High John the Conqueror along with petitions for the coming year.  

 Marie Laveau's Hoppin' John

1 lb. Black-Eyed Peas
8 slices Bacon, cut into fourths
1 1/2 cups Onions, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
½cup bell pepper finely chopped
2 1/2 quarts water
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon Thyme
1 Bay Leaf
1/8 teaspoon Rosemary
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
2 cups raw Rice

Soak black-eyed peas overnight in water. Fry bacon in a heavy skillet until crisp. Add 1 1/2 cups onions, and cook until the onions are transparent. Add 2 1/2 quarts water, bring to boil. Add garlic cloves, thyme, bay leaf, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Drain peas and add the boiling mixture. Barely simmer mixture, partially covered, for 1 1/2 hour. Add 2 cups raw rice. 

Please note that there are hundred's of variation on Hoppin' John.  Personally, I prefer adding cayenne pepper and insist on red onions.  Two reasons 1) I like it HOT! :) 2) Red is often associated with luck, fast luck in particular. A quick google search will help you find a recipe that appeals to you.  Just keep in mind that rice, peas, and pork are the staples. 

Wishing wealth, health, and prosperity from our house to yours!

Happy New Year!

Prosperity Spell Bottle

Last night, I *FINALLY* cooked up my prosperity spell bottle.  I have been meaning to do this for some time, but I let little excuses like "I'm too tired" and "I don't have time" get in the way.  Once you fall into that trap it becomes more and more difficult to get out.  Procrastination can be Prosperity's worst enemy, so last night I made myself make time to sit down and work.  The following is the outcome, which I think is fan-tab-ulous!

Ingredients for this working:

Green Bottle (bought this one at Goodwill for $1.00)
Prosperity Master Candle (Please see THIS post for more information on this candle)
Petition Candle
Basil
Dead Sea Salt
Two-Dollar Bill
Frankincense Essential Oil
Lucky Mojo Curio's Prosperity Oil (Please visit Lucky Mojo for more information on their conjure products)
Lucky Mojo Curio's Attraction Oil
3 Small Lodestones
Peacock Feather
Gold-Colored Sand
Gold Ribbon
Gold-Colored Beads

Process:

I began this working by creating my prosperity petition candle.  I annointed the small green candle with Lucky Mojo Prosperity Oil and lit my Prosperity Master Candle.  Then using a white taper I brought the light from my Master Candle to the petition candle.  I allowed it to burn for a few minutes and then snuffed it out, pulling the wax up over the wick to seal in the "mojo."

After everything was in order, I re-lit the petition candle inorder to allow it to "cook" during the working.

Next, in a small bowl, I combined a small amount of gold-colored sand, dead sea salt, basil, and nine drops of frankincense oil.  The gold-sand is completely symbolic.  A lot of conjure is based on color correspondences/symbolism, such as candle magic and mojo bags.  For me, the gold sand, though not actual gold, is visually stimulating.  It has the appearance of gold flakes, and inspires thoughts of prosperity.  The dead sea salt was used to ground the work.  I chose basil because it is a favorite prosperity herb of mine, as a substitute I might have chosen patchouli, another favorite.  However, you could certainly use any prosperity herb that calls to you.  It is important that it speaks to *you.*  I chose to use frankincense oil in this working.  One of the three gifts of the wisemen, frankincense has long been connected with prosperity. 

After all these ingredients were mixed I carefully poured them into the bottle, allowing them to form the base of my working.



Next, I annointed the upside of the two-dollar bill with attraction oil. I did so in a five-face die pattern, with a drop on each number 2 and one on the face.  I chose the two-dollar bill, first, because it is obviously money, but also due to its semi-rareness.  After the bill was annointed I folded it towards me once, rotated it 90 degrees and folded it towards me twice more.  Then, I "sealed" it with three drops of wax from my petition candle, and placed it inside the bottle.

Next, I took three lodestones and annointed them with both Lucky Mojo Attraction Oil and Lucky Mojo Prosperity Oil.  Lodestones are magnetic iron ore and have long been prized for their ability to "draw" things in.  For more about this stone, please read THIS article on Lucky Mojo. 

After each stone was annointed, I place them inside the bottle, one-by-one, charging each with a more specific prosperity purpose; wealth, health, happiness. 



Next, I placed the peacock feather inside the bottle.  I have never, personally, seen a peacock feather used in conjure work.  However, for me it has strong uses in prosperity, protection, and divination.  Peacocks were often kept by noble or wealthy families as a symbol of their status.  They were the symbol of the Ming Dynasty in China and were associated with divinity, rank, wealth, and beauty.  In this way, they are a symbol of personal or family prosperity.  In addition, the colorful, circular designs on the male tail feathers were believed by some cultures to be "eyes."  In this way, the peacock could be used for protection, both physical and psychic; guardianship; and divination, by utilizing this "eye" of the bird. By Islamic lore, a peacock guards the gate to Paradise.  In a way, a guardian of prosperity.  Here it is obviously used for prosperity, but also to guard against anything that could be hindering to this work's success.

Finally, I decorated the outside of the bottle with gold ribbon and gold-colored beads.  Again, these are visually symbolic.  The more appealing and rich the bottle looks the more it inspires thoughts of prosperity.  Essentially, when I look at the bottle I want it too *look* prosperous.  This keeps me in the right state of mind for the bottle to do its thing.

I allowed the petition candle to burn almost completely down, cooking.  Then, I blew it out to send the mojo out for it's purpose.  The candle stub I burried by my front porch steps to draw prosperity in.  It is typical to bury many spell bottles.  However, this one I will place on my desk, which is central in my house and where I keep my bills to be paid.  In fact, my bills will sit under this bottle until they have been paid. 

A Prosperity Working

The following is an prosperity working that I preformed for a friend.  I am posting it here with that friend's permission.  However, the name will be omitted to protect their privacy.

Materials Needed:

Prosperity Master Candle (See THIS post for information on creating yours)
Green Taper Candle for Client Candle ( See THIS post for information on creating yours)
Prosperity Oil
Basil
Patchouli
Pyrite
Loadstone Oil
Two Dollar Bill
Green Embroidery Thread
Spell Parchment
Green Pen used for prosperity spells



 Procedure:



I began by creating my Money Drawing Client candle.  I dressed it in Prosperity Oil from Lucky Mojo and rolled it in basil and patchouli. I lit it from my Master Prosperity Candle, speaking its purpose to it, to draw money to the client.  Then, I allowed it to burn for a bit, long enough to create enough wax to cover the wick and seal its purpose inside

Then I placed the candle on my altar and gathered my other materials for the working.


After everything was prepared, I re-lit the client candle.  Then, using my green spell pen, I wrote the client's name on the parchment and placed five drops of wax from the client candle on the parchment in a five-faced die pattern, with the last drop in the center of the client's name.





Next, I took the pyrite and dressed it in lodestone oil.  Then, folded the two dollar bill towards myself and wrapped it around the pyrite.  Holding it there, I folded the name parchment towards myself and wrapped it around both the pyrite and the two dollar bill in the opposite direction.  Next, I took the green thread and wrapped it around the bundle nine times before tying it off.

After the bundle was tied, I placed three drops of prosperity oil along the thread and sealed the knot with three drops of wax from the client candle.

Then, the bundle sat on my altar while the client candle burned. 

 

Now, the client will bury the bundle near their front door and it will do its thing. :)