The Graveyard Shift: Beyond the Gates

This week on Juju & Gems, I’m joined by my close friend and fellow Hoodoo practitioner, Phoenix Aje, for a much-needed conversation about the father wound and how it shows up in both the physical and spiritual realms.Together, we unpack the ways unresolved paternal wounds can affect both the divine feminine and divine masculine, from our relationships with ourselves and others to the ways we navigate our spiritual journeys. We also dive into the paternal ancestral line, exploring its significance within African traditional practices and why honoring, acknowledging, and building relationships with male spirits is just as important as working with our female ancestors.Because ancestral veneration isn't a one-sided relationship, and our spiritual foundations don't stop at the maternal line.We're diving into generational patterns, paternal healing, masculine energy, ancestral relationships, and the importance of recognizing the men and male spirits who make up our ancestral team.

As we close out Hoodoo Heritage Month, we’re stepping up to the crossroads! This episode explores the Day of the Man of the Crossroads, his presence in Black American culture, and the spiritual significance behind the stories, folklore, and traditions surrounding him. We’ll also explore the similarities between the Man of the Crossroads, Papa Legba and Legas, the Lwa of the crossroads in Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo, and Eshu the Orisha in Santería and ÍFA. What connects these spirits, what sets them apart, and what do they represent within our spiritual traditions?

In this episode of Juju & Gems, we’re breaking down Hoodoo terminology, from rootwork and conjure to the different types of practitioners, including rootworkers,seers, dreamwalkers, and more. We’ll explore the roles of Big Mama and Big Papa, why we call them workings instead of spells, and common works like sweetenings, road openers, block busters, and uncrossings. We’re also discussing terms that don’t originate from Hoodoo, such as twin flames, soulmates, starseeds, and chakras. Let’s get into the language, history, and cultural roots of Hoodoo!

From the roots of the Deep South to the streets of the North, Midwest, and West, Hoodoo has traveled, transformed, and adapted while remaining deeply connected to its ancestral foundations. In this episode of Juju & Gems, Big Mama JuJu takes you on a journey through the regional traditions of Hoodoo, exploring how migration, geography, culture, and ancestral knowledge shaped the practice across America. We dive into the herbs, roots, plants, and unique forms of juju associated with each region, highlighting how practitioners worked with the land and resources available to them. We also uncover some of the powerful spirits and historical figures connected to regional Hoodoo traditions, exploring their influence and lasting legacies.

The graveyard has rules, baby and we’re talking about what it means to respect them. In this episode of juju & gems, I explore graveyard and cemetery work, from protection, cloaking, and offerings to collecting graveyard dirt and working with it. We’ll discuss the spirits encountered within the gates, then dive into louisiana voodoo and haitian vodou, exploring their distinct traditions surrounding the spirits of the Guede.

In honor of Hoodoo Heritage Month, we’re honoring the revolutionary spirit of Nat Turner: preacher, freedom fighter, and a figure deeply connected to Hoodoo and resistance.In this episode, we get into Nat Turner’s “hot” nature and what it means to attempt to invoke a spirit associated with rebellion, justice, and liberation. We’ll also discuss why October 2nd is observed by some practitioners as a day to honor him, respectful ways to acknowledge his spirit, and how to approach powerful ancestral figures with intention and reverence.Plus, we’re talking about ways you can celebrate Hoodoo Heritage Month by learning the history, honoring the ancestors, preserving our traditions, and remembering that Hoodoo WAS and continues TO BE, about more than roots and rituals.

American Horror Story: Coven gave us Marie Laveau, Papa Legba, immortality, sacrifices, and plenty of “Voodoo”, but how much of it was actually true?This week on Juju & Gems, Big Mama JuJu is separating Hollywood horror from spiritual tradition. We’re debunking the myths Coven created around Marie Laveau and breaking down the history and spiritual legacy of the real Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Then, we’re getting into the LWA: who Papa Legba actually is, how his portrayal was blended with imagery associated with Baron Samedi, the Guede family, and the roles of other lwa within the tradition.

This week on juju & gems, we’re getting into money magnetism the traditional way. We’re talking money summonings, front porch conjure, money altars, and the herbs, spices, flowers, and plants our ancestors used to call money spirits into the home. I also touch on crystals and the assimilation of asian cultures in hoodoo. Working with the spirit of money ain’t nun new, we just lost touch with our roots.

This week on Juju & Gems, we’re getting into spiritual hygiene and the energetic funk that has a habit of sticking around. we’re breaking down what cleansing actually is, why it’s necessary, how often you should be cleansing, and the different methods you can use to cleanse yourself, your space, and your spiritual tools. We’ll also get into cleansing herbs, how to choose what works for you, and the conversation around the infamous white sage: including its benefits, the dangers of improper use, and what you should know before reaching for it.

This week on Juju & Gems, we’re getting into the foundation every juju needs to know: PROTECTION WORK. I’m breaking down what protection work actually is, why it’s important, when you should be doing it, and how to recognize when it’s time to strengthen the spiritual boundaries around yourself and your home.We’re getting into protective herbs & roots, candle colors, music and sound, household protection, personal workings, rituals, and traditional ancestral methods.. including some of the old-school components our folks weren’t scared to use, from bodily fluids to other materials.Most importantly, we’re talking about how to build protection into your everyday practice instead of waiting until something goes wrong.Because everybody wanna learn how to attract, hex, and jinx… but baby, first you betta learn how to PROTECT YO SHIT!