Community
Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out because I’ve been praying to my ancestors for guidance, and I truly feel like they’ve led me here. My roots run deep in early North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, so I know I come from the same land where Black rootwork and conjure have always lived.
The one person in my family who practiced rootwork was my grandmother, but she passed away right after I was born. Because of that, I never got to learn from her, and the stories and practices didn’t get passed down to me. I’ve felt that loss, and I know I want to reconnect with that tradition, real rootwork and conjure as my ancestors practiced it.
I’ve had my ancestor altar up for years, and I pray, talk to my people, and do my best to honor them. My boyfriend’s family runs a monthly witchcraft market in Chicago that I attend every month, so I’ve found some support and community, but I know Hoodoo is different and I want to learn it the right way from people who walk this path.
How do y’all recommend finding a trustworthy mentor or elder in this tradition? Is it something that happens naturally, or do you reach out and ask? I don’t know anybody? What should I be looking for (or watching out for) as someone whose family didn’t pass down the knowledge?
Thank you for welcoming me and for any wisdom you’re willing to share. I’m ready to listen, learn, and do the work in a way that truly honors where I come from.
Blessings and gratitude.