A Conjure Culture

as we continue this conversation about Conjure (aka hoodoo, African American folk magic, and root work), i'm noticing that Conjure is ubiquitous, i.e., everywhere present around us. it's in our conversations, food, music, dance, visual art, and of course literature. Conjure is an inextricable part of our expression and culture. it's in us. but not everyone is eager to embrace that reality.

it's a two-headed creature, for sure. one side practices Conjure to heal, for protection, to understand dreams, and to receive the blessings of good luck and fortune. lucky number and dream books, candle shops, herbal products, charms, talismans, and home remedies abound. i was out in the boondocks the other day, and in the middle of corn fields and gas stations and little road side restaurants, there was a house with a neon PALM READER sign in the window. even the smallest communities have their own conjure womens and mens.

the other side, however, exists for darker purposes, typically to harm, injure, and manipulate. i'm not interested in that stuff. it's whacked. 

and yet i can't ignore or disregard those classic tributes to Conjure's mirky side like Junior Wells' "Hoodoo Man," and Santana's "Black Magic Woman" and Alice Smith's cover of "I Put a Spell on You" that just wears me out! like i said, Conjure is ubiquitous. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47djAb6jVJk

The His/Herstory of Conjuring Continued

Conjure Cures & Curiosities

it occurred to me while listening to a podcast on the life, legend and lore of Harriett Tubman that many of us know something about folk medicine practices that have passed down in our families. my grandfather has often told me the story of how his maternal grandmother, Lina Wimberly, used her knowledge of herbs and herbal remedies to cure people of various ailments, including a woman with TB. seven generations later, we're still using her remedy for colds and the flu: 1 part cod liver oil, 1 part bourbon and 1 part honey. i'm telling you, it works!

i've also heard all kinds of stories from people about cures for coughs, fevers, asthma, cramps, headaches, toothaches, and so on using everything from raw onions to spirit of turpentine oil. it's a wonder that any of us ever get sick given the wealth of information we possess on folk/root medicine practices within our families and social tribes. 

it's all conjure, but we don't call it that. 

many of us are too spooked by the negative connotations of that word to even research this fascinating part of our collective his/herstory and "to learn something," as the Conjure Woman at the center of my play would say.

but if you look and listen carefully, conjure is everywhere present in our society, familial traditions, community, art, and quotidian affairs. it's as much in the music--"i put a spell on you / because you're mine"--as it is in the stews and brews we drink. it's everywhere.

Defining the Conjure Tradition

over the years i have attended many gatherings where religions, spiritual traditions, and practices of people from different cultures have been celebrated.  i cherish these interfaith experiences that have given me such rich opportunities to learn, expand my consciousness, fellowship with like minds, build bridges of faith, and be of service to the vision of a global beloved community. what a blessing.

yet, there were many times while attending these gatherings when i would feel something was missing for me. and after a while i began to question why the African American spiritual heritage and culture was not represented or even explored to any extent? while participating as an original member of the Trail of Dreams in a walk of remembrance to retrace our ancestors' footsteps along the parts of the Underground Railroad that parallel and cross the Appalachian Trail, i came to understand that our ancestors were working with something outside of Christianity, something that was spiritually unique and powerful.

it bothered me for many years that the voice of that reality was always absent within the circle of gurus, ministers, priests, priestesses, et al. representing Christianity, different African religions, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, Judaism, various indigenous spiritual traditions, and so on, although African Americans could be counted among those faith traditions. of course, i was thrilled when my sista-friend-guru Audri Scott Williams began to bring Harriett Tubman into those circles, represented by her walking staff, and to tell the stories of our ancestors spiritual legacy and triumphs.

and there is even more to tell and learn and celebrate by exploring 
the history and herstory of the Conjure tradition, also known as hoodoo, rootwork  and African American folk magic. according to several sources, Conjure--not to be confused with voodoo--is a gumbo of African, European, and Native American spiritual practices and botanical wisdom teachings that intersects with Christianity at debatable intervals. Yvonne P. Chireau, author of Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition, further defines Conjure as "a magical tradition in which spiritual power is invoked for various purposes, such as healing, protection, and self defense," to serve individual and collective needs.

throughout the rest of this month, i will share some of my research on Conjure with the intention to give voice to this often misunderstood but fascinating spiritual culture that is as an art form in and of itself. meantime, check out my Facebook page (Lenett Nef'fahtiti Partlow-Myrick) for daily posts on this topic 

THE BOOK

sometimes ancestors will project their voices across dimensions to give us special spiritual assignments. sometimes they'll creep in our ears in the middle of the night and whisper instructions. and then there are times when they will take hold of our fingers and write what they want us to know. i'm certain The Conjure Woman Episode is a product of the latter instance. 

it is the story of a struggling palm reader forced by her spirit guides to revisit past lives in order to remember her true purpose in this lifetime. the play is inspired by my paternal great-great grandmother Lina Wimbley, who, according to my grandfather, had amazing healing power and astute knowledge of herbs and seasonal changes. Lina had a big part in birthing this play.

i first performed the show in 1993 at Cafe Montage in Baltimore, MD, as a one-woman performance piece, and later that year at the old BAUhouse. it has since evolved into a two-act drama with three characters under the direction of Nzinga Ama, featuring jaki-terry, Janice Short and me; and most recently, in 2006, with five characters under the direction of jaki-terry, featuring Olufunmilayo, Walks on Water (aka Nataska Humminbird), Mahatara (aka Nkosazana) Youssef, voiceover by Kay Lawal Muhammad, and me. 

the script, like the main character, has seen several incarnations. the ancestors always have some new revelation or insight or bits of dialogue to add to Conjure Woman's story, which is the story of women everywhere across the planet who are awakening to and walking in their true purpose here on Earth.

no doubt: this is a spirit-driven work of art. i have NO say in when or how it will evolve. i simply get "the call," and i am obedient, 'cause there's nothing like getting whacked with a cosmic 2x4! a couple of months ago i received the clear message to "publish the play book." so, that's what i am up to. we'll start taking pre-orders in September and will present a reading in October with a panel discussion on the play's central themes of reincarnation and past life regression. i'll be posting details on these events here in my blog and on my Facebook page. so stay tuned in. 

meantime, pay attention to those messages from the ancestors when they come. you never know . . .