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.