Good Juju

NAJAH LIGHTFOOT (Denver, CO) is a writer and contributor for Llewellyn s bestselling almanacs and datebooks. She is a sister-priestess of the Divine Feminine, a martial artist, and an active member of the Denver Pagan community. She keeps her magick strong through the indigenous practices of her ancestors, the folk magick of Hoodoo, Pagan rituals, and her belief in the mysteries of the universe. She finds inspiration in movies, music, and the blue skies of Colorado. www.CraftAndConjure.com

• ContentsAcknowledgments xiiiIntroduction 1Knock Upon the Magical Door 5Ground and Center Yourself 6Rite for Grounding and Centering 7Build a Solid Foundation 9Greet the Dawn 10A Ritual of Calling the Directions 11Cleanse Your Space — The Benefits of Smudging 17Rite of Smudging 21Write It Down — The Benefits of Journaling 23A Journal Spell 26Step Through the Magical Curtain 29Embrace the Magick 31Listen to Your Intuition 33Working with Dreams 35Changing Things Up and Tools of Divination 37Call Upon the Archangels 38The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram 39Working with Your Higher Power 44Self-Blessing Ritual 49Light the Cauldron — Working with Magick 53Working Spells — Practicing the Art of Folk Magick 55Spell Work Basics 57Hoodoo — African-American Folk Magick 62Sacred Altar Works 71How to Create a Personal Altar 73How to Create an Ancestral Altar 77The Dumb Supper — Dinner for the Dead 79Ancestor Ritual 83An Altar for Love 85How to Create a Love Honey Jar 87Ritual for Prosperity and Abundance 90Prosperity and Abundance Ritual 91Magical Mojo Spell Work 95What Is a Mojo? 95I Got My Mojo Workin', But How? 95Music and Mojo 97Conditions 99Protective Mojos 100Love Mojos 106A Mojo Story 109Safe Travel Mojos 110Baby Blessing Mojos 113Protection Magick 117It's Okay to Protect Yourself 119Working in the Crossroads 120Working in the Graveyard 123Spell Work — Wash It Away in the Crossroads 128Spell Work — How to Protect Your Home or Office Space 129Be Your Own Tree 135Spiritual Distinctions 137Maintaining Your Magical Individuality 138Spell to Communicate with a Tree 139Joining Groups 139Stepping into Vodou — A Personal Journey 140True Immersion and the Benefits of Joining Groups 143Resources for Finding Groups 144Prayer for Joining Groups 145Social Media 145Move Your Body — Revive Your Spirit 151Go for a Walk 153Kung Fu and T'ai Chi 155Terra Firma 159Dance, Drum, and Sing 162Lighten Up 167Belly Laughs and Magical Blunders 169Take Your Time 174You Are a Divine Being 176Lagniappe 179Bibliography 187