High John The Conqueror Root.

In spiritual practices today you find many various roots, powders, and oils that are widely used. Many of these are highly sought after and considered staples in any conjurors cupboard. One of these is the famous High John the Conqueror Root.  Not to be confused with Low John- (Trillium grandiflorum), or Chewing John-(Alpinia galanga)

Scientific Name: Ipomoea jalapa.

Energy: Masculine/ Action

Uses: Seduction/attraction/luck/gambling/overcoming obstacles/male virility

This root and its use seem to go back to the very roots (no pun intended) of many traditions especially Hoodoo . As Hoodoo, Conjure, and other folk tradions have started to gain interest by those who come from other spiritual paths many seek knowledge on this famous root and its history. The root known as High John the Conqueror or John the Conqueror root is said to be the root of Ipomoea Jalapa, also known as Ipomoea purga, an Ipomoea species related to the morning glory and the sweet potato. The plant is known in some areas as bindweed or jalap root. It has a pleasant, earthy odor, but it is a strong laxative if taken internally. It is not used for this purpose in folk magic; it is instead used as one of the parts of a mojo bag. It is typically used in sexual spells of various sorts and it is also considered lucky for gambling. It is likely that the root acquired its sexual magical reputation because, when dried, it resembles the testicles of a man. Because of this, when it is employed as an amulet, it is important that the root used be whole and unblemished. Dried pieces and chips of the root are used in formulating oils and washes that are used in other sorts of spells.

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Folklore:

To understand why this root has become so popular within conjure you must understand its place within folklore.

John the Conqueror was an African prince who was sold as a slave in the Americas. Despite his enslavement, his spirit was never broken and he survived in folklore as a sort of a trickster figure, because of the tricks he played to evade his masters. It is said that no matter what obstacles John faced he over came them using his wits, courage, and unstoppable spirit. 

  One such story told by Virginia Hamilton,  John falls in love with the Devil's daughter. The Devil sets John a number of impossible tasks: he must clear sixty acres of land in half a day, and then sow it with corn and reap it in the other half a day. The Devil's daughter furnishes John with a magical axe and plow that get these impossible tasks done, but warns John that her father the Devil means to kill him even if he performs them. John and the Devil's daughter steal the Devil's own horses; the Devil pursues them, but they escape his clutches by shape-shifting.

Joel Chandler Harris's Br'er Rabbit of the Uncle Remus stories is said to be inspired after High John the Conqueror.

Zora Neale Hurston wrote of his adventures ("High John de Conquer") in her collection of folklore, The Sanctified Church.

In folklore it is believed that John ( either after his death or before he returned to Africa), placed his unconquerable spirit into the root that now bares his name so that it could be used to call upon him. To this day conjurers, hoodoos, and root doktors have been doing just that.

To make a "High John Mojo Bag"

This mojo is often used to help situations especially those that are hindered by obstacles such as finding a job, issues at work, or finding love.

You will need:

On the Parchment paper you make a list of the things you wish help with (Love/money/health/ career excreta). Then you turn the paper a quarter turn in a clockwise direction so that your list is now horizontal or side ways. Now you write your name Seven times through the list. Take your oil and anoint all four corners of the paper in a clockwise pattern. Take your high john root and anoint it with oil as well. Place the root in the center of the parchment and wrap it up, binding it into a packet with the red thread.

Take your bag and place the packet with the high john root into the bag. Now add the frankincense, Myrrh, cinnamon, pyrite, lodestone, sand, and the three coins.

Light the Seven day candle and your incense. Anoint the bag with the oil and pass it through the incense 7 times, each time asking for your desire or intent to be fulfilled. ( you can include a prayer here. Many pray to John directly or recite Psalms 23. If you are working with a specific spirit you can invoke them as well.)

Repeat this for the next seven days or until the candle is finished. Then sleep with the mojo under your pillow after which you can wear the mojo. From this point forward you can recharge the bag by anointing it with the oil every seven days and repeating the prayer. Do this until your intent or desire has been fulfilled.