{"id":23730,"date":"2021-02-01T01:10:41","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T05:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=23730"},"modified":"2021-01-29T12:40:07","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T16:40:07","slug":"hoo-knows-what-they-doo-by-christy-sprouse-exclusive-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2021\/02\/01\/hoo-knows-what-they-doo-by-christy-sprouse-exclusive-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hoo\u2019 Knows What They \u2018Doo\u2019 by Christy Sprouse Exclusive Interview!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Hoo\u2019 Knows What They \u2018Doo\u2019 by Christy Sprouse<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

With an Introduction by Lynn Woike<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Between them, <\/i><\/span><\/span>Bruce <\/i><\/span><\/span>and Christy Sprouse have more than 40 years of devotion to Santa <\/i><\/span><\/span>Muerte \u2013 Holy Death, portrayed as a human female skeleton clad in a robe. Her worship is said to be the fastest growing religion in the Americas, with an estimated 10 to 12 million followers worldwide. Among the wide variety of powers attributed to her are love, prosperity, healing, fortune, protection, and safe passage.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to working with her, Bruce is in tune with herbs, crystals, and other \u201calternative\u201d skills. He has an extensive background in witchcraft, dark arts, The <\/i><\/span>Goetian<\/i><\/span> (conjuring). He believes strongly in karma and that what you put out you get back. With the same breath, Bruce can cleanse a crystal and banish a person.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Christy has not given up her Hoodoo roots, both dark and light, but mostly dark. She can still whisper a spell, conjure a spirit and puncture a poppet. She does not believe in karma, and rather will deliver exactly what someone asks for if they step too heavily or a client needs some help.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Two months ago, t<\/i><\/span><\/span>he two opened Dragonfly Creations & Spirits in Windsor, CT \u2013 a spiritual and occult shop that began with a lost dragonfly <\/i><\/span>and some pallets that brought the couple together.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>From wooden benches, signs and birdhouses to us needing tools for our workings, we basically had to order everything. There were no stores locally where we could find the things we needed,\u201d the two said, so they opened their own in December 2020.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are many assumptions, misconceptions, and fears <\/i><\/span>a<\/i><\/span>bout their practice, so Christy took the time to share their thoughts with PaganPages<\/i><\/span>Org<\/i><\/span> readers\u2026<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bruce and I decided to combine our many years of knowledge and practice, offering both ends of the spectrum and everything in between. We were very cautious with introducing Hoodoo into our little shop; Wicca is the mainstream here, it seems. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m always tickled when someone comes in with the \u201clove and light\u201d mentality and sees the alligator feet, hot foot powder, poppets and needles. You know it’s coming, you simply wait for it: \u201cWhat’s that?\u201d \u201cIsn’t that evil?\u201d \u201cAren’t you afraid of karma?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I begin with matter-of-fact answers. \u201cAn alligator foot.\u201d \u201cNo more evil than Christianity, Wicca or any other form of practice.\u201d \u201cI create that, why would I fear it?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This opens the door for communication, and so it begins. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am from Charleston, SC and root work, Hoodoo, folk magic and Baptist go hand in hand. I was shocked at the common<\/span> misconceptions. People truly believe that we are sitting in a little room (or large one) sacrificing chickens, bathing in blood, and ripping the arms from unfortunate souls via a voodoo doll. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As most are aware, the media has taken a beautiful practice and butchered it, beyond belief. What they don\u2019t show is us breathing life into a poppet in an effort to heal someone; grinding herbs and mixing with oils to protect a child from nightmares; callin<\/span><\/span>g upon spirits, saints, and one another to feed a family or stop abuse. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If using a cow tongue, some herbs, candles, a needle, and some thread is what it takes to stop that adult from verbally torturing that child, then you can bet I will have blood on my hands. On the contrary, if using my very breath and drops of my blood is the sacrifice that I need to make to stop that man from taking another pill, hitting his wife, or pulling that trigger on himself or someone else, well, guess what? Yes, I will. To me, this is no different than one taking their crystal, charging and programming it for the same purpose. This is no different than that man or woman in organized religion, on their knees asking their God for a miracle, while the priest places his hands on one\u2019s head. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Am I capable of wreaking havoc on someone\u2019s life? Absolutely! If I feel that strongly, I will. What I won\u2019t do is give someone tools to do this without them being fully aware of the impact that they can have on others. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoodoo, believe it or not, is easily one of the most loving, caring and down-to-earth practices. The only real difference? It\u2019s rare that we call on <\/span><\/span>a spirit<\/span>, saint, or demon to help with our \u201cdirty work\u201d; that\u2019s on us. We also very rarely do work for ourselves, as that is self<\/span>ish \u2013 everyone I personally know feels this way. We use the Bible; it\u2019s a beautiful grimoire. We use the Earth; she is, after all, our mother. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust \u2026 right? We believe in a chain of command, and we respect it. We do not step where we aren\u2019t welcomed, and if one decides to step in our path with negativity and nonsense, we simply \u201cstep on them.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are some terms that are consistently used incorrectly \u2013 deer\u2019s tongue, for instance. In the \u201clove and light\u201d world, this is a plant, Vanilla Leaf to be precise. In Hoodoo, it is literally a deer\u2019<\/span>s tongue. <\/span>There are also alternative names. Where your spell or work may call for petrified sweet potato, mine may call for High John the Conqueror Root \u2013 it\u2019s the same thing, so always check the alternative and botanical names.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The term root worker is also very misunderstood. It brings to most minds someone who sits and does terrible things to people<\/span>, <\/span>when in fact it is a person who uses roots and other plant-based medicines for healing purposes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We exert quite a bit of energy when doing many of our workings, especially negative things. When it comes to dealing with something petty or something that does not call for a strong reaction, it is much easier to wish someone a blessed day and let that be the extent of our work. In those situations, it\u2019s simply not worth it to me to get together all the herbs, candles and writings, create a sacred space, and assure no disruptions, not to mention if something that is not traditional is required. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to what some call karma, debate begins.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it’s something good, so there will be no repercussions.\u201d <\/span>I have found myself in this debate, more times than I care to think about. Even more than the stigma of Hoodoo, th<\/span><\/span>is one creates some tension.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What I want everyone to understand is there will always be repercussions. You are tinkering with fate, forcing someone’s will, changing destiny. Some would say, \u201cWell, I am helping\u00a0so and so\u201d or \u201cI am only targeting him\/her.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I tend to explain this a minimum of once per week. Did you ever stop to think:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n