Somebody Done Hoodooed Ted Cruz!

Someone tried to hoodoo Ted Cruz! -Maybe.

A mysterious letter containing white powder was sent to Cruz' Houston headquarters. A hazmat team was called out to investigate and they ruled that the material was non-toxic. How much you wanna bet this was a hoodoo powder?

Believe it or not, this sort of thing happens all the time. Back after 9/11 there were anthrax scares where letters with anthrax powder were sent to various officials. There were other cases where a mysterious powder found sprinkled on a letter was later ruled to be talcum-based. Some of these letters were mailed to judges or other officials. In some cases a mysterious powder was found at a court house and it set off panic about it possibly being anthrax as well. At the time I immediately suspected that these were letters that were dressed with hoodoo powders to try influence the judge or official so that they would favor or side with the individual sending these dressed letters. I also believed these cases where powder was found at courthouses to have been laid down by practitioners who also sought to influence the outcomes of their own cases, the cases of loved ones, or the cases of the clients for which they were hired to do work on.

I would really like to know what type of powder was included in the letter. My guess is that it would be an enemy work powder designed to make him quit the race or cross him up so that he would lose, but anything is possible.

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2016/03/10/hazmat-investigating-suspicious-package-found-greenway-plaza/81608452/

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Valmor Products Exhibit

I'm a late on this but last Summer there was an art exhibit in Chicago featuring Valmor Prodcuts labels and imagery. I would have loved to have seen it.

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/Valmor.html

The link below has amazing pictures from Valmor Products and King Novelty Co. There is even a comic of how a person could gain wealth by becoming a door-to-door sales agent! I especially loved the pictures of the beautiful models. I think it would be really awesome if these hair styles would make a come back. Also, if the imagery seems familiar to you it should. Cat Yronwode took a lot of the imagery for use on her labels for her products.

http://designobserver.com/feature/love-for-sale/38927

http://www.afrobella.com/2015/07/22/black-beauty-history-the-valmor-products-exhibit/

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The Last Hoodoo Drugstore In Texas

I recently posted a blog entry where I address the question if what is called "urban hoodoo" is fake or not. In that blog entry I briefly touched on the history of hoodoo drugstores. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this article about the last hoodoo drugstore in Texas. Like all hoodoo drugstores, Stanley Drug Company began as a traditional pharmacy which began to devote a shelf or two to hoodoo spiritual products. With time the owners realized that the spiritual supplies were out-selling the health products and so the decision was made to devote the business fully to the sale of spiritual products.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-best-little-hoodoo-pharmacy-in-texas/

I would really like to see hoodoo drugstores and candle shops make a come back. I'm not talking about Lucky Mojo or the websites or businesses of the devotees of Cat Yronwode. Those places haven't captured the feel of the real hoodoo drugstores of days past. Instead, they more closely resemble the Wiccan/Metaphysical shops that cater to multiculturalism. For those who have never been to a hoodoo drugstore, Miller's Rexall is a prime example. In the video below you can see the interior of their shop which closely resembles the look of most hoodoo drugstores of the past.



I would definitely love to open my own hoodoo drugstore or candle shop in the fashion of the ones from yesteryear. Unfortunately it will probably have to wait until I reach retirement age.

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Ernest "Dr. Buzzard" Bratton

Back in the 1980s there was a root doctor active in the Alexandria, Va, area who billed himself as "Dr. Buzzard" (real name Ernest Bratton). Bratton claimed to have the power to cure or kill, though he publicly claimed he would not use his powers to kill anyone. He charged a considerable sum for his services and most likely would have been arrested had he been active today as among other things he claimed to cure cancer and AIDS for $21,000. He also gave guarantees.

Bratton claimed that among his clientele were many powerful politicians and celebrities. He also claimed that he was a frequent guest on various t.v. shows, such as the Letterman Show, as well as made numerous media appearances.

Ernest Bratton was alive and in his late 70s in 2009, which is the last I can find reference to him. I am unable to determine if he is still alive at the present.

Bratton produced a VHS video titled, "Voo Doo Hoo Doo You Do", in which he taught viewers hoodoo lessons. If anyone has a copy of this and would be interested in selling it or trading something for it, please email me a MySecretHoodoo@mail.com

Below are some articles featuring Ernest "Dr. Buzzard" Bratton. Pay close attention to the first link. You will notice lots of references to the classic items used in hoodoo, all before the revival of hoodoo by Cat Yronwode in the mid 90s.) I also like his style of remedies. For example, his concoction to restore a man's nature is 2 brown eggs beaten with 7-Up and drunk for 12 days. The 7-Up was likely picked over the fact that the number 7 is considered lucky, that soda is "alive" with effervescence, and that the beverage is clear. Not to mention the "Up" part of 7-Up and it's significance to getting and maintaining an erection! His other remedy involves eating an onion immediately after copulation! Of all his works listed his death work is the one that interests me the most. You take a cow's horn, graveyard dirt, a golden eye needle, and a lemon. You insert the needle in the lemon, and then the graveyard dirt and lemon-with-needle into the cow horn. Obviously, Bratton has not revealed the entire trick for safety reasons and to prevent other people from rushing out to try to use it themselves. However, a conjure worker with "eyes to see" and "ears to hear", will know what to do or will at least be spirit-led into discovering the remaining parts.

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1989/Dr-Buzzard-s-Voodoo-Can-Give-Your-Boss-the-Hotfoot-/id-96ad19529bd71252e58195acb0bdd99a

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1988/12/11/dr-buzzards-voodoo-cure/ffc9bd02-d3de-404e-9787-8e3776ede06b/

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19890731&id=u3QiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I6oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1958,5137918&hl=en

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David Bowie Was A Semi-Secret Occultist

In a 1997 interview Bowie admitted his interest in occult magic. He didn't like Crowley but he was fascinated with Arthur Edward Waite and Dione Fortune.

http://solascendans.com/2016/01/14/david-bowie-closet-occultist/

Note the 1976 picture of him drawing the Kabbalah tree of life on the floor.

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Potential New Picture Of Robert Johnson Found

A potential new picture of hoodoo bluesman, Robert Johnson, who erroneously is believed to have sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, has allegedly been found. If true this would make only the third picture of the famous musician in existence today.

I am a bit skeptical that the man in the picture is him but if true this would be exciting news.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/music/article/New-photo-of-bluesman-Robert-Johnson-unearthed-6703035.php#photo-9121122

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Witch War - Lori Bruno Is Suing Christian Day

Lori Bruno is suing Christian Day over alleged ongoing harassment that has lasted the past three years. Both Lori Bruno and Christian Day are well known figures in the witchcraft community in Salem and New Orleans. Bruno and Day used to be friends and Bruno was the one time co-host of Day's blogtalkradio show, Hex Education. After a falling out, Bruno alleges that Day began to stalk her over the phone as well as harass her online. Day is not new to such accusations. Day has previously made comments on social media about wishing rape upon a woman.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/28/salem-witch-takes-worlds-best-known-warlock-to-court/


****UPDATE*****

A judge has approved a protective order against Christian Day over the allegations of harassment.

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R.I.P. William Bast

I just found out yesterday that William (Bill) Bast passed away back in May. Bill Bast was the best friend of James Dean and was also his lover. Their relationship lasted the last five years of James Dean's life. If anyone knew the real James Dean then it was Bill Bast.

Bast passed away due to complications from Alzheimer's. He was 84. He is survived by his life partner, Paul Huson. My readers may or may not be aware that Paul Huson is the author of the book, Mastering Witchcraft, which I reviewed earlier. You can read that review at the below link.

http://mysecrethoodoo.blogspot.com/2015/03/mastering-witchcraft-practical-guide.html

Interestingly, James Dean himself was rumored to be obsessed with the occult and especially "voodoo", likely to actually be hoodoo, as in magic and spells. However, such talk is likely to be just part of the legend that grew up around the icon and likely has no basis in reality. We do know that Jimmy used to joke about "voodoo" with Eartha Kitt. We also know that Jimmy had strong intuition. He told more than one person that he would not live to see 30.

Rest in peace, Mr. Bast. Hopefully you have already reconnected with Jimmy on the other side and are once again having many wonderful adventures together.

You can visit the website of William Bast at the link below.

http://members.authorsguild.net/williambast/

William Bast authored a haunting biography of his time with James Dean titled, Surviving James Dean. If you are a James Dean fan then this book is required reading.

http://www.amazon.com/Surviving-James-Dean-William-Bast/dp/156980298X

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Cult Of Santa Muerte, Folk Religion, Spread By And Empowered By Women

A look at the roll of women in the development and spread of the cult of Santa Muerte and other folk religious practices.

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-05/folk-religions-thrive-womens-spirit

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Santa Muerte Statue In Middle Of Road Prompts Bomb Squad To Take Action

One of the most silliest things I've read in a while. Someone put a statue of Santa Muerte in the middle of the road in San Benito, TX. So what do the authorities do? They send out the bomb squad, of course!

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1201347

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1201803

My take is that this was likely a magical act or spell. Note that it is a white-robed Santa Muerte, which is for protection and blessing. Could this statue have been placed there as a simple "road opening" spell?

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