High John the Conqueror Root
High John root is used in spells, rituals, spell-bags, spell-bottles, and oil infusions for luck, strength, sexual charisma, and the cunning to overcome any obstacle.
Perfectly sized roots are ideal for Mojo Bags, altar pieces, or ritual tools. Each root is ready to be dressed, fed, or anointed to awaken its full potential. It is also used to create High John the Conqueror Oil and bath salts.
- Botanical Origin: Ipomoea jalapa (morning glory family). Not edible, known for its magical and energetic potency.
- Magical Use: Empowering luck, success, sex magic, protection, legal outcomes, and personal power.
- Ancestral Roots: Embodies an African-American folk hero whose witty spirit persevered through slavery and whose energy lives on through the root. A prime choice for spells and rituals as our freedoms erode.
- Ways to Work: Mojo bags, hand washes, anointing, altar work, baths, floor washes, or as a spirit companion with offerings.
Botanical Origins & Ethnobotany
High John the Conqueror Root is the dried tuber of Ipomoea jalapa (also known as Ipomoea purga), a plant in the morning glory family closely related to bindweed and sweet potato. It is not edible and is a powerful laxative in medicinal contexts. In folk magic, its mystical properties are prized, not its ingestion.
Historical & Cultural Significance
This root is deeply entwined with southern folk magic and African-American spiritual traditions, particularly Hoodoo. Its namesake, the folk hero High John the Conqueror (sometimes depicted as a trickster, sometimes an African prince enslaved yet spiritually unbroken), lives on through the root, believed to be imbued with his resilient spirit. Its use has spread across the world as witches of all flavors find the power of High John to be exceptionally beneficial.
American oral tradition records that Frederick Douglass was given a High John root by a conjurer named Sandy Jenkins to protect him against whippings from slave owners. This same root has been memorialized in blues music lyrics.
Magical Properties & Uses
- Power, Confidence & Mastery: Used to boost personal power, confidence, and assertiveness in challenging situations
- Luck & Success: Carries strong associations for drawing luck, success in gambling, legal outcomes, business, and love
- Sexuality & Personal Magnetism: Its shape has inspired associations with virility and masculine energy, making it a potent ingredient in attraction and sexual spells
- Protection & Overcoming Obstacles: Symbolizes resilience and empowerment, offering protection from harm and the strength to overcome adversity
Suggested Uses, Spells, and Ritual Ideas
1. Mojo Bags & Carrying Amulets
- Place a whole, unblemished High John root into a red or leather charm bag (mojo bag) with herbs like lodestone, magnet powder, or cinnamon to draw luck, power, and protection.
- Keep the root on your hearth or altar and “feed” the root with a small amount of rum, whiskey, or High John root oil to “charge” it energetically
2. Hand Washing or Anointing Ritual
- Create an infusion of High John root in warm water. Wash your hands before engaging in games, legal proceedings, or persuasive endeavors to enhance dexterity, focus, and luck.
3. Altar & Candle Work
- Place the root on your altar, light a gold or red candle, and anoint it with oil (cinnamon, magnet, or success oil). Focus your intentions on victory, clarity, or manifestation. Visualize obstacles burning away in the flame. High John’s fiery energy propels you forward to success.
4. Ritual Baths & Floor Washes
- Use High John-infused bath salts or floor washes to cleanse and empower your space. Ideal before court dates, job interviews, or challenging interactions—imbued with protection and success energy.
5. Offerings & Spirit Work
- Honor High John as a spirit: Offer whiskey, water, cigars, or incense near the root with respectful words or songs. Invoke him as an ancestral helper and trickster guide in times of need.
