The root witch, also known as root worker or hoodoo practitioner, is a type of folk healer and magician who practices within the African American hoodoo tradition. Rootwork is a system of African American magical beliefs and practices that originated during slavery and has continued to evolve and adapt over time. Rootworkers use a combination of spells, charms, herbs, and rituals to achieve their desired goals, which can include healing, protection, love, luck, and revenge. They believe in the power of natural materials, such as roots, herbs, bones, and minerals, which they use to create potions, powders, amulets, and mojo bags. The root witch often operates within the boundaries of folk magic and folk religion, incorporating elements of African, Native American, and European traditions. They may also draw from their own personal knowledge and experiences, as well as the cultural and regional influences of their community.

Magic Attributes

Magic attributes are certain affinities and abilities that magics have that are not innately found in the element that a magic is based on. As an example , water itself does not just heal on its own. However, water magic can be used in the healing process. This can also be applied to substances which have additional magical properties as well. For example amber itself is just a crystalline form. But is also has magical healing properties. The attributes are as follows.

Purification:

The ability to purify a source and free it from external or foreign influences and return the source to is innate nature. Thus, this attribute is used to remove curses and charms. It can also be used to banish, destroy, or remove beings such as demons, spirits, and ghost. This attribute is also useful for breaking links between magic sources.
Magics with is Attribute: White | Fire | Light | Solar | Lunar | Celestial | Life | Antimagic | Blood | Spirit

Corruption:

The ability to corrupt a source making it subject to influence or to act in a way that is contradictory to a source's innate nature. On living beings this attribute can turn a good heart evil and vice versa.. The corruption attribute can even reverse the effect of substances, concoctions and enchants Thus attribute is commonly used to create curses and charms. It is also useful in placing beings such as demons, spirits and ghosts with in a host. They can also be used to form links between magic sources.
Magics with is trait: Black | Shadow | Demon | Spirit | Dead | Enchantment | Mist | Mind | Decay | puppet | Blood

Constructive:

Destructive:

Healing:

Enhancement:

Repressive:

Binding

Movement:

Transformative

Mental:

Summoning:

Conduction:

Mana

Mana is an important aspect of every mage that has ever lived, as it is their source of "magic power" 「魔力 maryoku」, which is used to cast magic spells. This energy is naturally existing and flowing in the environment and within everyone. [1] Due to this, it is common knowledge that everyone is able to use magic to some extent. Individuals born with strong affinity for mana and with exceptional magic power are said to be "loved by mana". [2] At the same time, people who do not possess any mana and are unable to use magic at all are an extremely rare occurrence [3] and are said to be "hated by mana". [4]

Furthermore, when someone uses all of their mana, it could cause them severe exhaustion and render them unconscious. [5] [6]

In nature, the density of mana can be different from place to place. Locations with strong mana can have unusual climates, such as Raque, which is warm all year long and is used as a beach resort. [7] Locations with extremely high densities of mana, such as dungeons and Grand Magic Zones, are known to have radically distorted and hazardous environments and are thus very difficult to navigate safely. [1] [8] [9]

Moreover, mana can also be used as materials to mold objects, such as using it to create a huge door within a dungeon. [10]

In Hino Country, magic power is known as "yoryoku" 「妖力 yōryoku」. [11]

Negative Mana [ ]

Negative mana floats around Patolli.

Mana from the underworld is called negative mana 「負の魔（マナ） fu no mana」 in the living world, due to its more sinister quality. [12] This mana boosts the power and capabilities of magic but carries the risk of corrupting the bodies, souls, and magic of both users and victims alike; thus, its usage is classified as Forbidden Magic. [13] [14]

The magic stones have a connection to the underworld, so they can be used to draw in negative mana in order to amplify spells. [15] [12]

They may also draw from their own personal knowledge and experiences, as well as the cultural and regional influences of their community. Rootwork is rooted in African practices and beliefs, but it has been shaped and adapted by the experiences and circumstances of African Americans throughout history. During slavery, slaves often turned to rootworkers for protection, healing, and assistance in dealing with the hardships and injustices they faced.

Magic [ ]

For a full list of known magic spells, see Category:Spells.

Magic 「魔法 Mahō」 is the refinement and application of magic power to perform a specific function, or spell. [16] There are three ways that a mage can develop their magical abilities: natural talent, hard work, and experiencing a life-or-death situation. [17]

In Hino Country, magic is known as "yojutsu" 「妖術 yōjutsu」. [11]

Grimoires [ ]

A new spell appears in Gauche's grimoire.

Upon turning 15 years old, a mage can attend an annual ceremony where they receive a special book, known as a grimoire. This book enhances the user's magical abilities and gives them the ability to cast specific spells that are far in advance to their own natural magical abilities. At first, a grimoire is mostly empty, but as the user grows as a person, new spells are inscribed on the blank pages. [18]

When a new spell appears, it corresponds to the situation that caused the mage's personal development. For example, Gauche Adlai acquires a new spell that allows him to make duplicates of other people because he learns to trust someone after years of only having faith in himself. [19]

The names and nature of a mage's spells often follow a theme. For example, Magna Swing uses spells that bear a strong likeness to baseball.

In Hino Country, they use scrolls in place of grimoires. [11]

Magic Forms [ ]

For a full list of known magic forms, see Category:Magic.

Spells can be categorized as one of a number of different forms 「形態 keitai」 of magic. The classification is dependent on the spell's function. For example, a spell that can repair physical damage or relieve exhaustion is classified as Healing Magic. Another example would be Curse Magic, a magic form that has long-term, disadvantageous effects on the victim.

Magic Attributes [ ]

For a full list of known magic attributes, see Category:Magic Attributes.

Array of mana attributes

Unlike mana that exists in nature, the mana that is situated within mages has a specific nature to it, known as an attribute 「属性 zokusei」. These attributes are one of the aspects that differentiate one mage from another. [20] The attribute that a mage possesses is the one that they are born with.

There are four major elements 「四大元素 yondaigenso」 in the world: fire, water, wind, and earth. All other magical attributes are derived from these four. For examples, Smoke Magic is a branch of the wind attribute, and ice from the water attribute. [20] Over the centuries, some cultures have developed unnatural or irregular magic attributes, like chain, steel, spatial, and time. [21]

Some magic attributes are very common, such as fire and water, whereas some other magic attributes are exceptionally rare, such as light and space.

Most mages are born with only one magic attribute and so are normally unable to use magic of any other attribute. While the average mage cannot use multiple attributes, there is nothing stopping them from using their own attribute to perform different forms of magic, such as wind-based Creation Magic or fire-based Healing Magic. [20] The average mage normally only uses one or two forms of magic, but incredibly powerful mages can use multiple magic forms without a problem.

Furthermore, mages can have different latent abilities corresponding to the element from which their attribute is derived. One example would be mages with an affinity towards wind-based elements having the latent ability of mana sensory. This resulted from those mages having a higher sensitivity towards the flow of mana. [22]

Dual Attributes [ ]

While the average person can only have one attribute, someone who is born a hybrid of two different races could be born with a second magic attribute. An example of this is Charmy Pappitson, a dwarf-human hybrid who possesses both Cotton Magic and Food Magic. [23]

Mars simultaneously using Crystal Magic and Fire Magic

On unique occasions, it has been proven through scientific endeavor that a mage could be artificially enhanced to possess more than one attribute. Successful byproducts of this experiment are Mars and Fana, who share each other's Crystal Magic and Fire Magic. [24] [25]

Another unique way for a mage to possess more than one attribute is if a mage is reincarnated into the body of a mage who possesses a different magic attribute. An example of this is Yuno Grinberryall; he inherited the ability to use Star Magic from his biological family and Wind Magic from the family of the unborn human-elf who reincarnated into his body. [26] [27]

Devil hosts are able to utilize their devil's magic attribute in addition to their own because they share their bodies with their devils. Vanica Zogratis is able to wield her Blood Magic alongside Megicula's Curse-Warding Magic, [28] Dante Zogratis is able to wield his Body Magic alongside Lucifero's Gravity Magic, [29] and Zenon Zogratis is able to wield his Bone Magic alongside Beelzebub's Spatial Magic. [30]

Heredity [ ]

The magic form and magic attribute that a mage utilizes tends to be heavily influenced by that of their parents. Examples of this include:

Zara Ideale used fire attribute Trap Magic, while his son, Zora Ideale, uses ash attribute Trap Magic.
Acier Silva used Steel Magic to create a suit of magic armor for herself, while her son, Nozel Silva, uses a liquid metal magic attribute, and her daughter, Noelle Silva, creates a suit of magic armor out of Water Magic.
Yuno, the human vessel for the reincarnation of the child of the Sword Magic user, Licht, and the Wind Magic user, Tetia, uses his Wind Magic to create a sword.

This tradition has been passed down through generations, and while it has evolved, it still retains its core principles and practices. The root witch often serves as a spiritual advisor and counselor, assisting clients in navigating the challenges of life and providing guidance and insight. They may perform divination, such as reading tarot cards, conducting palm readings, or using other forms of spiritual communication to gain insight into a person's situation. Today, the practice of rootwork continues to thrive within African American communities and beyond. While some rootworkers maintain traditional practices, others have adapted to modern circumstances, incorporating technology and social media into their work. However, the core principles of rootwork remain the same – belief in the power of nature, the utilization of magical tools and rituals, and a connection to the spiritual realm. In conclusion, the root witch is an integral part of the African American hoodoo tradition. They use their knowledge of herbs, spells, and rituals to provide healing, protection, and guidance to their clients. Their practice has evolved and adapted over time but remains deeply rooted in African American culture and beliefs..

Reviews for "Root witchcraft traditions: passing down ancient knowledge"

1. Jenny - 2 stars - I found "The Root Witch" to be quite disappointing. The pacing was incredibly slow, with very little action or suspense to keep me engaged. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to care about their fates. Additionally, I found the plot to be unoriginal and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. Overall, I found this book to be lacking in excitement and originality.

2. Mark - 1 star - "The Root Witch" was a complete letdown for me. The writing felt amateurish and lacked polish, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The world-building was also poorly executed, leaving me confused about the setting and its rules. The story itself was dull and dragged on for way too long, with little to no excitement or intrigue. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted fantasy read.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - As a fan of fantasy novels, I was really looking forward to reading "The Root Witch." However, I found it to be quite underwhelming. The writing style was overly descriptive, dragging down the pace of the story and making it difficult to stay engaged. The plot felt disjointed and lacked coherence, jumping from one scene to another without any real connection. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their struggles. Overall, "The Root Witch" failed to meet my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied.

4. Michael - 1 star - "The Root Witch" was a huge disappointment. The dialogue was incredibly unrealistic and forced, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The plot was predictable, with no real surprises or twists. Additionally, the writing was overly simplistic and lacked depth, failing to create a vivid and immersive world. I found myself struggling to finish this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and well-crafted fantasy novel.

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