Saint Joseph - Patron Saint of Carpenters and Fathers

With Father's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be nice to post an article about Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters and fathers. He is a very popular saint in the Italian community and is often petitioned for assistance with employment, with family matters and with selling a home or acquiring a new home.

Saint Joseph - Patron Saint of Carpenters and Fathers
Saint Joseph was the mortal father of Jesus Christ. He raised Jesus as his own son, cared for him, provided for him, put a roof over his head and also taught Jesus his craft - carpentry. Saint Joseph is the embodiment of good fatherhood, dutiful nurturing of your family, and hard work done with integrity. If you are a father, he is a great role model for being the best parent you can be. If you didn't have a good relationship with your father, Saint Joseph can be petitioned to mend the rift between you and your father, or he can act as a surrogate father for the one you never had. He is warm, caring and very approachable in prayer work.

Petitioning Saint Joseph to Sell Your House
In this terrible housing market, it can be very hard to sell your home. Here is a very traditional folk magic way to call upon the assistance of Saint Joseph to sell your house. It works like crazy, but it is important for you to abide by all of the process or you can watch your entire sale fall apart before it is done.

You'll need:

• one small statue of Saint Joseph
• one Saint Joseph Candle
• one bottle of Saint Joseph Oil
• a small piece of pyrite

First, take the Saint Joseph candle and put a few drops of Saint Joseph Oil in the top of it. Pray over the candle to Saint Joseph asking for him to bless your house and make it attractive to potential buyers. I also like praying the Lord's Prayer at the end of any petition to a Saint. Light the candle and let it burn in a safe place in your home. Dab a bit of Saint Joseph Oil on the four corners and middle of every room. Also dab some Saint Joseph Oil on the four corners and middle of every door and window. Pray to Saint Joseph asking for his help in making your home warm, attractive to buyers and for the house to sell fast! Let the candle burn until it is finished.

Next, hold the small statue of Saint Joseph (you can find one online or at a Catholic supply store) and pray the following:

Prayer to Saint Joseph to Sell a House
O, Saint Joseph,
you who taught our Lord
the carpenter's trade,
and saw to it
that he was always properly housed,
hear my earnest plea.


I want you to help me now
as you helped your foster-child Jesus,
and as you have helped many others
in the matter of housing.


I wish to sell this [house/property]
quickly, easily, and profitably
and I implore you to grant my wish
by bringing me a good buyer,
one who is
eager, compliant, and honest,
and by letting nothing impede the
rapid conclusion of the sale.


Dear Saint Joseph,
I know you would do this for me
out of the goodness of your heart
and in your own good time,
but my need is very great now
and so I must make you hurry
on my behalf.


Saint Joseph, I am going to place you
in a difficult position
with your head in darkness
and you will suffer as our Lord suffered,
until this [house/property] is sold.


Then, Saint Joseph, i swear
before the cross and God Almighty,
that i will redeem you
and you will receive my gratitude
and a place of honour in my home.


Amen.

Now dig a hole and bury the statue of Saint Joseph upside down, facing east in the backyard of the property. If there is no backyard, you can bury it in the front yard. If there is no yard, bury it in a potted plant.

Finishing up the Saint Joseph Spell to Sell a House
IMPORTANT: Once the property has sold, you must dig up the statue and take it to your new home. Clean it off and place it in a position of honor in your new home, thanking the saint and offering prayers there. If you do not complete this final step, you will encounter problems with the sale or the buyer may back out at the last minute. You can also dab the four corners and center of every room in your new house with Saint Joseph Oil for his continued blessings in your new home.

Saint Expedite Hoodoo Spell for Fast Results

Saint Expedite is one of my more favored saints to petition when the situation is very dire. He works quickly and the trick to having success while petitioning him is to make sure of a few things.

1) Need. You should only petition him when you really NEED what you're requesting. Do not petition Saint Expedite for things that would be nice to have, or things that you want. Petition him when the going gets tough and you have no other options.

2) Payment. You must strike a deal with Saint Expedite as part of the petition. Ask clearly for what you need, then promise him that you'll pay him his due wages of a piece of pound cake and a glass of water along with some flowers. Do not pay him before the work is done - only afterward.

Here's how I typically petition Saint Expedite. I take a red glass-encased vigil candle and poke three holes in the top of the wax with a skewer. I then put one drop of Saint Expedite Oil in each hole. I write down what I need in detail on a piece of paper then I dab a little Saint Expedite on the four corners and center of the paper. I fold this toward me in half, rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise and repeat this three times for a total of three folds. I place this under the dressed candle by my Saint Expedite statue. I place a vase of fresh flowers by the statue as an offering - preferably red flowers.

Then I get on my knees and I speak very clearly and pray.

Prayer of Saint Expedite for Fast Results

Make the sign of the cross.

Pray the Lord's Prayer one time.

Pray the Hail Mary three times.

"Saint Expedite, faithful and hard-working servant of our Lord Jesus Christ hear my plea. I come to you humbled and desperate, seeking your divine intercession on my behalf. You who have fought many righteous battles and know the pain of hard labor, help me in my hour of need.

I seek __________________________, for the best of all those involved.

I pray to you, divine servant of God that you assist me now. I offer you your due wages of a piece of pound cake, a glass of water and flowers in thanks once you have assisted me. With gratitude and humble thanks, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen!"

Let that candle burn all the way down. You can repeat this prayer every day until it has come to pass. Once the candle has burned out if you want to repeat the candle burning and prayers you certainly can but it is not necessary. I like to wear Saint Expedite Oil every day when I am petitioning him by dabbing a bit on the bottoms of my feet, on my wrists and behind each ear.

Paying Saint Expedite

Once Saint Expedite comes through with your request, simply place a slice of pound cake on a plate in front of his statue or image along with a glass of cool water and some fresh flowers. I like to leave them there for three days then I place them outside on the ground for the critters to finish off.

Praising Saint Expedite

It is also traditional to praise Saint Expedite publicly once he has helped you. Historically people would take out a newspaper advertisement thanking him for his intercession. In today's modern age of online communication it is common for folks to thank him on a website. You can even post your thanks to him as a comment to this article!

Spells to Overcome Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Substance abuse and addiction have become a very common thing in this bad economy. Many people are turning to drugs and alcohol to escape the reality of life's pressures. For some this is a very serious situation that quickly becomes an issue of addiction and dependency. While ultimately the best treatment for such conditions is professional help, a rehab facility or a recovery program like Alcoholics Anonymous, these individuals can also be helped on a spiritual level to keep them strong and focused on their sobriety. Below I present a few spells that you can do to help conquer alcoholism, drug addiction and other addictive behaviors. (Again, these are NOT a substitution for professional help - please contact a local chapter of A.A., N.A. or speak to your doctor for assistance.)

Novenas for Strength in Recovery
Because you can't "make" someone be sober, the battle to conquer addictions is ultimately a solo, uphill struggle. You can't perform a controlling spell to make someone stop smoking, drinking or taking drugs - but you can give them the spiritual assistance they need to make the right choices when they are at a crossroads in their recovery. A great way to do this is with continual and focused prayer to specific Catholic saints. Here are two novenas that I've had good results.

Novena to Saint Martin of Tours (San Martin Caballero)
Saint Martin is often considered the patron saint of alcoholics or reformed alcoholics as well as those who are destitute and needing help. He is typically depicted (to the right) on horseback offering his cloak to a beggar below him. He is called upon for his assistance in desperate times and to help make the right decisions in recovery. His feast day is November 11.

You'll need:

• A white glass-encased vigil candle
• An image of Saint Martin of Tours (you can print one from the internet)
• Glue
• Blessing Oil
• A photo of the addicted person
• a ceramic saucer or plate

Wipe down the glass-encased candle with some ammonia or Florida Water to clean it of any residue. Using a very thin, light coating of glue, adhere the image of Saint Martin of Tours to the glass. Poke three holes down into the wax from the top using a skewer or other pointed tool. Drip one drop of Blessing Oil in each hole. Place the photo of the addicted individual under the saucer. Hold the candle to your heart and pray with all your heart for the recovery and sobriety of the addicted person, calling their full name aloud. Then hold the candle up to the heavens and pray to God and Saint Martin of Tours to rescue this person in need, assist them in their most desperate time and help them cleanse their life of this addiction. Tap the candle on the table three times to lock in your intention then place it on top of the saucer so that as the candle burns it will bring light to the person whose photo is under it. Light the candle.

Now for the next nine days you'll pray the following:

1. One recitation of The Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
2. 10 recitations of the Hail Mary
3. One recitation of the Glory Be
4. One recitation of The Prayer of Saint Martin of Tours:

Prayer of Saint Martin of Tours:

Dear well-beloved Saint, you were first a soldier like your father.
Converted to the Church, you became a soldier of Christ, a priest and then a Bishop of Tours. Lover of the poor, and model for pagans and Christians alike, protect our soldiers at all times. Make them strong, just, and charitable, always aiming at establishing peace on earth. Amen.

Every day you'll return to the candle and pray the above prayers. Your candle will extinguish before the 9 days are up, but continue to pray over the glass. You can, optionally, just prepare a second candle and light it off of the first one when you know that it's going to burn out soon. Those two candles will burn for a cumulative time of about 10-11 days.

Novena to the Venerable Matt Talbot

Matt Talbot is a very powerful spirit to call upon when battling alcoholism. While he is not yet a saint he is one step away from being canonized by the Catholic Church. I've had tremendous success with calling upon the assistance of the Venerable Matt Talbot on the behalf of those battling the addiction.

Matt Talbot began working at the age of 12 at a wine bottling facility and that was when his drinking began. He was a severe alcoholic his entire life and at the age of 28 he went to confession and pledged an oath to not drink for three months. A year later he renewed his pledge and never touched alcohol again for the rest of his life (41 years). He dedicated his life to prayer, daily mass and penitence. He died in 1925 of a severe heart attack and news of his holiness spread quickly. A formal decree of his virtues was on October 3, 1975.

Similar to the novena to Saint Martin of Tours, a novena can be prayed to the Venerable Matt Talbot for assistance in overcoming alcoholism. Here's a great working you can do to help your loved ones who are battling the disease.

You'll need:

• a blue glass-encased vigil candle
• an icon of the Venerable Matt Talbot (Seen to the right)
• glue
• a bottle of Holy Oil
• a packet of Evil BEGONE! Powder
• a photo of the person struggling with alcoholism
• a saucer or plate

First clean the candle by wiping down the glass with some ammonia or Florida Water to remove any residue. Then using a very thin, light layer of glue, stick the image of the icon on the front of the glass-encased candle. Poke three holes down into the wax from the top of the candle and into each hole drip one drop of Holy Oil. Put a little pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder in the top of the candle, and set it aside.

Taking the person's photo, put a pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder over their face. Then fold the photo in half away from you. Turn it one-quarter turn counter-clockwise and fold it in half away from you again. Repeat this one last time for a total of three folds. Place the folded photo under the plate. Holding the candle to your heart, pray with all your might for the person who is battling alcoholism. Call out to the Venerable Matt Talbot to help this person overcome the demons he faces and for his mind to be illuminated and his heart to be strong in the face of adversity. Hold the candle up toward the heavens and ask God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to bless your prayer and make it happen. Then tap the candle three times on your table to seal in the prayer, and place it on top of the plate. Light the candle.

Now for the next nine days you'll pray the following:

1. One recitation of The Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
2. 10 recitations of the Hail Mary
3. One recitation of the Glory Be
4. On recitation of the Prayer for the Addicted (below)
5. One recitation of The Prayer for the canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot (below)

Prayer for the Addicted:

God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who come to Him. Give Your strength to N., Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction. Enfold him/her in Your love and restore him/her to the freedom of God's children. Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot:

Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot you have given us a wonderful example of triumph over addiction, of devotion to duty, and of lifelong reverence of the Holy Sacrament. May his life of prayer and penance give us courage to take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Father, if it be your will that your beloved servant should be glorified by your Church, make known by your heavenly favours the power he enjoys in your sight. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Again, your candle will not last the full 9 days. You can prepare a second one and light it off of the first one, or simple use only one candle and continue your prayers even though the light is not lit. At the end of the working, take the folded photo of the person battling addiction and deposit it at a church door to bring that person to God. You can also put a pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder in the person's hat or shoes to help them overcome their addiction beyond the work of the novena.

March 19 - Saint Joseph's Feast Day

Below is a message from Sindy Todo of TodoMojo. Every year she holds a large Saint Joseph celebration on his feast day in honor of this wonderful saint that has done so much to help us. Sindy Todo was my mentor as I was learning hoodoo and we often work in tandem on projects. Please take a moment to read her message below and see if you'd like to contribute your petitions to St. Joseph on her altar. I know I am!

From Sindy Todo:

March 19, 2010 is the celebration of the feast day for St. Joseph. It is our pledge and honorable tradition to build an altar and prepare a feast in tribute to this wonderful saint and our personal guide who helps us all year to achieve that which we request.

St. Joseph is who we invoke and pray to for all things related to real estate, home improvement, job seeking or changing. He is the highest of “father figures” and is devoted to helping the poor and hungry. By writing your petition or prayer to him and having it placed on the altar you will receive his blessings. All petitions are kept active for one year. Donations are made in turn to feed the poor and no amount is too small.

We also honor those who have passed on at this time of year and make a special area for our ancestors and others.

This is the time to manifest for the entire year and receive the support and miracles from this beloved Saint.

To send petitions to Sindy Todo, please email her St. Joseph website describing her celebration or email her directly with "St. Joseph Petition" in the subject line. You can also make donations on her St. Joseph website. Donations are tax deductible so make sure to include your address to get a receipt that you can use to write off your donations.

A Speedy Honey Jar for a Court Case

Speeding up a Honey Jar

Honey Jar workings are known for taking a slow but steady approach to a problem. They sweeten the parties involved to think favorably toward you and they gently break down their defenses until they are fighting for your cause (or drawing toward you in the case of love honey jars). But in general, they aren't a very "quick" type of working, but I added a few magic ingredients to make this one fast. In this case I used cayenne pepper and petitioned St. Expedite.

Using a Honey Jar to Speed Up a Court Case

I was recently approached by a client to speed up the arrest and trial of a known child molester. In addition to some powerful workings to put him in prison using a doll baby (to be featured in a future posting), I decided to take a sweeter gentler approach with the parties involved. One of the unique issues around this case was that there were family members supporting the child molester who were telling the authorities that the case was a fraud and that the children accusing him of molesting them were lying to get back at their mother.

In order to get the district attorney, Child Protective Services, the detective on the case and the trauma counselor to get on the side of the children, I employed a honey jar spell (seen here). IN the honey jar, I included slips of paper for each of the parties I wanted affected (including the defending lawyer) - to sweeten them to my client's side of the case. I also added some Court Case Root (to win the trial), some tobacco (to win a trial), some black mustard seeds (to confuse and trip up the opposing side's lawyers), some deerstongue (for eloquence in the trial), a High John the Conqueror (to conquer the trial), some licorice root (to control the parties involved and make them act on the accusations quickly) and a pinch of cayenne pepper (to heat up the proceedings and get the trial MOVING). I set the jar on a saucer covered in Court Case Powder for added power.

Additionally, I started by burning red candles over the jar, inscribed with "Arrest (the child molester's name), start the trial NOW!" dressed with Court Case Oil and Fast Luck Oil. And I petitioned St. Expedite to quickly get the investigation going, to apprehend the child molester and to get the trial started so that no more children will suffer.

St. Expedite

St. Expedite works whenever you need things done FAST! He is typically petitioned by offering him his "due pay" in exchange: A piece of pound cake and a glass of water. He was a Roman soldier and as such he worked for pay - not just for glory. He is never petitioned for evil causes, as he is a saint and will only work for good. In this case, stopping a child molester is one of the best things for the community and the children involved, so I felt justified in calling on his assitance. Always employ an image of St. Expedite when working with him. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but you want his image to be there. I also like using Saint Expedite Oil on my candles when I petition him.

Once the child molester is arrested, I will pay St. Expedite his piece of pound cake and a glass of water and then I'll switch over to brown candles carved with "(Child Molester's Name) is judged guilty, Life in prison" and dress them with Court Case Oil and Success and Eloquence Oil, applying them weekly until the case is tried and the man is convicted.

Success and Eloquence Spells to Win!

Success Spells Help You Win!

Most clients come to me seeking assistance with a common magical goal: "bring me my lover back!" or "help me get a job" or "protect me from my enemies!" But what about those situations where your goal isn't one of the common ones like love, money, protection or cursing? What if you just want to succeed in some endeavor, or do well at something? Well that's where success spells come in.

Success spells revolve around giving you the upper hand, making you skilled at what you are doing, and making you a powerful force that conquers everything in your path. Success spells are great for succeeding at a project, or in a competition, or even for added eloquence in writing, speaking, competing and anything that requires you to outshine the competition. I often recommend success spells to student that want to pass a class, writers that want to publish, lawyers that want to win an argument, or business people that seek to have their proposals approved by clients.

Commonly, magical products blended for success are called "Crown of Success" but I've elected to call my products "Success and Eloquence" because I feel it better communicates the full spectrum of their application.

Here are a few different spell ideas to help you succeed in all that you do.

Success and Eloquence Candle Spell for New Projects

This is an easy-to-do spell that I like to set when I'm about to undertake a new field of study, start writing a paper or creating a new project that I really want to succeed. Start this spell on a Sunday when the moon is waxing.

You'll need:

• 1 yellow glass-encased candle
• 1 printed image or photo of a crown
• scissors
• tacky glue
• 1 bottle of Success and Eloquence Oil
• 1 High John the Conqueror Root
• 1 small chunk of pyrite
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 red flannel bag

Start by cleaning your glass-encased candle with a little ammonia or glass cleaner on a paper towel. This removes any of the residual energy it might have picked up. Next cut the image of the crown out from the background. Glue the image to the front of the candle with the tacky glue. Now drill three holes down into the wax using any pointy implement like a chopstick or skewer. Into the holes, drip a little Success and Eloquence Oil - less is more - don't overdo it. Set the candle aside.

Take your High John the Conqueror Root and dress it with some of the Success and Eloquence Oil. As you do so, pray aloud "I call upon the spirit of this High John the Conqueror Root to make me strong in heart and strong in spirit that I overcome and conquer this situation! In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!" Set the High John aside.

Dress the chunk of pyrite with Success and Eloquence Oil and pray, "I call upon the spirit of this pyrite to make my endeavors golden. May my pockets be overflowing with prosperity as a result of my success. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!" Set the pyrite aside.

Dress the bay leaf with a dab of Success and Eloquence Oil and pray, "I call upon the spirit of this bay leaf to crown me with the laurel wreath of success as a champion in (this project - whatever it may be). In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!"

Now, arrange the bay leaf, high john and pyrite into a triangular shape with the bay leaf at the top point, the high john at the lower right point, and the pyrite at the lower left point. In the center of the triangle you will be placing the candle. But first, hold the candle to your heart and pray with great emotion for the success you seek in your project, then hold the candle to your head and ask God to crown you with success in His Holy Name. Now tap the candle three times on the surface, place it in the center of the triangle and light the candle.

Get to task on your project, be it writing or planning. As the candle burns, it illuminates your efforts, guiding you to success. When the candle finishes burning out, gather up the three items and put them into a red flannel bag - this now becomes a success mojo bag for you to carry. Tie off the bag, dress it with a 5-spot of Success and Eloquence Oil, and carry it on your body whenever you work on your project.

Success Spell using Powders on Business Cards or Papers

Another great way of influencing others to your success is by lacing items with magical powders. You can do this to contracts or proposals to have them accepted, or you can powder business cards to succeed in bids for business. You can powder school papers to influence your teachers to give you better grades. Another idea is to powder manuscripts that you send in to potential publishers to succeed in getting them to work with you. The process for all of these is the same.

You'll need:

• 1 packet of Success and Eloquence Powder
• your papers

Lay out all of your papers or business cards face down on a surface. Take a bit of the Success and Eloquence Powder and sprinkle it over the papers. As you do so, pray to God for your success in whatever endeavor you seek. Remember, the harder you pray and the more emotional intensity that you put into the magic, the more effective it will be.

Next, run your four fingers over the papers in wavy lines like snake tracks through the powders. This seals the energy of the powder into the paper. Shake the excess powder off of the paper, and then give it a flick with your finger to snap any residual powder off. Then hand the papers over to the person you intend to affect. When they grab the paper, their hand will touch the back of the card, and they will be influenced by your magical spell.

St. Jude for Success with Hopeless Causes

While not strictly hoodoo, some people to work with the saints in order to assist them in their goals. Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes. He is called upon when a situation seems dire or like there is no hope in your success. You can pair together a petition to Saint Jude along with some Success and Eloquence products for a great one-two punch.

You'll need:

• A Saint Jude statue
• A yellow glass-encased candle
• A bottle of Success and Eloquence Oil
• A small charm in the shape of a crown or a St. Jude medallion you can wear

Place the Saint Jude statue on your working surface. Take your yellow candle and drip a few drops of Success and Eloquence Oil into the top. Now, dress your crown charm or St. Jude medallion with Success and Eloquence Oil and hang it around the neck of the statue. Hold the candle to your heart and pray the following prayer of St. Jude.

O most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, people honor and invoke you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, for I am so helpless and alone. Please help to bring me visible and speedy assistance. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (state your request) and that I may praise God with you always.

Tap the candle on the table three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen! Set the candle beside the statue and light it. Every day that the candle burns, return to the statue and repeat the prayer above. When the candle has finished burning, remove the charm or St. Jude medallion from the statue and wear it as a necklace to carry St. Jude's watchful assistance with you. I also recommend continuing to pray the prayer every day until the impossible has been made possible for you.

Spell to Get a Promotion

Financially speaking, one of the most important things to do is either secure your existing job, get a better paying position at your company or get a better job outright. Many folks think that the current economy makes getting a better or new job impossible, but this isn't the case with a little hoodoo on your side.

I recently did some work for a client to assist him in getting a promotion at work, or even a better job. It was a two-step working involving a mojo bag and a candle spell to Saint Expedite.

Mojo Bag for a Promotion
Mojo bags are a great way to carry powerful magical influences on you without anyone knowing. This particular mojo bag was a combination of curios to secure a good job including Gravel Root in the mix, along with one item added to gain the admiration of your coworkers - a variation on the Get a Job Mojo Bag I sell. The result was a simple three-item mojo bag that not only secures a better job for you, but also makes it so that your bosses love you and see you favorably for a promotion

St. Expedite Candle Spell for a Better Job
Saint Expedite is the go-to saint for quick results. The thing is that you cannot ask him for anything evil or hurtful. He was a soldier in the Roman army - and like the soliders of his time, he worked for pay in the form of food. Saint Expedite is petitioned for FAST results in a spell, and once you see the results he is rewarded with a slice of good old fashioned pound cake.

In this case I opted for a green candle (to represent money, job and finances) and I dressed it with a combination of Saint Expedite Oil and Good Job Oil. The client himself prayed over it and held it up to the heavens calling upon Saint Expedite to quickly bring him a promotion at work or a better job (with the end result of more money). I also prayed to Saint Expedite, promising him his wages when he was to complete his work. We set the light, and I sent the client home with his mojo bag and a bottle of Good Job Oil to keep feeding the bag each week.

The Results - A PROMOTION!
Two weeks later, my client texted me "Can I come by tonight after work with a pound cake?" I was thrilled! Saint Expedite delivered. My client ended up being promoted to a management position and will be receiving his own store to manage when a new location opens up.

Saint Expedite

Occasionally in hoodoo, conjurers will call upon the aid of a saint to help them do their work. One of the most popular is Saint Expedite. Saint Expedite is the patron saint of folks who need fast and immediate help for their problems - usually financial in nature. He is depicted as a Roman soldier with a crow under his foot holding a ribbon in its mouth that reads "cras" (Latin for tomorrow). In his hand he holds a cross that reads "hodie" (Latin for today). The symbolism is clear. He gets stuff done TODAY, not tomorrow. He teaches us to let go of the bad habit of proCRAStination and to attend to the things immediately.

Saint Expedite can be called upon for fast results when you desperately need hope. He can only be called upon for positive and constructive magical work: getting money to pay your rent, getting a job quickly, getting assistance when you really need it. Like any good Roman solider, he works for pay, and as part of the deal you make with Saint Expedite, you must IMMEDIATELY pay him his due when you receive your results. The standard payment for his help is a piece of pound cake offered to him on a plate (Sara Lee sells a poundcake that's typically used in this working), along with a glass of water, fresh flowers (they can be from your garden, just make sure they are real) and a typically a red candle as this is his color. You can use a green candle if the nature of your work is financial, but I've always used red. I also like to dress the candle with a little Saint Expedite Oil to add some magical energy to the work.

These offerings are arranged such that the glass of water is on the left, the statue or image of the saint is on the right, and the candle is placed behind and between them (like the tip of a triangle). The pound cake can be left as an offering in front of this arrangement in thanks. I usually leave the pound cake there until the candle has burned itself out. Afterward, the glass from the candle can be recycled and the pound cake and water can be left outside on the ground for the critters to eat.

Tips
Always ask for assistance from Saint Expedite politely, and when you truly need it. Do not ask for frivolous things. And most importantly, ALWAYS give him his due. Never ask him for help unless you are prepared to give him his payment immediately - he works FAST folks! Also, spread the word about him. Like any good working soldier, word-0f-mouth is one of the best ways he can get more contracts. Saint Expedite's saint day is April 19th. A great site to learn more about Saint Expedite is http://saintexpedite.org.