High John oil

In African American folklore, High John was the enslaved trickster who could never be beaten, and when he left, he hid his power in a root.

Origin & Traditional Use

High John oil takes its name from High John the Conqueror root, the dried root of a morning glory relative, Ipomoea purga, and from the folk hero it is named for. It is one of the foundational oils of hoodoo, used for personal power, luck, success, money and male strength, and for conquering any situation.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Dress a candle carved with your goal and burn it on a Sunday or Tuesday.
• Anoint an amulet worn for confidence and courage.

Hoodoo & Rootwork

• Dress a whole High John root and carry it in a mojo bag for strength and luck.
• Anoint a purple or gold candle for mastery and power in a difficult situation.
• Rub a drop on your hands before a job interview, court date or dice game.

Demonology & Black Magick

• Use in commanding work, where the aim is to dominate a situation or overpower an opponent.
• Dress candles for workings that call on raw power to break an enemy’s hold.

A Simple Working

• Take a purple chime candle and a square of parchment.
• Write the situation you want to overcome and draw a crown above it.
• Anoint the crown and the four corners with High John oil.
• Dress the candle from base to wick.
• Set the candle on the paper and light it, speaking as someone who has already won.
• When it burns out, fold the paper toward you and carry it until the situation is resolved.

Pairs Well With

• High John the Conqueror root, carried whole in mojo bags.
• Purple candles, for mastery and power.
• Galangal, the Little John to Chew of hoodoo court work.
• Lodestone, for drawing and holding what you win.
• Crown of Success style formulas, for advancement.

Lore & History

Zora Neale Hurston wrote about the folk hero in her 1943 essay “High John de Conquer”, describing him as hope and laughter in the time of slavery. The root has been a staple of hoodoo for well over a century and appears in early blues lyrics.

What You Receive

High John oil, available in 2 dram and 1 oz bottles.