John the Conqueror oil (Espiritu blend)

John the Conqueror is one of the few figures in hoodoo who is both a root you can hold and a spirit you can call.

Origin & Traditional Use

John the Conqueror oil is named for the High John the Conqueror root and the folk hero of African American legend. It is used for power, prosperity, courage and mastery, and many workers treat it as invoking John’s own unbeatable spirit.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Dress a candle for courage and burn it on a Tuesday, the day of Mars.
• Anoint the soles of your shoes before walking into a difficult situation.

Hoodoo & Rootwork

• Anoint a John the Conqueror root and keep it in a mojo bag for power and prosperity.
• Dress a green or purple candle and call on John’s spirit before a hard negotiation.
• Rub a drop on your palms before gambling or a business meeting.

Demonology & Black Magick

• Use in commanding work to overpower an opponent or take control of a situation.
• Dress candles in workings that call for raw, unbending will.

A Simple Working

• Take a green chime candle, a square of parchment and a coin.
• Write what you want to conquer or achieve on the parchment.
• Anoint the paper and coin with John the Conqueror oil.
• Dress the candle from base to wick.
• Light it, set the coin on the paper and call on John the Conqueror to stand with you.
• When the candle has burned out, carry the coin as a pocket piece.

Pairs Well With

• High John the Conqueror root, carried whole.
• Green or purple candles, for prosperity and power.
• Cinnamon, for speed and success.
• Pyrite, for money.
• Bay leaves, for victory.

Lore & History

The root sold as John the Conqueror is generally jalap, Ipomoea purga, a Mexican morning glory. Folklorists recorded its use by conjure workers across the South in the early 20th century, and Zora Neale Hurston described it in Mules and Men in 1935.

What You Receive

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