In-Depth Notes on Hoodoo Practices in New Orleans

Introduction to Hoodoo

• Caterpillars Crossing: Symbolic of change and transformation; marks the beginning of spring and activities in hoodoo culture.
• Research Focus: The narrator spent a year gathering folk tales, particularly focused on hoodoo practices in New Orleans.

Overview of Hoodoo

• Location: New Orleans is recognized as the "hoodoo capital" of America, holding deep connections to African traditions.
• Adaptation: Hoodoo incorporates elements from Christianity, like the significance of fire and water in rituals and ceremonies.
• Community and Practitioners: The existence of secret adherents who practice hoodoo; Kitty Brown emerges as a prominent hoodoo practitioner with a rich herbal garden.

Kitty Brown's Role

• Profile: Black, squat, and benevolent; known for her abilities in love magic and spellwork.
• Herb Garden: Supplies fresh herbs for various remedies; highlights the importance of sourcing materials directly from the earth.
• Initiation Dilemma: Kitty highlights that someone must suffer for the narrator's initiation into hoodoo.

The Ceremony of the Hoodoo Dance

• Date & Context: October 1928; the narrator participates in a ceremonial hoodoo dance rather than for leisure.
• Purpose of the Dance: Focused on avenging Rachael Roe, who seeks retaliation for John Doe’s betrayal after three years of being together.
• Sacrifice for Ceremony: Kitty identifies that the dance will require significant financial contributions; participants need to bring material offerings as well.

Dance Preparations

• Participants: The planning involves gathering individuals for the dance; time designated from 10 PM to 1 AM is considered potent.
• Offerings: The altar is set with food offerings, including cake and roasted meats, establishing a festive but solemn atmosphere.
• Role Assignments: The narrator initially gets assigned to assist rather than participate until later allowed to dance as a delegate.

The Dance Process

• Ritual Setting: Death is symbolically represented by a wooden statue; slips of paper with the target's name are placed in its mouth.
• Lighting Candles: Ritualistic lighting of candles to invoke the spirit of Death, creating an atmosphere of urgency for the desired outcome.
• Dance Structure: Divided among the dancers; breath-taking intensity leading to fatigue, with liquor dispensed to keep spirits high.

Experience of the Dance

• Dueling Energies: Descriptions of the dancers’ fervent expressions, laughter, and exhaustion; oblique and grotesque movements representing emotions tied to revenge.
• Possession: The urgency of the dance leads to elevated spirits, with dancers submitting to a sense of possession by their motivations for revenge.
• Outcome of Dance: Food offerings presented to Death represent a ritual exchange; participants expect serious repercussions on the target.

Aftermath of the Dance

• Date of Death: The target (John Doe) is not expected to live longer than nine days post-ritual; immediate outcomes develop as the narrative unfolds.
• Change of Heart: John Doe, fearing repercussions, returns to Rachael after barely five days along with her challenging his commitment to his new wife.
• Cycle of Emotion & Power: Illustrates the power dynamics played in hoodoo practices regarding love, revenge, and spirituality, accompanied by the continuous back and forth among characters.