Funny Mutha...

  Shut Yo Mouth!

Last night I accomplished something that I have only talked about doing for years. I tried my hand at stand up comedy in a competition called "Clash of the Comics". It is actually geared toward aspiring professional comics that are already in the scene. I wanted to throw myself in the deep end and either sink or swim. I am happy to report that I "swam" quite nicely. As I mentioned before I have been in a couple of bands so I am not a stranger to performing for crowds, particularly ones lubricated with alcohol. Being a sorcerer though, there was no way I wasn't going to do a little work to add to my chances of success.

I started out the day by feeding my High John Jack Ball (see I am not only the president, I'm also a client). While doing so I also set out a shot of whiskey for Ol' High John, and lit a purple candle in his honor. I thanked him for the help he has given me, and asked him to help me conquer the crowd later that night. While driving around that afternoon, I found myself behind a car with a license plate that read "BRE RABBIT". For those that don't know Brer Rabbit is also trickster character and some of his tales and traits share a similar African lineage with High John. When working with spirits, it's always good to keep an eye out for little signs such as this. It's also best to research that spirit as much as possible to make sure that you would know what kind of symbols and signs they may use to communicate with you.

When it came time to determine what order everyone would perform, we all had to draw cards. I pulled a 9 of spades. If had been thinking strictly in terms of divination and the Tarot, I would have seen this as a bad sign. Seeing as I am a conjurer I know better. The number 9  is a lucky and powerful number in conjure work that often appears in spells for mastery, domination, and commanding. Something you will observe often in conjure work is that what others may consider negative or unlucky, is quite the opposite. Conjure is very antinomian at its core. I  also interpreted he spades or swords to mean that I was going to "kill it", which I did.   Going with your gut when deciphering omens and signs can serve you better then going by the book. As long as you can do it and be honest with yourself as well.

While I waited to take the stage, I took the time to do some energy work and a quick spell of sorts. I was doing some breathing to relax, of course the double of Jack Daniel's was helping with that as well. After a few cycles of breathing I started to tune into the overall vibe and energy of the room and bring it into my center. The vibe of the room was pretty good, It was a small crowd that was relaxed and there to be entertained. Not a single heckler in the bunch. I then directed this energy from my center and into the palm of my right hand forming it into a sphere. Once I could feel this as a strong and real connection to the crowd in the palm of my hand, I thrust my hand into my pocket and put the energy there with the rest of my charms. From then on out as far I was concerned the crowed was in my pocket, I owned that room. There was a brief moment in my 5 minute set that I felt as if I lost them for a bit. With a little bit of NLP style anchoring I put my hand in my pocket for a brief second to remind myself, and I got them right back. With a little tweaking this technique can be applied to any setting where you have to address a group.

Most importantly with any magical act, and performance I made sure to just relax, have fun, and let things flow. I have been invited to come out to some open mics, so I am going to play it by ear, and see where this goes. Remember that "all the world is a stage" blah blah blah. Kick ass, take names, and rock out with your...


"You must have the Devil in you to succeed in the arts." Voltaire
"Don't quote me boy cuz I ain't said shit." Eazy-E  

Brother Ash's Jack Ball

The Jack Ball or Luck Ball is a traditional conjure charm made to enhance luck, and can also be used as a pendulum to answer yes and no questions. It is sometimes called a Jack ball because of the resemblance to the children's toy of the same name. It also has been called a Jack because some are made with a High John the Conqueror root at the core. At times in High John lore Jack and John are used interchangeably. For example in Zora Neale Hurston's  "Mules and Men" there is a tale of "How Jack Beat the Devil". That story which includes Jack besting the Devil and marrying his Daughter is one usually attributed to the legend of High John. For a good example of how some Luck balls were once made check out "Hoodoo Luck Balls (Jack Balls) By Mary Alicia Owens. In the piece she recounts when she had a luck ball made a conjure man named King Alex  to give as a gift to Charles Godfrey Leland author of "Aradia: Gospel of the Witches". What follows is my version of a Jack ball which does consist of a High John root at it's core. I consider High John to be the primary spirit that empowers my version of this charm.

What You Will Need

1 High John The Conqueror Root

Herbs and Roots of your Choosing

Personal Concerns(hair, nails, etc)

High John Oil (optional)

1 Purple Taper candle

Large Eyed Needle

Beeswax Granules 
1 Bottle of whiskey
Shot glass
Purple Cloth
Red Yarn

First we start off by preparing a place on the altar for Ol' High John. Lay out a piece of Purple cloth (Purple is  a color associated with High John). On that cloth set up your purple candle, shot of whiskey and cigar. These are all offerings to High John for his assistance. On the candle carve in the name HIGH JOHN and anoint with  the oil if you have it. Van Van oil also works fine, or just leave it as is.

Once that is all set up, light the candle and as you do so say something to the effect of, " I light this candle in name of, and in honor of High John the Conqueror". Present him with the offerings, and then in your own words ask him for assistance for empowering the charm and ask him to let his spirit come to dwell in the root that bares his name. Now you are ready to " feed" and wake up his root. To do this, take the root and dip it into the shot of whiskey. This feeds and empowers the root. Next it times to  really wake up the root by knocking on it. We do that by tapping the root in the altar with the rhythm of two quick taps and then one slow. Tap,tap---tap. Do this sequence 3 times for a total of 9 taps. As you do so talk to the root and High John and let him know exactly what you need him to do for you. In this case bringing luck in all aspects of your life, attract money, conquering obstacles, increased sexual power, etc. Now let the root set while we prepare the rest of the charm.

Next make sure you have your herbs, and personal concerns ready to go. I chose things that I associate with attraction, luck, commanding and power.My Jack balls always include a Devil's shoe string (broken into an odd number of pieces), Licorice root powder, Dragon's blood resin, Patchouli, Lodestone Grit, and Periwinkle. This one I also included Frankincense and Myrrh, as the person I was making it for also needs help conquering spiritual and health obstacles. You use whatever herbs and items seem correct to you.

Next you are going to want to heat up your wax granules. I use an oil burner and tea light. You don't want to melt them just heat them up a bit.  Usually only takes about 30 seconds or so. This makes them more malleable sort of like clay. Sprinkle your herbs and roots (leave the personal concerns aside for now) over the wax and then scoop them up. Use a spoon if you like. I actually just remove the glass from the heat and scoop it right up with my hand. I am no stranger to having hot wax on me. Take that last comment however you want.....

You should end up with a lump that looks similar to this. Work quickly before the wax cools, make a divot in the lump using your thumb and add the High John root and personal concerns. Then form the wax around these into the shape of a ball. 

You should end up with something that looks like this. 

Now you start to wrap this ball with your red yarn. Starting with a pattern similar to the one above and continue the process until the entire thing is tightly wrapped. I wrap the ball pulling the yarn directly from the spool instead of trying to cut a set length just yet. 

It should look like this when you are done. Now we are ready to start making the "tail" of the charm which allows it to be used as a pendulum. 

Pull about an additional foot and a 1/2 length of yarn from the spool where you finished wrapping the ball. This will become the first part of the tail. You will want to push the needle under the yarn at the top of the ball and out the other side. Use that to Pull the yarn all the way through which creates what will be the first part of a three strand tail. 

Once you have your single strand on yarn pulled through. Tie that off in a know like so..

I apologize for the fuzziness of this pic. Sometime's my phone just sucks.

Now you will want to cut another long piece of yarn double the length of your current tail and thread it through the top of the ball in the same manner. Pull one end all of the way through.

This should leave you with three tails coming from Jack Ball. Make sure that you square them up to an even length. Now Some people braid the three together. I am not a fan of braiding but if you are then feel free to braid them together. What I do is tie all 9 knots into the tail about as equal lengths apart as I can get them.

What I do to measure is tie the first knot right at the base. From there I use three fingers to measure the distance from that knot and wrap the yarn around the third finger and knot it there. Continue this process until you have all 9 knots. "By knot of nine, what's done is mine". I don't actually say the traditional witches chant as I tie the knots, but it is hard not to have it at the back of my mind during the process.

Now all that is left is to feed and bring life to this charm. This is where your cigar comes into play. Light your cigar and blow some of the smoke at High Johns candle as an offering to his spirit. Usually give it a good three solid puffs. Then I will hold up the Jack Ball and blow smoke directly into the ball itself and focus on breathing energy and life into it. I will then blow smoke up the length of the tail. Leave the cigar still smoking in an ashtray or something fire proof in front of or near the candle. Now it is time to feed it some whiskey. I lay it down on the purple cloth in front of the candle and take a swig from the bottle and pray it onto the ball from my mouth. I then repeat that process for each knot in the tail. Talk to the spirit that now dwells within the Luck Ball and remind it of it's task. Thank High John for his assistance and leave the offerings for him over night while the candle burns and the charm dries.

The next day you will want to cover your Jack Ball.  Some people put there's in a red flannel pouch like a mojo hand. I like to wrap mine in purple cloth and tie it up like so.

\

I assure you that is purple. Again stupid phone!

If possible take the offerings to High John and leave them at a crossroads. If that's not possible Pour the whiskey on the ground outside and dispose of the cigar. Your luck ball is now ready to use. For men it should be kept in your right pocket, for women if possible keep it in your bra or just carry in your purse. You need to feed your Jack ball whiskey regularly, preferably once a week to keep the spirit strong. 

A quick note. Some might ask what to do if they avoid alcohol and don't smoke tobacco. Well Goody two shoes if "ya don't drink, don't smoke",(Kidding of course. Perfectly reasonable and healthy lifestyle choices) there are alternatives. If you don't mind using whiskey, but don't prefer to drink it, then just sprinkle the whiskey where it calls to be sprayed from the mouth. If you choose to avoid alcohol completely use Hoyt's cologne to feed the charm. That is a perfectly acceptable substitute. As far as the cigar goes again if you don't mind tobacco but don't want to smoke it, then burn some on a charcoal block and pass the charm through the smoke, You may omit the tobacco if you like and just have the whiskey be the only offering and method of feeding. While emitting the blowing of the smoke is fine, it is still important that you breath onto the jack ball and infuse it with life. That is essential to it's creation. 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you make one of your own I would love to see pics of them. Feel free to post them on my wall on Facebook, or just shoot me an email. If you don't care to make your own but would like to experience the power of this awesome charm then head on over to my shop page and pick one today. Here is what one client had to say about my Jack Ball:

"Wtf! I've never been a lucky man, never had much of a chance with the ladies one little ball and holy shit! Rock nd roll all night and party everyday! This guys knows is stuff!  D.K."