High John is the root of the Ipomea jalapa plant and a relative to both the Morning Glory and Bindweed. High John is a staple in Southern Hoodoo and is known for increasing one's power in the areas of love, luck and justice.

Named after an African American folk hero who was known for his cunning, power, and good fortune, High John the Conqueror is one of the most famed and commonly utilized roots in American folk magic. It was once employed by the Iroquois to give a man great strength and was introduced into African American Hoodoo through the trading of information between African slaves and Native Americans.

High John is a magical curio and is most commonly considered a man’s root, even though women can also use it. It is often carried in a flannel mojo bag, dressed with High John Oil or another appropriate oil such as Van Van. When prepared and carried in this way it is believed to increase a Man’s nature, personal power, luck and virility.

High John Root root may be dressed with Money Drawing oil and wrapped with paper money and carried or placed in a mojo to increase prosperity.

Dress your root with an oil aligned with your purpose, pour some into your hands and rub it all over with the oil. As you do this, speak your desires aloud, pray over the root, speak to it and call upon it’s indwelling spirit along with any other spirits, ancestors, saints, or deities that you feel are appropriate to aid you in blessing the root and aligning it towards its purpose.

It may then be kept upon an altar, or carried as a pocket piece or in a mojo and regularly dressed with oil to keep it working towards its goal.

Some dressing oils commonly paired with High John are:

All High Conquering – Personal Power and Influence

Van Van – General Good Luck

Money Drawing – Increased Wealth

Black Cat – Gambling Luck

Command and Compel – For Increasing Influence Upon Others

Crown of Success – For Creating Success in Any Endeavour

All roots are chosen by size