Quick Specs
- Size/Quantity: 1 pound (whole dried root)
- Type: Bulk Ritual Herb
- Material: Dried Devil’s Shoestring root (Viburnum spp.), whole pieces
- Best For: High-volume mojo bag making, metaphysical shop restocking, protection workings, job-getting and luck rituals
A Pound of One of Hoodoo’s Most Essential Roots
Devil’s Shoestring is botanically identified with several Viburnum species, including Viburnum alnifolium and Viburnum prunifolium, and is also associated with Nolina lindheimeriana. All carry the same folkloric role in American Hoodoo tradition: a root that trips up the devil, tangles the feet of enemies, and clears a path forward for the person working with it. The name isn’t metaphor for the long, string-like dried pieces. It’s a directive. You put it in the way of whatever is working against you.
I stock this root because it belongs on any serious practitioner’s shelf. The traditional uses span protection, job-getting, gambling luck, obstacle removal, and breaking crossed conditions. At the one-pound scale, this is the version I carry for those who work with it constantly: root workers filling batches of mojo bags, metaphysical shop owners who move through inventory, or serious practitioners building a working stock. One pound gives you real volume. You’re not rationing it or stretching a small packet across months of work. You use what the working calls for. Browse my bulk herbs collection if you’re stocking a broader herbal practice alongside this root.
In Hoodoo, this root works across a wide range of conditions. For protection, pieces are tucked into mojo bags, placed under doormats, or hung near doorways with a red ribbon. For job work, it pairs with High John the Conqueror. For luck, it rides alongside lodestone and magnetic sand in a green or red bag. Some workers historically wore it as an anklet to guard against foot track magic, one of the older protection applications in Southern rootwork. The whole dried pieces in this listing give you flexibility, whether you’re cutting sections for small bags, grinding into powder, or steeping into a floor wash. If you’re building out a ritual herb supply, the herbal mixes for ritual use are worth pairing with this root for complete working preparations.
How To Use Devil’s Shoestring Root (Bulk)
A practical guide to working with Devil’s Shoestring root at bulk scale.
- Prep Your Batch
Divide your pound into working portions before rituals begin. Many practitioners keep one portion loose for mojo bags, one for floor washes, and a reserve supply stored in a sealed jar away from light and moisture.
- Load Mojo Bags for Protection or Luck
Place two to three whole pieces in each red, green, or black mojo bag depending on intent. Pair with High John root for job-getting, with lodestone and magnetic sand for luck, or alone with a petition paper for protection work.
- Feed and Activate
Breathe on each loaded bag and speak your intention clearly. Some workers dress the root with a few drops of condition oil suited to the work. Whiskey is a traditional feed for activating root work and keeping the spirit of the root present.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I source this root from a supplier with consistent drying and handling standards that produce whole pieces, not powder-heavy remnants or unrecognizable fragments. What I look for at this scale is uniformity: pieces that hold together and still look like the root they came from. One practical note if you’re new to working bulk quantities: the pieces vary in thickness and length, which is natural for a root that doesn’t grow uniform. That variation doesn’t affect the working. Thicker sections are fine for larger bags or floor wash steeps; thinner ones work well for smaller pouches or grinding. Store it sealed and dry, and it keeps well for a year or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Hoodoo, Devil’s Shoestring is traditionally used for protection, job-getting, luck in gambling, and tripping up obstacles or enemies. The root’s name comes from the belief that it tangles the path of anything working against you.
A pound gives you enough root to make dozens of mojo bags, stock a shop shelf, or supply a working practice for months. It is the practical choice for root workers who go through this ingredient regularly and want a consistent supply on hand.
Keep the root in a sealed jar or airtight bag away from direct sunlight and moisture. Stored properly in a cool, dry space, dried root holds its integrity for a year or more and stays ready for your next working without quality loss.
Handle with care and wash your hands after working with it. Devil’s Shoestring is not safe to ingest or burn as incense. It is a ritual material meant for mojo bags, floor washes, and external workings only, not internal or aromatherapy use.
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