Feeding the Mouth of a Hungry Bag
As above, so below; so within, so without. The bag is a mirror of the world we hold in our palm.
When the bag is sewn, the needle is the hand that slips between the woven net of fate comprised of the red thread defining our lives. The bag thus becomes the icon of a familiar world, mouth held open by the absence of substance. It is then the hungry stomach, waiting to be filled.
In goes a stick of cinnamon, a High John root, black cat's hair and a silver dime. Perhaps golden grain, three copper pennies, trefoil, and sage. An obsession arises, the whim of a long-gone gambler or the child-like generosity of a wisp, drawn to dwell within the space-apart-from-time you've created.
The spirit is glad for a time, bringing with it what gifts it can — luck, love, money or elsewise — until it finds itself bored, having enjoyed its time in the looking-glass of the bag but ready to move on. With it goes the gifts it brought; gold turns to leaves and lovers are strangers once more. The faint, moon-ish glow you once held in your pocket is now a dull grey, sullied by the mundane dust and grime of our world.
Without food or persuasion, the spirit has rested and used up the resources of the bag, leaving it disempowered and banal. The act of communing with these spirits is what allows bags, mojos, charms, talismans, etc... to work their magic long-term, becoming powerful allies to the witch who stewards this relationship. We must remember that all acts of magic involve the making of a symbiotic pact, whether implicit or explicit. Thus, the spirit within this bag must be fed and persuaded to act on our behalf if we are to benefit from its presence.
We can do this by a simple act of feeding the mouth — presenting a reason and opportunity for the spirit to make itself a home. Of course, this pact is implicit, and the bounds of its terms fluid. Now, this notion may seem extreme, but remember that we form pacts both explicit and implicit with the people around us every day, whether it's a transaction at the store, or when we choose to uphold civil order. All parties agree on particular terms and contribute in their manner to uphold them.
In the case of feeding the mouth of a bag, we are providing food and drink to the spirit residing within the bag, allowing it to grow in strength and in turn continue to provide us with its gifts. When the spirit begins to complete tasks in exchange for a cigarette here, or a shot of rum there, that is when we begin to experience the act of witchcraft — of communing with an ally and forming a symbiotic, inter-personal relationship with a being outside of our perception.
Here follows a short ritual that can be used to feed any bag, whether mojo, talisman, charm, etc...
To feed the mouth of a hungry bag:
To feed a bag, I recommend using the simplest of offerings: flame, water, and incense. Such offerings can be given in any manner, but I always recommend placing them in the form of a triangle around the bag. Flame can mean a lantern or candle, which should be placed as the highest tip of the triangle. Water to the left, and incense to the right should form the base of it.
Begin by lighting the candle and incense, focusing on your intent to thank the bag for its action and the spirit for its presence in your life. Hold the bag as you inhale deeply, reaching a point of relaxation, or light trance. When you do so, breathe into the bag, allowing your breath to travel up your arms and into your hands, finally entering into the bag. As you inhale and exhale, your breath circulates within it. It fills with energy as you exhale, and its spirit arises within your mind as you inhale.
When you have reached a point at which you feel comfortable proceeding, speak from the heart and thank the spirit for its work, praising its past successes. If this is your first time feeding the bag, welcome the spirit and state what its purpose is, presenting yourself by name and by whatever spirits you work with, if you work with any. Sprinkle the bag with a little bit of the water, pass it through the flame, and hold it in the incense smoke as you speak to the spirit.
At this point, if you have a particular request for the bag, write it onto a piece of paper and anoint it with oils, sprinkling it with appropriate powders and materia before placing the bag on top, the whole being in the center of the triangle formed by your offerings. In the case of our Rabbit's Paw road-opener charms, the request can be rolled up and tied to the rabbit's paw itself.
When requesting particular tasks from the spirit, promise to offer it something aligned with its nature. Traditional offerings for rewarding hard-working spirits include tobacco, liquor, coffee, chocolate, cologne, etc... These offerings should be given along with the standard flame/incense/water when the task has been completed, and never before. However, be sure to always follow through on your promises, lest the spirit of the bag decide to rebel.
As time goes on, the spirit might make specific requests through omens or dreams, which should be explored to your discernment. Forging a unique relationship with a talisman is the best way to ensure the success of its action.
FAQ
What if I forget to feed the bag?
Make apologies. Perform the offering ritual, but offer a little bit of liquor or something extra as an apology for neglecting the bag. Continue to feed it for a few weeks before making a request.
Can I re-activate an old bag?
Absolutely. In this case, the bag should be propitiated with offerings of wine and bread, liquor, sweets, etc... on an impactful date, such as the Full Moon or any other celestial event. Continue to feed the bag until its power begins manifesting in your life before making any specific requests. Astrological charms will always remain somewhat active, even if very weak. Pick a time appropriate to the bag to re-activate it.
When and how often should I feed my bag?
Ideally, the bag would be fed every day as part of the witch's daily practices. However, I typically recommend feeding bags once a week, on the day of a planetary ruler whose virtues are in alignment with the purpose of the bag. A money bag can be fed on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on whether it is for quick cash or for accumulating a certain amount. A love bag on Friday, a protection bag on Tuesday, etc... You do not have to pick a day according to planetary rulership however; you can pick whatever's convenient, as long as you can stick to it. For bags aligned with the stars such as our Spica talismans or Aldebaran pouches, once a month, when the Moon conjoins the star is appropriate.
What do I do with the request paper after the task is achieved?
Burn it! Tear it up and spread it to the winds! Throw it out. Whatever works. I like using the ashes of burnt petitions and requests to add power to the powders I sprinkle on or around my talismans.
Do I have to keep my talisman fed even when I'm not using it?
No! If you need the talisman to accomplish something for you, wake it up like described above and tell it that you need it to complete this one task for you before it is discharged again.
Where do I store the bag?
Most bags are better carried on the person or placed strategically in one's space, but money or road-opening bags can be left on money altars or with any spellwork. Planetary, astrological, and elemental talismans can be left on altars corresponding to their ruler, or left on other altars to contribute its action to the work. I leave my Spica bottle and charm bag on my Jupiter altar, for guidance in business. My rabbit's paw charm is typically in a bowl of dry oats and alfalfa flowers on my main altar, and my Aldebaran pouch is stored in silk.
How do I make my own bags?
That's a secret for later! See the following list for more resources on the topic of charm bags, mojos, etc...!
Further Study:
Disclaimer: I am not African-American, nor do I have any claim to expertise in the realm of Hoodoo or Southern folk magical practices. These are just some of the books which helped cement my understanding of what magical bags and bag-crafting are as an act of magic. We, as modern North American witches, owe an incredible debt to practitioners of African Traditional Religions and African-American folk practices for the incredible work they have done to bolster and cement magic in America. Please consider donating to the Red Cross or any relief fund to help the New Orleans community heal from the damage of hurricane Ida.
The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags: 100 Mystical Formulas for Success, Love, Wealth, and Wellbeing by Elhoim Leafar
Six Ways: Approaches & Entries for Practical Magic by Aidan Wachter
Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird
Working Conjure: A Guide to Hoodoo Folk Magic by Hoodoo Sen Moise
Blood in the Bayou: A Record of the Operations and Blessed Techniques of a Doctor of Conjure-Work by Docteur Sureaux
Viridarium Umbris by Daniel A. Schulke