Root witchcraft, also known as rootwork or conjure, is a practice deeply rooted in African-American spiritual traditions. It is a form of folk magic that has been passed down through generations, often blending elements of African, Native American, and European traditions. The term "root" refers to the use of herbs, roots, and other natural materials in spellwork and rituals. Rootworkers, or practitioners of root witchcraft, believe in the power of these natural substances to tap into spiritual energies and bring about desired outcomes. Root witchcraft is practiced with the intention of healing, protection, love, prosperity, and other positive outcomes. It involves the use of charms, talismans, sigils, and other symbolic objects to channel and direct energy.
Staff writer Lisa Jacobs contributed to this report.
Jon Wee, half of the juggling comedy act The Passing Zone, said at the meeting that he has lived in Hermosa Beach for more than 25 years and has performed at the club even longer. But it s too early to determine when construction will start, how long the project will take or when the club might reopen, said founder and owner Mike Lacey.
It involves the use of charms, talismans, sigils, and other symbolic objects to channel and direct energy. The practice often incorporates rituals, such as lighting candles, creating spiritual baths, and making mojo bags or gris-gris. One key aspect of root witchcraft is the belief in the interconnectedness of all things and the presence of ancestral spirits.
Jay leno comedy and magci club
The iconic Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach — where comedy legends such as Jay Leno, George Carlin and Jerry Seinfeld once performed — could soon be filled will laughter once again.
The iconic club, which has been shuttered for nearly two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, recently received unanimous approval from the city’s Planning Commission for substantial renovations.
The beloved club, which has hosted comics and magicians since 1978, will add 100 seats to its main showroom — for 350 total — and enclose a patio at an adjacent lounge area.
But it’s too early to determine when construction will start, how long the project will take or when the club might reopen, said founder and owner Mike Lacey.
Lacey, when reached by phone on Monday, Feb. 21, declined to provide details about the club’s plans because the Planning Commission’s decision was so recent, happening last week.
“I’m just reviewing my options,” Lacey said. “I have to sort out what the next step is.”
Lacey, at the Tuesday, Feb. 15, commission meeting, said many people contacted him to ask when the club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., would reopen.
Representatives from nonprofits the club has supported over the years and Leno himself reached out, Lacey said at the meeting. Leno was once a Sunday regular at the club, where he tried out new material when he hosted “The Tonight Show.”
“’We want to come back to work, we missed the salmon,’” Lacey quoted comics who have reached out as saying. “‘Can we come in again?’”
To expand the showroom area, the plan calls for removing employee offices that are behind the main stage. The main stage will then be moved north to accommodate the extra 100 seats.
The famed green room, where the comics chat and wait until they hit the stage, will remain as is, Lacey said at the meeting. For decades, performers have left their mark in ink on the green room’s walls.
“The green room will always remain untouched,” Lacey said. “It’s really a very special place with all the signatures.”
Comedian Jay Leno backstage at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach in this undated file photo. Leno performed many of his stand-up routines at the club over the years, some of them on Sunday when he’d try out new material for his host job on the “The Tonight Show.” Behind Leno are signatures on a cinder block wall of comedians who performed at the club. (Photo by Steve McCrank)
The Lounge, another performance space with an adjacent restaurant, will have its patio enclosed as part of the renovation.
Lacey also received approval to expand what the club can be used for.
The club had operated under a conditional use permit that dictated comedy or theatrical productions comprise “50% of the operating time of the main showroom,” according to the staff report. The Planning Commission approved removing that permit.
Lacey and city staff, in a report, agreed the condition was “overly restrictive.”
Removing that restriction will allow business people staying at local hotels to use the club for meeting space.
“Hermosa Beach hotels have limited conference and meeting rooms needed for group sales,” a staff report said. “Added flexibility will allow activation of the space during non-peak hours and also help attract new hotel business to the City.”
While the application Lacey submitted to the Planning Commission did not ask for extended hours, he did bring up the possibility during Tuesday’s meeting.
The club, under current rules, must close at 1 a.m.
Officials seemed open to the idea — though the club’s California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control license bans dancing on the premises after 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday — while also expressing some reservations about later hours.
Since a number of bars on Pier and Hermosa avenues start closing around 1:45 a.m., Hermosa Beach Police Chief Paul LeBaron said, there was a concern about the club closing around the same time.
But, he added, that concern wasn’t directed at Lacey’s business, since it has had no calls for service since it opened more than four decades ago.
“I want to stress this has nothing to do specifically with his business, but it is a concern that we have, it’s something that we will certainly try to address,” LeBaron said. “But I also look into the future, and I’m always concerned that we have too many places letting out after any type of alcohol consumption, where there might be potential for problems.”
Practitioners may work with their ancestors and seek their guidance and protection. They may also call upon the spirits of plants, animals, and other elements of nature for assistance. Root witchcraft is deeply entrenched in African-American culture and has played a significant role in the history of the African diaspora. Slaves and their descendants used rootwork as a means of resistance and empowerment in the face of oppression. It served as a way to maintain a connection with their African roots and preserve traditional spiritual practices. Today, root witchcraft continues to be practiced by many African-Americans and people of diverse backgrounds who are drawn to its practical and spiritual aspects. It has gained popularity in recent years, with a renewed interest in folk magic and alternative spiritual practices. In conclusion, root witchcraft is a form of folk magic that combines African, Native American, and European traditions. It involves the use of natural materials and rituals to channel spiritual energy for positive outcomes. Root witchcraft is deeply rooted in African-American culture and has been used as a means of empowerment and resistance throughout history..
Reviews for "Harmonizing with Nature: The Philosophy of Root Witchcraft"
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