Ablack cat bone is a type oflucky charm used in themagical tradition ofhoodoo. It is thought to ensure a variety of positive effects, such asinvisibility, goodluck, protection frommalevolent magic, rebirth after death, and romantic success.[1]
...I got a black cat bone,
I got amojo too,
I got theJohn the Conqueror root,
I'm gonna mess with you...
The bone, anointed with Van Van oil, may be carried as a component of amojo bag; alternatively, without the coating of oil, it is held in the charm-user's mouth.[2]
Theblack cat has been a symbol of both good and ill luck in near-worldwide folklore accounts. Magical traditions involving black catbones, specifically, have been found inGerman-Canadian practice as well as in hoodoo; these German-Canadian magic-makers were not previously in contact with hoodooists, suggesting a European origin to the charm.[2]
The use of the black cat bone to ensure invisibility, specifically as an aid to people, is comparable to the EuropeanHand of Glory.[3]
After a black cat is caught, it is almost universally boiled alive in a pot of water at midnight, so that its bones may be more easily looked over by the practitioner. One particular bone, special to each individual cat, contains all the magical efficacy alone. This part of the ritual comes from the European magical text, theBook of Saint Cyprian.[4]
A variety of rituals and methods are used to determine which bone is the right one, and preparation before the cat's slaughter can vary according to tradition.
One method of obtaining a black cat bone, described inZora Neale Hurston'sMules and Men, involves a period offasting before the actual catching of the animal. After the standard boiling of the cat's corpse, each bone is tasted by the hoodooist, who then selects the firstbitter-tasting bone as the correct one.[5]
Another way to determine the magical bone, though it is otherwise similar in procedure, involves amirror. When the reflection of the bone becomes dark, the hoodoo practitioner will know that it is the right one. A variation of this method is also practiced on theSea Islands, where the one bone that does not reflect in the mirror is believed to be magical.[2]
Yet another method of determining which bone is the correct one is to dump all the bones into a river. The bone that floats upstream is to be considered the bone of choice.
Contemporaryhoodoo supply shops sell items labeled "black cat bones", usually small bones taken from achicken and dyed black.[3] Contemporary hoodoo, Wiccan, and other metaphysical supply shops use black catfur for black cat magic, instead of bones.[4]
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