Witchy Being: A Hoodoo Halloween Special
Unique Jones in conversation with Sophia Stopper with introduction by Gabriella Peña
Featured Artist: Unique Jones
Intro: Gabriella Peña
Interviewer: Sophia Stopper
The Neighbors is Wrapping up a successful October with a Q&A Segment organized by Co-Director and Editorial Director, Sophia Stopper, centering featured creative talent: Unique Jones. Our Hoodoo Halloween Special features a photographer of the witchy variety, intrigued by the spiritual, and capturing magic and botanicals with her weapon of choice, a Fujifilm-xt5. In the interview with Sophia, Unique shared with us an array of expertly taken photography, which we encourage readers to view on the published segment. One such piece Unique likes to focus on the beautiful and the fleeting, quoted as saying about her work, “capturing other people is [my] favorite part of photography.” (UJ).
Unique is a practicer of Hoodoo, “a spiritual system with roots derived from Africa. Hoodoo involves the venerations of one’s ancestors. Hoodoo was practiced by enslaved Africans and passed down to their descendants. I want to make it very clear that Hoodoo is in fact a closed tradition! It is meant for African Americans who are direct descendants of slaves.” (UJ). The practice holds sacred African traditions, and involves herbalism, spiritual cleansing, mojo’s, and rituals. Direct descendants of enslaved peoples have kept the traditions and practices alive as a way to honor their heritage and the spirituality within themselves. Unique states that when she began practicing Hoodoo, “It was like [I] found the missing puzzle piece.” (UJ). The impact of Hoodoo on Unique’s life has absolutely made its way into her artistic ventures.
Gardening and herbalism is a way Unique grounds herself in her spiritual practices, and honors her spirituality. Going by the label of Urban Witch, she hopes to bring healing back to her community in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA through her herbalism and natural practices.
She is quoted as saying, “Ya girl is from the hood, okay! And I think there’s power in showing others that spirituality doesn’t have to be limited by location or circumstance. The witchcraft that you see online is usually aesthetically pleasing! You don’t need much to make something shake. Always be resourceful and work with what you have!” (UJ). Unique Jones is an inspirational force in the creative and spiritual world, advocating for the merit in practicing witchcraft, and being in tune with the natural world around you.
Sophia Stopper: Unique! So great to have you at The Neighbors News! You are a fascinating being and it’s a privilege to interview you. So you’re a photographer. Please show us and tell us the stories of some of your favorite photographs you’ve taken over the years.
Unique Jones: I lost my old SD cards from my first Canon camera but here are my favorite flicks I’ve taken with my Fujifilm-xt5!
SS: Your spiritualism is honorable. How do you embody Hoodoo? How does Hoodoo give you a sense of control as it has with conjurers throughout history?
UJ: I’ve been practicing Hoodoo since I was 16, and honestly, I believe it saved my life. At the time, I was deeply conflicted, questioning my faith in god, angry at the world, and almost ready to give up. If god exists why is there so much strife? This was a question I’d ask myself constantly and it was one of the main causes of my perpetual melancholy. I was on the verge of being an atheist. Once I came across hoodoo and the topic of ancestral veneration something clicked for me. I set up my altar and my life has shifted in the best way possible. I didn’t denounce god at all, but ancestral veneration made a lot more sense to me. It was like I found the missing puzzle piece. I’m 25 now and hoodoo is a way of life, it’s become engrained into my daily rituals. My practice keeps me whole, keeps me hopeful, and I find that the root of hoodoo is about liberation. Making the conscious choice to shift the tides in my favor by working with roots, herbs and my ancestors. Hoodoo reminds me that I am not powerless.
SS: How do you channel the spirits and energy around you? How do you read their signals to you?
UJ: I connect with my ancestors by tending to the land and following my natural pull toward herbs. About two years ago, I learned that several of my paternal ancestors owned land and were farmers. That revelation made so many of my dreams and visions make sense. I had often dreamt of gardening and working the land long before I ever consciously pursued it. I communicate with my ancestors through divination and by keeping a record of the dreams and signs I receive. Dreaming is one of my favorite ways to connect, it’s when I feel most receptive to messages from the other side.
SS: What does the “Urban Witch” title mean to you? How do you feel it could empower others?
UJ: Ya girl is from the hood okay! and I think there’s power in showing others that spirituality doesn’t have to be limited by location or circumstance. The witchcraft that you see online is usually aesthetically pleasing! You don’t need much to make something shake. Always be resourceful and work with what you have!
SS: Tell us about Urban Roots Botanicals. What products or services are you developing for the future?
UJ: I plan on offering teas, tinctures and spiritual products in the future. I have a very exciting project I’m working on right now, I don’t want to reveal too much but the main ingredient for my first public offering is black walnuts. It’s been a labor of love and I can’t wait to share it! Stay tuned!
SS: What sparked your interest in herbalism? What events led you to pursue herbalism? And how do you feel practicing herbalism has changed your life?
UJ: My spiritual practice has always been rooted in plants and nature, so stepping into herbalism felt like a natural progression. I dream of one day having my own plot of land where I can grow herbs and produce to share freely with my community, and create space for local youth to explore and nurture their own connection to the earth. Building a deeper relationship with nature feels more essential now than ever. There’s so much research on the mental and physical benefits of gardening, and living in an area with limited green spaces, I feel called to help bring some of that healing energy back into my neighborhood.
SS: How does your gardening practice feed your herbalism practice? Do you grow any specific plants you would like to tell us about? What kind of plants would you recommend for a gardening beginner?
UJ: Gardening allows me to truly understand where my herbs come from and to build a deeper relationship with the plants I work with, something I believe is essential. I believe that plants are sentient beings that offer us so much more than simple nourishment; they teach, heal, and communicate in their own ways. I grow herbs that support my spiritual and healing practices, but I always tell beginners to start simple connect with what’s local and what naturally calls to you. This approach not only helps you learn about your environment but also strengthens your intuitive connection to the earth. Here are some plants that I’ve built a relationship with this gardening season.
