Sometimes, John is an African prince (son of a king of Congo), said to have ridden a giant crow called "Old Familiar." He was sold as a slave in the Americas. Despite his enslavement, his spirit was never broken. He survived in folklore as a reluctant folk hero, a sort of trickster figure, because of the tricks he played to evade those who played tricks on him. Joel Chandler Harris's Br'er Rabbit of the Uncle Remus stories is a similar archetype to that of High John the Conqueror, outdoing those who would do him in. Zora Neale Hurston wrote of his adventures ("High John de Conquer") in her folklore collection The Sanctified Church.[6][7][15] In one traditional John the Conqueror story told by Virginia Hamilton, and probably based on "Jean, the Soldier, and Eulalie, the Devil's Daughter", John falls in love with the Devil's daughter. The Devil sets John a number of impossible tasks: he must clear sixty acres (25 ha) of land in half a day and then sow it with corn and reap it in the other half a day. The Devil's daughter furnishes John with a magical axe and plow that get these impossible tasks done but warns John that her father the Devil means to kill him even if he performs them. John and the Devil's daughter steal the Devil's own horses; the Devil pursues them, but they escape his clutches by shapeshifting. In "High John De Conquer", Zora Neale Hurston reports that:[16] like King Arthur of England, he has served his people. And, like King Arthur, he is not dead. He waits to return when his people shall call him again ... High John de Conquer went back to Africa, but he left his power here and placed his American dwelling in the root of a certain plant. Only possess that root, and he can be summoned at any time. 6) Alexander, Leslie; Rucker, Walter (2010). Encyclopedia of African American History. ABC-CLIO. p. 207. ISBN 9781851097692.7) "Chapter 4 "Winning [Our] War from Within": Moving beyond Resistance". The Politics of Black Joy: Zora Neale Hurston and Neo-Abolitionism: 103–104. JSTOR j.ctv1wd02rr.12. Retrieved July 13, 2023. 15) Hurston, Zora Neale (1981). The Sanctified Church. Berkeley: Turtle Island. pp. 6, 10, 16–19. ISBN 9780913666449.16) Hurston, Zora Neale (October 1943). "High John De Conquer". The American Mercury: 450–458. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror#Folk_hero We make no claims as to the use of our products for any purpose. Therefore, you are advised to use your good sense. The Witch Depot cannot guarantee the outcome of any spiritual work done using our products. Our products are only an aid for your spiritual work. All the information provided is for reference only! Do not use if allergic to any of the ingredients. Consult your physician before using essential oils if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant or have other medical concerns. There’s no scientific proof that crystals have any significant effect on energy, emotions, or mental health. Don’t replace medical treatment for anxiety, depression, and other diagnosable conditions with crystals. Instead, use them to create a sense of being grounded and centered while also following your doctor’s or psychologist’s advice. Sold as curio only. Research before using any spiritual products.
