The word Mojo is said to either derive from the Yoruba term "mojuba" (to give praise) or the Congo word "mooyo" (soul), depending upon who you ask.
I myself am not affluent in any African language, so I leave that speculation up to others.
To me, a Mojo is a living creature. The mojo does have a soul of it's own.
A mojo hand is a (usually) red bag, containing various plant, animal, and mineral matter; assembled with certain prayers and conjurations meant to draw, repel, protection, or reverse certain influences in your life.
I take three days to make my mojos. I don't know of any other individuals who do, but that's how I prefer to do it.
I first, light a candle for the intentions of the individual. I burn one for each of the three days of the operation, during the times in which I am working.
The first day, I cut the cloth with the intentions of the individual for whom I am working. As I stitch the cloth together, I recite the person's name and their desires with every stitch. After this is done, I lay the bag upon the altar.
The second day, I gather all the materials I need to place inside the bag and speak to each one, calling it by name and telling it what I want it to do for me. I sprinkle all these ingredients with either a wash, an oil, a powder, or whiskey, depending on the situation. I place this material as well upon the altar.
The third day I place the materials inside the bag, chanting the name and desires of the individual for whom it is made. I close the mojo properly (a mojo should never, ever be tied in a knot) and baptise it with a name.
After these steps are done, and only then, will I mojo is ready to me given to the person.
