Take Matters Into Your Own Hands: How to Write a Petition Paper

Using simply a pen and a grocery bag, you can harness the power of action by writing a petition paper, or name paper, using this simple ritual. 

This tradition comes from Hoodoo, and from a time when the prevalence of brown Kraft paper (that we use for paper bags and wrapping packages) was very commonplace.

Take a brown paper bag and tear the edges by hand or with a pair of scissors. Using paper with torn edges allows the magic to move from the paper to reality. Scissors are appropriate for banishing or for cutting ties. Petition papers should never be machine cut, this is what I’ve heard time and time again, but now this has me waxing philosophical about what a machine is and whether hinged moving blades count as a machine for these purposes. However you feel about it, you’ll also need a marker or ink that is either black or red.

Write the name of your target in the middle three times in ink. This can be someone you want to protect, or your boss if you’re gunning for a promotion, or yourself if you’re drawing something to you.

Turn the paper (either clockwise to draw to you or counter-clockwise to push the energy away) and write it three more times, crossing over the first three. The names should resemble a pound sign or hashtag in shape.

Write your petition in a circle over the top of these crossed words. Some witches prefer to do this without lifting the felt marker off the paper, continuing inward toward the target in the shape of a spiral three times to draw, or outward from the middle to push away.

Requests should be short and sweet, like “Protect them” or “Promote me” or “Shower me in riches.” If you have to make the words overlap to fit three times that is perfectly fine.

To draw your desire toward yourself (as is in the case of wanting a promotion or a request for protection), you will fold the paper toward you and then turn 90 degrees clockwise after each fold. To push the energy away from yourself (in such cases as legal troubles or breaking off a relationship), you will fold it away from yourself and turn counter clockwise each time.

I’ve heard from other practitioners that the choice to lift the pen, or to fold this way or that, matters less than your focus and intent. I believe that they are probably correct, I’ve just always done it this way because the general consensus is this way works.

Once you finish all that you can anoint the paper with oil, or lay a pinch of herbs on top. You may even seal it with a wax stamp in a corresponding color if you like. How much you add to the paper beyond the words written on it is entirely up to you. To activate your petition take your paper or sealed pillow and it can be placed in a mojo bag or spell jar, or set a candle on top of it and light while visualizing your desired outcome. Be sure to place it into a bowl or fireproof plate so we don’t create a fire hazard, and as always, let the fire go out on its own.