Description
Railroad Spike (7″) is a famous and highly respected curio in hoodoo, rootwork, and conjure traditions. Believed to embody the strength of forged iron and the power of momentum from the trains they once secured, railroad spikes are traditionally used in rituals to “nail down” property, ensuring stability, protection, and long-term security.
Just like coffin nails and square-cut nails, railroad spikes are more than mere iron tools: they carry symbolic weight, linking the worker to themes of endurance, permanence, and immovability. Their rust, weathering, and history of use make them spiritually potent, as many rootworkers believe that items which have “lived” or “worked” already carry far greater energy than new, untouched substitutes.
Traditional Beliefs and Uses
The most famous use of the railroad spike is to secure one’s home or land. Within hoodoo communities, it is believed that a property can be “nailed down” by driving spikes into its corners, anchoring it so that no landlord, mortgage company, or outside force can take it away.
This ritual is performed by hammering one spike into each corner of the lot (or more, if the land has an irregular shape). The spikes may be dressed with oils such as:
- Fiery Wall of Protection Oil (for guarding against harm),
- Peaceful Home Oil (for maintaining domestic harmony), or
- House Blessing Oil (for securing spiritual peace within the dwelling).
Workers often pray aloud while hammering the spikes, speaking their petition in their own words or reciting scripture. Psalm 1 is frequently chosen, with its verse: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” In cases of eviction or foreclosure threats, Psalm 18 may also be recited, calling on the Lord as rock and fortress to shield the home.
Variations on the Home Protection Spell
Some traditions describe placing a silver dime on top of each spike before driving it into the ground. This symbolises wealth and stability, further rooting the family’s prosperity into the land.
Others cover the spike with graveyard dirt from one’s ancestors, calling on them to defend the property as guardians of the household.
Finally, as an act of symbolic territory-marking, the spike is often “set” with a sprinkling of fresh urine; a gesture likened to animals marking boundaries, ensuring that the land is spiritually claimed.
Law Keep Away Work
For those engaged in illicit activities, folklore records that spikes were sometimes dressed with Law Keep Away Oil and topped with Indian Head pennies instead of dimes. Graveyard dirt from a deceased policeman, particularly a respected figure like a police chief, was used in place of ancestral dirt. The intent was believed to be both protective and watchful: the coins acting as “lookouts,” warning of danger, and the spirit of the policeman tempering the attitude of living officers.
Agricultural Prosperity
Railroad spikes are also recorded in agricultural work. A Catholic practitioner interviewed in New Orleans in 1938 described taking a spike from the tracks, burning a white candle and saying a novena over it, then burying it under the doorway for nine days. Afterwards, the spike was reburied in the centre of a field. This was believed to ensure a strong harvest, better corn, taller cotton, and flourishing crops. The spike, infused with prayer, was thought to root fertility into the land itself.
Symbolism of Railroad Spikes
Railroad spikes are essentially oversized nails, but their origin in the railway system gives them unique symbolic power. Trains represent an unstoppable force, constant motion, and enduring paths across vast distances. Spikes that held these tracks in place are thus believed to embody steadfastness, binding, and strength.
Like coffin nails, they are rusted iron, iron itself being considered protective and strong in African American folk belief, with the rust linking them to decay, finality, and permanence. However, while coffin nails are typically tied to baneful work and death, railroad spikes are more often linked to anchoring, fixing, and securing, protective rather than destructive.
Collection and Authenticity
Traditionally, spikes were collected directly from railway lines. However, removing spikes from active tracks is illegal and dangerous, as missing spikes can cause derailments with devastating consequences. Folklore notes that some workers took spikes from abandoned or disused tracks, though this is also considered theft.
The recommended and safest way is to obtain spikes from refurbished track sites, where the old lines have been replaced. These used, weathered spikes are considered highly potent, far more so than new ones bought unused from hardware stores.
Spiritual Safeguards
Although railroad spikes are most often used for protective and stabilising purposes, they are still powerful iron curios. As with all strong works, practitioners may choose to follow up with spiritual cleansing or blessing rituals, particularly if graveyard dirt or ancestor petitions are involved. Baths with hyssop herb, recitation of Psalms, or sprinkling holy water over the home are believed to harmonise the protective work with the household’s spiritual well-being.
Ethical Notes
Railroad spikes are regarded as a serious curio. They are not used lightly, but in situations where a worker seeks long-term stability, property security, or protective anchoring. Spiritual communities often emphasise respect, careful prayer, and proper disposal if a spike is ever removed.
Contents: One 7″ Railroad Spike.
Use: External ritual use only. Sold as a curio.
All descriptions reflect traditional beliefs within spiritual communities. Wax Spiritual makes no claims for guaranteed outcomes and does not hold responsibility for the results of ritual or spellwork.
