Railroad spikes are tools for protection and grounding. While iron and steel have traditionally been used for protection and defensive folk magick, the use of railroad spikes (made of iron/steel) as spiritual tools were popularized by Hoodoo traditions. Hoodoo is a spiritual practice/folk religion created by enslaved African Americans in the southern United States around the 1870's [5]. This is also around the time that transcontinental railroad construction started to pick up speed in the US, thus railroad spikes would be more readily available [7].
Railroad spikes already hold value being made of iron or steel, but they also gain a lot of value being used. Used spikes are infused with the powerful energy of the trains that run over them, so old railroad spikes hold more value. However, remember that it is illegal to take or remove spikes from railroad tracks. Not only is this theft, but this can cause trains to derail which can be deadly.
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Uses of Railroad Spikes
Railroad spikes (best in pairs or quartets) have many protective uses. As mentioned, iron and steel (being some of the most atomically stable structures) have been used for protection in many spiritual practices throughout history [3]. For example, you can see this with old cemetery fences and gates, as it is believed that spirits are unable to cross iron [6]. This keeps the negative spirits in and prevents necromancers from using spirits against their will. Around family burials and mausoleums, this iron coffin nails can also help keep the peace. Some people clash iron nails together to clear the energy of a space, or magnetize them to open and shut spiritual portals. Railroad spikes, as a form of iron/steel nails, can also be used in these ways.
If you have 1 spike, you can use them in spells to inspire ambition and endurance. They could be used as an athame or wand in banishing rituals, or their weight also makes them good for grounding rituals.
If you have 2 spikes, you can wrap them together to form a cross and hang over the entrance or door of a space to ward off negative energy from entering, similar to cemetery gates.
If you have 4 spikes, you can place them or hammer them down in the 4 corners of your property to bring stability and protection to everything within their parameters. Similar to coffin nails, here they act as curios to "nails down" your property/home and is very helpful keeping it safe from thieves, trespassers, and landlords [2][4][8].
NOTE: Working under a waxing moon may also increase protective energy [2].
Care of Railroad Spikes
Railroad spikes already hold energy being made of iron or steel, and used spikes are infused with the energy of the trains that run over them for years, so they don't really need to be recharged. However, it is still important to maintain all of your spiritual tools. If you think they need to be cleansed, you can dig them into the ground under a waxing moon and let them recharge [2]. Cleansing them with fire or smoke also seems to be a popular method [2][8]. Don't be worried to see rust or dirt on them, this just shows their use and age, adding to their energy.
Spell Ideas
There is no singular right way to use spiritual tools like railroad spikes in your practices, but if you are looking for a few specific spell ideas, here are some I found:
Spell to Avoid Foreclosure or Eviction: Catherine Yronwode [4][6]
Supplies:
- 1 spike for each corner of your property
- protective oil (ex. Fiery Wall of Protection, Peaceful Home, House Blessing, or Law Keep Away oil)
- hammer (or mallet)
- optional: 1 silver dime or copper coin for each spike
- optional: graveyard dirt (from ancestor's burial grounds)
First, dress your spikes with the anointing oil of your choosing. Different oils can be used to enhance or add to the spell, although you could use any oil you have available. Just make sure to focus your intentions on the outcome you wish to see while anointing.
Pray or meditate over the spikes, working from the heart. You could use whichever prayers speak to you and the spell, such as Psalms 1 or Psalms 18, or you could make up your own asking for security and peace of place.
Drive each railroad spike into ground using your hammer while envisioning the protective energies of the spikes.
If you want, you can strengthen the spell by placing a silver dime or copper coin on top of each spike and/or covering them with (legally attained) dirt from the burial place of your ancestors. This can help call upon them to protect your family's home or property.
Similar to an animal marking their property, set your spell in place by urinating on the spikes and then you are good to go.
Spell for Better Crops: Harry Hyatt's Informant #828 (New Orleans, March 1938) [4]
Supplies:
- 1 railroad spike
- white candle
Burn a white candle over a railroad spike while saying a novena prayer.It might be best to repeat the prayer 9 times, but do as you feel is right.
Once the candle is burnt out, bury the spike under your doorsteps with head up and the point down.
Leave the spike buried for nine days, giving it time to be walked and run over as it would on the tracks, then remove it from the ground.
Bring the spike as close to the center of your field as you can then bury it again, deep enough so you won't plow it and cultivation won't bring it up. Leave it there to have better, bigger, and taller crops.
Spell for General Home Protection: Najah Lightfoot [2]
Supplies:
- 1 railroad spike
- olive oil or protective oil
- flowerpot
- potting soil
- plant, preferable a protective one (ex. clover, marigolds, chamomile)
- white candle
Anoint a white candle and railroad spike with your protective oil of choice.
Light the candle to carefully pass the spike over the flame while chanting "Railroad spike, iron strong, protect my home all year long". Take extra precaution as oil is highly flammable and oil fires cannot be put out with water.
Bury the spike vertically in a pot and pot a plant on top of it. Protective plants, such as clover, marigolds, and chamomile work best, but use whichever you like, taking into account which are safe around pets if you have them.
Allow the candle to burn out then place the pot in a visible space outside and maintain the plant to maintain the spell.
Spell for General Home Protection: Papa J [8]
Supplies:
- 2 or 4 railroad spikes
- Epsom salt
- alcohol (ex. rubbing alcohol, Florida water)
- fireproof container
- lighter
- protective oil (ex. Holy Oil, St. Michael Oil)
- red yard or thread (if you have 2 spikes)
First, heat up the railroad spikes to wake them up with a ritual of fire. Start by finding a safe space outside that is not flammable. Add 1 part Epsom salt and 1 part alcohol to a fireproof container and ignite.
Pass the spikes over the fire (a living symbol of spirit) and call on Archangel Michael if you see fit.
Let the fire burn out and the spikes cool, then anoint the spikes with your protective oil of choice.
If you have 2 spikes, wrap them together with red yarn or thread and pray Psalms 91 three times. Hang the cross above a door to protect the threshold.
If you have 4 spikes, hammer them down in the 4 corners of your property to keep dangerous spirits away.
Making a Stability String: Rachel Samek [3]
Supplies:
- 1 railroad spike
- unbroken twine
- salt or dirt
- something to cleanse the spike and space (ex. incense, chime, Selenite)
With a comfortable and focused mind, cleanse a railroad spike in whichever way you see fit (such as with Selenite or smoke).
Wrap a long, unbroken length of twine around the spike, fully covering it or or creating a pattern. Tuck in remaining end, don’t knot it.
If you have one, place the wrapped spike on your altar. If not, just set a calm vibe in your space. Use incense or a chime if you'd like.
Encircle the spike with salt or dirt and inject your energy into it. Traditionally, you could recite a psalm (like Psalm 1), but you can also pray to yourself or whisper something simple like “I dedicate this spike to spiritual protection, may it protect ___”.
Remove the twine and transfer your new stability string to wherever you want to add security. For example, you could tie it to gate for warding dangerous people or a bedpost for warding nightmares, you could make jewelry for daily grounding, or you could wear it to a interview to bring peace of mind.
NOTE: This is not a rule book to spiritual tools. Any advice contained and all spiritual practices are to be done with the user's intuition and at the user's discretion. If you are concerned about your health, please seek professional medical attention.
Written by Mari Rivera, August 27, 2024 - Updated September 11, 2024
Credits: [1] Faer, Mariesa and Ioannis Tsiokos. "Hoodoo vs Voodoo". Medium, 30 August 2016, https://medium.com/@ioannis.tsiokos/hoodoo-vs-voodoo-c9da8d5c193b. Accessed 24 July 2024. [2] Lightfoot, Najah. "Spell: Home Protection". Llewellyn, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd, 6 May 2017, https://www.llewellyn.com/spell.php?spell_id=6695. Accessed 23 July 2024.
[3] Samek, Rachel. "Railroad spike spell for stability". gritchenwitch, 1 February 2023, https://rachelsamek.com/instagramindex/2023/2/1/railroad-spike-spell-for-stability. Accessed 23 July 2024.
[4] Yronwode, Catherine. "Railroad Spikes". Hoodoo in Theory and Practice, The Lucky Mojo Curio Co, 2019, https://www.luckymojo.com/railroadspike.html. Accessed 24 July 2024. [5] “Hoodoo (spirituality).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 13 August 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(spirituality). Accessed 22 August 2024. [6] "Railroad Spikes and Their Protective Properties". Spellbound, 14 January 2022, https://www.trulyspellbound.com/post/railroad-spikes-and-their-protective-properties. Accessed 24 July 2024.
[7] “Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900: Railroads in the Late 19th Century". The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-1900/railroads-in-late-19th-century/. Accessed 22 August 2024. [8] conjuremanj. "Railroad Spikes For Home Protection Using Fire". Papa J, Tumblr, 25 March 2023, https://www.tumblr.com/conjuremanj/712777814191030272/railroad-spikes. Accessed 24 July 2024.