The Root Doctor

A "root doctor” in the Gullah tradition, a root doctor is a healer.  Unlike medical doctors who treat the body, this doctor’s expertise lies in treating the soul, often dealing with the spirits that disturb the individual. He is a figure of both fear and reverence in the Gullah community, known for his secret knowledge.

In 1765, a desperate family was seeking the root doctor’s help. They were haunted by the ghost of a recently deceased relative who could not find peace. This restless spirit haunted their home, causing disturbances and making his presence known in unnerving ways—doors busting open, glasses shattering. The Gullah family was terrified and turned to the only person who could help them.

The root doctor arrived, carrying a mysterious bag filled with herbs, roots, and other tools of his trade. He listened carefully to the family’s accounts of the haunting and then began his work. Unlike a conventional exorcist, the doctor’s approach was calm and ritualistic. He prepared a special concoction of herbs, speaking incantations that had been passed down through generations. He placed offerings in the home—small gifts meant to appease the spirit and guide it to the afterlife.

While in a trance-like state, the doctor communicated with the spirit. As the ceremony progressed, the house felt heavier, the air thick with the weight of death.  Demonic whispers filled the house as the family trembled.

In the end, the Gullah root doctor was unable to cleanse the house.  The tortured spirit continued to torment the family, and still haunts that property to this very day.

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