Backwoods Witchcraft | Free Book

Backwoods Witchcraft | Free Book

Steven Lv12
Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia
Publisher:Red Wheel Weiser
Published:June 2019
ISBN:9781633411111
Title:Backwoods Witchcraft
Author:Jake Richards; Starr Casas (other)
Imprint:Weiser Books
Language:English
Number of Pages:256

In Backwoods Witchcraft, Jake Richards offers up a folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts that he learned from his great-grandmother, his grandmother, and his grandfather, a Baptist minister who Jake remembers could "rid someone of a fever with an egg or stop up the blood in a wound." The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the seen and unseen beings that inhabit the land as well as the soil, roots, and plant life.

The materials and tools used in Appalachia witchcraft are readily available from the land. This "grounded approach" will be of keen interest to witches and conjure folk regardless of where they live. Readers will be guided in how to build relationships with the spirits and other beings that dwell around them and how to use the materials and tools that are readily available on the land where one lives.

This book also provides instructions on how to create a working space and altar and make conjure oils and powders. A wide array of tried-and-true formulas are also offered for creating wealth, protecting one from gossip, spiritual cleansing, and more.


In The Press

"Richards, owner of and folk magic teacher at Little Chicago Conjure in Jonesborough, Tenn., presents the charms, conjures, and culture of Appalachia in this enjoyable book meant to “piece together lost works and ways” he was taught by his great-grandmother. Raised in a family with a variety of spiritual influences—including African, European, and Native traditions—Richards paints a very personal portrait of his childhood spiritual education. At home, rituals and superstitions were not thought of as a specific magic system, but rather activities woven into everyday life, which is reflected in Richards’s rambling, conversational style. He organizes the wealth of material into categories that explore how to make use of tools (ribbon, yarn), techniques (fortune telling, reading omens), and remedies (cures for physical and spiritual ailments). For Richards, following natural cycles and engaging in activities such as gardening, farming, and hunting keep him “close to the rhythms and seasons of the hills.” Though seemingly at odds, the Christian religion plays a prominent role in Appalachian magic; Bible verses become templates for spells, and references to God, Jesus Christ, and the saints appear throughout the rituals. Richards lovingly, thoughtfully provides a rare look into the heritage of his people that will appeal to any reader interested in American folk spirituality." --Publishers Weekly, (June 2019)


About the Author

While Jake Richards doesn't hold initiations, titles, or degrees, he clearly does hold his Appalachian heritage close to his blood and bones. He has practiced Appalachian folk magic for almost a decade and teaches classes on the subject in Jonesborough, Tennessee, where he owns Little Chicago Conjure, a supplier of Appalachian folk magic supplies and ingredients.   Starr Casas, a veteran rootworker and traditional conjure woman, has been helping people for over 35 years through her ancestral art of old style conjure. She is one of the preeminent modern masters of this southern American style of folk magic, and she maintains an active teaching schedule. Starr is also among the organizers of the annual New Orleans Folk Magic Festival. Visit her at www.oldstyleconjure.com.

  • Title: Backwoods Witchcraft | Free Book
  • Author: Steven
  • Created at : 2024-10-20 23:00:43
  • Updated at : 2024-10-27 06:02:12
  • Link: https://novels-ebooks.techidaily.com/138619861-9781633411111-backwoods-witchcraft/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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Backwoods Witchcraft | Free Book