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Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia
“This book stands as a valuable addition to the growing library of works on the lived experiences of Appalachians and how folk magic continues to be a valuable part of their cultural identity. I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as I do. Long live Appalachia!”
—Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft
In an ode to her Appalachian roots and ancestors, known and unknown, of blood and kin, Leah Middleton, the Redheaded Witch, tells the stories of the grandfathers who had dirt under their fingernails from farming, the grandmothers who bled while sewing their garments, the relatives who decided to take a leap of faith and pave a new path, the ones who passed away too young, and the fellow practitioners and healers who showed her the way. It is a work of veneration to keep their spirits alive. If you share similar roots or find yourself creating new ones, this magical book is a hand to welcome you home. Explore the superstitions of the mountains, the healing charms of doctors, and the folk beliefs of witchery. Wander down shadowy paths lined with rhododendrons, uncovering the hidden corners where charms are whispered and prayers are spoken. Uncover the superstitions captured in this region that have inspired magical workings for protection and healing. Learn to walk the witch’s path as a rite conducted with reverence and solemnity.
Appalachia is a place where the lines between the mundane and the magical are blurred, and Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers offers readers exquisite insight into the enduring lore and magic of the region.
—Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft
In an ode to her Appalachian roots and ancestors, known and unknown, of blood and kin, Leah Middleton, the Redheaded Witch, tells the stories of the grandfathers who had dirt under their fingernails from farming, the grandmothers who bled while sewing their garments, the relatives who decided to take a leap of faith and pave a new path, the ones who passed away too young, and the fellow practitioners and healers who showed her the way. It is a work of veneration to keep their spirits alive. If you share similar roots or find yourself creating new ones, this magical book is a hand to welcome you home. Explore the superstitions of the mountains, the healing charms of doctors, and the folk beliefs of witchery. Wander down shadowy paths lined with rhododendrons, uncovering the hidden corners where charms are whispered and prayers are spoken. Uncover the superstitions captured in this region that have inspired magical workings for protection and healing. Learn to walk the witch’s path as a rite conducted with reverence and solemnity.
Appalachia is a place where the lines between the mundane and the magical are blurred, and Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers offers readers exquisite insight into the enduring lore and magic of the region.
- GenresNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 20, 2025
A wonderful exploration of the magic in Appalachia written by someone you can just tell loves this region with all their heart and soul. It’s so unique in its approach of exploring the history and the perhaps more complex parts, paving the way to be openly spoken about more. I especially loved the personal touch and UPG, the author does not just repeat what you may find in other books, but shares her own experience and magic. Definitely recommend!
December 23, 2025
Over the past couple of years, there has been a resurgence of folk magic, especially among those of Appalachia. Multiple books have been published on the subject as many of us here in the States turn away from closed practices and attempt to reconnect with our ancestors. For many white people in the US, we struggle with cultural identity. We aren't at home here, but neither are we at home in our ancestral lands. We are a people caught betwix and between, seeking culture and connection in a land we don't belong to and in a country that has long favored rugged individualism. Those of us caught in this crisis are desperately searching for that missing piece, a piece I, too, have been searching for. For me, it has taken the form of Norse paganism and Scottish witchcraft, blended with traditions and folklore my family has passed down for generations, some of which hail from Appalachia, the place I have called home for 35 years.
Middleton, like me, spent her life among these beautiful mountains, immersed in the culture that makes Appalachia one of a kind. In Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia, Leah Middleton joins a host of other authors, including H. Byron Ballard, Cory Thomas Hutcheson, Rebecca Beyer, Orion Foxwood, and Jake Richards, bringing light to the long-practiced traditions, folklore, and spellwork of Appalachia. Like other practices, Appalachian folk witchery is a beautiful melting pot of cultures and traditions, which Middleton explores through folk tales, historical documents, and personal experience.
Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is less of a practice spellbook and more of a dive into the practices found in Appalachia, covering everything from the history of the area to the superstitions and folk tales told amongst its people. This dive into the history of Appalachia truly sets the tone for the entire book, helping to dispel the idea that the Appalachian region is less diverse and less deserving of our time and empathy than other areas. As someone who has lived here almost her entire life, I agree with Middleton. We are a diverse people who value community, family, and the land, contrary to what some people in popular media would have you believe. I appreciate Middleton's approach and hope that by picking up her work, you, too, will come to love this region as much as I do. On top of this, Middleton makes a stark distinction between witchcraft and folk magic: "Folk magic is the result of regional and cultural beliefs related to superstitions, customs, and religion."
You'll notice she specifically mentions "religion" in her definition, and honestly, I think that is one of the most important aspects of Appalachian folk magic. Christianity, as Middleton discusses, has left a tremendous mark on the faith of the area and how magic is practiced within the region. Very few people within the region would dare to call themselves a witch, but they practice magic nonetheless. Middleton offers a host of ways to make the Christian-influenced practices more "heretical," something I deeply appreciated. I know many witches struggle with the scars left from Christianity, and don't necessarily want to bring it back into their lives. Middleton offers animistic alternatives and suggestions, teaching the reader how to turn Christian practices more pagan.
Apart from traditional history and folklore, Middleton also delves into folk art, music, superstitions, and folk healing. I am not going to lie, I ate this information up. Some of it was new, and some of it was traditions I grew up with. For example, my mother collects local folk pottery, especially those with faces. We had a blue bottle tree in our yard for protection, neighbors painted their porch ceilings haint blue (we did not have a porch growing up, but my mother painted blue near the front door or included blue bottles near the door as "decoration"), iron horseshoes were hung in the home, and we always ate black-eyed peas on New Year's for good luck. We used red ribbon and string to protect us while out in the woods, licked our fingers and drew a cross upon the sight of a black cat, and blew on our burns three times while saying a prayer to help them heal. Growing up, I didn't realize these traditions were special or even unique, but the older I get, the more I lean into the "silly little things" my parents and grandparents instilled in me. Middleton does an exceptional job shedding light on these traditions through storytelling and anecdotes.
As Middleton discusses the history and folklore of the region, she sprinkles in spells, charms, recipes, and more, nuggets of gold hidden among other gems. I highly recommend reading Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers closely and with a pen or highlighter so you can mark important information as it arises. My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer! There is no way to cover everything that makes this region what it is, so I highly recommend starting with Middleton's work and using the other authors mentioned to fill in the gaps. Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is a great introduction to the practices of Appalachia, but it just grazes the surface.
You can pick up your copy of Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia by Leah Middleton wherever books are sold.
Middleton, like me, spent her life among these beautiful mountains, immersed in the culture that makes Appalachia one of a kind. In Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia, Leah Middleton joins a host of other authors, including H. Byron Ballard, Cory Thomas Hutcheson, Rebecca Beyer, Orion Foxwood, and Jake Richards, bringing light to the long-practiced traditions, folklore, and spellwork of Appalachia. Like other practices, Appalachian folk witchery is a beautiful melting pot of cultures and traditions, which Middleton explores through folk tales, historical documents, and personal experience.
Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is less of a practice spellbook and more of a dive into the practices found in Appalachia, covering everything from the history of the area to the superstitions and folk tales told amongst its people. This dive into the history of Appalachia truly sets the tone for the entire book, helping to dispel the idea that the Appalachian region is less diverse and less deserving of our time and empathy than other areas. As someone who has lived here almost her entire life, I agree with Middleton. We are a diverse people who value community, family, and the land, contrary to what some people in popular media would have you believe. I appreciate Middleton's approach and hope that by picking up her work, you, too, will come to love this region as much as I do. On top of this, Middleton makes a stark distinction between witchcraft and folk magic: "Folk magic is the result of regional and cultural beliefs related to superstitions, customs, and religion."
You'll notice she specifically mentions "religion" in her definition, and honestly, I think that is one of the most important aspects of Appalachian folk magic. Christianity, as Middleton discusses, has left a tremendous mark on the faith of the area and how magic is practiced within the region. Very few people within the region would dare to call themselves a witch, but they practice magic nonetheless. Middleton offers a host of ways to make the Christian-influenced practices more "heretical," something I deeply appreciated. I know many witches struggle with the scars left from Christianity, and don't necessarily want to bring it back into their lives. Middleton offers animistic alternatives and suggestions, teaching the reader how to turn Christian practices more pagan.
Apart from traditional history and folklore, Middleton also delves into folk art, music, superstitions, and folk healing. I am not going to lie, I ate this information up. Some of it was new, and some of it was traditions I grew up with. For example, my mother collects local folk pottery, especially those with faces. We had a blue bottle tree in our yard for protection, neighbors painted their porch ceilings haint blue (we did not have a porch growing up, but my mother painted blue near the front door or included blue bottles near the door as "decoration"), iron horseshoes were hung in the home, and we always ate black-eyed peas on New Year's for good luck. We used red ribbon and string to protect us while out in the woods, licked our fingers and drew a cross upon the sight of a black cat, and blew on our burns three times while saying a prayer to help them heal. Growing up, I didn't realize these traditions were special or even unique, but the older I get, the more I lean into the "silly little things" my parents and grandparents instilled in me. Middleton does an exceptional job shedding light on these traditions through storytelling and anecdotes.
As Middleton discusses the history and folklore of the region, she sprinkles in spells, charms, recipes, and more, nuggets of gold hidden among other gems. I highly recommend reading Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers closely and with a pen or highlighter so you can mark important information as it arises. My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer! There is no way to cover everything that makes this region what it is, so I highly recommend starting with Middleton's work and using the other authors mentioned to fill in the gaps. Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is a great introduction to the practices of Appalachia, but it just grazes the surface.
You can pick up your copy of Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia by Leah Middleton wherever books are sold.
September 29, 2025
“I pressed my weight against the cool ground beneath. An anchor to something certain while experiencing uncertainty. The familiar mountains that I've come to learn and love outlined in the dusk shadows. All felt well from above, but I couldn't shake a nameless feeling in my chest weighing me down. A longing for something. Somewhere? … Where do I belong?”
That question has haunted me more than once in my life. I am estranged from my ancestral mountain range, but they still give me so much stability, wisdom, and beauty from their great distance. Yet, there are moments when I feel untethered, unsure where my roots will hold. Reading Leah Middleton’s Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers felt like a hand reaching into that restless ache and whispering: you belong here, in this land, in this lineage of stories and magic.
Middleton’s work is part memoir, part field guide, part ancestral invocation. She honors the many strands of Appalachian folk practice: the prayers whispered over gardens, the ghost tales passed on in the kitchen, the herbs gathered in the hollers at dusk. Her voice is both intimate and expansive, weaving in her own family stories alongside the wider cultural fabric–the influences of Black and Indigenous healers, Scotch-Irish settlers, and the often-overlooked role of Christianity in Appalachian witchery.
The book shines brightest when it plants you in the soil itself. Middleton’s herbal passages don’t just describe remedies; they invite you to feel the texture of sassafras bark, the sting of nettle, the medicine in sweet blackberries. As someone who practices herbalism, I recognize the rhythm–the way story and science, magic and medicine, are never really separate here.
What makes Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers so affecting is its tone of reverence. This isn’t a catalogue of quaint folklore. It’s a living, breathing testimony that Appalachia is not just a place, but a spirit of resilience, survival, and enchantment. As Rebecca Beyer writes in the forward:
“I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia!”
This blessing hangs over the whole book.
Of course, those wanting a purely instructional spell book may find the narrative pacing a little slow, and academic readers might wish for denser sourcing. But to my eyes, that’s missing the point. The storytelling is the spell work here. The lore isn’t just explained; it’s lived, sung, carried in the marrow of the text.
For me, Middleton’s words quieted that echoing question–Where do I belong? They reminded me that belonging is not always about certainty. Sometimes it’s about pressing your weight to the ground, listening to the stories beneath your feet, and trusting that the soil will hold.
Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers is for anyone who has ever felt that same tug of longing, anyone who wants to reconnect to ancestral wisdom, or anyone simply curious about the rich spiritual life of Appalachia. For me, it felt like coming home.
That question has haunted me more than once in my life. I am estranged from my ancestral mountain range, but they still give me so much stability, wisdom, and beauty from their great distance. Yet, there are moments when I feel untethered, unsure where my roots will hold. Reading Leah Middleton’s Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers felt like a hand reaching into that restless ache and whispering: you belong here, in this land, in this lineage of stories and magic.
Middleton’s work is part memoir, part field guide, part ancestral invocation. She honors the many strands of Appalachian folk practice: the prayers whispered over gardens, the ghost tales passed on in the kitchen, the herbs gathered in the hollers at dusk. Her voice is both intimate and expansive, weaving in her own family stories alongside the wider cultural fabric–the influences of Black and Indigenous healers, Scotch-Irish settlers, and the often-overlooked role of Christianity in Appalachian witchery.
The book shines brightest when it plants you in the soil itself. Middleton’s herbal passages don’t just describe remedies; they invite you to feel the texture of sassafras bark, the sting of nettle, the medicine in sweet blackberries. As someone who practices herbalism, I recognize the rhythm–the way story and science, magic and medicine, are never really separate here.
What makes Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers so affecting is its tone of reverence. This isn’t a catalogue of quaint folklore. It’s a living, breathing testimony that Appalachia is not just a place, but a spirit of resilience, survival, and enchantment. As Rebecca Beyer writes in the forward:
“I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia!”
This blessing hangs over the whole book.
Of course, those wanting a purely instructional spell book may find the narrative pacing a little slow, and academic readers might wish for denser sourcing. But to my eyes, that’s missing the point. The storytelling is the spell work here. The lore isn’t just explained; it’s lived, sung, carried in the marrow of the text.
For me, Middleton’s words quieted that echoing question–Where do I belong? They reminded me that belonging is not always about certainty. Sometimes it’s about pressing your weight to the ground, listening to the stories beneath your feet, and trusting that the soil will hold.
Magic From the Hilltops and Hollers is for anyone who has ever felt that same tug of longing, anyone who wants to reconnect to ancestral wisdom, or anyone simply curious about the rich spiritual life of Appalachia. For me, it felt like coming home.
October 8, 2025
Leah Middleton does an excellent job breaking down the Appalachian way of life into puzzle pieces that fit smoothly together. I loved that she gave the background on Appalachia and the way of life there because to truly understand the magic we hold there, you must first understand us and the region itself. This book was beautifully done and I was touched by her personal stories of her family. Many of them reminded me of stories I have with my own. This helped me in my research of getting closer to my familial roots that lie in the Mountains and taught me more on expanding my horizons in the culture of Appalachian Folk Magic.
November 6, 2025
what a cozy, magical and instructive read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews