Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia

by Jake Richards, Starr Casas (Foreword)

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.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Folklore, Magic, Paganism

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this through doing ancestry research. One line of my family is from Watauga NC (I’m not), so I started looking into Appalachia. Let’s start with the good! I’m grateful to Richards for sharing what he’s shared, as I’m well aware (as an Indian-- an enrolled member of a fed. recognized Tribe) that there are aspects of culture that are not necessarily meant for everyone. It seems Richards was very thoughtful in choosing what to share and how to present it in this, and the personal epilogue was very relatable. I was surprised at how many things I actually did know, that were knowledge passed to me from that side of my family, that I hadn’t realized were “Appalachian”.

So that all said… there were parts of this, about “the Cherokee”, that made me deeply uncomfortable. There are examples throughout the book, so I’ll just choose a few and deconstruct them here, because it’s occasionally my job to do this sort of cultural consultation work and I don’t want to do it in my free time as well. First, the entirety of page 8 is a problem. “The Cherokee freely gave land to the settlers” No. No, they didn’t. Not even when followed up by the “they (settlers) wanted more”. Regardless of any source one can find to back this claim up, even if it’s “true” (it’s not), think about the narrative that it pushes. Think about the agenda. I won’t go further in depth there. Also, the Cherokee are NOT the only tribe in “America” (note that there are two continents of “America”, with several countries…) that don’t have a reservation. There’s so many lmao.

Throughout the piece things attributed to “the Cherokee” are referred to in the past tense. Native peoples are constantly fighting this. We’re not a peoples of the past. We exist today. We still refer to our lands by their names. Page 39 “The Cherokee believED that every animal was our brother/sister…Many families here continue to hold this worldview.” Okay…but again, think about what this is doing? Non-Native families holding a (purportedly, over-simplified) Native worldview…this is functioning as a claim to Indigeneity, an erasure of Native peoples who are assumed not to exist and therefore not to have a claim to land/Native knowledge, thus opening up room for non-Natives to claim that land/knowledge. Not to mention it relies on the noble savage stereotype (the believe that Native peoples are inherently hyper-spiritual). Another major issue on page 82: “…there’s a majority who hold the belief that they descend from the Cherokee. Paired with that belief is the pride placed in the Cherokee’s gifts of war, healing, and religion.” Yikes, where to start? First…MOST people who claim Cherokee “ancestry” don’t have Cherokee ancestry. There’s tons of research on this. Second—major stereotype alert!!! Cherokee people, Native people, are NOT naturally gifted at war, healing, or religion! That’s called biological essentialism, folks, and it’s not real. Pretty basic. I’m tired, it’s not fun to point these things out, so I’ll stop there, but I really hope people think critically about these sorts of narratives. They’re harmful.

When “the Cherokee” weren’t being brought up in these sorts of ways, I enjoyed the book.

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! A lot of the info in it is sayings & ways I grew up with. (I'm from north east Tennessee). Both my Granny's planted by the signs and I try to as well. I felt this book was truthful and honest as to the Appalachian way of life. My family didn't do works or tricks that I know of but they knew what to do to make it rain, not to wash clothes on Old Christmas and so many more superstitions. I still follow them as much and as often as I possibly can. This is a part of my heritage and honey! it's not dying yet!


I found the info (works) in this book to be straight forward and easy to follow. I'm not sure how someone outside the area would view it. I can not wait to see what Jake comes out with next! I think anyone interested in folklore and folkways would absolutely love this book.

[Marz · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about this book that makes it feel so personal to the point that I almost don't want to recommend it, especially not to folks who don't have a connection to these mountains. For someone like me who's connection was disrupted by financial hardships, moves, and strained relationships, this book is invaluable for filling in the gaps of the practice I did manage to inherit. I was born in West Virginia, much like the many many generations before me. But I think I may have been the last child in my family to have been so. I lived in the state itself intermittently over the years, spending the rest of my time in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia at variously points.

While this book is extremely approachable, I have a hard time knowing how someone who isn't either living in the region presently or connected to the region through family being able to get the full usefulness of this book. Which isn't to say those who don't have that connection can't read it, in fact I think those folks should but perhaps instead of the goal to use it, the goal should be to gain a greater appreciation for this style of traditional witchcraft and the power a thrifty hillbilly can wield with a little cunning and a lot of faith.

Stylistically, I have a deep appreciation for the way Richards has structured and narrated this work. It's true to how these traditions are passed down in families - in stories, in spirals that touch on the same practices again and again in different lights, in biblical verses themselves. It felt familiar and welcoming in a way I rarely experience in texts.

It's also firmly rooted in the practical. While Richards backs up most spells mentioned with the theory as to why it works - something often missing and extremely important in texts detailing magical practices - they are described in simple uncomplicated language. The spells themselves range from incredibly simple to the painstakingly detailed so whether you're looking for a few associations to add to your workings or a detailed cure for headaches - Richards has you covered.

One thing to keep in mind, and something Richards touches on at points, is that Appalachia is not a cohesive region by any means. It's highly regionalized and even within those regions family traditions will vary and take precedent. So this book is definitely a picture of a particular kind of Appalachian magic, but one that folks from other parts will no doubt find familiar. There were many practices that overlapped with my family's practices and for me lends credence to the rest.

Another reason I feel comfortable recommending this book is that it does not Wiccanify Appalachian magic at all, which is one reason why I've stayed away from the vast majority of works on the subject. Appalachian magic is firmly rooted in the Bible and there's absolutely no way around that. I know this will probably gain me plenty of pushback but there's no shortcut through nature spirits or deferring to some other god without losing the heart and soul of Appalchian practices. If you are uncomfortable with spellwork that requires a Bible and biblical verses/figures, then please do not even bother with this book. While there are a handful of practices that don't touch on things associated with Christianity, they're far outnumbered by practices that just plain wouldn't work if you bled them dry of the belief.

There were some things I didn't care for in the book personally. I'm not sure how well the connection of Appalachian folk magic to practices of indigenous and enslaved folks was handled. Parts of it felt off. Richards explains his grandmother was Cherokee but doesn't explain any tribal ties so it feels a bit strange when he tries to convey practices and stories that he says are from that tribe. I know bonds like that are complicated - especially in the mountains - but it's just not handled in a way that feels entirely skillful. It's hard to explain and I doubt I'm the best person to speak on it so I raise it here only as a caution. I would just be leery of conveying those stories as facts.

I also wasn't a big fan of where some of the larger history was conveyed. It's a throw away line at the beginning of the chapter but it did bug me and I want folks to know the truth - folks in Appalachia didn't just sell off their land to coal mines and railway companies. Some did and those families enjoyed a certain amount of financial stability with their funds. But far more were forced out through disputing their claims, systematically destroying their ability to make a living off of their land, and outright theft. If you're image of the modernization of Appalachia is one of a poor hillbilly that wasn't bright enough to know the coal mines would be terrible, you're dead wrong. So take the social and geographic history here with a healthy dose of skepticism. If you're looking for Appalachian history, I'd suggest Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia by Steven Stoll and Uneven Ground by Ronald D. Eller.

But even with those weaknesses, the spellwork described in this book is something special and I feel comfortable recommending this book. It's extremely engaging; practically a masterclass in how to write about traditional witchcraft in an authentic way. It's unbashedly forthright and plainly practical. I eagerly look forward to any future work from Richards. What I wouldn't give for more work that makes a hillbilly like me feel so damn seen.

[Cheyenne Lansdowne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the premise of the book however I do have some issues with it. First the book talks about how witches and witchcraft was seen as devil magic and different from folk magic. So I take issue with the book being named Backwoods Witchcraft if it doesn’t have anything to do with witchcraft in their sense or really much witchcraft in any sense. Also they talk about the Cherokee a lot and quite often how the Cherokee work with God and other Christian aspects. While a lot of Indigenous people were forced into Christianity, it is frequently implied that a lot of this was several generations in the past. The original Cherokee (as well as lot of them today) were not Christians and had their own form of beliefs that did not involve God. I think it’s a little offensive to a constantly imply that their work was done with God when their original practices a lot of which are in this book never involved God at all. I do think that it has a lot of good folklore from the area but it really doesn’t involve much actual folk remedies in detail. It’s more of a book of the life there with some folk items sprinkled in. It’s a good book to look at the culture but as a reference type book which the description implies it is, is false. It was an okay read but it was mainly a disappointment and I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing, Sincere, and well-researched

Backwoods Witchcraft is a fascinating, educational, and comforting read. Full of information interwoven with the author's personal stories and accounts, this book not only explains the history and culture of Appalachia, but the roots and history of its folk and magical practices as well. Jake Richards has done a ton of back ground research to really paint a full and complete picture of Appalachian practice.

And his writing style! Rather than dry or academic, Jake Richards has a casual, familiar way of writing that is conversational, entertaining, and informative. You really hear his personal voice - sincere, compassionate, understanding, practical, and a bit nostalgic - coming off the page which really made this book a delightful read - far more than most in this topic.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for a unique readership. I must have been one of those readers.

My Papa's family on his mother's side has a long ancestral line trailing throughout the Appalachian mountains. I knew this when I picked up this book, but it still hit me like a punch when the author starting detailing some of the smaller and quiet elements of the culture that are steeped in the folklore of the area. While reading, I coaxed my mother into telling me where our family was from—in a surprising/not surprising moment, turns out they had roots very close to where the author himself is from.

Small coincidences, and a feeling of rightness. This was a unique read.

Whatever your stance on the history of Americana folklore and/or witchcraft in the modern day, Backwoods Witchcraft is a unique and important written record for the culture of a people. I enjoyed putting some context and history to some of the odd things my family just "does," like decor choices and superstitions that aren't consciously tied to anything spiritual or supernatural today but clearly have roots to something closer to that in their history.

This is definitely heavily influenced by Christian faiths, so for those looking for a purely witchy/pagan approach I'd recommend opting out of this one. But as the author says, and I agree with him based on my own family roots, the history of Appalachian white communities is absolutely steeped in Christianity too, and the folklore aspect of it grew around it and melded to it. A very interesting take that spans hundreds of years and travels across the pond to its older Irish/Scottish/British roots.

Recommended for those interested in the topic and for those looking for a personalized/spiritual cultural history of the area.

[Matt Aukamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book for research and I was blown awayby Jake Richards' writing. I'd never heard of him before finding this book, but MAN, can this guy write! He writes like he's sitting at the bar next to you, and you're getting increasingly drunk while he tells you the most fascinating things you've ever heard.

Beyond pure writing skill, Richards seems to have this subject matter boiled into his blood. He not only seems to believe in the stuff he's writing about, but it seems like he was raised steeping in it. It feels like you're reading about his family, his land, his culture, and his beliefs, rather than just a hobby.

Sometimes extreme superstition or faith can bother me, even in research, where you want the person to truly believe what they're teaching you... But Jake Richards bakes in a respect for skepticism that makes it go down smooth. He writes with a belief in science that never contradicts his faith directly but makes you feel his clear-headed intelligence in every passage. He writes with compassion and humanism. He writes with environmental awareness.

I'm really just blown away by this book and, while I picked it up for research, I will likely return to it for pure enjoyment.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads)]

DNF pg 69 (38%)

This book’s title is misleading and should have been called something like Backwood religion or Appalachian religion because this isn’t about the craft at all really. It's about how the Appalachian people would use the Bible and Christianity to deal with superstitions and cure their ills. He even states early in the book that witches and witchcraft is seen as devil magic and is different from folk magic, which just makes me question the title of this book even more.

Like I said, this book focused more on superstitions and ways previous generations dealt with these beliefs, which is disappointing for me because I am an Appalachian witch who was looking for actual witchcraft. And almost all of these superstition remedy’s involved the Bible or Christianity in some way to fix the issue, which quickly got old.

If you are looking for a book about superstitions and old remedies for them, then this book might be for you. But for me, this book was disappointing and not worth wasting more of my time to finish it.

You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[SpookyBird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you need protection against haints or some good luck in a pinch, this is an excellent collection of old Appalachian folklore and traditions.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and excellently penned. If you're interested in learning more about Appalachian Conjure and Folk Magic, I would suggest to you this book right here.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia by Jake Richards (Weiser Books 2019) (133.430974) (3653).

Author Jake Richards has illuminated a remote and mostly hidden corner of Appalachian hill culture in this volume. Here is his premise for his book Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia: “We have our own way of faith, food, dress, music, and magic. We have our own lands and hills and trails….and it’s all ours, all that we can see. We may not be proud of some things, but that doesn’t mean we’ll divorce it. From our struggles and problems to our faith and culture, this is Appalachia. We are Appalachia.

“This culture relied on folk magic and medicine for centuries, when nary a preacher or doctor could be found. It lifted and placed curses, healed wounds inside and out, gave faith and hope to people, and, most importantly, endured. But this tradition is at a crossroads: live on or pass on. Either this work continues and lives, or it gets forgotten and breaks down more over time with each passing generation until the heirs of Appalachia have never seen the magic and faith of their forefolks.” (Jake Richards, Backwoods Witchcraft, p. 206).

I have great respect for any person’s chosen religious beliefs. Having been raised in a family of evangelical protestants, far be it from me to cast aspersions on anyone else’s beliefs.

But I have to draw a distinction between religious beliefs and superstition. When one discards the dogma of twenty-first century organized religion, I find little to distinguish between modern religious beliefs and practices and pure superstition. There’s not that much difference between the rites and rituals of twenty-first-century organized religion and the steps that Jake Richards recites as being required to invoke or dissolve “spells or curses” by Appalachian mountaineers. Indeed, there is no practical difference between the (Christian) ritual involved in the serving of “the Holy eucharist” (aka “The Lord’s Supper”), which is ceremoniously waved about, broken into bits, and then distributed to a select and highly exclusionary group of believers (one can share the Eucharist only if the supplicant has previously performed the rituals and repeated the particular words (spells) prescribed by the particular sect to be declared eligible to participate by the church authority) and the backwoods conjure ritual to “remove ill luck” (“[W]ash your current change of clothes with salt and vinegar and then burn them. Take the ashes to a crossroads at midnight and scatter them when the wind blows. Leave without looking back and go a different way home than you came…I recommend going to a crossroads far from your home.”) (p.194).

It’s hard for me to keep a straight face when I hear a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, or any other type of believer struggles to distinguish between his particular chosen form of religious ritual and worship versus what Jake Richards describes as “Appalachian conjure and witchcraft.” It is enlightening to witness a proselytizer’s discomfit as he struggles to explain that, while his own personal beliefs are holy and special, the beliefs of others (in folk magic or any other type of religious ritual) are superstitious hokum.

With that said, I have little praise to offer Jake Richards’ book Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia.

I live, and have lived for most of my life on the side of a mountain in East Tennessee. That’s located in the dead center of the heart of Appalachian hill country.

It is widely understood that there are countless plant and animal compounds that source useful medicines. But I’ve never met anyone - anyone - in this neck of the woods who believes that folk magic is anything other than an amusing relic from a time before modern medicine was accessible among the remote and largely inaccessible hill communities. Indeed, a reading of the spells and curses which author Jake Richards recites from his hill-folk ancestors demonstrates that there are two different kinds of advice interspersed among his granny-woman’s old notes and records: those rooted in science, and those based upon superstitious beliefs.

Some of the advice of hill-folk root doctors is firmly based in science. Indeed, midwives/granny women/root doctors were unquestionably the best and most knowledgeable sources of medical knowledge available as to the healing powers of plants and natural resources. For example, the book’s section which is subtitled “Folk Recipes and Remedies” recites the following recommended treatment for sores and wounds: “For sore hands or feet, soak them in vinegar, salt, and warm water for thirty minutes.” (p.201). Well duh. This treatment is obviously a primitive antiseptic bath, and it is still perhaps as good a remedy for treating sores or wounds as any remedy that modern medicine has uncovered.

But note this: the book’s same section of remedies includes less practical treatment options for other ailments. Here’s what the author’s research recites as the treatment for bedwetting: “Place a Bible beneath the bed while saying, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as the waters of Jordan stood, so shall the waters of (name).”

To treat sleepwalking, “...place a Bible at the head of the bed and a bucket of water at the foot.”

My favorite treatment in this whole book is the one offered to attract a lover: “For new love, give them wine or whiskey in which you’ve soaked your toenails for three days, from Wednesday to Friday. Strain it on Saturday morning. This will win over anyone.” (p.196).

I was especially interested in the author’s remedies for legal problems. Jake Richard’s family was either a litigious bunch or else the family tree was full of miscreants. I state this based on the numerous entries on spells to evoke favorable treatment in a courtroom. For instance, the author suggests eating the root of the Trillium plant to “keep the law away”: “Also known as Little John or Low John, trillium root was chewed the morning one had to go to court to gain favor with the judge. Harvest the roots in the Spring on a Friday, and hang them up in a bundle to dry, to keep the law away. You’ll need to feed them every month by dabbing whiskey on each stem while saying your prayers.”(p.169)

Fortunately, if for some reason eating trillium root did not keep the sheriff far away, the book offers a method to invoke special protection in case one had to appear before a judge: “Carry items for good luck when going to court, such as a peepstone, four-leaf clover, etc. You can also sprinkle salt in your shoes to make you “slicker than glass” so you’ll get by just fine. According to my mother, you should also take a toothbrush and a change of solid white clothes. This prevents you from going to jail because you’re already prepared.” (p.195).

The author even includes a chapter on the types of tools and supplies needed to work this magic. Some of the purposes for the tools listed make perfect sense. For instance, the author’s prescribed list of tools include a shovel (which makes it easier to dig) and a pair of gloves (for protection from getting stuck on plants with thorns, such as roses or thistle blooms).

However, not all of the uses for specific tools seem quite as efficacious. The author’s next recommended tool is a knife. Here is his first recited reason as to why a knife is a necessary tool: “When a bad storm is approaching, go to the south side of the house and drive the hilt of a knife into the ground with the blade pointing up and facing away from the house. This is said to cut the storm or tornado in half.” (pp.140-141).

One of my favorite book series was the Foxfire Book series by Elliot Wigginton and the students at tiny Rabun Gap High School deep in remote Appalachia. Several of the Foxfire books contained sections that more cover the same ground on the subject of folk medicine and folk magic that Jake Richards has undertaken in Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia. But there are two distinct differences: (1) Foxfire published this information forty years before Jake Richards took up the subject; and (2) Foxfire presents much if not most of the folk remedies as quaintly colorful but wholly ineffective, while Backwoods Witchcraft counts the same remedies as a useful part of the practitioner’s tool kit.

And I must say in conclusion that I’m highly skeptical about the efficacy of seducing another person by steeping one’s toenail clippings in a potion you then serve to your beloved, especially if the strainer used to remove the toenails lets one slip through.

This review took longer than usual for me to write, for it took me longer to process. I guess I’ll just call the book “thought provoking,” and I’ll be done with it.

My rating: 7/10, finished 6/22/22. (3653).

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone with no connection whatsoever to Appalachia, I found this to be a fascinating account of their folk magic and practices. The author seems very knowledgeable and genuine. I’m glad he chose to publish this. As he mentions, so many folk traditions are disappearing in this modern age, and I would hate for the knowledge to be lost forever.

With that said, perhaps because I have no links to the region (have visited briefly and it’s a beautiful place), nothing in this book resonated with me personally. For one thing, it’s a Christian practice and I am definitely pagan. However, this book is definitely a keeper and I am happy to add it to my collection.

[Lisa Eirene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see where this would appeal to a lot of people. It was interesting and new information for me, I didn't know much about Appalachia. However, I didn't feel like most of it applied to my life or practice.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. Definitely not what I would consider a "how to" book and I love it all the more for that. It's not meant to be.

It's a genuine chronicle of the people, lore, and culture of Appalachia. Richards takes vulnerable pains to bare the soil and soul of Appalachian folk practices so they won't be lost to the progression of time.

I think it's easy to look back at the past and call a lot of traditions "backwards" and neglect the generations of work and wisdom it took to acquire that knowledge. These people didn't have doctors or medicine, as many don't today. But they did have faith and the work they could do by their hands. And that had to be enough.

The charms in this book are deeply practical and reflect the common thread that seems to connect all magic systems that have sprouted in America: this is a craft of need.

We go to tarot when we need philosophy and playing cards when we need to know which sucker stole our cows and where they hid them. It's gritty, scrappy, no nonsense, and it works.

[Gianmichael Salvato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Richards weaves memories and experiences growing up in the Appalachian folk-magick tradition, in his book, Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia, and it's definitely one of the best books on the subject that I've read.

Living just eight miles from Peter's Mountain, in Dauphin, Pennsylvania, I've met some of the most fascinating characters and practitioners along the Appalachian Trail. I suppose that's why I found Richards' artful recounting of the traditions as they were passed on to him so captivating and important.

We live in an era where I believe it's incumbant upon us, as practitioners of folk-magick especially, to preserve our traditions, practices and beliefs with as much attention to detail as possible, so that it doesn't join the thousands of ancient paths that have become obscured or lost to time.

What impressed me most is the thoroughness with which Richards covers some of the actual practices, ritual and spells themselves. Whether doing ancestral work, Appalachian conjure, candle magick or herbal healing practices, you'll come away from this book with a greater understanding and deepening appreciation for Appalachian folk-magick.

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's presented as a "how to" book, but I would NOT recommend a lot of things the author presents (e.g. wearing urine-soaked clothing, putting various objects in your mouth, or giving a love interest alcohol in which your toenails have been soaking).

Some of the history, especially regarding indigenous people, is spoken of in the past tense as if they don't still exist and presented in generalizations if not seriously questionable "facts."

That said, the bulk of the book about the author's brand of witchcraft is very detailed and informative, from a curiosity perspective if not a practical one.

[Kitsune Cappuccino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heavy Christianity based. If you follow that path.

[Keely · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish this book, it was a little too biblical for me. I made it about 25% through and finally called it quits.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️

This book sucked me in and didn’t let me go until the last page. 🖤 the writing was phenomenal and I felt transported to the mountains of Appalachia, even though I’ve never been.

I can understand that someone like me might not be able to connect with this writing as well as someone who grew up in the mountains could have. I understand that these practices and teachings are kept tight to the heart by the generations that passed them down. I am, however, grateful that Jake found the calling to write about them and keep the spirit alive in a different kind of way. I have longed to be brought up in this kind of family, where everyone before me has teachings about the hills you couldn’t get anywhere else. To learn about this practice from birth, and never know anything different than the hills you climb, the dirt beneath your feet, and the creek water that nourishes. And this book dipped me into that feeling.

I, for one, did not realize how closely tied to Christianity (or maybe just the Bible) these practices were. As someone who has been immensely traumatized by those preachings, I could not take joy or relate to those parts. I would be curious to see the history of how the Bible became so big in those parts, because I would think practices from non-colonizers would be more prevalent. I’m sure they are, this book just focused a lot on the Bible and how that impacts the practice in this region.

I can also see the other reviews that say his wording as relating to the Cherokee can be problematic. I am not the expert voice, nor can I say they are wrong. How can I tell those affected they are wrong, when I am not part of that group? Anyways, I see it. This book may have benefited from a dedicated chapter on their way of life and a sensitivity reader.

Overall, this was a very informational book that felt like we were sitting in the living room practicing root magic and learning together from the voices that came before. I loved the feeling I got from reading this book and it definitely furthered my knowledge.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting look at a certain type of folklore which comes from a mix of cultures and religions. It was very enlightening to read and I'm glad Richard's shared this with us so the practices don't die out. That said, this seems very directed toward an
American audience and I would have liked more of a look at Appalachia than just the little intro of geography as someone not from America I came into this knowing nothing at all and still know little of the physical aspects.

Reading other reviews too it perhaps doesn't deal with some cultures as respectfully as it could but I don't really have a voice to speak on those sort of topics.

I'm glad I read it, it taught me some new stuff about American folklore but perhaps would connect better with Americans.

[Sonora Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I was expecting more of a history of folk magic in Appalachia as opposed to a how-to. The book establishes up front what it is, and I read on anyway; but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

[Pamela A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and interesting book

I really enjoyed this book about the Appalachian folklore, I really learned so much and I took several pictures with my phone! I recommend this book to everyone!

[Regan Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is written in such a beautiful, poetic, and descriptive way that I felt almost as though I was reading a novel. Each time I picked it up, I was immersed in the woods of Appalachia. Not only was it beautifully written but it was also fascinating and informative. Though I am no Christian and the practices from this book are heavily influenced by Christianity, I still couldn’t pull myself away. It’s a wonderful gaze into an old, lesser-known piece of American culture and history.

[Jeffd134 · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't know how many of the practices described here I believe in, this is a fascinating look at various crafts with a keen sensibility to Christian religious tradition. Further, it provides a worthwhile look into the many inputs into Appalachian folk tradition and the importance of the land in inspiring and informing one's relationship with the physical and spiritual world. He also recognizes the role of ancestors in passing along traditions as he claims that role himself.

[Bon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, like I said early on, did NOT like the Christian ideas that were everywhere. some helpful herbal and protection references though, and interesting stuff about rainwater.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super fascinating read about the ancestors and their charms and spells. Really interesting how the Bible, witchcraft and folklore all blur the lines in Appalachia.

There are some crazy stories in this book, but if you’re a nature lover and healer — this is the directory for you!

[Meshele Ouwinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a witch. But this book wasnt so much a witch book as it was telling how our ancestors did things back then. The author didmix in a few witch things but it just helped me see how they do things. Just have to have an open mind.

[Lady Death · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of Appalachian practices, many of which reminded me of stories my grandmother told me, or practices in my family.

[Manders · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a practitioner in the Appalachian region, I didn't like this. It contradicts itself frequently. "Backwoods witchcraft" but condemns witchcraft as devil's work. It's basically just an anecdotal collection of folky, uncommon Christian practices, frequently citing the Bible, but then recommends the disrespectful act of wearing a rosary.

Other recommendations in this "guide" include ingesting dust from public spaces, giving someone urine-soaked clothing to seduce them, soaking toenail clippings in drinks to give to other people without their knowledge, rubbing spit into open wounds, and attaching animal feces to your body. I understand that historically these practices have been used and it's interesting to learn about, but I don't know who in today's world would want to encourage some of these things. Respecting the old ways is one thing, but knowingly encouraging practices that could cause or worsen illness and disease are another. We have to respect our roots while taking on the responsibility of altering those practices with modern knowledge to ensure we're doing things safely and respectfully.

On a positive note, the way the author writes as though he's talking to you directly was charming. It's very personal and that aspect of it was nice.

Overall I don't recommend this book.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited so long to read this book and it wasn't what I expedited it to be at all. with that being said it wasn't a disappointment either. I've always heard about Christian magick and working the left-hand path with God but never really got into it or gave it much thought. well, this book is all about working with God thought the bible magick doing healing and protection spells. this is an outlook on something that i (personally wouldn't do) but have been curious about for a while. the name is what got me. i was expecting to read about mountain people doing spells, gathering herbs, their sayings and folk stories. what i got want much different the only key factor was their spell book was the bible. there was one saying that was said in this book and i will forever remember it," let what you put out into the world on someone match their crime. it can't be less, or it will not work, and it can't be more, or you will wind up suffering for it in the long run. IT HAS TO BE JUST. just as God is just. an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.' or something like that anyway. this saying hit home with me. like I said I wasn't expecting the book to turn out like it did, but it was a pleasant surprise and a good add the bookshelf.