Ozark Folk Magic: Plants, Prayers & Healing

by Brandon Weston

Discover the Healing Power of Plants and Prayers

Bring traditional methods of healing and magic into the modern world with this impressive book on Ozark folk magic. Providing lore, verbal charms, healing plants, herbal recipes, magical tools and alignments, and more, folk healer Brandon Weston sheds light on the region's secretive culture and shows you how to heal both yourself and others.

Ozark Folk Magic invites you to experience the hillfolk's magic through the eyes of an authentic practitioner. Learn how to optimize your healing work and spells according to the moon cycles, zodiac signs, and numerology. Explore medicinal uses for native Ozark plants,
instructions for healing magical illnesses, and how modern witches can feel at home with Ozark traditions. Combining personal stories and down-to-earth advice, this book makes it easy to incorporate Ozark folk magic into your practice.

Includes a foreword by Virginia Siegel, MA, folk arts coordinator at the University of Arkansas

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Paganism, Religion, History, Folklore, Spirituality

278 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2021

About the author

Brandon Weston is a healer, writer, and folklorist who owns and operates Ozark Healing Traditions, an online collective of articles, lectures, and workshops focusing on the Ozark Mountain region. As a practicing folk healer, his work with clients includes everything from spiritual cleanses to house blessings. He comes from a long line of Ozark hillfolk and is also a folk herbalist, yarb doctor, and power doctor.

Reviews

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There are many more folk beliefs unique to the Ozarks, some of which will be discussed in this work, but we also have to remember that much of what makes up this tradition can be traced to influencing factors from outside the region." pg 16

Author and healer Brandon Weston takes readers through the varying histories and roles of Ozark folk magic. He discusses the different kinds of historical practices as well as following the evolution of Ozark traditions in the modern day.

"What worked was saved, treasured, and passed down through the generations. This process continues even today, and as a practitioner in the modern world, I'm constantly making these changes not only within my own work, but also for the culture as a whole." pg 33

It is an illuminating look into a culture that remains fairly closed and secretive even today.

Brandon discusses the historical reasons for this secret keeping and doesn't dismiss the darker portions of Ozark history such as racial tensions.

Also, he makes sure to talk about the dangers of overdosing on certain herbs or not seeking the help of western medicine when it is warranted. This book is fully of cautionary tales as well as educational ones.

"There are many rituals that might be very interesting to look at but that aren't worth using in a modern setting. Take, for instance, those rituals that involve the harming or killing of an animal, like the infamous black cat rite. I can't stress enough that many traditions of the past need to be left in the past." pg 247

My favorite part of this book was the chapter dealing with how different practitioners have reported receiving "the gift". There were so many different ways and methods! It was fascinating to read Brandon's take on all of it.

"Another unique road to power often found in the modern Ozarks comes in the form of receiving the gift through communion with nature. It might seem overly simplistic, but one of the beautiful aspects of Ozark healing is its simplicity." pg 92

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history and practices of Ozark folk magic.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should become the go-to book for information on Ozark folk magic. Other books were written by academic outsiders while this one is written by an author who is from the region and who also practices. Weston interviewed many, many people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the Ozark region in order to really dive into historic and modern practices and they offer a fascinating, incredibly researched and personal perspective. (They identify as non-binary in the book, though Weston's bio here on Goodreads identifies them as male, so I will use the pronoun Weston seems to prefer.) Two caveats-- Firstly, this isn't an in depth herbal remedy book, though it does profile a fair number of plants in the region with information about traditional ways they were used and how they are generally used now. Secondly, it is not intended to teach the reader how to practice these types of magic. Weston does give detailed information about some chants, spells, curse undoings, and so forth, but the book is not intended to replace learning from an elder and that is definitely the only way that they recommend truly learning. Nonetheless, it's a really thorough look into all facets of Ozark folk magic and healing. Highly recommended.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! I have been practicing for years and I hadn't heard of a book based in the Ozark. This was a wonderful gem of a find and I think those who are both new and old to the craft would find worth in this book! It is full of folk lore, magic, and history. I couldn't put it down!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I left this book with several quibbles and questions, and so sat on writing a review as I mulled them over. After a bit, I decided to reach out to Brandon to ask them if we could talk over my concerns. He graciously accepted my request for a conversation. Lists were made on my end, and a Zoom invite was sent on their end. We engaged in a lengthy, thoughtful discussion, and I now feel in a much better place to review this book.

Brandon and I have a lot of shared beliefs, practices, ideas, experiences, and friends—which allows us a lot of room for agreement. We both have a deep and abiding love for this Ozark home of ours. We both desperately want to preserve the stories, skills, gifts, and experiences of the generations before us, acutely feeling those chains of forgetting that let our culture die around us. However, we still fundamentally disagree on a few lines of distinction, and I think that's okay. After talking, I know that even if I don't always agree with Brandon's perspective, I understand and respect it – and I'm grateful for their work.

To my understanding, Brandon believes (through the accumulation of his experiences working with current healers and magic workers) that all practitioners who claim the Ozarks as home and feel tied to this land are a part of the story of Ozark Folk Magic. I have a slightly more conservative view: I believe (regardless of whether your family has been here seven generations or you are the first to live here) that it requires a certain respect for and willingness to learn the fullness of our history before you go changing it. We've got things that need to change! Culture should never stagnate; it should grow and evolve! But there's a difference between change that grows from exchanging ideas and change that results from one community of people moving to the home of another and imposing their beliefs and ideas on the local population. Jared Phillips does an excellent job of discussing the cultural (r)evolution (both positive and negative) brought to this region by the mass migration of the back-to-landers in the 1960s - 1970s in his book Hipbillies: Deep Revolution in the Arkansas Ozarks (though he never touches the topics of folk magic or healing).

I understood from Brandon that he came to believe (again, through their very valid collection of information from hundreds if not thousands of current working healers) that Ozarkers took the working parts of these coastal implants' new-age processes, weaving them into the tapestry that is Ozark Folk Magic. I'm not convinced. In the hollars and hills of Mar-town or Winslow, Canehill or Mountain Home, I've seen practitioners retreat even more deeply into their Christian "cover" for their gifts, if for no other reason than to set themselves apart from the new age practices of their "city" neighbors. It's led me to wonder if, perhaps, the sample Brandon has encountered then is self-selected to be the people who would accept new-age practices as part of "Ozark" healing. In contrast, those who eschewed the imposition of new-age beliefs would be unwilling to be a part of the sample at all, considering themselves Christians with gifts from god rather than practitioners of folk magic. We're still a very secretive lot, unwilling to expose our underbelly to those who don't feel safe. (My anecdotal experience says the idea is at least worth considering.)

I agree with Brandon that we Ozarkers are quick to pick up anything that works and love a good cultural exchange. We're magpies in everything from home construction to healing, unwilling to throw away anything that still works, be it a bread tie or a prayer. However, I stand by my belief that the new-age practices so widely incorporated in the more visible modern magical healing in the Ozarks shouldn't be considered part of Ozark Folk Magic. They don't feel like exchange to me; they feel like a veneer laid over our practices by waves of colonizers who made us retreat further into ourselves, then claimed our identity for their own. That doesn't mean I dislike or look down upon any of these beliefs (or the people living here who hold them sacred); it simply means I don't think they should be called by our name. (Worth noting: I participate in and enjoy many pagan/Wicca things with fellow practitioners, and while all part of me, I separate those parts from my Ozark identity just as much as I separate my rolled "gr" inherited from my Cajun mother from my Ozark identity.) Despite our differences in opinion, I respect Brandon's dedication to their work and the valuable insights he brought to our discussion. I changed my mind on some things, and I'm still chewing on some of his ideas. I'm also just glad our Ozark stories are being collected.

Remaining minor quibbles: I'm still sad that there isn't a way to fully acknowledge the symbiotic development of (often white, European) Ozark folk practices and the Cherokee, Kiowa, and Muscogee beliefs. We migrated (both willingly and unwillingly) from Appalachia to these hills together, after all. So much indigenous culture has been stripped from them that it is nice to return the credit when possible. But I sincerely appreciate Brandon's attempts to protect indigenous beliefs from further appropriation by refraining from singling them out in a mass-produced book—and he's right: there's no need to pick apart the tapestry of our practice to identify the source of each thread. I wish Brandon wouldn't have used the word "Booger" so loosely without at least acknowledging the coded meaning also ascribed to the word in many isolated parts of this region (an alternative to the "n" word.) I also wish Brandon had been allowed to use something other than "left-handed" and "right-handed" for the different types of magic. While those are some of the traditional descriptors for our practices, they have a distinct place in the very real history of actual physical, psychological, and emotional harm done to those of us born left-handed in this region. I'm one generation away from sanctioned physical abuse in school for using my dominant left hand, and I have perfected forced ambidexterity for many skills to prevent unsanctioned cases of such abuses. Brandon wouldn't have used those descriptors so universally in their book if they had been allowed more leeway.

This leads to the final thing I think I should say: most of my initial complaints about the book (and those of most of the other reviewers here on GR) were resolved by our conversation. The complaints should be placed not at Brandon's feet but at Llewellyn's (or maybe just blamed on current publishing practices in general?) Ozark Folk Magic and Ozark Mountain Spell Book: Folk Magic & Healing were supposed to be one book, and, had they remained together in one volume, would have presented a much more complete and authentic picture of Ozark folk magic and healing practices. Additionally, if there weren't such a sharp, forced divide between academic discussion and collection of folk traditions and the resources made for those who still practice the folk traditions, I believe Brandon would have been allowed to create something much more authentic to both our practices and his voice – our voice – for he is doing the work of speaking for all of us.

[McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting mixture of history, folklore and magic. However, if you're looking for something practical filled with recipes and practices, this one will miss the mark a bit. It does have sections on plants and practical objects, but the practicality of it was lacking for me. I think that someone from the area looking to get back in touch with their roots that may have been mostly lost over time, would absolutely adore this book.

[Rosemary Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a treasury of authentic American folk magic compiled by an intrepid custodian of mountain traditional beliefs, past and present. In his introduction, author Weston emphasizes that the views of many Ozark and Appalachian men and women are not persistent superstitions, but survivals of a Celtic Christianity, native American shamanism, and African hoodoo magic, forged together by historic migrations and isolation from “civilization.” Here, a kinship has been openly developed around human, plant, and animal existence that allows for local healers and seers to use their “gift” for good purpose. They intervene to heal the sick, quiet disputes and marital discord, talk to “little people” and invisible Indian guides, and practice “goomering” (benevolent cursing).
Along with fascinating descriptions of illness and treatment terms, an extensive chapter on botanical remedies is provided, along with accounts of odd and often mundane tools that are believed to carry magical properties.
Weston’s chronicle is unique, non-derivative, and a valuable historical guide to the exceptional adaptations and culture of American country folk.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few pages of this book made me feel like I was traveling back in time and began with what I can only compare to the WPA audio story collections. I was hooked from that moment on.

The author, who is descended from a long line of Ozarkians, shares his history and that of healers and magic in the Ozarks, “The good stuff”. You’ll learn about their folklore and how they blend religion, plants and beliefs to heal. The best part of all is you can apply it to your own practice.

A mix of history and magic, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did. It is the best book if have read in quite a while in that it blends everything together and delivers it with a finesse that makes it hard to put down.

[Lisa Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. I love to read about different cultures & their beliefs. The personal stories from the interviews conducted were at times hilarious. I could just picture old grandpa in a rocking chair talking about his magic. What made me laugh the most was that some of their secret folklore, I heard my Mom reciting as I was growing up. Mainly just off the wall sayings. And she is from Baltimore not the Ozarks. The part I enjoyed the most was the particulars on plants. Those darn weeds never cease to amaze me.

[The Shakti Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ozark are a significant region in the USA including the states of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. In Ozark Folk Magic author Brandon West sets out to capture the last of the true folk practices of the people of this area. Less “how to” this makes perfect reading for those with Ozark heritage, folklorists and those interested in regional magickal and spiritual practices.

*eArc provided by the publisher and NetGalley

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is mainly theory and history based. I know nothing about the Ozark's and I'm sure all the information provided in this book would be fascinating to the right reader.

I did however personally pick this up hoping it would be a practical guide. There is a small part listing some plants and herbs but unfortunately not close to the amount I was expecting.

*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to keep in your reference section. There were some things I already knew, but there was new information too. It was well written and was really quite useful. Although I am not knew to magic, ozark fold is new to me and it really did enjoy it.

[Dodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was divided into two parts. The first part dealt with the Ozarks tradition, healing methods and magic methods. Part two goes through specific plants and their uses and their correspondence. I did enjoy it but reading once was enough for me.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well written book that made me learn a lot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Trish Remley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting & useful information about Ozark healing practices & plants.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a really interesting history of the cultures in the Ozark. It was super detailed and I really enjoyed reading it. The book includes stories from people being interviewed. I loved seeing how so many cultures came together to create something unique to the Ozark. I wish I could spend more time with the book before reviewing because I feel like nothing I say can really do justice to how much information is in the book. I have already preordered a copy from my local bookshop. I cannot wait to dig into this again.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fascinating read about ozark folk magic and I learned quite a lot by reading this book. It gives great basics for people who would be interested.

[Rocky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting perspective for any magic worker, but especially those with roots in the Ozarks.

I love the anthropological viewpoint of this collection of cultural knowledge. Though it does have aspects of reference material, I read it cover to cover. As I did, I wanted to be there with the author, hearing and collecting the stories. To compare and relish the traditions of one lineage to the next.

The author does say in the beginning of the text that the connotations of the word “witch” are changing, but throughout the body of the work the word is used in a generally negative way. This is where as a witch or a magic worker you should keep in mind the anthropological aspect of this book. Old timers had to distance themselves from this word for safety reasons because it was usually associated with maligned magic. This isn’t as dangerous as it used to be as the word “witch” is ever evolving and is in the process of being reclaimed IMO. (I say as an American born, white cis witch)