Meet author Jake Richards I grew up in East Tennessee in the valleys below Buffalo and Roan Mountain. My family was mostly farmers in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, some going back a good three hundred years. I spent most of my childhood at my great-grandmother’s house on the side of Big Ridge Mountain near Devil’s Nest in North Carolina. My family always spoke of the old wives’ tales and folk remedies; who could cure what or what to do if this or that happened. They were mountain people to the bone: hunters, farmers, blacksmiths, faith healers, preachers, and root diggers. The unique thing about Appalachian folk magic is that there's no one right way to do it. What I’m presenting in this book is what I have learned from my own family and gathered in my conversations with other mountain workers. You’ll learn the ways we watch the smoke, charm the fire, and stir the water to tell fortune and fates. You’ll see how we work the candles and lamps, cure unnatural illness, and jab those who do us wrong. The bare bones of Appalachian folk magic. What it was and what it is. Superstition is the fuel behind folk magic. Horseshoe for protection Life in Appalachia was hard enough without the extra misfortune that fate dealt. Closely following the concept of protection, there are tricks and wits to bring good luck and keep misfortune away. My grandmothers always hung horseshoes pointing upward to keep the luck from running out. The Bible is more than a book The Bible is much more than a book in Appalachia. It is heritage and an extension of the family. Often time family bibles held the only records for births, marriages and deaths among other important life events. It also served as a charm protecting against haints and nightmares if placed under the mattress. Salt is common in folk magic Salt is common in folk magic the world over, and in all of those places, as well as Appalachia, it’s good for just about anything. Richards Nana used to line the front and back doors with salt for protection, or sprinkle it at the four inside corners of the home in a pile and set a penny up on top for good luck and money. “Salt does what you tell it to” is a well-known saying throughout the American South. Scattering forms of divination You can also utilize the “scattering” forms of divination, which entail tossing sunflower or apple seeds on a handkerchief after whispering your question into them. If the seeds are evenly spaced out after landing, it means yes; but if they land in groups or “clods,” it is a no. Stories and superstitions often intersect, like a complex dream catcher. Discover just how powerful superstitions and wives tales really are. Food is an important heritage Food is as important to hill folks heritage as the stories passed down to us. Food is the embodied struggle and poverty of the people, but it is also the love and pride taken in caring for oneself and their upbringing. It is comfort for grief and a sign of hospitality and comradery in community and in the seams of our family history. Rags are commonly used Rags can also be used to curse one’s enemies, provide healing from illness, conjure up a rainstorm, and catch the morning dew to be used in love and healing works. Normally, it was a washcloth or kitchen towel that was used again and again, as it was thought to get stronger and stronger with each use. Handkerchiefs and flannel were the most common types of fabric used. Flannel was believed to bring good luck all on its own, so most charm bags are crafted with flannel from old shirts. Rivers are places of cleansing The Little Doe River in Cate’s Cove on Roan Mountain; rivers are places of cleansing, bringing and taking. Many folks still today will go pray in the water or are baptized there. The Cherokee knew it as the Long Man, a spirit who aided in many cures and charms, especially in healing diseases. Appalachian stump water A Tree stump with a pool of rain water, known in Appalachia as Stump water or Spunk water. This water is often used to wash one’s hair for hair growth, wash off worts, and heal other ailments. It’s believed to hold these qualities because it is “flying water” as the Cherokee say, water that has never touched the earth and still retains the virtues of the heavens.
✔ Author(s): Jake Richards,Starr Casas
✔ Title: Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (2102 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1578636531
✔ ISBN-13: 9781578636532
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards
Aileen Menzie
What an intellectual journey! The themes explored in this book challenged my perceptions and sparked introspection. It's refreshing to read a book that provokes such thought.
Polly Hurlbutt
The way this book explored the complexities of human nature and relationships was both profound and relatable. It touched my heart in ways I didn't expect.
Tasha Cobbett
This book is a work of art. The language, the imagery, the symbolism - everything came together beautifully to create a memorable reading experience.
