In his book, Backwoods Witchcraft, Appalachian native Jake Richards bares all, delivering the customs that have been passed down through generations of mountaineers within his … My least favorite was the spells and charms that use urine. 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 has re-invigorated my connection to my homeland of Appalachia and strengthened my personal practice, as well as tools that I'll use to help people. I work to bring equity to all people and understand my own privilege and how I can use it to lift up the voices of people who have been marginalized and oppressed. 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." Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. by Weiser Books. I appreciated that Richards tried to explain the rationale for practices and beliefs wherever possible. A fun read, tidbits in this one are likely in the old family beliefs, traditions and superstitions of many folks, everywhere. I saw a few typos. 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. June 1st 2019 The book would benefit from a good inde. Skip to main content. I skimmed through the detailed recipes for folk healing/superstitions, but indulged in the poetic descriptions of mountain nature and folktales. 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. I lived in the state itself intermittently over the years, spending the rest of my time in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia at variously points. I absolutely love it and I think I will need to purchase my own copy one day. I cannot say enough Goodness about this book. 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." Also they talk about the Cherokee a lot and quite often how the Cherokee work with God and other Christian aspects. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. 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”. I'm a 30-something therapist who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her three adorable cats and the best husfriend a woman could ask for. With Marklen Kennedy, Carolyn Taye-Loren, Nicole Sassaman, David Huffman. Book review: Backwoods Witch Craft by Jake Richards. As this strange summer of staying put winds down, one thing remains truer than ever: Books offer us endless adventure and new horizons to... To see what your friends thought of this book, Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure Folk Magic from Appalachia, I came to this through doing ancestry research. I love to paint with watercolor and junk journal. One line of my family is from Watauga NC (I’m not), so I started looking into Appalachia. 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." Welcome back. Backwoods Witchcraft Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia (Book) : Richards, Jake : "A folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts learned from the author's great-grandmother, his grandmother and his grandfather." Episode 174 – Backwoods Witchcraft with Jake Richards Summary: We talk with author and conjure worker Jake Richards about folk magic in the Southern Highlands, the many magical-cultural influences found throughout the mountains, and what people get right and wrong about Appalachia. In so doing he offers a snapshot in time, recording and preserving a tradition of American folk practices, many of which are being forgotten in the post-industrial age. My family is Scottish and Irish, so even though I'm not from Appalachia it was still interesting to learn the possible origins of some family traditions. I also learned how many things to soak with the "mornings first urine" to make someone love you or avoid the evil eye. One line of my family is from Watauga NC (I’m not), so I started looking into Appalachia. I am on a spiritual journey to find myself and my deepest, most true beliefs. It’s more of a book of the life there with some folk items sprinkled in. His introductions to each chapter are poetic and magical. Episode 174 – Backwoods Witchcraft with Jake Richards Summary: We talk with author and conjure worker Jake Richards about folk magic in the Southern Highlands, the many magical-cultural influences found throughout the mountains, and what people get right and wrong about Appalachia. 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. The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the … First the book talks about how witches and witchcraft was seen as devil magic and different from folk magic. As someone from an Appalachian Plateau (although my hills are not nearly as dramatic as the author's), the talk about the mountains and woods feels like home to me. If you have roots in Appalachia and are interested in conjure, this book is for you. 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. This is a really neat look at American folk traditions. That said, it does read in parts like a reference work and gets a little tedious for just reading straight through - this is a better book for skipping around and reading the parts that interest you. "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 … I know bodily fluids are a powerful substance and my practice just isn’t ready for that kind of commitment! recognized Tribe) that there are aspects of culture that are not necessarily meant for everyone. 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