#appalachian folk magic

[samwisethewitch]

Please read Mountain Magic by Rebecca Beyer

I was on a break from social media when I read this one, so this isn't a full review, but I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Appalachian folk magic. This is especially relevant to Southern Appalachian lore since Beyer lives in North Carolina.

I loved Beyer's first book, Wild Witchcraft, and with this one, I think she's officially become one of my favorite authors. This is a very thorough collection of folklore and practice for how short it is, and it's organized in a way that is easier for my ADHD brain to follow than some other authors.

I also have to gush about the illustrations. Both of Beyer's books are beautifully illustrated, but I think the art in this one is especially incredible. It's worth having a physical copy for the info alone, but the gorgeous art really makes this a book I want to display in my home.

Finally, I've found Beyer really helpful as an example of combining a pagan religious worldview with a Christian folk magic tradition. Her first book is very much pagan, with info on the God and Goddess and the Wheel of the Year. In this book, she talks about how Christianity has always been at the core of Appalachian folk magic and doesn't try to "paganize" the practice, while also leaving room for readers to bring their own beliefs to the table and explore what feels comfortable for them. This book did not feel preachy in the way some books on American folk magic do.

But yeah, this is just a really fantastic book, and I absolutely think every folk witch needs a copy of it on their shelf!

[chamberofthespirit]

Bible magic and divination ♡

~Sleep with a bible under your pillow to avoid nightmares

~Keep bible open to David's psalm at the front door to keep roaming haints out

~To get an answer for a question to God, close your eyes and flip through the pages. Stop your finger at a verse that you feel God is drawing you to.

~Write down psalm 23 on a piece of paper to carry with you to protect from lightening, rheumatism, bad luck, and harm.

~Take the bible to a crossroad or outside on a windy day, let God blow the wind to a verse and read it.

~For arthritis or other ailments of the bones, take some lard or oil and rub it over the aching place while reciting Proverbs 16:24 or the Lord’s Prayer.

~For pain in the body, the place is rubbed “to the left”, while saying “Tame thou flesh and bone, like Christ in Paradise” seven times.

~Keep photos of loved ones in your bible to keep them safe and out of trouble.

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

Hello!! I was wondering if you have any book recommendations for Appalachian folk magic? Especially for a beginner, I’m familiar with our local “old wive’s tales” but I’d love to learn more!!

Hello there! I have answered this question before but I have some new resources so I'll list them here!

It really depends on which part of Appalachia you are looking at! And if you want to dig deeper the ancestral roots of the family you are looking at. For example my family has a lot of Welsh and British influence because that was our family source so a lot of those beliefs lingered and changed throughout the years!

Someone from Pennsylvania would likely have a lot more German roots for their practice. But despite the root differences for the folklore these practices stem from they do still share a lot of connecting points!

But having babbled all of that here are my favorite books on AFM specifically. (Mind you Christianity takes a super huge part in the practice so a lot of bible and doing things in threes for the Trinity is involved!)

Authors to check out:

H. Byron Ballard- A pagan who also practices AFM, from the NC side of Appalachia, a lot of people hate her writing style which is a bit ramble-y. I also dislike the term she uses for her own practice but that is a super simple and small complaint honestly. I own all of her books on the subject, which should say something.

A NOTE ON H. BYRON BALLARD: I no longer support her work after discovering she is a TERF. I will no longer be suggesting her as an author to follow.

Jake Richards - From Eastern TN like me! A lot of what he talks about are things I have seen before, and he breaks down complex concepts like burn blowing into something relatively easily understood. HOWEVER HAVING SAID THAT the author is partially Melungeon, so he does have some Hoodoo mixed in from his grandmother's side iirc? He does label these things in his works and explains that they are not for everyone which I do appreciate.

Rebecca Beyer - While vaguely Wiccan toned, which I attribute to her publishers/raising, she's a transplant to Appalachia and if you're looking for herbal information on Appalachia and to wax poetic about how even with a ton of people settling there SO MUCH of the natural herbs and plantlife still survive, read her work! Her work on foraging safely and environmentally is so SOOOOO good.

Brandon Weston - For Ozark Mountain range/German/Dutch Appalachian work! He has written quite a few books on the subject and all of them are a treat!

Roger J. Horne - For how to dig into folklore and apply it to your own practice! This author is pagan and does blend in some traditional work with the Appalachian but I do enjoy his work and how he applies folklore. This author is also FROM Appalachia which is nice to see.

INDIVIDUAL BOOKS TO READ:

Appalachian Folk Healing by Jake Richards - A republication of a very old book on remedies and 'spells', while kitschy and stupidly worded, after all it was a popular book created just for sales reasons, some of these remedies are things I remember having done to me! Good for both a giggle and actual information. TW for mentions of animal parts, hunting, illnesses, the G slur, period specific phobias and racism.

Albertus Magnus - These books all supposedly written by an ancient guy, were actually mildly common on traveling salesmen's trucks and wagons. So as a result a lot of people in Appalachia had access. Like the book above it is very stupidly worded and definitely of their time. Same TW as above.

Pow-Wows or Long Lost Friend - Another Pennsylvania Dutch book! Very good and very clear.

Southern Folk Medicine - A book that breaks down a lot of common medicinal beliefs in the South which does include Appalachia! Sadly not just Appalachia but a very good book regardless. THIS BOOK MADE ME UNDERSTAND THE THEORY BEHIND BLOOD ISSUES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE EVER HAS.

Moon Eyed People - A collection of Welsh folktales that brewed within Appalachia from Welsh immigrants. Very good book imo!

Granny Buck's Dibs and Dabs - This book is so worth the price tag! One of the more expensive books in my collection, but I'm fine with that. Granny Buck covers a lot of topics and I can feel the accent through the wording!

Signs, Cures, & Witchery - More German Appalachian stuff! This book and it's interviewees are from the Kentucky side of the mountains!

Witches, Ghost, and Signs - This book is based more in the Southern Appalachian area! Georgia, SC, NC, and TN specifically! Lots of folklore here, but does mention some not so great bits of the lore, but that is expected.

The Foxfire Books - What began as a school project exploded into a collection of true to life stories and idioms from Georgia elders within the mountains. SO SO GOOD OKAY? For everything. How to plant, hunt, make musical instruments, anything from the mountains? They cover.

[jbird-the-manwich]

A recurrant pattern on the interwebs

And the filler is stolen, too!

[wytchwyse]

So now that I've calmed down a little bit, I want to talk about what prompted my previous Post. I had recently joined the most ridiculous group on Facebook called "all things occult". And there was just the strangest environment in there, but I was just curious and wanted to see if I can engage with people on there in a healthy way, I learned very quickly You cannot lol. Now I probably talk a lot about folk magic on here, folk magic is very important to me. I grew up with bits of folk magic from both Appalachia and Italian-American culture. Pretty sure I said this before but I'll say it again. My father is Appalachian, my mother Italian American. My father would often have all sorts of stories and little bits of mountain wisdom for me when he was having a good day. He taught me a lot about respecting nature and animals, he taught me that you don't just take from nature essentially saying that nature could get back at you. He talked a lot about dreams and having the sight. On my mother's side there was always talk of the Dead visiting my family After funerals.there could be found Catholic talismans hidden around the house for Protection, my grandmother kept a St. Michael pendant by the hot water heater because she was always afraid of fire. And you want to know something,We never had a fire. This growing hate boner for folk magic is incredibly problematic. It is incredibly culturally insensitive, And without even meaning to it's classist. Religious trauma, particularly at the hands of Christianity, is a massive problem. But here's the thing about christian folk magic traditions. Folk magic cannot be separated from Christianity, but folk magic is sorcery and animism and is not sanctioned by any church or any Christian authority. It is still heretical and blasphemous to them. You can hate Christianity, and you do not have to practice folk magic , but folk magic belongs in Pagan And occult spaces no matter your feelings on the issue. There are plenty of trad witches and folk practitioners who are dual faith, and there are many who Care very little about religion and more about the relationships we build with spirits and the religions that they come from.

[hagoftheholler]

It's really infuriating to see so many new books on appalachian folk magic, only for those books to promote new age spirituality as if it has anything in relation to appalachian folk magic. And many people believing what these people write are people who wanna practice appalachian folk magic, then later promote classist stereotypes about appalachian locals.

[the-weaving-cryptid]

Need to spiritually protect your home from unwanted spirits or want to secure your good luck?

Keep a dried corn cob under your doorway to protect against disease and attract good fortune. The corn cob must stay dry lest it mold and bring misfortune.

Hang dried bundles of basil above your doors and windows to protect your home from unwanted spirits.

Hang a horseshoe upright above your front door to hold your good luck.

[midwestbramble]

Backwoods Witchcraft Book Review

I have always had a curiosity of how other live. I am not personally Appalachian, though I have ancestors who lived in those mountains for over a century before moving west. This book caught my interest in both ways. Maybe to learn something about the way my ancestors may have lived and also just some good old folk magic from another region. I originally read this book when it came out and I am expanding on a book review I did for Pagan and Witches Amino at that time. That book review is no longer on that app though you can find it on Good Reads under a different name.

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Contents:

Synopsis

What I Liked

What I Didn't Like

Overall Thoughts

Conclusion

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Published 2019

"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 Appalachian 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."

-from the back of the book

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What I Liked

This book starts broad and then narrows down to the work. Richards starts with the land, which if you've been around my blog you'll know that speaks to my heart. He talks about how the seasons and terrain effect the weather and how people live, including the why of people practicing this folk magic. He talks about the way the oil companies have changed the land, gives advice on how to connect to the land that are helpful for those who aren't in Appalachia as well, and actually encourages you to GO OUT experience and learn from the land. Not just learn from books and other people. One of the ways he says you can connect to the land is learning about your ancestry, if they've lived there for a long time. I love this idea and, looking back, when I was doing genealogical research myself and learned that my grandmother's family was from the area I had been living in I felt SO much more connected, even finding my great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents' graves. Knowing that they had walked the same trails I had been walking unbeknownst to me was wild.

An important factor he talks about is that in Appalachia there is a difference between a witch and your average folk practitioner (which he calls a healer or doctor). I think a lot of us forget that just because you practice magic wouldn't have made people automatically believe you were a witch, and still today. Context, connection to community, and the type of works you do is a big factor.

There is so much spirit work in this book. A lot of working with the dead in particular, especially in graveyards. I enjoyed learning about the cultural things they do in the graveyard for the dead, and was able to see some similarities in how I grew up. Not just the dead but also working with animal spirits and how to respect them, a very insightful section. And there's talk about the little people of Appalachia, called Yunwi Tsunsdi by the Cherokee, and different stories of encounters and the best way to handle meeting them, or keeping them away.

Richards acknowledges the Cherokee influence on the practice of this folk magic, from superstitions and beliefs to plants used in specific ways. It's important to recognize when a marginalized community has had influence on our culture. Doing otherwise is just erasing their presence, and for Native Americans that's even shittier since this is their ancestral land.

Of course, I have to talk about the gardening and wildcrafting! He talks in depth about gardening by the signs and also using them for knowing the best time to get a haircut, for example. This is something my great-grandparents did. My grandpa told me they would hang an Old Farmer's Almanac calendar in the kitchen that told them when the signs where in the best place for different things. The harvesting also reminded me of things I've learned from my grandpa. Different signs and omens when harvesting can foretell misfortune or even weather conditions. And when you're life depends on what you can grow, that's a big deal.

I'm a sucker for old folk practices, they tend to be things people not from the area or with more "modern" sensibilities would pause at. Like the time my grandpa gave me a turkey beard to put under the truck seat of "the guy you like" (grandpa didn't know I didn't have a crush on anyone). This book is, of course, chock full of folk practices along a similar vein (though not that one in particular), like buying warts. Though this book focuses more on the formulas that are followed than specific workings themselves, though you will find those as well.

There's a specific section as well that focuses on different forms of divination common to the Appalachian mountains. One of them being reading playing cards, and it reminded me of learning to read them when I was a kid. This book is basically nostalgia for me, I'm realizing.

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What I Didn't Like

Richards makes the claim that the Cherokee are the only tribe in America that don't live on a reservation. This isn't accurate. I know this for a fact because there is a Native American settlement near me that is NOT a reservation, and they are quick to correct you. Maybe he meant that they never had a reservation or are the most well know? I'm not sure, it could be a wording issue.

He also seems to have a misunderstanding of how Catholics view saints. At least when I was growing up in a Catholic household, we viewed them as intermediaries or advisors not spiritual beings with more power than the average human. You choose a saint upon confirmation as someone to look up to and aspire to live like (I had chosen Joan of Arc). Though this is a common misunderstanding among protestants, I have noticed. The way he works with saints in the book is the way my mom views them, anyway.

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Overall Thoughts

I love this book. It really made me think about what I saw growing up and how we do things differently or similar. Whether or not you are in Appalachia, this book can give you some advice and maybe jog some thinking on the folk practices around you that maybe you never noticed. It is Christian. The folk practices in Appalachia use Psalms and call on saints and prophets, among other Christian iconography. There's a lot you can get out of it still if you aren't Christian (such as myself).

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Conclusion

There is magic all around us if we know where to look. Reading about where others have found it in their own lives can help us to see it around us too. Just make sure you go out and interact with it. You can find this book on amazon, Thriftbooks, Google Books, Woodshed, Coyote Supply Co., and more!

[kimberly40]

The Appalachian region is known for its folklore and storytelling. Stories of myths, monsters, and ghosts. There is currently a trend going around on TikTok where people list the “Rules of Appalachia.” These rules often include: Do not go in the woods at night, do not whistle in the woods, and do not look in the trees.

Should you be scared of these mountains….well, I don’t think so.

The eyes that you see shining in the trees at night..well that’s just an old possum searching for its dinner.

The sounds you hear from inside the forest at night…that’s just the trees talking with the wind.

The shadows you see moving around the bed of the forest…well, that’s just the moonlight pushing through the Laurel.

And if you choose to whistle in the forest at night, the only thing you’ll hear in return is your own echo.

There was a time before technology that people needed a way to entertain each other so they turned to storytelling. There’s a sense of mystery for the unknown and it gives us license to our imaginations.

The Appalachian mountains are old, but they are full of wisdom and I’m surrounded by peace here, rather than fear.

(Kim Wright)

[im-adrienne]

Whenever I listen to country western music stuff starts happening in my house. I hear a male voice in my bedroom harmonize with Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson sometimes. I hear a woman’s voice harmonize with Coal Miner’s Daughter (that would be my Grannie) damn near every time. Different smells permeate through the house that remind me of family members. Them letting me know that they’re always around. Sometimes I even feel a pat on top of my head.

Music is so powerful in all forms of spirituality including folk pathways, witchcraft, paganism, etc. Music can connect you with people and places when you really need them.

Just thought I would share.

[samwisethewitch]

REVIEW: Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

I feel like Jake Richards's books are pretty popular with folk witches. If you have any interest in Appalachian folk magic, or even American folk magic more generally, you've probably at least heard of this book. Part of why I put off reviewing it for so long is because I feel like there's already been plenty of attention given to it online, so I'll try to make this brief.

Pros:

Definitely authentic Appalachian folk magic. Jake Richards writes about a lot of things I've seen people do or heard people talk about but never seen written anywhere.

This book is really well researched! I'm very impressed by all the references and footnotes.

I love that Richards uses the correct Tsalagi (Cherokee), Gaelige (Irish), and Gaelic (Scottish) words when talking about the cultures that influence Southern folk magic. I also love that he includes pronunciation guides.

Cons:

I didn't finish this book on my first read. It wasn't until I revisited it recently that I actually read to the end. Something about the writing style and the way the book is organized made it a little hard to follow at times, at least for me.

The research is generally good, but there's definitely more detail given for European and Cherokee cultural influences than for African. When talking about European influences, Richards will usually specify the specific country or culture something comes from, but for African influences he just says "African." While this research is harder to do because the slave trade intentionally cut people off from their cultural traditions, other authors like Luisah Teish and Stephanie Rose Bird have shown that we can often trace these African influences back to a specific culture, or at least a region. I would have liked to see the same level of effort put into researching African practices that went into the European ones.

Other Observations:

Christianity is a big part of the author's practice. This is faithful to traditional Appalachian conjure, but just know that it may be triggering if you've experienced religious trauma in a Christian setting. I found this book harder to read than other books on conjure that incorporate Christian elements, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because it sounded too similar to the Appalachian church where my abuse happened? Just something to be aware of if this is a tricky topic for you.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

[chamberofthespirit]

Sweetgumballs in Folk Magic

Sweetgumballs, also known as witches burrs, are spikey seed pods that grow on liquidambar trees, which have pentagram shaped leaves. They are said to ward off evil spirits, protect agaisnt curses and hexes, attract good luck, and provide healing with headaches, toothaches, etc.

Different magical uses

~ Tailesments and Amulets:

Sweetgumballs can be carried on a person to provide protection, attract prosperity and abundance, and attract love.

~ Spells

They can be used in spells to ward off negative enegry, add extra power to a spell, break hexes and curses, can be added to witches bottles. They can be dressed in oils and herbs and place them on the path of a love interest. They can be powdered to be used in a hot foot spell.

~ Charm Bags

Place them in a charm bag with crystals and herbs to make a strong protection tailesment.

~ Altar Decorations

Place sweetgumballs on altars to keep evil spirits and unwanted guests away and draw in good luck. They can also add extra power to any altar workings.

~ Bath Products

Add to bath salts, oils, or any other body product to promote healing.

~ Home Decorations

Place sweetgumballs above doorways to ward of evil energy in the home and attract good energy. They can also be added to wreaths and wind chimes.

~ Cleansing Rituals

Burn them as part of a ritual to cleanse a person or space.

~ Fertility and Childbirth

Use them to promote fertility and healthy childbirth.

~ Stuffed Burrs

Fill them with herbs, ash, crystals, blood, knots, or affirmations into a burr and use wax to seal it up for long-term protection.

~ Communing

Use them to help with mediumship and contacting spirits.

~ Charging

Place near tools, amulets, or other magical items to charge them.

~ Offerings

Use them as offerings on a altar or within nature.

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

Hello Tumblr. Especially my little corner of Tumblr. I do unfortunately come with bad news. On this and every other platform I actively use I have been singing the praises of one H. Byron Ballard, thanks to a friend doing a very big deep dive a certain...aspect of her character has come to light which is in my opinion:

Unacceptable.

She holds TERF views and as an Appalachian, and a queer one at that? I cannot and will not support anyone like that. My copies of her work are being tossed, and all of my support of her on this blog will be edited with clarification that I no longer support said work.

And per usual for proof I do have screenshots from her Facebook, of which no apology or acknowledgement has been made that I can find. I imagine since this is roughly when she began working with a major publisher she might have been advised to dropping the topic online? There is apparently some mentions of this in her 'irl' interactions as well but I am digging for internet proof of such. If anyone finds anything further please let me know.

Proof from her own Facebook is below. And if asked I will provide direct links to ensure that they are not doctored in any way.

Appalachia is a welcoming place, TERF beliefs are not welcoming and therefore not Appalachian by extent.

My heart was already hurting for my home, now it also rages.

[banishedchildofeve]

[the-folk-menagerie]

By prick of Pin and Cushion of Couch

So the number one rule of folk magic is you don't know why it works you just know that it does. That's about how this little trick was explained to me by my aunty. What you'll need: -A Sewing Pin -A Couch or Mattress So you've lost something. You've overturned every cushion, tossed every blanket, and yet it is still missing. You're at a loss, what do you do? Well if you asked me, I'd say you should stick a sewing pin in your couch or your mattress and ask for the item to return to you. I know. If you're not already folk magic inclined that probably sounds a bit odd but it works. And it's all you have to do. I consider this a must-know for Appalachian & southern folk magic so if that's your end game, next time you loose something; give this a shot!

[wytchwyse]

When The Spirits Squabble: The Witch As A Mediator.

It is often the job of someone who keeps spirits or who lives in service to spirits to mediate between them when they are not sharing space peacefully in your life. Sometimes our spirits have different personalities which can cause discord and upset in the lives of the practitioner. I myself have recently stumbled upon this issue with one of the  spirits I have worked with the longest (Nicnevin) and the newest (Diana).  If you notice a theme here you would be correct, both Witch mothers,keepers of cunning, and mothers of spirits, Fair folk, and Fata etc. 

I keep relationships with these spirits because they help me learn Witchcraft and magic. But what they needed to understand was they had different things to teach me. Nicnevin oversees my study of Scots-Irish Cunning, and Diana, my Italian-American cunning.  I became aware that Nicnevin was blocking interactions between Diana and myself for  feeling a bit neglected, I apologized, and gave offerings and told them my expectations moving forward. And I prayed fervently to them as well as la Madonna. And the situation quickly sorted itself out  after that. 

Normally offerings, fervent prayer, and healthy personal boundaries are enough to sort out this issue UNLESS within your system/tradition there are spirits who canonically don't get along then it would be wise to listen and enshrine them in separate spaces and follow your system/traditions procedures to handle this. So much of the discourse on Spirit work today is just fear mongering, when we could be talking about the responsibility it takes to tend to spirits, And how to troubleshoot effectively without panicking.  

This situation wasn’t dire. It was unpleasant and needed to be corrected in case it escalated. And sure I know of practitioners who had full on poltergeist-like phenomena and curses like Anomalies happening when they let this go for too long, but when you keep up with your spirits check in regularly it's really a non issue. Moral of the story is to tend to your spirits. Also  you do not need to keep a hundred spirits. 

It is better to have a strong relationship with 1 or 5 spirits/ group of spirits than trying to keep all the spirits. Also it is possible to have a working relationship with a spirit like one you don't enshrine in your home but keep in your heart and mind and sometimes give offerings to when you need their help. But if you're new i think wait on relationships like that as it would just be overwhelming and takes you away from your close spirit team.