#roger j. horne

[stormbornwitch]

" Magic works through the practitioner, not around him. This means that anything I call forth tends to pass through me on its way out into the world. Sending a curse, in my experience, is a little like spitting poison from your own mouth. It can be rinsed out... but it changes your spirit ever so slightly."

- Roger J. Horne's Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner.

[spiralhouseshop]

New in the shop!

As-If (A zine about DIY punk magic from the fine folks at Fiddler's Green)

Under The Dragon Root: A Folk Grimoire of Occult Plant Lore & Practicum by Corinne Boyer (the 3rd in a series)

The Charmers Root: Witching Ways with Common Flora by Roger J Horne

The Treasury of Folklore: Waterland, Wooded Worlds, & Starry Skies

Weaving Fate: Hypersigils, Changing the Past, and Telling True Lies by Aidan Watcher

Witch in Darkness: Magic for Tough Times, Bad Days, & Moments of Total Catastrophe by Kelly-Ann Maddox

[twistedshipper]

'The Poppet' from the Grammar of Roger J. Horne.

[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.

[windvexer]

disappointment anon, i didnt actually know you could create spirit doors i thought i just had to hope that the spirits heard me after i called them to me because i dont have clairsenses or good divination.. LOL but thank you for that post that was extremely helpful :)

Hi! In Traditional Witchcraft and other related practices, I think I especially want to say Fairy Faith, the idea that the practitioner has the ability to find, capitalize on, or simply create portals, gateways, and roads into the spirit world is a dominant theme.

The only time I ever see this referenced in 101 stuff is casting a circle! The concept in Traditional Witchcraft is more or less the same as a Wiccan circle, but we call it a compass. If a lot of your education is coming from online sources, you may be unaware that a primary function of a magic circle is to "join the worlds" and, as Kelden puts it,

On a deeper level, though, and most central to Traditional Witchcraft, the compass is a liminal place, a doorway through which we can enter into the Otherworld.

On one hand, the word compass is synonymous with the word circle, but it also denotes the well-known navigational tool used in travel. This second meaning makes a lot of sense in the context that Traditional Witches use the compass round to navigate and traverse the different realms.

Kelden, The Crooked Path, 2020 (emphasis my own)

For a spirit-working witch, the skill of learning where to find spirits and how to reliably call them is a skill which I believe is separate from brokering deals. I also believe that working with these gateways is probably a fundamental skill of witchcraft.

The witch has many tools at their disposal for creating gateways into the spirit world and walking back and forth between this world and the next, with new knowledge, allies, and powers.

Some of these gateways are physical locations, each of which may lead to a different place in the otherworld, or make it easier or more difficult to access certain powers.

A small, secluded cave half-filled with water at the bottom of a steep riverbank may be the ideal location to enter the Underworld, or commune with chthonic powers.

A tiny thicket formed by the arch of a rosemary bush where it tangles with the branches of a thorny rose may be an excellent location to leave tiny gifts for the Greenwood and commune with the green folk.

Much more accessible for many of us is indeed just the concept of crossroads, either a 4-way X or a 3-way T. These locations are long famed for being the meeting places of spirits, or ideal locations to leave offerings or broker spirit deals. The Devil Himself is often said to be haunting just such remote crossroads.

But these gateways don't just have to be found. The witch has the power to create them.

Exhibit A - casting a circle (or more accurately to say, laying a compass).

Also, I believe the creation of a spellcasting altar, if properly magicked and tended to, begins to become liminal in and of itself - it literally becomes a doorway to the otherworlds.

Certain human-made locations, like gas stations and grocery stores, are often considered to be gateways and have been used by some practitioners to fulfill spellwork.

Various charms and talismans can assist with creating doorways navigating the liminal, most famously the Holey or Hag stone.

Robin Artisson details several methods of understanding, discovering, creating, and working with such doorways, I believe in Witching Way of Hollow Hill, but especially in An Carow Gwyn, in the section called The Breaching Charms: The Gateways into Sorcerous Experience.

Daniel Schulke, at least in Viridarium Umbris, provides several sigils and charms for obtaining entrance into the otherworld.

Roger J Horne, in A Broom at Midnight, details thirteen "gateways" to spirit flight. While these are specifically methods of entering astral travel, any student of the concept of gateways and doors within witchcraft I think would benefit from studying the rituals within.

Speaking of astral travel, many common methods espoused include imagining that a person is climbing down the roots of a tree, or inside of the trunk of a tree and floating down like an elevator; or going down a well. All of these things are analogous to (or, the same thing as) mentally seeking out a gateway to the otherworld, searching in mental constructs of places in nature where gateways are commonly found or believed to be found.

Indeed, the concept of roads, gates, thresholds, and doors, is (I think) a vital contemplation to the understanding of Witchcraft itself, and it is upon these bedrocks that a great deal of witchcraft has been built.

[magicaguajiro]

Swamp Witch Travels: Finding Sacred Space

Myakka River and Paynes Creek State Parks

As I dive deeper into my practice of bioregional animism, I look to parks for sacred space and places to connect with spirits of all kinds. In Florida we live in cities divided by nature preserves and swamps, and we are also incredibly blessed to have an amazing State Parks system. These parks offer us peaks into ecology and history of the Land that reveal to us some of Its Mysteries. Here are a few things I’ve learned as a Folk Witch.

Make an offering when entering. For ancestral reasons, I use tobacco. Use what you're guided to. Introduce yourself, your intentions, etc. Also, pick up trash and be respectful. Don't wander in places you don't know, or take things you don't have knowledge on. It’s usually best to practice Leave No Trace but when have Witches been known to follow rules… Do as ye will. But always ask and give something in return.

There are different spirits!

Trees, plants, rivers, hills and even entire forests and parks can have their own spirits. At parks like Myakka and Payne’s Creek, there are platforms you can climb for an aerial view of the park. This is a great place to connect with the Genus Loci of a place! (For more on Genus Loci, I recommend Folk Witchcraft by Roger J Horne) Some spirits will want to talk to you, some won’t. Respect their choices and don’t expect anyone to talk for free.

Protection is Key!

Protection is important for witches and animists. Many spirits and natural places are dangerous, for example some Rivers are known for drowning and can be seen as having a harsh and dangerous spirit. When protecting myself day to day I wear spiritual jewelry from my Cuban traditions. Shark and gator teeth serve as great protection from water spirits and in general. My spiral shell ring is protective and I often use it in ritual. Bodies of water are also great places to bless things and hold rituals of cleansing and power! Not only spiritual protection, but physical protection is needed as well. In these swamps, we have gators, sharks, panthers, bobcats, bears, snakes, PEOPLE and even more things that would gladly expedite your role in the food chain. I’m not saying be afraid of animals, rather have respect and recognize you are in their domain. Carry bear spray, don’t wander too far off known trails, and be careful of other people.

I once heard a saying, the Swamp knows everything about death, and doesn’t consider it a tragedy.

Enjoy the Scenery, and Learn!

Take it all in and take your time! If you need to escape heat and mosquitos check out the visitor centers and gift shops! I justify spending a bit too much here on considering it an offering to the Land. Try talking to the people who work here or making friends! This is a great way to learn Folklore and secret places to explore.

On Remembering Ancestors of the Land

In working with the Land, you must honor the Ancestors of the Land. These are the spirits of all the people who lived on the Land before you. For me, this begins with my Ancestors and the other Indigenous groups of the area. In Florida, the tribes who remain today are the Seminole and Mikasuki. We should look to Indigenous tribes for wisdom on how to approach and respect the Land, but that doesn’t mean read online about it and go appropriate it. It means go and actually talk to real life people. You can and certainly should also honor other people, including any folk saints or historical figures who may serve as tutelary spirits or otherwise.

And always remember to say Fuck the Colonizers!

Happy Witching Friends, May the Dry Season bring us all Renewal!

[breath-of-venus]

“A very safe unguent can be made by even the novice herbalist by infusing 4 tbsp of mugwort and 4 tbsp of wormwood in one cup of sweet almond oil in a 200 degree oven for four hours. After the oil has cooled, strain the mixture with cheesecloth to remove the plant matter, then measure the resulting oil and add beeswax in a ratio of one part wax to five parts oil. Reheat in a clean pan to melt the wax, then pour into a jar and allow to cool before using. Apply to the chest, neck, back, and pulse points to aid in spirit flight.”

Folk Witchcraft, by Roger J. Horne

[midwestbramble]

Book Reviews and Recommendations

This will be a running list of books I’ve reviewed and which ones I recommend according to topic. This way when people ask I have an easy place to point them.

Right now I’m posting one review a week of a book that’s already on my shelf. Eventually all the books I’ve recommended will have a review linked as well; for now if you have questions about one feel free to ask. This post will continue to be updated.

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Content:

Book Reviews

Book Recommendations

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Book Reviews

America Bewitched

American Brujeria

Aradia

Astral Dynamics

Backwoods Witchcraft

Besom, Stang, and Sword

Betwixt and Between

Black Dog Folklore

The Black Toad

The Book of Celtic Magic

A Broom at Midnight (coming soon)

Mastering Witchcraft

Thirteen Pathways of Occult Herbalism

Under the Witching Tree

Witches Among Us

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Book Recommendations

For Beginners:

Natural Magic by Doreen Valiente

Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

The Witch’s Path by Thorn Mooney

Ancestor Work:

Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

Animal Spirits:

Black Dog Folklore by Mark Norman

Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone by Lupa

Skin Spirits by Lupa

Astrology:

The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology by April Elliott Kent

Crafts:

The Green Witch’s Grimoire by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Potions, Elixirs, and Brews by Anaïs Alexandre

Cultural Literacy in Modern Witchcraft:

Aradia by Charles Godfrey Leland

Doreen Valiente: Witch by Philip Heselton

Power of the Witch by Laurie Cabot

The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente

Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Transcendental Magic by Éliphas L��vi

Death Work:

Morbid Magic by Tomás Prower

Druidry:

The Book of Celtic Magic by Kristoffer Hughes

Elements:

The Four Elements of the Wise by Ivo Dominguez Jr.

The Little Work by Durgadas Allon Duriel

Faeries:

Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk by Morgan Daimler

Feri (not to be confused with faeries):

Betwixt and Between by Storm Faerywolf

Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft by Storm Faerywolf

Folklore:

Black Dog Folklore by Mark Norman

The Devils Plantation by Nigel Pearson

Folk Magic:

American Brujeria by J. Allen Cross

Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

Doctoring the Devil by Jake Richards

Ozark Folk Magic by Brandon Weston

Ozark Mountain Spell Book by Brandon Weston

The Powwow Grimoire by Robert Phoenix

Trolldom by Johannes Björn Gårdbäck

Working Conjure by Hoodoo Sen Moise

Green Witchcraft:

The Green Witch’s Garden by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Plants of the Devil by Corrine Boyer

The Poison Path Herbal by Coby Michael

Under the Bramble Arch by Corrine Boyer

Under the Witching Tree by Corrine Boyer

Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

Wortcunning by Nigel Pearson

Hearth Witchcraft:

The Hearth Witch’s Compendium by Anna Franklin

The House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Hedge Riding/Spirit Flight:

Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce

A Broom at Midnight by Roger J. Horne

History:

America Bewitched by Owen Davies

Demons and Spirits of the Land by Claude Lecouteux

Harry Potter and History by Nancy Reagin <- unaffiliated with JK Rowling

A History of Magic and Witchcraft by Frances Timbers

The Return of the Dead by Claude Lecouteux

The Tradition of Household Spirits by Claude Lecouteux

The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

The Witch by Ronald Hutton

Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies by Claude Lecouteux

Holidays:

The Hearth Witch’s Year by Anna Franklin

Samhain by Diana Rajchel

Yule by Susan Pesznecker

Protection:

By Rust of Nail and Prick of Thorn by Althaea Sebastiani

Hex Twisting by Diana Rajchel

The Reclaiming Tradition:

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Scientific Studies on Magic:

Real Magic by Dean Radin, PhD

Spirit Work:

Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

A Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal by J. Allen Cross

Traditional Witchcraft:

Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire

The Black Toad by Gemma Gary

A Broom at Midnight by Roger J. Horne

The Crooked Path by Kelden <- great for beginners

The Devils Dozen by Gemma Gary

Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience by Via Hedera

New World Witchery by Corey Hutcheson

Plants of the Devil by Corrine Boyer

The Poison Path Herbal by Coby Michael

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon

Traditional Witchcraft by Gemma Gary

Treading the Mill by Nigel G Pearson

Tubelos Green Fire by Shani Oates

Under the Bramble Arch by Corrine Boyer

Under the Witching Tree by Corrine Boyer

Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

The Witch Compass by Ian Chambers

The Witches’ Devil by Roger J Horne

The Witches’ Sabbath by Kelden

Wortcunning by Nigel Pearson

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[upthewitchypunx]

Hi Alex! I'm a secular witch and I've been thinking of doing some more serious research about different kind of witchcraft and the history of magical practices- I was wondering if you had some sort of reading list of thing you'd recommend for beginners, or things that helped shape your personal philosophy of your craft? No prob if not of course! Your style of practice really resonates with me and I'd love to learn more :D

Sorry it took me so long to get to this! I don't have a personal list and generally ask people what they are into and recommend a book to suit that, but I hadn't thought of one that helped form my practice. I'd end of telling you to read all the Amber Chronicles to explain how I understand Chaos Magic or an old stack of Cometbus zines or a copy of Art of War by Sun Tzu. I also really enjoyed Ellen Dugan's books at the beginning of my practice (Cottage Witchery, Garden Witchery, etc) because she was the first author that didn't make me feel like I had to follow rules and she included personal anecdotes that really felt like applied magic.

Two of my new favorites for new witches that are more educational are Beginner's Guide to the Occult by Deborah Lipp and How To Study Magic by Sarah Lyons. Both of these books give a layout of the land and give you and idea of what there is to know without telling you what to do. I think a lot of people have an urge but don't know what direction to take, and these books are kind of like signposts.

For a great books for new witches I'll always suggest @breelandwalker Grovedaughter Witchery. I also enjoy Kelly-Ann Maddox's Rebel Witch, Folk Witchcraft by Roger J Horne and Six Ways by Aidan Watcher. From there I explore my neighborhood and notice seasonal changes, books about specific interests whether witchy or not. Then start to see the throughlines in your life and practice and see how they integrate into each other. Your ethics, values, and experiences do not exist in bubbles. I think practices are most satisfying when they celebrate the whole experience.

[stormbornwitch]

"Let your craft be like a tree, firmly rooted in the old, but stretching into the new. Get your hands dirty, and find out what works and what doesn't work for you."

- Roger J Horne's Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner

[spiralhouseshop]

New in The Spiral House at @portlandbuttonworks Agust 13, 2024!

Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft: Playing Cards and Marseilles Tarot in Divination, Magic, & Lore by Roger J. Horne

Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic by Tabitha Stanmore

Lessons From The Empress :A Tarot Workbook for Self-Care & Creative Growth by Casandra Snow and Siri Vincent Plouff

Green Witch's Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy- Hiscock and Sara Richard

Rainbow Magick: Twelve Creative Color Quests For Art Witches by Molly Roberts

Red Tarot: A Decolonial Guide to Divinatory Literacy by Christopher Marmolejo

The Spell of the Sensuous: perception and Language in a More Than Human World by David Abram

Tarot Card Sticker Book (perfect for tarot journaling)

[jbird-the-manwich]

Hey I was wondering if you had any resources to share related to familiars and magical books. I remember reading somewhere about witches' familiars being trapped in books, not the book's spirit per se but rather a different spirit living in the book or working from the book, something like that? Any and all recommended reading is appreciated

Ohh that's a tricky one. Sorry for the extreme delay. I kinda forgot tumblr existed for like a year or so and your ask was buried under some much less friendly anon messages and I uhhh procrastinate pretty hard with the ask box in that state due to The Horrors.

anyway:

As far as a spirit that lives in a book, traditional american witchlore holds that a familiar spirit may take up residence in almost anything, a book included, that the calling witch desires. It could be you found a reference to this.

In the black book tradition of icelandic countries, specifically, magical books are believed to possess a kind of discrete power of their own, (this is echoed somewhat in american witch lore, but with fewer stipulations) that the magician avails themselves of by hand-copying the entire book to make up their own copy.

in that tradition It's said such books are to be hand copied verbatim, lest the spells lose their effectiveness for the magician who copies one incorrectly, or makes corrections not specified within the text.

There are many of these books now within the public domain, and some contain spells ranging the gamut from making people fart in church to killing ones enemy to making gold. Absolutely one of my favorite currents to read from because of the sheer variety and scope of methods they mention, though, consistent with this tradition is a tendency for spells to contain very specific and often complex instructions, some of which would be quite difficult to replicate faithfully. That said, one text dealing with this tradition of texts that I found just the other night, The Black Books of Elverum by Mary Rustad, is located here: https://archive.org/details/the-black-books-of-elverum

^^that one has a pdf available as well as plaintext, and the plaintext conversion is really quite good, comparatively, and would require very little preprocessing to parse digitally, if you're of that bent.

As I said, many of these books have been translated and are now within the public domain, but if you're after a compendium of works I very much enjoy the Svartkonstbocker, which is a compendium of swedish black book materials by Dr Thomas K. Johnson. I possess a physical copy and don't believe this particular text is within the public domain, but if you're in the market for hard texts, I've found it worth the price of admission.

To switch gears and discuss texts more aligned to my own leanings, a book I often eat in one sitting every couple years when the power goes out that details calling familiar spirits Is Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne. I recommend it fairly frequently, It's a pleasant read, the font could be larger, but it's far from the worst beginner text on spirit work I've ever read.

It contains numerous primers and several spells and orations dealing with the attraction of a familiar spirit. This could be a decent place to look.

If you're looking for something in the grimoire tradition, there's the grimorium verum, which insists that a pact with a spheres ruling spirit must be performed to make the related spells within their spheres function. A pdf edition is available here:

https://nekropolis.dk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GrimoriumVerum.pdf

Not my wheelhouse, nor my religion, but it does contain instructions for the creation of numerous tools and a fair few pages of interesting workings, though it is more or less a text concerned primarily with daemons and the pacting therewith.

If you think the reference you found may have been pointing to the grimoire tradition, or if the solomonic tradition is your get, Secrets of Solomon by Joseph Peterson is an interesting read, quite dense for its page count and deals primarily with translation of "the little key of solomon concerning the secrets"; It again is concerned primarily with the ritual conjuring of spirits and the working of solomonic magic, and contains instructions, seals, and conjurations for everything from planetary intelligences to cthonic spirits. I don't believe this particular text is within the public domain, but earlier translations of both the lesser and greater keys of solomon are very easy to find online, should you feel either of these are likely to be the book you had reference to.

Honorable mention for a text that is also not public domain yet, but is dense for its page count and contains several discrete tables concerning different classes of spirits and their attending seals and conjuration information would be The Complete Book of Magic and Witchcraft by Kathryn Paulsen, if only for the extremely 2edgy4u darkness dementia raven way Satanic Panic aesthetic and also the excellent bibliography. My memory is shit, but I believe I must have recommended this one before, and if I haven't shame for me, if only for the sheer amount of information on materia magica it contains.

it also contains references from a number of texts, themselves now within the public domain, including Reginald Scotts The Discoverie Of Witchcraft, to the keys of solomon, to The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus. All of which are pretty fun reads.

I kinda doubt I've answered your question as you'd hoped, as I'm honestly drawing a blank for your precise ask, but any one of these texts is a good and fun place to start if you've still not found what you were looking for, book ghost wise.

[twistedshipper]

For most witches, it is often appropriate to blend the spoken charm with certain physical rites of folk magic. These are usually understood within the two pillars of what we call simulacra and contagia. The first of these refers to an object that represents something else. . . . Contagion, however works differently, spreading its influence slowly and regularly by proximity to the target of the charm. . . . For the witch who desires to pair well-established folk magical methods alongside the work of incantation, any of the following methods would be more than appropriate . . .

from The Witch's Art of Incantation; Spoken Charms, Spells, & Curses in Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

re: Appalachian Witchcraft for Beginners

^jsyk where my ask stems from.

you said the author is one of few that mentions red clay and i was wondering if you knew of any of the others and if their info or themselves were reliable? i’m sorry if this isn’t worded well.

Hello there!

These are my own opinions mind you, and I can understand if some of these authors aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Personally for written information on Appalachian Folk Magic available to the modern public I do recommend:

Jake Richards -He has some controversy about him, so do with that what you will but a lot of what he talks about I have seen within my own family so I would say a lot of the information is pretty solid. Do take some stuff with some salt as some of what he talks about borders on proper Hoodoo.

New World Witchery- Cory Thomas Hutchenson. This covers a lot of folk practices from around America but the real treasure is the giant pile of resources in the back of the book.

Southern Cunning- Aaron Obreon. This covers more southern based cunningwork/folkloric witchcraft. This book is a breakdown of the far too expensive in my opinion...Silver Bullet, a folklore book from ages gone by. Can still be followed without the other book!

Roger J. Horne- All of his books kind of blend Traditional British style magic with folkloric based Appalachian work. I find the way he describes witch's flight and how he breaks down complicated ideals a great resource. But only if you are interested in both topics.

The Foxfire Series- A great series about Appalachia and things within it, both folkloric and way of life. I personally love the book: Boogers, Witches, and Haints in the series for folklore to dig into and apply to your own practice.

H. Byron Ballard- Another slightly controversial author, I adore the way Ballard describes the mountains and the natural magic and energy that's here. She makes me feel homesick and I live here! Seeing her speak in person really solidified my fondness for her works. The only thing I hate is she calls AFM "Hillfolk Hoodoo" which the term does make me sigh every time I read it.

A NOTE AS OF OCTOBER 3, 2024: I no longer support H. Byron Ballard's works as it has come to my attention that she is a TERF. As a queer from Appalachia I cannot and will not condone anything of the sort.

(This title is laughable but I swear this is a historical remedy book that is fairly good!) Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus- Remedies of the old days, was one of those books like "Long Lost Friend", but this one I have heard of some AFM workers using in the older days.

Southern Folk Medicine: Healing Traditions from the Appalachian Fields and Forests - Now I will always say please go to a doctor for any ills, but herbalism and remedies are an important part of AFM, just use it in conjunction with a doctor's advice and medication. (AND ASK THEM ABOUT IT PLEASE.) This particular book really focuses on some of the older concepts of the "blood types" that did play a somewhat important role in older ideals of illness and injury here.

Power of the Psalms by Anna Riva- Okay look. Having a Psalter, a list of Psalms and their uses is SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME. This one is always by go to, otherwise I do like Gemma Gary's Psalter as well. Great for workings, and also great to help you memorize certain Psalms that can and will spook those really overbearing and ridiculous Christian types that try to insult you in some way.

That's all the ones I can think of at the moment but I might think of some more eventually!

[windvexer]

so, uh, how do we feast at the full moon? how do we travel to the strange wild parties which run eternal?

signed,

anon who ends up in the astral desert each time

Try A Broom at Midnight by Roger J Horne for various charms to accomplish the work.

A Deed Without a Name by Lee Morgan has, IIRC, no charms - but it does have helpful context surrounding the idea of spiritual feeding via interaction and exchange with Otherworlds.

[prettyqueerwitch]

My Spiritual Book TBR's

This is mainly for me to have a comprehensive list but also might help others in finding books to read!

Marked ♡ means I own the book

Read

• Witchery by Juliet Diaz

• The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

• Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

Currently Reading

To Be Read

♡ The Altar Within by Juliet Diaz

♡ Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

♡ Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages by Judika Illes

• Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist

♡ The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener

♡ Magical Healing by Hexe Claire

• The Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman

• Hex and Spellwork by Karl Herr

♡ Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

• How to Study Magic by Sarah Lyons

• Love is In The Earth by Melody

• Radical Remedies by Brittany Ducham

♡ Spiritual Ecology by Multiple People (Llewellyn)

♡ A Witch's Shadow Magic Compendium by Raven Digitalis

• The Witch at The Forests Edge by Christine Grace

• Six Ways by Aidan Wachter

♡ Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

• Year of The Witch by Temperance Alden

♡ Weave The Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

♡ The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita and Judika Illes

• The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

♡ Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne

♡ Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

♡ The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

• Spells for Change by Frankie Castanea

• Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison

♡ Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

♡ The Little Work by Durgadas Allon Duriel

• Entering Hekates Garden by Cyndi Brannen

• Entering Hekates Cave by Cyndi Brannen

• Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort

• The Book of Spells by Ella Harrison

• Plants of the Devil by Corinne Boyer

♡ Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello, Tara-Love Maguire

♡ Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik

♡ Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

♡ The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish

• Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn

• Astrology for Real Life by Theresa Reed

♡ Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

• The Trotula by Monica H. Green

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community by Crystal Blanton, Taylor Ellwood, and Brandy Williams

• God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsch

• Pure Magic by Judika Illes

• Folk Magic by Mari Silva

• Witches Herbal Primer by Amy Cesari

♡ New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcherson

•Magical Folk Healing by DJ Conway

• The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

♡ Lady of The Night by Edain McCoy

♡ Spellcraft for a Magical Year by Sarah Bartlett

♡ The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Catlín Matthews

♡ Natural Magic by Pamela Ball

♡ Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox

♡ The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

♡ Mastering Magick by Mat Auryn

♡ In-focus Crystals by Bernice Cockram

♡ The Complete Grimoire by Lidia Pradas

• The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

And that took a while but we're done! Will probably update this as I go <3