#tellmyhorse

[thenerdynarrative]

The last several mornings, I’ve been dipping into Zora Neale Hurston’s TELL MY HORSE. This is her nonfiction work about her time in Haiti and Jamaica - infused with her wit and humor. SYNOPSIS: Based on acclaimed author Zora Neale Hurston's personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica—where she participated as an initiate rather than just an observer during her visits in the 1930s—Tell My Horse is a fascinating firsthand account of the mysteries of Voodoo. An invaluable resource and remarkable guide to Voodoo practices, rituals, and beliefs, it is a travelogue into a dark, mystical world that offers a vividly authentic picture of ceremonies, customs, and superstitions. #ZoraNealeHurston #NonFiction #Reading #AmReading #TellMyHorse #Jamaica #Haiti #Voodoo #History #Religion #Anthropology #Travel #Classic #Folklore #Memoir #AfricanAmerican #Spirituality #FemaleAuthor #BlackAuthor https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNAmfoLE0P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theafromystic]

Happy Belated to one of my favorite Collective #Ancestors and #Hoodoo Wimmens, Zora Neale Hurston! In my life shes an uplifted Ancestor...Her work has both saved my life, and given me my entire life #MulesandMen, #TellMyHorse, #DustTracks, #TEWWG...Thank You Eatonville, and Thank You #Zora! . . . | #zoranealehurston | #hoodoo | #conjure | #BlackLit is #Lit | #literature | #blackbooks | #classics | #BlackWitchBookClub

[spiritroots]

I just read Tell My Horse by Zora Neale Hurston and was wondering if it would be disrespectful of me to sing or dance to the songs of worship

Hey there! Great question. I had to look it up, but just so everyone else knows for reference, Tell My Horse by Zora Neale Hurston is a non-fiction account of the author’s journeys in Haiti and Jamaica particularly focused on her experiences becoming an initiate of Vodou. The book’s subtitle refers to it as Voodoo, but this might just be for marketing purposes because to my understanding the correct name for the religion in Haiti is Vodou whereas Voodoo only refers to the branch of the religion in Louisianna.

Personally, I think if you are just listening to it for the purposes of cultural appreciation and the mood so strikes you to hum along and dance a little - there’s nothing wrong with that. I enjoy music, including religious music, from all sorts of different cultures and religions. I love to appreciate and engage with other cultures respectfully in the ways open to me. However, I am also careful not to use any of this music in a way that crosses the line. I don’t incorporate into my own spiritual practice the music, song, or dance from any religions or cultures that are either closed to me or that I don’t practice for other reasons. 

I think there’s a big difference between listening for cultural appreciation and enjoyment vs. engaging with it on a level that is taking it out of context or downright appropriating it. It’s very much about the how and the intention behind what you’re doing. I wouldn’t meditate to or dance to Māori music during a ritual for example. But I would listen to Māori music to appreciate what it sounds like and have immense respect for it. (Māori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand. I’m a ‎Pākehā, which means a non-Māori NZer.)

These are just my thoughts! If someone from Haiti or Jamaica knows more about Vodou music and/or this book and has more thoughts about this, please correct me or add on.

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[thenerdynarrative]

My first completed nonfiction read by Zora Neale Hurston was a resounding success! (I say completed because I'm slowly working my way through her nonfiction essays) Lend your ears for a quick minute and see if this is one that belongs on your TBR! https://youtu.be/N9p0YZNKlOw #BookReview #Review #TellMyHorse #ZoraNealeHurston #Nonfiction #Voodoo #Jamaica #Haiti #History #Religion #Anthropology #Travel #Classic #Folklore #Memoir #Spirituality #AfricanAmerican