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Title: Mountain Magick: Folk Wisdom from the Heart of Appalachia (Llewellyn's Practical Magick Series) by Edain McCoy ISBN: 1-56718-671-8 Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Pub. Date: October, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (6 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: I don't get the feeling McCoy has actually tried a lot of the things she writes about here. A similar Llewellyn offering, Silver Ravenwolf's HexCraft/American Folk Magic, was, at least, based partly on the author's own experiences using the methods described in the book; McCoy, on the other hand, appears to have written a long research paper presented in a pretty cover.
There isn't much in here that can't be found in other sources. Vance Randolph's Ozark Mountain Magic and Folklore [title?] is more interesting and was all collected firsthand from mountain people living in the 1930s and 40s. I suggest that those who are interested in American folk magic pick that one up instead, or take a look at Ravenwolf's book. This one is pretty much just a collection of secondhand material.
Rating: 4
Summary: Interesting and informative
Comment: Edain McCoy, a descent of the famous Kentucky family who feuded with the Hatfields, is an alumna of the University of Texas and studied for her graduate degree in Cultural History at Indiana University. She is the author of several reference books on Pagan and spiritual subjects and is also a practicing Wiccan.
She knows her subject well.
Appalachia was first populated by the Cherokee Indians, then came the Spanish explorers, and much later the English, Scots and Irish, many of them bringing with them the stern religious teachings of their native lands mingled with a sprinkling of pre-Christian Celtic beliefs.
McCoy's Mountain Magick paints a relevant picture of the folk beliefs still found in parts of Appalachia, and it is written with humor and compassion. It is a valuable record of the old ways and the wisdom from a part of the country modern times has, for the most part, passed by.
Here you will learn the signs the country people use to predict weather and garden; spells for love and self-protection and simple remedies still used in this land where doctors are too few and not always trusted. McCoy also includes magical spells to aid in fertility and divination, recipes used and other insightful information about the area and the unique people who live here.
Mountain Magick is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about Appalachia and its people.
Rating: 3
Summary: All and all a good book on appalachian folklore
Comment: This book is a great introduction to Appalachian folklore from a witch's perspective, however as a book on useful magic it falls a little short. The author's attitude seems best conveyed with the paraphrased quote "when i decided to write a book on appalachia, i had no idea i'd have to dig through dozens of rare or out of print books," Indeed, with just a little effort, more practical magic can be dug up from the region, which the author didn't even visit to write this book. Furthermore, i was especially disapointed by the chapter on "death, dying, and haints" in relation to the original title of this book _In a Graveyard at Midnight_ (but then i own a newer edition and perhaps info was taken out when they changed the title?). The book _Albion's Seed_ does a better job of showing appalachia's cultural roots in scotland and northern england. Still, i have to give _Mountain Magic_ 3 stars because of McCoy's treatment of the Appalachian region and it's people.(of whom, i count myself to be among) Though she does romanticize the area's celtic roots a bit, she definately portrays the settlers of past and present in a good light, does alot to dispell mythes about hillbillies, and explains exactly why the mountains are the way they are. Most importantly of all, however, she raises a very good point, even if she doesn't elaborate on it too well, that one does not need to look to ireland or the brittish isles to find magic, or even celtic and anglo-saxon culture, but that perhaps the best place to look for these things is in our roots right here beneath our American feet.
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Title: American Folk Magick: Charms, Spells & Herbals by Silver Ravenwolf ISBN: 156718720X Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Pub. Date: December, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Ozark Magic and Folklore by Vance Randolph ISBN: 0486211819 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1964 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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