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Title: Hoodoo Mysteries: Folk Magic, Mysticism & Rituals by Ray Malbrough ISBN: 0-7387-0350-8 Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.12 (16 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Scandal May SELL but Truth Doesn't
Comment: In an earlier review, it was stated that Mr. Malbrough taught readers how to make a "hoodoo prenda". To be fair to the author, he didn't give any such instructions and wrote that he would not give out any to those who write to him. Now, with that said, he *also* wrote that the "spirit pot" was not a borrowing from Palo (that is Reglas de Congo)-he's being semantically slick here. I don't know what *some* folks do in New Orleans' "hoodoo", but that "spirit pot" is, indeed, a PRENDA. In Haiti there is a line of voudoun practice that stems from the Congo and is a sister to the Palo religion. So, stop fibbing Ray. That thing is a prenda.
Most of the information in this book can be found elsewhere. Cat Yronwode's book is really the best on these matters if one wants to learn rootwork. The baths section is skimpy, with most of the chapter being occupied by a "voodoo" version of the Kabbalistic Cross ritual. There is no real formulary to be found within. It is clear that the system he is presenting in this work is one he made up. As a new initiate in Haitian Voudou, he cannot, of course, spill the beans on initiatory secrets. So, he does the next best thing by cobbling together a busy potpourri of Voudou lwas, saints, Greco-Roman deities and Western planetary/Tree of Life relations and other assorted Kabbalistic tchatchkas.
In a book review such as this, there is little space to go into particulars. African-American magic (not "magicK") has surely been touched by Western Hermeticism, due to the availability of grimoires and chapbooks (such as Hohman's "The Long Lost Friend"), but not to the extent or manner as presented in "Hoodoo Mysteries". Kabbalism and wicca-ish "magick" are the typical foundations and favorite fillers for most Llewellyn texts, regardless of what the subject might be.
Other sections regarding the "rituals" (such as the 'spirit pot' and the 'head pot') are more like filler, too. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, the best part of the book is in regard to the use of the Rosary and the Litany of the Saints. However, these one can find on any good Catholic website, or in a missal. One doesn't need Ray's book to pray the Rosary.
The section on divination cheats the reader. He presents a geomantic/quasi diloggun-like system of cowrie shells, but informs the reader that he hasn't the space to cover everything; therefore, he leaves the reader hanging. Whatever cowrie shell system he is using, he short changes it by a gloss over. In terms of functionality, it, too, is merely padding.
Llewellyn Publishing gets its authors under contract to crank out "X" amount of manuscripts. It seems that in order to make contractual dead-lines, writers have sacrificed quality and real scholarship for glossy-marketed quantity. This publishing house has absolutely *no* respect for the subjects on which it makes heaps of money.
The reviewer who wrote that there may be "hoodoo initiations" in the not so distant future is most likely correct. Another Big Name Llewellyn writer is about to hop onto his gravy train on this one. Keep your eyes peeled.
Rating: 5
Summary: Interesting and informative
Comment: What I thought to be very interesting is the historical background and how hoodoo has developed in the state of Louisiana. I appreciated Ray Malbrough's honesty about what he added in his own spiritist practice. The chapter on the spiritual baths is excellent. The commentary on the similarities with Louisiana hoodoo practice and other religions was also interesting. I think he should write a book on Voodoo since he also quoted the differences between Haitian Voodoo and New Orleans Voodoo which is percieved if anyone really takes the time to read the book which is an easy read.
Rating: 1
Summary: Definitely NOT Hoodoo!
Comment: Being a practitioner of authentic Hoodoo, I can tell you that this book is not about real Hoodoo. What it seems to be is a mixture of a little Hoodoo, Santeria and New Orleans-style Voodoo. There is workable magick here, but if it's Hoodoo you want, look elsewhere.
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Title: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure by Catherine Yronwode ISBN: 0971961204 Publisher: Catherine Yronwode Pub. Date: 02 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success by Tayannah Lee McQuillar ISBN: 0743235347 Publisher: Fireside Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell, Naomi Steinfeld ISBN: 1887714332 Publisher: Summerhouse Press Pub. Date: 01 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Vodou Shaman: The Haitian Way of Healing and Power by Ross Heaven, Tim Booth ISBN: 089281134X Publisher: Destiny Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Voodoo & Hoodoo: Their Tradition and Craft As Revealed by Actual Practitioners by Jim Haskins ISBN: 0812860853 Publisher: Scarborough House Publishers Pub. Date: 01 July, 1990 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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