Customer Reviews

Hoodoo Mysteries: Folk Magic, Mysticism & Rituals

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

I was not impressed with Ray Marlbrough's _Hoodoo Mysteries_; I understand it's an "expansion" of a chapbook about spiritual baths which Marlbrough originally wrote in 1999. If that's the case, he should have stuck to his original subject, as that's easily the best part of the book.

The rest is poorly written and organized. For instance, Marlbrough mentions that the [Vodou] lwa are not served in hoodoo -- rather, the practitioners serve the Catholic saints instead. Then, literally a few paragraphs later, he gives an example and diagram of a traditional hoodoo altar with an egg in the middle to symbolize Damballah [who's a lwa of Haitian Vodou, not a Catholic saint, naturally]. Huh?!?!??

As earlier reviewers mentioned, there are many more sections of the book where Marlbrough seems to get hoodoo confused with other African diasporic paths: he mentions making a "hoodoo pot tete" [from the pot tet of Haitian Vodou], a "spirit pot" [clearly modeled after the prenda of Las Reglas de Congo] and a bunch of "medium's necklaces" [very similar to the elekes one receives in the Yoruba tradition]. To my knowledge -- and I checked with friends who grew up in New Orleans -- NONE of these are part of traditional Louisiana hoodoo practice...

It's all right for Marlbrough to mix elements from different paths into a blend which gets results *for him*. But I think he should be honest about what he's doing, rather than claiming that his system is "traditional hoodoo".
Also, there are several much better writers who've combined African-diasporic traditions with European magic in far more interesting ways; why don't you go out and buy a book by Stephanie Rose Bird, Sallie Ann Glassman or Draja Mickaharic instead??? Or, read Catherine Yronwode's "Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic", for a very detailed and scholarly account of African-American folk magic practices.

It is such a shame that Llewellyn does not take the care to verify facts before publishing something as full of fallcies as this.

The right reverend takes cultural artifacts from Haitian Vodou and attributes them to South Louisiana Hoodoo. He claims there is a S. Louisiana head pot, the equivalent of a Haitian Vodou "Pot tet." He claims there is a necklace like the Haitian Collares. He even claims a fais dos dos is a Hoodoo ceremony. This books is full of complete fabrications.

"Step inside a world of magic and intrigue you never knew existed-enter the hidden world of the Hoodoo."

You never knew this existed because it doesn't except in Rev. Ray's own mind. Please bear in mind if you chose to spend your hard earned money on this, that it is 97% fiction.

I don't think they fact checked it at all. It's not just bad - it verges on offensive. It's hard to find one correct, factual statement in the entire text. This is no exaggeration! The content is a joke. As I read it, I couldn't believe the audacity of the author. You can literally go line by line and refute each statement with documentation.

There is nothing about Hoodoo in the book. The first quarter is a convoluted mess of contrived Haitian Vodou, Cajun and New Orleans history. Then an already published section on Santeria Baths. Followed by a lengthy section on contrived Hoodoo Initiations including the importance of the "Hoodoo Pot Tet" or head pot and the "Hoodoo Collares" or sacred initiatory beads. Plus you get instructions on how to make a Hoodoo prenda and finally a lengthy listing of State universities that offer Religious Studies in their curriculum.

If you are looking for well researched Hoodoo material stick to Cat Yronwode's book!

After finishing the book, the only reason I could conceive for writing such bogus material was an underlying intention or master plan to use the Haitian Vodou Initiation process he underwent in Haiti as a framework for doing "Hoodoo Initiations" in the US.

I cant imagine any serious HooDoo worker taking this seriously. I was raised in HooDoo by my grandfather who learned tricks from his mama. There is nothing to be found in this book which comes close to HooDoo. I have even heard claims about the good reverend from others that he is an initiated Houngan......If he is heaven help the poor client that goes to him for counsel. That is all I have to say.

I would hate to think that there are people out there who will read this and think it has anything to do with hoodoo. Malbrough seems to have put together a collection of things loosly related to a new agers point of view on hoodoo, some cabala information which dosent fit at all, and his own comentary and bound them together in a cheaply printed book published and mass marketed. I'm very thankfull that I had time enough to look at this book while I was still at the shop and didn;t have to waste my money.

I agree with those who have written negative reviews of this book. I have never been so dissapointed with a book in all my life. I can't bring myself to believe that there are actually people out there who have bought this book and are pleased with it. There is really only one word which can best be used to describe this book, that word is NONSENSE!

I bought this book because I was intrigued by hoodoo and other african based faiths which incorporated catholocism. I brought it home and began to read. The more I read the more I was dissapointed. The book is nothing like the other hoodoo boks and online things I have encountered. I read all of the reviews for this book and would have to say that I too feel the author wrote this with one aim, to make money from naive people.

Im not suprized that Llewyllyn publishers have dipped their hands into hoodoo. Llewyllyn is known for being a publisher who will put just about anything on the market as long as it makes money without caring wether or not the information is acurate. Ray Malbrough has written this book claiming to reveal the ways of hoodoo and conjure, he is sadly mistaken. I can't caution you enough to not waste your time and money on this book. Visit the lucky mojo website if its hoodoo information your after. I will say in Ray Malbroughs defense however that his other 2 books, also published by Llewyllyn arent all bad, still, they are llewyllyn so draw your own conclusions.

This book is full of false information and it is very flighty. The only reviewer who gave it five stars seems to think the other reviewers are unfairly attacking the author personally, but it is in fact the author's responsibility to research what he writes and the publisher's duty to make sure the material they are publishing is correct. This book is supposed to be about Hoodoo. Hoodoo is not a religion. It is a folk magic practice. It is not voodoo, but this book seems to have more information about voodoo in it - and it is inaccurate information at that. I shudder to think of anyone picking this book up and taking it at face value.
It is honestly not worth the paper it was printed on.

Being a fan of Ray Malbroughs other two books I half to say that I was utterly dissapointed with this one. None of the information seems to be correct, its filled with what appears to be alot of made up "new age" nonsense. The author seems to make alot of silly and outrageous claims in this book and even attempts in a lengthy chapter to combine HooDoo and the Cabala.....this is rediculous. There are alot better books out there than this one!