Customer Reviews

Mountain Magick: Folk Wisdom from the Heart of Appalachia (Llewellyn's Practical Magick Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Mountain Magick gives an inside view of the people and ways that have survived since the nation's founding. Ways that are, regrettably, dying out. Luckily, Edain McCoy has preserved many of these traditions in a remarkable little book that is a joy to read, and an insipiration to a harried society that too often forgets the land it occupies. Being from Appalachia, many of these old legends and cures were familiar to me, but Ms. McCoy has attempted to reconstruct the reasons for many of the old ways; like telling the bees of a death. The book has certain omissions, and like many books dealing with folklore that has been preserved largely in an oral tradition, it will disappoint some, frustrate others, but on the whole, is a welcome addition to the genre. The book is not a definitive work, nor does McCoy claim it to be. But it is a lovely and lively discourse on a subject often ignored in the modern world.

Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I was excited to review this title. When I learned that the author is a descendant of the famous feuding Hatfields and McCoys, I was thrilled, as I have been a friend of an eighty-something year old Hatfield descendant for some years now. Some of my favorite Appalachian tales have come from his mouth, and memory.

I have often wondered where the folklore he told me of came from originally. Many of those who settled in the eastern mountains of America had come from Scotland and Germany. Having these heritage genes running through my body I notice similarities to family history and I have often suspected that some of this heritage was responsible for certain folk healing and beliefs found in Appalachian ways. "Mountain Magick" confirmed these suspicions.

Edain McCoy has uncovered and researched a wonderful collection of "Granny" wisdom and presented it in a delightful, insightful and useful guide to folk wisdom from the heart of Appalachia. Here you'll find a wealth of information, from how to determine what your baby's future occupation will be, to how to hold a Charivari (or Chivaree: an old American tradition of making a lot of celebratory noise at the consummation of a marriage.), to home remedies for everything from asthma to yeast infections (of course, these are cautionary and are not to be a substitute for a doctors care.).

Because the Appalachian populations lived in virtual isolation from the rest of America for so long, their ways and beliefs have remained intact and practiced until the modern world intruded upon them. Edain McCoy has given us a rare glimpse into the magical world of mountainfolk. She has presented her findings, not with the comedic insinuations of Hollywood, but as a scholar and one who is proud of her heritage.

I very much enjoyed learning about the roots of folk magick in Appalachia and some of its Native American connection in folk healing. I also enjoyed the lessons on "witches", not wiccans, and Granny Women. Weather watching, removing curses, bad omens, love and romance spellcasting: it's all in this excellent guide and entertaining read.

If you ever wondered how Johnboy Walton's Granny knew so much - now you can learn what the writers might have found for their character research. In any case, you can put to rest the myths of the media and learn the truth about this large part of American culture.

McCoy's book is a good introduction to the Appalachian belief system of folk magick. Being from Appalachia myself, I was extremely interested in the subject and McCoy's take on the subject, since she is not a native to the region. I was not disappointed in McCoy's writing style or her ability to translate a tradition that dates back hundreds of years into modern language and importance. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in any type of magick or Appalachian studies.

In a Graveyard at Midnight was the first title this book was released under. I found it at the local library filed in the juvinile folklore section of all places. I decided to check it out and I feel so/so about it. The major thing to point out is that I highly doubt, rather Im sure that mountain people have never used the now popular "magick" spelling for magic. The addition of the "k" was made up by Aliester Crowley, a crack addict with a big ego. That being said, this book does present some neat charms and folk practices. Unfortuenantly it also comes with typical Llewyllyn fare. My advice would be to buy it used.

Notice I said FOLKLORE, and that's what most of this book is (with some real magick), but the author tries too hard on implying this FOLKLORE into the reader's daily life calling it magick which is something I wouldn't reccomend considering some of the customs such as brewing tea from dog drool and the fact that it seems to me that most of it is FOLKLORE, not real magick!!!! The author also seems to add Wicca into the book too much and adds some of her own chants and opinions which I don't really think is necessary, but many Appalachian ancestors were Celtics with Pagan beliefs though. All in all it is a good book with some great information and some practical magickal ideas that you could try for yourself from the most interesting Appalachian region of the United States!

A fairly decent read but has little information of help. If you are interested in herbal magic and mountain practices that make sense, then this isn't the book. I love Appalacian history and was hoping for more usable spells and herbal information.

Yes, it has omissions, and no, it's not a definitive book, but it reminds me of my childhood in Tennessee when I'd sit on the porch drinking sweet iced tea and listening to the grown up women talking about haints and who was sick and what should be done about it and granny women. Even the things that are different than what I was told as a child are similar enough that I would guess it was just a different family tradition. This book was wonderful in reminding me of things that everyone used to know, but that no one remembers any more. Many of the old folks who had this knowledge are gone, and so many of the rest of us who might have learned, moved to cities and forgot.

A lot of Appalachia was settled almost exclusively by Scots/English/Irish people, some of whom intermarried with the Cherokee, but very few of whom had slaves. Except for a part Cherokee great grandmother, I can go back in my family tree to the mid 1700s before finding an ancestor who didn't have totally English or Scots/Irish roots. And of course, he married a local woman and his offspring blended right into the general population in a generation.

I remember when the dialect in that area was almost a separate language. TV reception in the mountains before cable wasn't very dependable. And that's assuming you had electricity.