Soul is the ultimate expression and experience of African-American culture. The Big Book of Soul is the first popular reference book to provide an in-depth examination of the source of soul in African culture and how soul finds its expression today.
Author Stephanie Rose Bird takes readers on a breathtaking journey of soul by examining the spirit of animism and how it evolved in contemporary African-American culture. She explores spiritual practices related to diet, dance, beauty, healing, and the arts, and provides readers with ancient healing rituals and practices they can use today.
Filled with fun facts, practical advice, and ancient spiritual wisdom, The Big Book of Soul is for any reader who wants a genuine, rooted experience of soul today.
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Stephanie Rose Bird is a cum laude graduate of Temple University with an MFA from the University of California–San Diego. She has taught at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, and is a professional member of the American Folklore Society, the Herb Research Foundation, and the American Botanical Council. She lives in Chicago.
Stephanie Rose Bird, is the author of five books: The Big Book of Soul: the Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit: Legends and Lore, Music and Mysticism and Recipes and Rituals, (2010, Hampton Road Publishers), A Healing Grove: African Tree Medicine, Remedies and Rituals ( 2009, Chicago Review Press), Light, Bright, Damn Near White: Biracial and Triracial Culture in America and Beyond (2009, Praeger Press) Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones Hoodoo, Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs (June 2004, by Llewellyn Worldwide Publishers) and "Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living (Llewellyn, 2006). She holds a BFA cum laude from Temple University, Tyler School of Art and a MFA from University of California at San Diego where she was a San Diego Opportunity Fellow. She was a professor of fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for over fifteen years. She has also taught at the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago Botanic Gardens and Garfield Conservatory. Bird works as an herbalist, aromatherapist and sole proprietor of Almost Edible Natural Products. Her product line features herbal soap, incense, potpourri, bath salts, sachets and dream pillows. Bird writes regularly for www.naturallycurly.com as resident herbalist specializing in ingredient descriptions. She has been a professional member of the Handcrafted Soap Maker's Guild, for whom she wrote a column "Soap Worts: Useful Herbs for Soap Makers. Bird is a member of: the American Botanical Council's Herb Research Foundation; the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and the International Center for Traditional Childrearing. Her writing on herbalism, natural healing, complimentary therapies, herbal lore, goddesses, rituals and ceremonies are featured in "Sage Woman Magazine" "The Beltane Papers," WitchVox.com, DivineCaroline.com, "International Journal of Aromatherapy," "Aromatherapy Today," "The Oracle," "Herb Quarterly," "Herb Companion," "The Llewellyn Magical Almanac," "The Llewellyn Herbal Almanac" "Enlightened Practice," E-pregnancy and "Spell-a-Day." As a Fulbright Senior Scholar, Bird studied the art, rituals and ceremonies of Australian Aborigines in the outback of the Northern Territory. Bird's fine art is held in several important national and international art collections, she has exhibited in numerous galleries, museums, universities and public spaces. Stephanie Bird is a hereditary intuitive and healer specializing in positive energy work and spiritual cleansing using African plant wisdom.
Being passionate of all things spiritual, I became really intrigued when I read the editorial reviews of The Big Book of Soul. Finally I had the opportunity to read a book dealing with the spiritual practice of Hoodoo which focused on healing rather than hexing.
I went to a local bookstore to pick up a copy already expecting to like the book, but nothing prepared me for the treat I was about to receive. The cover itself, with its abundance of color and festive energy was striking enough to get my attention the moment I laid eyes on it. I gingerly took the book home and began to read. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to put it down for the next day and a half.
I'm not sure if it was the exquisite style of writing that drew me in most, or the amazing descriptions of a culture I wasn't so familiar with. I became so enthralled with the lives of the people described in the book that I could almost picture them in front of me, and their suffering and joys became my own.
I was thrilled to find such detailed explanations not only on the use of healing herbs and foods, but also on how each of them became such an important part of the African-American culture. I learned about soul food and how it came to be, and I felt I was given the opportunity to enrich my own life and perception through the many tidbits of ancient wisdom so skillfully delivered and beautifully threaded throughout the book.
The Big Book of Soul is definitely a title I would recommend hands down; not to those who view Hoodoo as a Band-Aid maybe, but certainly to everyone seriously wishing to learn more about true healing and spiritual practices.
Stephanie Rose Bird became the mouthpiece of her ancestors, and was able to convey many tidbits of their wisdom with ease; when she allowed them to merge with her own superb knowledge of herbs and healing foods, a magickal book was born. The Big Book of Soul is a spellbinding read that will undoubtedly open new doors of perception.
"The Big Book of Soul" is a spellbinding and colorful discourse on ancient African holistic gems with powerful potency to accelerate healing in the human family. Though the title of the book has an African American slant, don't be fooled by its relevance to the cornucopia of humanity. This refreshingly scripted medicine for the mind, body and soul is a sorely needed perspective from Africa to inform those relegating African American holistic roots to the status of non-importance. The way Ms. Stephanie Rose Bird deftly handles her offering is enjoyable and unique literature, for it is unrelenting in giving panorama to old sayings and alleged superstitious notions that are really pungent with life giving and eternal relevance for strengthening the wellbeing of African Americans and the opened minded of all strata of humanity. Yes, this book is "soulful" and dances rhythmically with one's sensibilities about achieving oneness with Mother Nature. One can sense Mother Nature smiling at the presence of this magnificent literary contribution to edifying a multi-faceted "greener" reality on the planet. Ms. Bird soars above the pap of writers who lack wording that has the potential for classic rendering. "The Big Book of Soul" has the beautiful style to carry us into tomorrow as true spirit beings. That's what soul is ultimately about. If you read this book and adhere, magic will touch your life complements of the Most High, the ancestors and Ms. Stephanie Rose Bird. Sincerely, Shadeed R. Ahmad (2-24-10)
