Book Review: Appalachian Folklore Unveiled

Darkness Prevails and Carman Carrion, Appalachian Folklore Unveiled: mysterious happenings of folk spirits and mystic shades from the ancient foothills. New York: Wellfleet Press, 2024.  ISBN: 978-1-57715-440-2. 

Genre: Appalachian region

Subgenre: Folklore

Format: hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

This book collects a variety of tales, stories, beliefs, superstitions, and omens from the Appalachian region. We get to learn a bit about the region's  history and its people through these tales and have been handed down from one generation through the next. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• An introduction that describes the book's organization and content. 
• History, Culture, Legends, and Influences. 
• Superstitions, Omens, and Spooky Traditions. 
• Apparitions and Haints. 
• Cryptid and Hybrids. 
• Monsters and Demons. 
• Conclusion. In addition the authors also offer a list of resources if you want to learn more. 

Naturally the first part covers history and culture. This is where you get the primer about the region so common in books like this. This is more information for outsiders who may know little to nothing about Appalachia. If you are a local, you can probably skim or skip that part. If you are an outsider, you should read it.  Though I am a transplant, I've lived in the region enough and traveled in it to know the basics. I read it anyhow. 

Once you get past the basics, you get into the stories, which are the core of the book. The authors tell the stories, but they also offer a bit of history and context for the stories. Come of the stories and entertainment, stay for the learning and lessons. Stories overall are short, so they are easy to read. In addition, the book is in sections, so you can skip around and read what interests you first. Still, it is also a good book to read cover to cover. The book also features some sketch illustrations throughout. 

I really liked the book, and I found it very interesting. The book conveys the diverse traditions and superstitions that whites, Blacks, and Native Americans gave the area. 

I recommend the book for public and academic libraries, especially those in the region or that collect materials about the region. Folks interested in folklore and superstitions may find it of interest as well. It's a solid reference work on the topic that is accessible and interesting. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Tarot Magic

Fortuna Noir, Tarot Magic: a Handbook of Intuitive Readings, Rituals, and Spells. New York: Wellfleet Press, 2024.  ISBN: 978157153948.

This is a guide to learn Tarot and then use it in your magical practice. The book is part of Wellfleet Press's Mystical Handbook series. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Prologue. This is a nice poem and blessing. It is a nice way to open the book, and it sets a gentle tone. 
• Introduction. This provides an overview of what the book covers, a basic description of Tarot, and how it can be used in magic. The introduction tells you what the book will do. 
• Major Arcana.
• Minor Arcana. 
• Traditional Magical Elements. This chapter goes over magical tools, what they are, and how they are used. The material is basic, but it is good for beginners. 
• Meditations, spells, and rituals. You get a variety of spells and rituals on topics such as love, fortune, and the Sabbats. 
• Epilogue.
• Resources and references. 
• Index.

 

 Once you read past the Introduction, you start with the Major Arcana. The entries here go over card meanings, symbols, and how to use the cards. The entry information is basic and gets to the point. You get a character description, upright and reversed interpretations. The meanings are well within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) traditions. This is good material for beginners, but it can also be good reference for card readers overall. The Minor Arcana entries are about the same in terms of content and quality. You don't feel like they skimp on the Minor Arcana as other books might do. 

The Meditations, spells, and rituals chapter offers a good variety on common topics. You may need some materials to do some of the spells and rituals. Overall the materials don't seem complicated, and many are things you can acquire. Naturally, you can substitute materials as needed. Not all activities require physical materials. Instructions are easy and simple. 

The resources list features 20 sources. There are a few books, but it is heavily reliant on popular websites, especially blogs. Nothing wrong with blogs-- heck I have been a blogger for years, and you are reading this on a blog-- but it means you need to more carefully evaluate what you may find online. Actually, there is only one book on the sources list I have not read: The Book of Spells by Jamie Della (link to Worldcat record).  

Overall, this is a pretty good book. It is a very easy read. It may be mostly for beginners, but some of us at the mid level/intermediate level can find a new idea or two to try out. Libraries, especially public libraries that collect pagan and esoteric materials may want to add it to the collections. In the end, I really liked it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges: 

Tarot and esoteric books read in 2022

 Welcome to this post from my series of top books I read in 2022. Today I am looking at Tarot, cartomancy, and other esoterica books I read in 2022. This list does not include any companion books to Tarot decks I used and read last year. If I have done a review for the book, I am including a link to the review.

Tarot books: 

 

Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth. 

Tarot and Tequila: a Tarot Guide with Cocktails.

The History of Tarot Art: Demystifying the Art and Arcana, Deck by Deck.

Tarot Priestess: Using the Cards to Heal, Grow, and Serve.

Tarot Rituals: Ceremonies, Ideas, and Experiences for the Tarot Lover. 

Other esoterica books: 

Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure and Folk Magic from Appalachia.

Hoodoo for Everyone: Modern Approaches to Magic, Conjure, Rootwork, and Liberation.

Runes: Your Personal Guide.

Divination: Your Personal Guide.

Mercury in Retrograde: and Other Ways the Stars Can Teach You to Live Your Truth, Find Your Power, and Hear the Call of the Universe.

Pagan Curious: a Beginner's Guide to Nature, Magic, and Spirituality. 

Catalog of the Unexplained: from Aliens and Aromatherapy to Zen and Zener Cards. 

Book Review: Runes: Your Personal Guide

Jan Budkowsky, Runes: Your Personal Guide. New York: Wellfleet Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781577152606.

 

Genre: short reference

Subgenre: divination, runes, Norse mythology

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

This is another volume in Quarto's In Focus series. From this series, I've read and reviewed Divination: Your Personal Guide (link to the review). 

 

 

This volume is a basic guide to learn about runes and how to use them. The book is organized into ten chapters that go from origins and lore of runes to how to read runes and even do some magic with them. The book starts with some general background and history of runes. It goes over the structure in very basic terms. This is just enough to get you started on where runes come from. After that, we get some Norse mythology. This is also basic, but it is enough to provide context. Next the author covers the 24 runes in sets of 8 per chapter with meanings and interpretations. The book goes on to provide lessons on how to read small and large rune spreads. The book concludes with rune casting and rune magic. The last chapter is a good overview of some basic magic rituals. A strength here is that nothing is too complicated nor requires overly elaborate materials. 

This is an accessible and easy to read book. It is a good book  for beginners. I recently bought a simple set of runes to start learning and studying the runes, and this book can be a good companion source to start learning. It gives you just enough to get started without being overwhelming. In additional features it has an appendix of quick rune meanings and a glossary of terms. I do wish it had a suggested reading list for those who may want to read further or find more advanced material.

This book is a good selection for public libraries that may have pagan and esoteric materials. I would consider it optional for academic libraries, though if you have a pagan group on campus, this may be of interest. 

Overall, I really liked this book, and I suggest it for beginners. Advanced readers, however, may find it a bit basic. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2022 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: Divination: Your Personal Guide

Steven Bright, Divination: Your Personal Guide. New York: Wellfleet Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781577152613.

 

Genre: short reference

Subgenre: divination

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

This small volume provides an introduction and overview of various divination practices. The book presents well known practices as well as some lesser known practices. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Chapter One: Lenormand Cards.
• Chapter Two: Kipper Cards.
• Chapter Three: Playing Cards. 
• Chapter Four: Elder Futhark Runes.
• Chapter Five: Witches' Runes.
• Chapter Six: Casting Charms.
• Chapter Seven: Divining with Crystals.
• Chapter Eight: Reading Colors. 
• Chapter Nine: Reading Buttons. 
• Chapter Ten: Reading Tea Leaves.
• Chapter Eleven: Reading Flowers.
• Chapter Twelve: Reading Shells.
• Chapter Thirteen: The I Ching.
• Chapter Fourteen: Divination Through Dice.
• Conclusion.
• Index.

The book does not aim to be comprehensive, but it does provide a pretty broad sampling of divination methods.  Some readers may ask why Tarot, that most popular system is not included. The author explains that "there is a lot of easily accessible information available on it, so I decided to talk about some other less well-known decks" (11). In terms of cards, we get Lenormand, Kipper, and playing cards. 

 

A strength of the book is how it combines a bit of history and trivia with tips and steps to do the various practices. Each chapter gives a short historical overview, goes over tools needed, basic meanings, and symbols, and steps on how to do the specific practice. In many of these, the author emphasizes that you can start with common objects you may already have at home and/or objects you can easily acquire at very little to no cost. This makes the practices accessible to many. 

Overall, the book is well written and very easy to read. Nothing in it is complicated. It does present just the basics. If you really want to go in depth, you may want to find additional resources for areas that may interest you. A small issue is that the book lacks a bibliography and/or recommended reading list. That could have added a bit more value. Still, as a guide to learn more and start exploring these practices the book works well. 

 

On a small side note, the book publisher notes the book includes a wall chart. I cannot comment on that since it does not come with the e-book galley.

 

This can be a good selection for public libraries, especially those building up a spiritual/esoteric collection. This is an accessible book any seeker at a beginner level can use and appreciate. This is also a good book for folks who are curious and want a starting point. 

 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenge: