The things you learn in Americana aka looking in books not in the “metaphysical isle”
Went to Half Priced Books today, they were having their 20% off the store Memorial day sale. The Lumberjack was hoping to score some cult movies, comics, or something. Sadly he found nothing to peak his interest. But I, my dear internet peoples, I found some kickass books that are just chockful of future amazing.
You might have heard of them, I know the name was familiar to me tho I don’t know where. The books are Foxfire and Foxfire 2 edited by Eliot Wigginton. I was perusing my usual haunts of the “natural crafting” section and there inbetween “indian” basket weaving and floral arrangements where these two old beaten paperbacks. The titles caught me for their oddity in the section and as soon as I read “hog dressing, log cabin building, mountain crafts and foods, planting by the signs, snake lore, hunting tales, faith healing, moon shining, and other affairs of plain living.” I knew I was in business.
Turns out they were a project and series that Eliot Wigginton an oral historian and folklorist did with his student in Georgia. To help preserve the oral traditions, wisdom, and skills of the area. THIS my good friends is where the gold is. It’s this kind of Americana folk healing that I cut my teeth on when I first started “crafting” as it were. And it’s this home rooted work that works best for me. Some of my best spells come out of this stuff.
Maybe you’re wondering what the bleeding eye of Balor I’m talking about, here is just one juicy example:
(under home remedies)
Warts - Get something like a penny that someone would pick up. Put some blood from the wart on it and throw it into the road. When someone picks it up, the wart will go away.
That right there is a ripe spell for the picking. I mean we can ethically quibble over loading off your (insert undesirable whatever here) on whomever picks up said penny, BUT the spell itself is foundationally sound. It sings like a fine tuned well played piano.
Aside from other lovely little examples these things are CHOCK FULL of delicious recipes, useful skills, and plain ol’ valuable info. I can’t wait to read the chapter on Burial Customs.Seriously guys, if you haven’t already stepped outside of the metaphysical isle, try it some time. You’d be surprised the things you can find.
So, I’d love to read these. Reblogging for the anthropology geeks, folklorists, and spell-crafting folks who follow me.
