Book Title: Appalachian Witchcraft for Beginners
Author: Auburn Lily
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Rating: 5/5
I grew up at the base of the Appalachian mountains in the Tennessee Valley of Alabama. While I don't consider myself an Appalachian conjurer, I grew up knowing some who were. So, I was intrigued to come across Appalachian Witchcraft by Auburn Lily. I won't lie. What caught my gaze first was the beautiful book cover. The book's aged, herbalism look and the cardstock's velvety texture delighted my graphic designer heart. It is one of the most beautiful books in my collection. However, the book's topic (Appalachian Witchcraft) made me hesitate. This topic is one subject that can be told really well or really awful. To understand my hesitation, I need to divulge a little background.
I grew up in a middle-class white farming family in Alabama. Living in the bible belt meant the word 'witch' was not only taboo but the ultimate sin to those around me. However, my maternal grandmother always had horseshoes above every door and bells hanging on the doorknobs to 'keep the devil away.' My paternal grandparents lived and breathed old Cherokee wisdom regarding their farming: "You always plant beans, corn, and squash together." When my baby niece had trouble sleeping due to colic, my mother hung up an old tube sock with an egg inside to 'soak up the bad dreams.' Yet if you asked any of my family if they were practicing witchcraft, you'd get a shocked "hell no!" Everything that my family did was simply 'tradition' or 'the way it is.' They didn't question where these remedies came from; they just worked.
In the rocky mountainous regions of the Appalachian mountains, many settlers from diverse backgrounds all relied heavily on each other. The terrain was unforgiving, and the nearest settlements were often spaced hundreds of miles apart. If one of your children got sick or a farmer injured themselves in the field, a doctor was too far away to reach in time. So, neighbors helped each other by using all their knowledge and tools. Here is where things get a bit dicey and can come across poorly to outside readers. The people in these remote areas took all their neighbors' advice. If these remedies worked, they kept the practice and passed it along. This was generations before the idea of appropriation came to be. The hardworking mountain people didn't care if the idea came from the Native Americans, Germans, Irish, etc. If the remedy worked, it worked. This cultural fusion grew into an entirely new entity: Appalachian Root Work.
That was a lot of information, but I think it's important for you to understand my trepidation about starting Appalachian Witchcraft. Would this be a true representation of the Appalachian people, or would this be another white author cashing in on appropriated beliefs? If you take the history out of this craft, the results look dirty and can be twisted to fit a pretty damning narrative. I am happy to relay that this was not the case in Auburn Lily's work. She stayed true to the heart of this folk tradition with grace and acceptance. While Lily explained the practice, she always advised the reader to respect the work's original creators and do their research into closed practices and religions. She never advocated for appropriation but instead gave accurate information and urged understanding.
I originally planned to give this book a rating of 3/5 because I gained no new information. So, I left the book feeling neutral. However, I had to remind myself that I grew up with this in my backyard. I wasn't a beginner necessarily, and this book clearly states that it is for beginners. As a beginner's introduction to the folk craft, I think Auburn Lily did an excellent job. I highly recommend this book for a complete beginner, and I look forward to anything more advanced that Ms. Lily comes up with, especially if the cover is half as gorgeous as this one.
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