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lesliewatwar's review against another edition
5.0
I have been taking my time with this book. I have been a little selfish with this book. I have followed Cory since the beginning with the New World Witchery Podcast. When he said he was writing a book I could not wait to read it. I knew it would be everything I loved about the podcast and more. I was not disappointed.
Pulling away from my podcast fangirl, the book is set up as an easy-to-follow look into the tip of the iceberg of the folklore and history of what has become the many magical practices in America. It is a thick read and I will be re-reading it with just as much enjoyment as the first time around.
Pulling away from my podcast fangirl, the book is set up as an easy-to-follow look into the tip of the iceberg of the folklore and history of what has become the many magical practices in America. It is a thick read and I will be re-reading it with just as much enjoyment as the first time around.
mxemma's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
larissalee's review
4.0
[Note: actual rating is 3.5, but I round up.]
[First Glance]
As a long time witch, I’ve studied various paths and cultures to see what speaks to my spirit. American folklore and practices are, I admit, one of my blind spots. I don’t connect to any one region because of being a military brat, so I lack the personal history and ties to a place that others might find spiritually relevant. When I saw this book available for review, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to look into my own country and culture for spiritual inspiration.
[Positive Bits]
The premise of this book is outlined very early on: “In some ways, I am hoping that picking up this book will be like unearthing a box buried at the crossroads for you and finding it stuffed full of folkloric odds and ends – a veritable treasure trove of witchery, if you will. Each little piece will tell you something about magic, and let you put together your own picture of folkloric witchcraft here and now.” As you explore this book, it truly dives into a variety of sources, from local tribal traditions to immigrant practices from other countries that settled here. The details are also regularly tied back to the current occult movements that match them, allowing you to draw the line between past and present with ease.
I enjoyed the author’s take on magical ingredient correspondences. I’m a big fan of finding your personal connection and symbolism in magic, and they took the time to mention something they get out of each item rather than rehashing the correspondences you find in every other sourcebook. In the same section, there’s an exercise that involves looking at your favorite foods or recipes and considering what magicks they would represent based on their ingredients – which is something I’ve done before, and it’s fascinating to look at your food in a magickal light (particularly if you’re an avid cook)!
Each section has interesting tasks to try, called The Work. After you’ve been exposed to one type of magical folklore, you’re invited to explore it within your own spiritual path. Several of them contained great questions to meditate or journal on, and I found myself pausing to consider how they related to my practice. I enjoy interactivity in books, so this is a major bonus point to the book as a whole.
[Less Enjoyable Bits]
This book is very heavily focused on folkloric knowledge, with much smaller sections tying it back to modern witchcraft. While intriguing if you like history and folklore as topics, I found myself a bit disappointed to slug through 480 pages of folklore when I had thought there’d be more active rituals and practices to explore. Considering how often folklore related to witches dips into talk of worshipping the Devil, I found myself less interested in the information provided when it was steeped in stories from that angle.
On the flip side, there were mentions of folklore that greatly intrigued me… only to be presented in one or two sentences and then never referenced again. For example, I live near the Chehalis tribe in the Pacific Northwest, and they were mentioned in a section about moon folklore. Apparently they see the moon as masculine, but we get one note to that effect and then nothing further. Living so close to multiple tribes, I wish more Native culture had been included as part of American folklore. Too often, we treat Natives as “other” and less American than the immigrants who supplanted them.
I think this book is geared toward an audience who wants to explore American folklore and folk magic but doesn’t want to dive into research alone. If that’s your focus, then it’s a good guide to jumping off points for exploring our history. If that’s not your cup of tea, then this book is a long and difficult trek through a portion of American history.
Is it worth the coin?
No – unless what I described is what you’re looking for. It wasn’t the guide to American folk magic that I had hoped to find, but it had value for someone exploring folklore for folklore’s sake.
[First Glance]
As a long time witch, I’ve studied various paths and cultures to see what speaks to my spirit. American folklore and practices are, I admit, one of my blind spots. I don’t connect to any one region because of being a military brat, so I lack the personal history and ties to a place that others might find spiritually relevant. When I saw this book available for review, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to look into my own country and culture for spiritual inspiration.
[Positive Bits]
The premise of this book is outlined very early on: “In some ways, I am hoping that picking up this book will be like unearthing a box buried at the crossroads for you and finding it stuffed full of folkloric odds and ends – a veritable treasure trove of witchery, if you will. Each little piece will tell you something about magic, and let you put together your own picture of folkloric witchcraft here and now.” As you explore this book, it truly dives into a variety of sources, from local tribal traditions to immigrant practices from other countries that settled here. The details are also regularly tied back to the current occult movements that match them, allowing you to draw the line between past and present with ease.
I enjoyed the author’s take on magical ingredient correspondences. I’m a big fan of finding your personal connection and symbolism in magic, and they took the time to mention something they get out of each item rather than rehashing the correspondences you find in every other sourcebook. In the same section, there’s an exercise that involves looking at your favorite foods or recipes and considering what magicks they would represent based on their ingredients – which is something I’ve done before, and it’s fascinating to look at your food in a magickal light (particularly if you’re an avid cook)!
Each section has interesting tasks to try, called The Work. After you’ve been exposed to one type of magical folklore, you’re invited to explore it within your own spiritual path. Several of them contained great questions to meditate or journal on, and I found myself pausing to consider how they related to my practice. I enjoy interactivity in books, so this is a major bonus point to the book as a whole.
[Less Enjoyable Bits]
This book is very heavily focused on folkloric knowledge, with much smaller sections tying it back to modern witchcraft. While intriguing if you like history and folklore as topics, I found myself a bit disappointed to slug through 480 pages of folklore when I had thought there’d be more active rituals and practices to explore. Considering how often folklore related to witches dips into talk of worshipping the Devil, I found myself less interested in the information provided when it was steeped in stories from that angle.
On the flip side, there were mentions of folklore that greatly intrigued me… only to be presented in one or two sentences and then never referenced again. For example, I live near the Chehalis tribe in the Pacific Northwest, and they were mentioned in a section about moon folklore. Apparently they see the moon as masculine, but we get one note to that effect and then nothing further. Living so close to multiple tribes, I wish more Native culture had been included as part of American folklore. Too often, we treat Natives as “other” and less American than the immigrants who supplanted them.
I think this book is geared toward an audience who wants to explore American folklore and folk magic but doesn’t want to dive into research alone. If that’s your focus, then it’s a good guide to jumping off points for exploring our history. If that’s not your cup of tea, then this book is a long and difficult trek through a portion of American history.
Is it worth the coin?
No – unless what I described is what you’re looking for. It wasn’t the guide to American folk magic that I had hoped to find, but it had value for someone exploring folklore for folklore’s sake.
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
First up, I LOVE the cover of this one. On to my review...I enjoyed this one a lot! It was super interesting, full of magical folklore stories. It also had spells and rituals sprinkled throughout. That said, this isn't a sit down and read cover to cover type of book. More the type of book you pick and savour in bits and pieces.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
First up, I LOVE the cover of this one. On to my review...I enjoyed this one a lot! It was super interesting, full of magical folklore stories. It also had spells and rituals sprinkled throughout. That said, this isn't a sit down and read cover to cover type of book. More the type of book you pick and savour in bits and pieces.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
cloudss's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
fun! american folklore interwoven into a witches how to book. historical witch stories were my fav part (big surprise). heavily researched and points to other works in text for those looking to deep dive. more encyclopedic than exhaustive. goes thematically through topics that are generally associated with witches/magic. eye opening to the magic in everyday items and routines and a love letter to witches.
sakurahiganbana's review against another edition
5.0
Book Review: New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcheson
I’d like to begin by saying that Hutcheson’s book New World Witchery is a wonderful read if you are a fan of folklore and folk practices. However, if you are looking for a book to teach you witchcraft, this is not that type of book.
That being said, I feel that New World Witchery is an important read as it is a deep dive into the various practices that exist in North America. The topic of folk practices, not all of them necessarily called witchcraft though it is categorized similarly in the book, is a sensitive one as the Americas has a deep-rooted history of colonialism and cultural appropriation. Hutcheson is explicit about the intent of the book as one to jump-start further research into folklore and folk practices and addresses the issue of cultural appropriation very early on. He also discusses the ethics of using materials used in closed practices, using smudging as an example. He goes into the question of ethics surrounding the use of white sage and how it impacts the indigenous community by asking questions such as “Is growing it ethical?”, “Are you giving back to the community in some way?”, and “Are you stealing native practices/co-opting native terms?” Making you think more critically about the reasons someone may have for using items such as white sage or dream catchers (as he mentions the mass-production of them and how little of the profits made from it benefit the communities they actually come from).
Hutcheson focuses more closely on folk beliefs on what witchcraft is in the eyes of communities like Pennsylvania Dutch practitioners, Appalachian folk practitioners, and so on rather than the more prevalent modern witchcraft movement. Because of the complex nature of various practices, Hutcheson takes a good amount of time discussing the differences and similarities present in these communities and goes on to explain that because he is using the term witch in the broader sense of the word, it does not mean that these practices are viewed as witchcraft by the members of the communities. Witchcraft then becomes more of a placeholder term to encompass the spectrum of magic used in the New World. Another thing that Hutcheson does well is the scope of practices he covers by including communities such as the Ozarks, PA Dutch Practitioners, Native American practices, Hoodoo, and the modern witchcraft movement. He goes in-depth and thoroughly explores the many avenues of lineages.
This book leans more towards academic study than most other books on witchcraft commonly found in circulation. Despite this, Hutcheson writes in such a way that makes all of the information digestible for those who aren’t used to academic literature. As far as writing style goes, Hutcheson does a wonderful job keeping the audience’s attention focused on the information presented instead of overwhelming them. To complement this, Hutcheson also includes a list of books after each chapter to help readers find more literature to explore the various topics discussed in the book. On top of all of that, he also has an extensive list of references throughout the book. Going over 300 references, Hutcheson’s research is backed by multiple texts and creates a level of transparency that is not often seen in a non-academic piece of literature, especially on witchcraft.
The only drawbacks that I noted were minuscule compared to all of the things Hutcheson does right. A couple of instances that I noted were the occasional use of Indians in reference to Native Americans, the use of dumb suppers (which can be seen as ableist to some members of the community), and the use of the term mojo bag, which is closely tied with Hoodoo and African-American practices, when something along the lines of sachet spell could have been used. But these things do little to detract from the overall quality of the book.
Overall, this book was a great read, especially for those who are interested in folklore. It can be somewhat dense, but it does not bog the readers down with too much information. Hutcheson does a wonderful job of being inclusive without oversimplifying the various practices he discusses. While there are minor instances where he could have been worded better, the information that he provides is impartial.
Overall Rating: 10/10
Would I Recommend It? Yes!
I’d like to begin by saying that Hutcheson’s book New World Witchery is a wonderful read if you are a fan of folklore and folk practices. However, if you are looking for a book to teach you witchcraft, this is not that type of book.
That being said, I feel that New World Witchery is an important read as it is a deep dive into the various practices that exist in North America. The topic of folk practices, not all of them necessarily called witchcraft though it is categorized similarly in the book, is a sensitive one as the Americas has a deep-rooted history of colonialism and cultural appropriation. Hutcheson is explicit about the intent of the book as one to jump-start further research into folklore and folk practices and addresses the issue of cultural appropriation very early on. He also discusses the ethics of using materials used in closed practices, using smudging as an example. He goes into the question of ethics surrounding the use of white sage and how it impacts the indigenous community by asking questions such as “Is growing it ethical?”, “Are you giving back to the community in some way?”, and “Are you stealing native practices/co-opting native terms?” Making you think more critically about the reasons someone may have for using items such as white sage or dream catchers (as he mentions the mass-production of them and how little of the profits made from it benefit the communities they actually come from).
Hutcheson focuses more closely on folk beliefs on what witchcraft is in the eyes of communities like Pennsylvania Dutch practitioners, Appalachian folk practitioners, and so on rather than the more prevalent modern witchcraft movement. Because of the complex nature of various practices, Hutcheson takes a good amount of time discussing the differences and similarities present in these communities and goes on to explain that because he is using the term witch in the broader sense of the word, it does not mean that these practices are viewed as witchcraft by the members of the communities. Witchcraft then becomes more of a placeholder term to encompass the spectrum of magic used in the New World. Another thing that Hutcheson does well is the scope of practices he covers by including communities such as the Ozarks, PA Dutch Practitioners, Native American practices, Hoodoo, and the modern witchcraft movement. He goes in-depth and thoroughly explores the many avenues of lineages.
This book leans more towards academic study than most other books on witchcraft commonly found in circulation. Despite this, Hutcheson writes in such a way that makes all of the information digestible for those who aren’t used to academic literature. As far as writing style goes, Hutcheson does a wonderful job keeping the audience’s attention focused on the information presented instead of overwhelming them. To complement this, Hutcheson also includes a list of books after each chapter to help readers find more literature to explore the various topics discussed in the book. On top of all of that, he also has an extensive list of references throughout the book. Going over 300 references, Hutcheson’s research is backed by multiple texts and creates a level of transparency that is not often seen in a non-academic piece of literature, especially on witchcraft.
The only drawbacks that I noted were minuscule compared to all of the things Hutcheson does right. A couple of instances that I noted were the occasional use of Indians in reference to Native Americans, the use of dumb suppers (which can be seen as ableist to some members of the community), and the use of the term mojo bag, which is closely tied with Hoodoo and African-American practices, when something along the lines of sachet spell could have been used. But these things do little to detract from the overall quality of the book.
Overall, this book was a great read, especially for those who are interested in folklore. It can be somewhat dense, but it does not bog the readers down with too much information. Hutcheson does a wonderful job of being inclusive without oversimplifying the various practices he discusses. While there are minor instances where he could have been worded better, the information that he provides is impartial.
Overall Rating: 10/10
Would I Recommend It? Yes!