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A review by sakurahiganbana
New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic by Cory Thomas Hutcheson
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!