Sticks, Stones, Roots, and Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs

Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: Stephanie Rose Bird has written a book that has been wanted and needed in the Magickal community for a long time. This book has so much valuable information that I just don't know where to begin. I first must say that I am a little confused by one of the other reviews where the person states that they are from New Orleans and they know that this is not "real" Hoodoo. Hoodoo has been widely practiced in a variety of Southern states since the first slaves arrived in North America and is not exclusively a "New Orleans" magickal tradition. I think when most of us think of New Orleans, we think of the Vodoun tradition, and Hoodoo and Vodoun are not the same.

This book has it all, recipes for mojos,sachets,oils, soaps, powders and wonderful rituals for various rites of passage. At the beginning of the book there is section called Equipment and Tools that lets you know exactly what you'll need to start workin' roots. After you've got the tools together, you learn how to gather and dry herbs. There are even suggestions for folks who are living the urban city life and don't have yards for gardens and large amounts of space in their homes for herbs.

The author also takes into consideration people's different budgets and gives a number of options for different recipes.
There is a wonderful section called "It's in the Bag" where she shares the history of the mojo, what they are used for and how to create your own for different purposes.

I absolutely love the chapter of the book on broom lore. We always hear about the broom, it's meaning and magickal uses in European traditions, the information this book contains on the broom's ritual uses and traditional meanings in African and African American customs is fascinating.

The last thing I have to say about this wonderful book is that I really do admire the authors love and reverance of the earth, at the end of her book she has a list of at-risk and endangered plants and request that when possible we use substitutes in our magickal work. She also lists substitutes for animal blood in ritual as an offering, sacrifice, or to enhance the power of a trick. I can only say, bless her and I hope she continues to write and bless us with her abundant healing wisdom.


Rating:
Summary: A great reference for herbal enthusiasts!
Review: A magickal guide to African and African American herbalism with an emphasis on the spiritual aspects. Historical tidbits and lore of African herbalism makes this a great historical reference to herbal enthusiasts, and the practical recipes and crafts make it a must for any bookshelf! I love researching herbal lore from around the world, and this book has a treasure trove of interesting folklore traditions.

Rating:
Summary: A great reference for herbal enthusiasts!
Review: A magickal guide to African and African American herbalism with an emphasis on the spiritual aspects. Historical tidbits and lore of African herbalism makes this a great historical reference to herbal enthusiasts, and the practical recipes and crafts make it a must for any bookshelf! I love researching herbal lore from around the world, and this book has a treasure trove of interesting folklore traditions.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Resource for Hoodoo
Review: As an African-American and Hoodoo in training, I find Ms. Bird's book to be a valuable tool and resource. Stephanie's book provides valuable insight into the practice of Hoodoo through the many stories and recipes she shares. Easy to follow, it is a great book for those who are beginning practitioners as well as for those who are using it as a research resource or for those who are just "curious."

Rating:
Summary: Same as HooDoo Mysteries
Review: I have to say that this book is the same as Malbroughs HooDoo mysteries. It has almost nothig to do with real HooDoo. I live in New Orleans and like I said on my review for Malbroughs book, Noone I know practices HooDoo like this. If you want root work then check out Cat Yarowande's work, it is atleast acurate.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent work!!!
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book so much I read it in a day!
It answered a lot of questions I had about Hoodoo and Rootwork and the history was a bonus. Right now, a few ladies and I are using this book in our study group because Mrs. Birds's book is very easy to understand and the projects are not difficult. I love your book! Keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: A call to rootwork
Review: Stephanie's knowledge of her recipes and her herbs seems sound, and that's good. She gives a lot of them, and that's good. Her interpretations of European gods go a little queer in places, based on my own knowledge, but if you know about it it's not too bad - you can certainly, Gods preserve us, do worse in any number of Llewellyn publications, including many that purport to be mainly about European-style practice.

But what really sets this book above the cut, in my opinion, is that something about her style makes me actually want to get out all my herbs and oils and MAKE these things, and use them all over my house and my life. I have a slew of other herbals on my shelf, and not one of them has this power to infect me with the writer's enthusiasm. Stephanie does it. After years of having these things and theoretically knowing how to use them, it is only since reading this book that I have made a practice of concocting my own oils, leaving out scented water on my altar as an offering and anointing daily with it, taking herbal washes and using them on the floors.

Good stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Sticks, Stones Roots and Bones
Review: This book has an amazing gift for every reader, it is rich in history and geographical information making the information come alive as you relive the beginnings of Hoodoo spirituality. There is a natural energy and connection between each of us and the universe and this book helps explain this connection. I personally enjoyed the sharing of poetry and writings from authors that I had not been exposed to before but I instantly connected with what they had to say. There is an amazing excerpt from a "TreeTalker" that will make you wish you were there at his cabin listening to the trees. The information on the Yoruba people and the correlation to the development of that spirituality and the similar developments that parallel around the same time period with the Native American Indian culture reinforce we all have that universal connectivity. I am impressed and moved at the wonderful world Stephanie has opened up to us and I love the lessons on broommaking and soapmaking and Conjuring with Herbs. This lady is a hidden treasure and our world is "Blessed' by her sharing of Light and Love and Mojo.

Rating:
Summary: Well written, reader-friendly
Review: Three things stand out about Stephanie Rose Bird's work: its authenticity, its elegant simplicity, and its casual, yet spiritual, approach to the topic. From the engaging cover to the reader-friendly format of the chapters, this book offers lots of information in accessible language. More than a basic "how-to," this book provides real spiritual guidance for this path of eclectic wisdom.

Rating:
Summary: Well written, reader-friendly
Review: Three things stand out about Stephanie Rose Bird's work: its authenticity, its elegant simplicity, and its casual, yet spiritual, approach to the topic. From the engaging cover to the reader-friendly format of the chapters, this book offers lots of information in accessible language. More than a basic "how-to," this book provides real spiritual guidance for this path of eclectic wisdom.