Old Style Conjure: Hoodoo, Rootwork, & Folk Magic

This is written by a white woman. I do not care who or which ancestors she claims to honor, the appropriation is just not right. I was disgusted when I got to the FAQ portion of the intro and she mentions how it is ok for white people, specifically, to practice conjure if they pay respects to the ancestors and who better to honor the enslaved ancestors than the whites? SERIOUSLY?!! I immediately closed the book and initiated a return to Amazon. It’s sitting on my front stoop now as I write this review.She should not be teaching & monetizing Conjure/Hoodoo. Are the proceeds even going back into the black community or descendants of the enslaved?

This book is one of the best out there on conjure. It gives you a simple easy to read guide on what conjure is, the roots of where it came from ,how to get started doing work in this african america folk tradition. It reminds you to hold the Ancestors of this work in respect and to honor them first and foremost because thats who anyone who does this work owes it to and again all credit and reverence goes to the African Slaves whose traditions this work is Born from the blood, sweat, tears and death of the Slaves who lived, died and survived under some of the worst conditions in all of history. It also helps answer common questions a big one is that Hoodoo is NOT Vodou if anyone says they are thats a sure sign they dont know what theyre talking about because Vodou is an African religion where hoodoo/ conjure is an african and African american folk tradition heavily influenced by christianity.

The book itself is okay. I expected something a whole lot different and not to sound weird I've been looking for black authors on hoodoo/ conjure and I didn't research this lady before I bought it. She's a white Christian who claims black slaves are her ancestors to the point where I had to Google search her and find for myself that she's white because I was so confused. Don't get me wrong race isn't a huge issue(I myself am white) but I feel like learning about hoodoo from the white culture isn't really learning about hoodoo at all so I'm left slightly disappointed.

i'm atheist. don't buy this book with plans of using the rites in it if you don't already have a strong christian faith. I respect honoring the ancestors and what they went thru, and i love the history and symbolism of various plants and stones in conjuring (it's actually why i bought the book---i don't practice magick or anything). But had i wanted to try it, it wouldn't work for me. That being said, i did love her folksy prose, and really do appreciate her passion for the genesis of her practice.

it came in new undamaged condition which was good but immediately I noticed such heavy Christian overtones then the farther you get into it that seems to be all there is till almost to the end when it starts takling about graveyards and such. I was quite disappointed because I practice hoodoo and this to me had nothing to do with it. She also goes on and on about the same thing in many chapters, repeating and reexplaining herself on the same subject. Just a wasted purchase for me but someone that is working as highly Christian views would be better suited. Should have been named something else that isn't deceiving.

The great thing about this book is that it deals with practical situations in Hoodoo. The ancestors of Hoodoo had to make do with what they could use from what they had on-hand. So many Hoodoo books ask for things that an expensive list of supplies. Ms. Casas is obviously from the real world where people have to pay for stuff. Also, her writing on the ancestors is a must not miss.

I bought this book not knowing really anything about conjure. As far as a beginner book goes, this book is very good and informative. But I rate it 3 stars because I really don't like how it's written. It's very repetitive and because the author wrote it in a very informal way, some of the instructions for the different rituals and things are confusing to me. I think this book could probably be half as long and still say the same amount. I understand the repetition is to drive home important parts, but some of the sections seem to go in circles. I have learned a lot from this book but I don't think it will be one that I read multiple times.

While the book itself is a wonderful read and gives a good background on the subject as well as the possible practical applications, however what put me off was the various ingredients/ items required in order to implement a ritual. I don't think I can do this or even procure some of the items mentioned. Nonetheless, turned out to be a good book from a theoretical aspect.

RIGHTIO, FIRST IT IS A GOOD THICK BOOK BUT IN MANY MANY CHAPTERS IT KINDA CUTS SHORT ON HOW YOU DO SOMETHING WHICH DON'T HELP, YOU FIND AN AREA OF INTEREST SAY A BANISHING TO GET SHUT OF SOMEONE YOU HATE AND IT TELLS YOU TO GO INTO THAT PERSONS PROPERTY AND PUT VOO DOO DOLLS AND WHATEVER ELSE UNDER THEIR MATTRESSESS!! LIKE I MEAN, IF YOU HATE SOMEONE WHO HAS WRONGED YOU, YOU CAN HARDLY GO KNOCKING AT THEIR DOOR AND SAY CAN I COME IN? THEN TO PUT DOLLS OR WHATEVER MATERIALS IN THAT PERSON'S RESIDENCE. IT ALSO SEEMS MORE OF A GIBBERISH BIBLE QUOTING HUNDREDS OF PSALMS A HUNDRED TIMES OR MORE WHEN DOING CERTAIN RITUALS OK, THE HUNDREDS IS NOT EXACTLY HUNDREDS BUT MORE THAT THAN ENOUGH I THINK TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. PLUS, IT IS IN A LANGUAGE THAT I CANNOT SPEAK I SAID TO MYSELF IS THIS IRISH OR SOMETHING? LO AND BEHOLD YES, MANY OF THE CHAPTERS ARE JUST THAT LIKE OLD GAELIC HOW THE HECK YOU SAY WHATS WRITTEN I DO NOT KNOW!! ON A PLUS SIDE THERE A FEW GOOD CHAPTERS BUT FOR ALL THE STARS OTHERS HAVE GIVEN THIS BOOK I DO NOT KNOW HOW, YOU ARE LUCKY I HAVE GIVEN 3 STARS.

Just awesome! The Qs&As are very useful, questions anyone can have in mind. Spells are well explained.

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Love it. Good learning book.

This is an excellent book on Conjure, also known as rootwork or Conjure. Starr Casas knows what she's talking about and has her head screwed onto her shoulders. She warns readers against "doing work" against people they just dislike or who haven't done enough to deserve such a response. The style is folksy and circular, which I appreciate. It's like hearing Casas speak. As in all oral traditions, there are repetitions and variations on a theme, meaning, by the end of the book you know the subject. Well done.