"For centuries, people living in Appalachia have used homemade playing cards for fortune-telling and dream interpretation. This tradition has arisen over many generations of backwoods conjurers, 'grannie witches,' and 'yarb doctors'. Here, the author has created a fortune-telling deck fashioned after the folklore, superstitions, and dream symbols that he grew up with in Western North Carolina"

"Traditional Conjure is the domain of the poor and disenfranchised, living in regions that were (and remain) unfriendly to esotericism and the occult. Thus, Conjure divination relies on inexpensive tools that are not exclusively magical: playing cards, rather than Tarot cards; or scrying with blue water instead of a crystal ball. The primary focus of this book is playing-card divination, but other methods covered include bibliomancy, pyromancy, pendulums, and throwing the bones"--

In Backwoods Witchcraft, Jake Richards offers up a folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts that he learned from his great-grandmother, his grandmother, and his grandfather, a Baptist minister who Jake remembers could "rid someone of a fever with an egg or stop up the blood in a wound." The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the seen and unseen beings that inhabit the land as well as the soil, roots, and plant life. The materials and tools used in Appalachia witchcraft are readily available from the land. This "grounded approach" will be of keen interest to witches and conjure folk regardless of where they live. Readers will be guided in how to build relationships with the spirits and other beings that dwell around them and how to use the materials and tools that are readily available on the land where one lives. This book also provides instructions on how to create a working space and altar and make conjure oils and powders. A wide array of tried-and-true formulas are also offered for creating wealth, protecting one from gossip, spiritual cleansing, and more.

"Appalachian folk magic and conjure are little known today, but forty or fifty years ago, just about every person you might ask in Appalachia either knew something about it themselves or knew someone who did it. These practices and 'superstitions' are at the core Appalachian culture. Who were the old conjurors and witches of Appalachia? What did they do, believe in, and dress land talk like? How can you learn the ways of conjuring for yourself? This book answers those questions and more"--

Conjure, hoodoo, rootwork - these are all names for southern American folk magic. Conjure first emerged in the days of slavery and plantations and is widely considered among the most potent forms of magic. Its popularity continues to increase, both in the United States and worldwide. This book is a guide to using conjure to achieve love, success, safety, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment. Author Starr Casas, a hereditary master of the art, introduces readers to the history and philosophy of conjure and provides practical information for using it. Featuring Casas's own rituals, spells, and home recipes, the book provides useful information suitable for novices and seasoned practitioners alike. In its pages, you'll learn about: Bone reading Candle burning Conjure bags Building your own conjure altar At last, a book that answers every questions you had about Conjure but were afraid to ask! Old Style Conjure is an absolute treasure. It?s a must-read for every practitioner of the ancient arts and a must-have for every magical library! - Dorothy Morrison, author of Everyday Magic, The Craft and Utterly Wicked.

"Working Conjure is a blessing. With the increasing commodification of African American and African Diasporic traditions, books about our practices that are simple, direct, and useful seem few and far between. Hoodoo Sen Moise manages to balance a solid delivery on the practice of Conjure with just enough theory to create a foundation to do this spiritual work—which is not, as he also reminds us, spiritual easy—and to continue the work given to us by our ancestors to heal each other and the world we share."—Mambo Chita Tann, author of Haitian Vodou Conjure, also known as Hoodoo or Rootwork, is an old and powerful system of North American folk magic. Its roots derive primarily from West and Central African spiritual traditions but it developed during the slave trade and its purpose at that time was to help ease the terrible oppression experienced by the slaves. Working Conjure explores the history, culture, principles, fundamentals, and ethics of Conjure, while simultaneously serving as a practical how-to guide for actually doing the work. Author Hoodoo Sen Moise has been a practitioner for nearly forty years. In Working Conjure, his first book, he shares the techniques and lessons that will bring Hoodoo alive to those who are new to the practice as well as useful and enlightening information for the adept. In the book he: Explores the primary materials used in Conjure Features spells, rituals, and workings for various purposes Guides readers to learn how to bring this profound school of magic to life “Conjure,” writes Hoodoo Sen Moise, “is not a religion or spiritual path, per se, but rather magic/spiritual work that is done to bring about change in a situation. Whether that situation is a relationship, money, a job, revenge, healing, or cleansing, the fundamental tenet of Conjure is to do work that changes the circumstance.”

Romani culture has long been associated with and admired for extraordinary fortune-telling skills. This first-of-its-kind book traces the development of the Romani cartomancy tradition. With illustrations from the Gypsy Witch(R) Fortune Telling Playing Cards, expert instruction is given on the fascinating method of reading the deck, which combines traditional card inserts with unique symbolic images. Meanings and keywords are given for each individual card as well as for various card combinations. Fabio Vinago also provides detailed instructions for simple and complex spreads, including the Grand Tableau. For all levels of readers this comprehensive book provides a wealth of information on the art of reading fortune telling cards.

A unique divination deck based on the authentic backwoods traditions, folklore, and superstitions of Appalachia. For centuries, people living in Appalachia have used homemade playing cards for fortune-telling and dream interpretation. This tradition has arisen over many generations of backwoods conjurers, grannie witches, and yarb doctors. The Conjure Cards fortune-telling deck was created by Jake Richards (author of Backwoods Witchcraft) and fashioned after the folklore, superstitions, and dream symbols that he grew up with in western North Carolina. Jake offers these common Appalachian methods of divination paired with the honored pastime of sharing and interpreting dreams. Examples: The Nine of Diamonds shows a headless rooster; to dream of a headless animal is a sign of a haint or plat-eye, which is a spirit who didn’t have proper burial. The Ace of Spades, usually named the death card, is an old-fashioned baby cradle because to dream of a birth predicts a death. The “little joker” is a witch or enemy and is represented by the folkloric black cat, while the “big joker” is the devil and is symbolized by one of the devil’s forms in Appalachia: the black dog. The black dog represents evil spirits, so if it is paired with the black cat and the Ten of Spades (a grave stone), it could mean a family haint is haunting you or an enemy has conjured the dead against you. The Ace of Diamonds shows two wedding ring, ands predicts news, luck, and proposal. If shown with the Five of Hearts (a chapel with a stained-glass window) and the Ten of Diamonds (sunflowers), it would predict a happy marriage or undertaking.

You already know how to use a deck of cards to pass the time and play games, but did you know that with that simple deck of cards you can also catch a glimpse of the future? Reading fortunes with playing cards is one of the oldest forms of fortune telling: it's called Cartomancy. Unlike Tarot, which actually evolved from Cartomancy and requires a special deck, the art of cartomancy can be performed with any standard deck of playing cards. Master the magical art and you'll be prepared to perform readings for yourself or for others wherever life takes you. This kit contains a book that will guide you through everything you need to know to read your fortune with playing cards, from guidance on the meanings and astrological associations of each card to how to ask the cards for answers to all your burning questions, and a unique 52-card deck with a modern bold design so that you can get started right away. Each suit of a playing card deck gives you insight on a different aspect of your life. Hearts give explain emotional states and struggles, Diamonds hold revelations about your finances, Spades shed light on conflict and obstacles in your life and Clubs can help guide you on practical matters from business negotiations to travel. Together, they can answer yes or no questions, help you choose between three options, find the right time to act, discover if your wishes will come true, give an overview of the questioner's life or zero in on a specific area of your life. Open up The Deck of Fortune and you will: · Learn ancient secrets of Cartomancy, one of the oldest forms of divination · Discover the mystical meanings of each individual card · Learn how to use playing cards to discover hidden truths about the past, present and future · Practise interpreting the cards with sample spreads and readings · Ask the cards for guidance on whether or not something is right for you, when to plan an event, what is causing problems in your career or relationships and what your future has in store