Recommended Reading: Vodoo/Vodou, Santeria, Hoodoo

[Darkest Eve]

What are some recommended books/websites for individuals interested in learning more about these paths?

(I thought this might be a good topic/resource for this subforum and didn't see it in here yet...)

What about some books/sites to avoid, if you know of any?

[aranarose]

For Hoodoo, Lucky Mojo, the website, is just about the ultimate resource. All the supplies you could dream of, plus books, and a HUGE resource of free information.

http://www.luckymojo.com

Catherine Yronwode, who runs the site, has also published a great book called Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic. I have it; it's awesome.

She also runs a Hoodoo correspondence course.

[Lajmar]

Lot of interest in these topics lately. Heres another thread that may be of some help:
http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=191376

[DixieWitch]

For Hoodoo, Lucky Mojo, the website, is just about the ultimate resource. All the supplies you could dream of, plus books, and a HUGE resource of free information.

http://www.luckymojo.com

Catherine Yronwode, who runs the site, has also published a great book called Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic. I have it; it's awesome.

She also runs a Hoodoo correspondence course.

I've been wanting to get that book aranarose. So it seems it's well worth one to buy then?

I LOVE LuckyMojo!

[BlackLili]

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738702757/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp) by Stephanie Rose Bird

I can vouch for that one as a fantastic beginner Hoodoo resource, alongside Cat Yronwode's books and of course, the Lucky Mojo website.

I haven't read her other book Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living, but I'd be interested in it.

For Voudon, there have been many recommendations I've seen here, and The Haitian Vodou Handbook: Protocols for Riding with the Lwa (http://www.amazon.com/Haitian-Vodou-Handbook-Protocols-Riding/dp/1594771251/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212511171&sr=1-1) by Kenaz Filan gets recommended often, and I thought it was a great book.

[aranarose]

I've been wanting to get that book aranarose. So it seems it's well worth one to buy then?

I LOVE LuckyMojo!

Oh, yes, it is VERY much worth it! I get the economic stimulus check in July, and I'm using a bit of it to do the correspondence course.

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738702757/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp) by Stephanie Rose Bird



I've got that one. It's GREAT. If you follow that book through, you'd have a very decent start at your own personal Hoodoo practice.

[Darkest Eve]

Vodou Shaman by Ross Heaven is another interesting read.

This is a little different approach from someone who has personally studied Haitian Vodou (in the presence of a Haitian tribe), and gives the reader an idea of how to connect with the spiritual aspects of the practice, and focuses on healing practices.

I got absorbed enough in this book that I sat here and read it in a day... and Vodou wasn't something that previously interested me... so that's saying something I suppose.

[BlackLili]

Darkest! You reminded me!

I had a problem getting into Voudon at first for some reason. Just a mental block where I couldn't pay attention to the books I was getting on the topic. I knew I'd want to get into them someday, but wasn't ready for their information at the time they were obtained.

One of those books has gone on to be one of my favorite on the subject of Hoodoo - Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals (http://www.amazon.com/Jambalaya-Natural-Personal-Practical-Rituals/dp/0062508598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212511872&sr=1-1) by Luisah Teish, who I believe still has a House in L.A.

[Teresa]

Secrets of Voodoo by Milo Riguad has the most detailed information and gives the best explanations that I have seen.

Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn was written by Karen McCarthy Brown

Sacred Arts of Haitian Voodoo by Donald J. Cosentino is expensive but worth it.

Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neal Hurston is an excellent read

[Teresa]

As far as Hoodoo: I recommend the following books

Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by Catherine Yronwode

The Magic of Herbs by Henri Gamache

Rootwork by Tayannah Lee McQuillar

Hoodoo Mysteries by Ray Malbrough

Charms, Spells and Formulas by Ray Malbrough

Golden Secrets of Mystic Oils by Anna Riva

Master Book of Candle Burning by Henri Gamache

Magical Power of the Saints by Ray Malbrough

Secrets of the Psalms by Godfrey Sileg

Sticks, Stones, Roots, Bones by Stephanie Rose Bird

Four Seasons of Mojo by Stephanie Rose Bird

Jambalaya is indeed a very good book, I recommend it as well ! :thumbsup:

[plumedsnake]

I would recommend 'The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination" by Ocha'ni Lele. published by Destiny. This can be a bit superficial but as a first introduction it is not bad.

Also "Africa's Ogun" by Sandra T. Barnes published by Indiana University Press. It is a bit academic but it really get's into the different aspects of Ogun worship in AFrica and the diaspora. Especially how it is incorporated into everyday living.

Highly recommended is "Ifa - a complete Divination" by Ayo Salami. I don't know the publisher but it covers the entire spectrum of the Odu and gives a couple of verses from each of the 256 odu that will help to through a hell of a lot of light on the nature of the religion and how it is practiced and what is believed. http://www.afrikandjeli.net/AyoSalami.html


Also highly recommended but I think it might have gone out of print is "Dinlogun" by Chief Kola Abiola

[aranarose]

Tarot of the Orishas.

Good luck getting your hands on it though :lol: Mine cost me $80 on ebay, and that was cheap!

[Lajmar]

For magical aspects that includes smatterings of hoodoo as well as others Draja Mickaharics books are rather delightful, small yet have more real information than I see elsewhere. I would try:
A Spiritual Workers Spell book
A Century of Spells
Spiritual Cleansings
Magical Techniques.
I also second Luisah Teish's Jambalayah and, Cat Yronwoods Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic, andKenaz Filan's, The Haitian Vodou Handbook.

[aranarose]

I've also found The Magical Power of the Saints (http://www.amazon.com/Magical-Power-Saints-Evocation-Rituals/dp/1567184561/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212532807&sr=8-2) and Charms, Spells, & Formulas (http://www.amazon.com/Charms-Spells-Formulas-Ray-Malbrough/dp/0875425011/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212532807&sr=8-1) both by Ray T. Malbrough to be useful.

They're a bit on the basic/light side, and published by Lllewellyn, but in my studies, I've found his rituals, formulas, spells, and prayer information to be quite accurate, if simplified.

[DixieWitch]

Oh, yes, it is VERY much worth it! I get the economic stimulus check in July, and I'm using a bit of it to do the correspondence course.



I've got that one. It's GREAT. If you follow that book through, you'd have a very decent start at your own personal Hoodoo practice.

I want to do the correspondence course also. If I can sell 2-3 more purses, I'll have enough money to do it!

I'm still trying to get a hold of some books. Right now, I'm holding on to about 8 credits on paperbackswap.com with the hopes that someone will post some of the books on my ever growing wishlist. It gets longer every time I read a thread like this!

I am so glad someone started this thread. It is giving me a lot of starting points when I had no idea where to start!!

THANKS!

[DixieWitch]

Tarot of the Orishas.

Good luck getting your hands on it though :lol: Mine cost me $80 on ebay, and that was cheap!
yeah that is cheap! I'm looking at it on Amazon and it's $300!!!

[DixieWitch]

I want to do the correspondence course also. If I can sell 2-3 more purses, I'll have enough money to do it!



well I just counted my money and I'm am about $56 shy of the money I need to take the course!! Closer than I thought!! YAY:boing:

[plumedsnake]

Tarot of the Orishas.

Good luck getting your hands on it though :lol: Mine cost me $80 on ebay, and that was cheap!

I remember this from ages ago. And I remember feeling disappointed. I'd only just started getting interested in the tarot and I felt it wasn't the real deal because it didn't correspond closely enough with the other packs like rider waite.

I wonder what I would think of it now if I were to have another look.

[aranarose]

I remember this from ages ago. And I remember feeling disappointed. I'd only just started getting interested in the tarot and I felt it wasn't the real deal because it didn't correspond closely enough with the other packs like rider waite.

I wonder what I would think of it now if I were to have another look.

No, it's not closely aligned with a traditional Tarot deck.

I really haven't used it much, though the readings that I've done with it have been very spot on.

I think it's one of those decks that you either click with it or you don't. I have a friend who gets creeped out just looking at it (though she does tend to be a bit on the fluffy side :cutie: ) I've been concentrating on my more familiar decks lately, though I might just have to pull the Orishas out again :)

[Artiste-LiLi]

I want to do the correspondence course also. If I can sell 2-3 more purses, I'll have enough money to do it!

I'm still trying to get a hold of some books. Right now, I'm holding on to about 8 credits on paperbackswap.com with the hopes that someone will post some of the books on my ever growing wishlist. It gets longer every time I read a thread like this!

I am so glad someone started this thread. It is giving me a lot of starting points when I had no idea where to start!!

THANKS!


My list is growing too Dixie Witch! My dad just sent me some $$$ for a birthday gift and I can already see it going out the purse and into the booksellers' bank accounts! LOL!:T

[Artiste-LiLi]

No, it's not closely aligned with a traditional Tarot deck.

I really haven't used it much, though the readings that I've done with it have been very spot on.

I think it's one of those decks that you either click with it or you don't. I have a friend who gets creeped out just looking at it (though she does tend to be a bit on the fluffy side :cutie: ) I've been concentrating on my more familiar decks lately, though I might just have to pull the Orishas out again :)

I'm not big on Tarot of any type (it just has never really "clicked" with me), but this deck has my curiosity up and I think I'm going to HAVE to check it out (no, it isn't a matter of just being curious and *wanting*....I'm feeling "*pushed*").

[aranarose]

I'm not big on Tarot of any type (it just has never really "clicked" with me), but this deck has my curiosity up and I think I'm going to HAVE to check it out (no, it isn't a matter of just being curious and *wanting*....I'm feeling "*pushed*").

Yeah... gotta love that *push* sometimes.

It's a deck that I'm not connecting to at all :lol: I've tried reading with it, started reading the companion book, and it's just not there for me.

[Teresa]

well I just counted my money and I'm am about $56 shy of the money I need to take the course!! Closer than I thought!! YAY:boing:

The course is well worth it. you work at your own pace and cat likes if you wait until you finish it to send in all assignments at once. After you do that she checks what you sent to her and she will give you a certificate upon satisfactory completion.

You get to keep the work book she sends you and you get to keep access to the yahoo chat group and the forum as long as you stay in good standing. To me that is a Win/Win situation. I would give my eye teeth to be an apprentice to cat yronwode.

[Darkest Eve]

For Hoodoo, Lucky Mojo, the website, is just about the ultimate resource. All the supplies you could dream of, plus books, and a HUGE resource of free information.

http://www.luckymojo.com

Catherine Yronwode, who runs the site, has also published a great book called Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic. I have it; it's awesome.

She also runs a Hoodoo correspondence course.

Ok, I looked at her site... and I'm curious... she doesn't mention where her knowledge and credibility comes from regarding hoodoo and tradition. Is she only self-taught, or did I miss something?

[Artiste-LiLi]

The course is well worth it. you work at your own pace and cat likes if you wait until you finish it to send in all assignments at once. After you do that she checks what you sent to her and she will give you a certificate upon satisfactory completion.

You get to keep the work book she sends you and you get to keep access to the yahoo chat group and the forum as long as you stay in good standing. To me that is a Win/Win situation. I would give my eye teeth to be an apprentice to cat yronwode.

Ok...gotta go to the bookstore now....and gotta go check out this online class thing..........

got a link for me??????????????

[Artiste-LiLi]

Yeah... gotta love that *push* sometimes.

It's a deck that I'm not connecting to at all :lol: I've tried reading with it, started reading the companion book, and it's just not there for me.

Yeah, here lately though the *push* is beginning to be a *SHOVE*!!!! :bumpsmili

So...I must :fpraise: obey

LOL!

I don't read with Tarot...never have (ok...a few times)...so I think I would mostly use the deck as I do other decks....a focus and an adjunct to my workings with the cards serving a visual representations.

[aranarose]

Ok, I looked at her site... and I'm curious... she doesn't mention where her knowledge and credibility comes from regarding hoodoo and tradition. Is she only self-taught, or did I miss something?

I'll try to search through her site sometime. I know she's not entirely self-taught. I've read somewhere about her background, and it's very interesting and very, very varied. Most serious practitioners of Hoodoo on the web that I've encountered always eventually recommend Cat's course, and of course, her shop as a source for supplies. She's legit, and amazing.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Tarot of the Orishas.

Good luck getting your hands on it though :lol: Mine cost me $80 on ebay, and that was cheap!


Ok....I think I know the why of the push on this now. And if what I think is going on is what's going on.....

I may have a project in the offing......and a monsterously huge one too! *sigh*
I just hope that if what I think is so, *is so*...I hope I'm up to it. :collapse:

This one will require much meditation and searching.

[Artiste-LiLi]

I'll try to search through her site sometime. I know she's not entirely self-taught. I've read somewhere about her background, and it's very interesting and very, very varied. Most serious practitioners of Hoodoo on the web that I've encountered always eventually recommend Cat's course, and of course, her shop as a source for supplies. She's legit, and amazing.

Oh I just went and looked and when I have the $$$....I am SO THERE!

[aranarose]

Oh I just went and looked and when I have the $$$....I am SO THERE!

Uh-huh. I have to use most of my tax rebate thingy that's coming in July to pay off my winter utility bills, but I'm using some of it to take that course. I've always wanted to, and something always comes up to prevent me, but I'm making SURE I get to take it this time!

[Teresa]

Ok...gotta go to the bookstore now....and gotta go check out this online class thing..........

got a link for me??????????????

http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocourse.html

[Teresa]

Ok, I looked at her site... and I'm curious... she doesn't mention where her knowledge and credibility comes from regarding hoodoo and tradition. Is she only self-taught, or did I miss something?

http://www.luckymojo.com/cat.html

This will tell you a bit about her.

http://www.southern-spirits.com/hoodoo-bibliography.html

here is another list you may find interesting as well.

[Artiste-LiLi]

http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocourse.html

Tankee ma'am, tankee. I appreciate it. I looked it over and I am soooo there when I have the $$ to do so (hopefully by the end of the summer).

[Darkest Eve]

http://www.luckymojo.com/cat.html

This will tell you a bit about her.

http://www.southern-spirits.com/hoodoo-bibliography.html

here is another list you may find interesting as well.

The first link is the one that brought about my original post... while it tells a lot about her, her family, and their lives... it doesn't say where her knowledge really comes from that I could tell, other than books and self-study... has she ever worked with a vodou and/or hoodoo culture directly?

That was more the question... the second page is resources and reference materials, which is definitely of interest. :)

[David19]

I've got nothing to add, but can I just say, thanks for all the interesting, very cool and informative links everyone has provided, Hoodoo really interests me, as a magical style (actually, many magical styles influence me and interest me) and I'd love to learn a lot more about it and practice it a lot more.

[Teresa]

The first link is the one that brought about my original post... while it tells a lot about her, her family, and their lives... it doesn't say where her knowledge really comes from that I could tell, other than books and self-study... has she ever worked with a vodou and/or hoodoo culture directly?

That was more the question... the second page is resources and reference materials, which is definitely of interest. :)

I can not personally answer for her, but I can tell you that this was a way of life for many of us as we grew up in that era. Our families taught us these things and it was just what we did. It was not called by a name, it was just how things were done back then. I am sure if you send her and email and ask she would answer your question. I can say that I have searched her site and read her book and She knows what she is talking about regardless of where her knowledge came from. I recommend her book and course based from recognizing her knowledge.

[Darkest Eve]

I can not personally answer for her, but I can tell you that this was a way of life for many of us as we grew up in that era. Our families taught us these things and it was just what we did. It was not called by a name, it was just how things were done back then. I am sure if you send her and email and ask she would answer your question. I can say that I have searched her site and read her book and She knows what she is talking about regardless of where her knowledge came from. I recommend her book and course based from recognizing her knowledge.

Is that typically the case with hoodoo practices (it starts within a family)?

Are there any books/authors/sites out there that you've come across that you recommend those seeking info stay away from on that topic? (I know there are probably sites out there and books that aren't necessarily a good or valid reference...that may not be immediately obvious to someone who doesn't have extensive knowledge in the subject.)

[Darkest Eve]

Sacred Arts of Haitian Voodoo by Donald J. Cosentino is expensive but worth it.



There are a few of these listed on Amazon, and I missed the E-Bay auction that was most recent for this book... is there anywhere else that a person might be able to find this? (It looks like it is about $40.00 for the paperback version, and $80.00 for the hardcover)

[DixieWitch]

There are a few of these listed on Amazon, and I missed the E-Bay auction that was most recent for this book... is there anywhere else that a person might be able to find this? (It looks like it is about $40.00 for the paperback version, and $80.00 for the hardcover)

Well I was gonna say half.com, but the cheapest they have it there is $106.10! There's a listing for $134.59 and $224.68.

I've come across various websites selling books by googling a book name. More often than not though, a website will link you back to Amazon.

[aranarose]

You'll often find, for used books, that the cheapest place is Amazon, unless you get lucky enough to find it on ebay.

[Darkest Eve]

You'll often find, for used books, that the cheapest place is Amazon, unless you get lucky enough to find it on ebay.

That's what I figured, but thought I'd ask anyway. I'm hoping I can find one in good condition!

[Teresa]

Another Book to read on Voodoo:



Waters of Return; The Aeonic Flow of Voodoo by Louis Martinie

[Saggitario]

One of those books has gone on to be one of my favorite on the subject of Hoodoo - Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals (http://www.amazon.com/Jambalaya-Natural-Personal-Practical-Rituals/dp/0062508598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212511872&sr=1-1) by Luisah Teish, who I believe still has a House in L.A.

Jambalaya is a good book, and Teish is nice in person, when she isn't angry about something. :hehehehe: I wouldn't exactly call her 'down to earth', though.

I was involved with the house she founded in Oakland, Ile Orunmila Oshun, for a little over a year. I met some really wonderful people there, but in the end it just didn't work out for me. Honestly, I think that the house has gotten out of her hands a little too much. I still think she is a great person though, and I enjoy her books.