Sacred Wisdom: 8 Books on Black and Indigenous Magic and Occult Practice
In an interview in the The Atlantic, Juliet Diaz, author of Witchery remarked, “whenever there are events that really shake the foundation of society, people absolutely run to the occult.” That interview went to print in March of 2020. Diaz is a talented witch, a Taino Cubana spiritual activist and seer, but could she really see with such clarity what (I’ll say it!) horrors would follow in the next 18 months? For many of us, quarantine offered the opportunity to slow down, to take stock of our lives and adopt new habits, new rituals. Some undertook home improvement projects, or learned a craft, but quite a few people found magic. As people of color have been disproportionately affected by COVID, it tracks that new generations of Black and indigenous witches are eager to step into their power. This list features 8 fabulous reads for practitioners at any stage of their journey.
by Aatia Davison
Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color by Lorraine Monteagut
Lorraine Montegaut sets up Brujas in three parts. Part I: Magical Ancestry, Part II: Spiritual Activism, where you can find chapters on Joy as Resistance and Queer Magick to name a few, and Part III: Bruja Life. The reader is introduced to a chronology that moves slowly inward, the historical, social engagement and ultimately toward the self and one’s future.
In this, holistic health practitioner, herbalist and healer Queen Afua lays out a guide for feminine healing. Her practice aligns with that of the Khamitic Nubian Masters and teaches maat, the concept of balance, harmony, truth, law, righteousness and reciprocity. The 9 Gateways of Initiation which she describes are easy to follow and relate to all aspects of one’s daily life. If you need further convincing to pick this one up, Erykah Badu loved it, saying, ‘just when I thought I was all alone, I found myself walking with a group of conscious women who were taking sacred steps and speaking sacred words.’ Very compelling.
Rituals and Spells of Santeria by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler
Santeria is a magical and religious practice with its roots in Africa. Migene Gonzalez-Wippler has dedicated a long and accomplished scholarly career to studying this magic. Rituals and Spells seeks to uncover the teachings of the religion and make it simple for its users. It contains a number of easy-to-use spells and a bit of folklore, and best of all, Gonzalez-Wippler has a hefty backlist of books on the subject. There’s so much to learn here!
(note: This book is out of print, but check your local used book shops!)
Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within by Juliet Diaz
‘Being a witch is an embodiment of your truth in all its power,’ writes Juliet Diaz--bruja, seer and indigenous activist. Her book offers a comprehensive guide to witchcraft with chapters on manifestation, how to create an altar and (of course!) a number of different spells. Flipping through these pages feels like accessing coveted knowledge.
Orishas, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens by Lilith Dorsey
This book explores how the goddesses of the West African spiritual traditions shaped current spiritual arts such as Santeria, Haitian Vodoun and New Orlean Voodoo. It is an excellent pick for those who already practice to get a sense of the history and it can also offer inspiration to new generations of spiritual practitioners. All of this is done through exceptional prose, magical recipes and deep knowledge of folklore traditions.
Curanderismo will not call itself magic or witchcraft, it is an ancient Mesoamerican religious and shamanic practice and this book draws on the author’s 20+ years of studying these practices. The focus of this book is on limpias--curanderismo cleansing rites that are meant to ‘clear, heal and revitalize the mind, body [and] spirit.’ Limpias clear pathways between the practitioner and the wider world to facilitate transformation and renewal. It’s a one-of-a-kind resource.
Denise Alvarado’s biography of the Mother of New Orleans Voodoo Queen will teach you about the life and occultism of Marie Laveau. It goes into little-known detail about her career and it also offers a number of spells for the reader to learn within the Voodoo Tradition. Though she lived and died in the 19th century, Laveau continues to have a dedicated following, as her practices shaped modern voodoo. It’s a fascinating portrait of a truly remarkable real-life witch.
Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti by Zora Neale Hurston
Another fabulous work from American author Zora Neale Hurston, Tell My Horse is based on the author’s own travels to Jamaica and Haiti. While traveling there in the 1930’s Hurston witnessed voodoo practices first-hand. For skeptics or those with a growing curiosity about the occult, this is an excellent entry point. It offers a vivid picture of the customs she observed and acts as a guide to Voodoo conjurings. It’s very illuminating, both as an anthropological study and as a rare piece of travel writing penned by a black woman.
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