Book Review: Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers by Leah Middleton

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Over the past couple of years, there has been a resurgence of folk magic, especially among those of Appalachia. Multiple books have been published on the subject as many of us here in the States turn away from closed practices and attempt to reconnect with our ancestors. For many white people in the US, we struggle with cultural identity. We aren't at home here, but neither are we at home in our ancestral lands. We are a people caught betwix and between, seeking culture and connection in a land we don't belong to and in a country that has long favored rugged individualism. Those of us caught in this crisis are desperately searching for that missing piece, a piece I, too, have been searching for. For me, it has taken the form of Norse paganism and Scottish witchcraft, blended with traditions and folklore my family has passed down for generations, some of which hail from Appalachia, the place I have called home for 35 years.

Middleton, like me, spent her life among these beautiful mountains, immersed in the culture that makes Appalachia one of a kind. In Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia, Leah Middleton joins a host of other authors, including H. Byron Ballard, Cory Thomas Hutcheson, Rebecca Beyer, Orion Foxwood, and Jake Richards, bringing light to the long-practiced traditions, folklore, and spellwork of Appalachia. Like other practices, Appalachian folk witchery is a beautiful melting pot of cultures and traditions, which Middleton explores through folk tales, historical documents, and personal experience.

Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is less of a practice spellbook and more of a dive into the practices found in Appalachia, covering everything from the history of the area to the superstitions and folk tales told amongst its people. This dive into the history of Appalachia truly sets the tone for the entire book, helping to dispel the idea that the Appalachian region is less diverse and less deserving of our time and empathy than other areas. As someone who has lived here almost her entire life, I agree with Middleton. We are a diverse people who value community, family, and the land, contrary to what some people in popular media would have you believe. I appreciate Middleton's approach and hope that by picking up her work, you, too, will come to love this region as much as I do. On top of this, Middleton makes a stark distinction between witchcraft and folk magic: "Folk magic is the result of regional and cultural beliefs related to superstitions, customs, and religion."

You'll notice she specifically mentions "religion" in her definition, and honestly, I think that is one of the most important aspects of Appalachian folk magic. Christianity, as Middleton discusses, has left a tremendous mark on the faith of the area and how magic is practiced within the region. Very few people within the region would dare to call themselves a witch, but they practice magic nonetheless. Middleton offers a host of ways to make the Christian-influenced practices more "heretical," something I deeply appreciated. I know many witches struggle with the scars left from Christianity, and don't necessarily want to bring it back into their lives. Middleton offers animistic alternatives and suggestions, teaching the reader how to turn Christian practices more pagan.

Apart from traditional history and folklore, Middleton also delves into folk art, music, superstitions, and folk healing. I am not going to lie, I ate this information up. Some of it was new, and some of it was traditions I grew up with. For example, my mother collects local folk pottery, especially those with faces. We had a blue bottle tree in our yard for protection, neighbors painted their porch ceilings haint blue (we did not have a porch growing up, but my mother painted blue near the front door or included blue bottles near the door as "decoration"), iron horseshoes were hung in the home, and we always ate black-eyed peas on New Year's for good luck. We used red ribbon and string to protect us while out in the woods, licked our fingers and drew a cross upon the sight of a black cat, and blew on our burns three times while saying a prayer to help them heal. Growing up, I didn't realize these traditions were special or even unique, but the older I get, the more I lean into the "silly little things" my parents and grandparents instilled in me. Middleton does an exceptional job shedding light on these traditions through storytelling and anecdotes.

As Middleton discusses the history and folklore of the region, she sprinkles in spells, charms, recipes, and more, nuggets of gold hidden among other gems. I highly recommend reading Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers closely and with a pen or highlighter so you can mark important information as it arises. My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer! There is no way to cover everything that makes this region what it is, so I highly recommend starting with Middleton's work and using the other authors mentioned to fill in the gaps. Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers is a great introduction to the practices of Appalachia, but it just grazes the surface.

You can pick up your copy of Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia by Leah Middleton wherever books are sold.

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