Book Review: Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work by Orion Foxwood

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The last two months I haven't done a lot of reading. This is partially due to the stress of a new semester with new challenges. In the ever-changing COVID world, it's all I, or anyone for that matter, can do to keep up! However, I have recently been able to sit down and start reading some of the books that have been piling up precariously on my nightstand. Seriously...the stack is getting out of control, but I can't say no to books! My latest read is Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work by Orion Foxwood. 

I have always been interested in conjure and root work, but seeing as it's not a family tradition I have left it alone. Conjure arose from the need to fight oppression, especially among the poor and disenfranchised. As poor as many of my family was historically, conjure never found its way into our traditions, but the tomtee and other faerie folk sure did. Needless to say, when Weiser/Red Wheel sent me a lovely Yule package that contained Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work I placed the book at the top of my stack. Foxwood is a native of Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains. Mountain conjure or "granny magic" has many similarities to the variety of conjure practices found in other parts of the United States, especially Louisiana. Like other forms of conjure, it is passed down within families and towns and used as a way to get ahead in life when the entire system is rigged against you. Foxwood was born into the tradition of mountain conjure and spent the rest of his life honing his practice, not just in conjure but in multiple forms of magic, including Alexandrian Wicca and faery magic. His life experiences and diversity in the Craft offer a unique take on Southern conjure and makes him an expert in his field. As someone who is relatively unfamiliar with conjure outside of one or two books and an abundance of highly inaccurate TV shows and movies, I appreciate learning about the topic from someone who was raised in the tradition.

Foxwood covers a variety of topics regarding Southern conjure, including his personal experiences, the origins of conjure, how to grow your spirit, and work with spirits. For obvious reasons, the sections on working with spirits were my favorite chapters and I will likely return to them again and again over the years. When documenting his personal journey, Foxwood mentions that mountain conjure is a combination of traditions from multiple cultures, including BIPOC cultures. I am adamantly opposed to cultural appropriation but recognize all forms of conjure arose from a need within the community, no matter your background. Conjure is, by definition, a hodgepodge of African, Native American, and European traditions wrapped up into one powerful magical practice. When the Europeans came over and soon after brought the first African slaves, the cultures of the oppressed collided to provide a magical outlet to fight the oppressors. It helped the slaves revolt, the Native Americans survive, and the poor white folk overcome economic disparities in the Appalachian Mountains. I appreciate Foxwood calling attention to the history of conjure and where the practices came from while making it abundantly clear that respect of its history and where the practices originate from is a must. However, I found it problematic that Foxwood encourages smudging as a cleansing practice.

I loved how Foxwood related the parts of the Otherworld to the physical features of the Appalachian Mountains and the American foothills. I always encourage witches, new and old alike, to build a local practice and what better way than to traverse the Otherworld using the terrain you are most familiar with? While I find traveling a tree to be easiest, there is something to be said for seeing the Otherworld in your own backyard. Foxwood also includes incredible guides for working with the dead and Death himself, honoring your ancestors, collecting graveyard dirt (truly this one of my favorite sections of the entire book and I will be adding his suggestions to my Grimoire in the future), and how to enter the Otherworld from a conjure perspective. As a hedgewitch, I found Foxwood's interpretation of spirit work intriguing and his perspective offered fresh insight into how I view my own practice. Needless to say, I was left with something to chew on and some possible new techniques to use in the future.

Overall I greatly enjoyed the book, but I definitely went back and forth while reading it. I mentioned on more than one occasion to my partner that I wasn't sure how I really felt about the book and I think this largely lies in the focus on God as the Spirit. I fully recognize that conjure incorporates Christian practices and the Bible. In fact, most who practice conjure also go to church every Sunday and would probably knock you upside the head if you suggested they were not God-fearing Christians. It was a struggle for me to separate Foxwood's God from my vision of the Universe as the source. I had to keep reminding myself that we are simply giving a different name to the same source of energy that created all there is. I have a lot of negative associations with God and Christianity which has left a very sour taste in my mouth. If you are the same way, I encourage you to replace the word and apply it to your religious or atheistic views. The knowledge Foxwood has to share is valuable and worth understanding.

While looking past the Christian undertones (or overtone?) of the book was a challenge for me at times, what really bothered me about the book was a brief mention that your soul chooses your parents prior to being born. This seems to be a growing belief among many practitioners of magic and it is one that has always bothered me. There are so many of us that are born into absolutely horrid situations fraught with abuse and trauma. When we say that your soul chose this path, it's victim-blaming and spiritually bypassing very real problems. Usually, when I find this in books and articles it's accompanied with a brief history of the author and their loving relationship with their parents. Those without loving and supporting parents often do not believe their soul chose to live such a life. When I read about children being purposely beaten and killed by their parents, locked in a hot car, or sexually abused, I can't for a moment believe their soul chose that path.

Sorry, I got a little dark there at the end, but I needed to get it off my chest. Whether you are interested in mountain conjure, looking for fresh insights into magical practices, or wishing to grow your spirit work practice, Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work by Orion Foxwood is a great place to start. It was a refreshing read, especially with the growing number of books on Wicca hitting the market on what seems like a daily basis. The book left with me, as a more traditional European hedgewitch, a lot to think about and will likely be a book I return to in the future. You can purchase Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work by Orion Foxwood now!

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Magical and Medicinal Uses of Pennyroyal

Gender: Masculine or Feminine (depends on tradition)
Planet: Mars or Venus (depends on tradition)
Element: Fire or Earth (depends on tradition)
Powers: Protection, Peace, Strength
Magical Uses and History: A member of the mint family, pennyroyal was historically used in Ancient Rome and Greece as a cooking herb. Many old recipes call for its use alongside other herbs such as oregano, coriander, and lovage, especially in pork recipes. Its culinary uses endured into the Medieval period, but fell out of use shortly after, maybe due to its less than pleasant taste and abortive properties. However, due to its strong abortive properties as an emmenagogue (a menstruation stimulant), pennyroyal is deeply associated with midwifery. As such, it can be used in spells related to encouraging menstruation, blood magic, and protection from unwanted pregnancies, especially for those in the sex industry. Do not, however, ingest pennyroyal without proper medical guidance as the plant is toxic. Its toxic nature, however, makes it a great herb for general protection.

The scientific name Mentha peluqium is believed to originate from the Latin pulex meaning flea, alluding to its use as a flea repellent. It was historically rubbed on the body to repel fleas and has been used in modern times around the home to prevent fleas from entering. (Do not spray directly on your pets or allow your pets to ingest the plant). Furthermore, pennyroyal is said to protect against the Evil Eye. Charms and herbal sachets of pennyroyal were worn or hung in the home to protect the wearer from ill-will, hexes, and curses. The herb can also be used in hex or curse-breaking spells and the oil to anoint candles for similar magical purposes. In Medieval Europe, boughs of pennyroyal were hung in sickrooms to heal and protect those within from disease. In other folklore, pennyroyal was placed in one's shoes prior to traveling to protect the wearer and prevent their feet from tiring.

Finally, pennyroyal is associated with peace. Pennyroyal carried in the pocket is said to prevent quarrels while hanging it in your home is said to bring peace, even when tempers run high. 

Pennyroyal can be used in a number of spells including:

    Blood Magic

    Protection Spells

    Hex & Curse Breaking
    Peace Spells

Medicinal Uses: Pennyroyal is rich in aromatic volatile oil which helps ease flatulence and abdominal colic as well as anxiety and spasmodic pain. Its main use, however, is as an emmenagogue to stimulate menstruation and uterine contractions. As such, it should be avoided during pregnancy. Due to its toxic nature, pennyroyal oil should not be taken internally.

Preparation and Dosage: Despite its toxicity, pennyroyal can be taken in small doses internally as a tea or tincture. However, use at your own risk. Its use is highly discouraged by all medical websites. To create an infusion, pour one cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaves and allow it to infuse for 10-15 minutes. Drink up to three times a day. As a tincture, 1-2 milliliters can be taken up to three times a day.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

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Apothecary At Home Review: February 2021

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

It has been a couple months since I wrote a review of the Apothecary At Home box, and a couple of things have changed since November that I'd like to cover so no one is surprised. February's box is Herbs for Heart Health, which is so fitting for the month of love.

Before I jump into the box though, I wanted to give you witches a rundown of the company. First, Apothecary At Home is a small, witchy woman-owned business in Berkley, California. Their mission is to inspire, empower, and equip the next generation of herbalists by supplying an affordable monthly subscription box that brings the herbal classroom directly to you, no matter your herbal background. Each month brings a new theme and wellness topic complete with herbs and step-by-step instructions to create your own natural remedies. In my opinion, this is one of the best boxes of its kind on the market, fantastically pairing herbalism and witchcraft into one affordable and educational, monthly subscription box.

Again February's theme is Heart Health. As always, there is a complete, sourced informational booklet, that explains heart health and diseases, each of the herb's medicinal profiles, folklore, and magical uses, and recipes that feature the herbs. I love the time, care, and research put into the booklet and the fact that they suggest future reading, continued study resources, and cite their sources. I am slowly creating a materia medica using this information and the botanical prints, although I am tempted to frame all these lovely prints and decorate an entire wall with them in the spare bedroom. This month focuses on two herbs, hawthorn berry and linden, with a bonus herb yarrow. There are 2 ounces of both the yarrow and hawthorn berry and 1 ounce of the linden, which is WAY more than I will likely use in the near future, meaning I have plenty not only to restock my herbal cabinet but to use in my magical workings as well. I still can't believe they are able to pack so much into a single box every month for the price point! This month, I was pleasantly surprised to find linden. It's an often-overlooked herb and now I feel compelled to write a detailed herbarium post about this lovely herb.

The one thing I absolutely love about this box is that it comes fully stocked with everything you need minus an ingredient or two, to make the herbal remedies. In previous months, this included salve tins, jars, brown dropper bottles, mullein bags, and beeswax or soy wax. This month is no different, except neither recipe is a salve so there is no beeswax or soy wax this month. This month is a cardiotonic syrup and yarrow-infused oil, with a number of bonus recipes included for recipes such as high blood pressure tea, linden lozenges, and yarrow-infused witch hazel. Having all the supplies on hand makes creating these remedies extremely easy and gives you no excuse not to get started right away. This is a major selling point for me and many others as the easier it is to create the remedies, the more likely we are to do it. To keep everything properly labeled, which is extremely important, they have included several beautiful labels so you can record the contents and date of the remedy or infusion.

Apart from the supplies to make the remedies, the box also comes with yarrow seeds from the Southern Seed Exchange so you can continue your herbalist adventure by expanding your garden. This is a switch from Bentley Seeds Co, a small family-owned business in upstate New York. I've reached out to Shannon, the creator and founder of Apothecary At Home, to see if this is something for all subscription boxes or just for those in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. If it is just for those in the SE and Mid-Atlantic then I am super excited to have a variety of seeds that do well growing in Georgia clay. As must as I would love to grow all the things, some plants just do not do well here, like peonies and hollyhocks. Either way, I love that each month Shannon continues to support small businesses around the country. This is a major plus in my book and I am glad my money is going to help small businesses. Shannon's mother, Virgi, also creates the two lovely botanical prints found in each month's box that you can frame, glue into your Book of Shadows, or place in your materia medica. The prints are printed on sturdy paper which I greatly appreciate. They are absolutely stunning and I am looking forward to adding more to my collection. This month's prints feature hawthorn and linden.

Finally, the surprise, bonus items this month are Blood Pressure Tea from The Loose Leaf, Pink Sea Salt Chocolate by Raaka Chocolate, and a Heart vinyl sticker by Pergamo Paper Goods. The chocolate is so smooth and delightful. The tea tastes of lemongrass (my favorite) and hibiscus with hints of ginger, ginkgo, and a light sweetness from hawthorn berries. This is one of the best teas I have tried from The Loose Leaf and I look forward to ordering some more in the future, maybe even some for my mom who struggles with high blood pressure from time to time.

Overall I LOVE this box. I continue to be awed and delighted by this amazing box and strongly encourage my readers to pick up a subscription now. You can save 15% on your first box using code WILLOW15. It's a great way to support a small, witchy business and learn an amazing skill at the same time for a fraction of the cost of an herbalist course.

***

I know that I included a pros and cons list in my original post, but I wanted to expand on some new features and new information I have received since the last box. I will likely keep this list going for as long as I am posting about it.

Pros:

• The box is designed to teach, instead of just providing you with goodies. It includes everything you need to learn how to make herbal remedies and gets you started on the herbalist path.
• The item quality is great. Every item is worth more than I paid and sometimes you even get some bonus items thrown in!
• The information packet is informative and explains how to use each of the items in the box. The herb profiles are clearly outlines and recipes are easy to follow.
• There are vegan and non-vegan options. They offer both beeswax and soy wax for salves, so if you are vegan there is an option available for you.
• They survey you for allergies. When you sign up for the box, you begin with a survey where you can let them know if you are allergic to anything. I thought this is great because I am allergic to opiates and gogi berries, and while I don't think opiates will end up in the box, gogi berries have a strong possibility of showing up. I'm glad that they take this into account and won't put anything in my box that I am allergic to.
• They are eco-friendly. The box is recyclable and you have the option to receive the information packets printed or digital. I love how much you can customize this box! The original box came with bubble wrap, and for a while, they switched to paper, but the last several boxes have contained packing peanuts to protect the glassware.
• They support the BIPOC community. Right now, they are offering boxes to BIPOC who are interested in learning herbalism for free or heavily discounted. If you or someone you know is interested in the details, check out their website. You can also sponsor a box to help provide more boxes!
• They support other small businesses such as The Loose Leaf and Raaka Chocolate. 
• They have an online study group specifically designed to answer questions, share ideas, and have support, whether it's from other subscribers or Shannon herself!
• A monthly/bi-monthly newsletter is sent out detailing important information, updates, savings, and more to help you use the remedies in your box and learn more about the herbs. I really appreciate the contact and support!
• All of the supplies are reusable. The glass containers can be used over and over again, making it very eco-friendly.
• There are more than enough herbs to create the remedies and restock your apothecary in the future. I know 2 ounces doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me... it's a lot!
• There are multiple options including a mystery box and an ala carte option (supplies, herbs, and study guides). 
• This box is available! They still have some spots available for next month's box, but you best hurry!

Cons:

• The box is somewhat expensive. It's currently priced between $25 (not bad at all) and $40 plus $8 shipping within the US. However, if you were to compare this to an online course, this box is significantly cheaper and provides all the supplies needed for a fraction of the price.
• Lately, the packaging has not been as eco-friendly as in the past. The boxes have contained packing peanuts, which may or may not be biodegradable. I understand this is to ensure the integrity of the glass containers, but it is disappointing to see the switch.

OVERALL: 5 out of 5 stars 

Interested in purchasing this box? Check out Apothecary At Home online. Use code WILLOW15 to get 15% off your first order!

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Magical Properties of Carnelian

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Imbolc/Winter Thermstice Altar 2021

This year you may notice some new names for the sabbats as well as some new holiday altars on the blog. Inspired by Alden's book, Year of the Witch, I am trying to rewrite my Wheel of the Year to be more in line with my beliefs and ancestry. The Wheel of the Year is largely a Wiccan construct and was not celebrated in its current form anywhere in the world. This doesn't mean that it's bad, it just means it's difficult for people outside of Europe, Canada, and the Northern United States (which have roughly the same climate being in the same biome and all) and of different ancestry to really connect with it. Furthermore, not all of us connect with the Celts, which is where many of these celebrations originated from, Imbolc included. I am currently writing a blog post that goes into more detail about how I am reconstructing my Wheel of the Year that will delve into this in more detail, so keep an eye out on that post to learn more about my reconstruction.

Imbolc or the Winter Themstice, whose history is sketchy at best, is and was a celebration of light. It marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, meaning that its exact date of celebration changes each year. Many witches, however, choose to celebrate the Winter Themstice (Imbolc) on February 1st. During this time, sympathetic magic is worked to coax the Sun to return and with Him the return of life on Earth. Candles were lit in mass as a result, bread was baked, and houses were cleaned to prepare for the return of Spring. With these themes in mind, I created a simple, yet effective, Winter Themstice altar.

1. White Candles- Imbolc, the Winter Themstice, or Candlemas is a celebration of sympathetic magic to coax the return of the Sun. The candles on my altar are for just that purpose, to sympathetically call back the Sun and to aid in His return. They also represent the inner flame that burns even during the darkest and coldest of times. Here in Georgia, we are coming to the coldest time of the year, yet life is still found all around us. I picked white candles to represent snow and renewal. There is white sand in the bottom of the lantern to also represent snow. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2017 & 2019; Cost: $5)

2. Tangerine Quartz and Green Aventurine- Being a time of hope, rebirth, and the return of the Sun, I decided to go with tangerine quartz and green aventurine on my altar. Tangerine quartz is a mixture of quartz and hematite which results in the rust color seen in the crystal. The union represents the unity of the Sun and Earth who together create life. Furthermore, being orange in color, tangerine quartz is considered a solar crystal, symbolizing the energies of the Sun. Green aventurine represents prosperity, balance, and the return of green sprouts. It is also a potent garden protector, making it the perfect addition to any Imbolc altar that includes seeds. (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Subscription Boxes; Cost: ~$6)

3. Bell- Bells are used for cleansing as well as to 'ring' in your desires. Being a time of spiritual and space cleansing as well as a time to call back the Sun, I felt the bell was the perfect addition to cover both of these aspects of Imbolc.  (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Subscription Boxes; Cost: $2)

4. Roses- Roses are one of my favorite flowers, representing love, passion, and unity, three characteristics or acts that bring forth new life. I placed two, small roses on my altar to represent the relationship between the Sun and Earth, whose love results in new life. This is also a time of lambing, which again comes from the unity of two individuals. (Where did I get it: My Garden; Cost: Free)

TOTAL COST: ~$13

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found, made, or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of break down helpful, especially those of you looking to create Instagram perfect altars on a budget!

What are your plans for Imbolc this year? Let me know in the comments below!

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