Brandon Weston

An excellent and fascinating read; I had no idea North America had so many rich traditions of folk magic. This book contains numerous essays on various cultural traditions, from practices of Italian Americans and French Canadians to the traditions of Hoodoo, Curanderismo, Powwow, and many others. It does not include any purely indigenous traditions, which would be worthy of a book of their own and which the editor claims (I think rightly) would be outside the scope of this one (although indigenous traditions have directly or indirectly influenced many of the practices within this book). Nearly all of the essays are written by experienced practitioners who are active within the culture and magical tradition being discussed. The result is a diverse collection that respects the past and looks toward the future, while exploring how magical practices and beliefs (even if they are often not recognized as such) have been a part of all cultures.

Each chapter includes some suggestions for further reading and a list of places to visit within each region of North America (though I do wish a few more Canadian places could have been included). Some of the authors include practical exercises; others do not. All of the essays appear to be well-researched and include a balance of scholarship and personal experience. I found this book most useful in how it demonstrates how magic can become an integral part of everyday life, no matter what culture you are from.… (mais)