- Hardcover: 268 pages
- Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st Edition edition (Nov 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0062508601
- ISBN-13: 978-0062508607
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 15 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,541,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A blend of memoirs, folkstories and Afro-American beliefs that portrays a woman's journey back to a living tradition that has survived for generations.
--This text refers to the
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First Sentence
Somehow I knew that there was much more going on than was apparent on the surface. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Somehow I knew that there was much more going on than was apparent on the surface. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a Northern black kid raised by Southern black parents, I recommend this book to people raised like me. It answers about as many questions as it raises.
Being of a Western mindset, I eventually gave up ever trying to find some way to make voudou more accessable to me. I may be African-American, but I'm neither African nor Cuban. Teish's book is primarily about the voudou of New Orleans, which is mixed with Catholicism, Amerind and Western pagan traditions. I think I've found in-road.
Want the story on the woman responsible for modern American Voudou, Man'zelle Marie LaVeau? On the voudou-Catholic connection? On how the Seven African Powers relate to the saints, the planets and the elements? On what is meant by "the devil is beating his wife?" Want to get scared out of making a spirit doll for yourself? How about getting guided away from hexing as a way of life?
This ... is a good book. If you've gotten frustrated when trying to learn about voudou, this is a great place to start.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is very readable to the outsider. Being a white westerner I often feel that I am intruding into another culture or religion when reading this type of book but Luisah Teish writes in a way that gives permission to people of another background to share Black wisdom. thank you Luisah
Format:Paperback
Luisa Teish is a wonderful storyteller. To put Voodoo and Hoodoo charms and rituals described in this book in proper context, she also shares the story about her daily life and about her spiritual experiences in a charming and often a humorous way.
You will find stories related to the history of Black Americans and the hardships they went through, Luisa's poems, and chants and rituals for different occasions.
Here is one blessing chant:
"To my kindred ___ [name the person an place where they live]
May the blessing of the spirit be upon you.
May you be your best self.
May you walk in beauty.
May your guides be with you at every crossroads.
May you be honorable greeted when you arrive."
You will find information on seven African powers - Ellegua, Obatala, Yemaya, Oya, Oshun, Chango, Ogun - and the corresponding Haitian Loas - how to get in tune with these energies and honor them, how to create cleansing baths, how to work with candles, how to set up your altar, how to practice water gazing, how to create charms and rituals for purification, healing, abundance, relationships, for peace at home and protection and many other things.
There is a blessing you can use while cooking and here is a lovely prayer for mealtime:
"O Great Mother, who bestows abundance upon us,
We thank you for the living things [name the things you are eating]
That have sacrificed their lives to nourish us.
We take this offering into our bodies that we may be strong.
Make us strong, Abundant Mother, that we may be able to replenish the earth."
More than just charms and rituals in this book, I have truly enjoyed partaking of Luisa's heartwarming spirit.
You will find stories related to the history of Black Americans and the hardships they went through, Luisa's poems, and chants and rituals for different occasions.
Here is one blessing chant:
"To my kindred ___ [name the person an place where they live]
May the blessing of the spirit be upon you.
May you be your best self.
May you walk in beauty.
May your guides be with you at every crossroads.
May you be honorable greeted when you arrive."
You will find information on seven African powers - Ellegua, Obatala, Yemaya, Oya, Oshun, Chango, Ogun - and the corresponding Haitian Loas - how to get in tune with these energies and honor them, how to create cleansing baths, how to work with candles, how to set up your altar, how to practice water gazing, how to create charms and rituals for purification, healing, abundance, relationships, for peace at home and protection and many other things.
There is a blessing you can use while cooking and here is a lovely prayer for mealtime:
"O Great Mother, who bestows abundance upon us,
We thank you for the living things [name the things you are eating]
That have sacrificed their lives to nourish us.
We take this offering into our bodies that we may be strong.
Make us strong, Abundant Mother, that we may be able to replenish the earth."
More than just charms and rituals in this book, I have truly enjoyed partaking of Luisa's heartwarming spirit.
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