Timestamps: 00:00 Disclaimer 02:00 Introducing Leah 07:07 How do you define folk magic? 11:02 North American Folk Magic - Setting The Stage 13:29 Appalachian Folk Magic 36:30 Controversial Aspects Surrounding North American Folk Magic 51:37 Controversial Aspects Surrounding Tradition: How old is old enough? 59:30 Pacific Northwest Folk Magic 01:08:53 Discussing "The Beginner Witch's Handbook" 01:18:27 Witch vs. Cunning Folk 01:26:27 What are some challenges you had when writing this book? 01:27:54 What do you think you did really well with this book? 01:30:02 What other work inspired you?
I’m biracial from Potawatomi Nation and of European descent and I can understand both sides and as I see it, more so as being native, the land doesn’t belong to us or our ancestors, we belong to our mother. In loving and respecting our mother I believe no matter where you live or move to you can connect to the her. I love this discussion and how aware and respectful you ladies are. Thank you.
Yes I just found out I am in the DNA haplogroup” with Witchita and Comanche but I feel very comfortable working with Papa Legba and Freya and Mami Wata. I think we are descendants of it all and as long as the intention is pure, we should embrace our feelings for earth and her abundance ❤❤❤
Bless you for posting this. My family came from the Lenne Lenape, Cherokee and Blackfoot tribes, but to me, they are just part of my family, people who gained old wisdom that I want to understand for myself, including their beliefs. Having understanding of my ancestors would bring me so much joy and light to my practice, and I feel closer to them and to my late father when Ido practice. I think that’s truly what it’s all about.
I actually had the pleasure of hiking the entire 2, 193 miles of the Appalachian trail 2 years ago! And yes, Georgia to Maine. It took 5 1/2 months of my life! Anyways, thank you for this video!
My family is from Northern Appalachia. You don’t hear much about us. We have our traditions, too. My grandmother was a butter churned and had all sorts of superstitions. Never thought of it as folk magic until more recently, but full on-that’s what it is. A lot of western Irish influence.
I just want to join in! I believe the land raises us. I have a really strong connection with where I grew up. I was taught about local flora and fauna, and I had many opportunities to hike and camp. I am really secure with that. Othala, the rune, can help you connect with the land. Making offerings to the land spirits also help, and I did have an angry Native American spirit come at me and I apologized for my ancestors and gave a tobacco offering...that experience definetely made me feel like a guest...but where I live specifically, is so welcoming to me. I think the land spirits in this area noticed me. This area was also home to Victorian spiritualist types, who probably opened doors and nurtured the unseen. I have also felt unwelcome on hikes, there's an "edge" in the air, like you're being watched. I make offerings asking permission when I hike now. Showing you care about the land and the spirits who dwell there makes a huge difference in my opinion.
Thank you for the dive into Appalachian Folk Magick! I am from this area and also have been estranged from my family and so have missed out on knowledge that could have been passed down to me. I totally understand the grief this brings. I’m starting to dig into this topic and the history of this area myself. I’ve definitely got a lot to learn but it feels amazing to understand more about what my people have gone through, the struggles and sacrifices they made for me, the ways they overcame their struggles and how they lived. It’s helped me appreciate my ancestors so much more and feel so connected to them! I will do my part to pass on the history and knowledge to my children and grandchildren in hopes it doesn’t die out more than it already has!
I feel we can practice ancestral folk magic from the past and honor the current land we live on at the same time. Cultures have traveled and mixed for ever. As have folk practices. I live in New Zealand but my ancestors came from Devon England. I have a deep connection to both places.
I really LOVED this interview with Leah! This is my favorite interview you’ve done! It’s because, I can relate to her. My family comes from the Appalachian mountains in Virginia. Our family has moved around because my dad was a superintendent of schools in several areas. My mom and dad were some of the first people in their families to finish high school and attend college. Unfortunately, I never new my grandparents on either side of my family because they were dead before I came along. However, my magic practice, even though I’m an eclectic Witch, relies heavily on hoodoo and working with herbs and other natural materials. The way Hoodoo came to be was that the African Americans who had escaped slavery hid in the Appalachian Mountains and mixed with the white folk already living there. The Africans mixed their VooDoo with the white folks. That’s why HooDoo relies on both African spirits and the Bible. I’m definitely going to purchase Leah’s book! She is a great storyteller and speaker!
Mixed with white folks what? Yall didn't have nothing but the Bible and that was a colonizing way to get the land. The narrative of Slavery is an outdated and debunked one. There were aboriginals here long before any white Europeans stepped foot here. Voodoo and Mexicah magic were only HIDDEN behind the Bible bc if not we were slaughtered 13 of my Ancestors a day to honor your jesus and his disciples while every sacred statue of our Dark Mothers was destroyed and this corporation of a country began. Please don't speak on how our hoodoo ever came to be.
Absolutely. They mixed a little with the native folk as well. There were periods of time that some tribes were actually friendly with those who immigrated here so knowledge of the plant life here and some of the traditions were shared too.
I know that Native Americans believe it is very important to connect with your roots. Also I have read that witches typically utilize the folklore of the land you live. So as a fledgling in the craft my goal is to combine or merge them as much as I can. So of course it's ok to dabble in Irish magick or German magick and local Native American (if you have that ability) magick. It's also ok to introduce yourself to the gods/goddesses of your ancestry and try to have a relationship with them. Whatever calls to you.
So grateful for this interview! My heritage is largely Scots-Irish, previously known as the Ulster Scots, who found a country very similar to home in the Appalachian region. I’m new to the practice and I’ve been feeling very drawn to working with my ancestors, some of whom were no doubt Appalachian Folk witches. And FYI, the Pacific Northwest extends south thru the three North Coast counties of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino. These three Northern California counties are also known as the Emerald Triangle, the fertile region where most of the U.S.’s marijuana is grown. This area is famous for the Ancient Redwood trees that are nurtured by our moist climate and look so mystical with the pockets of misty fog nestled in patches of trees. What a wonderful place to practice magic!
Somehow i found this video and brought me so much calm. Im from the Caribbean and sometimes i feel deep connectedness, but also a deep disconnect with my practice/surroundings. But at the end of the day my feelings come down to, that im grateful for this video and that feeling that you are not alone in this road. Thank you again to both for this beautiful information. ❤
Ivy, I have been do captivated by yr channel! Thank you sooo much for making a youtube 🖤 when I seen u had a folk magic topic I was so excited! Us folk magic witches don't have a big community compared to other paths
Hi, I’m a Coast Salish native from Northern Washington, who also has some settler ancestry. I think the key is honoring the difference between open traditions vs closed traditions. In my tribal region, some information and traditions are open to anyone, but many are not. I know that’s not what some want to hear, but it’s not an opinion from me, it’s the teaching that I carry from my elders. Long winded explanation incoming, but I hope to give some context, so it’s not just “nope, white people are not allowed” One factor that isn’t always considered is that we hold our traditions closely because colonizers tried to eradicate them entirely. My ancestors’ children were stolen, as young as 4 or 5, and taken to boarding “schools” hundreds of miles away where they were force-converted, their culture stripped from them, they were beaten and sometimes killed for even speaking their languages, much less for practicing their traditions. That’s not ancient history my great-grandmother’s generation and some of my great aunts and uncles were taken. Some members of the stolen generations were too traumatized to ever participate in their traditions again, and their trauma has rippled down to my parents generation and my own. For us, reclaiming our closed practices is a way to honor all that was nearly lost.
When the Cherokee were being moved to Oklahoma, my great-great-great (I think it’s three greats) grandfather hid several families of Cherokee on his wooded land in western NC. The land, though now with less acreage, is still in our family. I’ve always felt a VERY strong connection to the spirits of the land and to the people who hid and lived there all that time. We still find arrowheads in the creek, and if you walk far enough into the woods on a clear night in summer, you can hear distant drums. Living so close to the reservation I was raised on the legends and tales of the Cherokee and so, even though I’m not native myself, they’re still a part of me. We grew lots of vegetables on the property and the land was always good to us. So while I’ve embraced my Celtic heritage as I grew older, the spirits of the land are still a part of me, even though I don’t have a drop of Cherokee blood in me as far as I know. But I have a massive appreciation for their culture and I feel like the spirits consider me a friend. All my long walks through those woods throughout my life I always felt safe and watched over. So I do incorporate some of those spirits into my practice, since I know them so well. I hope this makes sense 😄
I struggled with the same imposter syndrome and just recently found my answer. I am omnist and I pick and choose what I like. I always find things I like in other religions and spirituality. I am open to my eclectic self and it feels right for me. Getting my ancestry dna results solidified it for me…I have 12 different listed ancestrial parts of my dna. I highly recommend getting your dna done
I am Scottish, Irish and German descent. I live in Appalachia. I do not anyway attempt to appropriate local indigenous customs. However, an indigenous man and i had a long deep conversation one day, where he told me, that if I were to spend time with the land, meditating with the land, understanding the land, that I would build a spiritual connection to the land that would be mine and mine alone. I use the names for spirits, from my own ancestral background. With all that said, i lived in Colorado for a while, and I really had to work hard to feel connected to the land. , and i never did find vocabulary to suit me.
I live in BC & yes Vancouver is the PNW, we 100% call it that. Regarding the folk magic, while I have some different perspectives & world views than you both, given I’m not so lefty as you seem to be, I agree it can be difficult to connect with folk magic here. I do agree, regarding native practices, even though I’ve done some with native ppl, I don’t have a connection or desire to do it myself. I mainly focus on my historical family. My mother is from South America & my Grandmother was a Catholic, but had major folk traditions as well, those can be incorporated. I’m also French Canadian which do have longer roots her & then English & I do have a big connection to English folk magic. I guess either you feel it or maybe you don’t, if one doesn’t then maybe they don’t do folk magic, they can do some other kind.
I find this discussion to be very interesting. I'm from Appalachia and spent some time in Mississippi too. I don't practice granny magic, but instead have adapted to folk superstitions like don't look on the side of the roads at night (especially on the Natchez). I have a family line that goes back to the Revolutionary War, and my grandparents still havent passed anything folk down. Instead it's more about where we come from (all the different European countries) rather than how we survived.
I’m late to this by a while but I love this!! I’m primarily an Ozark/Appalachian practitioner (I have ancestors from both) as well as practicing “medicine” from my tribe. There’s a difference between indigenous medicine and witchcraft but if you were to boil it down completely they’re similar spirituality wise. Both sides of my ancestry are from southern appalachia so I definitely agree with leah on it being very “deep” there. They’re some of the oldest mountains in the world and they’re a very very spiritual place. Anyway loved this video and am loving your content! 😊
My two absolute favorite content creators in one amazing discussion! Thanks so much for putting this collab together. You are both such an inspiration. I'm a fellow (redheaded) Appalachian Folk Witch, originally from East Tennessee, now living in New England. Same range, but a noticeable difference in practices. I say lean in and learn, wherever you may be! 💜
Witches and indigenous both honor Mother Earth and the ancestors so we have the same calendars. It’s ok to have stuff in common. Worshiping together is a great thing
I've got a friend from West Virginia, I asked her how to pronounce Appalachia, and she said this. "If you say Appalaysha, we'll throw an apple atcha!" Isn't that fantastic??
That's West Virginia, for you. Once heard a political show where a West Virginian man called in & yelled at the host for about 10 minutes. He agreed with everything the man had said 100%, he just thought changing a single word in his entire monologs would have been more accurate word usage.
Yes!!!! I want to host a round table so badly but I think it would be really weird if I were the one hosting it since I don't identify as a folk witch. 😂 As much as I'd like to, I probably shouldn't? Idk..
The green beans was always my favorite because they are cooked slow in bacon grease, and the fried corn bread to go along with that so good, and also I remember times of my family members playing the spoons on Sunday after a big family supper, or helping my grandma with fresh picked string beans, that was also cooked in bacon grease, and country ham
I'm originally from a border town east of the Appalachians and recently moved back to a different border town further south. Ivy, and anyone else interested, I highly recommend taking a foraging tour in Asheville, NC to get a taste of what Leah means when she says you kind of can't help but have a spiritual relationship with the land. If the land sings, these hills are like an ancient church organ. Deep and loud and powerful. I've lived near these hills my whole life and it just hits differently when you're swallowed by it. The tour I went on was through Taste of Home but I'm sure they're others. Highly recommend! 🌹
this is so cool to learn for me because my ancestors are sicilian and celtic, but i was born and raised in appalachia and i have family friends i essentially consider second parents and grandparents so i have this melting pot of knowledge gained from different important cultures that im trying to navigate. learning more about appalachian folk magic is more applicable to me as i'm still in the appalachian region and i feel rooted here, but it does help drum up interest in my ancestral background too
Great discussion with the two of you - magick and witchcraft is open to all of us - this helps to understand the struggle all of us have in the practice - great conversation
I have Scottish- English roots and have been researching the ancient practices of my ancestors. My grandmother on my father's side was born in one of the lands of the Cailleach, the Hebride isles, where I know folk magic was present. Sadly, she died suddenly when I was 14. I really wish that I had taken more time to learn her knowledge when she was still in this world. I am currently working on integrating what I am learning into my current practice. We plan to go to Scotland in the fall. I believe we can integrate our ancestor's traditions into our more modern practices to make our own "home".
This was an amazing interview! I love Leah and I WILL be buying her book! I also appreciate your question, Ivy. About being an american and feeling like we don't have hundreds and hundreds of years in the land we live on. I have definitely struggled with this in my own practice and absolutely still do! I adore you both!
I’m born and raised in northern and eastern Appalachia area. We have a little Cherokee on one side of the family and Irish/ Scottish on the other. I’m For sure a folk witch, I’ve never really had a term I just knew I was different and love the land spirits. My family doesn’t embrace my great grandmothers ways like I have. So it’s nice to learn more and can put a name to some of the things in my practice, since my great grandmother isn’t here to teach me in person, she’s here in spirit💚
I love the redheaded witch. I grew up in the PNW, as did both of my parents but my grandparents both have deep heritage in the Appalachian Mountains. Ive always wanted to go. Dad side from WV, moms side E.Kentucky
I loved this video!!! I recently moved to the east coast so I'm looking forward to diving into lore over here. My personal opinion is that as long as you show respect to other cultures practices and their spirits etc it's ok. I use solomonic magic from time to time which is originally Jewish in origin and I'm very English Northern European. Everybody uses symbols and systems that don't originally belong to them.
Enjoying this interview. I am of Scot-Irish and Native American descent. Family migrated from NC/SC to AL. BTW, the Appalachian Mtns range from North AL to Maine.
Welcome to PNW! Thank you both from a Californian witch who grew up in Lake Tahoe and my Grandmother is from OR. I'm starved for connection in this culture up here as many people here are reserved. "Seattle Freeze" is real. My best from my childhood is adopted Native American. She i was a major imprint of my culture as a child. I've lived in Tahoe, Crescent City, Santa Barbara, Turlock, Fresno, Berkeley (where I got both of my degrees), Davis and Sacramento 🤣 and I've been in Seattle for 22 years! My ancestors are from Germany (I'm a Vogel), Australia, Californian, Oregon and Scotland and well as Southern England. I've traveled a LOT and I feel my ancestors in every area I've lived in. Also lived in New Zealand and Mexico as a teenager. I LOVE this convo. If either one of you wish to reach out, please do! I'm setting up my Tube Channel now and have many questions both in the Interwebs and people connections. Ivy, I frickin love your channel and I've been a massage therapist for 18 years and a mental health therapist for 11 so I'm OLD. Not really, but I think age is not just a "number" but it's a soul connection. Oh and I'm 54. Squee!🎉😂
I fully believe that no matter where your ancestors are from, it is fully up to you and your ancestor spirits to decide whether or not it’s appropriate and respectful of you to delve into your ancestor’s cultures. There shouldn’t be such fear behind appropriating the cultures of others. No matter the skin color, every race and culture in the world has been war torn, enslaved, broken and burned and harmed by another in some way. There’s nothing wrong with being a white person and feeling drawn to other’s cultures. If it’s initiation based, then yes, trying to utilize that in your life may not be the best idea, and it may be even dangerous to do without asking. But I don’t think we should ever be afraid of our interests in other cultures, especially since I think we all have the love and respect in our hearts for these tings innately considering the fact that we all have that interest in the first place. Research, learn, wear the clothes, cook the meals and enjoy the cultures you have interest in and are drawn to. I believe that just like gods, when we are drawn to other cultures, it is for a reason, even if it’s not part of our known ancestry. Could be past lives speaking to us.
Very very well said! I’d add, if a spirit or god doesn’t want to work with you, they just won’t. They’ll either slap you or ignore you. Who are we to say to other humans that they can or cannot engage with a culture or practice? Comical really when you think of it.
Really loved this! I felt a lot of that. I have been doing genealogy since my 20's, am now 50, and finally did my ancestor altar three years ago. I have ancestors from everywhere but don't feel like I really belong anywhere, because I'm such a mish-mash of it all. Thanks for this!
Hi im from the UK and asked for your book for xmas i love it everything you said about it and asked about it Ivy was interesting i love it and . yes it is so different from any other book ive read . Thank you so much for reviewing it
Lol "Old Wives Tells" My family is from southwest VA and originally from Germany and Scotland. And I'm in east TN. I guess I and my family been practicing all my life and I didn't even know it! 😊 I feel like Leah is a friend just across the mountain ❤
Take this as a grain of salt for I am white as mayo, but from the Native Americans I have spoken to, they're of the opinion that those born on this land are welcomed so long as they are respectful and mindful of the past, the actions of their ancestors, and their current actions. For anyone looking to participate in native based folk magic, I would imagine getting in touch with the local native tribes would be a step in the right direction, and finding someone willing to teach them. It would not bode well for someone like me with settler's ancestry to look at and decide what is and isn't ok to practice, at least imo, without a grand bit of guidance. However, in my area, I feel welcomed by the spirits and the land, and as I'm probably going to live the rest of my life here, I almost feel obligated to find someone to mentor me, which I've been trying to do
This is such a wild watch for me. I’m from North Carolina originally and now live in Nevada. My family, on my Pawpaws side is rooted in the mountains of NC & TN. I never ever felt drawn there until AFTER I moved away and took the hit of “oh shit, I’m home sick”. Coming into my own away from family made me ruminate on memories and it hit me like a ton of bricks that some things my family did were a tiny bit…odd. My Mawmaw & Pawpaw did a tiny bit of “granny magic” but lawd don’t tell them that 🤣 One Southern Baptist married to a Catholic!
Something I do as a North American practitioner is I don’t necessarily interact with a lot of native American practices, but I recognize a lot of their folklore, for example, it always felt weird to me to talk about the fae or elves, etc. I live in North America, were those stories and folklore weren’t really developed. I fully believe that a lot of the spiritual entities that live in North America come from a lot of Native American folklore. For example, instead of Faye or goblins that are European folklore, I recognize that where I live the creatures and spirits that live here are probably more like the pukwudgie and other such spirits.
I love this video. I am much older than the two of you and I am from Applachia and my ancestors have been there since the early 1700's and maybe earlier. I come from a long line of people who practiced folk medicine etc. And I have to say that our people brought their practices with them they didn't steal anything. That being said I believe they probably shared their ways with others and I'm sure others taught them new ways as well. I only say this because I know where I come from and was taught folk magic and medicine by my elders. Grandma,Aunts and my mother. We are of Scott's Irish, welsh,German and English decent. We were also taught that there are certain ways things should be passed on and they should stay in the family. Well times have changed but some things you really should keep to yourself. It's tradition ;) anyway I just feel we all need to respect the fact that all people had their way of practicing medicine and magic it didn't belong to just one or two cultures. We have so much to learn from each other and the natural as well as the supernatural worlds. It's ok to share ,) Appalachian is a culture all its own. I am from wv. And it is said that Appalachian people are the keepers of the old ways of our European ancestors and we haven't ventured from our roots. So proud of my people!
My grandmother told me that her grandmother Sheffield taught her how to remove warts by rubbing them with just her finger and whispering something. I had a friend with a wart and my grandma rubbed it and three days later it was gone. She never taught me what she whispered. My grandma also told me, that her grandmother Sheffield had some sort of "witches" Bible. Haha...This was prior to the 1960s and before Wicca became popular. I never found out if granny Sheffield was into folk magic, or what. But they said she could also do hexes, like causing a cow to give blood instead of milk, and caused a mule stand in the same place until she removed the hex. My mom and grandma both witnessed these things..My granny refused to read the book or delve into the practices much. Any one ever heard of such practices or similar? Oh btw my moms side is from South Alabama, and not Appalachia. I'm not sure if the Sheffields ever lived in Appalachia or directly from England prior to coming to Alabama.
I have heard that my grandparents grandparents where native American my whole life. I never met them unfortunately they passed before i was born. But ive always wondered what they where like, and what their beliefs where. Because i know my moms mom and dad both had native American grandparents. And ive heard pretty much the same from my dads side of the family. And im so curious. Ive always wanted to do one of those ancestry test to see what exactly i am. I think it'd be really awesome to see where im from and to connect to it, and ive always wanted to
I think that traditions are created when something is repeated from one generation to the next. For example, maybe one year during New Years I decide to make a collage of pictures and memories of the high points my immediate family accomplished during the year. On that night maybe we all gather around and recount and celebrate those accomplishments. And then I repeat this event every year until my children are grown and out of the house. And then they decide to carry on this tradition when they have their own kids. And then their own kids carry on that same kind of tradition. I think stuff like that is one way a tradition is born and carried out through generations. Of course, this is just an off-the-cuff example I just made up (but doesn’t sound like a bad idea to start!) And traditions tend to change and evolve or become obsolete with time, but that is an example of how I think some traditions are/can be made.
Still listening, but pausing to comment: I’m a Washingtonian myself and I think part of the reason it feels like there’s no non-native folk practices here is because of how community works here-or rather how it doesn’t work here. As a whole pnw culture, or many more specifically western Washington culture is pretty antisocial, so the ways that culture is formed looks a lot different than in other places. Depending on where you live, there are different subcultures that have heavy overlay in areas. I still think we have non-native folk manifestations but they are hyper local and only known after you deeply embed yourself in whatever community you’re in. But the land itself is pretty special and acts distinctly different than any place I’ve ever been. My experience of the land is that it is much more inviting than any other place I’ve been (the land, the settlers are a completely different story.) I think it is very hard to live here and not practice SOME sort of land veneration, even for the average person. And I think that’s a distinctive quality of how folk practices manifest here. I don’t know that I feel the same way that you and Leah feel about not having a “home,” mostly because my practice is pretty based in the practices my family has carried on and black expressions Christianity. Much of my “home” thoughts I soothe with hyper specificity-the neighborhood I live in, the plants immediately accessible to me, the habits and practices of my family and community etc etc
It should not be a struggle to figure out what's appropriate to work with. If it interests you and you want to work with it, work with it. "I'm sure a lot of us wouldn't want to because it's not part of our culture anyways." Does anybody say this about Celtic magic and their pantheon? Norse? Egyptian? Greek? Hebrew? All of occultism is a mix bag of different traditions and spiritual practices. Nobody is going to chastise an American Indian for calling the watchtowers, performing the LBRP, or say "erm, is it really appropriate for you to set up an alter to Brigid?" This constant walking on eggshells, self-flagellation, and virtue signalling from White people is so tiresome and embarrassing.
Thank you…. That line about “everything is stolen” had my jaw on the floor! 😂 please, tell that to the seidr and volva in my Swedish line, or my ancestors that handed down Cornish magic. Enough already, ffs! I believe these girls mean well but good grief… It’s also hilarious to me that humans think they have the authority to tell other humans how they can interact with the spirit world. If a spirit or god doesn’t want to work with you, they won’t. They’ll either ignore you or slap you. It’s not within a humans power to compel a spirit to cooperate with them, therefore imo the whole appropriation drama is pretty moot to begin with. It’s just posturing and ego much of the time.
there´s beautiful ethnographies in utube from the 70´s when they still found undiscovered tribes from the amazons. those people looked so happy and natural, probably completely ruined by now.. the logging companies have like rifle men standing guard there, as they log down the forests :( they always try to make it so that the natives are the savages, when in reality of course it´s the other way around. in our folklore there´s lots of stories from people here going to america, however many of them came back.. some said it´s the land of the crooks.. i guess they weren´t happy with the ways of the wild west, the real wild west :) also there´s mentions of native americans, they said how they "lived in trees".. love for the trees, very universal :) ps. Leah, at some point you should move back (to birth region), that´s where the power is (nothing to do with where the previous generations lived, it´s your story, your story, your power)
The whole “one side was savages & one side isn’t, is a very simplistic way of viewing history & people, & honestly just not true. Yes Europeans tried to paint natives as “the savage” for some, because they were, for others because the Europeans wanted to take advantage of the situation for $ etc. . I understand why you said what you did, it’s a popular mindset, but it’s as untrue as “the natives were the savages”. Humans in general are savages at different times in life. It’s not a one or the other.
I have a native American practitioner coming on next month to talk about their Lakota practice (within reason of course) so yes, they can share a bit. Just not all. I am also close to several individuals in a tribe on the West Coast. So yes, I do know real native Americans, they are my friends, and they have chosen to bring me into their culture. Every tribe is different and every individual is different
Sry, this is a novel. 😬 This was wonderful, Thank You Both for taking time out of your busy schedules to conduct such an interview of great importance. You got me, pertaining to feeling disconnected…I feel this more often than not. 🥹 So I’ve always been connected to Celtic paths & CelticIberian paths but also to other paths I won’t go into for length’s sake. Lol Well, I got dna results from 3 different companies because I always feel so disconnected and alone in my cultural identity as a Witch from time to time and OM…. Well, the dna tests all came bk with just about the same results. Wales, Scotland, Portugal, Basque, Spain, France, Indigenous Americas & Balkans primarily. 😵💫 So feeling disconnected makes a lot of sense. But you mentioned a connection term for me ☺ ️ pertaining to the type of Folk Magick I practice because I nvr resonated with American Folk Magic, alone. You said “European American”…. And the thought occurred to me, that’s it.. I’m comfortable with this as a Folk Magic Practice. 🥰 I will now say I practice “European American Folk Magic tradition”, with my focus heavily on Celtic traditions & CelticIberian traditions. But of course I will honor other traditions/paths I resonate with in my ancestry. Which I know everyone’s European American Folk Magic practice will vary, depending on their foundation, traditions and paths. But this term feels like a root I can grow from. Thank you for all that you do for our community, your channel truly inspires me. 🙏🏼✨
First of all, I love novels. Second, I'm so glad some of this conversation resonated with you! Hopefully it makes a lot more people feel seen. "European American" is definitely a label I had to embrace to feel like I fit anywhere at all. Maybe this is something we can all build upon! ❤️
Timestamps:
00:00 Disclaimer
02:00 Introducing Leah
07:07 How do you define folk magic?
11:02 North American Folk Magic - Setting The Stage
13:29 Appalachian Folk Magic
36:30 Controversial Aspects Surrounding North American Folk Magic
51:37 Controversial Aspects Surrounding Tradition: How old is old enough?
59:30 Pacific Northwest Folk Magic
01:08:53 Discussing "The Beginner Witch's Handbook"
01:18:27 Witch vs. Cunning Folk
01:26:27 What are some challenges you had when writing this book?
01:27:54 What do you think you did really well with this book?
01:30:02 What other work inspired you?
I’m biracial from Potawatomi Nation and of European descent and I can understand both sides and as I see it, more so as being native, the land doesn’t belong to us or our ancestors, we belong to our mother. In loving and respecting our mother I believe no matter where you live or move to you can connect to the her. I love this discussion and how aware and respectful you ladies are. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! 🙏
Excellent post.
Yes I just found out I am in the DNA haplogroup” with Witchita and Comanche but I feel very comfortable working with Papa Legba and Freya and Mami Wata. I think we are descendants of it all and as long as the intention is pure, we should embrace our feelings for earth and her abundance ❤❤❤
❤❤❤i don’t feel “you” stole our land. Some old colonialists did and here we are now. I’m glad you’re here and I’m glad to be alive and here too
Bless you for posting this. My family came from the Lenne Lenape, Cherokee and Blackfoot tribes, but to me, they are just part of my family, people who gained old wisdom that I want to understand for myself, including their beliefs. Having understanding of my ancestors would bring me so much joy and light to my practice, and I feel closer to them and to my late father when Ido practice. I think that’s truly what it’s all about.
I actually had the pleasure of hiking the entire 2, 193 miles of the Appalachian trail 2 years ago! And yes, Georgia to Maine. It took 5 1/2 months of my life!
Anyways, thank you for this video!
Oh WOW! What an incredible accomplishment!!
My family is from Northern Appalachia. You don’t hear much about us. We have our traditions, too. My grandmother was a butter churned and had all sorts of superstitions. Never thought of it as folk magic until more recently, but full on-that’s what it is. A lot of western Irish influence.
I just want to join in! I believe the land raises us. I have a really strong connection with where I grew up. I was taught about local flora and fauna, and I had many opportunities to hike and camp. I am really secure with that. Othala, the rune, can help you connect with the land. Making offerings to the land spirits also help, and I did have an angry Native American spirit come at me and I apologized for my ancestors and gave a tobacco offering...that experience definetely made me feel like a guest...but where I live specifically, is so welcoming to me. I think the land spirits in this area noticed me. This area was also home to Victorian spiritualist types, who probably opened doors and nurtured the unseen. I have also felt unwelcome on hikes, there's an "edge" in the air, like you're being watched. I make offerings asking permission when I hike now. Showing you care about the land and the spirits who dwell there makes a huge difference in my opinion.
Growing up as a Native American, my family lives on the reservation in North Carolina and let me tell you some of the stories are crazy
Thank you for the dive into Appalachian Folk Magick! I am from this area and also have been estranged from my family and so have missed out on knowledge that could have been passed down to me. I totally understand the grief this brings. I’m starting to dig into this topic and the history of this area myself. I’ve definitely got a lot to learn but it feels amazing to understand more about what my people have gone through, the struggles and sacrifices they made for me, the ways they overcame their struggles and how they lived. It’s helped me appreciate my ancestors so much more and feel so connected to them! I will do my part to pass on the history and knowledge to my children and grandchildren in hopes it doesn’t die out more than it already has!
I feel we can practice ancestral folk magic from the past and honor the current land we live on at the same time. Cultures have traveled and mixed for ever. As have folk practices. I live in New Zealand but my ancestors came from Devon England. I have a deep connection to both places.
I really LOVED this interview with Leah! This is my favorite interview you’ve done! It’s because, I can relate to her. My family comes from the Appalachian mountains in Virginia. Our family has moved around because my dad was a superintendent of schools in several areas. My mom and dad were some of the first people in their families to finish high school and attend college. Unfortunately, I never new my grandparents on either side of my family because they were dead before I came along. However, my magic practice, even though I’m an eclectic Witch, relies heavily on hoodoo and working with herbs and other natural materials. The way Hoodoo came to be was that the African Americans who had escaped slavery hid in the Appalachian Mountains and mixed with the white folk already living there. The Africans mixed their VooDoo with the white folks. That’s why HooDoo relies on both African spirits and the Bible. I’m definitely going to purchase Leah’s book! She is a great storyteller and speaker!
Mixed with white folks what? Yall didn't have nothing but the Bible and that was a colonizing way to get the land. The narrative of Slavery is an outdated and debunked one. There were aboriginals here long before any white Europeans stepped foot here. Voodoo and Mexicah magic were only HIDDEN behind the Bible bc if not we were slaughtered 13 of my Ancestors a day to honor your jesus and his disciples while every sacred statue of our Dark Mothers was destroyed and this corporation of a country began. Please don't speak on how our hoodoo ever came to be.
Absolutely. They mixed a little with the native folk as well. There were periods of time that some tribes were actually friendly with those who immigrated here so knowledge of the plant life here and some of the traditions were shared too.
Omg... it's soooo looong... yay!!! I'm manifesting my forever home and west Virginia has been calling. I love a good synchronisiti
I know that Native Americans believe it is very important to connect with your roots. Also I have read that witches typically utilize the folklore of the land you live. So as a fledgling in the craft my goal is to combine or merge them as much as I can. So of course it's ok to dabble in Irish magick or German magick and local Native American (if you have that ability) magick. It's also ok to introduce yourself to the gods/goddesses of your ancestry and try to have a relationship with them. Whatever calls to you.
So grateful for this interview! My heritage is largely Scots-Irish, previously known as the Ulster Scots, who found a country very similar to home in the Appalachian region. I’m new to the practice and I’ve been feeling very drawn to working with my ancestors, some of whom were no doubt Appalachian Folk witches. And FYI, the Pacific Northwest extends south thru the three North Coast counties of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino. These three Northern California counties are also known as the Emerald Triangle, the fertile region where most of the U.S.’s marijuana is grown. This area is famous for the Ancient Redwood trees that are nurtured by our moist climate and look so mystical with the pockets of misty fog nestled in patches of trees. What a wonderful place to practice magic!
As someone from Humboldt, thank you for mentioning us!
@LisatheWeirdo, Hiya! I just Humbult a lot!
Somehow i found this video and brought me so much calm. Im from the Caribbean and sometimes i feel deep connectedness, but also a deep disconnect with my practice/surroundings. But at the end of the day my feelings come down to, that im grateful for this video and that feeling that you are not alone in this road. Thank you again to both for this beautiful information. ❤
I thoroughly enjoy your longer videos, nothing wrong with shorter ones of course. It's wonderful information!
Amazon just delivered the order that had llewellyn's complete book of North American folk magic! Perfect time to finally watch this.
How exciting! 👏❤️
This was so wonderful! Leah was delightful.and although I am an old witch, I want to get her book and read it.
Ivy, I have been do captivated by yr channel! Thank you sooo much for making a youtube 🖤 when I seen u had a folk magic topic I was so excited! Us folk magic witches don't have a big community compared to other paths
Ah thank you so much!! ❤️❤️
Hi, I’m a Coast Salish native from Northern Washington, who also has some settler ancestry.
I think the key is honoring the difference between open traditions vs closed traditions.
In my tribal region, some information and traditions are open to anyone, but many are not.
I know that’s not what some want to hear, but it’s not an opinion from me, it’s the teaching that I carry from my elders.
Long winded explanation incoming, but I hope to give some context, so it’s not just “nope, white people are not allowed”
One factor that isn’t always considered is that we hold our traditions closely because colonizers tried to eradicate them entirely.
My ancestors’ children were stolen, as young as 4 or 5, and taken to boarding “schools” hundreds of miles away where they were force-converted, their culture stripped from them, they were beaten and sometimes killed for even speaking their languages, much less for practicing their traditions.
That’s not ancient history my great-grandmother’s generation and some of my great aunts and uncles were taken. Some members of the stolen generations were too traumatized to ever participate in their traditions again, and their trauma has rippled down to my parents generation and my own.
For us, reclaiming our closed practices is a way to honor all that was nearly lost.
And I totally agree with Ivy that you can connect to our land while practicing your own traditions
Hp0309 thank you for taking the time to explain the reason for closed practices. I completely agree that it is necessary, and I respect that. ❤
This was a great explanation I totally agree 😊
One of my favorite interviews so far!
When the Cherokee were being moved to Oklahoma, my great-great-great (I think it’s three greats) grandfather hid several families of Cherokee on his wooded land in western NC. The land, though now with less acreage, is still in our family. I’ve always felt a VERY strong connection to the spirits of the land and to the people who hid and lived there all that time. We still find arrowheads in the creek, and if you walk far enough into the woods on a clear night in summer, you can hear distant drums. Living so close to the reservation I was raised on the legends and tales of the Cherokee and so, even though I’m not native myself, they’re still a part of me. We grew lots of vegetables on the property and the land was always good to us. So while I’ve embraced my Celtic heritage as I grew older, the spirits of the land are still a part of me, even though I don’t have a drop of Cherokee blood in me as far as I know. But I have a massive appreciation for their culture and I feel like the spirits consider me a friend. All my long walks through those woods throughout my life I always felt safe and watched over. So I do incorporate some of those spirits into my practice, since I know them so well. I hope this makes sense 😄
I struggled with the same imposter syndrome and just recently found my answer. I am omnist and I pick and choose what I like. I always find things I like in other religions and spirituality. I am open to my eclectic self and it feels right for me. Getting my ancestry dna results solidified it for me…I have 12 different listed ancestrial parts of my dna. I highly recommend getting your dna done
I am Scottish, Irish and German descent. I live in Appalachia. I do not anyway attempt to appropriate local indigenous customs. However, an indigenous man and i had a long deep conversation one day, where he told me, that if I were to spend time with the land, meditating with the land, understanding the land, that I would build a spiritual connection to the land that would be mine and mine alone. I use the names for spirits, from my own ancestral background. With all that said, i lived in Colorado for a while, and I really had to work hard to feel connected to the land. , and i never did find vocabulary to suit me.
I live in BC & yes Vancouver is the PNW, we 100% call it that. Regarding the folk magic, while I have some different perspectives & world views than you both, given I’m not so lefty as you seem to be, I agree it can be difficult to connect with folk magic here. I do agree, regarding native practices, even though I’ve done some with native ppl, I don’t have a connection or desire to do it myself. I mainly focus on my historical family. My mother is from South America & my Grandmother was a Catholic, but had major folk traditions as well, those can be incorporated. I’m also French Canadian which do have longer roots her & then English & I do have a big connection to English folk magic. I guess either you feel it or maybe you don’t, if one doesn’t then maybe they don’t do folk magic, they can do some other kind.
Great interview!!
I find this discussion to be very interesting. I'm from Appalachia and spent some time in Mississippi too. I don't practice granny magic, but instead have adapted to folk superstitions like don't look on the side of the roads at night (especially on the Natchez). I have a family line that goes back to the Revolutionary War, and my grandparents still havent passed anything folk down. Instead it's more about where we come from (all the different European countries) rather than how we survived.
I’m late to this by a while but I love this!! I’m primarily an Ozark/Appalachian practitioner (I have ancestors from both) as well as practicing “medicine” from my tribe. There’s a difference between indigenous medicine and witchcraft but if you were to boil it down completely they’re similar spirituality wise. Both sides of my ancestry are from southern appalachia so I definitely agree with leah on it being very “deep” there. They’re some of the oldest mountains in the world and they’re a very very spiritual place. Anyway loved this video and am loving your content! 😊
Excited as I'm from PNW as well ☺️
My two absolute favorite content creators in one amazing discussion! Thanks so much for putting this collab together. You are both such an inspiration.
I'm a fellow (redheaded) Appalachian Folk Witch, originally from East Tennessee, now living in New England. Same range, but a noticeable difference in practices. I say lean in and learn, wherever you may be! 💜
Witches and indigenous both honor Mother Earth and the ancestors so we have the same calendars. It’s ok to have stuff in common. Worshiping together is a great thing
Yes! This is the video I've been waiting for and didn't even know I needed! Saving for after work
I've got a friend from West Virginia, I asked her how to pronounce Appalachia, and she said this. "If you say Appalaysha, we'll throw an apple atcha!" Isn't that fantastic??
That's West Virginia, for you. Once heard a political show where a West Virginian man called in & yelled at the host for about 10 minutes. He agreed with everything the man had said 100%, he just thought changing a single word in his entire monologs would have been more accurate word usage.
This was such an amazing collab! 💕 I loved all these topics and Leah feels so real and genuine
This was truly such a great conversation! And absolutely think you should consider that round table idea if its possible 🤓❤️
Yes!!!! I want to host a round table so badly but I think it would be really weird if I were the one hosting it since I don't identify as a folk witch. 😂 As much as I'd like to, I probably shouldn't? Idk..
The green beans was always my favorite because they are cooked slow in bacon grease, and the fried corn bread to go along with that so good, and also I remember times of my family members playing the spoons on Sunday after a big family supper, or helping my grandma with fresh picked string beans, that was also cooked in bacon grease, and country ham
I'm originally from a border town east of the Appalachians and recently moved back to a different border town further south. Ivy, and anyone else interested, I highly recommend taking a foraging tour in Asheville, NC to get a taste of what Leah means when she says you kind of can't help but have a spiritual relationship with the land. If the land sings, these hills are like an ancient church organ. Deep and loud and powerful. I've lived near these hills my whole life and it just hits differently when you're swallowed by it. The tour I went on was through Taste of Home but I'm sure they're others. Highly recommend! 🌹
this is so cool to learn for me because my ancestors are sicilian and celtic, but i was born and raised in appalachia and i have family friends i essentially consider second parents and grandparents so i have this melting pot of knowledge gained from different important cultures that im trying to navigate. learning more about appalachian folk magic is more applicable to me as i'm still in the appalachian region and i feel rooted here, but it does help drum up interest in my ancestral background too
I'm so glad you brought all this up. I've been having the same discussion with myself for months. Congrats on the book! Can't wait to read it!
Great discussion with the two of you - magick and witchcraft is open to all of us - this helps to understand the struggle all of us have in the practice - great conversation
Loved it❤ I am an Appalachian Folk Witch as well. I grew up here and still live here. I live right on the river❤
I have Scottish- English roots and have been researching the ancient practices of my ancestors. My grandmother on my father's side was born in one of the lands of the Cailleach, the Hebride isles, where I know folk magic was present. Sadly, she died suddenly when I was 14. I really wish that I had taken more time to learn her knowledge when she was still in this world. I am currently working on integrating what I am learning into my current practice. We plan to go to Scotland in the fall. I believe we can integrate our ancestor's traditions into our more modern practices to make our own "home".
This was an amazing interview! I love Leah and I WILL be buying her book! I also appreciate your question, Ivy. About being an american and feeling like we don't have hundreds and hundreds of years in the land we live on. I have definitely struggled with this in my own practice and absolutely still do! I adore you both!
Awesome interview! I have Leah’s book and LOVE IT 👍😊
I’m born and raised in northern and eastern Appalachia area. We have a little Cherokee on one side of the family and Irish/ Scottish on the other. I’m
For sure a folk witch, I’ve never really had a term I just knew I was different and love the land spirits. My family doesn’t embrace my great grandmothers ways like I have. So it’s nice to learn more and can put a name to some of the things in my practice, since my great grandmother isn’t here to teach me in person, she’s here in spirit💚
The entire state of NC is full of magik. Blessed Be
Thank you for the video!!! Now I know some more places to look for folk magic info
I have a Redwood in my backyard, cedar, juniper, ferns, and seagulls and the crow of course!
Much of my ancestors were very much into northern folk magic! This was a real treat Ivy! Thank you for this! 🤘🍎🐍
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the discussion! 🖤
I love the redheaded witch. I grew up in the PNW, as did both of my parents but my grandparents both have deep heritage in the Appalachian Mountains. Ive always wanted to go. Dad side from WV, moms side E.Kentucky
There is a healing spring water. Im from Ga living in Upper Cumberland i. TN Really have learned alot. my grandmamaraised me in South East Ga
I appreciate what you do Ivy. I understand I'm one among Many voices here in the mix, but I still wanted to tell you. ^_^ Thank you.
I loved this video!!! I recently moved to the east coast so I'm looking forward to diving into lore over here. My personal opinion is that as long as you show respect to other cultures practices and their spirits etc it's ok. I use solomonic magic from time to time which is originally Jewish in origin and I'm very English Northern European. Everybody uses symbols and systems that don't originally belong to them.
Enjoying this interview. I am of Scot-Irish and Native American descent. Family migrated from NC/SC to AL. BTW, the Appalachian Mtns range from North AL to Maine.
Welcome to PNW! Thank you both from a Californian witch who grew up in Lake Tahoe and my Grandmother is from OR. I'm starved for connection in this culture up here as many people here are reserved. "Seattle Freeze" is real. My best from my childhood is adopted Native American. She i was a major imprint of my culture as a child. I've lived in Tahoe, Crescent City, Santa Barbara, Turlock, Fresno, Berkeley (where I got both of my degrees), Davis and Sacramento 🤣 and I've been in Seattle for 22 years! My ancestors are from Germany (I'm a Vogel), Australia, Californian, Oregon and Scotland and well as Southern England. I've traveled a LOT and I feel my ancestors in every area I've lived in. Also lived in New Zealand and Mexico as a teenager. I LOVE this convo. If either one of you wish to reach out, please do! I'm setting up my Tube Channel now and have many questions both in the Interwebs and people connections. Ivy, I frickin love your channel and I've been a massage therapist for 18 years and a mental health therapist for 11 so I'm OLD. Not really, but I think age is not just a "number" but it's a soul connection. Oh and I'm 54. Squee!🎉😂
I fully believe that no matter where your ancestors are from, it is fully up to you and your ancestor spirits to decide whether or not it’s appropriate and respectful of you to delve into your ancestor’s cultures. There shouldn’t be such fear behind appropriating the cultures of others. No matter the skin color, every race and culture in the world has been war torn, enslaved, broken and burned and harmed by another in some way. There’s nothing wrong with being a white person and feeling drawn to other’s cultures. If it’s initiation based, then yes, trying to utilize that in your life may not be the best idea, and it may be even dangerous to do without asking. But I don’t think we should ever be afraid of our interests in other cultures, especially since I think we all have the love and respect in our hearts for these tings innately considering the fact that we all have that interest in the first place. Research, learn, wear the clothes, cook the meals and enjoy the cultures you have interest in and are drawn to. I believe that just like gods, when we are drawn to other cultures, it is for a reason, even if it’s not part of our known ancestry. Could be past lives speaking to us.
Very very well said! I’d add, if a spirit or god doesn’t want to work with you, they just won’t. They’ll either slap you or ignore you. Who are we to say to other humans that they can or cannot engage with a culture or practice? Comical really when you think of it.
Really loved this! I felt a lot of that. I have been doing genealogy since my 20's, am now 50, and finally did my ancestor altar three years ago. I have ancestors from everywhere but don't feel like I really belong anywhere, because I'm such a mish-mash of it all. Thanks for this!
Hi im from the UK and asked for your book for xmas i love it everything you said about it and asked about it Ivy was interesting i love it and . yes it is so different from any other book ive read . Thank you so much for reviewing it
Lol "Old Wives Tells" My family is from southwest VA and originally from Germany and Scotland. And I'm in east TN. I guess I and my family been practicing all my life and I didn't even know it! 😊 I feel like Leah is a friend just across the mountain ❤
I love this so much! My 2 favorite witches! 🥰
I love Leah copper Cauldron mug. I want one now. 😊😂❤
Appalachia goes down to the northern part of Alabama . I grew up in the foot hills.🥰
Take this as a grain of salt for I am white as mayo, but from the Native Americans I have spoken to, they're of the opinion that those born on this land are welcomed so long as they are respectful and mindful of the past, the actions of their ancestors, and their current actions. For anyone looking to participate in native based folk magic, I would imagine getting in touch with the local native tribes would be a step in the right direction, and finding someone willing to teach them. It would not bode well for someone like me with settler's ancestry to look at and decide what is and isn't ok to practice, at least imo, without a grand bit of guidance. However, in my area, I feel welcomed by the spirits and the land, and as I'm probably going to live the rest of my life here, I almost feel obligated to find someone to mentor me, which I've been trying to do
This is such a wild watch for me. I’m from North Carolina originally and now live in Nevada. My family, on my Pawpaws side is rooted in the mountains of NC & TN. I never ever felt drawn there until AFTER I moved away and took the hit of “oh shit, I’m home sick”. Coming into my own away from family made me ruminate on memories and it hit me like a ton of bricks that some things my family did were a tiny bit…odd. My Mawmaw & Pawpaw did a tiny bit of “granny magic” but lawd don’t tell them that 🤣 One Southern Baptist married to a Catholic!
Something I do as a North American practitioner is I don’t necessarily interact with a lot of native American practices, but I recognize a lot of their folklore, for example, it always felt weird to me to talk about the fae or elves, etc. I live in North America, were those stories and folklore weren’t really developed. I fully believe that a lot of the spiritual entities that live in North America come from a lot of Native American folklore. For example, instead of Faye or goblins that are European folklore, I recognize that where I live the creatures and spirits that live here are probably more like the pukwudgie and other such spirits.
I love this video. I am much older than the two of you and I am from Applachia and my ancestors have been there since the early 1700's and maybe earlier. I come from a long line of people who practiced folk medicine etc. And I have to say that our people brought their practices with them they didn't steal anything. That being said I believe they probably shared their ways with others and I'm sure others taught them new ways as well. I only say this because I know where I come from and was taught folk magic and medicine by my elders. Grandma,Aunts and my mother. We are of Scott's Irish, welsh,German and English decent. We were also taught that there are certain ways things should be passed on and they should stay in the family. Well times have changed but some things you really should keep to yourself. It's tradition ;) anyway I just feel we all need to respect the fact that all people had their way of practicing medicine and magic it didn't belong to just one or two cultures. We have so much to learn from each other and the natural as well as the supernatural worlds. It's ok to share ,) Appalachian is a culture all its own. I am from wv. And it is said that Appalachian people are the keepers of the old ways of our European ancestors and we haven't ventured from our roots. So proud of my people!
My grandmother told me that her grandmother Sheffield taught her how to remove warts by rubbing them with just her finger and whispering something. I had a friend with a wart and my grandma rubbed it and three days later it was gone. She never taught me what she whispered. My grandma also told me, that her grandmother Sheffield had some sort of "witches" Bible. Haha...This was prior to the 1960s and before Wicca became popular. I never found out if granny Sheffield was into folk magic, or what. But they said she could also do hexes, like causing a cow to give blood instead of milk, and caused a mule stand in the same place until she removed the hex. My mom and grandma both witnessed these things..My granny refused to read the book or delve into the practices much.
Any one ever heard of such practices or similar?
Oh btw my moms side is from South Alabama, and not Appalachia. I'm not sure if the Sheffields ever lived in Appalachia or directly from England prior to coming to Alabama.
I have heard that my grandparents grandparents where native American my whole life. I never met them unfortunately they passed before i was born. But ive always wondered what they where like, and what their beliefs where. Because i know my moms mom and dad both had native American grandparents. And ive heard pretty much the same from my dads side of the family. And im so curious. Ive always wanted to do one of those ancestry test to see what exactly i am. I think it'd be really awesome to see where im from and to connect to it, and ive always wanted to
Lewellyn has a Complete Book book of North American Folk Magic. Wonder if it would provide any help information on folk practices in America.
I think that traditions are created when something is repeated from one generation to the next. For example, maybe one year during New Years I decide to make a collage of pictures and memories of the high points my immediate family accomplished during the year. On that night maybe we all gather around and recount and celebrate those accomplishments. And then I repeat this event every year until my children are grown and out of the house. And then they decide to carry on this tradition when they have their own kids. And then their own kids carry on that same kind of tradition.
I think stuff like that is one way a tradition is born and carried out through generations. Of course, this is just an off-the-cuff example I just made up (but doesn’t sound like a bad idea to start!) And traditions tend to change and evolve or become obsolete with time, but that is an example of how I think some traditions are/can be made.
Still listening, but pausing to comment: I’m a Washingtonian myself and I think part of the reason it feels like there’s no non-native folk practices here is because of how community works here-or rather how it doesn’t work here. As a whole pnw culture, or many more specifically western Washington culture is pretty antisocial, so the ways that culture is formed looks a lot different than in other places. Depending on where you live, there are different subcultures that have heavy overlay in areas. I still think we have non-native folk manifestations but they are hyper local and only known after you deeply embed yourself in whatever community you’re in. But the land itself is pretty special and acts distinctly different than any place I’ve ever been. My experience of the land is that it is much more inviting than any other place I’ve been (the land, the settlers are a completely different story.) I think it is very hard to live here and not practice SOME sort of land veneration, even for the average person. And I think that’s a distinctive quality of how folk practices manifest here.
I don’t know that I feel the same way that you and Leah feel about not having a “home,” mostly because my practice is pretty based in the practices my family has carried on and black expressions Christianity. Much of my “home” thoughts I soothe with hyper specificity-the neighborhood I live in, the plants immediately accessible to me, the habits and practices of my family and community etc etc
Yay love her
Question for the Red headed Witch, if I may , do you use the Bible often in your practice??
It ends in Mississippi
Thought I was the only American that felt that we didn’t have much of a culture lol I’m really into ancestors but been struggling cuz I’m American lol
💜✨
I love this video I too am from the mountains of Nc
It should not be a struggle to figure out what's appropriate to work with. If it interests you and you want to work with it, work with it. "I'm sure a lot of us wouldn't want to because it's not part of our culture anyways." Does anybody say this about Celtic magic and their pantheon? Norse? Egyptian? Greek? Hebrew? All of occultism is a mix bag of different traditions and spiritual practices. Nobody is going to chastise an American Indian for calling the watchtowers, performing the LBRP, or say "erm, is it really appropriate for you to set up an alter to Brigid?" This constant walking on eggshells, self-flagellation, and virtue signalling from White people is so tiresome and embarrassing.
Thank you…. That line about “everything is stolen” had my jaw on the floor! 😂 please, tell that to the seidr and volva in my Swedish line, or my ancestors that handed down Cornish magic. Enough already, ffs! I believe these girls mean well but good grief…
It’s also hilarious to me that humans think they have the authority to tell other humans how they can interact with the spirit world. If a spirit or god doesn’t want to work with you, they won’t. They’ll either ignore you or slap you. It’s not within a humans power to compel a spirit to cooperate with them, therefore imo the whole appropriation drama is pretty moot to begin with. It’s just posturing and ego much of the time.
there´s beautiful ethnographies in
utube from the 70´s when they still
found undiscovered tribes from the
amazons.
those people looked so happy and
natural, probably completely ruined
by now..
the logging companies have like
rifle men standing guard there,
as they log down the forests :(
they always try to make it so
that the natives are the savages,
when in reality of course it´s the
other way around.
in our folklore there´s lots of
stories from people here going to
america, however many of them came
back.. some said it´s the land of
the crooks.. i guess they weren´t
happy with the ways of the wild west,
the real wild west :)
also there´s mentions of native
americans, they said how they "lived
in trees".. love for the trees,
very universal :)
ps. Leah, at some point you should
move back (to birth region), that´s
where the power is (nothing to do
with where the previous generations
lived, it´s your story, your story,
your power)
The whole “one side was savages & one side isn’t, is a very simplistic way of viewing history & people, & honestly just not true. Yes Europeans tried to paint natives as “the savage” for some, because they were, for others because the Europeans wanted to take advantage of the situation for $ etc. . I understand why you said what you did, it’s a popular mindset, but it’s as untrue as “the natives were the savages”. Humans in general are savages at different times in life. It’s not a one or the other.
I really don't think any of you know real tribe native American witchcraft or magic they don't share that with other people
I have a native American practitioner coming on next month to talk about their Lakota practice (within reason of course) so yes, they can share a bit. Just not all. I am also close to several individuals in a tribe on the West Coast. So yes, I do know real native Americans, they are my friends, and they have chosen to bring me into their culture. Every tribe is different and every individual is different
Sry, this is a novel. 😬
This was wonderful, Thank You Both for taking time out of your busy schedules to conduct such an interview of great importance.
You got me, pertaining to feeling disconnected…I feel this more often than not. 🥹
So I’ve always been connected to Celtic paths & CelticIberian paths but also to other paths I won’t go into for length’s sake. Lol
Well, I got dna results from 3 different companies because I always feel so disconnected and alone in my cultural identity as a Witch from time to time and OM….
Well, the dna tests all came bk with just about the same results.
Wales, Scotland, Portugal, Basque, Spain, France, Indigenous Americas & Balkans primarily. 😵💫
So feeling disconnected makes a lot of sense.
But you mentioned a connection term for me ☺ ️ pertaining to the type of Folk Magick I practice because I nvr resonated with American Folk Magic, alone.
You said “European American”….
And the thought occurred to me, that’s it.. I’m comfortable with this as a Folk Magic Practice. 🥰
I will now say I practice “European American Folk Magic tradition”, with my focus heavily on Celtic traditions & CelticIberian traditions. But of course I will honor other traditions/paths I resonate with in my ancestry.
Which I know everyone’s European American Folk Magic practice will vary, depending on their foundation, traditions and paths.
But this term feels like a root I can grow from. Thank you for all that you do for our community, your channel truly inspires me. 🙏🏼✨
First of all, I love novels. Second, I'm so glad some of this conversation resonated with you! Hopefully it makes a lot more people feel seen. "European American" is definitely a label I had to embrace to feel like I fit anywhere at all. Maybe this is something we can all build upon! ❤️
@@IvyTheOccultist Absolutely 🤍✨🥰