I asked for this because I thought it was just going to be a fun look into the world of Hoodoo. I admit I'm the wrong audience for this but I did find it very educational and went into way more detail than I thought it would. Sherry Shone did a fantastic job with this book and if you're serious about Hoodoo, this is for you. If you're looking for a fun quick read, look elsewhere. This is serious.

Hoodoo for Everyone: A Beginner's Guide to Inclusive Magic

Sherry Shone's "Hoodoo for Everyone: Modern Approaches to Magic, Conjure, Rootwork, and Liberation" is a warm and welcoming guide to the practice of Hoodoo, a folklore tradition created by and for enslaved African Americans in the Southern United States (Amazon, Penguin Random House). Shone, also known as "That Hoodoo Lady," is proud of her Black, White, and First Native heritages and honors them through her Hoodoo work (Spirituality Health).

Plot Summary

"Hoodoo for Everyone" offers a comprehensive introduction to the history, foundations, spellwork, and spiritual guidance of Hoodoo, making the practice accessible to everyone, regardless of background or gender (Zenith Bookstore). The book is written with three guiding Hoodoo tenets in mind: Intention, Faith, and Direction (Penguin Random House). Shone's writing style is friendly and easy to follow, gently encouraging readers to reflect and think as they embark on the path of rootwork (Amazon).

This is Hoodoo, updated


I have mixed feelings about this book, but they're mostly negative.

First things first: what is Hoodoo? It is a practice of using folklore magic that developed in the Southern tradition by enslaved Africans. As the title says, everyone can practice Hoodoo, but there must be understanding and respect for its origins.

What I liked about this book is that it's really exhaustive: it doesn't explain just what Hoodoo is and how to practice it, but it also explains its origins and it educates us, giving us the prerequisite for using it.

What I did not like about this book, it's how slow and repetitive it felt at some point, especially at the end when the author explains the various practices... but it's not what I liked least.

What I really can't get over is how religious this book is.

I get the point of the author - the Bible is only a magic tool like any other you could use. You could use another religious text, or if you're not a religious person you can rely on science, songs, poems etc. As per title, everyone can practice Hoodoo.

Too bad the authos IS religious, so we're getting a lot of it! To be fair, she also modifies few examples to show us how to tailor psalm and whatnot to our needs, but it doesn't make up for everything else.

All in all I liked how the book is structured and I especially liked how the background of the practice is explained. I also liked the author! It's only her work that didn't click for me.

I would suggest this book to anybody that hasn't a previous knowledge of the practice and doesn't mind to know how to practice an updated version of Hoodoo (changing the rituals accordingly to one's needs, not traditional views), but I would warn anyone not particularly religious of the high dosage cointained in the book

Contents
Chapter 1 - Hoodoo Origins
Chapter 2 - Fundamentals of Hoodoo Practices
Chapter 3 - Ethical Hoodoo
Chapter 4 - Worthy Hoodoo Fighters
Chapter 5 - Putting It All Together
Chapter 6 - Cleansing

As someone with little to no experience, this was a great introductory guide. I appreciated the inclusion of different backgrounds within the book. I was a bit wary about the subject of cultural appropriation, but Shone doesn't shy away from the topic and provides tactile advice for those from a different background. I was approaching this book as more of learning about a different religious practice, rather than a how-to guide, which impacts my review.

Libro molto carino, ma ho avuto la sensazione che ogni tanto togliesse l'importanza della legittimità della pratica così ho chiesto ad una antropologa culturale afrodiscendente iniziata al Hoodoo e Voodoo e ho ottenuto una conferma: dire che Hoodoo è per tuttx è "pericoloso" perchè c'è pieno di gente che aspetta un libro del genere per appropriarsi di culti altrui.
A parte questo concetto, il libro è chiaro e scritto bene

A great introduction for those who wish to better understand Hoodoo, and very welcoming to those from other cultures. The book is very inclusive and requires a grounding in fate: whatever that may be or mean to you. I love the inclusivity, and recommend it for anyone curious about the practice.

I was curious about this book, but also a little apprehensive when I requested it on NetGalley as it isn't something I'd normally pick out. But I'm glad I did. I particularly enjoyed Sherry Shone's writing, the way she contextualised the subject and presented it.

Sometimes it pays to read out of your comfort zone!

(Review copy from NetGalley)

An interesting and well written book about hoodo. I appreciated the style of writing and how the book is organised.
It's an interesting and informative read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Hoodoo for Everyone by Sherry Stone is a beautiful accessible text for newly initiated, the curious practitioner, and those seeking to understand the rich tapestry of hoodoo history. With a gentle reverent voice, Stone deftly explains the history that shaped hoodoo, how her ancestors sought to keep themselves safe through the worst that the world could inflict upon them. These were the fighters, the influencers, of their time, and Stone acts as their champion in this book.

Yes yes yes!! Again, I loved this spiritual book. I learnt so much more to bring into my life. I'm a magic, spiritual believer, a lot of things I knew but learnt more of it in depth as well as more practices which I have been putting into place.

This is a basic guide to Hoodoo, the African American folkloric spiritual system. I liked how the author stressed the importance of personalizing your practice and developing your own code of ethics. I appreciated the personal experiences shared and the inclusion of LGBTQ folks. A lot of what the Author urges us to ask ourselves are really helpful and introspective questions that would also make great journal prompts! It’s very clearly and concisely written which makes it great for beginners and seems to be geared towards those who might be looking to take on clients in the near future. The recommended reading list at the end has a lot of great suggestions like “Mojo Working” and “African American Slave Medicine” and I’m interested to see the Author’s other book about Hoodoo and the Bible!

Some drawbacks for me:
1). Hoodoo is a closed practice. I strongly disagree with the notion that this is open for people who aren’t Black to practice. Especially given the history of why it was created and for whom it was created. Hoodoo also has a history of appropriation and exploitation by outsiders and although the author does address cultural appropriation, It’s a very ancestral focused practice, so if you’re ancestors aren’t Black it might be more helpful to look into those practices that actually aligned with their cultures and identities.

2). Although I love the theme of personalizing and tailoring your practice to fit you, I think the recommendations to include things like the Gospel of Buddah or Calling on Orishas (who’s origin is Yoruba tradition, whereas Hoodoo is more closely related to Congo traditions.) I definitely believe people are free to incorporate multiple things into their practice I just wonder if adding all those things early on might be confusing to someone who’s new to Hoodoo.

Hoodoo for everyone by Sherry Shone is a wonderful book about the culture and history of Hoodoo and it gives lots of information about the practice and how a person can start practicing. I appreciate how down your earth this book is on the subject and how it gives so much cultural context to the information. I suggest this book for any magical library.

Sherry Shone’s Hoodoo for Everyone lifts the natural and spiritual practices developed by Black Americans during enslavement with African roots is a book to distill the false myths. So often Black folks associate hoodoo with negative things like Satanism. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hoodoo for Everyone takes the reader on a step by step understanding of what it means to practice the traditional healing form. Shone gives simple and straightforward advice from her on past. She gives advice on spirit work including negative spirits and teaches a practitioner how to trust their own instincts and gut intuition in moving into this particular spiritual practice. Shone also reveals imbuing objects with positive/ healing factors like her grandmother’s Pink Ladies quilt which was used to quell nightmares and dreams when she was a girl. If you’re honestly interested in learning more about natural healing practices from Black American history with less the ignorance of religious projections then this is the book for you to distill your fears.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I knew very little about the subject of hoodoo before reading this, and the title and description really drew me in. I was really looking forward to learning more about hoodoo, it's history and it's practices! But to me, the book is more of a biography of the author, Sherry Stone.

That being said, Stone is an engaging author, with a style of writing that makes you feel like you're reading a letter sent to you by a friend. This may not have been the book for me, but I'll be on the lookout for more from her.

Hoodoo For Everyone by Sherry Shone masterfully delivers on the title's promise providing a detailed overview of an often overlooked and even more often misunderstood spiritual practice.

What I Liked
The author is incredibly transparent about their own background and experiences prior to writing this book allowing a reader to more easily understand why the writer is any kind of authority on the subject. Further While providing a text that is designed to allow any layperson with interest to approach and potentially practice hoodoo the author does not shy away from the uncomfortable topic of cultural appropriation. In particular I was really fond of the section on the ancestors and deity work.
What didn't work for me
The pulling it all together section felt a bit too much like a standard Wiccan book of shadows or spell collection. and did not seem to carry the same writing voice or weight as the rest of the text.

Who would I recommend this Book for

This Book would be a good fit for seekers wanting an approachable introduction to Hoodoo for academic or spiritual purposes.

This is a great book! If you are just looking for the spells, what the author calls "putting it all together," they are here but don't skip ahead.

I love Hoodoo books that address cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation and how it relates to this tradition/path.

Shone talks about her Evangelical upbringing in Kansas and how her family and faith shaped her magick.

Hoodoo for Everyone takes you into the foundation of the belief systems to the basics of using the Bible for rootwork. There is a section on ingredients and one that new practitioners always ask about-what to do with stuff when done.

Yes, there are spells. One of my favorites is the "Rescue Me" spell. But, more importantly, there is a story here about a journey through the work and with it.

We walk alongside our ancestors in so much that we do, and Hoodoo for Everyone is not only a welcome guide to rootwork, it is a beautiful tribute to Shone's own roots.

This is a great introduction to Hoodoo, whether you’re familiar with it or not. It includes information on how to incorporate hoodoo into your individual beliefs, spellwork, and the complex history and folklore surrounding the practice. The author also includes personal anecdotes that give the book a relatable feel. I learned a lot from this book and it’s very interesting!

This book is extremely readable. However, did I learn anything new? Not really. It felt like I was eating potato chips and not getting full.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

Sherry Shone's HOODOO FOR EVERYONE is, as the title suggests, a book dedicated to the project of convincing readers that hoodoo is, indeed, for everyone. While the book does an adequate job introducing readers to the hoodoo tradition, it spends an unnecessary amount of time on the ethics of identity and culture, especially cultural appropriation. The most interesting portions were the descriptions of hoodoo practices, which the author could have expanded and included more extensively to improve the book.

Hoodoo for Everyone by Sherry Shone offers an understanding and background of Hoodoo. It takes you through breaking biases, finding your guides, and being respectful of the culture and its practice. Sherry Shone takes and wraps you up with reassurance that Hoodoo is for everyone but makes sure you are fully aware that education is important. Even more important than getting the okay to practice Hoodoo is that you need to have the most respect for its history and for the people who sought deliverance practicing Hoodoo. Sherry Shone guides you to learn about herbs, shares some prayers, how to communicate, and the differences between ancestors, guides, and deities. It is a very informational, great reference book.