What is Southern Cunning and what makes it a distinctive form of witchcraft?
Aaron Oberon says in his book: "Folkloric witchcraft is a stream of traditional witchcraft that is firmly rooted in folklore and bioregionalism. I call it a stream because it doesn’t fit quite so neatly into what is considered traditional witchcraft and because it avoids a mess of confusion with capital letters. Folkloric witchcraft isn’t necessarily as concerned with historical accuracy, as is proper traditional witchcraft, instead, it focuses on personal authenticity and accountability. It’s about remembering those witches in folk tales and creating our own witchcraft and folk tales today. It is witchcraft rooted in folklore and blooming where we land."
Aaron is writing out of his experience of witchcraft in a specific context - geographical, historical, folkloric, mythic, traditional and contemporary. However, as is always the way of it when a person digs in with the magic that exists in their immediate environment, what they create doesn't just work for people who share the same location. We've seen this with the international interest in Julie Brett's work on Australian Druidry, as well. Most of us do not live places where these aspects of history and land have been pulled together into a coherent, living tradition. Most of us have to do that where we live, and even if we do share a region with an author, we will all still have our own experiences and need to do our own work. Even if you don't live in the area in question, these books make fantastic maps of the journeys we might all make. No matter where you live, you can read it for inspiration.
Back to Aaron...
"The goal isn’t to perfectly mimic what the folklore presents, otherwise what would be the point in grounding it to where I live? Rather, the goal is to look at folklore and urban legends as things intimately tied to where we live. This book is mostly for witches in the United States, and more specifically in the South. The general idea, however, can be applied to any region around the world with the idea being that the stories we tell have power, and that where we tell those stories helps bring them to life."
It's a book with some shining endorsements already...
Southern Cunning is a much needed and fascinating look at the practice of American folkloric witchcraft. Practical and imaginative, wise and engaging, Oberon’s book is essential reading for anyone interested in traditional witchcraft or southern folklore. Morgan Daimler, author of The Morrigan, Fairies and Fairy Witchcraft
A straight-talking, easy to follow take on folkloric witchcraft
from the South, rich in personal anecdotes and practical tips.
Lee Morgan, author of A Deed Without a Name and Standing and
Not Falling
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