This is an excellent introduction to hoodoo. It': short and covers the basics rather than being a comprehensive guide, but I now feel better equipped to explore this practice further. Also, it's helpful to read a hoodoo book written by a British author, she points out how to adapt this very American folk magic for magical practitioners living in the UK. Recommended for those who want to learn about hoodoo but don't know where to start. ~ Kate Garrett, Amazon

Was impressed. .. that takes alot ... not all practical in bits but defo worth buying ~ H Hughes, Amazon

A fabulous book, to dip your toe in the Hoodoo water... It peaked my curiosity and made me want to find out more..... Perfect! ~ Willowmoon, Amazon

Great read and amazing insight ~ Brittni Lozoya, Amazon

I love all of Rachel's books and I especially love learning about new aspects of Wicca that is clear and informative, I always come away having learnt something more. ~ Mrs O, Amazon

Concise but lovely little book, a useful reference to have. ~ Sonwaa, Amazon

This book was great! It's right to the point and perfect for someone who has never really read anything about Hoodoo. Apparently I have been doing Hoodoo for years now and didn't know it. :) She breaks it down so you get it and I really like her recipes. This was the perfect book for me! ~ Shelly, Amazon

This book speaks on every topic imaginable.it is very informative and a great read for new beginners heavy hitters may find it redundant. I love it and recommend it for anyones collection. ~ Im Me "That's it", Amazon

I really enjoyed the down to earth and practical way with which Patterson explains many of the practices associated with Hoodoo. She makes it clear that she is sharing her personal interpretation of many of these practices, and they are very well suited for people who find the subject interesting and are looking for ways to incorporate aspects of Hoodoo into their existing practice. As an introductory book, you are given a lot of different techniques and practices to work with. Many of these practices are not as common in the greater Pagan community, and it explains things like foot track magic, jar spells and mojo bags. If you think you might be interested in Hoodoo, or are wanting to add some Hoodoo to your practice, this is a good place to start. ~ Customer, Amazon

Brilliant book - well written and easy to digest…... ~ Manni, Amazon

excellent ~ glyn, Amazon

Wonderful book. It may be small but certainly packs a punch! Beautifully written and easy to read. Lots of ideas and recipes for incorporating Hoodoo into your chosen path - love it! ~ Vanessa A, Amazon

Love this book. Well written, interesting and fun. I bought this on my kindle, but would also like to have a hard copy for my library. ~ Mitzzi, Amazon

very informative. I like the history in the book. I believe this is information I will look forward to utilizing in my life. ~ Ramona Auld, Amazon

It's just like Rachel is sat next to me having a chat and teaching all things 'Hoodoo', such a relaxing read and full of loads of practical projects and things to make and do. A fascinating subject and one I'm loving learning about :) There's nothing 'Voodoo' about 'Hoodoo'! x ~ CM Perez Del Pulgar Cole, Amazon

another great book from Ms Paterson. I was hooked from the beginning. This personal account of Hoodoo which is African/American folk magic is full of information that I have not seen elsewhere. I was very interested to see quite pagan concepts merged with petitions to the saints and blended with Christianity. A very interesting read for anyone who is interested in folk magic and shamanism. I have read a few of the authors books now and am impressed by the way she shares her knowledge in a very down to earth and humorous way. It won't be one for everyone and certainly isn't for fluffy bunnies but if you like you magic earthy and intense, then it might just be for you. ~ Colette Brown, Amazon

This was an avenue of Witchcraft that I really hadn't heard of before, and I found her book very interesting. As in her other books it is well written, easy to read, and there is a lot of information in here folks. It has given me a lot of new idea's to enhance my work. I look forward to seeing her next one come out as well. I have all three of her books and they are a right fine addition to my library! Look for yourselves and see what I mean. Another great book Rachel!! ~ stormwolf, Amazon

Awesome as always, enjoyed this book and gives plenty ideas, and very informative. I have a feeling I will end up with her whole collection, excellent worth the money ~ Nightphoenix, Amazon

This book is written by an amazing, talented, wonderful and highly experienced kitchen witch. It is full of ideas and inspiration for both the novice and experienced witch. It is written in a friendly and entertaining way, and in no way is it a difficult read! Whether you want to read it from cover to cover or just pick a chapter at a time, it will help, entertain and enlighten you to the full! Cannot recommend it enough. Blessed be.xxx ~ KB Mystic Enchantress, Amazon

I love this book, it is full of down to earth advice and is a great read for a beginner in Hoodoo. I definitely recommend this book. ~ Kris, Amazon

This book is a concise guide to practical hoodoo. Coming in at under 100 pages it contains a brief introduction to the historical origins of Hoodoo (African-American Folk-magic and root work, as distinct from the religious practice of Voodoo). The book contains well-defined sections on all of the main topics including types of root work: laying tricks and jinxes; spiritual washes; candle magic etc. The book also provides a plethora of useful recipes for powders, washes and conjure oils including some new, and some old, such as the wonderfully named Bend Over Oil (it's not what you think - it is intended to bend another to your will....oh well on second thoughts..I suppose actually it could be for that too...). It also provides a brief introduction to various relevant deities and spirits, glossary of terms and some useful sources for further study. I know very little about Hoodoo,other than what I have picked up from a variety of cheesy horror films, so I was very curious to find out more about this subject. As it happened I found the subject explained in a fascinating and straightforward manner. I was intrigued by the similarities and dissimilarities with European Witchcraft and the incorporation of elements of Christianity. One of the aspects that I found undeniably enticing but also a bit scary related to the dark side of Hoodoo practice. Patterson is a witch of many years standing and as such is clearly aware of the `And it harm none' philosophy of modern witchcraft. However, hoodoo does not appear to have such caveats - and Patterson fully acknowledges this and gleefully delves into its dark side. Although she does warn that if you use magic for harm you are likely to receive harm in return this is not overly stressed in the book, and I think that possibly the Hoodoo philosophy here isn't so much `Do what thou wilt, an it harm none' but `Do what thou wilt - but don't get caught!'. After one particular section on laying tricks on an enemy I had an admittedly hilarious but worrying image of some over-keen Hoodoo newbie lobbing a bottle full of coffin nails, graveyard dirt and bodily fluids at the porch of some unfortunate neighbour and ending up with an Asbo! Nevertheless, Hoodoo is not all about laying jinxes on your mortal enemies (tempting as that might be) it is primarily about positive and beneficial magic designed to improve your life, and although not a religion in itself, does form part of the practices of many religions such as Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria and West African Yoruba and as such should be given due respect. I very much enjoyed this book, and probably will try some of the recipes for incense and washes - although will probably steer clear of jinxing anyone! As a keen history geek I would have loved a bit more on the history of the this tradition and the deities involved, but as the aim of the book is to present a practical guide for hoodoo practitioners history clearly wasn't its primary focus. Patterson did however provide some fascinating biographies of some of the famous names associated with Hoodoo, such as Doctor John and Marie Laveau - I will definitely be doing some further reading on these intriguing characters. Patterson presents a very individual interpretation of Hoodoo for the modern, possibly urban practitioner, an audience possibly with other Craft experience but who has not necessarily been raised within the traditions of hoodoo. As such it is not pure `traditional' hoodoo - and some may object to this. Importantly Patterson is strongly against the sacrifice of animals for rituals or spells (here here!) but does suggest some harmless and innovative solutions to this aspect of the practice. I would say that this book's ideal audience of potential practitioners might be those who already have some expertise in their current field of magic - some of the practices might be a bit 'strong' for newbies - and after all as the author points out no magical practice should be undertaken lightly and without proper precautions. All in all though it was an entertaining and informative book about a very misunderstood and maligned area of magical practice. ~ Lenora, Amazon

I was pleasantly surprised when the manuscript to this phenomenal soon-to-be-released book landed in my email account. Written by a Facebook friend of mine; Rachel Patterson who is also known by her craft name of Tansy Firedragon - a name perhaps many of you may know her as. Hoodoo is a topic that I have never in my life read anything about, perhaps due to the media mis-conceptions of it all, which I feel is a great saddening cloak to be placed upon society. After reading this book that I feel would be a perfect introduction to hoodoo for beginners, novices, and even more experienced practitioners, I am now intrigued by the implantation of hoodoo into my own life and those of the people around me. In the past I had had friends who were more knowledgeable about the subject of hoodoo but I chose to allow them to dip their toes or go for a swim in a topic that I personally was not ready for. So as you can see, I had drawbacks and concerns about such a topic, and for that reason I can wholeheartedly declare to you that Hoodoo as explained in this marvellous book in the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books seems to be a very natural practice of incorporating spirituality and witchcraft into your life in a way that doesn't require you to advertise the fact that you practice it. I leant so much from this book and I am sure that anyone can benefit from Rachel's words of wisdom even if it just to try a different blend of creating oils, incenses and such. Here's a few things I learnt: how to cleanse your house spiritually and physically correctly just how magickal fluids can be ;) how to uncross and protect myself numerous oil blends, incense recipes and candle usage how to create my own candles the difference between a petition paper and name papers hoodoo deities and foot track magic to name only a few! ~ Dawn Brierley, http://faeriewhisperer.blogspot.co.uk/

Hoodoo, or ‘working the root’, is the generic term for an eclectic system of magic that draws on influences from all over the place and believed to have originated in the Mississippi Delta among the dense population of slaves from that area. From there it spread throughout the southern States and north along the Mississippi as African-Americans left the Delta in the 1930’s and continuously developed from contact with other cultures, religions, and traditions. In Pagan Portals: Hoodoo Folk Magic, Rachel Patterson continues this tradition by incorporating the practice into her witchcraft. As she explains in her Introduction: “I am not a born and bred hereditary Hoodoo root worker living in Georgia or New Orleans (I hope to come back in another lifetime as one though…), but I have studied Hoodoo in great detail. This is MY interpretation of Hoodoo and how I work with it within the Craft. I have tried to make it as accurate as possible and have drawn on many sources as well as my own experiences. I have included many original recipes for oils, powders, incenses etc and have tried to be as traditional as possible with the ingredients for the well known ones, but other recipes included here are my own blends and therefore may not be so traditional.” Rachel provides us with a valuable introduction to the subject at a very basic level because the subject is far more complex than is often imagined. A perfect prologue for anyone wishing to discover more about ‘working the root’ and how to incorporate it into their own system of magic. Highly recommended. Melusine Draco: Principal Coven of the Scales. ~ Melusine Draco, Amazon

I had been interested in the knowing more about Hoodoo for a long time and this book provided me with much clear information and insights. The writing is conversational but clear, straight forward and humorous. There is so much information packed in that although I have read it once, I know I will refer back to it many times. I am not a Hoodoo practitioner but there are many practical tips and cross overs with this and my shamanic path which I found interesting and will incorporate. Life is about learning...and now I have an understanding of Hoodoo thanks to Rachel Patterson's book. I look forward to more from this author. She knows her stuff! ~ Colette Brown, author of menopause a natural and spiritual journey, tarot from novice to pro and Weegie Tarot

I found this book very interesting, it’s certainly a subject I knew nothing about when I first opened the book and then page by page I was surprised to read so many things in common with my own Pagan practice. There are a great many good recipes for different oils, incenses, and washes. Some of these I was familiar with and a few I shall certainly try! The book is a good collection of many different things, all tools of the trade and most of them could certainly be used in Pagan Practice simply by using different prayers, spells and blessings. If, like me this is a subject you know nothing about, then I would certainly suggest you get yourself a copy and keep an open mind, it’s well written, concise and interesting. ~ Siusaidh Ceanadach, author of the Let's Talk series, Author of the Let's Talk series