Book Review: Conjuring Dirt

By Taren S

This is one of a short series of reviews of books by my fellow Moon Books authors who all attended Mystic South this year: Pauline Breen, Morgan Daimler, Mark NeCamp Jr., Taren S, and Daniela Simina. I had a great time hanging out with them at the Moon Books Meet-and-Greet and attending their presentations, and I look forward to doing it again next year. I hope you’ll join us! You can find my review of Mark’s book here and my review of one of Daniela’s books here. I previously reviewed two of Morgan’s books here and here. I’ll be reviewing Pauline’s first Moon Books title when it’s released in a few months. You can find all my book reviews here.

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I was intrigued as soon as I read the title, and Conjuring Dirt delivered. At the beginning of the book, the author says she stands at the crossroads of Traditional Witchcraft, Southern Conjure, Hoodoo and Vodou. How fitting, since the concept of the crossroads draws our attention to the ground, the very dirt beneath our feet.

This is a book of ordinary people’s magic. There’s no high ceremony here, no fancy trappings, but plenty of practical ideas for all the usual human desires: protection, banishing, prosperity, healing. It’s all served up via the “funky gumbo” that the author has cooked up from the many ingredients of her magical background.

To me, the most valuable aspect of this book isn’t the collection of spells and workings that focus on dirt and related substances (though they’re pretty awesome) but the worldview the author offers: a way to look at dirt as part of the land, an embodiment of the spirit of place as well as the container for the energy of all the people and actions the land has encountered. That’s powerful magic right there.

Taren includes plenty of personal stories as well as regional folklore from amusing to chilling, giving the book a charming Southern flavor. But the magic she serves up can be used anywhere - because there’s dirt everywhere (OK, maybe not on a ship at sea, but in that case, you can do as she suggests and bring some dirt with you!).

While the whole book is infused with the regional flavor of the author’s beloved Low Country, she encourages the reader to apply it to their own location, offering plenty of instructions and ideas for how to do just that. To me, this is the best kind of witchery: local, attuned to the land you’re on, wherever that may be.

So really, although the regional flavor is delightful (and I say that as a native Southerner), this book goes beyond just Low Country wisdom to embrace the wider concept of working with the land - the soil, the dirt - wherever you are on this blessed Earth. It’s worth a read no matter where you are in the world, whatever kind of dirt lies beneath your feet.

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About Laura Perry

I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm also the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series. I’m also an avid gardener and living history demonstrator.