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Summary:
Hexes, curses and other unsavory notions. Most magical practitioners won't even discuss them. Why? Because they'd much rather find a positive solution that benefits all concerned. And, there's nothing wrong with that. Occasionally, though, our problems are such that nothing in the positive solution arena will handle them. It's time to make a decision to stand tough, be strong, and take definitive action to defend ourselves. And, if you're ready to do that-if you're ready to own that action and take responsibility for it-then Utterly Wicked is the book for you! Jam-packed with more than one hundred rituals, incantations, hexes and curses, this book is the quintessential primer for learning all those magical tricks that no one wants to talk about. Do you know the proper way to enter a cemetery? Utterly Wicked tells you how, as well as the proper methods for collecting and using graveyard dirt. Explore the little known secrets of the 11" fashion doll and see why it's become such a valuable magical tool. Then learn to prepare Hot Foot Powder, Four Thieves Vinegar, Goofer Dust, and other magical components specifically designed to obliterate your toughest problems. Most important, though, you'll also find the tools to protect yourself, your family, and your home from ever being bothered with these sorts of difficulties again. A must have for any Witch's bookshelf!
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
New Opinions
Customer Rating:
This book provides a new view on the traditional "Law of Three" in the Wiccan/PAgan religion. Dorothy Morrison makes valid point for balance in all things and provides some remedies for life's little, and not so little injustices. If you want a well rounded body of knowledge for Alternative religions, read this book. Even if you never use any spells in it, the subject evokes a mind broadening set of questions to ponder. A great addition to any practitioners library.
When you need a hand...
Customer Rating:
This book is great. It is not the sweet, passive, "things will work out" kind of spell book. No, this is the "Pulling out the big guns, I've had ENOUGH" kind of spell book. Take your karma by the throat, this is not the book for the weak or kind. If you are ready & need that extra push when nothing else works, try this.
Another book of Wiccanized Hoodoo
Customer Rating:
I ordered this book out of curiosity more than anything else as I am both a Wiccan HPS and a practitioner of Hoodoo/Conjure. During my years of practicing this tradition I've come to prefer it over witchcraft because it is rooted in long standing tradition, which helps to guide the practitioner, and was born in the US. I have found, over the years, that what is available in most books on witchcraft is rather generic as it as been cut-off from the cultures and traditions that first gave birth to it.
In this book, Morrison has taken elements of Hoodoo practice and Wiccanized them to make them more palatable to her Neo-Pagan/Wiccan audience, much along the same lines as Stephanie Rose Bird and Ray Malbrough did. Tapping Hoodoo seems to be a growing trend amongst Neo-Pagan authors when they are trying to write a book dealing with the darker aspects of magical practice. I can only surmised that this is happening because the darker aspects of witchcraft practice have been feared and ignored by Neo-Pagans/Wiccans to the point that they have become forgotten and Hoodoo is being used to fill the gap. Below I've included a few examples of what Morrison has included in her book, and how it differs from traditional, authentic Hoodoo.
* A discussion for those concerned with the Wiccan Rede and Three-fold Law, in the first chapter. While it is an intelligent discussion neither of these are of concern to those who practice this tradition as they don't exist within Hoodoo. Hoodoo doesn't come with a built-in set of ethics so they are going to vary greatly from one practitioner to the next, and a person's ethics are their own business.
*Using terminology from European witchcraft to describe Conjure practices. For instance, what she calls a poppet should rightly be called a "doll-baby" or a "dollie". She also seems to prefer the word "hexing" to "crossing" or "crossing up" someone, terms that are more often used in Hoodoo/Conjure.
*Wiccan-style spells created with Hoodoo parts. This is all over this book, and is the main reason why it is another generic form of magic and does not reflect the tradition Morrison is pulling from. For instance, in none of the cleansing spells is the practitioner's first morning's urine included as part of the bath when doing so is almost a universal practice within the tradition. Nor does she advise the reader that a magical/spiritual bath must be taken before the sun rises and the water tossed eastward as the sun rises.
*Usage of numbers with 3,7,9, 13 and 21 being highly favored. Even numbers (2,4,6) are not often used as they are considered stable and stagnant. This book contains recipes with as few as 2 ingredients.
* The complete removal of all traces of Christianity from the tradition, and the inclusion of things like the Norse Runes and curios related to the spirits of Regla de Ocha (Santeria), among other things. None of this has any place in Hoodoo, which is deeply rooted in Christian symbolism and belief. I will say that, Morrison is completely correct when she states that Hoodoo isn't a religion, but she fails to acknowledge that it is still a very spiritual tradition that is deeply connected with Christianity to the point they are inseparable. Spells are often closed with "In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" or "In Jesus Name" Likewise, in Latin-based areas of the country the Catholic saints are often worked with.
*I haven't completely analyzed all the spells given in this book, but I have seen several that have me scratching my head. For instance, her recipe for War Water contains no iron!!! Nobody would make War Water without iron because it's the inclusion of iron that makes it War Water. Likewise, why do a commanding/controlling spell and not include Devil Shoestring, which just about any practitioner would. She gives a recipe for a Love Potion #9, but doesn't include any rose petals in it when most Conjurers would. Also, no practitioner would include Myrrh in any of this type of work because, according to tradition, it doesn't have any uses in "bad" work. She also seems to place zero emphasis on personal concerns, especially, those of the target. For instance, her "Condom Spell" to stop sexual harassment is useless unless the condom contains the semen of the target.
My last criticism is for the bibliography itself. Out of the 32 works cited there is only one book, "Hoodoo and Voodoo" by Jim Haskins, that is decent and relates directly to Hoodoo. The other books deal with Afro-Carribean religion, European witchcraft, Morrison's own works, or are other Neo-Paganized/Wiccanized Hoodoo books. Since this is not a book about Hoodoo it could be said that the more authentic books on Hoodoo/Conjure aren't really necessary, but it would have been nice to see them listed since Ms. Morrison is tapping the tradition.
In closing, I feel I have to cut Ms. Morrison some slack on this book. Clearly, she's not a practitioner of Hoodoo/Conjure and her target audience are not Conjurers either. I don't think it is possible for any Neo-Pagan author to write a book that included authentic Hoodoo practices and have any success in selling it to the Neo-Pagan community so we end up with books like this. It isn't a bad book, but please don't make the mistake of purchasing it thinking you will learn, or will be practicing, in the authentic Hoodoo tradition because you won't be. If you can accept it as another generic form of magic and use it as such you may have good results.
Wow, Dorothy! This isn't Kansas anymore!
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This is the most wondrous, high-octane book on my shelf, and I have pointed several other Witches towards it! Hurray Dorothy! I recently used a fashion doll from the Dollar Store as a poppet, per one of the recommendations in the book, and laid one helluva hex without sewing a poppety stitch. Great for those of us who are Witchy as heck, but domestically impaired. I also loved Dorothy's tips on gathering grave yard dirt -- attending funerals have taken on a whole new fiendish dimension now. For those in the Craft community who seriously need to 'grow a pair', get this book!
A wicked treat
Customer Rating:
This witch sure has a gift with words! She covers the topics of ethics clearly, and explains this is not the book for fluffy bunny types. After finishing the book, I reccomended this to all my friends. My favorite recipe was the "Queen of the f***ing universe" incense. Very original ,and each spell is quite useful for any witch not wanting to bend over to the bullying,assult, and threats, because the rule of three tells them to
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