PRAISE FOR
DOCTORING THE DEVIL
“What some call superstition you will see in Doctoring the Devil is a way of life for the folks of the Appalachian Mountains. I love the stories Jake tells here and the weaving of the tales. Jake has outdone himself! He always seems to place hidden gems within his writings.”
—STARR CASAS, author of Old Style Conjure and Divination Conjure Style
“I do believe Jake has outdone himself. There are so many gems in Doctoring the Devil that should be read more than once. I personally love the explanations given here as well as the proper distinctions between certain works. The clouds in the sky definitely speak a message, as he so eloquently writes. This is a wonderful read—full of instructional jewels. You will be blessed by the words given here and the wisdom that lines this book's pages.”
—HOODOO SEN MOISE, author of Working Conjure: A Guide to Hoodoo Folk Magic
This edition first published in 2021 by Weiser Books, an imprint of
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
With offices at:
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
Copyright © 2021 by Jake Richards
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.
Bible verses in the text are from the King James edition.
ISBN: 978-1-57863-733-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.
Cover design by Kathryn Sky-Peck
Moth art © Xunbin Pan/Dreamstime
Interior by Maureen Forys, Happenstance Type-O-Rama
Typeset in Adobe Jenson Pro, Hey Thalissa and Alligator
Printed in the United States of America
IBI
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www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter
To my grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Trivett,
March 1939–January 2020
The mountains shall bring peace to the people,
and the little hills, by righteousness.
PSALM 72:3
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
1
Witchcraft and Conjure in Appalachia
2
Catching Spirits
3
Red Roots
4
Corn and Quarters
5
Praying at the River
6
Salt under the Rocks
7
A Dime, a Dollar
The story follows a skilled medical professional who becomes entangled in a series of mysterious and dangerous events involving dark forces or malevolent entities.
