Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft In The American South

by Aaron Oberon

Southern Cunning is a journey through the folklore of the American South and a look at the power these stories hold for modern witches. Through the lens of folklore, animism, and bioregionalism the book shows how to bring rituals in folklore into the modern day and presents a uniquely American approach to witchcraft born out of the land and practical application.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Magic, Folklore, Religion

152 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2019

About the author

Aaron Oberon is a Southern folk witch with a passion for bringing witchcraft to people from different roots. Aaron writes about queer magic, bioregionalism, and witchcraft that gets down in the dirt. It is deeply important to Aaron that he helps to make witchcraft and magic more accessible to those from underprivileged areas. His goal in writing is to demonstrate that there is power in the stories of families and local land. Aaron lives in Southwest Florida.

Reviews

[hope h. · Rating 4 out of 5]

back on my witch shit!! super informative, well-thought-out, no-nonsense exploration of/primer to southern folkloric witchcraft. i really appreciated how clearly written and formatted it was, as well as how the author clearly laid out what the book Is and Is Not in the beginning. i find that the stumbling block for a lot of witchcraft books is that they set too broad a scope and end up either skimming over a lot of topics or turn into a 900 page dry n' dusty tome that no one's going to read; HUGE success here in setting a clear scope of what the book is going to cover and then approaching it from a well-reasoned viewpoint that is logical but still accessible.

witchcraft is such a difficult thing to write about, and i find that the best books to read are books that are tangentially related but not specifically Witchcraft Books, you know? a lot can be gained simply through studying myths and legends, folklore, local herbal knowledge, history, etc, because once you get into the actual realm of witch books you're basically tripping left and right over authors who are either a. wiccans who are waaay too into the Cosmic Duology of Man and Woman who will try to sell you straight up lies about history, b. capitalizing off the 'granddaughters of the witches you couldn't burn' feminist witchcraft lite craze, or c. ceremonial high magick aficionados who are usually the authors of the aforementioned 900 page tomes and if that's your thing that's cool but personally they make me fall asleep. living proof that no matter how interesting the subject is, if it's taught poorly, it can be boring. HOWEVER. this book manages to hit that sweet spot where it is very much about witchcraft, while still holding a solid grasp of science and history, AND it's not authored by an actual nazi. a delight. further bonuses were discussion of reclaiming biblical and christian practices for witchcraft (don't ever ask me about religious syncretism i can go all day) AND a strong warning to do scientific research into the chemical compounds of herbs before using them aS AN ENTHEOGEN, GUYS, COME ON, THIS IS COMMON SENSE. which is refreshing to see in these circles.

basically i learned a ton but it also was very clear about how much more there is to learn from other authors and other sources. my appetite is fully whetted for some proper in-depth research now - here's hoping this is only the start to a full deep dive because there is SO MUCH TO LEARN!!

[Miles Madonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 i really enjoyed this, but definitely some signs of independent publishing (misspellings and repetition) that were a bit frustrating to read through!

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written and more akin to a rambling blog post than a book. However, the bibliography of more serious literature on Southern folklore was worth the purchase price.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book thinking that this would focus on the history of folklore and witchcraft throughout the US South, filled with stories and oral histories. Because of my own incorrect assumptions, I had trouble getting through this book, although I did try to adjust my mind to enjoy it.

While I understand that the south is a vast region, I didn't get an overall distinctly southern focus while reading. Yes, the author has lived in Maryland and Florida, and there were some very specific focused areas, but overall it was lacking what I was hoping for. I would have even enjoyed a strong focus on Florida folklore. After finishing the book I listened to a podcast where the author discussed that this had started out as a journal and then cobbled it together into a book, which definitely made sense. Some of the sections go into depth about certain practices, while others give a too brief explanation before diving into details that they assume the reader will know (I was very confused in certain areas and had no idea what some terms meant, what the "Silver" book was, etc).

This book wasn't for me personally, but I'm sure others will find it useful.

[Patricia Puckett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the biggest thing this book did for me was confirm that I am not a folkloric witch. I had some... issues with this one. I didn't mind the Christian influences on the author's practice (I am friends with a few Christian witches). What I did mind was the terminology. I had a really difficult time with the whole concept of "witch father" and the flagrant use of the word Devil. I kept flipping back and forth trying to figure out if I had missed where the author explained if Devil, perhaps, just meant "spirit." But that was not the case. It seemed to indicate the Christian Devil, and I feel like--as someone who practices in the American South--that that terminology and and meaning can be very damaging to a large portion of us who are struggling against being called "devil worshipers" or "satanists." While I understand there are those who do follow the Devil or Satan or Lucifer in the practice, I feel like this was just a "lump sum" situation, and that's just not so. I did not resonate with much of this book.

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I was hoping but still has some really good information especially for beginners. The one thing that I personally did not like was the author's decision to write about using Christian mythos and the Bible in their spell crafting. This is my own personal thing that I did not like, but I know that many other witches out there do use those sorts of things and that is totally fine. It just didn't jive with me is all.

[BookMoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about Oberon's personal practices felt like being given a gift. It feels like a rather vulnerable narrative, and a kindness that it has been brought into the world.
Throughout Southern Cunning are a lot of interesting gems and personal anecdotes.
Reading it has given me another perspective to such practices.
This book is sincere and does not try to be something that it isn't.
It is a book that talks through a first hand relationship to witchcraft and it's inception in the south and how this manifested through her life. It gives examples of how she might perform rituals and some meanings of ways she has adopted customs to fit her lifestyle.

I have been wary about books on this subject that claim there is a single way to do this, and this book does a good job talking about one's practice being extremely personal, and not necessitating one follow the exact codified behaviors of other practitioners.

She talks at length about the Witch Father, who she says the more secular among society would describe as the devil. It is a bit tricky when reading this because of much of Christianity she has accepted and used within her practice while still stating to reject it. To some extent this is examined, but on the other hand it gives a validity to the idea that the devil may indeed exist, and that the Bible may in fact have power. While I don't fault her for this it made it harder for me to appreciate this text as anything but a sort of journal of her experience.

The goodreads star system seems like a poor thing to apply to what is clearly a person bearing her soul and sharing the secrets of her practice. I rated it 3 stars because the editing in it is pretty dreadful, and there are points when the author uses acronym but doesn't explain what the shortened form means until several chapters later.

Also I wanted to add this story, which I appreciated in the book:
"There is a story in it about a hunter who has run out of bullets. So he sees a deer, and loads his gun with what's remaining of his lunch- so shoots it with a peach pit. The deer doesn't die but becomes a spirit guardian and grows peach trees from it's antlers- which the hunter's wife uses to make the best peach pie in the forest."

[Kathy Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Helped my research a lot. Loved the author's style and candor.

[Hana the Suburban Witch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok but not wonderful. I had heard great things about it, which is why I wanted to read it but did feel a little let down. In saying that, I may not be the target audience since I am not a US southerner and if you are, then this book would likely hit different for you.

What I liked:
- It was a short, quick read.
- I could tell it was a vulnerable and personal topic for Aaron to write about, and I appreciate Aarons honesty and openness.
- There were some interesting correlations between folklore and witchcraft
- One or two ideas that I liked and hadn't read about before
- Good ethics, some notes on safety and I liked the explanation of UPG and its importance

What I didn't like:
- Didn't realise you needed to have read "A Silver Bullet" and other southern folk stories to understand most of the references. Would have been handy to have that on the back of the book somewhere, or more of a "this story is about x,y,z" rather than just off hand references so I ended up finding those stories to read which is fine, but would have liked a heads up.
- The spelling and grammar errors in this book were quite a distraction. Not the authors fault (I am a writer, I get it) but definitely should have been edited better as it was really frustrating and meant re-reading sections a few times thinking I just read it wrong, but no, it was a repeat sentence, or there was no punctuation etc.
- It felt like the entire book skimmed the surface of every topic. There could have been some super interesting discussion but it was all just touch and go.
- Didn't vibe with the "Witch Father" terminology, or description. Totally a personal thing, but just felt like something out of Sabrina.
- If Witch balls are your thing you may enjoy it, but I knew immediately that was not a form of magick I would ever use. They're mentioned heavily in the book though.
- Nothing gripped me.

All in all, I wouldn't read it again but I can see the appeal for other folks, particularly those who grew up with appalachian folk tales. Since I didn't I may not be the target audience and probably wanted more on those folk tales than this book had to offer.

[Gowanii Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro to southern folk magic however the line "I think what Jonas saw was that the Devil and the Melungeon’s took care of their own in the way a man of God never did for him" is an immediate dnf as it is incorrect, reductive, stereotypical, and playing into old racist stereotypes. It personally made me, a Melungeon, very uncomfy because while it is true we take care of our own it is not true that we do so with the Devil as was implied. It was otherwise short & sweet & to the point though about half of the book did cover witches balls so if you're interested in that specifically this definitely has you covered. It is specifically good if it's your 1st book on southern folk magic.

[Elizabeth Cropper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important read for any witch

Finally, a book on American witchcraft instead of British based craft. This book has enriched my 20 year practice in both it's practical, down to earth conjure, but also by providing the missing puzzle pieces that snapped some personal experiences into clarity. I highly recommend this book, even if you aren't Southern or even American. Bioreginal witchcraft is something every witch should learn, imho.

[Teah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little too emo and edgelord lite for my taste.

[Dezzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the end of it, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others! I’ve been researching since high school, practicing for almost 8/9 years. And grew up Eastern Ky, now Central so I definitely fall under the Southern part of this book. 😂 and while I tend to just call myself a solo practitioner, I do feel a strong pull to Folkloric Witchcraft.

CONS: there are grammatical errors, typos and misspellings occasionally. But for $15, it doesn’t shock me. I’ve found mistakes in more expensive books. From a spiritual (and OPINION) perspective, it was confusing through most of the book when the author would reference the Witch Father. I was constantly questioning “which devil” from which pantheon they were speaking of because they did reference at the beginning that they did NOT work with deities (or the book wouldn’t be exploring them.) But finally clarified in the last chapter! lol.

PROS: definitely some good insight on “flying” or astral projection, has made me want to create a couple new tools I hadn’t really heard of before and now I’m chomping at the bits to explore the spirits in my hometown.

[Amanda Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Southern Cunning offers a fresh take on Southern folklore and its links to witchcraft, and I really appreciated how Aaron Oberon ties animism and bioregionalism into the narrative. There’s an authenticity to the way he highlights regional practices, making it feel like a genuine homage to Southern roots rather than a rehash of generalized witchcraft.

That said, it felt like the book skimmed the surface at times. While there are some interesting rituals and folklore tidbits, I found myself wanting more depth—more detail and context behind the practices. For readers who are new to folk magic or looking to dip their toes in Southern witchcraft, this is a solid introduction. But for those hoping for a deeper dive, it may not fully satisfy. Still, it’s an interesting read with a unique perspective on regional magic.

[Ocean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found the read to be generally interesting if frustrating with how surface level the descriptions were. I was nevertheless learning a few terms and some interesting attestations of substitutions approaches to witchcraft rituals. Then the guy just uncritically discusses animal abuse, including but not limited to catching a black cat and boiling it without any real condemnation other than saying he has a personal preference against it. That combined with some other unethical descriptions of various practices that had annoyed me already compelled me to the decision to DNF this one. I've read some wild shit in my journey through pagan literature, but this was the first one that just upset me to the point of not having any wish to continue. Disgusting.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not even halfway through this book and I can say this is my favorite witchcraft book that I have. The writing is easy to follow, the rituals described make sense, and it connects to those who’ve grown up in the South by describing similar experiences and practices. The rituals described have context to them as well, something that is lacking in a lot of my other witchcraft books. I really recommend this book to anyone looking to further their craft, especially beginners, although I’m no where near a beginner but I am, as we all are, always learning.

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eeek. Witchy tales (fiction, non-fiction, historical, mystical, mythical, etc) are my favorite and I was really hoping to gather interesting southern folklore nuggets from this quick read, but alas — not here. Riddled with typos, grammatical errors and unintentional repetition, this was just a challenge to get from cover to cover. Author might consider an editor if choosing to pen another book. The one interesting takeaway was the lore of the haint blue porch ceilings — never knew this! For this nugget I gave a 2nd star. ⭐️ ⭐️

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must have read The Silver Bullet to really be able to deeply understand large sections of the book. Its. It really a journey through folklore as it tells almost zero stories. Its more about how folklore as a body of practice and influence. Good points throughout and I really will come back to some of the sections, but not a strong stand alone book without reading some of the source material first. Wish this was evident in the description before purchasing, but happy to support a small author. Lots of typos misspellings/typos.

[Amanda Zamorano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read and a place to springboard research and adopting customs. I am a chaos witch, so there were a few things that didn't apply and others that I can use in my practice (For example, I'd never use familiars, I use servitors for everything) but the information on Sator Squares and the bible is something I will be looking more into. Worth a purchase if you adopt other things into your craft. I don't believe this is as true as it could be to Southern Witchcraft and what is popular in that region with how rich of a culture it is.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friggin' loved this one. It was very insightful and engaging. I appreciated that, though there were magical practices, like witch balls and besoms, like instructional stuff, it was all left vague enough that you could form your own ideas around it. I liked the folkloric aspects of the work, and his personal stories and asides were also really interesting. Besides a couple of spelling errors, nothing major, it didn't detract from the content of the text, and it all felt very personal.

[Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my god?? a book about witchcraft in my region that REALLY speaks to how it feels to be an american practitioner?? this book felt like coming home. for anyone who’s never felt like they fit in in more broadly accepted neopagan circles, this ones for you. minor critiques on spelling and grammar - i wish it had been edited more thoroughly, but overall my biggest wish is that this book was so much longer than it is.

[Brooke Olivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read....

As a South Louisiana witch, this book was engaging and knowledgeable on a side of the craft that I always acknowledged, but was not very familiar with. I have a close friend who is a Folklore major and also a practitioner. I have recommended Aaron’s book to her and can’t wait for her thoughts on it.

[Bri Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was OK. By the title I assumed that the book was going to be about folklore southern stories. Which to an extent it does so when it didn’t, was a hard read to go through. On top of that, a lot of it was based upon the “Witch Father” or the Devil. I really don’t practice that in my beliefs (eclectic solitary witch). But based on the novel, I am not a folklore witch by any means

[Lady Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an AMAZING introduction to witchcraft in the south. Not only does it tackle racism, but also gives fantastic nuance as to why southern witches believe what they do, the magic they practice, why they practice it, and it gives an amazing look into the MANY cultural influences that go into southern witchcraft. The author was also witty, charming, and wrote like a human being.

[Jamie Kiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoah, this one got my witch fire burning. Despite absent editing, I really enjoyed this book and it's such a rare breed I can't even deduct a star for it. There are so many wonderful treasures layered within. So many doors that these ideas can open in my practice. The rituals for the Witch Father are so compact compared to others, yet very powerful.

[Mt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, funny, and real. I really enjoyed how authentic the practice felt and the fact that the author encourages the reader to explore what folklore means to them and how our personal experiences change magic and witchcraft.

[Daylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good intro to folkloric witchcraft and serves as a great jumping point for your own path or research. Especially as a fellow Floridian I love reading his personal experiences and how some of it has resonated with my own.

[Slmstanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on Southern hedge-witch practice; alas, not the scholarly treatise on historical practice that I had assumed it would be. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it, as it's an informative window into a different type of witchcraft from my own.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one for research for a book project, but what a fascinating look at southern occultism and witchcraft. Deeply intertwined with folklore, Protestantism, and nature, this walks the reader through a crash course in southern witchcraft.

[Brea Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great book! It's hard to find books that aren't focused on Wicca or European witchcraft. This resonated with me on so many levels!

I appreciated the realistic verbiage used and the down to earth approach.