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Title: Sticks, Stones Roots and Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs (Llewellyn Publications, 2004)

Author: Stephanie Rose Bird

Book Details: 274 pages including appendices, glossary, bibliography, recommended reading and index. Soft cover.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. It's In The Bag
3. The Broom in Hoodoo
4. Cleaning Rituals and Spirit Washes
5. Harvesting the Gifts of Fire
6. Elements of War
7. Keepin' the Peace
8. Prosperity
9. Gettin' Some Love & Keepin' It Close
10. Fertility
11. Sacred Rites of Commitment
12. Hoodoo Child
13. The Conjurer's Dream
14. Passin' On

Book Excerpt

"The humble broom holds an elevated position in African and African American folklore, magicko-religious beliefs and spiritual practices. Most folks are familiar with our reverence for the broom because of its prominent role in traditional African American weddings. The jumping of the broom ceremony, for example, has been embraced as a vestige of Black heritage. Yet, looking into the elaborate broom etiquette and customs of early African Americans and hoodoos only provided a partial understanding of the role of the broom. For an in-depth understanding of the relationship between brooms and Black folks, we must journey much further back in time. Tracing the broom's usage back across the Atlantic sheds the brightest light on its complex articulation in African and African American culture." (From "The Broom in Hoodoo," page 43.)

The information Bird provides on the significance of broom straw holds special meaning for me since like the author, I remember as a young girl watching intently as my cousins' ears were pierced (my mom did not permit me to have my ears pierced until I was 16 so I was an excited observer before that!) using a needle, thread and the straw from a broom. Bird's references to this ritual of African American culture flooded my mind with memories of the aroma of singed straw, a piece of which was placed in my relatives' newly pierced ears to seal off the hole so it would never close. I have vivid memories of playing with them and carefully watching their ear lobes, each of which contained a piece of straw joined together at the ends by knotted thread. How I longed to have a piece of burnt straw in my ears as a child!

Book Review by Donna Maria

While Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones shares many ingredients used in other books containing recipes for beauty products, it goes beyond the typical "ounce of this and teaspoon of that" to shed light on some of the ancient history surrounding the art of concocting products to enhance body, soul and the life experience overall. Written from the perspective of a woman who inherited her family's way with sticks, stones, roots and bones, this book is filled with more than recipes. As highlighted by the above excerpt, the book includes an extensive backdrop for many recipes in the form of history and insights into the beliefs, rituals and traditions of the African people who inspired them.

For example, rather than simply provide recipes for romance in the chapter entitled, "Gettin' Some Love & Keepin' It Close," Bird provides historical references to the use of roses in the ancient world. Another example from the same chapter refers to orris root as an herb considered in ancient Khemet (a part of northern Africa describes as "Black Egypt") to have been able to enhance the power of individual herbs and even "transform" any other plant it came into contact with. Against these types of backdrops, we find recipes such as Love Fruit Pomander, Angels on High Soap and Nefertiti's Milk Bath.

Many of the recipes include references to the "hoodoo" behind the concoctions. For example, the recipe for Money Bathing Ritual (p. 138) contains ingredients which, according to Bird, are said to be linked to general well-being, prosperity, money and "luck drawing." Whether this appeals to you or not, the ingredients of Epsom salt, dried basil, peppermint leaves, sea kelp, essential oils and more are sure to help you create a relaxing bath. Similarly, the recipe for Love Fruit Pomander (page 155) suggest repeating a sort of love mantra, if you will, while you are inserting cloves into the holes made in the skin of the orange.

I made Nefertiti's Milk Bath and enjoyed every minute of the process, plus the bath! The recipe calls for neroli hydrosol (orange blossom water), essential oils of rose and myrrh, milk and rose petals. Because I have a really large bath tub, I used a gallon of whole milk instead of the cup called for in the recipe, and I used a full cup of kaolin instead of just 1/2 cup. How yummy is that?! 

If you enjoy using herbs, flowers and oils to enhance your self-care experience and your life in general, you'll be delighted by Bird's recipes. The fact that the author also includes her unique perspectives combined with well researched references to African history, is a rare and special bonus.

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