Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals

I saw somebody priced the hardcover book at $81 dollars. That's an absolutely ridiculous price. Just get the paperback either from here or from Amazon.

Luisah Teish is a trailblazer who has paved the path for contemporary African American spiritualists and metaphysical works. "Jambalaya" is an ecletic book, that is unrestricted by strict adherence to a particular path. This approach makes the book inviting to practitioners of various paths and orientations. The style used by Teish in "Jambalaya" should be celebrated because African belief systems are as diverse as Africans and African descended people, rather than dubbed "New Age." The author is creative, her experience is rich and her writer's voice resonates."Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals" is a frequently visited book on my reference shelf, even though the pages are yellowing. Whatever level or type of practitioner the reader is, no doubt "Jambalaya will be a book capable of feeding the soul throughout the years.

I bought this book for research, and it more than met my expectations. In fact, I couldn't put this book down until I'd read it cover-to-cover! Ms. Teish weaves a compelling first-person story, balanced with rituals and work, to enrich the life of anyone who reads and applies what is in this book. Whether you're a woman looking for spiritual answers in a confusing and conflicted world, or a beginner curious about the spiritual options of Voudou, this book is absolutely, positively a must-read. It's a page-turner, no matter what your background and interests.

So many books on Spirit set off my bog-o-meter, but this is not one of them. Teish is a fabulous teacher, story-teller, and leader. I refer to my copy of _Jambalaya_ so often, I've really got to get a new copy.A beautiful book about a beautiful spiritual path.

I loved the fact that Teish put this book in the context of returning home and telling her personal story of coming to Voodoo. As a black woman who is drawn to many Pagan paths but especially looking for something that reflects my ancestry, this book really reverberated with me. Teish includes everything from the beginnings of Voodoo in W. African and its development in America, to altars for specific Gods, humorous anecdotes, spells for many purposes, etc. etc. etc. A much-overlooked but much-needed addition to any Pagan library.

As a Northern black kid raised by Southern black parents, I recommend this book to people raised like me. It answers about as many questions as it raises. Being of a Western mindset, I eventually gave up ever trying to find some way to make voudou more accessable to me. I may be African-American, but I'm neither African nor Cuban. Teish's book is primarily about the voudou of New Orleans, which is mixed with Catholicism, Amerind and Western pagan traditions. I think I've found in-road. Want the story on the woman responsible for modern American Voudou, Man'zelle Marie LaVeau? On the voudou-Catholic connection? On how the Seven African Powers relate to the saints, the planets and the elements? On what is meant by "the devil is beating his wife?" Want to get scared out of making a spirit doll for yourself? How about getting guided away from hexing as a way of life? This ... is a good book. If you've gotten frustrated when trying to learn about voudou, this is a great place to start.