Voodoo Charms & Talismans

For those of you who just don't know any better, this book is about an art of the Conjure Worker NOT about the religion of Vodu. Thus before you get all worked up about the contet and the way it's portrayed, realize this is yet another alternative resource for the Conjure Worker. Some Hoodooists find this material useful as does professional RootWorkers like myself. The LWA the book discusses are very much real. The Vevers offered are simple talismans that these LWA use as a way to gain their blessing. The offerings are listed and some of them are somewhat gruesome but such is the ways of the LWA and Spirits. The workings are varied and many. Pelton has done his homework and collected a vast amount of data from a wide variety of sources. There are LWA for everything from Sex to Love, Revenge to Hate, Uncrossing to Healing and everything in between. The talismans can be used in conjunctions with Candle Sorceries. The key is to know who to call upon and what to offer them. Some of the LWA are heavy handed and they're more of the Petwo or Congo type of LWA instead of the more benign Rada LWA. The offerings mentioned for each LWA are not the only ones the LWA Spirits will accept though. My own Obeah teacher taught me that there are many types of offerings to give these Spirits. There are spells listed in the book that are attributed to legendary Conjure workers from New Orleans such as Dr. Yah, Madam Senite Dede, Madam Saloppe, Marie Laveau, Dr. John and so on. These are the legendary RootWork/Conjure workers. Some of these spells require certain types of sprinkling powders, incenses, herbs & roots but most are easily obtainable from any online botanica. Overall I rate the book 5 stars as it is a Conjure Grimoire and is not heavy on theory or backstory. It's straight ahead, go get 'em type of workings and information. Only the ignorant will look at this and complain but such are the ways of the ignorant.

This book was informative, although sometimes a bit elementary. It did however give easy to follow instructions and lore.