In the House of Spirits
Folkways and Stories of Appalachian Mountain Religion
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Red Wheel/Weiser
Publishing:11th Feb '27
£21.99
This title is due to be published on 11th February, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Written by a native son with firsthand experience, In the House of Spirits is a deep exploration into Appalachian folk spirituality. It covers the interchange between religion and animistic beliefs in the mountains, and the roles of God, Death, and the Devil, as well as of angels and demons. It also explores the profound impact of the Spiritualist movement upon Appalachia, which helped further and shape the practice of honoring and speaking with not only the dead but also other unseen forces.
A focus of the book is on ancestor veneration, which Richards describes as “the first step into the unseen world, and the Appalachian traditions that surround this, from the past into the modern day, from grave house and mound graves to bookshelf memorials.” Richards also covers the grimoire tradition in Appalachia, ranging from The Long Lost Friend, including Himmelsbriefs (Heavenly Letters), to The Black Pullet and beliefs about these books and those who used them or even simply had them. Other topics include spiritual beliefs about plants, the influence of spirits on our health, and the lasting legacy of death rituals and practices.
One of the goals of this work is to resurrect these traditions as they were, not as history as recorded them in broken pieces of “superstition” but as a cohesive practice by which mountain folk have lived for centuries. If your folks are from Appalachia, this is part of your heritage, life, and culture, regardless of your gender, race, or sexual orientation. We are all heirs to the Mountain.
“In In the House of Spirits, Jake Richards blends the old with the new and shows how one can be a healer, a preacher, and a seer all at the same time. I think that that has been lost in today’s world. Folks don’t understand that there are two different kinds of Christians. Jake Richards has done well in laying out the foundation of how Christianity plays a part in Appalachian magic. Jake also talks about pulling down the blood. A lot of folks in today’s time don’t understand how powerful that really is. In The House of Spirits helps folks understand the foundation of the work. It is definitely worth the read.”
—Starr Casas, author of Old Style Conjure and many other books
“In the House of Spirits is one of the best books I have ever read on Hill Folk spirituality, cultural history, folk magic, and the lore of the liminal landscape of Appalachia. I’ve cried a quart of tears in melancholy remembrance, ancestral longing, and homecoming as the eyes of my soul viewed the familiar cultural landscape so eloquently expressed on each page. Jake Richards shares his wisdom and research clearly, informatively, and, to my delight, in the soulful storytelling and life-informed metaphorical style of the Hill Folk. This book is embraced so deeply by my heart that I must give praise to the writer and reserve a special spot for it on my bookshelf! I recommend you do the same.”
—Orion Foxwood, author of Mountain Conjure and Southern Root Work and many other books
“Jake Richards reveals how deeply magic, religion, and folklore are intertwined in Appalachian life. Through personal stories and inherited traditions, he brings us into a world where the Holy Ghost, haints, and ancestors share the same spiritual landscape. His work reminds us that these traditions live on through faith, family, and the land itself.”
—Coby Michael, author of The Poison Path Herbal
“What is remembered, lives. In In the House of Spirits, Jake Richards beautifully illustrates this truth, weaving together the sacredness of the land, the wisdom of ancestors, and the traditions that connect generations. A heartfelt and evocative exploration of Appalachian spirituality that reminds us that those who came before us live on through the stories we tell, the customs we preserve, and the love we carry forward.”
—Angie Buchanan, certified death midwife, death midwife instructor, and cofounder and senior minister of Earth Traditions
ISBN: 9781578639137
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
272 pages