Folk Religion of the Pennsylvania Dutch: Witchcraft, Faith Healing and Related Practices — Witchcraft Wicca

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Folk Religion of the Pennsylvania Dutch: Witchcraft, Faith Healing and Related Practices

Name: Folk Religion of the Pennsylvania Dutch: Witchcraft, Faith Healing and Related Practices
Price: 29.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781476672267

✍️ Orth, Richard L T

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$29.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the fascinating world of Braucherei, often called Powwowing, the traditional folk magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch. This insightful volume by Richard L. T. Orth, a community insider, meticulously chronicles the practices, cultural tapestry, and historical lineage of these unique faith healers and practitioners of 'white magic.' Discover how these traditions, rooted in 17th and 18th-century German and Swiss immigration, have sustained themselves for nearly three centuries in Eastern North America, offering a vital link to an enduring esoteric heritage.

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 McFarland & Company 📅 2018 📖 269 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781476672267

Fun Fact

Orth's work is a crucial ethnographic account, offering an invaluable window into a vibrant, often misunderstood, folk tradition. Its strength lies in the author's intimate knowledge and detailed descriptions, providing a rare insider's perspective. Those seeking practical spellcraft manuals might be disappointed, as its focus is academic and cultural documentation. This book firmly establishes itself as a definitive, respectful resource in the study of American folk magic, celebrating a rich, living heritage.

📝 Description: Folk Religion of the Pennsylvania Dutch: Witchcraft, Faith Healing and Related Practices

For almost three centuries, the "Pennsylvania Dutch"--descended from German immigrants--have practiced white magic, known in their dialect as Braucherei (from the German "brauchen," to use) or Powwowing. The tradition was brought by immigrants from the Rhineland and Switzerland in the 17th and 18th centuries, when they settled in Pennsylvania and in other areas of what is now the eastern United States and Canada. Practitioners draw on folklore and tradition dating to the turn of the 19th century, when healers like Mountain Mary--canonized as a saint for her powers--arrived in the New World. The author, a member of the Pennsylvania Dutch community, describes in detail the practices, culture and history of faith healers and witches.

📑 What's inside

Preface
A Hexerei Vocabulary
Part I: White and Black Magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
1. Hexerei: An Introduction
2. Braucherei: Its Counter (Powwow and Hex Doctors)
3. Pennsylvania Dutch Powwow Carvings and the Occult
4. Abracadabra: An (Antediluvian) Amulet of Protection
5. Rural Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
6. Secrets of a Pennsylvania Dutch Witch in the Oley Hills
7. Hexerei: Application and Folk Tales
Part II: The Mysterious and Unexplained
8. John Ross and the Supernatural
9. ESP + 1750 Mansion = Historical Insight
10. A Colonial Lobachsville Homestead in America and Ties to the Occult
11. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die!
12. X Does More Than Mark the Spot
13. 18th-Century Yoder Ghost of Oley Valley
Part III: Faith Healing of the Dutch Country
14. Frontier Faith Healing in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
15. Mountain Mary: Berks County's Most Beloved Faith Healer
16. John George Hohman, Berks County's Christian Wizard
17. Catholic Church Holidays Kept Alive by Pennsylvania
delete delete Dutch Pioneers
18. Famous Stahl Pottery Works Fired "Ferhext" Redware
delete delete Pie Plate
Part IV: Folklore Derived from 18th-and 19th-Century Beliefs
19. Pennsylvania Dutch Weather Lore of the Early 20th Century
20. Goose-Bone Prophets of the Dutch Country
21. Appalachian Powwowing among the Pennsylvania Dutch
22. Historic Kutztown University: Its Interaction with the
delete delete Occult and Its -German-Speaking Community
23. The -World-Famous Hex Sign Folk Art ... Myth!
Part V: Amulets and the Lord's Protection from Evil
24. "Deivel's Dreck" and Other Rural Devices to Ward Off Evil
25. Pennsylvania Dutch Traditions of the -All-Seeing Eye (of Jesus Christ)
26. Folk Legend of the Pennsylvania Dutch "Himmelsbriefs" (Letters from Heaven)
27. Contemporary Holy Letters Still Carried Today
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Orth’s text serves as a meticulous chronicle of Braucherei, appealing strongly to those interested in the sociological and historical aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic. However, it may not suit readers seeking practical grimoires or immediate ritual instructions, as its focus remains on cultural tapestry and historical lineage rather than instructional methodology. Those expecting sensationalist tales of hexes might find the tone too academic or respectful of tradition. It is best for scholars and serious enthusiasts who value contextual depth over dramatic flair, offering a grounded look at 'white magic' without the mystification often found in lesser works.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers with a deep curiosity about the hidden currents of European folk magic in America will find this volume indispensable. Richard L. T. Orth provides an insider’s perspective on Braucherei, offering clarity to those who feel disconnected from mainstream occult history. By detailing the cultural tapestry and lineage of these faith healers, the book illuminates how 'white magic' has survived as a vital esoteric heritage. It is perfect for historians, anthropologists, and practitioners seeking authentic roots rather than modern reinterpretations, allowing them to appreciate the enduring power of traditions that have quietly sustained communities since the seventeenth century.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're captivated by regional folk magic, the history of esoteric traditions in America, or the cultural legacy of immigrant communities, this book is for you. It offers a scholarly yet accessible entry point into a fascinating spiritual heritage.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Orth’s text serves as a meticulous chronicle of Braucherei, appealing strongly to those interested in the sociological and historical aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic. However, it may not suit readers seeking practical grimoires or immediate ritual instructions, as its focus remains on cultural tapestry and historical lineage rather than instructional methodology. Those expecting sensationalist tales of hexes might find the tone too academic or respectful of tradition. It is best for scholars and serious enthusiasts who value contextual depth over dramatic flair, offering a grounded look at 'white magic' without the mystification often found in lesser works.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, despite the shared term, 'Powwowing' in this context refers specifically to the folk magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch, derived from the German 'brauchen,' meaning 'to use.' It is distinct from indigenous American spiritual practices.

While it describes the practices in detail, the book serves as an academic and cultural study rather than a how-to guide for practitioners. Its primary aim is to document and explain the tradition's history and methods.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Braucherei Practices Revealed

The book meticulously details the specific rituals, incantations, and healing methods that characterize Braucherei. It explains how these practices, from blessing sickness to charming away ailments, are performed, offering an intimate look at a tradition often shrouded in mystery. Readers gain an understanding of the practical application of this folk magic.

Historical Roots & Migration

Explore the deep historical currents that brought these magical practices to the New World. The text traces their origins from the Rhineland and Switzerland in the 17th and 18th centuries, illustrating the journey of these traditions with their immigrant communities. It highlights figures like 'Mountain Mary' and their role in establishing the practice in America.

Culture and Community

Beyond mere practice, this work examines how Braucherei is intricately embedded within the Pennsylvania Dutch community. It explores the cultural significance of these traditions, their role in daily life, and how they contribute to the identity of this unique group. The book sheds light on the social context surrounding these spiritual and healing arts.

📜 Historical context

The tradition of Braucherei, or Powwowing, arrived in North America with German and Swiss immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries, settling primarily in Pennsylvania. These practices are a continuation of European folk magic, adapted and preserved within the Pennsylvania Dutch community, evolving from ancestral customs and figures like 'Mountain Mary' into a distinct American folk religion.

📚 Glossary

Braucherei
Powwowing
Pennsylvania Dutch

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do you see the blending of 'faith' and 'healing' in your own cultural or personal understanding of wellness?
Consider how immigrant communities you know have preserved or adapted their traditional practices in a new land. What parallels do you observe?
Reflect on a local folk tradition or superstition in your area. How might a book like this help to understand its deeper cultural or historical roots?