Urban Voodoo, S. Jason Black and Christopher Hyatt Options

First, I don't know anything about Voodoo, its religion or magick. Period !!!

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Urban Voodoo: A Beginners Guide to Afro-Caribbean Magic
by S. Jason Black, Christopher S. Hyatt
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: New Falcon Publications; 1st ed edition (December 1, 1993) (mine was pub'd 2000)
ISBN: 1561840599


I thought that most of this book was very interesting and well written. The majority of the first half of the book is primarily anecdotal stories of (Black's) experiences with his occult practice and his personal introduction to Voodoo.
This is written as a white, male, outsider who is basically self-teaching/exploring voodoo in Los Angelos. His approach is basically consistant with someone with ALOT of western ceremonial evocational experience that is called by latin spirits, but with no real guidance from the voodoo community.

This is not a magickal cookbook . . . although they do provide sections on divinition, brief descriptions of the Eshu and Orishas (gods and spirits), spells and self-initiation. But thats only part of about the last third of the book.
It is (for the most part) an inspiring read about an accomplished magicians experiences with Latin magick and evocation . . . on a darker line of "My Life with Spirits".

Unfortunately . . . there is a serious negative side of this book.
They dedicate a significant amount of space to religion bashing, self-congradulating, and professional prognosticating.
Though on a whole, the book was still a good read.
Bashing aside, it's still cool to hear about someone freaking out when a spirit make the streetlights go out or about unintentionally cursing your fat-bitchy-mean coworker. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Chapters:

Preface. The Purpose of this Book:
Basically giving thier perspective on the literary background of magickal voodoo sources available. Of primary note is that they aren't intending to "package" this book to be unoffensive or "clean-up" the material for a Judeo-Christian audiance.
Introduction. Hoodoo War
An introduction to explain why they feel voodoo is a tool in a "religious guerrila war", that voodoo (as they present) is a tool for real-world practical need aquisition and to clarify thier "Bocor" style presentation.
1. Initiation
anecdotal stories . . . cool !!
2. White Zombie
authors personal dissolutuinment with the "typical" western occult community, anecdotal stories (still cool) . . . his introduction to voodoo.
3. The Gods are Angry Effendi
more personal voodoo development through anecdotal stories, and being brushed off by the local santara
4. Tell My Horse-Go Back to Missouri
more anecdotal stories . . . but still cool
5. Dead Men Work in the Fields of Hollywood
more on the authors personal development of his voodoo practice and his association with a particular voodoo entity. These are very informative with being presented in a comfortable conversational style. (though, probably not informative to a practicable degree)
6. Spirits That Findeth Hidden Treasure
more developmental anecdotal stories including money work, animal sacrifice and a little revenge magick against thieves . . . all cool, although maybe not everyones practical cup-of-tea. Plus, a neat "Battle the haunted house" story.
7. Voodoo in the Waiting Room
again . . more anecdotal stories, a cool "grim and grit" story about a "bocor" priestest and meeting voodoo prostitutes . . . very cool (though not very erotic lol). Some interesting thoughts on the progression of voodoo as predicated on urban society and the subtle "war" between the xtain Right counter-progressive and the new techno-magical immigrate-evolution of our american society. (plus a bit of rant . . . both personal social and professional psychotherapist) .....
8. Christiantiy, Voodoo & Dionysys
This is where it frankly gets boring, repetitive and just old. Its basically an entire chapter of Xtain bashing and explainting why modern voodoo and ancient Dionysys-cults were better and cooler then any xtain aspects. Although I personally would agree with thier specific and overall position . . . it just got tedious as a read.
There was a little content (voodoo's position on magickal responsibility) that was interesting . . . unfortunately, not enough.
9. Spirits, Magical Theory & Psychic Repression
this started with thier opinion on the objective existance of "spirits" and the potential effect of spirit-experiences on people. . . interesting. But then . . the infamous "Obese Wiccan women" moment. LOL . . I think it was great, but I'm sure the fat wiccan chicks didn't. They actually are trying to make a point between the few people that are in the "occult club" to really to Magick and the huge amount of the rest that are just there as malcontents needing support-group.
10. Divination Techniques
They go over some divinition techniques (tarot, pendulum, Obi (those are kinda cool . . . a bit like I Ching), the Caracoles (like throwing the bones) and trance induction.
Really, for me . . . most of it was blah, except I liked the trance induction part. Nice style and probably worth some experimenting with.
11. The Lords of the Crossroads

12. Some Other Members of the Family
both chapter 11 and 12 are brief introduction to this particular traditions set of voodoo entities . . . and only a bare few (thought probably the most relevent and useful beginning set . . . but how would I know). They include invocations and spirits sigils.
13. Cocaine, Zombies & Cauldrons of Blood
Some interesting reading on the VERY dark-side of the voodoo practice and community. Soul-trapping, flesh-stripping and zombie making . . . throw in cotton candy and LSD, and you have a circus of the macabre. Granted, its a no-bullshit introduction to modern voodoo.
14. Spells
yeah yeah . . . yadda yadda. Not much different then voodoo/hoodoo spellbooks . . . and that was the intention (I think). It appears they only gave a minimal number of spell, probably for the express purpose of satisfying publishers.
15. Initiation & Self-Initiation
Largely a rant on the ongoing debate about the need for initiation and the necessity of formal "lodge" / traditional leader type of initiations. They basically end off with saying that formal initiations aren't necassary, but do carry a real value with them. That constant work and attention will and can effect initiation (quoting Regardie for support), but that "legitimacy" is often not a prediction (or indication) of competency.
Then they provide a VERY short exercise of self-initiation.
The End

Again, I thought it was a good (fast) read, with enough information to be a introduction to basic street voodoo. It didn't include much voodoo religious material, nor a latin perspective . . . but that wasn't thier intention, as they were presenting self-styled street voodoo from the perspective of a practicing western magician.
The lack of purely voodoo info, in my opinion, is off-set by the bulk of anecdotal material that covers a very interesting occult range.
Yeah, a fair amount of bashing . . . and some of it appropriate. Though, they might of been able to fill that space with more voodoo material, or just more cool personal stories.

The biggest draw-back of the book (IMO) is the lack of Index or a specific bibliographic section.

Overall . . . I liked it.

(plus, they give props to Chaos magick as the most likely successor in the current magickal evolution . . . (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif) )

I like This Book.There are Interesting Thoughts,Ideas e.t.c also Practices for Beginners.
I like this Kind of Books.

I've had a copy of that book for years, and I still really enjoy it.

Yeah, there is quite a bit of bashing of other groups and religions. A lot of it is justified, but quite a bit is not, and at a couple points the stories do get tedious. I mean, did they really have to go into that much detail about a voodoo/santeria practising prostitute? :? That having been said, there is a lot of useful information there if you're willing to do a bit of digging through some of the anecdotes.

The scary part for me is that I know exactly what kind of New Agey church lady they describe. I've had a few run-ins with people like that, and on the whole they strike me as pathetic, afraid, and just plain lazy. And I love the health nuts that chain smoke. Or the ones that declare everything in the way of self-improvement or personal gain 'Black Magic' and 'Bad Karma.' Yeah.. I really hate to tell them this, but that sort of attitude is just pawning off weaknesses and responsibility to someone or something else, and magic requires you to act like an adult and take responsibility for yourself. *sigh*

Nice review. I think I'll check it out. Jason Black is always interesting. Hyatt, as well. I've never studied Voodoo, so I ll put this on my to get list