Future folkways

My perspective on Appalachian folk magic has changed a lot over the past five years.

I know it's because my practice was, in large part, self-serving. It was mostly solitary, over-concerned with sources and folklore.

Some of the richest (and my favorite) parts of Appalachian folk magic have always been the customs, food traditions, stories, etc. And I think it's just as important to understand the history (labor struggles, exploitation, systems of oppression, addiction...).

But the heart is the people. Meeting them where they are. Listening more than speaking. Failing, learning, and showing up again.

The past is important, but my ancestors don't let me linger there long. The land is important, but spirit always gives me my lessons and sends me on my way.

Folk practices aren't static; they evolve alongside the realities people face. The only way to figure out what still works is to stop treating them like artifacts and genuinely engage with the communities whose lives and struggles continue to shape them.