Quick Specs
- Author: Starr Casas
- Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
- Size/Quantity: 256 pages, paperback, 5.9 x 8.9 inches
- Best for: Hoodoo practitioners, rootwork students, folk magic research
American Folk Magic from a Hereditary Practitioner
Conjure, hoodoo, and rootwork are distinctly American traditions, shaped by the African diaspora and the conditions of slavery in the South. Starr Casas is a hereditary conjure woman with over forty years of practice, and Old Style Conjure reads like someone passing down knowledge directly and without embellishment. Judika Illes, author of the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells, called Casas “the real deal.”
The book opens with a Q&A section that clears up persistent misconceptions about conjure immediately. It is not a religion, it has no initiation requirements, and it is not the same as Santeria or Palo. From there, Casas walks through the foundations: altars, offerings, divination, spirits of conjure, places of power, lights, conjure waters, dirts and dusts, roots and herbs, and the tools of the work. Each chapter draws on Casas’s own practice.
What the Book Covers
Old Style Conjure is structured for both newcomers and practitioners who want to deepen their existing practice. The chapter on bone reading is particularly strong, and the sections on conjure bags and candle work give clear, practical guidance. Casas includes her own recipes and spells throughout, making this a working reference rather than a historical survey. Published by Red Wheel/Weiser in 2017, it is written as a practitioner’s introduction to hoodoo.
How to Use Old Style Conjure
Getting the most from Old Style Conjure means reading it as a practitioner's manual, not a history text.
- Start with the Question-and-Answer Foundation
Read Chapter 1 before anything else. Casas uses a question-and-answer format to address common misconceptions about conjure: what it is, where it came from, how it relates to Christianity, and what its ethics look like. This grounding prevents later misunderstandings.
- Build Your Altar and Gather Supplies
Follow the altar chapter before attempting practical work. Casas is specific about what belongs on a conjure altar and why. A cloth, a candle, and offerings to your ancestors is enough to begin working. Add more tools as your practice develops.
- Work the Recipes as Written First
When you try a working from this book, follow Casas's recipe exactly the first time. She has tested these formulas over decades. Once you understand why each element is included, you can adapt them to your own materials and circumstances.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock Old Style Conjure because it’s a practitioner’s introduction to hoodoo, rootwork, and folk magic. Hoodoo is a living tradition, and I offer this book as an entry point, not a substitute for learning from practitioners and community. This belongs on the shelf alongside the other practitioner-authored titles in my books collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Casas wrote it for both beginners and experienced practitioners. The opening question-and-answer chapter addresses foundational questions directly, and practical chapters build progressively. No prior knowledge of hoodoo or folk magic is needed to start.
No. Casas explains clearly that conjure is not a religion. Most historical conjure workers were Christian and the Bible figures prominently, but no specific faith is required to learn from or practice what this book teaches. The work stands alone.
The book covers altars, offerings, divination, spirits, places of power, candle work, conjure waters, dirts, roots, herbs, conjure bags, and tools of the trade. Each chapter includes Casas's own recipes and spells from over forty years of practice.
Starr Casas is a hereditary conjure woman with over forty years of practice. She teaches workshops across the United States and runs Mama Starr's Style LLC in Houston.
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