Quick Specs
- Author: Godfrey Selig (Johann Gottfried Seelig), translated from German
- Type: Classic folk magic text, Psalms reference
- Coverage: All 150 Psalms with assigned purposes and divine names
- Best for: Psalm-magic practitioners, hoodoo practitioners, Christian witches, folk magic scholars
A Text That Crossed Traditions
Secrets of the Psalms traces back to the Hebrew mystical text Shimmush Tehillim, a kabbalistic work assigning divine names and practical applications to each of the 150 Psalms. Selig rendered this material into German, and English editions followed, reaching the American supply trade from the late 1930s and early 1940s. Through that trade it reached hoodoo practitioners, and Hyatt’s collected interviews record an informant citing the 91st Psalm and the Moses books.
What makes the book unusual is that it kept its kabbalistic structure while being adopted in hoodoo. Each Psalm is assigned a holy name of God, a specific condition it addresses, and instructions for how to apply it, whether recited aloud, written on paper, prayed over water, or carried as an amulet. The range of conditions covered is wide: protection from enemies, healing specific ailments, success in court, reconciliation, memory, travel safety, and more.
Practical Reference for Working Practitioners
Many practitioners use this book as a reference rather than reading it cover to cover. Psalm 23 for guidance. Psalms 38 and 39 together for court cases. Psalm 91 for protection. Psalm 72 as an amulet for poverty relief. These assignments are what the book is known for, and practitioners pair the assigned Psalms with candles, baths, and petition papers.
How to Use Secrets of the Psalms
How to use this classic folk magic text in your own spiritual practice.
- Identify your condition and find the Psalm
Use the index or scan chapter headings to find the Psalm assigned to your situation: protection, healing, court case, financial relief, travel, or reconciliation. Each entry lists the Psalm number, its holy name, and method of use.
- Speak or write the holy name
Each Psalm is paired with a divine name drawn from kabbalistic tradition. Selig instructs the reader to hold this name in mind or speak it before reciting the Psalm. Some practitioners speak it aloud; others hold it silently.
- Apply the Psalm to your working
Follow the specific instruction for that Psalm. Some are recited over water that is then drunk or used to wash. Others are written on paper and carried or placed near a doorway. Some require a set number of repetitions or days.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
This is one of the most referenced books in American folk magic, and I keep it in stock because practitioners actually use it, not just collect it. If you work with psalm magic, Christian folk magic, or any practice where scripture functions as a spell component, this text belongs on your reference shelf. Hoodoo practitioners have adopted it too, and a book like this is an entry point, not a substitute for learning from them. Browse my full book collection for other classic and contemporary folk magic titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
In hoodoo, this book is used as a reference assigning specific Psalms to conditions like protection, healing, court cases, money, and reconciliation. Practitioners pair the Psalms with candles, petition papers, and baths.
The book comes from Jewish kabbalistic tradition and was absorbed into American folk magic. Many practitioners use it as a practical reference regardless of personal faith. The holy names and Psalm instructions work as tools.
The text traces to the Hebrew Shimmush Tehillim, a kabbalistic manuscript. Godfrey Selig rendered it into German, and English editions followed. American hoodoo practitioners later adopted it.
Psalm 23 for guidance. Psalm 91 against evil. Psalms 38 and 39 for court cases. Psalm 72 against poverty. Psalm 51 for forgiveness and cleansing. Each is assigned a specific method from recitation to amulet creation in the book.
Very nicely packed
It’s ok not what I thought it would be