To explore Appalachian folk religion and magic, key resources include primary historical texts, scholarly studies, oral histories, and contemporary practitioner accounts that collectively illuminate the landscape of "granny magic," root work, and folk healing traditions.
Classic and Primary Sources
The Long-Lost Friend by Johann Georg Hohman – A seminal 19th-century English-German compendium of charms, healing formulas, and protective rites that shaped Appalachian folk practice

The Foxfire Books edited by Eliot Wigginton – Collections of oral histories capturing Appalachian life, beliefs, folk remedies, and spiritual traditions directly from community elders

Ossman & Steel’s Classic Household Guide to Appalachian Folk Healing, edited by Jake Richards – Annotated historical guides on remedies and charms used in mountain communities

Scholarly Studies
Folk Medicine in Southern Appalachia by Anthony Cavender – Robust ethnographic and archival study examining folk healers, herbal practices, Cherokee influences, and African American conjure practices in the region
Ozark Magic and Folklore by Vance Randolph – Focuses on Ozark folk practices closely connected to Appalachian traditions, detailing Granny women, witch beliefs, charms, and healing methods

Contemporary Practitioners
Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia by Jake Richards – Modern account of living folk practice, including charms, omens, and spiritual healing integrated with Christian devotional elements
Doctoring the Devil by Jake Richards – Delves into Appalachian conjure, rootwork, and protection rituals
Staubs and Ditchwater and Roots, Branches & Spirits: The Folkways & Witchery of Appalachia by H. Byron Ballard – Modern explorations of feminine spiritual practice, plant-based remedies, and landscape-informed folk knowledge
Ozark Folk Magic: Plants, Prayers & Healing by Brandon Weston – Offers perspective on related Ozark traditions, clarifying connections and differences from Appalachian practices

Supplemental and Cultural Context
Appalachian Magazine’s Mountain Superstitions, Ghost Stories & Haint Tales – Compilation of oral accounts and superstitions that reveal cultural understandings of illness, danger, and the unseen world
Conjuring on the Mountain: Magic and Wisdom of the Southern Appalachian Granny Witches by Jenny Larkins – Focused study on female healers and herbalists in historical Appalachian communities
Mountain Magick: Folk Wisdom from the Heart of Appalachia by Edain McCoy – Explores Celtic survivals and folk belief strands within Appalachian culture

Understanding Tradition Variability
No single source captures the entirety of Appalachian folk magic or religion. Traditions vary across communities, geographic areas, and family lineages. A well-rounded reading strategy combines historical texts, oral histories, academic analyses, and contemporary practitioner accounts to grasp both the evolution and living practice of Appalachian folk spirituality