JuJu Bey said growing up Catholic in Baltimore led her to think more deeply about her spirituality and “who I’m praying to.”
Now, those memories of St. Bernardine Roman Catholic Church in Edmondson Village serve as the opening scene of her debut book, “The Book of Juju: African Spirituality for Healing, Liberation and Self-Discovery,” which is released Tuesday.
“Going from being a Catholic raised in Baltimore to being someone who practices African spirituality wasn’t a huge change,” Bay said.
The book is part history, part autobiography, part reflection, and part how-to of African and Africana religious and spiritual practices, and includes Bay’s story of connecting with her ancestors as a graduate student through a particularly vivid and harrowing dream.
They also act as guides, explaining terminology and giving advice on how to make offerings, build altars, and so on.
“It’s about our relationship with our ancestors, our descendants, and the importance of those people,” the 31-year-old spiritual practitioner said of the book, which she wrote directly for her intended audience of black readers. “Concepts around death and grief and dying are taboo when they shouldn’t be.”
Bay, a Beechfield native who now divides his time between Brooklyn, New York and Baltimore, kicks off a multi-city book tour with an event at Greedy Reads in Remington on Tuesday night, before heading to New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
“I actually didn’t expect to write a book so soon,” she says. “There’s something paranormal happening right now.”
Last year, Bay starred as the resident “witch” and spiritual healer in Hulu’s LGBTQ+ ghost hunter docuseries Living for the Dead. The show is narrated by actor Kristen Stewart, who also served as executive producer, and chronicles the adventures of a team of queer ghost hunters.
But she said most people know her from her podcast, “A Little Juju Podcast,” in which she talks about African spirituality and “unpacking mysticism specifically for Black people.” In 2020, the podcast was nominated for iHeartRadio’s Best Spirituality and Religion Podcast.
“It’s also an archive of Black spirituality and Black spiritual traditions,” Bay said, noting that the podcast and her new book go hand in hand.
In the early chapters of “The Book of Juju,” Bey writes about her own spiritual journey through Catholic school and beyond. She also delves into other topics, including Yoruba religion and Hoodoo, a tradition passed down from enslaved Africans in America.
“Many of my Hoodoo ancestors believe that we have the ability and right to protect what is ours, to be free, and to enjoy life on our own terms, by any means necessary,” she writes.
Other chapters examine the history of slavery and Christianity and offer instruction on everything from prayers to rituals to “calm the mind and body.”
One notable ritual, Bey said, has to do with the Yoruba concept of “higher self,” or “Ori.”
“Worshipping Oli and talking to him every morning helps with mental health issues. It helps us gain clarity on things we don’t understand clearly,” she said, suggesting people “greet” Oli by placing their hands on their head when they wake up.
“For me, Oli’s work has been life-changing,” she said.
On Tuesday at 7 p.m., Bay will be in conversation with Baltimore author, educator and scholar Brie Reed at the Greedy Read in Remington to discuss her book.
“We knew that with Juju and the book’s focus on Black spirituality and personal growth, it would be an inspiring event,” Greedy Read owner Julia Fleischacker told The Baltimore Sun in an email, adding that Read connected the store with Bay. “It’s so amazing that we were able to hold the event just in time for the book’s release and Juneteenth!”
Fleischacker said he expects the free event to be a full house, and people can register in advance to guarantee a spot.
“I hope that people who read this book will leave with an open mind,” Bay said. “My goal is that we all receive the message and wisdom that is meant for us.”
