The stories of a people keep their culture alive. For a long time, a part of Appalachian culture and history has been missing, left behind by historians and scholars, left in pieces by folklorists who collected data regarding our medicines and superstitions. Until now, this work hasn't been recognized as an actual system, only a compilation of the “ignorant” beliefs we hold. Swept under the rug, placed in the corner, the conjurers and doctors of yore demand to be recognized for their contributions to the life and survival of many communities, especially during times of war and injustice. We don't expect to be understood, but we deserve to have our stories returned to us to carry into the continually progressing world we live in today.
Society is fragile, and we still recognize that here. At any moment, everything we know could come crashing down around us. But we know where we'll be and what we'll do. We'll continue to work with the land, our communities, and the Lord to get by. Thus, we may eventually need to fully return to these old, “barbaric” ways of superstition and magic that our ancestors relied on. So there it is. Revived and alive for another day.