Baltimore author Juju Bae debuts ‘The Book of Juju’ about Black spirituality

It was Juju Bae’s Catholic upbringing in Baltimore, she said, that sparked a deeper reflection on her spirituality and “who I’m praying to.”

Now, memories of St. Bernardine Roman Catholic Church in Edmondson Village set the opening scene of her debut book, “The Book of Juju: Africana Spirituality for Healing, Liberation, and Self-Discovery,” publishing Tuesday.

“The jump between being a Catholic raised in Baltimore and then being someone who practices Africana spirituality was not a big jump,” Bae said.

Part history, autobiography and discussion of African and Africana religious and spiritual practices — and part how-to — the book includes stories like that of Bae’s experience connecting with her ancestors while a student in graduate school, through a particularly vivid and distressing dream.

It also acts as a guide, explaining terminology and giving advice on how to make offerings, build altars and more.

“It’s about our relationship to our ancestors, the people that we descend from and the importance of those people,” the 31-year-old spiritual practitioner said of her book, in which she writes directly to Black readers, her intended audience. “Concepts around death and grief and dying are really taboo, when they shouldn’t be.”

Bae, who was born in Beechfield and now splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and Baltimore, will kick off a multicity 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 think that I would be writing a book so soon,” she said. “There’s just something happening right now where the paranormal is in.”

Last year, Bae starred as the resident “witch” and spiritual healer in Hulu’s LGBTQ+ ghost-hunting docuseries “Living for the Dead.” The show is narrated by actor Kristen Stewart, who was also an executive producer, and documents the adventures of a team of queer ghost hunters.

But she said most people recognize her from her podcast, “A Little Juju Podcast,” about Africana spirituality and “demystifying mysticism, specifically for Black folks.” In 2020, it was an iHeartRadio nominee for best spirituality and religion podcast.

“It’s again another archive of Black spirituality and Black spiritual tradition,” Bae said, noting that the podcast and her new book are closely related.

In early chapters of “The Book of Juju,” Bae writes about her own spiritual journey through Catholic school and beyond. She also dives into Yoruba religion and Hoodoo, a tradition “descended from enslaved Africans in America,” among other topics.

“Many of my Hoodoo ancestors believe that we have the ability and right to protect what is ours, be free, and also enjoy our lives on our own terms by any means necessary,” she writes.

In other chapters she examines the history of slavery and Christianity, and gives guidance on everything from praying to rituals meant to “help center your mind and body.”

One notable ritual relates to a person’s “Ori,” a Yoruba concept for a “higher self,” Bae said.

“If you venerate your Ori and talk to your Ori every morning, it can help with mental health issues. It can help with gaining clarity about things that we’re unclear about,” she said, prescribing placing both of your hands on your head when you wake up so that you can then “greet” your Ori.

“Ori work, for me, has been life-changing,” she said.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Bae will be joined by Baltimore writer, educator and scholar Bry Reed for a conversation about her book at Greedy Reads in Remington.

“We knew that Juju herself, and the book’s focus on Black spirituality and personal growth, would make for an exciting event,” Greedy Reads owner Julia Fleischaker told The Baltimore Sun via email, adding that Reed connected the shop with Bae. “The fact that we were able to make it happen on the book’s release day, and just in time for Juneteenth, is really wonderful!”

Fleischaker said she anticipates a “full house” for the free event, which people can register for in advance to reserve a seat.

“I hope that when people read the book, that they remain open,” Bae said. “My goal is that we all get the messages and the wisdom that were meant for us.”