Who is Robert?
Robert Phoenix, in his own words — Powwow practitioner, author, and teacher of the Pennsylvania German healing tradition.
In Robert’s own words:
My name is Robert Matthew Phoenix and I am a Powwow (also known as a Hexenmeister). A Powwow is a faith healer and folk magician native to Pennsylvania with German-speaking ancestry. My ancestors are from both Germany and Austria and I follow the religion of my family, which is German Reformed. I use folk charms, remedies, herbal medicine, talismans, and other types of folk spirituality to help those who come to me in need.
Powwow is a tradition of healing and folk magic that understands that through the intercession of God and the Holy Trinity we can find wholeness and healing. We seek to actively work against the machinations of the Devil, as well as other harmful spirits and diseases, and bring healing to those who seek it. Our job is to overcome evil on God’s great earth.
Powwow is more than simple folk remedies, it is a way of life. It’s living with your land, growing and harvesting food and medicine, and using your skills everyday to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy, as well as answering the call to bring healing to others.
I am proud of all the work I’ve done over the past twenty-plus years. I am an author for Llewellyn (Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic), The History Press (Supernatural Lore of Pennsylvania — as Robert Chapman — and Witches of Pennsylvania — just my photographs), and Amazon (The Powwow Grimoire, The Powwow Guy, The Powwow Book of Divination). I’ve also written an introduction for a Powwow book by Jake Richards for Weiser Publishing and consulted on a fiction novel published by Tangled Tree Publishing.
I was interviewed for the 2015 documentary Hex Hollow: Witchcraft and Murder in Pennsylvania. I’ve been interviewed countless times by podcasts, newspapers, and even had an article published in the Fortean Times!
I’ve done classes at Swarthmore College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Baltimore College, as well as numerous workshops for various shops and venues. I’ve spoken at Historical Society meetings and organized public events such as Legends and Lore of the Keystone State at the Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg. I have been writing about Powwow and teaching the truth of our tradition for well over two decades and I make no apologies for my adherence to tradition!
My family tree is an interesting one, and I can trace my father’s side to Austria through the Koenig line and my mother’s side to Germany through the Dinkelackers. On my father’s side, there was disruption in the Koenig line when a relative, Mary Koenig, moved to Lancaster County and married a Catholic with the last name Chretien. The family split at this point and Mary was known as a Braucher in the Lancaster area. Her daughter Emma continued the family Braucheren practice. I am very proud that I have this in my lineage. It explains my own draw to this tradition and I thank God for leading me along this path!
Robert was also interviewed by Perseus Arcane Academy — read the interview here.