Fool Me

Explore the wild, wise, and irreverent world of trickster figures from every corner of the globe in this vibrant collection of tales and commentary. Fool Me celebrates mischief, humour, and divine imperfection through the lens of global folklore and mythology.

Tricksters have always played a vital role in how cultures understand chaos, humour, and human nature. In Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Stories, author and folklorist Ashley Oppon invites readers on a globe-spanning journey through the myths and tales of divine troublemakers, clever fools, and sacred pranksters.

This collection begins by exploring what makes a trickster and how these mischievous characters can be venerated or honoured like more traditional deities. Whether encountering Enki and the Djinn of Mesopotamia or hearing the tales of Eshu and the tokoloshe in Africa, Oppon takes you on a journey across continents.

With each tale, Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Storiesinvites readers to reflect on the deeper wisdom behind the mischief and how divine imperfection helps us laugh, learn, and find our way.

'Ashley Oppon has gifted the world with this gorgeous collection. Well researched while handled with love and integrity, this is a source book that I, as an author, researcher, and devotee of the Older Ones will return to again and again. It will be a must-have on every Magickal seeker's shelf and our journeys are made better for it.' Courtney Weber, author of Hekate: Goddess of Witches and Sacred Tears: A Witch's Guide to Grief

'Ashley is my heroine; she is the bestie I wish I could have shared mythological conversations with at nine years old, late into the night, with the phone tucked inconspicuously under the covers. Her book Fool Me is brilliant because my girl Ashley just gets it-she understands that while there are some superbeings we can call on for strength, others make for excellent teachable moments in the art of survival. She is gentle with her care of each deity, offering their stories with a profound respect for their cultural roots, yet she isn't afraid to warn us of the chaos they can carry or drop off at our doorsteps. With the wit of an Aunt Nancy and the soul of a survivor, Ashley proves that you don't have to be perfect to be powerful-you just have to be clever. This book is a soulful, brilliant reclamation of the magic found in our own imperfections.' Mawiyah Kai El-Jamah Bomani, author of Conjuring the Calabash: Empowering Women with Hoodoo Spells and Magick and Hoodoo Saints and Root Warriors: Stories and Magick for Liberation

'In this deeply researched work, Ashley Oppon masterfully explores the trickster archetype, bridging the gap between academic rigor and profound magical practice. By weaving her Asante heritage into a global tapestry of folklore, from Anansi to Loki, Oppon presents these figures not as mere agents of chaos, but as essential situation-inverters who catalyze personal growth. Grounded, educative, and refreshingly open-minded, Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Stories offers seekers a life-changing framework for navigating the complexities of the divine through the transformative power of mischief and sacred riddles.' Elhoim Leafar, author of Dream Witchery and Pagan Portals: Maria Lionza

'Fool Me is a tricky romp around the world of myth, introducing characters within a balanced, culturally sensitive, and intimate way. Oppon has left no stone unturned in her research of one of the more important archetypal figures in shared human story, and the stories in this book outline the individuals from across the world who through slight of hand, honey'd words, and duplicity show to our very faces our own foolishness and shortsightedness.' Benjamin Stimpson, folklorist and author of Of Doves and Ravens: The Witches and Wisewomen of Wales and the Borders