The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

by Denise Alvarado, Carolyn Morrow Long (Foreword by)

Overview

The life and work of the legendary “Pope of Voodoo,” Marie Laveau—a free woman of color who practically ruled New Orleans in the mid-1800s

Marie Laveau may be the most influential American practitioner of the magical arts; certainly, she is among the most famous. She is the subject of songs, films, and legends and the star of New Orleans ghost tours. Her grave in New Orleans ranks among the most popular spiritual pilgrimages in the US. Devotees venerate votive images of Laveau, who proclaimed herself the “Pope of Voodoo.” She is the subject of respected historical biographies and the inspiration for novels by Francine Prose and Jewell Parker Rhodes. She even appears in Marvel Comics and on the television show American Horror Story: Coven, where she was portrayed by Angela Bassett.

Author Denise Alvarado explores Marie Laveau’s life and work—the fascinating history and mystery. This book gives an overview of New Orleans Voodoo, its origins, history, and practices. It contains spells, prayers, rituals, recipes, and instructions for constructing New Orleans voodoo-style altars and crafting a voodoo amulet known as a gris-gris.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578636730
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	02/01/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	129,870
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Denise Alvarado (1960) was born and raised in the rich Creole culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. She has studied indigenous healing traditions from a personal and academic perspective for over four decades. She is the author of numerous books about Southern folk traditions, including the The Conjurer's Guide to St. Expedite, The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, the Hoodoo Almanacs, Workin' in da Boneyard, Hoodoo and Conjure New Orleans, Crossroads Mamas 2015 Spiritual Baths for Every Occasion, the Voodoo Doll Spellbook, Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual and more. Her provocative artwork has been featured on several television shows including National Geographic'sTaboo, The Originals, and Blue Bloods. She is a rootworker in the Louisiana folk magic tradition, a spiritual artist, and teacher of southern conjure at Crossroads University, crossroadsuniversity.com. Visit her websites: creolemoon.com and patreon.com/denisealvarado for a little sweet tea and conjure.

Table of Contents

Foreword Carolyn Morrow Long vii

Introduction xi

Part 1 La Belle de Nouvelle Orleans

The Birth of a Queen 3

The Tomb of the Widow Paris 35

Laveau Voudou: A New Religion 45

Part 2 Becoming a Devotee

Developing a Respectful Servitude 69

Creating an Altar of Devotion 79

Petitioning Marie Laveau 89

Part 3 The Laveau Magicospiritual Legacy

Categories of Conjure in the Laveau Voudou Tradition 103

Bottle Spells and Container Spells 107

Candle Magick 113

Catholic Conjure 119

Coffin Conjure 127

Death Conjure 135

Fetishism: Doll Baby Conjure and Ju Ju 141

Front Porch Conjure 147

Graveyard Work 153

Gris Gris 161

Magick Lamps 171

Supplications 177

Water Rituals 183

Final Thoughts 189

Notes 195

References 196

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/04/2019

Anthropologist and Louisiana folk magic “rootworker” Alvarado (The Voodoo Doll Spellbook) rejects the sensational accounts of voodoo queen Marie Laveau (1801–1881) to present a comprehensive, intensely researched, and imminently readable narrative of her life and spirituality. Alvarado examined legal documents, historical interviews, oral tradition, testimony of voodoo practitioners, and Laveau’s genealogy to create her account, which also features a compendium of prayers, rituals, and spells associated with voodoo. Laveau was born a free woman of color in New Orleans and was a devout Catholic, slave owner, philanthropist, nurse, and volunteer who performed many charitable works, and was likely a hair dresser to upper class white women. Beginning her career as a voodoo queen in the 1820s, Laveau was a driving force in the formation of New Orleans voodoo and the Creole voodoo religion, combining African traditions, Dahomean cosmology, the loa spirit Papa Legba, and Hoodoo magical practice. Nearly half of the book contains spellwork, including candle magic, Catholic conjure, fetishism, gris gris, and water rituals—for purposes including keeping a lover, finding a lost person, healing, and attacking enemies. This insightful resourceful is a thorough examination of Laveau’s legendary status and will be an invaluable reference for devotees of the Laveau voodoo tradition. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"The Magic of Marie Laveau includes practical workings and "gris-gris" that provide a "hand up" to the reader in addition to lyrically presented and well-informed information about Ms. Laveau and the world in which she walked." - Sallie Ann Glassman, author of Vodou Visions: An Encounter with Divine Mystery

Sallie Ann Glassman

"This book will become definitive in the continually growing legacy of the greatest Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.A must have for your collection and a truly wonderful read." - Witchdoctor Utu, author of Conjuring Harriet "Mama Moses" Tubman and the Spirits of the Underground Railroad.

Witchdoctor Utu

"New Orleans native Denise Alvarado brilliantly crafts a spiritually delicious reference book combining extensive historical research with a lifetime of personal experiences! Filled with snippets from the past, pearls of wisdom, and a detailed outline of Alvarado’s "Laveau Voudou" tradition to which many readers will feel an immediate connection,The Magic of Marie Laveau is a valuable addition to any practitioner’s bookshelf, especially those called to serve." - Cairelle Crow, founder and coordinator of the New Orleans Witches’ Ball

Cairelle Crow

"Whether you’re a Marie Laveau devotee or are only beginning to learn about her, this is the book for you!  Brimming with little known facts about her life, her relationships, and her charitable works, The Magic of Marie Laveau is much more than a well-researched biography.  It also offers a plethora of valuable information for magical practitioners, including detailed instructions for not only working with her spirit, but for performing many of the rituals and spells for which she is known.  Reading this book truly changed my life – and I have no doubt that it will change yours as well." - Dorothy Morrison, author of Utterly Wicked

Dorothy Morrison

"Denise Alvarado has successfully combined both history and practical magic into one accessible book, making it possible for those far and wide to reach the Great Queen. The Magic of Marie Laveau brings Marie Laveau to life" - Voodoo Queen Bloody Mary, author of Bloody Mary’s Guide to Hauntings, Horrors, and Dancing with the Dead: True Stories from the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

Voodoo Queen Bloody Mary

"The Magic of Marie Laveau is the ideal blend of the academic and the mystical. Denise Alvarado creates a historic understanding of how Mlle. Laveau not only shaped the traditions and culture of New Orleans Voodoo but also influenced all Hoodoo and Conjure practices around the world. Through the biography of Mlle. Laveau, Alvarado teaches that your daily spiritual practice and compassionate works are integral to your magical prowess.  There is so much to learn in this book, reading it a second and third time is a must." - Jacki Smith, author of Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils, and Herbs, founder of Coventry Creations.

Jacki Smith

"This book is a celebration of the divine feminine as it manifests in a much-misunderstood form of spirituality. Denise Alvarado’s love for Marie Laveau’s work is evident. I am sure that Marie Laveau, the Mother of New Orleans Voodoo, returns the sentiment." - Louis Martinié, author of The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot and Waters of Return: The Aeonic Flow of Voudoo.

Louis Martinié

Anthropologist and Louisiana folk magic “rootworker” Alvarado (The Voodoo Doll Spellbook) rejects the sensational accounts of voodoo queen Marie Laveau (1801–1881) to present a comprehensive, intensely researched, and imminently readable narrative of her life and spirituality. The book contains spellwork, including candle magic, Catholic conjure, fetishism, gris gris, and water rituals—for purposes including keeping a lover, finding a lost person, healing, and attacking enemies. This insightful resourceful is a thorough examination of Laveau’s legendary status and will be an invaluable reference for devotees of the Laveau voodoo tradition.” - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

From the Publisher

This book is a celebration of the divine feminine as it manifests in a much-misunderstood form of spirituality. Denise Alvarado’s love for Marie Laveau’s work is evident. I am sure that Marie Laveau, the Mother of New Orleans Voodoo, returns the sentiment.” - Louis Martinié, author of The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot and Waters of Return: The Aeonic Flow of Voudoo.

Louis Martinié