Louisiana voodoo is also known as New Orleans Voodoo, a religion like cult that is a mixture between the African spiritual traditions with Roman Catholic rituals and saints, along with a powerful incorporation of herbal medicine. Voodooists see a synchronicity between Christianity and Voodoo. This is because Voodooists also worship a supreme God, but where it differs from the Christian God is in the belief that, the Voodoo God does not concern himself with the daily lives of humans.
In voodoo, the spirits and ancestors are the spiritual powers that actually have an active role in people’s lives. Communication with the spirits can be obtained through ritualistic dances, chanting and the use of charms and potions. The spirit that is a link between the human and the spirit world is known as Loa and often times represented as a snake. Voodooists call upon the Loa for guidance and as well as come onto contact with their ancestors.
Louisiana Voodoo is not the same Vodun religion that is practiced widely across Western Africa, nor the same as the one practice in Haiti, they are similar but share different beliefs. For example Louisiana Voodoo places a greater emphasis on Catholic icons and patron saints. They do however share the understanding that faith can heal. What differentiates the Voodoo religion from other cult-like religions is that Voodoo priestesses do not try to lure believers in, nor do they ask other like-minded members to give up any beliefs or materialistic assets towards the community.
The Voodoo Queen
Marie Laveau is known as the voodoo queen of Louisiana Voodoo, she was born in New Orleans in 1794. Marie started out life as a hairdresser for the rich and often times impressed them with her inexplicable knowledge of their intimate lives. She began to develop a reputation of being a powerful woman with magical powers. Modern lure pinpoints her as a Satanist-worshiping-witch and talented natural healer. She has a giant yellow snake that she named Zombi, she used her pet to dance with during ceremonies and rituals. Like on June 23, the day before the feast of St. John the Baptist, an alter was created and all voodooist waited in wonder to watch her perform. Folklore tells us she was exceptionally beautiful, that she got rich selling gris-gris, that she could intimidate he police and that world leaders sought her advice. Traditions claim she was well known at the “quadroon balls” that she used blackmail, that she was a hairdresser and domestic informant, that she ran a house of prostitution, that she could “fix” court cases and cheat the executioner, that Voodoo powers caused she deaths of at least one Governor and one Lieutenant Governor and that she, herself, never really died. It is said that a grateful client gave her a house on St. Ann Street because he hired her to save his son who had been arrested and was about to stand trial. She performed her rituals, the young man was acquitted and she got to keep a house. Basically, she got the credit, and the blame, for almost every unexplained major event. Her spirit still gets such credits and every real, or would be, Voodoo Queen since has claimed her anointment.
In voodoo, the spirits and ancestors are the spiritual powers that actually have an active role in people’s lives. Communication with the spirits can be obtained through ritualistic dances, chanting and the use of charms and potions. The spirit that is a link between the human and the spirit world is known as Loa and often times represented as a snake. Voodooists call upon the Loa for guidance and as well as come onto contact with their ancestors.
Louisiana Voodoo is not the same Vodun religion that is practiced widely across Western Africa, nor the same as the one practice in Haiti, they are similar but share different beliefs. For example Louisiana Voodoo places a greater emphasis on Catholic icons and patron saints. They do however share the understanding that faith can heal. What differentiates the Voodoo religion from other cult-like religions is that Voodoo priestesses do not try to lure believers in, nor do they ask other like-minded members to give up any beliefs or materialistic assets towards the community.
The Voodoo Queen
Marie Laveau is known as the voodoo queen of Louisiana Voodoo, she was born in New Orleans in 1794. Marie started out life as a hairdresser for the rich and often times impressed them with her inexplicable knowledge of their intimate lives. She began to develop a reputation of being a powerful woman with magical powers. Modern lure pinpoints her as a Satanist-worshiping-witch and talented natural healer. She has a giant yellow snake that she named Zombi, she used her pet to dance with during ceremonies and rituals. Like on June 23, the day before the feast of St. John the Baptist, an alter was created and all voodooist waited in wonder to watch her perform. Folklore tells us she was exceptionally beautiful, that she got rich selling gris-gris, that she could intimidate he police and that world leaders sought her advice. Traditions claim she was well known at the “quadroon balls” that she used blackmail, that she was a hairdresser and domestic informant, that she ran a house of prostitution, that she could “fix” court cases and cheat the executioner, that Voodoo powers caused she deaths of at least one Governor and one Lieutenant Governor and that she, herself, never really died. It is said that a grateful client gave her a house on St. Ann Street because he hired her to save his son who had been arrested and was about to stand trial. She performed her rituals, the young man was acquitted and she got to keep a house. Basically, she got the credit, and the blame, for almost every unexplained major event. Her spirit still gets such credits and every real, or would be, Voodoo Queen since has claimed her anointment.