Marie Laveau & New Orleans Voodoo
In the mid 19th century, voodoo was the rage in New Orleans, pursued in much the same way as the trendy of today latch on to the latest New-Age development, except that Orleanians paid much more than mere lip service to the practice of voodoo. Superstitious Creoles scrubbed their front stoops with brick dust to ward off curses and called regularly upon witch doctors and voodoo queens. For the most part, they sought advice on affairs of the heart and purchased gris-gris (voodoo charms), usually in the form of various love potions, powders, oils and ointments. For 19th century tourists, no trip to the Crescent City was complete without a visit to famed voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Believed to have been born in New Orleans in 1794, Marie Laveau was a free woman of "color," a Quadroon (African, Indian, French and Spanish). She became the most famous and powerful Voodoo Queen in the world, respected and feared by thousands, including the Catholic Church. A devout catholic, going to mass each day, Marie Laveau was permitted to hold rituals behind St. Louis Cathedral.

It is believed that the Voodoo Queen Marie, in her youth, was persuaded by Dr John, a disreputable Hougan, to perform a Voodoo ceremony in the square in front of the cathedral. "As the drums beat wildly, Marie danced and undulated with her snake Zombi. The Voodouns danced wildly as Marie became possessed by the spirit of Dambala and writhed on the ground like a snake..." The church priest, outraged at this perceived blasphemy, had Marie Laveau tied to a stake and whipped in Jackson Square. There have been no other Voodoo rituals held near the Cathedral ever since.

Marie Laveau died in 1881.

Voodoo's Beginnings
Voodoo originated in Africa before the slave trade. When the enforced immigration of African slaves brought them to Haiti from different tribes in West Africa, the circumstances for the development of Voodoo began.

European colonists thought that by desolating the tribes, they would not come together as a community. However, in the misery of slavery, the transplanted Africans found in their faith a common thread. They began to invoke not only their own gods, but to practice rites other than their own. This integration of their beliefs created this new religion: Voodoo.

Now living in Haiti, the African slaves gained strength from their religion, which was so strong and powerful that they were able to survive the persecution of their French rulers. When the French realized that Voodoo might be a threat to the colonial system, they forbade slaves to practice their native religions and baptized them as Catholics. But these worshipers saw the addition of the saints as an enhancement of their faith, and incorporated Catholic statues, candles, and holy relics into their rituals.

By 1717, more than 3,000 African slaves had been brought to Louisiana from the French West Indies. Prompted by the fear of voodoo, the Spanish governor forbade the continuation of importation of slaves from the Caribbean, but following a series of bloody rebellions in Saint-Domingue in 1803, French planters and their slaves began to pour into South Louisiana. Many of the French settled in New Orleans, so here in the early 1800s, voodoo became firmly established in the city. Continuing the use of some of the characteristics of the Catholic Church, statues of the Virgin Mary and pictures of the saints sometimes adorned voodoo altars, but the basis of voodoo bore absolutely no resemblance to Christianity.

Even in Haiti where the religious struggle continued for three centuries, voodoo was practiced secretly and in 1804, the Haitians won their independence.

Voodoo N'Orleans
By this time in New Orleans, exotic voodoo ceremonies drew enormous throngs of thrill-seekers. Local newspapers were filled with detailed, sometimes shocking accounts of voodoo conclaves and voodoo-related activities. But the ceremonies witnessed by the hordes and the reporters were often elaborate shows staged for outsiders. Voodoo was a mysterious, secretive cult whose more sinister aspects were carefully shielded from curious eyes.

The first organized voodoo ceremony in New Orleans is said to have taken place in an abandoned brickyard on Dumaine Street. It was probably presided over by Sanite Dede, the first of the great voodoo queens. (Voodoo was a matriarchy. The witch doctors and kings paled in comparison to the strong queens, always free women of color, never slaves, who reigned over the rituals). Repeated police raids on the brickyard drove the cultists out to Bayou St. John and Lake Pontchartrain. In 1817, the Municipal Council, fearful of voodoo-inspired slave uprisings, outlawed slave gatherings except on Sundays and in officially designated and supervised areas. Congo Square was one such legal meeting place. (Later renamed Beauregard Square, the plaza in front of Municipal Auditorium is now Armstrong Park.)

Serving the Spirits
Today Voodoo reflects this history. The tribal mixture is apparent in the names of different rites and in the many gods composed of deities from all parts of Africa. Voodoo, meaning "serving the spirits," is also practiced throughout the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Trinidad. Voodoo beliefs and practices can vary hugely from community to community, even in Haiti. Although it is scarcely the force it once was, it still thrives. Stores from New Orleans to New Haven carry voodoo accoutrements with descriptive names like Love Oil, Courting Powder, Controlling Powder, Get-Together Drops, Follow Me Drops and Boss Fix Powder. Believers still use the "mojo hand," a small cloth filled with pieces of deceased reptiles, birds, animals or even people, to "fix" (hoodoo) someone or something. The most popular and potent gris-gris (lucky charm) is a root called "Johnny the Conqueror." Big John has turned up in several blues recordings, such as Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man" and Muddy Waters' "Hootchie Kootchie Man." Another voodoo-related blues tune is John Lee Hooker's "Crawling King Snake Blues," and in the 60s, duded out in feathers and painted face, Dr. John began a long career singing many voodoo-inspired lyrics. And of course, no one could forget Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You," or "Got My Mojo Workin' But it Just Don't Work on You," sung by scores of blues artists.

But, maybe the most impressive proof that voodoo is still with us is its use in modern-day medicine. According to the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, voodoo is of increasing interest in Southern schools of medicine and psychiatry. Doctors in respectable medical schools have consulted voodoo doctors, especially with regard to the treatment of paranoid schizophrenics.

It is estimated that, worldwide, voodoo has fifty-million followers. Practitioners come together in a community centering around rituals and a primary priest or priestess. Unlike other Caribbean religions, it has a large, highly-developed system of belief relating to the dark side of the spirit. Black magic is practiced by priests and by secret societies that splinter off from the main communities. The existing belief in black magic, though not practiced regularly, is a source of many misconceptions about voodoo. Popular works of fiction and nonfiction and many movies ("Angel Heart," for one) have strengthened these misconceptions and false notions about cannibalism and zombification.

Hoodoo Voodoo
Hoodoo (the "fix") is a folk version of Voodoo that focuses on the conjuring and herbal magic. Some wouldn't equate Voodoo with Hoodoo, but Hoodoo is a simplifed version of the part of Voodoo focusing on the magical. New Orleans Voodoo is a bridge between Haitian Voodoo and folk Hoodoo. It still has religious and ritual elements like Haitian Voodoo, but also puts strong emphasis on gris-gris and magic.

The "Spell"
Since most of the early voodoo high priestesses were women, here's a Voodoo spell for women: To keep your man sleeping all night so you can play on your computer, wait until he falls asleep, then turn his shoes, soles up, and cross them under the bed. Then, walk backwards out of the room.

Love Potion Number Nine
Attraction Oil: Equal parts of Rose oil, Lavender oil, Vanilla oil, and Sandalwood oil. Touch to pulse points when in the presence of the one you want to attract.
Lucky Oil: 1/2 of the oil should be pure Olive oil, 1/4 part Myrrh oil, 1/4 part Jasmine oil. Anoint feet before putting on shoes you will wear in a situation where you want to feel lucky.
Power Oil: Equal parts of Patchouli oil, Cinnamon oil, and Vanilla oil. Touch to pulse points (especially at wrists and temples) prior to going into a situation over which you need to have power.
Protection Oil: Equal parts of Hyacinth oil, Jasmine oil, Orange oil, Musk oil, and Anise oil. Touch the oil around the area that needs protection (such as your home) or on yourself. (It is said that touching this oil to the bottom of your feet allows you to run away from evil.)

Black Magic Woman