Voodoo, New Orleans

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First, I'd like to allay any fears that anyone has about this place. No one is going to put a spell on you, turn you into a zombie, or even try to convert you.

Second, as the owner of this museum will tell you, voodoo is more about helping people than hurting them. In these non-Christian belief systems, what you do--good and bad--eventually comes back to you. What goes around comes around.

Third, voodoo is still practiced by a large number of people in southern Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in some other parts of the US. And it's even more widespread in parts of the Caribbean. I'm glad that this great country of ours permits religious freedom.

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Even if shopping is not one of your highest priorities, you will want to visit Reverend Zombie's House of Voodoo Shop...if you dare! I got chills up and down my spine when I entered the door! A strange combination and collection of artifacts, some apparently related to voodoo and others not. Candles, incense, wooden Santos carving and images of saints made into candles. Odd things and/or animals hanging from the ceiling. I had such a strange feeling that I left without examining everything!!

The "Haunted History of New Orleans" tour also queus right outside of this store. These tours are very popular and lines form quickly as we saw while we were waiting in our own long line at the "Preservation Hall" just across the street.

If you've seen the movie "The Skeleton Key" (2005), you may want to search around to see if this store carries such things as brick dust or records by Papa Justify.

There are many VooDoo shops in French Quarter from cheesy souvenir shops to serious magic shops.

What you see there probably has no practical use when you go back home, but it is fun to check things out, and it is, I believe, required in order to enjoy New Orleans the right way.

Tours given daily starting at 10 am, and night tours beginning at 8 pm. Every time I go to New Orleans, it's in a different place. Interesting collection of voodoo stuff....there's not really much to say. Very entertaining!! Have a few drinks and check it out. Everything you didn't want to know about voodoo!

This cemetery is a favorite of mine, and not just because it a scene from the cult classic "Easy Rider" was filmed here!

We were in luck the day we took this tour - it was raining, which gave the whole place an underlying creepiness that you can't conjure up unless all the elements are in place. One of the elements was of course, evidence of voodoo activity. That's right! Immediately to our left after entering this cemetery, we saw a dead chicken lying in front of one of the tombs. Shiver! Our guide was dismissive of it, but I sensed he was pleased that we were able to see that shocking display. (I know I was!)

I was introduced to Priestess Miriam and her temple through a cemetary/voodoo tour that I took on the recomendation of my Bed and Breakfast hosts. They said that she was the real deal, and was she ever. I had a wonderful experience with her and even if it is a buch of crap, I don't care, because for the time I spent there I was buying into it and having a good time.

The voodoo spiritual temple contains a shop in the front, and an area in the back where Priestess Miriam will perform many types of rituals which are detailed on her website if you are interested.

I was lucky enough to relax in her courtyard and hear her tells stories (she does ramble randomly, so pay attention) and make merry with her visitors. She then invited us back into her special room where she conducts rituals. We met her snake, and then she did a general 'reading' for our group, speaking to everyone on different matters.

Crazy as this sounds, I felt as if the things that she was saying were just for me. Maybe I was just caught up in the moment, who knows. What I do know is that it was quite the experience, and I quite enjoyed her company and the glimpse into her life of practicing Voodoo.

You need not be on a tour to visit her or have her conduct rituals for you. Just stop by or call.

voodoo spiritual temple near Congo Square is at the back of a voodoo/spiritual paraphernalia shop

talk to priestess miriam or priest oswan

leave something for the spirits

nice people, amazing place
have a chat to the snake too - loveee snakes...

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New Orleans is one of the few places where Vodoo is still practiced. Shown is the grave of Marie Levau, the Vodoo Queen. On the side of the tomb you can see offerings and marking made by her followers.

Voodoo was brought from Africa by slaves who mixed some of their African religious customs (e.g. animism) with those of their Catholic slave holders and the result is what we now call Voodoo. There are a few Voodoo-related sights in the French Quarter including a Voodoo Museum.

Lots of Voodoo items, dolls, masks, standing figures and many voodoo displayed. They even do readings. Marie Laveau was the queen of voodoo, She cast and removed spells, offered love potions, and predicted people's futures.
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