The Magic of Marie Laveau

Who is Marie Laveau?
"Marie Laveau is no myth; she is no mere legend. While her reputation precedes her as the notorious Voudou Queen of New Orleans, in reality, she was a free woman of color who ruled the city during antebellum New Orleans. This was no small feat. She was a devout Catholic, an independent businesswoman, a mother, and healer who lived her life in accordance with the corporal works of mercy. Stories abound about her magickal prowess, freeing men from the gallows and healing the sick from the brink of death. Her belief in Catholicism guided her life as well as her magick in such a distinct way that people from all over the world are inspired by her spirit and her story.

So, how does one begin to describe the legacy left by a legend? If the power of a person’s life is in the stories they leave 
behind, then Marie Laveau has the market cornered as the most storied woman in the history of New Orleans." - Denise Alvarado, from the Introduction

Becoming a Devotee of Marie Laveau
It’s a powerful thing to witness someone doing Madame Marie’s work. When it’s real, there’s no denying it. It is something that can be felt within the core of your being. Devotees have presence. When you become a devotee—when you are aware of your spiritual lineage, learn about it, and live it—then you can fully embrace your new identity and Marie Laveau, the loa, spirit guide, and elevated Ancestor—can descend and work through you.

Devoting yourself to someone or something requires a conscious decision to do so followed by deliberate actions that display your utmost loyalty to the focus of your devotion. Becoming a devotee is not a decision to be made lightly. It can change your life for better or worse, depending on the sincerity of your commitment. If you are ready and you are open to receiving her as the Mother of New Orleans Voudou, the Spiritual Mother of Louisiana, the Boss Woman and Queen, your life will change dramatically for the better.

BASIC GRIS GRIS RITUAL FOR HEALING
This is a very basic gris gris ritual for healing. It is good for mending a broken heart or helping to heal from grief of any kind. And it only requires four ingredients:

Snakeskin
3 copper pennies
Rose petals
Lavender flowers
Wrap everything in a chamois cloth and place in a flannel or leather bag. Then say the following petition to Papa Legba (He is called Papa Labat/Lebat by older folks in New Orleans) to empower the bag:

Papa Labat, yay yay yay Papa Labat, yay yay yay Papa Labat, yay yay yay Papa Labat, open the door and let the spirits through, Bless and empower this bag for your faithful servant, Bring him/her all good things in this life and in the life to come In God’s name, Ashé ashé ashé!

Touch the gris gris to the top of your head, your heart, then your mouth, kissing the bag.

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.

Review
“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)
, Publishers Weekly 

“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 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 

“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 

"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 

“ 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