Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

Book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual by Denise Alvarado

Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

Denise Alvarado writes plenty of books and her success is mostly due to the demand on Nawlins or Louisiana Voodoo heritage being way more than the books that are being written and distributed. The best publications on Voodoo aren't even published. The best history books on Louisiana aren't even published mostly due to a movement by the Government to hide Creole History From America, being that having a class of people of color, that lived on the same or almost the same status as whites during slavery takes away from the American Narrative.

Alvarado states that in 1804, Napoleon invaded Cuba, driving out Hispanics from Cuba into Nawlins and this is how Voodoo came about in the city. That's simply untrue. Creoles were always in Louisiana since the founding of the state and Africans were being imported up the Mississippi River from the Congo and Angola, so Africans were already there and being allowed to worship on Sundays in Nawlins Congo Square. Now, where Creole Voodoo came in, was during the Haitian Black Slave Revolt, which didn't just drive out the white French Creole but a huge population of mixed race or mulattoe Creoles, who fled into Nawlins, during the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. In the entire French Quarter of Nawlins, during the 1800's there was only one Cuban Creole businessman who owned a cigar shop. The mixed race Creoles of middle class status, who monopolized the commerce, publications and businesses were the keepers of Creole Voodoo and not the one of two that came from Cuba. So Creole Voodoo in Nawlins predates her 1804 starting point.

Spain and Spanish heritage is not a huge part of Nawlins except for some of the architecture but many Creoles of Color from Cajun Country or Lower South West La. State keep trying to make Louisiana some Spanish colony when it was dominated by the French (99.9%)-so saying that Cubans ushered in Creole Voodoo couldn't be further from the truth. And just to be real about it, Voodoo dolls aren't really a staple to La. Voodoo but more of a creation of whites and Hollywood. I know plenty of people who practice Voodoo, like almost all of my ancestors, and dolls are definitely over hyped up but she is selling a book even though many of her attempts to lay out the history of dolls in Voodoo are shaky and her history on the practice of Voodoo isn't well connected to any legit history.

You can use dolls but Voodoo stems from the practice of ancestor worship, which predates Ancient Egypt and goes back to Cush or Ethiopia, which had an empire that stretched into the Southern U.S.-which many Creoles are of Choctaw or Cherokee mixed, herbal remedies and conjuring of spirits that one can learn to control and even keep. Being from South of Nawlins, in a Parish that has been destroyed by Oil Companies (BP)-Bush/Obama and the U.S. Army Corp, all of the Creoles did Voodoo and I can even recall shape-shifting rituals but of course I didn't write any of this down-YET!

For the first time anywhere, explore the history, mystery, and magick of Voodoo Dolls in this fascinating new book. Tracing the Voodoo doll's roots back in history, author Denise Alvarado provides an intriguing account of the most provocative and mystifying icon of the African-derived healing tradition, dispelling stereotypes and myths, while at the same time showing how to make and use Voodoo dolls to enhance every day living. Learn how to make three kinds of Voodoo dolls, find over 30 spells and rituals to find love, attract wealth, offer protection, and promote healing and happiness. Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

I hope complete idiot's do not buy this book because then they will become very dangerous idiot's. Excellent book one of a kind, and on it's own is a Complete Occult system. Southern Voodoo Dolls remain a living art and powerful medium. You get all the 'bang for you buck' with this buy.

Buy Denise Alvarado's book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

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Voodoo Or Voodon

What does Voodoo mean to you? Are you one of the many people who cringe and back away at the mere mention of the word?

For years Hollywood has made a fortune on horror movies that consistently cast a dark light on Voodoo; portraying images of zombies, voodoo dolls and evil doers who excel at bending a person’s will. In reality, Voodoo is a religion that has been practiced in Haiti for hundreds of years, before eventually making its way to the United States. New Orleans Voodoo works on the principals of harnessing the forces of nature to work for you.


Wrapped within the pages of this book, is the amazing story of one girl’s incredible endeavors and heartwarming experiences with Voodoo. You are about to embark on a mystical and amazing journey. It’s an intriguing and delightful story that's bound to touch the heart of anyone who has ever been curious about Voodoo.

Would you ever consider experimenting with Voodoo? Read on and decide for yourself.

Excerpts from the book:

Alexandra had known Eric for almost fifteen years and they had bonded as close friends during that time. Much to her surprise, one day, Eric said he would really like to be able to take her out for dinner or to the movies sometime. It came as quite a shock to her because they had been just friends for such a long time that she saw him more as a brother. She had never considered taking their relationship to the next level; still, she knew she really enjoyed his company and, after thinking it over, told him she would really like that.

As time went on, Alexandra began to have very strong, loving feelings for Eric but, as is often the case, changing from friends to lovers definitely had its negative aspects. A new and different set of expectations put a strain on what was once a beautiful friendship. Alexandra wanted to be with Eric more than Eric was ready to commit to, at least to himself.

As she surfed the web, she found Articles on why men won’t commit and how to mend an ailing relationship but she had already read of and tried these things on Eric time and time again, all to no avail. After about three weeks of searching, she randomly came upon a Voodoo website which quickly caught her interest….

.....she had finished all three spell kits and was anxiously anticipating the many wonders of the “New Eric”. This was going to be so wonderful. She couldn’t wait to see him, talk to him, hold him and savor the improved relationship she just knew they would now share……

…..It had been a few weeks since she’d seen him or spoken to him but now that the spell kits were completed she was sure it wouldn’t be very long until he fell lovingly into her arms.

Suffice it to say that because of her deep, pure love for Eric and through her relentless faith, patience and determination Alexandra was led on a magical journey; a journey with results that will certainly inspire and warm even the most doubtful heart.

“Voodoo or Voodon't?” is listed in the Library of Congress as a source of educational reference.

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Voodoo Spells Magick And Rituals

Voodoo has been hailed as quite possibly the oldest religion known to humankind, originating some 7,000 years ago. The word voodoo means "spirit" or "mystery." Voodoo believers accept the existence of one god (Bon Dieu or Good God), below which are the powerful spirits referred to as loa. These powerful spirits are responsible for the daily matters in life in the areas of family, love, money, happiness, wealth, and revenge. The loa are not that different from the Saints of Catholicism and angels in Christianity in that the loa are not prayed to; rather, they are asked to intercede with God on our behalf.

This lens focuses on the magickal side of Voodoo; that aspect of Voodoo that the typical person is drawn to when in need of change in their lives. The type of Voodoo that this lens focuses on is Creole Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo. Indeed, Voodoo became one of the primary ways for slaves to resist the oppression of their slave owners. The warrior gods sustained and empowered them, and assisted in their ultimate liberation from slavery. This my friend, is the power of Voodoo when backed by the necessary faith.

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Voodoo Origin

You may ask why is Voodoo so secretive?,it is because naturally the holder of power does not want to give it up,it works,and the opposing forces do not want it to spread,in Jamaica to this day Obeahism is outlawed and considered a crime punishable by imprisonment.Let me give you a little history on voodoo that you will not find in very few books"Obeah magic was one of the ways necromancers communicated and Cast Spells on the the colonialists,did it work?,of course it did,do you think imperialists would give up all their power willingly,living in paradise,free labor,beautifully shaped brown toned women of their choosing,I wouldn't give that up without a fight,but the mystical energy of Obeah to heal spirits was to strong in Jamaica" says 26-year-old history student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Janice Davis. "It was a force of power that the Europeans didn't understand.Nine out of 10 rebellions had obeah men as part of their leadership."Do you think Jamaican authorities would outlaw a magical tradition that did not work? Why am I going to reveal a voodoo spell to you? the voodoo rituals spells power will be of medium strength and so it will be safe to use at home in your own way.Let me let you in on a little secret,voodoo magic is not based on blood and violence,as a true mystic walking in the path of the Natural Mystics Of Babylon.

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Voodoo Newspaper Clippings And Pulp Tales

I have extracted a handful of exaggerations from newspaper clippings and pulp tales in my files. Here they are, with a few comments:

1. Sticking pins in Voodoo dolls to torment or kill an enemy.
I've attended many different kinds of Voodoo services in Haiti's villages and mountains and have yet to see a pin stuck in a doll of any kind. Small dolls depicting the various loa are sometimes found on hounfor altars, but these are used in ceremonies. If anyone does stick pins in dolls for evil purposes, it would have to be a bocor (sorcerer) and he would do so for a fee. The bocor has about as much to do with true Voodoo as a devil-worshipper has to do with Christianity.
2. Sex orgies.
This may be sadly disillusioning, but there is very little sex in Voodoo. Erzulie, the love loa, when possessing a female participant at a service, may command the sexual attention of a chosen male. This is a form of sex, no doubt, though ritualistic rather than orgiastic. But any other sex that takes place is likely to be between young couples who slip away from the festivities for fum and games of their own in the surrounding darkness.
3. Bloodthirsty animal sacrifices.
Chickens are frequently killed as food for the loa. Sometimes their necks are wrung; other times their heads are cut off; occasionally they are seized by the neck and whirled around the whirler's head at high speed. In two of the newspaper clippings from my files the writers claim to have see houngans bite the heads off chickens. Well, my dictionary says there are certain carnival people, called geeks, who "perform sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken," and I saw it done once at a "ceremony" for tourists. But - sorry - I've never seen it done at an actual Voodoo service.

Other animals sacrificed are goats, sheep, and bulls, though the latter are too valuable to be used in any but very special services. I once attended what is probably the most secret Voodoo service of all, the annual week-long affair called La Souvenance, held in special fenced-in village in the foothills near Gonaives. This service is so special that only houngans and mambos (priestesses) attend it, and having once checked in, no one is permitted to leave until the week is over.

At such an affair one would perhaps expect the most esoteric of sacrifices, but the only unusual animal I saw offered to the gods was a large ram. I did, however, see the rare assator drum played - this one was more than eight feet high and was played by men on ladders! - and I met a possessed old Haitian who claimed to be Moses and talked fluently for half an hour in what I think was Hebrew.
4. Nakedness.
This crops up time and again in stories about Voodoo. Naked dancers flinging themselves about in a frenzy are stock characters, it would seem. Well, I'm sorry. I've seen and photographed any number of naked peasant women washing themselves and their laundry in country streams (you first talk to them and make friends), but not once have I seen anyone naked at a Voodoo service. The trend is just the opposite: to flowing white robes for the women and gaudy costumes for the men.
5. The Voodoo spell or curse.
Again I say maybe. A friend of mine who taught English at the College St. Martial in Port-au-Prince once let me examine a hand-lettered volume compiled by a fellow priest whose forte was botany. This man had spent years collecting Haiti's medicinal plants so that he could describe and do watercolors of them. There were 383 such plants listed, and most were poisonous if taken in large enough doses.

Your houngan or mambo knows most of these plants and can employ them in such a way that a curse or spell might seem to have been cast upon the recipient. Really, though, that isn't Voodoo. It comes under the heading of witchcraft of sorcery again, and the bocors who practice those dark arts are loners. Zombies, for instance, are a product of the bocor, never of the Voodoo houngan or mambo.
6. Human skulls at Voodoo "ceremonies."
Where, oh where, do these writers see such things? I've been in all parts of Haiti. I walked across the wild, roadless mountains of the Southern Peninsula - a grand adventure that provided background for Legion of the Dead. I rode mule-back through the equally wild and roadless Massif du Nord - which provided background material for The Evil. I wore out four jeeps exploring the country's back roads. A study of Voodoo was part of all this. And not once have I seen a human skull at a Voodoo service. A bovine skull now and then, yes. And sometimes skulls of goats. But never a human one.
7. People dancing barefoot on live coals.
Yes, sometimes. But more often the people who do this are walking, not dancing, and appear to be in some kind of trance. Some Pacific Islanders perform the same ritual. But some Voodooists are able to do an even more impressive thing that our people of the press don't seem to have caught up with yet. They build a fire of charcoal, plant a tall iron bar like a crowbar in it, wait for the bar to become white hot, them grasp it in bare hands and parade around the tonelle or peristyle holding it above their heads.

Incidentally, at a brule zin, which is an initiation service for those about to become hounsi kanzo, the initiates go through an even more remarkable ritual. To describe this service would take thousands of words. I did so in Haiti: Highroad to Adventure. But in the end there are seven iron cooking pots full of oil, with fires blazing under them. The initiates are required to proceed slowly form pot to pot, dipping their right hands in each. Something they have acquired through weeks of meditation and preparation prevents the boiling oil from stripping their hands to the bone, but what it is I don't know.
8. The mad, frenzied dancing.
Give the movie-makers a black mark on this one, along with the writers. I don't recall the names of the pictures, but at least three times I've sat through so-called Voodoo movies in which the dancing was atrociously unVoodoo. Fact is, all the dancing at a Voodoo service is ritual dancing and much of it is slow. The only time I've ever seen "frenzied" dancing was one, in Quartier-Morin near Cap Haitien, when more than a dozen spectators appeared to become possessed at the same time. It was probably some kind of mass hysteria, and even so, it wasn't as wild as what some of our teenagers indulge in.
9. And finally, child sacrifice.
We should at least mention this because so many sensation-seeking writers seem to feel they have to. The facts? One of the very first books about Haiti discussed the sacrifice of children at Voodoo "ceremonies." I threw the book out of my library years ago because it contained so many errors; therefore I can't turn to it now to determine whether its author claimed to have actually seen a child sacrifice or merely heard about one. I tend to remember he got his information secondhand, as he did nearly everything else in his book. Later writers copied him, of course. Anything as sensational as that was bound to attract the titans of titillation. But I have never heard even a whisper about child sacrifice from anyone in Voodoo, and I doubt it ever happened.

If I seem to be overly defending Voodoo here, perhaps a bit of summing up is in order. Voodoo, again, is a religion. This doesn't mean that all houngans and mambos are saints, any more than all Protestant ministers and Catholic priests are saints. Unquestionably there are houngans and mambos who engage in extracurricular activities for whatever they can get out of it, though the Haitian peasant certainly hasn't much to be fleeced out of.

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Voodoo Magic Spells

The word Voodoo, which has many different names and spellings (like Vodun, Vodou, Voudou, Vudu, Vodoun) is the name of a West African religion. Voodoo is animist and spiritist, and a lot of Voodoo beliefs have to do with ancestor spirits. Some of it is based on Catholic beliefs, but most of Voodoo is from the Fon, Ewe, and Yoruba peoples. The word vodun is the Fon-Ewe word for spirit.

In Voodoo many gods and spirits are prayed to or called on. Both spirits of nature and of dead people are important. The spirits of family member who have died are especially important. Voodoo often has rituals with music and dancing. Drums are used to make most of this music. In Voodoo people often believe that a spirit is in their body and controlling the body. Having a spirit come into is wanted, and important. This spirit can speak for the gods or dead people you love, and can also help to heal or do magic.

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Voodoo Doll Making Instructions

Voodoo dolls are created to place a spell on an individual that is intended to bring them good fortune, love or fulfillment or to place a hex or curse on someone. Whatever the reasoning, the history of the voodoo doll is steeped in African culture brought to the Americas and spread to New Orleans, where it is said these types of "voodoo" dolls originated as a corruption of the original "Voudun" spirit religion. You can make a voodoo doll in the comfort of your own home with a few easy-to-locate materials.

Instructions:

# Step 1

Make a lower case "t" shape by tying two sticks together with a piece of twine.

# Step 2

Spray glue onto the sticks and cover them with dried moss, which can be purchased at most craft stores. You can cover the sticks with one large piece of moss or place smaller pieces all over the sticks.

# Step 3

Tie down the moss covered sticks with a few pieces of twine to help keep the moss from coming loose.

# Step 4

Wrap the moss-covered sticks with wide ribbon of your choosing. Begin near the top of the sticks and wrap it completely down, securing the bottom with a pin. Wrap ribbon around the "arms" and secure with pins. Make sure to leave the ends of both sticks uncovered. This will represent the hair, feet and hands of the doll.

# Step 5

Place buttons on the face of the doll, two for the eyes and one for the mouth. You can either sew them onto the face with a needle and thread or utilize hot glue.

# Step 6

Cover the voodoo doll with any other embellishments you choose, such as multicolored ribbons, feathers and more buttons.

# Step 7

Place one or more pins into the doll in the "heart" area according to the desired effect. Each of seven different colored pins represent different outcomes. The seven pin colors and their symbols are red for power, black for negative energies or to reject them, white for positive energies, yellow for success, purple for spirituality, blue for love and green for money.

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Using The Seven Pins In Candle Magick

In Hoodoo and Voodoo, use of the seven-day candle, or "7 day vigil candle" is commonplace. The seven day candles are used in difficult cases and cases where concentrated energy is needed. The candle is burned over a period of seven days whereby the practitioner pays attention to revealing and divinatory signs from the candle.

To use your pins with a candle, you start with
a regular offeratory or large candle and seven pins of the seven colors. The candle is divided into seven equal parts by sticking the pins into the candle at seven equal intervals. The seventh pin goes into the top or bottom of the candle. Make sure the pins go all the way in the candle. Take a piece of parchament paper (best to start with a rather large piece of paper) and write down seven wishes. Fold the paper at a 90 degree angle and write your full name over your wish, then fold again and write your name again, proceeding with this process seven times. Dress your candle with the appropriate oil and place the folded paper under the candle. The candle is burned for seven nights, with the flame pinched out each time a pin falls. Save all of the pins and when the last needle falls, stick the pins into the paper so that it looks like the one in the picture. According to the law of attraction, bury the paper, pins and leftoverwax under your doorstep to attract your wishes to you. If your wishes are of the repelling type, throw the ritual remains in a crossroads, graveyard, or in a moving stream or river.

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Use Your Pins With Your Voodoo Doll

There are countless ways to use your pins with your Voodoo doll. The simplest way is to take each pin and concentrate on the color symbolism. Meditate upon how you want these things to manifest in your life. For example, with your yellow pin, focus on what success you desire. After you are very clear about this, stick the pin into your doll in the heart or stomach region. This area will support your heart's desire and your gut feelings or intuition. You can also stick your pins into the head for knowledge. Repeat this process for each pin. I recommend burning a candle during this process to strengthen your work. Choose a candle color to match your deepest need. The candle colors are the same as the pin colors in this case.

All that is left to do is to wait and trust in your personal power that the Universe will help you make your intentions manifest. Patience is your best attribute now.

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Trans Woman Dies After Voodoo Cleansing Ritual

A trans woman from Arkansas has died after apparently taking part in a voodoo ritual.

Lucille Hamilton, 21, flew to Jersey on Friday to undergo a ritual that would remove her "spiritual grime".

Friends said she was taking part in a 'lave tet' ceremony, which literally translated, means 'head-washing'. It is thought to be a kind of baptism ceremony involving various herbs.

The website of voodoo priest Houngan Hector, who carried out the ritual, claims it "improves the ability for possession, clears the mind, clarifies abilities for seeing, and substantially improves the life."

On Saturday night, police responded to a call from the house in Gloucester Township and Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene. Seven other people in the house were taken to hospital as a precaution, although police would not say what treatment they received or whether they took part in the ritual.

Billie Miller, Hamilton's boss at Arkansas Flag and Banner, told the Philadelphia Daily News: “I'm still trying to find a scenario that makes sense. She was very spiritual and beautiful. She was not there for some dark purpose. She wasn't depressed; in fact, you couldn't meet a more upbeat person."

Hamilton, a devout Catholic, was not thought to be planning gender reassignment.

Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination and toxicology tests. No charges have been filed yet.

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The Story Of Zombi In Haiti

The island of Haiti located in the Caribbean Sea attracts tourists for many reasons. Perhaps the beliefs and cultural institutions of the Haitian people are of greater interest to visitors than the charm of the physical aspects of the country. Tourists believe that they will be able to see Zombis roaming through the villages and watch the people perform superhuman feats during what are called the vodu dances.

Haiti has often been called the vodu or mysterious island. Many people believe that there are to' be found some unusual facts which modern science has not yet been able to explain: -for example, the phenomenon of magic and the existence of Zombis.

In Dahomey, West Africa, the word vodu refers to both the worshipping of the spirits and the, spirits themselves. In Haiti, the term vodu has the same meaning. In worshipping the vodus the Haitian peasants pay their tribute to those supernatural beings who are the source of good and bad, life and death, disease and health. Those spirits live in the woods,. lakes, rivers, and every corner of the earth. They are the intermediaries between God and his creatures. God is too far away to take care of us ; he has therefore conferred power upon those spirits to guide us, to give us the spiritual assistance which we want in our every-day life.

Very often it is through the phenomenon -of possession that a spirit manifests itself to the devotees during the ceremonies held in the cult-house. Every peasant has a cult-house or an altar in his own home. The ceremonies are performed according to the religious needs of each follower. He consults a priest or houngan, paying a certain amount of money to the latter. The group is then gathered and the appropriate service takes place.

It is a very serious matter for the Haitian peasant, who sometimes spends more money in the worship of his gods than he does for the necessities of life.

The peasant himself distinguishes between vodu and Zombi. The term Zombi means different things (1) when a person who has never been possessed 12y a spirit, a vodu, dies, his soul cannot go to heaven; it wanders on the earth ; Heaven is not opened to this kind of soul; (2) when a farmer is successful in his business, that means he is thought to have many Zombis working for him.

As a government medical officer and psychiatrist, I have had occasion to handle many patients who, for some reason, were considered to be mysterious human beings.

The theory on which the belief in Zombis is based is that some Haitian medicine-men (Nganga) have the power to bring dead and buried people back to life again. These resurrected human beings are the Zombis, the living dead. It is also believed that during the night some people have the power to fly through the air with a big red flame under their arms: these are the werewolves. In the vodu dances, the Haitian peasants become furious and are supposed to be possessed of spirits. When one falls into this state, the medicine-man is said to be able to predict the incidence of catastrophe, birth, or death ; to tell how a person can win immense fortunes; to describe what happens in his home when a man is away from his family, and many other things which a person may always have been eager to know. The medicine-man is also supposed to have power over fate and to avert any ill fortune that the future holds in store for a victim.

Let me examine the assumption on which the belief is based.

In the remote areas of the country, the belief is prevalent that some rich peasants are fortunate in their undertakings because they are helped by mysterious beings who work on their farms; who go and steal money for them; who travel at a fantastic speed faster than automobiles, and who fly through the air as planes do. These are supposed to be former dead men and women who were brought back to life through the application of some potent drugs (Wanga).

The Zombis are supposed to eat no salt. If they do, they become conscious of the state of their abnormal existence and are therefore likely to desert their masters. Originally these beliefs came from Africa.

I have never met anyone in Haiti who was able to testify to me that he had seen a Zombi. However, I used to hear occasionally that a Zombi was living in a village. In two instances, I discovered afterwards that the hapless persons who were thought to be Zombis were, in fact, insane wanderers who could not identify themselves nor give any information with regard to their past life or their present condition.

The unusual circumstances under which they appeared in the village, their queer behavior and their unintelligible manner of speech, induced the people, whose minds were already conditioned to superstition, to believe that Zombis were in town.

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New Orleans Voodoo Power Not Focused

This toll I alluded to before on the spirit in the preceding paragraph for using black magic to inflict only hurt and pain too much is seen in the bastardized expression of the Voodoo Magic throughout Haiti and now occuring in New Orleans.Do not get me wrong New Orleans is one of the most powerful centers of obeah magic in the western hemisphere,right behind the West Indies,but the mystical force is not focused and lacks the important protocals and traditions that go along with some of the mystical voodoo spells and enchantments to give the sorcerer more control of the outcome.Case in point the current murder rate and the murder rate preceding the great mystical event of Hurricane Katrina 2006 (thats another story) in New Orleans which has put New Orleans as the "murder capital" of the world for three years in a row ,and was the murder capital before the hurricane, this correlation between the full power of the voodoo magic being allowed to go unchecked for so long and the rise in the murder rate should be ample evidence for anybody of the power of voodoo.Also by laying out this never before written history of modern mystical magical tradition originating from Africa you will know that I am the one and only Gangunguru Maragh .In conclusion the avalanche of blood thirstiness going on in New Orleans right now has a direct connection to everything before mentioned.

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Influences To Voodoo

African Influences

Voodoo was brought to the French colony Louisiana through the slave trade. From 1719 to 1731, the majority of African slaves came directly from what is now Benin, West Africa, bringing with them their cultural practices, language, and religious beliefs rooted in spirit and ancestor worship. Their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and the ritual creation of charms and amulets, intended to protect oneself or harm others, became key elements of Louisiana Voodoo.

The slave community quickly acquired a strong presence in Louisiana. The colony was not a stable society when slaves arrived, which allowed African culture to maintain a prominent position in the slave community. (160) According to a census of 1731-1732, the ratio of African slaves to European settlers was over two to one. The ownership of slaves was concentrated into the hands of only a few of the white settlers, facilitating the preservation of African culture. Unlike other areas of active slave trade, there was little separation in Louisiana between families, culture, and languages. The Embargo Act of 1808 ended all slave imports to Louisiana. Authorities promoted the growth of the slave population by prohibiting by law the separation of families. Parents were sold together with their children under fourteen years of age. The high mortality of the slave trade brought its survivors together with a sense of solidarity.(160) The absence of fragmentation in the slave community, along with the kinship system produced by the bond created by the difficulties of slavery, resulted in a “coherent, functional, well integrated, autonomous, and self confident slave community.”) As a result African culture and spirituality did not die out, but rather thrived in French Creole culture.

The practice of making and wearing charms and amulets for protection, healing, or the harm of others was a key aspect to early Louisiana Voodoo. The ouanga, a charm used to poison an enemy, contained the poisonous roots of the figure maudit tree, brought from Africa and preserved in the West Indies. The ground up root was combined with other elements such as bones, nails, roots, holy water, holy candles, holy incense, holy bread, or crucifixes. The administrator of the ritual frequently evoked protection from Allah, the Christian God, and Jesus Christ. This openness of African belief allowed for the adoption of Catholic practices into Louisiana Voodoo.

Another component of Louisiana Voodoo brought from Africa was the worship of ancestors and the subsequent emphasis on respect for elders. For this reason, the rate of survival among elderly slaves was high, further “Africanizing Louisiana Creole culture.”

Catholic influence

The slave trade also brought the belief in spirits which is central to Louisiana Voodoo. The spirits presided over every day matters of life, such as family, love, and justice. Originally, these spirits were called by their African names, but once French Creole replaced native African languages, their original names were no longer used. The spirits then adopted the names of Catholic Saints. Each spirit was paired with a Saint in charge of similar spheres of life. The adoption of Catholic practices to the voodoo faith soon became an integral part of what is known today as New Orleans voodoo. Catholic traditions, such as prayers including the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer, baptism, and the sign of the cross were incorporated into voodoo practices.

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How To Make A Voodoo Love Doll

Everyone is familiar with the Hollywood version of a voodoo doll; an evil witch places a pin in a frightful bit of cloth while mumbling and the person the doll represents immediately goes blind. Because of the popularity of this myth, voodoo dolls are associated with vengeance and retribution. Voodoo dolls are more commonly used to promote healing or improve luck. They are made from on-hand or found materials and decorated in a manner which best represents their purpose. The love doll is designed to help the creator find romance and improve the general status of her love life. By following the instructions below, you can create a love doll of your own out of plastic.

Instructions:

1. Step 1

Remove a large rectangle of cling wrap from the roll. Fold the cling wrap lengthwise to form a long, skinny rectangle. Then fold it again, this time end to end, forming a shorter skinny rectangle.

2. Step 2

Remove a smaller piece of cling wrap and roll it into a ball. This will be the love doll's head. Place the head into the center of the rectangle and fold the rectangle over it. Now you have a short, skinny rectangle with a lump in the middle. This will become the love doll's torso.

3. Step 3

Tear off another piece of cling wrap and fold it in a similar manner as the first piece. Form a second short and skinny rectangle but this time without the lump. This will form the arms of the doll.

4. Step 4

Slide the arms through the center of the torso.

5. Step 5

Snip off a piece of pink yarn, approximately 2 feet in length. Wrap the yarn around the love doll's head and bring it across the chest, moving under and around and across the back. Wrap around the head again and move on to the other arm forming yarn neck and an "X" across the upper torso.

6. Step 6

Repeat this several times to separate the head from the rest of the doll and to support the arms.

7. Step 7

Give structure to the love doll's arms and legs by wrapping the basic shape with multiple layers of cling wrap. Keep wrapping, pulling the cling wrap tight, until you are happy with the look of your love doll.

8. Step 8

Cut off the bulging ends of the love doll's arms and legs and seal with a bit of glue.

9. Step 9

If you have a specific someone in mind, use yarn and fabric scraps to mimic his hair and eye color. Also, if you can, dress your doll in a piece of cloth that comes from a garment he has worn.

10. Step 10

Cut a red heart shape from a scrap of red felt or fabric and glue it to the left hand side of the love doll's chest.
To Use Your Love Doll

11. Step 1

Take your love doll to a quiet, peaceful place and call on Venus, or the guardian of your choice, and ask for assistance and guidance.

12. Step 2

Name your love doll to establish a connection to the real world.

13. Step 3

State your intentions for the love doll. Then take the white pin--which represents positive energy and enlightenment--and place it in the center of the doll's head. Say: "By placing this pin, I create light and love in your life."

14. Step 4

Insert the purple pin between the eyes, making a statement about becoming aware of your love. Then place the blue pin into the throat making a statement about the manifestation of your love becoming reality.

15. Step 5

Stick the green pin into the heart to generate energy and the yellow into the center of the chest to improve their access to information. Don't forget to state what each pin should accomplish as you insert it.

16. Step 6

Place the orange pin in the stomach which helps them to absorb and accept all this information and last, but not least, put the red pin directly between the legs. Red represents power. Remember to reflect that idea in your statement.

17. Step 7

Leave the pins in the love doll and set it in a suitable location. Remove one pin 24 hours later. Begin with the red pin and work your way up, taking one pin out every day. When you remove the white pin, the ritual is complete.

Tips & Warnings

* Traditional voodoo dolls are made from items which suggest or aid in their function. These plastic love dolls could be stuffed, during the wrapping process, with herbs or other items you feel are appropriate.
* Be sure your intentions are good prior to using the doll. It is never wise to attempt to tamper with the free will of another person. It is far better to use a love doll to bring love, not a specific lover, into your life.

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How To Make A Voodoo Doll Of Someone

Whether you believe in voodoo or not, making a voodoo doll of someone who has caused you pain can be therapeutic. You can make your doll look more like your enemy by using a small photograph of him. The doll will also be more authentic if you include real hair, clothing or personal possessions from the subject. When your doll is complete, you can torture your victim in effigy by sticking pins in the voodoo doll.

Instructions:

1. Step 1

Find a stick that's about 6 inches long. Place it vertically on your work surface. Place another shorter stick, around 3 to 4 inches long, horizontally across the longer stick so that they cross each other. Wrap a piece of string around the intersection between the sticks and tie the ends tightly together.

2. Step 2

Wrap the Spanish moss around the place where the two sticks cross. Continue wrapping until the entire surface of both sticks has been completely enclosed in moss. Spanish moss is essential to making a truly authentic New Orleans-style voodoo doll. However, if you can't find the moss, use craft batting.

3. Step 3

Tear some fabric into long strips. Wrap the fabric around the voodoo doll base, leaving some of the moss or stuffing exposed at the ends of the sticks. Use hot glue to secure the ends of the strips to the voodoo doll.

4. Step 4

Make the doll's face look like your victim. For best results, cut out a photograph of the face of the person you would like the voodoo doll to look like. Ensure that the picture is about the same size as the voodoo doll's head. Spread a small amount of hot glue on the doll's head, then attach the picture.

5. Step 5

Look at the intended victim to see how she dresses. Find or make clothing for that is similar to the clothing she wears, and use it to dress your doll. If possible, get an actual piece of clothing that she has worn before and use it to make the doll's garments.

6. Step 6

Add some hair to your voodoo doll. For best results, find a sample of the victim's hair. If you can't get that, use feathers or get some synthetic hair from a wig or another doll. Ensure that the hair is about the same color and texture as the hair of the person you're modeling. Arrange it carefully and glue it to the top of the voodoo doll's head. Do not hot glue synthetic hair, as it will melt.

Tips & Warnings

* If you can't get clothing or hair from your victim, look for other items such as fingernail clippings or small objects that he's used and discarded. Enclose these under the fabric wrapping or use them to decorate the doll.

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How To Make And Use A Voodoo Doll

It is a common misconception that Voodoo Dolls are used primarily to place a hex on someone or to exact revenge on enemies. In truth, Voodoo dolls are used to represent the spirit of a particular person, and the pins are used primarily to target positive energy of aid in healing. Voodoo dolls work by summoning an ancient force known as Loa, commonly worshipped in Western Africa during the 16th century. This guide will provide a simple process to the proper construction and use of Voodoo Dolls.

The Construction and Use of Voodoo Dolls

1. Step 1

Make a cross with the two sticks.

2. Step 2

Tie the sticks together with the Spanish moss by wrapping it around the intersection of the sticks. If possible, use moss that is connected together in a piece long enough to cover the sticks without breaking the moss apart.

3. Step 3

Wrap the moss up and down the length of the vertical stick to form the "body" of the doll.

4. Step 4

Cover the moss with the fabric strips. Leave moss exposed at edges of all points on the cross. Secure the fabric using the needle and yarn/ hemp cord/ wax thread.

5. Step 5

Secure the beads or buttons near the top of the cross to create eyes with the needle and yarn/ hemp cord/ wax thread.

6. Step 6

Light a candle in front of the Voodoo doll. The color of the candle should match the color of the pin you will insert into the doll.

7. Step 7

Meditate using deep breathing techniques to focus on your desire (see link in Resources).

8. Step 8

Insert the pin whose color corresponds with your desire into the heart or head of the Voodoo Doll.

9. Step 9

Keep the doll in a sacred and safe place and wait for the effects to take place.

Tips & Warnings

* The seven colors each have different meanings: yellow represents success; white, positive; red, power; purple, spirituality; green, money; blue, love; and black, repelling negative energy. Oak is a good wood to use because it is strong and resists breaking. You can dress your Voodoo Doll in particular outfits, depending on the person you wish the doll to represent.
* It is not recommended to use a Voodoo doll to inflict harm on another. Karmic backlash can often result on the person wishing to spread negative energy to another.





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How To Dispose Of A Cursed Voodoo Doll

So you think you have a Voodoo doll that has been cursed, or you feel it is haunted and is bringing you bad luck? What do you do with it? Well, there are a couple of options and lucky for you that I am sharing it here!

If you really feel that you have somehow acquired a negative Voodoo doll, the best thing to do is to put it in a white cloth and shake a whole lot of sea salt on it. Sea salt is routinely used as a purifier in magick. Then, take it to a river or stream or somewhere deep in the woods with an offering of fruit and some coins. Ask the spirits of the water or the trees to take the negative energy and transform it through the power of the earth. Leave the area without looking back and when you arrive home light a 7-day protection candle and take a bath with cleansing herbs, including sea salt. Basil and juniper are two good options for this type of cleansing spiritual bath.

Another option is to wait until a Saturday to get rid of it. Put the doll in a clean, white cloth and dig a hole in the ground somewhere far away from your home. Place the doll in the hole and burn it. When it has reduced to ashes, sprinkle some Holy Water on it and cover the hole over with dirt. The earth will transform that negative energy very quickly and turn it into positive energy and blessings. When you return home afterward, bathe very well, adding some Holy Water to your bath.

Don't know where to get Holy Water? I'll tell you an old Indian secret. Take a glass of ordinary water and place it in the east window of your home. In the morning as the sun shines on the water, it will be transformed into Holy Water.

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How To Cast Voodoo Spells

Casting voodoo spells is associated with dark magic in popular culture. Followers of voodoo, however, frown on most forms of magic. They believe that a body that lives in harmony with the lwa (spirits) does not require magic to balance its existence. For those that do practice magic or charms, they must never practice selfish magic or spells. When ougans (priests) and mambos (medicine men) use magic, it is protective in nature.

Casting voodoo spells instructions

Step 1. Consult an ougan or mambo prior to performing a voodoo ritual yourself (see Resource section below). Devotees of voodoo do not perform magical rites or spells without the guidance of a strong ougan who has taken an oath to do no harm.

Step 2. Choose the lwa (spirit) for the charm. A typical voodoo spell or charm protects from harm or evil. The charm may be inscribed on a person (via tattoo) or on an object that is dedicated and blessed by the ougan.

Step 3. Dress in red. The ougan will dress in red and sacrifice a rooster or a chicken to summon the lwa for the protective charm. Be aware that ritualistic animal sacrifice is illegal in most states unless it is part of an organized religion and recognized as such.

Step 4. Carve the symbol of the lwa onto the object for the charm. The ougan may also tattoo or paint the symbol on the person receiving the charm.

Step 5. Use herbs to cleanse the wound or tattoo (see Resources section below). The types of herbs used are often at the discretion of the ougan or mambo who should be well-versed in herb-lore. Some herbal concoctions can be purchased through designated voodoo shops for ritual purification. Certain initiation ceremonies require the ritualistic marking of members with identifying marks.

Tips And Warnings

Beware of fake voodoo practitioners on the Internet. Do not perform voodoo charms or magic unsupervised. Voodoo is a religion and should be respected.


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How Does Voodoo Work

How Does Voodoo Work?
1. Voodoo originates from the African word for spirit, which is "vodun." Although often portrayed as an evil form of magic, voodoo is actually a type of religion that is practiced by over 60 million people, mainly in Haiti and some African and South American countries.
What is Voodoo?
2. Voodoo is a mixture of many types of beliefs, including Catholicism and various African religions. Just as the Christian religion offers several denominations, there are many different groups of voodoo practitioners. While each group follows different traditions, the basis of the religion is that all of nature is controlled by spiritual forces. Indeed, there are hundreds of spirits, found in the Vodun religion as well as one supreme god.
What Types of Spirits Do Voodoo Practitioners Worship?
3. According to Vodun, each person has one soul that is comprised of two spirits, or guardian angels. Although one spirit is always present, the other, called the "Ti Bong Ange" or "Little Good Angel," leaves the body during sleep and rituals. As a result of this departure, voodoo practitioners believe that the soul can be trapped while outside of the body.
Why Do They Perform Rituals?
4. Rituals are used to keep the Ti Bong Ange from remaining earthbound. During these rituals, gifts--often in the form of animal sacrifices--are provided to the spirits to gain their favor. Rather than promising fortune in the afterlife, Vodun spirits focus on the present by providing health, happiness and good fortune to their followers. In addition to celebrating special events, these rituals are also performed at one's birth, marriage and death
What Exactly Is a Voodoo Ritual?
5. During the ritual, voodoo followers will chant and dance in an effort to make contact with one of the spiritual forces (they do not seek out one specific spirit, but rather, seek out the spirit that is available at the time of the ritual). Once they have gained the attention of a spirit, that spirit will temporarily possess one of the dancers. The chosen person will fall to the ground, which indicates to the other followers that the spirit has made contact with the group. The selected individual's Ti Bon Ange will then leave his or her body and the spirit will take over. Because the spirit selects whom to possess, spirit possession is viewed as a gift from God. The possessed individual is treated with the utmost respect during the course of the ritual. In fact, many believe that simply touching the person during possession can lead to death.
Is There Really a Such Thing as a Voodoo Curse?
6. The hexes and spells commonly associated with voodoo beliefs are actually components of these rituals. Although their function is primarily for healing and protection, they may also be used for revenge against enemies. Because voodoo relies on the belief that what may be good for one person could be bad for another, these spells and hexes are perfectly acceptable. Of course, for voodoo to work, one must believe in the power of the religion, for without this belief, spells and hexes are useless.

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Haiti Spirit Politics

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 30 (AP)—Shaking bundles of pungent leaves and swaying to a frenzied drum beat, hundreds of Haitians flock to a temple to beg the spirits for U.S. visas and lucky lottery numbers.

At a time of deepening poverty and despair, many people in this Caribbean country see only one way out.

"Voodoo is Haiti’s only hope," says Solange Patrice, a 19-year-old street vendor who took Wednesday off to make meager offerings of coins and candles at a voodoo temple. "We have nothing else—unless you’re willing to risk your life to make it to the United States."

On Tuesday, more than 200 Haitians did just that, jumping from a ship that ran aground in Miami with the Coast Guard in pursuit.

The journey was one of hundreds each year by Haitians who brave the sea in rickety, overcrowded boats. Dozens have died in such attempts this year. And unlike Cubans who reach dry land, Haitian migrants usually are returned home.

"We are all desperate," said Marie Pierre, a 35-year-old vendor in Port-au-Prince’s chaotic marketplace who sells leaves, candles and moonshine as offerings to the spirits.

The government blames the situation on the lack of international aid, suspended after the Lavalas Family party of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide swept flawed elections in 2000. Two years later, the country is locked in a political stalemate. Two-thirds of workers are unemployed and crime is on the rise.

Until foreign aid is restored, people will continue to flee to U.S. shores, said government spokesman Mario Dupuy.

But even in the best of times, Haiti is a country of scant resources, with much of its arable land ravaged by decades of deforestation.

For people who make do on less than a dollar a day, voodoo understandably has strong appeal.

"Voodoo has always been about survival when hope seems lost," said Laennec Hurbon, an anthropologist and author of several books on the religion that evolved in the 17th century when the French brought slaves to Haiti. "When people feel abandoned, that desperation manifests itself in voodoo."

On Tuesday at the Desermite temple, songs asking the gods for U.S. visas and lucky lottery numbers reverberated against the concrete blocks as believers stomped their feet. Some fell to the ground, believing they were possessed.

"Open the door for us if it is closed!" worshippers wearing brightly colored satin scarves sang in Creole as they waved white candles.

Practitioners believe in a supreme God and spirits who link the human with the divine, and who are petitioned by offerings that include everything from rum to roosters.

"Every day we make offerings and people come to see me," said Exilien Francois, 75, a voodoo priest or houngan. "Even though they don’t have much to give me or the spirits, we will keep praying. We have to."

Voodoo, or Voudou, as preferrd by Haitians, only became recognized as a formal religion in 1987, under a new constitution that recognizes the rights of all religions. But this fusion of West African beliefs has long been seen as a path toward emancipation.

In 1791, an escaped slave named Boukman gathered thousands of followers in the forests of northern Haiti and sacrificed a wild boar. He pledged that with the spirits’ help, he would liberate his people and free Haiti.

After 10 years of bloodshed, slavery ended and Haiti became the world’s first black republic, making Boukman a hero and giving special prominence to the religion.

Slaves forced to practice Catholicism remained loyal to their African religions in secret by adopting Catholic saints to coincide with African spirits. The Virgin Mary became Erzulie, St. John became Ogun, a warrior spirit.

Still, voodoo worshippers were persecuted, with a church-led campaign in the 1940s leading to the destruction of temples and sacred objects. Voodoo only became recognized as a formal religion in 1987, under a new constitution that recognizes the rights of all religions.

Today, voodoo is an inseparable part of Haiti’s rich culture of art, literature, music and film. Hymns are heard on the radio, and voodoo ceremonies are broadcast on television along with Christian services.

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