Marie Laveaux

Planet Voodoo

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The Voodoo Queen of new Orleans

For magical powers to control one’s lovers, acquaintances, enemies, and sex.

The Marie Laveau image by New Orleans' artist,

Dimitri Fouquet, of his original oil paintings as featured on Dr. John's
CD "Creole Moon"

Marie Laveau I was born in New Orleans in 1794 and was considered a free woman of color, being of mixed black, white and Indian blood. She was a popular sort of confidante in her day, as women from all backgrounds shared with her their deepest secrets. Everyone knew Marie Laveaux used the Voodoo religion’s magical powers to control one’s lovers, acquaintances, enemies, and sex. Hence, women confided in her their concerns and fears about their husbands, their lovers, their estates, their husbands’ mistresses, their business affairs, and their fears of insanity and of anyone discovering a trace of Negro blood in their ancestry (Guiley, 1989). Stories prevailed about secret rituals being held deep in the bayous, that included the worship of Mam'zelle Laveau's snake named Zombi, and celebratory dancing, drinking, and lovemaking. Nearly a third of the worshippers were white, coveting the "power" to regain a lost lover, to take a new lover, to eliminate a business partner, or to destroy an enemy (Guiley).

Mam'zelle Laveau professed to be a devout Catholic and added influences of Catholicism to her ritual work, such as holy water, incense, statues of the saints, and Christian prayers.

The consummate business woman, Mam'zelle Laveau used the sensationalism associated with the Voodoo ceremonies to advance the purposes of the Voodoo movement in New Orleans. She opened the ceremonies up to the public, allowing the press, police, the New Orleans roués, and anyone curious about the forbidden, orgiastic religion to attend.

Eventually, Marie Laveau, with all of her secret knowledge, became the most powerful woman in New Orleans. Whites of every class sought her help in their various affairs and amours while blacks saw her as their leader. Judges paid her as much as $1000 to win an election, other whites paid $10 for an insignificant love powder. She freely helped most blacks. To visit her for a reading became fashionable.

Reference

Guiley, R. E. (1989). The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft New York: Facts On File.

This Marie Laveau Voodoo doll is constructed in the traditional New Orleans style out of Spanish moss and two sticks. She is wearing an African print dress and a cross reflecting her professed Catholic beliefs, as well as a gris gris bag, the likes of which she made famous in New Orleans Voodoo. She is accompanied by a black rooster. Her face is hand sculpted out of polymer clay and painted.

As each doll is uniquely handcrafted, please allow for individual variations.

Measures approximately 10 x 5.5 inches.

$49.95

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