In the living tradition of New Orleans Voudou, no name shines brighter than that of Marie Laveau. Known as The Voudou QueenCaption of New Orleans, she embodies the city’s soul, its rhythm, compassion, mystery, and power. More than a historical figure, Marie Laveau remains a living spiritual presence, guiding those who serve the spirits with respect and love.
A Life Between Worlds
Marie Laveau was born a free woman of colour in New Orleans around 1801, at a time when the city was alive with the sounds of many cultures. She was both a devout Catholic and a Voudou practitioner, and through her, these two worlds became one harmonious path. Marie prayed in church and worked her spiritual art in the streets, homes, and along the bayous, bridging heaven and earth with grace. Her understanding of both faiths made her unique. She carried the Rosary in one hand and offerings for the Loa in the other, knowing that divine truth is not bound by religion, but by spirit. In her presence, prayer became power, and faith became healing.
The Queen of Voudou
Marie Laveau was widely known for her wisdom, spiritual strength, and compassion. She was a healer, midwife, counsellor, and intercessor, helping the sick, the troubled, and the poor with equal devotion. She offered herbal remedies, blessings, and protection work, always seeking balance and justice in her practice. Her ceremonies at Congo Square and Bayou St. John brought people together in prayer, music, and offering. The beating of drums, the lighting of candles, and the calling of the spirits echoed through the heart of New Orleans, weaving together the living and the unseen. Marie worked closely with both the Catholic Saints and the Loa (Lwa). She recognised the sacred in all traditions and understood that the divine may wear many faces. Her work continues to teach that true power comes not from control, but from harmony with spirit and respect for all life.
Justified Work and Rightful Action
Marie Laveau is remembered as a woman of great spiritual integrity. Her practice, like all true Conjure and Voudou, was rooted in justified work, spiritual intervention that is aligned with divine will. In this tradition, one never acts from malice, revenge, or personal gain. Instead, work is performed only when it is right and just, when it restores balance, protects the innocent, or heals what has been broken. Marie Laveau’s example reminds all practitioners that our craft is sacred service, not manipulation.
Her Presence Today
To this day, Marie Laveau is honoured as a spirit, teacher, and folk saint. Offerings of flowers, candles, rum, and prayer are often made in her name. Many visit her reputed resting place in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where her spirit is said to listen and respond to the petitions of those who come in sincerity. In New Orleans and beyond, she continues to inspire those who walk the path of faith, healing, and justified magic. Her energy may be called upon for:
Guidance in spiritual matters
Protection and justice
Healing and reconciliation
Empowerment and courage
Connection to the ancestral and divine feminine
Marie Laveau and My Work
In my own Conjure and Voudou practice, I honour Marie Laveau as a guiding spirit and guardian. Her strength, compassion, and commitment to right action inform all that I do. Through study, prayer, and service, I continue the work she began, helping others through justified spiritual means, always in harmony with the divine order. I have studied at the Crossroads University, under the respected Voudou practitioner and author Denise Alvarado, whose teachings preserve the authentic New Orleans tradition and honour the spirit of Marie Laveau herself.
A Living Legacy
Marie Laveau’s legacy is not a story of the past; it is a living current of power and grace. To honour her is to walk with integrity, to serve the spirits wisely, and to remember that every act of magic is, at its heart, an act of love.
