The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook (Original) — Occult Philosophy

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook (Original)

Name: The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook (Original)
Price: 22.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781594774355

✍️ Filan, Kenaz

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$22.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This comprehensive guide plunges deep into the dynamic world of New Orleans Voodoo, revealing its practical applications and profound cultural roots. Author Kenaz Filan illuminates the core rituals, sacred tools, and potent magical workings, from crafting gris-gris and Voodoo dolls to preparing oils and conducting candle spells for various intentions, be it love, prosperity, justice, or protection. Explore the legacies of iconic figures like Marie Laveau and Dr. John, and trace the intricate tapestry of African, European, and Indigenous influences that forged this unique American spiritual path.

Filan, Kenaz

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🕯️

Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“One reviewer said The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook-is quite simply the best book on New Orleans Voodoo I have ever read. I would amend that to, -it's the best book on New Orleans and Voodoo I've ever read.”

— Psychic-Magic, November 2011

🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2011 📖 320 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781594774355

Fun Fact

Kenaz Filan expertly guides readers through the often-misunderstood world of New Orleans Voodoo. This handbook shines in its balanced presentation of practical magic and deep cultural history, making it invaluable for serious students. While it offers a respectful introduction, those seeking only superficial "curses" might be disappointed by its emphasis on authentic practice and historical context. It stands as a vital, authoritative text in contemporary occult literature.

📝 Description: The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook (Original)

A guide to the practices, tools, and rituals of New Orleans Voodoo as well as the many cultural influences at its origins - Includes recipes for magical oils, instructions for candle workings, and directions to create gris-gris bags and Voodoo dolls to attract love, money, justice, and healing and for retribution - Explores the major figures of New Orleans Voodoo, including Marie Laveau and Dr. John - Exposes the diverse ethnic influences at the core of Voodoo, from the African Congo to Catholic immigrants from Italy, France, and Ireland One of America's great native-born spiritual traditions, New Orleans Voodoo is a religion as complex, free-form, and beautiful as the jazz that permeates this steamy city of sin and salvation. From the French Quarter to the Algiers neighborhood, its famed vaulted cemeteries to its infamous Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans cannot escape its rich Voodoo tradition, which draws from a multitude of ethnic sources, including Africa, Latin America, Sicily, Ireland, France, and Native America. In The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook, initiated Vodou priest Kenaz Filan covers the practices, tools, and rituals of this system of worship as well as the many facets of its origins. Exploring the major figures of New Orleans Voodoo, such as Marie Laveau and Dr. John, as well as Creole cuisine and the wealth of musical inspiration surrounding the Mississippi Delta, Filan examines firsthand documents and historical records to uncover the truth behind many of the city's legends and to explore the oft-discussed but little-understood practices of the root doctors, Voodoo queens, and spiritual figures of the Crescent City. Including recipes for magical oils, instructions for candle workings, methods of divination, and even directions to create gris-gris bags, mojo hands, and Voodoo dolls, Filan reveals how to call on the saints and spirits of Voodoo for love, money, retribution, justice, and healing.

📑 What's inside

Introduction
Part One History
1 Born on the Bayou: The Rise of New Orleans
2 From Saint-Domingue to Washington: Revolution Comes to Louisiana
3 King Cotton, Lady Liberty, and Jim Crow
4 The (Re)creation of "New Orleans Voodoo"
5 When the Levee Breaks: Hurricane Katrina
Part Two Traditions
6 Mardi Gras
7 Music
8 Food
9 Voodoo Temples and Curio Shops
10 Priests, Priestesses, Houngans, Mambos, and Chicken Men
Part Three The Spirits
11 The Old Man at the Crossroads: Papa La-Bas
12 The Divine Mother: The Virgin Mary
13 The Great Serpent: Li Grand Zombi
14 The Voodoo Queen: Marie Laveau
15 The Warriors: Joe Féraille, St. Marron, and Yon Sue
16 The Miracle Workers: St. Expidité, St. Jude, and St. Roch
17 The Bringers of Good Fortune: St. Joseph, Assonquer, and John the Conqueror
18 The Indians: Black Hawk and the Black Hawk Spiritual Churches
19 The Roots: The Dead
Part Four Practices
20 Candles
21 Oils
22 Spirit Dolls
23 Mojo Hands and Gris-gris Bags
24 Foretelling the Future
Part Five Just Visiting or Settling Down
25 Visiting the Big Easy
26 Moving to New Orleans: Triumphs and Tragedies
Afterword: Deepwater Horizon and the Indomitable Spirit of Louisiana
Part Six Appendices Appendix 1 Great New Orleans Books, Movies, and Television Appendix 2 New Orleans Musicians Appendix 3 Preserving New Orleans Notes Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Kenaz Filan offers a comprehensive plunge into New Orleans Voodoo, detailing practical applications from sacred tools to specific magical workings. The text effectively illuminates core rituals and the cultural roots of this dynamic tradition. However, readers looking for purely academic anthropology or dry historical analysis may find the practical, hands-on nature of the guide less appealing. It is not suited for those who prefer detached observation over active participation in esoteric practices. For serious practitioners wanting to understand the blend of African, European, and Indigenous influences through a magical lens, this volume provides essential, potent insights into crafting dolls and oils.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a tangible connection to the vibrant spiritual heart of New Orleans will find this handbook indispensable. It is ideal for practitioners eager to move beyond theory and into action, offering clear instructions on crafting gris-gris, preparing potent oils, and performing candle spells for love, prosperity, justice, or protection. Those fascinated by the legacies of iconic figures like Marie Laveau and Dr. John will appreciate the deep cultural context provided. This book empowers individuals to understand the intricate tapestry of influences that forged this unique path, making it perfect for anyone ready to embrace modern magic grounded in profound historical tradition.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are drawn to the vibrant, often mysterious, spiritual traditions of New Orleans and seek an accessible yet knowledgeable introduction to Voodoo's practical workings and complex history, this book is for you. It empowers seekers curious about authentic folk magic and cultural synthesis.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Kenaz Filan offers a comprehensive plunge into New Orleans Voodoo, detailing practical applications from sacred tools to specific magical workings. The text effectively illuminates core rituals and the cultural roots of this dynamic tradition. However, readers looking for purely academic anthropology or dry historical analysis may find the practical, hands-on nature of the guide less appealing. It is not suited for those who prefer detached observation over active participation in esoteric practices. For serious practitioners wanting to understand the blend of African, European, and Indigenous influences through a magical lens, this volume provides essential, potent insights into crafting dolls and oils.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes, Kenaz Filan's approach makes the complex world of New Orleans Voodoo accessible without oversimplification. While comprehensive, it provides clear explanations and practical instructions, making it an excellent starting point for those new to the tradition.

The book addresses the full spectrum of Voodoo practices, including those for retribution, but always within its traditional context. It demystifies common misconceptions, emphasizing the nuanced ethical framework of Voodoo, which encompasses healing, justice, and protection alongside more challenging applications.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Practical Magick & Rituals

Delve into the direct application of Voodoo principles with step-by-step instructions for crafting potent magical items. Learn to prepare traditional gris-gris bags, Voodoo dolls, and ritual oils. The book provides clear guidance for candle workings aimed at manifesting desires for love, prosperity, protection, healing, and even justice, empowering readers to engage directly with the tradition.

Historical & Cultural Roots

Uncover the rich, multicultural tapestry that forms the foundation of New Orleans Voodoo. This work meticulously explores the profound contributions from West African spiritual traditions, alongside the influences of European Catholicism, Irish folklore, French customs, and indigenous American practices. It illustrates how these disparate elements coalesced into a distinct and powerful spiritual system unique to the Crescent City.

Iconic Figures & Lore

Meet the legendary practitioners who shaped New Orleans Voodoo into what it is today. The text introduces readers to the lives and legacies of pivotal historical figures such as the revered Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and the enigmatic Dr. John. Understanding these individuals provides crucial insight into the development and public perception of this often-misunderstood spiritual path.

📜 Historical context

New Orleans Voodoo stands as a uniquely American spiritual expression, born from the forced convergence of West African, European Catholic, and Indigenous belief systems during slavery and colonial periods. This handbook, penned by an initiated Vodou priest, situates itself within a modern lineage of accessible, yet respectful, introductions to a tradition often sensationalized. It contributes to a growing body of literature aiming to demystify and honor its profound heritage.

📚 Glossary

Gris-Gris
Voodoo Doll
Marie Laveau

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might understanding the syncretic nature of New Orleans Voodoo challenge your preconceived notions about spiritual purity or tradition?
Reflect on the concept of 'retribution' in Voodoo. How does it differ from simple revenge, and what ethical considerations might arise when working with such intentions?
If you were to create a gris-gris bag for a personal intention, what elements would you choose and why, considering their symbolic properties?