It's true, gris gris ain't just a mojo bag, though there are many who seem to think otherwise. But those of us who grew up in New Orleans and in the New Orleans Voodoo tradition, we know there's much more to it than a few items of conjure in a red flannel bag.
Gris Gris Ain't Just a Mojo Bag
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly
The fist hoodoo magazine ever published presented by some serious practitioners and authors. You have got to check it out!
Amazon.com: Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly: A Journal of the Magickal Arts with a Special Focus on New Orleans Voodoo, Hoodoo, Folk Magic and Folklore (Volume 1)
Amazon.com: Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly: A Journal of the Magickal Arts with a Special Focus on New Orleans Voodoo, Hoodoo, Folk Magic and Folklore (Volume 1)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Fishzilla? Really??? What's really up with the Snakehead Fish?
Watch out! Now there's a fish that can breathe air and walk on land and he just might be coming out of the water to eat you! I'm talking about the Snakehead fish that is causing such a controversy and mass hysteria nowadays. It is one of the most googled search terms and stories about it abound. This fish is called a snakehead because some genius thought its head looks so much like a snake that it could be mistaken as one. I don't know, maybe its because I grew up with snakes but, it doesn't look much like one to me. National Geographic calls it "Fishzilla" in its documentary about the invasion of the species. Still, the name Fishzilla conjures up images of a big monster but the Snakehead only gets 2 to 3 feet long apparently. I guess the name refers to its status as a top level predator, meaning it has no natural enemies outside of its natural environment. Some scientists are debunking popular myths about the immediate crisis and its scary characteristics, indicating hysteria is simply not warranted.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thirteen indigenous Grandmothers Have a Message For Us All
13 Indigenous Grandmothers, shamans and medicine women from around the world have been called together to share their sacred wisdom and practices. Can they light the way for us to a peaceful and sustainable planet?
Through the years, they've become teachers and icons who are galvanizing and uniting a rapidly emerging global movement. They are awakening people to the urgent need for change if we are to survive on this planet. But they are not using fear as a weapon. They are offering us hope. What many people see as a threat, they see as an opportunity. They show us that by going back to the ancient and time-proven earth-based traditions and practices of our Indigenous people, we will be able to break away from our destructive habits and make the changes necessary for our survival.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Voodoo Doll Beware!
Beware the voodoo doll - this is an interesting article one of my loyal Voodoo Muse subscribers called to my attention. It is from the Trinidad and Tobago Express, and written by Carolyn Kissoon who can be reached at ckissoon@trinidadexpress.com.
Tuesday, May 12th 2009
OBJECT OF FEAR: It looks a bit like the gingerbread man but the discovery of this "doll" in the front yard of a home at Broomage Settlement, Princes Town, caused fear in the village, with some believing it would bring evil. Here, a villager keeps his distance from the "voodoo doll". -Photos: DAVE PERSAD
There are those among us who believe that very bad things are always waiting to do us in. Not accidents and through any fault of our own, but events perpetrated by evil things called up by evil-doers bent on causing us misery.
Few will admit to how open we are to believing that a dollop of dirt or flowers or coin found in our front yard is the work of the obeahman. Fewer will reveal how often we turn to priest or pundit or our own dark arts wizards to repel the spells cast upon us.
Which is why when a family at Broomage Settlement No 1, Princes Town awoke to find a doll lying in the front yard, fear superseded every other emotion.
The doll was fashioned out of flour, rice, milk and seeds, the same ingredients used in Hindu observances when there is a death.
The man for whom the voodoo doll was meant to hurt, was dead within a year - felled by a heart attack.
For those who believe, it is a powerful mystical practice that can bring spectacular gifts and rewards to anyone willing to place their destiny in the hands of spirits, who await the call of service.
The voodoo doll has African origins, the belief brought to Haiti by slaves. The doll represents the spirit of a specific person and powers are invoked requesting a change in attitude, influencing the person to act in accordance with someone's wishes or desires.
The dolls, which can be used for good, are mostly known to cast evil spells and to cause physical harm.
They are fashioned out of grass, cloth, mud or wood and a personal item belonging to the intended victim is usually attached.
In the case of the Princes Town family, the doll was placed in the driveway of their home, the name of the "victim" on its abdomen. It looked like a teddy bear and was actually made of flour dough mixed with milk and ground rice and seeds - ingredients used during the Hindu prayers held a week after a death.
A painted pepper represented a penis.
The family's pundit said the doll represented something evil. He performed rituals to neutralise the dark and told the family to burn the effigy.
But the 66-year-old man was unsure he wanted to burn it and the holyman took the doll away.
The man's son, whose named was scrawled across the effigy, suffered severe headaches and fever.
Months later a crumpled piece of paper was found outside the house. Inside was a blue substance, believed to be an act of black magic.
On Fathers' Day the following year, the owner of the house suffered a sudden heart attack. "I don't want to point fingers but his death was a mystery. He was really good the night before and when he got up the morning he could not breathe. My son took him to the health facility where he just died," his wife said yesterday.
Up to this day the family continues to perform prayer services to ward off evil spirits. It happened again this year.
Two weeks after murdered mechanic, Nigel Allen's tombstone was painted black, his twin sister received a voodoo doll in a coffin filled with dirt at her workplace.
She received the mysterious package with a threatening postcard. The postcard read: "You are your brothers keeper. The wages of sin is "DEATH". Time to meet your brother NYO."
The note was written in red ink. To some it was prank to scare the woman into dropping the murder investigations, but many warned that it was black magic practice to get rid of Allen's sister.
Natalie Allen said she was not intimidated by the act. It is estimated that Voodoo has over 50 million followers worldwide. Voodoo flourishes in Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, New Orleans and in private homes in every country in the world.
Voodoo believers accept the existence of one god. Below this almighty God, spirits (Loa) rule over the world's affairs in matters of family, love, happiness, justice, wealth, revenge.
For anyone who is searching for a solution to a difficult problem, who is trying to mend a conflict, return a lover, accumulate wealth... the Loa await your call.
To read the very interesting comments to this article, check them out here: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161476097
To really learn about the origins and meanings of Voodoo dolls, check out this book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual
Tuesday, May 12th 2009
OBJECT OF FEAR: It looks a bit like the gingerbread man but the discovery of this "doll" in the front yard of a home at Broomage Settlement, Princes Town, caused fear in the village, with some believing it would bring evil. Here, a villager keeps his distance from the "voodoo doll". -Photos: DAVE PERSADThere are those among us who believe that very bad things are always waiting to do us in. Not accidents and through any fault of our own, but events perpetrated by evil things called up by evil-doers bent on causing us misery.
Few will admit to how open we are to believing that a dollop of dirt or flowers or coin found in our front yard is the work of the obeahman. Fewer will reveal how often we turn to priest or pundit or our own dark arts wizards to repel the spells cast upon us.
Which is why when a family at Broomage Settlement No 1, Princes Town awoke to find a doll lying in the front yard, fear superseded every other emotion.
The doll was fashioned out of flour, rice, milk and seeds, the same ingredients used in Hindu observances when there is a death.
The man for whom the voodoo doll was meant to hurt, was dead within a year - felled by a heart attack.
For those who believe, it is a powerful mystical practice that can bring spectacular gifts and rewards to anyone willing to place their destiny in the hands of spirits, who await the call of service.
The voodoo doll has African origins, the belief brought to Haiti by slaves. The doll represents the spirit of a specific person and powers are invoked requesting a change in attitude, influencing the person to act in accordance with someone's wishes or desires.
The dolls, which can be used for good, are mostly known to cast evil spells and to cause physical harm.
They are fashioned out of grass, cloth, mud or wood and a personal item belonging to the intended victim is usually attached.
In the case of the Princes Town family, the doll was placed in the driveway of their home, the name of the "victim" on its abdomen. It looked like a teddy bear and was actually made of flour dough mixed with milk and ground rice and seeds - ingredients used during the Hindu prayers held a week after a death.
A painted pepper represented a penis.
The family's pundit said the doll represented something evil. He performed rituals to neutralise the dark and told the family to burn the effigy.
But the 66-year-old man was unsure he wanted to burn it and the holyman took the doll away.
The man's son, whose named was scrawled across the effigy, suffered severe headaches and fever.
Months later a crumpled piece of paper was found outside the house. Inside was a blue substance, believed to be an act of black magic.
On Fathers' Day the following year, the owner of the house suffered a sudden heart attack. "I don't want to point fingers but his death was a mystery. He was really good the night before and when he got up the morning he could not breathe. My son took him to the health facility where he just died," his wife said yesterday.
Up to this day the family continues to perform prayer services to ward off evil spirits. It happened again this year.
Two weeks after murdered mechanic, Nigel Allen's tombstone was painted black, his twin sister received a voodoo doll in a coffin filled with dirt at her workplace.
She received the mysterious package with a threatening postcard. The postcard read: "You are your brothers keeper. The wages of sin is "DEATH". Time to meet your brother NYO."
The note was written in red ink. To some it was prank to scare the woman into dropping the murder investigations, but many warned that it was black magic practice to get rid of Allen's sister.
Natalie Allen said she was not intimidated by the act. It is estimated that Voodoo has over 50 million followers worldwide. Voodoo flourishes in Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, New Orleans and in private homes in every country in the world.
Voodoo believers accept the existence of one god. Below this almighty God, spirits (Loa) rule over the world's affairs in matters of family, love, happiness, justice, wealth, revenge.
For anyone who is searching for a solution to a difficult problem, who is trying to mend a conflict, return a lover, accumulate wealth... the Loa await your call.
To read the very interesting comments to this article, check them out here: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161476097
To really learn about the origins and meanings of Voodoo dolls, check out this book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual
To learn all about dolls in magic and ritual, visit
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Weird, True, and Freaky! The Origin of the Modern-day Voodoo Doll
For_Immediate_Release:
United States of America (Press Release) March 4, 2009 --
Mysterious and provocative, the foremost reigning icon of African derived religions in the minds of the Western world is the Voodoo doll. Images of ugly pin-sticking dolls used for hexing your neighbor and summoning evil spirits, satanic evil-doers engaging in bloody sacrifices, brain-eating zombies, rock music and drugs, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality, the occult, Voodoo, and demonism--they all go together in the minds of the general public, thanks to Hollywood and sensational novels. Very few things have the potential to create as much fear, panic, and paranoia as the discovery of a Voodoo doll lying on the front steps of home sweet home.
But how threatening can a doll be? Using a Voodoo doll is not like holding a gun to someone’s head, after all. On the other hand, Voodoo dolls are quite possibly worse, because to the uninformed they symbolize a war waged against your very soul. And, how can you defend yourself against that?
Using dolls and effigies in sympathetic magic rituals is as old as humankind. More often than not, ritual dolls and effigies were used for healing, fertility, and empowerment. In some cultures such as ancient Greece, they were used to bind enemies. European poppets were widely used in folk magic and witchcraft to curse an enemy. Other types of dolls were used in harvest customs and burial rites, made as talismans, or used as teaching aids for children.
In New Orleans, Voodoo dolls are largely sold as souvenirs, curios, and novelty items. For the most part, people who purchase a Voodoo doll will keep it around as a warm and fuzzy reminder of New Orleans, the Land of Voodoo.
So how did we get from objects of empowerment, spirituality, and souvenir to evil minions of hell? To answer this question requires a brief jaunt into the sociopolitical history of our country. And that is exactly what author Denise Alvarado does in her fascinating new book, "Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual."
Voodoo dolls are perhaps the most misunderstood icon of any religion. According to the author, the prevailing negative stereotypes are as much the result of racism as slavery is.
For the first time anywhere, explore the history, mystery, & magick of Voodoo Dolls in this fascinating new book. Tracing the Voodoo doll’s roots back in time, this book provides a fascinating account of the most provocative and mystifying icon of the African-derived healing tradition of Creole Voodoo. The author explains the multicultural history of the Voodoo doll, dispels stereotypes and myths, while at the same time showing the reader how to make and use Voodoo dolls to enhance everyday life. Learn how to make three kinds of Voodoo dolls, find over 40 spells and rituals to find love, attract wealth, offer protection, and promote healing and happiness. The book is richly illustrated with the artwork of the author, whose work was recently featured on National Geographic's Taboo.
To purchase this book as a paperback or instant download, visit Creole Moon.
source: FPR
Monday, October 27, 2008
French President Sarkozky Not Laughing Over Voodoo Doll Made in his Image
The French president is threatening to sue a firm marketing a voodoo doll in his image. The doll, emblazoned with some of Nicolas Sarkozy's most famous quotes, comes with its own set of pins and a book telling buyers where to stick them.
Nicolas Sarkozy Voodoo Manual
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