A History of Voodoo in New Orleans
In America, New Orleans is often associated with two things: Mardi Gras and Voodoo. Although only approximately 15-20% of the population of Louisiana practices the religion of voodoo (also known as Vodou), its dark allure has captured the attention of many. Tourists visiting New Orleans regularly seek out voodoo attractions and shops selling voodoo-related items, tantalized by stories of voodoo dolls, possession by evil spirits, voodoo curses, and zombies. While such fare undoubtedly serves to entertain tourists, it does an injustice to the true meaning of traditional voodoo. Some sects of modern voodoo are indeed occultist in origin, but traditional voodoo has much more in common with wicca and Native American beliefs, and even Christianity. Traditional voodoo is intended to help practitioners achieve a higher state of consciousness through trancelike communions with the natural spirits of the earth, called Loa, and to attain peace and wisdom. The reemergence of voodoo in New Orl...