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Yes. That was her religion and she practiced it.
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What do the x's mean that are on Marie Laveau's tomb?
Originally, it appears, it was a form of signature. People come to Marie Laveau's tomb to petition (knock at her tomb) her to do favors for them just the same as did (knocking) at her house on St. Ann Street when she was alive. In death, they believe her spirit is as powerful as she was in life. When she died in 1881 most everyday people did not know how to read or write and usually signed their name with an "X." The reason they signed the tomb was to be sure Marie Laveau understood who it was that was asking for the favor. In time, when most people now could sign their name, they shied away from doing so. First, because they did not want everyone else to know what they doing. And second, because the family of Marie Laveau does not like people marking on the tomb. As a result they began to stylize the triple "xxx" moniker that one sees today. (Incidentally, since 2005, it has been illegal to mark on Marie Laveau's, or any other, tomb in New Orleans.) Also, once a year, on All Saints Day, the Monette family, whose tomb is just across from Marie Laveau's, repaints the entire tomb white.) A tradition among tour guides, which is mostly folklore and their own concoction, is that you should mark three x's, place your hand over the x's, and make three turns, or some other physical ritual, either for good luck, or to make your wish come true. This is just entertainment and superstition. Another fallacy is that the "X" represents the intersection of life and death, night and day, or good and evil. In fact, in Haitian Voodoo there is such a concept, but there are two problems with this. First, New Orleans is not in Haiti, Marie Laveau was not Haitian, and Louisiana Voodoo is not the same as Haitian Voodoo. Second, the actual Haitian cross is distinctly different. It looks like a star shape with eight arms (a double cross, being an x and a + overlaying). Also, there is a point, or dot, just beyond the tip of each of the eight arms. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and people who try to superimpose something they read about Haitian Voodoo are exposing themselves giving that as an explanation. Voodoo has basically three spiritual echelons; God, spirits (Voodoos), and deceased souls. Marie Laveau became a Voodoo spirit in the later category upon her death. (While Haitian Voodoo is dominated by spirits (second category), New Orleans Voodoo is dominated by the third level.) It is important to separate spirituality from superstition. In the former one prays to a spirit (i.e. Marie Laveau) for supernatural intervention. This is properly what is going on at her tomb. In the latter, one practices acts or uses fetishes (objects) in a superstitious manner no different that carrying a four leaf clover or rabbit's foot. Most importantly, keep in mind that Marie Laveau was considered saint like upon her death, not because of Voodoo or anything occult, but because she selflessly gave of herself nursing the ill, adopting orphans, feeding the poor and homeless and visiting prisoners. She is not the same as the abstract, selfish, demanding Haitian Voodoo spirits. Therefore, it is not appropriate to leave her an offering of food, tobacco, alcohol, etc. If you want to make such a gesture, help a real person in need and do it in Marie Laveau's name and memory. Otherwise, stick with offerings of personal affection and respect. Personal and sincere petitions are appropriate. Honoring her with alcohol or tobacco may be sincere signs of respect, but it a waste of resources that could be better spent, in Marie Laveau's own life's example, by helping others in need. Do not make wasted and self-serving gifts of either your treasure, your time or your talent at her tomb. Take inspiration from the true life of Marie Laveau and spend these things instead on others in need. Keep in mind that St. Louis Cemetery (where she is entombed) is a Catholic Cemetery, that she was a practicing Catholic and her motives were very idealistically Catholic even as she used some ancestral African methods to carry them out. Reverence for Marie Laveau should be in the same manner as a Catholic properly practices reverence for a Saint, or other deceased loved one (with inspiration, motivation and action). Finally, if you visit Marie Laveau's tomb and you leave with no more than a sense of spirituality and love of humanity, they you know that that in fact, she truly has Voodooed you!
Any good songs about witches?
witch doctor. Also: Swamp Witch, by Jim Stafford, a more serious song than he usually did, about an old witch in the Everglades who saves a town dying of plague. Marie Laveau, by Bobby Bare, a comedy song portraying the New Orleans witch as a stereotypical hag, although the real Marie Laveau was allegedly beautiful.
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Hey, i was wondering...can poppets/voodoo dolls really hurt people?
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How do you stop the voodoo doll from its evil?
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