In the hope of finding a legit way of putting a hex on all due research papers while I am on this round the world trip, I headed to Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street for a meeting with a friend and to find out more about the cults in New Orleans.
After a 20 minute look around the tiny store and listening to other customers’ observations (This is freaky. Wtf is that. I have been looking for blessed chicken feet for years) I left the Gris Gris and blessed magic, voodoo dolls, potions, charms from New Orleans, Brazil and around the world, and had my personal thoughts invaded by a spiritualist reader named Irene.
An elderly lady who took me into a back room and like a guy who inhaled a few Tequilas, informed me that every beautiful woman she has admired has been a Scorpion (hmmm) and I should feel at home in New Orleans as it too is a Scorpio. I don’t believe in tarot readings or psychics so I am cynical by nature but Irene was sweet and asked no questions. She shuffled the cards, asked me to think of a wish or question I have and shuffle them myself which led to an abrupt flutter of observations about me – I’ll be practicing in the medical field and purchasing a beautiful french inspired home being among them. (She was more specific, sparring you boring details!) She was as specific as she could be given she asked no questions and was going off the cards and intuition. Funnily enough her entire reading was on par with one I had around 10 years ago.
Walking out of the incense infused voodoo haven and the alter to Marie Laveau, I headed down to St Peters where Marie Laveau’s partner shop is located – Rev Zombie’s House of Voodoo. Here, I saw Rose. After perusing the same merchandise as Marie Laveau’s but in the larger version of the store, I headed in to the back room again. Rose was not as charming as Irene, and while she made me wait forever, she was frugal with my time when I got in there. She said overall, the same things Irene had said except in a more specific and less charming way. The guy at the counter said everyone likes Rose, I didn’t so much after she told me I live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion – until I realised it was true. Rose went into detail, whether I wanted to hear it or not, but it was hard to ask a question as it felt as if I was being timed and I needed to leave. While more specific than Irene, she lacked intuitive abilities and relied entirely on the deck.
I was given a voodoo doll which I was not too thrilled about when I realised its crotch was sewn up. Worried I was never going to get laid again, I inquired only to find out it’s a voodoo to bring out emotions. My emotions generally don’t come out of my crotch but we will see if it works.
Have you been to either store? What did you think?
Making Light of Death 