Voodoo shops typically sell potions, herbs, candles, gris-gris bags, books about voodoo, musical instruments and other voodoo rituals and services.
Finding a voodoo shop in a major metropolitan area may not be difficult, but if options close to home are limited, there are many resources online.
Differences in New Orleans Voodoo and Haitian Vodou Items
The voodoo practice in New Orleans is different from the Haitian vodou – the shops in the French Quarter of New Orleans typically place greater importance on charms, magical items and voodoo dolls.
Shops in the tradition of Haitian vodou focus more on the vodou traditions of communication with the voodoo God Lwa, rituals in the vodou tradition, besides candles, pots, bowls.
The New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple, The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Among the various services offered by the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual temple, run by priestess Miriam, some are weddings, blessings, empowerment consultations, bone readings, therapeutic counseling. The online shop at VoodooMuseum.com, offers candles, voodoo dolls, spells, potions, gris-gris bags, besides rituals and ceremonies.
Other Voodoo Shops - Voodoo Authentica, Ezrulies
Established in 1996, the Voodoo Authentica at voodooshop.com, is a voodoo cultural center and a sells a collection of voodoo dolls, gris-gris bags, Haitian and New Orleans voodoo style arts and crafts besides services like rituals and readings.
Erzulies.com is also located in New Orleans' French Quarter and sells handcrafted items such as candles, soaps, oils made with pure and organic ingredients. Erzulies also offers spiritual consultations by initiated vodou practitioners.
Other shops that sell items of interest to the voodoo practitioner include Marie Laveau House of Voodoo and the Reverend Zombie's House of Voodoo, both located in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
While the authenticity of the charms, potions and other rituals by any voodoo shop or a voodoo priest can only be determined by personal experience and research, one should be wary of warning signs like excessive monetary demands for seemingly simple services, claims to make drastic changes to one's economic, social or love life or any kind of non-realistic promises.
A legitimate mailing address, friendly customer service, willingness of the owner or staff to answer questions directly and honestly, presence on the internet are the first signs to look for in determining the authenticity of the business.
Related Articles on Vodoo
Readers may also enjoy the unique characteristics and many differences in the voodoo of New Orleans and the vodou practiced in Haiti in Voodoo in New Orleans - Origin and Beliefs and Haitian Voodoo - Origin and Basic Beliefs.
To read about voodoo influence on horror movies, also read Popular Zombie Horror Movies, Black Magic Flicks.
Sources:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Voodoo, Shannon R. Turlington.
New Orleans Online - The City of New Orleans' Official Tourism Website.
Article on Frenchquarter.com about Erzulies byy Tara McLellan.
Subha Ekambaram - I'm fascinated by the self healing processes of the human body and the alternative methods that accelerate it. I like to be present where ...
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