Hello everyone! Later than originally planned I am launching Wicked Wednesdays. While the subject matter may change, at least 1 Wednesday a month will be dedicated to a short profile of a famous person within the spiritual community. It can be anything from Buddha to Rasputen, Alester Crowley to La Voisin. The information will not be a full run of the person's life but will give some background about who they are and the world they lived in or help influence.

MARIE LAVEAU (LAVEAUX) – THE VOODOO QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS

For today’s Wicked Wednesday, we’ll be doing a profile of one of the most well know and notorious women in Voodoo.

Though the exact date is unknown, it is believed that Marie Laveaux was born a free woman in the French Quarter of New Orleans on September 10, 1801. At the time, Marie was the first free-born member of her family. Her grandmother, Catherine, was stolen from Africa and brought to New France in the mid-1700s, prior to Louisiana becoming a part of the United States. She was purchased by a freedwoman of color and was eventually able to buy freedom for herself and her daughter, Marguerite Darcantrel. Marguerite would eventually give birth to Marie in her mother’s home before returning to her lover, a wealthy man of mixed parentage who she served as a mistress for, leaving her daughter in Catherine’s care.

At the age of 18, she married a freed Haitian by the name of Jacque Paris in July of 1819. Though her parents were never wed, her father did sign her marriage contract and claimed her as his daughter. Baptismal records show 2 children, daughters, that the couple shared however, records of their lives past their Baptisms have been lost. This where the mystery of Marie Laveaux are begins. Though there is no death record for Jacque or the children, Marie went by the moniker of “the Widow Paris” until she died.

In 1826, Marie fell in love with Louis Christophe Dumensnil de Glapion, a prominent, wealthy white man from respected family in the city. For the next 30 years, the were together, though they were unable to wed due to laws against interracial marriages that were in place at the time. At her grandmother’s death, Glapion purchased the family cottage at auction and the family resided in the home for decades to follow. After Glapion’s death in 1855, there is no record of her taken another lover. They’d have 7 children over their relationship with her daughter, Marie Philomene Glapion, eventually becoming Marie Laveaux II.

No one know exactly how Marie came to practice New Orleans Vodou. Some believes she studied with other great practitioners such as Sainte Dédé, Dr. John, Marie Saloppé, or even her mother and grandmother, but the true story of her tutelage is lost to time. What is known is that she was well respected in her community and trusted by those from all walks of life who came seeking her wisdom and magic. Marie Laveaux proudly wore her crown as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and to this day, people visit her grave at St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery and leave gifts and mementos, some in hopes of the Queen working her magic from beyond the grave.