Though African in origin, Marie Laveau’s style of Voudou, “while still retaining the ancient characteristics of the Congo belief, developed into a curious mingling of refined faith and spiritualism” (Times Daily Picayune 1890). When we talk about a spiritual court, we are referring to a group of spirits that surround each person. This is a concept common to several of the African-derived traditions. While there is no way to ascertain with absolute certainty all of the spirits that comprised Marie Laveau’s personal spiritual court, we do have some references to specific saints and African deities in association with her. For example, there are references to St. Peter, St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael, Mami Wata, St. Maroon, Li Grand Zombi, Damballah Wedo, and the Spirit of Death. If we take syncretism into consideration, St. Peter is associated with Papa Legba, as both hold the keys to the kingdom of heaven—or in Legba’s case, the Visible and Invisible worlds. St. Peter and Papa Legba are invoked at the beginning of traditional Hoodoo ceremonies of the parterre variety, as well as at the public Voudou ritual dances. Historically in New Orleans Voudou, you may petition St. Peter in place of Papa Legba, in addition to Papa Legba, or as Papa Legba. If discretion is of the utmost concern, then the last alternative is ideal.
Interestingly, we hear nothing in the historical records referring to the terms loa and orisha as it relates to New Orleans Voudou. We do hear the term spirits, and this is a term that continues to be favored in Louisiana. I believe the term loa (spelled lwa in reference to Haitian Vodou) likely arrived with the Haitians when they came to New Orleans. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we also don’t hear much in the way of the pantheon of spirits simply because practitioners were not the ones writing about their traditions back then. What we have in the historical record are accounts of observers, very often misinformed, so their characterizations were generalizations at best. Most of the time, reporters covering Voudou activities had no idea what they were looking at. The descriptions they gave, however, do provide clues about what spirits and practices were part of the various ceremonies and rituals. Following are brief descriptions of some of the spirits described by witnesses of Laveau Voudou ceremonies in the 1800s.