As much as Marie Laveau is associated with water, she should be associated equally with fire. She had a penchant for candles, incense, braziers, and bonfires, and according to oral tradition she also used magick lamps. Magick lamps are some of the easiest and most effective ways of creating change through supernatural means. They are one of the oldest types of works in New Orleans Voudou and Hoodoo.
Rootworkers use magick lamps because they produce quick results. This is because they are hotter than candles and can be mounted by the Spirits. Once you recite a saint’s novena or utter the secret words of a spirit over a lit lamp, you draw that spirit down into the work.
When creating magick lamps, a variety of ingredients are placed inside before filling it with a carrier oil. The purpose of the lamp will dictate what goes inside. If you are creating a lamp for a particular spirit, you want to use items that are specific to that spirit. But, the first thing to consider is the type of container to use. Obviously, it must be fireproof. Hurricane lamps are part of every New Orleans household, so grab a lamp or two and keep some lamp oil and extra wicks on hand so you can work one when the need arises. Because hurricane lamps are built for heat, you can fill up the base with oils and herbs and whatever else you want to use in the work, put on the glass top, and everything is nice and safely contained.
The first thing to consider is the type of container to use to hold the oil. Primary is that it is fireproof and can withstand the heat that is produced by burning oil. The second concern is the nature of the work—is it for protection? Love? Money? You can use a variety of different containers for burning oil as some have properties that lend themselves to a particular work you want to do. Hurricane lamps are part of every New Orleans household, so grab a lamp or two and keep some lamp oil and extra wicks on hand so you can work one when the need arises. Because hurricane lamps are built for heat, you can fill up the base with oils and herbs and whatever else you want to use in the work, put on the glass top and everything is nice and safely contained. Tin cans are an old, inexpensive trick for making a lamp. Here are a few more examples of containers that can be used for magic lamps:
Once you’ve decided on the container you will use, you then need to decide which type of oil to put in the lamp. Olive oil is a very good carrier oil for magick lamps and has been used for centuries for this purpose. If an olive oil lamp spills, for example, the flame typically just goes out, so it is preferred by many for this reason. Certain vegetable oils exude specific energies. For example, sesame oil, castor oil, and ghee (clarified butter) radiate positivity. Sometimes, oils are blended, such as olive oil and castor oil. Almond oil, corojo (palm oil), coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and other vegetable oils may be used. You can experiment to see which you prefer, as it really boils down to personal preference. Of course, you can always use standard store-bought lamp oil, as it will be fixed anyway with herbs and other ingredients used for the working.
In New Orleans Voudou, special lamps may be dedicated to a guardian spirit. These lamps are prayed over and refilled with oil at the same time each day. This ensures that the flame will continue to burn until the petition is answered, and the desired goal has been attained. Sometimes these lamps are in fireproof bowls that are then set in a pan of water. The pan of water may contain offerings to the spirit of fruit and spices. Offerings may also be placed on a plate next to the lamp. Color-coded wicks may also coincide with the Voudou spirit for whom the lamp is dedicated:
Hoodoo lamps are not typically dedicated to a spirit. Instead, they are constructed for a specific purpose. Offerings are not made to the lamp because the lamp is not inhabited by a spirit. Rather, the agency of the magick lies squarely with the conjure worker, as opposed to a loa or angel.
Wicks used for oil lamps will depend on the kind of lamp you use. Hurricane-style lamps have special wicks that can be purchased. If using a tuna can or clay or metal bowl, you can use a store-bought wick or make one from pure cotton balls. Unroll the cotton and twist it into a wick using the thumb and third finger (never use the index finger). Push the wick through a playing card or tin foil through which you have poked a hole. This keeps the wick floating above the oil.
Mechitas are premade wicks for small lamps and they come fifteen to a box with a floating triangular base with corks. It’s worthwhile keeping a box of these on hand if you have a special affinity for lamp magick. I tend to keep a variety of different styles of wicks on hand for use at a moment’s notice.
Now that you know the basics of magick lamps, here are directions for making and dedicating a magick lamp specifically for Marie Laveau.
Rootworkers use magick lamps because they produce quick results. This is because they are hotter than candles and can be mounted by the Spirits. Once you recite a saint’s novena or utter the secret words of a spirit over a lit lamp, you draw that spirit down into the work.
When creating magick lamps, a variety of ingredients are placed inside before filling it with a carrier oil. The purpose of the lamp will dictate what goes inside. If you are creating a lamp for a particular spirit, you want to use items that are specific to that spirit. But, the first thing to consider is the type of container to use. Obviously, it must be fireproof. Hurricane lamps are part of every New Orleans household, so grab a lamp or two and keep some lamp oil and extra wicks on hand so you can work one when the need arises. Because hurricane lamps are built for heat, you can fill up the base with oils and herbs and whatever else you want to use in the work, put on the glass top, and everything is nice and safely contained.
The first thing to consider is the type of container to use to hold the oil. Primary is that it is fireproof and can withstand the heat that is produced by burning oil. The second concern is the nature of the work—is it for protection? Love? Money? You can use a variety of different containers for burning oil as some have properties that lend themselves to a particular work you want to do. Hurricane lamps are part of every New Orleans household, so grab a lamp or two and keep some lamp oil and extra wicks on hand so you can work one when the need arises. Because hurricane lamps are built for heat, you can fill up the base with oils and herbs and whatever else you want to use in the work, put on the glass top and everything is nice and safely contained. Tin cans are an old, inexpensive trick for making a lamp. Here are a few more examples of containers that can be used for magic lamps:
- For a work of protection, use a hollowed-out pineapple with the barbs intact
- To petition Legba, use a coconut shell
- To petition Mami Wata, use a gourd or pumpkin bowl
- For general purposes, coffee cans, colorful ceramic bowls, clay bowls, and tin cans work
- For all works, use a hurricane lamp
Once you’ve decided on the container you will use, you then need to decide which type of oil to put in the lamp. Olive oil is a very good carrier oil for magick lamps and has been used for centuries for this purpose. If an olive oil lamp spills, for example, the flame typically just goes out, so it is preferred by many for this reason. Certain vegetable oils exude specific energies. For example, sesame oil, castor oil, and ghee (clarified butter) radiate positivity. Sometimes, oils are blended, such as olive oil and castor oil. Almond oil, corojo (palm oil), coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and other vegetable oils may be used. You can experiment to see which you prefer, as it really boils down to personal preference. Of course, you can always use standard store-bought lamp oil, as it will be fixed anyway with herbs and other ingredients used for the working.
In New Orleans Voudou, special lamps may be dedicated to a guardian spirit. These lamps are prayed over and refilled with oil at the same time each day. This ensures that the flame will continue to burn until the petition is answered, and the desired goal has been attained. Sometimes these lamps are in fireproof bowls that are then set in a pan of water. The pan of water may contain offerings to the spirit of fruit and spices. Offerings may also be placed on a plate next to the lamp. Color-coded wicks may also coincide with the Voudou spirit for whom the lamp is dedicated:
- Black for Ellegua and Legba
- Red for Chango and Mami Wata
- White for Obàtálá and Marie Laveau
- Green for Ogun
- Blue for Yemaya
Hoodoo lamps are not typically dedicated to a spirit. Instead, they are constructed for a specific purpose. Offerings are not made to the lamp because the lamp is not inhabited by a spirit. Rather, the agency of the magick lies squarely with the conjure worker, as opposed to a loa or angel.
Wicks used for oil lamps will depend on the kind of lamp you use. Hurricane-style lamps have special wicks that can be purchased. If using a tuna can or clay or metal bowl, you can use a store-bought wick or make one from pure cotton balls. Unroll the cotton and twist it into a wick using the thumb and third finger (never use the index finger). Push the wick through a playing card or tin foil through which you have poked a hole. This keeps the wick floating above the oil.
Mechitas are premade wicks for small lamps and they come fifteen to a box with a floating triangular base with corks. It’s worthwhile keeping a box of these on hand if you have a special affinity for lamp magick. I tend to keep a variety of different styles of wicks on hand for use at a moment’s notice.
Now that you know the basics of magick lamps, here are directions for making and dedicating a magick lamp specifically for Marie Laveau.
A MAGICK LAMP FOR MARIE LAVEAU
Magick lamps are great for a lot of different things but are especially suitable for developing a relationship with a spirit you are just getting to know. This approach is paramount to becoming a Laveau devotee. If you don’t believe me, then go ahead and try asking Marie Laveau for a favor before getting to know her. You are likely to get smacked upside the head like Elmore Lee Banks did, because to her that would be a sign of disrespect. And she really doesn’t like being disrespected.
When you create this lamp, it will not be for the purpose of asking her for anything; it will be an act of devotion and a means for getting better acquainted. It will give you a chance to show you are committed to her and are serious about walking the path of a Laveau devotee. Once a magick lamp is set on her altar, it should stay lit. If that is not possible, it should be snuffed out and relit at the same time each day.
You will prepare this lamp on her altar, so if you have not created an altar yet, that will be your first order of business. Then you will need a spot in the front and center to dedicate the lamp to her. The surface should be one on which you can draw her vévé (a blackboard surface is ideal so you can draw the vévé with blessed chalk). To do this, you need to draw her vévé and allow the lamp to burn on the vévé. This is referred to as dedicating the lamp “on the point” of Marie Laveau. The vévé serves as her calling card and the idea is to call her down into the lamp. She can only do this on her point; hence, setting the lamp on her vévé.
For this working, you will need the following items:
The first order of business is finding a suitable hurricane lamp. You can buy a new one from a big-box store, or you may opt to look in secondhand stores for a nice vintage lamp. This lamp will be an investment in your spiritual life, so put some thought into it, but do not go beyond your means. We typically use hurricane lamps for petitioning Marie Laveau because they signify a connection to New Orleans, and by extension to the Voudou Queen.
Once you have found the perfect lamp, you will need to prepare it for use. The lamp needs to be blessed and dressed before you start. I clean my lamps with Florida Water first, then dress them with Marie Laveau’s Voodoo Oil. After this is done, I hold the lamp up to my mouth and let my breath fill the lamp while I say Psalm 23 and ask Marie Laveau to bless and empower the lamp. Once this is done, the lamp is ready; it has been cleansed and blessed.
Next, draw Marie Laveau’s vévé with blessed chalk on your prepared surface. Set the lamp on the surface. Add the listed ingredients. Remember that everything needs to be blessed before it is added to the lamp. I do this by lighting some incense and passing each ingredient through the smoke before placing it into my lamp.
Cover with lamp oil and light the lamp.
Light a separate white candle and set it in front of the lamp. Use a seven-day devotional candle as you will need to keep a white candle lit in front of the lamp for seven days. If the candle looks like it is going to burn out before the seven days, light another candle so there is a continuous fire before the lamp.
After lighting the lamp and candle, knock on the altar table three times and call out Marie Laveau’s name three times. Then say, “Mama Marie réchauffe ça. C’est l’amour, oui maman, c’est l’amour. Mama Marie réchauffe ça. Mama Marie, fais-le chaud.” “Mama Marie warm that up. It’s love, yes mom, it’s love. Mama Marie warm that up. Mama Marie, make it hot.”
Tend to the lamp daily, topping off the oil as needed. It’s a good idea to keep fresh flowers on her altar. On the seventh day, thank her and provide her with special offerings of French pastries and anisette or champagne.
Once your lamp has been dedicated to the Voudou Queen, you can make requests using the lamp by adding a petition paper to the lamp oil. Be sure to snuff out the flame and relight for each new petition. Do not ask for more than one thing at a time. State your petition out loud followed by this: “Bonne mère et bonne femme, prient pour moi.” (“Good mother and good woman, pray for me.” Always thank her and give her special offerings when she comes through and make a donation to charity in her name.
When you create this lamp, it will not be for the purpose of asking her for anything; it will be an act of devotion and a means for getting better acquainted. It will give you a chance to show you are committed to her and are serious about walking the path of a Laveau devotee. Once a magick lamp is set on her altar, it should stay lit. If that is not possible, it should be snuffed out and relit at the same time each day.
You will prepare this lamp on her altar, so if you have not created an altar yet, that will be your first order of business. Then you will need a spot in the front and center to dedicate the lamp to her. The surface should be one on which you can draw her vévé (a blackboard surface is ideal so you can draw the vévé with blessed chalk). To do this, you need to draw her vévé and allow the lamp to burn on the vévé. This is referred to as dedicating the lamp “on the point” of Marie Laveau. The vévé serves as her calling card and the idea is to call her down into the lamp. She can only do this on her point; hence, setting the lamp on her vévé.
For this working, you will need the following items:
- Hurricane lamp and wick
- Lamp oil
- Magnolia bark
- Lavender
- Jasmine
- Guinea peppers
- Snake sheds (do not use snakeskin)
- Marie Laveau Mardi Gras doubloon
- 1 white mustard seed for faith
- An anchor charm for hope
- Rose petals for charity
- 1 black-eyed pea for luck
- Piece of red brick for protection
- Feather from a mourning dove for peace
- Pinch of sand or seashell from the Gulf Coast
The first order of business is finding a suitable hurricane lamp. You can buy a new one from a big-box store, or you may opt to look in secondhand stores for a nice vintage lamp. This lamp will be an investment in your spiritual life, so put some thought into it, but do not go beyond your means. We typically use hurricane lamps for petitioning Marie Laveau because they signify a connection to New Orleans, and by extension to the Voudou Queen.
Once you have found the perfect lamp, you will need to prepare it for use. The lamp needs to be blessed and dressed before you start. I clean my lamps with Florida Water first, then dress them with Marie Laveau’s Voodoo Oil. After this is done, I hold the lamp up to my mouth and let my breath fill the lamp while I say Psalm 23 and ask Marie Laveau to bless and empower the lamp. Once this is done, the lamp is ready; it has been cleansed and blessed.
Next, draw Marie Laveau’s vévé with blessed chalk on your prepared surface. Set the lamp on the surface. Add the listed ingredients. Remember that everything needs to be blessed before it is added to the lamp. I do this by lighting some incense and passing each ingredient through the smoke before placing it into my lamp.
Cover with lamp oil and light the lamp.
Light a separate white candle and set it in front of the lamp. Use a seven-day devotional candle as you will need to keep a white candle lit in front of the lamp for seven days. If the candle looks like it is going to burn out before the seven days, light another candle so there is a continuous fire before the lamp.
After lighting the lamp and candle, knock on the altar table three times and call out Marie Laveau’s name three times. Then say, “Mama Marie réchauffe ça. C’est l’amour, oui maman, c’est l’amour. Mama Marie réchauffe ça. Mama Marie, fais-le chaud.” “Mama Marie warm that up. It’s love, yes mom, it’s love. Mama Marie warm that up. Mama Marie, make it hot.”
Tend to the lamp daily, topping off the oil as needed. It’s a good idea to keep fresh flowers on her altar. On the seventh day, thank her and provide her with special offerings of French pastries and anisette or champagne.
Once your lamp has been dedicated to the Voudou Queen, you can make requests using the lamp by adding a petition paper to the lamp oil. Be sure to snuff out the flame and relight for each new petition. Do not ask for more than one thing at a time. State your petition out loud followed by this: “Bonne mère et bonne femme, prient pour moi.” (“Good mother and good woman, pray for me.” Always thank her and give her special offerings when she comes through and make a donation to charity in her name.
