Quick Specs
- Authors: Denise Alvarado and Doktor Snake
- Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
- Pages: 302
- Best for: New Orleans conjure practice, Voodoo and Hoodoo spellwork, folk magic research
Voodoo Hoodoo: A Creole Tradition
Voodoo Hoodoo is the specific variety of Creole magic that developed in New Orleans, distinct from both Haitian Vodou and the broader Hoodoo practiced across the American South. It absorbed influences from the African-based spiritual practices brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, layered over centuries with Native American herbalism, French Catholicism, and Pentecostalism. The result is a richly syncretic tradition with its own saints, spirits, formulas, and protocols.
Denise Alvarado grew up in New Orleans and spent her life learning this tradition from family members, local practitioners, and first-hand research into 19th and 20th century formularies and folklore collections. Her co-author Doktor Snake brings additional depth to the rootwork and spellcasting sections. Together they assembled more than 300 recipes, rituals, and spells covering love, justice, gambling luck, prosperity, health, protection, and more.
What the Book Contains
The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook includes over 100 spells organized by purpose, alongside introductions to the Pantheon of Voodoo Spirits, the Seven African Powers, and key Loas. Practical sections cover oils and potions, Hoodoo powders and gris gris, talismans, candle magic, and curses and hexes. Prayers, novenas, and psalms are integrated throughout, reflecting the Catholic layer of the tradition. It is both a working manual and a cultural document.
How to Use Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook
How to approach the Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook as a practical working manual.
- Read the Foundation Chapters First
Before working any spell, spend time with the opening chapters on history and spiritual framework. Understanding the tradition behind the formulas makes every working more intentional. The Loa introductions are key context.
- Locate Spells by Purpose
The book is organized by intention: love, protection, money, luck, and justice. Find the category that matches your need and read several spells before choosing. Alvarado's notes help you understand each component's role.
- Assemble Components and Work the Spell
Gather required oils, powders, candles, or herbs before beginning. The spells draw on Hoodoo materia available through specialty shops. Work the spell as written first. Adapting it after learning the base produces better results.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this book because the New Orleans tradition is one of the most distinctive and frequently misrepresented corners of American folk magic, and Alvarado is one of the few authors writing about it from the inside. It’s a working reference that treats the tradition with the seriousness it deserves, and I see a book as an entry point into a living tradition, not a substitute for teachers and community. If you are building out a folk magic library, browse my full books collection for companion titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Voodoo is an Afro-Caribbean religion with its own cosmology and priests. Hoodoo is a folk magic practice focused on practical spells. Voodoo Hoodoo is the New Orleans blend mixing both with Catholic and Native American elements.
Yes, though foundational knowledge of folk magic is helpful. The historical context chapters bring newcomers up to speed before spellwork begins. The spells are written clearly enough for a motivated beginner to follow.
Yes. The book covers banishing, binding, and uncrossing work alongside money, love, and protection spells. This reflects the full range of the New Orleans tradition rather than presenting a simplified version of the practice.
Most Hoodoo supplies, including condition oils, powders, and candles, are available through spiritual supply shops. The book uses traditional formula names. Search by formula name or intention to find matching products here.
It’s a good read so far