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Did
Marie posess real voodoo power, or was she just a
smart opportunist (the word "blackmail"
sounds so...unattractive, and what if she is still
listening). She obviously knew that sometimes just
doing something off the wall lets off stress, makes
you feel in control of things, and generally gives
you a more positive attitude, and you know what? We
do too...
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Marie
Laveua lived New Orleans in the 1800's. She was not
noted for being pretty at first. She had to work
as a hairdresser to the upper-crust. These people poured
out their troubles to Marie as she fixed their hair,
and soon Marie was fully conversant with all the skeletons
in the closets of all the rich and famous people in
New Orleans, and after they aired all their dirty laundry,
they felt better. She also sold potions, and love charms
on the side . Whether they really worked or not, who
knows? The people felt better. Marie was bright and
enterprising, and between her knowledge of folks' secrets
and her knowldege of mixing up weird-smelling potions
and herbs, she began to make quite a reputation for
herself and gained respect (and lots of money) for this.
She felt a lot better. People began to pay her huge
sums of money to work her "magic" for them.
Marie would take the money and she was happy. The client
felt like he had bought some powerful magic and he was
happy. (if there was a third party who was on the losing
end of all this, he was usually welcome to pay Marie
to reverse her spells, then he'd be happy too!)
Marie married and was soon widowed, then had a live
in lover and had 15 children. She began calling herself
a widow several years before her husband was proved
to be dead. Hmmm. She went to mass daily, and gave lots
of time and money to charities after she became so powerful
that she had plenty. She also allegedly gained a reputation
for being attractive and a wonderful dancer. (At least
everyone who thought she might hear said so). Political
figures were rumored to have paid her handsomely to
assist them in getting elected or staying in office.
She was said to have at least once controlled the results
of a courtroom trial. Eventually when she died, her
daughter (also named Marie) took her place and since
there was a very strong family resemblance, Marie Laveau
was said to have had power to come back from the grave
to continue working her magic.
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