My connection to New Orleans is largely centered around music and food — after all, there’s no shortage of both in this incredible southern American city, ripe with history and ancient stories. Some of you may have been there for Mardi Gras and others may have retreated here for a romantic getaway.
There’s great culture, shopping, beignets, chefs and musicians. But, did you also know there are haunted places and relics of Voodoo, Voodoo priestesses and more?
Photo credit: tpsdave/Pixabay
Spirits of New Orleans
In this gem of a read, Kala Ambrose takes you back to her roots and gives you a behind the scenes look of the Spirits of New Orleans. She was actually born in Louisiana, so in this book on voodoo curses, vampire legends and cities of the dead, she weaves in all the cultures and influences she was exposed to and that shaped her, from the arts and music to spirituality.
She explores the haunted history of the city and searches for those who decided to make New Orleans their eternal home as a resting place for some and a point of revenge for others.
Prepare to embark on an enticing journey into the haunted history, paranormal activities, magical ceremonies and supernatural rituals and practices in order to fully understand and embrace the cultural significance of the variety of beliefs, superstitions, legends and lore.
You’ll visit the resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery #1 — Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street offers talismans and psychic readings.
You will also learn where to have a drink at some of the most haunted bars in the city and where to sleep in a haunted hotel.
In this book, you’ll tread through haunted Pirates Alley and down the streets of the French Quarter where ghosts, vampires and other supernatural beings lurk around every corner. Yes, even today.
Haunted New Orleans
So, just how haunted is this historical city? Spirits of New Orleans takes you behind the scenes from graves and bars to hotels and cafes. Visit the LaLaurie House and connect with the ghostly monk at Place d’Armes, and hear the ghosts at Hotel Monteleone, which has been a favorite haunt of many famous writers, including William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Anna Rice, Ernest Hemingway, John Grisham and more.
Jackson Square is a paranormal researcher’s delight and the Old Ursuline Convent on Chartres Street was rampant with vampires who on occasion, apparently return to walk the grounds. Kala says that Pirates Alley is very supernaturally active (she says its great for paranormal researchers to visit). You can also learn about ghostly harem dancing for the Sultan at the Gardette–LePrete House.
Photo credit: nolacatholiccemeteries.org
Bayou St. John and the City Park area are apparently two of the most powerful magical areas in the city and you’ll explore the Haunted Archway and other legends once you step foot into Congo Square, in the Treme neighborhood.
She also takes you through a number of cemeteries in and around the city — if you want to increase your likelihood of paranormal activity, head on over to St. Patrick Cemetery #3, which is a burial ground for many of Irish immigrants.
Here, there have been sightings of zombie and the “old woman ghost” who has been known to attach herself to visitors.
As your travel guide to the other side, Kala shares travel tips in each chapter of the book listing the best places to stay, shop, dine and party while in New Orleans!
As with her other books, you can grab it on Amazon.
Kala Ambrose is a spiritual teacher, speaker, host of Explore Your Spirit with Kala and a practical intuitive coach and guide. In other words, “Your Travel Guide to the Other Side.” You can also learn through her at The Academy of Mystical Arts & Spiritual Sciences, and find out more on her website Explore Your Spirit.
Her books will expand your knowledge, make you more comfortable with the spiritual world and help guide you on your life journey. Check out our book section as well as well as our Spiritual Books section.
Another tidbit: we did a few great picks for the power behind gemstones in both healing and spiritual work — see our book suggestions at the bottom of our Crystal Fair article.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
