Customer Reviews

A Guide to Serving the Seven African Powers (Planet Voodoo's Applied Magick)

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This is the second book a friend has recommended to me - after showing complete contempt for another one of the author's books, a friend though I might like this little compendium. Reading through the book and looking at the reviews, I fail to see "decades of practical experience in age-old authentic Voodoo rituals" as the reviewer below states. However, it certainly shows that what ever this author writes - be it this book or another - is clearly HER take on it. I seriously wonder who is writing these other reviews for this author?!

Years ago everybody wanted to be a root-worker. Then people realised that you can't collect an initiation title in Hoodoo and Rootwork and everybody wanted to initiate in Haitian Vodou. But after people discovered that it is expensive, everybody wanted to be part of New Orleans Vodou - because its free and you can do what ever you want - or so people think!

Looking at the books Denise Alvarado has published, it appears she has taken a very similar journey - she mixes Hoodoo, Rootwork, Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Vodou as she pleases, presenting none of these traditions as they are! Hoodoo is a real tradition, New Orleans Vodou is a real tradition. What both of these traditions have in common is an understanding of underlying principles rather then set formulas. Sadly, Denise Alvarado knows nothing about any of these things! She shows zero understanding of the underlying principles and no knowledge of authentic formulas. Its yet again a sad attempt to mislead less knowledgeable readers! This book appears quickly thrown together to quickly publish to quickly make a couple of bucks. It looks as if Denise Alvarado only publishes to promote her various product-selling websites. Having now read and reviewed two of the author's books, I will definitely not waste money on a third, neither would I want to buy any of her products - they could be just as badly made and as low quality as her writing! Very poor!

Cultural anthropologist and academic researcher Denise Alvarado writes about Creole Voodoo, which is a unique blend of African, Haitian, Native American, Catholic, spiritualist, and European folk magic traditions. There are no formal initiation rites for Creole Voodoo. Alvarado herself was raised in New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and consultant.
I like the fact that Denise Alvarado not only has decades of practical experience in age-old authentic Voodoo rituals, but is also a well known and trained researcher - we can be sure we are getting the facts.
The Guide to Serving the 7 African Powers explains that traditions in New Orleans are blended traditions, and that Black Hawk, the guede, St. Anthony, Exu and the sacred serpent all appear alongside the 7 African powers.
The Guide to Serving the 7 African Powers contains explicit and detailed instructions for creating altars for each of the 7 African Powers. It also includes complete instructions on how petition the orishas.
This book explains that there are no formal initiation rites in Creole Voodoo.
I also highly recommend the Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly: A Journal of the Magickal Arts with a Special Focus on New Orleans Voodoo, Hoodoo, Folk Magic and Folklore (Volume 1), whose blurb explains it all: "a Journal of the Magickal Arts with a Special Focus on New Orleans Voodoo, Hoodoo, Folk Magic and Folklore. It explores historical and contemporary information about the conjure arts, including magico-religious practices, spiritual traditions, indigenous healing and herbalism, and religions with their roots in the African Diaspora."

This is a wonderfull book for people genuinely interested in New Orleans Voodoo. It's short, sweet, and to the point. I also liked the authors writing style in that she does not overwhelm you, and shows you simpler ways to worship, for Xample, alot of people make it seem like you MUST, possess all these dolls and curios in order to fully connect with the lwa's (spirits/deities). This book however illustrates that those things can be used IF you can, or want to obtain them. Basically all that is needed is prayer, offerings, and faith, which I personally agree with. I would definitely recommend more booX by Denise Alvarado.

This book, though small, is so informative! It clears up a lot of the misconceptions and poor information that might not be available to the non initiate. I appreciate the author's approach.

This book is exactly what it is entitled.. a guide to serving the Seven African Powers... The author provides detailed insightful information. The guide is comprehensive, wonderfully formatted and provides rituals for beginners to actually get working with the spirits..This is another must have for the Voodoo home library.

I love this book! Denise Alvarado is easy to understand in her writing style. If you have never heard of or read of the Seven African Powers this is the book to read!

In response to the review labeled "Vodou or Santeria?", you mentioned not reading the book. Well you should because if you did, you would realize that Ms. Alvarado mentions several times that this is HER take on Serving the African Powers in the New Orleans tradition. Which is not a tradition you have to be initiated into.

Anyways..on to the book. I really enjoyed the book. I consider myself a mutt when it comes to my beliefs...or what some label as Eclectic. For the past 4-5 yrs, I've been studying all I can get my hands on about hoodoo and voodoo. Only to learn that what I've been doing for the past almost 20 years is already considered hoodoo!! Ms. Alvarado's book is an excellent source of knowledge on how to serve the 7 African Powers, which is an area I hardly had any knowledge in. She gives you ideas for altars, color correspondences, food, days, and other information to work with each. No the information is not all inclusive. But the author clearly states that this is her take on each. So basically, learn here and take it with you. Learn more elsewhere and see how your point of view is. She is doing what so many other authors out there don't do and should--she is actually NOT saying "this is the way it is done. to do it any other way is wrong." She lets you know that there are many ways with which to serve the Powers and you have to find out what works best for you.