Marie Laveau: historical death doula?
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, was born to a free, wealthy black couple in New Orleans’ French Quarter. There are not any photographs of Laveau but records indicate that she was married and widowed before entering into a decades long common law marriage that welcomed 15 children. Laveau was known throughout New Orleans for her devotion to Catholicism and her blending of Catholic ritual with her African heritage. Her home was filled with altars that honored both the saints and her ancestors, her daily routine included attending mass at the St. Louis Cathedral before tending the sick and dying, she hosted public rituals at Congo Square and St. John's Bayou and encouraged attendees to fill the pews at mass.
No actual photographs of Marie Laveau exist though this is speculated to be her daughter, of the same name.
The more sinister parts of her reputation may trace back to both the dark magic attributed to her daughter as well as society’s propensity to villify black culture and icons. From reading her nationally published obituary, it is clear that in her own day, Laveau was heralded as “very wise”, “skillful in the practice of medicine” and “a most wonderful woman”.
Lafcadio Hearn wrote this obituary of Marie Laveau, the famed Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, for the New York Times in 1881.
Could it be that a woman associated today with the occult was in reality much closer to all of us death doulas and midwives? Among all the work Laveau has been credited with throughout the New Orleans community, much of it falls into the realm that we now consider grassroots death care. Laveau was widely recognized as someone who tended the sick and the dying, helped families prepare their loved ones bodies for burial, midwifed those condemned to death, and reminded communities to honor their dead in ritual grief tending. Maybe Marie Laveau’s many titles could all be summarized into one vocation we can all understand, “death doula”? Could this blessed woman be our own patron saint?
A black-and-white reproduction of an 1889 engraving entitled "Throwing the Wanga", found in the Historic New Orleans Collection
Today, visitors from across the world find their way to the Voodoo priestess’ burial vault to scratch a mark into her tomb, an act that is thought to signify gratitude the granting of a blessing from the Voodoo Queen herself on the other side. As a New Orleans girl, it was not uncommon to see all types of sacrificial offerings beside many tombs, from lit candles to dead chickens to flowers. This famous tomb was so full of gifts and markings that after its restoration, the cemetery closed it to public visitor, requiring any hopeful visitors be part of a registered historic tour group. Perhaps the woman we have vilified as a high priestess of the dark arts may actually be closer to the other patron saints we call upon for their guidance, protection, and blessings.
Marie Laveau's tomb in St. Louis Cemetery #1, photo found at bayoupreservation.com
