Best Voodoo Books (Magical Theory and Practice)

Voodoo represents one of the earliest forms of magic. It originated in Africa, and was an official religion of many African kingdoms. Due to colonization and slave trade it spread to the Americas as well, making Haiti it’s primary location. In the US, New Orleans is the unofficial capital of voodoo.

According to local Haitian voodoo practitioners, all the Haitian politicians and influential people throughout their history were equally believers in voodoo as were the poor illiterate masses. The trend continues to this day.

To find a voodoo practitioner willing to share the secrets of their magic is very rare. Because of their tough colonial history, Haitians are especially unlikely to share their knowledge with whites. So there aren’t many books on the topic of voodoo.

But nevertheless there are five great books from actual initiates and witches that explain many of the secrets. If you want to become a voodoo practitioner or simply have a curiosity for this ancient knowledge, then you’ll find these books both informative and entertaining:

1. The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook

If you’re after specific voodoo spells for health, love, success, happiness and much more, than look no further. In Voodoo Hoodoo you will find over 300 recipes, spells and rituals from authentic sources.

These practices have been used for centuries, and the book was written by Denise Alvarado who grew up in a family of voodoo practitioners in New Orleans.

This is a hands-on approach kind of spellbook that will bring you up to speed quickly and has the potential to make you a true voodoo master.

Get the book here.

2. Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haiti’s Indigenous Spiritual Tradition

As I mentioned in the introduction, Haiti is well known for its voodoo culture. It’s also an impenetrable culture for most foreigners because the locals refuse to share information.

In comes Mambo Chita Tann, a priestess of the highest initiated rank in Haitian Vodou. She has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, published author, and lecturer on African religions.

So you can rest assured that the information presented in this book comes from a relevant and highly informed source. Things that are discussed in Haitian Vodou include:

• Customs, beliefs, sacred spaces, and ritual objects
• Characteristics and behaviors of the Lwa, the spirits served by Vodou practitioners
• Common misconceptions such as “voodoo dolls” and the zombie phenomenon
• Questions and answers for attending ceremonies and getting involved in a sosyete (Vodou house)
• Correspondence tables, Kreyol glossary, supplemental prayer texts, and an extensive list of reference books and online resources

I had a great time reading this book and it cleared many misconceptions that I had about voodoo in the past.

Get the book here.

3. The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals

Here is another voodoo classic from Denise Alvarado. Knowing full well that most people who are interested in voodoo have come to that conclusion by observing doll spells in movies and other forms of entertainment, she wrote an entire book explaining them in detail.

These spells can be used for good or bad. For example, inflicting harm on your enemies or healing your friends, making people fall in love with you or bringing other people together.

There are hundreds of spells using a voodoo doll that are explained in this compendium with a lovely and precise writing style.

Get the book here.

4. The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook

If you’re as fascinated by the history of voodoo, you’ll find this book incredibly interesting. You will learn about:

• the major figures of New Orleans Voodoo, including Marie Laveau and Dr. John
• the diverse ethnic influences at the core of Voodoo, from the African Congo to Catholic immigrants from Italy, France, and Ireland

Aside from the historical information, it also provides recipes for magical oils, instructions for candle workings, and directions to create gris-gris bags and Voodoo dolls to attract love, money, justice, as well as healing and retribution. With close to 300 pages of content, it’s a pretty comprehensive book that covers all the most interesting things about voodoo while providing sound advice for beginner practitioners.

Get the book here.

5. Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure

For readers who are mostly interested in herb and root magic of voodoo this is the ultimate guide. It contains 750 traditional spells, recipes and explains over 500 herbs, roots, minerals and other ingredients.

You’ll also learn how to make and use your own mojo bags, spiritual baths and incenses. And if that weren’t enough, there are 50 illustrations that make learning all of these things much easier.

Get the book here.

Final Word: Best Voodoo Books

All of the recommended books bring something different to the table. If you want a comprehensive overview of the general history and practice, then get The New Orleans Voodoo Handbook. Other books deal with specific topics like the Haitian Voodoo, doll spells, herbs and other matters in more detail.

My best advice is to get the books that cover the topics that you’re most interested in and go from there. You will learn most effectively if you’re passionate about the topic. Hope this helps!