New Shrine of Marie Laveau at Sally Ann Glassman’s

As has been previously reported the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans insituted a nwe policy to protect the historic St. Louis No. 1 cemetary from vandalism by limiting entrance to family with relations interred there and registered tour groups. This was in part spurred by the ongoing ritual marking up of the traditional resting place of Marie Laveau; this culminated in said tomb being slathered in pink paint in December of 2013 – restoration work costing the Archdiocese $10,000. The new rules went into effect earlier this month. Read the story here: http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/new_rules_limiting_access_to_s.html

While the new rules seem like reasonable measures to prevent vandalism it also prevents serious devotees from visiting the site for simple respectful prayer or more involved  but equally serious working.

Now, longtime Vodoun Priestess and erstwhile Thelemite Sally Ann Glassman will be dedicating a new shrine to Marie Laveau at The Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Ave. The focal point of the shrine  is a life-size statue of Laveau created by artist Ricardo Pustanio. He created the statue to be a part of Glassman’s St. John’s Eve head-washing rituals on Bayou St. John and it has been and will continue to be part of those rituals.  After it’s first use, last June, Glassman put the statue on display in the lobby of The Healing Center. She began to notice offerings being left for it. This coming Saturday, March 14 at 8 pm, the “International Shrine of Marie Laveau” will be formally dedicated during the annual Sacred Music Festival. Admission is free.