James Duvalier

author, spiritual counselor & paranormal researcher


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A Word on the Dark Side of Spiritism

dark cloudy sky - featured image in the dark side of spiritism article by James Duvalier

I originally heard this story in the early 2000’s from a woman named Vera who know lives in Massachusetts, but who originally is from  Metairie, Louisiana.  In the mid 1970’s, one of the most renowned Voodoo Doctors and supposed drug dealers in New Orleans was a man by the name of Reggie.  He dealt with the dark side of the occult and worked with spirits that in life had been criminals and psychologically disturbed individuals.  According to…
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The Misa Espiritual

Boveda Altar dedicated to spirit guides

In New Orleans, Voodooists serve their spirit guides much according to the traditional Kardecian method, based on the teachings of 19th century French philosopher Allan Kardec who I have discussed in a previous post.  They recite prayers for the dead as written in Kardec’s books, and offer them white candles and glasses of water, but there are several additions to New Orleans Spiritism that clearly are of African origin, which again shows the syncretic nature of Voodoo. …
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The Spirit Guides of New Orleans Voodoo-Part II-The African Spirits

High John the Conqueror Root Close-up

It goes without saying that Voodooists in New Orleans serve and work with a huge pantheon of African spirits.  This spirits serve as a link to the mother land and come directly from the ancestral paradise of Guinea, the final resting place of all souls after proper purification and elevation.  The first category is young African women who often lived in a state of slavery in life.  One might petition such a spirit for help in a…
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The Spirit Guides of New Orleans Voodoo: Part I-The Native-Americans

Native American Indians Images

In addition the traditional African and Catholic practices, Voodoo, being true to its syncretic nature, also adopted and incorporated the teachings of 19th century French penseur Allan Kardec into its repertoire of beliefs and practices.  Allan Kardec was the penname of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail the founder of the doctrine of Spiritism, which is followed by many as a religion.  Kardec taught that after death, souls remain in a state of limbo in which they must work…
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Saints Martha and Expedite!

Saint Martha as depicted ina 15th century manuscript

I have blogged quite a bit about St. Expedite before, but I just figured I would mention him again since today is Wednesday, the day that is sacred to him.  According to legend, Expeditus was a soldier in the Roman army who converted to Christianity and was martyred around 300 AD during the reign of the emperor Diocletian.  A demon in the form of a crow appeared to him and tried to get him to put off…
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