Vodou Love Magic: A Practical Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships »

Kenaz Filan (Houngan Coquille du Mer) was initiated in Société la Belle Venus in March 2003 after 10 years of solitary service to the lwa. Filan is the author of The Haitian Vodou Handbook, Vodou Love Magic, and Vodou Love Magic and coauthor of Drawing Down the Spirits. A frequent contributor to PanGaia, Planet Magazine, and Widdershins, Filan is the former managing editor of newWitch magazine and lives in Short Hills, New Jersey.

The first book on love magic by an actual Vodou initiate, Vodou Love Magic provides a working guide to finding love and sexual fulfillment by working with the lwa, the spirits of Haitian Vodou. Includes detailed, easy-to-follow spells and spirit work.

Publishers Weekly

Readers tired of the usual dating avenues-websites, bars, reality television-may want to check out this compilation of Hatian Vodou love spells. Author Filan warns away skeptics and the easily discouraged; the longtime Hatian Vodou practitioner (and managing editor of newWitch magazine) advises leaving yourself open to "a quiet miracle," and good-old fashioned practice, to "overcome the hurdle of disbelief." Filan introduces readers to a number of Iwa, the everyday spirits of the vodouist, explaining how and for what reason to tap into their powers. Summoning methods vary from Iwa to Iwa, as do spell casting techniques: summoning "the Iwa of beauty and luxury," Freda, involves sprinkling water on the ground; Papa Ogou, Iwa of strength and honesty, requires a machete and rum. Those looking more for a love's lusty approximation will want to break out their seven-day candle and Nightmare Before Christmas doll before turning directly to the chapter on Ghede, the "bringer of booty calls." Aside from some interesting cultural history, Filan's text is largely dry and instructive, not a bad thing given many spells' inconvenient steps. Though long in tradition, even Filan admits these time-consuming methods shouldn't replace "reconnecting with the people around you"; to borrow from another tradition, Iwa often help those who help themselves.
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Introduction 1

Part 1 Magic, Love, and Relationships

1 Understanding Magic 4

2 Talking with the Spirits 7

3 It takes Two...and Often More: The Ethics of Love Magic 17

4 The Toxic Myths of Love 28

5 Lovesickness: Treatments and Cures 43

Part 2 The Lwa

6 Meeting the Lwa 60

7 Legba: Bringer of Opportunity 63

8 Damballah: Bringer of Transformation 74

9 Freda: Bringer of Beauty 86

10 La Sirene: Bringer of Glamour 98

11 Ogou: Bringer of Strength 110

12 Simbi: Bringer of Communication 122

13 Ezili Danto: Bringer of Self-Reliance 133

14 Ghede: Bringer of Booty Calls 145

15 The Ancestors: Bringers of Partnerships 157

Afterword 169

Resources 172

Notes 178

Glossary 181

Index 183