Denise Alvarado

Class – The Pin is Mightier than the Sword: Doll Baby Conjure

Sunday, February 9 at 8:15 pm in The Esoteric Alcove

Bio for Denise Alvarado

Having grown up steeped in the rich cultural milieu of New Orleans, Louisiana, Denise Alvarado has dedicated over four decades of her life to exploring indigenous healing traditions both personally and academically. Her passion continues to be the preservation of the folkways of her culture of origin, and the documentation of African, Black, and indigenous resistance fighters, and the study of quality of life in Native American populations.

Denise's journey as a tradition keeper and healer began when she was five years old on a Mississippi bayou where her aunt introduced her to the mysteries of Spiritualism. In addition, her Catholic Creole culture of origin informs her work. To be Creole in New Orleans means that her blood derives from Spanish, French, Indigenous, and African ancestry, or some admixture within, and with that comes the traditions of her ancestors. From their rich mélange of food, music, culture, and religions, she finds healing modalities and magickal works designed for empowered, resilient, and resourceful living. Her goal has been to bring these forms of healing and empowerment to others for the benefit of the planetary family.

She is a proud member of the American Anthropological Association, the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists, and the Association of Latina/o & Latinx Anthropologists. After serving on the editorial board for the Journal for Social and Behavioral Sciences, Denise brought her academic skills and experience to Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly, The Journal of American Rootwork, Gumbo Ya Ya, and the Hoodoo Almanacs. Her journey has led her to pen over twenty books, including "Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits and Hoodoo Saints," "The Magic of Marie Laveau," and her latest work, "The Marie Laveau Voodoo Grimoire."

Having been nurtured by her parents as an artist since birth, Denise's ritual art has graced television screens in shows like National Geographic's Taboo, The Originals, and Blue Bloods. Her work, whether in art or writing, echoes her roles as a rootworker, tradition-keeper, spiritual artisan, and guardian of the sacred wisdom of Southern folk magick and folkways.

Visit Denise Alvarado online at creolemoon.com