Entry No. 3 — the New Orleans file — filed under: witchy
Voodoo Spiritual Temple
Founded in 1990 by Priestess Miriam Chamani and her late husband Priest Oswan Chamani, this is a genuine working Voodoo temple just down from Congo Square, not a retail front. Priestess Miriam, now in her eighties and a fixture of contemporary New Orleans Voodoo, personally provides consultations, readings, and rituals. It draws practitioners and serious seekers far more than casual tourists.
The story
If you walk down North Rampart Street expecting a commercial gift shop packed with mass-produced resin trinkets and plastic dolls, you're at the wrong address. Established in May 1990 by Priestess Miriam Chamani and her late husband, Priest Oswan Chamani, the Voodoo Spiritual Temple is a working sanctuary rather than retail theatre. It sits right on the edge of Tremé, just down the block from Congo Square, where enslaved Africans historically gathered on Sundays to maintain their sacred rhythms and ancestral traditions.
Priestess Miriam, now in her eighties, continues to maintain the space as an active personal religious practice. You won't find floor clerks or tour guides here—just a priestess who has spent decades conducting consultations, divinations, and rituals for local practitioners and serious seekers who know enough to look past French Quarter caricatures. Inside, altars hold offerings of coins, statues, herbs, and candles that reflect decades of daily devotional work.
What it's like
Do not show up expecting steady business hours or a casual walk-in counter. This is a quiet, personal space run solely by Priestess Miriam, so reach out through the temple's website contact form before arriving. When inside, treat the temple like someone's home altar: keep your voice down, don't handle sacred objects without permission, and bring cash if you plan to purchase spiritual supplies or leave an offering.
The move: Arrange a joint spiritual consultation with Priestess Miriam, then walk a few blocks to Congo Square together to sit where the city's African spiritual traditions took root.
📍 Before you go It is a small personal practice run solely by Priestess Miriam; reach out via the temple's contact form before visiting rather than expecting walk-in hours.
- 📍 Tremé / Faubourg Marigny edge
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1428 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans Cultural Center & Collection — Pair this with another practitioner-run space in the Quarter that prioritizes authentic spiritual work over souvenir trade.
- Island of Salvation Botanica — Cross town to St. Claude to visit Vodou priestess Sallie Ann Glassman's working botanica for a broader view of local spiritual practice.
- New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum — Visit this museum first to see how New Orleans Voodoo is historicized before experiencing Priestess Miriam's active, lived practice across Rampart.
- Bayou St. John / Magnolia Bridge (Cabrini Bridge) — Head up to Bayou St. John afterward to visit the iron bridge where historic outdoor Voodoo rituals took place.
Good to know
Do I need an appointment to visit?
Yes. Because Priestess Miriam manages the temple independently, you should reach out via the official website contact form beforehand rather than expecting open walk-in hours.
Where is the temple located?
It sits at 1428 N Rampart Street, positioned on the Tremé and Faubourg Marigny border near Louis Armstrong Park and historic Congo Square.
What happens during a visit?
Visitors who book ahead can receive personal spiritual consultations, readings, or custom ritual work directly from Priestess Miriam.
Is this a tourist attraction or gift shop?
Neither. While basic spiritual supplies and hand-crafted items are available, it operates primarily as an active temple devoted to Voodoo spiritual practice.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-22