Charmed City

 

The spirituality in this city is tangible.  You can literally reach out and touch the prayers and wishes and curses.  What's your persuasion?  Christian? Pagan? Voodoo?  Santeria?  Jewish? You won't have to look very far to find others who share your own beliefs and aren't afraid to share.

I try to describe to people how the atmosphere in New Orleans is different, but I don't think you can truly understand until you are in the thick soup of prayer.  Being one of the oldest cities in America means that New Orleans has been the birthplace of many a call out to the glorious Universe, and being one of the most spiritually diverse cities that I have come into contact makes it feel as though all these prayers and passion are fighting with each other.  It gives the city a very seductive quality, the bustle and coexistence of so many cultures. Come get lost in New Orleans. . .

Driving into the city on I-10 from Baton Rouge, the drive is spectacular.  You pass many a swamp and crazy cypress tree.  You drive in a tunnel of trees providing you with lots of shade from the Louisiana heat.  You pass the graveyard cities and somewhere along the way, the atmosphere feels different.  Lost energy, expended energy, still floating.  Being surrounded by water helps contribute to the overall heaviness of the situation.  You are physically uncomfortable with the humidity and if you open yourself up to it, you are aware that this place feels different.

Closer to heaven.  That's what I feel here. The beauty that abounds in this city is fascinating to me and my easily-distracted-by-shiny-objects self.  We are still on our journey of making this city our permanent home and I feel blessed to be surrounded by so many prayers.

xoxo