Take a stroll through the French Quarter on any given night, and you’re bound to pass Voodoo shops, tarot card readers and fortunetellers. But is all of this so-called “magic” authentic or is it a tourist trap? 

Here’s the real deal: Five Rootworkers from across the country have joined forces to celebrate pure conjure magic this weekend at the Folk Magic Festival starting today on North Rampart Street. The festival is celebrating its second year in New Orleans. Each Rootworker specializes in his or her own type of spiritual work, from Voodoo doll making to spiritual cleansing to fairy teachings. The conjure concentrated in this weekend’s festival will surely mystify those in attendance. 

The festival is composed of 12 different workshops taught by the Rootworkers and range from one to three hours each. “Baby, You Stepped in Something,” the first class being offered, is a workshop about removing curses. Orion Foxwood, a specialist in southern root doctoring and witchcraft, will teach the workshop. Foxwood has also published books called “The Fairy Teachings” and “Tree of Enchantment.”

Another one of the workshops focuses on love and enchantment. Auntie Sindy Todo, an intuitive card reader who concentrates on spellwork and spiritual guiding, teaches “Sugaring Your Panties and Spice in your Britches.”

“It’s about attracting a new love to you, keeping your current one happy or just simply being attractive,” Todo said. “What it is is teaching dry, dark spells. And everyone brings a pair of panties to bless. It’s a lot of fun.”

Those fascinated by authentic New Orleans Voodoo can learn from the “Voodoo Queen” herself, the legendary Bloody Mary, whose bloodline has been in New Orleans since 1718. She is teaching a workshop on Voodoo/Hoodoo doll making and guiding a paranormal Voodoo tour through the city Saturday night.

“Everybody is going to jump on the streetcar and go to a historic location where she will teach Voodoo rituals,” Todo said.

The festival has already sold out eight of its workshops. “The Bone Yard: Graveyard Magic and Ancestral Honoring” was the festival’s first workshop to sell out. Other classes on astrology, spiritual foot washing and candle burning are sure to be popular as well. Though many workshops are already at capacity, those interested in attending festival workshops can register online at Folkmagicfest.com. Classes cost $35 each. 

“The variety of different workshops are taught around how to change things in your life,” Todo said. “Everything from love work to prosperity to working with your ancestors and spirits.”