Hold My Sweet Tea
Where True Crime collides with chilling ghost stories and Southern folklore. Join us, sip sweet tea, and uncover shocking tales of murder, mystery, and the supernatural, all with a healthy dose of Southern charm and a touch of sass!
Hold My Sweet Tea
Ep. 55-The Witch Queen of New Orleans: High Priestess Mary Oneida Toups
We explore the fascinating story of Mary Oneida Toups, the Witch Queen of New Orleans who successfully established witchcraft as a state-recognized religion in 1970s Louisiana.
• Mary moved to New Orleans from Meridian during the hippie era at age 39
• She formed a power couple with Albert "Boots" Toups, a Freemason who practiced Santeria
• Opened the Witch's Workshop in 1971 selling candles, oils, and ritual items like bat hearts
• Successfully petitioned Louisiana to charter the Religious Order of Witchcraft in 1972
• Published influential book "Magic High and Low" in 1975 for witchcraft practitioners
• Gained respect from diverse groups including petroleum engineers and occultists
• Allegedly conducted a seance at the Lalaurie Mansion contacting Madame Delphine
• Died mysteriously in 1981 at age 53 with no known grave location
• Despite her significance, rarely mentioned on New Orleans ghost tours today
Share our podcast with friends and help us get the word out about these fascinating stories from New Orleans history!
Source Material:
https://www.latter-blum.com/p/521-St-Philip-Street-New-Orleans-LA-70116/dmgid_172753566
Ghost City Tours, 2012-2025, Witchcraft in New Orleans, Is there any truth to witches being in New Orleans, https://ghostcitytours.com/new-orleans/ghost-stories/witchcraft-new-orleans/
Yarborough, Zoe, October 30,2024, 8 Famous Witches from Southern Folklore, https://styleblueprint.com/everyday/famous-witches-in-the-south/
Lady Stacy, Author page, https://www.librarything.com/author/toupsmaryoneida
Stuerman, Madison, 2025, Haunted Cities: Women of New Orleans, https://travelnitch.org/haunted-new-orleans/