Since my heritage resides in New Orleans and other parts of the south, I feel as if hoodoo and voodoo are calling out to me. I want to honor my heritage, but I really don't know where I should learn the hoodoo and voodoo. Do you have any good recommendations?
Book,the internet,maybe hang around the supply stores around there and hang a note seeking teachers
I have been to New Orleans,it's Hoodoo Central there
If I can learn it here in NY,you can learn it in its town of Birth
It's still all over the place in NO
I'm planning on visiting New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but I don't think anyone in my family would take me down to a voodoo shop because of their beliefs.
If your family won't take you done because of their beliefs it's ok because that's what they belief in and if I were you I would try to find a friend that can drive or go shopping with your family around the area of the shop and just tell them that you are just going to go to a shop around here and you will text them if you have a phone of course and then you can just go with knowing you went somewhere but not knowing that you actually went there.
Google around,get a few books and see what suites you
Paths these days are usually mixed and matched since in America lkke we live anyway it's very hard to find a group to actually beling to since the occult is out of style here as opposed to other countries where Magick is thriving.We end up solo and free to do as we chose.Find practices that you like and learn the basics
The basics are the same for all paths so it's a great start and chose a form of Divination.
When it comes to Voodoo, there aren't many books or websites out there that give good information given the fact that there are so many misconceptions about the religion in general. The best thing I can recommend you to do is find a spiritual community near your area and allow them to guide you, although many practitioners are solitary, Voodoo is a community religion. Stay away from authors such as Denise Alvarado, there are good books on the subject; the thing is to find them. The first thing to understand when it comes to Voodoo, is the difference between Vodou and Voodoo. Voodoo is a creolized version of Haitian Vodou, Voodoo having major differences such as the focus on Danbalah.
Here is a book I recommend for reading on Haitian Vodou:
Haitian Vodou - An Introduction to Haiti's Indigenous Spiritual Tradition by Mambo Chita Tann
As towards hoodoo, it has nothing to do with Voodoo and this is something to keep in mind. Hoodoo is a folk magic practice which is a mixture of native american magic, european elements, and even jewish mysticism. It is a practice that has no deities but is a concentration on personal power, the absence of any deity or spiritual force. When Hoodoo begins becoming mixed with other practice/religions it ceases to be Hoodoo, remember that.
For hoodoo resources, Starr Casas has a couple of good books on the practice. The thing to remember when reading up on rootwork is that every practitioner works in a different manner and has a different way of doing things, there is no right or wrong when it comes to the practice as everyone likes to add they're own spice into the cauldron.
Best of luck on your path
