VODUN

TheDefinitiveGuideToVoodooAndItsPractices

NuwaupuOnlineDigitalMediaPublishing
[Link]
Copyright2009AllRightsReserved


TableofContents
[Link]
Origin,Meaning,andUsageofthetermVodou

2.Vodou101:BasicBeliefsandPractices
TheHierarchyoftheSpirits
Initiation
VenerationofAncestors
InteractionandPossession
CeremonyandRitual
OtherBeliefs

[Link]
Loa
SpiritMarriage
Orisha

[Link]
AfricanRoots
SyncretismintheCaribbean
NewOrleans:MarieLaveauandtheVodouQueens
Vodou,Hoodoo,andSlaveCulture

[Link]?
AfricanVodou
HaitianVodou
SanteriaintheCaribbean
VodouinTrinidadandtheWestIndies
VodouinBrazil
NewOrleansVodou
VodouintheUnitedStates

[Link]
Symbolism
Drapo
Veve
FetishesandMagicalObjects

[Link]
AltarsandShrines
DrummingandDance
MagicandSpellCasting
Rituals

[Link]
TheTruthaboutVodouDollsandCurses
Zombies!
AnimalSacrifice

[Link]

[Link]

[Link]


Introduction
MentionthewordVodou,andformostpeoplewhatcomestomindare
[Link]
[Link]
inthereligion,itisnotinthemannerthatmostwesternersthink,andthey
arenotnearlyasimportantasmediamisconceptionswouldhaveus
[Link],[Link]
everythingtodowithadeepbeliefthatallisone,withthevenerationof
ancestors,withareverencefornature,andadeepconcernforthedayto
daywellbeingofitsadherents.

Vodouisoneoftheworldsoldestreligions,withmillionsofdevout
[Link],orVoudoun,issometimescalledtheworldsoldest
religionandmanybelieveittobeupto10,[Link]
AfricawhereitwascalledVoudoun,buttooktheformofVodou,which
mostpeoplearefamiliarwith,duringtheforcedslavemigrationtoHaiti.
TheAfricandiaspora,ormassmigrationoutsidetheirhomecountry,
spreadthereligiontoNorthandSouthAmerica,thePhilippines,andthe
Caribbean.

ThereligionofVodouplaysahugeroleincommunityandfamilylifein
[Link]
[Link]
tradition,withstoriesofvariousaspectsoffaithbeingpassedfromone
[Link],orcentralholytext.
BecauseobserversofVodouarethoughttocommunicatequitedirectlywith
variousspirits,[Link]
expectedtobehaveaccordingtoacceptedstandardsofVodou,thereisno
setlistofobservationsandpractices,andritualscanvarygreatlyfrom
[Link],forallthesereasons,
booksaboutVodouoftenpresenttheirinformationintheformofstories.
Inthisreport,youlllearnallaboutthevariousaspectsofVodoutoday.
Welllookatthepracticesandbeliefsofthereligion,whopracticesand
where,[Link]
commonmythsandmisconceptionsofVodou,andyoulllearnthetruth
[Link]
[Link],youlllearnaboutwhere
Vodoustandstoday,andmostimportantofall,howyoucanbenefitfrom
livingthesimpletruthsoftheVoudounlifestyle.

Beforeweembarkuponthisfascinatingjourney,however,letstakealook
atthecommonmeaningofthewordVodou,itsusageanditsorigin,asthis
cansometimesbeconfusing.

YoullfindthewordVodouspelledinavarietyofdifferentways,depending
[Link]
willseeofthewordareVodun,Vudun,andVodou,whichiscommonin
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],andVudon,
Vodun,orVodounarecommoninBrazil.

ThewordVodouismostcommonlyusedtodescribethetraditionsof
AfricanandtheCaribbeanwhichcombinedintoarichstewinNew
[Link]
AfricanAmericantraditionoffolkspiritualitycommoninthesoutheastern
[Link],ora
wordchangedfromanotherlanguage,oftheFrenchvoustous,pronounced
vootoo,[Link],
whichhasreallyonlybecomecommonoverthelast100years.

Confusing?Yes,indeeditis,butthisbrieflookattheoriginsandusageof
thewordbeginstohintatthevastcomplexityandmysteryofthefaith.
Becauseofthepossibilityofconfusionfromswitchingbackandforth
betweennames,forthepurposesofthisreport,wewillbeusing,ingeneral,
[Link],VodouiscommonlyspelledVoodoo,so
[Link],though,
thatformanypractitionersoutsideofNewOrleansthetermVoodoo
signifiesareligiondreamedupbythemindsofHollywood,andthat
religionhaslittletodowiththedeeplymysticalandreverentfaiththey
practice.

Foryourconvenienceandreference,pleasenotethatthereisbothan
[Link]
runintosomeunfamiliarwords,andifyouforgettheirmeaning,youcan
[Link]
youoptionsforfurtherreadingandassistanceinfindinglocalgroupsof
Vodou,shouldyoufeelsomovedtopracticethereligion.

Nowthatthisbriefintroductionhaswhettedyourappetitetolearnmore
abouttheprofoundandmysticalreligionofVodou,[Link]
beginwithalookatthebasicbeliefsandpracticesofVodou.

Vodou101:BasicBeliefsandPractices
VodouhasitsoriginsinaWestAfricansystemofspiritualityandassuch,it
isamostlyunwrittentradition,itsritualsandceremoniespasseddown
[Link]
worldoverinthatitattemptstoexplainwhatforcesgoverntheworldwe
livein,andhowtoinfluencethoseforcestomakethelivesofbelieversand
[Link],thereligionalsohasastronginfluence
[Link]
understandtheirownlives,[Link]
beensaidthatthemainpurposeofVodouistoheal:tohealeach
individualsrelationshipwithhimself,andtheirrelationshipwithGod.

TheHierarchyoftheSpirits
IntheVodoutradition,[Link]
namesindifferentpartsoftheworld;[Link]
takenfromtheFrenchwordsbondieu,[Link]
issopowerfulthatordinaryworshipperscannotgetintouchwithhim.
Instead,[Link],thereare
[Link](IwainHaiti).TheLoa
controlthedailylivesofmortals,influencinghealth,happiness,wealth,and
[Link].
TofullyunderstandVodou,youmustgraspthattheLoaexistinacomplete
[Link],and
[Link]
Damballah,Ezili,Ogu,Agwe,[Link]
[Link]
tendtohavepersonalities,withcertaincolors,food,plantsandobjects
[Link]
offeringstotheLoa.

InordertobetterunderstandthevenerationoftheLoa,peoplewithmore
traditionalwesternreligiousandspiritualbackgroundsmayequatethe
[Link]
GreeksandRomanshadmanyGodswhichwerethepersonificationof
elementsoftheirlives,so,too,[Link]
personalandrealspiritstothem.

VenerationofAncestors
AdherentsofVodoualsoveneratetheirancestors,andancestorsare
[Link]
[Link]
theintermediarystepbetweenthisworldandthenext,andtheycanserve
asgateways.

IntheHaitianVodoutradition,ancestorworshipisespeciallyimportant.
AdherentsworshipthemintheformofagroupofloacalledLesGede
(sometimesLesGhedes)[Link]
[Link]
formoney,dressintatteredclothing,oranyotherkindofwildbehavioryou
[Link]
Gedeembeddedinoursoulsasancestralknowledge.(Andsciencebacks
thisup,withgenetheory.)Theseenergiescanofteninvadeceremonies
andrefusetoleaveuntilsomekindofpriceispaidfinancialorperhaps
[Link],theGedemaketheir
presenceovertlyknownthroughgrabbinggenitals,pickingpockets(or
noses!),spitting,orcursing.

SomeadherentsmakeadistinctionbetweenLesBaronsasthenameddead
andLesGedeastheunnameddead,[Link]
theyfollow,allplacegreatemphasisonreveringandgivingtributetothe
dead.

[Link]
[Link]
[Link],blacktux,dark
glasses,andcottonuphisnostrils,whichishowcorpsesaredressedfor
[Link]
[Link],which
symbolizesthathehasaneyeonbothworlds.

BaronSamedisnamecouldbeacorruptionofzombie,orbasedonthe
FrenchwordforSaturday,asmanyFrenchwordswereusedinHaitian
[Link],
withhisloveofrum,cigars,[Link]
verysexualspirit,[Link]
formerdictatorofHaiti,PapaDocDuvalier,claimedtobeamanifestation
[Link],wherethesoulsofdead
humanspass.

ZoraNealeHurstonreportedthatwhenmakingarequestofBaronSamedi,
[Link]
Sameditakeswithhimwhateverheisholdingwhenheleaves,andinthis
wayyoudontloseyourarmtohim.

[Link],sheispartialtohot
[Link]
firstwomantobeburiedinacemetery,andresidesinthecemeterystrees
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],Brigittewouldbe
petitioned.

Intruesyncreticstyle,thereareclearlinksbetweenMamanBrigitteand
[Link],
whowasthegoddessofpoetry,creativity,inspiration,andhealinginthe
[Link],thechurchfatherstried
toeradicatetheoldbeliefswithlittleluck,sotheysimplyabsorbedsomeof
[Link],andshe
[Link]
shewasimmediatelywelcomedintotheloafold.

MamanBrigitteisknowntohealthosewhosufferfromincurablefatal
[Link]
childrenVodoufollowersandisvengefultowardsthosewhowouldtryto
[Link],cottonandwillowbranches.
OtherpopularGedespiritsareBaronCriminal,whoisaforceofjusticefor
criminals;themischievousTiMalice,orUncleMalice,andGedeNibo,the
[Link].
BesidestheGede,Vodouadherentsarealsocarefultoveneratethefamily
[Link]
wellbeing,[Link]
analtar(aboutwhichwewilldiscussmorelater),withphotos,objectssuch
asjewelrythatbelongedtotheancestor,aglassofwaterandacandle.
Whenhonoringthemembersofyourbloodline,itisalsoimportanttotake
intoaccountindividualpersonalitiesandtastes,andhonorthese
[Link],theywillexhibitthesame
[Link],ifafatherwasa
workaholic,hewillworknightanddaytosolveyourproblemuntilitis
[Link]
ancestorsorLesGedes,[Link]
canmakeancestorsdepartandvoidtheirpowers.


Initiation
TheessenceofVodouinitiationisthattheadherentbecomesthechild
[Link](priest)and
mambo(priestess)[Link],theinitiate
actuallybecomesthechildtotheloaintheceremony,andwillhaveone
specialloatowhichheorsheisespeciallylinked.

ItisimportanttorememberthatthereisnoselfinitiationintheVodou
[Link]
Vodoufromabookorwebsite,[Link]
manyaspectsofthefaithfromreading,Vodouisanexperientialreligion
[Link],everyeventand
situationfrombirthtodeathrequirescertainactionsthatmustbeexerted
[Link]
specialreportsandstudylikecrazyifthatisyourway,butalsobeaware
thattotrulybecomeapartoftheVodounlife,youwillneedtofinda
teacher.

Also,withinitiation,youarepledgingtobecomeapartofafamily,soitis
[Link]
others,ifpossible,[Link]
[Link]
[Link].
Itisalsoaveryseriousone,andshouldnotbeenteredintolightly.
Considerthebondtobeasdurable,binding,andimportantasamarriage.
ItmaynotbenecessaryforallfollowersofVodoutogothroughinitiation.
Theprocessisgruelingandcanbefrightening,asitrepresentsnothingless
[Link].
Then,too,theoriginsoftheinitiationritescomefromthewarriorculture
inAfricananditisdesignedtomakeyouproveyourselfonevery
levelphysical,intellectual,emotional,[Link],ifnotmost,
Vodouisantsarenotinitiated,[Link]
initiatedtoservethespirits.

However,forthosewhowanttotrulyunderstandthepathofVodou,
initiationisnecessarybecausethetraditionssecretsarepassedalongonly
toinitiates.

Followyourheartandlistentoyourloatofindtheanswer.

InteractionandPossession
ThereligionofVodouhasahugeimpactonthedaytodaylivesofits
believersbecauseoftheinteractionbetweenthespiritsandthefollowers.
[Link]
Vodouceremonies,theLoaareaskedforadvice,orprotection,or
[Link],thefollowersmustalsodothingsfortheLoa,most
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
theLoahappy,[Link]
doesthepracticeofVodouhaveahugeimpactonthedailylivesofits
[Link],withagreatdeal
ofinfluenceonitsadherents.

OneofthemainhallmarksofVodoubeliefisthattheLoacommunicate
[Link]
[Link]
Loa,[Link]
possession,theLoaofferadvice,giveinstructionsorpredictthefuture.
SometimestheLoaletshisangeratthewaypeoplehavebeenbehaving
known,[Link]
[Link],onlythemostpowerfuland
[Link],everyonehas
[Link],theideaofpossessionunitesallbranchesof
Vodou.

CeremonyandRitual
Ceremonialdances,musicandinstrumentsespeciallydrumsarevery
importantaspectsofthereligionandamajorwayinwhichcommunication
[Link]
[Link]
morefood,betterstandardsofliving,vibranthealth,[Link]
manner,[Link]
tocelebrategoodfortune,toalleviatebadfortune,tocelebratespecific
holidaysassociatedwiththeloa,andattheusualhallmarksoflifebirth,
weddings,anddeaths.

[Link]
priestsarecalledhoungan(sometimesspelledhungan).Femalepriestsare
[Link]
beanaltar,elaboratelydecoratedwithcandles,fetishes,andsymbolic
itemslinkedtotheloa.

ThecomponentsofaVodouceremonywillvary,butmanyconsistofafeast
beforetheactualceremony;thecreationofaveve,orcornmealpatternin
thespecificdesignfavoredbytheloa,andchanting,drumplayingand
[Link],the
ceremonybuildingrelentlesslyinintensity,untiloneofthemispossessed
[Link]
[Link]
usuallyreservedfortheLoa.

[Link]
maydrinksomeoftheanimalsblood,andwiththisacttheloais
[Link]
[Link]
tothoseofothertraditions,itisimportanttounderstandthatthese
sacrificeshaveatriplepurpose:theloaareinvokedandfed,followersare
peopleofthecommunityarefed(andinsomepoorareaswhereVodou
flourishes,thisisahugebenefit),andfinallyoncetheloahavebeenfedand
honored,theythengivebackthroughmessagesandcommunicationsfor
believers.

OtherBeliefs
[Link]
[Link]
theFrenchvoustous,oryouall?Theyouallattitudeisinherentin
[Link].
Inthisbasicconcept,[Link]
whatphysicistsarediscoveringisthetruenatureoftheuniverse!
AcloselyrelatedconceptofVodouistheideathateveryhumanbeingis
filledwithitsownashe,whichiscomplextodefinebutbasicallyrefersto
[Link]
thisessenceofthedivinecurrentthatrunsineachhumanbeingandunites
usall.

Thereisaconstantcloseconnectionbetweenlifeanddeath,asisevidenced
bythecommonpracticeofanimalsacrifice,whichisusedtoshowrespect
totheLoa,[Link]
ritualormagicalobjects,[Link]
themthespiritoftheLoa,[Link]
objectssuchasbottlesandpots,andevenpartsofsacrificedanimalsare
usedtocreatefetishes,whichbecomesacredwhenusedinrituals.
BelieversinVodouhaveanaffinityforthenaturallandscapewithmany
ritualstakingplacenearmountainsorstreamsorothergeographic

[Link].
Thespiritsalsooftenmanifestthroughnature,inthunderandlightning,
andthroughtrees,mountains,riversandlakes.

Vodoufollowersalsobelievethateachofushaveasoulcomposedoftwo
[Link],orbigguardianangel,and
thetibonange,[Link]
everynightwhilewesleepandalsoduringincidentsofpossessionbythe
[Link],itisthoughtthatitcan
becapturedbyevilspirits.

[Link]
deeplyatthisphenomenonandexaminecommonmisconceptionsinalater
[Link],Vodouisadeeplycompassionatereligionwithafocuson
[Link]
deepconcernfortheirfollowersandmuchoftheirworkisfocusedon
[Link]
manydaytodaymattersandarefrequentlycalledupontomediate
disputes.

ThePantheonoftheLoa
PerhapsoneofthemajordifferencesbetweenVodouandotherreligionsis
thatinmostreligions,[Link],thedivinetalk
[Link],toVodouisants,theirdeitiesare
[Link]
havepersonalitiesandlikesanddislikes,[Link]
loahavedistinctpreferencesindressandfood,anditisimportantthat
thosepreferencesbehonored.

Wemetsomeoftheancestorloainthesectiononvenerationofthe
ancestors,andnowitistimetotakealookatsomeofthemostimportant
[Link],itisimpossibletogo
[Link],theloaareeverchanging,withnew
honoreddeadrightfullytakingtheirplaceamongthepantheon.

Ingeneral,theHaitianloaarearrangedaccordingtofamilylineages,also
[Link]
[Link].
WhenslaveswerebroughttotheAmericas,theyweremostoftenseparated
[Link]
comprisedofpeoplefrommanytribesandcustoms,theslavesheldonto
[Link],variousnanchonswere

created,[Link]
slightlydifferentaspectsdependingontheirnanchonaffiliation.
ThePetrofamilyisfiery,quick,[Link]
[Link]
[Link],
Benin,[Link]
[Link].

Hereisarundownofthemostcommondeities:

PapaLegba
[Link]
Legbaisthepatriarch,thewisefather,[Link]
crossroads,wherehecandistributemessagesinbothdirectionsfromthe
[Link]
prayertohimis:Opentheroad,openthegate,[Link]
[Link]
[Link],anditissooldnowthatithas
[Link]
[Link]
colorsstandsfortheconnectionthatcomesfromhavingafootineach
world.

PapaLegbaissummonedatthestartofeveryceremonybecauseeverything
[Link]
[Link]
nothappy,[Link]
[Link],youmight
[Link],becauseoftheirsimilar
roles,[Link],cigars,coffee,peanuts,corn
fritters,smokedfoods,[Link]
PapaLegba,shekissesthegroundthreetimesandrequeststhatheopen
[Link]
Legba,[Link]
Legbaisalsothelastloatobesummonedineachceremony,inorderthat
hemayclosethedoorwaytotheinvisibleworldsagain.

InNewOrleansVodou,[Link]
Orleansloagothisnamefromaneighteenthcenturymissionarynamed
FatherJeanBaptisteLebat,whotriedtostampoutthepracticeofVodouin
thearea.

Itisinterestingtosurveypopcultureandseethatthereareoftensly
referencestoPapaLegba,generallyinfantasyfiction,thrillersortelevision
[Link],theacclaimedsciencefictionwriterWilliam
GibsonmentionsLegba(andotherloa)inhisnovelsCountZeroandMona
[Link],byDean
[Link]
thatLegbawasthenameofaVodougangsterontheshow.

Erzulie
[Link]
[Link],Erzulieisthespiritofbeauty,jewelry,
dancing,luxury,[Link].
[Link]
weddingbandsforherthreehusbands,Damballa,theserpentgod,Agwe,
thegodofthefishermen,andOgou,[Link]
promiscuous,simplyanentitywithalargeheart.

[Link]
beauty,grace,andsensuality,anddemandscleanlinessofherchildren.
Hersymbolsareaheart,amirror,[Link],and
thesecanbetearsofsadness,joy,[Link]
[Link]
aspect,sheisErzulieDantor,afierceprotectorofchildrenandthosewho
[Link]
associationwithimagesoftheBlackMadonnawhichwerebroughttoHaiti
[Link]
Erzulieisusuallydepictedasdarkskinnedcountrywomanandher
[Link].

Erzulieisoftenassociatedwithgaymenandsheisthepatronoflesbians.
[Link]
toherincludingthelaureltree,sweetsmellingflowerssuchasrosesand
jasmine,thewhitedove,[Link]
dishes,sweetconfections,perfumes,freshflowers,cosmetics,jewelry,
honey,banana,[Link]
champagneanditisalwayskeptreadyforherappearance.

ThePetrodeityErzulieDantorgrantsmaterialwealthandmagicalability
[Link]
[Link]
invokeherdomesticabuseandrapecases.

Whileknownforherloveandcompassion,Erzulieisalsoagoddessof
jealousy,vengeanceanddiscordandsheisoftenpersonifiedthiswayinher
manydifferentaspects.

Damballa
[Link]
[Link]
possession,hewrithesonthegroundlikeasnakeandmakeshissingand
[Link]
[Link],wherehecreatesstoresof
[Link]
formattersoflove,knowledge,healing,andwealth.

SometimeshemaybedepictedastheCatholicSaintPatrick,withflowing
whitehairandbeard,and,ofcourse,[Link]
isalsosometimesrepresentedasMoses,whichisalsoassociatedwith
[Link]
calledDamballaLaFlambeauandheisovertlysexualandhasatailof
[Link]
ofHinduism.

Damballapreferssimpleofferingsofwhiteorlightfoodandliquids,
includingrice,eggs,flour,milk,pineapple,whitegrapes,oliveoilorsweet
wine.

DamballaswifeisAidaWedo,[Link]
rainbowserpentoftheskyandbringsloveandunderstandingtoher
[Link],sheslithersacrossthe
floorwearingagreatjeweledheaddress,alluringbutimpossibleto
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
parentsofusall,takinguswiththemonthegreatjourneyoflife.

Marassa
[Link]
[Link]
HaitianVodou,[Link]
embodimentoftheelementalforcesoftheuniverseandareoften
[Link]
oftheminassociationwithhotandcold,fireandice,lightanddark,sun
[Link],

orsymbolicrepresentationoftheMarassa,[Link]
standsfortheessentialmysteryofthedualityharmony,balanceand
unity.

[Link]
[Link],onemale
andonefemale,despitethefactthattheyarethemostancientofallthe
[Link],ofteninspecial
doublesidedbowls,andtheybringhappiness,joyandbalancetotheir
petitioners.

GranBois
[Link]
thelandoftherecentlydeadandhisfingersandtoesarecomprisedof
[Link]
[Link],herepresentstheforcesofnature.
Becauseofthis,heknowsallthesecretsofbotanicalsandherbsandnature
[Link]
rhymes.

Ayizan
TheloaofinitiationisAyizan,andsheistheloawhopurifiestheinitiateas
[Link]
importanttorealizethattheancientAfricanYorubatraditionrefersto
[Link]
nectarandperhapsshewillhelpyouwithloveandsuccess,ordiviningthe
[Link]
Clare.

LaSirene
Sheisaloa,oftenseenasamermaid,whorepresentstheseaandis
[Link]
aspectoftheloaLaBaleen,[Link]
sirensofGreekmythology,herbeautifulsongsleadfollowersto
[Link]
SireneisespeciallyhonoredinNewOrleansVodouandwhenpetitionedin
thatcity,[Link],she
blessesherfollowerswithgiftsofmusicandsong,asbefitsthetemptress
whotemptswithherbeautifultunes.

Loko
AlsoknownasPapaLoco,[Link]
[Link],healsosignifiesthesupportof
[Link],heisalmostasimportantasPapa
[Link].
Hiscolorsareredandwhite,whichcorrespondtothemaleandfemale
[Link],heformsa
[Link],[Link]
diagnosingillnessesandprescribingherbalmedicines.

Ogou
Ogou(alsosometimesOgoun)isanimportantloainHaitianVodouand
[Link],heisbelievedtohavebeenthe
patronspiritofToussaintLouverture,afamousleaderoftheHaitian
[Link],OgouisawardedareveredplaceintheVodou
loa.

Ogoupresidesoverwar,politics,hunting,[Link]
[Link],Ogouisasoldierintegraltothe
countrysindependence,[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
crisis.

SpiritMarriage
Vodouisuniqueinthatithasaspecialprovisionforthoseadherentswho
wishtoenhancetheirrelationshipwiththedivinethespiritmarriage.
[Link]
[Link],theyare
[Link]
possession,dreams,orsometimescalamitiessuchasillnessorfinancial
hardship.

[Link]
blessingsandinstruction,theyalsoaskforsomethinginreturnand
[Link]
severalmenatonce,[Link]
honortobeaskedinthisway,itisalsosometimesastrainontheadherent.
Tounderstandspiritmarriage,itisalsonecessarytounderstandthestate
[Link],andfor
them,atraditionalmarriage,whethercivilorreligious,isanunattainable

[Link],calledPlasaj,and
anywomanlivinginthisarrangementiscommonlyreferredtoasawife.
Thesearestable,longtermarrangementswitheconomicexchangesagreed
[Link],thistakestheformofthemanagreeingto
[Link],shetakescareofthe
house.

AmongtheHaitianelite,[Link]
areconsideredtobemoreprestigiousthanthecommonlawmarriages.
Interestingly,theyarenotalwaysthemostlonglastingorsuccessful
[Link]
[Link],anditisamarkof
[Link]
morethanonefamily.

ThespiritmarriageisanactualceremonythatresemblesaCatholic
[Link]
cake,agown,rings,musicians,[Link]
usualcelebratoryitems,aspiritweddinghasotherfamiliarrituals,also.
Anotheradherentwillactasapriesttoconducttheceremonyanda
marriagelicenseiftakenouttheyareavailablealloverHaitiforasmall
fee.

Butbecausetheweddingiselaborateandcomplexitisquiteexpensive,
costingasmuchasacivilorreligiousceremonyandsometimestakingup
[Link],theVodouisantmayasktheloaifhe
[Link]
withthis,[Link],they
[Link]
[Link],itstimeto
proceedwiththewedding.

Astheweddingapproaches,thespousetobeisinstructedinallthe
[Link]
groommustmemorizealloftheloasfavoritefoods,herbs,songs,color,
dances,[Link]
[Link],theloaarehonoredalongsideofGod,Jesus
[Link]
up,[Link]
[Link]
placednearby,andthebrideorgroomdressesinhisorherbestclothing.
TheceremonybeginswiththeinvokingofPapaLegbaandotherloa,

[Link]
involvetwoorthreeloa,whichisthoughttobebeneficialtobalancingthe
[Link]
[Link],thebrideorgroomliesin
[Link],heorsheagrees
totheceremonybypossessingthespouseoranotherpersoninthe
hounfour.

Thentheweddingbegins,withthepriestrecitingtheCatholicwedding
ceremonyandtheloaandtheVodouisantpledgingfidelitytoeachother
[Link]
marrying.

Afterthemarriage,therearecertainritualstowhichthespousemust
[Link],the
[Link]
[Link],anentireroomwillbereserved
[Link],and
sometimeswraptheirheadsinclothofthatcolor.

Thespiritmarriageisnotonlyexpensive,itisalsoconsideredaserious
[Link]
isalsoconsideredextremelydangeroustoviolatetheweddingvows,for
instance,[Link]
loa,[Link],thespirit
[Link]
thefactthattheCreolewordforVodouritualassistantsishounsi,which
[Link]
[Link]
commonlymarriedareErzulie,Damballa,andOgou.

SanteriaDeities:Orisha
Santeria,alsocalledRegladeOcha,whichmeansruleofthedivine,isa
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
thesectiononVodoutoday,butfornowletstakealookatsomeofthe
[Link],andthereare
[Link],justas
[Link]
[Link],forinstance,theOrishaoflightningalsorules
[Link]

femininity,[Link]
forces.

Olorun
OlorunisthesupremegodoftheOrisha,althoughthatdoesnottruly
[Link],heistheoriginatorofall
[Link].
Olorunisassociatedwiththecolorwhite,andrulesallthatisthatcolor,
includingclouds,thebrain,[Link],purityand
[Link]
[Link],and
[Link]
conveniencewerefertoOlorunashe,intruthheisgenderneutral.

Eleggua
[Link]
PapaLegba,andassuch,Elegguarulesthecrossroads,hisjobbeingto
openthecommunicationchannelsbetweenthevisibleandinvisibleworlds.
Heisknownasatrickstergod,whoshakesthingsupwithhismischievous
[Link]
andalltheotherOrisha,hespeaksinriddlesandisdifficulttounderstand.
Thosewhotakethetimetolisten,however,willgleanmuchwisdom,
particularlywhenitcomestolearningabouthumility.

[Link]
[Link]
[Link].
Attimes,heisalsorepresentedbyimageryrelatingtotheCatholicSaint
PeterorSaintAnthony.

Ogun
OgunisanancientOrishaand,alongwithElegguaandOchosi,formsthe
[Link]
andoftentraveltogether,openingapathandguidingadherentsdownthe
[Link].
Heisthegodofwar,energyandmetalandtheseattributescombineto
[Link]
clearapathforhumans,andherepresentsthetoolsthatshapemanand
[Link],skills,crafts,
professionsandcreations.

Ogunspendsalotoftimealoneintheforest,butheisnotahermitora
[Link],heissimplydevotedtofocusinghisattentiontohis
[Link],besidestheforest,arethehospital,the
railroadtracks,gunracksandtheinternet!Becauseofthisheisalsothe
patronsaintofhealers,themilitary,policeofficers,firefighters,engineers,
automechanics,[Link]
[Link]
chamba,[Link],this
rumisnotforthefaintofheartanditisoftenusedasatruetestof
possession,becauseonlyapersonpossessedbyOguncouldhandlesucha
potentbrew.

Ogunscolorsaregreenandblack,andhisaltarisalwaysrequiredtohave
[Link]
alsousuallyhavetools,knives,chains,orotherweaponsplacedonit.

Ochosi
OchosiisthethirdOrishaofthetrinityoftheWarriors,andheisthedeity
ofthehunt,jails,[Link]
andproviderwhooftensavescommunitiesfromstarvationbecauseofhis
[Link],afavoritechantforOchosiis,Ochosimakesthe
[Link],possum,
venisonandherbs,[Link]
aninitiateduringaceremony,theymimichishuntingactivities,stalking,
aimingandshootingarrows.

BecauseOchosirulesjusticeandthejails,hisfollowersmaycreateajailcell
forhisshrine,alongwithaprayeraskingthathecometoliveintheirhouse
sothattheydonothavetogoliveinhis!Hisaltarswillbedecoratedwith
thingsthatreflecthispassions,[Link]
initiatedtoOchosimaywearnecklacesofblueandyellowbeadsandare
saidtobehospitable,quickandfondofchange.

Yemaya
Sheisthemotheroftheocean,[Link]
mermaidandbesidestheocean,sheisassociatedwiththemoonand
[Link],
andassuch,sheisevokedformatterschildbirth,conception,love,and
[Link],beautifulgoddess,radiant
withlove.

[Link]
watermelon,cantaloupe,molassescandy,gin,[Link]
alsoknowntoappreciateanyitemsfromthesea,suchasseawateror
[Link],suchasfish,
dolphins,shells,[Link],and,
becausehernumberisseven,shellsorcoinspresentedinsevens.

Oshun
OneofthemostpopularOrisha,[Link]
representslove,gold,fertility,andmarriage,asshewasoneofthewivesof
[Link],andisamasterof
sensualdance.

OshunissyncretizedwiththepatronsaintofCuba,OurLadyofCharity,or
[Link],andassuch,she
adoresyellowflowers,amber,honey,oranges,pumpkinandsweetdrinks.
Hernumberisfive,andsoitisimportanttoremembertogiveofferingsin
multiplesofthatnumber.

OnestoryaboutOshuntellshowshehadtobecomeaprostitutetosupport
[Link],thisangeredtheotherOrishaterribly,andthey
[Link]

muchthatshenearlywentinsane,andsheworethesamewhitedressevery
day,[Link],onedayshedecidedto
washherdressbytheriversideandanotherOrisha,AjeShaluga,thelord
oftheriver,[Link]
[Link],hemarriedherandshewasabletoretrieve
herchildren.

Oshunissummonedtoceremonieswithabrassbell,andyoucanhearher
[Link]
yellowandgold,adherentsoftensprinkletheiraltarstoherwith
[Link],
fans,jewelry,perfumeandmakeup.

[Link]
eachreligionisrichandcomplex,witheachdeityhavingspecificattributes,
aspects,[Link]
theVodouandSanteriasystemofgodsisthattheybecomeliving,
breathingcreaturestoadherents,asrealasallthehumanswhopopulate
[Link],andvery

focusedoncreatinggoodonadaytodaybasis.

AsyoucanseefromthisbriefintroductiontoVodouanditsgods,thefaith
[Link]
practicesastheyhavedevelopedindifferentregions,butfirstwelltakea
lookatVodouhistory,inordertogetacompletepictureofhowthereligion
began.

VodouHistory
AfricanRoots
Over6,000yearsago,VodouoriginatedintheAfricankingdomsofFon
andKongo,wherethecontemporarycountryofAfricancountryofBeninis
[Link]
FonandKonglanguagesgaveusmanyofthewordsusedinVodoutoday,
suchasmambo(forafemalepriest)whichisacombinationoftheFon
wordformotherandtheKongowordforhealer.

VodouchangedandgrewfromitsWestAfricanrootsastheslavetrade
developed.Thisfirststartedin1510,withslavesbeingtakenfromtheWest
[Link]
CaribbeanislandstoworkonplantationsandbeChristianizedbythe
[Link]
slavetradewasbydecidingthattheseAfricantribespeoplewere
subhuman,[Link]
Spanishmastersconsideredtheirslavestobesavages.

Fortheslaves,however,theirVodoureligionwasalifelinetohopeand
[Link],
theymaintainedsomesmallpartoftheiridentitiesasWestAfrican
tribespeople.

TwoofthemainareasfromwhichslavesweretakenwereNigeriaand
Dahomey.In1729,theDahomeypeopleconqueredtheirneighborsthe
[Link]
time,[Link]
[Link]
timeinthenewlands,thesepriestshadestablishedhounfoursandlarge
[Link]
thefactthattheFrenchandSpanishcaptorsstronglydiscouragedand
opposedthepracticeofVodou.

SyncretismintheCaribbean
ThenewworldthatChristopherColumbusdiscoveredin1492wasan
islandhenamedHispaniola,meaningLittleSpain,anditisthelocation
[Link]
sourceofindigo(fordyes),coffee,andsugar,andcolonistssoonfollowedin
thepathofColumbusandmovedin,establishinglargeandprofitable
[Link],andsoon
theAfricanslavetradewasborn.

Overthenexttwocenturies,slaveswereimportedtotheCaribbeanisland
[Link],thoughofcourse
theywerestrictlyforbiddenfrompracticingthispaganbeliefsystemin
thenewworld.

SomescholarshavespeculatedthattheAfricanslavestookonthetrappings
oftheCatholicreligioninordertohidetheirowncontinuingpracticeof
[Link]
venerationofsaintsiscalledsyncretism,ortheprocessofreconciling
[Link]
complexstewofinfluencesfromAfrica,Catholicism,Haitianhistory,and
eventheindigenousTainoIndians.

TheAfricanslavesrealizedthesimilaritiesbetweentheirVodoureligion
[Link]
[Link]
similartothewaytheadherentsofVodoupraytotheLoatointercedewith
[Link]
[Link]
ofsyncretismaffectedHaitianVodouinafuturesection.

[Link]
countrywasaFrenchcolonynamedSaintDominiqueuntil1791,when
slavesroseupandrevolted,themostsuccessfulslaverevolutioninthe
[Link]
countrythefirstfree,[Link]
revolutiontoaVodouserviceconductedinAugust1791byDuttyBoukman.
HewasahounganwhoperformedtheceremonyatBoisCaiman
[Link]
actuallybegan,[Link]
wasparadedthroughthestreetsinanattempttodiscredithimanddispela
[Link],this
attemptfailed,therevolutioncontinued,andBoukmanhaspassedintothe

pantheonoftheloa.

Recentpoliticalhistoryhasbeenharshonthecountryandharsh,too,onits
[Link],thepeopleof
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],from1915
until1934.WhenPapaDocDuvaliercametopowerin1957,areignof
[Link],ashe
calledhimself,andhisson,BabyDoc,wereresponsibleforthousandsof
deaths.PapaDocsufferedasevereheartattackin1959andwas
[Link]
oxygendeprivationheexperiencedduringthistimemayhaveaffectedhis
sanity,givinghimneurologicaldamagethatmadehimparanoidand
irrational.

ManyfeelthatDuvalierwonthe1957electionbyappealingtothehearts
andmindsoftheHaitianlowerandmiddleclasses,challengingthemulatto
[Link]
byrevivingthetraditionsofVodouandtakingsomeofthemforhimself.
Afteranelectionwhichmanythoughtwasriggedinhisfavor,Duvalierused
[Link]
[Link],
wearingsunglassesandtalkinginthenasaltonesassociatedwiththeloa.
HispropagandaintimatedthatPapaDocwasonewiththeloas,Jesus,and
[Link]
Duvaliersshoulder,andthequotation,Ihavechosenhim.

UponDuvaliersdeath,hisson,JeanClaudeDuvalier,assumedpowerand
[Link]
19attheagehegainedpowerandwasntmuchinterestedinit,preferring
insteadhislifeasaplayboy,andhesquanderedmuchofthepolitical
[Link]
reputedbondswiththelowerclasses,theywereresponsibleforthedeaths
[Link],somepeopleblamed
[Link]
houngansandmambosweretorturedandkilled,andhounfourwere
[Link]
[Link].
TheU.S.intervenedinHaitiinthe1990sandagainin2004after
[Link]
forcecurrentlyremainsinthecountry.

IntheWestIndiesandotherSpanishislands,thereligionbecameknown
[Link],thereligiontookrootinNew
Orleans,whereitwasstillcalledVodou.In1809,manyoftheHaitianswho
hadmigratedtoCubawereforcedtoleaveandtheymovedtoNewOrleans.
ThiscausedahugerevitalizationofVodouinNewOrleans.

NewOrleans:MarieLaveauandtheVodouQueens
VodouwaspracticedinsecretinNewOrleansfromthetimeofthearrival
[Link]
[Link],mostscholarsagree
thatAfterslaveswontheirfreedominHaitiin1804,Creoleplantersleftthe
countrywiththeirslavesandsettledinNewOrleans,wherethe
[Link]
adherentstoVodou,withasuperficiallayerofCatholicism,aswehave
seen,andtheycontinuedavidlypracticingupontheirimmigrationtoNew
Orleans.Between1805and1810,morethan10,000refugeesfromthe
Caribbeanarrivedinthecity.

HistoryrecordstheearliestreferencetoaVodoupriestesspracticingin
[Link],amixedracefree
womanwhooperatedaVodoutemple,andastoryaboutaceremonythere
[Link]
teenageboywhowenttoSaniteDedestemplewithoneofhishousehold
slavesandwitnessedaVodouceremonyofmusicanddancing.

OneofthemostfamoushistoricalfiguresofNewOrleansVodouwasMarie
[Link],inloreandinhistory,and
anyonewhogrewupinorhaslivedinNewOrleansiswellawareofher
[Link],shehas
becomeanearlymythologicalfigureduetoherinclusioninseveralbooks
[Link],
ZorrobyIsabelAllende,andVodouDreams:ANovelofMarieLaveauby
JewelParkerRhodes.

LaveauwasborntoawhiteplantermotherandCreolemotherin1794,
althoughthisdateisoftencontested.ShemarriedanotherCreolein1819.
BecauseofthelongstandingoraltraditionsofVodou,littleisknownfor
[Link],shebecamealegendinNew
Orleansthroughhermixtureoftheoccult,RomanCatholicreligion,and
[Link],andlegendhasit
thatshewasaskedtoforetellthefuturefornoneotherthanQueenVictoria.
Hersnake,namedZombi,washighlyvenomous,favoredwatermelonand

was20feetlong!ItsnowonderthatLaveauwasreputedtohavestrong
[Link],savedacondemned
manfromthegallows,walkedonwater,resurrectedherselffroma
[Link]
mindforbusinessandpromotionandsheusedittopromoteVodouand
[Link]
wasconsideredthemostpowerfulwomaninthecity.

HerdeathwasannouncedbytheNewOrleanspapersin1881,andshewas
eulogizedasaparagonofvirtue,despitepersistentrumorsofher
[Link],
evenafterherreputeddeath,MarieLaveausightingscontinued,perhaps
becauseoneofherdaughterstookoverhermothersroleandwassaidtobe
nearlyanexactreplicaofherwithoutthehumanitarianstreak.

Today,herlegendcontinues,withthevaultsintheNewOrleanscemetery
thatbearhername(itisunclearifsheisactuallyburiedthere)afavorite
[Link],Marie
LaveausgravegetsmorevisitorsthananyothergraveinAmerica,except
[Link],peoplecontinuetoinsisttheyseeMarie
[Link],thetraditionofpowerfulVodouQueenscontinuesto
thisdayinNewOrleans,evenasthecitystrugglestorecoverfromthe
[Link]
VodouQueensareSallieAnnGlassman,oneofthefewwhiteVodou
Queens,QueenBianca,AvaKayJones,andChiefSharonCaulder.

Vodou,HoodooandSlaveCulture
InthesouthernUnitedStates,variousformsofVodoubecameassociated
[Link]
thesoutheast,suchastheMississippideltaandtheGeorgiaSeaIslands,
[Link],thefolk
mythologyofHoodootookhold.

HoodoooriginatedasanindigenousAfricanfolkmagicbasedonbotanical
information,[Link]
importedtotheUnitedStateswiththeenslavementandtransportof
[Link]
[Link]
ismojo,[Link]
[Link]
whichmaybeusedtodescribehoodooareconjureorconjuration,
rootwork,[Link],notablytheeastern

seaboard,AfricanAmericancommunitiesrefertoHoodooaswitchcraft.
HoodooisawellestablishedmagicalandfaithtraditionintheAmerican
southeast,and,likeVodou,[Link]
persontoperson,[Link],Hoodooknowledgewas
passedthroughfamilybloodlines,inastructuredhierarchywithpriests
[Link]
calledrootworkers,rootdoctors,[Link]
termcomesbecausetheHoodoopractitionerissaidtohaveafootineach
worldthatofthevisibleandthatoftheinvisible.

Hoodooincorporatesbotanicalfolkloreforavarietyofcures,and
[Link]
formoftheHoodoopracticeofdivinationisGypsyfortunetelling,which
utilizesastandardplayingcarddeckinmuchthesamewayasadeckof
[Link],averyoldformofHoodoodivinationcalled
castingthebonesisused,[Link]
someurbanareas,HoodoopractitionersmayalsousedtheTarot,
astrology,ortealeavesfordivination.

TherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenHoodooandVodou,whichmay
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Vodou,[Link]
practitionersalsoutilizeblood,semen,andbodilyfluidsfromwomens
[Link]
partofHoodooritual.

However,[Link]
anestablishedreligiouspractice,[Link],the
practicesofHoodoocanbeadaptedtofitintoanyreligiouspractice.
Today,mostAfricanAmericanspracticeaChristianfaith,butsome
incorporateHoodoointotheirdailylives.

WhoPracticesVodouandWhere?
Overall,itisestimatedthatover60millionpeoplepracticeVodou
[Link]
Vodou,anditisalsoverycommoninNewOrleans,whereonepreKatrina
estimateputthenumberofadherentsat15%ofalladults.(Thisstatistic
wascitedbyVodouhighpriestessandcouldnotbeverifiedelsewhere,so
takeitwithagrainofsalt.)ItisalsocommoninmostlargecitiesinNorth
America,[Link]
atthedifferentareaswhereVodouisprevalent,anddiscussthewaysthe
religionhaschangedineachculture.

AfricanVodou
Itisestimatedthatover30millionpeoplepracticeVodouinthecountries
ofTogo,Ghana,[Link],Vodouhasabouttwoandahalf
millionfollowers,withanothermillionpracticingthefaithamongtheEwe
[Link],intheregionwhereVodougotitsstartmorethan
6,000yearsago,[Link]
60%[Link],whenademocratic
governmentwasinstalledin1989,Vodoucouldbeopenlyandfreely
[Link],about
15%oftheoccupantsofBeninwhocallthemselvesChristianalsopractice
Vodou.(Aswelearnedinthesectiononhistory,Vodouisasyncretic
religion.)

WehavelearnedthatVodoubeganinAfricaandmorphedandchangedas
[Link]
Vodoubegan,itisusefultolookathowVodouispracticedtheretoday,
becausefromthiswecanstudythecommonalitiesofVodouthroughoutthe
world..VodousharesseveraltraitsincommonwithotherAfrican
religion,includingtheworshipofmultiplegods,ancestorveneration,and
[Link]
importanttothepracticeofVodouinAfricanandothercountriestoday.
OtheraspectsofVodouthatremainmuchthesamenomatterwhereitis
practicedincludetheuseofamuletsormagicalobjectsinritual,theuseof
fetisheswhicharemeanttocontainthespiritoftheLoawithin,animal
sacrificestothegods,divinationthroughsuchmeansascastingthebones
orotherphysicalobjects,andthewaythatcertainfoods,colors,andother
likesanddislikesareattributedtospecificLoa.

ThecasualobserverwatchingaVodouceremonyinAfricamaywellthink
[Link]
centeredaroundmusic,dancingandsingingwithgreatexuberanceand
[Link],with
everydayobjectssuchasbottlesraisedtosacredstatusandusedinritualby
decorationwithanimalparts,coins,paint,andstring.

AdevoutVodoufollowerinAfricacanenterareligiouscentermuchlikethe
[Link],theinitiateslearnthe
foods,colors,rituals,[Link],initiates
enterathreedayperiodofseclusioninordertodieandbereturnedto
theworldanew.

HaitianVodou
OneofthecommonsayingsyoullrunintoaboutHaitiisthatitis80%
RomanCatholic,20%Protestant,and100%[Link],itis
commonforVodoutobepracticedalongsideChristianity,andthisisdone
[Link]
anyway,duetothechangesitwentthroughasAfricanslaveslandedonthe
islandandmeldedsomeoftheirownbeliefswiththeCatholicismoftheir
captors.

BecauseAfricansimportedtoHaitiwereforbiddentopracticeVodouand
forcedtoadoptCatholicism,contemporaryVodouinHaitivariesinsome
significantwaysfromthewayVodouispracticedtodayinAfrica.

Firstofall,[Link]
manycases,[Link],
inCatholicism,[Link]
Vodou,PapaLegbaisthegatekeepertothespiritworldandthisloa
[Link],theholidaysof
[Link]
celebratesthesoulsofdeadancestorsandinHaitithistakesplaceonAll
st
SaintsDay,November1 .Evensymbolshavetakenonsimilarmeanings.
ThecrossroadsisanimportantsymbolforVodouadherents,asitsignifies
[Link]
[Link].

Still,despitethesesyncreticdifferences,HaitianVodoustillremainsvery
[Link],priestsandpriestessesarecalled
hounganandmambo,andtheymayapprenticewithVodouleaderstohone
[Link],ortemples.
TheconceptofpossessionisalsoveryimportantinHaitianVodou,asitis
[Link]
[Link]
Exorcist,[Link]
consideredasacredblessing,thewaythatthespiritscommunicatewith
[Link],
andtheloasknowledgeisvastandinfinite.

Tobepossessedindicatesyouhavebeenchosenbytheloa,usuallybecause
[Link]
[Link]
sometimescalledahorse,anditissaidthatthehorseisbeingriddenbythe
[Link]
unnaturalforhimorher,[Link]
phenomenonissimilartothespeakingintonguesofevangelical
Christians.

VodouisanintegralandimportantpartofHaitianculturetoday,andthe
[Link]
oneofthepoorestcountriesintheworld,andthepoorestcountryinthe
[Link],
behindonlySomaliaandAfghanistan.76%ofthepopulationlivebelowthe
povertyline,withanaveragepercapitaincomeof$[Link]
lifeexpectancyinHaitiis53yearsold.Literacyisestimatedatonly48to
52%.Inacountrywheremedicalproblemssuchasmalaria,AIDS,and
limitedaccesstodrinkablewateraredailychallenges,noteveryonehas
timetoworryaboutlearningtoread.

Yet,despitethesegrimstatistics,arichandvibrantcultureflourishes.
Vodoucontributesnotonlyagroundinginsacredprinciplesbywhichto
livealife,butartandmusicanddancingandanengagingoralstorytelling
traditiontothecountry.

SanteriaintheCaribbean
Asmentionedearlier,inotherpartsoftheCaribbeanbesidesHaiti,Vodou
[Link]
and,likeHaitianVodou,isanAfroCaribbeansyncreticreligionthatcame
[Link],thespiritsarecalledtheOrisha,and
theyareworshippedthroughceremony,dance,ritualandofferingsin
[Link],withsome
[Link],theyhavetheir
owncolors,theirownspecialdays,andspecialfoodsanddrinksaswell.
InSanteria,[Link]
calledthePatakisandaremythswhichrelatestoriesofthereligionand
[Link],butsymbolically.
Manyofthesestorieswerepasseddownfromslaveswhowereforbiddento
writeandthususedthePatakitosharetheSanteriareligion.

SanteriaisoneofthemostformaloftheVodoustrains,andtraditionisof
[Link]
[Link]
ofthereligion,witheachOrishahavingcertainrhythmsandmovements
[Link]
soul.

ThereareseveralstepstoinitiationinSanteria,andthefirstoneismuch
[Link]
Santeria,somemuststudyforyears.

ThefinalinitiationinSanteriaiscalledAsiento,anditcanonlybegivenif
[Link]
lifeandrebirthasthechildofoneoftheOrisha,towhichtheinitiatewillbe
[Link]
process,[Link],theAsiento
isanexpensiveprocesstogothrough,bothinCubaandintheUnited
States,costingupto$25,000,[Link]
financialcontributiontakestheplaceofwhatformerlywouldhavebeena
domesticresidenceatanile,[Link]
financiallyisconsideredtobepartofthesacrificewhichneedstobegiven
inexchangeforthegiftofpowerthatbecomingapriestbrings.

WhiledivinationisimportantinallformsofVodou,itplaysacentralrolein
Santeria,[Link]
simpleformofdivinationutilizescoconutshells,andisusedforyesorno
[Link].

[Link]
divinationisthateachpersonhasasacredpathonwhichtowalk,and
[Link]
tohavebeenthecase,asacrificeofsomesortmaybeinordertorectifythe
situationandgetthepersonbackonthecorrectpath.

SanteriaiswidelypracticedinCuba,despitethecountrybeingofficiallyan
atheiststate.AftertheCubanrevolutionin1959,adherentsofSanteria
[Link]
kindsseemstobecomingmorecommoninCubarecently.

SanteriahashitsomeroughpatchesintheUnitedStates,also,inone
[Link]
caseofanimalsacrificeinHialeah,[Link]
preventinganimalsacrificesbytheSanteriabelieverslivingthere.
However,theSupremeCourteventuallyruledthatanimalsacrificein
connectionwithSanteriawaslegal.

VodouinTrinidadandtheWestIndies
VodouontheislandofTrinidad,andonotherWestIndiesislands,has
[Link]
broughtherewerefromavarietyofdifferentcountriesandtribes,
includingMandingo,Fulbe,Kwakwa,[Link]
officiallybanishedhere,[Link],itflourishedtodayandisoften
calledShango,forthelordofdrumming,thunder,[Link]
ofspiritshereissimilartothoseofSanteria,buttherearealsoafewthat
[Link].
Interestingly,Shangoseemstobeamongthemostsyncreticofallthe
Vodoureligions,withelementsofHinduism,Kabbalah,andother
traditionsmixedin.

InJamaica,Belize,andtheWestIndies,thereisanAfricanderivedbelief
[Link],andthefact
thatmuchofObeahispracticedbyindividuals,itisverysimilarto
[Link],divination,andhealingareallverymucha
[Link]
in1760,itspractitionersturnedincreasinglytothedarkersideofsorcery
[Link],inrecentyears,thishaschanged,withObeah
practitionersmakinganefforttoturnthereligioninamorepositive
[Link],which
[Link]
WestIndies,zombiesarecalledduppiesandtheyarefrighteningcreatures

[Link]
abouttheduppy,andinJamaica,childrenareurgedtoeattheir
vegetablesortheduppywillcomegetthem!

VodouinBrazil
InBrazil,VodoutakestheformofCandomble,whichhasitsrootsinthe
[Link]
[Link]
religion,acommunity,aspace,[Link]
1807inBahia,BrazilanditisstronglylinkedtoAfrica,withpractitioners
returningtothatcontinentinthe1830stogainmoreknowledge.
Candombleuseswords,danceandmusic.

SpiritismishugelypopularinBrazil,withotheramillionandahalf
adherentsinBrazil,andithashadabiginfluenceonmanyofthereligions
[Link]
[Link],wasrevealedthroughtheFrenchspiritualist
[Link]
[Link]
theteachingsofJesus.

UmbandaisareligionwhichstartedinBrazilandincorporatesmany
aspectsofotherreligions,includingBuddhistandHinduideas.

NewOrleansVoodoo
NewOrleansVoodoocontinuestoflourishtodayanditisfarfrombeing
justatouristattraction,asmanybelieve.(Note:whilethepreferredspelling
ofthenameofthereligionisVodouinotherareas,inNewOrleansitisstill
spelledVoodoo.)IthasstrongelementsofHaitianVodouandHoodoo
[Link],[Link]
spiritsoftheancestorscanbesensedthroughoutthecityandNewOrleans
[Link],
leavingofferingsoffood,flowers,andpraise.

ThereisastrongstrainofHoodooinNewOrleansVoodoo,andboth
becomemergedandmeldedwithanoverlayofChristianityinthecity.
JustasinHaiti,[Link],the
bibleisusedfordivination,[Link]
areoftenusedinritualsandasmagicalchants!LilithDorsey,inherbook
titled,VodouandAfroCaribbeanPaganism,relateshowstunnedshewas
[Link],
oneofthehounganrelatedthatthisnotonlyhappensoften,butsometimes

[Link]
sermons.

[Link]
suchastarotdecks,astrology,palmistryandgeomancytoforetellthe
[Link],eitherreadingsareregularly
[Link]
thathavesprungdirectlyfromtheVodoulifeinNewOrleans,andtheyare
usednotonlyfortellingthefuture,[Link]
theNewOrleansVoodooTarot,codesignedbyPriestLouisMartinieof
[Link].
Andofcourse,NewOrleanswouldntbethecityitiswithoutitsmusic.
Blues,jazz,andzydecoallhaveassociationswithVoodoo,andbluessongs
[Link]
familiarwiththestoryofthelegendarymusicianRobertJohnson,who
[Link]
Johnsonsoldhissoultothedevilatthecrossroadsatmidnightinorderto
[Link]
[Link],
however,[Link]
[Link]
offeringtooneoftheloaatthecrossroadsatmidnight,perhapsPapa
[Link],
andthecrossroadsareanimportantHoodooandVoodooimage.

VodouintheUnitedStates
BesidesHoodoointhesoutheast,whichisstillpracticedintheoldways,
andtherichstewofVoodooandHoodoothatthrivesinNewOrleans,there
aremanycommunitieswhereVodouispracticedintheUnitedStates.
HaitianVodougrewsignificantlyintheUnitedStatesduringthe1960sand
1970s,[Link]
manymajorAmericancities,particularlyMiami,Chicago,NewYorkCity,
andothers.

NotonlyVodou,butSanteriaisflourishingintheUnitedStates,withthe
sizeofmanyilesincreasingandtheinfluenceofthereligionreachingthe
mainstreamoverthelastfewyears.

VodouArt
AlltheAfricanderivedreligionshaveastronghistoryoftakingeveryday
objectsandmakingthemintoofferingsorvehiclesofpraisefortheir
[Link]
preparingtheseitemsforceremonialuse,orforeverydayworshipataltars
andshrines,mostinitiateswouldnotconsiderthemselvestobecreating
[Link],theartworldhasrecentlydiscoveredthebeautyand
exuberanceofmuchVodouart,andanewgenerationofVodouisantshave
beguntoconsciouslycreatesacredart.

LetsbeginbytakingalookatsomeofthesymbolismthatunderliesVodou
art.

Symbolism
Vodouisareligionbasedonancienttraditionsandhasmanyrichsymbolic
[Link],aswe
haveseen,butbesidesthese,thereareafewsymbolicthemesthatare
[Link],complextradition
[Link]
[Link],muchVodouloreandbeliefremainssecretto
theuninitiated.

Twins
[Link]
[Link],itiscommonfortheremainingtwinto
[Link]
strainsofVodouconsidertwinstobesopowerfulthatspecialceremonies
areheldtotheloaDossousothatthetwinswillonlyusetheirpowerfor
good.

TheDivinetwins,theMarassa,arepopularandimportantloawhich
symbolizethebalanceofmaleandfemaleforcesintheuniverse(seemore
abouttheMarassainthesectiononthepantheonoftheloa.

Crossroads
Thecrossroad,orCarrefour,areveryimportantsymbolsinVodouandare
[Link]
tobethepathbetweentherealms,agatewaybetweenthevisibleand
[Link]
andinvisibleworlds,youcanseewhythesymbolismofthecrossroadsisso
[Link]
spiritualVodoupath.

CatholicSymbols
BecauseVodouisasyncreticreligion,aswehaveseenmanifestina
numberofdifferentways,commonsymbolsinthefaitharederivedfrom
[Link]
imageryoftheCatholicsaints,andsomeofthesaintspreferredsymbols
[Link],including
theubiquitouseye,arealsocommon.

Art
NowthatwevelookedatsomecommonVodousymbols,letsmoveonto
[Link]
theartworld,[Link],
theyhavealwaysbeenapeopleconcernedwithaesthetics,andevenevery
[Link]
[Link]
syncretizedvariousreligioustraditions,sotoohastheirart.

Drapo
[Link]
tosummontheenergiesofspecificloaandparadingabouttheceremony
[Link],theyare
sometimesadornedwithbeadsandappliquandarenearlyalwaysadorned
[Link],[Link]
drapoareintricate,colorfulandbeautifulandtheyhavebecome
soughtafteritemsintheartworld.

Eachdrapoisdedicatedtoaspecificloa,andutilizesthatloascolorsand
[Link]
culturesandreligioustraditions,withtheircontrastingsymbolismand
[Link],theresult
isastartlinglyoriginalartritualartform.

[Link]
usuallymeasurearoundthreefeetsquareandonthissurfacetherecanbe
upto20,[Link].
EachoneissewnbyhandbyVodouinitiates,andwitheverystitchonthe
drapo,[Link]
anddiscipline,andtheircreationisanotherexampleofthepartnership
betweentheindividualandtheloa.

Veve
[Link]

calls,orspiritualchannels,totheloatheybelongto,andtheyserveasa
[Link]
isalsoaconnotationofastraltravelabouttheveve;theastralpathtravels
betweentheworldofthehumanandtheworldofthedivine.

Althoughvevesarecommonlyreproducedondrapoandothermagical
objects,forceremonies,thedesignisusuallycreatedonthegroundwith
somesortofpowdersubstance,suchascornmeal,flour,ricepowder,
coffee,[Link]
studentofcomparativereligion,itisinterestingtonotethatthevevebears
quitearesemblancetotheHindupracticeofdrawingkolams,whichare
symbolsofHindudeitiesdrawninriceflour.

[Link]
[Link]
consideredanessentialskilltobelearnedbytheVodouinitiate,andthe
moredetailedandcorrecttheveveis,themorepoweritwillhavetodraw
[Link]
primalanddivine.

DuringaVodouceremony,participantsdanceintheirbarefeetoverthe
[Link],theyareabsorbingtheasheoftheveveintotheirfeet.
[Link]
over,theveveiscleanedanddeposited

FetishesandMagicalItems
OneveryimportantaspectofHaitianVodouistheuseofclothing,objects
[Link],fetishes,andcharmsareusedtoattract
theloa,[Link]
[Link]
bagsaresometimescalledPaketCongo,orCongopacketsandarefilled
withherbsorotherbotanicalswhichwillbeusedinhealing,forcallingin
love,wealth,[Link]
[Link],bells,andrattlesmaybeusedtocallforth
[Link],andmanyofthese
devotionalobjectsarenowbeingmadebyHaitianartists,aswehaveseen
[Link]
foruseinrituals.

Someofthecommonmagicalitemsusedinceremonyincludecalabashes,
whichmaybepaintedwiththeloassymbolandareusedforfoodofferings;
sequindecoratedbottlestohonorthelow;libationbottles,anddolls.
Rattlesareoftenusedinceremoniesandrituals,includingthesacred
asson,[Link]
usethroughouttheceremonyinvariousways,andisoneofthemagical
itemswhichcanonlybeusedbythehounganormambo.
Eachloaalsohasspecialmagicalitemsassociatedwithhimorhersuchas
LegbascaneorOgousmachete.

SacredPractices
AltarsandShrines
[Link]
[Link].
Privatealtarsaresacredspacesthroughwhichtheindividualcanpray,or
[Link]
betweenanaltarandashrinecanbeseenthusly:ashrineisapermanent
tributetoaloa,whileanaltaristemporaryandcreatedforaspecific
magicalresult.

InHaiti,altarscantaketheformofthekaymyste,whichisfromaFrench
[Link],
likesmall,specialhouses,whicharecreatedasaplacetohousethespirits
[Link],thekaymysteare
createdwithaneyetoaestheticsandaregenerallyquitebeautiful.
Altars,bothpublicandprivate,aredecoratedwithmanykindsofobjects.
MostoftentheseareimagesoftheloaandOrishaandofferingstothem.
Theoveralleffectthevariouselementsonthealtarscreatehasbeencalled
[Link],flowers,food,bottlesor
potsdecoratedwithsequinsandpaint,streamers,flagsandribbonsare
[Link]
mixtureofobjectsandsymbolism,sorepresentativetothereligionitself,
becomesaplacewherethedeitiesinteractwithVodouisants,apointof
contactbetweenthespiritandhumanworlds.

ItisalsointerestingtonotethattheVodouisantmakesliberaluseof
[Link]
Vodouisnotonlyasyncreticreligion,itisapracticalone,withtheloa
[Link],arose
mayholdthesamemeaningasbottleofperfume,andjustbecauseoneis
[Link]
objectsasmundaneasasodabottleorotherpiecesoftrashwillbeused.

Otherpopularchoicesarerocks,feathers,andotheritemsfoundinnature.
TheremayalsobeportraitsofCatholicsaintsdoneinthatreligions
[Link],analtarcanbeassimpleasoneor
twoobjectssetoutinaspecificplace,oraselaborateasoneofthekay
mystes,orrooms.

Altarsandshrinesareincrediblyimportantwhenyouconsiderthatagreat
dealoftimeisspentpraying,doingrituals,[Link]
usuallydailyprayersandofferingsaswellasweeklytributesandalso
[Link]
maintainedregularly,andaltarscreatedaccordingtotheneedsofthe
[Link]
thataVodouisantcanhavealargenumberofshrinesandaltarssetupall
thetime.

Itisimportanttotreatallshrines,altars,andeveryobjectonthemwiththe
[Link],theitemsonthealtarsbelongtotheloaand
arenevertobehandledexceptforceremonialpurposesorcleaning.
Vodouisantsneverplacetheirownfoodordrinknearbyandexpectvisitors
tofollowthesameguidelines.

ShrinesofHaitianVodoutendtobemorefunctionalandlessdecorative
[Link].

SanteriaShrines
TheshrinesoftheSanteriaaresomeofthemostelaborate,exuberant,and
[Link],sometimestheyarecalledthe
[Link],oruselotsof
expensivefabric,[Link],the
shrinewillbesetupinacorner,withyardsofopulentfabricdrapedabove,
around,[Link],and
[Link]
havemultiplelevels,withthefloorlevelholdingfoodandcandles,thena
tablecoveredwithfabric,andfinally,theremaybeincenseburners,more
fabricandevenballoonshangingfromtheceiling.

NewOrleansVoodooShrines
NewOrleansVoodooissteepedinritualshavingtodowithhonoringthe
dead,andbecauseofthis,manyoftheshrinesinthecityconcernthe
[Link]
[Link]
techniques,[Link],altarsand

[Link]
foundonshrines,alongwithpicturesofhertomb,andvevescreatedin
[Link]
shrinesareserpentstanksofsnakesarecommononaltarsallacrossthe
city.

VodouDrummingandDance
Mesmerizingdrumminganddanceisanabsolutelyintegralpartofany
[Link]
[Link]
learn,andittakesagreatdealofstudy.Therecanbeasmanyas50
differentrhythmsthatneedtobelearnedbeforeadrummerisdeemed
[Link]
consideraretherhythmsthemselves,interfacingwiththemamboor
houngan,andworkingwiththehounsis,[Link]
Vodouceremonies,thereisalwaysastrongconnectionbetweenthe
[Link]
astralcordrunningbetweenthehandsofthedrummersandthefeetofthe
[Link],thedrummingandthedancing
becomesacred.

[Link]
Maman,theSegunda(alsocalledtheSeconde),andthePetit,(orBoulah).

TheMamanrepresentsVenusandtheMoon,theSegundarepresentsthe
SunandMars,[Link]
drum,withtheSegundabeingthesecond,andthePetitbeingthesmallest.
InVodou,therearepreciseandspecificrhythmstocalleachspecificloa.
Oftenrhythmswillutilizethenumberthree,whetherindrumbeatsor
[Link],theSon,and
theHolyGhost,whichwassyncretizedfromCatholicisminthe
[Link],thereisanothermeaning,also,and
thatisBondye(God),theloa(sons)andtheancestors(holyspirits).
[Link]
movementsareused,whichcanbringaboutaheightenedstateor
[Link]
specificloa,theylosethemselvesintherhythmsinorderthattheloamay
overtaketheirbodies.

Whenthevariousloamanifest,theydosoinwaysthatareindicativeof
[Link],thegoddessofLove,isshyand
coquettishandmaymoveinastylized,[Link],too,
shemanifestsastheflirtatiousonewhoonlywantstodancewithasmany
[Link],chaperoning
[Link],thespritofnature,dancesthewayatreemight,
withdefinite,forceful,[Link],thewarrior,alsomanifestsindifferent
[Link],dancingandleaping
aboutthehounfour,orhecanbeascalmandcenteredasthedignified
diplomat.

AndthenthereisBaron,thefatherofallthedead,theguardianofthe
cemeteries,[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
noquestionwhatsonBaronsmindwhenhedances!Thisdanceiscalled
theBanda,anditisalsousedatfunerals.

AnotherpopularritualdanceistheYanvalou,whichisdancedtohonorthe
[Link],thisdanceisperformedwith
undulationsandgrinds,[Link],there
isamovementperformedatacertainpointinthedancethatissaidtohave
[Link]
[Link],is
practicedinthreequartertimeandispopularinNewOrleans.

Besidescallingforthvariousloa,therearealsodancesassociatedwitheach
nanchon,[Link],in
Vodouceremony,ofallowingtheparticipantstomoveoutoftheir
[Link]
Vodou,thisInfiniteisseenastheGodenergyofBondye,theultimateGod,
[Link]
followersofVodoubelievethatthisispossiblebecausedrummingand
dancingcarriesthespiritofhealingwithin.

Magic,SpellCastingandRituals
Theessenceofmagicandspellcastingisthatspiritualpowerisraisedover
timethroughofferings,[Link]
individually(asisusuallythecaseinthehoodootradition)orinagroup
setting,[Link],becauseofthe
powerandintensityofthework,itisnotrecommendedforbeginnersand
[Link]

andspellsthatwillbesuitableforthenoninitiate,andmostVodouisants
wouldstronglyurgethosewithagenuineinteresttoseekfurther
instructionwithahounganormambo.

Welltakealookatsomeoftheritualsthatcanbedonebyabeginning
solitarypractitioner.

CleansingBaths
[Link]
taketheoldsaying,[Link]
[Link]
religioustraditions,theritualofacleansingbathisoftenused,particularly
inSanteria,[Link]
toevokethecalmingeffectsofwateristositquietlyforanhourwithaglass
[Link]
addedtobaths,toinvokespecificstatesofmindoreffectchangesinlife.
Forinstance,abathtocreateopportunitywillutilizecoconutwater,basil
oil,[Link],combineparsleyandsandalwood
[Link].

Forthegreatesteffectiveness,bathsshouldbeadministeredbyahoungan
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
mightbegiventohealillness,toeradicatenegativity,ortoincreaseluckor
opportunity,[Link]
[Link]
involved,itisusuallyconsideredbestifthepersongivingthebathgathers
[Link],theymaybepurchasedata
Botanica,whichisastorethatsuppliesSanteriaandVodoupractitioners.

Vevemagic
[Link]
VodouandtheNewOrleansVoodootraditions,spellsarealwaysperformed
byahounganormambo,andalmostalwaystheyaredoneinresponsetoa
[Link]
redressawrong,[Link]
connectiontoaloa,andinthiscase,avevewillbedrawntofacilitatethis.
[Link]
lookingforlovemaycarrytheveveforErzuliewiththem,forinstance.
Pleasebearinmindthattheseriousseekershouldcontactahounganor
mamboforspecifichelp.


Candlespells
ManyofthespellsusedinVodouandSanteriautilizecandlestoboosttheir
[Link],whichcan
[Link]
beaddedtothecandleinordertopersonalizethespelltoaspecific
[Link]
Botanica.

Anexampleofasimplecandlespellusedforopeningopportunitiesto
successfollows:Addapinchofpipetobacco,coffee,andadropofcoconut
[Link],think
aboutachievingyourgoalsandwalkingalongtheroadofopportunity.
Whenyouextinguishthecandle,dosowithyourfingers,inorderto
[Link]
beensuccessful.

Pleaseheedthisimportantreminderwhenworkingwithcandles:donot
[Link]
workingwithcandlespellsundertheguidanceofahounganormambois
[Link]
theinternetisfilledwithsitesofferingmagicalcandlekits,inmuchthe
samewayasVoodoodolls(seebelow)[Link]
littleeffect,astheyarecreatedformassconsumptionandVodouisavery
[Link]
[Link],
throughconsultationwithahounganormambo,itmightwellbefoundthat
theproblemisslightlydifferentthanoriginallythought,andthusa
differentspellwillbeneeded.

Grisgris
[Link]
thewordhasitsrootsintheWestAfricawordjuju,whichmeansfetishor
[Link]
body,andareespeciallypopularintheHoodootraditionsandNewOrleans
[Link],everypoliceofficerinthecitycarrieda
[Link]
includeattractingmoneyandlove(theuniversaldesires,itseems!),
protection,goodhealthorstoppinggossip.

Thegrisgrisbagismadeofflannelorsilk,andassembledatanaltarwhich
containsthefourelements:saltforearth,incenseforair,acandleflamefor
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
happened,thebagisdisposedofbyburyingitunderalargetree.

Someoftheherbsthatmightbeusedforspecificpurposesinthegrisgris
wouldbecinnamon,redrosepetals,patchouli,rosequartzandaseashell
forlove;basicblacksalt,sesameseed,sandalwoodoil,andacowrieshell
forprotection,andcomfrey,thyme,andbasilfortraveling.

ThefamousVoodooQueenMarieLaveauisrumoredtohavecarrieda
grisgrisbagcontainingbone,coloredstones,graveyarddust,andsaltand
[Link]
oneeyedtoad,thefingerofablackpersonwhohadcommittedsuicide,a
driedlizard,acatseye,batswings,[Link]
thiswaswrappedintheshroudofsomeonewhohadbeendeadfornine
days.

Gamblersusedtocarrygrisgrisbagsholdingalodestoneoramagnet,
[Link],
theymightbeapttofindagrisgrisfilledwithblackpepper,saffron,salt,
gunpowder,andpulverizeddogmanure.

Anoldexpression,puttingagrisgrison,referredtousingoneofthebags
[Link]
tofillagrisgriswithgunpowderorgroundboneandthrowitattheirdoor.
Ifsomeonewasleftagrisgrisfilledwithgunpowder,itmeantthathewas
notinfavorwiththehoungansortheloas.

Youcanseebyreadingthesedescriptionswhatamazingcombinationshave
beenputtogetherinthegrisgris,anditonlytakesasmallleaptoimagine
howpowerfultheymightbe.

NewOrleansPublicVoodooRituals
VoodooritualsareanacceptedandcommonpartofliveinNewOrleans,
[Link]
HurricaneProtectionRitual,[Link]
GlassmanperformsthistohonortheloaErzulieDantor,andaskforher
[Link],cornandegg
omelets,andcandiessuchasRedHotsandHotTamales,rum,whiskey,
andcigars.

MamboSallieandhergrouphavebeenperformingthis
ritualforeightyears,[Link]
pointtothemassivedestructionofHurricaneKatrina
asproofthattheritualdidntwork,howeverthisisnot
true,becauseatthelastminuteKatrinatookaturnand
[Link],
thehurricanedamagethatresultedwasnotassevere
[Link]
happenedbecauseoffloodingandtheineptitudeofman.

AnotherpopularceremonyconductedbyMamboSallieAnnGlassmanis
theMarieLaveauheadwashingritual.ThistakesplaceonJune23,St.
[Link],and
MamboSalliecommemoratesthisandcelebratessummerwithherritual.
Everyoneinattendanceisinvitedtoshareinthepowerfulashethatresults.
OfferingsforMarieLaveauincludetoolstohonorhertradeofhairstyling,
whitecandles,whitescentedflowers,coconutcakes,cigarsandrum.
TodaysNewOrleansVoodooQueenisQueenBianca,whorulesindirect
[Link]
blessandchargetheMonkeyandCockstatuethatwerecreatedinMaries
[Link]
[Link],Biancaandher
[Link]
hurricaneturnedatthelastminuteandthecitywassparedthebruntofthe
storm.

OtherpopularritualsincludeblessingofMardiGras,Voodooweddings,for
whichpeoplecometothecityfromallover,DayoftheDeadrituals,and
crimeprotectionrites.

CommonMisconceptionsandMyths
TherearemanypopularmisconceptionsaboutthesacredreligionofVodou
[Link]
obscureortrivialaspectsofthereligionandusedthesefortheirown
[Link],butunfortunately,itisthesesimagesthatstickin
[Link]
Vodoudolls,zombies,andanimalsacrifices.

VoodooDolls
VoodoodollsaresoassociatedwithVodouthattheyhavetakenonthe
[Link],thetraditionofusingVoodoodollsinritual
andasafocusofintentioniscommontheworldover,inmanycultures.
WhenitcomestoVodou,though,theVoodoodollisactuallyaveryminor
[Link],with
itsstronghoodooinfluence,andsomehavespeculatedthatthepracticeof
stickingpinsinadollsbodytodoharmwaspracticedbyslavesin
retaliationagainsttheirowners.

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
NorthAmericahaveatraditionofstickingarrowsinthewoodenimageofa
[Link],theybury
[Link]
[Link],wax
[Link]
[Link],thedollisscorchedin
flames,untilontheseventhnighttheentiremodelisburnedwhilethe
[Link].

Itisverycommonforrevengeandretaliationtobedirectedinthiswayin
[Link],Babylon,Egypt,Greece
[Link]
practiceshavecontinuedintomoremoderntimesinAustralia,Scotland,
andAfrica.

Itiscurious,then,thatwiththepracticesocommoninothercultures,yet
notsomuchinVodou,thattheVoodoodollhascometobesoseriously
[Link]
NewOrleans,[Link]
thatthebokorshouldhaveenoughashetocastspellswithoutresortingtoa
[Link].

InHaitianVodou,powerobjectsarecalledpwen,andwouldbedistinct
[Link]
alsothetraditionofthepoppetadollordolllikeobjectwhichisnailedto
[Link],
too,plasticbabydollsareincludedonaltarsinrituals.

Whendollsorsimilarrepresentationsareused,itwillbedoneforthe
[Link]
[Link]
terms,[Link]
[Link]
[Link],hewillconcentrate
[Link].
Healingcanbeaccomplishedinthismannerwiththehealingintentplaced
[Link]
effigyisenhancedwithpersonalitems,suchasjewelryorclothing,or
betteryet,[Link]
[Link]
leg,forinstance,theeffigyslegwillbeboundtosignifyattaining
wholeness.

OneimportantaspectofVodouistoalwaysconsiderthesourceofthe
[Link],
thehounganwillasktheloaorcheckhisdivinationsystemtolearnwhois
[Link]
thepersonwhoinitiatedtheattack.

Inhisbook,VodouShaman,RossHeaventellsthestoryofafriendwho
[Link]
[Link]
bokor,whowasabletodivinethenameoftheattackerthusly:thepriest
hadthefriendwritedownthenamesofeveryonewhomightwishhim
[Link]
[Link],thepriesthad
thevictimcracktheeggandthereinthemiddleoftheshellwasthename
[Link],hewas
[Link]
exgirlfriend,shehadboilsallovertheleftsideofherface!

Itisnotnecessary,orevencommon,forsuchattacksandritualstobedone
[Link],somethingthatthepersonhas
givenyou,[Link]
thingscontainyourashe,andsoitisimportantnottoleaveitemsbehind
whenyoubreakoffarelationship.

TodayVoodoodollsarecommonlypeddledasgoodlucktokensandwaysto
[Link]
comeupwithdozensofsitespurportingtosellpowerfulVoodoodolls.
YoullfindVoodoodollsforlove,luck,money,goodhealth,orevenall
purposedolls!ManyofthesedollsaresupposedlyblessedbyNewOrleans
[Link]
youcantortureavirtualimage.

And,itseemsthateverythingoldisnewagain,asrecentnewsreportstellof
[Link]
historyofbeliefincursesandblackmagic..Thegovernmentbecame
concernedwiththepoliticalimplicationsofthedollsandhadthembanned
[Link],thedollsarenowincredibly
popularwithteensandothers.

ThegoodnewsforadherentsofVodouisthatsomeofthesiteswhichhawk
VoodoodollsalsofeaturearticlesaboutvariousaspectsofVodou,including
thefactthatVoodoodollsarenotgenerallyusedinVodoupractice.
Hopefullythiswillhelpinthecontinualquesttoeducatethepublicabout
thetruenatureofVodou.

Zombies
[Link]
becomeincrediblypopularintheculture,withthemoviesofGeorge
Romero(NightoftheLivingDeadandmanyothers)attainingcultstatus.
Other,morerecentfilms,suchas28DaysLaterand28WeeksLateralso
[Link](inmanycases
tongueincheek)hasgrownuparoundzombies,withwebsitesdevotedto
reanimationpreventionandcontrol,[Link]
rootsinVodou,butthetraditionofHaitianzombiesbearslittle
[Link]
morecomplexandfascinating.

Formanypeople,zombiesandVodouareintricatelyconnected,andwhen
yousaythewordVodouthefirstthingthatcomestomindarezombies.
Butwhat,exactly,isazombie?Thetechnicaldefinitionisthatitisan
[Link]
[Link],existinginadarkstatesomewherebetween
lifeanddeath.

Nobodyiscertainoftheexactoriginofthewordzombie,butseveral
possibilitiesincludejumbie,theWestIndiantermforghost,and
[Link],a
zombieisreanimatedbythebokor,[Link]
willhavenowilloftheirownandhencewillremainundercontrolofthe
[Link],zombiesareharmlessunlesstheyarefed
salt,[Link]!

ZombiesareacommonthemeinHaitianfolkloreandculture,andthishas
[Link],thefamousAfricanAmerican
writer,wasalsoafolkloristwhodidalotofresearchintoindigenous
cultureandcustoms.ShevisitedHaitiinthe1930storesearchVodouand
wroteabookcalled,TellMyHorse:VodouandLifeinHaitiandJamaica.
InthebookshetellsthetaleofFeliciaFelixMentor,whohaddiedand
[Link],afterherdeathandburial
[Link]
scienceevergottothebottomofthesecretsofVodou,manyimportant
[Link]
secretsofthezombies,includingchasingrumorsthattheyhadbeenfed
powerfuldrugs,butwasunabletofindanycredibleinformation.

Countlessresearchersandanthropologistshaverunintothesameproblem.
Chasingstoryandrumorofzombies,theyfoundlittleevidenceto
[Link],thesocalledzombieshad
[Link]
investigatorscouldnotfullyruleoutcasesofmistakenidentityorfakery.
Thatbegantochangein1980,withthefascinatingcaseofClairvius
[Link],claimingtohavediedatthe
AlbertSchweitzerhospitalinDeschapelle,Haiti,onMay2,[Link]
describedhisdeath,andhowhehadbeenconsciousbutparalyzed,even
[Link]
subsequentlyabokorbroughthimbacktolife.

MedicalrecordsboreNarcissesclaimsout,andsodidanecdotalevidence.
Heansweredquestionsabouthischildhood,hislifeandhisfamilythat
[Link]
potentialevidenceofarealzombie,andeventuallyfamilyandfriends
concludedhehadbeenraisedfromthedead.

ThisincidentwastheimpetusforTheZombieProject,ascientific
investigationintozombiesthattookplaceinHaitibetween1982and1984.
Duringthistime,theanthropologistandethnobotanist,[Link],
[Link],too,waseagertodiscoverscientificproofofzombies.
Daviswasoperatingonthetheorythatadruginducedthezombiestate,
[Link],asHurston
believed,Davisalsofeltthatifsuchadrugcouldbefound,itmighthave
[Link]
[Link],Davisalsofound
thatthebokorsusedconcoctionsintheformofgroundplantandanimal
[Link]
variousareasthroughoutHaitiandfoundthatwhiletheingredientsvaried,
thereweresomecommonalities.

Thefourcommoningredientswerethemarinetoad,thehylatreefrog,
humanremains,andthepufferfish,[Link]
istheexactsamelethalpoisonwhichisfoundintheJapanesedelicacy
calledfugu,[Link]
[Link]
pufferfishisnothandledcarefully,toohighadoseoftetrodotoxincanbe
releasedandtheresultscanbefatal.

Atveryhighdoses,thepowderfrompufferfishcanputapersonintoa
[Link],theafflictedpersonstill
[Link],
Davisfelt,camefromthedaturaplant,andcausedthepersontoappearto
[Link]
influencedbytheircultureandbeliefsystemtofeeltheyhadbeenmade
intoazombiebythebokor,wheninrealitytheyhadsimplybeenpoisoned.
Davispopularizedhistheoriesintwobooks,TheSerpentandtheRainbow,
[Link],muchofhisworkhasbeendiscredited
[Link],duetoseverallapses,and
hisexperimentshavebeenfoundtolackcontrolsandproperscience.
WhilesomepeopleagreewithDavissconclusions,manydismissitas
unscientificorfraudulent.

Recentanecdotalevidencefrominitiatessupportsthetheorythatdrugscan
[Link],a
BritishVodouadherentandoneofthefirstwhiteEuropeanmalestobe
initiatedintothepriesthood,writesthefollowinginhisbook,Vodou
Shaman:TheHaitianWayofHealingandPower:
Thetoxinsusedinzombificationareeffectiveandsimpletodeliverinfood
ordrink,[Link],weak,andthenvitalsigns
[Link]
showit,trappedinalivingdeathfromwhichthereisnoescapewithoutthe
interventionofthesorcererhimself,theonepersonwhoknowsyouarestill
[Link],inthisparalyzedstate,youareburiedalivesothatthe
sorcerercandigyouupafewdayslater,inaspectaculardisplayofhisown
[Link]
nervoussystemissuppressedandyourbodydoesntneedsomuchoxygen,
butyourmind,yourwill,andyoursoularegone,lostsomewhereinadark
[Link]
adeptatcreatingslaves?

So,asyoucansee,thehistoryofzombiesinHaitiandVodouiscomplex
[Link]
inpopularculture,becauseHollywoodisgreatlyresponsibleformuchof
ourmisconceptionsofthesacredreligionofVodouintoahorrorsideshow.
Zombiesappearedinmoviesasearlyas1919,butGeorgeRomeroismost
oftencreditedwithstartingthepopculturezombiecrazewiththereleaseof
NightoftheLivingDeadin1968,[Link]
firstDeadmovie,zombiestookontheirnowfamiliarpersonasas
slowmoving,[Link]
reanimated,themoviecreatedastorylineaboutradiationonasatellite
returningfromVenusraisingthecorpsesfromthedeadveryunVodou
[Link],thezombieshadnointelligenceandhadminimal
[Link],thischangedsomewhat,withthe
zombiesacquiringalimitedselfawarenessandsomecapabilityofthought.
Theonlywayazombiecouldbekilledwasthroughdestructionoftheir
brainsortheseparationoftheirheadsfromtheirbodies.

Romerosfilmshaveestablishedzombietropeswhichnearlyallother
[Link],zombies
arereanimatedduetoradiation,viruses,chemicals,actsofGod,orsorcery.
Zombiesarestrongandslow;impervioustopainandinjury(exceptforthe
allimportantinjurytothebrainordecapitation);relentlessintheir
compulsiontokillandeat,andafraidoffireandbrightlights.

Itisworthnotingthatin1988thedirectorWesCravenmadethefilmThe
SerpentandtheRainbow,basedonWadeDavissbookofthesamename.
Thiswasafilmwhichproposedbothscientificandsupernaturaltheories
[Link]
wasrelativelywellreviewed.

NowitistimetoturnourattentiontotheotheraspectofVodouthatis
seriouslymisunderstoodandmisinterpretedanimalsacrifice.

AnimalSacrifice
Onceagain,theconceptofsacrificehaslittle,ifanythingtodowiththe
commonrepresentationsweareaccustomedtoseeinginfilmsandthe
[Link],sacrificesofvariouskindsarereferredtoasfeedingthe
[Link],they
arealsoanodtothepartnershipthatexistsbetweenyouandthespiritsa
[Link],asacrificeisanofferingan
offeringyougivefreely,withtheexpectationofreceivingsomethingin
return.

[Link],itisarelativelysmall
[Link],manyofthesacrificial
[Link]
[Link]
rumorcigars!Whenanimalsacrificeisinvolved,beawarethatitisalways
[Link]
saysinherbook,VodouandAfroCaribbeanPaganism,Iusuallyask
peoplethatiftheirchildorparentwerediagnosedwithafatalillnessand
theonlywaytocurethemwaswithmedicinemadefromananimalsource,
wouldtheyrefusethetreatment?

Animalsacrificeisdonetodealwithseriousproblemsinthecommunity.
Whenananimalissacrificed,thepriestactuallyendsupdoingbattlewith
[Link]
priestessestodieinthemiddleofritualsundermysteriouscircumstances.
Itisalsoimportanttonotethatafterthesacrifice,themeatiscookedand
sharedwiththecommunityandthisisareaswherefoodisoftenscarce.
Manypeopleroutinelyeatmeatwithoutasecondthought,yetrecoilatthe
ideaofanimalsacrifice,whentherereallyisnotabigdifferencebetween
[Link]
practicewhichhasappearedatonetimeoranotherinnearlyallcultures.

TheDarkSideofVodou
MuchofwhatwouldbeconsideredthedarksideofVodoucanbe
[Link],Hollywoodandthemediahave
sensationalizedsomeaspectsofVodou,suchaszombiesandVoodoodolls,
[Link]
mumbojumbo,mockingthemaslittlemorethanpageantry.

Peoplehaveassociatedthefaithwithevil,andthoughtthatVodouisantsare
[Link]
[Link],thefactthattheindenturedstatusoftheslaveswho
broughtthereligiontothenewworldsmeantmuchofitwaspracticedin
[Link],itmustbesaid,thatsome
aspectsofVoodoothatareunfamiliartotraditionalWesternreligionsmake
[Link]
aspectsofVodouareconsideredtabooinotherculturesandreligions,and
itiseasytoseehowthemisconceptionshavegrownup.

Animalsacrificeisdeeplydisturbingtosomepeopleevenpeoplewhoeat
[Link]
sacrificehasbeenapartofmanymajorreligions,itisnolongercommon
[Link],withoneofthemost
powerfulloa,Damballa,[Link]
[Link]
alsomisunderstoodandfeared.

Alsodistastefultosomeistheuseofbodilyfluidssuchasbloodandsemen
[Link].
Also,manyVodouleadersinruralareas,aswellashoodoopractitioners,
oftenofferfolkcuresthatmodernmedicinemaynotagreewith.
Allofthesepointscanandarerefutedbymoderndayadherentsand
[Link]
deeplyprofoundyetpracticalreligionwhosefollowersbenefitfromitona
[Link],though,thatthereisadarksidetosome
Vodoupractices.

WhiletheHounganandMambosperformwhitemagicforthebenefitof
theirpeople,[Link]
aresometimescalledCaplatasorBotonoorBokors.

[Link]
[Link],itisalsothoughtthat
manyhounganandmambolearnBoinordertounderstandhowtocombatitwhen
[Link],butonlyaveryfew,ofthehounganalternatebetweenwhiteand
blackmagic.

TheVoudounLife
HowYouCanUseitsSimpleUniversalTruths
Bysomeaccounts,thereareovertwohundredmillionpractitionersof
[Link]
growingbytwohundrednewpractitionersaday,makingitoneofthe
fastestgrowingreligionsintheworld.

PerhapsthisisbecausethepracticeofVodouoffersadifferentwayof
[Link],powerisnotsomethingthat
[Link],powerisamarkof
[Link]
harnessingtheseunseengodsandtheirpowers,ittranslatestohaving
personalpowerintheformofgoodhealthandsuccess.

Thehounganandmambohavethepowertoaccessotherworldstheworld
[Link]
worldsdirectlyavailabletoinitiatessothatthey,too,canlearnfromthese
[Link]
practitionercomfortandinsightasheorshegoesabouthisdailybusiness.
Vodouthusoffersaglimpseofsomethingbigger,atasteofthedivinethat
liftsadherentsbeyondthemundane.

Usingtheknowledgeyouvegainedinthisreport,youcannowgoforthand
[Link],there
[Link],take
cleansingbaths,makeagrisgrisbag,andpracticesimplecandlespells.
Youcanreadbooksandperusewebsites.

However,ifyoutakeaseriousinterestinVodou,youwillwanttofinda
[Link]
religion,itisperhapsnotsurprisingthatmanyhounganandmambohave
embracedtheinternet,withextensivewebsitesfullofinformationabout
[Link],
[Link]
sometitlestogetyoustartedintheResourcessection,also.

Also,[Link]
hometown,[Link]
yourneighborsorfriendshavebeenpracticingVodouallalong!

VodouGlossary
AidaWedo,AidaOuidoPowerfulandpopularrainbowserpentloa,the
wifeoftheallpowerfulDamballa
Aristide,JeanClaudeFormerdictatorofHaiti
AssonMagicalgourdrattle
AyizanTheloaofinitiation
Ashe(PronouncedAhshayorAhsay)Thedivinelifeforcewithin,the
veryessenceandbeingofapersonorthing
BandaDancewithsexualenergyandexplicitmovements,oftenusedin
associationwithBaron
BibliomancyUsingthebiblefordivination
BoHexes,curses,andspellsdesignedtodoharm;thesystemofblack
magic
Bondye,AlsoBondieuTheHaitiannamefortheonemainVoodooGod,
takenfromtheFrenchwordsbondieu,whichmean,goodGod.
BokorBlackmagicsorcerer
BosolAnuninitiatedVodouisant
BotanicaStore(onlineorbrickandmortar)whichsellssuppliesfor
SanteriaandVodoupractitioners
BotonoVoodoosorcerers
[Link]
religion,acommunity,aspaceandadance.
CaplataPriestwhoperformsblackmagicexclusively
CastingtheBonesVeryoldHoodoosystemofdivinationgenerally
utilizingpossumorchickenbones
ChambaPotentruminfusedwithhotpeppersandgunpowderusedasan
offeringtoOgun.
Conjure,conjurationOthertermsforHoodoo
DamballaOneofthemostpowerfuloftheloa,thewhiteserpentwho
rulesthewatersofheaven
DiasporaAgroupwhichhasbeendispersedoutsideitshomeland;any
groupflightfromacountryorregion.
DrapoRitualflagsusedinVodouceremonies
DuppieAdeadsoulcalledforthtodosomeonesbidding,usuallyfor
nefariouspurposes
ErzuliePowerfulloawhoembodiesfemininityandfierceness;the
protectorofmothersandchildren
Eleggua,EshuTheOrishaofthecrossroads,theSanteriacounterparttoPapaLegba

FetishesObjectsmeanttocontaintheessenceofaLoaorspirit
GedeAncestors
GranBoisLoaoftheforestandwoods
GrosBonAngeBigguardianangel
HoodooIndigenousAfricanfolkmagictransportedtotheUnitedStates
withslaves
HounfourAVoodootemple
HounganAmalepriest;alsosometimesspelledhungan
HounsiVodouritualassistant;wife
IleHouse,usuallyadherentswhosharealineageorworshipundera
commonhounganormambo
IwaThenametheHaitiansusefortheintermediaryspirits
KaymysteSmallsacredhousesthatserveasaltars
LaBaleenThegoddessofthewhales
LaSireneThegoddessofthesea
LefthandedVoodooBlackmagic
LesBaronsThenameddeadinsomeHaitiantraditions
LesGedeTheunnameddead
LoaIntermediaryspirits
LokoGuardianofthehounfour
MamboAfemalepriest
MamanMaindrumusedinVodouceremonies;itrepresentsVenusand
theMoon
ManjeloaFeedingthesprits;offeringtheloasacrifices
MarassaThedivinetwins,representingthedualisticnatureofthe
universe
MojoMagicalamuletusedinHoodoo
MyalDanceAdanceoriginatinginWestAfrica
MyalismThenamefortheObeahritualswhichincludedancingand
drumming
NanchonFamilylineageoftheloa
Ogou,OgounReveredloaofwar,politics,[Link]
importantOrishainSanteria,whereheisknownasOgun
OlorunSupremegodoftheOrisha
OrishaThespirithierarchyinSanteria;correspondstotheVoodooloa
OchosiTheOrishaofthehunt;oneofthetrinityofWarriors
OshunApopularOrisha,sheisthegoddessofthewaterfalls.
PaketCongoCongopackets,magicalbundlesusedforavarietyof
purposedinceremonies
PapaDocDuvalierHaitiandictatorfrom1957untilhisdeathin1971
PapaLegbaLoawhostandsatthecrossroadsbetweentheinvisibleand
visibleworlds,or,heavenandearth

PetitSmallestdrumusedinVodouceremonies,itrepresentsMercury
PlasajCommonlawmarriageinHaiti
PossessionAwayinwhichtheLoacommunicate,throughtakingcontrol
ofabelieversbody
PwenHaitianVodoupowerobject
RootworkAnothertermforHoodoo
SegundaSeconddrumusedinVodouceremonies,itrepresentstheSun
andMars
ShangoWhatVoodooiscalledinTrinidad;alsotheOrishalordoffire
SpiritismBrazilianreligion
SyncretismTheprocessofreconcilingcontradictorybeliefs;Haitian
Voodooissometimescalledasyncreticreligionbecauseofitsvarying
influences
TiBonAngeLittleguardianangel
TransliterationThepracticeofchangingwordstocorresponding
charactersofanotherlanguage
TrickingHoodoo
UmbandaBrazilianvariantofVoodoo
VeveCornmealorflourpatternmadeinthefavoritedesignofaspecific
Loaduringaritual
VudonVariantofVoodoo,notascommon
VoodooMostoftenusedtodescribetheAfricanCaribbeanbranchofthe
ancientAfricanreligion;alsodescribesthefolkspiritualitycommonamong
AfricanAmericansinthesoutheasternUnitedStates
VodouThecommonspellingforVoodooinHaiti
VodounVariantofVoodoo,notascommon
VodunWestAfricanwordforspirit;acommonvariantoftheword
Voodoo,especiallyinBrazilandWestAfrica
VudunVariantofVoodoo
YanvalouSerpentineritualdancesaidtobeusedtohonorDamballa
YemayaOrishagoddessofthesea
ZombieAreanimatedbodydevoidofasoul;mostoftencalledupfrom
thedead