VODUN

TheDefinitiveGuideToVoodooAndItsPractices

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TableofContents
1.Introduction
Origin,Meaning,andUsageofthetermVodou

2.Vodou101:BasicBeliefsandPractices
TheHierarchyoftheSpirits
Initiation
VenerationofAncestors
InteractionandPossession
CeremonyandRitual
OtherBeliefs

3.ThePantheonoftheLoa
Loa
SpiritMarriage
Orisha

4.HistoryofVodou
AfricanRoots
SyncretismintheCaribbean
NewOrleans:MarieLaveauandtheVodouQueens
Vodou,Hoodoo,andSlaveCulture

5.WhoPracticesVodouandWhere?
AfricanVodou
HaitianVodou
SanteriaintheCaribbean
VodouinTrinidadandtheWestIndies
VodouinBrazil
NewOrleansVodou
VodouintheUnitedStates

6.VodouArt
Symbolism
Drapo
Veve
FetishesandMagicalObjects

7.SacredPractices
AltarsandShrines
DrummingandDance
MagicandSpellCasting
Rituals

8.CommonMisconceptionsandMyths
TheTruthaboutVodouDollsandCurses
Zombies!
AnimalSacrifice

9.TheDarkSideofVodou

10.TheVoudounLife

11.Glossary


Introduction
MentionthewordVodou,andformostpeoplewhatcomestomindare
VodoudollsandZombies.SomepeopleeventhinkthatVodouisassociated
withSatanism.WhileZombiesandVodoudollsbothplayarole
inthereligion,itisnotinthemannerthatmostwesternersthink,andthey
arenotnearlyasimportantasmediamisconceptionswouldhaveus
believe.Furthermore,thereligionhasnothingtodowithSatanism.Ithas
everythingtodowithadeepbeliefthatallisone,withthevenerationof
ancestors,withareverencefornature,andadeepconcernforthedayto
daywellbeingofitsadherents.

Vodouisoneoftheworldsoldestreligions,withmillionsofdevout
followers.Vodou,orVoudoun,issometimescalledtheworldsoldest
religionandmanybelieveittobeupto10,000yearsold.Itoriginatedin
AfricawhereitwascalledVoudoun,buttooktheformofVodou,which
mostpeoplearefamiliarwith,duringtheforcedslavemigrationtoHaiti.
TheAfricandiaspora,ormassmigrationoutsidetheirhomecountry,
spreadthereligiontoNorthandSouthAmerica,thePhilippines,andthe
Caribbean.

ThereligionofVodouplaysahugeroleincommunityandfamilylifein
areaswhereitflourishes.Itisareligioninwhichmusicanddancearevery
importantpartsofceremonyandritual.Vodoualsohasastrongoral
tradition,withstoriesofvariousaspectsoffaithbeingpassedfromone
generationtotheother.Ithasnoprayerbooks,orcentralholytext.
BecauseobserversofVodouarethoughttocommunicatequitedirectlywith
variousspirits,Vodouisquiteapersonalreligion.Althoughadherentsare
expectedtobehaveaccordingtoacceptedstandardsofVodou,thereisno
setlistofobservationsandpractices,andritualscanvarygreatlyfrom
regiontoregion.Itisalsointerestingtonotethat,forallthesereasons,
booksaboutVodouoftenpresenttheirinformationintheformofstories.
Inthisreport,youlllearnallaboutthevariousaspectsofVodoutoday.
Welllookatthepracticesandbeliefsofthereligion,whopracticesand
where,andVodouslongandfascinatinghistory.Welldissectsome
commonmythsandmisconceptionsofVodou,andyoulllearnthetruth
aboutZombiesandVodoudolls.Welltalkaboutthetruesymbolsand
imagerythatareimportanttoadherents.Finally,youlllearnaboutwhere
Vodoustandstoday,andmostimportantofall,howyoucanbenefitfrom
livingthesimpletruthsoftheVoudounlifestyle.

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

YoullfindthewordVodouspelledinavarietyofdifferentways,depending
onwhichcountryyourereadingabout.Someoftheotherspellingsyou
willseeofthewordareVodun,Vudun,andVodou,whichiscommonin
Haiti.TherootsofthesewordscomefromvariouspeoplesoftheWest
AfricanregionfromwesternNigeriatoeasternGhana.VodunisaWest
Africanwordforspirit.VodouismostoftenusedinHaiti,andVudon,
Vodun,orVodounarecommoninBrazil.

ThewordVodouismostcommonlyusedtodescribethetraditionsof
AfricanandtheCaribbeanwhichcombinedintoarichstewinNew
Orleans.VodouorHoodooisalsosometimesusedtodescribethe
AfricanAmericantraditionoffolkspiritualitycommoninthesoutheastern
UnitedStates.ManyscholarsbelievethatVodouisatransliteration,ora
wordchangedfromanotherlanguage,oftheFrenchvoustous,pronounced
vootoo,whichmeansyouall.VodouisanAmericanizedspellingofVodou,
whichhasreallyonlybecomecommonoverthelast100years.

Confusing?Yes,indeeditis,butthisbrieflookattheoriginsandusageof
thewordbeginstohintatthevastcomplexityandmysteryofthefaith.
Becauseofthepossibilityofconfusionfromswitchingbackandforth
betweennames,forthepurposesofthisreport,wewillbeusing,ingeneral,
thetermVodou.InNewOrleans,VodouiscommonlyspelledVoodoo,so
wewillcontinuewiththattraditioninthisreport.Bearinmind,though,
thatformanypractitionersoutsideofNewOrleansthetermVoodoo
signifiesareligiondreamedupbythemindsofHollywood,andthat
religionhaslittletodowiththedeeplymysticalandreverentfaiththey
practice.

Foryourconvenienceandreference,pleasenotethatthereisbothan
extensiveresourcespageandaglossaryatthebackofthisreport.Youmay
runintosomeunfamiliarwords,andifyouforgettheirmeaning,youcan
simplyturntotheendandrefreshyourmemory.Theresourceswillgive
youoptionsforfurtherreadingandassistanceinfindinglocalgroupsof
Vodou,shouldyoufeelsomovedtopracticethereligion.

Nowthatthisbriefintroductionhaswhettedyourappetitetolearnmore
abouttheprofoundandmysticalreligionofVodou,letsgetstarted.Well
beginwithalookatthebasicbeliefsandpracticesofVodou.

Vodou101:BasicBeliefsandPractices
VodouhasitsoriginsinaWestAfricansystemofspiritualityandassuch,it
isamostlyunwrittentradition,itsritualsandceremoniespasseddown
orallyorthroughmusicanddance.Thereligionissimilartoreligionsthe
worldoverinthatitattemptstoexplainwhatforcesgoverntheworldwe
livein,andhowtoinfluencethoseforcestomakethelivesofbelieversand
practitionersbetter.Becauseofthis,thereligionalsohasastronginfluence
onhumanbehavior.Vodouhelpsitsadherentsnotonlytobetter
understandtheirownlives,buttheirownspiritualnaturesaswell.Itas
beensaidthatthemainpurposeofVodouistoheal:tohealeach
individualsrelationshipwithhimself,andtheirrelationshipwithGod.

TheHierarchyoftheSpirits
IntheVodoutradition,thereisonemainGod.Heisknownbydifferent
namesindifferentpartsoftheworld;inHaitiheiscalledBondye.Thisis
takenfromtheFrenchwordsbondieu,whichmeangoodGod.ThisGod
issopowerfulthatordinaryworshipperscannotgetintouchwithhim.
Instead,theymustrelyonotherspiritstoreachBondye.Luckily,thereare
thousandsofthesespirits.TheyarecalledtheLoa(IwainHaiti).TheLoa
controlthedailylivesofmortals,influencinghealth,happiness,wealth,and
nature.TheyactasintermediariesbetweenBondyeandVodoubelievers.
TofullyunderstandVodou,youmustgraspthattheLoaexistinacomplete
hierarchy.TherearesomeLoawhichareverypowerfulandvenerated,and
havetheirownceremoniesandrituals.Someoftheirnamesare
Damballah,Ezili,Ogu,Agwe,andLegba.Manyspritsoflesserimportance
alsoexist.Familiesandcommunitiesalsohavetheirownspirits.TheLoa
tendtohavepersonalities,withcertaincolors,food,plantsandobjects
thoughttobeassociatedwithspecificspirits.Thesearethenusedas
offeringstotheLoa.

InordertobetterunderstandthevenerationoftheLoa,peoplewithmore
traditionalwesternreligiousandspiritualbackgroundsmayequatethe
worshipoftheLoatothepantheonofGreekandRomanGods.Justasthe
GreeksandRomanshadmanyGodswhichwerethepersonificationof
elementsoftheirlives,so,too,dobelieversinVodou.TheLoabecomevery
personalandrealspiritstothem.

VenerationofAncestors
AdherentsofVodoualsoveneratetheirancestors,andancestorsare
consultedforprotectionandguidance.Ancestorsarethosewhohave
passedfromthisworldintotheworldofthespirits.Ancestorsrepresent
theintermediarystepbetweenthisworldandthenext,andtheycanserve
asgateways.

IntheHaitianVodoutradition,ancestorworshipisespeciallyimportant.
AdherentsworshipthemintheformofagroupofloacalledLesGede
(sometimesLesGhedes)andLesBarons.Theseenergiesofthedead
manifestinritualandtheirbehaviorareoftenoutrageous.Theymaybeg
formoney,dressintatteredclothing,oranyotherkindofwildbehavioryou
canimagine.AdherentsofVodoubelievethatweallhavetheenergyofthe
Gedeembeddedinoursoulsasancestralknowledge.(Andsciencebacks
thisup,withgenetheory.)Theseenergiescanofteninvadeceremonies
andrefusetoleaveuntilsomekindofpriceispaidfinancialorperhaps
sexual.Whileroustingabouttheceremonies,theGedemaketheir
presenceovertlyknownthroughgrabbinggenitals,pickingpockets(or
noses!),spitting,orcursing.

SomeadherentsmakeadistinctionbetweenLesBaronsasthenameddead
andLesGedeastheunnameddead,butnotallfollowthis.Whicheverway
theyfollow,allplacegreatemphasisonreveringandgivingtributetothe
dead.

HereisabriefrundownofsomeofthebetterknownGede.BaronSamedi
istherulerofallthedead.Heisusuallyreferredtoasthefirstmaleburied
inacemetery.Heisusuallydepictedinawhitetophat,blacktux,dark
glasses,andcottonuphisnostrils,whichishowcorpsesaredressedfor
burialinHaiti.Hehasawhiteskulllikefaceandspeakswithanasal
twang.Oneeyegenerallypokesoutfrombehindtheglasses,which
symbolizesthathehasaneyeonbothworlds.

BaronSamedisnamecouldbeacorruptionofzombie,orbasedonthe
FrenchwordforSaturday,asmanyFrenchwordswereusedinHaitian
folklore.BaroncanbeseenastheepitomeofstereotypicalVodoustyle,
withhisloveofrum,cigars,hotpeppersandflashyjewelry.Heisalsoa
verysexualspirit,withphallicsymbolsoftenassociatedwithhim.The
formerdictatorofHaiti,PapaDocDuvalier,claimedtobeamanifestation
ofBaron.BaronSamedistandsatthecrossroads,wherethesoulsofdead
humanspass.

ZoraNealeHurstonreportedthatwhenmakingarequestofBaronSamedi,
itisveryimportanttosubstituteacowsleginplaceofyourhand.Baron
Sameditakeswithhimwhateverheisholdingwhenheleaves,andinthis
wayyoudontloseyourarmtohim.

BaronswifeisMamanBrigitte.Likeherhusband,sheispartialtohot
peppers.Brigitteisrepresentedbyablackrooster.Sheisknownasthe
firstwomantobeburiedinacemetery,andresidesinthecemeterystrees
androckpilesandisknowntobeverysensual.Sometimesherfollowers
stufftheirnoseswithcotton.Shepresidesoveramothersjusticeandthe
divinearbiterofjustice.Incasesoflegalarbitration,Brigittewouldbe
petitioned.

Intruesyncreticstyle,thereareclearlinksbetweenMamanBrigitteand
theBrigitoftheBritishIsles.ThisBrigitwasfirstworshippedasBrigid,
whowasthegoddessofpoetry,creativity,inspiration,andhealinginthe
Celticfaith.WhenChristianityarrivedinIreland,thechurchfatherstried
toeradicatetheoldbeliefswithlittleluck,sotheysimplyabsorbedsomeof
thepagandeitiesintotheirownlore.BrigidbecameSaintBrigit,andshe
wascarriedwithIrishwhoimmigratedtoHaititoescapefamine.There
shewasimmediatelywelcomedintotheloafold.

MamanBrigitteisknowntohealthosewhosufferfromincurablefatal
diseases.Asbefitshermotherroleshepresidesoverallher
childrenVodoufollowersandisvengefultowardsthosewhowouldtryto
hurtthem.OfferingstoBrigitteincluderum,cottonandwillowbranches.
OtherpopularGedespiritsareBaronCriminal,whoisaforceofjusticefor
criminals;themischievousTiMalice,orUncleMalice,andGedeNibo,the
lustygravedigger.SometimesheisalsocalledTiPuceorUncleLouse.
BesidestheGede,Vodouadherentsarealsocarefultoveneratethefamily
membersthathavealreadypassed.Thisisconsideredcrucialto
wellbeing,andisoneofthebasicpracticesofVodou.Itisoftendoneon
analtar(aboutwhichwewilldiscussmorelater),withphotos,objectssuch
asjewelrythatbelongedtotheancestor,aglassofwaterandacandle.
Whenhonoringthemembersofyourbloodline,itisalsoimportanttotake
intoaccountindividualpersonalitiesandtastes,andhonorthese
differences.Whenaskingancestorsforhelp,theywillexhibitthesame
traitsasspiritsthattheydidinlife.Forinstance,ifafatherwasa
workaholic,hewillworknightanddaytosolveyourproblemuntilitis
dealtwith.Onethingthatisimporttorememberwhenworkingwiththe
ancestorsorLesGedes,isnevertosprinklesaltonanyfoodoffering.Salt
canmakeancestorsdepartandvoidtheirpowers.


Initiation
TheessenceofVodouinitiationisthattheadherentbecomesthechild
withinafamilyofthelivingandthedead.Thehoungan(priest)and
mambo(priestess)becomeyourfatherandmother.However,theinitiate
actuallybecomesthechildtotheloaintheceremony,andwillhaveone
specialloatowhichheorsheisespeciallylinked.

ItisimportanttorememberthatthereisnoselfinitiationintheVodou
tradition.Peoplefromdifferentculturesmayassumethattheycanlearn
Vodoufromabookorwebsite,butthisisnottrue.Whileonecanlearn
manyaspectsofthefaithfromreading,Vodouisanexperientialreligion
withastrongoraltradition.IntheVodountradition,everyeventand
situationfrombirthtodeathrequirescertainactionsthatmustbeexerted
bytrainedpriests.Itisimpossibletoteachallofthesetoyourself.Read
specialreportsandstudylikecrazyifthatisyourway,butalsobeaware
thattotrulybecomeapartoftheVodounlife,youwillneedtofinda
teacher.

Also,withinitiation,youarepledgingtobecomeapartofafamily,soitis
notadvisabletorushintoanything.Askquestionsaboutyourfamilyof
others,ifpossible,todiscerntheirreputation.Questionthehounganand
mambo.Attendceremoniesandpayattentiontodreamsandsignsto
confirmthatyouareonthecorrectpath.Initiationisaverypersonalbond.
Itisalsoaveryseriousone,andshouldnotbeenteredintolightly.
Considerthebondtobeasdurable,binding,andimportantasamarriage.
ItmaynotbenecessaryforallfollowersofVodoutogothroughinitiation.
Theprocessisgruelingandcanbefrightening,asitrepresentsnothingless
thanasymbolicdeathandrebirth.Oldwaysofthinkingarestrippedaway.
Then,too,theoriginsoftheinitiationritescomefromthewarriorculture
inAfricananditisdesignedtomakeyouproveyourselfonevery
levelphysical,intellectual,emotional,andspiritual.Many,ifnotmost,
Vodouisantsarenotinitiated,whichiscalledbosal.Youdonothavetobe
initiatedtoservethespirits.

However,forthosewhowanttotrulyunderstandthepathofVodou,
initiationisnecessarybecausethetraditionssecretsarepassedalongonly
toinitiates.

Followyourheartandlistentoyourloatofindtheanswer.

InteractionandPossession
ThereligionofVodouhasahugeimpactonthedaytodaylivesofits
believersbecauseoftheinteractionbetweenthespiritsandthefollowers.
TheLoaandtheirfollowersinteractinseveralways.Duringthefamous
Vodouceremonies,theLoaareaskedforadvice,orprotection,or
assistance.Inreturn,thefollowersmustalsodothingsfortheLoa,most
oftenintheformofrituals.Theseritualssometimestaketheformof
animalsacrifices.VodoubelieversalsothanktheLoafortheirblessings
andadviceduringrituals.Inordertomaintaintheseblessingsandkeep
theLoahappy,followersmustactaccordingtothelawsofVodou.Thus
doesthepracticeofVodouhaveahugeimpactonthedailylivesofits
observers.Youcanseethatitisaverypracticalreligion,withagreatdeal
ofinfluenceonitsadherents.

OneofthemainhallmarksofVodoubeliefisthattheLoacommunicate
withbelieversbytakingpossessionoftheirbody.Thepersonwhoisthus
possessediscalledthemedium.Whilethemediumispossessedbythe
Loa,itisthoughtthatheorshecannotbeharmedorfeelpain.Through
possession,theLoaofferadvice,giveinstructionsorpredictthefuture.
SometimestheLoaletshisangeratthewaypeoplehavebeenbehaving
known,andtellsthemtheymustadheretothewaysofVodou.Possession
variesaccordingtoregion.Insomeareas,onlythemostpowerfuland
selectobserverscanbecomepossessed.Butinotherareas,everyonehas
theopportunity.However,theideaofpossessionunitesallbranchesof
Vodou.

CeremonyandRitual
Ceremonialdances,musicandinstrumentsespeciallydrumsarevery
importantaspectsofthereligionandamajorwayinwhichcommunication
withtheloaisestablished.Thesedancesusuallyincludecostumesand
masks.Ritualsareusedtomakecontactwiththeloatoaskforhelpfor
morefood,betterstandardsofliving,vibranthealth,andsoon.Inthis
manner,ritualsaresomewhatsimilartoChristianprayer.Ritualsareheld
tocelebrategoodfortune,toalleviatebadfortune,tocelebratespecific
holidaysassociatedwiththeloa,andattheusualhallmarksoflifebirth,
weddings,anddeaths.

Vodouisanegalitarianreligionandpriestscanbemaleorfemale.Male
priestsarecalledhoungan(sometimesspelledhungan).Femalepriestsare
mambo.TheVodoutempleisnamedthehounfour.Insidethetemplewill
beanaltar,elaboratelydecoratedwithcandles,fetishes,andsymbolic
itemslinkedtotheloa.

ThecomponentsofaVodouceremonywillvary,butmanyconsistofafeast
beforetheactualceremony;thecreationofaveve,orcornmealpatternin
thespecificdesignfavoredbytheloa,andchanting,drumplayingand
dancing.Thepriestsandthefollowerswilloftendanceanddance,the
ceremonybuildingrelentlesslyinintensity,untiloneofthemispossessed
byaloa.Thissignifiesthatthepersonsspirithasleftthebodyandthe
Loahasentered.Nowthepossessedoneisaccordedalltherespectthatis
usuallyreservedfortheLoa.

Theceremonyoftenendswithananimalsacrifice.Thepossessedfollower
maydrinksomeoftheanimalsblood,andwiththisacttheloais
consideredtobesatisfied.Thentheanimaliscookedandthefoodis
consecratedforall.Whileanimalsacrificesmayseemdistastefulandcruel
tothoseofothertraditions,itisimportanttounderstandthatthese
sacrificeshaveatriplepurpose:theloaareinvokedandfed,followersare
peopleofthecommunityarefed(andinsomepoorareaswhereVodou
flourishes,thisisahugebenefit),andfinallyoncetheloahavebeenfedand
honored,theythengivebackthroughmessagesandcommunicationsfor
believers.

OtherBeliefs
Vodoupractitionersbelievethatweareallone.Thisgoesbacktothe
originsoftheworddiscussedearlier.RememberhowVodoucomesfrom
theFrenchvoustous,oryouall?Theyouallattitudeisinherentin
Vodouism.Therearenoaccidentsandeverythingaffectseverythingelse.
Inthisbasicconcept,VodouissimilartoBuddhism.Itisalsoverycloseto
whatphysicistsarediscoveringisthetruenatureoftheuniverse!
AcloselyrelatedconceptofVodouistheideathateveryhumanbeingis
filledwithitsownashe,whichiscomplextodefinebutbasicallyrefersto
thedivinelifeforcewithineachofus.Vodouadherentsbelievestronglyin
thisessenceofthedivinecurrentthatrunsineachhumanbeingandunites
usall.

Thereisaconstantcloseconnectionbetweenlifeanddeath,asisevidenced
bythecommonpracticeofanimalsacrifice,whichisusedtoshowrespect
totheLoa,oraskforfavors.AlsocommoninVodoupracticeistheuseof
ritualormagicalobjects,suchasdolls.Thesearethoughttocontainwithin
themthespiritoftheLoa,andtheyareusedforprotection.Ordinary
objectssuchasbottlesandpots,andevenpartsofsacrificedanimalsare
usedtocreatefetishes,whichbecomesacredwhenusedinrituals.
BelieversinVodouhaveanaffinityforthenaturallandscapewithmany
ritualstakingplacenearmountainsorstreamsorothergeographic

features.ThismaybebecauseeveryelementofnatureissacredtotheLoa.
Thespiritsalsooftenmanifestthroughnature,inthunderandlightning,
andthroughtrees,mountains,riversandlakes.

Vodoufollowersalsobelievethateachofushaveasoulcomposedoftwo
parts.Thesetwopartsarethegrosbonange,orbigguardianangel,and
thetibonange,orlittleguardianangel.Thetibonangeleavesthesoul
everynightwhilewesleepandalsoduringincidentsofpossessionbythe
Loa.WhentheTibonangeisawayfromthebody,itisthoughtthatitcan
becapturedbyevilspirits.

ItisironicthatmanypeopleassociateVodouwithevil.Welllookmore
deeplyatthisphenomenonandexaminecommonmisconceptionsinalater
section.Intruth,Vodouisadeeplycompassionatereligionwithafocuson
respectandpeace.Mamboandhounganbecomecommunityleaderswith
deepconcernfortheirfollowersandmuchoftheirworkisfocusedon
healingandimprovinglives.Theyprovideguidancetotheirfollowersin
manydaytodaymattersandarefrequentlycalledupontomediate
disputes.

ThePantheonoftheLoa
PerhapsoneofthemajordifferencesbetweenVodouandotherreligionsis
thatinmostreligions,believerstalktothedivine.InVodou,thedivinetalk
tothebelievers.Perhapsbecauseofthis,toVodouisants,theirdeitiesare
asrealasthepeopletheyinteractwithinthecommunityeveryday.Theloa
havepersonalitiesandlikesanddislikes,justlikeeveryoneweknow.The
loahavedistinctpreferencesindressandfood,anditisimportantthat
thosepreferencesbehonored.

Wemetsomeoftheancestorloainthesectiononvenerationofthe
ancestors,andnowitistimetotakealookatsomeofthemostimportant
spiritloa.Thepantheonoftheloaissoextensive,itisimpossibletogo
throughallofthemhere.Also,theloaareeverchanging,withnew
honoreddeadrightfullytakingtheirplaceamongthepantheon.

Ingeneral,theHaitianloaarearrangedaccordingtofamilylineages,also
callednanchons.Thesearegroupsofloathatbelongedtothesameoriginal
triballineage.Theyarecategorizedaccordingtodifferenttribalgroups.
WhenslaveswerebroughttotheAmericas,theyweremostoftenseparated
fromtheirtribalgroupsandheldinvaryinglocations.Inthesenewgroups
comprisedofpeoplefrommanytribesandcustoms,theslavesheldonto
thefamiliaraspectsoftheirreligion.Inthisway,variousnanchonswere

created,eachwiththeirowntraitsandpersonalities.Manyloahave
slightlydifferentaspectsdependingontheirnanchonaffiliation.
ThePetrofamilyisfiery,quick,andmovewithsharpmotions.ThePetro
familyofspiritsisindigenoustoHaiti.TheCongofamilyiscoolandwatery
andjoyfulandmaybeofBantuorigin.TheIbocamefromtheHausa,
Benin,andYorubatribes.TheRadaspiritscamefromDahomeyinWest
Africa.Theyaregentlespirits.

Hereisarundownofthemostcommondeities:

PapaLegba
Heisthemostpopularspiritinthatheisbeseechedmostfrequently.Papa
Legbaisthepatriarch,thewisefather,thekingofall.Hepresidesatthe
crossroads,wherehecandistributemessagesinbothdirectionsfromthe
visibleworldtotheinvisibleandviceversa.Becauseofthisafavorite
prayertohimis:Opentheroad,openthegate,openthedoor.Wewishto
comehometoPapa.UsuallyPapaLegbaisdepictedasanoldmanwitha
cane.Thecanesymbolizedhismember,anditissooldnowthatithas
becomehiswalkingstick.PapaLegbaspeaksallhumanlanguages.His
colorsareeitherredandblackorwhiteandblack.Thesymbolismofthese
colorsstandsfortheconnectionthatcomesfromhavingafootineach
world.

PapaLegbaissummonedatthestartofeveryceremonybecauseeverything
andeveryonemustgobyhimtohavecontactwiththeotherloa.His
permissionisneededtoopenthedoortotheinvisibleworlds.IfLegbais
nothappy,hecancausetheceremonytogoawry.Imagesofhiminthe
hounfourgenerallyshowPapaLegbawithhiscane.However,youmight
alsoseehimdepictedastheCatholicSt.Peter,becauseoftheirsimilar
roles,orasMoses.PapaLegbaisofferedrum,cigars,coffee,peanuts,corn
fritters,smokedfoods,andhardcandy.WhenaVodouisantwantstosalute
PapaLegba,shekissesthegroundthreetimesandrequeststhatheopen
thedoortotheworldoftheinvisible.Whensomeoneispossessedby
Legba,theywillusuallywalkslightlyhunchedoverwithacane.Papa
Legbaisalsothelastloatobesummonedineachceremony,inorderthat
hemayclosethedoorwaytotheinvisibleworldsagain.

InNewOrleansVodou,LegbaisrepresentedaspapaLebat.ThisNew
Orleansloagothisnamefromaneighteenthcenturymissionarynamed
FatherJeanBaptisteLebat,whotriedtostampoutthepracticeofVodouin
thearea.

Itisinterestingtosurveypopcultureandseethatthereareoftensly
referencestoPapaLegba,generallyinfantasyfiction,thrillersortelevision
andfilms.Forinstance,theacclaimedsciencefictionwriterWilliam
GibsonmentionsLegba(andotherloa)inhisnovelsCountZeroandMona
LisaOverdrive.PapaLegbaandotherloaalsoappearinDarkfall,byDean
Koontz.AndfansoftheoldtelevisionseriesMiamiVicemayremember
thatLegbawasthenameofaVodougangsterontheshow.

Erzulie
TheRadaErzuliesdomainiswaterandshelivesontheriverbanks.She
embodieslove.IntheRadaaspect,Erzulieisthespiritofbeauty,jewelry,
dancing,luxury,andflowers.Hercolorsarelightblueandpink.
Sometimesherclothingwillbeshowninroseandwhite.Shewearsthree
weddingbandsforherthreehusbands,Damballa,theserpentgod,Agwe,
thegodofthefishermen,andOgou,thegodofiron.Erzulieisnot
promiscuous,simplyanentitywithalargeheart.

Erzulieistheepitomeoffemininityandcompassion.Shepossessesgreat
beauty,grace,andsensuality,anddemandscleanlinessofherchildren.
Hersymbolsareaheart,amirror,andafan.Erzulieisoftenweeping,and
thesecanbetearsofsadness,joy,orfrustration.Shemaybedepicted
holdingachildinonehandandaswordintheother.InherPetronation
aspect,sheisErzulieDantor,afierceprotectorofchildrenandthosewho
serveher.SomebelievethatthisaspectofErzuliestemsfroman
associationwithimagesoftheBlackMadonnawhichwerebroughttoHaiti
byPolishsoldiersfightingintheHaitianrevolutionintheearly1800s.This
Erzulieisusuallydepictedasdarkskinnedcountrywomanandher
daughterisnamedAnais.Hercolorsareredandblueandgold.

Erzulieisoftenassociatedwithgaymenandsheisthepatronoflesbians.
HerdaysareTuesdayandThursday.Shehasmanyfloraandfaunasacred
toherincludingthelaureltree,sweetsmellingflowerssuchasrosesand
jasmine,thewhitedove,andbasil.Herfavoriteofferingsincludegourmet
dishes,sweetconfections,perfumes,freshflowers,cosmetics,jewelry,
honey,banana,liqueursandchampagne.Erzulieespeciallyadores
champagneanditisalwayskeptreadyforherappearance.

ThePetrodeityErzulieDantorgrantsmaterialwealthandmagicalability
andwillbeinvokedinceremonytograntthesethings.Shemayalsobe
askedforrevengeforwrongsdonetothosewhoserveher.Womenoften
invokeherdomesticabuseandrapecases.

Whileknownforherloveandcompassion,Erzulieisalsoagoddessof
jealousy,vengeanceanddiscordandsheisoftenpersonifiedthiswayinher
manydifferentaspects.

Damballa
DamballaistheserpentcreatorinHaitianlore.Heisaveryancientforce
andisoftendepictedinpurewhite.WhenDamballamanifestsduring
possession,hewrithesonthegroundlikeasnakeandmakeshissingand
gaggingsounds.Heisoftenthoughtofasthefatheroftheloaandcalled
PapaDamballa.Hetravelsbeneathwater,wherehecreatesstoresof
memory.Hecontrolsthedivinewatersofheaven.Adherentsbeseechhim
formattersoflove,knowledge,healing,andwealth.

SometimeshemaybedepictedastheCatholicSaintPatrick,withflowing
whitehairandbeard,and,ofcourse,thewrithingserpentsathisfeet.He
isalsosometimesrepresentedasMoses,whichisalsoassociatedwith
snakes.HisdaysareWednesdayorThursday.ThePetroDamballais
calledDamballaLaFlambeauandheisovertlysexualandhasatailof
divinefire.DamballaLaFlambeauisassociatedwiththeKundaliniserpent
ofHinduism.

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

DamballaswifeisAidaWedo,sometimescalledAidaOuido.Sheisa
rainbowserpentoftheskyandbringsloveandunderstandingtoher
adherents.Whensheappearsduringaceremony,sheslithersacrossthe
floorwearingagreatjeweledheaddress,alluringbutimpossibleto
catchjustlikethepotofgoldattheendoftherainbows.AidaWedolikes
eggspaintedinrainbowcolors.ShecoilsaroundDamballainadouble
helixwhichsymbolizeseroticperfection.DamballaandAidaarethegreat
parentsofusall,takinguswiththemonthegreatjourneyoflife.

Marassa
TwinsareaveryimportantsymbolinVodou.Thedivinetwinsarethe
representationofthesacredmaleandfemaleforcesoftheuniverse.In
HaitianVodou,thedivinetwinsaretheMarassa.Theyrepresentthevery
embodimentoftheelementalforcesoftheuniverseandareoften
comparedtotheprincipleofyinandyangintheeasternreligions.Think
oftheminassociationwithhotandcold,fireandice,lightanddark,sun
andmoonallofthemostbasicdualisticelementsofourworld.Theveve,

orsymbolicrepresentationoftheMarassa,featuresthreefigures.This
standsfortheessentialmysteryofthedualityharmony,balanceand
unity.

TheMarassaarenotloa.Insteadtheyaretheforceswhichunderlieand
precedeallofcreation.Theyareoftencharacterizedaschildren,onemale
andonefemale,despitethefactthattheyarethemostancientofallthe
deities.TheMarassaareofferedtoysandcandy,ofteninspecial
doublesidedbowls,andtheybringhappiness,joyandbalancetotheir
petitioners.

GranBois
ThisloaoftheforestissometimesreferredtoasGangaBois.Helivesin
thelandoftherecentlydeadandhisfingersandtoesarecomprisedof
roots.Hesinkstheserootsintotheearthtofindnourishmentand
wisdom.InNewOrleansVodou,herepresentstheforcesofnature.
Becauseofthis,heknowsallthesecretsofbotanicalsandherbsandnature
andheisthecontrollerofallherbalmedicines.GranBoisspeaksin
rhymes.

Ayizan
TheloaofinitiationisAyizan,andsheistheloawhopurifiestheinitiateas
well.Sheisalsotheloaofpublicspacesandthemarketplace.Itis
importanttorealizethattheancientAfricanYorubatraditionrefersto
earthasthemarketplace.Offerhercrabandpalmfrondsandpeach
nectarandperhapsshewillhelpyouwithloveandsuccess,ordiviningthe
mysteriesoftheuniverse.ShehasbeensyncretizedwiththeCatholicSaint
Clare.

LaSirene
Sheisaloa,oftenseenasamermaid,whorepresentstheseaandis
sometimesconsideredanaspectofErzulie.Shecanalsobeconsideredan
aspectoftheloaLaBaleen,thegoddessofthewhales.Similartothe
sirensofGreekmythology,herbeautifulsongsleadfollowersto
distractionormarriage.Sheisknowntograntgiftsofextremewealth.La
SireneisespeciallyhonoredinNewOrleansVodouandwhenpetitionedin
thatcity,sheisofferedshrimpandseaweedandseawater.Inreturn,she
blessesherfollowerswithgiftsofmusicandsong,asbefitsthetemptress
whotemptswithherbeautifultunes.

Loko
AlsoknownasPapaLoco,heisAyizanshusband.Heistheguardianofthe
hounfour.BecauseheisAyizanshusband,healsosignifiesthesupportof
thecommunity.Intheloahierarchy,heisalmostasimportantasPapa
Legba.Itisthoughtthathishelpisneededtomakeanyritualsuccessful.
Hiscolorsareredandwhite,whichcorrespondtothemaleandfemale
fluidsofsemenandmenstrualblood.TogetherwithAyizan,heformsa
divineunion.Asapair,theyguidethecommunity.Lokoisadeptat
diagnosingillnessesandprescribingherbalmedicines.

Ogou
Ogou(alsosometimesOgoun)isanimportantloainHaitianVodouand
alsoanOrishainSanteria.InHaitianlore,heisbelievedtohavebeenthe
patronspiritofToussaintLouverture,afamousleaderoftheHaitian
revolution.Becauseofthis,OgouisawardedareveredplaceintheVodou
loa.

Ogoupresidesoverwar,politics,hunting,fireandiron.Hewillnottolerate
injusticeofanykind.InHaitianVodou,Ogouisasoldierintegraltothe
countrysindependence,asbefitshispatronageofLouverture.Heis
becomingincreasinglypopular.InhisaspectofOgouLaFlambeauhe
carriesaflamingmachetethatmakesquickworkofbullets.Ogouisavery
fierceloawhofightseveryone.Heisonlysummonedintimesofextreme
crisis.

SpiritMarriage
Vodouisuniqueinthatithasaspecialprovisionforthoseadherentswho
wishtoenhancetheirrelationshipwiththedivinethespiritmarriage.
ThisisconsideredoneofthemostimportantpracticesinVodou.The
individualneverchoosesaspritmarriageforthemselves.Instead,theyare
chosenforthemarriagebythewilloftheloa.Thisisindicatedthrough
possession,dreams,orsometimescalamitiessuchasillnessorfinancial
hardship.

ItcanalsooccurduringaVodouceremony.Astheloagiveadviceand
blessingsandinstruction,theyalsoaskforsomethinginreturnand
sometimesthisincludesmarriage.Erzulieisoftenknowntoproposeto
severalmenatonce,andOgouisalsonotoriousforthis.Whileitisan
honortobeaskedinthisway,itisalsosometimesastrainontheadherent.
Tounderstandspiritmarriage,itisalsonecessarytounderstandthestate
oftraditionalmarriageinHaititoday.MostHaitiansarepoor,andfor
them,atraditionalmarriage,whethercivilorreligious,isanunattainable

luxury.MostHaitiansliveincommonlawmarriages,calledPlasaj,and
anywomanlivinginthisarrangementiscommonlyreferredtoasawife.
Thesearestable,longtermarrangementswitheconomicexchangesagreed
uponinadvance.Inmostcases,thistakestheformofthemanagreeingto
workaplotoflandandsupportthewoman.Inreturn,shetakescareofthe
house.

AmongtheHaitianelite,traditionalmarriagesaremorethenorm.They
areconsideredtobemoreprestigiousthanthecommonlawmarriages.
Interestingly,theyarenotalwaysthemostlonglastingorsuccessful
unions.TheHaitianmanwhocanafforditisfreetotakeonasmanywives
orwomenashewants.PolygamyisacceptedinHaiti,anditisamarkof
economicstatus.OnlythewealthiestofHaitianscanaffordtheupkeepof
morethanonefamily.

ThespiritmarriageisanactualceremonythatresemblesaCatholic
wedding.Theceremonyfeaturesalltheusualtrappingsofweddinga
cake,agown,rings,musicians,andalavishweddingmeal.Besidesthe
usualcelebratoryitems,aspiritweddinghasotherfamiliarrituals,also.
Anotheradherentwillactasapriesttoconducttheceremonyanda
marriagelicenseiftakenouttheyareavailablealloverHaitiforasmall
fee.

Butbecausetheweddingiselaborateandcomplexitisquiteexpensive,
costingasmuchasacivilorreligiousceremonyandsometimestakingup
severalyearssavings.Becauseofthis,theVodouisantmayasktheloaifhe
orshecanpresentanotherofferinginitsplace.Sometimestheloaareokay
withthis,butnotalways.IftheVodouisantresiststheloasproposal,they
mayfindtheirluckturningbad.Ortheirearthlyspousemaysuddenlystart
sufferingunexplainednegativehappenings.Inthiscase,itstimeto
proceedwiththewedding.

Astheweddingapproaches,thespousetobeisinstructedinallthe
knowledgeheorshewillneedtoknowforthisspecialunion.Thebrideor
groommustmemorizealloftheloasfavoritefoods,herbs,songs,color,
dances,andchants.Aroomissetupinthehounfourforpreparationsand
theritualitself.Inthisspace,theloaarehonoredalongsideofGod,Jesus
andtheVirginandvariousappropriatesaints.Theloasfavoritecakeisset
up,alongwithotherofferingsfortheloaspouse.Offeringsforotherloa
whomayshowupattheceremonyarealsosetout.Ceremonialobjectsare
placednearby,andthebrideorgroomdressesinhisorherbestclothing.
TheceremonybeginswiththeinvokingofPapaLegbaandotherloa,

includingtheloawhoaretobemarried.Itiscommonforthemarriageto
involvetwoorthreeloa,whichisthoughttobebeneficialtobalancingthe
entitiesofthedeities.Theceremonycontinueswithmuchdancingand
drummingandfeasting.Throughoutallthis,thebrideorgroomliesin
seclusion.Iftheintendedloaispleasedwiththeofferings,heorsheagrees
totheceremonybypossessingthespouseoranotherpersoninthe
hounfour.

Thentheweddingbegins,withthepriestrecitingtheCatholicwedding
ceremonyandtheloaandtheVodouisantpledgingfidelitytoeachother
andexchangingrings.ThisisdoneforeachloatowhomtheVodouisantis
marrying.

Afterthemarriage,therearecertainritualstowhichthespousemust
adhere.Onthedayoftheweekassociatedwithhisorherloa,the
Vodouisantwillabstainfromsexualrelationswithanyone.Thattimeis
reservedforvisitsfromtheloa.Ifpossible,anentireroomwillbereserved
fortheloa.Theloaspouseswillwearthespecialcolorsoftheloa,and
sometimeswraptheirheadsinclothofthatcolor.

Thespiritmarriageisnotonlyexpensive,itisalsoconsideredaserious
responsibility.Itisseenasasignofdevotionandaguaranteeofsuccess.It
isalsoconsideredextremelydangeroustoviolatetheweddingvows,for
instance,byhavingsexonanightreservedforaloa.Thiscanangerthe
loa,andtheymaydemandpenanceinreturn.Asalreadynoted,thespirit
marriageisanimportantandintegralVodourite.Onemeasureofthisis
thefactthattheCreolewordforVodouritualassistantsishounsi,which
literallymeanswife.ThespiritmarriageisawaythatbothVodouisantand
loacanstrengthentheirbondwiththeotherworld.Amongtheloamost
commonlymarriedareErzulie,Damballa,andOgou.

SanteriaDeities:Orisha
Santeria,alsocalledRegladeOcha,whichmeansruleofthedivine,isa
variationofVodoupracticedinCubaandotherCaribbeanislands.Itisalso
basedonreligiouspracticesderivedfromtheYorubaofWestAfrica.In
somewaysitisverysimilartoVodou.WelllearnmoreaboutSanteriain
thesectiononVodoutoday,butfornowletstakealookatsomeofthe
Santeriadeities.TheSanteriacalltheirspiritstheOrisha,andthereare
over400ofthem.TheOrisharulenatureandthefateofmankind,justas
theloadoinVodou.TheattributesoftheOrishaarerelatedtotheir
elementalnature.So,forinstance,theOrishaoflightningalsorules
vengeanceandinspiration.TheOrishaoftheoceanrulesmotherhoodand

femininity,andsoforth.TheOrishathusrepresentancientarchetypal
forces.

Olorun
OlorunisthesupremegodoftheOrisha,althoughthatdoesnottruly
describehim.Olorunisthesourceofallcreation,heistheoriginatorofall
Ashe.HerepresentsaconceptsimilartotheBrahmininHinduism.
Olorunisassociatedwiththecolorwhite,andrulesallthatisthatcolor,
includingclouds,thebrain,andbones.Heisagodofpeace,purityand
harmony.HeissometimesknownasOlodumareorOlofinandheis
representedbythedove.Hedoesnotmanifestinritualorpossessions,and
nosacrificesorofferingsaremadetohim.Althoughforthesakeof
conveniencewerefertoOlorunashe,intruthheisgenderneutral.

Eleggua
ElegguaisalsocommonlyknownasEshu.HiscounterpartinVodouis
PapaLegba,andassuch,Elegguarulesthecrossroads,hisjobbeingto
openthecommunicationchannelsbetweenthevisibleandinvisibleworlds.
Heisknownasatrickstergod,whoshakesthingsupwithhismischievous
ways.EventhoughElegguaischargedwithmediationbetweenhumans
andalltheotherOrisha,hespeaksinriddlesandisdifficulttounderstand.
Thosewhotakethetimetolisten,however,willgleanmuchwisdom,
particularlywhenitcomestolearningabouthumility.

Elegguascolorsareredandblack.Heisusuallyrepresentedonaltarswith
aconcretehead.Thisheadwouldbefilledwithcowrieshelleyesfilledwith
ritualherbsandmagicalitems.Sometimesheisrepresentedbyacoconut.
Attimes,heisalsorepresentedbyimageryrelatingtotheCatholicSaint
PeterorSaintAnthony.

Ogun
OgunisanancientOrishaand,alongwithElegguaandOchosi,formsthe
trinityoftheWarriors.TheWarriorsareusuallyreferredtoasbrothers
andoftentraveltogether,openingapathandguidingadherentsdownthe
correctroad.Ogunistheasheofironandthepatronsaintofblacksmiths.
Heisthegodofwar,energyandmetalandtheseattributescombineto
makehimthedeitywhokeepsthingsinmotion.Ogunwieldshisknifeto
clearapathforhumans,andherepresentsthetoolsthatshapemanand
bringoutapersonspotential.Heisthemasterofsecrets,skills,crafts,
professionsandcreations.

Ogunspendsalotoftimealoneintheforest,butheisnotahermitora
lonelygod.Instead,heissimplydevotedtofocusinghisattentiontohis
craft.OtherabodesofOguns,besidestheforest,arethehospital,the
railroadtracks,gunracksandtheinternet!Becauseofthisheisalsothe
patronsaintofhealers,themilitary,policeofficers,firefighters,engineers,
automechanics,andcomputerscientistsandtechnicians.Hiscolorsare
greenandblack.ThereisatraditionofofferingOgunakindofrumcalled
chamba,whichisinfusedwithhotpeppersandgunpowder.Clearly,this
rumisnotforthefaintofheartanditisoftenusedasatruetestof
possession,becauseonlyapersonpossessedbyOguncouldhandlesucha
potentbrew.

Ogunscolorsaregreenandblack,andhisaltarisalwaysrequiredtohave
atleasttwopiecesofmetalplacedonit.AnaltardedicatedtoOgunwill
alsousuallyhavetools,knives,chains,orotherweaponsplacedonit.

Ochosi
OchosiisthethirdOrishaofthetrinityoftheWarriors,andheisthedeity
ofthehunt,jails,andspiritualdirection.Hehasareputationasahunter
andproviderwhooftensavescommunitiesfromstarvationbecauseofhis
skills.Becauseofthis,afavoritechantforOchosiis,Ochosimakesthe
hungerrun.EventhoughOchosiisoftenofferedsmokedfish,possum,
venisonandherbs,heissaidtobeafinickyeater.WhenOchosipossesses
aninitiateduringaceremony,theymimichishuntingactivities,stalking,
aimingandshootingarrows.

BecauseOchosirulesjusticeandthejails,hisfollowersmaycreateajailcell
forhisshrine,alongwithaprayeraskingthathecometoliveintheirhouse
sothattheydonothavetogoliveinhis!Hisaltarswillbedecoratedwith
thingsthatreflecthispassions,suchasanimalskinsandantlers.Those
initiatedtoOchosimaywearnecklacesofblueandyellowbeadsandare
saidtobehospitable,quickandfondofchange.

Yemaya
Sheisthemotheroftheocean,theseagoddess.Sheisoftendepictedasa
mermaidandbesidestheocean,sheisassociatedwiththemoonand
femininemysteries.Yemayarulesdomesticaffairsofwomenandchildren,
andassuch,sheisevokedformatterschildbirth,conception,love,and
healing.Yemayaisusuallydepictedasavibrant,beautifulgoddess,radiant
withlove.

Yemayassymbolisthecowrieshell.Offeringstohermayinclude
watermelon,cantaloupe,molassescandy,gin,orsugarcanesyrup.Sheis
alsoknowntoappreciateanyitemsfromthesea,suchasseawateror
seashells.Yemayaisassociatedwithallkindsofseaimagery,suchasfish,
dolphins,shells,orseaglass.Hershrinesfeaturelaceorsatin,and,
becausehernumberisseven,shellsorcoinspresentedinsevens.

Oshun
OneofthemostpopularOrisha,sheisthegoddessofthewaterfalls.She
representslove,gold,fertility,andmarriage,asshewasoneofthewivesof
thegodChango.Oshunemanatessexualityandbeauty,andisamasterof
sensualdance.

OshunissyncretizedwiththepatronsaintofCuba,OurLadyofCharity,or
LaVirgedelaCaridaddelCobre.Hercolorisyellow,andassuch,she
adoresyellowflowers,amber,honey,oranges,pumpkinandsweetdrinks.
Hernumberisfive,andsoitisimportanttoremembertogiveofferingsin
multiplesofthatnumber.

OnestoryaboutOshuntellshowshehadtobecomeaprostitutetosupport
herchildren.However,thisangeredtheotherOrishaterribly,andthey
removedthechildrenfromhercare.Oshungrievedhermissingchildrenso

muchthatshenearlywentinsane,andsheworethesamewhitedressevery
day,sothatiteventuallyturnedyellow.However,onedayshedecidedto
washherdressbytheriversideandanotherOrisha,AjeShaluga,thelord
oftheriver,fellinlovewithher.Hegavehermoneyandgemsfromthe
riverbed.Mostimportantly,hemarriedherandshewasabletoretrieve
herchildren.

Oshunissummonedtoceremonieswithabrassbell,andyoucanhearher
comingbecauseshealwayswearsfivebracelets.Becauseofherloveof
yellowandgold,adherentsoftensprinkletheiraltarstoherwith
glittershelovesthegoldsparkles.Otherofferingsmayincludemirrors,
fans,jewelry,perfumeandmakeup.

TherearemanyothermembersoftheOrishaandtheloa.Thepantheonin
eachreligionisrichandcomplex,witheachdeityhavingspecificattributes,
aspects,personalitiesandstoriestoldaboutthem.Thegreatthingabout
theVodouandSanteriasystemofgodsisthattheybecomeliving,
breathingcreaturestoadherents,asrealasallthehumanswhopopulate
theirworlds.Thismakethereligionsveryconcreteandpractical,andvery

focusedoncreatinggoodonadaytodaybasis.

AsyoucanseefromthisbriefintroductiontoVodouanditsgods,thefaith
isadeepandcomplexreligion.Welldelvefurtherintothebeliefsand
practicesastheyhavedevelopedindifferentregions,butfirstwelltakea
lookatVodouhistory,inordertogetacompletepictureofhowthereligion
began.

VodouHistory
AfricanRoots
Over6,000yearsago,VodouoriginatedintheAfricankingdomsofFon
andKongo,wherethecontemporarycountryofAfricancountryofBeninis
nowlocated.ManyanthropologistscallBeninthecradleofVodou.The
FonandKonglanguagesgaveusmanyofthewordsusedinVodoutoday,
suchasmambo(forafemalepriest)whichisacombinationoftheFon
wordformotherandtheKongowordforhealer.

VodouchangedandgrewfromitsWestAfricanrootsastheslavetrade
developed.Thisfirststartedin1510,withslavesbeingtakenfromtheWest
coastsofAfrica.ManyweretakenfromAfricaandbroughttothe
CaribbeanislandstoworkonplantationsandbeChristianizedbythe
SpanishandFrench.Partofthewayinwhichthemastersjustifiedthe
slavetradewasbydecidingthattheseAfricantribespeoplewere
subhuman,andincapableofcomplexthoughtaboutspirituality.The
Spanishmastersconsideredtheirslavestobesavages.

Fortheslaves,however,theirVodoureligionwasalifelinetohopeand
solaceandinnerfreedom.Throughtheancientritualsandceremonies,
theymaintainedsomesmallpartoftheiridentitiesasWestAfrican
tribespeople.

TwoofthemainareasfromwhichslavesweretakenwereNigeriaand
Dahomey.In1729,theDahomeypeopleconqueredtheirneighborsthe
EwesandthenwentontosellmanyoftheEwesintoslavery.Atthesame
time,manyDahomeyweresubjugatedandtakenforslaves.Manyofthe
newslavesincludedpriestsfromtheoldAfricanreligions.Afterashort
timeinthenewlands,thesepriestshadestablishedhounfoursandlarge
followingsastheyconductedtheirritualsandceremonies.Thiswasdespite
thefactthattheFrenchandSpanishcaptorsstronglydiscouragedand
opposedthepracticeofVodou.

SyncretismintheCaribbean
ThenewworldthatChristopherColumbusdiscoveredin1492wasan
islandhenamedHispaniola,meaningLittleSpain,anditisthelocation
ofcurrentdayHaitiandtheDominicanRepublic.Theislandwasarich
sourceofindigo(fordyes),coffee,andsugar,andcolonistssoonfollowedin
thepathofColumbusandmovedin,establishinglargeandprofitable
plantations.Theyneededmanpowertoworktheseplantations,andsoon
theAfricanslavetradewasborn.

Overthenexttwocenturies,slaveswereimportedtotheCaribbeanisland
inlargenumbers.WiththemcametheirVodoureligion,thoughofcourse
theywerestrictlyforbiddenfrompracticingthispaganbeliefsystemin
thenewworld.

SomescholarshavespeculatedthattheAfricanslavestookonthetrappings
oftheCatholicreligioninordertohidetheirowncontinuingpracticeof
Vodou.ThisprocessofdisguisingtheirownworshipoftheLoawiththe
venerationofsaintsiscalledsyncretism,ortheprocessofreconciling
contradictorybeliefs.ThereligionthatresultedinHaitiisarichand
complexstewofinfluencesfromAfrica,Catholicism,Haitianhistory,and
eventheindigenousTainoIndians.

TheAfricanslavesrealizedthesimilaritiesbetweentheirVodoureligion
andtheCatholicreligiontheircaptorsinsistedtheypractice.TheCatholics
prayedtosaintstointercedetoahigherGodontheirbehalf.Thiswasvery
similartothewaytheadherentsofVodoupraytotheLoatointercedewith
Bondye.TheAfricansalsohadagreataffinityfortheelaboratecostumes
andritesoftheCatholicChurch.Wewilllearnmoreabouthowtheprocess
ofsyncretismaffectedHaitianVodouinafuturesection.

VodoualsofiguresverystronglyinthepoliticalhistoryofHaiti.The
countrywasaFrenchcolonynamedSaintDominiqueuntil1791,when
slavesroseupandrevolted,themostsuccessfulslaverevolutioninthe
Westernhemisphere.ThisrevolutionresultedinHaitibecomingafree
countrythefirstfree,blackrepublicever.Manypeopleattributethe
revolutiontoaVodouserviceconductedinAugust1791byDuttyBoukman.
HewasahounganwhoperformedtheceremonyatBoisCaiman
prophesizingthatcertainHaitianswouldleadarevolt.Whentherevolt
actuallybegan,BoukmanwasbeheadedbyFrenchauthorities.Hishead
wasparadedthroughthestreetsinanattempttodiscredithimanddispela
strongauraofinvincibilitythatBoukmanhademanated.However,this
attemptfailed,therevolutioncontinued,andBoukmanhaspassedintothe

pantheonoftheloa.

Recentpoliticalhistoryhasbeenharshonthecountryandharsh,too,onits
religiousfreedomandVodou.Evenwithitshistoryofrevolt,thepeopleof
Haitihavesufferedmanyconstraintsontheirfreedom.Lawswerepassed
in1835whichmadeVodouceremoniesillegal.Theselawsstayedonthe
booksforover150years.ThentheU.S.occupiedthecountry,from1915
until1934.WhenPapaDocDuvaliercametopowerin1957,areignof
terrorbeganthatwouldlastfor30years.ThePresidentForLife,ashe
calledhimself,andhisson,BabyDoc,wereresponsibleforthousandsof
deaths.PapaDocsufferedasevereheartattackin1959andwas
unconsciousforninehours.Manyhistorianshavespeculatedthatthe
oxygendeprivationheexperiencedduringthistimemayhaveaffectedhis
sanity,givinghimneurologicaldamagethatmadehimparanoidand
irrational.

ManyfeelthatDuvalierwonthe1957electionbyappealingtothehearts
andmindsoftheHaitianlowerandmiddleclasses,challengingthemulatto
elitewhohadruledthecountry.OneofthewaysthatDuvalierdidthiswas
byrevivingthetraditionsofVodouandtakingsomeofthemforhimself.
Afteranelectionwhichmanythoughtwasriggedinhisfavor,Duvalierused
thetraditionsofVodoutoconsolidatehispower.Heclaimedtobea
hounganhimself.HedressedastheveneratedancestorloaBaronSamedi,
wearingsunglassesandtalkinginthenasaltonesassociatedwiththeloa.
HispropagandaintimatedthatPapaDocwasonewiththeloas,Jesus,and
God.OneimagefromthetimeshowsJesusstandingwithhishandon
Duvaliersshoulder,andthequotation,Ihavechosenhim.

UponDuvaliersdeath,hisson,JeanClaudeDuvalier,assumedpowerand
ruleduntiltherewasapopularuprisingagainsthimin1986.Duvalierwas
19attheagehegainedpowerandwasntmuchinterestedinit,preferring
insteadhislifeasaplayboy,andhesquanderedmuchofthepolitical
goodwillhisfatherhadbuiltwitheverydayHaitians.DespitetheDuvaliers
reputedbondswiththelowerclasses,theywereresponsibleforthedeaths
ofthousandsofpeople.Intheaftermathoftheirrule,somepeopleblamed
theVodoucommunityfortheyearsofterror.Nearlyonehundred
houngansandmambosweretorturedandkilled,andhounfourwere
burnedtotheground.SomehounganweremadetorenouncetheirVodou
beliefsandswearanoathtoChristianity.Thosewhodidntwerekilled.
TheU.S.intervenedinHaitiinthe1990sandagainin2004after
JeanBertrandAristidesfallfrompower.AUnitedNationspeacekeeping
forcecurrentlyremainsinthecountry.

IntheWestIndiesandotherSpanishislands,thereligionbecameknown
asSanteria.Asthediasporacontinued,thereligiontookrootinNew
Orleans,whereitwasstillcalledVodou.In1809,manyoftheHaitianswho
hadmigratedtoCubawereforcedtoleaveandtheymovedtoNewOrleans.
ThiscausedahugerevitalizationofVodouinNewOrleans.

NewOrleans:MarieLaveauandtheVodouQueens
VodouwaspracticedinsecretinNewOrleansfromthetimeofthearrival
ofthefirstslavesinthearea.SometheorizethatitwasintroducedinNew
Orleansinthelate1700s.Nomatterwhenitarrived,mostscholarsagree
thatAfterslaveswontheirfreedominHaitiin1804,Creoleplantersleftthe
countrywiththeirslavesandsettledinNewOrleans,wherethe
FrenchSpanishculturewasmorefamiliartothem.Theslaveswere
adherentstoVodou,withasuperficiallayerofCatholicism,aswehave
seen,andtheycontinuedavidlypracticingupontheirimmigrationtoNew
Orleans.Between1805and1810,morethan10,000refugeesfromthe
Caribbeanarrivedinthecity.

HistoryrecordstheearliestreferencetoaVodoupriestesspracticingin
NewOrleansasoccurringin1822.ThiswasSaniteDede,amixedracefree
womanwhooperatedaVodoutemple,andastoryaboutaceremonythere
waspublishedinthemagazinecalledCentury.Thestorywasrelayedbya
teenageboywhowenttoSaniteDedestemplewithoneofhishousehold
slavesandwitnessedaVodouceremonyofmusicanddancing.

OneofthemostfamoushistoricalfiguresofNewOrleansVodouwasMarie
Laveau.ShehasbeencalledtheVodouQueen,inloreandinhistory,and
anyonewhogrewupinorhaslivedinNewOrleansiswellawareofher
legendarystatus.Althoughfewrealfactsareknownabouther,shehas
becomeanearlymythologicalfigureduetoherinclusioninseveralbooks
ofcontemporaryfiction.TheseincludeAmericanGodsbyNeilGaiman,
ZorrobyIsabelAllende,andVodouDreams:ANovelofMarieLaveauby
JewelParkerRhodes.

LaveauwasborntoawhiteplantermotherandCreolemotherin1794,
althoughthisdateisoftencontested.ShemarriedanotherCreolein1819.
BecauseofthelongstandingoraltraditionsofVodou,littleisknownfor
certainaboutMarieLaveau.However,shebecamealegendinNew
Orleansthroughhermixtureoftheoccult,RomanCatholicreligion,and
theinfluenceofVodou.Shehadmanywealthypatrons,andlegendhasit
thatshewasaskedtoforetellthefuturefornoneotherthanQueenVictoria.
Hersnake,namedZombi,washighlyvenomous,favoredwatermelonand

was20feetlong!ItsnowonderthatLaveauwasreputedtohavestrong
magicalpowers.Sheissaidtohavehealedthesick,savedacondemned
manfromthegallows,walkedonwater,resurrectedherselffroma
drowningallwhileremainingyouthfulbeyondheryears.Laveauhada
mindforbusinessandpromotionandsheusedittopromoteVodouand
herself.Shealsotendedtothesickandinfirm.Forquitesometimeshe
wasconsideredthemostpowerfulwomaninthecity.

HerdeathwasannouncedbytheNewOrleanspapersin1881,andshewas
eulogizedasaparagonofvirtue,despitepersistentrumorsofher
organizingorgiesforwhitesocietymenandmulattowomen.However,
evenafterherreputeddeath,MarieLaveausightingscontinued,perhaps
becauseoneofherdaughterstookoverhermothersroleandwassaidtobe
nearlyanexactreplicaofherwithoutthehumanitarianstreak.

Today,herlegendcontinues,withthevaultsintheNewOrleanscemetery
thatbearhername(itisunclearifsheisactuallyburiedthere)afavorite
destinationoftouristsandresidentsalike.Asamatteroffact,Marie
LaveausgravegetsmorevisitorsthananyothergraveinAmerica,except
forElvisPresley.Tothisday,peoplecontinuetoinsisttheyseeMarie
aroundthecity.And,thetraditionofpowerfulVodouQueenscontinuesto
thisdayinNewOrleans,evenasthecitystrugglestorecoverfromthe
effectsofHurricaneKatrina.Someofthemostpowerfulcontemporary
VodouQueensareSallieAnnGlassman,oneofthefewwhiteVodou
Queens,QueenBianca,AvaKayJones,andChiefSharonCaulder.

Vodou,HoodooandSlaveCulture
InthesouthernUnitedStates,variousformsofVodoubecameassociated
withChristianmysticismamongAfricanAmericanslaves.Insomepartsof
thesoutheast,suchastheMississippideltaandtheGeorgiaSeaIslands,
Vodoutookholdinanearlyintactmanner.Butinotherparts,thefolk
mythologyofHoodootookhold.

HoodoooriginatedasanindigenousAfricanfolkmagicbasedonbotanical
information,religionandfolkknowledge.Thismagicaltraditionwas
importedtotheUnitedStateswiththeenslavementandtransportof
Africans.Thewordhoodoocanalsobeusedtodescribeamagicspellor
thepractitionerofthemagicspell.Awordwhichmaybefamiliartosome
ismojo,whichmeansahoodooamulet.Practitionersmaycarryamojobag
fullofherbsandcoinsandrootsandothermagicalitems.Otherterms
whichmaybeusedtodescribehoodooareconjureorconjuration,
rootwork,ortricking.Insomepartsofthecountry,notablytheeastern

seaboard,AfricanAmericancommunitiesrefertoHoodooaswitchcraft.
HoodooisawellestablishedmagicalandfaithtraditionintheAmerican
southeast,and,likeVodou,itisanoralpractice.Knowledgeispassedfrom
persontoperson,priesttoadherent.InAfrica,Hoodooknowledgewas
passedthroughfamilybloodlines,inastructuredhierarchywithpriests
onlybelongingtocertainfamilies.PractitionersofHoodooaresometimes
calledrootworkers,rootdoctors,ortwoheadedmenorwomen.Thelatter
termcomesbecausetheHoodoopractitionerissaidtohaveafootineach
worldthatofthevisibleandthatoftheinvisible.

Hoodooincorporatesbotanicalfolkloreforavarietyofcures,and
practitionersofHoodooarealsoinvolvedindivination.Themostlikely
formoftheHoodoopracticeofdivinationisGypsyfortunetelling,which
utilizesastandardplayingcarddeckinmuchthesamewayasadeckof
Tarotcards.Inruralareas,averyoldformofHoodoodivinationcalled
castingthebonesisused,generallyutilizingchickenorpossumbones.In
someurbanareas,HoodoopractitionersmayalsousedtheTarot,
astrology,ortealeavesfordivination.

TherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenHoodooandVodou,whichmay
accountforsomeoftheconfusionthatarisesbetweenthetwo.Thosewho
practiceHoodooseekcontrolovertheirdailylives.Believersask
supernaturalpowersforassistanceintheirdaytodayconcerns.Like
Vodou,animalpartsandbotanicalsmaybeusedinrituals.Hoodoo
practitionersalsoutilizeblood,semen,andbodilyfluidsfromwomens
menstrualcycles.Contactwithancestorsandthedeadisalsoanimportant
partofHoodooritual.

However,therearealsobigdifferencesinHoodooandVodou.Thelatteris
anestablishedreligiouspractice,butHoodooisnot.Asamatteroffact,the
practicesofHoodoocanbeadaptedtofitintoanyreligiouspractice.
Today,mostAfricanAmericanspracticeaChristianfaith,butsome
incorporateHoodoointotheirdailylives.

WhoPracticesVodouandWhere?
Overall,itisestimatedthatover60millionpeoplepracticeVodou
worldwide.IthasmanyfollowersinAfrica.MostadultsinHaitipractice
Vodou,anditisalsoverycommoninNewOrleans,whereonepreKatrina
estimateputthenumberofadherentsat15%ofalladults.(Thisstatistic
wascitedbyVodouhighpriestessandcouldnotbeverifiedelsewhere,so
takeitwithagrainofsalt.)ItisalsocommoninmostlargecitiesinNorth
America,especiallywhereHaitianrefugeeshavesettled.Letstakealook
atthedifferentareaswhereVodouisprevalent,anddiscussthewaysthe
religionhaschangedineachculture.

AfricanVodou
Itisestimatedthatover30millionpeoplepracticeVodouinthecountries
ofTogo,Ghana,andBenin.InTogo,Vodouhasabouttwoandahalf
millionfollowers,withanothermillionpracticingthefaithamongtheEwe
inGhana.InBenin,intheregionwhereVodougotitsstartmorethan
6,000yearsago,morethan3millionpeoplepracticeVodou.Thisisabout
60%ofthepopulation.Despitetheyearsofrepression,whenademocratic
governmentwasinstalledin1989,Vodoucouldbeopenlyandfreely
practiced.ItwasdeclaredtheofficialreligionofBeninin1996.Also,about
15%oftheoccupantsofBeninwhocallthemselvesChristianalsopractice
Vodou.(Aswelearnedinthesectiononhistory,Vodouisasyncretic
religion.)

WehavelearnedthatVodoubeganinAfricaandmorphedandchangedas
itmovedtoHaitiandtheUnitedStates.SinceAfricaisthecontinentwhere
Vodoubegan,itisusefultolookathowVodouispracticedtheretoday,
becausefromthiswecanstudythecommonalitiesofVodouthroughoutthe
world..VodousharesseveraltraitsincommonwithotherAfrican
religion,includingtheworshipofmultiplegods,ancestorveneration,and
thecentralityofmusicanddancetoceremonyandritual.Theseremain
importanttothepracticeofVodouinAfricanandothercountriestoday.
OtheraspectsofVodouthatremainmuchthesamenomatterwhereitis
practicedincludetheuseofamuletsormagicalobjectsinritual,theuseof
fetisheswhicharemeanttocontainthespiritoftheLoawithin,animal
sacrificestothegods,divinationthroughsuchmeansascastingthebones
orotherphysicalobjects,andthewaythatcertainfoods,colors,andother
likesanddislikesareattributedtospecificLoa.

ThecasualobserverwatchingaVodouceremonyinAfricamaywellthink
thatissimplyacelebrationofsomesort.Vodouritualandceremonyis
centeredaroundmusic,dancingandsingingwithgreatexuberanceand
intensity.CreativityisanunusuallyimportantpartofAfricanVodou,with
everydayobjectssuchasbottlesraisedtosacredstatusandusedinritualby
decorationwithanimalparts,coins,paint,andstring.

AdevoutVodoufollowerinAfricacanenterareligiouscentermuchlikethe
westernworldsmonasteriesandconvents.There,theinitiateslearnthe
foods,colors,rituals,andobjectsassociatedwitheachLoa.Often,initiates
enterathreedayperiodofseclusioninordertodieandbereturnedto
theworldanew.

HaitianVodou
OneofthecommonsayingsyoullrunintoaboutHaitiisthatitis80%
RomanCatholic,20%Protestant,and100%Vodou.Inotherwords,itis
commonforVodoutobepracticedalongsideChristianity,andthisisdone
byaboutfourmillionpeople.VodouinHaitiisasyncreticreligion
anyway,duetothechangesitwentthroughasAfricanslaveslandedonthe
islandandmeldedsomeoftheirownbeliefswiththeCatholicismoftheir
captors.

BecauseAfricansimportedtoHaitiwereforbiddentopracticeVodouand
forcedtoadoptCatholicism,contemporaryVodouinHaitivariesinsome
significantwaysfromthewayVodouispracticedtodayinAfrica.

Firstofall,HaitianVodouoftenutilizednamesofsaintsfortheloa.In
manycases,theroleofthesaintandtheloaalsocorrespond.Forexample,
inCatholicism,SaintPeteristhefamiliargatekeeperofheaven.InHaitian
Vodou,PapaLegbaisthegatekeepertothespiritworldandthisloa
correspondsdirectlytoSaintPeter.Alongthesamelines,theholidaysof
thetworeligionshavealsobeenmelded.TheVodoufestivalcalledGedes
celebratesthesoulsofdeadancestorsandinHaitithistakesplaceonAll
st
SaintsDay,November1 .Evensymbolshavetakenonsimilarmeanings.
ThecrossroadsisanimportantsymbolforVodouadherents,asitsignifies
profoundlifechoicesandchanges.Itcanalsosignifytakingstepsonthe
spiritualVodoupath.ThisequatestotheChristiancross.

Still,despitethesesyncreticdifferences,HaitianVodoustillremainsvery
similartoAfricanVodou.AsinAfrica,priestsandpriestessesarecalled
hounganandmambo,andtheymayapprenticewithVodouleaderstohone
theirpowers.Theywillcelebratetheirritualsathounfours,ortemples.
TheconceptofpossessionisalsoveryimportantinHaitianVodou,asitis
inAfricanVodou.Possessionisnotsomethingtobefearedorshyaway
from.ContrarytotheimagespromotedinpopculturemoviessuchasThe
Exorcist,possessionissomethingthatVodouinitiatesdesire.Itis
consideredasacredblessing,thewaythatthespiritscommunicatewith
theirhumancounterparts.Possessionisthewaytheloaspeaktotheworld,
andtheloasknowledgeisvastandinfinite.

Tobepossessedindicatesyouhavebeenchosenbytheloa,usuallybecause
youareabouttofaceanimportantlifechallenge.Thepersonbeing
possessedisfullyinhabitedbytheloa.Becauseofthisthepossessedis
sometimescalledahorse,anditissaidthatthehorseisbeingriddenbythe
spirit.Thepossessedpersonmaymoveinwaysthatareunusualor
unnaturalforhimorher,orhemayspeakinunfamiliarlanguages.This
phenomenonissimilartothespeakingintonguesofevangelical
Christians.

VodouisanintegralandimportantpartofHaitianculturetoday,andthe
religionoffersadeeplyprofoundlayertothecountrysrichculture.Haitiis
oneofthepoorestcountriesintheworld,andthepoorestcountryinthe
WesternHemisphere.Ithasthethirdhighestrateofhungerintheworld,
behindonlySomaliaandAfghanistan.76%ofthepopulationlivebelowthe
povertyline,withanaveragepercapitaincomeof$400perperson.The
lifeexpectancyinHaitiis53yearsold.Literacyisestimatedatonly48to
52%.Inacountrywheremedicalproblemssuchasmalaria,AIDS,and
limitedaccesstodrinkablewateraredailychallenges,noteveryonehas
timetoworryaboutlearningtoread.

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

SanteriaintheCaribbean
Asmentionedearlier,inotherpartsoftheCaribbeanbesidesHaiti,Vodou
isoftenreferredtoasSanteria.ItisoftencalledTheWayoftheSaints
and,likeHaitianVodou,isanAfroCaribbeansyncreticreligionthatcame
originallyfromNigeria.InSanteria,thespiritsarecalledtheOrisha,and
theyareworshippedthroughceremony,dance,ritualandofferingsin
similarwaystoHaitianVodou.TheOrishaarenumerous,withsome
accountsholdingthenumberashighas401.Liketheloa,theyhavetheir
owncolors,theirownspecialdays,andspecialfoodsanddrinksaswell.
InSanteria,thedivinelegendsoftheOrishaareveryimportant.Theyare
calledthePatakisandaremythswhichrelatestoriesofthereligionand
mansplaceinit.Thesearenottobetakenliterally,butsymbolically.
Manyofthesestorieswerepasseddownfromslaveswhowereforbiddento
writeandthususedthePatakitosharetheSanteriareligion.

SanteriaisoneofthemostformaloftheVodoustrains,andtraditionisof
utmostimportance.ThereisahugeemphasisonconductingSanteria
practicesintheproperway.Danceanddrummingareanimportantpart
ofthereligion,witheachOrishahavingcertainrhythmsandmovements
associatedwiththem.Drumsaresaidtorepresentthememoryandthe
soul.

ThereareseveralstepstoinitiationinSanteria,andthefirstoneismuch
likeatraditionalbaptism.Toreachthehighestlevelsofinitiationin
Santeria,somemuststudyforyears.

ThefinalinitiationinSanteriaiscalledAsiento,anditcanonlybegivenif
andwhentheOrishasayso.ThisAsientoinitiationisasymbolicprocessof
lifeandrebirthasthechildofoneoftheOrisha,towhichtheinitiatewillbe
devotedfortherestofhislife.Afterthisfinalstageoftheinitiation
process,theadherentisnowconsideredapriest.Interestingly,theAsiento
isanexpensiveprocesstogothrough,bothinCubaandintheUnited
States,costingupto$25,000,whichcoversmaterialsfortheritual.This
financialcontributiontakestheplaceofwhatformerlywouldhavebeena
domesticresidenceatanile,orhouse.Theburdenoftakingonthis
financiallyisconsideredtobepartofthesacrificewhichneedstobegiven
inexchangeforthegiftofpowerthatbecomingapriestbrings.

WhiledivinationisimportantinallformsofVodou,itplaysacentralrolein
Santeria,withreadingsbeinggivenforanydecisionofimportance.One
simpleformofdivinationutilizescoconutshells,andisusedforyesorno
answers.Cowrieshellsareusedingroupsofsixteentoforetellthefuture.

Sometimesthisiscalledthrowingtheshells.Theunderlyingthemeof
divinationisthateachpersonhasasacredpathonwhichtowalk,and
deviatingfromthispathiswhatcausesupsetsandtrouble.Ifsuchisfound
tohavebeenthecase,asacrificeofsomesortmaybeinordertorectifythe
situationandgetthepersonbackonthecorrectpath.

SanteriaiswidelypracticedinCuba,despitethecountrybeingofficiallyan
atheiststate.AftertheCubanrevolutionin1959,adherentsofSanteria
werepersecuteduntilaboutthemid1980s.Toleranceforreligionofall
kindsseemstobecomingmorecommoninCubarecently.

SanteriahashitsomeroughpatchesintheUnitedStates,also,inone
instanceacontroversyendingupintheSupremeCourt.Thisinvolveda
caseofanimalsacrificeinHialeah,Florida.Thecitypassedanordinance
preventinganimalsacrificesbytheSanteriabelieverslivingthere.
However,theSupremeCourteventuallyruledthatanimalsacrificein
connectionwithSanteriawaslegal.

VodouinTrinidadandtheWestIndies
VodouontheislandofTrinidad,andonotherWestIndiesislands,has
takenonaslightlydifferentform.Thisisbecausetheslavesthatwere
broughtherewerefromavarietyofdifferentcountriesandtribes,
includingMandingo,Fulbe,Kwakwa,Igboandothers.Thereligionwas
officiallybanishedhere,too.However,itflourishedtodayandisoften
calledShango,forthelordofdrumming,thunder,andfire.Thepantheon
ofspiritshereissimilartothoseofSanteria,buttherearealsoafewthat
areuniquetoShango.Ancestorspiritsarealsoveryimportanthere.
Interestingly,Shangoseemstobeamongthemostsyncreticofallthe
Vodoureligions,withelementsofHinduism,Kabbalah,andother
traditionsmixedin.

InJamaica,Belize,andtheWestIndies,thereisanAfricanderivedbelief
systemcalledObeah.Initsrelianceonbotanicalsandherbs,andthefact
thatmuchofObeahispracticedbyindividuals,itisverysimilarto
Hoodoo.Honoringancestors,divination,andhealingareallverymucha
partofthistradition.AfterthereligionwasofficiallyoutlawedinJamaica
in1760,itspractitionersturnedincreasinglytothedarkersideofsorcery
andhexing.However,inrecentyears,thishaschanged,withObeah
practitionersmakinganefforttoturnthereligioninamorepositive
direction.OneveryimportantpartofObeahisMyaldance,which
originallycamefromWestAfrica.ObeahritualsarecalledMyalism.Inthe
WestIndies,zombiesarecalledduppiesandtheyarefrighteningcreatures

calledfromthedeadtodothebiddingoftheconjurer.BobMarleysang
abouttheduppy,andinJamaica,childrenareurgedtoeattheir
vegetablesortheduppywillcomegetthem!

VodouinBrazil
InBrazil,VodoutakestheformofCandomble,whichhasitsrootsinthe
Orishatradition.OtherimportantstrainsofthereligionareSpiritismand
Umbanda.ThewordCandomblehasmanyconnotations.Itreferstothe
religion,acommunity,aspace,andadance.Thereligionwasfirstnotedin
1807inBahia,BrazilanditisstronglylinkedtoAfrica,withpractitioners
returningtothatcontinentinthe1830stogainmoreknowledge.
Candombleuseswords,danceandmusic.

SpiritismishugelypopularinBrazil,withotheramillionandahalf
adherentsinBrazil,andithashadabiginfluenceonmanyofthereligions
oftheAfricanDiaspora.Spiritismwasrevealedthroughaspiritnamed
AllanKardec.Heinturn,wasrevealedthroughtheFrenchspiritualist
HippolyteLeonDenizardRivail.Thisisareligionwhichbelievesinspirits
andreincarnation.Itrespectsallotherreligionsandiscomplementaryto
theteachingsofJesus.

UmbandaisareligionwhichstartedinBrazilandincorporatesmany
aspectsofotherreligions,includingBuddhistandHinduideas.

NewOrleansVoodoo
NewOrleansVoodoocontinuestoflourishtodayanditisfarfrombeing
justatouristattraction,asmanybelieve.(Note:whilethepreferredspelling
ofthenameofthereligionisVodouinotherareas,inNewOrleansitisstill
spelledVoodoo.)IthasstrongelementsofHaitianVodouandHoodoo
mixedinwithit.InNewOrleans,thedeadarefeltverystrongly.The
spiritsoftheancestorscanbesensedthroughoutthecityandNewOrleans
isjustlyfamousforitscemeteries.Voodoopractitionersvisitthemoften,
leavingofferingsoffood,flowers,andpraise.

ThereisastrongstrainofHoodooinNewOrleansVoodoo,andboth
becomemergedandmeldedwithanoverlayofChristianityinthecity.
JustasinHaiti,prayersaresaidtoCatholicsaints.InNewOrleans,the
bibleisusedfordivination,inaprocesscalledbibliomancy.Thepsalms
areoftenusedinritualsandasmagicalchants!LilithDorsey,inherbook
titled,VodouandAfroCaribbeanPaganism,relateshowstunnedshewas
thefirsttimeaparticipantinaritualbecamepossessedbyJesus.Later,
oneofthehounganrelatedthatthisnotonlyhappensoften,butsometimes

itishardtogetJesustoleave.Seemshelikestohangaroundandgive
sermons.

DivinationisanimportantpartofNewOrleansVoodoo.Priestsusetools
suchastarotdecks,astrology,palmistryandgeomancytoforetellthe
future.Itsnotjustaonceinawhileevent,eitherreadingsareregularly
scheduledtodealwitheveryaspectoflife.Thereareacoupleoftarotdecks
thathavesprungdirectlyfromtheVodoulifeinNewOrleans,andtheyare
usednotonlyfortellingthefuture,butalsoformeditation.Onefavoriteis
theNewOrleansVoodooTarot,codesignedbyPriestLouisMartinieof
theVoodooSpiritualTemple.TheotherauthorisSallieAnnGlassman.
Andofcourse,NewOrleanswouldntbethecityitiswithoutitsmusic.
Blues,jazz,andzydecoallhaveassociationswithVoodoo,andbluessongs
inparticularoftenmentionhoodoointheirlyrics.Musicaficionadosare
familiarwiththestoryofthelegendarymusicianRobertJohnson,who
manyconsidertobethegreatestbluesguitaristever.Itwasrumoredthat
Johnsonsoldhissoultothedevilatthecrossroadsatmidnightinorderto
attainthisstatus.Hehadbeenamediocremusicianatbestwhenhetooka
breakfromplayingthebluesintheearly1930s.Whenhereturned,
however,themancouldsuddenlyplay.Rumorsaboundedthathehadsold
hissoultothedevil.WhatisfarmorelikelyisthatJohnsonmadean
offeringtooneoftheloaatthecrossroadsatmidnight,perhapsPapa
Legba.JohnsonsangaboutHoodoofootpowderandmojoinhissongs,
andthecrossroadsareanimportantHoodooandVoodooimage.

VodouintheUnitedStates
BesidesHoodoointhesoutheast,whichisstillpracticedintheoldways,
andtherichstewofVoodooandHoodoothatthrivesinNewOrleans,there
aremanycommunitieswhereVodouispracticedintheUnitedStates.
HaitianVodougrewsignificantlyintheUnitedStatesduringthe1960sand
1970s,asmanyHaitiansfledthedespoticDuvalierregime.Ittookrootin
manymajorAmericancities,particularlyMiami,Chicago,NewYorkCity,
andothers.

NotonlyVodou,butSanteriaisflourishingintheUnitedStates,withthe
sizeofmanyilesincreasingandtheinfluenceofthereligionreachingthe
mainstreamoverthelastfewyears.

VodouArt
AlltheAfricanderivedreligionshaveastronghistoryoftakingeveryday
objectsandmakingthemintoofferingsorvehiclesofpraisefortheir
variousdeitiesandspirits.Whilebelievertaketheutmostofcarein
preparingtheseitemsforceremonialuse,orforeverydayworshipataltars
andshrines,mostinitiateswouldnotconsiderthemselvestobecreating
art.However,theartworldhasrecentlydiscoveredthebeautyand
exuberanceofmuchVodouart,andanewgenerationofVodouisantshave
beguntoconsciouslycreatesacredart.

LetsbeginbytakingalookatsomeofthesymbolismthatunderliesVodou
art.

Symbolism
Vodouisareligionbasedonancienttraditionsandhasmanyrichsymbolic
associations.Eachloahasuniqueattributesandlikesanddislikes,aswe
haveseen,butbesidesthese,thereareafewsymbolicthemesthatare
importanttoalloftheVodoutradition.Vodouisadeep,complextradition
withmuchrichsymbolismandimagery.Itwouldbeimpossibletodetailall
ofitinonereport.Besides,muchVodouloreandbeliefremainssecretto
theuninitiated.

Twins
TwinsareconsideredsacredinVodou.Theyarethoughttohavetwohalves
ofthesamesoul.Ifonetwindies,itiscommonfortheremainingtwinto
carryatwindollasareceptacleforthemissinghalfofthesoul.Some
strainsofVodouconsidertwinstobesopowerfulthatspecialceremonies
areheldtotheloaDossousothatthetwinswillonlyusetheirpowerfor
good.

TheDivinetwins,theMarassa,arepopularandimportantloawhich
symbolizethebalanceofmaleandfemaleforcesintheuniverse(seemore
abouttheMarassainthesectiononthepantheonoftheloa.

Crossroads
Thecrossroad,orCarrefour,areveryimportantsymbolsinVodouandare
seenrepeatedly.PapaLegbastandsatthecrossroad.Theyareconsidered
tobethepathbetweentherealms,agatewaybetweenthevisibleand
invisibleworlds.SincemuchofVodouritualisaboutunitingthevisible
andinvisibleworlds,youcanseewhythesymbolismofthecrossroadsisso
important.Theyalsorepresentlifechangingchoicesandstepsonthe
spiritualVodoupath.

CatholicSymbols
BecauseVodouisasyncreticreligion,aswehaveseenmanifestina
numberofdifferentways,commonsymbolsinthefaitharederivedfrom
theCatholicChurch.Manyloaareoftenrepresentedinthefamiliar
imageryoftheCatholicsaints,andsomeofthesaintspreferredsymbols
havealsobeentranslatedtoVodou.SymbolsfromtheMasons,including
theubiquitouseye,arealsocommon.

Art
NowthatwevelookedatsomecommonVodousymbols,letsmoveonto
Vodouartasawhole.SacredVodouarthasbecomehighlysoughtafterin
theartworld,anditiseasytoseewhy.WhileHaitiansarenotwealthy,
theyhavealwaysbeenapeopleconcernedwithaesthetics,andevenevery
dayobjectsaremadebeautifulwiththeirhands.Peopleusewhateverthey
haveonhandtocreateamazingcreations.JustasVodouandSanteriahas
syncretizedvariousreligioustraditions,sotoohastheirart.

Drapo
DrapoareritualflagswhichareusedinVodouceremonies.Theyareused
tosummontheenergiesofspecificloaandparadingabouttheceremony
areaatthestartoftheritual.Oftenmadeofsatinorvelvet,theyare
sometimesadornedwithbeadsandappliquandarenearlyalwaysadorned
withsequins.Becauseofthis,theyaresometimescalledsequinflags.The
drapoareintricate,colorfulandbeautifulandtheyhavebecome
soughtafteritemsintheartworld.

Eachdrapoisdedicatedtoaspecificloa,andutilizesthatloascolorsand
symbols.Thedrapoarerichvisualexamplesofthesynthesisofvarious
culturesandreligioustraditions,withtheircontrastingsymbolismand
artistictechniques.Juxtaposingallmannerofideasandimages,theresult
isastartlinglyoriginalartritualartform.

Thedrapoaresometimescalledthepoormansstainedglass.They
usuallymeasurearoundthreefeetsquareandonthissurfacetherecanbe
upto20,000sequins.Sometimestheywillhavefringearoundtheedges.
EachoneissewnbyhandbyVodouinitiates,andwitheverystitchonthe
drapo,aprayertotheloaissaid.Creatingadrapotakesskillandpatience
anddiscipline,andtheircreationisanotherexampleofthepartnership
betweentheindividualandtheloa.

Veve
Aveveisaspecialdesignthatisassociatedwitheachloa.Thesedesignsare

calls,orspiritualchannels,totheloatheybelongto,andtheyserveasa
gatewaybetweentheworldstoallwhocomeintocontactwiththem.There
isalsoaconnotationofastraltravelabouttheveve;theastralpathtravels
betweentheworldofthehumanandtheworldofthedivine.

Althoughvevesarecommonlyreproducedondrapoandothermagical
objects,forceremonies,thedesignisusuallycreatedonthegroundwith
somesortofpowdersubstance,suchascornmeal,flour,ricepowder,
coffee,orredbrickdust.Evengunpowderorbarkcanbeused.Forthe
studentofcomparativereligion,itisinterestingtonotethatthevevebears
quitearesemblancetotheHindupracticeofdrawingkolams,whichare
symbolsofHindudeitiesdrawninriceflour.

Theveveisdrawnsimultaneouslywithtwohands.Thisissymbolicof
reachingequallyintothetwoworldsofthevisibleandinvisible.Itis
consideredanessentialskilltobelearnedbytheVodouinitiate,andthe
moredetailedandcorrecttheveveis,themorepoweritwillhavetodraw
theloa.Thevevesarequitebeautifulandtheyhavebeencalledboth
primalanddivine.

DuringaVodouceremony,participantsdanceintheirbarefeetoverthe
veves.Astheydoso,theyareabsorbingtheasheoftheveveintotheirfeet.
Itthenpassestroughtheirbodyandintotheirsouls.Aftertheceremonyis
over,theveveiscleanedanddeposited

FetishesandMagicalItems
OneveryimportantaspectofHaitianVodouistheuseofclothing,objects
andmedicinebags.Magicalitems,fetishes,andcharmsareusedtoattract
theloa,whoarepleasedbythesetributes.Theseobjectsaredecoratedwith
brightcolorsandshinybeadsorsequinstopayrespecttotheloa.Medicine
bagsaresometimescalledPaketCongo,orCongopacketsandarefilled
withherbsorotherbotanicalswhichwillbeusedinhealing,forcallingin
love,wealth,orformanyotherpurposes.Theseareoftendecoratedwith
sequinsandfeathers.Drums,bells,andrattlesmaybeusedtocallforth
theloainritual.CreativityisatthecoreofVodou,andmanyofthese
devotionalobjectsarenowbeingmadebyHaitianartists,aswehaveseen
already.Theymaydepictspecificloaintheirartorcreateelaborateobjects
foruseinrituals.

Someofthecommonmagicalitemsusedinceremonyincludecalabashes,
whichmaybepaintedwiththeloassymbolandareusedforfoodofferings;
sequindecoratedbottlestohonorthelow;libationbottles,anddolls.
Rattlesareoftenusedinceremoniesandrituals,includingthesacred
asson,whichisagourdrattlecoveredwithbeadsandbones.Theassonis
usethroughouttheceremonyinvariousways,andisoneofthemagical
itemswhichcanonlybeusedbythehounganormambo.
Eachloaalsohasspecialmagicalitemsassociatedwithhimorhersuchas
LegbascaneorOgousmachete.

SacredPractices
AltarsandShrines
AltarsandshrinesareanintegralpartoftheVodoutradition.Theycanbe
privateorpublicaltars.Publicaltarswillbeusedinceremonyandritual.
Privatealtarsaresacredspacesthroughwhichtheindividualcanpray,or
findagatewaytotheinvisibleworldsthatexitwithin.Thedifference
betweenanaltarandashrinecanbeseenthusly:ashrineisapermanent
tributetoaloa,whileanaltaristemporaryandcreatedforaspecific
magicalresult.

InHaiti,altarscantaketheformofthekaymyste,whichisfromaFrench
termmeaninghouseofmysteries.Thekaymysteareseparatebuildings,
likesmall,specialhouses,whicharecreatedasaplacetohousethespirits
sacredtothealtarsbuilder.LikemuchHaitianart,thekaymysteare
createdwithaneyetoaestheticsandaregenerallyquitebeautiful.
Altars,bothpublicandprivate,aredecoratedwithmanykindsofobjects.
MostoftentheseareimagesoftheloaandOrishaandofferingstothem.
Theoveralleffectthevariouselementsonthealtarscreatehasbeencalled
denseopulence.Fabricssuchaslaceorvelvet,flowers,food,bottlesor
potsdecoratedwithsequinsandpaint,streamers,flagsandribbonsare
onlysomeoftheitemswhichmaybeusedtocreateanaltar.Thisrich
mixtureofobjectsandsymbolism,sorepresentativetothereligionitself,
becomesaplacewherethedeitiesinteractwithVodouisants,apointof
contactbetweenthespiritandhumanworlds.

ItisalsointerestingtonotethattheVodouisantmakesliberaluseof
manufactureditemsandthingsothermightconsiderlessthansacred.But
Vodouisnotonlyasyncreticreligion,itisapracticalone,withtheloa
tendingtowardconsiderablyearthlytastes.TotheVodouadherent,arose
mayholdthesamemeaningasbottleofperfume,andjustbecauseoneis
naturalandoneismanmadethatdoesntmakeitbetter.Sometimes
objectsasmundaneasasodabottleorotherpiecesoftrashwillbeused.

Otherpopularchoicesarerocks,feathers,andotheritemsfoundinnature.
TheremayalsobeportraitsofCatholicsaintsdoneinthatreligions
traditionalstyle.Alongthesesamelines,analtarcanbeassimpleasoneor
twoobjectssetoutinaspecificplace,oraselaborateasoneofthekay
mystes,orrooms.

Altarsandshrinesareincrediblyimportantwhenyouconsiderthatagreat
dealoftimeisspentpraying,doingrituals,andgivingofferings.Thereare
usuallydailyprayersandofferingsaswellasweeklytributesandalso
periodicobligationstothehounfour.Theshrinesmustbecleanedand
maintainedregularly,andaltarscreatedaccordingtotheneedsofthe
individualatanygiventime.Thenoninitiatemaybeinterestedtolearn
thataVodouisantcanhavealargenumberofshrinesandaltarssetupall
thetime.

Itisimportanttotreatallshrines,altars,andeveryobjectonthemwiththe
utmostinrespect.Remember,theitemsonthealtarsbelongtotheloaand
arenevertobehandledexceptforceremonialpurposesorcleaning.
Vodouisantsneverplacetheirownfoodordrinknearbyandexpectvisitors
tofollowthesameguidelines.

ShrinesofHaitianVodoutendtobemorefunctionalandlessdecorative
thanthoseofSanteria.Theyarepracticalandutilitarian.

SanteriaShrines
TheshrinesoftheSanteriaaresomeofthemostelaborate,exuberant,and
beautifulintheworld.Asiftoprovethis,sometimestheyarecalledthe
thronesoftheOrisha.Theymayincorporatefountains,oruselotsof
expensivefabric,orcontaintoweringstatues.Inmostprivatehomes,the
shrinewillbesetupinacorner,withyardsofopulentfabricdrapedabove,
around,andovertheshrine.Colorisanintegralelementofallshrines,and
thecorrectonefortheOrishabeinghonoredmustbeused.Ashrinemay
havemultiplelevels,withthefloorlevelholdingfoodandcandles,thena
tablecoveredwithfabric,andfinally,theremaybeincenseburners,more
fabricandevenballoonshangingfromtheceiling.

NewOrleansVoodooShrines
NewOrleansVoodooissteepedinritualshavingtodowithhonoringthe
dead,andbecauseofthis,manyoftheshrinesinthecityconcernthe
venerationoftheancestors.GravemarkersareauniqueartforminNew
Orleans.Techniquesofcollageandmosaicmaybeusedandwithinthese
techniques,anyimaginablematerialmaybeincorporated.Here,altarsand

shrinesmaybespeciallydedicatedtoMarieLaveau.Statuesofhermaybe
foundonshrines,alongwithpicturesofhertomb,andvevescreatedin
tributetotheVoodooQueen.AnotherpopularitemforNewOrleans
shrinesareserpentstanksofsnakesarecommononaltarsallacrossthe
city.

VodouDrummingandDance
Mesmerizingdrumminganddanceisanabsolutelyintegralpartofany
Vodouceremony.Thedrummingisusedtofocustheenergyofthepeople
present.Italsoraisestheirpower.Thiskindofdrummingisnoteasyto
learn,andittakesagreatdealofstudy.Therecanbeasmanyas50
differentrhythmsthatneedtobelearnedbeforeadrummerisdeemed
worthyenoughtodrumfortheloa.Someofthethingsadrummerneedsto
consideraretherhythmsthemselves,interfacingwiththemamboor
houngan,andworkingwiththehounsis,orassistantsanddancers.Inthe
Vodouceremonies,thereisalwaysastrongconnectionbetweenthe
drummersandthedancers.Somehavesaiditisalmostlikethereisan
astralcordrunningbetweenthehandsofthedrummersandthefeetofthe
dancers.DuringVodouceremonies,thedrummingandthedancing
becomesacred.

Therearethreedrumsthatareplayedfortherituals.Thesearethe
Maman,theSegunda(alsocalledtheSeconde),andthePetit,(orBoulah).

TheMamanrepresentsVenusandtheMoon,theSegundarepresentsthe
SunandMars,andthePetitrepresentsMercury.TheMamanisthemain
drum,withtheSegundabeingthesecond,andthePetitbeingthesmallest.
InVodou,therearepreciseandspecificrhythmstocalleachspecificloa.
Oftenrhythmswillutilizethenumberthree,whetherindrumbeatsor
dancesteps.ThisistocallforththeHolyTrinityoftheFather,theSon,and
theHolyGhost,whichwassyncretizedfromCatholicisminthe
AfroCaribbeanreligions.However,thereisanothermeaning,also,and
thatisBondye(God),theloa(sons)andtheancestors(holyspirits).
Danceisusedasameanstogetoutsidethebody.Smallrepetitive
movementsareused,whichcanbringaboutaheightenedstateor
consciousness.Assthedancerslistentothedrummerscallingforththe
specificloa,theylosethemselvesintherhythmsinorderthattheloamay
overtaketheirbodies.

Whenthevariousloamanifest,theydosoinwaysthatareindicativeof
theirpersonalitiesandpreferences.Erzulie,thegoddessofLove,isshyand
coquettishandmaymoveinastylized,uncertainstyle.Sometimes,too,
shemanifestsastheflirtatiousonewhoonlywantstodancewithasmany
menaspossible.Orshemaycomeoutasaconcernedmother,chaperoning
herchildren.GranBois,thespritofnature,dancesthewayatreemight,
withdefinite,forceful,steps.Ogou,thewarrior,alsomanifestsindifferent
ways.Hecanbethewildyounghunterandwarrior,dancingandleaping
aboutthehounfour,orhecanbeascalmandcenteredasthedignified
diplomat.

AndthenthereisBaron,thefatherofallthedead,theguardianofthe
cemeteries,theplacewherethelivinganddeadmeet.Hisroleinceremony
istoremindusoftheroleofsexualityandthephysicalinourlives.Baron
doesarandydancefullofpelvicthrustsandexplicitmovements.Theres
noquestionwhatsonBaronsmindwhenhedances!Thisdanceiscalled
theBanda,anditisalsousedatfunerals.

AnotherpopularritualdanceistheYanvalou,whichisdancedtohonorthe
serpentDamballa.Asyoumightimagine,thisdanceisperformedwith
undulationsandgrinds,inaveryserpentinemanner.Interestingly,there
isamovementperformedatacertainpointinthedancethatissaidtohave
beenusedbyslavesasasignalforrevolt.Thismovementappearstobea
swiftbeheading.TheYanvalouisassociatedwithMamanBrigitte,is
practicedinthreequartertimeandispopularinNewOrleans.

Besidescallingforthvariousloa,therearealsodancesassociatedwitheach
nanchon,orfamilylineage.Danceanddrummingservethepurpose,in
Vodouceremony,ofallowingtheparticipantstomoveoutoftheir
constantlychatteringmindsandintoaconnectionwiththeInfinite.In
Vodou,thisInfiniteisseenastheGodenergyofBondye,theultimateGod,
andatthesametimetoconnectwiththeirinnatenaturalAshe.The
followersofVodoubelievethatthisispossiblebecausedrummingand
dancingcarriesthespiritofhealingwithin.

Magic,SpellCastingandRituals
Theessenceofmagicandspellcastingisthatspiritualpowerisraisedover
timethroughofferings,ritualsandinitiations.Thismaybedone
individually(asisusuallythecaseinthehoodootradition)orinagroup
setting,whichiswhathappensinVodouandSanteria.But,becauseofthe
powerandintensityofthework,itisnotrecommendedforbeginnersand
mostmagicisreservedforinitiates.Thereareonlyafewtypesofrituals

andspellsthatwillbesuitableforthenoninitiate,andmostVodouisants
wouldstronglyurgethosewithagenuineinteresttoseekfurther
instructionwithahounganormambo.

Welltakealookatsomeoftheritualsthatcanbedonebyabeginning
solitarypractitioner.

CleansingBaths
VodouandSanteriahaveastrongemphasisoncleanlinessandcalm.They
taketheoldsaying,cleanlinessisnexttogodlinesstoheart.Theloa
Erzulieisespeciallyconcernedwiththesematters.IntheAfroCaribbean
religioustraditions,theritualofacleansingbathisoftenused,particularly
inSanteria,whenmagicalbathsaretakenformanypurposes.Anotherway
toevokethecalmingeffectsofwateristositquietlyforanhourwithaglass
ofwaterandalitwhitecandle.Oftenvariousherbsorsaltsoroilswillbe
addedtobaths,toinvokespecificstatesofmindoreffectchangesinlife.
Forinstance,abathtocreateopportunitywillutilizecoconutwater,basil
oil,andvanillaextract.Forphysicpower,combineparsleyandsandalwood
oilandsage.Thisisbestdoneatthenewmoon.

Forthegreatesteffectiveness,bathsshouldbeadministeredbyahoungan
oramambo.Thewaythisworksisthatthepriestwillidentifywhatthe
initiateneedsordesiresinhisorherlife.Thehounganwillthenallow
himselftobecomepossessedbytheloaandadministerthebath.Abath
mightbegiventohealillness,toeradicatenegativity,ortoincreaseluckor
opportunity,amongmanypossibilities.Eachhounganormambowillhave
theirownspecialstylesofadministeringthemagicalbaths.Ifherbsare
involved,itisusuallyconsideredbestifthepersongivingthebathgathers
them.Iftheherbsarenotavailablelocally,theymaybepurchasedata
Botanica,whichisastorethatsuppliesSanteriaandVodoupractitioners.

Vevemagic
Vevemagicisusedinconjunctionwithspellsalso.InboththeHaitian
VodouandtheNewOrleansVoodootraditions,spellsarealwaysperformed
byahounganormambo,andalmostalwaystheyaredoneinresponsetoa
specificdifficultyorcertainsituation.Perhapsaloaneedstobehonoredto
redressawrong,andsoforth.Aspellmightbeusedtostrengthena
connectiontoaloa,andinthiscase,avevewillbedrawntofacilitatethis.
Thevevecanbedrawnonpaperandcarriedasatalisman.Someone
lookingforlovemaycarrytheveveforErzuliewiththem,forinstance.
Pleasebearinmindthattheseriousseekershouldcontactahounganor
mamboforspecifichelp.


Candlespells
ManyofthespellsusedinVodouandSanteriautilizecandlestoboosttheir
effectiveness.Anallpurposecandleisawhitesevendaycandle,whichcan
beusedformanydifferentspells.Usuallyoilsorherbsorotherthingswill
beaddedtothecandleinordertopersonalizethespelltoaspecific
purpose.Thecandlesandothersuppliesareavailableatanonlineorlocal
Botanica.

Anexampleofasimplecandlespellusedforopeningopportunitiesto
successfollows:Addapinchofpipetobacco,coffee,andadropofcoconut
oiltoaredsevendaycandle.Asyoulightthecandleeverymorning,think
aboutachievingyourgoalsandwalkingalongtheroadofopportunity.
Whenyouextinguishthecandle,dosowithyourfingers,inorderto
preservethecandlespower.Continuethisdailyuntilyoufeelyouhave
beensuccessful.

Pleaseheedthisimportantreminderwhenworkingwithcandles:donot
leavecandlesunattended.Anditisalsoimportanttorememberthat
workingwithcandlespellsundertheguidanceofahounganormambois
farandawaythemosteffectivechoice.Italsoneedstobepointedoutthat
theinternetisfilledwithsitesofferingmagicalcandlekits,inmuchthe
samewayasVoodoodolls(seebelow)arehawked.Thesearelikelytohave
littleeffect,astheyarecreatedformassconsumptionandVodouisavery
personalreligion.Magicalandcandlespellsarefarmoreeffectivewhen
theyaredesignedwiththepersonsspecificprobleminmind.Further,
throughconsultationwithahounganormambo,itmightwellbefoundthat
theproblemisslightlydifferentthanoriginallythought,andthusa
differentspellwillbeneeded.

Grisgris
Grisgrisbagsareherbalbundlescreatingformagic.Manyscholarsbelieve
thewordhasitsrootsintheWestAfricawordjuju,whichmeansfetishor
sacredobject.Theyarewornaroundtheneckorsomeotherpartofthe
body,andareespeciallypopularintheHoodootraditionsandNewOrleans
Voodoo.Itissaidthatatonetime,everypoliceofficerinthecitycarrieda
grisgrisbagforprotection.OtherpopularusesofthebagsinNewOrleans
includeattractingmoneyandlove(theuniversaldesires,itseems!),
protection,goodhealthorstoppinggossip.

Thegrisgrisbagismadeofflannelorsilk,andassembledatanaltarwhich
containsthefourelements:saltforearth,incenseforair,acandleflamefor
fireandwater.Ingredientsareneveranevennumberandnevermorethan
thirteen.Vodouisantsmayalsoplacestoneswhichcorrespondwith
astrologicalsignsintothegrisgrisbag.Thebagsaremeanttobewornfor
aslongasnecessarytoaccomplishthedesiredresult.Whenthishas
happened,thebagisdisposedofbyburyingitunderalargetree.

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

ThefamousVoodooQueenMarieLaveauisrumoredtohavecarrieda
grisgrisbagcontainingbone,coloredstones,graveyarddust,andsaltand
pepper.AnotherlegendaryMarieLaveaugrisgriscontainedadried
oneeyedtoad,thefingerofablackpersonwhohadcommittedsuicide,a
driedlizard,acatseye,batswings,anowlsliverandaroostersheart.All
thiswaswrappedintheshroudofsomeonewhohadbeendeadfornine
days.

Gamblersusedtocarrygrisgrisbagsholdingalodestoneoramagnet,
whichattractedgoodluck.Whenwhitemastersmistreatedtheirslaves,
theymightbeapttofindagrisgrisfilledwithblackpepper,saffron,salt,
gunpowder,andpulverizeddogmanure.

Anoldexpression,puttingagrisgrison,referredtousingoneofthebags
tobringmisfortunetoanotherperson.Onewaytogetridofapersonwas
tofillagrisgriswithgunpowderorgroundboneandthrowitattheirdoor.
Ifsomeonewasleftagrisgrisfilledwithgunpowder,itmeantthathewas
notinfavorwiththehoungansortheloas.

Youcanseebyreadingthesedescriptionswhatamazingcombinationshave
beenputtogetherinthegrisgris,anditonlytakesasmallleaptoimagine
howpowerfultheymightbe.

NewOrleansPublicVoodooRituals
VoodooritualsareanacceptedandcommonpartofliveinNewOrleans,
andtherearesomeinterestingvarieties.Oneofthemostpowerfulisthe
HurricaneProtectionRitual,whichisheldeachJuly.MamboSallieAnne
GlassmanperformsthistohonortheloaErzulieDantor,andaskforher
protectionfromthesestorms.Offeringsincludefriedpork,cornandegg
omelets,andcandiessuchasRedHotsandHotTamales,rum,whiskey,
andcigars.

MamboSallieandhergrouphavebeenperformingthis
ritualforeightyears,keepingthecityprotected.Some
pointtothemassivedestructionofHurricaneKatrina
asproofthattheritualdidntwork,howeverthisisnot
true,becauseatthelastminuteKatrinatookaturnand
struckeastofthecity.Becauseitwasnotadirecthit,
thehurricanedamagethatresultedwasnotassevere
asitwouldhavebeen.Thedestructionthatdidoccur
happenedbecauseoffloodingandtheineptitudeofman.

AnotherpopularceremonyconductedbyMamboSallieAnnGlassmanis
theMarieLaveauheadwashingritual.ThistakesplaceonJune23,St.
JohnsEve.MarieLaveauperformedapublicritualonthisdate,and
MamboSalliecommemoratesthisandcelebratessummerwithherritual.
Everyoneinattendanceisinvitedtoshareinthepowerfulashethatresults.
OfferingsforMarieLaveauincludetoolstohonorhertradeofhairstyling,
whitecandles,whitescentedflowers,coconutcakes,cigarsandrum.
TodaysNewOrleansVoodooQueenisQueenBianca,whorulesindirect
lineagefromMarieLaveau.QueenBiancaoffersaritualtwiceyearlyto
blessandchargetheMonkeyandCockstatuethatwerecreatedinMaries
honor.QueenBiancaalsopresentsregulardrummingritualsinsecret
locationsaroundthecity.DuringHurricaneKatrina,Biancaandher
followerskeptupadrumritualthroughtheheightofthestorm.The
hurricaneturnedatthelastminuteandthecitywassparedthebruntofthe
storm.

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

CommonMisconceptionsandMyths
TherearemanypopularmisconceptionsaboutthesacredreligionofVodou
andthefolkpracticeofhoodoo.Hollywoodandthemediahavepickedup
obscureortrivialaspectsofthereligionandusedthesefortheirown
purposes.Thisisfine,butunfortunately,itisthesesimagesthatstickin
peoplesminds.ProbablythemostmisunderstoodaspectsofVodouare
Vodoudolls,zombies,andanimalsacrifices.

VoodooDolls
VoodoodollsaresoassociatedwithVodouthattheyhavetakenonthe
nameofthereligion.Infact,thetraditionofusingVoodoodollsinritual
andasafocusofintentioniscommontheworldover,inmanycultures.
WhenitcomestoVodou,though,theVoodoodollisactuallyaveryminor
partofthereligion.ItfiguresmorestronglyinNewOrleansVoodoo,with
itsstronghoodooinfluence,andsomehavespeculatedthatthepracticeof
stickingpinsinadollsbodytodoharmwaspracticedbyslavesin
retaliationagainsttheirowners.

Theexactoriginsofthisareunclear.Suchapracticehasabackgroundin
Europeanfolkmagic.Thepracticeofusingadollorsimilarobjecttosend
spiritenergyisalsocommonthroughouttheworld.TheOjibwaIndiansof
NorthAmericahaveatraditionofstickingarrowsinthewoodenimageofa
persontowhomtheywishharm.Iftheywantthatpersontodie,theybury
theimageintheground.Peruviansfashionhumanimagesinfatandgrain
andburnit.Thisisbelievedtodestroyandenemyssoul.InMalaysia,wax
modelsaremade.Nailandhairclippingsfromtheintendedvictimare
addedtothewax.Everynightforsevennights,thedollisscorchedin
flames,untilontheseventhnighttheentiremodelisburnedwhilethe
sorcererchants.Thisiswhentheenemydies.

Itisverycommonforrevengeandretaliationtobedirectedinthiswayin
culturesallaroundtheworld.SorcerersinIndia,Babylon,Egypt,Greece
andRomedealtwithenemiesthiswaythousandsofyearsago.Such
practiceshavecontinuedintomoremoderntimesinAustralia,Scotland,
andAfrica.

Itiscurious,then,thatwiththepracticesocommoninothercultures,yet
notsomuchinVodou,thattheVoodoodollhascometobesoseriously
associatedwithVodounlifeinthemindsofsomany.InbothHaitiand
NewOrleans,theuseofadollisconsideredtobeweakmagic.Itisthought
thatthebokorshouldhaveenoughashetocastspellswithoutresortingtoa
doll.Acoupleoftheoriesmayhelpexplainthis.

InHaitianVodou,powerobjectsarecalledpwen,andwouldbedistinct
fromtheclassofmagicalsurrogatesthatVoodoodollsrepresent.Thereis
alsothetraditionofthepoppetadollordolllikeobjectwhichisnailedto
atreeorpostinordertoactasamessengertotheunderworld.Sometimes,
too,plasticbabydollsareincludedonaltarsinrituals.

Whendollsorsimilarrepresentationsareused,itwillbedoneforthe
purposeoffocusingattentionandintention.Thinkofhowyoufeelwhen
youseeanimageofalovedoneyourattentionisplacedonit.Insimplest
terms,theimagebringsthelovedonetomind.Thisisalsothecasewhena
bokorusesadollinaritual.Firsthewillfocusattentionontheintended
recipientoftheritualthroughtheuseofthedoll.Next,hewillconcentrate
ontheintentionhehasforthatperson.Thisisnotusuallydoneforharm.
Healingcanbeaccomplishedinthismannerwiththehealingintentplaced
uponthesickpersonseffigy.Thisritualisconsiderablystrongerwhenthe
effigyisenhancedwithpersonalitems,suchasjewelryorclothing,or
betteryet,bodilypartssuchasnailclippingsorhair.Theeffigycanalsobe
manipulatedforthesakeofhealing.Iftheintendedrecipienthasbrokena
leg,forinstance,theeffigyslegwillbeboundtosignifyattaining
wholeness.

OneimportantaspectofVodouistoalwaysconsiderthesourceofthe
disease.Thusiftheclienthassufferedillnessbecauseofamagicalattack,
thehounganwillasktheloaorcheckhisdivinationsystemtolearnwhois
responsible.Themostcommonresponseistosendtheblackmagicbackat
thepersonwhoinitiatedtheattack.

Inhisbook,VodouShaman,RossHeaventellsthestoryofafriendwho
hadbeenattackedbyabokoractingonbehalfofanexgirlfriend.The
friendendedupwithboilsalloverhisleftsideandhisface.Heconsulteda
bokor,whowasabletodivinethenameoftheattackerthusly:thepriest
hadthefriendwritedownthenamesofeveryonewhomightwishhim
harmandplacethemontinystripsofpaperinabottle.Thebokorthen
heldawholeeggovertheneckofthebottle.Afteraminute,thepriesthad
thevictimcracktheeggandthereinthemiddleoftheshellwasthename
oftheattacker.Oncethehealerlearnedthenameoftheattacker,hewas
abletosendthebadenergyback.ThenexttimeHeavensfriendsawthe
exgirlfriend,shehadboilsallovertheleftsideofherface!

Itisnotnecessary,orevencommon,forsuchattacksandritualstobedone
solelywithdolls.Photographscanbeused,somethingthatthepersonhas
givenyou,orsomethingapersonhaswrittensuchasaletter.Allofthese
thingscontainyourashe,andsoitisimportantnottoleaveitemsbehind
whenyoubreakoffarelationship.

TodayVoodoodollsarecommonlypeddledasgoodlucktokensandwaysto
getotherstodoyourbidding.Doasimplesearchontheinternetandyoull
comeupwithdozensofsitespurportingtosellpowerfulVoodoodolls.
YoullfindVoodoodollsforlove,luck,money,goodhealth,orevenall
purposedolls!ManyofthesedollsaresupposedlyblessedbyNewOrleans
Voodoopractitioners.YoucanevenfindvirtualVoodoodollsiteswhere
youcantortureavirtualimage.

And,itseemsthateverythingoldisnewagain,asrecentnewsreportstellof
howVoodoodollshavebecometherageinChina.Thecountryhasalong
historyofbeliefincursesandblackmagic..Thegovernmentbecame
concernedwiththepoliticalimplicationsofthedollsandhadthembanned
inApril.Butdespiteorbecauseofthatban,thedollsarenowincredibly
popularwithteensandothers.

ThegoodnewsforadherentsofVodouisthatsomeofthesiteswhichhawk
VoodoodollsalsofeaturearticlesaboutvariousaspectsofVodou,including
thefactthatVoodoodollsarenotgenerallyusedinVodoupractice.
Hopefullythiswillhelpinthecontinualquesttoeducatethepublicabout
thetruenatureofVodou.

Zombies
Heresthesectionmanyofyouhavebeenwaitingfor.Zombieshave
becomeincrediblypopularintheculture,withthemoviesofGeorge
Romero(NightoftheLivingDeadandmanyothers)attainingcultstatus.
Other,morerecentfilms,suchas28DaysLaterand28WeeksLateralso
touchonthezombiephenomenon.Anentiremystique(inmanycases
tongueincheek)hasgrownuparoundzombies,withwebsitesdevotedto
reanimationpreventionandcontrol,andthelike.Zombiesdohavetheir
rootsinVodou,butthetraditionofHaitianzombiesbearslittle
resemblancetothecurrentpopularimage.Thetruthaboutzombiesisfar
morecomplexandfascinating.

Formanypeople,zombiesandVodouareintricatelyconnected,andwhen
yousaythewordVodouthefirstthingthatcomestomindarezombies.
Butwhat,exactly,isazombie?Thetechnicaldefinitionisthatitisan
animatedbodydevoidofasoul.Zombiesaremostoftenreanimatedfrom
thedead.Theyaretheundead,existinginadarkstatesomewherebetween
lifeanddeath.

Nobodyiscertainoftheexactoriginofthewordzombie,butseveral
possibilitiesincludejumbie,theWestIndiantermforghost,and
nzambiwhichistheCongowordforspiritofthedead.InVodou,a
zombieisreanimatedbythebokor,orsorcererofblackmagic.Zombies
willhavenowilloftheirownandhencewillremainundercontrolofthe
sorcererorconjurer.Apparently,zombiesareharmlessunlesstheyarefed
salt,whichrestorestheirsenses.Andthenwatchout!

ZombiesareacommonthemeinHaitianfolkloreandculture,andthishas
beenwelldocumented.ZoraNealeHurston,thefamousAfricanAmerican
writer,wasalsoafolkloristwhodidalotofresearchintoindigenous
cultureandcustoms.ShevisitedHaitiinthe1930storesearchVodouand
wroteabookcalled,TellMyHorse:VodouandLifeinHaitiandJamaica.
InthebookshetellsthetaleofFeliciaFelixMentor,whohaddiedand
beenburiedin1907attheageof29.However,afterherdeathandburial
shewasseenrepeatedlywanderingthestreets.Hurstonmaintainedthatif
scienceevergottothebottomofthesecretsofVodou,manyimportant
medicalsecretswouldberevealed.Hurstonherselftriedtouncoverthe
secretsofthezombies,includingchasingrumorsthattheyhadbeenfed
powerfuldrugs,butwasunabletofindanycredibleinformation.

Countlessresearchersandanthropologistshaverunintothesameproblem.
Chasingstoryandrumorofzombies,theyfoundlittleevidenceto
documentthephenomenon.Inmanycases,thesocalledzombieshad
receivednodocumentedmedicalcarebeforetheirdeaths.Thismeantthat
investigatorscouldnotfullyruleoutcasesofmistakenidentityorfakery.
Thatbegantochangein1980,withthefascinatingcaseofClairvius
Narcisse.HeappearedinaHaitianvillage,claimingtohavediedatthe
AlbertSchweitzerhospitalinDeschapelle,Haiti,onMay2,1962.Theman
describedhisdeath,andhowhehadbeenconsciousbutparalyzed,even
rememberingthesheetbeingplacedoverhishead.Heclaimedthat
subsequentlyabokorbroughthimbacktolife.

MedicalrecordsboreNarcissesclaimsout,andsodidanecdotalevidence.
Heansweredquestionsabouthischildhood,hislifeandhisfamilythat
nobodyelsecouldhaveknown.ScientistsconsideredNarcissethefirst
potentialevidenceofarealzombie,andeventuallyfamilyandfriends
concludedhehadbeenraisedfromthedead.

ThisincidentwastheimpetusforTheZombieProject,ascientific
investigationintozombiesthattookplaceinHaitibetween1982and1984.
Duringthistime,theanthropologistandethnobotanist,Dr.WadeDavis,
visitedHaiti.He,too,waseagertodiscoverscientificproofofzombies.
Daviswasoperatingonthetheorythatadruginducedthezombiestate,
justasZoraNealeHurstonhadsuspectedbackinthe30s.And,asHurston
believed,Davisalsofeltthatifsuchadrugcouldbefound,itmighthave
promisingmedicaluses.DavisstudiedtheHaitiansassertionsthatabokor
conjuredzombiesbycapturingthetibonange.However,Davisalsofound
thatthebokorsusedconcoctionsintheformofgroundplantandanimal
partsintheirrituals.Daviscollectedsamplesofthiszombiepowderin
variousareasthroughoutHaitiandfoundthatwhiletheingredientsvaried,
thereweresomecommonalities.

Thefourcommoningredientswerethemarinetoad,thehylatreefrog,
humanremains,andthepufferfish,whichisasourceoftetrodotoxin.This
istheexactsamelethalpoisonwhichisfoundintheJapanesedelicacy
calledfugu,whichcomesfromthepufferfish.Inthehandsofachefwho
knowswhatheisdoingfuguisconsideredaluxuriousdelicacy.Butifthe
pufferfishisnothandledcarefully,toohighadoseoftetrodotoxincanbe
releasedandtheresultscanbefatal.

Atveryhighdoses,thepowderfrompufferfishcanputapersonintoa
neardeathstatefordays.Whileinthisstate,theafflictedpersonstill
appearstobeconscious.Theothercrucialingredientforcreatingzombies,
Davisfelt,camefromthedaturaplant,andcausedthepersontoappearto
havenowillorhisorherown.DavistheorizedthatHaitiansmightbe
influencedbytheircultureandbeliefsystemtofeeltheyhadbeenmade
intoazombiebythebokor,wheninrealitytheyhadsimplybeenpoisoned.
Davispopularizedhistheoriesintwobooks,TheSerpentandtheRainbow,
andThePassageofDarkness.However,muchofhisworkhasbeendiscredited
forseveralreasons.Hisethicshavebeenquestioned,duetoseverallapses,and
hisexperimentshavebeenfoundtolackcontrolsandproperscience.
WhilesomepeopleagreewithDavissconclusions,manydismissitas
unscientificorfraudulent.

Recentanecdotalevidencefrominitiatessupportsthetheorythatdrugscan
begiventopeopletoputtheminazombielikestate.RossHeaven,a
BritishVodouadherentandoneofthefirstwhiteEuropeanmalestobe
initiatedintothepriesthood,writesthefollowinginhisbook,Vodou
Shaman:TheHaitianWayofHealingandPower:
Thetoxinsusedinzombificationareeffectiveandsimpletodeliverinfood
ordrink,oreventhroughtheskin.Yougetsick,weak,andthenvitalsigns
prettymuchstop.Youarealivethroughoutthisbutyouareunableto
showit,trappedinalivingdeathfromwhichthereisnoescapewithoutthe
interventionofthesorcererhimself,theonepersonwhoknowsyouarestill
alive.Sometimes,inthisparalyzedstate,youareburiedalivesothatthe
sorcerercandigyouupafewdayslater,inaspectaculardisplayofhisown
Power.Bringingthedeadbacktolife.Yousurvivetheburialbecauseyour
nervoussystemissuppressedandyourbodydoesntneedsomuchoxygen,
butyourmind,yourwill,andyoursoularegone,lostsomewhereinadark
placeofshockandfear.Isitanywonderthatacountrybornofslaveryisso
adeptatcreatingslaves?

So,asyoucansee,thehistoryofzombiesinHaitiandVodouiscomplex
andfascinating.Itisalsousefultotrackhowzombieshavebeenpresented
inpopularculture,becauseHollywoodisgreatlyresponsibleformuchof
ourmisconceptionsofthesacredreligionofVodouintoahorrorsideshow.
Zombiesappearedinmoviesasearlyas1919,butGeorgeRomeroismost
oftencreditedwithstartingthepopculturezombiecrazewiththereleaseof
NightoftheLivingDeadin1968,andseveralotherfilmssincethen.Inthe
firstDeadmovie,zombiestookontheirnowfamiliarpersonasas
slowmoving,flesheatingcorpses.Toexplainhowtheybecame
reanimated,themoviecreatedastorylineaboutradiationonasatellite
returningfromVenusraisingthecorpsesfromthedeadveryunVodou
like.Inthisfirstfilm,thezombieshadnointelligenceandhadminimal
capabilityofusingtools.Inlatermovies,thischangedsomewhat,withthe
zombiesacquiringalimitedselfawarenessandsomecapabilityofthought.
Theonlywayazombiecouldbekilledwasthroughdestructionoftheir
brainsortheseparationoftheirheadsfromtheirbodies.

Romerosfilmshaveestablishedzombietropeswhichnearlyallother
movieseithermimicorpayhomageto.InHollywoodmythology,zombies
arereanimatedduetoradiation,viruses,chemicals,actsofGod,orsorcery.
Zombiesarestrongandslow;impervioustopainandinjury(exceptforthe
allimportantinjurytothebrainordecapitation);relentlessintheir
compulsiontokillandeat,andafraidoffireandbrightlights.

Itisworthnotingthatin1988thedirectorWesCravenmadethefilmThe
SerpentandtheRainbow,basedonWadeDavissbookofthesamename.
Thiswasafilmwhichproposedbothscientificandsupernaturaltheories
aboutzombiesandwasthefirstandonlyVodouthemedzombiemovie.It
wasrelativelywellreviewed.

NowitistimetoturnourattentiontotheotheraspectofVodouthatis
seriouslymisunderstoodandmisinterpretedanimalsacrifice.

AnimalSacrifice
Onceagain,theconceptofsacrificehaslittle,ifanythingtodowiththe
commonrepresentationsweareaccustomedtoseeinginfilmsandthe
media.InVodou,sacrificesofvariouskindsarereferredtoasfeedingthe
spiritsormanjeloa.Notonlyaresacrificesloveofferingstotheloa,they
arealsoanodtothepartnershipthatexistsbetweenyouandthespiritsa
partnershipofenergeticexchange.Basically,asacrificeisanofferingan
offeringyougivefreely,withtheexpectationofreceivingsomethingin
return.

AnimalsacrificeisapartofVodouculture.However,itisarelativelysmall
partoftheoverallpictureofsacrifices.Ingeneral,manyofthesacrificial
offeringstheloapreferarenotoftheanimalvariety.Manyoftheloalike
riceorbananasorchickenorherring.Someofthemwouldevenprefer
rumorcigars!Whenanimalsacrificeisinvolved,beawarethatitisalways
treatedveryseriously.Neverisasacrificetakenlightly.AsLilithDorsey
saysinherbook,VodouandAfroCaribbeanPaganism,Iusuallyask
peoplethatiftheirchildorparentwerediagnosedwithafatalillnessand
theonlywaytocurethemwaswithmedicinemadefromananimalsource,
wouldtheyrefusethetreatment?

Animalsacrificeisdonetodealwithseriousproblemsinthecommunity.
Whenananimalissacrificed,thepriestactuallyendsupdoingbattlewith
itsspirit.LilithDorseynotesthatitisnotunusualforpriestsand
priestessestodieinthemiddleofritualsundermysteriouscircumstances.
Itisalsoimportanttonotethatafterthesacrifice,themeatiscookedand
sharedwiththecommunityandthisisareaswherefoodisoftenscarce.
Manypeopleroutinelyeatmeatwithoutasecondthought,yetrecoilatthe
ideaofanimalsacrifice,whentherereallyisnotabigdifferencebetween
thetwopractices.Alsobearinmindthatanimalsacrificeisanancient
practicewhichhasappearedatonetimeoranotherinnearlyallcultures.

TheDarkSideofVodou
MuchofwhatwouldbeconsideredthedarksideofVodoucanbe
attributedtowesternbias.Aswehaveseen,Hollywoodandthemediahave
sensationalizedsomeaspectsofVodou,suchaszombiesandVoodoodolls,
whichreallyhavelittletodowiththereligion.Somepeoplecalltherituals
mumbojumbo,mockingthemaslittlemorethanpageantry.

Peoplehaveassociatedthefaithwithevil,andthoughtthatVodouisantsare
Satanworshippers.Itiscommonifpeopledontunderstandsomethingfor
themtomockit.And,thefactthattheindenturedstatusoftheslaveswho
broughtthereligiontothenewworldsmeantmuchofitwaspracticedin
secretandsecrecyoftenbreedsfear.And,itmustbesaid,thatsome
aspectsofVoodoothatareunfamiliartotraditionalWesternreligionsmake
peopleuncomfortable.Addtothefactthatsomeofthemostimportant
aspectsofVodouareconsideredtabooinotherculturesandreligions,and
itiseasytoseehowthemisconceptionshavegrownup.

Animalsacrificeisdeeplydisturbingtosomepeopleevenpeoplewhoeat
meatthathasbeenslaughteredwithnoqualms.Eventhoughanimal
sacrificehasbeenapartofmanymajorreligions,itisnolongercommon
today.Vodouisoftenassociatedwithsnakes,withoneofthemost
powerfulloa,Damballa,especiallycloselyassociatedwithserpents.These
creaturesaredeeplydisturbingtomanypeople.Theideaofpossessionis
alsomisunderstoodandfeared.

Alsodistastefultosomeistheuseofbodilyfluidssuchasbloodandsemen
inritual.Theuseofbloodcanbeahealthhazardifnotcarefullycontrolled.
Also,manyVodouleadersinruralareas,aswellashoodoopractitioners,
oftenofferfolkcuresthatmodernmedicinemaynotagreewith.
Allofthesepointscanandarerefutedbymoderndayadherentsand
practitioners.ThroughoutthisreportwehaveseenthetruthofVodouasa
deeplyprofoundyetpracticalreligionwhosefollowersbenefitfromitona
daytodaybasis.Itmustbesaid,though,thatthereisadarksidetosome
Vodoupractices.

WhiletheHounganandMambosperformwhitemagicforthebenefitof
theirpeople,therearealsothosewhoperformblackmagic.Thesesorcerers
aresometimescalledCaplatasorBotonoorBokors.

RitualsdesignedtodoharmfallintothecategoryofBo.Mostanthropologists
believethatBoisaseparatesystemfromVodou.However,itisalsothoughtthat
manyhounganandmambolearnBoinordertounderstandhowtocombatitwhen
necessary.Some,butonlyaveryfew,ofthehounganalternatebetweenwhiteand
blackmagic.

TheVoudounLife
HowYouCanUseitsSimpleUniversalTruths
Bysomeaccounts,thereareovertwohundredmillionpractitionersof
variousformsofVodouintheworldtoday.Estimatessaythereligionis
growingbytwohundrednewpractitionersaday,makingitoneofthe
fastestgrowingreligionsintheworld.

PerhapsthisisbecausethepracticeofVodouoffersadifferentwayof
lookingattheworld.IntheVodounlife,powerisnotsomethingthat
comesfromthegovernmentoraninstitution.Instead,powerisamarkof
howwellanindividualcanworkwiththeloa.Iftheyareefficientat
harnessingtheseunseengodsandtheirpowers,ittranslatestohaving
personalpowerintheformofgoodhealthandsuccess.

Thehounganandmambohavethepowertoaccessotherworldstheworld
oftheinvisibleandotherstatesofconsciousness.Theymaketheseother
worldsdirectlyavailabletoinitiatessothatthey,too,canlearnfromthese
otherworlds.SeeingdirectevidenceoftheseotherworldsgivestheVodou
practitionercomfortandinsightasheorshegoesabouthisdailybusiness.
Vodouthusoffersaglimpseofsomethingbigger,atasteofthedivinethat
liftsadherentsbeyondthemundane.

Usingtheknowledgeyouvegainedinthisreport,youcannowgoforthand
practicethewonderfulreligionofVodou.Asasolitarypractitioner,there
areafewsimplethingsyoucandotobegin.Youcancreateanaltar,take
cleansingbaths,makeagrisgrisbag,andpracticesimplecandlespells.
Youcanreadbooksandperusewebsites.

However,ifyoutakeaseriousinterestinVodou,youwillwanttofinda
Vodouhounganormambotostudywith.BecauseVodouisasyncretic
religion,itisperhapsnotsurprisingthatmanyhounganandmambohave
embracedtheinternet,withextensivewebsitesfullofinformationabout
thereligionandinitiation.Checkthesiteslistedattheendofthisreport,
andalsocheckfordirectoriesinthebackofbooksonVodou.Youllfind
sometitlestogetyoustartedintheResourcessection,also.

Also,askaround.YoumightbeabletofindaVodoucommunityinyour
hometown,oratleastnearby.Youmightbesurprisedtolearnthatsomeof
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
CandombleAfrobasedreligioninBrazil.Thewordreferstothe
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,andhunting.Alsoan
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