A Peek into the World of Voodoo
Bourbon street is booming with younger people enjoying the bars and old cobblestones when suddenly you run into a shop sign that says House of Voodoo. Curiosity due to pop culture and movies initiates your first step into the unknown world of voodoo. The vastly populated area of New Orleans, Louisiana has brought us so many practices and people such as Marie Laveau, Mardi Gras, and even the teachings of voodoo.
Voodoo has many different names whether vodou, vudu, and vodoun depending where we are talking about due to the variations in practices between each one. Founded in the Afro-Caribbean (Haiti, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic) it was brought to America by the slaves. Hence why it can be referred to as ‘another slave language’. Voodoo, like Christianity, is considered a monotheistic religion. Though many you ask will say they believe it’s more of a lifestyle.
The main belief of voodoo is that all aspects of the natural world have a spiritual identity. The universal energy or soul that everyone possesses is able to leave the body when dreaming; and is capable of engaging in spirit possession. They believe in a supreme, Bondye, who creates everything. Unlike other religions' view of God, Bondye is detached from his creations.
Similar to the Orishas Santería religion (also deriving from Yoruban culture), which have personalities and favorite foods and drinks, voodoo has loas or lwas. Loas are spirits that assist with human affairs. They are broken down into three different groups, Rada, Petro, and Ghede. Rada is the oldest water spirit, and the least aggressive of the loas. One of the most known Rada is Papa Legba, also known as the loa of deceit, trickery, and harm. Counter to this deceitful nature, he is also the loa of the crossroads therefore opening doorways for those who need something particular to come into their lives. Therefore the Catholic correspondence of Saint Anthony who helps with miracles will open the doorway to such miracles just like, Papa Legba. Petro are calm and level headed, but also warlike. In fact Petro are the ascended souls of warriors, slaves, and voodoo priests. They are usually represented with blood and fire; and depicted with red eyes. However, don’t be fooled they can be violent, and require difficult, dangerous blood sacrifices. Finally Ghede are simply spirits of the dead. Led by loas, Baron Samedi, Baron La Croix, and a few others they tend to be rude, loud, and sexual in nature. Ghedes are represented with the colors black and purple. Lwas manifest by possessing the body of the worshipper. Many see this as a dangerous evil act that should be avoided at all costs. However, in voodoo this is not the case. Possession by a loa gives first hand spiritual experience and helps connect them with the spirit world.
One of the most known mambo or priestesses of Voodoo is Marie Laveau. Born (~1801) to two wealthy and freed slaves, Laveau had a better beginning then most African Americans could hope for at the time. When she grew up she became known as the Voodoo Queen of the French Quarter.And she wasn’t an Angela Basset character from FX’s American Horror Story. People would go to her for all kinds of advice whether legal or even spiritual. She was also known to give herbs, tinctures, and remedies to those who were in need of their services. Even to this day people travel to her grave in New Orleans to leave an offering in return for her guidance.
Similar to so many other religions like voodoo is greatly misunderstood. Due to the unconventional practices so many have looked at it as demonic. Many have associated it with connection with witchcraft and other occult. In 1685 a law was passed forcing slaves to be Christianized. Due to this some catholic practices were adapted into voodoo. This is how it became more of a lifestyle. Different cultures and teachings were introduced without having a true dogma to follow. In Haiti those caught practicing voodoo were set to be persecuted. In 1889, Hayti, or the Black Republic, was written. This was a book that was circulating around the country. It, in writing, attributed voodoo to Satanism, occult, and even cannibalism! This added to many of the misjudgments and rumors surrounding the way of life.
Though voodoo has no set dogmas to be followed they do have a few common practices. For one voodoo dolls are a popular creation from voodoo. These dolls are used for healing, not the popular thought of being harmful. (If you’d like to find out more about these you can find an article on our website :)) Rituals are done to connect with loa. During these rituals, veves, symbols, are drawn on the floor in chalk or cornmeal powder. These symbols used as a ‘beacon’ for loas. Just as in the Santería religion which has soperas for their orishas, altars are made for the loas in the household of the practitioner. Each loa being represented with a corresponding saint similar to Santerían practices. Certain foods, alcohol, drinks and herbs correspond to the certain loas just as one would suspect with colors to saints of the Catholic religion. Just as Mother Mary is corresponded to blue and white, Papa Legba would be correlated to red and black similar to Elegua of Santería. These veves represent the loas during rituals. Depending on whom you are trying to contact, the ritual is done differently. Even the intention behind calling the loa would affect the structure of the actual ritual as well as ingredients. Muhc so to any cultural or religious practices, certain correspondences of candles and such would affect the offer or contact of the loas.
Common Loas
Papa Ghede: often depicted as a short, dark man with a top hat smoking cheap cigars. He waits at crossroads to take souls to the afterlife. Ghede always knows what’s going on in the land in the living as well as the dead. His colors are black and purple. Feast Day: November 2
Agwè: rules sea, fish, and even aguanic plants. Her signal, or call, is blowing through a conch shell or a volley of gunfire. Offerings include champagne, naval rum, mirrors, telescopes, toy ship.
Erzulie: loa of love and woman. She was most prominent when slave owners broke up families. Her domain is the arts(mainly dancing), waterfalls, rivers, and streams. It is thought when she is summoned she can cure womb related problems.
Papa Legba: depicted as an old man in Haitian religion Legba is one of the most popular loas. He allows communication between humans and spirit world. His color is red as well as symbol of keys. When calling upon Legba the summoner should knock on the floor saying, “Open the gate for me’. Feast day: January 14
WORKS CITED.
Beyer, Catherine. “Do You Really Know What Voodoo Is?” Learn Religions, www.learnreligions.com/vodou-an-introduction-for-beginners-95712.
“Lwa.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/lwa-Vodou.
Dimuro, Gina. “The Real Story Of Marie Laveau, The Voodoo Queen Of New Orleans.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 20 Oct. 2020, allthatsinteresting.com/marie-laveau.
Radford, Benjamin. “Voodoo: Facts About Misunderstood Religion.” Life Science, 30 Oct. 2013, www.google.com/amp/s/www.livescience.com/amp/40803-voodoo-facts.html.