Along with the belief in multiple gods and spiritual possession, these include:
- Veneration of ancestors
- Rituals or objects used to convey magical protection
- Animal sacrifices used to show respect for a god, to gain its favor or to give thanks
- The use of fetishes, or objects meant to contain the essence or power of particular spirits
- Ceremonial dances, which often involve elaborate costumes and masks
Does Voodoo require worship of gods and goddesses?
The principle of Voodoo Magic lies in the connection with Gods (Loas) and spirits. Voodoo Magic is about worshipping of these Gods, spirits and ancestors. Voodoo priest makes connection with Gods and spirits through performing magic rituals and prayers.
What does God do the voodoo worship?
Voodoo Beliefs The West African roots of Voodoo come from the ancient practices of ancestor worship and animism, which is the belief that spirits inhabit all things, including animals and plants. Voodoo practitioners believe in a supreme god named Bondye who is all-powerful yet remains detached from human affairs.
What are voodoo worshipers called?
Vodou is also known as Vodoun, Voodoo, and by several other variants. It is a syncretic religion that combines Roman Catholicism and native African religion, particularly from the religion of the Dahomey region of West Africa (the modern day nation of Benin).
What is the religion of Voodoo?
‘ Vodun is an ancient religion practiced by some 30 million people in the West African nations of Benin, Togo and Ghana. With its countless deities, animal sacrifice and spirit possession, voodoo — as it’s known to the rest of the world — is one of the most misunderstood religions on the globe.
What do voodooists believe?
Those who practice Voodoo believe that there is a visible and an invisible world, and that these worlds are intertwined. Death is a transition to the invisible world, so our predecessors are still with us in spirit.
Where did voodoo originate?
Voodoo is a religion that originates in Africa. In the Americas and the Caribbean, it is thought to be a combination of various African, Catholic and Native American traditions. It is practiced around the world but there is no accurate count of how many people are Voodooists. Voodoo has no scripture or world authority.
How does a voodooist develop a relationship with LWA?
In a similar fashion, a Voodooist develops a relationship with particular Lwa, seeks to understand and embody the principles they represent, connects spiritually in order to affect personal transformation and manifest this energy in the visible world to help the living.
What is voodoo in Haiti?
It is community-centered and supports individual experience, empowerment and responsibility. Voodoo is different in different parts of the world, and varies from community to community. This is mostly about Voodoo in New Orleans and Haiti. Voodoo embraces and encompasses the entirety of human experience.
Is voodoo a cult?
Voodoo isn’t a cult, black magic or devil worship. People who practice Voodoo are not witchdoctors, sorcerers or occultists. Voodoo isn’t a practice intended to hurt or control others. Most Voodooists have never seen a “Voodoo doll” (unless, like you, they saw it in a movie). Voodoo isn’t morbid or violent.
Is voodoo rooted in slavery?
Racism clouds our view of Voodoo. It is rooted in slavery and intricately connected to this hemisphere’s political and social evolution. Voodoo was first practiced in America and the Caribbean by slaves of African descent, whose culture was both feared and ridiculed. Slaves were not considered fully human.
Is voodoo morbid?
Voodoo isn’t morbid or violent. Voodoo isn’t the same everywhere. Not everyone who practices Voodoo does it in exactly the same way or agrees on exactly the same things. (This document only represents my understanding of Voodoo. I can’t speak for everyone!)
What is the core of voodoo worship?
Also things, which seemed first unbelievable! In this central core of voodoo worship is Loa (god, divine being, good spirit), Oracle, ancestral worship and reincarnation.
How does voodoo work?
In our voodoo practice, we perform voodoo magic through prayers to God and to the beings of Light, so that we preclude all negative influences. Voodoo has been here for ages. It is strong, universal power, which needs to be used in a responsible way, to the welfare of all people. Then, it work properly.
What is the Haitian voodoo?
Therefore Haitian voodoo developed, the Cuban variation of Voodoo Santeria as well as the Brazilian variations of Voodoo Candomble and Umbanda. In the historical consciousness of the Haitians Voodoo has an extraordinary meaning and as well played a role in Bois Caiman, and in the ensuing revolution.
What is white magic?
White Magic. The principle of Voodoo Magic lies in the connection with Gods (Loas) and spirits. Voodoo Magic is about worshipping of these Gods, spirits and ancestors. Voodoo priest makes connection with Gods and spirits through performing magic rituals and prayers.
What was the culture of the Yoruba?
In this area of today's Nigeria, at that time, dwelled a culture called the 'Nok'. Between 200 and 500 BC, The Yoruba.
Where did Voodoo originate?
Thus, the real source of voodoo is the Egyptian pyramids. These people would later come to be called 'Yoruba'. They were slaves to the Pharaohs and Kings.
Who is the God of Crossroads?
Legba or Elegba, Eshu, Ellegua. [Papa Legba] God of crossroads, singer, fighter, fool, guardian of the door into the spiritual sphere - he appears as either a child or a hunched old man (old man with a crutch). In Haiti voodoo Legba is worshipped in two different forms: as a child or as a hunched fragile old man.
What is the Catholic belief in voodoo?
In fact, Voodoo practitioners believe our work is entwined with the world of the spirits who are called Lwa and the Lwa, known as Papa Legba, is associated with the Catholic Saint Peter.
How did voodoo develop?
Voodoo developed as a blending of their traditional beliefs and customs with the practices of Africans from other regions and the influence of Catholicism.
What is a voodoo lwa?
Voodoo Lwa. The Lwa, pronounced as Loh-ah, are spirits more powerful than a person's deceased relatives. These spirits are not single entities but groups or categories of spirit types, such as the warrior, the mother, the sorcerer, and so on. Thus, praying to the Lwa Ogun might call any number of Lwa warrior spirits.
How long does voodoo last?
Instead, the Voodoo practitioner is overtaken by the spirit, usually as part of a ritual. The possession only lasts for a few minutes to a few hours, leaving the possessed person exhausted and with no memory of the experience. During that time, however, the spirits will prophesize, heal, and bless people. Voodoo Rituals.
What does Voodoo mean in the Fon language?
In the Fon language, the world ''voodoo'' means ''spirit.''. During the Slave Trade, a shameful time in human history, many people were taken from Africa and brought to the New World to work as slave labor. One of the places where they were taken to was Haiti, a Caribbean island.
What is a private ritual?
The most common private ritual is a ceremonial bath to cleanse a person of evil energy or heal a sickness.
When did Voodoo become a religion?
In April 2003 an executive decree by then president Jean-Bertrand Aristide sanctioned voodoo as an officially recognized religion. "It is a religion in the same way Judaism or Christianity is," said Bob Corbett, professor emeritus of philosophy at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
What are the similarities between Catholicism and Voodoo?
Both venerate a supreme being and believe in the existence of invisible evil spirits or demons and in an afterlife.
What is the dominant religion in Haiti?
It is an honor to be entered and "ridden" by a Loa, or spirit. In Haiti these rituals are commonplace: Voodoo is the dominant religion. "One common saying is that Haitians are 70 percent Catholic, 30 percent Protestant, and 100 percent voodoo, " said Lynne Warberg, a photographer who has documented Haitian voodoo for over a decade.
What do the spirits ask for during the Loa ceremony?
Participants then ask the spirits for advice or help with problems. More than half the requests are for health.
What is voodoo in Haiti?
Haiti: Possessed by Voodoo. In Haiti voodoo believers pray and perform animal sacrifices to feed and beckon the spirits. Then they dance until a spirit takes over their bodies and, it is said, heals them or offers advice. The ceremony begins with a Roman Catholic prayer.
What do disembodied spirits do?
These disembodied spirits are believed to become tired and worn down —and rely on humans to "feed" them in periodic rituals, including sacrifices. "It's not the killing of the animals that matters," Corbett said. "It's the transfer of life energy back to the Loa.". Each of the spirits has a distinct identity.
What does the Loa communicate?
More than half the requests are for health. It is said that the Loa sometimes communicate prophecies, advice, or warnings while the believer is possessed. Other messages are sent through the priest or priestess, or sometimes come later in dreams.
What is voodoo religion?
Voodoo Religion – The Beliefs . Voodoo belief recognizes one Supreme Being who created the universe, but who is too far away for a personal relationship with its worshippers. Therefore, the cult followers serve the loa or lesser deities to gain guidance for their lives.
What is the meaning of voodoo belief?
Voodoo belief states that there are two parts of the human soul. The two parts consists of ti-bon-ange (little good angel) and gros-bon-ange (great good angel).
What is the dark side of voodoo?
The dark side of voodoo is used by participants to summon evil spirits and cast hexing spells upon adversaries. Voodoo Religion – The Priesthood and Rituals. The priesthood of voodoo is held by both men and women. There are stages of initiation into its priestly duties.
What are the functions of a priest?
Their functions are primarily: healing, rituals, religious ceremonies to call or pacify the spirits, holding initiations for new priests or priestesses, telling fortunes, reading dreams, casting spells, invoking protections, and creating potions for various purposes.
When was voodoo first introduced to Louisiana?
The practices were intermingled with many Catholic rituals and saints. It was first brought to the Louisiana area in 1804 by Cuban plantation owners who were displaced by revolution and brought their slaves with them. Voodoo is spelled several ways: vodun, vaudin, voudoun, vodou, and vaudoux. It is an ancient religion practiced by 80 million people ...
Where did voodoo originate?
Voodoo is a religion that was brought to the Western coasts by slaves from Africa. It is believed to have started in Haiti in 1724 as a snake cult that worshipped many spirits pertaining to daily life experiences. The practices were intermingled with many Catholic rituals and saints.
What is the area of influence of a priest?
The priest’s geographical area of influence is called the parish. An eclectic array of items covers the altar in the temple or hounfort; a peristyle is a roofed or open space where the public voodoo ceremonies take place.
Who is the most important voodoo god?
The 8 Most Important Voodoo Gods. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. The loa, or major divine beings of Voodoo, or Vodun, are spirits who serve as intermediaries between man and Bondye, the supreme Voodoo god. ...
What is the meaning of Ogun in Voodoo?
Ogun is one of the orisha who come to Voodoo from the Yoruba belief system, and is a god associated with warriors, blacksmiths, and the wheels of justice. It's said that if you make a sacrifice of meat to Ogun, you'll be blessed with a successful hunt.
What is the goddess of rivers?
One of the Orishas, Oshun is a goddess connected to rivers, streams, and water. She is associated with beauty and sexuality, as well as love and pleasure. Often found in the Yoruba and Ifa belief systems, she is worshiped by her followers who leave offerings at river banks.
Who is the supreme god of slaves?
They are typically considered lesser divine figures, with the supreme god being Bondye, the creator. Enslaved people in Haiti and Louisiana syncretized their loa with Catholic saints, and many of the loa have corresponding figures in Catholicism. They are called upon in ritual by Voodoo mambos or houngan, and are presented with offerings ...
Is Papa Legba a fertility god?
In some places, he is seen as a fertility god, portrayed with a large erect phallus. In other customs, he is the trickster, or he may appear as a protector of children. Papa Legba appears in many forms in New Orleans Voodoo and Haitian Vodou.
How does voodoo influence people?
In this way, the practice of Voodoo can influence a person's day-to-day decisions and activities. Part of the Voodoo belief is that loa communicate with followers through possession. The loa temporarily displaces the soul of its host, or medium, and takes control of the medium's body.
What is a voodoo priestess?
For example, a Voodoo priestess is often referred to as a mambo or manbo. This is a combination of the Fon word for "mother" or "magical charm" and the Kongo word for "healer.". The Fon kingdom was located in what is now southern Benin, a region some anthropologists refer to as the "cradle of Voodoo.".
What do twins symbolize in voodoo?
In many Voodoo communities, people consider twins to be sacred. According to the tradition, twins have two halves of the same soul. If one twin dies, the other will often carry a twin doll, believed to carry the deceased sibling's spirit. In Haitian Voodoo, twins have special powers that can be dangerous, and a ceremony to the loa Dossou prevents them from doing harm. In Benin, twins also symbolize fertility.
What is the Temple of Zul'Gurub?
World of Warcraft's Temple of Zul'Gurub features witch doctors, blood drinkers, hoodoo piles and voodoo dolls. You don't have to look far to find references to Voodoo in popular culture, especially in the Western world. Zombie movies, of course, have distant roots in Haitian Voodoo. Novelty stores sell pin-filled dolls to target anyone ...
Where did voodoo originate?
Voodoo originated in the African kingdoms of Fon and Kongo as many as 6,000 years ago. The word "voodoo" comes from the Fon language, in which it means "sacred," "spirit" or "deity.". Other words used in Voodoo today also come from the Fon and Kongo languages.
Where did voodoo spread?
Since its growth in Haiti, Haitian Voodoo has spread to other parts of the world. Slaves transported from Haiti to the Mississippi delta carried their traditions with them, and Voodoo expanded from there. Today, people practice various forms of Haitian voodoo openly in Haiti. In other parts of the world, people often practice more covertly.
How many people practice voodoo in Ghana?
Approximately 30 million people in Togo, Ghana and Benin practice Voodoo today [source: National Public Radio: Radio Expeditions ]. Voodoo is also an official religion in Benin, where as many as 60 percent of the people are followers [Source: BBC ]. Advertisement.