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Vodun History Vodun (a.k.a. Voodoo, Voudou, Voodoo, Sevi Lwa) is commonly called Voodoo by the

public It is traceable to be an African word meaning “spirit” The religion can be traced back to the West African Yoruba people who lived in the 18 th

and 19th century in Dahomey (Togo, Benin, and Nigeria on a present day map) The roots may go back to as long as 6000 years in Africa The religion was carried by slaves when they were forcibly shipped to Haiti and other

islands in the West Indies Vodun actively was suppressed during Colonial times and the Marxist regime Vodun was formally recognized as Benin’s official religion in February of 1996 It is also followed by most of the adults in Haiti It can be found in many of the large cities in North America, particularly the American

south

History Continued Today over 60 million people practice Vodun worldwide Religions similar to Vodun can be found in South America They are known as Umbanda, Quimbanda or Candomble.  Today there are two unrelated forms of the religion:

the actual religion, Vodun practiced in Benin, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Haiti, Togo and various centers in the US - largely where Haitian refuges have settled.

an evil, imaginary religion, which we will call Voodoo. It has been created for Hollywood movies, complete with "voodoo dolls", violence, bizarre rituals, etc. It does not exist in reality, except in the minds of most non-Voduns

History Continued When the slaves were taken from Africa to Haiti they were baptized into the Roman Catholic

Church but since there was little Christian infrastructure present the slaves followed their native faith

They even continued to follow their faith while attending mass regularly An inaccurate and sensational book (S. St. John, "Haiti or the Black Republic") was written in

1884. It described Vodun as a profoundly evil religion, and included lurid descriptions of human sacrifice, cannibalism, etc., some of which had been extracted from Vodun priests by torture. This book caught the imagination of people outside the West Indies, and was responsible for much of the misunderstanding and fear that is present today. Hollywood found this a rich source for Voodoo screen plays. Horror movies began in the 1930's and continue today to misrepresent Vodun. It is only since the late 1950's that accurate studies by anthropologists have been published. (Taken from www.templex.org)

History Continued Each group follows a different spiritual path and worships a slightly different pantheon of spirits,

called Loa. The word means "mystery" in the Yoruba language. Yoruba traditional belief included a chief God Olorun, who is remote and unknowable. He

authorized a lesser God Obatala to create the earth and all life forms. A battle between the two Gods led to Obatala's temporary banishment.

There are hundreds of minor spirits. Those which originated from Dahomey are called Rada; those who were added later are often deceased leaders in the new world and are called Petro. Some of these are:

Agwe: spirit of the sea Aida Wedo: rainbow spirit Ayza: protector Baka: an evil spirit who takes the form of an animal Baron Samedi: guardian of the grave Dambala (or Damballah-wedo): serpent spirit Erinle: spirit of the forests Ezili (or Erzulie): female spirit of love Mawu Lisa: spirit of creation Ogou Balanjo: spirit of healing Ogun (or Ogu Bodagris): spirit of war Osun: spirit of healing streams Sango (or Shango): spirit of storms Yemanja: female spirit of waters Zaka (or Oko): spirit of agriculture

History Continued The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and

gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or

humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Loa, etc.

Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death

Vodun rituals: a feast before the main ceremony creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Loa for whom the ritual is to be conducted shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified chanting dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the

dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Loa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present.

animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten.

Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.

Voodoo People Basics

Voodoo is an African Based religion that started out in the kingdoms of Fon and Kongo about 6000 years ago.

There are people who lead the religion called Priests and Priestesses. Voodoo Priests

The people who practiced this were known as Voodoo Priests. Voodoo Priestess’ are often called Mambo or Manbo which is a mix of

the Fon word for Mother/Magical Charm and the Kongo word for Healer.

People turn to the Priests and Priestesses not only for guidance, but for healing and advice.

People Continued Becoming a Spiritual Leader

If one wants to become a Priest, then they must go into a religious center (much like a convent of monastery) where they proceed to ‘die’ or spend 3 days in complete seclusion before returning to the outside world.

Dark Sorcerers There are some people that practice black magic that are called bokor. These people act like policemen of the religion because they curse bad people These are where the ideas of Zombies come from. It is said that when one becomes a Zombie, they lose their soul. This is the worst

curse they can put on somebody.

People Continued Marie LaVeau

She was an American Voodoo priestess during the 19th century. She was known for healing people. There was a Catholic church that would let her help people which would usually not be

allowed. This convinced many people in Louisiana that Voodoo was real and powerful.

Queen Bianca She was known throughout Louisiana for her skills, she was appointed a priestess by marriage through

her aunt.

Mambo Sallie Ann She was a High Priestess of Voodoo and one of the few white American women who got initiated

through the traditional way. She was an American woman of Jewish-Ukrainian heritage which made it even more unusual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRt6CTb6riY

PlacesWest Africa, Benin, Haiti, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, the Dominican

Republic, Candomble, Brazil, Santeria, Cuba, Congo, Angola, the Caribbean Islands, New Orleans, Louisiana

Ghana’s number one sports voodoo priest, known as Okwonfor.

DemographicsSynchronized religion in Benin

60% practices Vodun15% population are practicing

Christians as well2.5 million followers in Togo and

Ghana14 million followers in NigeriaInternational Vodun Conference

held in Benin since 1991

Saut d’Eau Festival1847: legend behind pilgrimage

Our Lady of Mont Carmel appeared, healed sickCatholics/Protestants felt threatenedReligions merged

Saut d’eau Festival Cont.Festival in July celebrated

for the past 150 yearsPilgrimage Bathing in water or mud

Worshipers appear possessed

Sacrifices

Spread the VoodooSlave Trade: The U.S., Cuba, and

BrazilSlaves created cults to continue

worshipContributed to fear and

misunderstandingAdaptation

New Orleans.: French and Creole speaking quarters

Spiritoculture market, Voodoo dolls, Americanized, glamorized

The Voodoo FactorChristian and Muslim dominions forced start of

underground worshipVoodoo played a major role in revolution against the

French in HaitiSuppressed by Marxism but Benin’s official religion by

1989The Slave Trade: New Orleans, Brazil,

& CubaHaiti or The Black Republic 18841950’s

The Four Forms Of ReadingVoodoo bone reading 

Casting the bones and ask them to answer your questions or see into the future.

Spirit readingThe so called dead are around this moment. They know and can see

things that you can’t see or know.

Crystal ball reading Insight as to the special pictures, images and events that you see in the

Crystal Ball about your life and questions.

Voodoo tarot cards readingsReading the cards for you and tell you what you need to know.

BenefitsMake your relationship stronger, closer, more secure.

Enhance compatibility.Return a lost love. Awaken them to your irresistible

charms that will make it impossible to stay away. Enrich your life with money, plentiful gifts, fabulous

material possessions. Wreck vengeance on the person who has wronged you,

allowing them little sleep, implanting fear of you in their mind, bringing peace and respect back into your life.

Provide instant luck in love, companionship, career.Change other people's opinion of you. Knock out barriers, smoothing the path to your

future.

The DollThe use of voodoo dolls is unheard of where the religion is

practiced. (Haiti)The only recorded serious use of the dolls, among voodoo

worshippers, was in the New Orleans area in the early 1900's.Hexes were cast to bring either good or bad luck to another

person. The doll was used to symbolize that person.The sticking of pins into the doll was to reinforce and direct

the spells that were cast.

Types Of SpellsLusting for one anotherPrevent people blocking your wayControlling demonsDream appearancesIntimacy(All need a symbol. money, candle, anything at your expense.)http://www.voodoodeprince.com/FamousVoodooPecockLover

sSpell.htm

Louisiana VoodooHaitian VoodooWest African Vodun

• PolytheisticPolytheistic– Belief in one supreme Belief in one supreme

god, god, BondyéBondyé as well as as well as other lesser gods, known other lesser gods, known as the as the LoaLoa

• Because Bondyé is Because Bondyé is considered unreachable, considered unreachable, prayers are focused on the prayers are focused on the loaloa

• Moral code concentrates on Moral code concentrates on the vices of greed and the vices of greed and dishonordishonor

• While voodoo draws its While voodoo draws its roots from African religions, roots from African religions, there is no right or wrong there is no right or wrong distinguished, only distinguished, only what is right for a what is right for a household or churchhousehold or church..

Assortment of Assortment of Voodoo Voodoo paraphanaliaparaphanalia

• Spirits are hot and cold. Spirits are hot and cold. – It is better be cool!It is better be cool!

• General goodwill is General goodwill is promonted promonted – Take what you need from Take what you need from

the community, but be the community, but be willing to give back as willing to give back as wellwell

• Good voduns will always Good voduns will always have a mentor have a mentor relationship with a relationship with a religious elderreligious elder

A tapestry of the A tapestry of the symbol of a Loasymbol of a Loa

• Much time is needed to set up the altars and cooking food such as fowl for a Voodoo service, which begins in the evening and ends when the sun rises

• The services begin with an African prayer followed by songs, generally in Creole

• During the singing, it is believed that ancestors come, visit, and sometimes inhabit the people in the service and speak and act through them

• Such spirits will give advice, warnings, and cures to the congregation• Some people fake spirits, some people are drunk!

Voodoo ceremony in Haiti

Priestess Miriam of Priestess Miriam of the VST in the VST in MississippiMississippi

The African-American Spiritualist The African-American Spiritualist Churches prominent in Louisiana and Churches prominent in Louisiana and the deep south incorporate a mix of the deep south incorporate a mix of African Vodun as well as Catholic African Vodun as well as Catholic undertones and symbols, such as the undertones and symbols, such as the Virgin Mary.Virgin Mary.

The distinction between Louisiana The distinction between Louisiana Voodoo and the other types is the Voodoo and the other types is the reverence and importance stressed reverence and importance stressed on Black Hawk, a Native American on Black Hawk, a Native American spirit.spirit.

Furthermore, the African-American Furthermore, the African-American Spiritualist Church is a blend of Spiritualist Church is a blend of Spiritualism, Voodoo, Catholicism, Spiritualism, Voodoo, Catholicism, and Pentecostalism.and Pentecostalism.

A Mystical Blend!A Mystical Blend!

Vodun is Gbe for “spiritVodun is Gbe for “spiritVodun = Divine SpiritVodun = Divine Spirit

Includes the sun and the moonIncludes the sun and the moon

Vodun = lesser spiritsVodun = lesser spiritsStreams, trees, rocksStreams, trees, rocks

Heavy emphasis on ancestral spiritsHeavy emphasis on ancestral spirits

Voodoo dolls was never a central focus on either the Voodoo dolls was never a central focus on either the Haitian Voodoo or West African Vodun. Sources Haitian Voodoo or West African Vodun. Sources state that a theory of how they came about was half state that a theory of how they came about was half myth, half slaves trying to scare/intimidate their myth, half slaves trying to scare/intimidate their owners in the South. The sects of the Voodoo owners in the South. The sects of the Voodoo religion which do incorporate dolls continually fight religion which do incorporate dolls continually fight the bad press though!the bad press though!

Voodoo dolls are commonly used to enrich Voodoo dolls are commonly used to enrich one’s life with good health, love, and one’s life with good health, love, and prosperity.prosperity.

They are mainly used as focusing tools They are mainly used as focusing tools Often are placed in a home for this very Often are placed in a home for this very

purpose, usually not used directly to harm purpose, usually not used directly to harm people.people.

Sourceshttp://www.calastrology.com/voodoospells.htmlhttp://www.vudutuu.com/spells.htmlhttp://www.voodoodeprince.com/

FamousVoodooPecockLoversSpell.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRt6CTb6riYwww.templex.orghttp://www.voodooshop.com/index.htmlwww.calastrology.com/voodoo.html

sourceshttp://www.voodooshop.com/index.htmlwww.calastrology.com/voodoo.html