Africa, you say… I thought Voodoo came from N’awlins?
The roots of Voodoo has spread as far as from West Africa to Louisiana. As mentioned, Voodoo practices and beliefs tend to differ in various geographical areas, but the three main types of Voodoo are:
African Voodoo
Haitian Voodoo
New Orleans, Louisiana
Voodoo It was slavery that brought Voodoo to the Americas and caused it to spread around the world. In 1804, Voodooist slaves were brought by Cuban plantation owners to Louisiana.
During its period of colonization between the 16th – 17th centuries, slaves were brought from Africa to the Hispaniola (Haiti). Forced by the colonists to baptize themselves in the Christian faith, the slaves struggled to practice their Voodoo faith. As a result, the slaves ended up reconciling the different religious beliefs so that they may practice a bit of their faith even if not openly. Whichever parts of the world Voodooists ended up in, whether they were ostracized or hunted down or coerced to conversion, they clung to their faith steadfastly while embracing change as necessary. This is why you look at the Voodoo religion today, you will see the influences of various major religions.
For instance, “Voodoo Saints” were made and called upon. What is Saint Peter to the Catholics is Papa Legba to Voodooists. In both religions, both are keepers of the gate. To Voodooists, Papa Legba is a loa(Iwa) or a spirit who watches over the doors of the spirit world.
Another example is how some Voodoo holidays correspond with Catholic holidays. On the days when Catholics remember the spirits of those who had passed on (All Saints Day and All Souls Day), Voodooists who had been forced to convert to Catholicism took these opportunities to honor loa known as the Ghede. These loa are family of spirits which personify their ancestors who now exist in the realm of the dead.
The Christian cross had also come to mean something to followers of the Voodoo faith. They use it to symbolize crossroads or life-changing decisions or events.
A Catholic might even recognize some similarities in the Voodoo hymns and the ones sang at his church.
Nevertheless, Haitian and Louisiana Voodoo still retain much of the original African influence. Like any other religion, Voodoo has priests and priestesses. The former are referred to as houngans while the latter are called mambos. Their main duties are to conduct religious ceremonies. In Africa, ceremonies are conducted in temples called honfours. In some places, the priests and priestesses practice folk medicine. Their other roles include providing individual members with guidance and settling disputes within the community. Marie Laveau, born 1794, was a powerful figure in New Orleans. She served as a Voodoo priestess and did many selfless works including aiding the homeless. Even today, people leave sacrifices on her grave.
Anyone can be a houngan or a mambo after entering and passing an apprenticeship with a leader. In the same way as Catholic priests and nums enter monasteries, aspiring houngans and mambos may enter religious centers. In some Voodoo communities, the aspiring priest or priestess has to lock himself/herself up from the rest of the world for three days and nights. This ritual symbolizes dying and on the third day, they come out, resurrected.
As mentioned, Voodooists believe in helpful spirits. Similar to Greek gods and goddesses, each deity is link with specific objects, colors, and places. They even possess different personalities and require different sacrifices from their followers or anyone who seeks their aid.
In pretty much the same way as one looks up to a public figure and seeks the advice of a mentor, it is possible for you to develop a relationship with a Voodoo spirit. If you wish to embrace the principles that a loa represents, then you can invoke the spirit so that his/her power will aid you in your current circumstances.
Source
Voodoo: Beginner’s Guide – Discover Its Top Secret Spells and Rituals (Voodoo Spells, Voodoo Religion, Voodoo Handbook, Voodoo Book, Voodoo Magic, Voodoo … The Voodoo Doll Spellbook, Voodoo Dreams)
Ema Phillips
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