To ask for protection, ward off enemies, achieve love or financial and professional success. Voodoo is much more than a doll with pins stuck in it. It is a religious practice, in which followers come into contact with the spiritual world to ask for guidance and solve everyday problems. The rituals and names of the gods vary a lot, but the essence is very similar to that of Candomblé in Brazil. That’s because these beliefs emerged at the same time and in the same region of Africa: in the 4th century BC, in the strip of land that today goes from Ghana to Nigeria. With the forced migration of slaves to the Americas, each region developed variations of the African matrix.
in African rites
Learn about the different types of voodoo and offering rituals that can involve killing and blood
women in charge
The christening, wedding and funeral ceremonies are conducted by priestesses. As in candomblé, it is common for women to lead households and delegate functions such as playing drums to men.
enslaved dead
Some priests, the bokors, can bring the dead back to life as a form of punishment. They dig up the deceased and invoke him. The dead can live for two days to fulfill tasks – from killing someone to helping with services (this belief gave rise to movie zombies). In order for the deceased to carry out his tasks, the priest threatens to torment his soul. Afterwards, the body of the dead person is burned so that he does not become a slave again.
beings of force
Voodoo followers believe in the existence of voduns (or loa) – spiritual beings. They represent the forces of nature. To make contact, it is necessary to please the entities with food or drinks (the dispatches). It is also possible to have direct contact when voduns incorporate into the body of mediums.
praise to the spirits
There are specific rituals for each type of loa and for different objectives: success at work, health, love, protection, revenge, etc. Each family praises its own ancestors. Homage can involve building altars and even ceremonies with music and embedding.
vegetables or blood
Each vodun receives an offering: it can be a dish prepared with vegetables or the blood of an animal. In this case, the believer looks for the priest, who coordinates the ritual to kill the animal (chickens, goats, goats and even oxen) in the right way: cutting the neck and letting the blood run over the offered food. The animal bleeds to death. The heart and liver serve as an offering and the rest is enjoyed at lunches with the community.
live killing
During the ceremonies, which are usually open to the public, the mediums are incorporated by spirits, who converse with the people and receive the offerings. In some cases, entities can kill animals, chew the flesh and drink the blood during the celebration.
spiky doll
The famous voodoo dolls are like amulets and attract luck, health, money, love… They are decorated in different colors, depending on the person’s request, and must be placed on a shelf inside the house. Before him, the believer must repeat his request every day. The doll can even be used to push someone away, but sticking needles doesn’t make anyone feel pain. The legend was disseminated by the cinema and by those who do not know the religion.
Direct contact
The spirits that appear in the rituals give recommendations for the family to get what they are looking for. When they indicate that the child should take a herbal bath, for example, it is essential that he comply – otherwise, the request is not fulfilled and the task will be much more complicated the next time.
SOURCES Books Tell My Horse: Voodoo And Life in Haiti And Jamaicaby Zora Neale Hurston; The Voodoo Encyclopediaby Jeffrey E. Anderson