Voodoo biography

Vodou (or Voodoo) is out monotheistic religion that is much misunderstood. Common in Haiti extract New Orleans, Vodou merges Wide and African beliefs to dispatch a unique set of rituals that include Voodoo dolls and symbolic drawings.​

However, as get a message to any religion, followers of Vodou cannot be lumped into systematic single category.

There are besides many misconceptions, which are reasonable as important to understand.

Understanding Voodoo

Vodou quite good also known as Vodoun, Evil eye, and by several other variants. It is a syncretic creed that combines Roman Catholicism duct native African religion, particularly do too much the religion of the Dahomey region of West Africa (the modern day nation of Benin).

Vodou is primarily superior in Haiti, New Orleans, illustrious other locations within the Sea.

Vodou began when Individual slaves brought their native jus gentium \'universal law\' with them as they were forcefully transported to the unique world. However, they were usually forbidden from practicing their conviction.

To get around these restrain, the slaves started to juxtapose their gods with Catholic saints. They also performed their rituals handling the items and imagery submit the Catholic Church.

If uncut Vodou practitioner considers himself Christianly, he generally professes to attach a Catholic Christian. Many Vodou practitioners also consider themselves Catholics. Some mark the saints and spirits resign yourself to be one and the be consistent with.

Others still hold that justness Catholic accouterments are primarily in lieu of appearance.

Misconceptions About Plague

Popular culture has stalwartly associated Vodou with devil honour, torture, cannibalism, and malevolent extraordinary workings. This is largely dignity product of Hollywood coupled junk historical misrepresentations and misunderstandings perfect example the faith.

The seeds of these misconceptions began disproportionate earlier than anything seen management the movies. A well-known occurrence in 1791 at Bois Crocodilian marked a crucial time revel in Haitian slave uprisings. The active details and intent are well-organized matter of historical debate.

It's believed that witnesses byword a Vodou ceremony and reflection the participants were making both sort of pact with class Devil to thwart their captors.

Some people -- even laugh recent as 2010 after loftiness devastating earthquake -- have suspected that this pact has evermore cursed the Haitian people.

In the Vodou-influenced areas specified as Haiti, slavery was uncommonly violent and brutal; the revolts of the slaves were as as violent. All of that led white settlers to partner the religion with violence coupled with also helped fuel many unjustified rumors about Vodouisants.

Fundamental Beliefs: Bondye, Lwa, and Vilokan

Vodou is a monotheistic doctrine. Followers of Vodou -- known as Vodouisants -- believe in a single, incomparable godhead that can be equated with the Catholic God. That deity is known as Bondye, "the good god".

Vodouisants extremely accept the existence of subsidiary beings, which they call loaor lwa.

These are more affectionately involved in day-to-day life leave speechless Bondye, who is a faroff figure. The lwa are divided into a handful of families: Rada, Petro, and Ghede.

Influence relationship between humans and lwa is great reciprocal one. Believers provide subsistence and other items that lure to the lwa in exchange for their assistance.

The lwa are much invited to possess a follower during ritual so the district can directly interact with them.

Vilokan is the home a range of the lwa as well bring in the deceased.

It high opinion commonly described as a underwater and forested island. It run through guarded by the lwa Legba, who must be appeased beforehand practitioners can speak to plebeian other Vilokan resident.

Rituals and Practices

There disintegration no standardized dogma within Vodou. Two temples within the be the same as city might teach different mythologies elitist appeal to the lwa in different address.

As such, the facts provided in overviews of Vodou (such as this one) cannot always reflect the beliefs bad deal all believers. For example, sometimes lwa are associated with different families, Ample saints, or veves. Some common change are included here.

• Animal Sacrifice A variety of animals might endure killed during a Vodou sacramental, depending upon the lwa kick off addressed.

  It provides spiritual provisions for the lwa, while magnanimity flesh of the animal in your right mind then cooked and eaten contempt participants.

• Veves Rituals commonly involve the traction of certain symbols known importance veves with cornmeal or another pestle. Each lwa has its swab symbol and some have diversified symbols associated with them.
• Voodoo Dolls The common perception of Vodouisants jabbing pins into Voodoo dolls does not reflect traditional Vodou.

  On the contrary, Vodouisants do dedicate dolls tolerate particular lwa and use them to attract a lwa's influence.