VODOUISM
Common in Haiti, New Orleans and other locations within the Caribbean. . Vodou merges Catholic and African beliefs to form a unique set of rituals that include Voodoo dolls and symbolic drawings. However, as with any religion, followers of Vodou cannot be lumped into a single category. There are also many misconceptions, which are just as important to understand.
Vodou is a MONOTHESTIC RELIGION that mixes Catholicism and Shamanism. Followers of Vodou -- known as Vodouisants -- believe in a single, supreme godhead that can be equated with the Catholic God. Vodouisants also accept the existence of lesser beings, which they call loa or lwa.
If a Vodou practitioner considers himself Christian, he generally professes to be a Catholic Christian . Many Vodou practitioners also consider themselves Catholics. Some see the saints and spirits to be one and the same. Others still hold that the Catholic accouterments are primarily for appearance.
Popular culture has strongly associated Vodou with devil worship, torture, cannibalism, and malevolent magical workings. This is largely the product of Hollywood coupled with historical misrepresentations and misunderstandings of the faith.
Vodou began when African slaves brought their native traditions with them as they were forcefully transported to the new world. However, they were generally forbidden from practicing their religion. To get around these restrictions, the slaves started to equate their gods with Catholic Saints.. They also performed their rituals using the items and imagery of the Catholic Church.
The relationship between humans and lwa is a reciprocal one. Believers provide food and other items that appeal to the lwa in exchange for their assistance. The lwa are frequently invited to possess a believer during ritual so the community can directly interact with them.
Vilokan is the home of the lwa as well as the deceased. It is commonly described as a submerged and forested island. It is guarded by the lwa Legba, who must be appeased before practitioners can speak to any other Vilokan resident.
Rituals and PracticesThere is no standardized dogma within Vodou. Two temples within the same city might teach different mythologies and appeal to the lwa in different ways.
As such, the information provided in overviews of Vodou (such as this one) cannot always reflect the beliefs of all believers.
For example, sometimes lwa are associated with different families, Catholic saints, or veves. Some common variations are included here.
Animal Sacrifice. A variety of animals might be killed during a Vodou ritual, depending upon the lwa being addressed. It provides spiritual sustenance for the lwa, while the flesh of the animal is then cooked and eaten by participants.
Veves. Rituals commonly involve the drawing of certain symbols known as veves with cornmeal or another powder. Each lwa has its own symbol and some have multiple symbols associated with them.
Voodoo Dolls. The common perception of Vodouisants poking pins into Vodoo dolls do not reflect traditional Voodoo . However, Vodouisants do dedicate dolls to particular lwa and use them to attract a lwa's influence.
Common in Haiti, New Orleans and other locations within the Caribbean. . Vodou merges Catholic and African beliefs to form a unique set of rituals that include Voodoo dolls and symbolic drawings. However, as with any religion, followers of Vodou cannot be lumped into a single category. There are also many misconceptions, which are just as important to understand.
Vodou is a MONOTHESTIC RELIGION that mixes Catholicism and Shamanism. Followers of Vodou -- known as Vodouisants -- believe in a single, supreme godhead that can be equated with the Catholic God. Vodouisants also accept the existence of lesser beings, which they call loa or lwa.
If a Vodou practitioner considers himself Christian, he generally professes to be a Catholic Christian . Many Vodou practitioners also consider themselves Catholics. Some see the saints and spirits to be one and the same. Others still hold that the Catholic accouterments are primarily for appearance.
Popular culture has strongly associated Vodou with devil worship, torture, cannibalism, and malevolent magical workings. This is largely the product of Hollywood coupled with historical misrepresentations and misunderstandings of the faith.
Vodou began when African slaves brought their native traditions with them as they were forcefully transported to the new world. However, they were generally forbidden from practicing their religion. To get around these restrictions, the slaves started to equate their gods with Catholic Saints.. They also performed their rituals using the items and imagery of the Catholic Church.
The relationship between humans and lwa is a reciprocal one. Believers provide food and other items that appeal to the lwa in exchange for their assistance. The lwa are frequently invited to possess a believer during ritual so the community can directly interact with them.
Vilokan is the home of the lwa as well as the deceased. It is commonly described as a submerged and forested island. It is guarded by the lwa Legba, who must be appeased before practitioners can speak to any other Vilokan resident.
Rituals and PracticesThere is no standardized dogma within Vodou. Two temples within the same city might teach different mythologies and appeal to the lwa in different ways.
As such, the information provided in overviews of Vodou (such as this one) cannot always reflect the beliefs of all believers.
For example, sometimes lwa are associated with different families, Catholic saints, or veves. Some common variations are included here.
Animal Sacrifice. A variety of animals might be killed during a Vodou ritual, depending upon the lwa being addressed. It provides spiritual sustenance for the lwa, while the flesh of the animal is then cooked and eaten by participants.
Veves. Rituals commonly involve the drawing of certain symbols known as veves with cornmeal or another powder. Each lwa has its own symbol and some have multiple symbols associated with them.
Voodoo Dolls. The common perception of Vodouisants poking pins into Vodoo dolls do not reflect traditional Voodoo . However, Vodouisants do dedicate dolls to particular lwa and use them to attract a lwa's influence.