Thanks to Hollywood clichés, voodoo is one of the world's most underrated religions. Most descriptions depict voodoo as a dark, mysterious religion that revolves around the sacrifice of animals, the imposition of curses, and the use of puppets to harm others. In fact, this is far from the truth.
1. Three different types of voodoo
There are three main varieties of voodoo, each practiced in a different region. West African voodoo is now practiced by over 30 million people, with particular popularity in countries such as Ghana and Benin. The rituals and beliefs are quite extensive, and largely unaffected by the outside influences from which other forms of voodoo were formed.
Louisiana Voodoo is a unique variety of voodoo practiced in Louisiana and the southeastern United States. It was strongly influenced by Spanish and French settlers, as well as the Creole population. Haitian voodoo, which is practiced in Haiti, took shape under the influence of France as well as Christianity.
2. Strong parallels with Christianity
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On the surface, a religion that revolves around ghost obsession, potions, and ancestor worship has little to do with Christianity. However, voodoo has strong parallels (especially in the case of Louisiana and Haiti) with Christian traditions and beliefs. Spirits are central to the practice of voodoo, and many of the central figures in this religion have Christian counterparts. For example, Aida Vedo is a copy of the Virgin Mary, while Legba, the gatekeeper, is a mirror image of St. Peter.
In the voodoo religion, important spirits are called loa (or lva), and in some places they may be called the names of Catholic saints. In West African voodoo, there is a completely Christian belief that there is only one supreme god who rules over all.
3. Endorsement by the Catholic Church
The parallels between voodoo and Christianity are so strong that there is no enmity between the two religions, and they coexist peacefully in many areas.
Today, priests of both religions work hand in hand to help bring peace and prosperity to Africa, where voodoo was born.
4. Voodoo dolls
Voodoo dolls seem simple only to the uninitiated. Experts say that a voodoo doll gets a bond with the person it symbolizes only after something connected with that person is attached to it: a photo or a lock of hair.
Also, garlic, flower petals, perfume or even money are usually added to the dolls as an offering to the perfume to let them into the doll.
5. Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau is one of the names most widely associated with the voodoo religion. During her lifetime, she became a legend of New Orleans, and over the centuries she turned into a surreal and surreal personality. Even what is known for certain about Marie seems controversial. She was allegedly the illegitimate daughter of a Creole plantation owner and his servant, a half-Indian, half-creep.
Marie Laveau's first marriage ended when her husband disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and her second civil marriage lasted years and gave her 15 children. One of her daughters, Marie Laveau II, followed in her mother's footsteps by becoming a voodoo priestess. Marie's public performances and voodoo rituals greatly elevated Marie Laveau in the public eye. Also indisputable is the fact of Marie's unselfish help to the homeless, hungry and sick.
6. Voodoo practitioners are servants of the spirits
Those who practice voodoo are often considered powerful people who command the spirits to do their will. In fact, the opposite is true. Practicing voodoo priests consider themselves servants of the spirits.
They do not actually order the spirits to do something, but make offerings to the spirits and ask for advice. Voodoo priests and priestesses go through a long period of preparation before performing any ritual that opens their way to the spirit world.
7. Healing
Because of stereotypes, many think of voodoo as a dark religion, the priests of which can only harm the spirit and body of their enemies. On the contrary, voodoo is more focused on healing and quackery.
One of the most important reasons for invoking spirits during voodoo rituals is to ask for help in healing sick and injured people. Voodoo priests and priestesses recognize that they are not omnipotent when it comes to diagnosis and healing, and also recommend modern medicine and treatment if they feel they cannot help.
8. No black or white magic
In many cultures, magic is divided into white (which is good and healing) and black (dark and evil). In voodoo, there is no distinction between white and black.
Instead, when an evil spirit is summoned by an evil person to do something bad, it is called red magic. When a practitioner allows an evil loa to take possession of him, his eyes turn red, indicating the presence of evil.
9. Voodoo Pantheon
Another striking similarity to Christianity is the voodoo pantheon, which has three main levels. The highest level is one god, which is impossible to comprehend. The second level is the loa spirits who regularly interact with mortals.
Deceased relatives also play an important role in the spiritual life, since the worship of their ancestors is an important part of voodoo. The third level is the mortals themselves. Papa Legba is one of the main loa as he acts as a gatekeeper between the mortal world and the divine world.
10. Snakes
The snake plays a very important role in voodoo mythology. Damballah or Danballa is the serpent god who is the oldest of the voodoo pantheon. It is claimed that he created this world.
Damballah symbolizes wisdom and intelligence, and is also the protector of the helpless and young children. It is he who delivers the souls of the dead to the afterlife.