Voodoo can be scary, but not for the reasons that come to most people’s minds. New Orleans Voodoo and Haitian Vodou are the Frankenstein monsters of religions. People love to point fingers, sticks, and flaming torches at that which they have created, yet tragically don’t understand. Voodoo seems to be at the top of this insane vigilante list. Not a week goes by where the news media isn’t attempting to demonize this ancient religion, and as always I am left scratching my head. Every random cow tongue, abandoned goat head, and mysterious powder get attributed to Voodoo and it’s Cuban sister religion of Lucumi, also known as Santeria. Ignorance is not always bliss, it can lead to narrow minded persecution, and that has to stop. Knowledge can be power and to that noble end I offer some explanations about this ancient religion and it’s unusual ways.
- Curses and Hexes– People think curses and hexes are bad, evil, supernatural weapons that they can’t defend against. This next statement may be a cliché, but that’s because it’s true – Hexes Don’t Kill People, People Kill People. The world is a difficult place to live in, more so for people whose history includes genocide, torture, and slavery. Strong defenses are a necessity. Everyone needs to protect themselves. There are extreme participants in every tradition. The beliefs of the many should not be judged on the actions of the few.
- Dolls – Much has been written lately about the use of Voodoo Dolls. In my opinion they function best as Ancestor dolls, used to hold the sacred energy of those who have passed on. The media’s conception of a doll centered around control and pins is not generally associated with most Voodoo practices in my experience.
- Voodoo Priestesses– Voodoo priestesses aren’t inherently evil either. Most however, are marginalized, disenfranchised, and firmly seated on their Queen Crone throne, and things don’t look so pretty from there sometimes. People should challenge themselves to see these women as the beacons of resistance that they truly are.
- Secrets– All religions contain some elements of secrecy. Voodoo is no different. For many years in New Orleans, Haiti, and elsewhere many of the practices associated with the worship of Vodou and Voodoo were outlawed and persecuted. Priests, Priestesses, and devotees were forced to either abandon or disguise their beliefs in order to survive and thrive. Many practitioners in recent years have “come out of the cauldron,” so to speak, but have still been met with prejudice, ignorance, and downright cultural theft.
- Poisons and Zombies– As a nature centered religion Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo rely heavily on the use of magickal herbs, oils, and other ingredients from the natural world to aid in their preparations and spells. The famed anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston dedicated much of her research to this topic, as did ethnobotanist Wade Davis. If you would like to know more here’s a little interview I did on the subject: The Truth About Zombies.
The reality of Vodou, Voodoo, and other African Traditional Religions is much more sacred than most outsiders realize. If you are interested in learning more please check out the Voodoo Universe Archives, and my books Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism, 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess, and The African -American Ritual Cookbook. The Voodoo truth is out there!
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