You often hear about the mysterious Voodoo religion. But what does Voodoo actually mean? Here is some explanation about this controversial and mysterious religion.
What is Voodoo?
Many people have heard of voodoo, but only know the voodoo dolls. However, there is much more to this mysterious religion.
Voodoo is originally a West African religion, which has spread mainly to South America and the Caribbean. The Negro slaves took their faith with them to other parts of the world. Over the centuries, these peoples have developed a worldview in which belief in a creator, assisted by gods and goddesses, ancestors and spirits, is fundamental.
The Voodoo culture knows no coincidences or accidents. It is believed that no event occurs in isolation. It is said that the universe is a whole, and that everything is connected, everything happens as a result of something else, and that we are just parts of one big whole. Everything together, so people and the universe and everything within it, together form this big whole. What you do to others, you also do to yourself, because you are, as it were, the other. Voo doo (vous deux) means look at you (see yourself).
We are mirrors of each other’s souls. God manifests himself in spirits of deceased ancestors who can do both good and evil, and who are honored through ceremonies. There is a sacred cycle between the living and the dead according to the Voodoo faith. The believers ask during their prayers to remove the misery in their lives Their rituals are accompanied by singing, dancing, drumming, prayers and animal sacrifice.
The snake plays an important role in the Voodoo religion. The high priest or priestess is called Papa (m) or Maman (v) respectively and they are, as it were, the generators; they carry out the power of the serpent force. The Almighty God is called Bon Dieu. In addition, the religion has hundreds of gods called Loas and they have the power over nature, health and wealth, and prosperity of living man. The gods, the Loas include; Damballah, Ezilli, Ogu, Agwe, Legba and many more (the Winti culture, which originally came from African slaves, knows the Legba as Leba).
During a voodoo ceremony, these Loas can take possession of the bodies of the participants present. The Loa appears by taking possession of believers, who in turn ‘become’ Loa. The Loa will then provide any advice, wishes or warnings. According to the Voodoo religion, objects and natural phenomena have a sacred meaning and (e.g. the Loa called Agwe is the harbinger of an approaching hurricane).
Music and dance are key to a Voodoo ceremony. Europeans have often used terms such as ‘night dance’ or ‘voodoo dance’ to describe the ceremonies, and the rituals were seen as a prelude to sexual frenzy. However, dancing during the ceremonies is an expression of spirituality, of unity with the divine and the spiritual world. Voodoo is a practical religion and plays an important role in families and communities. According to the believers, the ancestors are part of the world of the gods, the Loas, and this maintains the tradition and history of the believers.
Another practical aspect is that believers often go to a priest or priestess (Papa or Maman) for advice, spiritual guidance, or for help with their problems. The priest(s) offers help through herbs or medicines (using acquired knowledge within the voodoo religion), or healing through the faith of the person seeking help. The latter is known to all religions. Through the use of plants and extracts, voodoo teaches us to respect nature.
Voodoo has healing spells, love spells, nature spells and celebration spells. The gods are invoked for harmony and peace, birth and rebirth, increasing happiness, material happiness and renewed health. Nevertheless, the Voodoo rites and rituals are still seen as evil and devilish.