Voodoo!

6th

Now Voodoo is as hollywood as you get but its something I've always know was seriously misrepresented in the media so here is a bit of info on it:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VOODOO

The practice of Voodoo is probably as old as the African continent itself. Sometimes written Voudou, Vodou or Voudun, the word itself means God Creator or Great Spirit. It has been greatly distorted and misused; human sacrifices, vampires, dripping blood and devil worship all make the stuff of spooky novels and Hollywood movies. Yet none of these originated with or ever belonged to Voodoo!

Voodoo is a life affirming practice that encourages its participants to better understand the natural processes of life and their own spiritual natures.

If one looks at the dictionary, Voodoo is likely to be defined as an ancient religion from Africa that involves the cult of Ancestors, of various animistic spirits, and the use of trances to communicate with such spirits. It is true that Voodoo did originate in Africa. Today it is practiced by millions throughout the world, in Africa, the Caribbean, Central, North and South America, in various forms, often with elements of catholicism mixed in. However, its main purpose remains as always to heal: to heal the individual in relationships within himself or herself, with others and ultimately with God.

Around 1510 the slave trade began, slaves being taken from the West Coast of Africa (Gulf of Guinea) from what is now Senegal and Gambia to the Congo region. The slaves who were torn from their native lands brought with them their beliefs and regional practices. Many were first brought to the Caribbean islands to work the plantations and be forcibly Christianized. Their owners ("masters") did not recognize the mystical qualities of their native ceremonies. Rather they considered them to be savages, incapable of abstract concepts or spirituality. Of course the denial of their humanity made it all so much easier to keep them as slaves. Yet in the terrible conditions of their enslavement, the Africans' only hope lay in their very faith. Amidst broken tribes and families, they found unity and solace in God and ancient rituals. It certainly also gave them a deep sense of inner freedom.

Although African slaves came from many different regions, most influential were the tribes from Nigeria and Dahomey. In 1729 the Dahomey conquered their neighbors the Ewes and sold their prisoners to the slave ships often in exchange for European goods. Many from Dahomey were also kidnapped. Both tribes had incorporated snake worship into their rites and some priests of the religion unwillingly found themselves on route to Haiti and the new world. Within one generation of their arrival, these priests had already established temples (hounfors) and developed a following in spite of their captivity and severe opposition of the French and Spanish churches. The term Vo-Du came from the Fons of dahomey. The other great influence came from Yorubaland (Nigeria), the site of the sacred city of Ile-Ife. Among the Yorubas, the Loa (Lwa or Spirits) are known as Orisha. Other people that contributed to modern Voodoo in the new world are the Aradia, Nago, Ibo, Congo, Senegalese, Mandingo, Ethiopians, Sudanese and Malgaches.

The Voodoos believe in the existence of one supreme God, a very abstract, omnipotent yet unknowable force. Below this almighty God, Spirits or Loa rule over the world's affairs in matter of family, love, happiness, justice, health, wealth, work, the harvest or the hunt etc. Offerings are made to the appropriate Loa to ensure success in those areas. Each Loa has its preferred fruits or vegetables, color, number, day of the week, etc. The Loa also manifest through elements of nature such as the wind and rain, lightning and thunder, the river, the ocean, springs and lakes, the sky, the sun, certain animals, trees and stones. Furthermore every element of nature, animal, tree, plant, fruit or vegetable is sacred to a certain Loa or Orisha.

Ancestors are consulted for guidance and protection. A rich and deep body of mythology and tales exists attesting to the amazing memory and poetic ability of the "Griots" who passed it orally from elder to youth and so on throughout the ages. It is truly a remarkable body of spirituality and a code by which African life was ruled. A very complex system of divination also exists known as "Ifa". It is said that the word Loa or Lwa itself derives from the French "Loi" (Law).

Upon their arrival in the West Indies and the New World, the slaves found themselves unable to continue the practice of their ancestral rites, sometimes under penalty of death. But they quickly understood the essential similarities between their beliefs and those of the Catholics; the Catholics praying to their Saints to intercede to a higher God in their favor. That is in fact the exact criteria used to "make a Saint", the ability to obtain miracles. A substitution took place: the Loa often taking the name and some of the attributes of the Saints. The elaborate ceremonies and costumes of the church also had great appeal for the Africans. I do not think that the Africans and their descendants would have seen it as a direct substitution rather than as an added path of expression of their deep-seated faith and beliefs.

In the Spanish Islands, the new religion became known as Santeria (the worship of the Saints). In other islands and in New Orleans, the term Voodoo remained. Because of its unique blend of French, Spanish and Indian cultures, New Orleans offered a perfect setting for the practice and growth of Voodoo. In 1809 many Haitians who had migrated to Cuba during the Haitian revolution found themselves cast out and came to New Orleans. They brought with them their slaves who incorporated their rites and beliefs to those of the existent slave population - Africans from Senegal, Gambia and Nigeria previously brought to Louisiana by the Companie des Indes. Voodoo in Louisiana was enriched and revitalized. It also incorporated the worship of the Snake Spirit (Damballah Wedo / Aida Wedo). To the Africans Voodoo was not only their religion, it was also their natural medicine, their protection and certainly a way of asserting and safeguarding a sense of personal freedom and identity.

Today about 15% of the population of New Orleans practices Voodoo. Modern Voodoo has taken several directions: Spiritualist Reverends and Mothers who have their own churches, Hoodoos who integrate and work spells and superstitions, elements of European witchcraft and the occult, and traditionalists for whom the practice of Voodoo is a most natural and important part of their daily lives, a positive search for ancient roots and wisdom. The practice of Voodoo involves the search for higher levels of consciousness in the belief that -as indeed all of the ancient scriptures teach - it is we who must open the way towards the Gods. for when we call out from our hearts, the Gods hear and indeed are compelled to respond. Voodoo is a powerful mystical practice between (Wo)Man and God thus saving him/her from further estrangement from the very universe that (s)he is born into.

Its something i want to read alot more about, as it seems to hold true to alot of things i believe myself.

I hope this has been worth a read and made some people think.

6th

6th

Check out: http://www.neworleansvoodoocrossroads.com/voodoofaq.html for some great info on the subject!

6th

CoolGuy2006

the voodoo hoodoo what you dont dance too people.

Love voodoo, find it really interesting. Always a good read. Thanks

On another note, ever play the game Gabriel Night. Its a really old graphic adventure on the PC. Its set in New Orleans and it all about voodoo. Its based on real facts and evidence. Amazing game, i dont normally like games but this one had me hooked from start to finish. You learn alot about the subject as there is alot of txt to read. Classic game

stormkeeper

CoolGuy2006 wrote:

On another note, ever play the game Gabriel Night. Its a really old graphic adventure on the PC. Its set in New Orleans and it all about voodoo. Its based on real facts and evidence. Amazing game, i dont normally like games but this one had me hooked from start to finish. You learn alot about the subject as there is alot of txt to read. Classic game

That's one of my all-time fave games, it is, very interesting to play.

6th

Take it to the game forum if there is one!

CoolGuy2006

6th wrote:

Take it to the game forum if there is one!

mmm, the Original post is all about voodoo, My reply was all about voodoo. If i had mentioned a "book" about voodoo would you be directing us to the Book forum. No, i dont think so. I simply mentioned a game that was all about voodoo and a game that i have learned alot about voodoo.

I was simply giving another source of Voodoo information, a very entertaining one.

What exactly is the problem?.

6th

Sorry no problem, my bad ... am n ot usually like that. I think it is very valid to show and discuss how it is portrayed across all forms of media.

CoolGuy2006

No worries, i just dont want to be accused or wrecking more threads here.

For anyone who is interested it is a very entertaining doorway into the world of voodoo. there are alot of real facts, Real history of voodoo in New Orleans, hours of reading infact. This is why i mentioned it. It is a great resource although the story does take things to the extreme for entertainment purposes.

6th

Very interesting article from BBC News.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4588262.stm

solas

interesting alright. I like this comment

Professor Ali Mazrui said he went to Europe and found plenty of Islam but no Muslims. He also said he found plenty of Muslims and no Islam. The meaning is that religion has been corrupted by us. Therefore, voodoo is not inherently good nor bad. What counts is the use to which we deploy it.

is how i feel about beliefs in general, as long as other peoples lives aren't being compromised then there shouldn't be an issue.

edit:editing early sleepy

solas

just typed up a little short story about how once I met a couple of folk involed in some nasty witch craft, but I timed out.
I'm not sure if they were consciously aware of it all (nature of spirit they were working with) but I still kinda carry the scars, so voodoun and other practical magiks which sorta invoke dead people are not my cupa tea.

solas

sixth, I get the feelin somethings bothering you or there's something you really want to say. I could be wrong but if somethins up and you want to talk about it feel free to contact me.

Nevyn

why is this here and not in Spirituality or even Paganism ?

solas

think somethings just need to be discussed. can you leave it here for just a few minutes (half hour tops)

(ps thead the reference to the nasty witch folk wasn't in anyway a general comment on paganism or wicca, I know plenty of decent folk, was just a exp I was going to talk about)

6th

Yeah actually can we move this over to Spirituality? Shuld really have put it there in the first place, sorry.

6th

Nevyn

6th wrote:

Take it to the game forum if there is one!

ROFL
The games and quake forums were in fact the founding forums of the sprawl that is boards.ie today

Solas wrote:

(ps thead the reference to the nasty witch folk wasn't in anyway a general comment on paganism or wicca, I know plenty of decent folk, was just a exp I was going to talk about)

I didn't take it in that way at all you get idiots (who don't know better) and arrogant assholes (who should know better) everywhere and in connection with just about everything.

Solas sorry to hear that you had such a harrowing experience and talking about if you do wish to share
would be certainly with in the context of the Spirituality forum and I would be honoured if you shared it.

I do know a bit about Voodoo pratices and have been spiritridden enough to know you don't **** with the Loa,
but the experience while being very intense can be very loving and gentle when they leave.

solas

no worries, figure it might be something that needs discussing at some stage.

6th

Am trying to read as much as possible on this and cut out all the BS, at the foundation of it are some lovely ideas. I'm looking for a structure to my spirituality something that gels with me and its a real possibility.

solas

I do know a bit about Voodoo pratices and have been spiritridden enough to know you don't **** with the Loa,
but the experience while being very intense can be very loving and gentle when they leave.

was thinking about this and I'm not so keen on going into too much detail because just recalling it gets me worked up, the scenario Idiscussed in the charleville thread is directly related, its an actual incident that occured to some people I met.
The folk invovled were self proclaimed "witches" and bad stuff just seemed to follow them around. Their own experience lead them to draw on energy which wasn't very pleasant and they were conscious in directing it, which inevitably had some unfortunate results.

Nevyn

I would make the suggestion of salt to you Solas.
Honestly does not even have to be a huge ammount two small packets from a cafe are easy enough to carry with you if anything of the like was to happen again.