Vodou

•Monistic•Ashe•Ritual actions effect the world (magic)

•Animistic &/or Panentheistic?•Lwas/loas associated with natural as well as cultural things

•Multi-tiered – Heaven; world; Ginen

•Relational – universe viewed as complex web of relationships & dependencies

Worldview

Ginen - land of loa and ancestors

Theology

• MonotheisticMonotheistic or polytheisticpolytheistic, depending on definitions

• Bondye (God) – Distant, unapproachable

• Loas (lwas):– Many “Nanchons” (nations)

pantheons

– Two most recognized = Rada & Petro

• Rada = “cool” (Dahomean)• Petro = “hot” (Haitian)

Bondye – God (faceless, unknowable)

TheologyLwas/loas (gods, spirits, saints) – very approachable - les invisibles, les mysteres

• Two main “nanchons” = Rada (calm, cool, African) and Petro (fierce, hot, Caribbean)

• Some main Rada loas are:– Legba (Christ or St. Peter) =

Crossroads, communication– Erzulie (Virgin Mary) = love,

motherhood, sexuality– Damballah (St. Patrick, God

the Father) = wisdom, support– Ogou (St. James) = defense,

iron, alchemy– Gede/Baron Samedi (St.

Gerard) = cemetaries, death, family, sexuality

– The marassa (Christ) = honoured dead, ancestors Erzulie and daughter Anais (or

Mary and Jesus)

Theology

• Main Petro Loas:– Kafou Legba = trickster

figure, aggressive defense of gateway to Ginen

– Ezili Je‑Rouge (red eye) or Ezili Danto = rage and mother’s defense of threatened child

– Ogou Ferary – fierce pleasures, fierce defense, aggression, strategy

– Baron le Koa = harm to enemies, punish wrongdoers, death

– Dan Petro = “father” of Petro loas - revenge Ogou Ferary

Other Supernatural BeingsOther Supernatural Beings

• Baka – - spirits who serve both the

loas and human magicians (bocor)

• Ancestors– Souls:

• Ti Bon Ange (little good angel)

• Gros Bon Ange (big good angel)

• Met tete (master of the head = guardian loa)

• Mermaids, Loup Garou, Zombies

EthicsEthics• Ethics are situational and

relational• Ethics are communal and

consensual• No set ethical code – based

on consensus on what equals morally reasonable, socially acceptable behavior

• “Reasonableness” governed by principles of generosity; respect

• Some acceptance of Biblical ethics: 10 Commandments, Golden Rule

OrganizationOrganization

• Oum’phor (hounfor)• Konesans• 3 levels of

participation:– Ordinary parishioner– Ounsi (hounsi) -

initiated “spouses” of loas

– Houngan (male) and/or Mambo (female)

VarietiesVarieties

• New Orleans VoodooNew Orleans Voodoo– Li Grand Zombi (Damballah)– Papa Limba (Legba)– Doctor John (1803-1885)

• Hoodoo

• Gris-gris

– Marie Laveau (1794-1881)• Folk Catholicism elements

• Marie the Younger

– New Orleans Voodoo Crossroads

Marie Laveau’s Tomb

VarietiesVarieties

• Haitian VodouHaitian Vodou– Direct initiatory

links to Haiti– Most dominant

form in North America

– Roots Without End

VarietiesVarieties• Vodou (Eclectic)Vodou (Eclectic)

– Predominantly follows Haitian model

– May or may not have initiatory links to Haiti

– Draws on other sources of inspiration, i.e. other Afro-Caribbean traditions, Kabbalah, Tarot, Astrology

– Voodoo Spiritual Temple– Book: Voodoo Visions

RitualsRituals

• Oum’phor– Peristyle– Poteau-mitan

• Veves• Fire & iron = Ogou• Mound & cross =

Gede• Pool of water =

Damballah– Djevo (initiation

room)– Pe (altar room)

• Loa symbols• Offerings• Pots de tete

Ritual ToolsRitual Tools

• Drums– Rada drums– Petro drums– Assato drum

• Asson– Calabash & wooden

handle, snake vertebrae

• Clochette

RitualsRituals

• The Kanzo (initiation cycle)– 2 week cycle– Bat ge

• Petro ceremony• Priye Ginen• Loa drum rhythms &

songs• Spirit possession• Pakets

RitualsRituals• The KanzoThe Kanzo

– Ritual Baths• 3 days, 7 baths per day• Herbal baths• Funeral songs

– Kouche Kanzo (lying down Kanzo)

• Confined to the djevo• 4-5 days• Kouri Ayizan• Spirit possession

– Afterwards, baptism, Afterwards, baptism, wear white, abstain from wear white, abstain from sex & certain foods for sex & certain foods for 41 days, one year later, 41 days, one year later, sponsor a ritual to sponsor a ritual to honour their lwahonour their lwa