Voodoo, one of the oldest religions in the world, originated from West Africa and came to the West during the slave trade. It believes everything is connected and ceremonies involve prayers, dances, and rituals. The high priest or priestess is seen as a healer and spiritual advisor. Spells are mainly used for good. Voodoo is practiced in several countries and was sanctioned as an official religion in Haiti in 2003.
The widely held image of Voodoo in the Western world is that of wax dolls with sticking pins and black magic. It is, however, one of the oldest religions in the world. Voodoo came to the West during the days of the slave trade and the basis of the religion came from Africa. The practice, as it is more widely known, was structured in Haiti, where a variety of different ethnic groups have amalgamated their traditions into this form of religion.
Voodoo is a West African word meaning “spirit” and comes from the term vodun. The basic ethos of religion is that everything in the universe is connected. Nothing happens by chance in this world, and there are no accidents. Everything a person does to another, he does to himself, because he is that person.
Religious ceremonies contain prayers, dances and rituals, as well as animal sacrifices. The serpent figure plays an important role in rituals and the high priest or priestess will embody the power of the serpent. Spirits of wealth, nature and happiness possess the bodies of the believers at the ceremony. Dance and music are also important elements. In the West, dance has often been described as sexual, but that’s not its primary purpose—it’s a way to connect with spirits and the spirit world.
Voodoo is an important part of family life in any community that practices it. The high priest has great influence and gives spiritual advice when asked. He or she is also seen as a healer and practices with herbs and medicines. The knowledge the high priestess has acquired will have been passed down through previous generations.
Practitioners also use spells, most of which are cast to conjure good, not evil. There are healing spells, love spells and spells to celebrate joy. The image of black magic and harmful spells was mainly founded by Europeans who distrusted everything African.
Voodoo is practiced as a religion in several countries around the world. In Brazil it is called Candomble and in the Caribbean it is called Obeah. In 2003, the government of Haiti sanctioned it as an official religion, so believers can be baptized and married within the practice. It has taken centuries for this official action to materialize, however, and believers say it will take more than an official show of faith to make up for the persecution followers have had to contend with. There are millions of people in Haiti alone who share this faith.
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