VODOU

Vodou is a religion which originated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and derives from the Fon word for "God" or "Spirit." Other accurate spellings include Vodun, Vodoun, but never voodoo, the sensationalist and Western creation which is often practiced in New Orleans.

 

In Haitian Vodou there is also an aspect is syncretism of Saints between the traditional Vodou religion of Benin Africa and the Roman Catholic branch of Christianity in some houses. Vodou, like othe ATRs mentioned here also has a patron or gods , “little g” if you will, that are part of the religion, and in Vodou we call them Lwa also spelled Loa, sometimes depicted as Saints as previously mentioned, via synchronization.

 

The Lwa are segmented into three predominant groups or classes, the Rada, Petwo and Guèdè although there are many more, ncluding Nago (theOgou lwa). Some Lwa exists in both. The energy is each class being different. The Rada are more of the cooler spirits, Petwo/ Petro are hot and Guèdè are connected to the spirits of the dead. There is no set divination system in Vodou as with IFA and Palo.

 

Practitioners often work with an existing system of divination to communicate with the Lwa such as Tarot, bones, shells or other customized methods as well as, merely communing with the Lwa using intuitive gifts. Each of these ATRs is beautiful in their own right and bring to the forefront different energie, deities, spirits and powers. Being initited to each, has been transformative life blessings. Aşé, Ayibibo, Bendicion.