It turns out that voodoo is a religion of feminists, in which women have incredible power ...
The most worn out in Hollywood films from all religions can be called voodoo. This belief is considered the darkest of all magical arts and is associated solely with curses, the desire to harm and sacrifice. But these statements are very far from the truth, because rarely anyone can learn the whole truth about voodoo.
1. Voodoo came from other religious beliefs
This is a spiritual mix of several ancient African confessions that have much in common with animism and spiritualism. Some rituals are also borrowed from shamans and sorcerers. Voodoo believers believe that there are two worlds closely related to each other. A man lives on earth in a visible world in which he can transform into any animal if he is worthy of possessing magical skills. After death, he moves into an invisible world.
2. The main purpose of creating voodoo is the healing of diseases
Despite the fact that Hollywood writers benefit from the idea of creating voodoo as a cult of revenge for the enemies and enslavement of the collective consciousness, the original idea was not at all in this. This is not a combination of black magic and spells, but rather a knowledge of the various diseases and ways of treating them. It helped the African slaves survive, despite the hellish conditions of detention and grueling work on plantations around the world.
3. There are three different types of voodoo
Since slaves were exported to different states, religion developed with differences: scientists have at least three branches of voodoo, which, in total, are worshiped by more than 30 million people. The most adapted to the modern world is the Louisiana Voodoo line, which received life in the southeast of the United States of America. Well, the closest to black magic is Haitian voodoo, formed under the influence of Spanish and French settlers.
4. The snake heads the whole pantheon of the gods
The central character in religion is not any creepy demon of the underworld. The key and most revered figure is the snake Dambala, the oldest of the pantheon of the gods voodoo. Dambala created this planet, it symbolizes wisdom and life experience. It is believed that after the death of every believer, a meeting with the snake god awaits him, who will evaluate all his earthly deeds.
5. Voodoo is protected by a special law
In 1987, a constitution was adopted in Haiti, recognizing the right to be called a religion for Voodoo, and confirming that there is nothing dangerous for life in it. Previously, the Catholic Church struggled in every way with followers of belief, so a special law was required to protect them from persecution and punishment (the priests were made to burn or beat).
6. St. Peter the Pylorus in the Invisible World
In Haitian Voodoo, the figure of St. Peter, who is accustomed to associate with Christianity, is quite significant. In this religion he is referred to only as Pope Legba - the spirit-mediator between people and the other world. Any ritual priests begin and end with a mention of his name. A white cock, coffee, tobacco, chocolate or coconut is sacrificed to Pope Legba.
7. Catholic priests work together with voodooists
In the underdeveloped countries of Africa, local residents more trust the representatives of the cult than the priests. But the Catholic ministers have the opportunity to provide financial and medical assistance to the tribes, so they use the priests as guides. Vuduists inform the semi-literate villagers why they can not refuse vaccinations and doctors.
8. The Queen of Voodoo - Maria Lavo
Maria Lavaux is a colorful character, with which many American city legends are associated. She was the most discussed follower of the voodoo cult during her lifetime. The uncrowned ruler of New Orleans daily received important politicians, judges and other influential people. Who would not come to the city - he first went to the nod to Mary. Her enemies for a long time did not live: all disaffected by the power of Lavaux perished after they found on their doorstep a doll of voodoo.
9. The voodoo doll becomes magical power only after a special ritual
In most horror films, in order to harm a person, it is enough to make his doll and stick it with needles. Voodoo experts are sure that not everything is so simple: that the doll gained strength over a person, it must be "connected" with it - to attach to a magic toy a photograph, a curl of hair or some personal object of the enemy.