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Myths and Information about Voodoo

When many people hear the term Voodoo, there are a few images that pop in their head. First they believe of recent Orleans, then Voodoo dolls, human sacrifices, curses and the evil eye. These are a few of the misconceptions that surround Voodoo. Here, the myths that surround Voodoo will be dispelled.

The first myth is that Voodoo originated from New Orleans. The fact is that it were only available in Haiti, and there are significant differences between Haitian Voodoo and American or New Orleans Voodoo. A principal distinction between Haitian Voodoo and New Orleans Voodoo is that in New Orleans Voodoo there is both white and black magic. The reason here is to cover New Orleans Voodoo.

The 2nd myth is that Voodoo uses human sacrifice. This myth going in the late 1800s, when many people thought that a part of the common practice of those that practiced Voodoo sacrificed humans within their rituals, many believing that children were the most common "offerings." These misconceptions were further exaggerated by the writings of Sir Spenser St. John, a consul to Haiti. This myth is completely false. Strangely enough, human sacrifice is completely against the moral code of Voodoo, the moral code includes the statement of "not harming others."

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The use of Voodoo dolls is yet another myth. A doll is made in the being similar to a person that you might prefer to "work Voodoo" on. They are often depicted with tingling stuck through these to harm the victim.

First, the foundation from the Voodoo doll actually comes from the "poppet," that was used in witchcraft in Europe. The actual term of Voodoo doll was introduced by an American writer who wrote a fictional story about Voodoo after he was told that it was witchcraft.

Secondly, a Voodoo doll that is used to cause pain to a person can also be from the moral code. The truth is that the only real dolls that are used in Voodoo are the dolls that are utilized on Voodoo alters which are meant to represent loas.

What then may be the truth about Voodoo, if it's not the glamorized Hollywood version many believe that it is? The main aspects of Voodoo are very similar to other faiths, including Christianity. Voodooists have confidence in a central god who's accountable for the development of the universe. Voodooists also have confidence in numerous lesser gods and spirits which they call either orishas or loa and each may be the master that belongs to them sphere of influence, like the saints in Christianity. The central god is known as Oloddumare.

Voodoo requires an initiation ritual, which is taken care of by a Voodoo priest. Most often it is due to some issues a person is having in life. When the priest determines these issues are caused from loa, the initiation then will appease loa and the issues will cease. Voodoo initiation will also make any dead relatives of the victim happy who may be haunting him/her because they feel she/he is wasting their potential. The initiation is actually a mock death of the victim (which could function as the first step toward the myth of human sacrifice.)

Finally, there's black and white magic involve in Voodoo. Each type of magic is used for malicious and beneficiary reasons. A Voodoo priest will normally have a working knowledge of both.