Voodoo is a type of magic practiced in African or Haitian culture. A practitioner of voodoo, also known as a voodooist or voodoo practitioner, is sworn loyalty to a certain spirit animal called a loa; a benevolent loa is called a "Rada loa" whereas an evil one is called a "Petro loa". One can summon their respective loa with a vèvè.
Those who practice black magic associated with a Petro loa are shunned by legitimate voodoo practitioners, because these loas are dangerous. These black magic groups are called Secret Sociétés. When a worshipper calls on any Petro loa to perform a harmful act on their behalf, they must then vow to serve that loa, forming a deal called an angajan. Should the deal not be fulfilled, vengeance will come to the worshiper.
Voodooists are only allowed to serve one loa at a time, even if they were in a group; should two loas discover they share the same servants, said servants will be severely punished. Such violation is usually punishable by death in the case of Petro loas.
Like witches, they can use their craft for either good or evil. While voodooists are mostly mortals, they can also be witches.[1]
History[]
Voodoo got its start in New Orleans in mid-to-late 1700s, with the import of slaves from the French island colonies, Martinique, Guadalupe, and Santo Domingo. The most influential practitioners were the voodoo queens, with the male voodoo root doctors ranking second. Voodoo had been common practice in the city since, though most had faded as time advanced.
Marie Laveau was mentioned to have been the most powerful voodoo queen of her time.
Known Artifacts[]
Voodoo practitioners pray to their respective loas and have a talisman called a vèvè that serves as symbol to one loa.
They make gris-gris bags with various ingredients (snakeskin, feathers, herbs, hair, etc.) and leave them on the doorsteps of someone they wish to harm. A voodoo temple is called a hounfort, where ceremonies and sacrificial rituals are performed.
Drums are used in most voodoo ceremonies. The ones honoring the Rada loa have a rhythmic pounding, but the ones honoring the Petro loa have erratic drumbeats.
Known Practitioners[]
- Aviva (presumably)
- Witch Doctors
- Gabrielle Toussaint
- Andre
- Randy Claudel
Notes and Trivia[]
- Witch doctors are able to use voodoo dolls.[2]
- Darryl Morris once sarcastically called Cole Turner's abilities "voodoo powers," although Cole refuted this as they had a demonic nature.[3]
- In the novel "Voodoo Moon", there was a museum dedicated to voodoo.