Also known as Sevis Gineh or "African Service", is the primary culture and religion of the approximately 7 million people of Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora. Vodou is a religion that began in Africa and is now dominant to Haiti. It is one of the unfamiliar healing religions that has rapidly grown across America.
Vodou is the ancient art of Ancestor worship, coupled with strict moral values, all in the name of God. It is an African religion that progressed through slavery into Haiti , then finally America. Throughout history Vodou has undergone constant attack born out of fear of the unknown and racism. This started from the Haitian revolution of independence, vilifying the religion to the western world. Slaveholding colonies and nations used this fear to suppress people, and these falsehoods eventually grew into exaggerated rumors and mistruths spread about the religion.
Vodou evolved into America quite the same way it did in Haiti , through the importing of African/Haitian slaves. There are several styles of Vodou in America , as there are variations to Haitian Vodou in Haiti : American Haitian Vodou, New Orleans Vodou, American Vodou, and of course Haitian Vodou. Vodou is an all encompassing metamorphosizing religion.
While Vodou is considered Monotheistic because it has only one God, there are many Lwa that work as ‘soldiers’ for God much like Saints or Angels. The Lwa also known as the "Mysteries,"are the lesser divinities which are central to worship. The Lwa/Loas are not seen as gods, but the most powerful ancestral spirits- great men and women, leaders, and divine messengers who have been drawn up to a higher status than an Ancestor. They each have a control or sphere of power, therefore they have greater concentration on that part of your life.
God or Bondeye which means “Good God” is not personified as the Lwa are. Bondeye represents the inevitability fate, the forces of nature, and the constant motions of the universe. Bondeye is too immense to become directly involved in the lives of his children, so the Lwa act as his “soldiers or representatives” who God sends to care for them. They in turn relay messages to Bondeye and care for the children in the realm Bondeye has assigned for them.
The Lwa are personified in such ways as to have likes and dislikes. Each Lwa have Representations, days of the week, colors, Saints they synchronize with, symbols, numbers, offerings, they can be married to other Lwa, they are often counterparties to their cousin Orisha’s or to deities other Pantheon’s, and can have Birthdays. They are treated as much like people are.
There are several ‘central characters’ of Lwa that are important to the regalement of Vodou.
- Legba, or Papa Legba- Legba is the guardian of crossroads. He must be honored before any other Loa, and it is he who opens the doors between the worlds.
- Marassa - the divine twins, the first man and woman, the first ancestors. They embody archetypal, polar forces akin to yin and yang.
- Loko- He is the prototypical priest of the tradition. Loko is the patron of healers and plants, especially trees.
- Ayizan- the legendary first Mambo(Priestess)of Vodou, who is honored at every ritual. She is the magpie of the marketplace.
- Danballah -the serpent; a primordial deity, who with his companion Ayida, created the cosmos. He is stability, knowledge, patience, and grounding.
- Ayida Wedo- the consort of Danballah; the rainbow, the wife, the mother, the nuturer.
- Ezili Freda - The embodiment of femininity and love. Similar to the goddess Venus- Ezili is forever looking for compassion but knows that there will always be flaws. She see what love there is to give, but can never be satiated. There is never enough, but always takes and always gives love. Compassion, love, beauty, femininity.
- Ezili Dantor- The hot aspect who embodies righteous anger, is a protector of women and avenger of domestic violence. Tiger mother, protector, jaded lover.
- Agwe - The primordial sea, ruler of the depths of the ocean. Direction, Instinct, and protector of sailors and seamen.
- La Sirene- She is the patron of Musicians, Artist, and the creative. Allowing them to open and create with ease and flow. She protects against hurricanes, brings good luck and allows prosperity through creativity.
- Azaka- This is the Lwa of agriculture, and is in charge of Magickal Abundance. He is a hard worker and helps farmers and those who are manual workers.
- Oggun -a warrior, martial masculinity, he helps fight battles, and to heal those who have to fight surgeries and serious illnesses.
