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Myths and Facts About Voodoo

When many people hear the term Voodoo, there are a few images that play their scalp. First they believe of New Orleans, then Voodoo dolls, human sacrifices, curses and also the evil eye. These are a few of the misconceptions that surround Voodoo. Here, the myths that surround Voodoo is going to be dispelled.

The very first myth is that Voodoo originated from New Orleans. The truth is that it started in Haiti, there are significant differences between Haitian Voodoo and American or New Orleans Voodoo. A primary distinction between Haitian Voodoo and New Orleans Voodoo is that in New Orleans Voodoo there is both white and black magic. The purpose here is to pay for New Orleans Voodoo.

The 2nd myth is that Voodoo uses human sacrifice. This myth going in the late 1800s, when lots of people thought that an element of the common practice of those that practiced Voodoo sacrificed humans within their rituals, many believing that children were the most typical "offerings." These misconceptions were further exaggerated through the writings of Sir Spenser St. John, a consul to Haiti. This myth is totally false. Strangely enough, human sacrifice is totally from 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 resemblance of a person that you might prefer to "work Voodoo" on. They are usually depicted with tingling stuck through these to harm the victim.

First, the foundation of the Voodoo doll actually stems from the "poppet," which was utilized in witchcraft in Europe. The actual term of Voodoo doll was invented by a united states writer who wrote a fictional story about Voodoo after he was told it was witchcraft.

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

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

Voodoo requires an initiation ritual, which is looked after with a Voodoo priest. Most often it is due to some issues one is having in life. If the priest determines that these issues are 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 might be haunting him/her because they feel she/he is wasting their potential. The initiation is really a mock death from the victim (which could function as the foundation of the myth of human sacrifice.)

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