Voodoo

Voodoo does not involve morality. the practices of worshipping voodoo spirits or fetishes stems from the belief that God created hundreds of them, each with uniqque supernatural powers to affect human lives. Below the voodoo are the spirits of the dead and the priests. The priests are imbued with a part of the fetish and are the only humans who can communicate witht eh voodoo and the dead spirits. Below the priests are the fetishers, who help thme in their rites. each tribe or clan worships a particular voodoo, tipically in a fetish temple....By making offerings to them, people hope to gain special favours, such as the birth of twins. In addition, if they don't appease the evil force Legba, represented by a phallus, bad things can happen.

-Lonely Planet travel guide Africa -Benin

Followers of Vodun(also voodoo) believe that each person has a soul which is composed of two parts: a gros bon ange or " big guardian angel" , and a ti bon ange or" little guardian angel". The latter leaves the body during sleep and when the person is possessed by a Loa during a ritual. there is a concern that the ti bon ange can be damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is free of the body.

Vodun Rituals

The purpose of the rituals is to make contact with the spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and iimproved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage, and death.

Vodun priests can be male, or female. A Vodun temple is called a hounfour. At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the god and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Loa, etc.

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