Vodou

Loa are the spirits of Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. They are also referred to as "mystères" and "the invisibles" and are intermediaries between Bondye—the Supreme Creator, who is distant from the world—and humanity. Unlike saints or angels, however, they are not simply prayed to, they are served. They are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct sacred rhythms, songs, dances, ritual symbols, and special modes of service.

A belief in the holiness and energy of sacred places is fundamental to the Vodou religion, as is the pursuit of peace, prosperity and happiness. But there is also undeniably a darker side to Voudon. Bokors are Voodoo priests for hire who are said to ‘serve the Loa with both hands’, meaning that they can both practice the black arts and benevolent magic. Their darker arts include the creation of zombies and the creation of ‘ouangas’, talismans that house evil spirits. Bokors are featured in many Haitian tales and are often associated with the creation of zombies by the use of a deadening brew or potion, usually containing non-fatal poisons. This potion makes the drinker appear to be dead and thus they are often buried. Days later, the bokor will return for the ‘corpse’ and force it to do his bidding, for example manual labour, in a manner akin to mind control. The person is, however, fully alive but in a detached state, whereby he cannot control what he says or does; at this point, when the person has been ‘reanimated’ from the grave, or at least is moving about working for the bokor, they can be termed ‘zombies’. However, some zombie legends dispense with this more rational explanation, and have the bokor raise actual Risen from dead bodies whose souls have departed.

To offset the villainy of bokors, Vodou also has more benevolent priests known as houngan, who are healers and root workers. They work with the Loa, often in an attempt to undo the harm which has been wrought by malevolent bokors. One of the interesting things about the spirits who make up this pantheon is the fact that they often seem to bear more than a passing resemblance to certain Catholic saints. This is perhaps a legacy of the spread of Christianity in parts of the world in which Vodou later took route but, if you ask a houngan, he is likely to tell you that it is simply proof that ultimately all religions lead to the same sacred goal. Damballa, for instance, is associated with Moses and is often pictured dressed in white robes and wielding a staff. He is the father of the other Loa, and the most powerful and important member of this pantheon. He also appears as a huge green-and-black snake sometimes and in either form, man or serpent, he is known for having voracious sexual appetites. Walking the world in mortal form he has married many women, and sleeps with all of them every Thursday. As you might expect, festivals and rites held in Damballa’s honour are therefore sensual, lively and energetic.