Many people are scared of voodoo because of what Hollywood has made it into. Dark magic, curses, and rituals are not a part of every practitioners daily life, and they definitely are not all performed in public. Here are three may misconceptions about Louisiana Voodoo.
1. Voodoo practitioners use Voodoo dolls to get back at their enemies and to scare them.
Fact: Actually, Voodoo dolls were made up by an American writer, but their real origins are traced back to Medieval Europe, which were used in witchcraft. Real practitioners do not use voodoo dolls at to harm. Causing harm is against the voodoo code, and they are only found in graveyards or altars to represent voodoo gods or spirits. These are actually used for luck and for blessings, not harm. They are, however, sold for commercial sales.
2. Voodoo is full of evil enchantments, which exists closely with Satanism.
Fact: Actually, voodoo is very similar to Christianity and many of their gods are based on Catholic Saints. It is also related to Hinduism, as they are a polytheistic group and are highly spiritual. Lastly, they are related to Japanese Shinto, because of the concept of ancestor worship and respect. Voodooism has roots in West African, Catholic, Christian, Hindu, and Shinto religions, none of which mean any harm.
3. Voodoo = dark magic.
This is largely Hollywood’s fault, and it has damaged the light of Voodoo across the United States. While practitioners admit that there are “bokors” that can directly communicate with spirits and “serve the spirits with both hands.” This essentially means that they are capable of benevolent, harmful, and black magic. However, it is said that these ‘sorcerers’ are very rare and are largely discouraged among the majority of legitimate practitioners.
1. Voodoo practitioners use Voodoo dolls to get back at their enemies and to scare them.
Fact: Actually, Voodoo dolls were made up by an American writer, but their real origins are traced back to Medieval Europe, which were used in witchcraft. Real practitioners do not use voodoo dolls at to harm. Causing harm is against the voodoo code, and they are only found in graveyards or altars to represent voodoo gods or spirits. These are actually used for luck and for blessings, not harm. They are, however, sold for commercial sales.
2. Voodoo is full of evil enchantments, which exists closely with Satanism.
Fact: Actually, voodoo is very similar to Christianity and many of their gods are based on Catholic Saints. It is also related to Hinduism, as they are a polytheistic group and are highly spiritual. Lastly, they are related to Japanese Shinto, because of the concept of ancestor worship and respect. Voodooism has roots in West African, Catholic, Christian, Hindu, and Shinto religions, none of which mean any harm.
3. Voodoo = dark magic.
This is largely Hollywood’s fault, and it has damaged the light of Voodoo across the United States. While practitioners admit that there are “bokors” that can directly communicate with spirits and “serve the spirits with both hands.” This essentially means that they are capable of benevolent, harmful, and black magic. However, it is said that these ‘sorcerers’ are very rare and are largely discouraged among the majority of legitimate practitioners.