/r/Vodou
This group is for the discussion of the religion of Vodou. For now, it is focused on the Haitian tradition, but I welcome links and discussions of West African, New Orleans, or other related traditions.
This Group is open to everyone. I don't do background checks. If you are looking for a Group that is focused on one particular tradition or lineage, this is not it. If you feel strongly that your tradition or lineage is the only true path, you probably won't be happy here.
*Keep it clean: no name-calling, no swearing at people. No personal attacks due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity. No personal attacks due to anything, ever, or you're out of here. Act like a grown-up, ok? Basic common courtesy applies.
*Keep it sane: This Group is a public, online forum. If you post something, be prepared for alternate & dissenting opinions. If you are seeking validation, a public online forum is a terrible way to go about it. If you are seeking information, we can help. But there is a limit to how much you can learn online. If you want to understand & practice Vodou, an In Real Life community & mentor is what you need.
We welcome people who are just curious, new practitioners, and experienced Mambos and Houngans.
FEEL FREE TO POST/COMMENT IN ENGLISH OR KREYOL!
Kay de la Fleur Blanc - New Orleans, LA
Sosyete Du Marche - Philadelphia, PA
Sosyete Fos Fe Yo We - Los Angeles, CA
Sosyete Gade Nou Leve - New Jersey
Sosyete l'Afrique Ginen - Florida
Sosyete La Belle Deesse Dereale - Montreal, QC
Hounfor Racine Deesse Dereyal - New Zealand
Sosyete Nago - Boston, MA
/r/Vodou
I had a dream last night, more of a nightmare, I was running from an evil I couldn’t begin to describe I just know it I felt its presence heavy in my dream. One way or another I ended up in a house and as it crept closer and I had a notion to take my finger to a dirty mirror in the house and write out an image. I then woke up, and the image was etched in my mind so I did a google search and the image I placed on the mirror was PaPa Legbas vèvè. Has this ever happened to anyone before? What could it mean?
Guedes are spirits of the dead. They’re honored during the month of November. It’s a time where the guedes come into possession to receive offerings , dance and give messages. Guedes are known to be very vulgar ,sexual, and extremely funny they also help with fertility. They’re also known for bathing and drinking a bottle thats made out of vodka and habanero peppers and lots of baby powder.
So I had a reading done and I was told that Ogou Frayer walked with me. I was told to honor him with coffee, a red candle, his photo, and a cigar. So I did and the days that I don’t set this up I have heat flashes. I’ve asked two people and the giggle and say yeah that’s normal. I’m like cool it’s not uncomfortable I’d just like to know what else I should be doing. I’ve found a song for him and feel like I should play it. Like I’m lost.
I connected with a Vodouisant who gave me a very accurate reading, and surprisingly told me that Maman Brigitte is close to me and wants to help me learn sorcery. He also said Ti-Jean Dantor will assist me with my current situation. When I contacted him, I was really only looking for him to do workings for me, but i’ve realized i want so much more than that, i want to make this my lifestyle.
I’m excited to explore this path, but I'm discouraged because I live in a place with no Vodou practitioners nearby and limited resources. I'm not sure if I should give up or keep working with this Vodouisant, especially since I can't ask for financial help from the Lwa right now. He is my only connection.
Is my best bet to continue working with him? I definitely want to, I just want to know if there is anything else I can do on my end. I asked him about setting up an altar, but he advised me not to, because I can only do it in my room. He said if I want to, I could offer coffee or water, with a bit of florida water. If continuing to make this financial sacrifice is my only option, I am willing to do it, but this is not cheap by any means
Sake ap fet my zoes I'll just get straight to it and order to pray to erzulie dantor do I need to contact papa legba first. Someone told me in order to contact any deity I need to contact legba first while holding a lit white candle and turning from north all the way back. Please ede m😭😭💯
Hello, I am a researcher who is deeply interested and compelled by Vodoun and it’s teachings. I would like to be able to pray and leave offerings for the Lwa even if I am unable to find a fanmi. Before doing so though I would like to have a reading done for guidance to avoid offending any Lwa or spirits. Is there anyone who can help and give me possible recommendations for readings? Thank you.
Hello everyone. I find a lot of contradictory and ambiguous information. Help clarify whether initiation is required in New Orleans Voodoo. Thank you!
I read that in order to call on spirits for help, you have to have a relationship with them (or it can be "dangerous"). How do you build relationships with lwa, and is there a certain amount of time it takes before the relationship is solidified/before you can ask for help?
Hello I am currently working on a Haitian Vodou dedicated sleeve. Is there anything in particular that I should add in regards to the religion, Lwa’s, or things that are usually associated with it.
Hello goodnight. I'm not into voodoo, but a friend of mine is, he doesn't have Reddit and at his request, I came to post an event here. Currently he works with Papa Legba and Samedi, and is studying about Baron Samedi, at one point, he saw a spirit in his wardrobe. Below is an image of the drawing he made. According to him, Samedi has contact with him from past lives. He wanted opinions on what that spirit he saw in the wardrobe could be, an envoy from Baron Samedi??
Hi y'all
I have a question. Y'all know the lwas Demballah and Ogou right? (Sorry for any mistake) Can they be evil in any kind of way? I don't know much about vodou honestly. I did a reading yesterday and the manbo told me that those spirits are protecting me... but I feel like it's a lie. I feel like the spirits themselves are trying to trick me (the manbo was %100 legit though). I did a nightmare few weeks ago about 2 hidden evil spirits, I encounter a lot of snakes on a regular basis, I started having anger issues, etc. Something is telling me that I am right about those two "evil" spirits but I don't know. Magic is confusing lol.
Thanks guys.
Just a funny little story, when I was little my mom would do reading for people and when the loa rode her they would only speak straight kreyol. Well recently my mom is doing readings again and now they can speak fluent English even better than my mom lol. I asked her if she was faking it cause I don’t remember them ever speaking English. She said she did something now to were they can communicate in English. That’s just wild to me I wonder how that’s possible. Anyways when was done with the reading it stared to chant something in Spanish before leaving which was kinda funny too.
Hi. I often hear Vodou is a science and heard scientist linking it as such and other similar claims that defy reasons. What are your thoughts on this?
For context: I'm mexican, living in México, and I found a particular interest in vodou, not as a practicioner or an aspiring one, but as a form of cultural expresion from the country, but I feel like I hit a wall in my research
The spanish sources, as expected, leaves a lot to be desired for everything that isn't 21 divisiones, wich is too alien from Haiti to actually help. The english sources are more extensive but theres the problem of consensus and subjetivity in the interpretations, the white Maman Brigitte or claeraly divided families being an example, all roads leads to Creole, wich I can't speak nor read
Do you have any good source that you consider to be good or consistent enough for learning about vodou mythology?
Is there a spell to change the physical appearance, like taller please.
In my dream, I was in a dark room. On the ground in front of me was a large, deep blue mouchwa, about the size of a table cloth. Arranged on the mouchwa was a framed photo of St. Lazarus, bowls of fruits, candles, an enamel-ware lamp, and bottles of (I’m assuming) liquor. Even though the photo was of St. Lazarus (whom I associate with Legba), in my mind I understood that I was serving Ezili Danto, who does walk with me in my esko.
I had a sword in my right hand. I spun in a circle once then banged the sword on the ground. Then, I spun the other way and banged the sword again. Then I put the sword down and grabbed two candles: one black taper candle in my right hand, and one white chime candle in my left. I bent over and used the lamp to light the candles. But when I stood up, the candles went out. So I bent over again to relight them, and then I stood up and same thing, the candles went out. When I bent over a third time, the lamp and the candles went out. I held the candle wicks to the lamp wick, and they glowed orange and all three lit again. I stood up slowly and the candles did not go out this time.
That’s when the dream ended.
Couple of things worth note; I dreamt of Ezili Danto once before around this time last year, and after a conversation and esko reading with Kiwi Mojo, it was determined that Danto was inviting me to Kanzo. I haven’t yet, though I’m still looking to.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Found this at a Goodwill was wondering if anybody had any information on it at all. I know it’s a drapo/ceremonial tapestry for Dambalah but that’s all I know.
Anyone heard or seen this being used in Haitian or Dominican circles? What's the smell like compared to Pompeiia and whatnot?
I was interested in vodou when I was younger, but coming from a strict African-American Christian household, my mother always told me that we didn’t dabble in those practices- that that’s not who we were. Ironically enough, my mother’s grandmother was from Haiti and I’ve read here that all Haitians have an ancestral Lwa and a connection to the Lwa. I’ve been educating myself more on witchcraft, brujería, and vodou practices over the past days and am having my first ever tarot reading on Sunday. As a descendant of Haitians, I want to be able to tap into any and ancestral knowledge that is already within me. I don’t feel that I have a strong psychic presence, although I do have an innate connection with animals. If anyone here is able to offer any words of guidance, I’d appreciate it greatly 🙏🏽
Vodou activity in Europe is pretty low but i feel like there must be some cause i cant go to haiti rn and i need to expand my knowledge maybe even a someone else who can just show me the ropes as i want to start taking up vodou and my familys been contacted by an ancestor about vodou even if its just online help anything will do.
Is it possible to have Ayizan or Loko as part of your spiritual court? I have been told that Ayizan rarely if ever mounts a person. I am aware of their importance in kanzo.
I was wondering if it is possible to have a relationship with them outside of kanzo? Or have them as part of your spiritual court?
Hello beautiful people!
Hope all is well. I wanna know if anyone can help me please. Does anybody know any spells I can do to pass my exams. I wanna be done with my second degree. The subjects are easy and understandable and I revise all the time but there are some retakes I still have to do. I want to be done with this chapter. It’s already been tough, I lost my job. I want to be able to overcome this.
Please send over any spells (or keep me in your prayers)
Thank you!
Hello. i am trying to find info about Vodou and its history, as well as a community that can help me with achieving this and maybe becoming a successful practitioner. it’s not easy to find on the internet with just googling or finding the right links. I’ve tried my luck with google but i know there’s more out there for me, as a trinidadian woman.
thank you for reading.
why are those small wooden chairs used so commonly in travays ? or works ? they are usually wrapped up in cord or twine
Does anyone know anybody who makes authentic gris gris bags and does anybody know of any houngans and manbos in the Bay Area?
Recently visited a Haitian houngan whose lineage is from a town right next to the border. He used some kind of really good, sweet perfume whose smell I really liked, and have been trying to figure out what it was (didn't get the chance to ask). It smells very different from Pompeia, Rêve D'ôr, Florida Water, and Bien Être, and has a very sweet after-smell. Doesn't smell like citrus nor roses but something rather sweet and "sugary." Hard to ask this without folks trying to smell it but I really wanted to know what other possible scents this could be. Might be Anaïs Anaïs, but it was too dark to tell (and I believe I've encountered this scent back at a fiesta de palo when they were spraying Anaisa Pye)