Ifá

The Vodun Phenomenon in Benin | Magistra Ardat Lile If it can be said that homo faber preceded homo sapiens, both these stages of humanity were borne by homo religiosus, an essential feature of man since the arousal of his consciousness. Indeed the religious phenomenon is not limited to a cult or an established link with the transcendent, but springs from the awareness of finiteness which gives rise to the need for the transcendent. Consequently, all men are religious, even if some are more religious than others, and the manifestations of human religiosity are numerous and owe much to the cultures of which they are the soul. In the specific case of the cultures of South Benin (West Africa), whose religious soul I wish briefly to present here, it appears that this is to be found in a convergent way in the phenomenon of Vodun. Vodun designates a venerated and adored divinity. We will start by presenting it through a phenomenological approach. Mawu, the Supreme God Types of Vodun Agbe: This is the Vodun of the sea (Tovodun). Common initiation

Marie Laveau | Magistra Ardat Lile Life History Marie Laveau (September 10, 1782 – June 16, 1881) was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo renown in New Orleans. She was born free in New Orleans. Her daughter Marie Laveau II (1827 — c. 1895) also practiced Voodoo, and historical accounts often confuse the two. She and her mother had great influence over their multiracial following. “In 1874 as many as twelve thousand spectators, both black and white, swarmed to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain to catch a glimpse of Marie Laveau II performing her legendary rites on St. Marie was believed to have been born free in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, about 1794, the daughter of a white planter and a free Creole woman of color. Jacques Paris died in 1820 under unexplained circumstances. After Paris’s death Marie Laveau became a hairdresser who catered to wealthy white families. Very little is known with any certainty about the life of Marie Laveau. “Marie Laveau was a voodooienne. Her Death Like this:

Pagan Blog Project: G is for Gris-Gris | Setjataset (Madam Magick) What is a Gris-Gris? A Gris-Gris (aka grigri) is an African centric voodoo amulet which has a specific intent and purpose of protecting the wearer from evil spirits, negative forces, brings in luck and/or is used as a method of contraception*. It usually takes the shape of a small cloth bag and contains a ritualistic amount of small objects (usually a prime number between 3-13) and prayers from the Qur’an which is specifically tailored to the person who will be wearing it. Tina’s Make Your Own Gris-Gris Bag (© T. Georgitsis 2014) Ingredients Personal effect of wearer.Stones, crystals, herbs, roots, resins, bones, coins, charms and tokens.Seal, sigil, prayer or petition which has been drawn with magickal ink on parchment.2 inch by 3 inch hand stitched bag with one end left open and made from cotton, flannel or leather (chose a colour to suit your intent);Handmade cord, hemp string, wax thread or leather cording. Method Simple Use for Gris-Gris Pin to your undergarment for personal protection.

The Culmination of the meaning and context behind Zombification | Magistra Ardat Lile The word ‘voodoo’ (vodou, vaudou, vodoun or vodun) derives from the word ‘vodu’ in the Fon language of Dahomey meaning ‘spirit’ or ‘god’ and describes the complex religious and belief system that exist in Haïti, an island of the West Indies. The foundations of voodoo were established in the seventeenth century by slaves captured primarily from the kingdom of Dahomey, which occupied parts of today’s Togo, Benin, and Nigeria in West Africa, it combines features of African religion with the Roman Catholicism of the European settlers. Today over 60 million people practice voodoo worldwide. Religious similar to voodoo can be found in South America where they are called Umbanda, Quimbanda or Candomble. Unfortunately, in popular literature and films voodoo has been reduced to sorcery, black witchcraft, and in some cases cannibalistic practices, generating many foreigners’ prejudices not only about voodoo but about Haitian culture in general. One belief unique to voodoo is the zombie. Like this:

Voodoo Part II:II | Magistra Ardat Lile Voudoun Conceptualism or Understanding? Brief History of: Although the word Voodoo tends to conjure images of zombies, pins stuck in dolls, animal sacrifices, priests drinking blood, etc., it’s not exactly a realistic portrait of what Voodoo truly is. In fat because of the images associated with this word, most practitioners prefer the term Vodou. Vodou came form the tribal practices and beliefs of the slaves who were brought to Haiti from West Africa. The most important religious practice was ancestor worship. The Fon believed in hundreds of immortal spirits called vodu. - Dancing, drumming and chanting to communicate with the spirits - Animal sacrifices made as offerings to the spirits - A priest or priestess who interpreted messages from the spirits - Possession of the bodies of participants in ritual by the spirits The main purpose of the ritual was to communicate with the vodu and receive their guidance in making important decisions. The Lwa: Rituals: Song for Danbala Song for Ogou 1.

Papa Legba A younger depiction of the Vodou loa Papa Legba. Shown with his traditional keys, walking stick, and dogs at a crossroads. Legba figure in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. This Legba figure is missing his knife or walking-stick. He normally wears a hat and not horns. In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the loa who serves as the intermediary between the loa and humanity. Position[edit] He is always the first and last spirit invoked in any ceremony, because his permission is needed for any communication between mortals and the loa—he opens and closes the doorway.[1] In Haiti, he is the great elocution, the voice of God, as it were. Appearance[edit] He usually appears as an old man on a crutch or with a cane, wearing a broad brimmed straw hat and smoking a pipe, or sprinkling water. Alternative views[edit] In Benin and Nigeria, Legba is viewed as young and virile, is often horned and phallic, and his shrine is usually located at the gate of the village in the countryside. In popular culture[edit]

The Culmination of all Voodoo | Magistra Ardat Lile Vodouisants believe in a supreme being called Bondye, but also worship many lesser spirits, as the loa. This belief is held in several West African religions, such as that of the Yoruba, Odinani, and Vodun. When it came in contact with Roman Catholicism, the supreme being was associated with the Judeo-Christian God, the loa becoming the saints. Bondye is the supreme god in Haitian Vodou. Because Bondye is unreachable, Vodouisants aim their prayers to lesser entities, the spirits known as loa, or mistè. These loa can be divided into 21 nations, which include the Petro, Rada, Congo and Nago The Petro and the Rada contrast most with one another, because the Petro are hot or aggressive and restless, whereas the Rada are cool or calm and peaceful. The loa also fall into family groups, who share a surname, such as Ogou, Ezili, Azaka or Ghede. Vodou’s moral code focuses on the vices of dishonour and greed. Like this: Like Loading...

Raw Power and Dark Energies | Magistra Ardat Lile The Sorcerer is characterized by an inherent need to explore the deepest, darkest parts of his or her self. Few are willing to do so, and even fewer can readily accept what they find when delving into the hidden regions of their own psyche. The Sorcerer, however, finds the pain and effort to be well worth it. The realization of one’s primal desires, obscure passions, and emotionality brings great power, and raw power is what a sorcerer strives for. As such, most Sorcerers adopt an aggressive stance in their magical works. They tend to ignore whether or not they use their power for “good” or “evil, and often dismiss such concepts from their lives altogether. Though most of the Sorcerer’s lesser abilities are shared by many castes, there are some powers accessible only to those who walk the path of Sorcery. It is common knowledge that each person’s point of view is colored by his or her desires. The Twilight has many uses, the first of which is fairly similar to remote viewing. Like this: