Loa Spirits, That hoodoo you do! Options

[SinN]

Quick! I need the list of all Loa Spirits and there descriptions. Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thank you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[fistandantilus4....]

Here we go...
Agwe

[ Spoiler ]

He is invoked under the names "Shell of the Sea," "Eel," and "Tadpole of the Pond." Sovereign of the sea. One of the many lovers of Erzulie. Under his jurisdiction come not only all the flora and fauna of the sea, but all ships which sail on the sea. His symbols are tiny boats, brightly painted oars and shells, and sometimes small metal fishes. He likes military uniforms and gunfire. He is the protector of seafaring men. The service for Agwe is quite different from others since it is on the sea itself.
A conch shell is used to call him during a voodoo ritual.

He must be greeted with wet sponges and towels when leaving the water because of the heat.

A barque is prepared with all sort of Agwe's favorite foods, including champagne. This barque is then floated over where it is believed the sacred underwater world exists. If the barque sinks, then Agwe has accepted the sacrifice and will protect the water interests of those who have prepared the sacrifice. Were the barque to float back into shore, then the service has been refused and a different manner of placating Agwe would have to be devised. The animals that are sacrificed to him are two white sheep.

Depicted as a mulatto with fair skin and green eyes. Services take place near seas, rivers, or lakes. Must be careful that those possessed do not jump into the water.

Any reference to signaling can only come as a pleasure to this god.

Agwe's counterpart is La Sirine, the sirin of the seas.

In connection with Christianity, Agwe has borrowed traits from St. Ulrich, who is often pictured with a fish in his hand.

Obatala

[ Spoiler ]

Obatala is a sky loa. He is the loa responsible for forming children in the womb. Thus, Obatala is responsible for birth defects. He is also called king of the white cloth, and all his followers wear white. Obatala's favorite food is edible snails.

Ogoun

[ Spoiler ]

Ogoun is the traditional warrior figure in Dahomehan religion. He is quite similar to the spirit Zeus in Greek religion/mythology. As such Ogoun is mighty, powerful, triumphal. In more recent time Ogoun has taken on a new face which is not quite related to his African roots. This is the crafty and powerful political leader. However, this political warrior is much more of an image of where struggle is in modern Haiti.
Originally, he was the god of blacksmithing; however, now that blacksmithing has become obsolete, he has become the warrior loa.

He can give strength through prophecy and magic. It is Ogoun (Ogu) who is said to have planted the idea and led and given power to the slaves to the 1804 revolt and freedom. He is called now to help people obtain a government more responsible to their needs.

He is of the Nago loa family. This loa loves the noise of battle itself and this is most likely why he is the voodoo religion's master of lightning and storm. By Nado tradition Shango has these loa duties. Ogu-badagri by voodoo hymn, "throws" lightning and thunder.

His symbol in humfo is a sabre stuck in the earth in front of the altar. His past follows him in that "Ogu's forge" is the name given to an iron rod stuck in a brazier which represents him.

Ogoun comes to mount people in various aspects of his character, but the people are quite familiar with each of them. Some of these aspects are:

Ogoun the wounded warrior. Here he even assumes a Christ-figure pose which the people know well from their Christian associations.

As Ogoun Feraille he gives strength to the servitors by slapping them on the thighs or back.

As Ogoun Badagris he may lift a person up and carry him or her around to indicate his special attention and patronage.

But in all the aspects of Ogoun there is the dominant theme of power and militancy. He represents a veteran of the "time of bayonets."

His possessions can sometimes be violent. Those mounted by him are known to wash their hands in flaming rum without suffering from it later. They are never given water; they are more like "teased" with water. They dress up in red dolman and French kepi and wave a saber or machete, chew a cigar and demand rum in an old phrase "Gren mwe fret" (my testicles are cold).

At times, the loa Ogu interprets Dumballah's messages.

If he is properly persuaded, he will protect his petitioners from bullets and weapon wounds.

He is covered with iron and immune to fire and bullets. To make him more comfortable the congregation serves him white rum. Ogou's symbol is a piece of iron, which he uses to fight his enemies. He is a respected loa.

Ogoun is the deity of fire and "metallurgical elements" and red is his color. Therefore, he likes animals that are red to be offered to him; for example, red or russet pigs or roosters. He likes to be saluted with rum, not with the more traditional water. Often this rum is poured on the ground then lit and the flames pervade the peristyle.

The sword, or much more commonly, the machete is his weapon and he often does strange feats of poking himself with it, or even sticking the handle in the ground, then mounting the blade without piercing his skin.

The members of this family are great drinkers, but alcohol has no effect on them.

Ogoun is identified with St. Jacques, the warrior general, and is often in the guise of a revolutionary war general.

He likes cigars and rum. He has a passion for fire and likes the women. He's the spirit of fire and water.

His favorite tree is the mango tree. His favorite day is Wednesday.

Damballah

[ Spoiler ]

Known as the serpent god, he is one of the most popular. Dumballah is the father figure. He is benevolent, innocent, a loving father. He doesn't communicate well, as though his wisdom were too aloof for us.
Dumballah is the snake. He plunges into a basin of water which is built for him, or climbs up into a tree. Being both snake and aquatic deity, he haunts rivers, springs, and marshes. Again, as the snake he is rather uncommunicative, but a loving quiet presence. Dumballah does not communicate exact messages, but seems to radiate a comforting presence which sort of sends a general spirit of optimism into all people present. Because of this, he is often sought after during ceremonies. When Dumballah mounts someone the special offering to him is the egg, which he crushes with his teeth.

Dumballah is the serpent god, also lightning. He and his wife, Aida-Wedo, are often shown as two snakes who look as if they were diving into the sink and by a rainbow. He is the bringer of rain; this is a necessity for good crops. People possessed by him dart their tongues in and out, slither along the ground, and climb trees, or roof beams, falling like a boa. He is known to whistle because he has no speech. His special day is Thursday, and his favorite tree is the bougainvillea. White is his color. He is in charge of white metal (silver) and must be fed white food and drink. He grants riches and allows treasures to be discovered. Dumballah sustains the world and prevents it from disintegrating. Dumballah and his wife Ayida, represent human sexuality.

He is sometimes referred to as Da. Dumballah is often spoken of as a serpent. In the voodoo culture, the serpent is a symbol of fertility. He is one of the oldest of the ancestors and is so sacred that he doesn't speak, but expresses himself through hissing sounds, just like that of a serpent. In the voodoo religion Dumballah is closely associated with the Catholic's St. Patrick.

He is Dahomean in origin. His favorite foods are eggs, cornmeal, melons, rice, bananas, and grapes. The usual offering to him is a hen and a cock. It is believed that if respects are paid to him by a married couple, he will keep them happy.

Erzuile

[ Spoiler ]

Voodoo does not have a woman as goddess of fertility. Fertility is regarded as a unified principle, equally held by male and female forces. Thus Dumballah is united to his Ayida. Agwe has his counterpart in La Sirene, the Marasa; the twins are contradictory and complementary forces of nature and so on. Erzulie is the female energy of Legba.
She has tremendous power and is feared as much as she is loved. Also, she has several different roles: goddess of the word, love, help, goodwill, health, beauty and fortune, as well as goddess of jealousy, vengeance, and discord. She is usually known as a serpent that coiled upon itself lives on water and bananas.

There is a casual connection between the lightness of her color and that of wealth, because only the light skinned elite possess wealth in Haiti.

But Voodoo has a most special place for Erzulie, the loa of beauty, the loa who is so uniquely human since she is the differentiating force between human and all other creation. She is the ability to conceptualize, the ability to dream, the artistic ability to create. She is the loa of ideality.

She is the female prototype of voodoo who represents the moon.

She is the most beautiful and sensuous lady in the voodoo pantheon. She is respected and wealthy; wears her hair long; is very jealous and requires her lovers to dedicate a room for her ritual lovemaking.

Erzulie is not a loa of elemental forces, but THE loa of ideal dreams, hopes and aspirations. As such she is the most loved loa of all. She is pale in appearance; almost white, even though she is Dahomean in origin. She is known as the earth mother, the goddess of love. She is depicted as a trembling woman who inhabits the water. She has no specific function, but is approachable in a confidential manner. In every sanctuary there is a room, or corner of a room, dedicated to her.

Erzulie is fabulously rich, and, when she mounts someone the first act is always to accomplish her elaborate toilette. The very best of things which the houngan or mambo have are reserved for Erzulie. She will bathe, using soap still in a fresh wrapper if possible. She will dress in silks with fresh flowers and other signs of her femininity and specialness.

Her sacred days are Tuesday and Thursday. She wears red and blue dresses and jewels. As soon as someone is possessed by her, they are washed and dressed in finery. She is a high class mulatto who walks with a saucy sway to her hips. She is a "woman of the world" and is fond of sugary drinks. She is compared to Aphrodite. She is pleasure-loving, extravagant and likes to give and get presents. She fond of men but mistrusts women as rivals. She is a woman of etiquette, and when she pretends to speak French, she purposely talks in a high pitched voice.

She is a master of coquetry. She may simply visit with her servants, or she may eat or drink with great delicacy. She loves to dance and is the most graceful of all the loa. She is quite special to men and will dance with them, kiss and caress them, even in an often embarrassing manner.

Yet she is closely associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary and her symbol is the heart, usually one broken with an arrow in much the same way as a dominant Catholic portrait of Mary has it.

Erzulie wears three wedding bands since she has been (or is) wedded to Dumballah, Ogoun and Agwe. She has often flirted with Zaka, but she has completely dismissed his more coarse brother Ghede as unworthy (since he is black and she is mulatto). However, Erzulie is always in charge and may take any servitor present as her lover for the day if she chooses.

However, the visit of Erzulie is never fully satisfying. In the end she always begins to weep. The world is just too much for her. At first people try to comfort her with more delicate food or drink or other gifts, but her tears continue to flow. It is this tearful and sad side of her that allows the women to accept her in her haughty ways. She is, in the end, one who suffers the burden of the world's sorrows.

Despite her flirtations and loving ways, Erzulie is a virgin. She is the complete converse of the crude sexuality of Papa Ghede. She may not be a virgin in the physical sense, but in the sense that her love transcends the earth, it is a love of higher forces. She belongs to the family of sea spirits, but has become completely divorced from her origins as to be now almost exclusively a personification of feminine grace and beauty.


Erzulie Jan Petro: Violent spirit loa belonging to the Petro tradition. Jan Petro is called upon to take responsibility for the temple where spells are on display; although she is a neutral entity, when not called upon it is the duty of the devotees to make them behave peacefully or violently, depending on their motivation for dealing with the spirits. Jan Petro as a protector of temples is very powerful; when people come to the temple they soon find out. Jan Petro likes fresh air and water; she is a sea spirit. She likes perfume and lotion--any temple dedicated to her usually smells like lotion, for it is thrown on those things she possesses.

Ghede (Papa Ghede)

[ Spoiler ]

Ghede is the eternal figure in black, controlling the eternal crossroads at which everyone must someday cross over. His symbol is the cross upon a tomb. Known as the spirit of death, other spirits fear him and try to avoid him.
He operates under the direction of Baron Samedi.

Baron Samedi represents the death side of Ghede (Guede). He talks through his nose, is cynical, jovial, and tells broad jokes. His language is full of the unexpected. His tools are the pick, the hoe, and the spade. He is the power behind the magic that kills. He controls the souls of those who have met death as a result of magic.

When he appears (mounting someone at an invoking ceremony), he wears a pair of dark glasses, from which he knocks out the right lens: for with his right eye he watches those present, lest anyone steal his food.

Of especial interest is the testimony of Ghede; for when this god mounts his carriers, they are bereft of any sense of self, behave and speak compulsively, and recover knowing nothing of what they did or said.

Loa of death, sexuality, and keeper of the cemeteries. He is enamored of women, makes constant use of obscene words and songs, and performs obscene dances. When someone is mounted by Guede they put on a black undertaker's coat, a black top hat and stuff cotton in their ears and noses, this to symbolize a dead person. After they are dressed up they must then perform the banda dance, an erotic dance in which one imitates the movements of copulation.

The Guedes live in cemeteries and visit Catholic churches at night. On November 2 the faithful visit cemeteries and light candles in honor of Baron Samedi.

Papa Guede is a much loved loa because his appearance always brings laughter and joy, singing and dancing; he is usually the last to appear at a ceremony.

He is the loa of death and resurrection; is known as a total clown; loves cigarettes; is often seen smoking two at a time.

He is neither good nor evil, but he is amused by humans and that's why he jokes around so much.

Ghede is sort of to the underworld or afterlife what Legba is to life--he who controls access. Ghede controls access to everything in the afterlife.

We are reminded by him that our understanding of death and life is limited and that both are beyond our comprehension.

Ghede is also god of eroticism. Eroticism is beyond good and evil since it is inevitable. Ghede is neither delighted by eroticism, and certainly not shamed by it. If anything, Ghede is amused by the universal presence of eroticism and humans' constant need to pretend that it is other than what it is.

It is believed that his obscenity in sexual matters is an affirmation of life in the midst of death.

Saturday is his day and his color is black. His favorite foods are salt herring, hot peppers, roasted corn, and roasted bananas, and he is known for stealing food and hiding it, and then demanding more. Black goats and chickens are the animal sacrifices made to him during the rituals.

When Ghede mounts someone he often singles out people who pretend to be aloof from eroticism. He ridicules them, embarrasses them, exposes them (in more ways than one). He is especially hard on whites since they often have the puritanical sexual attitudes of western culture.

Ghede is also often called BARON SAMEDI. In this aspect he is DEATH. He is the keeper of the cemetery and the primary contact with the dead. Anyone who would seek contact with the dead must first contact and solicit Ghede/Baron Samedi in the same way that Legba is contacted to cross over to the spirit world.

Ghede has a ravenous appetite for food and drink and doesn't mind manifesting them when he mounts someone.

He has a dread of fire and shares the characteristic of a nasal voice with zombis.

Ghede is a clown, an interrupter, a coarse fellow. He wears formal black attire and a high silk hat with dark glasses and a cane. He smokes cigarettes and drinks rum. Likes to mount young girls. When he is pleased, he's quite a clown, but hard to handle when angered.

But he is history too. As keeper of the cemetery he has intimate contact with the dead. He knows what their plans were, what's going on in families, what the connections of things are. And he is quite generous with his information. Even when he is clowning or performing his erotic antics, if you can pull him aside and ask him a serious question you will get a serious and reliable answer.

Another of Ghede's great powers is as the protector of children. Ghede generally does not like to see children die. They need a full life. Thus he is the loa to go to when seeking help for a sick child.

Ghede has the power over zombies and decides whether or not people can be changed into animals. Any such black magic voodoo must seek the help of Baron Samedi/Ghede with these tasks.

Lastly, since Ghede is the lord of death, he is also the last resort for healing since he must decide whether to accept the sick person into the dead or allow them to recover

Legba

[ Spoiler ]

Old man who guards the crossroads. He is the origin of life, so he must be saluted each time a service or any other activity with the loa will begin. Legba controls the crossing over from one world to the other. He is the contact between the worlds of spirit and of flesh.
He can deliver messages of gods in human language and interpret their will. He is the god of destiny and is also the intermediary between human beings and divine gods.

Legba is one of the most important loa in Haitian voodoo. He is the first loa to be called in a service, so that he can open the gates to the spirit world and let them communicate with other loa. No loa dares show itself without Legba's permission. Whoever has offended him finds himself unable to address his loa and is deprived of their protection. He is the origin and the male prototype of voodoo.

Voodooists believe that if Legba grants their wishes, they can contact the forces of the universe.

He is the guardian of voodoo temples, courtyards, plantations,, and crossroads. He protects the home. If you are going on a trip, it is believed that you pray to Legba for protection from harm and a safe return home.

As "Master of Crossroads" he is the god of every parting of the way--a favorite haunt of evil spirits and propitious to magic devices; and it is at crossroads that he receives the homage of sorcerers and presides over their incantations and spells.

He is also the guardian of the poto mitan--the center post--a post in the center of a peristyle regarded as a thoroughfare of the spirits. The poto-mitan is an extremely sacred object. Legba walks in his bare feet because he is in constant contact with the earth.

He is a small crooked lovable old man. Small pipe with little tobacco, a little food in his macoute sack. Sores on his body. His pitiful appearance has earned him the nickname of Legba of the Broken Foot but conceals the terrific strength which becomes apparent in the violence of possession induced by him.

Because of his politeness and caring nature he is greeted as Papa Legba. He is a much loved loa.

His favorite foods are vegetables, meat and tubules grilled on a fire. These foods will be offered to him so that he will open the gates. His symbol is the sun and all that is good. His sacred day is Tuesday. His favorite tree is the medicinier-bebi.

When he mounts someone the person's limbs are twisted and horrible to see. The crutch is the symbol of Legba. The outward appearance of Legba hides a very powerful interior.

Legba is the symbol of the sun, of daylight, of things positive. Legba controls the cardinal points of the crossroads.

The interpreter to the gods can deliver the messages of the gods in human language and interpret their will. He is the god of destiny, honored first at every ceremony, receiving first offerings. He is represented by a wooden or iron phallus mounted in a little mound of earth in front of every house.

Legba is also known to hold the "key of the spiritual world", and for this reason is identified with the Christian St. Peter.

Legba's colors are green, rose, and red.

Shango (Sango)

[ Spoiler ]

The religious ritual of Sango was possibly designed in order to help the devotees of Sango gain self-control. Historically, Sango brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire during his reign. After deification, the initiation ceremony dictates that this same proseperity be bestowed upon followers, on a personal level. According to Yoruba and Vodou belief systems, Sango hurls bolts of lightning at the people chosen to be his followers, leaving behind imprints of stone axe blade on the Earth's crust. These blades can be seen easily after heavy rains. Worship of Sango enables- according to Yoruba belief- a great deal of power and self-control. Sango altars often contain a carved figure of a woman holding a gift to the god with a double-bladed axe sticking up from her head. The axe symbolizes that this devotee is possessed by Shango. The woman's expression is calm and cool, for she is expressing the qualities she has gained through her faith. The orisha, or gods, are Yoruba ancestors or incarnate natural forces. Some of them are ancient, created in the beginning of time by the Great God, Ollorun. Orisha may be considered natural forces such as rivers, mountains, stones, thunder, or lightning. There are two categories of Orisa, which are grouped according to personalities and modes of action. This group of gods mostly consists of males, but there are a few females. Sango's wife, Oya is also included as a “hot Orisa�. She is the queen of the whirlwind. This Orisa tends to be harsh, demanding, hostile and quick to anger. Other “hot Orisa� include Ogun, god of iron and Obaluaye, lord of pestilence. The second category of Orisa are the Orisa funfun—“the cool, temperate, symbolically white divinities�. These are the gentle, calm, and mellow Orisa. They include: Obatula/Orisonla, the divine sculptor; Osooli/Eyinle, lord of hunting and water; Osanyin, lord of leaves and medicine; Oduduwa, first king of Ile Ife.

In art, Sango is depicted with a double-axe on his three heads. He is associated with the holy animal, the ram, and the holy colors of red and white.

[fistandantilus4....]

There's what I could find for you with ten minutes of google, with a side of wikipedia. BTW, this really belongs in general Shadowrun, so I'm moving it over there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[hobgoblin]

ah, voodoo people. one reason to see hackers (or maybe hear in this sense), the other being a young angelina jolie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

(the funny thing is that if people could get over the trippy graphics, there are some shout-outs to real life in there)

[Snow_Fox]

I've never seen Ghede listed as 'papa.' THat is more common with Legba, who is an old man.

The other name for Ghede is the more ominous and evil "Baron Samendi."

[hobgoblin]

something tells me that there are multiple variants of these beings.

or maybe some overlap in their spheres of influence, depending on who you speak to...

basically, this isnt a top down religion like the ones of middle-east heritage...

it got just as much in common with shamanism (and thats not a uniform system either) as it has with any sort of organized religion...

[Snow_Fox]

Yeah, but i was going for one of the better known/more ominous ones

[hobgoblin]

with his "priests" dressing in top hat and skull face paint, walking around graveyards to make recently dead rise from the grave?

[fistandantilus4....]

Ghede gets a lot of respect in RL. I've seen him referred to as "Papa" a number of times, but as Snow Fox said, that's usually seen more with Legba. Admittedly, this is a bit of a slap dash thrown together list for SinN who needed it "right away". I've researched a lot of voodoo because we've had games in New Orleans, and because we've happened to have a number of people play voodouns in our group. Honestly htough, most of my "research" has been cobbling together some sort of consensus from a whole lot of different websites and trying to find the peices that agree. Not sure that the internet is the best place to find out about a religion. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

My understaning of it is that there are three paths; the Rada, Petro, and the Red Eye, which is at it's most basic, the light, middle ground, and darker aspects. There's also voodoo, which is a religion, and hoodoo, which is the magical, "conjuring" aspect of the religion. The other aspects of the Loa, such as Papa Ghede/ Baron Samedi (Baron Saturday in French) are the Rada/ Red eye halves or aspects. As with most things, the presented shadowrun versions are a bit simplified. Thank God. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Of course, as I said, that's the "internet-fu" education crash course that I've given myself, so if anyone cares to enlighten or expound on what I think I know, feel free.

[Cheops]

You also have to contend with the fact that "Voodoo" is comprised of many different traditions all springing up from the same region of Western Africa. You need to pay very close attention to whether the person is talking about Haitian Voodoo, Obeah, Santeria, or whatever the Brazilian version was called.

I personally tend to use the Haitian Voodoo for the simple advantage that je peux parler un peu du Francais. At least in Haitian Voodoo the Loa are arranged into two groups the Rada and the Petro. The Rada are "cool" spirits and the Petro are "hot" spirits. Within those two groupings there are different families of Loa representing both metaphorical aspects and straight up ancestor worship. Ghede is not actually a single Loa but is the family name for a group of Loa that are psychopomps (transport spirits and wandering Hoodouns to the mystical realm of Guinea).

The bulk of Loa are going to be Kings and Heroes from the three Western African tribes that were brought over as slaves with some heroes and spiritual leaders from the New World thrown in. For example, one aspect of Ogoun, is that he reprensents the popular uprising of the people as embodied by Haitian Independence. So there would be a Ogoun Loa for the men and women who actually led the revolution and there is an Ogoun Loa that represents rebellion and revolution in general.

[Snow_Fox]

voudoun is usually from the french colonies- Haiti and Lousiana are the most common. It, RL, was a mix of barely remembered african faiths and the catholism imposed by the french slavers. Most ceremoneis start with legba being involked to open the gates to allow other lowe to 'visit.'

In those hostile envirnments the masters didn't care what the slaves were doing 'after hours' as long as the aped christianity on the sabbath. Which is why you find Voudoun in areas where there are swamps, but not healtier envirnments, like Canada. Santieria is the same sort of thing but in spanish volonies affected by the spainish views. The closest we get in the 'English' colonies are the Gullah of the outer banks of the Carolinas.

In college I was allowed to attend a ceremoney in Hartford along with a professor of mine who was friendly with them(I still think he was a follower but still won't admit it to me.) It was one of the most deeply disturbing things I've ever seen in my life.

[Cheops]

In those hostile envirnments the masters didn't care what the slaves were doing 'after hours' as long as the aped christianity on the sabbath. Which is why you find Voudoun in areas where there are swamps, but not healtier envirnments, like Canada. Santieria is the same sort of thing but in spanish volonies affected by the spainish views. The closest we get in the 'English' colonies are the Gullah of the outer banks of the Carolinas.

I'm sure that if Canada also imported slaves from Western Africa you would damn well see Voodoo ceremonies in our "healthier" climate. However, since we only used Chinese you instead see a China town in every single major city in Canada. You'll also notice that most of the practice is confined to the Carribean and the Spanish Main. That's because those were the major ports of entry for the slave trade.

Economics is a far better descriptor of everything that happens in history than environment.

[Snow_Fox]

Canada did not have massive, regular outbreaks of yellow feaver and malaria. The chinese, while poorly treated, were not slaves and were able to maintain their culture. slave peoples were stripped of their culture. The point is that it was in areas that were hostile that white masters did not want to go into, so the lsaves were able to retain part of their culture. There were slaves in the United States until around 1865 but for the most part they were in areas where the whites could live (my example of the gullah showing the rare exception) as far as I know

[fistandantilus4....]

voudoun is usually from the french colonies- Haiti and Lousiana are the most common. It, RL, was a mix of barely remembered african faiths and the catholism imposed by the french slavers. Most ceremoneis start with legba being involked to open the gates to allow other lowe to 'visit.'

That's what I've seen of it as well. Most of the Loa are equivelant to some saint or another, Legba for example being equated to St Peter (Guardian of the Gates of Heaven type (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ). They borrowed from Catholicism to cover their continuing practice of their older beliefs, and a lot of it became mixed.

[Snow_Fox]

exactly. the slaves were the young people who'd heard the tales but didn't have it committed down the way elders did. They got to the new world and tried to link up what they could remember being shown with the faith their masters' inflicted on them.
By comparrison my husband could probably remember the important parts of a passover sadre without the books but he'd not get the exact prayers right, and he's in his 40's.

[MaxHunter]

welll, where I live Santeira (or it's brazilian version: candomblé and umbanda) is one of the most important religions.

I have had the opportunity to visit a couple ceremonies here and in the Bahia zone in Brazil and they are quite "colourful"; sometimes including a couple practices "normal" western culture would find quite disturbing.

There has been much mixture of cultures and religions over here; the word in Spanish for that phenomenon is "sincretismo" I haven't a clue of the proper English vocable. The idea is that many of the saints and icons of christian religion represent loas of the African religion for its practicioners. Therefore, the slaves would go to a catholic church or light candles while apparently showing catholic devotion and were in fact celebrating their own faith.


Over time, the features of the saints and of the loas have blurred in one folkloric gestalt of superstition, faith and tradition. For example; it is still quite common nowadays to see images of Saint George slaying the Dragon in many houses in my country -particularly in some neighbourhoods- When you start asking, some people would say it is there because "it keeps bad luck away" -especially when the image is facing the door- without any reference to a particular faith, some people would say "Why? it's Saint George?" while only a fraction of those who have it around would say it actually represents Ogún.

So, of course, the list and attributes of loas over here would be different and it is very easy to find different interpretations of the faith, even among practicioners.

Cheers,

Max

[Moon-Hawk]

In college I was allowed to attend a ceremoney in Hartford along with a professor of mine who was friendly with them(I still think he was a follower but still won't admit it to me.) It was one of the most deeply disturbing things I've ever seen in my life.

I have had the opportunity to visit a couple ceremonies here and in the Bahia zone in Brazil and they are quite "colourful"; sometimes including a couple practices "normal" western culture would find quite disturbing.

Alright you two, quit teasing and tell a story or two.

[nezumi]

the word in Spanish for that phenomenon is "sincretismo" I haven't a clue of the proper English vocable.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the English word is 'syncretism' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That said, really, please do share stories. I'm going to have a difficult time portraying these ceremonies in game without unreliable stories from anonymous.

[MaxHunter]

well, syncretism; it figures, right?

Quick story because I am at work right now; I have a cousin who is also a Santeria priest; He got married so he invited family to a ceremony. It took place in a big old house in a low-class neigbourhood in our home city. It wasn't his house or anyhting. We went there with my sister. On the outside the house was normal, on the inside it was a somewhat run-down old house which had been decorated with flowers. There were lots and lots of these cheap statues representing catholic saints, many of them in vivid colours; there were a couple of church-style wooden altars with fresh food; rice, corn, wine, bread, tobacco. There was this intense, sweet smell of jasmine, incense, food and cigars which just took over you the moment you went inside. I saw a couple old people I had never seen before and nobody knew by name; one of them was a very old black man with white hair, in a very old tux who was obviously drunk and chain-smoked smelly tobacco cigarrettes. People sat in chairs forming like a circle and there was this spiritsm "seanse" atmosphere, as if people were getting ready for something.

Then chanting, loud chanting like in a Harlem church, and some drums music, and prayers. My cousin showed up from somewhere inside the house, dressed completely in white, with his newlywed wife in hand. He started praying loud and people answered in unison. They kind of knew what to say, to me it sounded similar to the litanies to all-saints that are prayed in Easter in catholic ceremonies. There was some kind of ritual I don't remember clearly now, like they gave each other presents and called upon the saints to bless the couple, then the singing and praying continued.

Somehow, the rythm and pace of the ceremony was increasing. People passed over drinks and smokes; somebody got up and clapped, some other people were mumbling. Some people were drinking heavily at the moment, there was a lot of energy in the air and the overall mood was quite joyous, but it was also a little too wild, to my senses, I don't know If I can transmit the feeling properly.

Then the old man got to the center and danced, then he said some things to my cousin and his wife. Then my cousin started walking around like in a trance, he called some people by name and greeted them as if he didn't know them. He talked directly to one or two about many things that were not exactly public knowledge: like; "I know X has cancer, and you are very tired, let's pray together she will get better" And people prayed and some people danced.

And there was this little girl, fourteen years-old maybe, she was dancing one moment and then she started having convulsions and some people tried to see what had happened to her and then she got up, so serene and peaceful and she went and greeted my cousin and his wife and wished them good luck and many children, like she was much older; then everybody joined in her prayer. The ceremony kept on for a short while, until it somehow ended.
It felt like someone had pulled a plug we could not see and the old man returned to his chair, the little girl went to her mother and fell asleep. My cousin said a blessing, not quite different to the ones catholic priests say when mass has ended, then people started to say goodbye and return home, save for a couple or two who stayed to chat.

It was quite colourful, mind you, and I didn't exactly feel comfortable throughout the whole ceremony, anyway I found the experience quite interesting. I hope I could share the experience well enough for DS curiosity; now I have to go back to some -less interesting- statistics.

Cheers

Max

[nezumi]

Wow... really, absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing. A few short paragraphs, but quite educational.

[mattness pl]

Thanks to this topic I found interesting link between voodouns & Poland:

[ Spoiler ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Madonna...ther_traditions

Sorry for little hijack, but do Loa can order a 'mount' to, for example, stole this picture? 4 million ppl pilgrimage there to cee Madonna each year. IMHO that could be nice run idea for creative GM... (PC - voodoun from Haiti try to steal icon in headquarter of main AA catholic corp in Poland - KOB)