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F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
Ethics & Morality
Woezoloo! Aenouledoo. This hub is where we address Frequently Asked Questions about ethics and morality. Many of these questions were retrieved from past inquiries throughout our history, and may be politically incorrect at the time of your reviewing. We have provided them for the sake of posterity, and will continue to answer and correct them as we are told to by the Ancestors and Spirits. Should you have any further questions, you are welcome to review our resources, protocol, services, question archive and divination pages. Akpeloo!
Is Vodoun A Moral Religion?
Is the goal of Vodoun the acquisition of power?
Is Vodoun a "Devil Worshiping" Cult?
Why must we pay money for divinations? Aren't Spirits supposed to help without requesting money?
With regards to slavery: What have the Vodu and Ancestral Spirits said with regards to the reason why slavery was able to take place? Was it our neglect of our own Ancestral traditions and the adaptation of the culture of the Eurasians?
Are Gays and Lesbians (LGBTQIA+) banned from this tradition or denied services?
What is the Vodoun view on redemption or changing one's life for the better? Do Vodouns believe it is possible for a person with past transgressions to find spiritual redemption?
Can I use voodoo to hurt someone?
Can I still partake of Drugs and Alcohol After I am initated?
Has there ever been a practice of human sacrifice within the Voodoo Religion? (I am taking a History of Religion course and am to research the religion; this weeks topic is human sacrifice.)
Do you practice ritual killing of animals?
What's the goal of Vodoun? Is it enlightenment, self realization?
What are the beliefs on the topic of abortion within the Vodoun religion? I am studying medicine and am wondering what beliefs we should be concerned about that could affect the way people that follow Vodouns want to be treated?
I was wondering if people who practise Vodoun believe in autopsy?
Is Vodoun A Moral Religion?
Be truthful do good;
Be truthful do good:
It is the truthful
That the divinities support
Ewe Proverb
The myth that African religious practice is absent any meaningful moral and philosophical foundation, is one of the most destructive and disturbing untruths perpetrated by the West.
The word Loa in the Fon langauge means Law.
The Law of the Spirit, means that an initiate adhering to those moral laws will enable them to properly grow and develop spiritually; by earning the respect and favor of the Vodou and the Ancestors.
The above is at the foundation of Vodou, and most African Traditional Religions. These laws are taught and maintained by both the Vodou spirits and the Ancestors.
In all cases, violators of the law are punished severely by the Vodou and the Ancestors in direct proportion to their level of violation.
Additionally, initiates are held accountable for their conduct not only in this life but even after death initiates are judged. This can be summarized in the pre-christian poem:
Song of the Divine Judgement
The world is a place of Trial.
At the gates of the land of the dead
You will pass before a searching judge,
His justice is true and he will examine your feet,
He will know how to find every stain,
Whether visible or hidden under the skin,
If you have fallen on the way he will know.
If the judge finds no stains on your feet
Open your belly to joy, for you have overcome
And your belly is clean.
Is the goal of Vodoun the acquisition of power?
No.
This is also where the differences between Haitian and West African Vodou diverge starkly into two distinct traditions being only similar in name.
West African Vodoun is composed of the local gods and ancestors of the Fon, Ewe, Yoruba, Mina, Quatchi, Gwa, Tchamba, Tambera and other local ethnic groups. They are the original peoples and "founders" of the Vodou religion, and practice the tradition largely intact since its inception.
The gods that we serve are of one main order and pantheon. They are very old, very powerful, and strictly moral in their teachings.
They and the ancestors will quickly remove (in whichever capacity it is required) those whose only goal is to attempt to exploit the Spirit for the sole purpose of power. That is not why the Spirits exist.
Can I still partake of Drugs and Alcohol After I am initated?
The use of hallucinogens (artificial or natural) to induce trance, spirit possession, or altered states of consciousness is not necessary, nor has it ever been a part of West African Vodou ritual practice.
Additionally, the consumption and abuse by initiates, of what are commonly referred to as "illicit" drugs (especially marijuana, barbiturates, amphetamines, etc.,) is considered very hazardous once initiated into the Dahomean Vodoun religion.
One of the biggest problems that it creates is what some term as "mahi mahi", "chaos" meaning a destructive disturbance to one's crown Spirit.
This is so because most "natural" hallucinogenics are considered a "spirit" in their own right, that oftentimes is incompatible with ones crown. Additionally, "synthetic" drugs are deemed very caustic and dangerous to one's head.
However, the "nonceremonial" use of alcohol is somewhat different and is specific to each initiates' taboos. Some not at all, and some may consume small amounts, but NONE are allowed imbibing until intoxication.
The "nonceremonial" use of cigarettes is also restricted depending of an initiates' taboos. Some may not smoke at all, but NONE can ever smoke, consume alcohol, or enter the sacred shrines areas after having done any of the above.
Can I use Voodoo to CURSE my Enemies?
In West African Vodoun, one does not practice SORCERY. This too is the domain of HOODOO, BOKORS, "African-WITCHCRAFT" and other traditions such as PALO MAYOMBE. While all practitioners of these traditions may or may not participate in the art of cursing, it is against our protocol to do so.
Is Vodoun a "Devil Worshiping" Cult?
The popular sensationalistic Hollywood horror, and blood curddling images of the RELIGION of West African Vodoun is no more an accurate representation of its true nature, than SATANSIM is of Christianity.
Additionally, African religion practitioners do not WORSHIP "graven images," but do recognize and honor the divine forces of Nature and their representatives that govern the world as ordered by God. They along with the divine Ancestors have similar functions as the function that ANGELS play in Christianity.
In short, Vodoun is an ANCESTRAL & NATURE tradition, in which spiritual transformation is achieved via the direct communion with specialized Vodou gods (of nature), born within the respective African lineages, and the ancestors who severed them for eons.
Honor and supplication is also bestowed to those ancestors who have evolved, and those who are in the process of evolving, as well as those who have lived lives that were both distinguished, and infamous/notorious . . . for it is believed that lessons can be learned equally from all paths.
Do you all eat people?
No!
It is not a part of African Tradition & Culture whatsoever. African religions do not practice cannabalism and never have. We also have no rituals to symbolize this practice of "drinking the blood of our god, nor the eating of their bodies" as in Christianity.
Why must we pay money for divinations? Aren't Spirits supposed to help without requesting money?
Prices vary for each service specific to your needs. Once you are told what is possible for you, the cost will be discussed with you and sent to you in a corresponding email. Additionally, all efforts will be made to accommodate those who are in dire "spiritual" need but cannot afford the cost of our services. However, this is determined on a case by case basis. We do not barter for services.
Has there ever been a practice of human sacrifice within the Voodoo Religion? (I am taking a History of Religion course and am to research the religion; this weeks topic is human sacrifice.)
First, a clear distinction has to be made between "Human Sacrifice," the ritual offering of humans to appease a god, and "Cannibalism," the ritual eating of human flesh, as a form of holy scarcement. The two are not inclusive.
In other words, Unlike the ancient Greeks ritual Omophagias (cannibal origies)1, or the con-corporate (eating of the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ) in Christianity, there is offered no historical record of any incidences of ritual "cannibalism" in Vodoun.
However, at the height of the Dahomean empire, different ethnic groups warring for territory would offer their prisoners of war as human sacrifices to the royal Ancestors. Most of the victims were (mainly Yoruba and northern) prisoners of war,
These special annual ceremonies were often made into elaborate and sacred events. The community would prepare special meals for the soon-to-be victims, and would later gather around to touch and say special prayers in his ears to be taken to their ancestors.
The "victims" were symbolic of the great reverence and power of the ancestors in aiding their heirs in battle, and to offer them the "spoils" of their victories. However, never, were they eaten.
These annual celebrations were eventually stopped by the French at the turn of the century.
1. Barbara G. Walker:
Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. pg. 137
With regards to slavery: What have the Vodu and Ancestral Spirits said with regards to the reason why slavery was able to take place? Was it our neglect of our own Ancestral traditions and the adaptation of the culture of the Eurasians?
Mami Wata, the Vodou and the Ancestral Spirits did not support the wanton raiding of villages, for the purpose of capturing and selling Africans to Europeans, who forced them into centuries of chattel enslavement.
From the start, the Mami Watas, Tohossous (royal divine Ancestors), and Trowo (Ancestors), would create raging waves along the West African coastal waters, in an attempt to overturn approaching ships of European slave merchants.
Additionally, through the multitude of oracles, the Spirits sent messages warning the King (Ghezo at the time) not to trade with the European traders, for their intentions were not honorable.
Unfortunately, human weakness, greed, corruption, ethnic vendettas, and personal ambition blinded many to the horrors of what was to come.
The devastating aftermath of slavery and colonialism, coupled with the forced conversion to Western Christianity, programmed millions of Africans (and the diaspora) into believing that it was their “primitive religions” that was the cause of their enslavement and subsequent oppression, impoverishment, and “superstitious beliefs.” Thus, millions abandoning their divinities, Ancestors and divine destinies.
A great part of our work, (of which we are committed to full-time) is connecting many in the diaspora back to their own disrupted blood lineages, largely through initiation to their Vodou, Mami Wata, and the Ancestral, Spiritual Slave denominations of the Tchamba to which many of our enslaved Ancestors have been subsumed both here (in the West) and in West Africa.
If you are interested, schedule a divination to determine if this is your lineage/path:
Do you practice ritual killing of animals?
Animals are sacred in African Religions, and are used (as in ancient Biblical, Hindu and Holy Koranic texts) as offerings to our gods and ancestors in both our healing, initiation, and atonement ceremonies.
Additionally, contrary to the Hollywood hype, animals are not the focus nor the center of our ceremonies.
They are merely consecrated offerings, made sacred for communal meals by the intiate, to share with their gods and ancestors.
The "rituals" surrounding this routine event are no more spectacular than the prepartion of foods and farm animals for a family meal, or the Jewish ritual of kashruth (Kosher slaughtering) in making an animal sacred for offerings and consuming.
Animal offerings are a sacred, humane, and essential religious rite, that has been in practice in many cultures all over the world for thousands of years, even up until the present.
For example, because all aspects of African ritual and religious practice has been routinely demonized and maligned, few realize that their ritual practices are no different than (for example) the animal offerings used in tantric yoga.
In fact, such was the importance of animal offerings in tantric yoga, Hinduism, and other Eastern religious practices, that its specifics were detailed in the sacred sutras, such as the following:
Bali (animal sacrifice) is viewed as essential in many of the tantric texts themselves, although even this has an inner meaning.
The bipeds and quadrupeds to be sacrificed must be male.
"O dark one, wondrous and excelling in every way, becomes the accomplishment of those worshippers who living in this world freely make offering to Thee in worship of the greatly satisfying flesh, together with hair and bones, of cats, camels, sheep, buffaloes, goats and men."
Karpuradistotra
v.19,
Woodroffe's translation: According to the Kaula commentary on this verse, the animals represent six enemies to sadhana, the goat standing for lust, the buffalo anger, the cat greed, the sheep delusion, the camel envy, and man pride and arrogance.
This is all very well, but animal sacrifice is still practised today in nominally Shakta areas. As recently as 1980, a goat was sacrificed to Kali at her temple at Amber fort in Rajasthan, a practice banned by the government, which does not, however, seem to have taken similar steps against Pizza Hut or MacDonalds in India. (Sacrifices of quadrupeds to the multinationals seems to be OK, just as long as no religious element is involved.)
http://www.hubcom.com/tantric/food.htm
Additionally, contrary to popular misconceptions, animal sacrifice is an integral part of many Islamic traditional religious practices around the world. Consider the following instructions given on the type and age of animals as dictated by Allah's Messenger:
The least permitted ages of various animals at the time of sacrifice are prescribed as under:
Camel: under five years
Cow: under two years
Ewe (goat/sheep) under one year
The sacrifice is lawful of any animal of the three species viz.; camel, cow, goat, although it may be only a Sunyy but not younger; excepting however, a sheep which may be sacrificed when a Jad'ha'a or so young as to have no teeth. pg.28.
Muhammad Iqbal Siddiqui. 1990: The Ritual of Animal Sacrifice in Islam. New Delhi: International Islamic Publishers
Lastly, if you are here to research this aspect of religions and animal sacrifce we have prepared this
DATA BANK ON ANIMAL SACRIFICE AROUND THE WORLD.
Finally, for more info on Animal uses in Vodoun, read the interview of the African Origins of Vodoun
Are Gays and Lesbians (LGBTQIA+) banned from this tradition or denied services?
Not at all. Anyone, no matter their sexual orientation, may be born with the Vodou. Additionally, gender was not as rigidly defined and puritanically belabored in African culture as it is in Western "Christian" society; i.e., *effeminate* men, and *masculine* women were not deemed as "abnormal," or different, and in most cases, these attributes were encouraged, and
believed to indicate the mark of divine (ancestral or deity) manifestation.
Conversely, violence, social discrimination, perpetuated stigma (around informal topics/slang) and ostracism of any member of the LGBTQIA+ community is not condoned by the Vodou. The common and cruel practice of offering expensive & bogus "initiations" to Gays/Lesbians in traditions is a known taboo. Concerning personal relationships, we do not interfere unless the subject of marriage is presented, upon which all parties can receive a consultation to assist in their family planning.
If a person identifies themselves as LGBTQIA+ when filling out a Consultation form, it is solely for the sake of the Chief Hounon Amengansie and Shrine Parents on how to assist each person to the highest degree with their results and during ceremonies, when they are in full view of the Spirits. Aside from this, we do not request nor do we require disclosure, especially not in general conversation. The Mami Wata Healers Society Temple of Mawu does not discriminate against anyone, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic history, age, pregnancy, veteran status, socioeconomic status or any other protected category of the laws of the land.
What is the Vodoun view on redemption or changing one's life for the better? Do Vodouns believe it is possible for a person with past transgressions to find spiritual redemption?
Vodoun is a healing and ancestral spiritual tradition. It is by definition spiritually centered on forgiveness and redemption. Transgressions are also inclusive in this. However, unlike in Western Christianity in which all one need to do is "confess thy sins" and all is "forgiven, the ancestors and deities of the Vodoun can only forgive when compensation/propitiation is made. And although one is forgiven, they must still undergo purification and suffer the consequences of their actions until the prescribed depth is paid.
What's the goal of Vodoun? Is it enlightenment, self realization?
For the African and Diaspora, the goal of Vodoun is to reestablish, and to maintain harmonious Ancestral connections, and to care for one's personal and familial deities (Vodou). For the non-African/diaspora, the goal is to serve one's personal deity, or to garner the protection of a vodou deity, as one strives to achieve their individual destiny, whatever that might be. For some, it may be a goal as simple as learning not to lie, kill etc.: for another it may be to achieve "enlightenment", as it is understood in the West.
What are the beliefs on the topic of abortion within the Vodoun religion? I am studying medicine and am wondering what beliefs we should be concerned about that could affect the way people that follow Vodouns want to be treated?
Excellent question!
Abortions other than to save the life of the mother, is considered a serious spiritual offense. The cosmological nature of Vodoun centers on the knowledge that our ancestors return through us. Aborting their return could prove fatal for the family and lineages involved.
There are advanced ceremonies that a person might need and if they have had an abortion, this could hinder them. However, if the woman has had an abortion performed and she is remorseful, there are purification rites that can be performed to free her of the ancestral, spiritual and karmic affects.
Unfortunately, there are many women who choose abortion as their primary form of birth control. This choice not only may lead to serious health problems in the future, it could in the end, also prove devastating to her spirit. Further, the proliferation of abortion clinics in the Diaspora under the guise of “Planned Parenthood” has ranked African-American women highest amongst all groups in terminating unwanted pregnancies.
After the Haitian earthquake, Planned Parenthood campaigned for funds, not to purchase much needed medicine, food and supplies for the Haitian victims, but to rebuild their abortion clinics that were destroyed, fully aware that the majority of Haitians are of the Vodoun faith.
These alarming statistics of the abortion rate amongst African-American women are consistent with the historical evidence of what many are beginning to believe that Planned Parenthood and other malevolent forces are planning another agenda in wanting to stem the growth of the Black community through population/eugenics control.
See also: Parenthood-Exploiting-The-Haiti-Crisis
Can I use voodoo to hurt someone?
No. That is the domain of SORCERY.
Hollywood and popular culture have wrongly portrayed the essence of Vodou to nothing more than a source for the pursuit of "malevolent magic and power" to be coerced from the gods at the will of the practitioner.
In truth, Vodoun is a religion centering on the verneration of the immediate and the collective ancient ancestors of ones specific blood family/ ethnic lineage, and within the diaspora, as well as service to the Spirits. The end goal being to assure harmony, spiritual balance, protection, growth in character, and to receive their blessings. Within this context, if an offense has been committed by someone, justice is extracted by the Ancestors and the Spirits equal to the offense, and not by the practitioner.
I was wondering if people who practise Vodoun believe in autopsy?
No. Autopsy is taboo in most African Traditional Religious practices, including the Vodoun. It is considered sacrilege to desecrate the body. The tradition has their own means to determine an "unknown" cause of death.