![]() ![]() It has been said that he transforms into the wind and listens to people without them knowing he is there. He is known for his intolerance of injustice. He is known for his good judgment and often, during conflicts, is called in to judge. It is said that houngans and mambos receive their knowledge from Loco. Portrayed in the form of a butterfly, Loco has an extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical uses of herbs. Offerings are placed in straw bags, which are then hung in the branches of a mapou tree. Loko is the spirit of vegetation and guardian of sanctuaries. When possessed by Ogun a person will wash their hands in flaming rum, swear, chomp on a cigar and mutter Grenn mwen son fret – my testicles are cold. He is the loa of war and fire and takes the guise of an old veteran of the civil wars, waving a machete. Ogun is the blacksmith and is symbolised by a sabre stuck in the earth in front of an altar. Although he is married to Maman Brigitte, he is known to chase after mortal women. Disruptive, obscene and debauched and with a fondness for rum and cigars, his props are that of a gravedigger – a spade, pick and hoe. He is depicted as a swaggering skeleton in a top hat, black coat and sunglasses, with cotton plugs up his nose, like a Haitian corpse. A protector of the living he is often called upon by those approaching death. ![]() Her symbol is a heart driven through with a knife and every sanctuary has a corner dedicated to her.īaron Samedi (Guéde loa), the head of the Guéde family, is the master of the dead and the keeper of the cemeteries. A flirt who enjoys seducing people, she possesses both men and women. She wears three wedding rings, one for each husband, Damballah, Agwe and Ogun. She is passionate and is the loa of motherhood, love, beauty, jewellery, dancing and flowers but she can also be jealous, spoiled and sometimes lazy. His colour is white, he eats white food, and he has a mistress Erzulie Freda.Įrzulie Freda is often compared to Aphrodite and is commonly pictured as the Black Madonna. People possessed by Damballah-Wedo dart out their tongues, hiss and slither on the ground. They are often depicted as two snakes diving into a sink beside a rainbow. As the water struck the earth the rainbow (Aiyeda-Wedo) arose and the serpent took her as his wife.’ – a great story worth a read. In time it began to move its coils, which rose slowly in a spiral that enveloped the universe and created the stars, the planets, the mountains and the rivers. Ayida-Wedo is the loa of fertility: – ‘In the beginning there was only the great serpent, Damballah, whose 7,000 coils lay beneath the earth holding it in place. ![]() Damballah is a loving father, the master of the sky and the creator of all life. Offerings are simple: grilled chicken or goat, fresh fruit, peanuts, beans and rice and strong coffee, no sugar and he’s also partial to rum, vodka and beer.ĭamballah-Wedo (the serpent), and his wife, Ayida-Wedo (the rainbow). He is represented as a feeble old man in rags, leaning on a crutch and smoking a pipe. Haitians leave offerings to Legba at crossroads in the hope that he will guide them. Often likened to St Peter, Legba is the protector of the home and the master of communication. No loa shows himself without his permission. Papa Legba is called on first because he is the loa who removes the barrier between the two worlds. There are hundreds of loa, both Rada and Petro, too many to mention here, so I’ve selected a few of the most important in the Rada category. Each loa has its own favourite food, personal likes and dislikes, distinct character, songs, drum rhythms, and sacred symbols. The loa preside in places of natural beauty and the believer is drawn to these places to be in the presence of God, much like Christians are drawn to cathedrals. Believers serve the loa, which are multiple expressions of God. It is not an animistic religion - natural objects are not endowed with a soul. ![]() Haitian Vodou comprises a body of basic beliefs and practices: the twin cult, the loa, the role of the dead, the relationship between the loa and the land. It is widely accepted that Haiti is 80% Catholic, 20% Protestant and 100% Vodou. ![]()
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