New Orleans Voodoo has captivated minds for years. Curses, voodoo dolls, women dancing hypnotically with snakes have become synonymous with—Voodoo.  All of these images have a basis in fact, but they have also been “sensationalized” by films.

 

Many people shy away from looking too closely into this unfamiliar world. Others look in curiosity, with the desire for experiencing its more exaggerated practices.  Journeying down the path to learn more about this mysterious practice, revealed a rich history, culture, and devotion to spiritual life.

 

New Orleans Voodoo 2
Li Grande Zombi – by Charles Gandolfo

 

The Origins of New Orleans Voodoo

 

Originating in the West African country of Benin, the spiritual life of Voodoo came to New Orleans with the slave trade.  The name “Voodoo” evolved from the Fon word Voudon, meaning “spirit” or “deity.” 

 

Voodoo has three spiritual levels—God, spirits, and ancestors. Folklore says that God was angered by a trickster spirit named Legba. When God left the earth, he left Legba behind in the form of a rainbow.

 

A rainbow is a bridge between heaven and earth.