#stigmatized voodoo tw

[just-another-hhazbin]

Tumblr ate my draft but my memory generally works so here we go. THIS IS TO THE ANON WHO ASKED ABOUT “VOODOO DOLLS AND W*NDIGOS IN RELATION TO that uh that one show called uh, fuck, uh - oh “THE GRIMM””

Obviously, I have not watched the Grimm so I cannot say based on that show’s portrayal in particular, but if it’s like most pop culture representations, it’s... probably pretty inaccurate and disrespectful.

First off, let’s preface this with a note about closed religions and my own credibility (or lack thereof) when it comes to talking about this topic. Obviously, it’s always best to speak with a direct practicioner/primary source. Since there is a relatively small population of those and none who I can call on for this, you’ll have to do with a secondhand source that’s gathered information through research and talking with their indigenous friends and other primary sources etc. If you are a practitioner of either of these religions/groups of religions, feel free to add input/corrections/etc., I am still learning and am only human. 

Since the other ask is about w*ndigos too and this is my second time writing this, I’m just gonna address that over there.

So, voodoo religion, cultural appropriation, the whole shebang -

Voodoo is a closed religion, often practiced alongside/incorporated with Catholicism, and while it is stated as okay to study it respectfully/etc., it is considered disrespctful to practice if you have not been OfficiallyTM initiated into the religion. (There is apparently a ceremony, but I don’t know much of the details. If it helps, think of it as a baptism. Which it kinda is. But anyway-)

There are many types of “voodoo” religions, such as Haitian Voudou, Cuban Vodú, etc. What we’re discussing today is in regard to Louisiana/New Orleans Voodoo.

Voodoo is an amalgation of Voudou/Voudon religions practiced by many indigenous people in Africa along with Hoodoo and Catholicism that occurred due to the forced introduction of African peoples into both America and Catholicism via the slave trade. Hoodoo is described as a spirituality by some and a religion by others, but all see it as a lifestyle either way. Hoodoo focuses on herb/rootlore, medicines, and rituals, and is part of where the “witchcraft” stories of voodoo began to originate.

Because God forbid anybody know natural medicines instead of using leeches/bleeding or drinking a mercury and vodka tonic.

*Ahem.* Continuing on, apparently some areas of Louisiana refer to Hoodoo as “Lowcountry voodoo,” though I couldn’t find any information as to whether that was an accurate or respectful term, so. Just remember that they’re very closely tied and overlap in many ways.

Overall, Voodoo draws on Catholic Saints, Voudon gods and traditions that have been slightly shifted into more Saint-like figures + other changes, and Hoodoo practices.

Now that the general introduction is over, let’s focus on the example brought up - voodoo dolls.

The commonly known “fact” of voodoo dolls is that you make a tiny image of a person you hate and then stick it full of needles to cause them pain/kill them/whatever. This is wrong. Throw that out the window and set it on fire.

It is true that voodoo dolls exist and that they are meant to replicate people. They are a form of gris-gris, which can be thought of as a charm or prayer meant to bring good luck/etc., though there are some forms of bad luck/negative gris-gris as well.

The purpose of the voodoo doll itself is to serve as a representation and medium for the Voodoo spirits - the Loa, composed of ancestors and guardian spirits - to act through. (I don’t know if any of the major Saint/deity figures are ever invoked through this or if it’s just the Loa.) Most voodoo dolls are used as well wishes for others, and what type of wish depends on what is pinned to the doll. Rose petals for love, garlic or clover for luck, place between blue and white candles for healing, etc.

It’s about praying for someone else and creating a medium for that prayer, not stabby mc-stab time. This and many other false images around voodoo are a consequence of cultural appropriation - hence why it’s become such a concern. Media (looking at you especially, “White Zombie”) created a very false image of voodoo which the tourism industry facilitated in the name of capitalism. This disrespectful portrayal has not only caused widespread misinformation about one of the important aspects of the Voodoo religion, but also painted a bad light on the religion as a whole. 

That’s why cultural appropriation is so dangerous. It’s alright to respectfully try to study and learn more about other cultures and religions, but that knowledge needs to be used and portrayed carefully and it’s often not, even if no malicious intent is meant.

It’s hard to find good information about voodoo on the internet, but some sites that might be worth checking out (or at least carefully reading through and plucking out actual information are):

https://thestockade.com/the-truth-behind-voodoo-dolls

https://voodooneworleans.com/voodoo-religion/

https://www.frenchquarter.com/true-history-faith-behind-voodoo/

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/r7g5ar/from-benin-to-bourbon-street-a-brief-history-of-louisiana-voodoo

https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2012/12/louisiana-home-of-voodoo-worship-in.html

https://wheninyourstate.com/louisiana/what-is-that-voodoo-that-you-do/

https://www.learnreligions.com/voodoo-gods-4771674

https://www.vianolavi

e.org/2017/06/22/ghede-voodoo-spirits-in-new-orleans-traditions/

https://www.livescience.com/40803-voodoo-facts.html

Beware any and all tourist sites, for the record.

I’m working on compiling information about Voodoo to separate fact from fiction and etc., but at the moment it’s a slightly edited, jumbled up copy pasted mess as I go through, comparing/contrasting info and writing summaries/notes on it. I can share it if anyone is interested, but  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯