Voodoo versus Vodou

Let's learn about about the various aspects of Vodou today - the practices and beliefs of the religion, who practices and where, and Vodou’s long and fascinating history. I'm going to dissect some common myths and misconceptions of Vodou, and you’ll learn the truth about Zombies and Vodou dolls.

We’ll talk about the true symbols and imagery of Vodou that are important to adherents. Finally, you’ll learn about where Vodou stands today, and most important of all, how you can benefit from living the simple truths of the Voudoun lifestyle.

Before we embark upon this fascinating journey, however, let’s take a look at the common meaning of the word Vodou, its usage and its origin, as this can sometimes be confusing.

You’ll find the word Vodou spelled in a variety of different ways, depending on which country you’re reading about. Some of the other spellings you will see of the word are Vodun, Vudun, and Vodou, which is common in Haiti. The roots of these words come from various peoples of the West African region from western Nigeria to eastern Ghana. Vodun is a West African word for spirit. Vodou is most often used in Haiti, and Vudon, Vodun, or Vodoun are common in Brazil.

The word Vodou is most commonly used to describe the traditions of African and the Caribbean which combined into a rich stew in New Orleans. Vodou or Hoodoo is also sometimes used to describe the African-American tradition of folk spirituality common in the southeastern United States. Many scholars believe that Vodou is a transliteration, or a word changed from another language, of the French vous tous, pronounced voo too, which means you all. Voodoo is an Americanized spelling of Vodou, which has really only become common over the last 100 years.

Confusing? Yes, indeed it is, but this brief look at the origins and usage of the word begins to hint at the vast complexity and mystery of the faith. Because of the possibility of confusion from switching back and forth between names, for the purposes of this report, we will be using the term Vodou. In New Orleans, Vodou is commonly spelled Voodoo, so we will continue with that tradition in this report. Bear in mind, though, that for many practitioners outside of New Orleans the term Voodoo signifies a religion dreamed up by the minds of Hollywood, and that religion has little to do with the deeply mystical and reverent faith they practice.

For your convenience and reference, please note that in our Vodou Guide, there is both an extensive resources page and a glossary at the back of the book. You may run into some unfamiliar words, and if you forget their meaning, you can simply turn to the end and refresh your memory. The Vodou websites and resources will give you options for further reading and assistance in finding local groups of Vodou, should you feel so moved to practice the religion.

Now that this brief introduction has whetted your appetite to learn more about the profound and mystical religion of Vodou, stay tuned as we look more deeply into the beliefs and practices of this mysterious religion.  

By Secrets2Voodoo.com - Offering a Guide to Voodoo that uncovers the secret beliefs and practices of the Vodou religion.

Tags: vodou, voodoo practice, Voodoo spell