Hoodoo vs. Voodoo.

[Caitlin.ann]

So I'm new to this area of research and for a while I've wondered what the difference is between Hoodoo and Voodoo. I've heard they're related and that "voodoo" dolls are actually hoodoo dolls and such, but what are other differences. How different or alike are they?

Thank you for your help. :)

[aranarose]

Voodoo is the religion, Hoodoo is a practice.

Hoodoo may or may not incorporate religious belief, although many of the spells incorporate a great deal of Catholic prayer, saints, etc.

Voodoo/Voudou/Vodoun is a specific religion that may or may not incorporate magic.

Think of it in the Wicca/Witchcraft way. Wicca is a religion that doesn't require Witchcraft, Witchcraft is a practice that doesn't require Wicca. So Voodoo is a religion that doesn't require Hoodoo, and Hoodoo is a practice that doesn't require Voodoo.

Hoodoo developed over time from Voodoo, European folk magic, and Native American practices, and is truly American magic.

[Caitlin.ann]

Oh okay, thanks for your help. :)

Ever since my boyfriend started working with the lwa I've been interested doing the same. Now that he's no longer doing that I've been on a personal quest to learn as much as I can about the lwa and working with them, but in my studies I've learned that the only thing I feel I can take away from voodoo is working with the lwa and not the other religious beliefs. Does that make sense? Does that mean I should be looking towards hoodoo instead?

[aranarose]

Oh okay, thanks for your help. :)

Ever since my boyfriend started working with the lwa I've been interested doing the same. Now that he's no longer doing that I've been on a personal quest to learn as much as I can about the lwa and working with them, but in my studies I've learned that the only thing I feel I can take away from voodoo is working with the lwa and not the other religious beliefs. Does that make sense? Does that mean I should be looking towards hoodoo instead?

Probably. In my practice, I draw on the Lwa, particularly Erzulie Freda, quite a bit. She didn't really give me much choice.

Voodoo is a synchretic religion. It draws on multiple sources, primarily African traditional religion, masked with Catholocism to appease the slave-owners.

Hoodoo draws on far more traditions, and is very, very practical. It's about getting what you want, when you want it.

[Teresa]

Aranarose has already given you very good information.
I urge anyone that wishes to work with the Loa to begin a relationship with their ancestors first. You need a good relationship with you ancestors before working with the Loa. Your ancestors are far more apt to help you and if you establish a relationship with them first it will help later on when you begin working with the Loas. It would be disrespectful to bypass your ancestors. It may be taxing to study and do research to find out as much as you can about them, but it is so worth it later on. The more you work with them the stronger the bond is. The more you feed them the more they will be able to do for you. Remember though this like relationships with the living either party can say no or yes and that answer should be respected.

Most people start with an ancestor altar and offer foods and drinks that their ancestors liked. If you have items that belonged to them they can be placed on the altar and also things that you know they loved in this world can be placed there as well. If they liked cigars if is good to offer cigars, same with cigarettes.

You already have a bond with your ancestors and they love you and are willing to help you. They want to see you doing well and happy. You form a closer relationship to them then You can move on to working with the Loa. Papa Legba would be the first one that you come across as he opens the way for you. Take care to follow their color preferences and their likes and dislikes.

You altars could be as simple as a Glass of Water and a Candle to a very elaborate altar with everything that you could think of present.

[aranarose]

I had the advantage when I started that my aunt had done extensive research into our family tree, tracing our ancestral line back to the 1500s, and some even earlier.

I found that through working with the ancestors, the Lwa pushed their way into my life, whether I wanted them to or now. Spirits, especially the Lwa, like to be honored, and will aid those who persevere and show that they are willing to do that honoring, as opposed to those who just randomly call on someone who thinks they might be able to help.

I didn't seek the Lwa. In fact, for a long time I purposely avoided Voodoo and Hoodoo. It wasn't until Erzulie Freda decided that I really, really needed her help that I sort of got sucked in :lol: I guess you could say she chose me.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Oh okay, thanks for your help. :)

Ever since my boyfriend started working with the lwa I've been interested doing the same. Now that he's no longer doing that I've been on a personal quest to learn as much as I can about the lwa and working with them, but in my studies I've learned that the only thing I feel I can take away from voodoo is working with the lwa and not the other religious beliefs. Does that make sense? Does that mean I should be looking towards hoodoo instead?

You might want to look into PowWow as well. It is similar to HooDoo in that it is another American Folk Magic Tradition. It is a practice rather than a religion though it does use a lot of religious (specifically Catholic and Christian) symbology and prayer..but it is not a religion. It also has a lot of Dutch and German heritage influence.

[Caitlin.ann]

Aranarose has already given you very good information.
I urge anyone that wishes to work with the Loa to begin a relationship with their ancestors first. You need a good relationship with you ancestors before working with the Loa. Your ancestors are far more apt to help you and if you establish a relationship with them first it will help later on when you begin working with the Loas. It would be disrespectful to bypass your ancestors. It may be taxing to study and do research to find out as much as you can about them, but it is so worth it later on. The more you work with them the stronger the bond is. The more you feed them the more they will be able to do for you. Remember though this like relationships with the living either party can say no or yes and that answer should be respected.

Most people start with an ancestor altar and offer foods and drinks that their ancestors liked. If you have items that belonged to them they can be placed on the altar and also things that you know they loved in this world can be placed there as well. If they liked cigars if is good to offer cigars, same with cigarettes.

You already have a bond with your ancestors and they love you and are willing to help you. They want to see you doing well and happy. You form a closer relationship to them then You can move on to working with the Loa. Papa Legba would be the first one that you come across as he opens the way for you. Take care to follow their color preferences and their likes and dislikes.

You altars could be as simple as a Glass of Water and a Candle to a very elaborate altar with everything that you could think of present.

Thank you for giving me something to really think on. I do know about my heritage so this should be much easier for me. The ancestor that really comes to mind for me when doing this is my grandmother who was staunchly Christian in life. I'm not sure how she'd feel about this but we'll see I guess. :)


I had the advantage when I started that my aunt had done extensive research into our family tree, tracing our ancestral line back to the 1500s, and some even earlier.

I found that through working with the ancestors, the Lwa pushed their way into my life, whether I wanted them to or now. Spirits, especially the Lwa, like to be honored, and will aid those who persevere and show that they are willing to do that honoring, as opposed to those who just randomly call on someone who thinks they might be able to help.

I didn't seek the Lwa. In fact, for a long time I purposely avoided Voodoo and Hoodoo. It wasn't until Erzulie Freda decided that I really, really needed her help that I sort of got sucked in :lol: I guess you could say she chose me.


Thanks for sharing. :)

The only lwa I've ever felt comfortable calling to has been Ayizan. There's something about the lwa that grabs my attention and curiosity to more than just a passing research interest. I've stopped researching the lwa before many times and again I'm always drawn back to them for whatever reason.


You might want to look into PowWow as well. It is similar to HooDoo in that it is another American Folk Magic Tradition. It is a practice rather than a religion though it does use a lot of religious (specifically Catholic and Christian) symbology and prayer..but it is not a religion. It also has a lot of Dutch and German heritage influence.

Thank you for the advice. :)

Does it have any connection to what was practiced in Appalachia (where part of my family is from)? I find your description very interesting and nicely enough it mixes about 3/5 of my heritage. I'll definitely research this as well. :)

[Master Kodiak]

I am fairly new at this. I have been studying Haitian Vodou. I really like it. It seems to be very ritual based though. I think of all the variations I have looked at Haitian seems to be my fav.

[Teresa]

Does it have any connection to what was practiced in Appalachia (where part of my family is from)? I find your description very interesting and nicely enough it mixes about 3/5 of my heritage. I'll definitely research this as well. :)

You may want to check out Appalachian Granny Magic too. It is also a form of folk magic used in the Mountains.

[Teresa]

I am fairly new at this. I have been studying Haitian Vodou. I really like it. It seems to be very ritual based though. I think of all the variations I have looked at Haitian seems to be my fav.
I am most comfortable with the Haitian style, but the house I belong to came from NOLA so there are differences between the two and I don't mind learning. I do feel lead to visit Haiti and redo my initiation there. I have been checking out different Mambos and Papas to see which ones I click with. My husband told me to go ahead and start the paperwork for my passport so that wont hold me up when I am ready. He is very supportive of me about this, he knows the spirits want this to come to pass.

There have been debates about Yoruba or Ifa which I am enjoying listening to from the Elders of the house {Some of them are decendants of those traditions and others were raised up in New Orleans}. There is much still for me to learn, Voodoo can easily take a lifetime to study.

[Master Kodiak]

I am most comfortable with the Haitian style, but the house I belong to came from NOLA so there are differences between the two and I don't mind learning. I do feel lead to visit Haiti and redo my initiation there. I have been checking out different Mambos and Papas to see which ones I click with. My husband told me to go ahead and start the paperwork for my passport so that wont hold me up when I am ready. He is very supportive of me about this, he knows the spirits want this to come to pass.

There have been debates about Yoruba or Ifa which I am enjoying listening to from the Elders of the house {Some of them are decendants of those traditions and others were raised up in New Orleans}. There is much still for me to learn, Voodoo can easily take a lifetime to study.

Honestly I wouldnt mind learning more about them. It does seem like unless you really go there that you really cannot experience the full magnitude of the actual culture and beliefs. Its not in the cards for me right now but wow would that be awesome.

[Artiste-LiLi]

You may want to check out Appalachian Granny Magic too. It is also a form of folk magic used in the Mountains.

"Appalachian Granny Magic" is a part of the "Appalachian Magical Tradition"..it is "women's knowledge"......we do not share it with men...they have their own magic. :hahugh:

[Artiste-LiLi]

Does it have any connection to what was practiced in Appalachia (where part of my family is from)? I find your description very interesting and nicely enough it mixes about 3/5 of my heritage. I'll definitely research this as well. :)

First I would like to share with you that the traditions of the Appalachias are alive and well.....no "was practiced"......"is practiced" :uhhuhuh: Most of my family still practices the "old ways, "granny ways"/"yarbman" ways. I also know many others who still practice. You don't find as many practitioners in the city environment (there are a few such as myself) though, as you do in the mountains and country. I live in a city environment right now so that I could be here for my mother to help care for her and to help my sister with her children. Now that mom has passed the veil...when the children are old enough to all be in school...I will be moving back to a country or mountian home. Although.........I *am* feeling a STRONG call to the LowCountry salt marshes! (Look out Gullah here I come?????:giggle:) Our numbers are thinning though, as many of the elders are dying off and many or the youngsters "just aren't interested/don't care". Some practitioners, are "adopting" interested individuals to be "family" so that they can pass their teachings on. I have been "adopted" into 2 other families for this reason (one Appalachian one New Orleans VooDoo/Vodou.).

Second: Yes, it is connected....though it is a connection more akin to 3rd cousins than a direct mother-child connection. PowWow does share some components and practices with the other Appalachian Magical Traditions (yes, there are several) simply because of the Appalachian Mountain range, where it runs and the peoples who settled there many years ago. So, ALL the traditions are related a bit....think tree here: roots, trunk, branches. PowWow tends to have more Dutch and German influences. Where I live the prime influnces in the tradition are Scottish, Irish, Welsh and some German.....no Dutch or extremely little. All the traditions carry some of the Native American herblore and teachings....but they are not all the same teachings because there were different nations in different areas so the settlers learned from whatever nations were local to them.