A. Well, “hoodoo” is a USA Southern folk magic system; hoodoo is not a religion. This American created form of magic adjusts and adapts itself to the larger culture around it--absorbing what its practitioners can and want to use. Hence, in areas where Christian Catholicism was dominant, practitioners often used Catholic prayers. In areas where sundry forms of Christian Protestantism was strong, bible verses, usually from the King James Version, were employed. See “Psalms and Verses in Hoodoo” .
B. As for “voodoo,” that term involves “African-derived Religions”, also known as “African Diaspora Religions.” (Notice the “S” on “ReligionS”) Yes, there is more than one kind of “Voodoo" 1. New Orleans Voodoo (NOLA)/Louisiana Voodoo (USA), 2. Haitian Vodou (Haiti)
1. New Orleans Voodoo (NOLA Voodoo) and Louisiana Voodoo (USA) are the religious traditions that grew up in in the city of NOLA and various other places in Louisiana. Both involve “lwa” who are the spirits of Louisiana Voodoo and NOLA Voodoo. The “lwa” are intermediaries between Bondye (the “Good God,” the Creator or the High God/God-Most-High. There are more than 1,000 lwa (spirits). Many of these “lwa” were syncretized with various Catholic saints. In NOLA, Legba is the Gatekeeper. He is syncretized with Saint Peter and Saint Anthony.
2. The “lwa” associated with beauty and love is Erzulie Freda Dahomey. She is syncretized with Our Lady of Sorrows (the Madonna as the “Sorrowful Mother”). NOLA Voodoo has also absorbed the beliefs of English-speaking, Protestant, “American negroes” imported from Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas during the interstate slave trade of the 1830s to 1850s. This influx of those from other states in the USA also seems to have differently influenced the culture and practices of NOLA Voodoo/Louisiana Voodoo.
There are some differences in the rituals and lwas in Haitian Vodou and in New Orleans Voodoo (NOLA Voodoo)/Louisiana Voodoo. The differences seem extremely obvious to the different practitioners of:
1. NOLA Voodoo/Louisiana Voodoo, and to the practitioners of 2. Haitian Vodou. I have connected with both and both are quite emphatic there is a difference.
(As I am a practitioner of NEITHER 1. NOLA Voodoo/Louisiana Voodoo, NOR 2.Haitian Vodou I'm not quite clear on the exact differences. )
The lwa, Papa Legba, STILL resides at the gate in Haitian Vodou. He is lwa of the gates, doors, and roads and is syncretized with the Beggar Saint Lazarus at the road.
Mambo Ayizan is the patroness of initiation into Haitian Vodou, the Kanzo ceremony. Mambo Ayizan is syncretized Our Lady of Fatima. She does not seem to be part of NOLA Voodoo.
Kouzen Zaka, or Azaka, is the patron lwa of farmers in Haiti. He is also known as Azaka Mede as minister of agriculture. He works very quickly to accomplish what is asked of him, and works hard. He is extremely popular in all of Haiti. Kouzen wears a broad brimmed straw hat, denim clothing, carries a straw sack, and a sickle or machete.
The lwa Ezili Dantor has an important spiritual role in the history of Haiti. She is connected to the ritual at Bois Caiman in August 1791 which was the beginning of the Haitian revolution. Ezili Dantor is syncretized with the image of the Black Madonna of Czstochowa.
As for witchcraft that is the “craft of witches” which is the practice of magic. Indeed some “modern 21st century witches” focus exclusively upon spell-work and magical ritual. Others may work with various deities and/or spirits. Others may prefer to work with more with other skills such as meditation or divination. Some modern Witches are Neo-Pagans and venerate the old Pagan Goddesses and Gods. Those Neo-Pagan Witches often view themselves as practicing a “religion” or “religious Witchcraft.”
Have you heard: "All Wiccans are Witches, but not all witches are Wiccans"?
Wicca is a religion that celebrates the cycle of seasons, the Divine in feminine and masculine forms, and personal transformation.
I am Wiccan.
While many Wiccans do practice magic, some tend to focus only upon the magical and spiritual transformations in their lives, rather than spellwork. For other Wiccans, the practice of magic and spellwork is equally important.
September 24, 2020