Voodoo
Last night I attended a Voodoo ritual honoring Santa Marta. It is the most popular Haitian religion. I thought it would be an interesting once in a life time experience and it would also give me a chance to learn about the real Voodoo aside from what we see in movies with the pins and dolls.
Some information about the ritual
"The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death."
Last night, I witnessed the music, drink, and offerings. I was lucky enough to miss the animal sacrifice. I really don't think I could have handled that. But I did see two people that became possessed by the two different spirits.
It was the probably the scariest and strangest thing I have ever seen in my life, yet I couldn't take my eyes off of the two people. I have always been very skeptical of people becomming possessed. It's something that happened in the movies, but it has always been a topic that have kind of creeped me out. I was not expecting to see anything like that last night.
The first I saw was a man who was possessed by a woman spirit of a snake nature. The man had absolutely no control over his body. His body was moving in ways I never thought a human body could move. But the scariest thing was his eyes. I highly doubt I will ever forget the look in his eyes. The were absolutely blank. He was just not there.
Next there was a woman, but I am unsure what type of spirit she was possessed by because no one gave me the information on her. She was moving in very strange ways as well. At one point she was lying on the floor on her back and her body staring going up a few steps, in a form you could imagine seeing in a creepy horror movie. It was so strange. He eyes had the same blank stare.
I am glad that I got to go to the ritual because it is life experience, but I can also say that once was more than enough. I will not be back. The possesion thing is just a little to out there for me.
Some information about the ritual
"The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death."
Last night, I witnessed the music, drink, and offerings. I was lucky enough to miss the animal sacrifice. I really don't think I could have handled that. But I did see two people that became possessed by the two different spirits.
It was the probably the scariest and strangest thing I have ever seen in my life, yet I couldn't take my eyes off of the two people. I have always been very skeptical of people becomming possessed. It's something that happened in the movies, but it has always been a topic that have kind of creeped me out. I was not expecting to see anything like that last night.
The first I saw was a man who was possessed by a woman spirit of a snake nature. The man had absolutely no control over his body. His body was moving in ways I never thought a human body could move. But the scariest thing was his eyes. I highly doubt I will ever forget the look in his eyes. The were absolutely blank. He was just not there.
Next there was a woman, but I am unsure what type of spirit she was possessed by because no one gave me the information on her. She was moving in very strange ways as well. At one point she was lying on the floor on her back and her body staring going up a few steps, in a form you could imagine seeing in a creepy horror movie. It was so strange. He eyes had the same blank stare.
I am glad that I got to go to the ritual because it is life experience, but I can also say that once was more than enough. I will not be back. The possesion thing is just a little to out there for me.