My thoughts on Voodoo and Hoodoo
Pretty much I'm just doing research these days on Voodoo and Hoodoo. And making notes. And making my own little handwritten spell book. I have been convinced that Hoodoo and Voodoo are different. Voodoo is a Haitin religion while Hoodoo is an all-American practice heavily influenced by Voodoo, Catholicism, and Native American religion. So learning how to do the Hoodoo that I will do is hard. So is the magic. You can't just go casting spells all willy-nilly. You have to figure out where the moon's phase is and what influence you need for what spell. Then you have to figure out what herbs, leaves, nuts, barks, and plants fit the needed influence. But before doing that you have to figure out what really rules the influence you need. Oh, man, this is tough. After that you have to learn how to enchant herbs.
And all that is just to do the good Hoodoo. I still have to learn how a Bokor (pronounced Boh-core) does his dark magic. I'm not even really sure there's actually a Bokor in Hoodoo. I know there's one in Voodoo. But if you're calling on the dark arts then you're not really practicing Hoodoo because to cast a spell in Hoodoo you have to use saints and pray to God.
I've come to understand and crave the satisfaction those who practice Hoodoo get from it. This, I'm sure, is the same satisfaction Wicca get from their practices. There's just something so calming about preparing the spells and doing the enchantments. I can see the practice as one I'd love to dabble in from time to time. I'm sure you have to believe in it to make it worthwhile and I can't bring myself to wholly believe in it though. I do believe the practice could and would bring a person to feel as if they are connected to everything of the Earth. And I also believe the practice would be the best in relieving stress and would make it so easy to hope for better days.
I've learned how to read the cards and I've learned how to call upon the dead. I haven't practiced either because even though I know how, I still don't believe either are possible. My personal belief regarding ghosts is that God is mighty and all knowing. If His eye is on each and every sparrow then He could not possibly lose track of a soul where it would have the ability to wander around lost between worlds.
However, in Hoodoo, a practitioner is able to borrow a spirit, or two, or three. This makes me somewhat believe. But still I have to say full belief would have to be based on whether or not you believe a soul goes directly to heaven or rests until the Rapture. I don't believe any earthly power could pull a soul from Heaven. Yet, I do believe an earthly power could pull a soul from Hell. Why? Well, because Satan walks the earth and if a person called on his power to accomplish this deed then it could happen.
Regardless of how much I allow myself to believe of Hoodoo I do plan to give the practice the respect it deserves. I live in a country founded on religious tolerance. My denomination might be Southern Baptist, but I am not about to forget that God told us to LOVE one another. Until I was ten I attended a church in Missouri where the greatest of Christian ladies practiced their Christianity. I've been to churches since then, of course, but honestly, in my opinion, no church has done the justice to true Christianity like those women and men did. They instilled in me beliefs that will follow me forever. Their example is what I strive to reach in my life daily.
Their biggest example, of course, was that God said to love. He never said to judge, degrade, and hate.
And all that is just to do the good Hoodoo. I still have to learn how a Bokor (pronounced Boh-core) does his dark magic. I'm not even really sure there's actually a Bokor in Hoodoo. I know there's one in Voodoo. But if you're calling on the dark arts then you're not really practicing Hoodoo because to cast a spell in Hoodoo you have to use saints and pray to God.
I've come to understand and crave the satisfaction those who practice Hoodoo get from it. This, I'm sure, is the same satisfaction Wicca get from their practices. There's just something so calming about preparing the spells and doing the enchantments. I can see the practice as one I'd love to dabble in from time to time. I'm sure you have to believe in it to make it worthwhile and I can't bring myself to wholly believe in it though. I do believe the practice could and would bring a person to feel as if they are connected to everything of the Earth. And I also believe the practice would be the best in relieving stress and would make it so easy to hope for better days.
I've learned how to read the cards and I've learned how to call upon the dead. I haven't practiced either because even though I know how, I still don't believe either are possible. My personal belief regarding ghosts is that God is mighty and all knowing. If His eye is on each and every sparrow then He could not possibly lose track of a soul where it would have the ability to wander around lost between worlds.
However, in Hoodoo, a practitioner is able to borrow a spirit, or two, or three. This makes me somewhat believe. But still I have to say full belief would have to be based on whether or not you believe a soul goes directly to heaven or rests until the Rapture. I don't believe any earthly power could pull a soul from Heaven. Yet, I do believe an earthly power could pull a soul from Hell. Why? Well, because Satan walks the earth and if a person called on his power to accomplish this deed then it could happen.
Regardless of how much I allow myself to believe of Hoodoo I do plan to give the practice the respect it deserves. I live in a country founded on religious tolerance. My denomination might be Southern Baptist, but I am not about to forget that God told us to LOVE one another. Until I was ten I attended a church in Missouri where the greatest of Christian ladies practiced their Christianity. I've been to churches since then, of course, but honestly, in my opinion, no church has done the justice to true Christianity like those women and men did. They instilled in me beliefs that will follow me forever. Their example is what I strive to reach in my life daily.
Their biggest example, of course, was that God said to love. He never said to judge, degrade, and hate.