The Book of Vodou

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Voodoo is magic -- but it's also much more! It's a religion of charms and spells intended to empower life and bring good fortune to those who practice it. Many people have a mistaken notion of Voodoo, seeing it only in terms of evil spells concocted by movie scriptwriters. In fact, Voodoo is a deeply spiritual and visually dazzling religion encompassing rituals, songs, and dances evoking spirits that believers recognize as part of nature. This engrossing account of Voodoo traces its origins in Africa to its full development in the West Indies island of Haiti. It also presents ways in which readers can use Voodoo to enrich their own lives in terms of love, luck, and prosperity. The Book of Voodoo covers all important aspects of its intriguing subject, and brings many Voodoo spirits fully alive with vivid, often humorous descriptions. For example --
-- Erzulie Dantor is a protective matriarchal spirit, despite the fact that she drinks rum and smokes Camel cigarettes
-- Ogou, a warrior spirit related to the Catholic St. Jacques, is credited with having helped the Haitian slaves with their independence
-- Papa Zaca, the patron of agriculture, wears a peasant's straw hat and a denim suit, and is the spirit of bountiful harvestsReaders also learn how to build their own magic altar and invoke Voodoo spirits, how to make charms and amulets, and how to work spells and read signs of divination. Voodoo sorcery is explained in its various aspects, including the evil eye, zombification, poisons, and protection from the sorcery of others. Here's a fascinating excursion into an exotic religion, with detailed instructions on how to perform rites and spells.