Having lived in New Orleans for many years, I have had quite a few 'up close and personal' experiences with the art of voodoo. Many might say that it does not exist outside of the mind and my answer to that would be this: the mind is all that really matters anyway.

Voodoo is a very earthy religion that is often misunderstood. It is usually used for fortune, blessing, or happiness and contrary to popular belief, it is not used for revenge or spite. That would be the arch-nemesis called 'hoodoo' but that is an entirely different topic.

For those who practice voodoo, it becomes their life as it is so consuming. I mean, when you find something that works why stop and voodoo certainly works if you believe in it. This is one of the most questionable things about it. Does it really work or is it just a game of persuasion or does either question really matter?

One of the greatest figures throughout the history of voodoo was a man named Baron Samedi. This man was a high voodoo priest and in today's mythology is marked as the keeper of the 'city of the dead'. Baron Samedi is usually depicted as an African-American male, with white paint on his face resembling bones, wearing a top hat and tails, and carrying a cane.

Live in New Orleans long enough and eventually you will come to believe in him as I do. You can't explain it really, he will just 'show' himself to you somehow, someway. I dreamt of him once, he was walking next to me down a busy city street showing me tricks with his cane and laughing so effortlessly. He reminded me of an old jazz musician on the corner, just as poor and comfortable as anybody. He popped up in my dream as soon as my life went into uproar, to tell me that everything would be alright as it always had..and he was right.

People are so frightened by a word as simple as 'voodoo'. Could be its' mystery, could be the tall tales that surround it, but more than likely it is because it is one of the foundations of the unknown and we are always afraid of that. I had my own views and prejudices against voodoo before I lived in a city smothered by it, but that soon changed. You might find though that stepping boldy into the shadow often leads to the sun, or at least I did.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Celeste.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Experiences with voodoo?
We want to hear your view. Write now!