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This website is dedicated to Haitian Vodou, the Lwas and to you.

This is a sneak peek inside our personal Hounfors (Altar rooms) where we perform our rituals and Spell work. We do hope you enjoy!

The Vodou Religion - By the Spellbinding Sisters

Voodoo (Vodou) is one of the oldest religions. It started in Africa and then gained popularity in Haiti. Today it is practiced all over the world. Many people practice Voodoo secretly for fear of religious persecution. Voodoo is very different from how it is depicted in television and movies. It is NOT "devil worship" or anything like what many believe. There is no devil or hell in Voodoo. Voodoo is not a worship of many gods nor is it about dark evil forces.

In the Voodoo religion, there is one God referred to as Bondye (the creator) does not really communicate with people and doesn't come into contact with people and their daily lives. The Loas are the ones who interact with people and who can help them. Loas are spirits. One practices Voodoo by "serving the Loas".

People may practice Voodoo in various ways. Some go to a temple, or a "peristyle". Here, a Hougan or Mambo perform the ceremonies. Some people practice Voodoo in their homes. They may have an Altar or several Altars set up in their home for a particular Loa or they may have an actual hounfor (a room designated for practicing Voodoo and serving the Loas with one or many Altars).

Their are two ways to spell Loa as you will notice it is really your preference as we will tend to use both. Both Lwa and Loa both are correct.

Serving the Loas (Lwas)

Glass of Wine

Each Loa has their own personality, likes, dislikes, and things that they specifically will help you with. It is important to know some background on the Loa or Loas before asking for their help and giving them offerings.

You wouldn't want to ask a Loa who specializes in war, protection, and wealth to make your mate be nicer to you. That would be silly. Voodoo can be very complicated and could even be dangerous for someone who blindly tries to do magic without any basic knowledge about the religion itself.

There are a few different methods in giving offerings to the Loas. People who have their own altars will obviously give offerings there, and may also leave offerings at a crossroads or a cemetary. Other people may go to a temple and leave offerings or have a Voodoo Practitioner give an offering in their name.

Food Offerings
For someone who is just starting out, sometimes it works well for them to find a nice, quiet crossroads to leave an offering. Even something as simple as burning the appropriately colored candles on a dresser and offering some fresh flowers in the Loas name will work. The ceremony doesn't have to be fancy, but it does need to be sincere.

The offerings themselves may consist of many different things depending on which Loa you are serving.

For example, Papa Legba enjoys coffee, rum, tobacco, and candy (just to name a few). Erzulie Freda, on the other hand, enjoys pink champagne, roses, perfume, and jewelry.

Each Loa has their own colors that represent them, the days of the week that best serve them as well as their own selection of offerings that they like best.

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Papa Legba's Veve in Haitian Vodou

Veves Veves are an important part of the Voodoo ceremonies. They help to draw the Loa to the person calling on them. Veves are drawn on the ground with cornmeal, sand, or other powdery substances. The veve is drawn in an area infront of the altar or the area to be used. A libation is done on the veve prior to the ceremony.

Each Loa has there own veve. Some Loas have multiple veves that can be used. It is part of the ritual for the veves to become obliterated during the ceremony. Rituals and ceremonies should always begin with fresh veves.

Voodoo Dolls to represent one of the Lwas (Loas)

If you serve the Lwa we can create a custom Voodoo Doll for you to represent the Lwa you invoke. Baron Samedi pictured here which was made for a Client's Altar is a great example. The doll also could be a fabric doll wearing the colors that represent the specific Lwa and of course given life. The Doll MUST be treated with respect and love, speaking to the representation directly.

Usually when most people think Voodoo doll they picture a sewn fabric doll without a face that they can poke & prod with needles, when in reality a Voodoo doll is traditionally from European based Magik known as Poppets (puppets, Moppets) and can be made from all types of things from wax to paper which back then were mainly used for purposes to cause the represented target suffering.

The history really has no relation to Voodoo / Vodou Religion at all. Even though this is the case it is still quite common to see a Voodoo doll used to represent the Lwa but, primarily in New Orleans Voodoo.

Voodoo dolls (Poppets) can be made for many purposes and used in Spell work to represent a Target for positive or negative reasons. Salubrious personally has Voodoo dolls she created to represent both Papa Legba & Erzulie Dantor made up of Sticks, Fabric & Spanish moss. Used much like a Statue upon the Lwas Altar.

They can be a powerful tool in Magik and should you choose to create one for a specific target do so with caution if you are not an experienced Spell caster.

Our Goal in regard to Haitian Vodou (Voodoo)

Simbi Solitaire Bon Lavi's snake

Most of what the public know of Voodoo (Vodou) is based from scary movies, television shows and media. Most often than not it is NOT portrayed as the Religion truly is but, for "entertainment purposes" and "dramatic flare" which can be quite insulting to those who serve the Lwa in Vodou. Most people don't even know that Voodoo dolls are not from West Africa originally and that is thanks to the information most people are fed verses fact & truth.

I describe it like this; Imagine you are going to see a movie but, all that you will be shown is 3 minutes of the 2 hour movie and from this randomly picked out scene you must judge the entire movie. THAT is what it's like when people portray Voodoo (Vodou) you see a flicker of a Ritual without knowing anything else and are expected to judge.

Think about your own Religion - how would it feel to you if society as a whole knew nothing of your practices but, over & over again made movies, blogs, news stories & documentaries describing it vaguely and in a negative light?

We personally feel with all Religions you have the right to believe in whatever you want to, we respect your choices & know that one day we will be able to shed some light about Haitian Vodou to those who don't know. So, that no longer is it misrepresented or judged but, understood & respected.

INFORMATION IN THIS WEBSITE IS PROVIDED BY SOLITAIRE BON LAVI AND SALUBRIOUS SURREY