The Vodun Phenomenon in Benin | Magistra Ardat Lile If it can be said that homo faber preceded homo sapiens, both these stages of humanity were borne by homo religiosus, an essential feature of man since the arousal of his consciousness. Indeed the religious phenomenon is not limited to a cult or an established link with the transcendent, but springs from the awareness of finiteness which gives rise to the need for the transcendent. Consequently, all men are religious, even if some are more religious than others, and the manifestations of human religiosity are numerous and owe much to the cultures of which they are the soul. In the specific case of the cultures of South Benin (West Africa), whose religious soul I wish briefly to present here, it appears that this is to be found in a convergent way in the phenomenon of Vodun. Vodun designates a venerated and adored divinity. We will start by presenting it through a phenomenological approach. Mawu, the Supreme God Types of Vodun Agbe: This is the Vodun of the sea (Tovodun). Common initiation
Geomancy Geomancy tool Geomantic instrument, Egypt or Syria, 1241–42 CE, by Muhammad ibn Khutlukh al Mawsuli. When turning the dials, random designs of dots would appear, which were then interpreted. Geomancy (Greek: γεωμαντεία, "earth divination") is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand. Once practiced by people from all social classes, it was one of the most popular forms of divination throughout Africa and Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In Renaissance magic, geomancy was classified as one of the seven "forbidden arts", along with necromancy, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy (palmistry), and spatulamancy (scapulimancy).[1] History of geomancy[edit] Geomancy, from Ancient Greek geōmanteía translates literally to "foresight by earth"; it is a translation of the Arabic term ‛ilm al-raml, or the "science of the sand". Generating the geomantic charts[edit] A shield chart.
Marie Laveau | Magistra Ardat Lile Life History Marie Laveau (September 10, 1782 – June 16, 1881) was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo renown in New Orleans. She was born free in New Orleans. Her daughter Marie Laveau II (1827 — c. 1895) also practiced Voodoo, and historical accounts often confuse the two. She and her mother had great influence over their multiracial following. “In 1874 as many as twelve thousand spectators, both black and white, swarmed to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain to catch a glimpse of Marie Laveau II performing her legendary rites on St. Marie was believed to have been born free in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, about 1794, the daughter of a white planter and a free Creole woman of color. Jacques Paris died in 1820 under unexplained circumstances. After Paris’s death Marie Laveau became a hairdresser who catered to wealthy white families. Very little is known with any certainty about the life of Marie Laveau. “Marie Laveau was a voodooienne. Her Death Like this:
Oracle The word oracle comes from the Latin verb ōrāre "to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use, oracle may also refer to the site of the oracle, and to the oracular utterances themselves, called khrēsmoi (χρησμοί) in Greek. Oracles were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. In this sense they were different from seers (manteis, μάντεις) who interpreted signs sent by the gods through bird signs, animal entrails, and other various methods.[1] Origins[edit] Pythia[edit] Pythia, the oracle at Delphi, was said to be infallible.[6] Pythia only gave prophecies the seventh day of each month, seven being the number most associated with Apollo, during the nine warmer months of the year; thus, Delphi was not the major source of divination for the ancient Greeks. The Delphic Oracle exerted considerable influence throughout Hellenic culture. The oracle's powers were highly sought after and never doubted. Dodona[edit]
Pagan Blog Project: G is for Gris-Gris | Setjataset (Madam Magick) What is a Gris-Gris? A Gris-Gris (aka grigri) is an African centric voodoo amulet which has a specific intent and purpose of protecting the wearer from evil spirits, negative forces, brings in luck and/or is used as a method of contraception*. It usually takes the shape of a small cloth bag and contains a ritualistic amount of small objects (usually a prime number between 3-13) and prayers from the Qur’an which is specifically tailored to the person who will be wearing it. Tina’s Make Your Own Gris-Gris Bag (© T. Georgitsis 2014) Ingredients Personal effect of wearer.Stones, crystals, herbs, roots, resins, bones, coins, charms and tokens.Seal, sigil, prayer or petition which has been drawn with magickal ink on parchment.2 inch by 3 inch hand stitched bag with one end left open and made from cotton, flannel or leather (chose a colour to suit your intent);Handmade cord, hemp string, wax thread or leather cording. Method Simple Use for Gris-Gris Pin to your undergarment for personal protection.
Bibliomancy Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world: Terminology[edit] According to the Oxford English Dictionary,[1] the word bibliomancy (etymologically from biblio- "books" and -mancy "divination by means of") "divination by books, or by verses of the Bible" was first recorded in 1753 (Chambers' Cyclopedia). Sometimes this term is used synonymously with stichomancy (from sticho- "row, line, verse") "divination by lines of verse in books taken at hazard", which was first recorded ca. 1693 (Urquhart's Rabelais). History[edit] Method[edit] A book is picked that is believed to hold truth.It is balanced on its spine and allowed to fall open.A passage is picked, with the eyes closed. Among Christians, the Bible is most commonly used (in the Sortes Sanctorum), and in Islamic cultures the Qur'an. Trivia[edit]
Voodoo Part II:II | Magistra Ardat Lile Voudoun Conceptualism or Understanding? Brief History of: Although the word Voodoo tends to conjure images of zombies, pins stuck in dolls, animal sacrifices, priests drinking blood, etc., it’s not exactly a realistic portrait of what Voodoo truly is. In fat because of the images associated with this word, most practitioners prefer the term Vodou. Vodou came form the tribal practices and beliefs of the slaves who were brought to Haiti from West Africa. The most important religious practice was ancestor worship. The Fon believed in hundreds of immortal spirits called vodu. - Dancing, drumming and chanting to communicate with the spirits - Animal sacrifices made as offerings to the spirits - A priest or priestess who interpreted messages from the spirits - Possession of the bodies of participants in ritual by the spirits The main purpose of the ritual was to communicate with the vodu and receive their guidance in making important decisions. The Lwa: Rituals: Song for Danbala Song for Ogou 1.
Divination This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon attempts to tell the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a freshwater crab through the practice of nggàm[1] Divination (from Latin divinare "to foresee, to be inspired by a god",[2] related to divinus, divine) is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual.[3] Used in various forms throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens, or through alleged contact with a supernatural agency. Divination can be seen as a systematic method with which to organize what appear to be disjointed, random facets of existence such that they provide insight into a problem at hand. Divination is dismissed by the scientific community and skeptics as being superstition. Categories[edit] Psychologist Julian Jaynes categorized divination into the following four types:[citation needed] D.