Post by cygnet on Jan 15, 2009 16:30:45 GMT
An A - Z of Voodoo Terms. (Incomplete).
A...
Asson..The sacred magic rattle of the houngan or mambo. It is a gourd with natural handle. The outside is covered with bits of coral and snake bones.
B...
Baka...An evil spirit which can assume various forms from a human child, or animal to butterfly--any being it wishes.
Bokor...A Houngan who practices Black Magic or Petro Voodoo. There are few, if any female Bokor.
Bondye...The one and only God.
Bula Drum...A very small drum beaten by a seated drummer with two long thin sticks.
C...
D...
Djab...Devils.
Drums...Music and dance are central to Voodoo, and the music is primarily made by drums.
E...
F...
Flags...Banners which represent various Loa and are used to help summon particular Loa.
G...
Granmet...Another name for Bondye.
Great Master...See Granmet.
Gro-Bon-Ange...The personal soul which animates the human body. The Gro-Bon-Ange is an individual immortal soul and can pass through stages eventually becoming a Loa.
H...
Hounfo...The parish or region of a Houngan or Mambo's influence.
Houngan...Male Voodoo Priest.
Houngonikon...The director of music and dancing.
Hounsi...A group of servers, usually women, dressed in white.
I...
J...
K...
kanzo...The initiation ceremony of fire for those moving into a very serious level of Voodoo practice.
L...
La Place...A Master of Ceremonies who works directly under the Houngan or Mambo.
Lave Tet...An initiation ceremony held for serviteurs after they have been mounted for the first time.
Les Invisibles...All spirits.
Loa...Spirits. The loa are not really Gods. There is only one God and that is Bondye.
Lougarou...A female werewolf--a human is condemned to this state by a bokor, and then sucks the blood of its victims.
M...
Mambo...Female Voodoo Priestess.
Manman Drum...The largest of the three, about 3 ft. tall. It is beaten by a standing drummer using a small wooden hammer in one hand and the other bare hand.
Marasa...Twins who died in their early childhood and are innocent and capricious. They are the image of contradictory forces in the universe.
Mounting...Loa often come to a ceremony and possess serviteurs.
Mysteries...A term to refer to the Loa and sacred knowledge.
N...
O...
P...
Peristyle...The building or outdoor area where Voodoo ceremonies are held.
Petro...Black magic Voodoo, the so-called 'Bitter Loa'. A group of angry, mean and nasty Loa. Dangerous things happen in Petro including death curses, other lesser curses, and the making of zombies.
Petro Music...Two drums; The Manman and the Petit or Ti-Baka. The smaller drum is beaten with the bare hands.
Possession...See Mounting.
Poto Mitan...The center pole in a peristyle. It represents the center of the universe and the access to the spirit world. All dancing revolves around the Poto Mitan.
Q...
R...
Rada...This is a Voodoo of the so-called 'Sweet Loa'. Arelatively peaceful happy group of spirits.
Rada Music...Primarily played by three drums, played incessantly for hours on end.
S...
Segond Drum...A smaller drum, perhaps 2 foot tall, beaten by a seated drummer holding the drum between his knees. This drum is usually beaten with the hands.
Serviteurs...Serious practitioners of Voodoo.
T...
Taking Of The Asson...The final initiation into the status of being a Houngan or Mambo.
The Assotor Drum...This is a huge special ceremonial drum (used in both Rada and Petro) carved from a single tree trunk. It is 6 foot or taller and must be beaten by drummers who are on a platform. It is a sacred drum, sort of an idol or fetish.
The Crossroads...A central image in Voodoo. This is the place where two worlds meet--earth and the spirit world. Virtually all Voodoo acts, even healing, begin with the acknowledgement of the crossroads.
Ti-Bon-Ange...Part of the soul of an individual, it is the changeless, impersonal cosmic consciousness. Upon the death of the individual the Ti-Bon-Ange rejoins the cosmic forces and can be reused.
U...
V...
Veve...Ceremonial drawings of the various Loa. These are done in flour or cornmeal, usually next to the Poto Mitan.
W...
Wanga...An object, or combination of objects which has received, as a result of magic, a property that is harmful to some person or group.
X...
Y...
Z...
Zanj...Angels.
Zombi...A human who first dies, usually thought to have been poisoned by a Bokor, then comes back to life after three days and serves a master as a mindless, but very strong slave.
A...
Asson..The sacred magic rattle of the houngan or mambo. It is a gourd with natural handle. The outside is covered with bits of coral and snake bones.
B...
Baka...An evil spirit which can assume various forms from a human child, or animal to butterfly--any being it wishes.
Bokor...A Houngan who practices Black Magic or Petro Voodoo. There are few, if any female Bokor.
Bondye...The one and only God.
Bula Drum...A very small drum beaten by a seated drummer with two long thin sticks.
C...
D...
Djab...Devils.
Drums...Music and dance are central to Voodoo, and the music is primarily made by drums.
E...
F...
Flags...Banners which represent various Loa and are used to help summon particular Loa.
G...
Granmet...Another name for Bondye.
Great Master...See Granmet.
Gro-Bon-Ange...The personal soul which animates the human body. The Gro-Bon-Ange is an individual immortal soul and can pass through stages eventually becoming a Loa.
H...
Hounfo...The parish or region of a Houngan or Mambo's influence.
Houngan...Male Voodoo Priest.
Houngonikon...The director of music and dancing.
Hounsi...A group of servers, usually women, dressed in white.
I...
J...
K...
kanzo...The initiation ceremony of fire for those moving into a very serious level of Voodoo practice.
L...
La Place...A Master of Ceremonies who works directly under the Houngan or Mambo.
Lave Tet...An initiation ceremony held for serviteurs after they have been mounted for the first time.
Les Invisibles...All spirits.
Loa...Spirits. The loa are not really Gods. There is only one God and that is Bondye.
Lougarou...A female werewolf--a human is condemned to this state by a bokor, and then sucks the blood of its victims.
M...
Mambo...Female Voodoo Priestess.
Manman Drum...The largest of the three, about 3 ft. tall. It is beaten by a standing drummer using a small wooden hammer in one hand and the other bare hand.
Marasa...Twins who died in their early childhood and are innocent and capricious. They are the image of contradictory forces in the universe.
Mounting...Loa often come to a ceremony and possess serviteurs.
Mysteries...A term to refer to the Loa and sacred knowledge.
N...
O...
P...
Peristyle...The building or outdoor area where Voodoo ceremonies are held.
Petro...Black magic Voodoo, the so-called 'Bitter Loa'. A group of angry, mean and nasty Loa. Dangerous things happen in Petro including death curses, other lesser curses, and the making of zombies.
Petro Music...Two drums; The Manman and the Petit or Ti-Baka. The smaller drum is beaten with the bare hands.
Possession...See Mounting.
Poto Mitan...The center pole in a peristyle. It represents the center of the universe and the access to the spirit world. All dancing revolves around the Poto Mitan.
Q...
R...
Rada...This is a Voodoo of the so-called 'Sweet Loa'. Arelatively peaceful happy group of spirits.
Rada Music...Primarily played by three drums, played incessantly for hours on end.
S...
Segond Drum...A smaller drum, perhaps 2 foot tall, beaten by a seated drummer holding the drum between his knees. This drum is usually beaten with the hands.
Serviteurs...Serious practitioners of Voodoo.
T...
Taking Of The Asson...The final initiation into the status of being a Houngan or Mambo.
The Assotor Drum...This is a huge special ceremonial drum (used in both Rada and Petro) carved from a single tree trunk. It is 6 foot or taller and must be beaten by drummers who are on a platform. It is a sacred drum, sort of an idol or fetish.
The Crossroads...A central image in Voodoo. This is the place where two worlds meet--earth and the spirit world. Virtually all Voodoo acts, even healing, begin with the acknowledgement of the crossroads.
Ti-Bon-Ange...Part of the soul of an individual, it is the changeless, impersonal cosmic consciousness. Upon the death of the individual the Ti-Bon-Ange rejoins the cosmic forces and can be reused.
U...
V...
Veve...Ceremonial drawings of the various Loa. These are done in flour or cornmeal, usually next to the Poto Mitan.
W...
Wanga...An object, or combination of objects which has received, as a result of magic, a property that is harmful to some person or group.
X...
Y...
Z...
Zanj...Angels.
Zombi...A human who first dies, usually thought to have been poisoned by a Bokor, then comes back to life after three days and serves a master as a mindless, but very strong slave.