Gods and Goddess of Voodoo
The Court Loas
Papa Legba: The trickster, the opener of the way and the guardian of the crossroads, both physical and spiritual. Comparable to Hermes or Mercury in the European tradition, Legba makes the impossible possible. He lifts us beyond the limitation we impose upon ourselves in daily life. He is identified with portrayals of St. Peter and St. Nicholas. His favorite offering is candy and tobacco and coconuts. He is the chief, or king, of the voodoun Loas, and is symbolized by the sun, and gold. He is the origin and male prototype. Legba is the synthesizing god of Voodoo, and as such, you must first ask him to carry your words to the other Loas. He is the Orient, the East, the chief cardinal point, the point of space which presides at or governs the magic. His wife is Maitresse Erzulie.Erzulie: The origin and the female prototype, she is the moon. She is represented as a dark-skinned Ethiopian woman. She is necessarily dark because she is burned by her husband, the sun, Papa Legba Antibon. She is the magic principle of wealth and prosperity. She is invoked by all who desire a change of fortune or who wish to become wealthy. Her symbols are the rainbow and the moon, and favors silver. She is associated with the Virgin Mary. She is good will, perpetual help, she can also be envy and discord when angered.
Obatala: The "old man of the mountain", responsible for the creation of our physical bodies. Literally "chief of the white cloth." Obatala's help is sought in ethical dilemmas and the problems of self-discipline. He is generally identified with the crucified Christ. Obatala is androgynous and very old: he is gentle, a sky god, and taught the people how to do Ifa, the table divination system.
Yemaya: Literally "mother of fishes". She rules birth and the surface of the oceans, and works closely with Olokun, who rules the depths. She works through dreams and intuition. Her waves wash away all sorrow. Her compassion nurtures her children through any spiritual or emotional crisis. Her love sustains life. She is identified with Mary, Star of the Sea.
Oshun: The Goddess of love and abundance. The power of desire is hers, and she often uses s this power to transform. She is beauty, laughter, and generosity. The erotic is her sacrament. She is often compared to Aphrodite, and is identified with the portrayal of Our Lady of Caridad. Oshun likes to heal hurt with love, and plants seeds of change in people. She can also be the Mystere of jealousy and vengeance, she shares these traits with Maitresse Erzulie.
Oya: A revolution in constant progress, Oya brings sudden change. She is a whirlwind, an amazon, a huntress, and a wild buffalo. Lightning and rainbows are signs of her presence. She also rules communication between the living and the dead. Think of Hecate or Artemis. She is identified with St. Catherine and St. Theresa.
Chango: Chango is a king, and his name is synonymous with justice. He lived in historical times and ruled as the fourth Alafin (or chieftain) of Oyo, a city in modern day Nigeria. He is a knight in shining armor. He uses lightning and thunder to enhance the fertility of the earth and of his followers. Myths concerning his death (or rather the fact that it did not occur) link him to the European figure of the Hanged God. He is identified with representations of St. Barbara.
Ogoun: God of iron and machines, Ogoun is a smith, a soldier, and a politician. In modern times he has come to be known as the patron of truck drivers. He is the spirit of the frontier, cutting paths, through the wilderness with his ever-present machete. Although Ogoun clears the way for civilization, he often prefers to dwell alone in the wilderness. He is identified with St. Anthony.
Guede Baron Samedi: Lord of the crossroads and the cemetery and death. The baron revives, kills or enslaves, and often grants deviations which can bring on or ward off death. His colour of course is black, his ritual food offerings must be fish and black chickens. Otherwise, he has a fondness for whiskey and cigars. When he takes possession, his horses often laugh evilly, conceal their eyes from light. Like all the Guede Mysteres, he is a caustic character, and a prankster.
The Voodoun Pantheon
There are thousands upon thousands of Voodoun Gods. It would be nearly impossible to list them all. Every voodoo rich culture brings more into the list, as Houn'gan or Mambos die, they too, are added into the fold. They are easier to classify in the various rites, or divisions of Voodoo. This is also called the Mysteres. Sometime a specific Mystere will cross over into another Rite, or be part of all the different Rites. A mystere generally belongs to the rite he or she is served in, with the exception of the Guinin mysteres who prefer to keep themselves traditionally pure. The loas of death and the cemeteries are classed separately because they all have several noms vaillants, a name they appear under because they do not wish their real names to be known.
While Pethro or Congo Rites are termed here as the paths of "black" magic, in reality they are not necessarily evil.
A listing of some of the Rites:
- Rada
- Rada-Dahomey
- Rada-Nago-Congo-Dahomey
- Nago
- Pethro
- Dantor
- Kitha
- Zandor
- Ibo
- Congo
- Boum'ba
- Canga
- and the Guedes
The Rada Mysteres
This is main pantheon of benevolent gods, those that are called upon to do "white" magic.The Voodoo Pantheon | ||||
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A Dan-hi | Adanhi Loko | Adanmansih Wedo | Adelaide | |
Adya Houn'to | Aganman, Caimon, Anolis | Agaou Comble | Agassou Allada | |
Agoueh R Oyo | Agoueh Tha Oyo | Aida Wedo | Aizan Avelekethe | |
Amisi Wedo | An Oue-Zo | An Tha-hi Medeh | Aroyo | |
Assato | Ate Gbini Mon Se | Ati Dan-hi Ibo Loko | Avadra Bo-roi | |
Azaca Medeh | Bade | Bade'sih Cala Houn'sou | Baron Cimetie | |
Baron La Croix | Baron Samedi | Bayacou | Belecou-n | |
Boco Legba | Captain Debas | Clairmesine Clairmeille | Cousin Zaca | |
Dame Houn'to | Dan Pethro | Danbhalah Grand Chemin | Danbhalah To Can | |
Danbhalah Wedo | Danbhalah Ye-We | Erzulie Dos-bas | Erzulie Freda | |
Erzulie Severine Belle-Femme | Fleurizon | Gougoune Dan Leh | Grand Bois Megui | |
Grande Ai-Zan | Grande Allaba | Grande Brigitte | Grande Miroi Ze | |
Grande Sim-ba | Grande Sobo | Grande Vavo | Guede Agu Roi Linsou | |
Guede Mazaca | Guede Nibbho | Guede Nouvavou | Houn | |
Houn'gan | Houn'guenicon | Houn'sih | Houn'to | |
La Baleine | La Belle Venus | La Sirene | Legba Ati (n) Bon | |
Lihsah | Linglessou | Loco A Dan-hi-co | Loko Azamblo Guidi | |
Mademoiselle Flordia | Maitre Ka-Fu | Maitresse Mam'bo | Maitresse and Grande Erzulie | |
Manman Diamant | Marassah | Marassah Guinin | Marie-Louise | |
Mawu-Lihsan | Ogou Bacouleh | Papa Houn'to | Papa Pierre | |
Quebiesou | Quebiesou Dan Leh | Roi Louanges | Silibo Vavo | |
Sim'bi Yandehzo | Sim'bi Yanphaca | Sim'bi Yanpolah | Sim'bi d'l'eau | |
Sobo | Sobo Quersou | Sophie Bade | Ti Jean | |
Ti Pierre Dantor | Ye Dan-Gbe | Zan Tha-hi | Zinclizin | |
Zo | Zo Man Kile |
The Rada-Dahomey Mysteres
A smaller Rite dedicated to the benevolent gods. | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ate Gbini Mon Se | Ye Dan Gbe | Ayidohwedo | Maou-Lihsah |
Lihsan Gba Dya | Legba Atin Bon | Quebiesou | Ai-Zan |
Sobo | Bade | An Que Zo | Sophie Bade |
Erzulie Freda | Grande Sobo | Zan-Madone | A Dan-hi Loko |
Erzulie La Belle Venus |
The Nago Mysteres
A smaller Rite dedicated to the benevolent gods of Voodoo. | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ogou Fer | Ogou Bha Lin Dyo | Ogou Bah Tha Lah | Ogou Chango |
Adoum Guidi | Lam'ba File Sabre | Ogou Bha Da Gri | Ossangne |
Ogou Yamsan | Ogou Cancannican | Ogou Bhacouleh | Ti Pierre Dantor |
Ti Jean | Bo-Sou Ashadeh | Ashadeh Boco | Bolishah |
Olishah | Grande O-Bhathalah | Bacossou | Ogou-Tonnerre |
Ogou Baba | Ogou Balisere | General Jules Canmil | Jean-Pierre Poungoueh |
Ogou Palama |
The Pethro Mysteres
This is one of the two major Rites dedicated to the "evil" gods, or "black" magic. | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ogou Chango | Sim'bi Y-An-Kitha | Lem'ba File Sabre | Ti Gougoune |
Lem'ba Zaou | Zaou Pem'ba | Manman Pem'ba | Mackandal |
Sim'ba Maza | Danbhalah La Flembeau | Linglinzin | Ogou Yamsan |
Guede Mazaca | Guede L'Orage | Zazi Boulonnin | Ogou Cancan Ni Can |
Criminel Pethro | Prin'ga Maza | Brise Macaya | Brize Pem'ba |
Erzulie Toro | Erzulie Ge Rouge | Erzulie Mapian | Ashadeh Boco |
Boco Legba | Linglessou Bassin-sang | Marinette Bois-Cheche | Marinette Lumin-di-fe |
Ti Jean Pethro | Jean-Philippe Pethro | Guede Baron La Croix | Guede Baron Cimetie |
Baron Samedi | Grande Brigitte | Similor | Guede Nibbho |
Ibo Can-Man | Maitre Pem'ba | Dan Pethro | Ti Jean Pied Cheche |
Simalo | Jean Zombi | Captain Zombi | Guede Agu Roi Linsou |
Ogou Tonnerre | Brise Pem'ba | Maloulou | Madame Travaux |
Sidor Pem'ba | Grand Bois Megui | Escalie Boum'ba | Trois Feuilles, Trois Racines |
Marinette Pieds Cheches | Ogou Dan Pethro | Marie Louise | Trois Carrefours |
Zo Flanco Pethro | Toro Pethro | Kanga Pethro | Six Milles Hommes |
Djobolo Bossou |
The Congo Mysteres
This is one of the two main divisions dedicated to the left handed path, or "black" magic | |||
---|---|---|---|
Sim'bi d'l'eau | Grande Alouba | Grande Aloumandia | Canga |
Zin'ga | Lem'ba Za-ou | Man Inan | Madame Lah-Oue |
Laoca | Zaou Pem'ba | Manman Pem'ba | Roi Ou-Angole |
Marassah Congo Bord-de-Mer | Maitre Pem'ba | Sinigal | Roi Louanges |
Caplaou Pem'ba | Maloulou | Sidor Pem'ba | Zilah Moyo |
Reine Congo Franc | Djobolo | Bazou |
Mysteres Belonging To All Rites
Assato | Aganman, Caiman | Adya Houn'to | Maitresse et Grande Erzulie |
Sim'bi d'l'eau | Sim'bi Yandehzo | Sim'bi Yanphaca | Sim'bi Yanpolah |
Marassah | Houn' | Houn'sih | Houn'guenicon |
Houn'to | Quebiesou Dan Leh | Grande Sim'ba | Zo |
Zo Man Kile | Danbhalah Grand Chemin | Maitresse Mam'bo | Maitre Ka-Fu |
Papa Houn'to | Dame Houn'to |
The Guedes
Guede L' Orage | Guede Cinq Jours Malheureux | Guede Ti Puce Lan d'l'eau | Guede Ti Wawa or Ti Oua-Oue | |||||||
Guede Ti Pete | Guede Vi | Guede Bon Poussiere de la Croix | Guede Sabalah | |||||||
Guede Doube | Guede Fatraas | Guede Ti Clos | Guede Docteur Piqures | |||||||
Guede Souffrant | Guede Ratalon | Guede Morpion | Guede Samedi |
Jesus! The information is so confusing on Voodoo and the Gods, I wonder why their is so much contradictory info...Kind of works for me though I'm writing a Zombie Novel with Voodoo Zombies, instead of Romero flesh eaters, Means I can basically make up any shit I want and no one can say I'm wrong
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this, but Ogoun, Oshun, Obatala, Oya, Shango, and Yemaja are not Loas nor part of the Vodoun. They are Orisas of Yoruba origin.
ReplyDelete