Who Dat?

by Dennis Green

Robert Johnson, honored by Eric Clapton in Crossroads, practiced Mississippi Voodoo, and dedicated his soul to the Voodoo Loa, or saint, Papa Legba, Guardian of the Crossroads in Mississippi Voodoo beliefs. These beliefs are very similar to New Orleans, or Louisiana Voodoo, which in turn derives from and differs somewhat from Haitian Voodoo. All are a combination of French Catholic and West African beliefs.

I live in a “House of Voodoo,” without even thinking about it, until just the other day. About 15 years ago, I met a Voodoo Priestess on the site of the old Slave Market in New Orleans, “Pristine,” a great-great-granddaughter of the High Voodoo Priestess and Queen, Marie Laveau. I spoke with her at some length about Voodoo, and bought a small JuJu charm from her, one that she had made herself, an ivory skull and silver ornamented necklace amulet designed to ward off evil spirits.

A few years later, while writing a novel called Losing My Amnesia, about a California tourist turned into a Zombie in New Orleans, I took a correspondence course from Pristine in Voodoo, (“Vodou” in the original French), and her distant cousin, Estimé, who lives in Port-au-Prince. And then I got a giant cobra tattooed on my belly. Even then I was pursuing shamanistic practices.

In the meantime, Diane and I collected four large Haitian metal sculptures — unique hammered steel tableaus made from 50-gallon oil drums — that portray Haitian Voodoo Loa. Erzulie is the goddess of love, help, goodwill, health, beauty and fortune — and “The Word.” She is the consort of Papa Legba, the prime male Loa, that guardian of the crossroads. In our metal sculptures, she is shown in one as a winged deity, being worshipped by two children, and in two others as a long-haired mermaid swimming through the sea.

The fourth sculpture depicts Mami Wata riding a bike and holding an umbrella in a very funny pose, while up from the ground and even the handlebars of the bike reach hands appealing to her love and humor. Such whimsy is more common in Voodoo — in which there is no devil, no marriage and no baptism — than in any of the other major world religions. All four sculptures exert very heavy mojo on our domicile.

One day, my pal George/Harvey wore a T-shirt reading “Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo,” and I admired it. Two days later, he was on my doorstep, giving me the shirt, freshly laundered!

And then, a few years ago, without really making the connection, I came into the possession of a large collection of West African masks, as well as a royal cane/scepter. They all represent spirits of the Dohomey tribe, whose beliefs combined with French Catholicism in Haiti to produce Vodou, as Nigerian Yoruban beliefs resulted in Santeria, a Cuban offshoot.

Papa Legba, Obatala, Yemaya, Oya, Oshun, Chango and Ogun. These are the seven Loa, or Saints, in New Orleans Voodoo. JuJu are the various pieces of jewelry worn as amulets or charms to ward off evil spirits, promote healing, and attract prosperity — such items as a ”Dreamcatcher,” or a “Gator Tooth Necklace,” or a “Gator Claw Key Ring” or a “Voodoo Fetish Box.” Wild Gator Heads sell for $70 at Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans, which also sells online.

Gris-Gris refers to the many potions and herbal bundles blessed by Voodoo practitioners and believed to provide good luck, abundant blessings, cleansing of the spirit and purification. The potion oils begin with 100% jojoba oil base and give good mojo, i.e., Magick. At Voodoo Authentica, they are handmade and blessed by the shop owner, Brandi.

Voodoo dolls are used — not to put a hex on other people as some mistakenly believe— but as focusing tools. One writes down a wish on a small slip of paper and pins it to the doll, and then meditates on the doll as a tool for focusing one’s intention and desire. Many of these dolls have been used for hundreds of years. My favorite is the “Magick Wish Doll” for healing.

Haitian Voodoo is closer to the West African beliefs of the Dohomey tribe. Agassu, Damballah, Erzulie, Ghede, Baron Samedi, Jean Petro, Cousin Zaca, Ogoun, Rada, Simbi, Ti-Jean, Li Grand Zombi and Mami Wata are just a few of their chief Loa. In Voodoo gatherings and ceremonies, many of these Loa have been known to possess, or “mount” the believers, who then behave in manners customary and unique to that particular spirit.

I use my Voodoo techniques sparingly, (“Go Saints! Who Dat?”), and in fact had implemented them quite unconsciously until just recently, when the thought of going back on dialysis put me in a tailspin. Vodou brought me back to my senses.

©2010 Dennis Green