Do you like the costume? If you see any parallels to the Wicked Witch of the West, well . . . That was done on purpose! Mwahahahahahahaha! Naughty, naughty . . . I suppose that you clicked on this link hoping to find some useful information, like how to make a voodoo doll of your enemies, or how to hex your rival in love, or how to turn another person into a toad. I'm sorry, but that information is classified. What, you think that I'm going to give away ALL my secrets to just ANYBODY? Well, now that you understand what you will NOT find on this page, allow me to tell you what you WILL find. Wicca and Vodun, commonly known as "witchcraft" and "voodoo", are two earth-based pagan religions that are still relatively popular today among a particular devoted following. Although I refuse to teach any of the secrets of wicca or vodun on this page, I will attempt to provide a basic guide to what each religion entails. I also hope to dispel a few commonly held prejudices and rumors about both Wicca and Vodun. Vodun originated in West Africa. Unfortunately, during the 18th and 19th century, many Africans were enslaved and shipped to Haiti and the West Indies. Many of these slaves brought their vodun religion with them. Today, Vodun is widely practiced in Haiti, Benin, the Dominican Republic, and many cities in the Southern United States. It is estimated that over 60 million people worldwide follow Vodun as their religion. Vodun is actually the *official* religion of the country of Benin.

Vodun is based on a belief system that includes multiple gods and spirits, known collectively as the "Loa." The chief god of Vodun is Olorun, who is very mysterious and never takes part in worldly affairs. Olorun authorized a lesser god, Obatala, to create the Earth and the Heavens. In addition to Olorun and Obatala, there are hundreds of other lesser spirits. For example, Erzulie is the female spirit of love, and Aido Wedo is known as the rainbow spirit. For those of you who like Japanese-Vodun puns (and who doesn't?), "Baka" is the name of an evil Vodun spirit who takes the form of an animal. "Baka" also means "fool" or "idiot" in Japanese.

Humans and Loa depend upon each other to exist. The humans offer the Loa food and other materials during Vodun rituals; in exchange, the Loa provide good health, good fortune, and protection from evil spirits.

Vodun ceremonies are very different from the way that Hollywood often depicts them. Although elaborate, they often serve simple and benevolent purposes - asking the Loa to heal the sick, protect children from evil, or whatnot. Vodun ceremonies and rituals are presided over by a Vodun priest, who can be male ("houngan") or female ("mambo"). Houngan and Mambos only practice "white" or good magic; however, there is a third class of priests that practive both "black" and "white" magic. These priests are known as bokors or caplatas. Bokors have the ability to resurrect the dead and control them, creating personal servants known as zombies. Bokors also practice the ancient art of making "voodoo dolls". Sticking pins in these dolls is believed to be a way of cursing one's enemies.

Wicca is a nature-based religion that includes the concept of multiple gods and goddesses. Wiccans cast spells and use magic to guide the flows of energy that infuse all living things. Contrary to the popular stereotype, Wiccans can be male OR female.

Wiccans generally follow two codes of ethical conduct. The first is the Witches' Rede: "An it harm none, do as ye will." Wiccans believe that magic ought to be used for "the good of all and the harm of none." They believe that magic that harms or manipulates another person against their will is immoral. Which brings us to the second code of conduct, the Three-Fold Law: "Any energy you send out will come back three-fold." If a Wiccan uses their magic to do good, they will in turn be blessed three times over! But if a Wiccan uses their magic for immoral ends . . . They will recieve their just desserts, three times multiplied.

Keeping those rules in mind, just exactly what kind of magic is acceptable for Wiccans to practice? Wren Walker of The Witches' Voice explains it best, using the example of love spells:

"To manipulate a person into a relationship in which they have shown no interest developing is to try to negate that person' s right to free will. To cast a spell 'to make so and so fall in love with me' shows not a spirit of love but an insensitivity to another's feelings. But Witches do cast love spells. don't they? Yes, they do.. The first love spell a Witch should cast should be for her/himself. Self esteem is essential in correct magical working. To bring a complete and balanced person into a relationship, is indeed to give a precious gift to another. To be capable of receiving love, we must be able to truly give love. So what would be a correct love spell? A spell to "remove obstacles to love" could cause physical distance to cease to be a problem, would allow "circumstances" to arrange a meeting or draw someone who is good for you into your life that perhaps you do not even know yet! It could also make someone who IS interested in you to be able to overcome shyness in approaching you..or you with them."

Wicca, Vodun, and many other Pagan religions can be fascinating subjects of study . . . or refreshing alternatives from mainstream religions. For example, many women prefer Wicca over Christian, Jeiwsh, and Muslim religions because the latter three lack any sense of female sexual divinity. And still others are more comfortable with the concept of divinity inherent in all living creatures, rather than in just one distant God.

In the end, I guess that it all boils down to the old cliché, "whatver floats your boat." Me, personally? I think that divinity is found in worldy pleasures and materialistic goods. Excuse me, it's time to go trick-or-treating.

Wicca and Vodun Links:

ReligiousTolerance.org - Vodun Information

The Voodoo Server

Haitian Culture and Voodoo

The Witches' Voice

Doreen Valiente, the Mother of Modern Witchcraft

Catala Silver Moon

PS: About that last comment . . . You know that I was joking, right? Dratted sarcasm. Nobody ever understands me. Sigh.