Voodoo magic symbols hold significant importance in the practice of Voodoo, a religion and spiritual tradition that originated in West Africa and spread throughout the African diaspora. These symbols are used to communicate with spirits, invoke the powers of various deities, and perform rituals and spells. One commonly recognized symbol in Voodoo magic is the veve. Veves are intricate and ornate drawings that are made on the ground or on a sacred altar using cornmeal, ashes, or other materials. Each veve represents a particular spirit or loa, and is believed to be a direct communication to that specific deity. By drawing a veve, practitioners invite the presence and blessings of the corresponding spirit or loa.
Damballah is one of the most important spirits of voodoo. He appears as a large white serpent. Damballah was thought to be created by the Grand Met, or god of gods. Damballah is the creator of all life. He used his coils to form the stars and planets. The waters of the earth are his shedded serpent skin. He rules cosmic equilibrium, the mind, and intellect. He is associated with Moses and Saint Patrick.
DAMBALLAH WEDO The Father of the Lwa and husband to Ayida-Wedo Voodoo Veves and Sacred Vodou Veve for Damballah Wedo, Father of the Lwa and husband to Ayida-Wedo in the Vodou Religion by Erzulie s Voodoo in New Orleans. ERZULIE-DANTOR The Fierce Protective Mother Voodoo Veves and Sacred Vodou Veve for Erzulie-Dantor, Fierce Protective Mother in the Vodou Religion by Erzulie s Voodoo in New Orleans.
By drawing a veve, practitioners invite the presence and blessings of the corresponding spirit or loa. Another important symbol in Voodoo magic is the voodoo doll. Voodoo dolls are small effigies made out of fabric and other materials, representing a person or a specific intent.
Voodoo Symbols
The voodoo religion started in Ancient Africa. It is connected with many tribes that were around in 600 BC. or earlier. When slavers started to take people from the African continent to become slaves, voodoo followed them. Slaves in Haiti and the Americas continued to practice voodoo. Slave owners tried to convert people to Christianity. In order to keep practicing voodoo, some slaves transferred their gods onto Christian saints. Veves are a beacon for spirits in the voodoo religion. The Veves have different symbols that are representative of voodoo and Christian religions. Voodoo is still found in Africa and Haiti, and South America. It is also practiced in Louisiana in the United States. The Veve symbols are taken from Catholic Saint lithographs. Veve symbols and others and others are still used and recognized around the world.
Veves
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Veves are symbols used in the Catholic church to represent different saints. Because voodoo was outlawed in Haiti the Haitians would use these symbols to also represent voodoo gods and goddesses. This way they could still practice voodoo but not get caught. The following are some of the Haitian Veves.
Ayizan
Symbol of protection and cleansing.
The Ayizan Veve is a symbol of Ayizan who is the Queen of the marketplace. She is an lwa, or spirit in voodoo. Ayizan is treated with extreme respect and reverence as she is one of the most ancient spirits. She is an overseer of initiation rites for voodoo priestesses. Ayizan is a protector who keeps bad witchcraft, jealousy, and envies away. She assists people who are voiceless, victimized, or oppressed. She cleanses an area for spiritual use. She is symbolized by palm fronds. Women who want her help obtain palm fronds and give her offerings including yams, bananas, white flowers, and sweet liqueurs. She is associated with St. Ann, the virgin Mary’s mother.
Agassou
Symbol of ancestry, home, and family.
Agassou is the leopard king or spirit. A leopard mated with his mother, the princess, and Agassou was born. He became king and brought voodoo to Haiti from West Africa. He is a symbol of ancestry, home, and family. Today the Leopard Society guards his spears and shields which were given to Agassou by his father, the leopard spirit. Agassou was represented by St. Louis IV.
Loco
Symbol of health, balance, and messenger.
Loco is married to Ayizan. He was the first priest as his wife was the first priestess. Loco guards sanctuaries and vegetation. He is brought in to judge people and often becomes the wind so he can listen without being observed. He is a messenger to the other spirits and mankind. Loco has all authority over all the sanctuaries in Haiti. He watches over vegetation and the tools used to cultivate vegetation. He is associated with St. Joseph. They both provide a paternal role for children who may not be their own.
Maman Brigitte
Symbol of death, healing, judgment, and fertility.
Maman Brigitte is the spirit of death and life. When it is time for a person to die she will either guide them to death or return them to life. Often, she is symbolized by a black rooster because they represent the dawn and rebirth. She helps the deceased by caring for them and guarding them. Maman Brigitte likes to drink rum with hot peppers and she has a foul mouth but behaves in a regal manner. Maman Brigitte is the guardian of gravesites and the wife of Baron Samedi. She likes to party and have fun but will be there to help the dead when necessary. Maman Brigitte is associated with fertility, divine judgment, and healing. She is a powerful healer and helps victims of abuse and domestic violence. She is associated with Saint Brigid who actually came from pagan origins. Brigid was the goddess of fertility.
Erzulie Dantor
Symbol of protection for women, love.
Erzulie Dantor is the goddess of the spirits. She is their grand matriarch. She represents mothers, lesbians, and single mothers. Erzulie Dantor looks out for them and is sometimes called the Black Madonna. She is invoked when violence may occur. She protects women and helps them stay safe in a bad relationship. The heart in her Veve represents her big heart while the knife represents her eagerness to defend and protect all women. She is represented by many female saints including the Lady of Lourdes, the Virgin Mary.
Damballah
Symbol of creation, equilibrium, and intellect.
Damballah is one of the most important spirits of voodoo. He appears as a large white serpent. Damballah was thought to be created by the Grand Met, or god of gods. Damballah is the creator of all life. He used his coils to form the stars and planets. The waters of the earth are his shedded serpent skin. He rules cosmic equilibrium, the mind, and intellect. He is associated with Moses and Saint Patrick.
Veves can be found today in jewelry and on shirts and hats. It is common to find them tattooed on a person who practices voodoo.
Besides Veves, there are other symbols included with voodoo.
Chicken foot
Symbol of protection, curse.
A chicken foot in voodoo is used to protect a person and their property. Chicken feet from black-feathered chickens are the best protection. Hanging a chicken foot by the front door at night or from a car’s rearview mirror helps keep those items safe. Chicken feet can also be used to curse someone. If a person finds a chicken foot in their car or near their house it means they have been cursed.
Voodoo doll
Symbol of pain, protection, and communication.
Voodoo dolls in New Orleans are used to bring illness, suffering, and death upon a person. They are made by tying two sticks in a cross shape and forming a human body. The body is sometimes stuffed with Spanish Moss and the head has human-like rudimentary figures. They are sometimes decorated with sparkles and lace but that is not necessary. The dolls are accompanied by pins. These pins are used to stick the doll and create pain and illness in someone else. They are created to bring suffering to a person.
In other parts of the world, voodoo dolls are created for different reasons. If a voodoo doll is stuck onto a tree upside down, it is said to help keep a bad person away. Voodoo dolls are also hung in cemeteries to help keep the line of connection open between the dead and the living.
Skeleton Key
Symbol of protection, crossroads, and communication.
The skeleton key is a symbol of protection and openings. Papa Legba is a spirit from Ginen, a cosmic world outside the planets. His symbol is a skeleton key. He stands at the crossroads and allows or denies people the ability to speak with the other spirits. He can choose to open the communication or keep it closed down. He is in charge of closing or opening the doors to the spirit world. He is able to speak all the languages on Earth in order to translate them to the spirits. He is the master of communication.
Skull
Symbol of rebirth, cleansing, curses, love, and goodness.
Skulls are used in different aspects of voodoo. They are used in ritualistic healing dances as a symbol for rebirth. Illness is seen as a bad curse. The healing dances help the n’um travel from the stomach to the skull where it is demolished in an explosion. The skull represents the rebirth of the person into wellness. Candles in the shape of skulls are used to invoke voodoo gods and goddesses. The rituals and gods or goddesses people want to invoke depend upon the color of the skull. If the candle is red it is used for relationship or love issues, white candles are used for protection and spiritual cleansing while black candles are used for curse rituals. In New Orleans, the skull and bones are spirits of goodness.
Voodoo dolls in New Orleans are used to bring illness, suffering, and death upon a person. They are made by tying two sticks in a cross shape and forming a human body. The body is sometimes stuffed with Spanish Moss and the head has human-like rudimentary figures. They are sometimes decorated with sparkles and lace but that is not necessary. The dolls are accompanied by pins. These pins are used to stick the doll and create pain and illness in someone else. They are created to bring suffering to a person.
The doll is often personalized by attaching personal belongings or pieces of hair to it. The purpose of the voodoo doll is to serve as a channel for directing energy and affecting the target person or situation. It is believed that by performing rituals on the doll, such as piercing it with pins or speaking incantations, the practitioner can influence the desired outcome or cause harm to the intended target. Candles and their colors are also significant symbols in Voodoo magic. Different colors of candles are believed to have specific energies and properties that can be utilized in rituals and spells. For example, a red candle might be used to attract love or passion, while a green candle might be used for money and abundance. The burning of these candles, along with the recitation of accompanying prayers and rituals, is thought to amplify and direct the desired outcomes. Petroglyphs and sigils are additional symbols that hold importance in Voodoo magic. Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings that depict various mythical creatures, deities, and spiritual beings. These symbols are believed to have powerful energies associated with them and can be used in rituals and spells to invoke their corresponding powers. Sigils, on the other hand, are unique symbols that are created by combining different letters and symbols. Each sigil represents a specific intent or desire, and is charged with energy by the practitioner through meditation and visualization. These sigils are then used in rituals and spells to focus and direct energy towards the intended outcome. In conclusion, Voodoo magic symbols play a vital role in the practices and rituals of Voodoo. These symbols, such as veves, voodoo dolls, candles, petroglyphs, and sigils, are used to communicate with spirits, invoke deities, and influence desired outcomes. They are believed to hold energetic and spiritual powers that can be harnessed by practitioners to achieve their goals..
Reviews for "Unlocking Ancient Knowledge with Voodoo Magic Symbols"
- John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Voodoo magic symbols". The symbols were not clear at all and I couldn't understand their meanings. The book didn't provide any explanations or guidance on how to use the symbols effectively. It felt like a waste of money and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone interested in learning about voodoo magic.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I bought "Voodoo magic symbols" hoping to deepen my understanding of voodoo practices, but I found the book to be confusing and poorly organized. The symbols were presented without any context or background information, making it difficult for me to interpret their significance. Additionally, the illustrations were not detailed enough, making it hard to differentiate between similar symbols. Overall, I felt let down by this book and regret my purchase.
- Alex - 1 star - "Voodoo magic symbols" left me feeling frustrated and confused. The explanations were vague, and I struggled to make sense of the symbols without any proper guidance. The book lacked depth and failed to provide the necessary information for someone like me who wanted to delve into the fascinating world of voodoo magic. I would advise against purchasing this book if you're seeking a comprehensive understanding of voodoo magic symbols.
- Emily - 2 stars - As someone who is new to voodoo magic, "Voodoo magic symbols" didn't meet my expectations. The symbols were poorly explained, and I often found myself wondering about their origins and meanings. The lack of clarity and detail hindered my ability to connect with voodoo magic on a deeper level. I would recommend beginners to explore alternative resources rather than relying solely on this book for a comprehensive understanding of voodoo magic symbols.