voodooism
Caribbean spiritual practice
Voodooism is the practice of voodoo—a religion blending West African traditions with Catholicism, developed primarily in Haiti and Louisiana.
The term often carries dismissive or sensationalized connotations, suggesting superstition or "black magic" rather than legitimate spiritual practice: He dismissed their rituals as mere voodooism.
Practitioners generally prefer "voodoo" or "vodou."
Haitian spiritual tradition
- mamboFast Cuban ballroom dance
- loaVodou divine spirit
- orishasYoruba divine spirits
- YorubaNigerian people and language
Haiti · syncretism · Catholicism · saints · ancestors · divinities · pantheon · initiation
Malevolent incantation
- curseInvoked harm through words
- spellArrange letters correctly
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
witchcraft · enchantment · incantation · bewitchment · spellcasting · charm · jinx · potion
Worn protective token
- talismanMagical protective charm
- fetishIrrational devotion to something
- poppetSmall magical figure
- charmAttractive personal quality
altar · candles · bones · skulls · offerings · relics · effigies · idols
Liquor or apparitions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- possessionState of owning
- afterlifeExistence beyond mortality
- soulInnermost animating essence
medium · channeling · divination · clairvoyance · oracle · prophecy · omen · apparition
Formal event marking occasions
- possessionState of owning
- drummingPercussive rhythm-making
- offeringsThings presented or given
- altarSacred ritual table
sacrifice · chanting · libations · prayers · invocation · trance · dance · séance
Plant-based healing tradition
- remediesTreatments that restore health
- curativePromoting recovery from illness
- healerOne who restores health
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
folk-medicine · poultice · tonic · balm · infusion · medicinal · shaman · purification
vodou
Haitian spiritual tradition
Yoruba · Haiti · syncretism · Catholicism · saints · ancestors · divinities · pantheon · initiation · congregation
hex
Malevolent incantation
sorcery · witchcraft · enchantment · incantation · bewitchment · spellcasting · charm · jinx · potion · conjuration
amulet
Worn protective token
charm · altar · candles · bones · skulls · offerings · relics · effigies · idols · icons
spirits
Liquor or apparitions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- possessionState of owning
- afterlifeExistence beyond mortality
soul · medium · channeling · divination · clairvoyance · oracle · prophecy · omen · apparition · supernatural
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- possessionState of owning
- drummingPercussive rhythm-making
- offeringsThings presented or given
altar · sacrifice · chanting · libations · prayers · invocation · trance · dance · séance · consecration
herbalism
Plant-based healing tradition
- remediesTreatments that restore health
- curativePromoting recovery from illness
- healerOne who restores health
therapeutic · folk-medicine · poultice · tonic · balm · infusion · medicinal · shaman · purification · cleansing
voodooismscience
Systematic study through observation
empiricism · rationalism · scientific method · materialism · positivism
voodooismChristianity
Faith based on Jesus
Roman Catholicism · Protestantism · established church · Anglicanism · state religion
voodooismsecularism
Separation of faith, state
atheism · agnosticism · disenchantment · modernity · scientific worldview