List of Known Orishas/Lwa
This is a list of known West African and diaspora Orishas, Vodun, Lwa, notable Spirits, and Deities. I’ve gathered information from a variety of sources. It is by no means a complete list, and different cultures have different...
Vodun FAQ: Are the Orishas Aliens?
It is possible that some Orishas are physical extraterrestrials, where others are spirits or higher dimensional beings, and still others forces of nature to which we apply personalities so as to better understand them. We can speculate, but...
Vodun F.A.Q. – What is the difference between Ifa and Orisha (or Orishaism)?
As I have mentioned in earlier articles, there are many streams of Vodun, Orisha, honored Ancestor worship, and Nature worship in Africa and the diaspora. In Africa, because they all have a very long history, they have all...
How do I become a child of a specific Orisha or Vodun?
Quite frankly, you don’t. The Orishas of your head choose you at birth. You do not choose them. You cannot force any Orisha to take you by doing any ceremony or ritual. If your head is Shango, you...
Bone Reading of the Day
To get people familiar with the use of Sheloya’s Hoodoo Bones, help beginners to learn to read them, and give the message of the Orishas to the world, we’ve begun to do a daily reading. Here is what...
How are crystals used in Vodun and diaspora systems?
Crystals have been used in Vodun and the African diaspora for centuries, but few people alive today know exactly how they were used originally. There has been a lot of mixture of belief from Hinduism, Kemetic, and other systems,...
Vodun Holidays and Orisha Birthdays
This is a list of Vodun holidays. It is by no means complete. These are just the ones I know of and have gathered from a variety of people and sources. Different cultures have different days. Some synchronize...
Why didn’t my Voodoo spell work?
Usually, the reason a spell or formula doesn’t work is that for some reason, it is against Nature. Sometimes it is that the person doing the spell wasn’t prepared or qualified to do it. Sometimes it is something...
Esu, Exu, Elegua, Legba
Oh Great Exu, Keeper of the Gate! Between life and death The physical and spiritual realm The seen and the unseen The known and the unknown Please accept our humble invitation To join in this feast. We ask...
When you have an Oshun and/or Aje Shaluga working in progress…
Oshun is the west African Orisha/Goddess of joy, prosperity, romantic love, and the sweetness of life. Aje Shaluga is one of her husbands (or wives, depending on your tradition), and the owner of all material wealth and currency. ...
Shango, Chango
Hot blooded heat incarnate He is fire and lightning. If you’re good he is a light But if you’re bad he’s frightning. Shango (also spelled Chango or Xango)is the Orisha of fire, lightning, dance, and martial arts. He...
What do I do if I can’t afford offerings to the Orishas?
Vodun is not and never has been a rich person’s faith. It is about the effort, sincerity, and alignment with the Forces of Nature, not how expensive a gift is. Remember the story of Yemaya’s three crowns. For...
Oshun’s Beauty Secrets: Annatto Lipstick Recipe
In celebration of the 2011 festival of Oshun, I will be posting a few of the beauty “secrets” of the African diaspora. Today’s installment is a recipe for annatto lipstick. Annatto is a mild spice native to South...
What do I do if I have angered a Spirit?
First of all, just because bad things are happening doesn’t mean that it is because you have angered a Spirit. Most of the time, suffering is a normal part of life and happens due to very normal causes. ...
Reading Bones
To provide a bit of background for my Hoodoo Bones system, and to show the way to the next step for those who’ve bought or made their own set, I’ve decided to write a bit on reading actual...
Ogun, Ogoun
Sacred numbers: 7,3,or 4 Colors: green, green and black, or red, black, and green, in some traditions lavender or light purple, sometimes very dark brown, sometimes steel “silver”, sometimes gunmetal Domain: metals (especially iron), metalworking, tools, weapons, technology, generated electrical...
Oshun’s Beauty Secrets
Oshun is the West African deity of feminine beauty, prosperity, and dance. Her children in the traditions as well as solitary practitioners with a strong affinity towards her are uniquely attractive, charismatic people. Though many of their beauty secrets...
New Vodun Calendar and Chat
We now have a calendar and a chatroom. You can browse the calendar on the site or subscribe to it using Google calendar. If you want to add additional holidays or local event announcements, feel free to contact...
Vodun F.A.Q. Can Someone Sell Me An Orisha, Djinn, Ndoki, Faery, etc?
No. Just no. Nobody can sell you a spirit. On the “food chain” of beings, humans are granted certain abilities by Nature, but the ability to buy or sell an alterdimensional being is not one of them. Some...
Can someone be forced to fall in love using rootwork?
Well, yes and no. The Egungun decide who will and won’t make children, and can be very helpful in finding a good match. The feeling of being in romantic love however, is something different than familial love, which...
New Videos: How to Read the Bones
I’ve posted some new videos on YouTube about how to read the bones.
Oshun, Ochun, Oxum
Some say that in Africa, before western influence, there was no such thing as romantic love. The truth is much more complicated than this. There was romantic love, and it was well recognized. It was just referred to...
Can a person have a head Orisha of the opposite gender?
They most certainly can. Some Orishas have a dual gender, and some have various paths, personas, or character traits that are comfortable for people of the opposite gender in daily life. Spirits in general, unless they are not...
Should I buy anti evil eye pendants for myself?
If they are part of a ceremonial working or it is specifically sacred, you can and should if you need them. If it is just a stand-alone item, you should not. The reason why is that these sorts...
List of African/Yoruba Orishas (Archive and work in progress)
This is a sort of an expansion on someone else’s work. The original post is here: http://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/showthread.php/55468-Comprehensive-list-of-all-401-orishas-%28ako%CC%81jo%CC%A3po%CC%A3%CC%80-oru%CC%81ko%CC%A3-a%CC%80wo%CC%A3n-o%CC%80ri%CC%80s%CC%A3a%CC%80-mo%CC%A3%CC%81kanle%CC%81ni%CC%81rinwo%CC%81%29 …so you can see why I would want to archive the content. There is also a character encoding problem. If anyone...
Why are many Hoodoo practitioners now calling Orishas?
In the past decade or so, many people who practice Hoodoo are turning to the Orishas. Before, the connection to the actual African, European, and Native American deities was usually either unspoken or overridden. The reasons why they are...
What is Four Thieves Vinegar and what is it used for?
Four Thieves Vinegar is an infusion of lavender, sage, rosemary, and thyme in cider or wine vinegar. It is widely used in the Voudou, Hoodoo, and Conjure in the African diaspora. Like the Voodoo doll, its origin is European,...
Eshu Summer Festival 2011
Here at SoulMindBody.net, we’re celebrating the summer festival of Eshu. We have some special package deals at Sheloya Mystical, but those are for people who can afford them. Many in the world are having a tough time financially,...
Vodun F.A.Q. Where Do I Start?
These days, many people of many backgrounds are finding their way to Vodun. Where to start depends on your own background and tendencies. People of recent African ancestry may find it easier and more “instinctive” than people of...
Eshu and Shango September 2011
We are now in the preparation stages of the ebo for Eshu and Shango for September 2011. This is your chance to send in your requests for protection for yourself or friends and family. Use the contact form...
What is an Ebbo?
An ebbo is basically an offering to the Orishas. There are many kinds of ebbo that practitioners of Vodun and west African diaspora practitioners do. In some groups in the diaspora, some make a distinction between adimmu and...
How can a person who is not a priest make workings more effective?
As I’ve said in previous articles, some things are best put in the hands of a priest/ess or someone of that level. However, I understand that not everyone is going to take that advice. Also many people in...
Orisha Days of the Week
Though any day is a good day to stay in touch with any Orisha, certain days have a special mood to them, and these affect the way we reach out. It also helps to remember all of the...
Sheloya’s Hoodoo Bones System
So you bought or made a set of Hoodoo bones, and now you want to know how to use them? They’re about the same level of difficulty as Nordic runes. It will take you some time to learn...
What is a mirror box?
In modern Vodun and diaspora systems, a mirror box has a variety of uses. Basically, it is a box that has mirrors on the inside. The purposes of these depend on why they are there. Mirrors, aside of...
New Facebook Community for Afrocentric Vodun, Hoodoo, and Other Diaspora Systems
There is a new community for practitioners of Vodun and diaspora belief systems on Facebook. Afrocentric Vodun is for those who understand that the home of our faith is in Africa, and are actually concerned about African people...
Bone Reading of the Day for March 25, 2011
Today’s reading is fairly straightforward. Oya’s mirror is up, so we’re talking about the future. Eshu’s protection face is up and he is touching the Sankofa symbol, and Death is facing both, which means that someone will be protected from death because...
Europeans Accusing Africans of “Cultural Appropriation” of African Faiths
There seems to be a sad but comical trend lately, of “initiated” Europeans accusing Africans of cultural appropriation for practicing spirituality that we grew up with, and is our ancestral birthright. Though I have in the past responded...
Vodun FAQ: Elekes, Ilekes, Collares, Pearls, Necklaces
What is an eleke? An eleke is basically a string of beads. It can be in the form of a necklace, a bracelet, an anklet, a kneelet, an armlet, waist beads or breast beads. In the context of...
In what order should I put on my elekes?
Traditions vary, but in every one I know of, one should generally don their Eshu/Elegua eleke first if they are wearing them for ritual purposes. Even this is not a hard rule though. In some traditions, people wear...
Bone Reading of the Day: March 12, 2011
Click here to read previous Bone Readings of the Day. Learn how to read Sheloya’s Hoodoo Bones. Buy a set of bones. Where the last reading was a more general message to the world, this one is more...
Helping Your Root Worker to Help You
Ceremonies and talismans work best when you respect the Spirits behind them. Here is a guide for helping things along. Offerings Generally, you want your priest/ess to handle the more complicated things, but there is plenty you can...
Why do Christians call Orishas demons?
Most practitioners of Vodun and diaspora systems are Christian, so I would say this is just a North American and culturally lost or disgruntled African thing. Mainly, it’s because they simply do not know what an Orisha is. For an...
What is Voodoo?
Voodoo is a term used to describe a variety of polytheistic, panentheistic, and hierarchical monotheistic belief systems rooted in West Africa. Its more accurate name is Vodun, which means the spirits or essences (of nature). At its core,...
Yemaya
Other names/spellings: Nana Buruku, Yemanja, Iemanja, Yemalla, Iemaia, Yemoja, La Sirene, Mommi Sacred number: 7 Sacred colors: blue and white, aqua and white, translucent/transparent blue or aqua and white Domain: the sea, water, all life on Earth, motherhood/reproduction,...
Oya, Yansa
Wind in her hair Lightning in her eyes Storms in her voice And thunder in her thighs! Sacred number: 9 Sacred colors: Brown, orange, purple, arterial blood red, deep red, burgundy, maroon, rainbow plus black, brown, and white...
Vodun F.A.Q. Ridden By a Sexual Orisha
An issue that comes up frequently is that a person is ridden or “possessed” by an Orisha that wants sex. Because it is a benevolent possession, one has some control of their actions, and this may break the...
Obatala
Sacred number: 8 or 8+1 Sacred color: white, transparent/aurora transparent, white and a little red, or green and maroon depending on tradition Domain: Emissary of Olodumare/Almighty Unfathomable, Father of physical life, Shaper of human form in the womb,...
Vodun F.A.Q.: Do I Have to Be Initiated to Practice An ATR?
Initiation is very important in most African traditional religions. You may worship whichever deities you like, so long as you do so respectfully, but it is important to understand that Vodun and other African and diaspora belief systems...
Why do Vodun practitioners wear headwraps?
Vodun practitioners wear headwraps for various reasons. In everyday life, it is a matter of preference. Some do and some don’t. In ceremonial situations, a headwrap is part of the costume of some Orishas or part of formal African clothing....
Orisha Oko (Okko)
Orisha Oko is in charge of agriculture, and owns all cultivated land. He is also a judge in many matters, including but not limited to witchcraft and the benevolence or malevolence thereof. In the diaspora, where most of...
Feast of Eshu and Shango September 29-30, 2011
Last night’s festivities were very exciting and edifying. Everyone got something good from it, and we even got a little blood shed in the battled for Shango. I posted the photos on Facebook, but here are the highlights:...
Time to Prepare for Summer
Summer is coming soon, so it’s time to prepare your natural remedies. The stuff from last year may be expired or used up. Here are some recipes to help you survive the heat. Rose Vinegar Rose vinegar is...
Olokun
Olokun is one of the most controversial Orishas in the current pantheon. Some say he’s male, and some say she’s female, and others both. It depends on the place and the local traditions. Some say that he/she and...
Why I embrace community, but very carefully.
Events of the past few months in the Israeli Pagan community reminded me why I usually work alone or with a small, intimate group. As will happen to any community of Pagans and mystics, the Israeli community has...
Send Love to the Sikh Community African Style
On August 5, 2012 a man entered a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and murdered six people. As people in Africa and the diaspora, we are quite used to religious oppression, and generally take precautions to prevent terroristic attacks...
Voodoo Dolls
The use of dolls, figures, and sculptures is pretty universal in the world’s faiths. However, what is commonly known as the “Voodoo” doll, which someone uses to perform what’s called sympathetic magic, by which what is done to...
What is a Ndoki?
Ndoki is the Lingala word for magic, but in other languages it also means Spirit or mystical being. Lately, in places that have adopted a eurocentric style of Christianity, it is being used for demons. In the eurocentric Christianity,...
Oba
Sacred number: 8 Day of the week: Sunday or Friday Colors: pink, pink and blue, pink belted or accented with red and white Domain: marriage, loyalty, fidelity, female honor with regard to wife and motherhood, bonding Herbs: various...
Festival of Oshun 2011
We are celebrating the festival of Oshun here in Haifa, Israel from Saturday August 27 through Saturday September 3, 2011. This year’s main theme is prosperity. If you’ve been planning on having some root work done to bring...
Can White people practice Vodun?
They most certainly can. We just prefer to think of them as light skinned. 😉 Scientifically speaking, the genetic origin of all humans living today is in Africa. So it is not a question of whether White people...
Solutions: How to Avoid Negative Cultural Appropriation of African and Diaspora Belief Systems
Lately, there has been some buzz in the community about cultural appropriation of African belief systems. We’ve talked a lot about the problem, and I think it’s time we addressed some realistic solutions. The global spiritual community has...
What is a House?
In the context of Vodun diaspora systems, a house is basically a community or subgroup of the community. It may be a local community or an international collection of people united with a particular leader or style. Some...
Logun Ede
This article is a work in progress. As more information is confirmed and gathered, it will be added to this article. If you would like to contribute any information or anecdotes, please write to sister@soulmindbody.net Basics Sacred number:...
Why do people post Voodoo spells on the internet?
It is not something I would do outside of a private course frame, but I can understand why some others would, though I don’t always agree with the reasoning. In some cases, it is a joke. In some...
Vodun FAQ: A Non African Having Orisha Dreams
If you are a “non African” but you are having Orisha dreams, it can be a bit scary, especially if you have no knowledge of traditional African faith. You may think you’re being approached by demons, or be...
Are the Orishas or Vodun the same as Angels?
Not really. Some Spirits that some have called Angels may be Orishas, but they are not really the same thing. In the west African Vodun Obatala is the king of the Orishas, and the Emissary of the Supreme...
What is Gris-gris?
A gris-gris (also spelled gri-gri) is an amulet or talisman made by placing particular objects or ingredients into a small package for a specific purpose. They were originally called “ouanga” or “wanga”, and are sometimes called mojo bags...
