There is much to learn about the many spirits that exist in Voodoo that are considered to be similar to Gods or lesser Gods. Learning about the deities and spirits in the religion of Voodoo is especially important when learning about the many customs and rituals performed in the religion.
As you will come to notice, many of the aspects of Voodoo are tied into the figures that tie the religion together.
In the Voodoo teachings of Haiti, New Orleans, and Africa, there is one supreme God and there are spirits that are beneath this God and above men. These Voodoo spirits are known as loa or lwas. There are other spirits that are known as orisha and come from the African teachings of Voodoo.
There are 8 main Voodoo deities that you need to study in order to practice or celebrate the Vodou religion.
According to Voudou teachings, there are over a thousand lwa that exist and exactly 401 orisha.
In this article, you will learn the most important deities and spirits that exist in the religion of Vodou and how each individual impacts mankind.
8 Most Important Voodoo Deities
There are many different deities and spirits in the Voodoo religion, so it can be overwhelming to try and learn all of them at once.
Instead of trying to memorize the thousands of Iwa and orisha that are worshiped in Voodoo, let’s go over the 8 most important deities and spirits from this African culture.
1. Bondye
The only true God of Voodoo and the supreme God of Voodoo is Bondye, the creator God. All of the other deities on this list are subservient to this God, as they are not gods but rather lwas and orishas. Bondye is especially important in the African subsect of Haitian Vodou and can be easily compared to major deities, such as the Christian God.
In this way, Bondye is the supreme ruler of the universe and the creationist of all that exists within it. In Vodou, both loa and men adhere to his commands and his plans. Bondye’s name comes from the French term “Bon Dieu” which translates to “Good God.”
Vodou teachings describe that Bondye first created the Sun before he then created the other lwas and humans.
2. Legba
Legba is the loa that is a spiritual crossroads between loa and mankind. This figure in Voodoo is the spirit that is responsible for whether or not humans have permission to speak with other spirits. It is believed that he can speak all languages and he is essential to all Voodoo ceremonies and rituals.
He is the holder of the key between this world and the world of spirits and that is why he is so well-respected by humans. Without him, there would be no connection to spirit.
Depictions of Legba differ greatly from region to region. Some areas depict Legba as a friendly and elderly character while others view him as young and mischievous. All depictions, however, agree that dogs are his sacred symbol.
3. Oshun
Like the pronunciation of her name suggests is a spirit that is tied to water. She is one of the orishas that are worshiped in the African variety of Voodoo, specifically in the Yoruba region of Africa. Oshun is considered to be connected to water, beauty, and sexuality. She is also popularly tied to wealth and riches.
She is one of the most popular orishas and she is honored with a two-week-long festival that takes place yearly in Nigeria.
The followers and patrons of Oshun leave offerings at river banks to honor her. Oshun is a well-loved spirit of Voodoo and has many worshipers and followers who ask for her assistance and blessings.
4. Maman Brigitte
Maman Brigitte is a loa that is known for her influence in the realm of death and the underworld. She is an extremely powerful spirit and is the wife and consort of Baron Samedi, the loa of death. In some circles, she is also known as the goddess of justice.
She is thought to have been either descended from or based on the Celtic goddess, Brigid. This is due to her closely related name as well as her appearance. Unlike other figures in Vodou, her appearance is that of a woman with light skin and brilliant red hair.
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5. Baron Samedi
The previously mentioned god of death and husband of Maman Brigitte, is a similarly powerful Voodoo spirit and is one to not be forgotten. His role in Voodoo is one of ruling over the realm of the dead and he is the head of the Gede family of loa.
When he is portrayed in Vodou, he is depicted as a corpse that is ready for a Haitian-style burial as if he has emerged from his own grave.
In opposition to his role as the bringer of death he is also a bringer of life. Upon his own choice he can cure wounds and diseases if he thinks that the cause is worth his time.
6. Erzulie
Erzulie is a loa that is best known as the goddess of beauty and love. She is a loa that is known for her influence and her style. She is commonly portrayed as a luxurious woman who wears a lot of jewelry.
Her influence is felt by her impact upon mortal women and their interests. She is known to be sexually promiscous and has three husbands. Erzulie is a favored spirit by women and mothers who hope to be influenced by her gifts.
7. Ogun
Another orisha that originated from the African Voodoo teachings, Ogun has since become a popular figure in all subsections of Voodoo. He is an orisha that is associated with war, justice, and metalworking. His personal symbol is a sword or a machete that is inserted into the ground.
It is said that Ogun fights in all of the wars for the people that worship him and offerings to Ogun are extremely popular for this reason.
8. Damballah
According to the creation mythology of Voodoo, Damballah was the loa that helped the supreme God, Bondye to make the universe and its many stars and planets. Damballah is arguably one of the most widely known Voodoo spirits and he is easily recognizable by his depiction as part serpent and part man.
In addition to being responsible for the creation of the heavens, Damballah also helped Bondye to make the human beings and their intelligence. He is favored for caring for the disabled, elderly, and young.
Conclusion
As you already know, there are thousands of deities and spirits within the Voodoo religion. These Ioa and Iwas are mainly worshiped in Haiti, New Orleans, and Africa, but now can be celebrated anywhere.
In this article, we’ve covered 8 of the most important Voodoo deities, but there are many more to learn. Start with these few and work to expand your knowledge as you go!
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