Haitian Voodoo | National Geographic

when slaves from all over Africa were

when slaves from all over Africa were brought here to Haiti they forged a new

brought here to Haiti they forged a new

brought here to Haiti they forged a new spirit religion one that incorporates

spirit religion one that incorporates

spirit religion one that incorporates elements from its adversary the Catholic

elements from its adversary the Catholic

elements from its adversary the Catholic Church on the surface Haiti is a

Church on the surface Haiti is a

Church on the surface Haiti is a Catholic country but daily life still

Catholic country but daily life still

Catholic country but daily life still moves to the rhythms of spirit religion

mirror Gua is a small court on the

mirror Gua is a small court on the Haitian coast businessman Gary Maggio

Haitian coast businessman Gary Maggio

Haitian coast businessman Gary Maggio once was the town’s mayor

once was the town’s mayor

once was the town’s mayor but Mozilla has another side as a root

but Mozilla has another side as a root

but Mozilla has another side as a root of priests Gary’s family has a problem

of priests Gary’s family has a problem

of priests Gary’s family has a problem as village priest Gary must try to solve

recently Berto a young cousin began

recently Berto a young cousin began acting strangely I better stop talking a

acting strangely I better stop talking a

acting strangely I better stop talking a little bit differently than yesterday

little bit differently than yesterday

little bit differently than yesterday and I said what’s happened to better as

and I said what’s happened to better as

and I said what’s happened to better as a voodoo priest

a voodoo priest

a voodoo priest Gary Mazzio also serves as a community

Gary Mazzio also serves as a community

Gary Mazzio also serves as a community healer house of the spirits he will ask

healer house of the spirits he will ask

healer house of the spirits he will ask for help to restore cousin Berto sanity

relatives including Bertos father gather

relatives including Bertos father gather in the temple and begin with summon the

in the temple and begin with summon the

in the temple and begin with summon the spirits

an answer comes not from an ancestor

an answer comes not from an ancestor spirit but from one of the most powerful

spirit but from one of the most powerful

spirit but from one of the most powerful and fear voodoo spirits battles cementy

and fear voodoo spirits battles cementy

and fear voodoo spirits battles cementy Lord of the Dead he takes possession of

Lord of the Dead he takes possession of

Lord of the Dead he takes possession of Gary the spirit reveals the cause of

Gary the spirit reveals the cause of

Gary the spirit reveals the cause of their thoughts trouble the Lord of the

their thoughts trouble the Lord of the

their thoughts trouble the Lord of the Dead goes after the man this is your

in collecting the ancestral spirits

in collecting the ancestral spirits there to his father angry they struck

there to his father angry they struck

there to his father angry they struck back at their turn

Gary tries to free bear tears from the

Gary tries to free bear tears from the spirits grip he presses bare toes father

spirits grip he presses bare toes father

spirits grip he presses bare toes father to make amends with the spirits

reluctantly he agrees in voodoo when

reluctantly he agrees in voodoo when believers resist the spirits they must

believers resist the spirits they must

believers resist the spirits they must pay to those unfamiliar with spirit

pay to those unfamiliar with spirit

pay to those unfamiliar with spirit religion it might seem like black magic

but the powers of the spirit world work

but the powers of the spirit world work for both good

when I heard that people saying that

when I heard that people saying that voodoo is devilish people drinking blood

voodoo is devilish people drinking blood

voodoo is devilish people drinking blood eating fresh meats you know I get upset

eating fresh meats you know I get upset

eating fresh meats you know I get upset because I never been a part of it

because I never been a part of it

because I never been a part of it the morning-after Bertos treatment the

the morning-after Bertos treatment the

the morning-after Bertos treatment the Sun brings to Revelations bear to his

Sun brings to Revelations bear to his

Sun brings to Revelations bear to his father is missing and there too is no

father is missing and there too is no

father is missing and there too is no better

but others also depend on Gary each

but others also depend on Gary each spring his duties include learning which

spring his duties include learning which

spring his duties include learning which spirit will guide the community for the

spirit will guide the community for the

spirit will guide the community for the coming year he spills rum and water and

coming year he spills rum and water and

coming year he spills rum and water and lights canvas trying to draw spirits at

lights canvas trying to draw spirits at

lights canvas trying to draw spirits at the temple gary struggles to breathe as

the temple gary struggles to breathe as

the temple gary struggles to breathe as his body resists it is through Gary the

his body resists it is through Gary the

his body resists it is through Gary the this spirit the village gary weeks with

this spirit the village gary weeks with

this spirit the village gary weeks with relief as the spirit leads people are

relief as the spirit leads people are

relief as the spirit leads people are celebrating the change of seasons but

celebrating the change of seasons but

celebrating the change of seasons but they’re toast still rages and there is

they’re toast still rages and there is

they’re toast still rages and there is no sign of his father it’s a grim

no sign of his father it’s a grim

no sign of his father it’s a grim reminder of the spirit’s power and the

reminder of the spirit’s power and the

reminder of the spirit’s power and the danger of ignoring the demands despite

danger of ignoring the demands despite

danger of ignoring the demands despite attempts to destroy spirit religion

attempts to destroy spirit religion

attempts to destroy spirit religion voodoo has survived and those who serve

voodoo has survived and those who serve

voodoo has survived and those who serve the spirits enjoy wudu as a celebration