Voudoun Loa

The Gods of the Voudoun religion are called Loa. These are actually the evolved spirits of ancestors. When the physical body dies, the spirit (gros-bon-ange) is released from the body, where it descends to the abysmal waters below, where it resides for a year and a day. The relatives can then perform a ritual called Reitere d'en bas l'eau, which recovers the spirit from these waters. The gros-bon-ange is then kept in a govi, which then becomes part of the everyday life in the form of an adviser. Over time, the predominant sense of the living person evolves in the minds of the relatives, and becomes an archetype of this sense. At this point, the gros-bon-ange is said to be too great to be contained in a govi, and then, at the stage of a Loa, it either is absorbed into the existing Loa, or becomes a Loa of it's own.

The current structure of Loa is extremely difficult to understand in terms of the naming of entities because of the diverse backgrounds of the Haitian people. When these people were brought across, they brought across different Loa, which are really different names for the same ideas of Gods. In a way, this meant that these Loa could be moulded together to form a system that could be accepted by the group as a whole. However, many of the names were retained, and some bridged a few ideals. So, depending on where you are, and what circles you deal with, you will find 'different' Loa that the serviteurs worship.

Here is a table of Loa categorised by Tribes (Nanchons), and Principles, from Maya Deren's The Voodoo Gods:

Principles

Rada Rites

Independent

Ambivalent

Petro Rites

Nanchons

Dahomey

Nago

Ghede

Juba Martinique

Ibo and Kanga

Quitta Simbi

Congo

Petro

Misc.

Family Lines

Wedo

Dwarf boar

(African?) Ossange?

(American) Owl

(African)

(American)

La Flambeau

Ge-Rouge

Crab

Cross-roads: Phallic, Fertility, Child Birth, Sun-Fire

Legba-Se Attibon-Legba Avradra Agao-Loco Bayé

Alovi Kadja-Bossu

Obatala Ogoun Panama Ogoun Bayé

Ianman-Ibo Capalou (Kanga) Legba-Ibo

Simbi-en-deux-eaux Quitta-Bayé

Legba-Congo

Varrefour (Kalfu) Legba-Petro

Anime Gatigal- La Flambeau

Bambarra-Taiba

Sousou Pannan Moundongue Limba Zao Pimba

Chthonic, Underworld: Death, Night, Moon, Cemeteries, Magick, Trickery

Alovi-Ghede Bossu-Trois-Cornes?

Ogoun-Badagris

Ghede-Nimbo Brav Ghede

Ibo-Lazile

General-Brisé Baron Piquant Maît-Grand-Bpis-D’Ilet

Baron Samedi Baron La Croix Baron Cimitère Azagon La Croix

Ghede

Criminelle

Telluric, Earth: Farming, Vegetables, Fertility

Agao-Wedo

(Ogoun-Badagris) Dadal

Ghede-Mazacca

Azacca-Medé Cousin-Zaca

Congo Zandor Congo Savanne

Marinette

Uranic, Heavens: Life-principle, Sky, Rainbow, Serpent, River and Springs

Damballah and Ayida Wedo Sobo Badé, Badessy Agarou-Tonerre

Ogoun Shango Ogoun Batala

Ghede L’Oraille Ghede Z’Eclai

Damballah-Ossange

Simbi

Congo Zandor Congo Savanne

Dan Petro Ti-Jean Petro Saint-Blanc

Damballah La Flambeau

Damballah Ge-Rouge

Simbi

Sea: Wind, Thunder, Cannon-fire, Boats

Agwé Arroyo

Agwé?

Immamou

Ogoun-Ossange

Simbi

Agwé Ge-Rouge

Fire: Power, War, Weapons

Bossu-Trois-Cornes?

Ogoun Ferei Ogoun Fai St.Jaques

Simbi

Congo Zandor Congo Savanne

Petro rites in general related to fire Nanchou

Ogoun La Flambeau

Ogoun Ge-Rouge

Ogoun Yemsen

Female: Seduction, Femininity, Fertility

Erzulie Freda Dahomey La Sirene La Balianne Gran Erzulie

Brigitte

Mai-Louise

Ti-Quitta

Marinette-Congo

Marinette Bras Chêche Pied Chêche Erzulie Mapionne

Erzulie Ge-Rouge

Erzulie Lemba

Ancestral: Racial origins, Androgyneity, Priesthood, Healing, Parental Traditions

Nanan-bouclou Silibo-Gweto Loco-Attiso Agassou Ayizan

Akadja Adja Kadja-Bossu

Loco-Roi-Nago Nago Piman

Ibo-Lele Ibo-Loco

Gan- Simba

Congo-Yamingan

Linglessou

Agassou

The reader will notice in this that similar principles, such as Ogoun, appear in many cases, with a suffix-name of some sort (such as Ge-Rouge. The suffix name is related to the origin of the people. What has happened with this is that the principle has evolved differently for different groups, and consequently, an addition to the name was needed to keep track of what incarnation of the principle was being invoked. They are still the same principle though, just a different facet of it. In fact, each Loa is a facet of a larger cosmic principle. To quote Deren: “Each Loa is but an aspect of one central cosmic principle differentiated by the emphasis which that central principle manifests according to the various contexts in which it operates.” (Deren, p95)

In general terms, the Loa can be separated into two divisions, the Rada (of African origin) and the Petro (of Haitian origin). These differ from each other in the fact that the Rada were born out of a more peaceful environment, and hence are protective, guardian spirits, whereas the Petro Loa were born out of the harsh conditions of the people’s new habitat and situation, and tend to be representative of more aggressive action. This is not to say that Petro is evil, but rather the rage that exists against evil.

A more in-depth look at each of the Loa and some of their Vevers follows:

Ghede, Marassa, Legba, Agaou, Ogoun, Erzulie, Damballah, Agwé, Simbi, Azacca, Carrefour, Yoruban Edshu, Baron Cimitère, Grand Bois, Grand Bois D’Ilet, Mamam Brigitte, Loco, Ayizan

Ghede: Also known under the name Baron Samedi. Loa of Life and Death, the Underworld and death, and also resurrection. Also the guardian of children. He can be the eternal erotic in man, and under this guise loves to confront the Pious/Puritanical with sexual obscenities. Under the guise of Mr Entretout, he can be extremely witty, but still carries a sexual nature. The test for possession by Ghede is to spray his fiery liquid (Rum and hot spices) into the eyes of the possessed, or to make them drink it. A truly possessed individual will not be fazed, any other will suffer pain.

Marassa: The divine twins. Representative of Man’s double nature- ½ physical and ½ metaphysical. ½ Man, ½ Divine. They are the first offspring of the Divine- the Hockmah and Binah principles of Qabbalism rather than the Adam and Eve.

Legba: Parallelled with the Christian Lazarus. Guardian of the cross-roads. He is the fire of life, but as a setting sun. Generally an old man.

Agaou: Loa of Thunder.

Ogoun: Loa of war, thunderbolts, ironsmiths and warriors.

Erzulie: Rada goddess of Love.

Damballah: Serpent Deity. Parallelled with St Patrick. Good serpent of the sky. Parallelled with the serpent of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil from Genesis. Patron of the waters. Damballah is extremely old, and believed to be a remnant of ancient times. Is rarely invoked, and even more rarely mounts a human serviteur. He must not be seen eating, lest an evil spirit take the opportunity to steal its soul or enter them.

Agwé: Loa of water. Parallelled with St Ulrique.

Simbi: Patron of rains.

Azacca: Loa of Agriculture. Parallelled with St Isidore. Most likely borrowed from the native indians of Haiti. The brother of Ghede, but is more animalistic.

Carrefour: Young man at he cross-roads. “Kalfa”. Master of the points between the cardinal ones. May release the daemons of ill chance, and also protect against them. He is the moon rising. Along with Baron Cimitère and Grand Bois, forms the patron trinity of magickians.

Yoruban Edshu: Trickster deity pf the cross-roads. He has a hat of many colours- one for each direction (cardinal points). One side is beautiful and the other tattered. He can also protect against daemons.

Baron Cimitère: Sovereign of Cemeteries. Along with Grand Bois and Carrefour, forms the patron trinity of magickians.

Grand Bois: Master of the night earth and night forests. Along with Baron Cimitère and Carrefour, forms the patron trinity of magickians.

Grand Bois D’Ilet: Master of the “island below the sea”, which is the lieteral translation of his name- Grand Master of the Island. The island referred to is the permanent residence of the Loa, which is located on ht evertical, metaphysical axis, below the horizontal, “real-life” axis of the Earth. He is often represented as a branch.

Mamam Brigitte: The female counterpart of Ghede.

Loco: Related to Legba. The first priest, pre-eminent among the ancestral Loa. He is known as the “Chief of Legba’s Escort”. He carries with him the theme of the sun through the symbol of the walking stick that he carries with him, and the title of King that is given to him. In songs he is referred to as “Sun” Dahomey, King or Nago King. As with Damballah, he must not be seen eating, lest his soul escape, or an evil spirit grasp the opportunity to enter him. Governs the major highways of the Loa. Capable of cosmic knowledge and prophecy.

Ayizan: Complement to Loco. Also related to Legba, and salutes him in song. She is sometimes referred to as his wife. Contains traces of the great androgynous deity, and in song is related to the androgynous founders of the race- Silibo-Gweto and Nanan Bouclou.

Back to Voodoo Page