THE BLOOD OF THE LAND: HAITIAN VODOU Michael S. VanHook International Strategic Alliances The Blood of the Land: Haitian Vodou 2 THE BLOOD OF LAND: HAITIAN VODOU Michael S. VanHook, International Strategic Alliances Copyright © 2020 by Michael S. VanHook All rights reserved. This resource is provided to give context and essential background information for those persons with an interest in serving the people of Haiti. It is made available without charge by the publisher, ISA Publishing Group, a division of International Strategic Alliances, Inc. Scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing is permitted. If you would like to use material from this book, please contact the publisher at
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[email protected]. The Blood of the Land: Haitian Vodou 3 THE BLOOD OF THE LAND: HAITIAN VODOU Michael S. VanHook, International Strategic Alliances INTRODUCTION 4 HISTORY 6 Transformed by Cruelty 7 Bois Caïman 9 Independent Isolation 11 “A Goat Without Horns” 15 Occupied Vodou 18 “The Principle Slave of Satan” 24 Summoning the Spirits 25 THEOLOGY 31 Haitian Vodou is a polytheistic religion 31 The Loas 31 Haitian Vodou is a syncretic religion 40 Vodou is an animistic religion 44 Haitian Vodou is magic 45 The Blood of the Land: Haitian Vodou 4 PRACTICES 53 The Priesthood 53 Ceremonies and Rituals 55 Black Magic 61 REVERBERATIONS 63 Fatalism 63 Christian Mission 65 Personal Note 70 GLOSSARY 72 BIBLIOGRAPHY 78 Resources 78 Images 80 AUTHOR 84 The Blood of the Land: Haitian Vodou 5 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Tanbou bat nan raje, men se lakay li vin danse – The drum is beaten in the grass, but it is at home that it comes to dance.