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Voodoo is a hybrid religion created when African slaves brought their religions to the New World and combined their beliefs with a bit of Christianity. Voodoo has a supreme diety called Bon Met, or Bondye. He is distant and unreachable, though, so they turn to the Loa or Lwa to intercede for them. The Loa are seen as saints or powerful spirits - not as gods or goddesses in their own right.

A practitioner may allow themself to be possessed, or 'ridden' by a Loa. The rituals are often full of dancing and drumming as followers allow themselves to enter trance states, often taking on the personalities and traits of the Lwa by whom they are being ridden. Animal sacrifice is not unheard-of, and is a regular part of Santeria, which shares its origins with Voodoo. Voodoo dolls are a late addition to the lore of hoodoo, and are borrowed from the European magic tradition of poppets.

The folk magic tradition that accompanies the religion is known as Obeah in the carribean islands, and hoodoo in the United States. Voodoo takes it's name from the Yoruban word 'vodun', which means spirit. The religion is practiced widely in the Caribbean, especially in Haiti, and in the American Southeast - most notably in New Orleans. It is also the official religion of Benin, where it is said to have orriginated.

A priest of Voodoo is known as an Hogun, and a priestess as a Mambo. A practitioner of hoodoo, especially if it is used for harm, is called a Bocor. 

The Loa are divided into two nations - Rada and Petro. The Rada Loa are seen as benificial and gentle, protectors. The Petro Loa are the more fiery and violent Loa. There are also the "lesser loa" who are the spirits of the dead.

Some of the most commonly called upon Loa are:

• Damballah -the serpent; a primordial deity, who with his companion
  Ayida, created the cosmos. Those possessed by Damballah do not walk or speak,
  but writhe on the ground as a serpent.
• Ayida Wedo- the consort of Damballah; the rainbow.
• Baron (Baron Samedi)- the Loa of the Dead; usually pictured as a
  grinning skeleton in a top hat- one of the most recognized of the loas outside
  of Vodoun. His favored offerings are spiced rum and hot peppers.
• Ogoun -a warrior; martial masculinity; related to the Yoruban Orisha
  of the same name.
• Erzuli - The embodiment of femininity and love. Similar to the
  goddess Venus, and related to Santeria's Oshun. Erzulie also has a "dark"
  aspect, Dantor, who embodies righteous anger, is a protector of women and
  avenger of domestic violence.
• Agwe - The primordial sea, ruler of the depths of the ocean.
• Legba, or Papa Legba- like the Yoruban Eleggua, Legba is the guardian
  of crossroads. As in Santeria, he must be honored before any other Loa, and it
  is he who opens the doors between the worlds.
• Marassa (Mawu-Lisa)- the Marassa are the divine twins, the first man
  and woman, the first ancestors. They embody archetypal, polar forces akin to yin
  and yang.
• Ayizan- the legendary first Mambo(Priestess)of Voodoo, who is honored
  at every ritual.

Ritual spaces and temples are often decorated with elaborate symbols to represent the various Loa. These symbols are known as veve.