Customer Reviews

Secrets of Voodoo

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was probably my first book on Voodoo that I purchased, and it still has to be one of my reference guides to the religious beliefs. While other books dwell on magic, curses, and the curio folk magic of Hoodoo, this book gives you a collection of beautifully drawn Veves, excellent black and white photos, and a whole collection of traditional Voodoo prayers and chants. Their is a section on classifying the various Lwas, or Loas, from the various Voodoo Mysteries, such as the Radas, Congos, Petros, Ibu, Nago, and the Dantor mysteries.

This book is not for the beginners and it does not candy coat Voodoo, it gives you a ruff down of what Voodoo's practices, rites, passages, magic, and sacrifices are all about. This book is an overview of the religion, as it is impossible for a Mystery of such vast Knowledge, beauty and Wisdom to be justly explained in 217 or so pages. It is not meant for all, but for those who truly respects and want to honor the Lwas, this is a good start. Although an ordained Houngan or Mambo would be your best bet.

While most books on voodoo major on 'curses' 'voodoo dolls' spells and other Hollywood-prescribed stereotypes, this book is a very informative and helpful study of roots practices and one of only a handful I would really recommend on voodoo - the others being Voodoo Visions, Divine Horsemen (Maya Deren), Vodou Shaman (Ross Heaven) and Mama Lola (Karen Brown). In this book we have an intelligent yet very readable overview of a normally secretive tradition and one that the world needs to hear more about. Really worth buying.

"Secrets of Voodoo" - despite the sensationalistic title, this is an EXCELLENT book Secrets of Voodoo gives a comprehensive overview of the origins, history, theology, beliefs and practices of Haitian voodoo. Includes many B&W photographs of voodoo ceremonies and drawing of voodoo "veves" (graphic representations of the gods, used in ceremonies). This is one of those books that you will find yourself reading over and over again.

As a scholar-practitioner on this topic, I do not mean to disrespect the author, but most notably, he freely injects astrological, Judeo, Ethiopian, and Egyptian beliefs as well as myth that ARE valid underpinnings of Voodoo and all African Traditional religions while trying to explain something else. This means that the author just alludes to these important ideas and their terms quickly throughout the book without giving sufficient definition, background, or support. The result is that the correlations -- "secrets" -- he wants to convey become hard to follow. Thus, I think that, whereas this well-organized work carries a lot of interesting information and shows the author as a deep thinker who is exposed to ideas that many in voodoo and other religions do not know, it fails to allow the reader to understand that information. For example, the author alludes to and uses undefined terms, but never really explains how or why many cultural beliefs or astrology became a part of Vodou -- That is, that the Yoruba (who were among the founders of voodoo) came from Egypt to Ile Ife in about 2000 BC or that the Nile Valley was a super highway back then for the sharing of ideas on the cosmos, medicine, and magic from many, many cultures. This lack of explanation keeps the reader in the dark -- obscures the deep "secrets" to be gained. In addition, some interpretations offered seem to be mis-informed, mistranslated, or unusual at best. These are the reasons for my very low rating of the work.

Here are a few specific examples of problems in the text:
1) Under-explained: The author's citing of esoteric lore about Moses, the asson, and voodoo; his assertions such as that Papa Legba is commonly regarded as the sun and Erzulie as Mawu or the Moon, etc. are not the common understandings in the religion.
2) Inconsistent: His references to Papa Legba as the "King of Kings," "the sun," and still later, as "the son of the sun -- Christ." Legba/Esu is traditionally (in Africa and the Diaspora) seen as a spiritual translator and a spirit force who opens communication between man and spirit via the Poteau Mitan (ceremonial centerpost). When called "poteau mitan" in song, Papa Legba is seen as the very axis of communication by which Lwa enters the peristyle (ceremonial area). In the Fon culture Aida Wedo or the Yoruba Osumare (the rainbow serpent) is called Danbara/Dan bala. In Haiti, the lore presents them as two wedded serpents. Despite differences, they usually represent purity, fertility, and the life force. This book give a variety of unusual interpretations for them.
3) Incorrect: his use and translation of several African words and spirit names, e.g., the names for the most-high God of the Yoruba and Fon people differ.
4)Unsupported: his translation of some African-based words, e.g., the word "Lwa" that he relates to the French word for law. Several scholars give the word Kongo origins (not Yourba), and "Lwa" as a word is the same as Loa and means the same as "Orisha" of the Yoruba or "Vodun" of the Fon -- It means spirit or spirit forces/heads.
5) Dated: referring to Vodou as a cult or set of cults. Voodoo is now the national religion of Benin and Haiti and is struggling to be seen as such. It deserves that status because it possesses the three elements that qualify all religions despite its many variations -- a clear priestly lineage, standard elements and orders of ceremony, and basic tenets.

The online article Yoruba Medicine by Tariq Sawandi or material on Sosyete du Marche or into-thedarkness or Brown's MAMA LOLA, Blier's AFRICAN VODOUN, Galembo's VODOU, The vodou portion of Bibbs' HERITAGE OF POWER, Teish's JAMBALA, and even Metraux's older VODOU IN HAITI should be read before this book. These will also give a novice a clearer picture of the common beliefs and practices of Vodou/Voodoo.

Milo Rigaud gives a deep and rich account of Vodou. Using theories from geometry, psychology, anthropology, and other academic sources, Rigaud paints a picture of Vodou unlike any other.

His interpretations, while academic and hard to follow at times, give a unique glimpse at how an "earth religion" can be a deep and rich spiritual well, concealing gems of hidden wisdom, profound thought, and beautiful insight.

Maybe not for the neophyte but certainly worth reading. Five stars!

This book is nice and Im glad I bought it. The veves are nicely illustrated and the content is pretty informative. The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because theres some small content on cabala which has nothing to do with voodoo. There are some other authors out there that want to mish mash everything together but its just not so. I would still reccomend MAMA LOLA over this book but this one is better than alot of the others out there. Just remember, avoid anything with the llewyllyn markings and it should be fine.

The author is writing for a Euro audience and has taken GREAT creative writing liberties in trying to tie in Voodoo with Moses and ancient Ethiopia or Cush.
This book isn't meant for anyone who is from this heritage and culture.
Some of the things that this author says is just flat out made up and fantasy.
He knows nothing about Louisiana Creole tradition or African American tradition and can't write on it but he has studied some Jewish Kabbalah and mixes voodoo up with other mystical practices in an attempt to root Voodoo in some biblical text-which simply isn't true.

Anybody who is a Pagan who knows about Raymond Buckland's Blue Book. Well, Milo Rigauld has his own blue book and it is a MUST for people interested in Voudoun minus the tv/movie hype!
Milo Rigauld cites the Holy Trinity of Voudoun, has many black and white photographs and thoroughly discusses the basics of Haitian Voudoun. You won't go wrong in reading this treasure.

AMber

This is an excellent book not only does it teach some great techniques and spells, but i told my parents i was voodoo who iknew would disaprove and gave them this book to read which dispelled all myths and fear my parents had.

As an aspiring author myself, I purchased this book to use as reference.
I was pleasantly surprised for the most part. The book was written in the 1950's by a man who was raised in Haiti and thus offers first hand accounts of a few specific ceremonies and how they are performed. It also includes several lovely veves and interesting photographs along with translations of ritual chants used by Haitian practitioners.
Lists of Loas by nation and descriptions of some of the more prominent ones were quite helpful.
I am sure the religion has changed and adapted over the past few decades, and this book covers only the voodoo practiced in Haiti. I am still searching for a fresher take Voodoo practiced in America but this book is a wonderful starting point and I am sure it will help my Mama-Loa character seem much more realistic now that I understand more of the religion and its history.