American Voudou: Journey Into a Hidden World (60 page)

Read American Voudou: Journey Into a Hidden World Online

Authors: Rod Davis

Tags: #Body; Mind & Spirit, #General, #Religion, #Ethnic & Tribal, #Social Science, #Ethnic Studies, #African American Studies, #test

 

Page 365
G
Geledecostumed figures representing spiritual witches summoned by the deity Yemonja to deliver village gossip in annual gelede ritual. (GEL-eh-DAY, hard G sound.)
Gris-grispopular term used in Louisiana and New Orleans for a small bag, usually of red cloth, filled with herbs or secret ingredients and used as a talisman for luck.
H
Hoodooold Southern term for folk hexing and spell-casting; sometimes used interchangeably with "voodoo," from which it probably derives, or from "ju-ju", a term for African magic.
HounganHaitian male vodoun priest.
I
Ibejitwin orisha, male and female, representing concept of duality. Syncretized with St. Damian.
Ikinpalm nuts used for casting in the most authoritative form of Ifa divination ritual.
Ifaor Orunmila, the orisha controlling fate; also the name of the Yoruba system of divination. Orula in santeria. Syncretized with Christ and with the sun.
IreYoruba term for a positive sign to a reading.
Itáceremonial life reading given during santeria voudou initiation.
Italeroa santeria priest specializing in giving the itá.
Imalean alternate Yoruba term for the orisha.
Iyalorishaa female priest; mother (iya) of the spirit (orisha).
L
LoaHaitian vodoun term for spirit. Also lwa.
Lukumíor lucumí; Cuban usage, the Yoruba people. From the Yoruba word olukumí, meaning "friend."
M
M'amboHaitian female vodoun priest.

 

Page 366
Mojoterm used in Southern hoodoo in a variety of ways: as negative magic, as power, as an alternative to gris-gris. In strictest usage, the bone of a black cat used in hexing.
N
NdókeKongolese term for a burlap bag holding dangerous spirits.
Ngángaa burlap bag used to hold the spirits of the dead, not necessarily dangerous, in the palo mayombe religion. In American practice the ngánga is frequently an iron kettle, called a prenda in santeria.
O
ObaYoruba term for king.
Obatalaorisha of the intellect and organization. Syncretized with Jesus Christ and planet Jupiter.
Obeahform of voudou practiced in Jamaica; less syncretized than Haitian or Cuban forms.
Obicoconut husks, originally kola nuts, used in a form of Ifa divination.
Ochasanteria term for power; roughly equivalent to the Yoruba ashé.
Ochosiorisha of hunting and the forest. Along with Ogun, one of the Warriors (Los Guerreros in sahteria) necessary early in the initiation sequence. Syncretized with St. Norbert and the constellation Sagittarius. Especially popular in Brazil.
OduYoruba term for any of the specific configurations obtained in an Ifa casting of cowries or the opele.
Ogboni Societysociety of landowners, one of the most powerful in a voudou community.
Ogunorisha of war and metal. Syncretized with St. Anthony or St. George and the planet Mars. Ogum or Oggun in santeria.
Olorunalso Olodumare, Orishnla. The supreme deity in the voudou pantheon. Not syncretized but equated with the Chris-

 

Page 367
tian concept of God. Cannot be prayed to directly, but reached through the other orisha. Olofi in santeria.
OmoYoruba term for a new initiate. Short for omolorisha, or child of the spirits.
Opeleinstrument used by babalawos in Ifa divination. Consists of a chain with eight palm nut halves affixed to swivels. Ekuele in santeria.
Oriatétype of priest unique to santeria divination ceremonies; similar to babalawo but not generally considered of equal ranking. Uses caracoles for readings.
Orishathe Yoruba word for spirit; see also vo-du.
Osanyinhermit-like orisha of medicines. Considered close friend of Ochosi.
Oshunorisha of beauty, love and sexuality. Syncretized with the Virgin of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba. Also equated with the planet Venus and the Egyptian goddess Isis. Erzulie or Freda in Haiti. Ochún in santeria.
Osobonegative sign in a reading.
Oyaorisha of the wind, of cemeteries, of the passage to death. Syncretized with Our Lady of Candelaria, St. Catherine, St. Theresa, and with planet Pluto. Ghede in Haiti. Rival of Oshun.
Oyekunorisha said to represent the African race.
P
Padrino/aspiritual godfather/godmother in santeria. Term also sometimes used in orisha voudou in the United States.
Palero/aperson who has been initiated into palo mayombe. Sometimes called mayombcro/a.
Palo mayombeKongolese religion emphasizing use of dead spirits.

Other books

Dark Secrets by A. M. Hudson
The Killing of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld
Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones
Barbara Metzger by Father Christmas
The Bright Forever by Lee Martin