Voodoo

by Kristos Kyle

Genres: Mythology

Reviews

[Katie Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having read quite a few books on Haitian voodoo, I went into this book with a preexisting understanding of voodoo and it's history. This book is slightly older (pub. 1976) and I blame the out-of-date information provided in it on just that fact. The author covers a few basic rada and petro Loa (Gods)and touches briefly on ghede spirits. A lot of emphasis was placed on The Secte Rouge, a darker side of voodoo that is by no means prominent, prolific or accepted in voodoo society today. There is also an entire chapter on the concept of zombism that is completely misinformed. Kyle talks about the transformation into zombie as a magical (implausible) transition, when in fact zombism was performed by using a powerful neurotoxin to incapacitate the human victim. This method of poisoning slows the heart and breathing rate, depriving the brain of oxygen (causing severe brain damage) and making the victim appear dead. After the victim was buried the poisoner would return to retrieve the body from the ground. If the victim survived the poisoning, they were a "walking corpse" with little fine motor skills and no real memory or identity left after being deprived of oxygen for so long. Kristos describes what may or may not be an actual spell/work that a Bocor might conduct, but there is no real mention of a poisonous neurotoxin being utilized. Again, I attribute this to the author being under/misinformed, which I feel is appropriate seeing what was available knowledge at the time of it's publication. There were some strange transitions in the book from a historical perspective on a topic to a fictional illustration of a ceremony or situation a Haitian might have experienced. These were all slightly strange to read when they came up. I felt like the book focused on some of the darker aspects of voodoo rather than trying to discuss some of the more community oriented aspects of the culture. Turning someone else's slave or farm hand into a zombie was most commonly performed by poor farmers hundreds of years ago, and was highly frowned upon; karmic repercussion is taken very seriously in voodoo, and it is a dark work to perform a zombie transformation. The Secte Rogue may or may not have ever existed, and if it did/does, it does not reflect the modern vodouisants of today. Most voodoo practitioners are peaceful and conduct voodoo for positive changes in their life and in the lives of those around them. I think Kristos was hoping that sensationalizing would sell copies to be frank. Not my favorite book on Haitian Voodoo - I would recommend "Tell My Horse" by Zora Neal Hurston or "The Haitian Vodou Handbook" by Kenaz Filan.

[Gerry Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction to Voodoo and its meaning.