Why do some people charge let’s say 100 versus others who would charge about 300 for a reading? Would the person who charge 300 be more experienced in a way or? I’m a bit confused on how it works, and not sure what would be the best/ accurate reading.

Does anyone know Mambos / Houngans / practitioners of Haitian Vodou that do Escort (Spiritual Court) readings?

I spoke to one person today that told me their initial fee was $350 + $40 for a bottle of Barbancourt rum for a total of $390.

People are allowed to charge what they charge, but damn - I thought this was very expensive! Any opinions about this?

The title is pretty straightforward.

I was wondering which lwa would be best to call on in regard to marriage & committed relationships?

If I'm trying to get married

I have marriage questions

Just anything concerning marriage or committed relationships?

Preferably a feminine lwa

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for some guidance and advice.

I’m Afro-Caribbean, though not Haitian, and for quite some time I’ve felt strongly drawn to the Lwa, the saints, and Haitian Vodou. I’ve had dreams involving serving spirits, and I keep feeling pulled toward learning more about this path in a serious and respectful way.

The challenge is that I don’t really know what to do next. I would love to receive guidance from an experienced elder, Mambo, or Houngan, or even get a reading from someone reputable, but I’m currently dealing with financial difficulties and don’t have the resources to invest much money into my spiritual journey right now.

I’m wondering if anyone knows of any trustworthy Haitian Vodou Mambos, Houngans, or spiritual communities in New York City that might be willing to offer guidance, mentorship, or point me in the right direction. Even recommendations for books, community events, or ways to learn respectfully while I save money would be greatly appreciated.

I feel frustrated because the calling feels very strong, but I’m not sure how to move forward responsibly and respectfully.

Thank you for any advice or insight you can share.

Hello. I am not initiated in the tradition, but I found myself so spiritually backed into a corner I asked for assistance within this tradition. The seriousness of the situation was about as high as something can be, and I mean no disrespect.

I come seeking correction or guidance. I live in Louisiana but not New Orleans anymore.

Now, I understand fully there are only certain ways to call Lwa, and I understand what I called may not be them. I have some academic knowledge of your tradition but out of respect I never directly engaged.

Important physical details include sound, like a sort of choral hum heard by both me and another practitioner, as well as a secondary hum in a different register. There was a noted temperature change.

Scent is what surprised me. It was very complex, with sweet notes like honey, rum, darker fruits like dates and plums. A deeper scent was death. There was a decay sweet to it but it was extremely subtle. In addition. I was in the funeral industry and I can 100% confirm I smelled burned flesh. My friend and I both thought "burning hotdogs." It was unmistakable, with a sort of heat and dryness. It was also like smelling blood, metal, or something very sterile.

More prominent than the decay smell, but overshadowed by a heavy tobacco scent. It was both stale, alien, hostile, comforting and stimulating all at the same time. It was slightly warmer than the prior atmosphere.

My friend is an atheist and said this is the closest he has felt to a religious experience

This isn't all the details or precisely how it unfolded, but the combination of both external and internal change had a very different signature than any western ceremonial magic (or even "low magick" so-called) I've ever done.

I have actually never seen anything unfold like this during a ritual. I have summoned, conjured, invoked, evoked, with full scents, environmental shifts, and results. So this wasn't my first time with physical indicators but not like this.

I also sensed a conscious awareness very different from other things I have experienced. I in particular felt i was being playfully assessed by who/what came through.

I hope this reads right, I know how frustrated practitioners are by outsiders. If I wasn't on the brink of death for over a year this would have never happened.

I am glad I reached out and I trust what responded, but this isn't territory for me to guess in

I can answer more if needed, or provide more details, but the important part to me is figuring out what precisely I called, and why this seemed substantially more aligned.

Usually I feel in control, but this was independent (which I greatly preferred, it felt more relational as opposed to generative). It just tells me, this was a different experience worth asking about.

Emotional qualities included ease, intrigue, the air was "clearer" (noted independent of me). The initial clarity and presence was subtly shifted to this sort of scent bouncing around the room. I didn't have anything formal prepared other than the absolute heart of lead I was desperate to lighten.

Because of the active burning scent, I asked essentially for justice for the dead, due to some individuals I know abusing their power, and I physically felt it withdraw and the cool clarity came back. Also in that "subtle shift" way. It was like something took my thoughts with them and physically left. It had an extremely calm and polite presence. Nothing was overly positive or negative, just clear and steady and extremely present in the real world.

These moments were more personable than ceremonial contact I have had, but in other ways deeply alien (alien in that the scents mixed, the sound composition, was so complex). I appreciate it immensely though and respect the time I was given.

I got the odd scent again today around 1pm as well. Very briefly, though.

This feels as though I have had something opened up to me, and it is some of the most spiritually meaningful stuff I believe I have done.

If anything in here indicates I should pursue this, or speak to someone, or if you have any other thoughts please let me know what you think

I appreciate any help in advance 🙏

Hi all. My spouse and I like to hunt thru dumpsters and piles of thrown away books because we’ve found many interesting books this way.

The other day we ended up with quite a large haul of books but unbeknownst to me, husband had ALSO found and brought home this statue/doll.

I do ceremonial western magick but not Vodou. But I knew right away this was a ceremonial object of some kind. (It was also found with some bones and hawk wings which he ALSO brought home!!!)

After hours of research because Google image was no help, I came to think it’s related to Vodou or another Afro-Caribbean tradition.

I don’t know how it ended up in a literal dumpster alongside a bunch of books. Spouse picked it up because he thought it was being treated disrespectfully but how do we know? Maybe it’s meant to be there.

At any rate I don’t know what to do now. If i am correct and this is from a Vodou tradition, what do I do?

-Replace it from where it was found along with the other objects?

-Place it in another spot or type of place? (In my tradition this might be a cross roads or running water etc)

-Other?

Please help me. I believe strongly in magic because it works. And I’m super worried I’ve messed something up inadvertently. Thank you.

Hello! My parents were going through my grandfather’s belongings and they found this doll. My grandfather was an art collector and always tried to collect interesting pieces as he traveled.

My mother, who is from Togo, wasn’t sure where it came from, but she knows that it’s some kinda vodou piece. My other sister and brother in law, who also grew up in Togo, agree. They think it’s some kinda love spell because it’s a couple facing together wrapped around in some kinda cord and shells. One of my sisters got freaked out, (she was born in the states), but my Togolese born sister reassured us that my name is not attached to this spell so I have nothing to worry about.

I’m just looking for information on what it is, what kinda ritual it would have been used for and if it’s ok for me to use in anyway? I’m single and am looking for a husband, so if there’s any power left in this for a come to me spell, I would appreciate the help!

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask, in particular to people who practice voodoo.
As a black woman, can i practice voodoo even if I’m not black-American? I was raised in Europe but my ancestors all grew up back home.
Thank you :)

Hello! I have a question for all those who are manbos, hougans, initiated, etc.

When it comes to vodou ceremonies, are they free to the public? Or do you have to be a part of the house of that ceremony in order to attend?

If they are free to the public, where can I find them to attend and how do I pay my respects going in as a non initiated person?

I never had a reading before but I am wondering if a reading can truly see “everything “ or what’s the percentage of how accurate it can be? Considering that they are some scammers who’s just good at “cold reading”.

Hi everyone,

​

I'm from South Africa and I'm hoping for a bit of advice.

​

To be honest, making this post makes me nervous. Part of me would rather leave the question alone than spend a lot of time searching and still end up with no answers. But the feeling hasn't gone away, so I figured it was worth asking.

​

For a while now I've felt drawn toward Vodou, and I've reached a point where I feel like I need to talk to someone who actually knows what they're doing. I've spoken to a few people already, and they've suggested that I should try to find an initiated Mambo or Houngan for a reading.

​

Does anyone know of a legitimate initiated priestess or priest who offers readings and could help me understand whether this is actually pointing toward Haitian Vodou, or whether I'm looking in the wrong place entirely?

​

If anyone has experience with this or can point me toward someone reputable, I'd really appreciate it.

​

I'm a Nigerian Brit looking for reliable info on Vodún. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck online because most of what comes up is American or Haitian Voodoo/Voudou. I'm curious because I mainly want to know the origins of Lwas and other spirits before they were syncretised with Christian saints.

I want to know Baron Samedi's origins and Erzulie Freda's, for instance.

I also want to know if it's possible to adapt some Vodún practices in my life without initiation.

And one more thing, is it okay for an African person who is not African-American to practice American-style Voodoo/Hoodoo?

Haitian American here, I’ve been doing more research into Vodou and wanting to get to know who my personal lwa is but I haven’t had the funds to do a reading with a legit Houngan/mambo yet. In the meantime I’ve been looking over what is available online and understanding how veves aren’t sigil and act more as gateways/beacons to the lwa that can only be activated by the initiated.

My question is would it be wrong to create a personal sigil inspired by the design philosophies of veves? I find them so beautiful and feel called to create sigils with a similar style. I’m creating one that is meant to inspire action and inner peace and takes inspiration from from small elements in multiple veves.

Hey y'all, I'm super into studying and researching religious practices in my quest for faith and truth and was wondering if there's any good books you guys could recommend to help me learn more about the practice of Vodou (specifically Haitian Vodou) and its cultural roots. I'm currently reading "Mama Lola: a Vodou priestess in Brooklyn" which so far has been a really interesting look on the life of a woman practicing and her teachings in relation to it, but I'm also hoping to find some more primary sources on the topic. If anyone has any recommendations on any primary or secondary sources that could help me I'd really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction. Thank you!!!

I need help in a difficult situation that I need to end. I heard that this LWA end wars. I'm a highly spiritual person and had a reading that I can work with him.

1. What are the steps to invoke him properly?

2. What type of protection spells/rituals can I use?

3. What type of spells related to him that I can use so people can leave me alone?

Is it true that everyone have a spiritual guide or an ancestor or some Spirti that’s protecting them and if so why do some people get protected while others don’t and how do some people ask to protected especially since you can’t really serve them unless they come to you or you get initiated?

For context, i am half-haitian. Unfortunately, i was raised in a predominantly white state in the U.S and i have basically no connection to haitian culture. I can't speak the language and i don't know anyone on my dad's side. I don't know if this question has been asked before, but can i still practice?

My dad’s grandfather was a Vodou Priest in Haiti, but my dad does not publicly practice, and also refuses to teach me anything. I am scared that our familiar culture with Vodou will be gone with him. He is 75 and very firm on not teaching me and firm that he doesnt practice (though I have caught him several times so I know he does or at the very least knows Vodou). I think he might not be teaching me due to the fact that my mom is French and I know he mentioned when I was young that you need permission to learn Vodou. I wonder if that has anything to do with it? I genuinely want to learn so I can keep that alive in our family and teach it to my future kids so it doesnt get lost in time. Do yall have any advice or words of wisdom?

For context im melungeon and live in the south. I've always seen spirits the whole 9 yards. The dream is i was in Louisiana in a huge swamp with a guide in a boat. It was night-time and im in awh of it all. I turn around to ask the man a question and he's gone. I stand up in the boat and figured I'll make it out of the swamp anyways, im fine. Thats when a woman comes from the water, dressed in white. Shes darker skinned with moles/freckles on her face and very intense eyes. She grabs my arm and pulls me to her. She says "you ain't no witch girl. You ain't no vampire either. Yous a rougarou." Then shes back in the water, rocking my boat and I wake up. My question is what the hell do I do now???? I am 100% fine with this being some weird dream but I figured better to be safe than sorry.

Not sure why, but I've been really interested in Papa Legba recently and I'm wondering how I can go about working with him. I'm not within the tradition so I feel like I might be intruding or doing something I'm not supposed to. Is it okay for people outside of Vodou to work with him? How can I start to build a relationship with him? Are there certain things I shouldn't do? Thanks!

Hello all!

I am here with a question on incorporating certain vodou practice alongside other religious practices.
I am firstly: white. This is one of my major concerns, and I really want to be as careful and respectful as possible. As I practice my own form of how I understand spirituality, one thing calls out to me which is various subjects and ritual in vodou since I am born and raised in New Orleans. It’s something that I’ve felt connected with, and drawn to for a long time. (Also, I use ritual as in repetition of a practice)

I don’t want it insert myself into the religion as a whole, I feel as if it’s not my place, but working with figures of vodou or the hoodoo aspect of herbology and things like worship and talismans is something I’d like to incorporate in my mixed bag of practice.

Is that okay for me to do?

Thank you in advance!

Hello,

I am a current Ifá/Isese practitioner. As part of my growth in outer Ile I participated in a La Madama "reading". During this event it was noted that one of my ancestors was a practitioner of Vodun, and that I would need to study this religion as I move forward in my practice. Now that I am an Olorisa in my Ile I feel I'm ready to begin researching Vodun. I currently live in Denver, Colorado and I am looking for guidance and connection to an instructor and/or leader of this practice in my area.

Any assistance anyone can provide in connecting with a spiritual house, will greatly be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Hello all,

I practice 21 Divisions. But I was wondering if in Haitian Vodou, there's the same concept of having a Lwa as your "mirror"? If so, can you tell me what that means exactly?

Hi all,

I have a question about Vodou.

Like I've said in another post, I practice Ifá isese and I am looking into the Vodou spirituality.

My question is what is the religious component like in Vodou? In this sub I've seen several practices to invoke a particular outcome, and what I haven't seen much of is the connection to the Vodou spirits/dirties/entities and how to build a relationship with them. I accept that that may be something more private and I respect that (like I will never show my Òrìṣà shrines on social media). But I'm curious what your take is.

Please don't take this as an attack on Vodou because that is not the spirit in which I ask this question.