when slaves from all over Africa were
brought here to Haiti they forged a new
spirit religion one that incorporates
elements from its adversary the Catholic
Church on the surface Haiti is a
Catholic country but daily life still
moves to the rhythms of spirit religion
mirror Guan is a small port on the
Haitian coast businessman Gary mazzeo
once was the town’s mayor but my zeal
has another side as a voodoo priest
Gary’s family has a problem as village
priest Gary must try to solve it
recently Berto a young cousin began
acting strangely I was doing my ceremony
here and I see better stop talking a
little bit differently than yesterday
and I said what’s happened to better
as a voodoo priest Gary Mazel also
serves as a community he’ll work in the
house of the spirits he will ask for
help to restore cousin Berto sanity
relatives including Bertos Father gather
in the temple and begin to summon the
spirits an answer comes not from an
ancestor spirit but from one of the most
powerful and feared voodoo spirits but
ownsome Eddie Lord of the Dead he takes
possession of Gary the Spirit reveals
the cause of bare toes trouble his own
father the Lord of the Dead goes after
the man hey Benji was I thought this is
your fault but the Oakland you are the
one who put him in this situation you
have money for woman and cockfights but
you have no money to help out your sons
if you cannot be responsible for your
family they will become my
responsibility in neglecting the
ancestral spirits bertos father anger
them they struck back at Berto Gary
tries to free Berto from the spirits
grip he presses berto’s father to make
amends with the spirits
reluctantly he agrees in voodoo when
believers resist the spirits they must
pay to those unfamiliar with spirit
religion it might seem like black magic
but the powers of the spirit world
worked for both good and evil when I
heard that people saying that voodoo is
devilish people drinking blood eating
fresh meats you know I’ve get upset
because I never been a part of it the
morning after berto’s treatment the Sun
brings to revelations berto’s father is
missing and berto is no better off
the spirits continue to torment him
but others also depend on Gary each
spring his duties include learning which
spirit will guide the community for the
coming year he spills rum and water and
lights candles trying to draw spirits to
the temple Gary struggles to breathe as
his body resists the spirits arrival now
he dances caught up in the hold of a
warrior spirit Gary’s feats in the
warrior spirits voice and sees through
his eyes it is through Gary that this
spirit will guide the village for the
next year Gary weeps with relief as the
spirit leaves in people are celebrating
the change of seasons but Berto still
rages and there is no sign of his father
it’s a grim reminder of the spirit’s
power and the danger of ignoring their
demands despite attempts to destroy
spirit religion ludu has survived and
those who serve the spirits enjoy voodoo
as a celebration
brought here to Haiti they forged a new
spirit religion one that incorporates
elements from its adversary the Catholic
Church on the surface Haiti is a
Catholic country but daily life still
moves to the rhythms of spirit religion
mirror Guan is a small port on the
Haitian coast businessman Gary mazzeo
once was the town’s mayor but my zeal
has another side as a voodoo priest
Gary’s family has a problem as village
priest Gary must try to solve it
recently Berto a young cousin began
acting strangely I was doing my ceremony
here and I see better stop talking a
little bit differently than yesterday
and I said what’s happened to better
as a voodoo priest Gary Mazel also
serves as a community he’ll work in the
house of the spirits he will ask for
help to restore cousin Berto sanity
relatives including Bertos Father gather
in the temple and begin to summon the
spirits an answer comes not from an
ancestor spirit but from one of the most
powerful and feared voodoo spirits but
ownsome Eddie Lord of the Dead he takes
possession of Gary the Spirit reveals
the cause of bare toes trouble his own
father the Lord of the Dead goes after
the man hey Benji was I thought this is
your fault but the Oakland you are the
one who put him in this situation you
have money for woman and cockfights but
you have no money to help out your sons
if you cannot be responsible for your
family they will become my
responsibility in neglecting the
ancestral spirits bertos father anger
them they struck back at Berto Gary
tries to free Berto from the spirits
grip he presses berto’s father to make
amends with the spirits
reluctantly he agrees in voodoo when
believers resist the spirits they must
pay to those unfamiliar with spirit
religion it might seem like black magic
but the powers of the spirit world
worked for both good and evil when I
heard that people saying that voodoo is
devilish people drinking blood eating
fresh meats you know I’ve get upset
because I never been a part of it the
morning after berto’s treatment the Sun
brings to revelations berto’s father is
missing and berto is no better off
the spirits continue to torment him
but others also depend on Gary each
spring his duties include learning which
spirit will guide the community for the
coming year he spills rum and water and
lights candles trying to draw spirits to
the temple Gary struggles to breathe as
his body resists the spirits arrival now
he dances caught up in the hold of a
warrior spirit Gary’s feats in the
warrior spirits voice and sees through
his eyes it is through Gary that this
spirit will guide the village for the
next year Gary weeps with relief as the
spirit leaves in people are celebrating
the change of seasons but Berto still
rages and there is no sign of his father
it’s a grim reminder of the spirit’s
power and the danger of ignoring their
demands despite attempts to destroy
spirit religion ludu has survived and
those who serve the spirits enjoy voodoo
as a celebration
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