Several times a day, light casts down from an
opening at the highest point of the grotto ceiling, during these times,
many Vodouisants can be found making their requests to the Loa/Iwa. It
was that same light that the Taino Indians in that region centered many
of their rituals
Two Vodouisants moments after a spiritual possession and sacrifice
A Vodouisant moments after being released from the Loa/Iwa
A Hougan (or Hougan) uses talc power to refresh
and purify a sacrificial offering. The meat and hide will then be eaten
and shared amongst that family or others in need
A Vodouisant after a moment of prayer
The life energy of the animal is for the Lwa
(spirit) and often the blood is collected in a calabash bowl and later
placed on the Poto Mitan, which represents the center of the universe
and access to the spirit world
A Mambo (high priestess in Haitian Vodou) is overcome by a spirit
A Vodouisant in a moment of prayer, deep inside a grotto once used by the Taino Indians for religious ceremonies
A Mambo (Vodou high priestess) and her
congregation watch to see if their offering to the spirits (a goat) will
accept food. It is only then, when it will be allowed to be sacrificed
in honor of the Loa
A Mambo (high priestess in Haitian Vodou) is overcome by a spirit
A family of Vodouisants begin to invoke the Loa/Iwa
Photojournalist Anthony Karen said Vodou, known to most as voodoo, was feared because of ignorance
A Vodou priest (Hougan or Houngan) begins to
invoke the spirits (Loa or Iwa) during the feast day of St. Francis De
Assisi in a remote region of Haiti
A Vodouisant adheres a prayer to the grotto walls with candle wax during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi
Vodouisants navigate their way deep inside a
grotto once inhabited by the Taino Indians to make their requests of the
Loa/Iwa (spirits) who serve them
A Vodouisant during a moment of prayer
A Vodou priest (Hougan or Houngan) begins to
invoke the spirits (Loa or Iwa) by blowing candle smoke in the face of
another Vodouisant during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi in a
remote region of Haiti
A Vodouisant prays by candlelight during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi
A Vodouisaint is entered by a spirit
Vodouisants navigate their way deep inside a
grotto once inhabited by the Taino Indians to make their requests of the
Loa/Iwa (spirits) who serve them