In this movie we see several Voodoo, Hoodoo or Santeria, I'm not quite sure which, ceremonies/rituals performed. Can anyone explain them, as well as the symbols, to me? Or direct me to some good books, websites or other films on the subject?
Satori For Sale
Better yet would be an explanation why Rastas are performing them...
shareBETTER YET WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ITS BETTER YOU STAY AWAY FORM THAT *beep* IT WILL MESS YOU UP
shareWhy do I need to know? Well the obvious answer is to better understand the movie, since this is such an instrumental part of the storyline, I feel that a better understanding of these scenes would help me better understand their significance. Another reason I am interested in these ceremonies and symbols is out of a personal interest in shamanism, spiritualisms and religion in present-day society and their often covert histories. I wasn't looking to become a practicing voodoo priest, if that's what you mean by "it will mess you up". I was just hoping to better understand how these cultures/traditions deal with spirits, destiny and the active role some persons can have on those. As well as how these persons are perceived and treated by those around them and what "rules" they themselves have to obey to maintain this influence over their own and other persons faiths/fortunes.
Satori For Sale
I'm not an expert by any means, but I believe that the rituals where a wierd mixture of all three. Although, I would speculate that the predominant emphasis was on Hoodoo and Santeria.
The symbols were probably borrowed from Voodoo. Most of the Hoodoo symbols that I have seen are dramatically different in composition. Voodoo symbols tend to be a bit more ornate, Hoodoo symbols are closer to those that would be found with just about any common form of Folk Magic, and Santeria symbols tend to mix between Voodoo and Catholic symbolism. As to their meanings...I don't know. I am not practictioner.
The spitting of the rum & blowing of the smoke from the cigar is an offering to the spirits to entice them to do the spell castor's bidding. This is also the case with the chicken blood as well in the "Santeria" ritual. The actress performing the ritual asks the rooster to "help her with the very bad man" in a very simplified, almost high school-ish, Spanish.
It is one of Steven Segal's better movies, but as far as it's religious accuracy when it comes to the rituals and magic performed....I would speculate that they have more entertainment value than authenticity.
All three are true religions. Voodoo is probably the most organized out of the three of them. You may be able to find enough information on Voodoo (books, the Internet, actual practitioners, etc...) to answer your question acurately.
Whether it be just out of curiosity, or perhaps a desire to switch to a new religion, remember....the spells cast in all three of these relgions only work if you believe in them. This is the same in virtually any other religion. You have to have "faith" in what you are doing. That's why they are religions and not sciences.
its just a movie though, kinda dumb cuz rasta's wouldnt be messin with black magic in real life. But i guess it gets the story going
shareEvery Caribbean country has their own version of "voodoo" which is basically just a syncretic religion combining West African beliefs and practices with Catholicism. It was brought by the slaves to the Caribbean. They used Catholicism to disguise what they were doing because they were not allowed to hold on to their own beliefs and traditions. In Haiti it's called voudou, in the Spanish speaking Caribbean it's santeria, in the English speaking Caribbean like Jamaica or Guyana, it's obeah and finally in the Portuguese speaking Caribbean (Brazil),it's Candomble or Macumba.
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