“Hoodoo is a form of traditional African-American folk magic that developed from a combination of beliefs of a number of separate African cultures after they came to the United States during the slave trade…(futurity.org)”
That being pointed out, did you ever think to connect Louisiana, and the Southern United States with being powerfully equipped with Voodoo Magic? Mardi Gras is in New Orleans. A famous hub for Voodoo/Hoodoo culture, “Hazzard-Donald explains. ‘What many people start to see is something that I call commercialized or tourist Hoodoo. It has been presented as the ‘real authentic’ Hoodoo (futurity.org).’”
Like Holy Sh*t!!! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SLAVE TRADERS DID?!
THEY F*CKING CAPTURED VOODOO AND HOODOO PRIESTS & SOLD THEM OFF… Wherever there are Africans, or people of African descent, there is magic and deep traditions.
Obviously, these voodoo practitioners were P I S S E D.
Surprisingly, it was mainly used “to defend themselves from harm, [and] to cure their ailments (futurity.org).” Illnesses that are caused by hexes or spells can only be cured by magic.
I really thought they’d use it to kill or sabotage their owners, and I don't doubt they tried.
The South/East U.S. is filled with old, old rooted practice.
Haitian, New Orleans, and African Voodoo, all differ from one another.
The Atlantic Slave Trade was quickly dominated by the Europeans from the 15th century to the 19th century. With the Slave Trade, came the push (or force) of conversion to Christianity. I’m pretty DAMN sure, a lot of this has to do with the slave owners being afraid of them practicing voodoo for revenge or freedom! And…I was right: “White slave owners feared and suppressed the use of magic; these practices were kept hidden from them.” Many enslaved Africans rejecting the tenants of Christianity, in part, due to the reality that their conditions stood in contrast to the religion of Christ.
Either way, Christianity became picked up by the slaves and incorporated into their Voodoo practice.
Due to the increasing popularity of the worship and the fear of revolution, the new American government found it necessary to make a law permitting the Congo Square Voodoo Rituals, one of the first tourist spots in the South. However, the gatherings were legally limited in duration.
The Congo Square rituals had continuously been going on already since the 1730’s. Historically it appears as if Americans were being tolerant and humane (as always), by legalizing Voodoo gatherings and practices in 1817; when in actuality, it was put into law only so it could be controlled and regulated. The Congo Square was the only free meeting place for the slaves to gather in the western hemisphere on their day off; Sunday.
The law added the stipulation that it had to be supervised. Supervision had never needed for the past 77 years. Eventually the Americans outlawed the gatherings all together by flickering on and off the right of assembly.
“The outlaw spread Voodoo into other areas of town, deeper into the swamp and more quietly crammed into closets, Voodoo became more clandestine only after the Civil war Records from the beginning of Louisiana show Voodoo as a contributing factor of Creole (native born) survival especially from its healing knowledge. With a high death toll and difficult travel, a form of inter-dependency grew: plantation voodoo provided healing and magical assistance for many. Creole Voodoo was experienced and shared multi-culturally from the beginning of the slave trade in Louisiana. By the time of the Great Marie Laveau, 1820’s to the 1870’s, Voodoo was associated with the name New Orleans all over the world. Voodoo was also explored in some cases as negative, noted in cases from the earliest of Superior Council and the Cabildo government records. The infamous “gris-gris case” which concluded that the government would not acknowledge magical powers, but could opt to prosecute poisoners. Though, this seems to be a borrowed Haitian tale rather than a New Orleans one. Voodoo here was blended into life, fearing it only occasionally. Magic mingled, traditions blended and became a part of everyday life.”
If you hear people talk about random stories of random farmers and “rednecks” out in the forests, or bayous, murdering people and animals… its most likely connected with some sort of dark twist on what they practice. Also, yes – some “rednecks” out there, seriously practice hoodoo conjuring, NOT JUST African Americans. Sh*t is f*4%@%$ crazy right?!
This sort of magic can get pretty intense, like the type that draws in massive black & gassy figures, that can be bigger than a minivan. Chances are, swamp monsters could also be a result of conjured spirits/entities, and not actual monsters.
If you want an example, Episode 2 of Haunted (Netflix Series) is EXACTLY about murderers who raised kids and were conjuring spirits.
I truly believe that some of the MOST haunted spots in America are along, or inside, bayous or swamps. My friend, @TheRealBobbyHill (On IG), travelled out there and was baited into “witch hunting.” Some Louisiana girl that he knew from there took the entire group to this swamp where she and others have reportedly seen a fire in the distance with its very own witch dancing around it.
Bobby is a skeptic, that’s mainly why he agreed to go. Long story short, they’re walking into the swamp on a narrow path that requires the group to walk in a single file line. They started hearing whispering (debunked as cicadas & frogs), seeing green flashing eyes, seeing a shadow, and then deciding to head back because of the immense fear the girls were suffering from. While heading back, the Louisiana girl fell back to tell Bobby (since he’s the last person in line), that she thought something was following them back - but told him that she didn’t say anything to the others because she didn’t want them to panic. Bobby told me that while walking back to their cars, the whispering sounds from the cicadas had ceased on the right side behind them – indicating that somebody, or something, was indeed following them. Just so you know, cicadas and frogs become silent when people come around.
Nobody should be f*cking with that sh*t. Lol, please don’t go into a haunted swamp (where there’s reportedly witches) without a handgun and spiritual protection. That Louisiana girl was going to turn back and get the handgun from her car – ALONE – then come back to the group… Rule #2 Haunted Movies always go South, when somebody goes off on their own. Luckily, the group disagreed and wouldn’t allow the girl to grab her handgun.
On the other hand, if you are interested in ghost and witch hunting, you HAVE To tell me about your adventures in the swamps and bayous.
Sources:
22 years of this pink sponge