Lwa, are the various spirits of the family members: the spirits of the major forces of the universe-good, evil, reproduction, health, and all aspects of daily life. They will interact with people of the earth and “mount” onto people during religious ceremonies and give messages. Iwas can even cause good or bad things to happen to the people (Corbett). “In Haiti, during the days of slavery, while performing their religious ceremonies, the slaves honored the ancestral Spirits of all the ethnic groups living on the plantation.” “The Lwa were given to us to act as intermediaries between humans and Bondye.” Lwa are mostly ancestors, and some are older than others (“Lwa”). The twin spirits are known as the Marassa of the voodoo faith. (“Marassa”) “A curious and rather mysterious set of forces of contradictories: good and evil, happy and sad etc.” If they are honored in a religious service, they will help you have a better side of life (Corbett). They are small children, but they are wise and powerful. The twins are considered to be the first children of God (“Marassa”). The dead are mainly the souls of family members who have passed but not yet been “reclaimed” by the family. Dead family members that are ignored are dangerous, but honored and cared for family members will help (Corbett). Baron Samedi is a Loa of the dead, and head of the Ghede family of Loa, possibly even their spiritual father. Baron is known under other incarnations such as, Baron Cimetiere, Baron La Croix, and Baron Kriminel (Lawrence). Danballah Wedo, The Great Serpent, is considered to be the primordial creator of all life forms, and also carries all of the ancestors on his back, which makes him our first ancestor. A nanchon is a group of spirits that are specific to an area of West Africa, where they originated. During the days of slavery in Haiti, the slaves would honor the ancestral spirits of all the…
