Loa Possession
Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary holds a Voodoo service/ceremony each Sunday, where in the course of the singing of the pantheon the Loas often visit the Humofor. The Loas come through the medium of spiritual possession to serve the congregation and the whole of humanity. They heal the sick, assuage the human spirit, aid the poor, feed the hungry, and otherwise bring comfort, joy, and solace.
It is through the medium of spiritual possession that it is possible to bring divine messages, perform many spiritual works of healing, and make direct contact with the forces of nature that guide us.
The Loas are God's messengers and workers. Unlike spirits, they are forces; some would say that they are the Seven African Powers of the World. In the Christian faith, they would be the Saints; in the Yoruba, they would be the Orisa; in the Voodoo religion, we call them Loas. And like the Saints or Orisa, they have jobs and duties to take care of and work with the forces of the world.
Each Loa has a territory that they govern; several examples are below:
| Loa |
Territory |
| Papa Legba |
Crossroads |
| Macoufour |
Spiritual Highways and Byways |
| Papa Loko |
The Father of the Loas |
| Papa Dumbala |
The Rain |
| Erusile Freeda |
The River |
| Erusile Dantour |
The Ocean |
| Papa Agwe |
The Wind |
| Papa Ogu |
Fires Above the Earth; Metals |
| Mali Louise |
Medicines |
| Couzin Zaka |
Agriculture |
| Baron |
The Cemetery |
Pictures and Videos of the Loas in possession can be found in the Gallery.
