How to honor the lwa or loa?

[ashtonh2001]

Hi I am a young person who has much interest in voodoo. I would not be able to make libitations (except for water, rarely milk, and maybe coke) or food offerings unless the lwa only consumed the essence and I could consume the physical portion. Is there anyway I can practice subtly on a tiny budget (my parents dont know my interest in practicing) so if so please tell me or give advice.

 

[dannerz]

I've heard that different loa like different types of offerings.
They will survive without your help also, so no need to rush into it.
Do more research than me.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Vodou is kind a similar to Santeria. Many followers offer fruits--Yemaya (my avatar) likes watermelon. You have many spirits/Orishas that like various things. A lot of cultural religions have ancestral altars set up. Vodou focus on ancestral veneration.. so I'd start there.

Hi I am a young person who has much interest in voodoo. I would not be able to make libitations (except for water, rarely milk, and maybe coke) or food offerings unless the lwa only consumed the essence and I could consume the physical portion. Is there anyway I can practice subtly on a tiny budget (my parents dont know my interest in practicing) so if so please tell me or give advice.

 

[Sol Nigrum]

It would wait until you were able to receive an Esko reading (a divination) by a Houngan Asogwe or Mambo Asogwe in order to determine which lwa are walking with you. I would avoid giving offerings to the lwa until then and perhaps also until you're able to experience an actual Fete (ceremony in Vodou) for yourself. So it's easy to set up a table to your ancestors and start there, because your ancestors are already with you. Good luck.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I'm assuming most African traditions start with one's ancestors, right?

It would wait until you were able to receive an Esko reading (a divination) by a Houngan Asogwe or Mambo Asogwe in order to determine which lwa are walking with you. I would avoid giving offerings to the lwa until then and perhaps also until you're able to experience an actual Fete (ceremony in Vodou) for yourself. So it's easy to set up a table to your ancestors and start there, because your ancestors are already with you. Good luck.

 

[Sol Nigrum]

I'm assuming most African traditions start with one's ancestors, right?

I cannot speak on all of them but ancestral veneration is a very important part yes. Ancestors are always an excellent starting point as forging a bond with your ancestors through spiritual reverence is a healing task and also one that may open the doors for other spirits to chime in...