Abilities of a Trained Hougan or Mambo in Voodoo

Not only are the hougans and mambos (the priests) of voodoo able to heal and lead ritualistic ceremonies, they also have a number of abilities that seem supernatural. These abilities are only held by a true hougan or mambo and only a hougan or a mambo can teach a beginner how to control and maintain these abilities. These abilities require that a loa to be present to aid the hougan or mambo in what they are trying to achieve. Here are some of the abilities that a hougan or mambo may possess.

These leaders of the voodoo religion may be able to summon snakes. They do this so that they can command the snake to perform certain tasks. The snakes will never obey a command that will cause death to come to another person and they will also avoid any type of flame. The snakes can be given a different command every three seconds. To perform this task, a hougan or mambo needs the Loa of Damballah and the Loa of Legba.

Coup D’Name is another ability that serious practitioners of voodoo may possess. This is an ability that can cause severe sickness to another person. The hougan or mambo needs to be able to see the person they want to inflict with the sickness. The sickness will last for no more than eight days but in some cases, the inflicted will die before then. Another hougan can also take the ability off of the inflicted. Once it has been removed or run its course, the person’s body will be returned to normal condition within three weeks.

Sympathetic Magic is the term for the type of ability that most people think of when they think of the voodoo religion. This is the practice that uses dolls and it is very dangerous. This ability allows the hougan to do severe damage to a person, even if they are very far away from the hougan. The doll does not need to look like the target person, although it may, but it must have some material link to the target so it knows who it is affecting. The hougan must first perform a ritual, usually in the way of animal sacrifice, that will connect the doll with the intended person. Once the ritual has been cast so that the magic will take place, the hougan or mambo must perform the ritual every day or the bond between the doll and the target will be broken. Another way to break the spell is to destroy the doll. This ability requires Loa of Samedi, Agwe, and Aqua.

There is also the ability to bring good or bad luck, depending on which the hougan or mambo chooses to use. Wanga is the ability to inflict people with bad luck. This ability requires the Loa of Agwe and Maitre Carrefour. The ability to bring good luck to people is called Gad and it only lasts for a certain period of time. This ability needs the Loa of Legba and Maitre Carrefour.

These are just a few of the abilities that hougans or mambos possess. They have many and there are many different aspects to them including what’s needed to perform them, what loas are needed and what can stop them.