Vodou Love Magic: A Practical Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Kenaz Filan’s book Vodou Love Magic: A Practical Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships is just that—a practical guide, arguably perhaps a little too practical. At times, it even felt like I was reading a self-help book with Vodou spells thrown in as a bonus. The chapter that focuses on treatments and cures for lovesickness has more detailed information than you may want to read about on codependency, sexual addiction and stalking—if you’re just trying to learn more about Haitian Vodou, that is.

Filan not only provides an in-depth definition of these issues; they are dissected and analyzed with the eye of an amateur psychologist with lots of “practical” advice on how to deal with them. So, what’s the first thing you should do if you realize you’re being stalked by a jilted lover, stranger, or an ex who just can’t accept it’s over? “Cut off all contact with your stalker now”, Filan recommends. Also: “Record every stalking incident” and “Take steps to ensure your safety.” If that isn’t practical advice, I don’t know what is.

Yet in this chapter, as in the rest of the book, the spells Filan suggests we consider trying in order to help us work through our problems will keep you interested. Having a hard time battling your sexual demons? Go to a crossroads with a tiny pouch filled with a corncob pipe, tobacco, a bottle of rum, and some loose change to consult Papa Legba (guardian of the gateway between the two worlds) for guidance. Feeling intense sadness and depression after a breakup? Performing Damballah’s (the most ancient and powerful of all the Iwa) Transmutation of Love Spell may help.

For those new to Haitian Vodou, Filan’s work is a good introduction to the Iwa (spirits) and how to go about contacting them for counsel. Along with Legba and Damballa, descriptions and spells for other Iwa include Freda (“bringer of beauty”), La Sirene (“bringer of glamour”), Ogou (“bringer of strength”), Simbi (“bringer of communication”) and Ghede (hilariously described as “bringer of booty calls”). Filan is an official Houngan (Vodou priest) and seems to have extensive knowledge about the spirits and the history of Haitian Vodou—though much of that knowledge is absent here). This is simply a light, enjoyable introduction to Vodou and how the ancient spirits can help you handle any kind of love drama imaginable.

Written by: Natalie Maxwell, June 19th 2009

Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:54:00 +0000

By Sam Gosling

Basic Books

I hate to make the comparison, especially so quickly, but I will: Snoop is like Blink’s half brother. They aren’t technically related, but they live in similar worlds, have similar parents, and sometimes their content overlaps. That doesn’t mean Snoop is as interesting, but it’s a quick and easy read for anyone interested in the everyday applications of social psychology.

“Snoopolgy,” called a “special brand of voyeurism” by Gosling, is the behavioral science of understanding people based on the stuff they leave lying around, use to decorate their personal spaces, and what sorts of items they use day to day. Gosling, an associate professor of psychology, has been snooping on people since grad school, turning his curiosity into a methodology in the vein of those who study iPods for personality clues. The thing that makes this book fun is that while most of us think we can dissect the personality of another just by peeking behind their medicine cabinet, Gosling actually can. He proves it a number of times.

Gosling’s research extends to spaces like personal websites, Facebook profiles, and people’s cars, using clues from a variety of areas (work, home, play) to determine what makes people tick. Why, for example, is anyone ever really compelled to decorate? And what does it mean about them, whether they put up inspirational posters or sports memorabilia? These clues are then paired with personality tests like OCEAN (similar to the more well-known Myers-Briggs, or MBTI)—Gosling is a psychologist, after all, not just a sleuth—and the results tend to be interesting, if not always mind-blowing.

One of the most helpful parts of this book is the series of related studies and texts Gosling often referenced—both in his writing and in a sizable appendix. Thorough and thought provoking, this book won’t be a page turner for anyone without more than a passing interest in psychology, nor will it necessarily appeal to those who have already read similar work of Gosling’s contemporaries. But for a fresh look at how we assess first impressions—and how we sometimes screw it up—this is a great, accessible overview.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, August 11th 2008