There is no magic in Vodou

Let's start there.

Vodou isn't a system of magic.

It isn't witchcraft.

It ain't hexes.

It ain't Satanism.

It isn't anything people outside of it imagine it is. It's a religion, pure and simple. It's a spiritual religion yes, but it is, in the end, a religion.

There is no difference between "Vodou the religion and Vodou the practice." There's only Vodou, a religion characterized by service to one's ancestors and the spirits, called vodous, that govern the world. This is done for the pleasure of what we in English call God.

So then, what is it when a vodounshie calls on the spirits of their ancestors, the elements, or the heavens? Quite simply it's called prayer.

Prayer isn't a magic spell. It's investing time, effort, and passion into a relationship with spiritual entities already invested in your wellbeing. It's honoring that relationship for no reason other than you're glad it's there. And sometimes, it's calling on that relationship to help you do what you cannot. It's as magical as checking on a sick friend, spontaneously hugging a parent, or defending your spouse from a danger they don't notice or can't protect themselves from.

In short, this is what a living religion looks like. Magical, but not magic.