"Witness my desperate search for the voodoo queen, Tia Dalma."

―Jack Sparrow to Will Turner^[src]

Voodoo, also known as hoodoo and Obeah^[1], often referred to as the dark arts^[2], was the practice of ancient magic used in the Caribbean. Someone who harnessed the power of voodoo is called a Voodooist, Voodoo Priest or Priestess. Voodoo was also a religion, beginning as a tribal and spiritual belief in Africa brought over by the slaves. The power of Voodoo magic was used by many individuals, including Tia Dalma and Blackbeard.

Contents 1 History 2 Gallery of notable Voodooists 3 Beliefs 3.1 Dark Magic 4 Notable Voodoo Weapons 5 Behind the scenes 6 Appearances 7 Sources 8 See also 9 Notes and references

HistoryEdit

"Esmeralda, you've been sailing around the Caribbean for a long time. You know about curses, and magic, and hoodoo, and Obeah. You know that, in the Caribbean, they really exist. Right?"

―Jack Sparrow to Esmeralda^[src]

In the early 18th century, Voodoo was brought over by African slaves to the Caribbean. There, it mixed with Roman Catholicism and it became a religion with teachings of the Bible incorporated within it. It still used tribal and very spiritual techniques to worship and practice the magic. The knowledge of herbs, poisons, and the ritual creation of charms and amulets, intended to protect oneself or harm others, became key elements of Voodoo.

After the First Brethren Court bound the goddess Calypso into her human form, Calypso, under the guise of Tia Dalma, became a renowned mystical voodoo priestess. Her powers have helped on many occasions, most notably in helping Jack Sparrow^[3][4], resurrect Hector Barbossa^[4], and made mystical crabs carry the Black Pearl.^[5] Sometime after 1718, Blackbeard began to study voodoo, taking a passion for forbidden dark magic. He would use his powers to create zombie officers as well as using other Voodoo-related weapons, such as dolls as well as darts dipped in a sleep-inducing elixir.^[6]

Gallery of notable VoodooistsEdit

BeliefsEdit

"So, what’s this about magic?"
"Well, a lot of that magic and Obeah lore in the Caribbean comes from the Africans that have been transported here, savvy?"

―Esmeralda and Jack Sparrow^[src]

Besides being the practice of ancient magic, voodoo was also a religion. It began as a tribal and spiritual belief in Africa brought over the by the slaves to the Caribbean. There, it mixed with Roman Catholicism and it became a religion with teachings of the Bible incorporated within it. It still used tribal and very spiritual techniques to worship and practice the magic.

Dark MagicEdit

Main article: Dark Magic

While a part of Voodoo, Dark Magic differs from other forms of magic in the intent of the person using it. This is a difficult distinction to make in many cases, as most Voodoo magic was relatively neutral—it could be used for bad or good. Some magic, however, was evil in its intention through and through. This intention to do harm places this magic into the realm of the Black Arts. This sinister sorcery had spread across the untamed regions of the world. Cunning men have learned how to harness the power of dark magic, but this magic was a double-edged sword, and could bring the downfall of the very ones who seek to use it.^[6]

Notable Voodoo WeaponsEdit

• Voodoo Doll
• Voodoo Staff
• Zombie

Behind the scenesEdit

• In the first screenplay draft of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Captain Hector Barbossa orders Ragetti to bring up Tia Dalma's "effects", which happens to be a bag full of voodoo dolls representing Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, James Norrington, Davy Jones, Jack Sparrow(which is holding a small bottle), and Barbossa himself.
• In Tim Powers' novel, On Stranger Tides, which was used as the basis for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Blackbeard was one of the most powerful voodooists in the Caribbean. In the novel, voodoo is also known as vodun.

AppearancesEdit

• Jack Sparrow: The Age of Bronze
• Jack Sparrow: City of Gold
• The Price of Freedom (Mentioned only)
• Pirates of the Caribbean Online
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (First appearance)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

SourcesEdit

• The Price of Freedom
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide

See alsoEdit

• Voodoo at Pirates of the Caribbean Online Wiki

Notes and referencesEdit

1. ↑ The Price of Freedom Chapter 14: "Hard Bargains"
2. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean Online
3. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
5. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, p40-41: "Dark Magic"