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FROM MODERN MUSIC TO WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL DIRECTOR, VOODOO HAS CERTAIN 'SPOOKY' CONNECTIONS

Voodoo has had more of an influence -- far more -- than most realize.

Originally from Africa, it came across the Atlantic with slaves and is behind Santeria -- the occult religion that merges animal sacrifice with Catholicism (and saints).

It is behind a lot of psychic stuff.

It shares much in common with witchcraft.

A descendant of the most famous voodooist -- Marie Laveau (enshrined in the French Quarter of New Orleans) -- was the White House Social Secretary from 2008 until 2010.

This was Desiree Rogers -- though there is no reason to believe (hopefully), as far as we know, that she practiced what her ancestor Marie preached.

Voodoo is deeply occult, and also informs, at least to an extent, "religions" like Satanism.

Many horror novels have a voodoo undercurrent (perhaps without knowing it).

A famous series of "vampire" novels came from an author there in New Orleans (though this we suppose should be traced to the lore of Transylvania).

Perhaps most remarkable: the influence of voodoo on modern music -- where it started with slaves who brought it from tribal priests and spread from there.

In fact, so concerned were slave owners that initially they sought to repress it -- although its potent beat and rhythm endured.

It endured and turned into the "blues," which eventually morphed into rock-n-roll.

We'll be having a "special report" in the future on the role of the occult in modern music. It's quite eye-opening.

In fact the very root for rock is in a West African word, rak, which means "dance".

As one man, Michael Ventura, wrote in an essay called, "Hear that Long Snake Moan":

"The voodoo rite of possession by the god became the standard of American performance in rock 'n 'roll. Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Jim Morrison, Johnny Rotten, Prince -- they let themselves be possessed not by any god they could name but by the spirit they felt in the music. Their behavior in this possession was something Western society had never before tolerated."

And never should have.

We have often wondered -- and discussed at retreats -- how there was such an evil infiltration of our society, our culture, during the Sixties.

Perhaps we are now getting to a root of it: sex, drugs, and rock 'n 'roll (which some argue has a sexual beat, as well as the druggy message in many lyrics).

The "god" of voodoo is a giant snake called Dan.

Does that sound holy?

Voodoo drumming alarmed those early slave owners to such an extent that the state of South Carolina barred slaves from using drums (not that owning a slave was less evil!).

Evil begets evil.

Voodoo arrived in America in large part from Africa via Cuba and then the Big Easy. It's claimed that fifteen percent of that city still practices voodoo (or Vodou, as it's American version is known).

"Any well-researched book about the history and origins of the rock and roll beat will tell you that its rhythmical style is derived from the beat of the ritual Voodoo dances of Africa," notes another observer. "The rock and roll beat has syncopated rhythm, and places the accent on the off beat in 4/4 time." 

Oh, the songs: "Black Magic Woman." "House of the Rising Sun." A spooky vibe.

"Blues singers fronting big bands, like Joe Turner and Jimmy Rushing, copied the way church solo singers belted over the choir," notes author Debra Devi. "The radio beamed this new 'shouting blues' all over black America. It was picked up by country blues singers like Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker, who had moved to Chicago and used it with their new electrified bands. These, in turn, inspired rockers like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones."

So often we agonize in discernment! What is it about modern music -- often innocent sounding songs -- that seems to cast a spell? Again, we will explore this at length in a special report.

We agonize over discernment. Musicians? Rock? Blues? The Sixties? Heavy metal?

We agonize, but also we are told this: by the fruits (and here we look at the Sixties) will you know them.

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