Loa (also spelled
Lwa or
L'wha) are the spirits of
Haitian Vodou and
Louisiana Voodoo. They are also referred to as Mystères and the Invisibles and are intermediaries between Bondye (
French:
Bon Dieu, meaning "good God")—the Supreme
Creator, who is distant from the world—and humanity. Unlike saints or angels, however, they are not simply prayed to, they are served. They are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct sacred rhythms, songs, dances, ritual
symbols, and special modes of service. Contrary to popular belief, the loa are not
deities in and of themselves; they are intermediaries for, and dependent on, a distant Bondye.