Voodoo pract.i.tioners have been around for ages starting around the early 1600s. There are still many wors.h.i.+ppers around today but things have become a bit more modern in the 21st century.

Many have stayed with the traditional ways of practicing voodoo but my family are in between. We practice both the traditional way and the newfound way. Again, I shouldn't say "we".

My Granny is my best friend. She understands the hards.h.i.+ps I face and comforts me when I need it. It's as if she senses my distress...which I'm sure she's capable of doing. She's my hero.

Granny is the person who gave me Oliver. She found him wondering the streets one stormy night and brought him home. He was so tiny; he could fit in the palm of my hand perfectly. There was a streak of red on his hind leg and he couldn't stand up on his own.

I remember Aunt Vivian taking him by his neck and declaring that we throw him away. I cried and ran into my granny's arms. She then looked at me, took the small kitten from Aunt Vivian, and motioned me to hold him. I was a bit confused but I did as I was told. Granny reached her hands over my open palm and began to silently chant a few words. Soon after, a dim blue light emitted around the small kitten. The blue light felt warm and lovingly. The kitten let out a small cry, the first any of us heard. I was in awe, that was the first time I've ever seen granny's magic up close.

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Throughout the religion, it is widely known that only the first born daughter within each immediate family will inherit the ability to possess the magical power. The powers given are unpredictable. The daughter can have up to 1 to 6 abilities; it varies depending on the luck of the woman.

No one knows how many abilities the daughter will have until she is put through the Coming Of Age Ritual. The Coming Of Age Ritual is a test that is the most important event that will ever take place within each bloodline of voodoo pract.i.tioners.

During the Ritual or test, the daughter is put through 6 trials; each trial to determine what skill set she possesses. The possible powers one can possess are Healer, Teleportation, Levitation, Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Invisibility.

The high priestess determines when the Ritual will take place, where it'll take place, and determines who's capable of handling the trails.

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I'm not the first daughter of my immediate family. I have 1 older sister, 1 older brother, and 1 younger brother. My mother is the first born daughter of granny so mother is a voodoo pract.i.tioner. Aunt Lola and Aunt Vivian are mothers younger sisters, Aunt Lola being the baby of the family. I have 2 uncles as well. I don't get to see all of them as much as I would like to.

Even though I know there's no possible way for me to possess the abilities of a voodoo pract.i.tioner, I still love to read and study the religion. It gives me a sense of purpose, like I'm apart of something for once, though, I know it's just wishful thinking.