Hoodoo tradition emphasizes personal magical power invoked by the use of certain tools, spells, formulas, methods, and techniques. The word “voodoo” comes from an African word meaning “spirit” or “God.” Voodoo is a religion that has two markedly different branches: Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Vodoun, while the followers of Santeria worship the orishas, the demi-gods of the Yoruba people.