In New World Vodoun, the spirits (or loa) with whom believers interact are divided into three main families, Rada, Petro, and Ghede. Loa can be viewed as forces of nature, but they also have personalities and personal mythologies.
Rada Loa
Rada loa have their roots in Africa. These were spirits or deities honored by slaves who were brought to the New World and became the major spirits within the new religion synthesized there. Rada loa are generally considered benevolent and creative, and are associated with the color white.Rada loa are often considered to also have Petro aspects, which are harsher and more agressive than their Rada counterparts. Some sources describe these different personalities as aspects, while others depict them as separate beings.
Petro Loa
Petro (or Petwo) loa originate in the New World, specifically in what is now Haiti. As such, they do not appear in African Vodoun practices. They are associated with the color red.Petro loa tend to be more aggressive and are more often associated with darker subjects and practices. To divide up the Rada and Petro loa in terms of good and evil, however, would be highly misrepresentative, and rituals dedicated toward assistance or harm of another can involve loas of either family.
