From Publishers Weekly:
This book documents Caulder's pilgrimage to uncover Vodou's roots in the WestAfrican coastal areas of the Republic of Benin, and there to clarify her role asa Vodou (which she calls "Voodoo") leader. Raised in Brooklyn, untilthe age of 13 Caulder was a participant in Voodoo rituals conducted by hergreat-aunt. The book opens with an explicit, vivid and, for some, horrifyingscene of Caulder as a five-year-old subjected to ritual abuse, climaxing withthe torture and sacrifice of a cat. Until her early 40s, Caulder was repulsed bysuch powerful experiences, but when her memories returned as flashbacks, sheleft her family and her physical therapy practice, abruptly setting off forBenin. Within one day of her arrival, Caulder's "inner guide" providedher with the location, the identity and an introduction to the Benin"pope" of Voodoo, Supreme Chief Daagbo Hounon Houna. Over time,Caulder was initiated into Voodoo's spiritual hierarchy and came to appreciatethat the "basic structure of Voodoo is a fine one," although shebecame increasingly troubled by animal sacrifice and spirit possession,illustrated in some of the 16 pages of color photos. To the extent thatobjectivity can be applied to spiritual pursuits, Caulder's seems strained bythe fact that she fell in love with Daagbo, and by such offhand revelations as"I most often used my clairvoyant abilities" for translation duringconversations and rituals. For those who can discern legitimacy and have astrong stomach for animal slaughter, Caulder's account is not without merit.

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From Booklist:
Prompted by reawakened memories of voodoo rituals from her childhood, Caulder, amiddle-aged physical therapist with a doctorate in mythology, journeys to Benin,West Africa, to trace her spiritual roots. In this first-person account, Caulderchronicles her transformation to an African voodoo chief by depicting herstruggles with cultural differences as she integrates herself into the life andcustoms of a Benin village that practices voodoo. She also describes her newfriendships and the mutual romantic attraction between her and the village'spowerful chief. Caulder details her initiation rites and many voodoo rituals asshe explains a religion that has been misunderstood and maligned as dark magic.She links her new knowledge of voodoo to her knowledge of energy healing andneuroscience. Including 16 pages of color photographs of voodoo rituals andpractices, this is a fascinating book. Vanessa Bush
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