Magic to the People isn't out to convince anyone that magic is real, and it's not intended to replace qualified medical or psychiatric guidance. It's for those who already believe.

OUIDAH, Benin -- The deified residents of the Temple of Pythons, when released to find food, sometimes slither across the road into a Catholic church ...

While perception of Haiti as synonymous with Vodou reigns in public imagination, within the republic the religion is under attack again. Vodouists and supporters from all over Haiti and its diaspora took to the streets of Port-au-Prince yesterday to protest.

As Haiti returns to the mainstream media this week to mark the second anniversary of the quake, let's remember the spirits.

Presenting Voodoo to my readers has been challenging: it is a vast, varied and much-abused subject. These issues come with considerable cultural baggage, so bear with me.