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Obeah (sometimes spelled "Obi") is a term used in the West Indies to refer to folk magic, sorcery, and religious practices derived from Central African and West African origins.

Obeah can either be a form of 'dark' magic or 'good' magic. As such, Obeah is similar to Palo, Voodoo, Santeria, rootwork, and hoodoo. Obeah is practiced in Suriname, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Belize, The Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and many other Caribbean countries.

Obeah is associated with both benign and malign magic, charms, luck, and with mysticism in general. In some Caribbean nations Obeah refers to African Diaspora folk religions in other areas, Christians may include elements of Obeah in their religion-Obeah is associated with the Spiritual Baptist church-and the word Obeah, although not the practice of Obeah.

In Jamaica, slaves from different areas of Africa were brought into contact, creating some conflicts between those who practiced varying African religions. Those of West African Ashanti descent, who called their priests "Myal men" (also spelled Mial men), used the Ashanti term "Obi" or "Obeah" -- meaning "sorcery" -- to describe the practices of slaves of Central African descent. Thus those who worked in a Congo form of folk religion were called "Obeah men" or "sorcerers." Obeah also came to mean any physical object, such as a talisman or charm, which was used for evil magical purposes. However, despite its fearsome reputation, Obeah, like any other form of folk religion and folk magic, contains many traditions for healing, helping, and bringing about luck in love and money.

Obeah is found primarily in English speaking former British colonies. It is a blend of West African traditional practices and rituals with the beliefs (primarily Christian) that were taught to the African slaves by their European captors.

Obeah bears some similarity to Voodoo which is found in former French colonies and Santeria which is found in former Spanish and Dutch colonies. All of these practices have a blend of African and European myths and beliefs regarding spiritual and mystical unknowns.

During the mid 19th century the appearance of a comet in the sky became the focal point of an outbreak of religious fanaticism and Christian millennarianism among the Myal men of Jamaica. Spiritualism was at that time sweeping the English-speaking nations as well, and it readily appealed to those in the Afro-Carbbean diaspora, as spirit contact, especially with the dead, is an essential part of many African religions.

During the conflict between Myal and Obeah, the Myal men positioned themselves as the "good" opponents to "evil" Obeah. They claimed that Obeah men stole people's shadows, and they set themselves up as the helpers of those who wished to have their shadows restored. Myal men contacted spirits in order to expose the evil works they ascribed to the Obeah men, and led public parades which resulted in crowd-hystreria that engendered violent antagonism against Obeah men. The public "discovery" of buried Obeah charms, presumed to be of evil intent, led on more than one occasion to violence against the rival Obeah men.

Laws were passed that limited both Obeah and Myal traditions, but due to the outrages perpetrated by the mobs of Myalists, the British government of Jamaica sent many Myal men to prison, and this, along with the failure of their millennialist Christian prophesies, resulted in a lessening influence for Myalism, while Obeah remained a vital form of folk magic in Jamaica. By the early 20th century, Myalism was considered a thing of the past, and Obeah dominated.

The effects of Obeah'

As with any undeniable metaphysical power the effects of Obeah are very real and have been documented. Obeah practices can be used for "good" or "evil". There are both "Black" and "White" Magic aspects to Obeah. Obeah spells may be used to bring harmony and peace, increased abundance of good fortune, love and material happiness, and cure disease. It matters less what are the actual ingredients that go into those spells, then that they do work and can effectively change a person's life for the better.

Myths and Misconceptions

Myths and misconceptions surround Obeah and the rituals of the Obeah Men. Obeah men and women have been called Witches, Warlocks and Practitioners of the "Black Arts." However most misconceptions arise out of fear, and people fear most what they do not understand. The powers of a true Obeah Man are undeniable, and as such yes he is a force to be reckoned with, but like any force of nature Obeah can wielded for good or ill. Wind can be destructive as a Hurricane, but it can also be used to grind wheat, move great vessel across vast oceans, or today even generate electricity.

Obeah as it is most commonly used today refers to the shamanistic and ritualistic practices of the Islands of West Indies. But Obeah traces its roots back to the religious belief of West Africa, and undoubtedly to far more ancient times. "Modern" Obeah owes much of its "Bad Press" however and occults status to its beginnings in the slave trade. The 17th Century was not exactly a time of enlightenment. Just take a look at the Salem Witch Trials in New England. The European slavers were a particularly superstitious lot, ready to label anything African as pagan, heathen or worse. Also the salvers came to the West African tribes taking the youngest and strongest of their men and women, not the tribal elders who were most likely the priests and priestesses of the West African Religions. So those that brought the rites of Obeah to the Islands were hardly those that were its most experienced and adept practitioners, and indeed likely turned to its darker elements to attack their oppressors, and try to over come the pain and suffering of slavery.

The derivation of the word "Obeah" itself has also led to its Black Magic association. It is believed it originated from the Ashanti word for Sorcerer or Witch, both of which have negative connotations. The root of the word "Ob" also closely resembles the word for serpent or snake in several ancient tongues. Over the years Obeah in a religious sense has then been equated with the Serpent, or Snake that drove man from the Garden of Eden, which in turn has been equated with Satan. Shrouded in secrecy and feared by the Slave owners, the Magistrates of Jamaica outlawed the practices and rites of Obeah and made it punishable by death to even be found with the implements of Obeah, such as animal bones, parrot beaks etc. Laws against the practice of Obeah still existed on the Island of Jamaica well into the 20th century.

However there is nothing intrinsically Satanic about Obeah. There are both White and Black Magic aspects of its rites and rituals. True an Obeah Man can bring a terrible vengeance down upon those that are deserving of such a fate, but they can also produce powerful love spells that have brought happiness, wealth, and good fortune to many.

The True Obeah Man does not see himself as "good" or "evil". He has at his command a full range of tools, and abilities to manipulate metaphysical and spiritual energies at the behest of the deities. This gives him the power to destroy or create. His craft can be deadly, or compassionate. It all depends on the intent.

Taken From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obeah