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'''[[Grigori Rasputin|Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin]]''' was a Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who befriended the family of [[Nicholas II]], the last Emperor of Russia, and gained considerable influence in late Imperial Russia.
'''[[Voodoo|Louisiana Voodoo]]''' is an African diasporic religion which originated in Louisiana, now in the southern United States. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional religions of West Africa, the Roman Catholic form of [[Christianity]], and Haitian Vodou. No central authority is in control of Louisiana Voodoo, which is organized through autonomous groups. The religion has long faced opposition from non-practitioners, who have characterized it as [[witchcraft]] and [[The Devil|devil-worship]], and many sensationalist portrayals of the religion have featured in popular culture.


Alternative religious movements such as spiritualism and theosophy had become popular among the city's aristocracy before Rasputin's arrival in St. Petersburg, and many of the aristocracy were intensely curious about the [[occult]] and the supernatural. Rasputin traveled to Saint Petersburg in 1903 or the winter of 1904–1905, where he captivated some church and social leaders. He became a society figure and met [[Nicholas II|Tsar Nicholas II]] and Tsarina Alexandra in November 1905.
Charms, created to either harm or help, are called gris-gris. A common charm for protection or luck would consist of material wrapped up in red flannel and worn around the neck. Despite its name, the idea of the "Voodoo doll" has little to do with either Louisiana Voodoo or Haitian Vodou; it derives from the European tradition of poppets. It is possible that the act of inserting pins into a human-shaped doll to cause harm was erroneously linked to African-derived traditions due to a misunderstanding of the nkisi nkondi of Bakongo religion.


Historians often suggest that Rasputin's scandalous and sinister reputation helped discredit the tsarist government and thus helped precipitate the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty a few weeks after he was assassinated. Accounts of his life and influence were often based on hearsay and rumor.
<p><small>Photo Credit: [[Travis McHenry]]</small></p>
 
<p><small>Photo Credit: [[Bloodstone Studios]]</small></p>
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