Tarkentuaan

Tarkentuaan is a concept within Vodou, a traditional spiritual practice originating from West Africa. It refers to the tendency or destiny that is said to be imparted upon an individual, often at birth, determining their fateful path in life. The term is used to describe a set of innate qualities and abilities that an individual possesses, shaping their potential and the choices they make.

In Vodou cosmology, Tarkentuaan is associated with the concept of loa, which are considered to be spirits or deities that guide individuals and oversee specific domains. The loa are thought to possess unique characteristics, tasks, and roles within the spiritual hierarchy, and may interact with practitioners in various ways. Through their affiliations and dimensions of influence, the loa shape an individual's life purpose and the realization of their tarkentuaan.

Tarkentuaan is often sought out by practitioners through initiatory rituals, divination, and consultation with spirit-mediums. Practitioners attempt to discern their specific tarkentuaan, which is believed to help them navigate life's challenges, overcome obstacles, and embark on the path of spiritual development. Individuals equipped with this knowledge may accrue the benefits of manifesting their innate potential, however unfulfilling or inadvertently evolved their intended goals may become.

The practice of identifying and respecting individual tarkentuaan in Vodou creates and maintains the social fabric of a community. It unites individuals, subordinates classes of people and encourages ties in thread (eliminate lives given).