Erykah Badu is a highly influential and respected American singer-songwriter, who has made significant contributions to the world of neo-soul and R&B music. Besides her musical talent, she has also been associated with the occult. The term "occult" refers to knowledge that is beyond the realm of ordinary human understanding and often deals with supernatural or mystical phenomena. It includes a range of practices and beliefs such as astrology, divination, witchcraft, and spiritualism. Badu has openly discussed her interest in spirituality and has been labeled by some as a practitioner of the occult. She has expressed her appreciation for alternative belief systems and has incorporated esoteric themes into her music and performances.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Baduizm, the debut album that would go on to solidify the iconic singer and songwriter as a pillar in soul music. To celebrate, she’s doing what she’s always done: tour, which she does eight months out of the year; parent (she has one boy, Seven, who is 17, and two daughters, Puma, 13, and Mars, 8); create music (her Fela Kuti Box Set 4, which she curated to feature some of her favorite songs from the Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer, dropped yesterday); and serve. As a third-degree Reiki master and certified doula, Badu works with women, friends, and, sometimes, near strangers, from inception to well past birth by offering nutritional advice (she’s been a vegetarian since before Seven, her son with Andre 3000, was born), massage therapy, counseling, and energetic healing. As a doula, or a “Badula,” she tells me over the phone a few weeks before her shoot for Vogue’s January issue, she’s there for the birth of every patient’s child, too, no matter if they are a plane ride away, or wish to deliver at home, in the woods, a hospital. “I’m wherever the woman wants me to be—think of me as the welcoming committee for the baby,” she says. “And depending on who the woman is, and how well she is connected, I am going to put on my all white, my bells on my ankles, and crystals around my neck.”
This article aims to shed light on Erykah Badu s spiritual practices and serve as a warning to fellow Christians about the potential pitfalls of idolizing celebrities over placing faith in God. Queenie adds, Her younger sister and brother were kind of chill, but Erykah was the child who d fall down on the floor screaming to get her point across.
She has expressed her appreciation for alternative belief systems and has incorporated esoteric themes into her music and performances. One of the notable instances that brought attention to Badu's occult interests was her controversial music video for the song "Window Seat." In the video, she is seen stripping naked while walking through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, and is then shot by an unseen assailant.
The Soul and Science of Erykah Badu
W hen most musicians meet their fans, they get asked questions about songwriting or life on the road. But Erykah Badu‘s fans go straight for the astral plane. Backstage after a recent show in Oakland, the singer – wearing a black top hat, tailcoat and sequined genie pants – finishes breastfeeding her one-year-old daughter, Mars, and heads to a roomful of fans with the baby in her arms. A young black woman with long braids and a flowing skirt stands up and says, “I want to talk to you on a level of what’s happening with the return of the goddess on a spiritual level.” She struggles to articulate a question but ends up with: “As we return to this planet in a more greater way of forcing taking over, I wanna hear what your views are on matriarchy and how we embrace our brothers along the way.” Badu pauses. “Urn, that’s a tricky question,” she says. “The pattern I see is the return of balance through femininity, through the mother, through the womb. The universe comes out of a wombiverse. What I see is woman’s return to her throne, beside her king. I think it’s a return to self-sufficiency. It’s a return to ourselves, and that’s how we lead.”
For 13 years, Badu has explored the outer reaches of the musical wombiverse with increasingly ambitious, exploratory and eccentric records. Her latest, New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, blends soul, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, blues and genre-defying Badu weirdness with even greater confidence and ease. (It’s the sequel to her seriously funky 2008 disc, New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War.)
Along the way, she has earned 20 Grammy nominations, four wins and far-reaching influence on adventurous young artists of all stripes. “I love it when somebody takes the time to be fucked up,” says Jim James of My Morning Jacket, who have made a live staple out of a bombastic, bluesy version of Badu’s 1997 tune “Tyrone.” “There’s so much mystery and passion in her music. Her last album was one of those records like [Sly and the Family Stone’s] There’s a Riot Goin’ On, where on first listen you’re like, ‘God, that kind of sounds like shit.’ But the more you listen, the more you go, ‘That’s the most real thing I’ve heard in so long.'”
The video was seen by many as a symbolic act with deeper spiritual meanings, possibly representative of spiritual death and rebirth. Additionally, some of Badu's lyrics and interviews have referenced astrology and metaphysical concepts. She has spoken about her interest in numerology and how it influences her life and music. In her song "Amerykahn Promise," Badu sings about "the science of vibration" and the "ancient explanations of creation." It is important to note that the occult has often been misunderstood and misrepresented throughout history. While some people associate it with negative connotations or dark practices, others embrace it as a means of self-expression, personal growth, and searching for spiritual truths beyond traditional norms. In the case of Erykah Badu, it is not entirely clear to what extent her involvement in the occult is deep or merely an artistic expression. She has not provided explicit details about specific occult practices or beliefs, leaving much room for interpretation and speculation. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to interpret and make their own judgments about Badu's involvement in the occult. Her music and artistic expression have undeniably been shaped by spiritual and esoteric themes, but the extent of her personal beliefs and practices remains a subject of fascination and curiosity for many..
Reviews for "The Witchy Women of Music: Erykah Badu's Role in the Occult Movement"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with Erykah Badu's exploration of occultism in her music. I found it to be quite off-putting and it didn't resonate with me at all. I feel like she is trying too hard to be edgy and experimental without any real substance behind it. I couldn't connect with the music because it felt forced and contrived.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I have always been a fan of Erykah Badu, but her recent venture into occultism is just not my cup of tea. I feel like she has lost her way and is trying to appeal to a different audience. The music lacks the soul and depth that I loved about her earlier work. It feels shallow and gimmicky. I hope she goes back to her roots and brings back the meaningful lyrics and powerful vocals that she was known for.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - As a long-time fan of Erykah Badu, I was really disappointed with her recent exploration of occultism. It feels like a desperate attempt to stay relevant in the music industry. The music itself lacks substance and the occult themes come across as insincere. I miss the old Erykah Badu, the one who created beautiful and soulful music. I hope she goes back to what made her great and leaves this occultism phase behind.
4. Lisa - 1/5 stars - Erykah Badu's foray into occultism just doesn't sit well with me. The music feels dark and unsettling, and I find it hard to enjoy or connect with. I respect her artistic choices, but this is not the Erykah Badu I fell in love with. I hope she goes back to creating music that speaks to the soul, rather than dabbling in controversial topics for the sake of it.