Did Hillary Clinton Really Consider Voodoo During the Gmail Scandal?
There's no doubt that Hillary Clinton's political career has been filled with its fair share of controversies. One such episode, the infamous incident involving her private email server, provided a peek into Clinton's frustration and despondency, leading to a rather unusual mention of Voodoo. In her recent memoir, What Happened, Clinton reveals that she was 'tempted' to create voodoo dolls during this period of intense stress. This raises questions about her involvement in New Age spiritual practices and how such beliefs might have influenced her during a high-stakes moment in her political career.
Clinton's Struggles During the Email Scandal
According to What Happened, Clinton describes the email controversy as a 'dumb mistake' but also a 'dumber scandal,' one that led to feelings of frustration and even thoughts of seeking spiritual solace through voodoo. Clinton states, 'At times I thought I must be going crazy. Other times I was sure it was the world that had gone nuts. Sometimes I snapped at my staff. I was tempted to make voodoo dolls of certain members of the press and Congress and stick them full of pins. Mostly I was furious at myself.'
A History of New Age Spirituality
While Hillary Clinton has always been defined by her staunchly held political beliefs, her connections to New Age spirituality are more than just a passing interest. Her affinity for New Age practices has a long history, stretching back to her time as the First Lady. For instance, during an interview for Spirit Daily, it was revealed that Clinton had a spiritual adviser linked to psychics and channeling.
Clinton also shared a vivid experience from her first trip to Haiti with Bill Clinton in 1975, detailed in her memoir Hard Choices. Clinton and Bill met a local voodoo priest named Max Beauvoir, and as part of a voodoo ceremony, they witnessed 'Haitians “seized with spirits” walk on hot coals, bite the heads off live chickens, and chew glass, spit out the shards, and not bleed.'
Bill Clinton's Voodoo Experience
Bill Clinton, too, had an encounter with voodoo during the same trip. In his memoir My Life, he recounts the experience and its impact on his worldview. Clinton wrote, 'The most interesting day of the trip' was witnessing voodoo in practice. He characterized the experience as 'a brief course in voodoo theology,' followed by a ceremony where participants performed seemingly miraculous feats such as walking on hot coals without being burned and biting the heads off live chickens.
According to the Washington Post, Bill Clinton noted that the experience furthered his fascination with 'the way different cultures try to make sense of life, nature, and the virtually universal belief that there is a nonphysical spirit force at work in the world.'
Conclusion
While Hillary Clinton's political career has been marked by controversy, her fascination with voodoo and other forms of New Age spirituality provides an interesting glimpse into how belief systems can impact even the most high-profile of public figures. Her initial memoir, What Happened, reveals that the stress from the email scandal pushed her to consider unconventional methods for emotional release. As she navigates the complexities of modern politics, it's clear that her personal beliefs have been as much a part of her life as her politics.