A young Gamballa Voodoo adept preparing for the main ceremony. It takes a long time and an inordinate amount of dedication for someone to become an adept through a rather gruelling process designed to open the person's third eye and allow him to communicate and receive the messages of the spirits. Gamballa voodoo is what is frequently referred to as "white" voodoo and is meant to help people - appealing to the spirits for health, financial assistance and support for one's love affairs. Contrary to common belief, most voodoo is benign in nature and priests are both spiritual as well as practical guides.