A María Lionza priest liberates evil spirits so they can be buried in the earth. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

Devotees of María Lionza exchange energies in a pool. Dress is kept to a minimum in the cult, as clothing is seen as a barrier to the spirits. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

Violent mimicry is a characteristic of many rituals in the folk religion of María Lionza, but nobody gets hurt. María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A man undergoes supernatural healing during a María Lionza cult ritual. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A man possessed by the spirit of an Indian chief performs a ritual on a child. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A protective circle of powder protects against evil spirits during a ritual of the folk religion of María Lionza. María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

In some rituals of the folk religion of María Lionza, people lie on beds of chalk as part of a healing process. María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A woman undergoes a ritual cure as an alternative to surgery during a María Lionza rite. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

An old woman lies in a pool of water - an important element in spiritual cleansing and a symbol of the María Lionza cult's closeness to nature. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. It is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A young man is covered in earth to help exorcise bad spirits during a María Lionza rite. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

A woman has candles placed in her mouth as a cure for madness during in a María Lionza rite. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

Devotees of María Lionza lie in chalk circles to elicit communication with the spirits. The folk religion of María Lionza has one of the largest followings of any sect in Venezuela. The cult is a blend of African, indigenous and Roman Catholic beliefs, and is popular across all strata of society. María Lionza is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace and harmony, and followers believe she still lives on Montana de Sorte together with many important spirits. Devotees travel to the mountain to pay homage to her and commune with the spirit world.

Nature,3rd prize