<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
I've heard in New Orleans, they have voodoo practitioners. What do they do, and are their hexes effective?
<|assistant|>
Voodoo is a folk religion native to the Caribbean which combines elements of Roman Catholicism with African beliefs and practices, such as magic and spirit possession. In New Orleans, voodoo is often associated with hoodoo, which combines african folk magic, herbalism, and Christian elements. Voodoo practitioners believe that their hexes are effective and that they can cause real harm or good karma. For example, a practitioner may conjure a spirit during a ritual and instruct them to bring favorable outcomes to the practitioner, or place a cursing doll under someone's doorstep to inflict physical illness and cause emotional suffering. In some cases, these curses have proven to be powerful and effective, while other cases have been proven to have no effect. Whether or not the hex is effective depends highly on the skill level and belief of the practitioner.