Vodou is polytheistic and revolves around deities known as "lwa". Deriving their names and attributes from traditional West African divinities, they are equated with Roman Catholic saints and divided up into different "nanchon" ("nations") such as the Rada and the Petwo. Various myths and stories are told about these lwa, which are regarded as subservient to a transcendent creator deity, Bondye. An initiatory tradition, Vodouists usually meet to venerate the lwa in "ounfòs", temples run by "oungans" (priests) or "manbos" (priestesses). A central ritual involves practitioners drumming, singing, and dancing to encourage a lwa to possess one of their members and thus communicate with them. Offerings to the lwa include fruit and sacrificed animals. Offerings are also given to the spirits of the dead. Several forms of divination are utilized to decipher messages from the lwa. Healing rituals and the preparation of herbal remedies, amulets, and charms, also play a prominent role.