How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The ancient houngan stepped forward and, taking a stick, drew a symbol in the mud. Toussaint flinched at the man's eyeless sockets. His master had ordered them to be put out when the houngan – who was called Louis, even though that wasn't his true name—had dared to look upon his daughter in her underclothes. (2.57)
Just like Shorty, Toussaint isn't into houngans and magical deities; he gets that a lot of the supernatural experience is rooted in performance instead of reality. Sure, people might believe in the gods, but they're more interested in watching someone get healed or put on a good show.
Quote #5
When I was a boy, a houngan said that I had half a soul. My twin sister died when we were young. The houngan told me about Marassa, said we had power when we were together, but when my sister died the power was lost. (6.30)
Even though this is talking about Toussaint, it could be about Shorty. He, too, was a twin with power back in the day. It's no coincidence that these two share similar experiences and are both twins. We later learn that Toussaint is now in Shorty because of his pwen. If that's not supernatural, we don't know what is.
Quote #6
As he dragged himself back to the plantation, Toussaint saw the magic trick of slavery, and he knew Boukman was right. This was the magic: it was merely an idea that made men into animals. (6.93)
Slavery isn't something we'd describe as magical, yet we understand what Toussaint means here. He's pointing out that slave-owners somehow pull one over on everyone (much like a magician) by claiming men are animals and can be owned.