Vodou Lessons Mambo Racine Sans Bout
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Vodou Lesson 1. VODOU AND VODOUISANTS Part 1 - What is Vodou? Vodou is a spiritual tradition whih ori!inated ori!inated in "aiti durin! the period o# $renh olonial sla%er&. 'arl& in the olonial histor& o# "ispaniola( the island now shared )& "aiti "aiti and the Do*inian Do*inian +epu)li( +epu)li( the ori!inal Taino Taino and ,ari) peoples peoples o# "aiti were eter*inated )& the Spanish. A#rians o# *an& ethni linea!es were transported )& #ore to "aiti( pri*aril& to ser%e as a!riultural sla%es. There was so*e ontat o# ourse )etween esaped A#rians and sur%i%in! Tainos( )ut little is dou*ented outside o# the sur%i%als #ound in Vodou ritual. Later( $rane esta)lished he!e*on& o%er "aiti and i*ported A#rians pri*aril& )ut not elusi%el& #ro* those re!ions o# A#ria olonied )& $rane. Durin! this historial period( 'uropeans #ro* $rane and other ountries( inludin! pro-Stuart deportees #ro* Sotland( settled in "aiti. /eause so *an& linea!es were represented( no one partiular A#rian ser%ie ould satis#& all partiipants( espeiall& sine re%erene #or anestral lines was so i*portant. There#ore( eah 0nation0 would tae it2s turn at a !atherin!. This 0tae turns0 approah e%entuall& e%ol%ed e%ol%ed into the ere*onial order o# the Vodou litur!&. Durin! this #or*ati%e period( 'uropean pre-,hristian entities suh as /ri!id( or 3a*an /ri!itte in the Vodou tradition4 and in#luenes #ro* the nati%e Taino and ,ari) populations were also a)sor)ed. There are deno*inations in Vodou( 5ust as in *an& other reli!ions. The #irst( and *ost widel& nown( is the orthodo Vodou. In this deno*ination( deno*ination( the Daho*ean rite is !i%en a position o# pri*a&( and initiations are onduted )ased *ainl& on the Daho*ean *odel. A priest or priestess reie%es the asson( asson( a ere*onial rattle( as an e*)le* o# priesthood. In this rite( a priest is nown as a Houngan a Houngan or or so*eti*es Gangan( Gangan( a priestess is nown as a Mambo a Mambo.. In the orthodo Vodou( 6oru)an lines are also !i%en pro*inene. Other 0nations0 or lines than the Daho*ean Daho*ean are represented r epresented as su)-headin!s in the ere*onial order. This rite is widel& represented in "aiti( and onentrated in Port-au-Prine and in the south o# "aiti. The seond deno*ination is alled 3aa&a. In this rite( initiations are less ela)orate( and the priest or priestess does not reie%e the asson. A 3aa&a priest is alled a Bokor a Bokor ( and a priestess is so*eti*es re#erred to as 3a*)o( so*eti*es as a sorciere( sorciere( soreress. 7The ter*s )oor and soriere are onsidered pe5orati%e in the orthodo Vodou( and )oor an also re#er to an uninitiated speialist speialist in *ale%olent *a!i( also alled malfacteur . Suh indi%iduals are not ler!& in an& deno*ination.8 The 3aa&a litur!& is less uni#or* #ro* perist&le to perist&le than 9
the orthodo Vodou( and there is a stron!er e*phasis on *a!i as opposed to reli!ion. This rite is present in Port-au-Prine( and stron!l& represented in the Arti)onite Valle& in entral "aiti. A third deno*ination is the :on!o rite. As the na*e i*plies( it is al*ost elusi%el& representati%e o# the :on!o tradition. The initiation #ollows the :on!o *odel. A priest or priestess o# this line is alled a serviteur . 7In orthodo Vodou( a ser%iteur is *erel& one who ser%es the lwa( the dieties o# Vodou.8 This rite is onentrated near ;onai%es in entral "aiti( and a *a5or annual :on!o #esti%al is held e%er& &ear in Surie near ;onai%es. All o# these traditions ha%e se%eral points in o**on< There is onl& one ;od( alled Gran Met ( or ;reat 3aster4 and also Bondye( #ro* the $renh Bon Dieu( ;ood ;od. There are lesser entities are alled lwa( and thou!h the& %ar& #ro* rite to rite( the& are all onsidered i**ediatel& aessi)le throu!h the *ehanis* o# spirit possession. Possession in the ontet o# a ere*on& is onsidered nor*al( natural( and hi!hl& desira)le( howe%er there is a ertain 0eti=uette0 to possession whih will )e disussed later. All rites e*plo& pra&er( son!( dru**in!( ostu*e( and danin! durin! ere*onies.
Part 9 - Who *a& partiipate in Vodou? An&one *a& partiipate in Vodou. There are no !ender( raial( a!e( seual orientation( or national ori!in re=uire*ents( neither is an&one ased to renoune a pre-eistin! reli!ious a##iliation. In "aiti( the %ast *a5orit& o# Vodouisants are also +o*an ,atholis. There are %arious le%els o# partiipation( o# ourse( 5ust as in *ost other reli!ions. A Vodou ere*on& is pu)li( and an&one *a& enter the peristyle( or te*ple( and o)ser%e. Sin!in! and danin! are enoura!ed. /eause there is no entralied hierarh& pa&in! salaries to "oun!ans and 3a*)os( and )eause a perist&le is pri%ate propert&( it is onsidered nor*al #or uninitiated partiipants to *ae a s*all ash !i#t. This *one& is used to de#ra& the ost o# the dru**ers( #ood whih is o##ered to the partiipants( and the !eneral upeep o# the perist&le and o# the "oun!an or 3a*)o in har!e. This is o#ten hard to understand #or people raised in the >udeo-,hristian tradition( where priests( *inisters( and ra))is are salaried pro#essionals. Indi%iduals who ha%e an initiator& !rade *a& partiipate in pri%ate ere*onies pertainin! to other indi%iduals o# their own !rade or lower. A person with a lower !rade *a& not partiipate in a ere*on& on#errin! a hi!her !rade o# initiation( )eause the nowled!e i*parted is seret and )eause the& are not o*petent to do so.
There has )een =uite a )it o# ontro%ers& in the United States in reent &ears o%er ethni a##iliation and partiipation in A#rian-deri%ed reli!ions. So*e unsrupulous "oun!ans or 3a*)os in "aiti will tae ad%anta!e o# the i!norane o# a #orei!ner( per#or* )o!us ere*onies( and har!e eor)itant rates. Others ha%e an unspoen understandin! that the& will not re%eal the 0seret0 nowled!e o# Vodou( *eanin! orret in#or*ation and initiation( to a non-)la non-"aitian. "owe%er( other "oun!ans and 3a*)os hold the %iew that people are hosen )& the lwa( and not the other wa& around - and that there#ore a "oun!an or 3a*)o who re#uses trainin! and initiation to a #orei!ner sent )& the lwa will su##er #or it. Initiation re=uires a si!ni#iant period o# stud&( and the o**it*ent shown )& the #orei!ner is usuall& enou!h to o%ero*e an& retiene on the part o# the o##iiatin! "oun!an or 3a*)o. I ha%e e%en seen a "oun!an %i!orousl& de#end his non"aitian andidate( and re#use all su!!estions that he 0rip o## 0 the person. "a%in! said that( I would note that respet #or A#rian and Western "e*isphere )la people is inu*)ent on all who would stud& or #ollow the Vodou tradition. Let us ne%er #or!et that unounted nu*)ers o# A#rian *en and wo*en were #lo!!ed( raped( tortured( astrated( and )urned ali%e in an e##ort to eradiate the Vodou. Vodou supported the i*petus #or the resistane to $renh olonial sla%er&( and #ueled the onl& sues#ul sla%e re)ellion in the Western "e*isphere( whih led to the )irth o# the he*isphere2s #irst independant )la repu)li. '%en as reentl& as the United States *ilitar& oupation o# "aiti #ro* 1@1 to 1@B( a s&ste*ati e##ort was *ade to eradiate Vodou. Te*ples were )urned( prieless anient dru*s destro&ed( and "oun!ans and 3a*)os )eaten( i*prisoned( and *urdered.
Part - Na*es and !rades o# Initiator& Le%els in Vodou There are a series o# le%els o# initiation in orthodo Vodou( usuall& ahie%ed se=uentiall& as an indi%idual !rows in nowled!e and standin! in the Vodou o**unit&. All le%els o# initiation are open to *en and wo*en. An uninitiated person who attends ere*onies( reei%es ounsel and *edial treat*ent #ro* a "oun!an or 3a*)o( and taes part in Vodou related ati%ities is alled a Vodouisant . This is a !eneral ter*( lie 0,hristian0 or 0/uddhist0. An uninitiated person who is assoiated with a partiular perist&le ( attends ere*onies re!ularl&( and appears to )e preparin! #or initiation is so*eti*es re#erred to as a hounsi bossale. Hounsi is #ro* the $on lan!ua!e o# Daho*e&( and si!ni#ies 0)ride o# the spirit0( althou!h the ter* in "aiti re#ers to *en and wo*en. Bossale *eans 0wild0 or 0unta*ed0( in the sense o# an unta*ed saddle horse.
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The #irst !rade o# initiation on#ers the title hounsi kanzo. Kanzo( also #ro* the $on( re#ers to #ire( and the #ire ere*on&( also alled kanzo( !i%es it2s na*e to the entire initiator& &le. Indi%iduals who are ano *i!ht )e liened to on#ir*ed *e*)ers o# a ,hristian deno*ination. At a Vodou ere*on&( the hounsis ano wear white lothin!( #or* the hoir( and are liel& andidates #or possession )& a lwa. The seond !rade o# initiation is re#erred to as si pwen( sur point in $renh. This ter* re#ers to the #at that the indi%idual under!oes #urther ere*onies( 0on the point0 or on the patrona!e( o# a partiular lwa. The person is then onsidered to )e a "oun!an or 3a*)o( and is per*itted to use the asson( or sared rattle e*)le*ati o# priesthood. Indi%iduals who are si pwen *i!ht )e liened to *inisters o# ,hristian deno*ination. At a ere*on&( the& lead pra&ers and son!s( ondut rituals( and are al*ost ine%ita)le andidates #or possession. One intitiated sur point( the& *a& initiate other indi%iduals as kanzo senp 7si*ple ano8 or as sur point. The third( and #inal( !rade o# initiation is re#erred to as asogwe. A "oun!an or 3a*)o aso!we *i!ht )e liened to a )ishop in a ,hristian deno*ination( as the& an onserate other priests. Indi%iduals who are aso!we *a& initiate other indi%iduals as ano senp( si pwen( or aso!we. At a ere*on& the& are the #inal authorit& on proedure( unless a lwa is present and *ani#est throu!h the *ehanis* o# possession. The& are also the last resort when the presene o# a partiular lwa is re=uired. A "oun!an or 3a*)o aso!we is said to 0ha%e the asson0( the ere*onial rattle e*)le*ati o# priesthood( *eanin! that the&( and the& alone( an on#er the asson on another indi%idual( there)& ele%atin! that indi%idual in turn to the status o# aso!we. '%en a "oun!an or 3a*)o aso!we *ust de#er to the "oun!an or 3a*)o who initiated hi* or her( to those in the sa*e perist&le who were initiated at the sa*e !rade prior to hi* or her( to the person who initiated their initiator& "oun!an or 3a*)o and to that indi%idual2s initiates( and so on. These relationships an !row rather o*pliated( and there is a point in an orthodo Vodou ere*on& where all "oun!ans and 3a*)os( sur point and aso!we( partiipate in a series o# ritual !estures and e*)raes whih ser%e to eluidate and re!ulate these relationships.
Vodou Lesson 9. T"' AN,'STO+S Part 1 - The Anestors( and the Vodou wa& o# relai*in! the dead. The anestors( zanset yo in "aitian ,reole( are e%er with a Vodouisant. "eCshe li%es( )reathes and ats with the awareness o# their presene. The national anthe* o# "aiti )e!ins( 0$or the ountr&( and #or the anestors( we wal united...0. In the ountr&side o# "aiti( eah #a*il& o*pound inludes a #a*il& !ra%e&ard. The to*)s o# #a*il& *e*)ers are as ela)orate as the #a*il& an a##ord. So*e rese*)le s*all houses )uilt a)o%e !round( with the r&pt )elow. The strutures )uilt #or wealth& #a*ilies *a& e%en o*prise a s*all sittin! roo*( o*plete with a piture o# the deeased and !ood =ualit& hairs. When a newo*er enters the #a*il& o*pound #or an etended %isit( ourtes& re=uires that her or she *ae a s*all li)ation o# water at the to*)s( so that the anestors will welo*e the person. $a*il& *e*)ers and !uests *a& also( at an& ti*e( *ae an 0illu*ination0. ,andles or )eeswa tapers are li!hted( plaed on the to*)s( and a short pra&er is said. In the it&( the law re=uires )urial in the it& !ra%e&ard. A!ain( strutures *a& )e =uite ela)orate( and lar!e padlos and other seurit& de%ies are used to pre%ent !ra%ero))ers #ro* *ain! o## with the *etal o##in #indin!s( )ones( or other artiles o# the dead person. The )ones o# dead indi%iduals are onsidered to ha%e !reat *a!ial powers( partiularl& i# the dead person was a "oun!an( 3a*)o( or in an& other wa& nota)le or distin!uished( #or !ood or ill. A Vodouisant is )uried with +o*an ,atholi ere*on&( and a wae is held #or nine ni!hts a#ter the death. The ninth ni!ht is alled the denye priye( the last pra&er. A#ter the last pra&er( the ,atholi part o# the death ritual is losed. At so*e point either )e#ore or a#ter the +o*an ,atholi ere*on&( the Vodou ere*on& o# desounin is held. In this ere*on&( the o*ponent parts o# the person2s soul and li#e #ore( and the pri*ar& lwa in the head o# the person( are ritualistiall& separated and onsi!ned to their orret destinations. The desounin o# a well nown and hi!hl& respeted "oun!an( suh as *& initiator& "oun!an Lu ;edeon( /on "oun!an >a*)e 3alheur( *a& )e attended )& hundreds o# white ro)ed( weepin! *ourners. It is at this ti*e that the inheritor o# an& #a*il& lwa li)erated #ro* the deeased is usuall& re%ealed( as the hosen indi%idual )eo*es )rie#l& possessed.
One &ear and one da& a#ter the death o# the indi%idual( the ere*on& retire mo nan dlo( tae the dead out o# the water( *a& )e per#or*ed. The spirit o# the dead person is alled up throu!h a %essel o# water( under a white sheet( and rituall& installed in a lean la& pot alled a govi. The %oie o# the dead indi%idual *a& spea #ro* the !o%i( or throu!h the *outh o# another person )rie#l& possessed #or the purpose. The !o%i is re%erentl& plaed in the devo( or inner roo* o# the te*ple. So*eti*es the spririt o# a departed anestor *a& return o# it2s own aord( as a 2lwa ;hede2 . 3& own initiator& "oun!an had in his head a ;hede na*ed ;hede Arapie La ,roi( who re%ealed to *e that he had one )een a )la "aitian *an( )orn on No%. 9( All Souls2 Da&( in the /el Air distrit o# Port-au-Prine. "is outspoen nature and ina)ilit& to tolerate in5ustie !ot hi* *urdered )& a nei!h)orhood stron!*an at the a!e o# 91. Then #ollowed a lon! spritual od&sse& One da&( he saw Lu ;edeon in the woods with the !o%i o# another lwa( :an!a( worin! on a ure #or a si person. Arapie ased :an!a #or per*ission to enter the !o%i with hi*( )ut :an!a re#used( and *ade Arapie han! around i**ateriall& outside Lu ;edeon2s perist&le #or another &ear. Then :an!a re=uired a ere*on& o# installation #or ;hede Arapie la ,roi. When Lu ;edeon( /on "oun!an >a*)e 3alheur( )ea*e possessed #or the #irst ti*e )& ;hede Arapie la ,roi( Arapie de*onstrated his power and his lo&alt& to Lu )& sittin! down in the *iddle o# the hu!e ere*onial )on#ire. Srea*s o# #ear #ro* the on!re!ation and tears o# terror #ro* Lu2s #a*il& did not dissuade hi* - and in a *o*ent the terror turned to wonder as not a hair o# Lu2s head nor a thread o# his lothes was )urned. Arapie then entered the perist&le and was re%erentl& installed in his %er& own !o%i( where he re*ains until toda&( *ani#estin! throu!h one o# the &oun!er relati%es o# the late "oun!an.
Part 9 - The anestral lwa - /aron( 3a*an /ri!itte( and the lwa ;hede. Part 9A E /A+ON The head o# the #a*il& o# anestral lwa is /aron. "e is 3aster o# the ,e*eter& and !uardian o# anestral nowled!e. "e has *an& aspets( inludin! /aron Sa*edi( /aron ,e*etiere( /aron la ,roi( and /aron ,ri*inel. In all o# his aspets( he is a *asuline lwa with a nasal %oie who arries a walin! sti or )aton( uses pro#anit& li)erall&( and dresses in )la or purple. "e is onsidered the last resort a!ainst deaths aused )& *a!i( )eause e%en i# a *a!ial spell should )rin! a person to the point o# death( i# /aron re#uses to 0di! the !ra%e0( the person will not die. /aron( with his wi#e 3a*an /ri!itte( is also responsi)le #or relai*in! the souls o# the dead 7see Part 18 and trans#or*in! the* into lwa ;hede. /aron *a& )e in%oed #or ases o# in#ertilit&( and he is the di%ine 5ud!e to whih people *a& F
)rin! their appeals( sin!in!< 7"aitian ,reole8 ! kwa" o ibile #repeat$ !u pa we m inosan% 7'n!lish8 Oh( rossG Oh( 5u)ileeG Don2t &ou see I2* innoent? The !ra%e o# the #irst *an )uried in an& e*eter& in "aiti( whether the person in li#e partiipated in the Vodou reli!ion or not( is dediated to /aron 7not ;hede8( and a ere*onial ross is ereted on the spot. In #a*il& o*pounds in the ountr&side( a #a*il& *a& eret a ross to /aron #or their own linea!e( and no perist&le is o*plete without the ross o# /aron so*ewhere on the !rounds. /aron *a& )e in%oed at an& ti*e( and he an appear without )ein! alled( so power#ul is he. "e drins ru* in whih twent&-one hot peppers ha%e )een steeped( and whih no *ere *ortal ould swallowG "is ere*onial #oods are )la o##ee( !rilled peanuts( and )read. "e danes the re*ara)l& i*pro%isational banda with !reat sill( and so*eti*es puts his walin! sti )etween his le!s to represent a phallus. /aron is a %er& *asuline lwa. One da&( I saw a /aron possess a ho*oseual "oun!an. A passin! wo*an teased /aron that he was a 0*asisi0 7#a!!ot( disrespet#ul ter* #or a ho*oseual *an.8 /aron reared up and roared at the wo*an( 0I a* /aronG This "oun!an( *& "oun!an( he is a #a!!ot( &es( )ut I( /aron( I2* no #a!!ot( I #H the )eauti#ul wo*an 3a*an /ri!itteG0 And he staled o## in hi!h dud!eon( swin!in! his )aton *ost threatenin!l&. The $east o# the Anestors( $et ;hede( is onsidered the end o# the old &ear and the )e!innin! o# the new( *uh as in the 'uropean Wian tradition. An& de)ts to /aron( 3a*an /ri!itte( or ;hede *ust )e paid at this ti*e. /aron :ri*inel sin!s to his de)tors< 7"aitian ,reole8 Bawon Kriminel" map travay pou ve de te yo" m pa bezwenn laan #repeat$" Bawon Kriminel" !& 'ane a bout o" map paret tan yo( 7'n!lish8 /aron ,ri*inel( I2* worin! #or the wor*s o# the earth 7lowl&( poor people8( I don2t need *one& 7repeat8( /aron ,ri*inel( ohG The &ear has ended( oh( I2ll appear( to wait #or the* 7to pa& *e8.
Part 9/ - 3A3AN /+I;ITT' 3a*an /ri!itte( surprisin!l& enou!h #or a Vodou lwa( is /ritish in ori!in( desended #ro* /ri!idCSt. /ri!it( the ,elti 0triple !oddess0 o# poetr&( s*ithra#t( and healin!. She *ust ha%e o*e to "aiti in the hearts o# deported Sottish and Irish indentured ser%ants. There is e%en a son! we sin! in ere*onies whih !oes Maman Briit" li soti nan anglete( 3a*an /ri!itte( she o*es #ro* 'n!land...0 7I thin that /ri!id was *ore Sottish than 'n!lish( )ut in "aiti perhaps at one ti*e the word anglete represented all the /ritish Isles.8 Nowada&s( 3a*an /ri!itte is onsidered to )e the wi#e o# /aron( 3aster o# the ,e*eter& and hie# o# all the departed anestors( nown as lwa Ghede. The !ra%e o# the #irst wo*an )uried in an& e*eter& in "aiti is onserated to 3a*an /ri!itte( and it is there that her ere*onial ross is ereted. She( as well as /aron( is in%oed to 0raise the dead0( *eanin! to ure and sa%e those who are on the point o# death #ro* illness aused )& *a!i. "ere is a %er& #a*ous son! a)out 3a*an /ri!itte sun! in Vodou ere*onies< 7"aitian ,reole8 Mesye la kwa avanse pou l we yo& Maman Brigitte malad" li kouche sou do" )awol anpil pa leve le mo #les morts" *r($ Mare tet ou" mare vant ou" mare ren ou" +o prale we ki an yap met a enou( 7'n!lish8 ;entle*en o# the ross 7deeased anestors8 ad%ane #or her to see the*G 3a*an /ri!itte is si( she lies down on her )a( A lot o# tal won2t raise the dead( Tie up &our head( tie up &our )ell&( tie up &our idne&s( The& will see how the& will !et down on their nees. 73eanin!( tie up &our )ell&( 2!ird up &our loins2 to prepare #or the strain o# wor( we will *ae the people who did this e%il spell !et down on their nees to )e! pardon and reei%e their punish*ent.8 3a*an /ri!itte( lie the rest o# the /aronC;hede onstellation( is a tou!h-talin! lwa who uses a lot o# o)senities. She drins ru* laed with hot pepper( so hot that a person not possessed )& a lwa ould ne%er drin it. She also is nown to pass hot "aitian peppers on the sin o# her !enitals( and this is the test to whih wo*en are su)5eted when the& are suspeted o# 0#ain!0 possession. She danes the seuall& su!!esti%e and re*ara)l& artisti banda( and the %irtuosit& o# her danin! is le!endar&.
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3a*an /ri!itte and /aron are the *other and #ather who relai* the souls o# the dead and trans#or* the* into lwa ;hede( re*o%in! the* #ro* the *&sti waters where the& were without o!niane o# their own identit& and na*in! the*. There is a plainti%e son! a)out the ondition o# souls in the *&sti waters( whih is also sun! when an initiate is )ein! prepared #or the period o# selusion( ritual death( and re)irth o# the initiation &le< 7"aitian ,reole8 Dlo kwala manyan" nan peyi sa maman pa konn petit li" ,an peyi sa" fre pa konn se li" dlo kwala manyan( 7'n!lish8 Water wala *an&an 7not ,reole words8( in that ountr& a *other does not now her hild( In that ountr& a )rother does not now his sister( water wala *an&an.
Part 9, - T"' LWA ;"'D' The lwa ;hede are an enor*ous #a*il& o# lwa( as *an& and %aried as were the souls #ro* whih the& ori!inated. Sine the& are all *e*)ers o# the sa*e #a*il&( spiritual hildren o# /aron and 3a*an /ri!itte( the& all ha%e the sa*e last na*e 'a -roi.( the ross. No *atter what other na*e the& )ear( their si!nature is alwa&s La ,roi. So*e ;hede2s na*es inlude< ;hede Arapie la ,roi( /ra% ;hede de la ,roi( ;hede Seretaire de la ,roi( ;hede Ti-,harles la ,roi( 3aa&a 3ososso de la ,roi4 and suh sad and de!raded soundin! na*es as ;hede Ti-3op&on De&e la ,roi 7;hede Little ,ra) Louse /ehind the ,ross8( ;hede $atra de la ,roi 7;ar)a!e ;hede o# the ,ross8( ;hede ;wo Joo nan ,re Tone de la ,roi 7;hede /i! ,o in Puss& )& Thunder o# the ,ross8 and so on. There is a reason #or these odd na*es( whih will )eo*e lear as we !o alon!. The %ast *a5orit& o# ;hedes are *ale( )ut there is at least one #e*ale ;hede whih I ha%e seen( alled 0;hedelia0. "er na*e is also e*)laoned on a #ew )uses in Port-au-Prine( )ut I ha%e not deter*ined whether she is a well nown ;hede who *a& appear in al*ost an& perist&le( or whether she is a uni=ue 0#a*il&0 ;hede. ;hede *a& possess an&one( an&ti*e( e%en Protestants 7to their enor*ous e*)arass*ent and displeasure.8 I ha%e a wo*an #riend in "aiti who one da& was o)ser%in! a !roup o# wo*en possessed )& ;hede( a%ortin! and danin! the banda. She said so*ethin! lie( 0Loo at those dis!ustin! whores( the& ha%e no respet #or the*sel%es.0 On the spot( a ;hede possessed *& #riend( threw her to the !round( and delared #ro* her prostrate )od& that he would tae her to 5oin her
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anestors #orthwithG Pleadin! and interessions #ro* her #a*il& *e*)ers #inall& pai#ied the ;hede( who pro*ised to relent - on the ondition that the wo*an )eo*e a 3a*)oG 3a*)o Delireuse now praties in a rural area near Petite +i%iere de l2Arti)onite( in entral "aitiG The ;hedes are %er& *uh transitional #i!ures( standin! as the& do )etween the li%in! and the #inalit& o# death( )etween the anestors in ;uinea and the li%in! *en and wo*en o# "aiti. Perhaps this is wh& the ;hede are honored *idwa& throu!h the #ull orthodo Vodou ere*on&( a#ter the +ada 7pri*aril& Daho*ean and 6oru)an8 and )e#ore the Petro 7pri*aril& Western "e*isphere8. The ;hedes dress *uh lie their #ather /aron - )la or purple lothes( ela)orate hats( dar !lasses( so*eti*es *issin! a lens( a walin! sti or )aton. The& also dane the )anda( )ut the& retain *ore o# the indi%idual personalit& o# the person #ro* who* the& ori!inated. $or ea*ple( the Spanish-speain! ;hede I ha%e alread& disussed turns his )aton around and holds it lie a !uitar. "e pretends to stru* as he sin!s lo%e son!s to una muer . This is a )it at&pial( )ut *an& ;hedes prolai* their !eo!raphi ori!ins - 0I o*e #ro* Tho*aeau0( 0I2* a Port-auPrine !u&0. The ;hede #a*il&( inludin! their #ather and *other( /aron and 3a*an /ri!itte( are a)solutel& notorious #or their use o# pro#anit& and seual ter*s. There is a reason #or this - the ;hede are dead( )e&ond all punish*ent. Nothin! #urther an )e done to the*( so the use o# pro#anit& a*on! the nor*all& so*ewhat #or*al "aitians is a wa& o# sa&in!( 0I don2t areG I2%e passed )e&ond all su##erin!( I an2t )e hurt.0 In a ountr& where disrespet #or authorit& #i!ures was until reentl& punished )& torture or death( this is a power#ul *essa!e. "owe%er( this pro#anit& is ne%er used in a %iious or a)usi%e #ashion( to 0urse so*eone out0. It is alwa&s hu*orous( e%en when there is a pointed *essa!e in%ol%ed. There are so*e %er& statel& and di!ni#ied son!s sun! #or ;hede( partiularl& the older( racine or root aspets suh as /ra% ;hede. Nowada&s howe%er( the aent is on the seual and o)sene hu*or the ;hede lwa pro%ide. "ere is a popular son! sun! #or ;hede in pu)li ele)rations and Vodou perist&les< 7"aitian ,reole8 /i koko te gen dan li tap mane mayi griye" /e paske li pa gen dan ki fe l mane zozo kale& 7'n!lish - hold on to &our sos( #olsG8 I# %a!ina had teeth( it would eat roast orn( It2s )eause it has no teeth( wh& it eats peeled penisG
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In the sa*e %ein( ;hede is said to )e a thie#. It is true that he appropriates what he lies #ro* streetside %endors( )ut one the seller aedes to ;hede2s de*ands his pil#erin! is usuall& li*ited to a #ew sraps o# oonut *eat or a )it o# roast orn. At $et ;hede( *ost perist&les oo #ood espeiall& #or the hundreds o# ;hedes whih appear and wander throu!h the streets. "ere is a son! that a rowd o# ;hedes san! as the& went to the house o# a well now and partiularl& !enerous 3a*)o in the ,arre#our area o# Port-au-Prine( na*ed 'amesi 7#ro* the $renh 'a Merci( the thans8. 7"aitian ,reole8 0ing ting ting ting kay 'amesi" 1hoi mama" Kay la Mesi gen yon kochon griye" 1hoi mama& 7'n!lish8 Tin! tin! tin! tin! La*esi2s house Whoi *a*a( La*esi2s house has a whole roast pi!( Whoi *a*aG
Lesson 9( Part - $ete ;hede in "aiti Toda& No%e*)er 9( All Soul2s Da&( o**onl& alled *et Gede 7pronouned ;A6-da&8( is a national holida& in "aiti. ,atholis attend *ass in the *ornin! and then !o to the e*eter&( where the& pra& at #a*il& !ra%e sites and *ae repairs to #a*il& to*)s. The *a5orit& o# "aitian ,atholis are also Vodouisants( and %ie %ersa( so on the wa& to the e*eter& *an& people han!e lothes #ro* the white the& wore to hurh( to the purple and )la o# the lwa Gede( the spirits o# the departed anestors. /& *id*ornin! the streets o# Port-au-Prine are thron!ed with thousands o# people. Doens are alread& possessed )& a ;hede( and their nasal %oies( o)sene 5oes( and !&ratin! banda dane *ae the* un*istaa)le. ;rand ,e*etiere( the *ain e*eter& o# Port-au-Prine( is 5a**ed with people. ,rowds press lose around the twel%e #oot hi!h ere*onial ross o# /aron and the near)& s*aller ross o# 3a*an /ri!itte. 3an& )rin! o##erin!s o# )la o##ee and ru*( whih the& pour at the #oot o# the rosses. The& also )rin! #ood o##erin!s o# )read( !rilled peanuts( roast orn( and so*eti*es pepper& ooed #ood. Oasionall& a person( usuall& a "oun!an or 3a*)o( will sari#ie a hien or a pair o# pi!eons or do%es. The o##erin! is =uil& appropriated )& the *an& )e!!ars who thron! the e*eter&. So*e people sell andles( )eeswa tapers( and reli!ious i*a!es o# saints onsidered to represent /aron( 3a*an /ri!itte( and the ;hedes.
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I*a!ine a 3a*)o in %olu*inous sirts o# )la and la%ender( a #louned )odie o# the sa*e olors( se%eral sil erhie#s wrapped around her head( and strin!s o# )eads at her ne4 as she approahes the ross o# 3a*an /ri!itte with her hounsis 7those who ha%e reei%ed the #irst !rade o# initiation.8 She arries sti& )eeswa tapers whih she a##ies to eah ar* o# the ross and to it2s enter. Then she produes a )la hen #ro* her straw napsa( and passes it downward o%er the )odies o# her hounsis( re*o%in! all e%il in#luenes. A#ter pra&er( she ills the hien =uil& 5ust as she would #or an ordinar& *eal. The )lood spurts on the ross( and she donates the hien to a hun!r& )e!!ar wo*an awaitin! al*s. The 3a*)o )eo*es possessed )& 3a*an /ri!itte( and prophesies the e%ents o# the o*in! &ear. One o# the hounsis who has )eha%ed )adl& is disiplined with a #ew !entle taps( and one who is ill is !i%en the reipe #or an her)al toni. Then 3a*an /ri!itte drenhes her ross with ru* and sets it ali!ht( sin!in! and danin! the banda with !reat %irtuosit& to the 5o& o# all present. A #ew *o*ents later she lea%es the head o# her 3a*)o( who( returned to onsiousness( o*poses hersel# and lea%es the e*eter& with the ut*ost di!nit&. Aross town at the e*eter& o# Drouillard( wherein are )uried the poorest o# the poor( the people o# the ,ite Soleil nei!h)orhood( the worship is &et *ore intense. /ands o# Vodouisants #ro* %arious perist&les *arh sin!in! )ehind tea*s o# dru**ers( with *ore and *ore people under!oin! possession as the& near the e*eter&. Those who re*ain in their nor*al onsiousness %isit the !ra%es o# #riends and relati%es( speain! to the* as thou!h the& an hear under the !round. 0Loo( Papa(0 sa&s one wo*an( 0I2%e )rou!ht #ood #or &ou.0 0Older )rother(0 weeps a &oun! *an( 0the Ar*& illed &ou( we #ound &our )od& in piees( )ut all o# &our piees are there( )rother( are the& not? 6ou will not pla& the dru*s #or us a!ain( dear )rother.... 3other *isses &ou( she wanted to o*e )ut she is ill.... see the ru* I ha%e )rou!ht #or &ouG0 The ;hede lwa( epito*iin! de#iane( sweep throu!h the rowd shoutin! o)sene 5oes and sin!in! o)sene son!s at the top o# their lun!s. "ere is a son! popular a*on! the ;hedes last &ear in the Drouillard e*eter&< 7"aitian ,reole8 2ozo" tone& 3 la yon bagay ingra" #repeat$ Koko malad kouche" zozo pa bouyi te ba l bwe" Koko malad kouche" zozo pa vini we l( 7'n!lish - with aution and apolo!ies to those o# deliate sensi)ilites8 Penis( )& thunderG What an un!rate#ul thin!( 7repeat8 Va!ina is si l&in! down( penis does not )oil tea #or her(
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Va!ina is si l&in! down( penis does not o*e to see her. 7The words zozo and koko are atuall& %er& nau!ht& ter*s #or the parts in%ol%ed( not at all lie 0penis0 and 0%a!ina0.8 Last &ear I( an A*erian 3a*)o( le#t a perist&le with a "oun!an and our on!re!ation. The "oun!an had a %er& power#ul /aron in his head alled Seretaire de la ,roi( )ut Seretaire was re#usin! to possess the "oun!an( )eause the "oun!an had taen so*e o# the *one& !i%en hi* #or $et ;ede and used it #or his own purposes. The "oun!an was %er& hu*iliated( and deided to !o diretl& to the e*eter& to as #or #or!i%eness. I had the use o# a piup tru( so we #illed it up with *e*)ers o# our perist&le and dro%e throu!h the hoed streets to the e*eter&. We !ot stu in tra##i( and as we sat and sat( /aron Seretaire de la ,roi )ea*e i*patient and too *& head insteadG As #ar as I a* told( there was a ar in the ono*in! lane( also stu. Seretaire leaned out the dri%er2s window o# the stopped piup and )e!an to tal with the oupants o# the ar( who were %er& surprised to see a /aron in the head o# a #orei!n 3a*)oG Two %er& wealth& ladies were seated in the )a o# the ar( and /aron paid the* speial honor. 0;ood e%enin!( ladies(0 said /aron. 0;ood e%enin!( /aron( Papa(0 the& !i!!led. 0And how are &our litorises toda&?0( in=uired /aron %er& seriousl&. 0I# &our litorises are not well( &ou *a& tell *e( and I will tell those two )i! old penises in the #ront o# the ar to !o to worG0 The wo*en( who under an& other iru*stanes would ha%e )een #urious( roared with lau!hter( as did the two *en in the #ront o# the ar. The older wo*an leaned out the window and replied to /aron. 0Our litorises are %er& well( /aron Papa. Than &ou %er& *uhG0 And in a #ew *o*ents the tra##i 5a* )roe up and /aron released *e #ro* possession( lea%in! *e to dri%e the piup tru to the e*eter& and !ro%el with e*)arass*ent as our perist&le *e*)ers( lau!hin! h&steriall&( related the inident to *eG
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In the e%enin!( eah perist&le holds a dane in honor o# /aron( 3a*an /ri!itte( and the ;hedes. The people who o*e *ust all )e #ed( and the lwa who appear are also #easted #ro* ettles o# #ood speiall& prepared #or the*. Danin! !oes on lon! into the ni!ht( e%en until da&)rea. The artistr& o# the lwa is ino*para)le( and e%en non-Vodouisants o#ten o*e to wath. Then the ehausted worshippers return ho*e( to await the o*in! o# $ete ;hede the #ollowin! &ear.
Vodou Lesson T"' LWA Part 1 - ;eneral harateristis o# Vodou lwa Vodou is o#ten *isunderstood as )ein! pol&theisti( s&nreti( or ani*isti. These *isoneptions will )e leared up as we disuss the harateristis o# the lwa. Vodouisants )elie%e in one ;od( alled Gran Met ( or ;reat 3aster. This ;od is all power#ul( all nowin!( )ut re!retta)l& he is onsidered to )e so*eti*es distant and detahed #ro* hu*an a##airs. "e is ne%ertheless e%er present in the dail& speeh o# "aitians( who ne%er sa&( 0See &ou to*orrow0( without addin! 0i# ;od wants0. The lwa are lesser entities( )ut *ore readil& aessi)le. Aside #ro* a !eneralied lo%e #or the hildren o# A#ria( the lwa re=uire a *utual relationship with the worshipper. The lwa ser%e those who ser%e the*. Lwa ha%e well de#ined harateristis( inludin! sared nu*)ers( olors( da&s( ere*onial #oods( speeh *anneris*s( and ritual o)5ets. A lwa( there#ore( an )e ser%ed )& wearin! lothes o# the lwa2s olors( *ain! o##erin!s o# pre#erred #oods( and o)ser%in! seual ontinene on da&s sared to the lwa. 3an& lwa are arhet&pal #i!ures represented in *an& ultures. $or ea*ple( 'rulie $reda is a lo%e !oddess o*para)le to Venus( Le!)a is a lwa o# o**uniation o*para)le to "er*es or 3erur&. These orrespondenes( and so*eti*es pure oinidene( ha%e led "aitians to see parallels )etween aspets o# the lwa and i*a!es o# +o*an ,atholi saints as the& are represented in popular litho!raphs. Durin! the da&s o# $renh olonialis*( when the *a5orit& o# )la people in "aiti were sla%es who had )een )orn in A#ria( worship o# the saints pro%ided a on%enient o%er #or the ser%ie o# A#rian !ods and !oddesses. '%en the priere Guinea( a lon! pra&er reited near the )e!innin! o# orthodo Vodou ere*onies( inorporates %erses a)out the Vir!in 3ar& and %arious saints.
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This does not *ean( howe%er( that the lwa ha%e )een s&nretied with the ,atholi saints. No one on#uses O!oun $eraille with St. >a*es the ;reater( it is si*pl& the i*a!e that is used. I# St. >a*es is in%oed( he is onsidered di##erent #ro* O!oun. Althou!h the priere Guinea inorporates %erses a)out ,atholi entities( no one on#uses a Vodou ere*on& held in a perist&le with a ,atholi ser%ie. >ohn 3urph&( in his )oo Santeria( proposes that s&*)iosis *i!ht )e a *ore aurate ter* than s&nretis*. Lwa are so*eti*es onsidered to reside in trees( stones( or rarel& the )odies o# ani*als. "owe%er( the lwa in the tree is not the lwa of the tree( and ere*onies onduted at the #oot o# the tree are direted at the lwa( not at an& ani*isti priniple o# li#e ener!& pertainin! to the tree. Vodou lwa *ani#est their will throu!h drea*s( unusual inidents( and throu!h the *ehanis* o# trane possession. Possession is onsidered nor*al( natural( and desira)le in the ontet o# a Vodou ere*on& and under ertain other iru*stanes. It is o*para)le to the New A!e pheno*enon o# 0hannelin!0. Lwa *ani#estin! throu!h possession sin!( dane( tell 5oes( heal the si( and !i%e ad%ie. Part 9 - What !roups o# lwa are reo!nied? Note - this lesson ontains ere*onial in#or*ation on the Vodou pre%iousl& unpu)lished( na*el& the ere*onial order o# the lwa. This in#or*ation is not seret( and I do not %iolate *& %ows o# sere& )& re%ealin! it. An&one with the patiene to sit throu!h a su##iient nu*)er o# ere*onies an learn this in#or*ation. In an orthodo Vodou ere*on&( #ollowin! the priere Guinea and the salutations to the asse*)l& and the spiritual ener!& o# the dru*s and dru**ers( the lwa are honored in order( *uh as the $our '%an!elists are !i%en in the order 03atthew( 3ar( Lue( and >ohn0. In turn( son!s are o##ered #or eah lwa( and in partiular ases( #ood o##erin!s or ani*al sari#ies. An initiate *ust *e*orie this se=uene as a part o# his or her trainin!( and a "oun!an or 3a*)o o# ourse *ust )e a)le to o)ser%e this order when ondutin! a ere*on&. A *ini*u* o# three son!s are sun! #or eah lwa( and eah son! is repeated a *ini*u* o# three ti*es. In the orthodo Vodou rite( there are three *ain !roups o# lwa( the +ada !roup( the ;hedes( and the Petro !roup. The +ada lwa are pri*aril& )ut not elusi%el& Daho*ean in ori!in. Their !eneral ere*onial olor is white( with the =uali#iation that indi%idual lwa within this !roup *a& ha%e their own olors. The& are onsidered )ene#ient( and in so*e ases so anient as to )e detahed and slow to at. The rh&th*s o# the +ada lwa
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are )eaten on tanbou kon( dru*s with wooden pe!s holdin! the strethed hide o%er the dru* head. The sin o# the lar!est dru*( the maman( is ow hide( the other o# !oatsin. The dru*s are )eaten with stis. This part o# the ere*on& is disiplined( onentrated( statel&( and ere)ral. The +ada lwa( in ere*onial order( are as #ollows< Le!)a( 3arassa( Loo( Aian( Da*)allah and Aida Wedo( So)o( /adess&( A!assou( Sili)o( A!we and La Sirene( 'rulie( /ossu( A!arou( Aaa( the O!oun !roup 7O!oun St. >a=ues( Ossan!e( O!oun /ada!ri( O!oun $eraille( O!oun $er( O!oun Shan!o( O!oun /alind5o( O!oun /alia!e( O!oun6e*sen8. $ollowin! the +ada lwa( the ;ede 7pronouned !a&-da&8 #a*il& inludin! /aron and 3a*an /ri!itte are honored. There is no partiular order to the appearane o# these lwa within their own !roup. Their ere*onial olors are %iolet and )la. The ;ede !roup is )awd& and lewd( and the& pro%ide o*i relie# #ollowin! the intense and disiplined eertion o# the +ada setion. The /arons and /ri!ittes are *ost *&stial( and an )e ounted upon to prophes& in the *idst o# the *ost lasi%ious dane steps. The ;edes are alwa&s willin! to tell 5oes and !i%e ad%ie. A#ter the +ada and ;hede !roups re*ains the portion o# the ere*on& dediated to the Petro lwa. These lwa are predo*inatel& o# :on!o and Western "e*isphere ori!in. Their ere*onial olor is red. The& are onsidered #iere( proteti%e( *a!ial( and a!!ressi%e toward ad%ersaries. The rh&th*s o# the Petro lwa are )eaten on tanbou fey( dru*s with ord and a hoop holdin! the strethed hide o%er the dru* head. The dru* heads are *ade elusi%el& o# !oatsin( and are )eaten with the pal*s o# the hands. This part o# the ere*on& is hot( #ast-paed( and eitin!. The Petro lwa( in ere*onial order( are as #ollows< Le!)a Petro( 3arassa Petro( Wawan!ol( I)o( Sene!al( :on!o( :aplaou( :an!a( Ta&a( Joli*o( Si*)i Dlo( ;ran Si*)a( ,arre#our( ,i*itiere( ;ran /wa( :on!o Sa%anne( 'rulie Dantor 7also nown as 'rulie J&e-Wou58( 3arinette( Don Petro( Ti->ean Petro( ;ros Point( Si*)i Andeo( Si*)i 3aa&a. When the #inal three repetitions o# the #inal son! #or Si*)i 3aa&a are #inished( the ere*on& is o%er. So*eti*es partiipants who are partiularl& enthusiasti will otntinue to sin! popular son!s whih( while the& relate to the lwa( are not neessaril& part o# the ere*onial order. Suh son!s are %er& *uh a part o# "aitian popular *usi( and artists suh as Wawa( Aor( and !roups suh as /ou*an 'sper&ans and +A3 ha%e international #ollowin!s. One the partiipants are satis#ied( the dru*s are laid #lat on the !round( and the partiipants !o to rest on )anana ste* *ats until *ornin! li!ht.
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Part - Lwa who are not lwa( who are alled 2da5)2 instead The "aitian ,reole word dab is deri%ed #ro* the $renh word diable( *eanin! de%il( )ut the ter* in the ontet o# "aitian Vodou arries a di##erent onnotation. ,ertain lwa are indi%idualisti and uni=ue( ser%ed )& onl& one indi%idual( so*eti*es a "oun!an or 3a*)o( and onsidered to )e al*ost that indi%idual2s personal propert&. These lwa do not #it easil& into the orthodo Vodou litur!&( neither in the +ada nor in the Petro !roupin!. Suh lwa( and e%en lwa *ore o**onl& ser%ed( suh as 3aa&a lwa( are o**onl& re#erred to as dab( )ut here the translation would perhaps )e *ore auratel& !i%en as 0wild spirit0. The #untion o# these d5a) is *a!ial as opposed to reli!ious. A d5a) is *ost #re=uentl& in%oed )& a "oun!an( 3a*)o( or /oor( on )ehal# o# a lient( to tae a!!ressi%e ation a!ainst a lient2s ene*& or )usiness o*petitor. A d5a) re=uires pa&*ent #ro* the lient #or it2s ser%ies( usuall& in the #or* o# ani*al sari#ie on a re!ularl& sheduled )asis. The on!re!ation o# a "oun!an or 3a*)o who ser%es a d5a) is usuall& proteted #ro* possi)le ats o# rando* a!!ression )& the d5a)4 !enerall& )& a garde( a *a!ial shield e##eted )& ru))in! speiall& prepared dried her)s into shallow uts ere*oniall& *ade in the indi%idual2s sin. The !arde is o#ten renewed annuall& at the ti*e o# the winter solstie( when eah soiet& holds a *a5or !atherin! and prepares her)al )aths and other *itures. The li!ht sars o# the !arde #or* a pattern peuliar to the soiet&( and an ser%e as an identi#&in! *ar #or *e*)ers. $or ea*ple( I ha%e on *& upper le#t shoulder a !arde on#erred on *e )& "oun!an Sau%ert >oseph( who assisted at *& initiation. At the annual !atherin! o# his soiet&( I reei%ed the !arde o# the d5a) :ita 3aa( an a##a)le )ut #ierel& proteti%e d5a)( and the #or* o# the sar( a dou)le ross si*ilar in #or* to a ti-ti-toe )oard( is distinti%e to :ita 3aa and the soiet& o# "oun!an Sau%ert >oseph. D5a)s an also )e spei#i to a partiular plae. In the li*estone a%es o# /ode near Trouin in the south o# "aiti( a d5a) na*ed Met /et 4oune( 3aster o# the Se%en Da&s( is )elie%ed to reside. '%en i# a 3a*)o( "oun!an( or /oor was to ser%e this d5a) in a perist&le loated so*ewhere else( the li*estone a%es would re*ain the ho*e o# the d5a). ,ertain partiularl& a*oral d5a)s an )e in%oed to drain the li#e ener!& o# a person and e##et their de*ise. When a d5a) is held responsi)le #or a person2s death( the ,reole phrase is not 0the d5a) illed the person0( )ut instead( dab la mane moun nan( 0the d5a) ate the person0. This does not *ean that the #lesh o# the person is eaten anni)alistiall& )& the "oun!an( 3a*)o( or /oor who under!oes possession )& the d5a)( *erel& that the d5a) has su)su*ed the person2s
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li#e #ore. An orthodo "oun!an or 3a*)o is under oath ne%er to do har*( there#ore in%oations o# d5a)s are *ore #re=uentl& atte*pted )& /oors. "owe%er an orthodo Vodou ler!&person *a& in%oe a d5a) and e%en diret it to ill a person( i# the person is a *urderer( a repeat thie#( a repeat rapist( and so #orth. The 3a*)o 3arinette in%oed a #e*ale Petro lwa #re=uentl& re#erred to as a d5a)( 'rulie Dantor( and per#or*ed the sari#ie o# a wild ho!( at the ere*on& o# /wa ,ai*an in 1F@B whih )e!an the "aitian re%olution. Durin! the "aitian re%olution( d5a)s were %er& i*portant( and were )elie%ed to on#er i**unit& to the )ullets #ired )& the white $renh ensla%ers. '%en the death o# the *a5orit& o# ;eneral Le,ler2s epeditionar& #ore due to &ellow #e%er was re!arded as the result o# the wor o# d5a)s. ;i%en that the ulti*ate destination o# Le,ler was the North A*erian ontinent( to re-esta)lish ontrol o# the Louisiana Territor&( United States itiens an anowled!e the re)el sla%es o# "aiti( and their d5a)s( #or the #at that we are not $ranophones toda&.
Vodou Lesson B ;'TTIN; STA+T'D< 6OU+ ALTA+ AND $I+ST AN,'ST+AL O$$'+IN; Part 1 - ,onstrutin! an altar People o# *an& di##erent #aiths onstrut altars. '%en people who do not )elon! to an& partiular #aith *a& set aside a orner o# a roo* where the& sit and thin( *editate and pra&( do &o!a or pla& an A#rian dru*. 3an& ti*es the& reate i*pro*ptu altars whih inlude *an& o# the sa*e o)5ets - #lowers( stones and r&stals( sared s&*)ols( photo!raphs or i*a!es o# the indi%idual2s anestors( or o# *e*)ers o# the etended hu*an #a*il& in *an& ountries( *usial instru*ents( andles( inense( )oos on spiritual su)5ets. ,onsiousl& or unonsiousl&( when we )uild altars we are en!a!ed in an e##ort to open that *ost eni!*ati o# all doors - the door )etween the hu*an and spiritual world. An altar is a representation o# that %er& door in *aterial ter*s - the altar is the door. When &ou sit in #ront o# &our altar( &ou are in%itin! the spiritual #ores on the other side o# this door to notie &ou( o*e and %isit with &ou( and at upon &ou. Sine *ost people li%in! in the United States an not )e!in their pratie in this reli!ion )& attendin! Vodou ere*onies( one o# the #irst thin!s we an do is to )uild an altar. The altars o# Vodou are as %aried as the indi%iduals who pratie the reli!ion. In a sense( a perist&le itsel# is an altar( lar!e enou!h #or the worshippers to
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dane around the enterpost( pla& dru*s( per#or* sari#ie( under!o possession in short( to at out e%er& aspet o# the os*i dra*a. Within the perist&le there are so*eti*es areas dediated to a partiular lwa - the ross o# /aron( or a s*all pal*lea# )ooth #or 'rulie. Attahed to the perist&le are s*aller roo*s alled devo or bagi( in whih the ere*onial o)5ets o# a Vodou soiet& are ept. "owe%er( these o)5ets( whih inlude sared rattles( se=uinned )ottles #or drin o##erin!s( pottetes !i%en durin! initiation( and la& pots alled !o%i( are o# no partiular use to those who ha%e not under!one initiation. A )etter *odel is #ound in the kay myste 7#ro* the $renh caille des mysteres( house o# *&steries8. These are s*all houses( o#ten no *ore than ten )& #ourteen #eet( in whih are onstruted indi%idualisti altars to whihe%er lwa the owner o# the kay myste ser%es. These altars inorporate *an& o**on *aterials( easil& a%aila)le e%er&where in the world. The& are re*ara)le #or their indi%idualit& and )eaut&. $re=uentl& altars in "aiti are onstruted on a dirt #loor( whih *a& not )e pratial in the United States. "owe%er( &ou *a& ha%e easier aess to ertain ite*s suh as r&stals( era*i %essels in partiular olors( and so on. 6our kay myste *a& onsist o# a s*all area in &our )edroo* or li%in! roo*( althou!h the #eelin! in "aiti is that it is not well to sleep in the sa*e roo* with o)5ets onserated to the lwa( espeiall& with a *e*)er o# the opposite se4 eept durin! initiation( when se is prohi)ited an&wa&. 6ou *a& sreen o## this area( or set aside an entire roo* to the ser%ie o# the lwa. The diretions whih #ollow will !i%e &ou su!!estions #or onstrutin! one t&pe o# %er& )asi altar whih an then )e added to and ela)orated on in the ser%ie o# an& partiular lwa &ou wish. Su!!estions #or )uildin! a )asi altar< In "aiti( when a Vodouisant person wishes to *ae an altar in the ho*e #or a partiular aspet o# ;od( a saint( or a lwa( the& %er& o#ten )u& partiular reli!ious o)5ets identi#ied with whate%er priniple the& wish to ser%e( and then ha%e a "oun!an or 3a*)o set up and onserate the altar. So*e altars are )& de#inition *ade on a dirt #loor( others are *ade on plat#or*s onstruted o# )oards or *ore #re=uentl& onrete. "ere is one possi)le wa& to set up a )asi altar indoors( without a dirt #loor. ;et a white loth( and wash it in water with so*e o# &our #irst urine o# the *ornin!. $or urine( &ou an su)stitute %ine!ar. Let the loth dr& outdoors in the sun i# possi)le. ,o%er &our altar ta)le with it( and then sprinle it li!htl& with &our #a%orite per#u*e or $lorida Water.
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Net( !et #our s*all stones #ro* near &our house( lean the* )& sourin! with salt and rinsin! well( then plae one at eah orner o# &our altar. ,lean a wine!lass( ut !lass )owl( or other %essel and #ill it with water. Do not use *etal or earthenware !lass or r&stal onl&. Plae it at the enter o# &our altar( and add three splashes o# anisette or white ru* as &ou )less the water. It is o**on in Vodou pratie to )aptise ritual o)5ets( that is( to !i%e the* na*es. 6ou an tae a sprin! o# )asil and splash a )aptis* onto &our water !lass( whih is now a power#ul passa!ewa& #or spiritual ener!&. 6ou *i!ht na*e it al*ost an&thin! appropriate( #ani#ul( and positi%e - 0Water o# Li#e0( 0;ur!le 3a*a /rin!s Spirit0( or whate%erG Into a !lass andleholder( plae so*e earth #ro* near &our house and a #ew !rains o# salt. Tae a white andle( and with a pure %e!eta)le oil ru) the andle #ro* the *iddle up to the top and then #ro* the *iddle down to the )ase. As &ou oil the andle( diret &our ener!& into &our hands and pra& #or spiritual awareness. Put the andle #ir*l& into the andleholder and plae it in #ront o# the !lass o# water. Don2t li!ht the andle 5ust &et. Around the altar &ou will plae other o)5ets aordin! to the di%ine priniples &ou wish to ser%e. An anestor shrine will ha%e i*a!es o# deeased anestors( O!oun2s altar will ha%e a *ahete and a red erhie#( 'rulie $reda2s shrine will ha%e #lowers and 5ewelr&( and so on. Part 9 - 3ain! An Anestral $east Now that &ou ha%e onstruted a )asi altar( &ou are read& #or the #irst step in Vodou pratie - re%erene #or &our anestors. "owe%er &ou ha%e )uilt &our altar( re*e*)er alwa&s that it is a door )etween the world o# hu*an )ein!s and the world o# the anestors and the lwa. Let it !et dust&( let the water )eo*e *ur& and stale( use it as a on%enient restin! plae #or housee&s and penils. i!nore it( and &ou will #ind &oursel# tired( drained( unlu&( and uninspired. Treat it with respet( eep it i**aulatel& lean( %isit it o#ten( and &ou will )e rewarded with ener!&( spiritual !rowth( personal %itories( and re*ara)le oinidenes. 6our anestors lo%e &ou. The& will o*e and %isit &ou( aept &our o##erin!s( and point &ou on the wa&. The& will instrut &ou( protet &ou( #i!ht #or &ou( and heal &ou. The& will )rin! &ou *essa!es throu!h &our intuition and &our drea*s. O)tain a piture o# a deeased relati%e o# &ours whose lo%e #or &ou is )e&ond =uestion. I# &ou ha%e no deeased relati%es who* &ou an re*e*)er well( either )& )lood or )& adoption( &ou an hoose an i*a!e o# a person who represents to &ou anestral wisdo* and lo%e( and !i%e that person a na*e. 6ou *a& also o)tain
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i*a!es o# anestors o# all )ranhes o# the hu*an rae. Plae these i*a!es )ehind the %essel o# water on &ou altar( either propped up on piture stands or attahed to the wall )ehind &our altar. This wall an also )e draped in white loth and i*a!es pinned or taed to it. Arran!e the i*a!es until their !roupin! see*s ri!ht to &ou. 6ou *a& hoose to wor with one i*a!e or *an&. Sit in #ront o# &our altar. 6ou *a& rin! a s*all )ell or shae a ere*onial rattle to si!nal the start o# &our *editation. Li!ht the white andle on &our altar( and i# possi)le li!ht so*e oonut or %anilla inense. Tie &our head with a white loth i# &ou wish. ;ae into the water in the entral halie. +ela and do an& *editation eerises &ou are #a*iliar with. Deep )reathin!( ountin! )awards #ro* ten to ero( or openin! the haras all wor #ine. Thin a)out &our hosen anestor. I# possi)le( reollet senes #ro* the past in whih &ou appear with that anestor. $eel the lo%e )etween &ou whih onnets &ou. i*a!ine that lo%e )ea*in! #ro* &our heart as a ra& o# li!ht( passin! throu!h the water and to the anestor2s i*a!e. ,all the na*e o# &our anestor out loud( repeatedl&. Tell the anestor that &ou lo%e hi*Cher( and that &ou want to wor to!ether with hi*Cher. It is a )asi tenet o# Vodou that the li%in! and the dead wor to!ether to help eah other. When &ou #eel the anestors2 presene( tip a little water three ti*es on the #loor to welo*e the*. Do this *editation o#ten( until it is a o*#orta)le routine. Within a wee or two( &ou should *ae an anestral #east to o##er to &our anestors. This #east should inlude #oods that were #a%ored )& &our anestors in li#e( with the eeption that the #ood should not )e salted. 0;eneri0 anestor o##erin!s inlude !rilled orn( !rilled peanuts( #resh oonut( and white #oods lie rie puddin!( *il( and #lour du*plin!s. Plae eah t&pe o# #ood in a )owl( and plae a white andle in the *iddle o# the #ood. Li=uid o##erin!s an )e plaed in !lasses and the andle put in a holder net to the !lass. Touh eah plate or )owl to &our #orehead( heart( and pu)i area( and then )reathe on the #ood. Tal to &our anestors( re*ind the* that the& were one part o# the world o# the li%in!( and that &ou will one da& o*e to 5oin the*. As the* to dri%e awa& all e%il( suh as po%ert&( illness( une*plo&*ent( #ati!ue( disord( sadness. As the* to )rin! to &ou all that is !ood( inludin! lo%e( *one&( wor( health( 5o&( #riendship( lau!hter. Li!ht the andles( put the #ood on the altar( and lea%e the roo*. When the andles ha%e #inished )urnin!( and pre#era)l& the #ollowin! *ornin!( tae the #ood and throw it awa& at the #oot o# a lar!e tree. I# that is not possi)le( put it in a !ar)a!e )a! and dispose o# it separatel& #ro* other !ar)a!e. Wash the plates( )owls( and
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!lasses( sru) the* with salt( and put the* awa&. Do not use the* #or ordinar& *eals. Part - A 3a*)o2s 'periene. 3& #irst anestral #east too plae )e#ore I was ordained as a 3a*)o. I wanted e%er&thin! to )e as )eauti#ul as possi)le( so I #irst leaned *& roo*( then *& altar and all the altar o)5ets( r&stals( altar loths( and so on. I sprinled the altar with $lorida Water( and set new white andles in the andle holders. I *ade di##erent t&pes o# #ood. There was hien( rie and )eans( ooed !reens( and tropial #ruits #or *& A#rian anestors( sausa!e( saurraut( )oiled potatos and sweet pastries #or *& 'uropean anestors( roasted peanuts( )oiled orn( and oonut *eat as all-round anestor #ood. There was )eer( ru*( *il( #ruit 5uie - in short( e%er&thin! I ould possi)l& thin o#. '%er& dish o# #ood had it2s own andle. I presented the #ood and drin to the anestors( lit the andles( *editated( and le#t the roo*. That ni!ht( I had so*e %er& interestin! drea*s. In the *ornin!( I notied the ondition o# the andles - e%er& andle was )urned to a)solute nothin!ness - not a drip o# wa or a #ra!*ent o# wi re*ained in an& o# the #ood dishes. 0;osh(0 I thou!ht( 0those anestors *ust reall& ha%e )een hun!r&G0 I !athered up the #ood( and disposed o# it at the #oot o# a lar!e tree near a ri%er. As I waled ho*e( I wondered( 0Whih one o# *& anestors( or whih lwa( will now o*e to help *e?0 It was a )eauti#ul sprin! da&( and I was walin! alone on a rural road. A &ellow Volswa!en /eetle a*e alon! and honed it2s horn. I thou!ht that the person *ust )e lost and wantin! diretions( )ut as I looed( there was no driver in the car& Instinti%el& I noted the liense plate - 5678'!3& Now( &ou *i!ht thin that with 19 lwa to #eed and ser%e( *& !roer& )ill would )e enor*ous. /ut atuall&( aside #ro* *a5or ere*onies( re!ular ser%ie to the anestors onsists o# a )it o# #ood #ro* 3onda&2s dinner( an oasional li)ation( and orret o)ser%ane o# the $east o# the Dead 7$et ;hede8 eah No%e*)er 9.
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