Uses of Candles in Haitian Vodun

I love candles! I stock them in my home by the cases. My particular candle addiction is the 7 day candles. I load them with all sorts of goodies, pray over them, then light them. But enough about me. We will be discussing candles and how they are used in Haitian Vodun. I have seen and read all kinds of foolishness on the web about this and this is the main reason I decided to create this blog to debunk some of the silliness I see day to day with some Hougans and Mambos.

First of all, these lovely looking altars here in the Western world is not how the altars are in Haiti. Before you roll your eyes, let me explain. Only priest or priestess in Haiti with a Peristyle have a "Pe" or altar that is somewhat decorated. I say somewhat because it's the spirits that do all the work when they mount and they need their space to do their work. You will see the beautiful altars set up only at a ceremony. The priest's altar holds powders, books, spirit dolls, cigarettes, alchol, cards, candles and many other things that that spirit needs to get the job done. Serviteurs on the other hand, will always have a small chest that is locked and made to look to blend in with the other furnishings of the house.

Okay, I went off topic for a bit. Back to candles. In Haitian Vodun, the majority of the time only the "emergency" white candles are used or a yellow or black beeswax cord like candle is used to call the lwa. the plain small candle does everything under the sun when it comes to workings. Money, health, to see what's going on, for a number to play "borlet," or even that small candle is cut in half to give to the client to light at home to get a certain result. I've only seen 7 day candles at ceremonies to decorate the table. These small candles are not dressed with any oils. They can sometimes be powdered with baby powder or perfume if the candle is for the Metress. The main reason for this simplicity is because any work that is done, is done by the lwa, not the Hougan or mambo. They are just the middle person. I use different kinds of candles and colors because I practice other systems. One time I lost my marbles and tried to call on one of my lwas with a colored candle. Let's just say that didn't go to well and I paid the price for my arrogance. See these spirits are very old. They have been here since I don't know when. So they teach their ways and how to walk with them, not the other way around. So I laugh when I see some people offering Dantor beer or menthol cigarettes or even calling her with a 7 day glass candle. I just laugh. Because If they are trying to call the Erzulie Dantor I know, the Queen of Haiti, then honey you in for a surprise.

Anyway, I just wanted to touch base on this subject because I have seen some Vodou abominations going on around the internet. If I'm wrong about this, just prove it. Until next time beloveds.

Picture source:http://www.wehaitians.com/a%20grand%20voodoo%20celebration%20in%20haiti.html

Ayibobo!

Prayers in Vodun

Nous tout se zanj oh! Nous tout se zanj oh! Damballah Wedo, Aida Wedo, nous tout se zanj oh! Roughly translated, " We are all angels oh! We are all angels oh! Damballah Wedo, Aida Wedo, we are all angels oh! This is one of the verses in the "La Priere Ginen" in the beginning of a ceremony. Now let me note that some ceremonies performed in the Northern part of Haiti do not commence their ceremony with the Priere Ginen. Believe me I have mambo friends and I would attend from start to finish.

I wanted to write today about Prayers in the Haitian Vodun tradition. When it comes to the priest calling on the lwa to perform a work or a reading for a client, He or she says a prayer so the lwa knows that he or she needs their presence. Now some priest say the usual catholic prayers while certain lwa show their "horse" how to call on them. Along with the prayers, libation on a stone, skull,  on the ground three times, speaking the language with an Asson, cha-cha, saluting the four directions or lighting a candle is part of calling on the lwa. Sometimes the lwa comes on their own if the "horse" is in danger, if the person is being stubborn, if their at a ceremony, or if the person doesn't know how to call on the lwa correctly yet. But everyone knows there are three main prayers said. They are Our Father, Ave Maria, and The Apostle's Creed. These are the main got to prayers that every serviteur should know.There is even a song about it. "Twa pater, twa Ave Maria, mwen di twa pater, twa Ave Maria." See all the Vodun related songs tell a story or give instruction. It is up to the devotee to pay attention and know what is being said. These prayers are not necessarily said each time when a hougan or mambo is calling on a lwa. As I have stated before, the majority of the lwa instruct their "horse" on how to call them.

Prayer is a big part of Vodou no matter what part of Haiti you are from and how you were taught to walk with the lwa. I would love to haer your thoughts on the subject. Ayibobo!

Photo source:http://sanctum.voila.net/vaudou.html

Magical Powders Used In Haitian Vodun

Magical powders used in Vodun have been used since the Haitian revolution and go back further than that. The slaves brought with them the knowledge to mix certain herbs, liquids and other substances to match their intention and outcome.

Fast forwarding to this day and age, the main producers of these powders are the bokors of L'Artibonite, which is located in the northern part of Haiti. The people in this area who are serviteurs know their stuff when it comes to this and many other things. I'll explain in another post. Just to be clear, you don't want to mess with people from L'Artibonite. Anyways, these powders mirror the same powders that you find in the Hoodoo path but some of the Haitian powders pack more of a punch due to the ingredients and incantations said and or put in these powders. For example you have "vole barye,basically like Hoodoo's Hot Foot, "banm conmande," commanding powder, "sam di se sa." Do as I say powder, "poudre chanse," powder for luck, and the list goes on and on. Now there's some powders made that can really do damage immediately, like take effect in a couple of minutes.  One powder that is a hot commodity right now is this type of powder where the victim immediately feels like they're burning up and need to take a shower. Well the moment water touches their skin they die. Another hot powder is one where the a spirit is attached to powder. Now when the malfekte, " person who does the bokor's dirty work, lays the trick for you calling on your name, even if it rains the spirit finds a nearby tree and waits for the ground to dry to reactivate the powder laid down for you. Because a custom in Haiti where every morning water is spread in front of the door outside. This serves two purpose, number one is because the majority of people's front yard is dirt, so the water dampens the ground to deter excessive dust. Number two, if someone has laid a trick for you the night before, the water "deactivates" the potency of the powder. The reason I didn't give the name of the last two powders is because some things have to remain a secret. Remember these practices were created to liberate us from slavery and to defend ourselves from some powerful people if the need arouses again. Finally there's  "Vingt-quatre heure," powder which ends the life of the victim in 24hrs.

Most of the magical powders in Haiti have a "kontre poudre." Basically the antidote, but some just don't have one and the victim is just out of luck. This happens when the bokor doesn't know where the powder was made even though he checked with his connections.  Some powders are also male and female. I'll also discuss why this is in another post. Varies malevolent powders are created with juices of corpse. They obtain these "juices" by sometimes hanging corpses upside down for days. But your regular powders can be found at an Haitian Botanica. Be careful not to get colored flour!

Well, I've acquired a great knowledge of what herb, water, fish, curios, and words to use to create certain powders but unfortunately I can not share those with you. All paths have their secrets. I just wanted to shed some light on this particular subject. I see that Vodun and Hoodoo have become the "In" thing and truthfully they are nothing to play with. Haitian Vodun was brought out because we were backed into a corner. Yes it has a loving and healing side, but just because Damballa is a "white" spirit doesn't mean he can't fuck you up if need be. I love how I go online and read various blogs where they talk about how Erzulie Freda is sooo loving, cool, calm, and collected. Yeah, she is but that dagger in her hand isn't there just for show. On a side note, please stop putting Freda and Dantor right next to each other! You know who you are. I've seen the pictures. I'm surprised that that person's house didn't catch on fire. And another FYI is that just because you call that statue a certain name of a lwa doesn't mean that that lwa is there working for you. There are trickster spirits who will work with you too. Certain lwa and Orisha have to come from your blood line! Trust me, there were plenty lwas and Orishas that I wanted to work with and they looked at me cocked eyed!

Anyway, sorry I just had to get that out there. Let me know your thoughts and questions. Until the next post beloveds.

Ashe

A Knife Can Not Scratch Its Own Handle

Greetings! Today I wanted to talk to you about the Haitian proverb of " a knife can not scratch its own handle." In my native tongue, "kouto paka grate manch li." Let me do a little side note for a minute here before I go back to the subject at hand. I am writing and letting my readers know about Haitian Vodun practiced in my family's part of Haiti. In almost every part of Haiti, spiritual practitioners work with the lwa differently. You also have to factor in that some people buy lwa, we call that "achete pwen" some people do that so they can make more money because "fran ginen" often provides what you need not what you want and then some. I'll discuss this in another post. Then you have to factor in people who are initiated and people who are just born with the gift. But here's another loophole, some people who are born with the gift still go konzo. Whew! That was a mouth full. I just wanted to be clear. I don't know everything. I am still learning every single day.

Now, let's get back to the subject at hand. Sometimes as spiritual workers in Haitian Vodun, other practitioners and your known or unknown enemies can send you some nasty stuff to block you. In Vodun, almost anything sent, good or bad, is done with a spirit. So often times just praying and taking some weak ass bath is not going to cut it. Some practitioners will go as far as blocking your lwa so you don't know what the hell is going on or you can't remove this "jok" as we call it. So you have to go to another practitioner, an elder, or spirit comes through and tells you what to do. I have seen people with "gad" get crossed up real bad. It's not that the guarding spirit isn't working, it's sometimes that bokor knows what spirit or what powder to use, when to use it, and where to put it. Other times they send an "expedition" to you. So there's a whole lot of factors when it comes to crossing a practitioner. And it takes a lot more energy because they are guarded like Fort Knox.

I have never seen a practitioner in Haiti uncross themselves. Their spirit does it for them, or someone in the "lakou" who the lwa mounts bathes them with the appropriate herbs and does the appropriate ritual. Because when an enemy wants to break you defenses to get to you, they bind up your guarding lwa first. That's why practitioners never let's anyone know their ruling lwa or they hide what they really feed them behind closed doors, especially if a "danse" or ceremony is going on. They would feed their lwa first and then the food that the visitors attending the fet see is kind of like for show sometimes. Haitian practitioners have to be cautious because enemies can steal you lwa, bind them up, or send a "malfekte" to lay some tricks for them. Haitian practitioners get killed or spiritually beat up all the time. That's why the majority of them go to other practitioners to learn new things or get a "pwen" to beef up security.

In closing, I love the Haitian culture for its proverbs because they hold a lot of truth and mystery at the same time. I would love to read your thoughts on the subject. Until next time beloveds!

Ayibobo!

Papa Legba Does it Again!!

Now I wanted to speak about my experience with Legba from a Haitian perspective. I've seen so much mixing of the spirits because they vibrate almost on the same frequency. Let me be the one to tell you that that's a NO-NO! Let me give an example. I work with both Papa Legba, St. Anthony, who in some Santeria circles is Elegua because for some St. Anthony is not Elegua, and Elegua. Yes it's confusing but let me break it down. I am not initiated because my family, on my mother's side is from Jeremie, the southern part of Haiti. My Elders believe that you have to be born with that gift. Meaning the spirits choose you from birth and they teach you their ways in dreams or by sending mental messages, or someone just comes up to you and says for example, " I had a dream for you and this is what insert name of spirit, told me to tell you." There are many ways spirit communicates.

Okay back to Legba and Elegua. I can put these two in the same spot but they do not have the same offerings! Legba likes his djakout, which is a straw like bag, with money, his pipe and real tobacco leaves, his cassava bread, grilled corn, bread and his smoked veggies and smoked fish. My Elegua on the other hand loves his money, coconuts, smoked herring, grilled corn, palm oil, honey, and some other things I'll keep to my self because in the Haitian tradition, if someone knows what you feed your spirits exactly they can steal them from you. Yes you read that right, In the Haitian community it happens all the time, but I'll leave that for another post. Even though some of the offerings are the same, I don't present it to Legba and Elegua the same because they showed me their ways exactly how they want it. Right now you might be saying well Dahomey don't you have to be initiated in Santeria? Yes! But I didn't go to Elegua, He came to me and showed me everything I know up to date. This happened to me with Shango also and it scared me so much when he came to me that I spent the rest of the night awake! He wasn't trying to scare me, He was just trying to make himself known that he was here for me and he taught me how to call on him.

So anyway, my cousin came from Haiti and bought me some cassava bread. Me being absent minded sometimes never thought to put some in Legba's djakout. So after a couple of weeks I had a dream about a baby who was crying and my father in law, alongside my brother in law told me to feed the baby cassava bread! Then I woke up. I sat there thinking what the F does this dream mean because you do not feed babies Cassava! So I just wrote it in my dream journal and went back to sleep. So today my thoughts went to the Cassava bread that was sitting in my pantry. Something told me to give it to Legba, not Elegua. I still ignored the thought. As I was getting up to go to the kitchen from my office/altar room, the broom behind the door fell and blocked the door! Now you know what that means. So I stopped in my tracks and told Legba that I'm going to go get the Cassava. I did the proper way I was taught to offer it to him then I put it in his djakout. My spirits do not play. So when I act like I'm slow, they make all hell break loose so that I pay attention.

So my beloveds that is all for now. Next post I want to talk about the saints and vodou spirits and how they are not one in the same thing even though my ancestors used their image to commune with them. Let me know your thoughts and adventures with Papa Legba and Elegua! Ashe