Brother Gros-Morn, Sister Flo, Honarable Brother L.K, and Mr...

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Reply to Msg 3635

Brother Gros-Morn, Sister Flo, Honarable Brother L.K, and Mr Unknown, our beloved teaser! You know, this topic, "Vodou", is such a hot one that we need to do some research.

It seems to me that most of us are not really aware of what vodou is, except the negative connotations we hear from our parents, missionaries, priests, ministers...

Born and raised at Morne-Rouge, a short distance from Bois Caiman, I do not know too much about vodou.

About 1/2 a mile to my house was a "gage", Every Friday, and Saturday night was a vodou dance...

It was so nice to hear the Tam-tam from far and the harmonious chants of the participants.

I sneaked oftentimes to see what was going on there...people were having a good time! I did not see anything diabolical there.

within les than 1 km were a baptist church, a catholic church, and a Seven day adventist church and this "gage".

That was not a vodou temple.

But on week end all of them are functioning! There was competition...

I grew up hearing all kind of stories I wanted to verify myself.

I was foolish.

In our way to school, my friends and I will stop at the "Kalfous" (cross roads) and picked up money l set to the lwas...

We were told no to take it all and to leave a penny, to avoid any curse! We always get "ranvoua "money for recess!!! I will go certain places and avoid other at night.

I saw dogs, pigs, donkeys, I heard people singing.

Dad said "se lougarou, Yon Jou y'ap pran'ou" But I was never afraid of " Roi Minuit, la Djabless".

I never mind...A Young man with raging hormones should no be afraid of demons! I become a non believer! But one day, I was unable to make it home. It was december 24, 1984 At the cross roads, there was a vodou ceremony in session! I mean A "ranvwa" ! My head became "heavy", I was feeling strange.

I recited Psalm 91, and 121, and 23. I made it home!.

That was the same feeling I experienced when I visited Bois Caiman for the fisrt time, sitting under a tree that is said was planted at the exact location where Bookman Dutty, slaughtered the pig after his famous prayer.

foloowed by thunders and bright ligthenings!
Some of my realtives are "sevite zanj", My grand Ma was a reel sevite.

I witnessed her being posessed by the spirit Erzulie, and guess what?

I laughed, because I did not believe...I was an innocent child...endoctrinated in the christian faith...I still don't believe a lot of things said about Vodou.

What I know is what a lot of us probably know: Histories about zombies, loup garou, bizango, sanpwel, tet sanko, fanm ki vole gran lajounin et ki fe tete yo tounin zel...gason kap vole nan laye, fanm kap mare gason ...Moun k'ap pran pwen etc....

Now getting older, and wiser, talking to some people who practice the hard core vodou.

I believed there is something mysterious about it. I started to believe those things since Rozanfe's death, the history of Natagette, a dead girl who was found alived years after her funerals, She made headline on Television national and other haitian media...

My belief was reinforced lately by watching National Geog. Explorer who had a documentary about vodou where they had an interview with a man who was dead, they shown the death certificate, interviewed the neighbors but despite of all that is was said that the man never died but was affected by a potent portion of some kind of as special fish. Although I believed things can happen, I never know the real story untill I visited a haitian religious book store in Brookyn, NY. I saw, touched, and glanced at some famous vodou books such as "dragon rouge", "P'tit albert" " La poule Noire" et un petit livre ecrit par le pape Honorius contenant des incantations, et des recettes de tous genre, l'un de ces recette est titre "Comment se faire Invisible".I first saw that book when a friend invited me to go with him to see his "uncle" at Petit Bourg du Borgne.

We got to an estate with giant trees such as Mapou, Bwatchen, Mombin etc. Unders those trees were coffee and cocoa trees, and other plants.

It seems I was in a rain forest! I felt strange getting in there.

My stange sensastion accentuated when we went over the bamboo gate: two rows of skulls "tete mo" lead to the entrance of a big house with tin roof, surrounded by smaller huts. It was quiet...some one took us in side. I was praying in my heart, because that was the very first time I have to sit down face to face with a houngan.

He looked at me, with such big and protruding eyes, I looked at him too! He was saying some inintelligible words calling some spirit, biting his own arms. I was praying in my heart asking God to protect me. He finally told me to leave the room, and gave me little book to read. But I was not into reading! he ask me to leave the premises, because my presence won't let him do his job. I was told not to stay near his "abitasyion".

I found a little brige nearby where I quitly sat.Trembling, I open that book and start to read. I was captivatdd by what recette"How to become invisible".!!!
This is as close as I can get with vodou.

Which I believed is very difficult to differentiate with superstition.

Voudou is not only confined to Haiti.

It is called Santeria in Puerto-Rico, Roots in Jamaica etc....

It was widely pratice in Louisiana.

When I visited New Orleans in 2004, There were vodou shops every where.

New Orleans most proeminent Voodoo figure is Queen Marie Laveau whose tomb can be visited today.

There is too much to say about Vodoo, its origine, ist status as a religion.

People hate Vodou because they can not define it, understand it, they can not explain its mysticism.

As Chateau Brian put it "Il n'y a point de religion sans mystères".

Vodou is a mysterious and growing religion.

That is the only religion I know which will not force people to join; Most people says it is a satanic cult, yet it poses no threat to other religions, to freedom and security.

No persecution, "suicide bombing", no endoctrination.

I am not endorsing superstion, and I am not a vodouisant.

I dont go kay "papa", nor encourage any one to do so. Bad christians, intolerants and cruel muslims give their religion a bad names.

Some avid and Cruel Hougans accept to hurt innocent people to make a living; some of us for any reason use voodoo as a weapong to derstroy, cripple, and hurt others.

Religion in itself is not a problem, the problem is the way we practice it, and what we make out of it.
If you want to know a lille bit more about the Voudou religion, please visite this website and tell me what you think.

amnh.org/exhibitions/vodou/spirits.html

Ti Malice., September 30 2007, 5:59 AM

Topic: TOPIC next week VOUDOU who wants to contribute?

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