Thursday, December 27, 2012

Vodou Rituals and Ceremonies

PRIVATE RITUALS AND CEREMONIES—-
Unlike the clergy of other Religions, Houngans and Mambos do not receive a salary or steady wage. Therefore, most Houngans and Mambos charge for their services, time, and materials. While public ceremonies are done free of charge, rituals directed at helping resolve a particular person’s problems are done on a for hire basis. Clients commission Vodou priests and priestesses for all sorts of reasons and to resolve all sorts of problems and issues. There are also other ceremonies which a person must pay a Houngan or Mambo to do on their behalf.

Divination/Readings—- These are privately commissioned by clients from the Houngan or Mambo. This is one of the most commonly requested services. Depending on the way it is done, the competence of the Houngan/Mambo, fees will vary from Priest to Priest. One can get a reading with the cards, a candle and water reading,get the Houngan/Mambo to call a lwa or various other techniques. While the first two can be done long distance, calling a lwa is best done if the person is present.

Baths – Spiritual baths are usually specially composed for a client so that he/she may be able to achieve a particular goal. Spiritual baths may also be administered to remove negativity, bring up luck, and to open doors of opportunity. Baths are also administered to heal illnesses. This is one of the most common treatments that a Houngan or Mambo may administer to a client to resolve an issue or problem.
A Wanga
Wanga for Protection
 
Wanga – This is the second most commonly requested service. A wanga is a spell, a “trabajo” or work, if you will. Wangas are done for all sorts of requests: love, money, work, revenge, etc. Wangas can be really simple or extremely complex; of course, the more complex the wanga the more it costs. These magical spells are commissioned by clients for all sorts of reasons and to resolve all sorts of problems.

Gads – A gad is a protection. There are various types of Gads. The most common, a Gad Ko, is a cut on the skin that has certain herbal powders rubbed into it. It protects people from negative wanga, unnecessary accidents, and so on. It is placed on the point of a lwa. In this manner, the Lwa is attached to the person to guard and protect him or her. Very much like a personal body guard. There are also other types of Gads which are administered in a variety of other ways.

Anvwa Mo – Used to send one or several Mo (spirit of the dead) against an enemy, or drive one or many of them away from a victim of this type of attack.

Pwen Cho – In this, a Houngan or Mambo captures a Spirit in order for it to work for a person. The Spirit, usually a djab, or aggressive Spirit, is contracted out by the Houngan or Mambo to serve a person in a particular fashion. A Pwen may also be received to enhance a person’s magickal capabilities and strengthens his/her magick. This Pwen is activated and used in certain ways to enhance magick and magickal abilities. Not all Houngans and Mambo do or provide this service, as these Pwen can be particularly dangerous and harmful.

Pwen Achte— In this, the Houngan or Mambo buys a Spirit and then confers it to the person. These Spirits are considered dangerous and can be difficult to work with. Unlike the Lwa one is born with, these Spirits do not owe their loyalty to the person. Rather, they work on a contract basis.

Mariaj Lwa— In this ceremony, a person is married to the Lwa. By marrying the Lwa, the person is bound to the Spirit and obligated to the particular Lwa. And vice versa. This is not an initiation ceremony, but rather a personal obligation that is made for various reasons, click the link to read more about this ceremony.

Lave Tet - Literally translated it means to wash the head. It is a cleansing of the head, a huge cleansing! It removes negative magick, helps possession occur, increases psychic abilities, adds power to the person’s magick, strengthens them, draws money, and much more.

Kanzo – This is the initiation ceremony done within Haitian Vodou Tradition of the Asson lineage. It is deeply spiritual and empowering. The secrets of this lineage are taught to the initiates and they are empowered.

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