"There are only two things in the world:
Semantics and Nothing." ~Werner Erhard
Delineations:
“I grew up with the teaching that all African Traditional Religions fell under the umbrella term ‘Vodou’ or ‘Voodoo.’ Everyone's teaching varies slightly”
~ Claudia Williams, New Orleans Voudou Priestess (in a personal communication with Rev. Mother Denise Alvarado, April 19, 2019)
There are many different spellings and delineations of the word most folks know as Voodoo. I use the following several spellings:
Voodoo - once upon a time, the literary spelling encompassing all forms of Voodoo including African, Haitian and American practices. Within the past few decades, African and Haitian manifestations of this religious science have taken-on their own unique spellings. Most recently, another unique spelling is taking its place in references to the practices introduced by Marie Laveau, the foremost Queen of New Orleans, and her present disciples. These unique spellings are noted below.
I continue to use this spelling as a generic label, encompassing any and all forms and practices of the religion as a whole.
Voudou - the most recently reclaimed nineteenth century spelling now coming back into use denoting the tradition as it first manifested in Creole New Orleans mainly through the efforts of Queen Marie Leveau, and is now being practiced to an increasing degree throughout America.
Vodou - refers to the practices and beliefs indigenous to the Haitian manifestation of the religion - very much tradition-bound, often with an underlying tenor of fear and anger: facets that once contributed positively to the rebellions, revolution and eventual comparative freedoms of enslaved and oppressed Africans populating that beleaguered island.
Vodun / Vodoun - refers to the indigenous religion in Africa, yesterday and today.
*Voodou* - A personal neologism I use when writing about the combined and integrated beliefs and practices of New Orleans Voodoo and Haitian Vodoun that is the Magicko-Religion in which I was trained and now practice as an American Bokor.
- Don't get overly concerned about remembering all these different spellings and their deliniations. They'll become more easily recalled as you come across them in their contexts throughout the Diary.
The Words:
You'll be encountering many unique, mostly Creole words throughout this Diary. They are listed in a subjective hierarchical order.
Bondge (Bondeu): God (literally "The Great God")
Lwa (Loa): Eternal Living Spiritual Personifications of enormous, but limited Ache - similar to, but not the same as Angels & Saints. They are not Archetypal Symbols. In fact, many Lwa were originally persons who walked the earth - most, in the most ancient of times. Often referred to by Vodouisants as the Misté or “Mysteries” the Lwa manifest themselves in our world through Possession.
Lwa Met Tet: "Master of the Head" - a Patron & Guardian Lwa who is attached, by their choice, to a person from birth to death. Sometimes they are compared with Western Ceremonial Magick's Holy Guardian Angel. Everyone has a Met Tet, whether they know it or not.
Santeria: The Afro-Cuban counter-part to Voudoo.
Orisha: The Santeria counter-parts to the Lwa:
Ancient Living Spiritual Personifications of enormous, but limited Ache. They are not archetypal symbols. In fact many, tho' not all, are also Lwa. The Orisha can be encountered by Divination and by Possession.
Possession: The temporary replacement of a practitioner's Ti Bon Anj by a Lwa, usually during ritual situations. Possession is considered a Sacred Act by Vodouisants. Many expert scholars analyze Possession as not very different from the ideology of the Holy Ghost/Spirit entering and taking possession of a Christian believer, often manifesting as "Speaking in Tongues."
Ache: The stream of Universal Spiritual Energy-Force of Voodou. Described by some Vodouisants as "Power, Grace and Life".
Gros Bon Anj: "Great Good Spirit" - Spiritual Energy nourishing and animating our physical bodies. A loose correlation: the "Rei" in Reiki
Ti Bon Anj: "Little Good Spirit" - The Spiritual Energetic constituting the intellect, personality, character, will power (therefore: consciousness) of a person. A loose correlation: the "Ki" in Reiki.
Zombi / Zombie: In America, where brain and body eating Zombies fill our theatre and television screens, American Voodoo's Zombi is a snake, venerated as the manifest representation of Damballah Wedo, believed to be the Great Cosmic Snake of the Universe.
In Haitian Vodou, Zombies are believed to be actual people who, having appeared to die are reanimated as mindless, will-deficient soul-entrapped living robots who are sold as slaves. This kind of Zombie can also be a bodiless soul, also so-entrapped into a kind of slavery.
Peristyle: 1. An outer courtyard where most Voudoo functions are performed.
2. A Voodou "Family/House" under the direction of an Houngan ("Papa/King")and/or Mambo ("Mama/Mother/Queen").
Hounfor: Popularly used, usually denotes a Temple of Voodou, but actually refers to the Inner Sanctum of such a Temple. Sometimes used inclusive of the 2nd definition of Peristyle and the people who serve there.
Socyete: "Society" - The status & congregation of a Voudoo Peristyle.
Vodouisant: A person who participates in Voodoo/Vodou at any level. As my practice is an integration of American Voodoo and Haitian Vodou, when writing about myself, I synchronize the word with "Voodou" (as mentioned above) spelling it "Voodouisant". It's just one of my many strange quirks.
Queen/Mama: An American Voudou Priestess.
Papa/Doktor: An Americal Voudou Priest, also used by numerous male Hoodoos/Conjures.
Mambo: A Haitian Voudoo Priestess.
Houngan: A Haitian Vodou Priest.
Note: Voodou Priests & Priestesses are not "cookie-cutter" leaders. Style, beliefs, practices and even Lwa are unique to each of them, according to their training & experience. Unfortunately these differences sometimes result in little wars between Houses.
Bokor: ("Capalata" for females) is a(n ordinarily) Haitian Vodou Sorcerer, usually for hire, often practicing independently from established Houses/Socyetes, understood to "serve the Lwa with both hands" - practicing for both Good and Evil purposes. Bokors are generally those who naturally bear great Ache, and while most are similar to "Root Workers" ("Hoodoo") some may be Houngans for certain Vodou Socyetes. In secular terms, a Bokor may be good or evil, though most Judeo-Christian sects simplistically consider them to be the evil version of Houngans. Bokors are suspected to be expert in the creation of Zombies.
Fete: A "Party" in which one (sometimes more) Lwa are ritually celebrated on their traditional holy day, birthday, Maryaj day/anniversary, etc.
Maryaj: The "Maryaj Mistick" (Mystic Marriage) enacted between a Voodouisant and a Lwa.
Manje sek: "Dry" (bloodless) Sacrifice
Ayibobo!: Ayi = "Land/Earth" ... Bobo = addresses the Gros & Ti Bon anj together Often a verbal exclamation, intended to mean "Yes!" "Amen" or "Hallaluja!" More precisely, it says, "Honor and respect to Bondye (God) and your Spirit!"
Kanzo: Vodou Initiation of any level or degree.
Kariocha: The Santaria initiatory rite wherein that person's tutelary Orisha is seated in their crown.
Lav Tet: Headwashing ceremony (usually not an initiation) that cleanses ones head to begin the process of Connecting with the Lwa, specifically ones Met Tet. Some mistakenly think Lav Tet is a form of baptism.
Asson/Ason: The Sacred Rattle of Voudoo made of a gourd with a network of beads and bones that slide across its surface, creating sounds reminiscent of a snake sliding along on the sand. The Asson is generally taken by Voodou Mambos and Houngans, as a sign of their priesthood. Sorcerer Bokors often take the Asson as a power-tool of their practice. The non-symbolic theology & cosmology of the Asson is one of the most beautiful and intricate facets of Voodou.
Veve: A symbolic diagram, actualizing the essence of a particular ray of Ache which, when represented by their Veve, invokes the associated Lwa to descend to Earth. Every Loa has their own unique Veve, with some regional differences in form. The images displayed on this page are example Veves of various Lwa.
The Levels of Attainment:
The following levels are most often rigidly observed in Haitian Vodou, and sometimes to a lesser degree in American Voudou.
Hounsi Bos Sale: An uninitiated person who is associated with a particular Peristyle ("family/house") attends Seremoni (ceremonies) regularly, and appears to be an eventual candidate for initiation.
Hounsi Kanzo: The first grade of Kanzo (initiation). At Seremoni, Hounsi Kanzo wear white clothing, form the choir, and may be suitable recipients for possession by a Lwa.
Si Pwen: The second Kanzo. This person is trained and empowered to be a Houngan or Mambo, and is permitted to use the Asson ... but do not ordinarily perform initiations, unless directed to do so by a Mambo or Houngan. Si Pwen are similar to Ministers of of other sects and denominations. At a seremoni, they lead prayers and songs, conduct rituals, and can be easily possessed by Lwa.
Asogwe: The third, and final Kanzo. A Houngan or Mambo Asogwe might be likened to a Bishop in Christian and other similar sects, in that they are empowered to initiate others as Kanzo, Si Pwen, and Asogwe. At Seremoni, they are the the final authority on ritual procedures of an arranged rite - unless superseded by a manifesting Lwa.
Copyright © 2019, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)
