The Christianity Factor In Voodou

The Christianity Factor in Voodou:

A Paradox of Similitude

There is a popular humorous saying:

"Haiti is 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant, and 100% Vodou."

It is often exceptionally difficult for many Westerners to understand how Christian beliefs and practices can be integrated into those of Voodou.

It can help to keep a few basic ideas in mind...

1. Africans were enslaved in various areas of the Western world beginning 400 years ago.  Slaves were frequently baptised even before being shipped out of Africa.  Thus began the enforced influence of Christianity upon them.

2. The prodigious Christian religious sect in the Western world was the Catholic Church.  Most slaves were given a modicum of training in Catholic beliefs and practices.  The concept of the Catholic Saints was easily understood by the Africans as it is similar to that regarding the Voodou Lwa.  Thus began the syncritization of attributes of Lwa and Saints as a means of safeguarding and keeping the appearance of Catholic worship & veneration necessary to survival.

3. The African religious paradigm has always been one of inclusion, with the various socyetes easily incorporating the beliefs and of other sects in their own.  Thus came an integration of certain practices, such as the praying of the Our Father ("Lord's Prayer") and the Hail Mary at  the beginning of most Vodou and some Voodoo rituals.

4. The Crucifix/Cross became integrated as a symbol of the Crossroads, a significant and important concept in Voodou and Hoodoo.  Further, Jesus' blood sacrifice for humanity was comparable to the blood sacrifice to the Lwa.  So the difference between Jesus' bloody sacrifice for redemption and the sacrifices to the Lwa for their saving help is actually less than most folks think.

5. The Jesus Stories in the synoptic gospels of the Bible (essentially the only Bible teachings doled out to the slaves) are of a similar paradigm to the stories of the Lwa.  Most Lwa were first human persons - thus Jesus's history as Man & God is reminiscent of the Lwa's backstories.

Thus, while the images and types of the Catholic Saints became a kind of "covering" for the Lwa, the many synchonistic similarities of Catholic and Voodou beliefs made genuine integrating many aspects of Christianity also genuine to the religion(s) of Voodou possible.

It is said Voudou Queen Marie Laveau had no difficulty integrating her Catholic and Voudou Faiths - and that she strongly  recommended people to regularly attend the Mass.

6.  A "Great Coincidence of Grace" is that, along with being possessed ("filled") with the Lwa, Bondye has seen fit to add her/his help, by coming down to be substantially present in the Catholic Holy Communion, to fill (possessing and "being possessd by") the African slaves, adding a whole new dimension to the words Mercy, Patience and Forgiveness.

The most significant difference between Christianity (as well as most other religions) and Voodou is that Christianity (as well as most other religions) is a literature-based religion and Voodou is a person-based religion 

Christians look to their Bible (considered God's first and final word) for direction, answers and supernatural help.

Vodouisants look to the Lwa (who abide yet are entirely capable of personal evolution) Persons for direction, answers and supernatual help.

And so it is, that the desired results of faith, beliefs and practices are distinctly identical.  And this is the bottom-line thing defining the relationship of Christianity and Voodou, actually making the conundrum of integration easily resolved.

Bondye Anwo, Lesen Anba!

(God above, Saints below!

Beni Ou,

Dieudonne Bokor

Copyright © 2019, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)

Talking To The Dead

~ Talking To The Dead ~

- Conversations with my Ancestors -

One of the things I love most about Voodou, is having the means to experience a abiding relationships with the Ancestors.

When I first encountered Ancestral veneration, I felt a little left out.  I was adopted, from birth, have only been aware of my birth mother's maiden last name.  Not a lot to go on...

But Mambo Joleen Jackson, my teacher in New Orleans Voudou, was expertly supportive in this pursuit, first by telling me to accept those Ancestors of whom I was aware, in my adoptive and "extended" family.  "Love is thicker than blood," she said.

So I started with my Mom and Dad, and my grandmothers, both of whom I knew as a kid.

Going through old family photos, I found a picture of my Dad's father, and I know his name was the same as Dad's.

And I added those in my extended family who have passed as well.  They, too, are my ancestors.

This was helpful in initially putting together my Ancestor's Altar.  Their pictures, along with two small frames with the names of my Mom's father and my Little Mother's maiden last name, a candle and cup of water were a good beginning.

Example of an Ancestral Altar

(not mine) 

There, I spent and continue to spend some time (usually about 30 minutes, average) just talking to these "deceased") family members.

- The Truth Behind The Beyond -

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, no one who ever dies is ever really dead.  They've just taken a leap into another, hopefully happy, realm of existence, where their Eternity continues anew.

"Hopefully happy" because from what I've learned in talking to folks who have died and been resuscitated as well as my spiritual teachers both incarnate and discarnate, how we are who we are in this lifetime determines how and what we experience in the next leg of our immortal journey.

While we can't ordinarily see our ancestors, they can see us.  And many of them take great interest in us and our lives.  And we can receive their love, wisdom and substantial help.

Sincere, loving interest is what we bring to any valuable relationship, including those with our Ancestors.

Mom smoked and loved fruit breads, so I offer her cigarettes and banana, orange and other such treats .  Dad enjoyed the newspaper crosswords and enjoyed his limit of one beer a day, so I offer him the day's crossword and a beer.

And so on ...

And I talk to - and listen to - my Beloveds every day, sometimes even using my Talking (Ouija-type) Boards.

Somehow my Hasko Mystic Board has become solely reserved for conversations with Grandma Burton - my Dad's mother.

My Fuld-style Ouija Board seems to be favored by most others in my Ancestral family.

(This excellent reproduction was made by Ebay seller "revdangerfield")

Of course, not every day's time with my Beloveds  includes a Talking Board. Most of the time it's simply love connections, tho' I do let the Ancestors know what's going on in my little life, and ask help I need.

Further, in every Vodou Seremoni and Magickal Work I do, I always first call upon my Ancestors, before asking Papa Legba to open the Gate to/for the Lwa.

You see, without our Ancestors present, none of the Voodou Spirits will be present either.

Yet, that's not the foremost concern for me.  The essential reason I include my Ancestors in my days and my work is that I am grateful for, and to them.  They fill my life with liberating loving Light.

Bondye Ou,
Dieudonne Bokor

Copyright © 2020, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)

Who Can Serve?

Who can serve the Lwa?

Simbi from New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
Sally Ann Glassman, Artist

Anyone can serve the Lwa.  One needn't take Voodou Kanzo to be an authentic Sevite.  In fact, you already are one - whether you know it or not.

There are three essential requirements for successful service:  Utter Love, Absolute Respect, and Cleanliness.

Service without Utter Love and Absolute Respect is nothing more than idolatry - an impotent role playing pursuit of no value.

Service without Cleanliness of Self (psychically & physically), Space & Offering is disrespectful, and leaves open a window through which undesirable, even malicious entities can enter and attach themselves - turning a potentially beautiful offering into nothing more than excrement.

There are numerous websites and books affording the Seeker authentic information about the New Orleans Voudou Lwa, their personalities, helping powers, and personal tastes.

So, while the entirely of Voodou cannot be learned from books - but by instruction and experience - there are some really good books with which to begin and expand your journey.  My confident recommendations are...

The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot. The book is chock-full of accurate information on the "American" Lwa - and the provocative images painted by Mambo Sally Ann Glassman can be instrumental for knowing the Lwa, and how to serve them properly.

Mambo Sally Ann has also provided us with  another book, Voodoo Visions, adding her beautiful personal voice to the mix.

Also, a fine book filled with authentic information about the Lwa and spellwork of New Orleans Creole Voudou is Rev. Mother Denise Alvarado's Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook.

Now, Haitian Vodou is highly complicated, with stringent (though regionally varied) personal and ritual Standards.  There are many books on the topic but for the most part, secrecy is the norm - so practical/procedural information is generally limited.  

A popular, delightful, purely anecdotal book is Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn by Karen McCarthy Brown.
Two superlative sources for truly understanding Haitian Vodou are ...

Mambo Chita Tann's Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haiti's Indigenous Spiritual Tradition.

- and -

 The Haitian Vodou Handbook: Protocols For Riding With The Loa by Houngan Kenaz Filan.  

Both authors are highly experienced, and a careful reading of their fine  books will give you a good idea if Haitian Vodou is a Path for you.

Receiving a Lav Tet (ritual "head washing") can also be helpful. It clears your head, and opens you to connect more deeply with the Lwa - and in a  few Socyetes, considered a first initiation.

Met Tet Card, New Orleans Voodoo Tarot

Sally Ann Glassman, Artist

While not necessary - and, in fact, pursued infrequently in American Voudou but more frequently in Haitian Vodou - taking Kanzo (initiation) opens-wide the doors to inter-connecting with the Lwa, while also stabilizing the experience of possible Possession.

Please note:  I serve the Lwa as a Bokor, an independent Voodou Sorcerer -  I do not offer Kanzo, nor will I do so in the future.

We Have Nothing To fear But Fear Itself

(Franklin D. Roosevelt's Inaugural Address)

While much less so in American Voudou, the "trembling and fear" inherent in traditional Haitian Vodou has been enormous.  

Only with the introduction of Western participants training into Haitian Vodou has this become reduced in approach, activities and the demands of Leaders.

Yet a number Voudou Queens & Kings as well as many Haitian Mambos, Houngans and Bokors still focus acutely on the more volatile aspects of the Lwas' personalities.  This is a way of coersing folks into trusting in their (often prohibitively expensive) products, powers and talents only.  So it is increasingly becoming a matter of financial competition rather than authentic religious service.

So, is Fear Reasonable?

In a sense, yes. A measure of reasonable fear - caution, actually - is necessary when dealing with extra-human Spirits.  Taking into account  who and what  they are, the Lwa deserve our genuine respect. Also, considering their super-human power, a little dose of fear isn't unreasonable.

But this caution requires no more than the same when driving a car or crossing the street.  And more folks are harmed by driving and crossing streets than by participation in Voodou ... our relations with the Lwa are naturally imbued with joyful love - and a close sense of "family."

In terms of personality types, there are "hot" and "cool" Lwa.  The "hot" Lwa are more easily offended and angered, while the "cool" Lwas' natures are more relaxed and forgiving of the immanent little mistakes we make in honoring them.

This isn't permission to get too "familiar" (read: "sloppy") when serving the Lwa.  But attempting to serve with authentic love and respect will often ameliorate unintentional mistake.

Now, about Possession... 

Possession Card, New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
Sally Ann Glassman, Artist

I define Possession as the "temporary replacement of the Ti Bon Anj (The living Spiritual Energetic structure constituting the intellect, personality, character, will power - therefore: consciousness - of a person) by a Lwa, usually during Voodou Ritual Situations"...

The most important idea being 
"during Voodou Ritual Situations"  

Inviting Full Possession without expert, attentive, immediately available assistance can result in dangerous, even catastrophic circumstances.  

This is an aspect of Voodou where some healthy "fear and trembling" (not paranoia, however) are entirely appropriate.

Possession is not a "Solitary" practice.  

You cannot safely invite Full Possession when alone!  You just might get run over by a Lwa's "Energy Bus"!

Some folks are wired - often trained and experienced - to be safely receptive to something less than Full Possession.  Many who do Voodou-centric Divinatory Readings find the ability very helpful.  But this requires some knowledge as well as preparation.

Generalized Trance states (like those in which some Christians "speak in tongues" and the lighter stages of hypnosis) are inherently safer than the state of Possession.

• When I was a teenager, we played "Pass Out" - in which we'd hyperventilate, then forcefully hold our breath.  
  The intense numbness and experience of total-body-wavering vibration just before unconsciousness is exactly like the first moments of Possession.  Which is why many videos of Possession show the suddenly tipsy "Horse" (the Voodouisant being Possessed) apparently desperately trying to escape the Lwa taking Possesssion!

Full Possession often results in the absolute overtaking of the consciousness of the practitioner by the possessing Lwa.  So while the Lwa are essentially benific, one's body & mind can be put at risk, due to their enacting of supernatural Strengths and Abilities.  

In the Ritual circumstances, such potential harm is exponentially lessened, due to the attentive presence of trained & empowered Queens, Kings, Mambos and/or Houngans/Bokors, as well as the extended rites of traditional prayers, drum rhythms, songs & dances enacted during a Serimoni for some time before Possession is invited and expected.

Now, Possession - as a topic and as an experience - is multi-faceted ... which makes it difficult to explore deeply in a blog commentary.

But there is a most excellent book that explores Possession quite well ...

Drawing Down the Spirits: The Traditions and Techniques of Spirit Possession by Houngan Kenaz Filan & Raven Kaldera is the go-to book an all types and facets of Possession.

And as I've indicated above, there are lighter levels of Possession - even being limited to only specifically-intended parts of the body, such as the hands, as described and recommended for mixing the cards, in the New Orleans Tarot book.

It is my experienced opinion that working with a Talking Board is more a matter of localized Possession of the hands, rather then an entity dragging the Planchette across the Board.

Even these localized states of Possession are probably best when at least initially explored under trustworthy  personal guidance. 

An essential factor of which one must be aware is that entering the full Possession Trance without immediately-available assistance can also result in becoming controlled by some undesirable Entity.  

Genuine Queens, Kings, Mambos and Houngans are well-trained in the scientific art of forcing diabolic Entities to leave the person and Ritual Space.  Therefore, their presence in all Possession circumstances is absolutely essential.

If you believe you might have had an authentic spontaneous Possession experience, you most likely didn't.  In most cases Possession is an undeniably, overwhelmingly intense experience.   Those who are well-trained experts can corroborate the validity of a Possession by certain specific signs and symptoms.

Therefore, it would be most wise to seek the counsel of a trustworthy Queen, King, Mambo, Houngan or friendly Bokor, who can discern the truth by-way of asking a few specific questions and/or performing a Divination.

Bottom-line:  Internet venues (Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, etc) are innately  unreliable sources of information about Possession, or for finding such authentic expert Guidance.

• NOTE:  I do not serve the Lwa by assessing or training anyone in Possession, nor will I recommend anyone who does (so don't ask, please and thanks).

Now, it's necessary that I speak about people
who fake Possession ...

If you're considering joining the increasing number of numbskulls who relish the idea of impressing and/or lording-it-over on others by pretended Possession, get that idea out of your head ... Now!  

Decades ago, a television commercial for Chiffon Margarine featured actress Dena Dietrich playing Mother nature.  The slogan was "It isn't nice to fool Mother Nature!"

Well, slightly revised, that slogan can be applied to intentionally false Possession: "It isn't nice to fool with the Lwa."  

There are several possible reactions such a Pretender can experience:  Genuine Spontaneous Possession (scarier than you can imagine when not expected, or observed  beforehand);  the wrath of an offended Lwa (resulting in severe psychic/mental disturbances including psychosis, as well as physical harms);  the circumstantial exposure of said fakester, resulting in loss of reputation, etc.

Possession is not a necessary function in serving the Lwa.  It is an unearned honor, instigated by the Lwa when they choose to bless us with their temporary substantial presence.

Finally, praying to the Lwa for their guidance and help is always the best thing you can do in everything, including exploring the many facets of Voodou.

Beni Ou,

Dieudonne Bokor

Copyright © 2019, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)

Divining The Will Of The Divine

I love delving into the Sacred Heart 

of The Divine

I define Divination as "The scientific art of seeking knowledge of the unknown by supernatural means. " 

Divination includes but is certainly not limited to "fortune telling".

For me, it is an awesome way of conversing with the wonderous Heart and Mind of the Spirit of Knowing that resides in outer dimensions of Being.

There are many Ways & Means of Divination: Cartography, Sortilege, Scrying, Trance-Consciousness, etc.

My favorite process is by Cartography - particularly Tarot, and sometimes Lenormand.  

Having studied and read Tarot for over 50 yeas, my favorite deck remains the Thoth Tarot Deck (and Book) conceived by Master Therion Aleister Crowley and brilliantly painted by Lady Frieda Harris under his sometimes pitiless direction.

Thoth Tarot is incredibly rich in symbolism with numerous images on most cards, that can appeal to the subconscious, where intuition dwells.  Thus it can play the part of Future-Teller, Counselor, Advisor, Journey-Companion, even the Conduit for connecting with our Ancestors.

My Go-To Deck for Voodou-centric Pathwork and Readings is the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot,

I highly recommend this Deck and Book as an extraordinary introduction to Voudou, including a pinch of Santeria and her Orishas. 

A newly published book and deck integrating the traditional structure of Tarot with the Orisha and precepts of Santeria is the Orisha Tarot by Andrew McGregor.  

I really enjoy this excellent introduction to Santeria and her Saints, and appreciate Andrew's unique "take" on Tarot as well.

Lenormand - which I also sometimes enjoy using, is essentially intended for simple Fortune Telling.

For detailed and explicit Fortune Telling, 

I enjoy using Le Grand Jeu Lenormand deck.

Gifted with the Ability to See, Scrying - using an Obsidian "Magick Mirror" - is another favorite process for obtaining living images revealing the What/Where/When & How of situations and circumstances.  

OK, I admit it - it's really just a 

Magickal way of Spying  ;^D

I also occasionally like the Sortilege method of Geomancy - wherein four sticks, marked with a single dot on one side and two dots on the other, are thrown several times, resulting in various symbolic formations.

It may seen to be a very simple process, but in reality it's far more complicated - and thus satisfying - than superficial appearences.

Until I came fully into Voodou, I was pretty cynical about Trance-Consciousness.  

Having long-past training in, and performing the stage magic of Mentalism - I caught nearly all Trance- and Psychic- "Mediums" I'd encountered resorting to trickery - especially "Cold Reading".

It was working with Jean Baptist and the expanding of my knowledge and practice of Vodou that I've come to understand and trust the Possesson-Trance Experience as a valuable process for connecting with the Lwa, who patiently wait for our attention and requests for their help.

"General" Trance Consciousness is is pretty easy and safely learned by anyone drawn to that pursuit.

I can't reveal the process of opening to the Possession-Trance experience - it's one of the things about which I've vowed to keep silent ... except to say it always begins with asking the Lwa, Papa Legba, to Open the Gate to the watery Spirit Realm, where the Lwa reside.

In Spell-Work, and especially for Serving the Lwa properly, I believe Divination is absolutely essential.  

This, I (and many others) have learned the hard way, too often getting  inconsistent - sometimes even opposite - results without the proper understanding and planning afforded by Divination.

Divination gives the necessary input from Spirit and the Lwa that can organize, magnify and stabilize the Voodou Spells I lay and Service I give.

Divination ...

It's good for your Soul

Beni Ou,

Dieudonne Bokor   

Copyright © 2019, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)

Voodou All The Way: A Minor Autobiographical Sketch

"One person's superstitions are another

person's religion."   ~ Alfred Metraux

I love the Orishas

of Santaria - I truly do ...

And tho' I am not a Santero, and have no desire to be, I am blessed to have the Orisha Babalu Aye walking by  my side, and on a few occasion, the presence and communications of others of these Holy Spiritual Personalities.  

My Path, however, is decidedly of Voodou ...

Mwen Sèvi Lwa

(I Serve the Lwa)

Serving the Lwa who have chosen to accompany me in this lifetime is a nearly full time job.

Santaria's Orishas love the taste of certain meats, as well as being nourished by blood.  Voodou Lwa have much the same tastes, but will gladly accept Mange sec - bloodless offerings ...a good bargain for me, as a non-killer vegan.

The Lwa I know are incredibly rich in personality, having their unique personal desires, likes, dislikes, and boundries.  

Having lived with these factors for quite a few years now, there are times when my head "gets heavy" working to ensure I offer the right offerings, keep peace in the family, and attend the Lwa with utter love and absolute respect.

It's essential to understand that we do not use the Lwa.  We respectfully rely on their individual powerful helps in our Magicks and our lives.  They rely on us to feed, honor, venerate and obey them.  And we get the lighter part of the bargain.

A common rule-of-advice I consistently receive from the Lwa has three sides to it:

• Persevere - never give up when it is Important.
• Always Grow - never stop studying & learning.
• Patience - never make snap decisions on Matters of Importance, once I've decided to decide. By waiting three days, I will know what I can effectively be/do/have in the matter. 

These simple principles have helped keep me more on-course and purposeful countless times on my Journey.

It's obvious that different traditions can enhance each other.  Having a long background in Western Magick, including Witchcraft, has added enormously to my Voodou efforts as a Bokor.

When Jean-Baptist insisted on my becoming Catholic, I resisted, thinking that was taking the "different traditions" factor too far!   Yet having abided, and undergone that course, I am firmly aware that the experience has exponentially deepened my understanding and practice of both Voodou.

• According to photographer Lynne Warberg, who has documented Haitian Vodou for over a decade, a common saying on the island is that "Haitians are 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant, and 100% Vodou."

Another thing about me is that, when it comes to people, I am - in the most real sense - "color-blind" ...

My sibling brother enlightened me about how he and I grew up without racial prejudice. 

Evidentially, Mom (with many prejudices) and Dad (with fewer prejudices) made a kind of pact that they would consciously raise us as free of racial prejudice as is possible in this racist (and many other ist-factors as well) society.

In terms of folks of African descent, I remember being acutely aware, even at an early age, that humanity-destroying caricatures of blacks were rampant in entertainment, advertising, and product labeling.  

Yet I don't recall Mom or Dad specifically pointing any of this out to us.  How we learned to act, think and speak - as many children do - was by mimicking our parents and through the years, this extends out into our perception of the world around us, and ourselves in it.

This "color-blindness" attribute has definitely paved a smooth Water Road for my Voodou journey.

Of course, our family was not even fairly close to the (Leave it to Beaver) "Cleaver" family perfection ...

Mom - a brilliant homemaker - could change from sweet, kindly peaches & cream to being a s/mother/ing parent, and an often shrill, disrespectful friend.  

Dad -  of genius-level  intelligence (and superb at playing Devil's Advocate) - was a drunk.  

We were a typical, 1950s upscale seaside suburban family.  

But they were both musically-inclined, and that certainly extended down to my brother and me.

The reason I've introduced you to my family is that, Mom was, by nature, quite open to all Things Occult.  She gave me my first Ouija Board when I was ten or so.  She was always very interested in my work with Tarot, and in her twilight years, was particularly fascinated by my Western Magickal activities.

I think it was partly by Mom's influence that I was rather more mystical than most children at that time - making almost ordinary, my inclination toward telepathic communications with her and eventually other folks - and the fact that I was and remain able to have Visions.

• The difference between Visions and dreams is that you are awake rather than asleep.  And the senses not only of sight, but also those of smell, taste and touch are more substantial than in dreams, tho' less so than in ordinary consciousness.

We had discussed my participation in American Voodoo, and she wasn't shocked by it ... knowing full-well the power of films, books  and the news media to distort the religious activities and beliefs about which polite white society is ignorant and (often loudly) impolite about that ignorance.

I am, by nature, a "Saver" - my nursing career is one evidential facet of that, my times spent teaching on Magickal topics, My Hoodoo and now my Voodou Bokor Work are further examples of that facet of my "Saver" personality.  

The catch to this is in being aware of my propensity to become the Controller ... by which nothing and no one can be saved.  It took a mortal decision on the part of a loved one, to make absolutely clear to me, the depth and intricacy of patterns of Controller-ship woven into my everyday thoughts and actions.

I have been forgiven, and eventually forgave myself.  However I now remain a cautious Sentinel at the  door inside my head, marked "Control Room"... 

Beni Ou,

Dieudonne Bokor

Copyright © 2019, Dieudonne Bokor (aka W.A. Ryan)