Danballa Wedo

The great serpent, named Danballa Wedo or Odan in Vodou is considered to be one of the most ancient spirit, a royalty in pure essence, the father of the mysteries and creator of life itself. A very wise and most intelligent Lwa (spirit) that does not speak; however his mere existence and presence vibrates on such high level that surpass the understanding of what even words can't begin to describe. Wile Legba is the door opener to the mysteries, Danballa in a sense acts more as a "connector" and amplifies the connection between the invisible and visible world. He can lead you on path to achieve great things in life and connect you on deeper levels of understanding the world, yourself and the spirit world.

Odan is married to a female spirit called Ayida Wedo (The rainbow spirit) and we use Saint Patrick as an Catholic image for his representation. We usually put up big ceremonies for Damballa, Ayida Wedo together with Papa Loko (Loko Atisou) in March. He is also the lover to Erulie Freda.
He is served with white foods, an raw egg mounted on a plate of white flour (Usually two, one for Damballa and one for Ayida), pompeia perfume, milk, syrop d’orgeat, white/green cakes and white rooster.

When Danballa comes down (meaning mounting a person) We immediately cover the person with white sheets; and the person hisses and crawls like a serpent would do. We do this to keep the spirit cool, while we sprinkle Pompeia perfume on the sheets and sing his sacred songs.

Danballa belongs to the Rada escort, the primary spiritual nation of what we call "root Lwa" and as he is associated with the pure essence of life; his colors are naturally white, and green is also used, as a association with the Python. He is also sometimes depicted on the poto mitan (the center pole we use symbolically in Vodou- as the "center-point of the world", -where the spirits come down-) crawling his way up the pole.

Houngan Kris
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Choosing your spiritual path & initiation

First let me very briefly get into the history of Haitian Vodou. I`m not going to go  to deep into the history part, because that`s not really what the subject is about.. But try to make a short summon..  Haitian Vodou was basically created in Ayiti in the 18th century, under colonization of the French Empire. The belief system was mainly formed by the slaves of different African tribes  (The Fon, Nagos, Ibos, Ewes, Yorubas, Dahomeans, Congos to name a few..), with strong influence from Taino religious belief (the indigious people of Haiti) and also incorporated with elements from Roman Catholicism, as well as elements from European spirituality. (If you are interested you can read  more in deapth about the history by doing a quick search on google, you will find tons of information)

I also want to make it clear (cause many get it confused), African Vodou, Voodoo or Vodoun (even if  it had great influence in the formation of Haitian Vodou, are not one and the same. (Mind you, each tribe had their own set of language, and spiritual system); Haitian Vodou was formed by the understanding of the common thread, or "red thread" as it is called (because the slaves at that time couldn't understand each-others languages, they had similar spiritual common-ties, and eventually tied together and created a unique and elaborate form of spiritual and religious system, with its own language (Kreyol), With its own doctrines and its own protocols (which in Haitian Vodou we refer to as regleman).

It is important to understand; that based on the system or order you follow which is different from culture to culture, different from tribe to tribe, different from religion to religion (but note: thou every spiritual system is different-in essence- it still leads to the same source, be it the same God and yes, the same spirits as well) The important distinction thou is that each spiritual system has its own unique map, that guides you on path, to reach and connect with the divine. (Which has evolved trough generations and generations)

This is the reason why you have to chose you path wisely. I am not in any way implying not to try your way, to question, not to do research, not to travel and explore (on contrary, you should take your time- You should make sure you sense it, you should make sure you feel it; in your heart, blood and bones.. And only then; decide. Especially in referral to initiation. To initiate is not a game, it is not to be taken lightly, its not only a choice; but it is a commitment, more over a sacred commitment that you make for life. You become tied to your teacher, to your community and your society becomes part of your family (bonded trough spirit)

To go from one one path to another, will only make you confused. As mentioned, there are several paths to the mysteries, there are several paths to the invisible world, to God and the spirits; but initiating into several paths, or even worse mixing paths together, will only give you a headache, and can easily make you lost. The spirits communicate with you accordingly to the pathways you open (symbolically and spiritually) but it is trough this ritualistic approach that binds the important factor of your conscious mind and the correspondence to the spirits. It`s a language in its own (that a spirit recognize and have recognized through generations), and by learning this this is the key how to connect, read, understand and resonate with the spiritual world.

Houngan Kris

Kristian Moe

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Do you master self?

An very important factor and actually one of the main keys being a spiritual and dealing with the spirits (and this corresponds to most spiritual direction, religions and paths; in fact I would dare to say all paths where you dealing with the invisible world, first you should be able to master self.
So what does it really entail to- master self? And why is this extremely important when dealing with the invisible realm? Do you feel that you have mastered self? Be honest.. If Yes, then I bow, to you in great respect! Cause in these times, this is rare.

Before I proceed going more in depth of this subject..

Let me briefly talk from a Haitian Vodou perspective. We always start our ceremonies dressed in White. (And we also always start with the Rada Lwa (These spirits primary color is also white). And it`s a reason for that. For us Vodouisants, is basically a symbolic representation for purity; Purity in spirit, heart, mind and action. And dressing in white is something that you often see in many other religions as well (thou not always depending on culture, but still this principle is a dominant factor)
So back to the question, what does it really entail to master self?

It goes hand in hand with purity; your body is -your- temple. it doesn`t necessarily mean that you have to walk around like a saint (that is another different category). The Christians call it  "the 7 deadly sins". Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed and Sloth. Even if I don`t follow Christian ideology, this is actually a great and simple example to use and understand of what I am talking about.

No matter what path you follow in life, who you are, where you from, what you do, your ability to master self, will be challenged. That is unavoidable. And will produce the same result to anyone. And everyone feels the same; either loss of power, or empowerment.

Now, why is the ability to master self and have self control so important, especially dealing with the invisible world. See, dealing with spirits is first of all not a game. Initiates of Haitian Vodou are (or should be) protected (you should have Gads (protective spirits) and we also put Gads on clients by request, that guard us against malicious spirits and attacks. There are prayers as well and spiritual cleansings that can be done. But it`s a little bit more to in then just that; You have to understand (especially as a beginner) that by not having control over self and dealing with the invisible world, is a invitation and an open door itself to lower level spirits (trickster spirits) and can have severe consequences in your life and even effect the life of your loved ones.

There are also spirits passing by, just waiting for that invitation to attach themselves to you and feed of it. Or even worse, enemies that want to harm you (people who know what they are doing have eyes and their spirits will let them know when your weak. Of course another thing is that you risk to stagnate, struggle and if you are protected, once these lower level spirits are around you, they will not let you go that easily.. they want you to fall, they want you to dig your own hole, until you can`t get out.

Of course it`s a work in progress to master self. It takes time, devotion, patience and discipline. We all have our flaws, we not perfect, but I`m not really referring to the "minor issues in life", rather the main principalities like previously mentioned that are in fact the key elements of mastering self, and self control.

It`s a broad subject, but hopefully I was able to highlight the main point across of a extremely important matter; especially when dealing with the invisible world.

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Houngan Kris

Slave to the spirits?

I got an email from an old friend of mine and to get directly into the subject it basically was about "Freedom of self, and service of external forces" Like for example in my stand as a Priest of Haitian Vodou I serve the Lwa" My friend (who I will keep anonymous) brought up a lot of interesting points of view from his perspective.. Basically.. he was talking about "Trickster Spirits" and being fooled by Entities (spirits).. He also pointed out "not to be a Slave to these spirits" and to remember it`s my life (Not to let myself be controlled or rather "overtaken" by these old spirits; that we in Haitian Vodou refer to as Lwa). Take a moment to reflect.. what do you think? Do you think you are controlled by the spirits, ... do you really know what you really are connected to?

Think about it..

See I don`t take offence by peoples comments or personal opinions, because we need to reflect, and sometimes we can become to "indoctrinated" and blindly follow, without connecting or reflecting (that is a dangerous path) This exactly why you have to understand and know what you are resonating with. So how do you know?

In Haitan Vodou, we have ceremonies to know our court (meaning the spirits that resonate with -you-). But even without that, if you have a sense, you can feel when something is not right or wrong. I`m taking about using your sensing, resonating. We have spirits all the time around us, the forest has a spirit, the sea has a spirit, the earth has a spirit, the river has a spirit the fire has a spirit, death has a spirit and that is what we are connected to and trying to work with. It`s where we from, it`s a natural part of us.. We`re not aliens, some people search in the sky, on other planets, other dimensions (no disrespect, I respect any belief) but maybe we should try to focus more on where we are and what we have here.

Now to the third subject, does the spirits control out lives? Is not as complicated as it seems. Again, we are not worshiping, we are serving, meaning acknowledging and wanting to connect to what is around us. Are there spirits that can control our lives, of course. We do have bad spirits as well as good; but use your senses and reflect your life, what is happening in your life -right now- reflect..

You can`t be dirty and try to be clean.. in one way or another.. if you really use your sense of perception, you will find the stench.. its still will be there, visual for those who can see.

Sense, feel, smell, hear and understand.

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Papa Legba

Legba is the Lwa that we salute first in Vodou trough «Gran Chimen» (The big road), and he is served and addressed to open the roads to the mysteries. He is called Vye Legba (Old Legba), Atibon Legba (Good root Legba), Legba ti Yan Yan, Legba Zaou, Legba nan Petro (The hot aspect of Legba) along with other names.

Without this old spirits permission  you simply won`t have access to the higher spirit world (The Lwa) Papa Legba not a complicated Lwa to work with; he is very humble and as long as you serve him right and with a devoted heart, you will gain his attention. In our house, he is served with the color Yellow and Purple, and synchronized with the catholic image of St. Lazarus -A old beggar on crutches) We serve him on Thursdays in his Rada (that means cool) aspect, and Tuesdays in his Petro (hot) aspect. Atibon Legbas Nr is 3.

His place is usually placed by the entrance indoors of the main door of your house, of course not everyone can do that. You can also place him by the door entrance inside your shrine room. By his space you can put crutches or a walking stick, a yellow or purple candle, a cup or of water, cleren (or vodka for his more hot aspect), a pipe (there are traditional Haitian pipes for the spirits- but a corn pipe alternatively be used), a Djakout (Traditional Haitian Straw bag, if you can get it). As Vodouisant (people who serve the spirits by Haitian Vodou) we serve him before any spirit with a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Legbas offerings are usually put in his Djakout and hung from a tree outside)

For more specific request for the spirit, Legba doesn`t require offerings or animal sacrifice like the other Lwa. He is pleased with simple offerings as salted fish, plantain, sweet potatoes, sugarcane syrup, a cigar and a white plate mixed with grounded coffee and sugar.

Except opening the doors to the mysteries, he also has the power to remove blockages in your path, clear your way, help with communication issues as well as other matter in your life as direct you on your way and guide you on your path.

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