Greetings, everyone! I am really excited to be getting into high gear planning the 2008 Voodoo Convention here in Albuquerque.
For the 2008 Convention we will be studying a lot more about Haitian and African Vodou. During the 2007 we spent more time with our New Orleans Voodoo heritage. We will, of course, be studying more about New Orleans Voodoo, but our primary focus will be on Vodou.
Planning the classes is really getting to be fun and I cannot wait to teach you all! We will be learning Vodou songs, part of the Priye Guinea (the long African prayer that is recited before most Vodou rituals, deep service to the lwa, and much more.
In thinking about the convention, I cannot help but remember my own visits to and Vodou initiation in Haiti. It is definitely a place to remember. The people in Jacmel, Haiti are colorful, bright, smart, friendly, and serve the lwa with both dignity and passion. There are many lessons to be learned from these people because they continue to serve the lwa with faith and confidence even in the most trying of circumstances. Frankly, most of us would fold up under the conditions in which these people live.
Yet, they serve the lwa daily. They continue to dedicate their lives to the practice of Vodou regardless of outcome of their hopes and dreams and petitions to the lwa. They do not waver in their service nor in their dedication. They are not practitioners of fairweather faith; in fact, the worse the weather, the stronger their faith. Taking a page from their book would do us all a world of good.
Most of us are petitioning for a better job, a partner to come into our lives, or an enemy to go away. Most of us are not wondering where our next meal is coming from or if we will have money to send our children to school (no public schools in Haiti) or if we have the basic necessities of life. However, time and time again I hear that we are "losing faith" in our spell work! We don't "see results" right away and are ready to throw away our spell work, our faith, and our dedication to the lwa at the drop of a hat! Indeed, looking to our Haitian brothers and sisters for a shining example of faith can do us all a world of good.
Probably the most uplifting thing is the JOY that these people derive from their service to the lwa. The picture below is one I took in Jacmel during a Vodou celebration. Feel the joy!
Love, Mambo Sam
