Table of Haitian Lwa by Heavy Saturn

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

In Haitian Vodou a person would normally belong to an immediate family, then a Vodou family/temple/house, then the overall community at large. But for most people who will read this message, they will not have the opportunity to join a Vodou temple/house/family.

 

In a Vodou house/family/temple you grow with the group of people from childhood and are initiated into the Vodou family at various stages in your life. A house will have its patron Lwa and some houses change their patron Lwa periodically.

 

As a solitaire person with no access to initiation rites or Vodou temple, you can use the attached table, “Table of Haitian Lwa,” to create an altar for the particular Lwa you feel drawn to. Use the color column to select silk scarves of this particular color to decorate the front of your altar, a table cloth of these colors to cover your altar, and candles of the color for your Lwa. The day associated to this Lwa would be a day to spend quality time at your altar with the offerings your Lwa prefers, if you’re offering is a food item you may consume the food after your service and your Lwa will consume the aroma. If your Lwa has a tree, decorate your altar with nice pictures of their tree or even a branch from this particular tree. Supply the associated symbols that relate to your Lwa, either with objects or pictures. Obtain a picture or statue of the Roman Catholic name that correlates to your Lwa and place it on your altar. Light the candles on your altar and draw the vever for your Lwa on the ground in front of your altar using white flour or corn meal, depending on the preferences of your Lwa. Normally the vever is drawn outside the altar room around the peristyle; feel free to erect a peristyle near your altar, the Lwa will travel up and down your peristyle to enter into your ceremony. Start your Lwa service by reciting the Confiteor, Our Father, and Hail Mary. The Lwa like drum music and dance, the changing rhythm of the drums is what assists in inducing possession; you can find Haitian drum music for the Lwa on Amazon. Dancing is very rhythmic and a big part of serving the spirits, serving the Lwa. Observe the video included with this post for an example of the dance done at a Vodou ceremony. There are certain chants associated with each Lwa; these chants can be found on the internet and in some books. Normally a Vodou ceremony would include the participants chanting the Lwa’s chant along to the drum music. Some Lwa do require an animal sacrifice, goat, chicken, pig, or bull, depending on the Lwa's preference. This should be done by a priest or priestess and are not part of a solitaire practice. There are laws in many states that prevent cruelty to animals but religious rights have been given to African Diaspora religions to sacrifice animals if done properly by a priest or priestess.

 

The Lwa labeled Rada are much more docile and less aggressive than the Petwo Lwa. It is possible for a person to become mounted by the Lwa even in a solitaire ceremony or within the drum music and chanting. It is always best to have another person present to respectfully and gently aid the possessed person, and also to receive any messages the Lwa may wish to impart. The Petwo Lwa can be very aggressive and if a ceremony for a Petwo Lwa is held, particularly if the symbolic machetes are present, it is best to have more individuals present so you don’t hurt yourself, your property, or your pets. In the case of Ogoun, he does not like dogs and if there is a dog present when he possesses a person the dog is in danger.

 

Each person has a Lwa that closely matches the vibration frequency of their own psychic shadow. Often you will be drawn to a particular Lwa just from reading the table. Preferably you could consult a Vodou priest or priestess who can divine your Lwa.