Arrived and had a strong sense I should go to Hamilton with Steven. I wanted to see Raymond and their new Botanica and Temple in construction and pay my respect to the new Temple. With Steven and Raymongd to Rainbow Waters Shop and the attached Temple in construction. Paid respect, kissed floor of Temple. Now there is that direct link. Later I leaned from Michael that a portion of Hamilton was known as "Little Africa" Hamilton was one of the destinations of the underground railway. It is difficult to convey the importance of this information to both Luis and I. As Luis pointed out, the underground railway began in New Orleans, the point of debarkment for many of the enslaved afric ans. Now we were at the end of a major strand of the railway doing drumming and rituals brought by the africans who have made the dangerous juorney to a land of freedom. That Hamilton has a Temple where the loa are served is of great importance.
All of the Statues Mishlen sent up were brken on the plane. They are living Spirit Houses. I was so sad. I got materials to fix the icons from Raymond, with a set of tempora paints and glue I could repair the majority of them. Luis said I looked like an archaeologist. Present of bones and rust from Steven and Raymond.
I met a man named John who got the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot from the Book of the Month club without requesting it. The book has had a strong impact on his spirituality. He works regularly and primarily with the deck and book. When his children ask what h e is doing , he tells them he is telling "stories to the ancesters." How beautiful. He is close to Shongo and Ayida Wedo. Quite a combination. I have never met a devotee of Ayida Wedo.
Corvis, a geologist, pointed out that the soil of New Orleans was brought here by the Mississippi. The soil is the ancestors. The soil from all over the continent was brought here and deposited in the delta. New Orleans Voodoo is such a rich combination o f traditions. The loa derive strength from the soil. No, more that strength...their very form and function. The rich and varied combination of soils informs this Voodoo.
Luis mentioned at one of his sessions that Obatala was the first owner of the drums. This is new to me. Very interesting that Blanc Dan-i is the master of my head. Blanc Dan-i is a very old loa who is very much like Obatala.This seems to point to a time when Blanc Dan-i owned the drums. In fact, I remember a story in which the drum head is made from the missing ears of a snake. I have very little fire within me. THis is best shown by my astrological chart. The chart is very unusual in its lack of fire. The astrologer doing the chart said she had never seen a chart with so little fire. Shongo ownes the drums and he is fire. On a personal level, it has always interested me that I am so drawn to the drums yet I have so little fire. Obatala/Blanc Dan-i/ Drums is a link I have been seeking. I have been told that when I am drumming, somethin g (fire?) comes out the is visible in no other activity in my life.
Conversation with Steve and Corvis both centered on them Dancing not drumming. Very unusual and informative. Perhaps it would be good if I were to dance more.
Did "Thursday Night at the Voodoo Spiritual Temple" Luis pointed out the connection to the rite being done in New Orleans. The enslaved africans were brought to New Orleans and if they could escape tried to make their way to Canada...many to Hamilton. The rituals in New Orleans and at WiccanFest were taking place at both ends of this strand of the Underground Railway.
An African mask has found its way into the Rainbow Waters Botanica. This mask is definitely not happy being in the New World. It sat in a place of honor during the Thursday night service. Michael was taken by the Spirit of the mask at one point and his dancing was extremely monkey like. I see the mask as having a connection to the Ibiji and the monkeys. Late Night Fire Drumming and Dancing...Two possessions. Micheal and a woman new to Voodoo. The loa took the woman toward the end of the ceremony. The people dancing around the fire were very unsure of what to do. I think that the physical discomfort that so often accompanies possession shocked some of the dancers and drummers. Michael was ridden by a loa that came and departed spontaneously. People looked but were not as shocked.
-Pre Blessing of the Drums ritual session...people were asking about a correspondence course. Such a course is needed.
-Blessing of the Drums. Drummers clothed and fed their drums with drink and food. -Did ancester ritual and dedicated "to those whose names have been lost" to the Africans who followed the underground railway to Hamilton. -Strong Blessing of the Drums. I was not playing. I don't know, this may be something to develop. Used earth from Congo Square, The Voodoo Spiritual Temple, and Temple Blanc Dan-i. I emphasized the attitude as being of primary importance. The drum is to be fed and blessed as a person; loved as a friend; as a Spirit. Luis refreshed his drum as his drum stood in the place of all of the drums at the Blessing. Drumming after Blessing ritual...The mask was danced by Michael. Viril Legba figure...African Legba...(connection to the child Eleggua to the Ibeji to the monkeys). I saw that the Spirit of the mask belonged in the woods, wanted to go back to africa. An older woman also danced the mask. It is always an honor when an elder dances.
Late Night Fire (we have been coming down to the fire right around Midnight and staying till first light). WE ended with ogun and Michael had a strong possession. Tried to fashion a sword out of bark and had a hard cry while he kept trying to bury some stomes. Later he said it was his solders he was burying. Luis gave the Ogun a metal wrenceh from his drums.
It occured to me that Florida water works on the most primary of the senses, smell. The olfactory is open to influence in even the strongest of possessions.
Main Ritual- I was holding hands with the children in the circle dance. I found that the child was special to Michael; someone who he shared walks and talks with. The woman leading the Material wealth(?) Circle was dressed in green and wearing a Moonmask.
This was the same green and type of fabric worn by a statue of Mishlen's I had just sold. The Moon Mask the woman was wearing was exactly the same mask we have on our front door in New Orleans. The loa are so present, so imperative in their signs. The woman is also an herbalist, I want to ask her about herbs to strengthen the lungs for T and I.
Drumming at Night Fire... Man and women helped each other keep from being taken by spirit though the man was ridden toward the end of the night.
With the drumming there was the presene of a very strong resenence. I and the other drummers would periodically look around for the drummer playing the melodic low sound. I thought it was someone sliding her thumb across a conga. There was, of course, no physical drummer producing that sound.
Stopped at one point and took a walk along the night road by the fire with a poet. What a place of power. The spirits in the woods greeted us with light. Quiet; Oh so quiet.. .
Drumming till 45 min before we were to leave for air port. On the plane home. Sitting in comfortable seats, being served food, and flying at 13,000 feet. The foot by foot the painful progress of the Underground Railway......at times I can be so ungreatful.