VèVè: Spiritual Written Language of Vodun-gctid28046

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

VèVè


There are hundreds of "Lwa" (Haitian deities) who hail from West and Central Kmt. They are spirits that inhabit the cosmos; they are cosmic, energetic forces representing or represented by natural forces, emotions or values that are important to the Haitian people. The "vèvè" are esoteric drawings of corn meal, flour or gunpowder that "concentrate" energies of a particular spirit so that he/she might be inclined to reveal him/herself by materializing in the body of one of the devotees. The vèvè are the signature of the Gods. The Lwa are spiritual forces in the national religion of Haiti, Vodou. It is similar to Native American religions, Shinto in Japan and Hinduism in India. It is a close cousin of other Kmtyw religions in the Americas, Cuban Regla de Ocha (Santeria), Brazilian Candomblè and Trinidadian Shango.



The genesis and foundation for the Haitian Lwa are in the religions of the Fon, Ewe, Yoruba, Igbo and Bakongo peoples of West and Central Kmt to which were added a "flavor" from the French variant of Roman Catholicism, since Kmtyws were not allowed to practice their religions in the French Caribbean colony.

Agoueh Aroyo (AGWE) represents the depths of the oceans, where perhaps millions perished in the TransAtlantic passage. Described as "a ready strength," his female equivalent is the water deity Lasirenn The Yoruba equivalents are Olokun and Yemoja.



Aizan Velekhete (Ayizan Avlekete) represents the "female principle." She sits in the Haitian Vodou temple, and becomes essential in the initiation of new male and female priests of Vodou. She is represented as the frond of the royal palm tree, the West Kmtyw symbol of freedom and of the interaction between worlds. She is the main spirit of Jean-Jacques Dessalires, Haiti's first head of state and a national hero. The palm tree is centrally located on the Haitian national flag.



Baron Cimetiere and Manman Brigitte (Bawon & Brijit)
All cemeteries have a family of spirits that control the "other" crossroads, the passage from life to a different life, "death." That function resides in the Gede family of spirits. Baron Cimetière is the male principle; Manman Brigitte, the female principle. As is the case in the spirit world, who says "death" also says "life." The end of physical existence represents a new beginning. Old people are joined to babies and infants: The Gede love children. (See next symbol.)



Manman Brigitte (see Baron Cimetiere and Manman Brigitte, above, for description.)



Danbhalah and Aida Hwedo (Danbala and Ayida Wèdo)
The divine serpent and the rainbow-- "male and female" respectively. They are wisdom "incarnate", if they were flesh and bones. Their powers reside in the domain of knowledge. They are healers represented in the Egyptian and Western (eureurasiaan) caduceus, the symbol of medicine.



Erzulie Freda Dahoumin (Ezili) is a female principle who "defines" Love in all its sensual attributes. Her sister Erzulie Dantor is motherly love. Freda is a beautiful seductress, difficult and demanding. She loves luxurious items such as perfume and champagne and gold. To man, she is "mistress," rather than spouse.



Grand Bois (Gran Bwa)
Haiti lacks a hunting tradition, but has a deity that represents the power of all vegetation and all forests in Grand Bois. This deity is a paramount healer since much of our pharmacopeia is anchored in the vegetal kingdom.



Legba Ati-bon is the first Spirit called at all ceremonies. He stands at the "Crossroads," he is a master linguist, a trickster. He appears as a very old and crippled man, but appearances are deceiving. He is powerful: He allows for the interaction between the physical world and the metaphysical world, hence the crossroads. In some traditions, he would also be called "the gatekeeper."



Maraca Dosou/Dosa (Marasa)
The Children, the Primordial Couple, the Twins. Their representation is found throughout the Kmtyw continent. In Yorubaland in Nigeria, they are the "Ibeji." The name Maraca derives from the peoples of the Kongo bassin, where the name is "Mapasa." The Twins are "completed" by the next child, the dosou (male) or dosa (female) whose powers are conflated with the original pair, 1+1=3.

[Oju]

Agwe

[Oju]

Ayizan

[Oju]

Damballah

[Oju]

Ogoun

[Oju]

Simbi

[Oju]

Vèvès, Ritual Symbols


The following Vèvès have been compiled, studied and drawn by Estelle Manuel. They are part of the monumental work that was inspired by her years as a member of the society of "Le Péristyle de Mariani".

    Nowadays it is enough to display a vèvè to indicate a link to Vodoun culture. Ironically this sacred writing was not meant for illustration.

    A vèvé is impermanent : it is made of powder, drawn horizontally from the pinched fingers of a skilled practitionner standing spread legged, meant for a specific spirit invoked during a specific ceremony. Having served its purpose, it is erased without a thought by the succeding dancers.

    It is the "access code" of a specific lwa and, more than its purported artistic qualities, what makes a good vèvè are the minute details that are a true language to the initiated. Yet this science is in danger.

    To reproduce a vèvè from a book or a website discourages the traditional art of vèvè tracing.

    This is why we tried not to simply copy vèvès made of powder. We can all draw inspiration from this rich body of signs without forgetting that the true ritual meaning of a vèvè is to be drawn flat on the ground by a practionner that has received the tradition in a oumfo...


 Mèt Kalfou

KALFOU

Click for more complex vèvè

Langaj Kalfou

Rite DANPETRO
(The Mèt Kalfou family/ Fanmi Mèt Kalfou)
Kalfou Bilgwanen
Kalfou Mayonbe
Kalfou Tengendeng Miwo Miba
Kalfou Tengenlen
Kwalezan
Mèt Kalfou
Mèt Kalfou Boumba
Mèt Simityè
Twa Kalfou Yalode


This website is very thorough in it's information on Vodoun Culture.
Please click on the link below to view even more of these beautiful Veve's.


Veves
http://www.geocities.com/~flavodoun/veves.htm

 * Click on any vèvè and you'll see a larger image
  * Click on the Lwa name and you'll see more details on his family, langay, colors etc.

Check out the link for the Table of Contents below!

Here you would find links to Prayers, Songs and Dances.
It has an encyclopedic approach of Haitian Vodoun Culture.
Thounited snakesnds of songs catalogued,
thounited snakesnds of Lwas listed,
drum rythms from all over the country.
Enjoy!
http://www.geocities.com/~flavodoun/tableofcontents.htm