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Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
Today's Document

Kaledo Art
Claire Keane
almost home
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
I'd rather be in outer space đž
Aqua Utopiaïœæ”·ăźćșă§èšæ¶ă玥ă

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todays bird

Discoholic đȘ©

titsay

if i look back, i am lost
Show & Tell
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

Andulka
ojovivo
taylor price
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
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@santookoorisha
Watch "Why America is NOT the greatest country in the world, anymore." on YouTube
Elaine Duke, who was acting secretary of Homeland Security, said Trump responded to the hurricane's devastation like a businessman.
According to latest estimates, more than 1 billion credit cards and IDs have been released with an RFID chip in the recent past. You may hav
STOP HUMAN IMPLANTATION OF RFID MICROCHIP
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Evolution
The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of all coronaviruses has been estimated to have existed as recently as 8000 BCE, though some models place the MRCA as far back as 55 million years or more, implying long term coevolution with bats.[26] The MRCAs of the alphacoronavirus line has been placed at about 2400 BCE, the betacoronavirus line at 3300 BCE, the gammacoronavirus line at 2800 BCE, and the deltacoronavirus line at about 3000 BCE. It appears that bats and birds, as warm-blooded flying vertebrates, are ideal hosts for the coronavirus gene source (with bats for alphacoronavirus and betacoronavirus, and birds for gammacoronavirus and deltacoronavirus) to fuel coronavirus evolution and dissemination.[27]
Bovine coronavirus and canine respiratory coronaviruses diverged from a common ancestor recently (~ 1950).[28] Bovine coronavirus and human coronavirus OC43 diverged around the 1890s. Bovine coronavirus diverged from the equine coronavirus species at the end of the 18th century.[29]
The MRCA of human coronavirus OC43 has been dated to the 1950s.[30]
MERS-CoV, although related to several bat coronavirus species, appears to have diverged from these several centuries ago.[31]Â The human coronavirus NL63 and a bat coronavirus shared an MRCA 563â822 years ago.[32]
The most closely related bat coronavirus and SARS-CoV diverged in 1986.[33] A path of evolution of the SARS virus and keen relationship with bats have been proposed. The authors suggest that the coronaviruses have been coevolved with bats for a long time and the ancestors of SARS-CoV first infected the species of the genus Hipposideridae, subsequently spread to species of the Rhinolophidae and then to civets, and finally to humans.[34][35]
Alpaca coronavirus and human coronavirus 229E diverged before 1960.[36]
oronavirus y el sol: una lecciĂłn de la pandemia de influenza de 1918
ïżŒ
Richard Hobday
10 de marzo · 6 min de lectura
El aire fresco, la luz solar y las mascarillas improvisadas parecĂan funcionar hace un siglo; y podrĂan ayudarnos ahora.
por Richard Hobday
Cuando surgen nuevas enfermedades virulentas, como el SARS y el Covid-19, la carrera comienza a encontrar nuevas vacunas y tratamientos para los afectados. A medida que se desarrolla la crisis actual, los gobiernos imponen cuarentena y aislamiento, y se desaconsejan las reuniones pĂșblicas. Los funcionarios de salud adoptaron el mismo enfoque hace 100 años, cuando la gripe se propagaba por todo el mundo. Los resultados fueron mixtos. Pero los registros de la pandemia de 1918 sugieren que una tĂ©cnica para tratar la influenza, poco conocida hoy en dĂa, fue efectiva. Una experiencia duramente obtenida de la pandemia mĂĄs grande en la historia registrada podrĂa ayudarnos en las prĂłximas semanas y meses.
ïżŒ
ïżŒ
Pacientes con influenza reciben luz solar en el hospital al aire libre de emergencia de Camp Brooks en Boston. Se suponĂa que el personal mĂ©dico no debĂa quitarse las mĂĄscaras. (Archivos Nacionales)
En pocas palabras, los mĂ©dicos descubrieron que los pacientes de gripe gravemente enfermos atendidos en el exterior se recuperaron mejor que los tratados en el interior. Una combinaciĂłn de aire fresco y luz solar parece haber evitado la muerte de los pacientes; e infecciones entre el personal mĂ©dico. [1] Hay apoyo cientĂfico para esto. La investigaciĂłn muestra que el aire exterior es un desinfectante natural. El aire fresco puede matar el virus de la gripe y otros gĂ©rmenes dañinos. Igualmente, la luz solar es germicida y ahora hay evidencia de que puede matar el virus de la gripe.
Tratamiento al aire libre en 1918
Durante la gran pandemia, dos de los peores lugares para estar fueron los cuarteles militares y las naves de tropa. El hacinamiento y la mala ventilaciĂłn ponen a los soldados y marineros en alto riesgo de contraer influenza y otras infecciones que a menudo la siguieron. [2,3] Al igual que con el brote actual de Covid-19, la mayorĂa de las vĂctimas de la llamada 'gripe española' lo hicieron no mueren de gripe: murieron de neumonĂa y otras complicaciones.
Cuando la pandemia de gripe llegĂł a la costa este de los Estados Unidos en 1918, la ciudad de Boston fue particularmente afectada. Entonces, la Guardia del Estado estableciĂł un hospital de emergencia. Tomaron los peores casos entre marineros en barcos en el puerto de Boston. El oficial mĂ©dico del hospital habĂa notado que los marineros mĂĄs gravemente enfermos habĂan estado en espacios mal ventilados. Entonces les dio la mayor cantidad de aire fresco posible colocĂĄndolos en carpas. Y cuando hacĂa buen tiempo, los sacaban de sus tiendas y los ponĂan al sol. En este momento, era una prĂĄctica comĂșn llevar a los soldados enfermos al aire libre. La terapia al aire libre, como se la conocĂa, se usaba ampliamente en las vĂctimas del Frente Occidental. Y se convirtiĂł en el tratamiento de elecciĂłn para otra infecciĂłn respiratoria comĂșn y a menudo mortal de la Ă©poca; tuberculosis. Los pacientes fueron colocados afuera en sus camas para respirar aire fresco al aire libre. O fueron atendidos en salas de ventilaciĂłn cruzada con las ventanas abiertas dĂa y noche. El rĂ©gimen al aire libre siguiĂł siendo popular hasta que los antibiĂłticos lo reemplazaron en la dĂ©cada de 1950.
Los mĂ©dicos que tenĂan experiencia de primera mano de la terapia al aire libre en el hospital de Boston estaban convencidos de que el rĂ©gimen era efectivo. Fue adoptado en otro lugar. Si un informe es correcto, reduce las muertes entre los pacientes del hospital del 40 por ciento a aproximadamente el 13 por ciento. [4] SegĂșn el Cirujano General de la Guardia del Estado de Massachusetts:
"La eficacia del tratamiento al aire libre ha sido absolutamente probada, y uno solo tiene que probarlo para descubrir su valor".
El aire fresco es un desinfectante
Los pacientes tratados al aire libre tenĂan menos probabilidades de estar expuestos a los gĂ©rmenes infecciosos que a menudo estĂĄn presentes en las salas de hospital convencionales. Respiraban aire limpio en lo que debe haber sido un ambiente en gran parte estĂ©ril. Sabemos esto porque, en la dĂ©cada de 1960, los cientĂficos del Ministerio de Defensa demostraron que el aire fresco es un desinfectante natural. [5] Algo en Ă©l, que llamaron el Factor al aire libre, es mucho mĂĄs dañino para las bacterias en el aire y el virus de la gripe que el aire interior. No pudieron identificar exactamente quĂ© es el Factor al aire libre. Pero descubrieron que era eficaz tanto de noche como durante el dĂa.
Su investigaciĂłn tambiĂ©n revelĂł que los poderes desinfectantes del Factor al aire libre se pueden preservar en recintos, si las tasas de ventilaciĂłn se mantienen lo suficientemente altas. Significativamente, las tasas que identificaron son las mismas para las que se diseñaron las salas de hospital con ventilaciĂłn cruzada, con techos altos y ventanas grandes. [6] Pero cuando los cientĂficos hicieron sus descubrimientos, la terapia con antibiĂłticos habĂa reemplazado el tratamiento al aire libre. Desde entonces, los efectos germicidas del aire fresco no han aparecido en el control de infecciones ni en el diseño del hospital. Sin embargo, las bacterias dañinas se han vuelto cada vez mĂĄs resistentes a los antibiĂłticos.
La luz solar y la infecciĂłn por influenza
Poner a los pacientes infectados al sol puede haber ayudado porque inactiva el virus de la influenza. [7] TambiĂ©n mata las bacterias que causan infecciones pulmonares y de otro tipo en los hospitales. [8] Durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, los cirujanos militares utilizaron habitualmente la luz solar para curar heridas infectadas. [9] SabĂan que era un desinfectante. Lo que no sabĂan es que una ventaja de colocar a los pacientes afuera al sol es que pueden sintetizar vitamina D en su piel si la luz solar es lo suficientemente fuerte. Esto no fue descubierto hasta la dĂ©cada de 1920. Los bajos niveles de vitamina D ahora estĂĄn relacionados con infecciones respiratorias y pueden aumentar la susceptibilidad a la influenza. [10] AdemĂĄs, los ritmos biolĂłgicos de nuestro cuerpo parecen influir en la forma en que resistimos las infecciones. [11] Una nueva investigaciĂłn sugiere que pueden alterar nuestra respuesta inflamatoria al virus de la gripe. [12] Al igual que con la vitamina D, en el momento de la pandemia de 1918, no se conocĂa el papel importante que desempeñaba la luz solar en la sincronizaciĂłn de estos ritmos.
Mascarillas Coronavirus y Gripe
Las mĂĄscaras quirĂșrgicas son actualmente escasas en China y en otros lugares. Se usaron hace 100 años, durante la gran pandemia, para tratar de detener la propagaciĂłn del virus de la gripe. Si bien las mĂĄscaras quirĂșrgicas pueden ofrecer cierta protecciĂłn contra la infecciĂłn, no se sellan alrededor de la cara. Por lo tanto, no filtran pequeñas partĂculas en el aire. En 1918, cualquiera en el hospital de emergencia en Boston que tuvo contacto con pacientes tuvo que usar una mĂĄscara facial improvisada. Esto comprendĂa cinco capas de gasa ajustadas a un marco de alambre que cubrĂa la nariz y la boca. El marco fue conformado para adaptarse a la cara del usuario y evitar que el filtro de gasa toque la boca y las fosas nasales. Las mĂĄscaras fueron reemplazadas cada dos horas; debidamente esterilizado y con gasa fresca puesta. Fueron los precursores de los respiradores N95 en uso en los hospitales de hoy para proteger al personal mĂ©dico contra las infecciones transmitidas por el aire.
Hospitales temporales
El personal del hospital mantuvo altos estĂĄndares de higiene personal y ambiental. Sin duda, esto jugĂł un papel importante en las tasas relativamente bajas de infecciĂłn y muertes reportadas allĂ. La velocidad con la que se erigiĂł su hospital y otras instalaciones temporales al aire libre para hacer frente al aumento de pacientes con neumonĂa fue otro factor. Hoy, muchos paĂses no estĂĄn preparados para una pandemia grave de influenza. [13] Sus servicios de salud se verĂĄn abrumados si hay uno. Las vacunas y los medicamentos antivirales pueden ayudar. Los antibiĂłticos pueden ser efectivos para la neumonĂa y otras complicaciones. Pero gran parte de la poblaciĂłn mundial no tendrĂĄ acceso a ellos. Si llega otro 1918, o la crisis de Covid-19 empeora, la historia sugiere que podrĂa ser prudente tener carpas y salas prefabricadas listas para lidiar con un gran nĂșmero de casos gravemente enfermos. TambiĂ©n podrĂa ayudar mucho aire fresco y un poco de luz solar.
El Dr. Richard Hobday es un investigador independiente que trabaja en los campos de control de infecciones, salud pĂșblica y diseño de edificios. Es el autor de 'The Healing Sun'.
EbbĂł. Trabajo de santerĂa, ceremonia que puede ser de ofrenda o de sacrificio o de purificaciĂłn. Los ebbĂłs son para refrescar, cumplimentar, enamorar a los orishas en las cuestiones mĂĄs sencillas, desde un baño con flores y yerbas hasta poner dulces a las deidades.
Y'all gotta stop getting these dumb bitch famous we need roll modals not hoe modals
Nigga shut ya dumbass up, you sure needa role model so they can teach you how to spell model properly
đđđ Got em!
Bed sound like a chickHead from the hood
My Craft project
What the fuck u using the star of David Jewish star donât make no sense
AND THAT IS HOW YOU USE AN EFFECTS PEDAL
I was gaping the entire song this is insane
This guy is a virtuoso!
All I can say is WOW!!!! Absolutely brilliant!! đđđđđđ
Dam wow
11 December 2017 New York subway terror attack
Pipe bomb fails to detonate fully in Manhattan subway near Port Authority, only 4 injured. Many deaths avoided.
Bomb:
Bomb was pipe bomb âmade at electrical company where he workedâ
Pipe bomb was attached to body with velcro and zip-ties
Bomb only partially detonated, and detonated prematurely
âCould have killed a lot of peopleâ
Suspect:
Suspect is severely injured and âlikely to dieâ
Suspect is 27yo Bangladeshi man named Akayed Ullah
Migrated to US 7 years ago
Suspect âsupposedly set off device in name of ISISâ
âMade statements [regarding ISIS] that are now being investigatedâ
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
Set him on fire
Dam niggers got ball to go to nyc and do this shit
Understanding Vodou for Beginners: F.A.Q.
Is Vodou evil?
The simple answer to this is no. There are evil people in every religion and practice, but Vodou itself is not an evil religion at all. Throughout the years, Vodou has gained a bad reputation due to Hollywood movies(one of the first being the film âWhite Zombiâ which came out in the 1930âs).
Does Vodou only permit certain people?
Vodou has no predjudice against people of any race, gender, sexual orientation, ailment, physical condition, or any other factor that can be used to discriminate. Although Vodou is not meant for everyone, the Lwa do not discriminate.
Do you have to be initiated to be a part of Vodou?
Initiation is not necessary to be a Vodouisant, the non-initiated community make up almost more than 60% of Vodou itself. Initiation in Vodou can be quite costly, depending on the Sosyete as well as the initiation itself. However, the Lwa do not require you to be initiated to serve them.
Is Vodou a practice?
Vodou is often confused as a practice and at times, even the same thing as Hoodoo. Vodou is a religion from Haiti, whose origins come from different parts of Africa including Nigeria and the Congo. It is considered an African Traditional Religion and came from West African Vodun. The religion being practiced chiefly in Haiti and venerated by a large community. Vodou has a magical system intertwined within in it, but in itself is a religion.
Recommended Reading on Vodou:
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti
Why animal sacrifice?
In a society where meat is predominantly eaten, animals are considered food and a religion which arises from the Congo; animal sacrifice is not about the death of the animal but rather the offering of the life-giving energy of that animal to Lwa. As we eat, they must eat. The animal is usually cooked and eaten by the community afterwards; nothing is wasted.
Can Vodou be considered Monotheistic?
Vodou is considered to be a monotheistic religion, as the only one supreme creator is Bondye. God is seen as distant and not readily accessible to us, often considered to be âtoo busyâ. We listen about God and we worship God, however we do not see God. The belief system can be seen in a Roman Catholic way to some aspects, Bondye being the superior creator and the Lwa being the Saints.
The Lwa are readily accessible to us, we serve Lwa and in return they serve us. They confer upon us the physical well being and material blessings.
Is Voodoo and Vodou the same thing?
Vodou and Voodoo are not the same thing, although one can consider them to be two sides of a single coin. Voodoo is what Vodou became when taken into New Orleans, becoming a more creolized version. The main difference being that Voodoo puts great emphasis into worshipping Danbalah. Vodou is the âoriginalâ religion you could say that formed in Haiti.
Artwork of Lwa Ezili Danto
Can anyone enter Vodou?
This is a question that will bring controversy among many people but simply has one answer, No. Not everyone can enter Vodou, the reason being that Lwa will simply not work with everyone. You see, you cannot just come into Vodou and decide to work with any Lwa of your choosing simply because they attract you. If you do this, then the Lwa will either not put any attention to you or things could go badly.
Can you know this through a dream or intuition?
There are many people that have stated to dream of Lwa asking them to work with them and this is good, Dreams are very important in Vodou. However, the only way to be completely certain of this is through a reading with a initiated Mambo or Houngan of the religion. Why is this so important? Because even if you do get a âfeelingâ or dream of a Lwa, you are not completely sure if Lwa actually wants to work with you. The Reading will tell you if you are meant to be in Vodou, which Lwa are interested in working with you, and other key points in your path when it comes to Vodou.
If you do have any path in Vodou and no Lwa wishes to work with you, then I would recommend you to simply step away. It could be that it is not your time to enter the religion or you are simply not meant to be in Vodou. This is not something to be angry about, simply accept it and move on.
Another book Iâd recommend:
Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haitiâs Indigenous Spiritual Tradition
Is Vodou the right path for me?
After figuring out whether Lwa do want to work with you, the comes whether you find Vodou to be the right path for you to partake in. This is a personal question you would need to ask yourself, Vodou becomes part of oneâs daily lifestyle and will represent commitment. Are you ready for this type of commitment? This is something you need to ask yourself, especially if you are a person that likes to change path often. When your in with Lwa, you are in for the long run. I would suggest maybe visiting a Sosyete or Vodou community in your area to see if this is the right path for you, remember: Reading about it is very different from seeing it in front of you.
1804: Liberty, Isolation, Boycott Edit
On 1 January 1804 the former slave Jean-Jaqcues Dessalines (as Jacques I) declared the independence of St. Domingue as the First Black Empire; two years later, after his assassination, it became the Republic of Haiti. This was the second nation to gain independence from European rule (after the United States), and the only state to have arisen from the liberation of slaves. No nation recognized the new state, which was instead met with isolation and boycotts. This exclusion from the global market led to major economic difficulties for the new state. Many of the leaders of the revolt disassociated themselves from Vodou. They strived to be accepted as Frenchmen and good Catholics rather than as free Haitians. Yet most practitioners of Vodou saw, and still see, no contradiction between Vodou and Catholicism, and also take part in Catholic masses.
1825: Compensation to France Edit
As a condition of renewing trade, France forced Haiti to pay 150 million francs to compensate for the loss of its slaves. This corresponded to ten years of Haitiâs total production. Haiti was forced to take out expensive loans to pay these damages.
1835: Vodou made punishable, secret societies Edit
The new Haitian state did not recognize Vodou as an official religion. In 1835, the government made practising Vodou punishable. Secret Voodoo societies therefore continued to be important. These societies also provided the poor with protection and solidarity against the exercising of power by the elite. They had their own symbols and codes.
20th century to the present Edit
Today, Vodou is practiced not only by Haitians but by Americans and people of many other nations who have been exposed to Haitian culture. Haitian creole forms of Vodou exist in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba,[48] some of the outer islands of the Bahamas, the United States, and other places to which Haitians have immigrated. There has been a re-emergence of the Vodun traditions in the United States, maintaining the same ritual and cosmological elements as in West Africa. These and other African-diasporic religions, such as Lukumi or Regla de Ocha (also known as SanterĂa) in Cuba, and CandomblĂ© and Umbanda in Brazil, have evolved among descendants of transplanted Africans in the Americas.
Former president of Haiti François Duvalier (also known as Papa Doc) played a role in elevating the status of Vodou into a national doctrine. Duvalier was involved in the noirisme movement and hoped to re-value cultural practices that had their origins in Africa. Duvalier manipulated Vodou to suit his purposes throughout his Reign of Terror. He organized the Vodou priests in the countryside and had them advance his agenda, instilling fear through promoting the belief that he had supernatural powers playing into the religion's mysticism.[49][50]
Many Haitians involved in the practice of Vodou have been initiated as Houngans or Mambos. In January 2010, after the Haiti earthquake traditional ceremonies were organized to appease the spirits and seek the blessing of ancestors for the Haitians. Also a "purification ceremony" was planned for Haiti.
Controversy after the 2010 earthquake Edit
Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, there were verbal and physical attacks against vodou practitioners in Haiti perpetrated by those who felt that vodouists were partially responsible for the natural disaster. Furthermore, during a Cholera outbreak in 2010 several Vodou priests were lynched by mobs who believed them to be spreading the disease.[51]
Understanding Vodou for Beginners: F.A.Q.
Is Vodou evil?
The simple answer to this is no. There are evil people in every religion and practice, but Vodou itself is not an evil religion at all. Throughout the years, Vodou has gained a bad reputation due to Hollywood movies(one of the first being the film âWhite Zombiâ which came out in the 1930âs).
Does Vodou only permit certain people?
Vodou has no predjudice against people of any race, gender, sexual orientation, ailment, physical condition, or any other factor that can be used to discriminate. Although Vodou is not meant for everyone, the Lwa do not discriminate.
Do you have to be initiated to be a part of Vodou?
Initiation is not necessary to be a Vodouisant, the non-initiated community make up almost more than 60% of Vodou itself. Initiation in Vodou can be quite costly, depending on the Sosyete as well as the initiation itself. However, the Lwa do not require you to be initiated to serve them.
Is Vodou a practice?
Vodou is often confused as a practice and at times, even the same thing as Hoodoo. Vodou is a religion from Haiti, whose origins come from different parts of Africa including Nigeria and the Congo. It is considered an African Traditional Religion and came from West African Vodun. The religion being practiced chiefly in Haiti and venerated by a large community. Vodou has a magical system intertwined within in it, but in itself is a religion.
Recommended Reading on Vodou:
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti
Why animal sacrifice?
In a society where meat is predominantly eaten, animals are considered food and a religion which arises from the Congo; animal sacrifice is not about the death of the animal but rather the offering of the life-giving energy of that animal to Lwa. As we eat, they must eat. The animal is usually cooked and eaten by the community afterwards; nothing is wasted.
Can Vodou be considered Monotheistic?
Vodou is considered to be a monotheistic religion, as the only one supreme creator is Bondye. God is seen as distant and not readily accessible to us, often considered to be âtoo busyâ. We listen about God and we worship God, however we do not see God. The belief system can be seen in a Roman Catholic way to some aspects, Bondye being the superior creator and the Lwa being the Saints.
The Lwa are readily accessible to us, we serve Lwa and in return they serve us. They confer upon us the physical well being and material blessings.
Is Voodoo and Vodou the same thing?
Vodou and Voodoo are not the same thing, although one can consider them to be two sides of a single coin. Voodoo is what Vodou became when taken into New Orleans, becoming a more creolized version. The main difference being that Voodoo puts great emphasis into worshipping Danbalah. Vodou is the âoriginalâ religion you could say that formed in Haiti.
Artwork of Lwa Ezili Danto
Can anyone enter Vodou?
This is a question that will bring controversy among many people but simply has one answer, No. Not everyone can enter Vodou, the reason being that Lwa will simply not work with everyone. You see, you cannot just come into Vodou and decide to work with any Lwa of your choosing simply because they attract you. If you do this, then the Lwa will either not put any attention to you or things could go badly.
Can you know this through a dream or intuition?
There are many people that have stated to dream of Lwa asking them to work with them and this is good, Dreams are very important in Vodou. However, the only way to be completely certain of this is through a reading with a initiated Mambo or Houngan of the religion. Why is this so important? Because even if you do get a âfeelingâ or dream of a Lwa, you are not completely sure if Lwa actually wants to work with you. The Reading will tell you if you are meant to be in Vodou, which Lwa are interested in working with you, and other key points in your path when it comes to Vodou.
If you do have any path in Vodou and no Lwa wishes to work with you, then I would recommend you to simply step away. It could be that it is not your time to enter the religion or you are simply not meant to be in Vodou. This is not something to be angry about, simply accept it and move on.
Another book Iâd recommend:
Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haitiâs Indigenous Spiritual Tradition
Is Vodou the right path for me?
After figuring out whether Lwa do want to work with you, the comes whether you find Vodou to be the right path for you to partake in. This is a personal question you would need to ask yourself, Vodou becomes part of oneâs daily lifestyle and will represent commitment. Are you ready for this type of commitment? This is something you need to ask yourself, especially if you are a person that likes to change path often. When your in with Lwa, you are in for the long run. I would suggest maybe visiting a Sosyete or Vodou community in your area to see if this is the right path for you, remember: Reading about it is very different from seeing it in front of you.
Before 1685: From Africa to the Caribbean Edit
Area of West African Vodun practice, the religion with the greatest influence on Haitian Vodou.
The cultural area of the Fon, Ewe, and Yoruba peoples share a common metaphysical conception of a dual cosmological divine principle consisting of Nana Buluku, the God-Creator, and the voduns(s) or God-Actor(s), daughters and sons of the Creator's twin children Mawu (goddess of the moon) and Lisa (god of the sun). The God-Creator is the cosmogonical principle and does not trifle with the mundane; the voduns(s) are the God-Actor(s) who actually govern earthly issues. The pantheon of vodoun is quite large and complex.
West African Vodun has its primary emphasis on ancestors, with each family of spirits having its own specialized priest and priestess, which are often hereditary. In many African clans, deities might include Mami Wata, who are gods and goddesses of the waters; Legba, who in some clans is virile and young in contrast to the old man form he takes in Haiti and in many parts of Togo; Gu (or Ogoun), ruling iron and smithcraft; Sakpata, who rules diseases; and many other spirits distinct in their own way to West Africa.
A significant portion of Haitian Vodou often overlooked by scholars until recently is the input from the Kongo. The entire northern area of Haiti is heavily influenced by Kongo practices. In northern Haiti, it is often called the Kongo Rite or Lemba, from the Lemba rituals of the Loango area and Mayombe. In the south, Kongo influence is called Petwo (Petro). Many loa (a Kikongo term) are of Kongo origin such as Basimba belonging to the Basimba people and the Lemba.[43]
In addition, the Vodun religion (distinct from Haitian Vodou) already existed in the United States previously to Haitian immigration, having been brought by enslaved West Africans, specifically from the Ewe, Fon, Mina, Kabaye, and Nago groups. Some of the more enduring forms survive in the Gullah Islands.
European colonialism, followed by totalitarian regimes in West Africa, suppressed Vodun as well as other forms of the religion. However, because the Vodun deities are born to each African clan-group, and its clergy is central to maintaining the moral, social, and political order and ancestral foundation of its villagers, it proved to be impossible to eradicate the religion.
1685-1791: Vodou in colonial Saint-Domingue Edit
The majority of the Africans who were brought as slaves to Haiti were from Western and Central Africa. The survival of the belief systems in the New World is remarkable, although the traditions have changed with time and have even taken on some Catholic forms of worship.[44] Two important factors, however, characterize the uniqueness of Haitian Vodou as compared to African Vodun; the transplanted Africans of Haiti, similar to those of Cuba and Brazil, were obliged to disguise their loa or spirits as Roman Catholic saints, an element of a process called syncretism.
Two keys provisions of the Code Noir by King Louis XIV of France in 1685 severely limited the ability of enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue to practice African religions. First, the Code Noir explicitly forbade the open practice of all African religions.[17] Second, it forced all slaveholders to convert their slaves to Catholicism within eight days of their arrival in Saint-Domingue.[17] As a result, over the course of the 18th century, African religious practice in Saint-Domingue adapted to each of these provisions. First, African religious practice largely went underground, outside of the control of colonial authorities. Second, the diverse pantheon of African spirits that had already been incorporated into religious practice in Saint-Domingue was overlaid with images, practices, and rituals borrowed from Catholicism.[17] MĂ©dĂ©ric Louis Ălie Moreau de Saint-MĂ©ry, a French observer writing in 1797, noted this religious syncretism, commenting that the Catholic-style altars and votive candles used by Africans in Haiti were meant to conceal the Africanness of the religion.[45]
Vodou, as it is known in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora, is the result of the pressures of many different cultures and ethnicities of people who were uprooted from Africa and imported to Haiti in the African slave trade. Under slavery, African culture and religion was suppressed, lineages were fragmented, and people pooled their religious knowledge and from this fragmentation became culturally unified. In addition to combining the spirits of many different African and Amerindian nations, Vodou has incorporated pieces of Roman Catholic liturgy to replace lost prayers or elements. Images of Catholic saints are used to represent various spirits or "mistĂš" ("mysteries", actually the preferred term in Haiti), and many saints themselves are honored in Vodou in their own right. This syncretism allows Vodou to encompass the African, the Indian, and the European ancestors in a whole and complete way. It is truly a KreyĂČl religion.
1791â1804: The Haitian Revolution Edit
The most historically important Vodou ceremony in Haitian history was the Bois CaĂŻman ceremony of August 1791 that began the Haitian Revolution, in which the spirit Ezili Dantor possessed a priestess and received a black pig as an offering, and all those present pledged themselves to the fight for freedom.[46] This ceremony ultimately resulted in the liberation of the Haitian people from French colonial rule in 1804, and the establishment of the first black people's republic in the history of the world and the second independent nation in the Americas. Haitian nationalists have frequently drawn inspiration by imagining their ancestors' gathering of unity and courage. Since the 1990s, some neo-evangelicals have interpreted the politico-religious ceremony at Bois CaĂŻman to have been a pact with demons. This extremist view is not considered credible by mainstream Protestants, however conservatives such as Pat Robertson repeat the idea.[47]
Vodou in 19th century Haiti Edit
Understanding Vodou for Beginners: F.A.Q.
Is Vodou evil?
The simple answer to this is no. There are evil people in every religion and practice, but Vodou itself is not an evil religion at all. Throughout the years, Vodou has gained a bad reputation due to Hollywood movies(one of the first being the film âWhite Zombiâ which came out in the 1930âs).
Does Vodou only permit certain people?
Vodou has no predjudice against people of any race, gender, sexual orientation, ailment, physical condition, or any other factor that can be used to discriminate. Although Vodou is not meant for everyone, the Lwa do not discriminate.
Do you have to be initiated to be a part of Vodou?
Initiation is not necessary to be a Vodouisant, the non-initiated community make up almost more than 60% of Vodou itself. Initiation in Vodou can be quite costly, depending on the Sosyete as well as the initiation itself. However, the Lwa do not require you to be initiated to serve them.
Is Vodou a practice?
Vodou is often confused as a practice and at times, even the same thing as Hoodoo. Vodou is a religion from Haiti, whose origins come from different parts of Africa including Nigeria and the Congo. It is considered an African Traditional Religion and came from West African Vodun. The religion being practiced chiefly in Haiti and venerated by a large community. Vodou has a magical system intertwined within in it, but in itself is a religion.
Recommended Reading on Vodou:
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti
Why animal sacrifice?
In a society where meat is predominantly eaten, animals are considered food and a religion which arises from the Congo; animal sacrifice is not about the death of the animal but rather the offering of the life-giving energy of that animal to Lwa. As we eat, they must eat. The animal is usually cooked and eaten by the community afterwards; nothing is wasted.
Can Vodou be considered Monotheistic?
Vodou is considered to be a monotheistic religion, as the only one supreme creator is Bondye. God is seen as distant and not readily accessible to us, often considered to be âtoo busyâ. We listen about God and we worship God, however we do not see God. The belief system can be seen in a Roman Catholic way to some aspects, Bondye being the superior creator and the Lwa being the Saints.
The Lwa are readily accessible to us, we serve Lwa and in return they serve us. They confer upon us the physical well being and material blessings.
Is Voodoo and Vodou the same thing?
Vodou and Voodoo are not the same thing, although one can consider them to be two sides of a single coin. Voodoo is what Vodou became when taken into New Orleans, becoming a more creolized version. The main difference being that Voodoo puts great emphasis into worshipping Danbalah. Vodou is the âoriginalâ religion you could say that formed in Haiti.
Artwork of Lwa Ezili Danto
Can anyone enter Vodou?
This is a question that will bring controversy among many people but simply has one answer, No. Not everyone can enter Vodou, the reason being that Lwa will simply not work with everyone. You see, you cannot just come into Vodou and decide to work with any Lwa of your choosing simply because they attract you. If you do this, then the Lwa will either not put any attention to you or things could go badly.
Can you know this through a dream or intuition?
There are many people that have stated to dream of Lwa asking them to work with them and this is good, Dreams are very important in Vodou. However, the only way to be completely certain of this is through a reading with a initiated Mambo or Houngan of the religion. Why is this so important? Because even if you do get a âfeelingâ or dream of a Lwa, you are not completely sure if Lwa actually wants to work with you. The Reading will tell you if you are meant to be in Vodou, which Lwa are interested in working with you, and other key points in your path when it comes to Vodou.
If you do have any path in Vodou and no Lwa wishes to work with you, then I would recommend you to simply step away. It could be that it is not your time to enter the religion or you are simply not meant to be in Vodou. This is not something to be angry about, simply accept it and move on.
Another book Iâd recommend:
Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haitiâs Indigenous Spiritual Tradition
Is Vodou the right path for me?
After figuring out whether Lwa do want to work with you, the comes whether you find Vodou to be the right path for you to partake in. This is a personal question you would need to ask yourself, Vodou becomes part of oneâs daily lifestyle and will represent commitment. Are you ready for this type of commitment? This is something you need to ask yourself, especially if you are a person that likes to change path often. When your in with Lwa, you are in for the long run. I would suggest maybe visiting a Sosyete or Vodou community in your area to see if this is the right path for you, remember: Reading about it is very different from seeing it in front of you.
Houngans (Male Vodou Priest) or Mambos (Female Vodou Priest) are usually people who were chosen by the dead ancestors and received the divination from the deities while he or she was possessed. His or her tendency is to do good by helping and protecting others from spells, however they sometimes use their supernatural power to hurt or kill people. They also conduct ceremonies that usually take place "Amba Peristil" (under a Vodou Temple). However, non-Houngan or non-Mambo as Vodouisants are not initiated, and are referred to as being "bossale"; it is not a requirement to be an initiate to serve one's spirits. There are clergy in Haitian Vodou whose responsibility it is to preserve the rituals and songs and maintain the relationship between the spirits and the community as a whole (though some of this is the responsibility of the whole community as well). They are entrusted with leading the service of all of the spirits of their lineage. Sometimes they are "called" to serve in a process called being reclaimed, which they may resist at first.[38] Below the houngans and mambos are the hounsis, who are initiates who act as assistants during ceremonies and who are dedicated to their own personal mysteries.
The asson (calabash rattle) is the symbol for one who has acquired the status of houngan or mambo (priest or priestess) in Haitian Vodou. The calabash is taken from the calabasse courante or calabasse ordinaire tree, which is associated with Danbhalah-Wédo. A houngan or mambo traditionally holds the asson in their hand, along with a clochette (bell). The asson contains stones and snake vertebrae that give it its sound. The asson is covered with a web of porcelain beads.[39]
A bokor is a sorcerer or magician who casts spells on request. They are not necessarily priests, and may be practitioners of "darker" things, and are often not accepted by the mambo or the houngan. Bokor can also be a Haitian term for a Vodou priest or other practitioner who works with both the light and dark arts of magic.[40][better source needed] The bokor, in that sense, deals in baka' (malevolent spirits contained in the form of various animals).[41]
Death and the afterlife Edit
Practitioners of Vodou revere death, and believe it is a great transition from one life to another, or to the afterlife. Some Vodou families believe that a personâs spirit leaves the body, but is trapped in water, over mountains, in grottoesâor anywhere else a voice may call out and echoâfor one year and one day. After then, a ceremonial celebration commemorates the deceased for being released into the world to live again. In the words of Edwidge Danticat, author of "A Year and a Day"âan article about death in Haitian society published in the New Yorkerâand a Vodou practitioner, "The year-and-a-day commemoration is seen, in families that believe in it and practice it, as a tremendous obligation, an honorable duty, in part because it assures a transcendental continuity of the kind that has kept us Haitians, no matter where we live, linked to our ancestors for generations." After the soul of the deceased leaves its resting place, it can occupy trees, and even become a hushed voice on the wind.[42]
History