#ti jan

[rockofeye]

Bon fèt Ti Jan!

The 23rd and 24th of June are given over to Ti Jan across Haiti and the diaspora, whether vodouizan, masonlòj, or church Catholic. All over Haiti, vodouizan and masons are lighting Ti Jan's bonfire/bwa Ti Jan and celebrating Ti Jan with his favorite sacrifice of mouton/sheep (sometime kochon/pig).

It took me a long time to get to know Ti Jan and to (begin) to understand who he is and how he moves in the world, because not everyone knows his regleman. He doesn't fit in easy categories and seems to take joy in defying our notions of where we put him and what we assign him. I know Ti Jan to straddle numerous categories and adapt to where and how he is needed. Consummate doktè fèy, houngan makout, gwo remèd, protector of children, and passionate in everything he does. He is the joy born in the bitasyon and the fire in the tree and the head.

Personally, in whatever head in whatever setting we are in--ceremony, private work, or similar--Ti Jan will scoop our kiddo, cover her in kisses, and let her crawl all over him. He has transformed my understanding of myself and my family, and given me a deeper understanding of our web of interconnectedness with each other and with spirit.

And, of course, he is one of our mèt lakou for our little sosyete; may he always bring us and those who walk with us opportunities for transformation, growth, and community.

Today, give Ti Jan some coffee (sweet and bitter, and listen for the voice that comes from what seems like a long-lost friend. May you be blessed with Ti Jan's passion, transformation, and good nature in the face of every adversity.

[rockofeye]

Hi, thank you so much for the post on the Ti Jans! I am wondering if you have heard of the idea that one of the Ti Jans is descended from an African king and if that is true?

Hi there,

I have seen that. In general, my attitude is that the simplest explanation is most often the most based in truth. Could it be true? Sure. However, there is not one singular Ti Jean Petwo or Ti Jan Dantò or Jan Fawo etc; there are innumerable iterations of each spirit that are particular to lineage, lakou, and bitasyon, and all have their own origin and history.

I also don't think that kind of information provides anything for a practitioner; it doesn't change regleman or what the spirit requires or does when embodied and it doesn't bring any special knowledge to the front. I am a firm believer in the approach of Vodou as being pragmatic and useful, and, for me, that info is not useful because it doesn't do anything for me or the spirit or provide more tools for me.

I think some folks may feel that a logical conclusion is to provide that Ti Jan with what they think that king would receive, but that's not a great choice (though understandable) and particularly for this lwa.

The best way to understand origins of a spirit is to ask the one in front you. They all have stories and histories that they may or may not choose to share, and you lose nothing by asking them. The Ti Jans I know sre very clear on their origins, which don't lay with kings, but, as always, your mileage may vary!

Hoping this helps!

[rockofeye]

Hello Alex, how are you?

Could you say something about Ti Jean Petwo? I've read that Ti Jean Dantor Is his second name, I thought it's different lwa. Thank you so much in advance, have a nice day.

Hi,

I am good, and hope the same for you!

Ti Jan is a lwa that a lot of mixed info gets shared about, like A LOT. more than many other lwa, and I don't really know why beyond that his regleman can be a bit complicated. I definitely had some remedial learning to do in this area, as my knowledge was more lacking than I realized! Ti Jan is very important in our lakou, so the learning curve was a bit steep at times...

Some folks will say Ti Jan Petwo and Ti Jan Dantò are the same, and I understand why, being that folks (understandably) associate the surname Dantò with the Petwo rite. Each lakou has their own regleman, so for some lakou that may be what they follow, but broadly Ti Jan Petwo and Ti Jan Dantò are known as different lwa.

Ti Jan Dantò comes from the north of Haiti, near Okap, and he does not dance in the Petwo rite. Instead, he will often dance in the section of the Rada rite (in asson lineages) that welcomes a lot of the northern lwa. He presents himself like lots of the Ti Jan do; a jovial guy who comes with his hand out and who is quick with jokes that are backhanded insults or wisdom in disguise.

Ti Jan Petwo is a Ti Jan who does dance in the Petwo rite and who is considered to accompany Ezili Dantò and some of the other Petwo female lwa. I associate him closely with Manbo Mayinèt. He is the Ti Jan folks often see eat burning logs, drink gasoline (if he is allowed), and climb up trees. I've watched this Ti Jan crawl into a bonfire and dance.

To throw a little more complication into the mix, sometimes the child in Ezili Dantò's arms is called Jan Dantò, but that is not the same as Ti Jan. There are many names for the child that Dantò holds, and Jan Dantò is only one; what that child's name is depends on where you are from and what your lakou follows.

And, for another sprinkling of the confusion confetti, this month in particular is important for Ti Jan, but specifically Ti Jan who is identified as and with Sen Jan Batis. He is celebrated with ceremony on June 24 and June 24, both in Vodou temples and in Mason lodges in Haiti, who are really considered their own spiritual rite and pretty equal with sèvis lwa. He is celebrated with massive bonfires and processions by vodouizan and masonlòj alike

This is a clip from a ceremony for that Ti Jan from a lakou in Jacmel that fetes Ti Jan every June. You can see the houngan in charge of the lakou salute Ti Jan, Ti Jan arrive, the lakou greet him, and then he changes into his preferred clothing (in that lakou) and goes outside for his bonfire.

This is a clip from a procession for Sen Jan Batis by the Mason lodge in Jacmel.

Hoping this answers your question (and maybe a little more!). Happy Ti Jan season!