Bon fet Twa Wa! Bon fet tout asogweman!
Today is a big day in Haitian Vodou. Traditionally, January 6 is the celebration of Three Kings Day, which is the culmination of a very hot season, and many temples hold a special ceremony on/around the 6th for all the Petwo spirits. This is the time when we make our baths for luck and blessings (or the lwa make them for us...you have not lived until you have seen a traditional Twa Wa ceremony) and pray for open ways and enough of all the things we need to survive and thrive in the coming year.
It is also a day for all asogweman; all the houngan and manbo asogwe throughout the religion. Some folks call asogwe priests the kings of the religion, and I can see why...all work is brought to a logical conclusions under asogweman and all ceremonies need at least one (but in reality many) asogwe to be able to be done completely and correctly.
It is a special day for houngan and manbo asogwe to remember their elders; their initiatory parent and all who carried the asson before them and made their emergence from the djevo possible. We especially remember Papa Loko, the first houngan and the lwa who is the father of all asogweman; he is who allows the houngan/manbo asogwe to do their work and continue the legacy they have been allowed to take up. In reality, in the frame of the houngan/manbo asogwe, he is the king and he is who makes all of us possible.
I give thanks for tout lwa yo nan nasyon Petwo a, who give bring explosive heat and fiery transformation and who reweave the fabric of my life to best meet my needs.
I kiss the ground in front of Papa Loko because he saved my life and gave me life, and because he has always kept his promises to me. Without his blessing, I would be nothing.
Jou a la, jou a la e....