Ancestral Sevis

Our ancestors are the one and only reason for our existence. We must honor and keep those in remembrance as we go about our daily activities. Life in itself is about lineage. The Vodou is no exception. We are truly a lineage based society. Depending on what part of the world you reside, remembering family is done in many different forms and fashions. Sadly enough, the honoring of ancestors is done in some countries more than others. The American way of life has drawn people further and further from this ritual. With everyone trying to keep up with the Jones', we loose track or we forget to stop and think where we come from, what our heritage is, etc...

To begin to understand the Vodou and start working with the Lwa, one must begin working with their ancestors. We must understand why we are a certain way. All of this has a beginning or a starting point that goes back many generations. When we begin to study our genealogy, we find this to be a very taxing event. Trying to place our Grandparents' Grandparents, their birth place, date of death and so on. Although this may take some time, it is crucial to get to know your kin and to learn more about yourself. Many people have unknown reasons for ailments, disease, poor health or even early death may run in a family. If we seek these traits out by researching of lineage, we have the possible chance of eluding or alleviating the condition all together.






      






Most importanly, we can't stress enough how crucial it is to serve and communicate with your ancestors! In fact, you must first learn to work with and serve you ancestors prior to establishing a solid relationship with the Lwa and this is for two reasons;

1) If not for your ancestors, you would not have a place in this life. When making offerings to them it is important to show your utmost respect to them. The more we feed them and serve them, the stronger they will become and start to work for you, but remember you have to work for them as well. It is a commitment, one that is not to be taken lightly. They love you and have your best interest at heart, you are their family. There a few ways to make offerings and serve your lineage, first find out as much as you can about them, find out what their likings where while alive; foods, drinks, smokes, smells, etc... try to get any pictures you can of them from perhaps your parents. The basic and most simple offerings would be water and a candle for light and guidance. The water because the dead are known to live amba dlo (under water) and will most likely require water to quinch their thirst and to be refreshed.  Give us a shout an we'll cover with you the proper way of making an altar for your ancestors. Trust me it truly is an invigerating and exciting event to serve them and research your family history, find out where you come from. This will help you establish more stability in yourself.

2) In order to walk with and serve the Lwa, you must have a stable relationship with spirits in general. What better way to establish that than with your passed ancestors? It is basically required to serve your ancestors prior to serving the Lwa fully and progressing into the Vodou. You must first learn about you, learn to love you, your neighboor, family (living and deceased). These must all be established by you to give you a sense of security in order to commit to serving the Lwa completely. Take your time in learning, as we say. "There is no rush to Ginea!!" If you have come to this site and made it through my babbling, you must have some interest in the Vodou. Perhaps the Lwa have called you to it but keep in mind there are many steps to take and many things to learn, as well as many rules to follow. It is alot of work but the rewards are endless and priceless. God loves you, the Lwa love you and your ancestors love you, let us assist you in communicating with them...

Most families will have a crest, a tartan, a sash or some kind of banner with the family name and motto. This is a good way to be positively sure if you have found the actual blood line of your family and not just some one who's name is very similar. These proud badges of family pride are usually kept in a safe place and are often passed down through the generations. Should you be able to find such an item, be sure to take full advantage of this as a tool to finding your ancestors. One valid point that needs to be expressed about the topic at hand is this; when doing any kind of geneaology research, you may come across one or a few issues that your ancestors were involved with that you may find shocking, perhaps one was once the most saught after killer in the 1700's? This would be a string jerker and possibly knock you back a few. Should you come across in issue such as this, or they may have been involved with the Hitler regime, do not let this stop you from contacting them and loving them. Remember, it was not you they took these actions on. They love you and our here for your protection and guidance. And they will offer this to you. The spirit usually has a change of conscious when learning of the karma they created in the life they have just departed. Their perception is much more compassionate.

It is important to remember where we all come from. Knowing our past gives us stability and centers our Met Tet and helps to prepare us for the future, also gives us a base on learning how to start walking with the Lwa. Many people jumping into Vodou overlook the vital importance of serving their ancestors and want to jump straight into Sevis Lwa (serving the Lwa). This is incorrect. Any well established and well trained Vodouisant initiated or not, will tell you that serving your family is the most important step on your path of learning. As I mentioned, Vodou is all about family and the ancestors. Therefore you must have a starting point from which to learn on and grow. Remember the Lwa are ancestors, so by overlooking your ancestors, not only is this the incorrect way to start learning but also disrespectful to your spirits. When starting to learn this very deep and complex religion, one must start with "baby steps". Your ancestors can help you with this actually more so then the Lwa. The Lwa are not as compassionate about your personal feelings and growth at the start of your relationship with them. This comes in due time after giving and earning much respect. Your ancestors on the other hand already have your best interests at heart and want to help you in any way that they can. So by serving them, you're infact giving them strength and a point to start working from to ultimately help you. Serving your ancestors and the Lwa is a lifelong commitment. There are many tests given by both. Tests of faith, strength, commitment, love and respect. Which brings up another point, when starting to work with your ancestors the Lwa do pay attention to your service, honor and commitment to your family spirits. If you can't work with your lineage and show them the respect they deserve, you won't get very far with the Lwa if you get any where at all.

~Hounsi Ryan

To honor our resting ancestors...

Bonswa tout moun-yo!!!

I performed a service called the Ancestral Elevation recently and am starting to see the results of that service. I did a week long (7 straight days) service by the river in our back yard every night. This service is meant to elevate your spirits so they are not as connected to the Earth, death, sadness, etc...

Each day you do your service, you are raising them to another level. You can do your service for either; 3, 7, or 21 days. This is at your descretion. You will need to get those small white Kosher candles at your local grocer. You can usually find them in a box in the world food section of the store. They should run you between $5-$10. Depending on how many days you decide to do this, you'll need to get that number of bricks.,e.g.) 7 bricks for 7 days. You can find these at Home Depot or Lowes for about $0.59 apiece. You'll then need; Holy Water, Rosary, water vessel and a mirror.

I used a clean pot to fill up with their water mixed with three drops of Holy water, went outside with the pot and a very clean glass...no plastic. I sat down by a tree recited the Lord's Prayer once, followed by three Hail Mary's and then the Apostle's Creed while placing my finger in the water, making a cross on my forehead and then making the sign of the cross over my chest.

I then prayed to all of my ancestors but only after saying a humble prayer to God and the Lwa (spirits). Pray from your heart with the rosary to all of your ancestors!! Even the ones you don't know, they know you.

I acknowledge all of them as my resting mothers and fathers...

After praying, place the glass in the pot and fill with water. Then while calling out the names of your ancestors, pour the water three times into the ground. Do this three times for each relative you call. Once you go back to your ancestral altar, take the glass vessel you use for their water and place it on top of a mirror, wrap the rosary around the glass then place those items on top of a brick laid flat on the ground. Each night you perform the service, you'll stack on another brick, placing the mirror on top of the stack then place the water on top of the mirror. Then finish by thanking them for whatever you choose. On the 7th day, that is when you feed them with their favorite foods, drink, smokes, aroma's, etc...

I now have received many blessings from this service. Improvments in my career among other things both here and spiritually. Try this service, it really worked for me and will most likely work for you as well!!!

Blessings and love;

~Hounsi Ryan