Facebook essays February 2015

VODUN/ORISA: SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND THE "HE SAID, SHE SAID"
Since the times of the great Voodoo Queens, of New Orleans (and even before), we have witnessed traditional spiritual warfare in the diaspora. In the wake of the Haitian Slave Revolt, of 1791-1804, many refugee plantation owners and their slaves migrated to New Orleans. This atmosphere gave rise to the notorious Marie Laveaus (mother and daughter) and other great hoodoo and voodoo priests. But one of the Laveau queens openly sought supremacy over her rivals, some fifteen 'voodoo queens' in the surrounding neighborhoods, and wound up in our cultural history books. Putting a unique commercial spin on the use of vodun she used her vocation, as a hairdresser, to procure information about her client's personal business and used it, along with planting spies, against them for financial gain. It is also said that she led voodoo dances, in the local Congo Square, and sold potions from her home in the 1830s. But whatever she did, good or bad, the Laveaus are still remembered today and loved by many. The point I am trying to make; however, is that with African spirituality, as in anything else, there can be drama. We fight, we gossip, we have disagreements and fall out with each other; but, it is because we are only human. And, as human beings we all carry our own personal baggage, likes, dislikes and/or drama. Of course we've got folks out there willing to sling juju for any number of reasons: envy, jealousy, strife, an attempt to steal someone else's love interest...all manner of things. But what I'm referring to is our 'in house' cat fighting and strife. Some of the things I have heard going on in some of these vodun/orisa 'houses' can make your hair stand right up on end. The challenge; however, is how can we keep such drama at a minimum while accomplishing the work of the spirits?
I certainly do not have all of the answers; but, there are a few things we can do. First we should make sure that our outward persona, as one serving the spirits, is one that is above reproach. But Mami, one could ask, if a person's personal life is off kilter wouldn't they also be off kilter as a priest or priestess? This is highly possible! But, if a person is determined to put the spirits before anything else, in one's life, they may very well have a few personal issues they and the spirits are dealing with; but, their desire to serve will invariably still shine through. It is absolutely true that a person who may be lying about who they are... their initiation or their true intentions as to why they are doing spiritual work... will reflect in the way they behave towards others. They could appear money grubbing or even be someone trying to exploit sexually; but, if a person has been initiated properly and are seeking to honor the spirits, in any way, they might be able to put aside their own troubles or desires to do the work of the spirits if truly needed.
In the diaspora a lot of this back biting and general malice, towards one another, often leads to no more than a few hurt feelings. However, for those in these traditional systems that are connected to the spiritual realm correctly such dissensions can prove dangerous. Authentic African spiritual systems that are truly connected are not only powerful but can be life threatening. For instance, no one in their right mind would attempt to insult a powerful African priest or priestess on or from the motherland. The spirits which walk with these people simply wouldn't allow it! In Africa a priest or priestess can strike someone down yet be residing thousands of miles away. In the diaspora not a great deal happens, as a result of many of these disagreements, because not many are wielding any real spiritual power. Too many folks are playing at African spirituality as opposed to being the real thing, especially, here in the United States; and, this too can be dangerous. I cringe at the folk who attempt to insult many of these African priests, on line, out of Nigeria and elsewhere...foolish Pan Africanist who want to confront them on the issues of the trans-Atlantic slave trade or why they choose to initiate those who come to them regardless of race. Why? Because if one finds themselves confronting authentic spiritual power one could find themselves in some serious trouble. These folks have no interest in playing these games, with them, and simply ignore them because they know them to be ignorant of the ways of the spiritual. Africans are taught the proper reverence and respect for the priesthood. Diasporans, sometimes, have the audacity to THINK that they are dealing on the same level because of their arrogance about being able to read and study the printed word. But, while many of these Africans are now university or school educated, these priests walk with the divinities and learn their vocation through doing as opposed to reading. THEY are the ones who know; and, it is the rest of the world who must catch up! So many of you if you don't know anything, and are in mixed company, you simply need to keep your mouths shut, in some of these forums, before you catch something you can't get rid of or cure. African vodun or orisa is not for play! It consists of real people, real power, real spiritual know how and has real, butt stomping, consequences.
I want to be clear however. Mudslinging and internal fighting amongst spiritual 'houses' or people is different from confronting those who wish to misrepresent our faith. I, for instance, have much to say about those who make fraudulent claims, in the name of African vodun/orisa, or wish to bastardize that which I hold sacred as a member of its priesthood. We should all stand strong against such perversions of our faith; yet, if such family mudslinging becomes so prominent that it hinders the work of the spirits, then, we need to check ourselves lest we become spiritually ineffective.
In African vodun/orisa, within the motherland, mechanisms exists to help in such disagreements. One goes to the Supreme Chief, the Chief of that particular pantheon or those noted elders that deal with such issues. Likewise, in the diaspora, we should not be afraid to bring in trusted and approved third parties to help in such situations. Sometimes we, personally, may be too close to the situation or too annoyed to respond properly. This is the place where elders can be most helpful...those that are tried, trusted and true. But the greatest assistance is for us to go to the spirits themselves, through the great Ifa, to have them to offer or command solutions to the problems. It may be a matter where sacrifices need to be made or the dissention is a result of some deeper spiritual issues in one or more of the persons involved. In any event never underestimate the power of the spirits to offer solutions to some very human problems.
He said, she said and warfare amongst the spiritual? Yes, it happens, for, we are only human. But, in the spiritual realm this is not to be our focus. Our focus is of that to which the spirits have actually said; and, the warfare we wage not to be amongst ourselves, but, against the powers of darkness.

TRADITIONAL SPIRITUAL SYSTEMS AND THE ABUSE OF WOMEN HINDERS OUR WORK
It angers me greatly when traditional spiritual systems use women as pawns. It is difficult enough that the world sees these systems as backwards, superstitious, and/or outdated, but, to use women to carry out their money making agendas or "tom foolery" hinders the work of the truly spiritual. I often shine light on the abuses, towards women, in the diaspora traditions as well as those in Africa. However it is just as pervasive in other systems as well. I am not sure how to address this issue most affectively except to expose them for what they are and educate women as to what is correct. So my sisters of ALL traditional faiths we must ban together, keep our eyes on the divine and refuse to become the pawns of those who choose to abuse or humiliate us.
IN PURSUIT OF AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY... BACKWARDS?
Most African Americans, and those in the diaspora in general, who pursue African spirituality do so incorrectly. In other words, instead of pursuing it as an African would, we go about it in a backwards fashion. This often leads us into incorrect spiritual pathways as well as insuring our propensity to waste huge amounts of money. We become enamored with a spirit or spirits we admire because we have learned of their attributes; and, with money in hand we run out to find whoever we think can give us what we want at the price we want. But, what I have just described isn't African spirituality it is spirituality shopping; and, like anything else, that can be bought, any flavor of the month will do.
In African vodun families most children are taken to the diviner after 3 months of birth or whenever such ceremonies can be financed or performed. Unless a family has allowed Christianity to push out the ceremonies of its traditional society most Africans know their ancestry and origins. And even if Christianity has done so, in some instances, many elder Africans continue to feed, serve and honor their ancestors. Unbeknownst to many of us, however, our roots are still there and very much alive even though we can be seen as strangers to these lands today. But if it can be proven, through authentic African divination, that we belong to a particular clan, then, we too can re-gain that ancestry. This is most important because much of who we are, spiritually, begins with ancestry and any divination tools, ancestral spiritual seats, or inherited kingships (royalty) must come through them...our family lines. It simply cannot be bought; and, if it is it is not respected or ordained by the ancestors or divinities themselves. A person must be born to any spiritual seats or thrones conferred upon them in order to have legitimacy. And because of it nothing, in vodun, can be done effectively without ones ancestors. One must know them by name and their origins. Pouring libations on the ground and calling out the word "ancestor" is not sufficient. Knowing who they are, their history, their origins and what they require of us is; and, only the great Ifa can give us that information...not necessarily DNA analysis. Our ancestry, as descendants of slaves or anybody else for that matter, is simply too convoluted (see attached video #1). But, authentic African divination can take us directly to the source. So, one's first task, in pursuing African spirituality, is to have authentic African divination performed. This will allow us to identify our ancestry and what spirits gave us life. Remember that ALL of mankind began in the Cradle of Civilization/Humanity...AFRICA.
As a result it is to those divinities that breathed life into us that we should be serving. THEY are the ones who came down with us in birth. THEY are the ones who have been nurturing us, protecting us and seeking blessings for us our entire lives. I have noticed that there is a misnomer, in the diaspora, that only certain spirits bring wealth or protect; but, in reality ALL spirits bring wealth and protect. All are rich and sitting on blessings for their children. And ALL will fight fiercely to protect their own, in fact, the ancestors the most hard. This idea of "warriors" appears to be a mute concept to me, because, ALL spirits are warriors when their children are facing peril. Therefore, In light of an understanding and nurturing those spirits which live within us one has no need to go searching from without. All one needs to do is discover that which lives within us...our ancestry, that power contained within those divinities that live with us, that walk with us daily, and a willingness to be obedient to their will and one will come to know African spirituality. But, I leave you with a writing/testimony from one of my wonderful facebook friends who has spent a great deal of time researching her family tree. I think she can provide some practical advice to those who seek to do the same ... Dwainia Tullis:

"There's a lot of talk about DNA and African ancestry, and whether it is real or not. There is much to know and understand with regard to DNA and African ancestry. It's helpful to know as much as possible about your family line. Having taken the traditional and genetic genealogy route, was very time-consuming and can be costly. DNA, test two major areas, for males it is the Y DNA and for females the mitochondrial a.k.a. MT DNA. Males carry both the Y DNA and the MT DNA. Each of these, test for only one ancestor, which is why we have to search to find relatives from different lines in order to get a better picture of who we may be. Depending on the company used, the test can reveal the approximate timeframe these ancestors appeared on the earth and the migratory path they took. The DNA test called autosomal, is the test that has everyone trying to figure out what tribe they come from. This test will list a number of tribal groups one may belong to. This test also has been establish as NOT100% accurate. Personally I've chosen to not do the autosomal test. Our family has completed six lines and all of our test have come back African from various countries, ethnic groups, and timelines our ancestors appeared on the planet. What I've learned and experienced is through Authentic African Divination, all of these test can be bypassed. With great accuracy, through Authentic African Divination, one will be told what countries family lineage is and who your Ancestors are. Researching our family, has been worth all the work to arrive at this point, to have done the Authentic African Divination to know without a doubt who our ancestors are."