New Orleans: Crescent of Darkness- A Threads of Damocles "A" Universe


	The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Lwa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Lwa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Lwa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death. Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Lwa, etc. Rituals consist of some of the following components: A feast before the main ceremony Creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Lwa for whom the ritual is to be conducted Shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified chanting Dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Lwa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Lwa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present. Animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten. Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.

The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Lwa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Lwa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Lwa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death.

Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Lwa, etc. Rituals consist of some of the following components:

A feast before the main ceremony
Creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Lwa for whom the ritual is to be conducted
Shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified chanting
Dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Lwa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Lwa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present.
Animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten. Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.