Vodou and Marijuana, from Mambo Racine
Racine125
gold", and that laws against it are formulated specifically to prevent black
people from becoming rich! Unlike Rastafari, in which marijuana is specifically
given a sacramental role, Vodou has no particular view on marijuana, either for
or against. And unlike the service of the Hindu goddess Kali, in which
marijuana and hashish smoking figures largely, the usual public ceremonial
refreshment is rum or "klerin", or single distilled unaged cane liquor.
I have an unruly initiatory child who has been making a great deal of noise
about marijuana in Haiti and among Vodouisants. In short, she has been talking
way too much! But here is what I can tell you about the intersection of Vodou
and herb.
Some Vodouisants smoke marijuana, for the simple reason that some Haitians
smoke marijuana. There are individuals who insist that they undergo possession
more frequently when they smoke. Some drummers also specifically smoke before
they play, because they feel that smoking helps them to flow through the
rhythms better. Other Vodouisants do not smoke herb, just as some Vodouisants
do not smoke cigarettes, but it is not a "moral choice", merely a matter of
personal preference.
If a person is involved in marijuana selling or other related activities, now,
that is another story again. A really good Houngan or Mambo is going to be able
to make effective wangas, and there is nothing in the Vodou system which
forbids a Houngan or Mambo to work with contrabanders. Very often the clients
of Houngans and Mambos are people involved in some sort of contraband or other,
because they are the ones who have the money and the motivation to pay for
wanga. There was an article in the Miami Herald about six months ago, I pointed
it up on this list too, about Vodou articles found in ships smuggling cocaine
into Florida.
Smoking or not smoking weed, on a personal basis, is a big 'so what' with
relation to Vodou. The sin connected with marijuana, in the eyes of a
Vodouisant, is talking about it "outside", you know, saying publicly to
outsiders, "I saw so-and-so smoke marijuana". We all know that Babylon is still
king, and herb is illegal in most countries, including Jamaica!
In Haiti it is said, "Si nou pale, nap vale lang nou", "If we talk, we will
swallow our tongues (meaning, choke to death)." I am sure this is true among
contrabanders - but it is also literally true that this is the traditional fate
of of newly-made Mambos and Houngans who risk the wrath of Guinea by talking
about things they shouldn't, which happen inside their own house. There is an
oath of secrecy in a djevo, and some pretty fierce penalties for violating it.
Not long ago I saw a hounsi remembering the time when she was brought to the
point where she had to take her oath, burst into tears in fear of the terrible
conditions she had had to accept, the terrible consequences of violating that
oath. She was very wise.
Peace and love,
Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen
"Se bon ki ra",
Good is rare - Haitian Proverb
The VODOU Page - http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html
OmiJuba
it has never been a problem for me or orisha. I think if they had a problem
or disapproved of me doing it, they would have told me, I would have known
by now. Herb is from the earth, created by God and is here for our use, some
use it for healing, some as a tool for spiritual enlightenment, and some
just like to get buzzed...
Why should it matter anyway what someone is doing in their house with their
santos, it doesn't effect you, mind your own business.
Share the love...
-ÓmėJubā