Sell My Soul: Commodification in Voodoo and Santeria (La Regla Lukumi)

October 25, 2013 By Lilith Dorsey

Sex sells. Sin sells. Voodoo sells. It’s true, I didn’t make it up. There has always been controversy around money and religion, and when we add psychics and spirits we just up the ante. The current season of American Horror Story Coven uses a bizarre mix of reality and supreme fantasy to get its point across, a major clothing manufacturer places a giant veve ( ritual symbol) for Papa Legba in its store window to sell t-shirts, and I’m left shaking my head. Shantrelle Lewis did a piece on the retailer for Ebony and you can find my comments on it here.

What century is this again? I frequently make jokes about the need for a Voodoo, Vodou and Santo Anti-Defamation league, but in reality it is sad that the media and corporate America think they can, for lack of a better word, prostitute our traditions and continue to forget to pay for it. The root of the problem is ignorance and bigotry. The use and abuse of more mainstream religions would never be tolerated in this way. I was questioned about some of these practices during an interview the other day and all I could think of was the infamous 1987 art photograph from Andres Serrano Piss Christ. The controversy over this artwork was legendary. Now I am not advocating censorship, I’m just asking that we consider drawing the line at selling T-shirts and television. We are better than, I hope.

The irony of it is that the real world of Voodoo and Santo religion is an intense and powerful thing. I have seen people walk on fire, lift up people three times their size, drink chamba ( an infusion of hot peppers, rum and gunpowder,) speak in tongues, both foreign and ancient, and I have even done some of these things myself on occasion when the spirit moved me. It seems to me that all of this could make great television, much better than the minotaurs and madness that we see on shows like American Horror Story: Coven. And if they wanted a spell to sell t-shirts we have that too.

Marie Laveau Painting in the Voodoo Spiritual Temple, New Orleans. Photo by Lilith Dorsey.

Another epic irony is the fact that Marie Laveau was the first priestess in this country to charge for psychic services. She is said to have done psychic readings for Queen Victoria. Even television depictions of her give homage to her consummate power to maximize her earning potential in the psychic realm. Voodoo works, at least people usually get that part right. La Regla Lukumi or Santeria as it is more widely known, has always provided it’s community with services through their spiritual supply stores known as Botanicas. Here practitioners go to learn; consult with diviners, Santeros and Santeras; buy herbs, oils, waters, baths and more. A decent Botanica will offer everything from Saint statues to railroad spikes. A lot of knowledge, time, energy, and preparation go into these practices so it is no wonder that the necessary items would be numerous and complex. These stores provide a vital service to the communities they represent and they are patronized accordingly. Please do your best to treat these practices with respect, knowledge and reverence.

Gumbo is Gumbo: The Enmeshment of N.O. Voodoo Performance and Ritual

September 22, 2013 By Lilith Dorsey

Marie Laveau's Tomb (possible site) — Offerings left at the possible site of Marie Laveau’s tomb, St. Louis cemetery No. 1.

Performance and ritual, these entities can be as far apart or as close together as one’s vision. The earliest written records of Voodoo Ceremonies in New Orleans are in the Times Picayune. They describe scantily clad rites that are both scary and sinful. Oh mainstream media, is it a guarantee that they miss the point? In the early to mid 1800’s these public ceremonies were run by legendary Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Accurate or not, the earliest historical record of public rites are primarily attributed to the spiritual practices of Mme. Laveau and Dr. John Montaigne, who is said to have functioned as priest and lead drummer.

It is hard to reconstruct what actually occurred during these ceremonies but they were said to have been attended by everyone from the servant class up to the elite Crescent City gentry. Then, as now, the efficacy and accuracy of these practices were in question. The historical records report that Queen Marie dealt with these in every manner available at her disposal: power, magic, blackmail and even smacks in the face. This information may or may not be true, but what is certain is that her legacy lives on. A legacy that opened the door for all who were to come, all who wished to celebrate their divine ritual both in the light of day and the mystical dark of night.

The process of public New Orleans’ voodoo performance can be likened to making a cake. The ingredients are assembled, mixed and “cooked,” and regardless of the intent the results are delicious. Over the years I have had the

Dr. John, as the Night Tripper, with Lilith Dorsey — Dr. John,Mac Rebennack, as the Night Tripper, with Lilith Dorsey at Bonnaroo 2006.

great fortune to have worked and ritualized with many New Orleans legends. Mac Rebennack “Dr. John” and his band the lower 911, Priestess Miriam Chamani, Reverend Goat, Papa Mali, and others have all worked hard to keep the soul and spirit of the New Orleans traditions center stage and it has been an exciting honor and a privilege to perform ritual and magic with them. Their iconic spirit and power shine through in all that they do.

The gumbo is gumbo, no matter what ingredients if you know what you are doing it is good.

Top Ten Reasons Voodoo Will Never Die

September 13, 2013 By Lilith Dorsey

We have great music.
We got skills — slavery, kidnapping, rape and murder make a religion fierce.

We don’t care whether you believe or not, Voodoo moves forward anyway.
It’s in your blood, the earliest evidence of modern humans were in Africa, it’s in all our DNA.
Fear is a great motivator. Voodoo is nothing if not feared.
Voodoo invented mojo.
Voodoo can dance. It dances on fire, water, and in the corners of your mind.
Voodoo smells heavenly. Open the nearest bottle of Florida water…inhale.
Voodoo works.
Voodoo made you read this.

"Possible" Tomb of Marie Laveau, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 — “Possible” Tomb of Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. This site is the second most visited grave in the U.S.

Congo Squared Redux

September 12, 2013 By Lilith Dorsey

The following is a spoken word piece I wrote after my initial post-Katrina visit to New Orleans. The words ring as true today as they then. Just in case you were wondering, yes a tour guide did indeed comment on me and my friend while we were drumming and dancing in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and call us a “supposed” voodoo ritual. I laughed out loud.

Congo Square Plaque photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

It’s the 21^st century now, not the 19^th but the ghosts of the Crescent City still whisper. After Katrina the spirit still floats. The trees of the Congo Square can remember what used to go on here; those that are still standing can anyway. The earth can remember to, the earth downtrodden and soaked still has a memory. The spirits of the dead here go by unusual names Baron Samedi, Gede Nibo, Maman Brigitte. They speak in an ancient creole, part Haitian, part Spanish, part drunk. It sounds like “wubba uba zeba iba do,” like the guy from Fat Albert. They like alcohol, and fruit, and cigarettes, and money. These things will fall from your hands, whether you like it or not. If you want you can dance here like the voodoo queen Marie Laveau must have done here almost 200 years ago. They said she would mesmerize the police so they would let her into the square, nowadays you hope you’re invisible to the police so they don’t take you off to Orleans Parish Prison, you hope real hard because you won’t make it out. If you want today you can drum like Dr. John, the first sacred drummer of the area, or sing like Dr. John the modern jazz icon who keeps the roots alive. The original Doctor had his face tattooed with red and blue snakes, and played the rhythms for the African gods of his homeland Senegal. Back then you would gather to celebrate the emancipation proclamation or Lincoln, now you gather across the street to celebrate the mambo’s return from Europe and parts beyond.

When you worship there today, the pulse of the sacred Bamboula rhythm radiates outward like a cone from the heart of the drum. When you worship there today you will get called a “supposed voodoo ritual … it’s during the day for one thing.” When you worshiped there yesterday you play the Bamboula for the ancestors and they call it a “frenzied” African beat.

Today the park is lined with statuary honoring the great jazz legends, the rechristened Louis Armstrong Park bears the name of the man who signed his letters “red beans and ricely yours.” You can feel the energy of the global pilgrims hoping to capture your soul in that Polaroid and bring it home to grandma for cross-cultural reguritation. Back then you could feel the eyes of the master and other spectators gathering to watch your heathen “orgies.”

You gather there today to dance and drum and honor. You gathered there yesterday to dance and drum and honor.