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Baron Samedi
Altar
Altar image for Baron Samedi.
Copyright 2009, Denise Alvarado, All rights reserved.
Baron Samedi
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Baron Samedi is the very powerful head of the family of
ancestral lwa, the Guédé.
Lwa of the
cemeteries, protector of children and healer, he
is considered one of the patron loas of New Orleans Voodoo. He is
associated with St. Expedite in New Orleans. He is a crude but hilarious
loa who engages in scandalous activities such as sending
the nearly dead to do his work while he plays cards, dice,
parties and dances. He is known to give winning lottery
numbers when he feels like it. Baron Samedi loves to eat and
he loves money, but most of all, he loves children and
watches over them. Celebrate his fete on November 1, the Day
of the Dead, and on November 2, All Souls Day in the
Catholic Church.
Baron Samedi is one of the
Guédé, a loa of the dead, along with Baron's other
incarnations Baron Cimetière, and Baron La Croix. He is the ultimate suave and sophisticated spirit of
Death, typically depicted as
if ready to be buried Haitian style with a top hat, black
tuxedo, dark glasses, and cotton plugs in the nostrils.
He has a white, mostly skull-like face and speaks with a
nasal tone of voice,
and
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tells crude but funny jokes.
The first burial of a man in any
cemetery in Haiti is dedicated to Baron Samedi. His wife is
the lwa Manman Brigit.
Baron Samedi stands at the
crossroads, where the souls of dead humans pass on their way
to Guinee. As well as being the all-knowing loa of death, he
is a sexual loa, frequently represented by phallic symbols.
He is noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery, and for
having a particular fondness for tobacco, especially Pall
Mall cigarettes, money, and white rum. The Baron's
ceremonial foods included grilled peanuts, black coffee, and
bread. One of his favorite drinks is rum in which 21 hot
peppers has been steeped. Baron Samedi is also the loa of
sex and resurrection.
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Ritual
for Baron Samedi
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This ritual is best performed
on a Saturday or a Monday. Make an altar to Baron Samedi by
using white and purple cloth. In the center, place a goblet
of water. Add one white and one purple candle. Then add
several of the following items to the altar: a cross, purple
flowers, Death and Judgment tarot cards, the Guédé's ritual
symbol, dice, playing cards, sunglasses, a walking stick,
and top hat. Also provide some food offerings.
Light the white and purple candles, recite
the Lord's prayer, and invoke Papa Legba:
Papa Legba, open the gate for me! Open the
gate for me Papa, so that I may pass. When I return I will
thank the loa!
P our a little water or rum three times on the
ground in front of the altar, and talk to Baron Samedi:
"Lord of the Cemetery! Mighty Judge and Healer! please come
and accept these offerings!" |
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Show him all of the offerings you have for
him and then ask of him what you need. Dance as wildly as
you can for as long as you can and have a great party with
lots of decadent food and beverage. When you are done, let
the candle burn down and sleep in white. Throw away the
leftover food and candle wax in the woods or at a
crossroads. Now, wait and see what happens!
References
Mambo Racine, Non-initiates Service to Baron
Samedi
www.heritagekonpa.com
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A
Guide to Serving the Seven African Powers
Creole Voodoo, a unique blend of African, Haitian, Native American, Catholic,
spiritualist, and European folk magic traditions, welcomes the uninitiated.
Inside this book are complete instructions for creating altars for your
ancestors and each of the Seven African Powers, including how to petition the
loas/orishas, as well as some practical spells. This guide is written for people
who are not initiated into any specific Voodoo tradition, but would like to
benefit from knowing and practicing age-old authentic Voodoo rituals. This book
is richly illustrated by the author, who is well-known for her unique conjure
art style, and whose art has been celebrated in several books and on National
Geographic's Taboo.
A Guide to Serving the Seven African Powers
Available on
Amazon.com |
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