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Date: 28 Oct 2000 00:00:00 GMT
Subject: Re: "Hoodoo Chruches" (was: Re: Magical and Religious Terminology (was Spells and Rituals of Summoning ....)
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Subject: Re: "Hoodoo Chruches" (was: Re: Magical and Religious Terminology
>(was Spells and Rituals of Summoning ....)
>From: Mamaissii mamaissii@my-deja.com
>Date: 10/27/00 3:42 PM EST
>Message-id: <8tcpb7$9fr$1@nnrp1.deja.com>
>
>Greetings SFThomas:
>
>you write:
>
>"This is false as a matter of fact. In Haiti the distinction between
>houngan and bokor is clear. In Trinidad, where I'm from, there is a
>clear distinction between orisha-worship and the practice of obeah.
>Among the Akan, there is a particular deity, Nana Tigare, that is known
>as a "witch-catcher".
>
>This distinction is also made in Yeveh Vodoun and Mami Wata. The Azetos
>(sorcerers) are chased from the villages and towns in an annual
>ceremony that we perform in Togo. Additionally, it is not in the
>*methods* of the Priest/ess, as much as it is in the NATURE of the
>Spirit one is born to (and not purchased as so many have done today).
Thank you for coming to my aid, I appreciate it. Perhaps we can re-institute
the annual ceremony that is performed in Togo here on this list as well! I
agree with your point about the NATURE of the spirit that animates the
practitioner as determining the road that they choose to walk. At some level, I
suppose it is also true that they have a role to play in society, for to posit
good is to presuppose evil, and one doesn't get to wherever it is that God may
be supposed to reside without having to overcome evil. When Eshu presents at
the crossroads with the high road and the low road, the low road must be a real
choice, and I suppose if there are sorcerers and witches who, for a fee, would
indulge one's malice, or greed, or envy, or what-have-you, they serve Eshu's
purpose in presenting the person at the crossroads with real choices.You do not
get the rewards that follow from choosing the high road, and rejecting the low
road, unless the temptations of the low road have been presented and overcome.
>Also, on the issue of reincarnation, this too is a tenant of our
>tradition. It is not possible to carry the burden of coming into this
>world alone without the aid of ones direct blood ancestors who have
>succeeded in mastering this level with their own guardian spirits, now
>passed on to their appointed heir.
>
>The Tchamba (my maternal ancestral lineage) are linguistic and distant
>blood cousins of the Dagara and Dogon, and hold relatively the same
>cosomological understandings and definitely experiential interactions
>with Spirit as Malidome has described in his book.
>
>"Reincarnaiton" in our cosmology is not "literal" in the sense that his
>[Malidome's] soul is the soul of his acutal grandfather's. The
>grandfather's soul can come *attached* to his own, or joined with him to
>accomplished certain "soul lessons" here, but his soul reamins
>distinct, for he has his own sufferings (lessons) to overcome. In most
>cases this is how it is. But the grandfather himself is not Malidome.
>
><<"It is important to correct misstatements about traditional African
>religion, especially from one who declares himself to be an initiated
>priest within the tradition.">>
>
>You are again correct Sfthomas, there are "Priest" and then there
>are "priest." The difference is not only quantitative it is supremely
>relative to understanding the true nature of African Spirit as only
>those (and their ancestors) who have walked the path can do.
>
>Thank you so much for your much needed presence in the Internet ATR
>community. I find not a hint of anger in your entreaties. Only
>sometimes frustration with those who choose to not acknowledge and
>respect the true wisdom that compliments your sincere intentions to
>speak the truth from the soul of an African. There is nothing wrong,
>*militant* or sinister in this.
>
>
>Best wishes,
>Mamaissii Vivian
>
>
>
>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.
>
>
>
>
>
>
Subj: Re: "Hoodoo Chruches" (was: Re: Magical and Religious Terminology (was
Spells...
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