I am dancing.
The drums move my body; the rhythm takes hold, wraps its arms around
me, and rocks me to and fro. I sweat. I dance. I sing to the Lwa.
“Aumgn Gede, Aumgn Gede, Oh!” Then it starts to happen...I feel it at
the back of my neck...waves of pure light engulfing me, shooting down
my spine, coursing through my veins, invigorating and unnerving...pure
ecstasy. I go away to the other place. Gede is dancing. Dance Gede!
Dance! I am yours to ride now. Dance Gede! Dance! I am your horse now.
Dance Gede! Dance!
Why
possession?
Taking
possession is not for everyone. If you cannot let go of your
inhibitions, if you cannot release your constrictive attempts at being
in total control, if you cannot surrender to a power outside of
yourself, you will most likely never experience it. So why would you
want to take possession in the first place? Ah...but this is a most
sacred experience, an exhilarating union, an intimate mingling of body
and soul and spirit...cohabitation with the Lwa. possession is a unique
experience. It is more intimate than invocation, for not only are you
attempting to unite your consciousness with a form, you are allowing
that form to enter into you and do what it wants to do. The Lwa do not
have bodies like we do. They do not have arms or legs, penises or
vaginas, hair, sweat, blood or semen; unless, of course, we let them
share ours. But the Lwa are never selfish. They are grateful to those
who offer them the experience of earthly enjoyment, a taste of life, a
dose of pleasure and physical sensation once again. Drink, dance, food,
a joke here, a kiss there, the smell of women and men...its all good
times for the Lwa. Possession is a mutual exchange between horse and
Lwa. I give my body, and Gede gives me.... something in return. There
is always a gift left behind when the Lwa leaves and I come back. If
you want to receive your gift, then let him dance in you. Be a horse
for Papa Gede, you will be blessed by the experience.
How to
get there
If you decide
that you want to take possession for Fet Gede (“Gede’s Feast”) here are
a few suggestions regarding preparatory work that I have found to be
helpful in attaining the experience. First, forget everything you think
you know about Vodou, especially if you’ve learned it from Hollywood or
second-hand accounts from outsiders who have never experienced the
rites themselves. The Lwa are emphatically not “evil spirits” or
“demons” harboring ill intent for humanity. If this is your
understanding of the Lwa, I highly suggest you take find a local
peristyle and learn some of the basic tenets of Vodou before even
attempting possession. Secondly, you should cultivate a sense of
religious awe toward the experience. Possession is a holy rite, not a
self-indulgent pleasure. Of course, this does not mean the experience
will be void of any fun. In fact, The Gede family loves to joke around
and play, but with true possession, it will be Gede doing this
through you, not you imitating what you think Gede would do in hopes of
impressing your friends. You do want to draw his attention
though, and show him that you sincerely would like to receive the
experience of possession. The most effective way to do this is through
providing offerings. Learn what Gede likes. A few elementary examples
are Hot Peppered Rum, A beef or pork roast (remember to leave out the
salt), cigars and glasses with one of the lenses popped out. There are
numerous other offerings you could get, learn more of these and also be
receptive, allow the spirits to tell you what they want. Gather these
things, put your energy into them, don’t hold back, don’t cheap out. If
you find the perfect cigar that calls you, and says, “Gede wants this”,
get it. If you feel Gede would like a rum cake, and you have a good
recipe, make it yourself instead of buying one at the store. Again, put
your energy into it. Think of Gede when you prepare your offerings,
sing songs to him, leave your mark in your gifts, and he will recognize
you for it. Thirdly, take an oath of sexual abstinence lasting three
days just prior to the Fet Gede celebration. What I mean is no orgasms
allowed (facilitated by either your partner(s) or yourself ). Three
days of no release...a sacrifice to Gede. The intent of this practice
is manifold. First and foremost it is a sign to show Gede that you are
serious about taking possession, and that you are willing to sacrifice
a bit of your own enjoyment to do so. Also, the energy that is built up
is a form of consecration; it gets redirected toward the Rite and
channeled into your possession experience (if granted). You should
learn how to draw Gede’s veve and direct your energies to it during the
days of preparation. Draw the veve in cornmeal and contemplate it,
spend time with it leading up to the Fet Gede celebration. You can even
draw a version of it on paper and bring it with you as one of the many
offerings for Papa Gede and all of the Gede Family. Fourthly, relax.
Learn to let your body groove, learn to dance uninhibited, learn to
feel the rhythm of the drums coursing through you. Sing to Gede (Aumgn
Gede Aumgn Gede Oh!), don’t worry what others are thinking about you,
don’t be self-conscious. The important thing to remember is to flow.
Dance for Gede, and you may just find that Gede will dance in you.
What to expect
I hesitate to
even write a section on what to expect while possessed. I just want to
be clear that these are merely my own reflections on the times when I
have been granted the experience myself. I hope to be able to learn
from those who receive this experience over the years while we
celebrate Fet Gede. May our body of knowledge and experience grow for
the betterment of all. It’s really hard to describe what being
possessed is like for me. The best explanation I can give is that I go
to the “other place” and Gede comes to me. Most of the time I’m in the
other place, I have no recollection of what is happening, “I” am not in
my body, but rather, I am in the “other place”, quite unconscious of
what is happening. When I’m in the “other place”, it’s like I’m in a
deep state of meditation, or dreamless sleep. It’s a very peaceful
experience. Occasionally, Gede will let me “take a peek” at what is
happening. I have been allowed glimpses, where my consciousness rushes
back into my body, gets to perceive the environment around me, and
joins in on the fun. But then...back to the other place, and Gede takes
over again, in full swing, sending me away so he can use me for
whatever it is he has in mind. To be a vessel for the Lwa, you must be
able to empty yourself, and let them come in. How useful is a cup that
can hold no wine? Be the cup, let Papa Gede be the wine, and then all
those present will have a chance to drink deeply and be refreshed.
I want
to retouch on what I call the “gift of the horse”. If you have
consecrated yourself, made your offerings and sacrifices in honor of
Papa Gede, signified your intentions, received the empowerment for
possession, and Papa Gede (or one of the Gede) has taken you up on your
offer, you will be compensated for your generosity and sincerity. Every
time I was granted possession, I was given a gift in return. Building a
relationship with the Lwa is like building a relationship with good
friends. You share and provide for each other, to the benefit of all
involved. The Lwa get a chance to become embodied, and pass messages,
provide lessons, eat, drink, dance, etc. They have always been grateful
to me for offering myself to them to do so. They have always
provided a gift in return. Sometimes the gift has been a material item,
sometimes a special insight that has been life changing, sometimes a
tip about a person I know, a visionary experience or a peek into the
future. The possibilities are endless, and with Papa Gede it is said
that he is the wisest of all the Lwa, for he contains the knowledge of
all those who have ever lived, and his knowledge increases daily. He is
a most potent ally to have, but be aware that the gnosis he provides is
often harsh and untactful. He is very “in your face”, and often uses a
tough love approach to convey things to those he chooses to communicate
with.
The
Aftermath
In closing, I’d
like to express a few words concerning the consequences of taking
possession. In fact, this advice applies to all present at a Vodou
ceremony, and not just those who take possession. It is of the utmost
importance that you are comfortable with those you are celebrating
with. Things will happen. You need to realize that Papa Gede takes
particular enjoyment in ridiculing the uptight moral constraints of
society and people’s customs. He often tells dirty jokes, or possesses
a “holier than thou” type just to get them to dance the Banda, shake
their hips and make sexual passes at those around them. If the
possession is authentic, it is Gede who is responsible. Sometimes the
consequences are too much for people. If you decide to take possession,
realize that if it occurs, you no longer have control over your body,
or your mind. For the duration of the possession, it will be Papa Gede
(or one of the Gede) who is in control, and they may decide to do
things that you never would do when in your own state of mind. If this
scares you, or if you feel it will cause trouble in your life, you
may not want to consider possession. But also know that in Vodou,
the Lwa choose who they will. You can desire possession and it not be
granted to you. You can also have no interest in it but wind up being
ridden by the Lwa. This is also why having a good Mambo or Houngan to
led the ceremony is important. When a Lwa shows up, they can recognize
them, greet them and tend to them. Also, if they need to send the Lwa
away or out of somebody, they have the skill to do that as well. And
for those who will inevitably use this as an excuse to act out their
own desires under the guise of “being possessed” when in fact they are
not...beware the wrath of the Lwa! You mock them when doing so, and
they will not take kindly to your assumptions.
