5.09.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
DVD Talk reviews the documentary series "Women and Spirituality", which was recently released in the DVD format.
"There's little doubt that goddess worship has actually picked up significant cultural steam since the original release of these pieces close to 20 years ago. While they're all a little dated, they provide an earnest look into the history and continued observance of gynocentric worship practices and will be appreciated by those interested in the history of religion and especially women's movements. Recommended."
The Women and Spirituality project also maintains a blog featuring several participants from the original documentary series.
Religion Dispatches looks at the recent (somewhat controversial) appointment of a "Supreme Chief" within Haitian Vodou, and the ongoing quest for respect by practitioners.
"Voodoo suffers from a flaw built into both scholarly and popular typologies of religion, that of hierarchical thinking about religions. Beauvoir argues that Voodoo's character derives from its location as a "popular religion." But lacking a sacred text, law codes, or traditions of written commentary, Voodoo is a marginalized tradition - marked as "primitive," as if religions evolve along a given trajectory-compared to those "world religions" that come to dominate empires."
While a tiny, and until recently, officially unrecognized, religion, the article points out that Vodou has a "capacity to persist" that may allow the faith to weather the current social and political storms raging in their country.
The caretaker of a Taoist temple in Taiwan has a problem. Too many deities!
"Yang Liang, who takes care of the small Suxi Temple, said yesterday he used to tend to only five land gods, the lowest deities in folk Taoism. Last February, Yang said, he found two statues of Avalokitesvera, or the Goddess of Mercy, abandoned in front of his temple in west Suao ... Sheltering the abandoned Goddesses of Mercy probably encouraged those who wanted to get rid of their deities to dump them at the temple ... Altogether 12 statues, ranging from Avalokitesvera to Third Prince or San-tai-zhi, were left at the door of the temple Monday. "I can't take care of that many gods," Yang protested."
Yang has posted bulletins around his village imploring locals to please take their gods back, as he doesn't have the space and resources to care for them all. Perhaps he could ship them to willing polytheists outside Taiwan?
As modern Paganism continues to grow, more local journalists start to notice the Pagans in their own backyard. This coverage starts with the inevitable "meet the Pagans" piece. Here, we have a classic example of this phenomenon from Great Falls, Montana.
"...like the others [Melinda Berry] keeps her faith to herself around here. "I came from California, where no one really cares," Berry said. "In the UK they were really open and didn't care. In the military no one really cares. In Great Falls, Montana, people care." But there is a growing pagan population locally and around the state. At least five to 10 people regularly attend the monthly Great Falls Pagans meetings at Hastings. Some area gatherings have drawn upward of 40 people..."
Though "people care" if your a member of a minority faith in Great Falls, Montana, this introduction is far more friendly than the one that arose in Great Falls, South Carolina.
Following up on a story I blogged about a year ago, the Delhi High Court in India has ruled that naked paintings of Hindu goddesses aren't necessarily blasphemous.
"Maqbool Fida Husain, 92, a Muslim who has been dubbed "the Picasso of India", was served with seven private criminal complaints by Hindu groups for the painting Bharat Mata (Mother India), a work representing the nation as a nude woman. The Delhi High Court judged that the picture, for which Mr Husain has apologised, carried no religious content and could not be construed as offensive. "A painter has his own perspective of looking at things, and it cannot be the basis of initiating criminal proceedings," Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said."
This is a big step forward for artistic freedom in India, where Hindu-nationalist "moral police" (essentially the Indian equivalent to the Religious Right in America, only more powerful) are on the constant lookout for violations against their conception of "cultural purity". These Hindu-nationalist groups vow to keep on fighting against Husain and others who transgress against their moral outlook.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: art, goddess, Hinduism, law, M.F. Husain, Max Beauvoir, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Taiwan, Taoism, The Goddess, Vodou, Voodoo, Women and Spirituality
4.10.2008
Capturing the Living Gods
The Independent Weekly profiles a new book by Claire Garoutte and Anneke Wambaugh entitled "Crossing the Water: A Photographic Path to the Afro-Cuban Spirit World". The two photographer's "visual ethnography" follows Santiago Castaneda Vera, a veteran practitioner of several strains of African diasporic religion, through several rites and ceremonies.
Yemaya's throne.
"Castaneda's way of combining the traditions is idiosyncratic and based on his personal gifts: Born into a religious family in rural Santiago, he started communicating with the dead at age 8, leading to his initiation in Palo Monte. At age 22, he became a santero as well. A devotee of Yemaya, maternal Santeria goddess of fluid elements, Castaneda takes on an androgynous character in some of the photos, and in others dominates the flock as belligerent male spirit Sarabanda. Alongside spiritual practice, he has worked various day jobs throughout his life, and since retiring at age 60, lives solely from his religious activities."
Unlike similar books of this nature, "Crossing the Water" is an insiders view of these religious traditions. Both authors are "children" (initiates) into Castaneda's religious house, and actively participated in the set-up and performance of ritual. While this approach allows for a deeper understanding of the context and meaning of the rites and rituals performed, some, like Yoruba Orisa singer Amma McKen, wonder if this "insider" tone may hinder the work from finding an audience beyond fellow practitioners.
"As to whether this level of access by those interested in documenting the religion is unusual, Amma McKen, an oricha priestess of 28 years residing in Brooklyn, says, "It has been done, but it's not done frequently. I think [the book] will be really well received by practitioners if nothing else." McKen, like Castaneda, is a devotee of Yemaya."
But while the "level of access" might turn off some curious readers, the mixture of academic rigor, creativity, and real devotion to the subject matter could make "Crossing the Water" a must-have for anyone interested in the practice of African diasporic religion in Cuba (and elsewhere). For more photos from the book, check out this visual tour.
Labels: African diasporic religion, books, Cuba, Paganism, Santeria, Vodou, Voodoo
4.05.2008
Haitian Vodou's Supreme Chief
If one looks at the practice of Haitian Vodou, you can't separate the political unrest and desperate poverty from the ancestral faith of the island. So it is in this light that we must consider the news that a coalition of houngans (priests) have named Max Beauvoir the "supreme master" of Haitian Vodou.
Max Beauvoir, the public face of Haitian Vodou.
"Beauvoir, tall and majestic with closely cropped white hair, is a voodoo priest who was just named the religion's supreme master, a newly created position that is aimed at reviving voodoo ... Popular in Haiti even among many of those who attend Christian churches, voodoo lacks the formal hierarchy of other religions. Most voodoo priests, known as houngans, operate semi-independently, catering to their followers without a whole lot of structure. But many of Haiti's houngans recently came together into a national federation and named Beauvoir, 72, as their public face. He is now the spokesman for a religion that followers believe too often gets a bad rap and is in dire need of an image overhaul."
Beauvoir, who is the head of Le Peristyle de Mariani and the Temple of Yehwe, should most likely not be considered Vodou's "Pope", as the New York Times headline names him. Instead, his title of "supreme chief" is probably closer to a mix of "first among equals" and ambassador. Beauvoir says the position was created out of a sense of desperation among voodooists in Haiti over issues of political unrest and the religion's survival.
"My position as supreme chief in voodoo was born out of a controversy," Mr. Beauvoir said, saying Haiti's elite had marginalized the houngans who generations ago wielded significant influence in society. "Today, voodooists are at the bottom of society. They are virtually all illiterate. They are poor. They are hungry. You have people who are eating mud, and I don't mean that as a figure of speech." ... As it is now, he said, the government seeks the input of Catholic and Protestant leaders when grappling with societal issues. "But do they call for the input of the voodooists?" he asked, shaking his head."
In addition to downward mobility, and dealing with rampant poverty and social unrest, Vodou practitioners in Haiti also have to deal with vilification from Christian missionaries who brand them devil worshipers and work tirelessly to convert the population. A "perfect storm" of troubles that resulted in this new position of authority. In Beauvoir's view, Haitian Vodou needs to play a central role in the revitalization of Haiti, instead of trying to adopt Western values and traditions.
"They have been seduced by Western attitudes," he said of current leaders. "They believe foreigners think that way so they have to think that way. They fear that if they don't oppose voodoo, they won't get a dime in their bowl."
However, while Beauvoir may have noble goals, his own political dealings are somewhat controversial. He has been linked with Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the last dictator of Haiti, who fled the country in 1986. In addition, Beauvoir has nothing but scorn for ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and sees the current crop of Haitian political leaders as sell-outs to Western power. But then, perhaps these views can be understood within the prism of Haitian Vodou, which enjoyed political and social power under the Duvaliers, and faced violent reprisals from Catholic and Protestant mobs in the chaos the followed their ouster.
What is certain, is that Haitian Vodou, like its homeland, is in grave peril and teeters on the edge of a complete violent collapse. This move by some Voodooists to centralize and actively advocate for their survival seems a logical move for a faith that feels backed into a corner. It should be interesting to see what Max Beauvoir, as newly dubbed supreme chief, will accomplish in this new role, and if the station will outlive Beauvoir to be passed on to another houngan. Whatever the ultimate outcome, this is certainly a important development in the history of a little-understood faith.
Labels: Haiti, Max Beauvoir, Vodou, Voodoo
1.10.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The Baltimore Sun runs a touching obituary for Disney employee and Wiccan Heather Hurd, who died tragically in a car accident on January 3rd.
"In 2006, she entered an intern program at Walt Disney World, where she was an employment assistant for two years. This year, she was promoted to the diversity team. Last year, Miss Hurd received the Mousecar Award, presented by Walt Disney Studios, for her work. "She loved everything about Disney," said her father, W. Russell Hurd III of Abingdon. Miss Hurd, who was a Wiccan, enjoyed attending the theater and was interested in Celtic music and culture. "Her dream was to go to Ireland and visit Cork, where our family came from," Mr. Hurd said."
The family is starting a fund in her name to support other Disney interns who are having trouble making ends meet.
Today is National Vodun (aka "Voodoo") Day in Benin, the commonly acknowledged birthplace of the syncretic faith, where the country's 4.5 million practitioners, in addition to pilgrims from around the world, converge to honor their faith and remember the legacy of the slave trade.
"After Benin lifted a previous ban on the practice of Voodoo, it was declared an official religion in the former French colony in the mid-1990s and Jan. 10 is celebrated as National Voodoo Day, a public holiday ranking with Christmas and the Muslim Eid ... Such celebrations draw thousands of tourists each year to Benin, especially to the coastal city of Ouidah, from which hundreds of thousands of African slaves were shipped by European traders in past centuries to the Americas and the Caribbean ... Voodoo has a strong popular presence in Haiti and similar African-origin rituals are celebrated in Cuba under the name of "Santeria" and in Brazil as "Candomble"."
The Reuters article linked above also looks at concerns about the spread of "bird flu" virus (H5N1) through chicken blood used in traditional ceremonies, an issue I have discussed previously on this blog.
The Hallmark Channel is airing a new original movie entitled "The Good Witch", starring Catherine Bell (an adherent of Scientology, btw) as a mysterious woman who moves to small town and attempts to open a metaphysical store.
"Cassie is an enchanting beauty with a gentle spirit, an outrageous sense of fashion and a "wicked" sense of humor. She also seems to be something of an enchantress. She has a magic touch with men (although Jake is slow to respond, as he hasn't quite gotten over his wife's death several years ago); she has a magic touch with children (Jake's kids, Brandon and Lori, are drawn to her, maybe because she smells "like gingerbread"); she even has a magic touch with savage beasts (Cassie rescues the children from an attacking dog, then "tames" it with a few choice words). It seems that Cassie has the ability to charm everyone she meets, with the exception of Martha Tinsdale the mayor's busybody wife who also is the tsk-tsking head of the local Citizen's League. In fact, when Cassie opens a shop called Bell, Book and Candle - a "new-age" shop that carries Celtic, metaphysical and Wiccan items - Mrs. Tinsdale immediately launches a protest."
I wonder if they will actually make the character a Wiccan. Some of these movies end up with the character vindicated of all strangeness, and shown to be far more "normal" than the antagonists originally suspected. Maybe instead of a Witch, they will all discover she is really a Scientologist, and there will be free stress-tests for everyone!
In a final note, Religion Clause brings word of a court ruling that could have broad ramifications for Wiccans and other Pagans who wish to file as conscientious objectors.
"In Hanna v. Secretary of the Army, (1st Cir., Jan. 9, 2008), the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision held that the Army's Conscientious Objector Review Board had no basis in fact for denying conscientious objector status to Army doctor, Captain Mary Hanna. It rejected the Army's reliance on the timing of Hanna's claim and its argument that Hanna's beliefs were not gained through rigorous training, study or contemplation. Chief Judge Boudin, dissenting, argued that pacifism is not a belief of Hanna's Coptic Church, that her position could not easily be described as reflecting rigorous study, and that the timing of her application could be considered as a factor. The majority's decision affirmed last year's decision by a Massachusetts federal district court."
This ruling would help address the problem of philosophic and moral diversity concerning objectors to military participation (or participation in wars believed to be unjust) for religions that aren't explicitly pacifist like Wicca (or Catholicism, for that matter). If this decision stands, it could make it far easier for pacifist Pagans to register for Conscientious Objector status in the case of a draft.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: law, Military, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Passings, Religion Clause, Television, Vodou, Voodoo, Wicca
7.16.2007
Everyday Mojo
The Digital Journalist has a wonderful essay up by producer and director Jim Gabour on the culture of Voodoo in New Orleans, and how a simple wedding gift of "mojo" made his neighbors see him in a new light.
"Seems two old friends in L.A. are getting married, and I want to send them something as a gift – they've both been very generous to me with their friendship and their unselfish introduction of a Looziana boy into the West Coast media community over the years. So I want to send an only-from-New-Orleans-and-only-from-me gift to celebrate their union. After much rumination I decide I will go to my favorite voodoo shop (the XXX Botanica is literally the Wal-Mart of voodoo paraphernalia) and put together a packet of lucky charms. Surely a New Orleans sort of thing, that. The XXX is out in a bad part of the Faubourg St. John area, and a bit of a drive, but I figure that the effort will make it more of a heartfelt gift."
I won't reveal the story here, but it's worth the read for a no-nonsense look into the culture of hoodoo and Voodoo in present-day New Orleans. For more of Gabour's writings, check out the Open Democracy site.
Labels: Hoodoo, Jim Gabour, New Orleans, Voodoo
3.16.2007
The Nature of Sacrifice
I'm impressed. Usually, when the media (including blogs) report on Voodoo, Palo, or Santerian (aka Lukumi) religion, the results are often mis-informed articles hinting at dark and evil practices. But some recent reporting seems to be taking a deeper look at these unique faiths which have been quietly growing in America for some time.
Jeff Simmermon, a blogger from the Mt. Pleasant/DC area, has started writing an on-going exploration (part 1, part 2, part 3) of the beliefs of Santeria after finding two decapitated doves near his home. Simmermon is lucky enough to live next door to a Santero (a Santerian priest who happens to be the target of the ritual) and questions him about his beliefs and what the two doves mean.
"We stood out in the road together Friday night, six beers deep into the evening as he explained, flicking the dead doves around with a stick. "This is sloppy work, too," he said. "Amateur s**t. This is some poorly hidden amateur s**t and an embarrassment to everyone who practices Santeria. The spell was broken the second I laid eyes on this, and it should have been hidden better ... in the bushes at least, or wrapped in some brown paper and then hidden where nobody could find it." ... An offering of doves is an offering to Obatala, the owner of all heads who is always dressed in all white. See, the perpetrator of this spell was ordained under Yemaya, mother goddess and creator of the world, same as my neighbor. Since they both have the same guardian angel, a direct attack via spells cast on the spiritual plane would harm both parties. By appealing to Obatala, the attacker hopes to knock off my friend's "crown", or cause him to publicly embarrass himself and lose status."
In the third installment, Simmermon discusses a ritual to eliminate the last vestiges of the broken curse brought on by the doves, and has a surprising experiece with Eleggua (patron of the crossroads).
"The night ended, finally, and I went to bed. Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not ready to convert or anything. But at a time when I needed answers, guidance, something to hang my soul on, I got it. It brought me closer to two great people and I had one of the deepest, most fulfilling experiences that I've ever had, and I feel calmer, more relaxed. That's got to count for something. I'm not done here, either. Eleggua was kind enough to talk to me, even though I'm an outsider. He took me into his house and treated me well. I'm not ungrateful for that, either, so I offered him a small gift in return. He accepted, understanding that it may take me a few days to get the gift together. Now I've got it sorted out. So, sometime after work this week, I'm going to run a little errand, then drop by the Santero's place and leave my offering to Eleggua."
In more "mainstream" media, The Journal News in Yonkers, New York looks into the remains of a Palo Mayombe ritual that were found at a local cemetery. Instead of getting quotes from police-officers or un-informed bystanders, the paper interviews Miguel De La Torre, an expert on Afro-Cuban religion (and local Pagan John J. Coughlin). De La Torre deconstructs the ritual piece by piece and seems to conclude that is most likely a shoddy job done by an amateur looking for revenge, and not by a reputable practitioner of Palo Mayombe.
"A pierced animal heart, hollowed gourd and other objects found at St. John's Cemetery Wednesday night look like a crude attempt at a hex ceremony of Palo Mayombe, an Afro-Cuban religion, experts said. But the perpetrators had taken several liberties in an attempt to curse a middle-aged man in a photograph left behind, including the unusual use of a plastic rooster and the toppling of six gravestones."
Interestingly, the article also touches on splits between the different Afro-Cuban/Caribbean syncretic faiths. It seem the National African Religion Congress, a certifying Board for Priests and Priestesses of African-Based religions (COG would be a rough Wiccan equivalent), doesn't include Palo practitioners due to their ritual methods.
"Palo, which arrived in Cuba during the West African slave trade, has specific rituals for harnessing power from the dead, using human remains and placing hexes on others. For this reason, the National African Religion Congress has declined to include Palo as an official religion in its directory for the time being, said George Ware, NARC president and a high priest of voodoo and former practitioner of Santeria."
It would be interesting to hear more about the tensions between the different syncretic African faiths in the Americas, but that would mean reporting would have to dig deeper than stories on animal hearts or candles left at cemeteries (or street corners). These articles point at how coverage can start there, but then evolve into something far more informative and interesting. Lets hope it is the beginning of a trend for better reporting on these often misunderstood faiths.
Labels: Jeff Simmermon, National African Religion Congress, Paganism, Palo, Santeria, Voodoo
