Mambo Racine and members of the Roots Without End Society saluted the poto mitan, or centerpost, of the Roots Without End Society peristyle. (The poto mitan focuses activity in concentric circles, reflecting the concentric nature of Vodou knowledge and initiation - the more advanced one becomes, the closer to the center one is considered to be.) The poto mitan was decorated with multicolored silk scarves. To the left of the photo, Houngan Luckner held the ceremonial sword, to the right of the photo, hounsi Emmaneus held a bottle of rum for libations and a candle.



First to be presented to the lwa were the sacrificial chickens, with each initiate holding a pair. The initiates danced vigorously around the poto mitan, gently holding the birds in the air to attract the lwa.



Next the goats were presented, and brought before the drums by hounsi Lento and Houngan Wolmer.



Attended by hounsi Levoyis, the laplas of the Roots Without End Society, Mambo Racine drew the vever of Legba on the ground near the poto mitan.


To see more photos and text describing the ceremonies, go on to the next page.

For more information on the Vodou religion, see The VODOU Page. And for a discussion group focusing on Vodou religion and magic, join Mambo Racine's Vodou Forum.