Dean became the firstTropical Storm Hurricane 2007 Atlantic to enter into the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Dean is strengthening as it continues westwards towards the Lesser Antilles Islands. Wind shear has fallen to 10 knots this morning, which has allowed the storm to consolidate its heavy thunderstorm activity into a symmetrical pattern around the center. Estimates of intensity from both traditional satellite images and microwave images have shown a steady intensification this morning, and some well-formed spiral bands are now visible on satellite loops. The major impediment to intensification is the large amount of dry air (Figure 1) to the storm's north, and this will continue to be a problem for it until it reaches a moister environment near the Lesser Antilles Islands. This morning's QuikSCAT satellite pass missed Dean, but last night's pass showed a large and well-formed circulation.

This years 5th Hurricane Protection Voodoo Ceremony that will be performed once again in this quiet Miami suburban neighborhood of Bird Road this year. This particular stylized Voodoo ritual will be been done each time a hurricane forms in the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico and is to summon the protection of the spirit world against each hurricane individually.

In New Orleans Mambo Sallie Ann Glassman Performs only 1 New Orleans Hurricane ritual publicly a year. Voodoo has long been entrenched in New Orleans, quietly practiced in homes with altars, candles and incense to solve problems. Before the Hurricane Katrina tore through, about 15 percent of the city's population actively practiced, according to local Voodooist.

Each time there is a hurricane in the gulf we perform our hurricane ritual at a moments notice. Each year it is practiced with special prayers and chants to their Vodoun, the Loa Agwe. The personification of the ocean, and the patron of sailors and fishermen. "Only members of our group are involved and we do not seek media attention," says Fernando. What we do is secret to our closed Miami societies circle and not all details are given to the outside world."

A tropical storm watch may be issued for the western portion of the Florida Keys sometime Sunday, according to the discussion notes issued by the hurricane center.

Just how powerful the hurricane becomes will be "highly dependent on the exact track that Dean takes due to land interaction with Haiti and Cuba,". None of the computer models are forecasting that Dean will miss the Lesser Antilles Islands. The trough of low pressure that will pass north of the islands on Saturday is now expected to be a bit weaker than earlier forecast, which should allow Dean to pass into the Caribbean on a west to west-northwest track. The trough is no longer forecast to spawn an upper-level low pressure system, which means that the danger to the U.S. East Coast north of the Carolinas is minimal. A ridge of high pressure is expected to build in after the first trough passes on Saturday, which should keep Dean on a west to west-northwest path into the middle of next week. The southernmost model solutions (GFDL, Canadian) take Dean into Honduras early next week. The more northerly solutions of the GFS and HWRF take Dean over Jamaica, then into the Gulf of Mexico. No models call for a threat to the east coast of Florida at present, but that could change once we see how strong Saturday's trough of low pressure really will be. The NOAA jet is scheduled to make its first flight Thursday night, and by Friday morning we should have a good set of model runs that will give us a more reliable idea of Dean's likely track. At present, it appears that Dean's main threat to the U.S. will be to the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Intensity forecast
With low shear and warm water ahead of it, Dean's intensification over the next few days will only be limited by the dry air to the north. I expect that this dry air will impede Dean enough so that the storm passes through the Lesser Antilles as a Category 1 hurricane. After that, the environment moistens, shear stays low, and the heat content of the ocean greatly increases. The 06Z run of new HWRF model is again very aggressive intensifying Dean after it crosses into the Caribbean, bringing the storm to 928 mb (Category 4) on Monday morning near Jamaica. The GFDL model is not nearly as aggressive, putting Dean at 964 mb (Category 2) Monday morning. I can't see any reason why Dean wouldn't become a Category 3 or 4 hurricane by the time it reaches the Cuba/Jamaica region, unless it passes very close to the mountainous island of Hispaniola.

2005 year's hurricane season was the most destructive on record. Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and Mississippi and was blamed for more than 1,570 deaths among Louisiana residents alone.

It also was the busiest in 154 years of storm tracking, with a records 28 named storms and a record 15 hurricanes. Meteorologists used up their list of 21 proper names _ beginning with Arlene and ending with Wilma _ and had to use the Greek alphabet to name storms for the first time.

DEAN

ERIN

 

Rituals for Agwe, (Agoue) are held near the Ocean, and offerings to him are floated on hand made rafts or small boats. Agwe is associated with the catholic St. Ulrich. At sunrise today as the first light of dawn , Fernando and his group of 10 dozen or more followers set afloat 700 small boats and rafts into the Atlantic ocean as they have done before this year . "We have got to call on the mighty voodoo Lwa and our ancestors for help and get real serious about it." Says Fernando. " We put something in each boat or raft, we feed her and offer her spinach, which means, 'We are wishing DEAN be decimated,' and sweet beets, which means 'May DEAN be removed from the world.' "We give Agwe sweet carrots which asks, 'May our merits be increased against hurricane Dean.'" We have also included real New Orleans Voodoo Zombie Bottles fir the first time on a few of the small rafts to help that it not hit or destroy any more of New Orleans. "

"I have used Zombie spirit bottles in my rituals before, but it seems the most Powerful Zombies come from New Orleans Voodooist" . Says Fernando, " I have I think depleted their supply and Paractioners in New Orleans are working hard gathering more Zombie Spirits to send more to me for the future. >Read More Here>

"In New Orleans Bianca The Voodoo Queens magic hurricane protection starts June first, in warding off the major hurricanes with her own voodoo ceremonial drumming and the burning of the hurricane names for 2007, and lighting of the sacred 100 year old voodoo hurricane lamp (an eternal voodoo vigilance flame to remain lit until November 30th)." Says Fernando. " Sallie ann Glassman this past July did her own New Orleans voodoo hurricane ritual the powerful intercession of Erzulie Dantor to protect her city." I try to import into my voodoo part of others rituals as so to heighten their power over the fiercest storms of the Century." "The crowds of 150 plus vodousi and residents gathered this year at Achade Meadows Peristyle, 3319 Rosalie Alley (off of Rampart, between Piety and Desire in New Orleans, Bywater)." > Read More Here < This Voudou ritual is specifically designed to summon the protection of the spirit world against the devastating hurricanes that often plough in from the Gulf of Mexico. It is dedicated to the Catholic Lady of Prompt Succor and to Ezili Danto, the Vodoun Lwa of Storms and Passion.

Empowered by an influx of Haitian slaves, voodoo was a strong power in the 19th Century, and still has its adherents in america's south today. Being homeless and distracted is no small spiritual matter in a period during which Vodousi believe that God decides "who shall live, and who shall die . . . who by fire and who by water." Says Fernando, "You have to close the book on the hurricane that is over. That's something a lot of people in New Orleans will have to do over and over again." " In my secret voodoo beliefs, yesterday is now gone." "Today is now!" "So now can I change tomorrow."

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Voodoo and Santeria are both African-based religions adapted and, to varying degrees, synchronized with Catholicism. Both religions used images Catholic saints to represent the African gods, loas, or santos. Sometimes more than just the images are used and a true meld or syncretism occurs.

Vodun, like Christianity, is a religion of many traditions. Each group follows a different spiritual path and worships a slightly different pantheon of spirits, called Loa. The word means "mystery" in the Yoruba language.

VODUN (and related religions such as: Candomble, Lucumi,
Macumba, Voodoo, Vodoun, and Yoruba)

General Background - Vodun (a.k.a. Vodoun, Voudou, Voodoo,
Sevi Lwa) is commonly called Voodoo by the public. The name is
traceable to an African word for "spirit". Vodun's roots go back to
the West African Yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century
Dahomey. That country occupied parts of today's Togo, Benin and
Nigeria. Slaves brought their religion with them when they were
forcibly shipped to Haiti and other islands in the West Indies.

Today over 60 million people practice Vodun worldwide.

"Voodoo is not some kind of black magic cult," said Wade Davis, a Washington-based National Geographic explorer-in-residence who has studied the religion extensively in Haiti. "It's the distillation of very profound religious ideas that came over during the tragic era of slavery."

Wade Davis is an anthropologist, botanical explorer, and best-selling author who received his Ph.D. in ethnobotany from Harvard University. He spent more than three years in the Amazon and Andes as a plant explorer, living among 15 indigenous groups in eight Latin American nations while making some 6,000 botanical collections.

Read More about Real Voodoo and Hoodoo Practices here!

Davis's work later took him to Haiti to investigate folk preparations implicated in the creation of zombies, an assignment that led to his writing Passage of Darkness (1988) and The Serpent and the Rainbow (1986), an international best-seller that appeared in ten languages and was later adapted by Universal Studios as a motion picture. He is author of five other books, including One River (1996), Shadows in the Sun (1998) and Light at the Edge of the World (2001).

Agwe, Agoué Loa of the ocean, of ships and boats, patron of seafarers. husband of Maitresse Erzulie in her aquatic aspects.

 

 

For every year, there is a pre-approved list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes. These lists have been generated by the National Hurricane Center since 1953. At first, the lists consisted of only female names; however, since 1979, the lists alternate between male and female. Hurricanes are named alphabetically from the list in chronological order. Thus the first tropical storm or hurricane of the year has a name that begins with "A" and the second is given the name that begins with "B." The lists contain names that begin from A to W, but exclude names that begin with a "Q" or "U."

There are six lists that continue to rotate. 2007 Hurricane Names 2008 Hurricane Names 2009 Hurricane Names Andrea Barry Chantal Dean Erin Felix Gabrielle Humberto Ingrid Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Noel Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Ike Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda

HURRICANE CEREMONY X

Public prayer ceremony dedicated to Our Lady of Prompt Succor (who has intervened historically on New Orleans' behalf when a hurricane has threatened) and Ezili Danto (also associated with Mater Salvatoris and Moumt Carmel) to ask for protection from hurricanes

When: Saturday, July 21st.. 7:00 p.m.

Where: Achade Meadows Peristyle, 3319 Rosalie Alley (off of Rampart, between Piety and Desire)

What to bring in offering:
For Our Lady: flowers, statues, candles, religious pictures, jewelry.
For Danto: Barbancourt Rum, Florida Water, candles, daggers, dolls dressed in red and blue with gold trim or calico prints, spicy black beans, peasant cakes, unfiltered cigarettes, fried pork, white crème de menthe.

What to wear: Please dress in white (the color of purity), with red head scarves, or all red (the color of Petwo rites).

For More Info, call The Island of Salvation Botanica: (504) 948-9961.
http://www.feyvodou.com/

Last year's hurricane season blew away the predictions. Here's what a leading forecaster from Colorado State University says

· This season will be busy, but not as intense as last year. · There's a 81 percent chance a major hurricane could hit along the U.S. coast and a 64 percent chance one could hit the East Coast. · The still-recovering Gulf Coast could be hit again -- there's a 47 percent chance of a major hurricane striking there.

"DEAN, you know now that potential for large loss of life is always with us," said Fernando, "We had heard on the news that well over 1,000 lives were lost in Hurricane Katrina and Rita. And I never want to see this happen here to us Miami, Florida or anywhere in the world again."

"I call upon all these spirits and Lwas in this order when performing my unique Santeria Voodoo Ritual, Says Fernando ." I ask each Lwa to intercede and protect the whole of americas Coast lines." "Yemaya and the river goddesses always protect us at the last possible minute." " Just as New Orleans The city of lost souls, Zombies, ghosts and Voodoo ancestors is ultimately protected by the magic chants, offerings and incantations of the local voodoo priestesses and practitioners and residents." " So is Miami and the whole United States by our prayers." " I gear my rituals not to cause inference to others Voodoo or Hoodoo that might be going on."

Agwe: spirit of the sea
Aida Wedo: rainbow spirit
Ayza: protector
Baka: an evil spirit who takes the form of an animal
Baron Samedi: guardian of the grave
Dambala (or Damballah-wedo): serpent spirit
Erinle: spirit of the forests
Ezili (or Erzulie): female spirit of love
Mawu Lisa: spirit of creation
Ogou Balanjo: spirit of healing
Ogun (or Ogu Bodagris): spirit of war
Osun: spirit of healing streams
Sango (or Shango): spirit of storms
Yemanja: female spirit of waters
Zaka (or Oko): spirit of agriculture

Practitioners of the Santeria Voodoo faith believe that nothing and no event has a life of its own. Each thing affects something else. Many spiritualists and believers of the faith agree that we are not separate; we all serve as parts of one. We are the mirrors and reflections of each other’s souls. God manifests through the spirits of ancestors who can bring good or harm and must be honored in ceremonies. There is a sacred cycle between the living and the dead. Believers ask for their misery to end. Hurricane Rituals include prayers, to Agwe.

Agwe Pronunciation: Ogg-way • (noun)

Alternate Spellings: Agoué, Agoue, Agouet

 

Santeria hurricane services like these are designed to make people feel good, not scare them. special prayers are offered at each morning mass during the five-month hurricane season. The Loa form a pantheon of deities that include Damballah, Ezili, Ogu, Agwe, Legba and others. During Voodoo ceremonies these Loa can possess the bodies of the ceremony participants. Loa appear by "possessing" the faithful, who in turn become the Loa, relaying advice, warnings and desires.

A crowd of devotees' and neighbors each time gather in a circle around the huge altar in anticipation of the approaching divine hurricane protection ritual. Holy candles burn near large statues of the saints, five men and 6 woman sit together pounding their huge conga drums, and a Man begins to sing aloud in a cuban tongue, beckoning their great voodoo god Agwe to come to them and protect them from the ravages of Hurricanes to come.

The solemn calm drum beat intensifies, and suddenly, one by one, women and men and children leap up, dancing, shouting and spinning wildly out of control. Collectively, they are becoming possessed by the spirit of Loa Agwe and, while in this mystical trance they will embody his great power, strength and courage to ward off the impending devastation of this powerful record breaking hurricane.

With their eyes fixed wide, and great beads of sweat pouring off them, drenching their white clothes in the hot afternoon 90 plus heat, they dance madly and frenzied and shout, and each takes his turn bowing down in front of the altar to Agwe. Praying and chanting for his protection and devine intervention.

"When we are mounted by the gods, possessed as the American says." Fernando explains, "We are not any longer ourselves, no longer one soul, no longer human beings." "We are the gods." "It's not magical hallucinations, it's very real." "It shows us the power of Agwe and our Santeria Voodoo beliefs at work!"

 

Hurricane Season 2007 Be prepared for this year's hurricane season. Find states' emergency info, and where to get help for Louisiana, Mississippi , Texas, Florida, Alabama, South Caraolina, North Carolina. VIEW WEB SITE Get info from NOAA hurricane center on storms. What Would You Call It? What would you name a hurricane? Is your name on the official list? See more about the history of naming or check out memorable hurricanes. What Are They? What are hurricanes, anyway? How do they form? How to Survive: Find out what to do before, during and after a hurricane. Been Struck? Has your area been declared a national disaster? Find out where to get help and assistance. More hurricane link Resources: · Six to 10 Day Forecast in Your Area · NOAA: National Hurricane Center · Fed. Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) · Find Your Local Red Cross Chapter · Water for Drinking and Cooking | More Tips Disaster preparedness begins with each family and household having a plan. FEMA recommends that you have a ready-to-go emergency kit that will allow you to survive unaided for three days. A kit should include the following: First aid kit (including prescription medicines) Food and water for up to 72 hours Extra clothing and blankets Flashlights and extra batteries The following supplies are recommended: NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries Whistle to signal for help A camp stove with extra fuel Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire Photocopies of credit and identification cards Food and Water In addition to an emergency kit, families should be prepared with up to three days of food and water for each member. Basic foods, like canned foods, dry foods, and other non-perishable items are best to have because if electricity goes out, they will still be edible. Here are some tips: Keep foods on hand that everyone in your family will like to eat Avoid foods that are high in fat and protein Don't stock salty foods, since they will make you thirsty The average person requires two quarts of drinking water per day. Some individuals, like children or nursing mothers, may require more. A gallon per day for each person in your family is the recommended amount, say American Red Cross officials. If you are running low on water, don't ration. To lessen the amount you need, reduce your activity.   If water is unavailable from household sources, water from rain, streams or rivers, and natural springs can be used. However, water from any outdoor source must first be purified before it can be used for potable or hygienic purposes. Boiling, disinfecting (by means of adding 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water) and distillation are the three recommended methods of purification.   Be Ready to Evacuate Mobile homes and travel trailers are particularly vulnerable to severe weather because of their instability. Since hurricanes can trigger quickly forming tornadoes, residents should be prepared to leave at a moments notice. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. When a tornado warning is issued, take shelter in a building with a strong foundation. If shelter is not available, lie in ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the unit. Never stay inside a mobile home or travel trailer if a tornado warning has been issued. Evacuation is a real possibility that your family might face if a natural disaster threatens your home. Every family should have an emergency plan that outlines what to do, how to communicate with family members when evacuating, and how the family should re-connect in case they get separated.