“Washed and . . . where’s my shampoo?”

by A. Pustanio

 

Papa Edgard is an 82 years young Haitian Vodoun priest of fantastic charisma and amazing powers. Tall and wiry with bright eyes and a mischievous smile, he is, nonetheless, an imposing presence.

His visit, possibly the last he will make to the US, was on behalf of Manbo Sallie Ann Glassman whom he initiated and set on the path of Vodoun many years ago in his native land.

During his two week stay with Manbo Sallie Ann, Papa Edgard met with many people for individual counseling and healing sessions. The headwashing ceremony was the highlight of the visit and open to anyone.

A large group of white-clad participants showed up this night and we all came together in Manbo Sallie Ann’s temple to participate and be washed by Papa. The Temple, a large room in the rear of Mambo’s New Orleans Bywater home, is painted entirely black and is dominated by two huge columns and a large altar to the Vodoun loas and the Orishas of the Santerea. Along one wall is a small altar to Kali, or Durga, with various offerings of the penitent and faithful.

As the room fell to a hush, Papa Edgard began to chant and to summon the Spirit. Soon, with the help of the Mambo and her assistants, Papa began to trance, and the work over the water took place. A large metal bowl containing a mysterious emulsion that looked like yam juice but smelled like pineapple sherbert, was chanted over and worked over while Papa and Mambo Sallie Ann went around the room anointing the heads of participants with cornmeal and Florida water. Next, Papa took a whole raw egg and passed it over the heads of each participant; this is believed to absorb all negativity. Then Papa settled in beside the bowl and each of us was called forward to be washed.

Kneeling beside the bowl, head bowed, Mambo Sallie Ann began to soak scoop handfuls of the yam-colored water over my head, while Papa chanted and occasionally instructed her with “you missed a spot” pointing and nods. When my head was saturated, Mambo moved on to wash my face and arms, and to place a white bandana over my hair. Then, blessing me, she gave me a tremendous hug and pointed me back to the outer circle. Finally, Papa Edgard made the circle again, taking the arms of each of us and, pulling down, seemingly pulling the negative vibrations away from us. As he reached the end of the fingers he would shake his own hands, thus shaking away the bad vibes and letting the good flow in with the washing.

As we left we were admonished by Papa Edgard to keep our heads covered overnight and that no one should have “relations of any kind.”

Designed to release negative energy and let in the positive power of renewal, I was surprised to find how quickly it was able to produce just those results in my personal life. A feeling of peace and optimism seemed to stem from this very night, and this was reinforced when Papa Edgard, in closing, told us that we had all taken the first step on the path of Vodoun, and that now everything in our lives, even the smallest thing, was of extreme significance on this new path. The experience was truly transcendent.

Manbo Sallie Ann Glassman will be hosting a similar headwashing ceremony, invoking the power of the great priestess Marie Laveau, on the shores of Bayou St. John at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23rd. The ceremony is open to the public. For more information please visit Manbo Sallie Ann’s website a www.feyvodou.com.

VODOUN HEADWASHING - FOLLOW UP REPORT: JUNE 5, 2004

It has been one month since I participated in the Ritual Headwashing by Papa Edgard of Haiti and in that short expanse of time so many positive things have happened that it is simply astounding - even to a believer! Here, in brief, is the rest of the story:

Almost immediately upon receiving the headwashing a feeling of lightening occurred. It was as if the proverbial “weight” had been lifted from my shoulders and my spirit felt lighter and happier, and moreover, free to express itself.

At first I thought sleeping with a white bandana on my head all night, soaked with the fruity aroma of the headwash permeating my hair beneath it, would be uncomfortable and would keep me awake. But, quite the contrary, I enjoyed a full night’s sleep (something unusual for me even under the best of circumstances) and was disturbed by no dreams. When I awoke in the morning and, according to Papa’s and Manbo Sallie Ann’s instructions, showered and washed my hair, it truly seemed that something was washing away down the drain taking my troubles with it.

In hindsight I can almost identify what went down the drain that morning - troubles and worries from the past, things I had been carrying around for years, and things that I had added to my burden only recently, all seemed to be washed away leaving only a lingering feeling of content and well-being.

In the weeks that have followed my adventure and the first step on the path of Vodoun many things that had previously seemed essential worries of my life have come to lose their significance; suddenly, there are more paths opening and more ways are revealed to solve problems and meet challenges than had shown themselves before. Old flames flickered out and new flames flared, friends and foes seemed to approach me with clear intention, or I was seeing them clearly for the first time.

Although nobody’s life is perfect, everyone’s life can use a little improvement, and whatever power was transferred through Papa and Mambo Sallie Ann to improve my outlook and condition I sincerely thank them for bringing me. Not only this, I must at this time thank someone who has been a friend and guide to me literally through all the years of our life, but most recently in very realistic ways, every day I live - this is my cousin Ricardo Pustanio. He has been a guardian angel and has lit the way through many dark moments over the past years. I would just like to say that whatever blessings are yet to come my way from this washing away of the old I truly want to share them and send them back to Ricardo and to Papa Edgard and Mambo Sallie Ann for their selfless good work and sincerity.

I am looking forward to great prosperity, to ever increasing love and security and to the best times of my life in the years yet to come. I am glad I took the first step and took the hands that were extended to me! Ashe!