My Patreon Page is now live with blog posts

Just a reminder that I  am going to close down this page by the end of June. I am trying to tighten up my online presence . I have lots of projects going, which means I need fewer online pages to look after, if I want to do my artwork and writing. I am still writing - just not for free. Call it a sign of the times - plagiarism is the new black.

If you want to see what I've been up to, I suggest you check out my Patreon page here : https://www.patreon.com/mambovyezokomande

And I'll see you all over on the new digs!
Love, Honor and Respect, Mambo Vye Zo

Mambo Vye Zo is on Patreon!

Hey gang - having endured years of plagiarism, copying of photos and the final insult - having my very bio used for someone else, I've taken down the Sosyete du Marche web site. It's been fun I admit - and I enjoyed keeping you all up to date with posting, pics and such., But all things come to an end. I am using the web site to promote my Patreon page. It's there that I will posting my weekly essays, updates and what I am doing. I also am semi-retired: I've handed off my monthly fet duties to two of our very capable mambos, which frees me up to do more important things like teach, write and make art. It's a strange sensation when you realize that what you've been doing monthly for nearly 30 has come to a close. Its similar I suppose to folks who retire -- when you no longer have to answer the alarm clock, and don't have to be anywhere, where do you go?

Well, if you are an Asogwe, you don't go anywhere! You just keep on keepin' on - and that means I am currently juggling several projects. I have the next SdM missal in rough edit and I am hoping to put that one out by the end of the summer. I've gathered all the prayers, incantations and evocations I've collected over the years so students, godchildren and anyone serving the Lwa will have a valuable tome to keep handy for their service work.

I am also half way through my Vodou Herbal, a compendium of plants used in ritual services. I will be writing that one through the summer, as I add to my knowledge base. It is a comprehensive listing of plants that I have put through the US plant base so you can find actual herbs here in the US or their equivalent counterparts. There are also small notes for usage, actual prayers for the plants and sometimes, a bit of Vodou spellwork <wink>. Its been a labor of love, but I am hoping to release it next year.

And of course, I have five or six music projects lined up. I intend to release CDs of music for each Lwa, with words in English and Kreyol. I currently have three CDs available on Amazon - Petro songs, Rada songs and The Priye Ginen.  These are an on-going project for me that I work on in between other things when I get bored -- yes, it does happen, I do get bored on occasion!

And finally, the Vodou Tarot will be ready for order by end of October, just in time for Fet Ghede. The book that accompanies it will also be ready for order then, too.

So, lots of irons in the fire (as usual). All I've done is given myself more time to do a better job on all of this by letting go of the fets. Its doesn't mean I am not serving. In fact, I am probably serving more now than ever. Broken back be damned, asthma in check - ya can't keep a good mambo down! Ayibobo!

Vibrational Crossroad of Vodou

The Crossroad is a place that has held the imagination of folks in myth and legend.  Said to be the meeting place where blues musician Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for guitar playing prowess, the crossroad is a mystical mystery for the ages. All intersections hold great power, either for the fact that they contain a little bit of the pulse of those who cross through, over and under them, or because they have their origin in concepts like ley lines and the occult concept of the axis mundi.  Either way, we humans find crossroads unique, powerful and stimulating. Ask anyone who has crossed over a bridge (are there trolls beneath here?), gone under a mountain pass (dwarves!) or taken an evening stroll through an old cemetery (ghosts, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night). In all these locations, there is a tangible energy, a presence we can sense. We humans tend to be sensitive to the Other, that indefinable energy that seems to collect in crossroads, intersections and liminal gates. And as such, if we feel them there, then can they feel us? And if so, how do we make a connection to the Other?

Sevis Lwa: The Vibrational Crossroad is a tool book for the dedicated practitioner of occulted communications.  Each chapter leads the reader toward that remarkable moment of Contact with the Other. I wrote it for Vodou practitioners, but any spiritual practice could work with these techniques for contacting the Spirits.

Each chapter opens with a short story of my time with my own teacher, Papa Edgar Jean Louis, flag maker and ritualist extraordinaire, of Belair, Haiti. An amazingly talented man, Papa Edgar was generous with his knowledge and accepting of anyone who served the spirits. In the short three years I knew him, he gave me much to learn and think about. The stories of being in service with Edgar help set the meaning of each chapter so you can see how my experience informed and led to the work I share with the reader.

I've also given instruction on creating a sacred space, literally a crossroad where you can communicate with the Spirits. To this end, I've written the book to include recipes for baths, spiritually charged fires, ancestor rituals and techniques to properly prepare your space and serve your spirits. The Vibrational Crossroad is a magical technique that works -- every time.

Here's a peak at the cover. It's being edited this month, but I am hoping to be able to release it next month for your reading pleasure. I think you will find the techniques and tools contained within its pages a valuable addition to your magical practices. Ayibobo!

My Time Out

Its been a long time hasn't it? Well, I have lots to share with you all.

First off, I am doing fine, thank you. I have been in recovery for a broken back. That's right - I took a tumble down the stairs in October of 2015, crash landed into my mahogany hope chest and then took off the next day to Montreal. I knew something was off, but I thought hey, it will pass. Well, it only grew worse. By January of 2016, I was having steady, unbearable back pain. I finally gave in and went to the doctor in February. His diagnosis - broken vertebrae.

The fall had fractured my T10-L1 connection. The fracture had collapsed, leaving me in excruciating pain. I was not a candidate for fusion surgery. All I could do was to stay off my feet and allow my body to heal itself. Great. I spent the next 10 months flat on my back. I cried from the pain, but more because of my anger - why me? I cried in frustration at not being able to work at anything. And I cried because how unfair this was, what did I do wrong, why is this happening to me? Why me? Talk about having a lesson in self discipline and introspection.

We had to stop all our Vodou services, since I could barely walk or stand. Not being able to sit meant no writing, no drawing, painting or sewing. All I could do was take pain killers and sleep. So, that's what I did.

When I was awake, I'd meditate, cry, then sleep. For 10 long months. Bodhi kept me company. Don fed me. Chelsea came over to help. And I very, Very, VERY slowly began to heal. I went from using a walker to get around, to using a cane to walk, to finally becoming strong enough to walk my own two feet. Hooray! By January of 2017, my back was strong enough to start physical therapy to help my body rebuild. October of 2017, I was strong enough to drive myself to PT, and do the occasional grocery shopping. I was a long way from perfect, but I was also a long way from where I began in 2 years prior. And a couple of amazing things happened along the way.

When all you can do is think, you get to process all your stuff - the good, the bad and the ugly. I went through the five stages of grief (because I was grieving my broken back) - denial, anger, frustration, depression, and acceptance. And its not a linear experience. Some days I felt all five, while on others just one would dominate. But through it all I also had one additional emotion over and over again. Gratitude.

I was grateful for this time out. It taught me to be thankful for all I had, like Don doing the laundry,  taking care of the shopping, feeding the dogs, feeding me and taking me to endless rounds of appointments.

I was grateful for the dogs, who didn't seem to mind my stinky self when I couldn't shower, or who kissed all my tears away when I was crying. For Bodhisattva who lay with me, kissing my face and watching me with worried eyes. For Uriel, who came in laughing every day, kissed me and then ran off before Bodhi could chase him.

I am grateful to Chelsea for vacuuming the house, bringing me dinner, and offering hugs, gossip and her lovely smile.

And most importantly, I was grateful for the Spirits. My time out showed me that I didn't need to be planning and hosting huge fets for them, They were still here with me, despite my severely limited ability to serve them. And it showed me that my teachings were correct. Even small efforts were greatly rewarded.

I am doing all my creative activities again - writing, sewing, painting. My godkids picked up the flag of service work, and are marching forward with it. And I have a new book about to come out. I am so grateful for my broken back. I know that sounds odd, but truthfully, I was the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, running like mad and getting nowhere. Now, when I do something, I do it with real intent. I don't take on more than I can do, and I say 'no' more often than not these days. And guess what? Nobody gets offended, the Spirits accept their simply cup of coffee and the World keeps turning. How wonderful is that?

I'll be writing again regularly here. But in the meantime, I hear my embroidery calling me. Please excuse me, but my creative demon has a couple of years to catch up on!

Ayibobo Papa Legba, for opening the door to my healing. Ashe!