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Afro Caribbean Spirituality Workshop
We are also pleased to announce our second bi-annual Afro & Caribbean workshop. Within this workshop you will obtain a better understanding of the origins of Afro & Caribbean spirituality known variously as Vodou, hoodoo/rootwork, and Santeria.
Afro Caribbean Spirituality Workshop Schedule
On Friday May 25th, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., we will come together at the home of Mambo Marie Carmel and conduct a meet and greet. Participants will have an opportunity to meet Mambo Marie Carmel, Mambo Fet Atencion and Houngan Hector; as well as introduce themselves to one another. This will be an informal affair, participants will be introduced to Mambo Marie's personal badji, and will be free to ask questions about the various altars. Participants will also have the chance to light a service candle and make personal prayer requests at the various altars.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mambo Fet Atencion will be teaching you how to prepare spiritual candles to help you achieve your goals. Seven day candles are a common form of magic within the Afro Caribbean traditions, and although some will use the candles unprepared, prepared candles are more effective, powerful, and focused on your particular goals, thus making it simpler for you to enrich your life. Several secret recipes will be taught to you for a variety of issues from love - and money - to enemies and more. These candles can serve to achieve a specific purpose, or can be used in conjunction with other work to create speedier, more powerful and expedited results.
After learning this powerful form of magick, participants will have the opportunity to receive personal consultations from Mambo Marie Carmel, Houngan Hector, and Mambo Fet Atencion. These readings will guide you in what you need so as to achieve your intended desires. Slots are limited, so please do schedule your reading during your registration.
Bright and early at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Mambo Marie Carmel will be teaching altar and food preparation until noon. You will be shown the correct procedure used to make the food for the Lwa. You will also be taught the recipes needed in order to make this food. You will learn how to set up the altar for the Lwa, in order to serve them. The correct placement of altar objects leads to an easier flow for a ceremony, and invites the spirits to come in possession, pleasing and attracting them. Incorrect procedure can lead to a "spoiled" ceremony in which the Lwa will not appear to give their blessings.
From 12 p.m.-1 p.m., we will take a break allowing you to rest, regroup, and have lunch. After the break Mambo Marie Carmel will conclude the altar and food preparation section of our workshop. At this time participants will have opportunity to visit Mt. Carmel Botanica, which is owned an operated by Mambo Marie Carmel. Mt. Carmel Botanica is stocked with every product needed to properly practice any and all Afro Caribbean spirituality from Santeria and Vodou to Chango Baptist Trinidad. Mt. Carmel Botanica functions to meet all your spiritual needs, including a well stocked selection of Haitian Vodou products, imported directly from Haiti.
At about 3 p.m. we will have a half hour break, allowing participants to rest, regroup, and mingle. From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Houngan Hector will be instructing on the proper construction of spiritual baths. Spiritual baths are known to all Afro Caribbean traditions, and serve to fulfill a vast variety of needs. A number of recipes will be demonstrated, and you will be taught how to administer these baths to yourself, and to your loved ones. Participants will construct their own special and uniquely prepared spiritual cleansing and purifying baths with Houngan Hector. Three spiritual "works" will be taught: attracting love, financial success, and protection.
Participants will then be allowed to return to their hotel rooms for a two our break. We strongly encourage participants to take this time to nap and get themselves refreshed.
Finally, after a busy and spiritually challenging day, the dance! The ceremony opens with the Priye Ginen which honors God, the ancestors, and the lwa. This prayer is particularly long at Mambo Marie's house - it can take over an hour to recite. And Mambo Marie is very skilled at singing the prayer in her beautiful voice. After the prayer, the ceremony begins!!!
Our ceremony will be directed at service to Kouzen Zaka, the powerful & hardworking farmer spirit. Participants are invited to dance and get into the spirit of the event. We will invoke the lwa. Common spiritual guests include, but are not limited to, Papa Danbala Wedo, Kouzen Zaka, Ogou Badagris, Erzulie Dantor, and Plumaj Lakwa. You will have a chance to meet and speak with these spirits - and possibly others - and they may administer protections and luck.
After Gede leave participants may return to their hotel rooms for a well deserved rest.
On Sunday morning, we will conclude our workshop with a family breakfast and participants are free to leave whenever they so desire.
Fees are $250, if paid in full and registered by May 4th, otherwise $275 if registered after May 4th. This price includes the workshop handouts, materials for spiritual candle magick and cleansing baths, as well as miscellaneous services. Transportation to and from the airport will be provided. Food and beverages are included in your fees. All participants are asked to please pack white attire: men white pants and white top, women white dress (or white skirt) and white top, including a white head scarf for the House Party on Saturday night.
All participants should fly into JFK airport by 3pm Friday May 25th. For hotels, you can make quick and convenient reservations at the following, which are close to the workshop's location:
The Sky - Rt. 109 - Straight Path Phone: 631.957.3500
Deer Park Motor Inn- Phone: 631.667.8300
Hollywood Motel- Phone: 631.694.7100
The Pine: Phone: 631.957.3330
We truly hope you will attend this wonderful workshop. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Houngan Hector or
Mambo Fet Atencion
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