Although we made various experiences and met all kinds of different people on the study tour so far, one appointment on our schedule certainly is prominent. On October 2, some of us students as well as Professor Keil and Dr. Thiele went to a Vodou ceremony. It was hold by Sallie Ann Glassman, a white woman who was initiated as Vodou priestess in Haiti. Except for Ms. Thiele, nobody ever took part in such a ceremony before. Hence, we had absolutely no idea what to expect.
It all started with singing and dancing rituals. Then, all of us would put down their offerings to Legba, the trickster spirit we wanted to contact. People offered such things as rum, cigars or red sweets - all in an odd number. The dancing and singing continued throughout the session. At one point, the priestess would draw so-called Vévé's with cornmeal on the ground to call the spirits. Each spirit has its own Véve sign. Up to this point nothing extraordinary happened but then - until the end of the ceremony (which lasted about 2,5 hours)- one person after another fell in some kind of a trance. They got possessed by Legba and he was now acting and speaking through them. Some of them were first screaming and then crying, others were dancing wildly, spitting alcohol at others and blowing cigarette smoke into their faces. Some bodies were shaking heavily, others not moving at all.
We were not prepared for what had happened that is way some of us left early. Afterwards, most of the students stated they would not participate in such a ceremony again whereas others felt quite "comfortable". All in all, it was a special experience that none of us will forget for a while.
- Jane
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