9457: Re: 9646 answers to EZ questions (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Steven White <polanve@optonline.net>



	 1)  ( When people are possessed,) " Are the spirits trying to talk through
the people to send a message?  If so, what kind of message would they send?"

Answer: A lwa in Vodou is kind of like the next level of maturity, before
the lwa comes, there are timoun and granmoun in the room, when they are
present in a room there are timoun, granmoun, and lwa.  The lwa may have a
message, just like a person might, or the lwa may just say 'Hi how are you?'
just like a person might.  Just as Timoun tend to speak plainly, and Adults
speech is more rich and uses metaphors and proverbs, what a lwa has to tell
you is usually more than just what it seems to be on the surface.


	2)  "When a person becomes obsessed by the lwa, are others at
the ceremony allowed to ask the lwa questions to find
out answers? "

Answer: Yes


  	3)  "Is there a good chance that every practicing
member of Vodoun will be possessed at some point in (his or her life)?

Answer:  There are no statistics.  It is common but not necessary.


	4)   If you have been possessed (once), is there a greater
chance that you will be possessed again?  Or is it a once
in a lifetime occurrence?

Answer: It usually happens more than once


	5)  "Can children be possessed?"

Answer: Yes. The word 'possessed' has a certain connotation in English which
makes it sound kind of scary.  It's a Halloween movie kind of word. Having a
lwa can be a blessing or a burden, depending on the circumstances.  What is
more important than the age of the person who has the lwa is that the people
involved treat each other with respect and caring, in which case they
celebrate the blessings together and share the burdens together.  This does
happen often in Haitian families and society, although it doesn't usually
make it into the Reuters or AP stories.

     6)  " What is the purpose of Vodoun
ceremonies?  Do they praise God or is it more a matter of
looking to the lwas for answers?"  (Or both?)

Answer: Both