Promises, promises.

Ok, so maybe Fet Gede was too long a deadline for me according to certain Loa.

I've spent most of my time as a Vodouisant working with the Gede, Nago and Rada spirits, and while some of them are certainly quick to act, I'm finding a whole new type of physical dynamism and speed in the work of a Petro spirit with whom I've been building a relationship in the last few weeks.

Yesterday I told her I would make her that new Veve card to attach to the back of her altar. Time, as it is wont to do, got away from me and I never got round to doing it. I don't think she was very pleased with this, because I spent literally hours trying to get to sleep last night. It was as if she was constantly reminding me that I'd said I was going to do something that particular day and hadn't delivered on it - and she wasn't going to let my day end until I'd done it. At 3:45 am I finally admitted defeat and got up, wrapped myself in my dressing gown and sat down in front of my altars with card and a variety of blood-red pens and pencils.

She's a harsh Loa, I won't deny it... but sometimes we need a push to get ourselves going; whether in the magical or mundane world. When I blearily fixed the card to the back of her altar space, I got the distinct feeling she was pleased with me. I splashed the card with florida water to cleanse it, and then on impulse allowed a droplet of the sweet smelling cologne to fall onto the deep red heart-shaped lips of her wanga doll. I could swear she smiled at me; and that the fierce red eyes I'd affixed earlier in the week flashed with pleasure rather than anger. It was 5 am before I went back to bed, and I finally slept soundly.

Nagini

All change on the altar front

For me, October is a month in which there's far too much to do.

I make it a point of honour to have all personal debts - spiritual or material - paid off by Fet Gede, and with characteristic procrastination on my part I've left it to the last couple of weeks of the Vodou year to get things done. Aside from one major promise to Ogoun Badagris which I've told him is not going to be carried out until he gives me the resources to do so (The local Vodou contingent is giggling right now, because they know what I'm talking about. I can't hear them, but I know they're doing it.) I've got several small but pressing jobs to carry out.

Given Fet Gede is the festival of the dead I've got several changes to make to the altar which houses Baron, Brigitte et al. While none of these are actual promises that need keeping by November 2nd, it would be nice to at least make a start on my Gede To-Do list by then. I need to redraw the Veve card that hangs from the back of their space, and I'm on the lookout for a St Rosalia card for Brigitte. I've found the Gede are easily the most idiosyncratic and whimsical family of Loa, so when I say I need a miniature metal wastebin for the altar and ideally a little Oscar the Grouch toy around which I can tie a black ribbon, I hope nobody will think I'm a heretic.

I've promised my resident Petro Loa some major improvements in her space, with a new veve card and a total of three knives on her altar by the end of the year. I'm still planning how to decorate the handles of those knives, but while I'm working on that I've made some alterations to her wanga doll. I've given her a lovely red net shawl, and placed a tin-foil knife in each hand and in her belt. I've replaced her somewhat googly red bead eyes with ones made of red foil ribbon; far more glittery and atmospheric! I'm quite pleased with the effect and I hope she is too.

Last but never least, I've got to finish making my Anaisa altar. I've only recently come into contact with this lovely Metresa from the 21 Divisions tradition, but I'm smitten. I'm on the lookout for a lovely golden-yellow altar cloth, a yellow hand fan and some St Anne images.

Check back after Fet Gede - I might post pictures of the completed altars!

Nagini