Vodou Shaman: The Haitian Way of Healing and Power [Paperback]

Ross Heaven (Author), Tim Booth (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2003

Goes beyond the stereotypes to restore Vodou to its proper place as a powerful shamanic tradition

• Provides practical exercises and techniques from the Vodou tradition that can be used as safe and effective means of spiritual healing and personal transformation

• Shows how to remove evil spirits and negative energies sent by others

• Written by a fully initiated Houngan (Vodou shaman)

Providing practical exercises drawn from all aspects and stages of the Vodou tradition, Vodou Shaman shows readers how to contact the spirit world and communicate with the loa (the angel-like inhabitants of the Other World), the ghede (the spirits of the ancestors), and djabs (nature spirits for healing purposes). The author examines soul journeying and warrior-path work in the Vodou tradition and looks at the psychological principles that make them effective. The book also includes exercises to protect the spiritual self by empowering the soul, with techniques of soul retrieval, removing evil spirits and negative energies, overcoming curses, and using the powers of herbs and magical baths.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Heaven began studying native spiritual traditions in the 1980s, he quickly figured out that Vodou was the "black sheep" in the family permanently tainted with a bad reputation. Being a self-proclaimed punk, the "renegade reputation" of Vodou instantly appealed to him. In his early days of Vodou research, Heaven "felt sure that I would encounter zombies and animal (and perhaps even human) sacrifice and have to deal with black magic rituals and pacts with the devil," he writes. "Let me reassure or maybe disappoint you that none of that appears in this book, for the very good reason that most of those subjects are the stuff of mythology rather than fact." What Heaven discovered instead was an Afro-Caribbean, healing-based tradition that's been unfairly marred by misunderstandings and Hollywood stereotypes. Heaven was so impressed with Vodou that he was initiated as a "white priest" and became a renowned shamanic teacher. This book is his attempt to demystify a mystical religion while also teaching Westerners how to integrate its healing rituals into modern life. Each chapter opens with a vivid description of a transcendental Vodou ritual that Heaven has witnessed such as a crippled man suddenly becoming cured. He uses these scenes to offer a well-paced and concise lesson on Vodou ideology and possibilities. Every chapter also includes "Vodou Lessons" for instance, how to move into a trance or create an altar. This stands out as one of the most articulate and well-intentioned Vodou guidebooks available.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Here he outlines the tradition's core beliefs and highlights the striking similarities between Vodou and other traditional healing arts."
(Jennifer Kuncken, Library Journal, February 2004, Vol.129 No.1? )

"Ross Heaven's new book . . . give(s) us a more complete look into this mysterious tradition."
(Prediction, March 2004, Vol.70 No.3 )

"This stands out as one of the most articulated well-intentioned Vodou guidebooks available."
(Publishers Weekly, November 2003, Vol.250 No.45 )

"Vodou Shaman presents a very specific guide focusing on haitian healing and power rituals."
(The Midwest Book Review, June 2004
)

"A groundbreaking book that will contribute to the knowledge, diversity, and healing in this world. Ross Heaven writes with heart and wisdom about a true return to the spirit."
(

Kristin Madden, author of Pagan Parenting and Shamanic Healing

)

"It is so often in the places we least expect it, that we find the deepest spirituality. Vodou, the least well known, most feared and even most ridiculed form of shamanism, is one of those places. In this must-read book we find a pragmatic way of being in spirit; one desperately needed as we face the challenge of living in this time of great change."
(Dr. Eve Bruce, M.D., F.A.C.S., medical doctor and author of Shaman, M.D. )

"Ross Heaven does for Vodou what Castaneda did for shamanism. With so many sacred ways and cultures dying out, it is wonderful that one of the world's oldest oral traditions is recorded here by an authentic wisdomkeeper."
(Tania Ahsan, editor of Prediction magazine )

“Ross Heaven is a modern sage. In his book Vodou Shaman we not only learn about Vodou and experience its powers firsthand, we also pass through portals to higher levels of consciousness.”
(John Perkins, author of The Spirit of the Shuar )

“Vodou is a very beautiful and practical spiritual approach to experiencing the power of other worlds. Through Vodou Shaman ordinary people will discover how to empower themselves in the most extraordinary ways.”
(Howard G. Charing, director of the Eagles Wing Centre for Contemporary Shamanism and author of Medicine for the Soul )

"The experience of Vodou is one of joy, dance, drums, and song. It is an experience that enables all of us to connect with our spirits and the infinite power of the universe. This practical book is a valuable guide to how we can all achieve joy in our lives."
(Amoda, author of Moving into Ecstacy )

"I am delighted to offer my support for this book, which is in the tradition of Maya Deren and Claude Planson, Caucasians who have discovered infinity in the African spirituality. Ross Heaven is enriching our understanding of the psyche and wisdom of humanity by going into the primeval source of our worldview."
(Dr. Reginald O. Crosley, medical doctor and author of The Vodou Quantum Leap )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books (November 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089281134X
• ISBN-13: 978-0892811342
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

www.thefourgates.org

Ross Heaven was described by Guardian newspaper journalist James Shreeve as "the Joseph Campbell of our times". The director of The Four Gates Foundation for spiritual and shamanic wisdom, Ross is a psychologist, presenter, and the author of more than 10 books on shamanism, plant medicines, and the healing traditions, including The Hummingbird's Journey to God (the first book to be written about shamanic healing with the plant teacher San Pedro), Plant Spirit Shamanism (about ayahuasca and San Pedro healing and the therapeutic uses of other plants), Plant Spirit Wisdom (about healing traditions and practices with native European plants), and The Sin Eater's Last Confessions (about the folk-healing practices of Wales).

As well as his work with native shamanism, Ross has visited Peru since the 1990's to work with the ayahuasceros and curanderos of the Amazon and Andes, and with ayahuasca and San Pedro, the two legendary sacraments and teacher plants used by the shamans of these regions to heal the mind, body, and soul, and to unlock new levels of expanded consciousness.

He now offers the same opportunity for others, with retreat programmes and journeys to Peru where participants can work with indigenous healers and explore and expand their awareness through shamanic encounters with visionary plants.

He has also worked with the shamans and plant healing traditions of Haiti and his experiences in this area are recorded in his book Vodou Shaman, of which Publisher's Weekly said "This stands out as one of the most articulate and well-intentioned guidebooks available".

In his workshops, Ross draws from his cross-cultural knowledge of shamanism and its healing possibilities for creating new ways to understand ourselves, our connections to the Earth, and the journeys we are on.

For more information about Ross and his work, visit The Four Gates website at:
www.thefourgates.org or email him at [e-mail] and receive regular updates from the author about his workshops and books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars mish-mash, January 23, 2008

By 

bleach - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vodou Shaman: The Haitian Way of Healing and Power (Paperback)

I guess I should have been warned by the title. I'm surprised to see how high other people rate this book. I guess there are still people who enjoy this kind of mixing of spiritual traditions, popular psychology, philosofical thinking and quasi-sciense. I was searching for a book about haitian vodou. About who the Lwa are, and how they are served. This book does not tell you this. The writer seems to have surprisingly little knowledge about the vodou religion. He has a little to say about a whole lot of diffrent spiritual thinking, and seems to find it amusing to make pagan/esoteric stuff as "mystical" as possible. If you want to learn about shamanism a good book would be "way of the shaman" by Michael Harner. If you like to know about vodou you might like "the Haitian vodou Handbook" by Kenaz Filan.

25 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars . . . ., October 20, 2005

By 

AE - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vodou Shaman: The Haitian Way of Healing and Power (Paperback)

Ross Heaven was initiated into Vodou by the charlatan Mambo Racine, whom he treats with nothing but love and respect in this book. Take a look at some yahoo groups, though, and you'll see his attacks on 'Rancid.' Yes, she's a fraud, but Mr Heaven takes his spite too far. I believe he uses his references to Mambo Racine in the book -- some of which she has said are false -- to give it an air of authority. So be mindful of his 'Haitian diary' entries.

This is how he now describes his djevo experience on a yahoo group:

> Kathy [Mambo Racine] has been spouting for 2 years, without proof, that I

revealed

> djevo secrets in my book, Vodou Shaman. And for 2 years I've been

> saying the opposite and asking for evidence. None has ever

arrived.

>

> I'm getting bored of the argument and since spambo wont shut up

> about it, I've decided to reveal the secrets of her djevo here.

That

> way, when she rants on about this one again, I can honestly

> say "yep, I revealed them secrets!" - and the reason I did so is

> because spambo wouldnt shut up about it, so I guess we have her to

> thank!

>

> Now, bear in mind that these are the secrets of *spambo's* djevo,

so

> they probably bear no resemblance to what goes on in a real

mambo's

> house.

>

> I know for a fact that some of the things that *should* be taught

in

> the djevo WEREN'T (like passwords she "forgot" to tell us and

> emailed a few weeks later; and handshakes and gestures, etc, that

> were taught outside in plain daylight) - and some of the things

that

> *shouldn't* take place in a djevo (like racine smoking dope and

> teaching us tarot cards) DID.

>

> Anyway, if you decide to part with $2,500 to become one of

spambo's

> children, this is what you'll get for your money...

>

> 1. You will sleep on straw with a rock for your pillow. Under this

> straw are supposedly drawn vevers, though I saw no evidence of

this.

>

> 2. For a couple of days you will be made to lie like a foetus, be

> blindfolded, and whipped with a twig if you talk or move (an

> allusion, no doubt, to the fate of slaves under transportation).

>

> 3. Your pot tete will be behind you along with a lighted candle. A

> dove will be sacrificed on spambo's head and some of its blood

will

> go in the pot tete.

>

> 4. Your own head will be cut off - i.e. spambo will scream about

> chopping your head off and wave a machete around, then someone

will

> chuck a few rocks on the djevo roof and your candle will be

stubbed

> out on your neck. This, along with a bit of your hair and a few

> fingernails will go in the pot tete as well.

>

> 5. You will be fed "guinea food" - basically gruel with a bit of

> okra thrown in - and you will piss in a bucket. An old washer

woman

> from down the road will come in each day to fondle your penis in

the

> pretence of washing it.

>

> 6. Each day you will also wash your hands in "magical oil"

> (basically, any old vegetable oil) to strengthen your hands for

> the 'gruelling' brule zen, where you plunge your hands into fire.

In

> fact, the oil does nothing and in fact it doesn't need to since

> the 'raging flames' of a brule zen wouldn't hurt a fly.

>

> 7. On some day or another Gran Bwa will pitch up and tell you how

> wonderful racine is. One of the other Lwa may also turn up to

offer

> you tarot card readings (I'm serious)

>

> 8. After 5 days of this, where nothing is taught to you and you

are

> mortally bored and wondering why you bothered, you will be stood

on

> a chair and sworn to secrecy about it all with a machete at your

> throat, so spambo can rip someone else off without you spilling

the

> beans on her scam.

>

> 9. Spambo will, of course, forget to tell you the password, but if

> you're lucky, she may email it to you a week later. It will be in

> English (not langaj, as should be the case) and no explanation

will

> be given, nor will you be told when and how to use it. Your one-

> sentence English password will be "Even hounsis stare lightly at

the

> sun" (or whatever else she makes up at the time) - and for this

you

> will have paid $2,500.

>

> 10. Outside the djevo, you may be shown about three gestures using

> an asson (e.g. stroking it over your pocket means you have money;

> rubbing it over your ass means "kiss it" - one of spambo's

> favourites).

>

> 11. You will also be shown how to greet another Houngan

(basically,

> turn round a few times, and if he's more senior than you, kiss the

> ground in front of him).

>

> 12. You may be shown a few 'secret' handshakes. These are more or

> less normal handshakes but you extend your fingers and press on

the

> other guy's wrist to tell him your grade (2 fingers = sur pwen;

> three = asogwe).

>

> And that, apart from a few dance steps you might pick up, is about

> it.

>

> Some people reckon they got a few herbal recipes as well. I didn't

> personally, but since Honest posted these already, you know what

> they are and can see theyre mostly ripped off from Jambalaya.

>

> In other words, what happens in spambo's djevo (all these "great

and

> mystical blessings of Guinea" that spambo keeps spouting about),

is

> a big fat boring zero.

>

> What you WON'T get are the proper passwords (and, yes, there are

> more than one), be shown how to call or control spirits, taught

any

> liturgy (or why Vodou is the oldest religion, according to

> spamflaps), prayers, or songs, shown any magic, the correct use of

> the asson (or passwords for it) - or, in fact, receive anything of

> use or value - and no further teachings will follow (I've received

> nothing else from spambo - apart from BS - in the 5 years since I

> initiated with her).

>

> What you will do is lie on a dirt floor, bored, for the best part

of

> a week and maybe if youre un/lucky (depending on your perspective)

> spambo may drop by a few times if she's not too stoned to bore you

> still further with BS.

>

> If you've got a spare $2,500 lying around I cant think of a better

> way to waste it.

>

> I think that's about it, but if I've missed anything, no doubt

> someone will remind me.

>

>Oh yeah, and a decaying ferret (it may be a dove) will be

>strapped to your head for a week, its aroma marginally more pleasant >than the

>stink of racine's BS.

This made him a great Houngan, eh?

But anyway, this book provides a refreshing view of African spirituality and religion. However, his 'core Vodou' ideas, his thoughts that Santeria, Candomble, etc., are just 'Cuban Vodou' and 'Brazilian Vodou' stretch the truth -- at the very best.

Take this book with a few grains of salt.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eat the meat and spit out the bones..., May 3, 2009

By 

Hypgnosis "Kniqui Knows" (Silly Con Valley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vodou Shaman: The Haitian Way of Healing and Power (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. It gives an interesting summary of the author's experience of initiation as a houngan, the spirit world, and how to incorporate and benefit from Vodou in a shamanic way, and experiences with people he has ministered to.

There is a glossary as well as an index in the book.

It is interesting and well written. It is definitely not a spell book or a how to Vodou book. There are instructions for setting up an altar, suggestions for drumming and dancing, herbal bath, honoring ancestors and the loa, that kind of thing. It's more like what I would call inspirational Vodou than religious Vodou.

People can argue as to what in the book is genuine or fake, and whether or not the Vodou is real or bogus, that is of no concern to me. I prefer historical and anthropological books to explore the Vodou traditions, songs, dress, and pantheon knowing that there will be mistakes and secrets that outsiders are not privy to, as it is with Scientology. All I am concerned with is that I enjoyed reading the book and I found some interesting ideas, concepts and beliefs held by the author.

Take what you like and leave the rest.