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Sosyete du Marche, Inc.s o s y e t e  d u  m a r c h e , i n c


Sosyete du Marche, Inc. Vodou Ceremonies and Services for 2009

Lave Tet : Ritual Washing of the Head

lave_01Lave Tet, literally means "washing (of) the head" in French.  The head is the seat of magic in Vodou. One is often referred to as having a "cool" head or a "hot" head. A cool one is most desirous! A cool head means you are calm, balanced, in control of your life and all the challenges that come your way. A hot head is just what it sounds like - short tempered, angry, upset, tossed and turned by every little event! This is not good, especially when trying to maintain your equilibrium and keep your life on a steady course of blessings. A Lave Tet can help change this programming. It can "cool" the hot head, spiritually cleanse it from negative associations and bring blessings of the Lwa into a person's life.

lave_03We begin every Lave Tet with a reading, to determine what is going on with the recipient. The Lave Tet is then specially prepared with fresh green herbs from our gardens and special waters. Spring water, coconut water, rain water and sea water may also be added to the mixture. This solution is then poured over the head of the recipient, accompanied by prayers and songs. In addition, we add ingredients that promote connection and facilitate unity with the Lwa - their favorite perfumes, soaps and floral scents. We might even add their favorite rum or whiskey!

A head washing may or may not be done on the "point" of a particular lwa, such as the recipient's Lwa Met Tet (principle lwa , determined through the reading), though commonly, the washing is simply done on the point of the lwa Dambala Wedo.  Dambala is considered the coolest of the cool Lwa, beneficent, kind and loving. There is no one better suited for calming a hot head than Dambala!

lave_02Your reading will indicate if you need to have just your head washed, or if you need a full body immersion. Our full body lave is done in old clothing that you will toss after the service. A kind of “throwing out the old” - what ever it is that is holding you back and keeping all the good things in life from you - and making room for new blessings, inspiration, abundance, health.

After the washing, we wrap the recipient in white and place them in our badji (altar room), to allow them time to meditate and immerse themselves in the scents and trance that inevitably accompanies a lave tet service. We ask recipients to wait 24 hours to bath, so the effects of the bath have time to penetrate and settle within the individual. If the reading indicates it, we might even lave_04ask you wait a couple of days. It all depends on the problem at hand, the solution given and just what the Lwa wish to be done.

CHANGE: Annual Group Lave Tet at Sosyete du Marche, Inc. will not be held this summer. For information on receiving a private Lave, contact Mambo.

Solo Lave Tet given by Mambo Vye Zo and Sosyete du Marche: $500.00 Complete details will be sent upon registration. Please contact Mambo for a date for your solo Lave Tet