by Toni PizanieProprietress of Royal Tobacconist
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Wimmin's Circle
Since May Day, I have been commuting between the city and country. This is the month of the wimmin's Y2K survival gathering on which I shared information in an earlier issue. Thus, it has been a month of extremes and learning to understand and appreciate these extremes.
On the land, there are wimmin of age twenty to sixty-eight, long time land dykes to city Lesbians. Most are from Northern states & Canada to a few from the South & West. The gathering is certainly multicultural. Our discussions and workshops which are conducted in a circle have been as diverse as the backgrounds and attitudes of these strong, independent individuals.
Two weeks into the gathering I decided to invite the wimmin to a day in the city. The plan was to tour in the morning, gather at my home for lunch, relax and share our day's experiences and tour again in the late afternoon. I would like to share with you some of my day with these inspiring muses.
A small group decided to go on a Voodoo tour with Priestess Miriam from the Voodoo Temple and Shop on N. Rampart St. I have never been to the resting place of Marie LaVeau's soul. It was time for this native New Orleanian to mix with the tourists and followers of this legendary priestess.
It took Priestess Miriam several minutes to gather together all that we would need for a ceremony that would protect and purify us for this journey into the cemetery. If you have made this trip without the ceremony, beware, I was told.
It was a pleasant walk through Armstrong Park and Congo Square filled with talk of history and ancestors. Holy water was sprinkled on the ground where ancestors both free and slave danced to praise the Creator.
Arriving at the cemetery, we immediately walked to the back gate where our ceremony took place. From a large brown bag, the priestess removed a plate. Upon it, to the dismay of the vegetarian wimmin, was placed a large piece of red meat and yellow corn meal. A glass of whiskey was poured and into it a jigger of bitters (vinegar) and a jigger of oil. Next candles were placed around the plate and glass-one violet, one red and several white. A single white candle was placed on the opposite side of the gate. Smoke from a cigar was puffed into the air around the gate and placed at the side of the plate. It was the ninth day of the month and nine pennies, face up, were also placed around the plate.
Then each of us lighted a candle and spoke silently with our ancestors entreating their protection and guidance. The Priestess lighted the other candles as she prepared the offering.
This is an offering to our ancestors. This is a gift so that we may ask for protection from any evil spirits that might linger in the area. Sticks of incense were placed on both sides of the gate and one was carried to guide us and the spirits of our ancestors who traveled with us on our way through the city of the dead.
Before leaving our altar, Priestess Miriam prayed to our ancestors for protection, for blessings, for insights and for their souls and ours. We gathered in a circle around our altar filling ourselves with the energy of the spirits that joined us and sharing the energy within us. This was so stimulating that gold circles began to appear in the whiskey glass. Priestess Miriam said it was the first time she had seen this perfect gold circle form to the rim of the glass. She believed it was the bond of wimmin's love and energy that so inspired the spirits to give us a sign.
My sweet new friend Dyke said that the circle would never be broken, that, as we moved out into the world, the circle would widen to include us in our life's journey. I believe that she was correct as I know that I will always feel a bond to the wimmin with whom I experienced this ceremony.
We did, of course, wander about seeing the grave sites of several well known priests and priestess. We sprinkled Holy Water at places were Miriam knew it would be needed for our safety. One such place was the Protestant section of the cemetery. I was curious but didn't ask.
As we said our goodbyes back at the voodoo shop, we were invited to join the drumming service that same evening at the Temple. Dyke had traveled from New Mexico with her drum just in case the invitation would be forthcoming. There was no way I was going to miss this after spending several hours with the gentle spirited Priestess Miriam. There is a specialness about her that I can feel yet not explain.
There simply is not enough space available here to tell you about our noon meal with the entire group and the drumming service. I will save those events for another article as it was a very special time and one that I believe we will all treasure. For those who had lived on the land for months, it should be said that I never realized how wonderful a flushing toilet and hot water would be to them. What I take for granted is a gift to them and they were very appreciative.
In the coming week, I will be going back again to share the joys and hardships of community land living. It is not easy on this jumbo petit body. Yet my heart is filled with expectation and wonder. That should get me through most of the week. To assist me, I am thinking of taking a bottle of Hot Damn and a box of Tension Tamer herb tea. That should ease the pain of roughing it long enough for me to get some sleep and dream of the unbroken circle.
Oh, you'd like to know more about the Voodoo Temple? It is located at 828 N. Rampart St. between Wolfendale's and TT's. If you'd rather, it is between Hula Mae's and Gay Mart. You can call Priestess Miriam at 504.522.9627. There is a drumming/dancing/singing service every Thurs. at 7:30pm.
