African Traditional Religion : Vodun: The Seven African Powers

I live with an Elder who basically cooks "Old School". Both of us are type 2 diabetics. This is a health condition that runs in my Dad's family. I don't have the opportunity to cook my own meals as I used to when I was on my own. I also no longer can meditate and fast on a regular basis. The "rootwork" includes a specific form of detoxing that I can no longer do with any consistency. This also means that I can no longer bathe like I used to. Get the idea?

I moved from Kali for some specific reasons. I was spiritually under attack. My three years in Texas gave me the opportunity to become more centered as well as doing alot of traveling to numerous areas in the Deep South to pay homage to my Ancestors. This was a very important "Pilgrimage" that I undertook.

Moving back to Kali was a necessity, both for personal and familial reasons. However, once I had moved I did not expect to have to return. Falling back into old patterns, old social relationships, not good for a brother with a lower paying job and no health insurance.

For example, I have bonded with some Orisa who like tobacco, some who like rum. I can no longer smoke or drink (high blood pressure or high blood sugar), so that has affected that energy. Same thing as far as dealing with the female aspect. No place to get busy...lol!

Hmmm.... I feel ya, thanks for the reply. There are some things that you can do to get around the last thing you mentioned. For instance, my entry point in African spirituality is the Kemetic spiritual 'system', but I also incorporate Yoruba, and Santeria when the situation calls for it (I have yet to delve into Vodun, but I am studying). Since all of the deities are all the same under different names due to their respective systems, I do not feel restricted to the practices of one particular system. In the Kemetic smoking or drinking hard liquor is not advocated but we do realize there are some articles of the deities that must be used in order to invoke certain energies to establish a certain connection or attain a certain goal. So in your case where you used to smoke or drink and can no longer do so because of health concerns, that doesn't mean that your connection to that deity should be diluted, because there are other ways under other systems to keep that rapport strong. Know what I mean?

Yeah...I know, and those are the aspects and practices I am still trying to figure out...peace...I gotta head out to the worksite.