The Agua Cedito Podcast Show
Welcome to the Agua Cedito Podcast Show
This podcast show is powered by the grace of Almighty God Creator Nana Buluku, Mawu, and Lisa, powered by the grace of the divine saints, spirits, and our collective ancestors of earth, water, fire, and air in the East, West, North, and South, both known and unknown.
We invite you to explore Haitian Vodou from a decolonized lens through education, empowerment, and enlightenment. Haitian Vodou is not just a religion, not just a spiritual practice, it is a way of life.
Questions or comments for the show?
Email us at aguacedito@gmail.com
Ayibobo!
Agua Cedito Podcast wins 3 Spotify Awards
2025 Marathon Show Award, fans listened to Agua Cedito longer than 87% of all other podcast shows on Spotify.
2025 Instant Hit Show Award, our debut season was more popular than 92% of all other new shows on Spotify.
2025 Most Shared Show Award, we received more shares than 91% of all other shows on Spotify. Ayibobo!
Season 2 "Lovin on the Lwas" Show Notes
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
In this episode, we honor the sacred spaces that ground Haitian Vodou and shape how spiritual life is practiced, protected, and passed down. We begin with an overview of sacred spaces where Vodou ceremonies take place, introducing listeners to key terms such as the peristyle, bitasyon, demanbre, ounfo, ogatwa, and djevo, and explaining what each space represents within the tradition.
From there, we move into a focused discussion on Lwa Danti and how the Lwa Danti presence is rooted in ancestral homelands across Haiti.
We then examine the reality of abandoned, displaced, or inaccessible sacred spaces in Vodou, considering the historical, political, and social forces that have led to their loss or disruption. This part of the conversation acknowledges the emotional and spiritual impact of separation from one’s bitasyon and ceremonial lineage. We close the episode by offering perspectives for those who feel called to Vodou but do not know their ancestral bitasyon or are unsure where to begin.
Rather than presenting a single path, we reflect on intention, respect, patience, and relationship as starting points, inviting listeners to consider how Vodou continues to meet people where they are while remaining rooted in land, community, and lineage.
Keywords: Haitian Vodou, Vodou sacred spaces, Vodou peristyle, Vodou ounfo, Vodou bitasyon, Vodou djevo, Vodou ogatwa, Vodou demanbre, Haitian spiritual traditions, African diaspora religions, ancestral land and Vodou, Vodou lineage and initiation, Lwa Danti, Danti Vodou, Haitian ancestors and spirituality, Vodou ceremonial spaces, Vodou sacred geography, abandoned sacred spaces in Vodou, Vodou temples and ritual sites, learning Haitian Vodou, beginning Vodou practice, Vodou for the diaspora, reconnecting with ancestral spirituality, Vodou history and culture, Vodou religion explained, Vodou and ancestral memory, Haitian religious traditions, African-derived religions in the Caribbean.
Episode 47: Honoring the Arawak Taíno: Indigenous Roots and Their Connection to Haitian Vodou
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
In this episode, we honor the Arawak Taíno and explore their deep Indigenous roots and lasting connection to Haitian Vodou. We begin by providing an overview of Taíno life on the island of Quisqueya before enslavement and colonization, grounding the conversation in who the Taíno were as a people, how they lived, and how they related to the land. We also discuss how the Arawak Taíno supported enslaved Africans before, during, and after the Haitian Revolution, offering knowledge of the land, survival strategies, and spiritual exchange that shaped Haiti’s future.
From there, we move into a high-level discussion of Taíno spirituality, introducing listeners to core spiritual concepts and some of the Taíno spirits, often referred to as Zemis. We explore how Taíno spiritual worldviews centered nature, ancestors, land, water, and sacred objects, and how these beliefs continued to live on even after genocide and displacement.
We then examine how Taíno spirituality informed and continues to shape Haitian Vodou, especially through shared reverence for land, stones, ancestors, sacred sites, and spirit intermediaries.
We close the episode by discussing comparable deities and spiritual forces in Haitian Vodou and other world religions that mirror the roles and functions of the Taíno Zemis, helping listeners understand these connections without collapsing or erasing cultural distinctions.
This episode is an invitation to remember, honor, and speak the truth about Indigenous presence, survival, and spiritual legacy in Haiti, and to better understand how Haitian Vodou carries the memory of the land and its first peoples.
Keywords: Arawak Taíno, Taíno spirituality, Indigenous Haiti, Quisqueya history, Taíno life before colonization, Indigenous Caribbean spirituality, Taíno Zemis, Haitian Vodou origins, Indigenous influence on Haitian Vodou, African and Indigenous spiritual exchange, Haitian Revolution and Taíno support, Taíno and African resistance, land spirits in Haitian Vodou, ancestral spirituality Haiti, Caribbean Indigenous religion, Vodou cosmology, Indigenous roots of Vodou, Haitian spirituality podcast, African diasporic spirituality, honoring Indigenous ancestors.
Episode 46: Honoring Papa Pye, Pye Family, and Importance of Northern Haiti in Vodou
Episode 48: Honoring Lwa Danti, the Ancestral Spirits of Homelands & Sacred Spaces of Haitian Vodou
Episode 46: Honoring Papa Pye, Pye Family, and Importance of Northern Haiti in Vodou
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Northern Haiti and explore why this region is so spiritually significant within Haitian Vodou. Northern Haiti holds unique ancestral lineages, ritual practices, and spiritual expressions that continue to shape Vodou as it is practiced today. We begin by grounding the conversation in the history, land, and spiritual memory of the North, and why its Vodou traditions carry distinct meaning and power.
From there, we deconstruct the concept of a pye (stone) including what it represents spiritually, how it functions in Vodou practice, and why stones are understood as living spiritual anchors rather than symbolic objects. This understanding leads us into a discussion of the Pye family of Lwas, where we explore how these spirits are connected to land, ancestry, stability, and place.
We then expand the conversation to include other Northern Haitian Lwas, highlighting nuances in Vodou that are specific to the Northern Haitian experience and how regional expression shapes spiritual practice. As part of this exploration, we introduce Papa Pye, sharing who he is, where he comes from, and what his energetic signature feels like when he is present or working in someone’s life.
We close the episode by breaking down the different expressions within the Pye escort, helping listeners understand how one spiritual family can hold multiple energies, roles, and responsibilities while still remaining deeply connected to land, lineage, and ancestral continuity.
This episode is ideal for listeners who want a deeper, place-based understanding of Haitian Vodou, ancestral land spirits, and the spiritual importance of Northern Haiti.
Keywords: Northern Haiti Vodou, Northern Haitian Vodou traditions, Haitian Vodou spirits, Pye stone Vodou, pye meaning in Vodou, Pye family of lwas, land spirits in Haitian Vodou, Papa Pierre lwa, Northern Haitian lwas, Vodou cosmology, ancestral stones Vodou, African diasporic spirituality, Haitian spirituality, Vodou regional traditions, Vodou ancestral land spirits, Pye escort lwas, Haitian Vodou podcast.
Season 2 "Lovin on the Lwas" Show Notes
Episode 45: Honoring and Loving on the Fiercely Elegant Rada Female Spirits of Haitian Vodou
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
In this episode, we turn our attention to the female Lwas of the Rada nanchon and explore the calm, steady, and deeply nurturing energy they bring to Haitian Vodou.
We begin the conversation with an overview of the Rada female spirits as a whole, discussing their shared energetic signature, often associated with balance, refinement, patience, emotional regulation, healing, and ancestral continuity. These spirits represent stability, tradition, and the kind of spiritual power that sustains families and communities over time.
From there, we introduce listeners to beloved Metrès Lwas of the Rada nanchon that we haven’t yet covered on the podcast. In this episode, we will discuss Metrès Filomiz Pye, Mademoiselle Charlotte, Mambo Lovana, Metrès Sévérine, Médan Létan, Cécile, Anaïs Pyé, Metrès Dayila, and Manzè Marie. Where information is available, we share who they are, how they are understood within Vodou practice, and what their individual energetic signatures feel like, whether that shows up as gentleness, discipline, elegance, quiet authority, or protective care.
This episode is an invitation to learn about the lesser-discussed but deeply respected Rada female spirits, and to appreciate the many ways feminine spiritual leadership shows up in Haitian Vodou beyond the more widely known names. Whether you’re expanding your knowledge of Vodou, deepening your spiritual practice, or simply curious about the diversity of the Lwa, this conversation offers a grounded and respectful introduction to these beautiful and refined spirits.
Keywords: Haitian Vodou spirits, female lwas in Vodou, Rada female lwas, Rada nanchon, Haitian spirituality, Vodou feminine spirits, African diasporic spirituality, Vodou cosmology, Rada lwa energy, Vodou ancestral traditions, Metres lwas, Rada spirits meaning, gentle lwa energy, refined lwa spirits, Haitian Vodou podcast, Metres Philomise, Mademoiselle Charlotte Vodou, Mambo Lovana, Metres Severine, Medan Letan, Cecile Vodou lwa, Anais Pye, Metres Dayila, Manze Marie.
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
In this grounding and heart-centered episode, we explore the importance of the grandmother archetype in Haitian Vodou cosmology and why elder spiritual energy holds such a powerful role in healing, protection, and ancestral memory. The grandmother spirits, often called the Grann Lwas, represent wisdom earned through experience, care rooted in discipline, and love that protects while teaching hard truths.
We begin the conversation by breaking down what the grandmother archetype means in Vodou and how it reflects community leadership, spiritual authority, and ancestral continuity. From there, we introduce you to some of our beloved grandmother Lwas, discussing their origins, personalities, and energetic signatures, and how each one shows up differently to guide, correct, heal, and protect.
We then widen the lens and explore comparable grandmother and elder deities across world religions, highlighting how cultures around the world honor elder feminine wisdom while still centering the unique role of the Grann Lwas in Haitian Vodou.
We close the episode by discussing what it can mean when grandmother energy begins surfacing in your life, often during times when you are being called to slow down, listen more deeply, set stronger boundaries, heal ancestral wounds, or step into a role of care, leadership, or spiritual maturity.
Whether you are learning about Haitian Vodou, exploring African diasporic spirituality, or feeling drawn to ancestral and elder wisdom, this episode offers a warm, accessible introduction to the spirits who remind us that guidance, correction, and love can exist at the same time.
Keywords: grandmother lwas, grann lwas, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou elder spirits, grandmother archetype in Vodou, Haitian spirituality, African diaspora religion, ancestral wisdom Vodou, Vodou healing spirits, elder feminine energy, Vodou cosmology, grandmother deities across cultures, ancestral protection spirits, spiritual maturity and ancestors, honoring the grandmother spirits.
Music Credit
Episode 43: Honoring Papa Ogou: Lwa of War, Power, and Protection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 44: Loving on The Grandmother Lwas of Haitian Vodou: Elders, Healers, and Ancestral Wisdom
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
In this powerful episode, we honor Papa Ogou, the Lwa of war, fire, iron, power, and protection in Haitian Vodou. Papa Ogou represents strength with purpose, disciplined force, and the spiritual power needed to defend, build, and liberate. Papa Ogou’s energy is all about power, responsibility, boundaries, and readiness.
We begin the conversation by exploring the spiritual importance of metal and iron in Haitian Vodou cosmology, and why these elements are central to understanding
Papa Ogou’s role as a warrior, protector, and builder of civilization. From there, we briefly ground the discussion in key concepts from Yoruba cosmology, which is essential for understanding the Ogou Lwas and their deeper spiritual roots.
Next, we trace Papa Ogou’s Yoruba origins, then move into his development and presence in Haitian Vodou, including his energetic signature, personality, and sacred responsibilities. We also discuss Papa Ogou’s historical and spiritual role in the Haitian Revolution, highlighting how his energy has long been associated with liberation, strategy, and collective defense.
We then introduce listeners to the Nago nanchon, breaking down the different expressions within this powerful family of Lwas and how Ogou energy shows up in multiple forms of discipline, fiery, protective, strategic, and commanding. From there, we widen the lens and explore comparable warrior and iron deities across world religions, drawing thoughtful connections while honoring Ogou’s distinct cultural identity.
We close the episode by sharing what it can mean when Papa Ogou’s energy begins surfacing in your life, often during moments that call for courage, boundary-setting, leadership, justice, or decisive action.
This episode invites you to reflect on how strength, protection, and integrity show up in your spiritual and everyday life.
Whether you are learning about Haitian Vodou, exploring African diasporic spirituality, or deepening your relationship with the Ogou Lwas, this conversation offers grounding, context, and clarity around one of Vodou’s most powerful and respected spirits.
Keywords: Papa Ogou, Ogou lwa, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou warrior lwa, iron and metal in Vodou, Ogou Yoruba origins, Nago nanchon, Ogou in the Haitian Revolution, Vodou protection spirits, African diaspora religion, Vodou cosmology, Yoruba and Vodou connections, warrior deities across cultures, Ogou energetic signature, Haitian spirituality, lwa of war and protection, honoring the lwa.
Music Credit
Ogou Ashade - Ayibobo Music Group
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
In the last episode of the calendar year, we honor Papa Simbi, the Lwa of magi, sacred knowledge, communications, and spiritual power in Haitian Vodou, with special attention to Simbi Makaya and the spiritual importance of Makaya season.
We begin the conversation by unpacking the importance of the word “magi” in Vodou. From there, we explore the spiritual significance of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and springs, and discuss the key differences between freshwater and saltwater bodies of water and why it’s important to the Simbi lwas.
Next, we dive into who Papa Simbi is and his origins, tracing how he functions as a guardian of esoteric knowledge, crossroads, and unseen pathways. We then break down the Simbi Escort’s energetic signature, highlighting the many expressions of Simbi energy, cool, intelligent, protective, mysterious, and deeply connected to nature and ancestral wisdom.
We also hold an important conversation about Simbi Makaya and why Makaya season is treated with heightened care, preparation, and respect in Haitian Vodou.
This portion of the episode helps listeners understand the seriousness, depth, and spiritual intensity associated with Makaya work and how its a uniquely Haitian tradition.
From there, we widen the lens and compare Papa Simbi to similar water, magic, and knowledge deities across world religions, showing how different cultures have understood and honored comparable spiritual forces.
We close the episode by discussing what it means when Papa Simbi’s energy begins surfacing in your life, often through dreams, intuition, encounters with water, moments of spiritual awakening, or calls toward deeper responsibility and ethical use of power.
Whether you’re new to Haitian Vodou, learning about Simbi Lwa, or exploring African diasporic spirituality, this episode offers a grounded, respectful, and illuminating look at one of Vodou’s most complex and revered spirits.
Keywords: Papa Simbi, Simbi Makaya, Makaya season, Haitian Vodou spirits, Simbi lwa, Vodou magi, Vodou water spirits, freshwater and saltwater in Vodou, rivers and lakes in Vodou, African diaspora spirituality, Vodou magic and knowledge, Simbi Escort, Makaya traditions, Haitian spirituality, crossroads spirits, water deities across cultures, loving on the lwa.
Music Credit
Episode 41: Loving on Manbo Klemezin Klermey: Lwa of Purification, Light, & Spiritual Clarity
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
Episode 41: Loving on Manbo Klemezin Klermey: Lwa of Purification, Light, & Spiritual Clarity
In this illuminating episode, we honor Manbo Klemezin Klermey, the powerful Lwa of purification, spiritual light, and clarity in Haitian Vodou. Known for clearing confusion, lifting spiritual heaviness, and restoring balance, Manbo Klemezin Klermey teaches that true healing begins with honesty, cleansing, and seeing things as they really are.
We discuss who Manbo Klemezin Klermey is, where she comes from, and how her energy shows up in Vodou practice and everyday life. This conversation breaks down her energetic signature, how she supports spiritual renewal, protection, and decision-making. We also discuss why purification in Vodou is not about punishment, but about alignment, care, and spiritual hygiene.
This episode invites listeners to reflect on what it means when Manbo Klemezin Klermey’s energy begins to surface in their lives, often during moments of transition, emotional clearing, truth-telling, and personal awakening.
Whether you are deepening your Vodou practice, exploring African diasporic spirituality, or seeking spiritual clarity and renewal, this episode offers an accessible and culturally grounded introduction to one of Vodou’s most luminous Lwas.
Keywords: Manbo Klemezin Klermey, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou purification lwa, lwa of light and clarity, Vodou cleansing rituals, spiritual purification in Vodou, Haitian spirituality, African diaspora religion, Vodou spiritual hygiene, illumination in Vodou, Manbo Klemezin Klermey meaning, Vodou healing spirits, clarity and protection lwa, Haitian cultural traditions, loving on the lwa.
Music Credit
Klemerzinn - Ayibobo Music Group
Episode 40: Honoring Metres Ezili Freda and the Ezili Escort of Love
Episode 42: Loving on Papa Simbi, the Lwa of Magic, Simbi Makaya, & the Importance of Makaya Season
Episode 41: Loving on Manbo Klemezin Klermey: Lwa of Purification, Light, & Spiritual Clarity
In this episode, we honor Metrès Ezili Freda, the Lwa of love, beauty, luxury, emotional healing, and the highest forms of feminine power in Haitian Vodou. We explore who Ezili Freda is, what she represents, and how her presence invites us to deepen our relationship with tenderness, self-worth, desire, and emotional truth.
We begin by introducing a brand-new segment of the show called “Dear Konnen Ki Fé,” where we answer listeners' most commonly asked questions about the podcast.
From there, we shift into an overview of the Erzili Escort of Lwas, the lwas of love in all human expressions within Haitian Vodou.
We explore who Metrès Ezili Freda truly is, her origins, her history, and her purpose in the Vodou tradition. We decolonize Freda in this episode, breaking down seven major misconceptions about her. As beloved as she is, Freda is often misunderstood, and today we bring clarity to her authentic role deities across world religions and the real meaning of her energetic signature, a blend of softness, heartbreak, luxury, desire, wealth, self-love, beauty, emotional intelligence, and high spiritual standards.
Next, we compare Freda with other love and beauty deities across world religions, showing both the similarities and the unique qualities that make her a distinctly Haitian, deeply diasporic spirit. We close today’s conversation by exploring what it means when Metrès Freda’s energy begins to surface in your life.
Whether you’re new to Haitian Vodou, or building a relationship with the Ezili spirits, or seeking healing in matters of the heart, this episode offers a grounded, accessible, and empowering look at one of Vodou’s most cherished Lwas.
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Podcast episode graphic credit: The amazing Dr. Manbo Charlene Desir, visualized as Metres Ezili Freda by the talented Vodou Renaissance.
Keywords: Ezili Freda, Metres Ezili, Ezili spirits, Ezili Escort of Love, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou love goddess, Vodou feminine spirits, Haitian spirituality, African diaspora religion, Ezili Freda meaning, love and healing in Vodou, spiritual self-love, Vodou emotional healing, Haitian cultural traditions, lwa of beauty and love, Ezili in Haitian Vodou.
Music Credit
Se Zekle Tanyan- Societé Jour M'alomgeFóc Nan Point Dieu Devant
Episode 39: Honoring Met Agaou: Lwa of Thunder, Earthquakes, and Storms in Haitian Vodou
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
In this episode, we honor and love on Met Agaou, the fierce Lwa of thunder, earthquakes, storms, and raw elemental force in Haitian Vodou.
We begin by deconstructing the spiritual significance of storms and earthquakes, examining what these natural forces symbolize within Vodou cosmology and how they reflect Met Agaou’s intense power to shake, cleanse, and transform the world around us.
We then explore Met Agaou’s origins, history, and energetic signature, examining how his presence has been understood and honored across generations.
We then widen the lens to compare Agaou with similar storm and thunder deities across world religions, highlighting the shared human understanding of powerful natural forces and the spiritual beings associated with them.
We wrap up the conversation by discussing what it can mean when Met Agaou’s energy begins surfacing in your life, whether through emotional storms, significant change, heightened pressure, or moments that demand profound courage, grounding, and truth.
This episode offers a grounded, accessible look at one of Vodou’s most transformative Lwa and invites listeners to see storms as pathways to clarity and renewal.
Whether you’re exploring Haitian Vodou, learning about Vodou spirits, or deepening your connection to African diasporic spirituality, this conversation brings insight, context, and heart to the mystery of Met Agaou.
Keywords: Met Agaou, Agaou lwa, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou storm spirits, thunder lwa, earthquake lwa, storms in Vodou cosmology, Haitian spirituality, African diaspora religion, elemental spirits in Vodou, Agaou meaning, Vodou transformation, spiritual significance of storms, Haitian cultural traditions, lwa of strength and storms, thunder deities across religions, and comparative spirituality.
Music Credit
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
In this episode, we celebrate and love on Kouzen and Kouzine, two popular Lwas in Haitian Vodou who embody the dignity of work, the energy of the marketplace, and the sacred relationship between people and the agricultural land.
Kouzen and Kouzine remind us that work is community, work is survival, and work is sacred. We also honor Kouzine and the marketplace marchans (Haitian female merchants), who are a staple in Haitian culture.
Kouzen and Kouzine’s energy collectively shows up in the everyday moments, such as planting seeds, tending the fields, selling in the market, feeding families, building networks, and keeping culture alive through daily effort.
This episode invites you to see the spiritual power hidden in ordinary tasks, the wisdom of those who work the land, and the strength found in community connections.
Whether you’re deepening your Vodou practice or simply curious about African diasporic spirituality, this conversation offers a look at the spirits who remind us that every seed planted, every tool lifted, and every market exchange carries spiritual meaning.
Keywords: Kouzen Zaka, Azaka Mede, Kouzine lwa, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou marketplace spirits, spirits of work in Haitian Vodou, African diaspora religion, Vodou agricultural spirits, Kouzen and Kouzine meaning, Haitian rural spirituality, Vodou community traditions, Haitian market culture, Vodou land spirits, everyday magic in Vodou, Haitian spirituality podcast, honoring the lwa
Music Credit
Juba - Drummers of Absolutement Guinin
Episode 37: Honoring Bossou, the Bull Spirit of Brute Force and Protection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 38: Honoring Kouzen & Kouzine in Haitian Vodou: Spirits of Work, Marketplace, and the Land
Episode 37: Honoring Bossou, the Bull Spirit of Brute Force and Protection in Haitian Vodou
In this powerful episode, we pay tribute to Bossou, the fierce bull spirit of strength, protection, and raw ancestral force in Haitian Vodou.
Known for his fiery presence and unstoppable energy, Bossou embodies the type of spiritual power that clears obstacles, guards communities, and fuels courage in moments when life demands resilience.
We explore Bossou’s origins, symbols, and sacred role, unpacking why he is revered as a warrior lwa of royal lineage and a source of unshakable grounding for practitioners.
Whether you’re curious about Vodou spirits, exploring African diasporic traditions, or seeking a deeper understanding of the lwas, this episode invites you to connect with Bossou’s unapologetic power and the lessons he brings about survival, strength, and sacred defense.
Keywords: Bossou Haitian Vodou, Bossou lwa, bull spirit in Vodou, Haitian Vodou spirits, Vodou warrior lwa, Vodou protection spirits, African diaspora religion, Bossou meaning, Haitian Vodou mythology, protection in Vodou, brute force lwa, ancestral warrior spirits, Vodou fire spirits, Bossou symbolism, Tegbessou, Tegbossou, Haitian spiritual traditions, Vodou guardian spirits, strength and protection lwa, Haitian cultural spirituality, Vodou rituals and spirits, Bossou in Dahomey traditions.
Music Credit
Episode 36: Loving on Met Agwe and Manbo La Sirene: Haitian Vodou’s Water Spirits
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
Episode 37: Honoring Bossou, the Bull Spirit of Brute Force and Protection in Haitian Vodou
In this episode, we honor and love the formidable Met Agwe and his wife, the beautiful Manbo La Sirene, two powerful water spirits (Lwa) who rule the oceans, guide sailors, and bring abundance.
We will explore the sacred partnership between Agwe, the naval captain of the sea, and La Sirene, the lwa of wealth, intuitive knowledge, and spiritual transformation.
We deconstruct how serving these Vodou water spirits can bring emotional healing, creativity, and spiritual clarity. Learn what their symbols represent, how they appear in ceremonies, and why they remain central to Haitian spiritual traditions today.
Whether you’re curious about Vodou lwa, exploring African diasporic spirituality, or simply drawn to the call of the sea, this episode invites you to experience the soothing, powerful presence of Met Agwe and Manbo La Sirene.
Keywords: Haitian Vodou water spirits, Met Agwe Vodou, La Sirene Vodou, Vodou lwa, Haitian spirituality, Vodou ocean spirits, African diaspora religion, Met Agwe and La Sirene meaning, Vodou ritual water spirits, Haitian mermaid spirit, Agwe and La Sirene mythology, spiritual healing with water, Caribbean spirituality, Vodou magic and ocean, Haitian culture and spirituality, Vodou traditions, water spirit worship, ocean magic in Vodou, Haitian mysticism, sea spirits in Vodou
Music Credit
Episode 35: 10 Reasons You’re Not Connecting with the Lwas and How to Fix It
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
In this midseason bonus episode, we explore what it really means to connect with the lwas, the powerful spirits of Haitian Vodou who guide, protect, and teach us.
Many people may call on the Lwas but at time, may not feel anything in return. Why? We break down 10 real reasons you might not be connecting with the Lwas. We will also share simple, heart-centered ways to rebuild that relationship.
Our goal with this episode is to decolonize our collective understanding of Vodou spirituality, healing from misinformation, and remembering that Vodou is about relationships, respect, and reciprocity.
Whether you’re a lifelong practitioner, a student of Haitian Vodou, or those interested in spirituality or exploring their ancestral roots, this conversation will help you view the Lwas and Vodou practice in a more grounded and empowered way.
In this episode, we also introduce Pawol Pouvwa (Words of power), a new segment of the show that focuses on deconstructing a key term in Haitian Vodou cosmology.
Keywords: Haitian Vodou podcast, Lwa connection tips,Haitian spirituality, how to connect with the Lwas, Vodou spirituality explained, reconnect with the Lwas, decolonizing spirituality
Music Credits
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
Episode 34: Loving on Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, Ancestral Wisdom in Haitian Vodou
In this heartfelt episode, we honor Met Agasou and Grann Silibo, two powerful Lwas who embody the strength, lineage, and sacred continuity of Haitian Vodou.
Known as guardians of ancestry and keepers of royal spiritual heritage, Met Agasou and Grann Silibo remind us that our roots are living forces that guide, protect, and empower us through every generation.
Join us as we explore the origins, symbols, and spiritual lessons of these revered spirits, tracing their journey from ancient Dahomey traditions to the heart of Haiti’s Vodou temples.
We uncover how loving and serving these Lwas can reconnect us to our ancestral wisdom, divine purpose, and collective memory.
This episode will inspire you to honor the power of bloodline, memory, and devotion in your own spiritual path, regardless of the challenges you may face in your own life.
Music Credits
Season 2 "Lovin on the Lwas" Show Notes
Episode 33: Exploring the Mysteries of Milokan: How Lwas Unite in Vodou
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
What is Milokan in Haitian Vodou? In this episode, we explore Milokan/Minokan, one of the most profound and sacred concepts in Haitian Vodou. We deconstruct what Milokan means and how it represents the balance of the four cosmic elements: earth, water, fire, and air, but Milokan represents so much more.
We unpack how it serves as a spiritual map guiding practitioners toward harmony between the physical and metaphysical worlds.
Join us as we delve into how the Lwas, or divine spirits, unite within the framework of Milokan to maintain universal order and foster human connection to the divine. Discover the timeless wisdom hidden within the concept of Milokan.
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
In this episode, we’re loving on Papa Sobo and Bade, the powerful brother lwas of thunder, lightning, and sacred strength in Haitian Vodou.
Known for their vibrant flags, electric energy, and deep sense of spiritual justice, Sobo and Bade remind us that power doesn’t have to mean domination; it can mean clarity, protection, and alignment with truth.
From the crack of thunder to the flutter of a Vodou flag, we’ll unpack how military generals Sobo and Bade teach us to channel energy with purpose to ground lightning and thunder into wisdom.
Whether you’re a practitioner, a student of spirit, or simply curious about Haitian Vodou beyond the colonial lens, this episode invites you to listen, learn, and feel the heartbeat of the storm.
Episode 31: Papa Danbala and Ayida Wedo, the Divine Serpent Spirits of Haitian Vodou
Episode 32: Loving on Sobo and Bade: The Brother Spirits of Thunder, Lightning, Flags, & Power
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
In this episode, we delve into the sacred union of Papa Danbala and Ayida Wedo, the divine serpent spirits that embody creation, balance, and harmony in Haitian Vodou.
Discover how Papa Danbala’s pure white serpent energy brings wisdom, peace, and life force, while Ayida Wedo’s rainbow power connects the heavens and the earth.
Together, they form the cosmic bridge between spirit and matter, sky and water, masculine and feminine, creation and renewal. We’ll look at what these ancient spirits can teach us today about healing, balance, and divine connection.
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
In this episode, we honor and love on the formidable Papa Loko and Manbo Ayizan, the first priest and priestess who hold the roots of Vodou’s sacred knowledge.
We journey beyond colonial narratives to remember them as guardians of wisdom, healing, and initiation. Papa Loko and Manbo Ayizan represent the spiritual bridge between nature, community, and ceremony.
Through reflection, we explore how their legacy continues to guide our approach to learning, teaching, and serving within Haitian Vodou today.
Episode 29: The Divine Twins of Vodou: Exploring the Mysteries of Marassa
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
Episode 29: The Divine Twins of Vodou: Exploring the Mysteries of Marassa
In Haitian Vodou, the Divine Twins, known as the Marassa, are among the most mysterious and powerful lwa. Don’t let their image as children fool you; the Marassa lwas are older than space and time in and of themselves.
The Marassa represents paradoxical duality, balance, and the profound wisdom of the cosmos.
Discover why the Marassa are considered “the first children of God,” how they bridge the spiritual and material worlds, and what lessons they hold about community, reciprocity, and harmony.
Whether you’re new to Vodou or deepening your spiritual path, this conversation will open a window into the beauty and complexity of the Marassa lwa, spirits who remind us that in pairs, we find power, and in balance, we find truth.
Episode 28: The Spirit That Drums: Honoring Hountor in Haitian Vodou
Episode 30: Honoring Papa Loko & Manbo Ayizan, First Priest & Priestess Lwas of Vodou
Episode 29: The Divine Twins of Vodou: Exploring the Mysteries of Marassa
In this episode, we explore, honor, and love on Hountor, the powerful lwa (spirit) of the drums, and uncover how drumming is more than music.
Hountor is a facilitator of prayer and communication, serving as a bridge between the seen and unseen.
We discuss how Hountor embodies rhythm as divine language, and share a historical perspective on why these ancestral sounds continue to echo in Haitian culture today.
From ritual invocations to the living energy of the drum, discover how drumming in Haitian Vodou awakens spirit and the community.
Episode 27: Papa Legba and Gran Chemin - The Sacred Road and Gate to Haitian Vodou
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 27: Papa Legba and Gran Chemin - The Sacred Road and Gate to Haitian Vodou
In this episode, we explore Gran Chemin, the “Great Road” as well as the role of Papa Legba in Haitian Vodou.
We talk about how Papa Legba opens the way for communication between humans and the spirit world, and why Gran Chemin is seen as the path of life and destiny.
We dive into each of their energetic signatures, how they compare to other similar deities across world religions, and what it means to see these sacred divinities surface in your life.
Episode 26: Who Is Bondye? The Role of God in Haitian Vodou
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 27: Papa Legba and Gran Chemin - The Sacred Road and Gate to Haitian Vodou
Who is Bondye? In this episode, we explore the Supreme Creator in Haitian Vodou, moving beyond stereotypes to uncover the true role of God in this faith tradition.
The creole word “Bondye” derives from the French word “Bon Dieu", meaning “Good God” is not the distant figure often misrepresented in Western narratives. Instead, Bondye is understood as the universal creator, source of life, and sacred presence that underpins Vodou cosmology.
Listeners will gain a deeper, decolonized understanding of the role of Bondye as the supreme yet transcendent God in Vodou and how Vodou honors Bondye alongside the lwa (spirits) who guide daily life.
Whether you’re new to Haitian Vodou or seeking a more authentic perspective, this episode invites you to reimagine God through the lens of the Haitian cosmovision.
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
In this opening episode of Season Two, we dive into the heart of Haitian Vodou by introducing our season theme, loving on the Lwas. The Lwas are divine spirits who guide, protect, and walk with us.
Lwas are central to Vodou, but building a meaningful connection with them requires more than ritual alone.
We’ll explore what it means to truly honor and understand these powerful spirits, offering practical insights into creating authentic bonds with the Lwas in everyday life.
From learning their stories and symbols to cultivating respect, reciprocity, and devotion, this episode provides listeners with pathways to deepen their spiritual connection.
Whether you’re new to Haitian Vodou or seeking to expand your relationship with the Lwas, this conversation will help you move beyond formality and step into a practice rooted in intimacy, reverence, and love.
Episode 24: Recognizing & Breaking Generational Curses in Haitian Vodou
Episode 24: Recognizing & Breaking Generational Curses in Haitian Vodou
Episode 25: Season Two Premiere - Loving on the Lwas: Deepening Your Connection in Haitian Vodou
In our last pre-season episode, we discuss generational curses in Haitian Vodou. Generational curses are often misunderstood and stigmatized,especially when viewed through a Westernized colonial lens. In this episode, we explore how generational curses are understood in Haitian Vodou and how to identify patterns of hardship, illness, and trauma passed down through families.
We unpack the spiritual layers of these experiences and reveal how Vodou offers pathways for healing, liberation, and reconnection with ancestral power.
Whether you’re a practitioner, curious learner, or someone navigating your own family’s patterns, this conversation will deepen your understanding of generational curses from a Haitian Vodou cosmological perspective and its wisdom for intergenerational healing.
Episode 23: Healing the Self: Shadow Work in Haitian Vodou
Episode 24: Recognizing & Breaking Generational Curses in Haitian Vodou
Episode 22: Understanding the Soul in Haitian Vodou – Part I
In this pre-season episode, we journey into the transformative practice of shadow work within Haitian Vodou, a spiritual path that invites us to face, honor, and heal the parts of ourselves we often hide.
Rooted in ancestral wisdom and community care, Vodou cosmology approaches shadow work not as a solitary struggle, but as a sacred process of restoring balance between the seen and unseen, the personal and collective.
Episode 22: Understanding the Soul in Haitian Vodou – Part I
Episode 24: Recognizing & Breaking Generational Curses in Haitian Vodou
Episode 22: Understanding the Soul in Haitian Vodou – Part I
In this pre-season episode, we’ll dive into how Haitian Vodou understands the soul’s multiple parts, its relationship to the ancestors, and its role in community, healing, and resistance. Haitian Vodou teaches that the soul is a sacred, complex union of five parts:
- Ko Kadav: the physical body, vessel for the soul’s journey
- Gwo Bon Anj: the great good angel, your spiritual life force
- Ti Bon Anj: the little good angel, keeper of your personality, memories, and consciousness
- Nanm: the eternal essence that connects you to the ancestors
- Zetwal: your guiding star, destiny, and spiritual blueprint
In this episode, we explore how the different parts of the soul work together to shape your identity, memory, and life purpose.
Season 1 "Decolonizing Vodou 101" Show Notes
Episode 21: Season 1 Finale Part III of III - The Future of Haitian Vodou is Ancestral
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
Episode 21: Season 1 Finale Part III of III - The Future of Haitian Vodou is Ancestral
This visionary episode reimagines Haitian Vodou as a global force for liberation, healing, and collective power. Journey with us into a future where ancestral wisdom leads to artistic creativity, technological innovation, and a recognized spiritual practice that fuels resistance.
Haitian Vodou 2.0 breaks colonial myths and emerges as a celebrated world religion rooted in dignity, ecology, and justice for all.
Please tune in and witness the rise of a sacred future where the spirits walk with us toward freedom.
Episode 20: Season 1 Finale Part II of III: The Ceremony Ends, the Magic Remains
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
Episode 21: Season 1 Finale Part III of III - The Future of Haitian Vodou is Ancestral
In this powerful episode of Agua Cedito, we dive deep into a full season one recap, offering an intimate look behind the scenes of our podcast journey.
We celebrate the wisdom and energy of our amazing listener community, reflect on key lessons learned during production, and provide analysis of each episode's journey. Plus, get an exciting sneak peek at what’s coming for season two as we continue to uplift Haitian Vodou traditions through a decolonial lens.
Join us as we honor the spirits, the ancestors, and the evolving path of Agua Cedito.
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
In this episode, part one of our three-part season finale, we explore what it truly means to be called to Haitian Vodou from a place of reverence, ancestral connection, and decolonial reclamation. This is not a journey into spectacle or fear, but an honoring of spirit, lineage, and the profound wisdom carried through generations. We reflect on the spiritual fundamentals that every beginner should know, grounding truths often lost in translation due to common misconceptions and colonial misrepresentations of the tradition.
Through story, insight, and ancestral remembrance, we open space for those who feel the quiet pull or the loud call toward Vodou but may not know where or how to begin. This episode is a guidepost for cultivating respectful curiosity, discerning spiritual messages, and understanding the sacred responsibility of walking this path. Vodou is a living, breathing tradition rooted in healing, community, and purpose.
Whether returning to your roots or arriving with reverence, your call may already echo through dreams, intuition, and synchronicity.
Episode 18: Ayibobo and Other Sacred Affirmations of Vodou To Invoke the Lwas
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
Episode 19: Season 1 Finale Part I of III - Do you feel called to Haitian Vodou? Listen to this
In this episode, we journey into the sacred vibrational language of Vodou, exploring powerful affirmations and ancestral calls such as Ayibobo, Awoshe Nago, Bilolo, and more. These sacred utterances are far more than words, they are energetic keys, living prayers, and invocations that open pathways to the divine.
Rooted in ancestral memory, resistance, and spiritual sovereignty, they connect practitioners to the Lwas, the powerful spirits who walk alongside us with purpose and protection. Through this exploration, we reclaim Vodou as a sacred tradition of depth, dignity, and spiritual brilliance, unbound by colonial distortion.
Join us as we speak the names, sound the calls, and remember who we are through the power of the word.
Episode 17: Unlocking the Pantheons - Meet the Divine Families of Haitian Vodou
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we invite you into the rich spiritual architecture of Haitian Vodou by exploring the pantheons of the 21 nanchons or sacred families of lwa (spirits) who guide, protect, and empower practitioners across generations. Far from a monolithic system, Vodou is composed of distinct nanchons (nations or spiritual lineages), each with its own history, temperament, rituals, and energetic signatures. These spiritual families reflect the complexity of the African diaspora, the trauma of enslavement, the resilience of the people, and the ongoing presence of the ancestors.
We begin with the Rada spirits, often associated with ancestral memory and West African origins. These lwa carry the energy of peace, order, healing, and stability. Rada lwas are the elders, the caretakers, the reminders of where we come from. Then we journey to the Nago spirits, known for their military strength, discipline, and warrior spirit, reflecting the Yoruba influences and the sacred art of protection and strategy.
From there, we enter the realm of the Petwo-Kongo spirits are fiery, dynamic, and often called upon in times of transformation and crisis. Born from the harsh conditions of enslavement in Haiti, Petwo-Kongo lwas embody the heat of survival, the urgency of justice, and the burning power of liberation. Finally, we meet the ever-present Gede, the guardians of the dead, spirit of the crossroads, and keepers of life’s raw truth. Gede spirits teach us that death is not an ending, but part of the sacred cycle of life.
This episode offers an overview of these powerful lineages, inviting listeners to understand the pantheon not as a hierarchy, but as a dynamic spiritual ecosystem. Each family of lwa reflecting different aspects of human experience, ancestral legacy, and cosmic order.
Episode references:
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
Episode 16: The Importance of Regleman: The Ancestral Blueprint of Haitian Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we explore règleman, the sacred principles, protocols, and spiritual order that guide the practice of Haitian Vodou. Often misunderstood as rigid or dogmatic, règleman is not about external rules imposed by hierarchy or colonized systems. Instead, it is an internal, ancestral compass, a living code of conduct rooted in deep respect for the spirits, the community, and the natural world.
Règleman reflects the spiritual ethics that govern how one engages with the lwa, participates in ceremony, cares for community, and remains in right relationship with the seen and unseen worlds. It is through règleman that harmony is maintained between the individual and the collective, the material and the spiritual, the ancestors and the living.
This episode invites listeners to understand règleman not as limitation, but as a liberating path of alignment, responsibility, and reciprocity. It is a spiritual framework shaped by generations of wisdom, not control. Regleman ensures respect, clarity, and power in Vodou practice.
Episode 15: What is a Lwa? Understanding the Spirits of Haitian Vodou
Episode 13: Honoring the Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration in Haitian Vodou
Episode 14: Beyond Good & Evil: Understanding Balance in Haitian Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we explore one of the most vital and often misunderstood elements of Haitian Vodou, the Lwas. These divine spirits are not abstract deities or distant gods; they are sacred, ancestral forces who walk closely with the living, each carrying their own unique personality, energy, and purpose.
The Lwa are guides, guardians, healers, warriors, and protectors, powerful presences who form a spiritual ecosystem deeply rooted in land, lineage, and liberation.
Through this conversation, we also address how the Lwa were misrepresented and demonized through colonial and Western religious lenses, and why reclaiming this sacred knowledge is essential to honoring Haitian Vodou as a living, liberatory tradition.
Join us to learn not only who the Lwa are, but how they continue to shape, empower, and protect the spiritual lives of Vodou communities across Haiti and the diaspora.
Episode 14: Beyond Good & Evil: Understanding Balance in Haitian Vodou
Episode 13: Honoring the Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration in Haitian Vodou
Episode 14: Beyond Good & Evil: Understanding Balance in Haitian Vodou
Western narratives have long distorted Haitian Vodou, reducing it to superstition, sensationalism, or a simplistic battle between good and evil. These portrayals are rooted in colonial fear, racism, and a deep misunderstanding of African spiritual systems. In truth, Vodou is not a religion of binaries. Haitian Vodou is a sacred cosmology grounded in balance, reciprocity, and relationship.
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we move beyond the myths and dualistic frameworks imposed by the West to explore Vodou as a holistic spiritual system. At its core, Vodou teaches harmony between the visible and invisible worlds, the living and the dead, the natural and the spiritual. It honors the complexity of human experience and the constant interplay of forces that shape our lives.
Tune in as we reclaim Vodou as a practice of deep wisdom, where cosmic harmony, not moral judgment, is the key to spiritual alignment and collective well-being.
Episode 13: Honoring the Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration in Haitian Vodou
Episode 13: Honoring the Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration in Haitian Vodou
Episode 13: Honoring the Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration in Haitian Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we dive deep into the sacred practice of ancestral veneration within Haitian Vodou, a spiritual foundation that reconnects us to the roots we come from and the spirits who walk beside us. Ancestral veneration is not just tradition; it is a living, breathing relationship that nourishes the soul and anchors us in collective memory, healing, and guidance.
We explore how to honor your ancestors through intentional rituals, heartfelt offerings, and prayers that invite their presence into your daily life. Whether at an altar, in nature, or through song, these practices create a bridge between the seen and unseen, affirming that death is not an end but a transition into spiritual responsibility and protection.
This episode also examines the ways ancestors serve as guides, messengers, and protectors, offering wisdom, clarity, and strength as we navigate our spiritual paths. In a world shaped by disconnection and displacement, ancestral veneration becomes an act of resistance, remembrance, and reclamation.
Join us to learn how Haitian Vodou honors lineage, heals historical wounds, and calls us back into sacred relationships with those who came before us.
Season 1 "Decolonizing Vodou 101" Show Notes
Episode 12: Honneur et Respect: The Sacred Philosophy of Haitian Vodou
Episode 10: Bwa Kayiman A Journey Through Revolution with Dr. Manbo Charlene
Episode 11: Vodou Priests & Priestesses Who Ignited the Haitian Revolution
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we explore the deep spiritual and cultural meaning behind the phrase “Honneur et Respect” a traditional greeting in Haitian Vodou that carries far more weight than mere words. Rooted in African cosmologies and communal values, this call-and-response exchange is both a salutation and an affirmation of shared dignity, reverence, and ancestral connection.
We unpack how Honneur et Respect serves as a guiding philosophy within Vodou, one that honors the presence of the ancestors, reinforces mutual respect among practitioners, and upholds the sacredness of community life. It’s a ritual in itself, one that acknowledges spirit, reclaims humanity, and establishes relational balance before any ceremony or gathering even begins.
More than a cultural formality, this phrase also functions as a form of resistance to colonial erasure. It stands as a living reminder of Vodou’s African roots and how Haitian spiritual traditions preserve, adapt, and protect what colonization tried to destroy.
Episode 11: Vodou Priests & Priestesses Who Ignited the Haitian Revolution
Episode 10: Bwa Kayiman A Journey Through Revolution with Dr. Manbo Charlene
Episode 11: Vodou Priests & Priestesses Who Ignited the Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was not only a political uprising but a sacred war for freedom, fueled by spirit, ceremony, and ancestral power. In this episode of Agua Cedito, we center the role of Vodou as the spiritual backbone of the world’s first successful revolt led by enslaved Africans. Far beyond colonial distortions, Vodou emerges here not just as a religion but as a system of resistance, a source of strategy, and a unifying force that bound communities across plantations and regions.
We honor the legacies of revolutionary spiritual leaders like Francois Makandal, Dutty Boukman, Cécile Fatiman, and countless other Vodou priestesses and priests who carried the torch of liberation through ritual, vision, and sacred leadership. Their ceremonies, including the iconic gathering at Bwa Kayiman, called upon the ancestors and lwa (spirits) to guide, protect, and empower the people in their fight against colonial violence.
This episode calls us to remember that the revolution was not won with just machetes and fire. It was won in prayer, possession, and prophecy. Join us as we reclaim the erased spiritual narratives behind Haiti’s freedom struggle and uplift the power of Vodou as a living, liberatory force.
Episode 10: Bwa Kayiman A Journey Through Revolution with Dr. Manbo Charlene
Episode 10: Bwa Kayiman A Journey Through Revolution with Dr. Manbo Charlene
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
In this episode, Dr. Manbo Charlene shares a powerful, firsthand account of her pilgrimage to Bwa Kayiman, the sacred site where the Haitian Revolution was spiritually ignited. Her story weaves ancestral reverence, ritual experience, and historical memory. Tune in for an intimate glimpse into Vodou devotion at one of Haiti’s most revered spiritual grounds.
About Dr. Manbo Charlene
Dr. Charlene M. Désir is a dedicated scholar and Vodou Manbo/Priestess focused on the healing and academic adjustment of Haitians in the U.S. and Haiti. She earned her doctorate from Harvard University and is a research professor at Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Désir founded The Empowerment Network, Global, a non-profit dedicated to empowering Haitian women and children. She also established the Haitian Mental Health Think Tank to address mental health issues within the Haitian community. Her research explores the impact of social and spiritual trauma on cognitive abilities and social development. She served as the 2012 president of the Haitian Studies Association and Vice President of Kosanba, a scholarly association studying Haitian Vodou.
She has authored several publications, including a recent book entitled Edikasyon and Restoration of Pan African Haitian Youth: A Guide to Building Diasporic Literacy Programs, based on a seven-year psycho-educational initiative in Miami, FL. Dr. Désir has extensive experience as a school psychologist, K-12 school counselor, school administrator, academic advisor, professor, and healer.
Episode references:
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we trace the sacred roots of the Haitian Revolution, focusing on the spiritual, political, and cultural forces that led to the first successful slave revolt in the Americas. Far from being just a historical event, the Haitian Revolution was a spiritual war where Vodou played a central role in organizing, empowering, and uniting the people.
We explore the events leading up to the uprising, from brutal colonial rule to the quiet resistance carried in songs, ceremonies, and community rituals. Central to this story is Bwa Kayiman, a powerful congress that included a Vodou ceremony that lit the flame of revolution and invoked ancestral protection and spiritual force.
Vodou was not just present during this fight; it was the foundation, strategy, and spirit of liberation. This episode challenges colonial retellings and centers the voices, practices, and worldviews that fuel freedom.
Tune in to understand how Vodou and revolution are forever intertwined in Haiti’s fight for dignity, sovereignty, and ancestral justice.
Episode 08: A Comparative Analysis of Vodou with Other World Religions Part II
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
Episode 08: A Comparative Analysis of Vodou with Other World Religions Part II
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we continue the comparative discussion about Haitian Vodou alongside other world religions and spiritual systems, not to rank or reduce them but to honor their distinct wisdoms and shared roots.
From other African Traditional Religions to Hinduism, Taoism, and other Indigenous cosmologies, we examine how beliefs about spirit, ancestors, ritual, and community reflect common threads and unique cosmologies. We highlight how colonization has shaped global perceptions of Vodou, often through contrast with dominant Western religions. But Vodou is a sacred, complex, and deeply relational tradition with its own theology, ethics, and structure.
This conversation invites listeners to see Vodou not as “other,” but as part of a global tapestry of ancestral and earth-based spiritual practices. Whether you are new to Vodou or looking to understand it in a broader spiritual context, this episode invites reflection, curiosity, and reverence.
Episode 07: A Comparative Analysis of Vodou with Other World Religions Part I
Episode 09: Vodou and the Haitian Revolution: The Spiritual Spark of Rebellion
Episode 08: A Comparative Analysis of Vodou with Other World Religions Part II
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we explore Haitian Vodou alongside other world religions and spiritual systems, not to rank or reduce them but to honor their distinct wisdoms and shared roots. From other African Traditional Religions to Hinduism, Taoism, and other Indigenous cosmologies, we examine how beliefs about spirit, ancestors, ritual, and community reflect common threads and unique cosmologies.
We highlight how colonization has shaped global perceptions of Vodou, often through contrast with dominant Western religions. But Vodou is a sacred, complex, and deeply relational tradition with its own theology, ethics, and structure.
This conversation invites listeners to see Vodou not as “other,” but as part of a global tapestry of ancestral and earth-based spiritual practices. Whether new to Vodou or looking to understand it in a broader spiritual context, this episode invites reflection, curiosity, and reverence.
Episode 06: From Africa to Ayiti: Importance of Fran Ginen in Vodou
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we explore the powerful concept of Fran Ginen, a deeply rooted spiritual principle in Haitian Vodou that speaks to ancestral integrity, purity of soul, and alignment with the original African source.
More than just a phrase, Fran Ginen is a way of being. It reflects the soul’s connection to Ginen, the spiritual homeland of Africa, and the responsibility to walk in truth, dignity, and resistance to colonial corruption. We unpack how this concept shows up in Vodou practice, in everyday life, and the ongoing journey of decolonial healing.
Tune in to deepen your understanding of Fran Ginen as both a spiritual compass and a revolutionary reminder of who we are, where we come from, and the power we carry.
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we return to the source by exploring the core principles that shape African Spirituality and the cosmological framework of Haitian Vodou.
These aren’t just belief systems, they are living, breathing worldviews that honor balance, reciprocity, and ancestral connection. This conversation is an invitation to remember that African cosmologies are complex, holistic systems that survived colonization and continue to guide communities today.
Whether you're deepening your spiritual path or unlearning colonial narratives, this episode offers a grounded, liberatory entry point into Vodou's sacred science and our ancestors' wisdom.
Episode 04: Sounds of Liberation: Rara Music in Haitian Vodou
Episode 05: Mystical Roots - African Spirituality & Vodou Cosmology Unveiled
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we journey into the heart of Rara, the vibrant, street-born music that pulses through Haitian Vodou and Haitian liberation. Far more than sound, Rara is ceremony, protest, and ancestral memory in motion.
We explore Rara's spiritual significance within Vodou traditions, its connection to the lwa (spirits), and its powerful role in community organizing, resistance, and celebration. From its roots in enslavement-era uprisings to its presence in today’s rituals and political movements, Rara reminds us that rhythm is a tool for survival and sovereignty.
Whether new to Rara or reconnecting with its deeper meaning, this episode invites you to listen with your spirit.
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
In this episode of Agua Cedito, we deconstruct the colonial distortions and reclaim the ancestral truth of Vodou. More than a name, Vodou is a living tradition, a spiritual system born from resistance, rooted in African cosmologies, and carried through generations in the face of enslavement and erasure.
We explore 8 different spellings such as Voodoo, Vodu, Vodoun, and beyond, including what they reveal about geography, language, and colonization.
Through this conversation, we honor the complexity, beauty, and power of Vodou as it exists in Haiti and across the diaspora.
Whether you're seeking clarity, connection, or deeper cultural understanding, this episode offers a grounded, liberatory perspective on a sacred tradition often misunderstood.
Episode 02: What does the name Agua Cedito mean?
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
Episode 01: Ayibobo! Welcome to Agua Cedito Podcast Show
In this episode, we explore the ancestral, spiritual, and cultural meanings of the name Agua Cedito. This isn’t just a title; it’s a prayer, a portal, and a powerful affirmation of resistance and remembrance.
We reflect on how the name Agua Cedito connects to decolonial healing, diasporic identity, and the host’s own spiritual path.
Whether you're curious about the roots of this project or seeking to understand the deeper symbolism within the name, this episode offers some insight, intention, and invitation.
Episode 01: Ayibobo! Welcome to Agua Cedito Podcast Show
Episode 03: Is it Voodoo, Vodu, or Vodoun? Unraveling the True Names & Meaning of Vodou
Episode 01: Ayibobo! Welcome to Agua Cedito Podcast Show
In this opening episode of Agua Cedito, we lay the foundation for a podcast rooted in ancestral knowledge, spiritual reclamation, and cultural healing of Haitian Vodou. This is more than just an introduction, it’s an invitation. Learn about the intentions behind the show, who we are holding space for, and the lived experiences that shaped the voice behind the mic.
This episode guides you through what to expect this season: deep conversations, educational insights, and unapologetically decolonial perspectives. Whether you're reconnecting with your roots, navigating diasporic identity, or committed to collective liberation, this podcast is for you.
Tune in to discover how Agua Cedito honors the sacred faith tradition of Haitian Vodou laser focused on building a space for truth, spirit, and resistance.