re engaged in aneffort to open that most enigmatic of all doors - the door between thehuman and spiritual world. An altar is a representation of that very door inmaterial terms - the altar is the door. When you sit in front of your altar,you are inviting the spiritual forces on the other side of this door to noticeyou, come and visit with you, and act upon you.Since most people living in the United States can not begin their practice inthis religion by attending Vodou ceremonies, one of the first things we cando is to build an altar. The altars of Vodou are as varied as the individualswho practice the religion. In a sense, a peristyle itself is an altar, largeenough for the worshippers to dance around the centerpost, play drums,perform sacrifice, undergo possession - in short, to act out every aspect ofthe cosmic drama. Within the peristyle there are sometimes areas dedicatedto a particular lwa - the cross of , or a small palm-leaf booth for Erzulie.Attached to the peristyle are smaller rooms called djevo or bagi, in whichthe ceremonial objects of a Vodou society are kept. However, theseobjects, which include sacred rattles, sequined bottles for drink offerings,pot-tetes given during initiation, and clay pots called govi, are of noparticular use to those who have not undergone initiation.A better model is found in the kay myste (from the French caille desmysteres, house of mysteries). These are small houses, often no more thanten by fourteen feet, in which are constructed individualistic altars towhichever lwa the owner of the kay myste serves. These altars incorporatemany common materials, easily available everywhere in the world. They areremarkable for their individuality and beauty.Frequently altars in Haiti are constructed on a dirt floor, which may not bepractical in the United States. However, you may have easier access tocertain items such as crystals, ceramic vessels in particular colors, and soon.Anyone may participate in Vodou...
