Like all religions, Dominican Voodun also has its initiations. The initiatory process is divided majorly into 3 parts, Refrescamiento de cabeza, Aplasamiento and The Baptisim.
Yet each one of these ceremonies varies from person to person. Seeing as that there are peoples that have "stronger" Loas than others. Each has there own "light".
The Referscamiento de cabeza (or Refreshing of the head) is done in order to do just that, "refresh" the head of the person who wishes to initiate them selves into the religion. There head is refreshed so that there Loas may "mount" them with more "clarity", and so that the possession may be a bit less violent. In addition to, so that the person may be "introduced" in a way to the Loa. These Refrescamintos are usually simple. Normaly, 7 "refrescos" (soda pops) of 7 colors are reqired. In addition to which 7 fulas (kerchifs) of 7 colors (white, red, green, yellow, blue, pink and purple). 7 soft fruits so that they may be mashed on the head of the Pyeperson. Flowers, perfumes and other stuff. Including tafia (drinks) of the loas. Some rum, beer, wine, champagne, and what ever else they may request. Some times honey and or molases/cane syrup, or cocoa butter may be demanded. Like i said, each person is different, having different Loas, therefore having different requirements.
Yet, all of these things are placed on the head of the initiate. The way of placing these things on the head of the person and placing the Refrescos varies from horse to horse. Each work differently. Yet the usual way of doing this is, the Loa would tell the person to kneel infront of the altar while the Loa drops the drinks on the persons head. Then adding the fruits, flowers, perfumes and what ever else was required. Smoke is blown into there heads as well. Sometimes different Loas will come to give there "points" on the new head. For example, it is NOT rare that Anaisa Pye would come up to give her point, which is usually given with the yellow and or orange pop and then the beer and perfume some times champagne and cigarettes.
After all of this, a white fula is tied on the head of the person, and they are told NOT to wash there head for at least 3-7 days, again depending on the person/Loa.
The Aplasamiento or "Settlement" is to "settle" down the persons Loa in there head. In this way the Loa would not be taking possession of them wherever and when ever. In addition to which, this is done so that the persons Loas be take mount more firmly. It reqires basically the same as the Refrescamiento, yet the Loas always ask for something else. Dependson the Loa and person to whom this is being done to. Normaly, the Aplasamiento requires a bath consisting of 7 sweet herbs, 7 perfumes and other things in the amount of 7.
The Baptisim is the largest ceremony. It requires the same things already mentioned, yet now there are animals included. Eventhough in the Refrescamiento and/or the Aplasamiento a white pigeon, a chickhen or a rooster may be requested. These animals are presented to the Loa, and a Loa in head would take it and decapitate it in the head of the person being initiated. Aside from doing this and all already mentioned, for the Baptisim, one has to travel alot. To a river, the wilderness (woods), and to a cementary and places like that. Thats why the viejos (the elders) prefer to send the candidate to Tiera Caliente (The Dominican Republic). Seeing as how over there, herbs for the baths are much fresher. You can actually enter the rivers! And because thats where there things are at. The river is where the points of the Indians are given. And the are occations in which the point of the Ghuede Loa and the point for Baron Del Cementerio are given in the cementary, if aplicable.
Before, during and after these ceremonies are conducted, the Horse should maintain a period of abstinence. The period depends on the person conducting the ceremonies and the Loas of the person. The normal period is 7 days, before and after. Yet some riquire only 3 days. Again all work differently.
