Vodou Love Magic

Freda

Bringer of Beauty

All these things have you said of beauty.

Yet in truth you spoke not of her but of needs unsatisfied,

And beauty is not a need but an ecstasy.

It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth,

But rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted.

It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear,

But rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.

It is not the sap within the furrowed bark, nor a wing attached to a claw,

But rather a garden for ever in bloom and a flock of angels for ever in flight.

—KAHLIL GIBRAN 1

WITH ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME of less than $400 and an estimated 80 percent of the population living in poverty, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world.2 The daily struggle to survive leaves most Haitians with little time to worry about the finer things in life. Wealth is something they can barely dream of. Yet despite this (or perhaps because of this) Ezili Freda, lwa of beauty and luxury, is one of Haiti’s most well-loved and frequently served spirits. And her popularity is not just limited to Haiti or to Vodou: around the world many people have come to serve and adore this beautiful and loving (albeit sometimes temperamental and demanding) spirit. If you want to be more attractive, you couldn’t ask for a better teacher than Ezili Freda.*2

Freda in Haiti

In Haiti, wealth and status are intimately connected to skin color. For more than two hundred years, Haitian culture has been divided into a small ruling class of light-skinned milats (mulattos) and a much larger group of impoverished, dark-skinned negs (literally, “blacks” although a more accurate translation might be “poor person”). Freda is seen as having “European” features: light skin and long, straight hair. She speaks French, the language of the ruling class, rather than Kreyol, which is more commonly heard in the streets of Port-au-Prince and on the subsistence farms of the Haitian interior. Like the tales of the Fair Princess and the Beautiful Queen that we find in European folk tales, Freda is an image of wealth seen from the perspective of poor people.

When Freda arrives at a ceremony, water is sprinkled on the ground so she will not be choked with dust. Perfume is spread on the floor so she will not be offended by any bad smells. If the preparations are lacking in any way, she will break down in tears. Her followers are quick to offer her presents and tributes. A poor Haitian laborer may save for weeks or months to buy Freda a bottle of perfume or a pretty dress; he may spend his life savings to marry her. They are also quick to console her when she breaks down in tears, sobbing at the many ways in which reality falls short of her dreams. Freda understands how her followers long for beautiful things that are beyond their reach, because she also longs for things that she cannot have. Like them she dreams, and like them she is often disappointed.

Freda is married to three lwa—the great serpent Damballah, the mighty warrior Ogou Ferraille, and Met Agwe, king of the ocean. Yet in each case she is more mistress than wife. Agwe’s primary partner is the mermaid La Sirene, while Damballah favors the rainbow goddess Aida Wedo, and Ogou is partial to Freda’s sister, the hardworking country woman Ezili Danto. Freda constantly seeks an unattainable love. She may be wealthier and more beautiful than the people who serve her, but they know how she shares her suffering.

Freda is filled with love and wants to share it with others. When Freda arrives at a ceremony, she will often hug and kiss the men who are present, and will propose marriage to those she finds particularly attractive. In exchange for marrying Freda and pledging the first Thursday of each month to her, Vodouisants believe she will look after their wellbeing and ensure their prosperity and health. Many Haitians believe effeminate gay men are ruled by Freda. (Some say that she likes them so much that she made them gay—that way no other woman could have them!)

Freda is less affectionate with women. Most often she will acknowledge their presence with a nod or a quick handshake. As beautiful as Freda is, she is also very insecure. She often sees other women as competition for the affections and favors of men. Women who work with Freda must frequently lavish her with lots of attention, affection, and flattery. Only then will Freda be able to overcome her mistrust and accept them as dear friends and devoted servants.

While most men are happy to be favored by Freda, they are sometimes fearful of her attentions. The marriage ceremony can be expensive, particularly since Freda demands the best you can give her. Still, they are reluctant to reject her proposal. They believe that if Freda is spurned, she will throw a jealous fit and bring them misfortune and romantic bad luck. Freda can be a demanding mistress, but she is so beautiful and so loving that most Vodouisants are happy to meet her demands and consider themselves blessed by her presence.

Freda loves pretty things and would like to make everything more beautiful. Those whom Freda favors will often have a great sense of beauty and style. Many will work as makeup artists, hairdressers, buyers for clothing stores, or in other related fields. If you approach her with reverence, the way you might approach a beautiful princess, you’ll find she will be happy to make you more beautiful too!

Calling on Freda

In Haiti, Freda is most commonly represented by the Mater Dolorosa (see plate 6). In this image, the Virgin Mary stands before a richly jeweled background. In her hands, she holds golden chains and jewelry; rings sparkle on her fingers. Still, her sorrow is evident: jeweled daggers are imbedded in her heart, and her expression is melancholy as she stares off toward the heavens. This image shows Freda’s wealth, beauty, and sadness. You can use whatever images you see fit. I have seen houses that represented Freda with a pink Kwan Yin statue or an elaborately customized Barbie doll. The symbol is only a vessel that the spirit can occupy; you may use any appropriate icon that represents Freda to you.

Freda loves French perfume and cosmetics. She is also fond of jewelry, particularly gold and diamonds, and flowers, especially pink roses. She like feminine, frilly things, particularly lacy pink dresses and clothing. You can get a lacy pink cloth for Freda and place her things on this cloth when you call on her. To feed Freda, give her sweet pastries. Meringues, cream puffs, sweet tarts, and éclairs will be greatly appreciated. Freda will sometimes drink champagne, but is more often given orgeat (almond syrup) or sugar water. Her day is Thursday, but you can serve her on any day except Tuesday, the day set aside for her sister and archenemy Ezili Danto.

Present her gifts in nice glasses and plates, which you have washed thoroughly beforehand. Burn pink or white candles to call on Freda, and sprinkle a bit of perfume-scented water on the ground as well. You should also make sure that the table or shelf on which you serve her is washed beforehand with soap and with perfumed water. Like any lady of wealth and taste, Freda likes her things clean. You should also straighten your living quarters before calling on Freda. Imagine you had invited a beautiful heiress over to your house for a visit. Wouldn’t you want things to look as nice as you could make them?

When you are making offerings to Freda, think quality, not quantity. If you have limited resources (and most of us do), you’re better off spending what little you have on appropriately fancy items. Freda will prefer a small Godiva chocolate bar to a big bag of stale chocolates from the 99 cent store. She will take a small bottle of nice perfume over a large bottle of something cheaper. If you’re not sure whether Freda would like a particular item, just ask her . . . then follow your gut instinct. So long as you give her the best you can, you will not go wrong. An eternally gracious hostess, Freda will accept any gift you give her if you try your hardest.

You may find Freda visiting you in your dreams and making various requests. Don’t be afraid to tell her, “I’m sorry, I can’t afford that right now.” Trying to give Freda everything she wants will quickly land you in the poorhouse. If she persists in asking, you can say, “If you give me the money to buy you a nice Waterford Crystal goblet, I will be glad to get you one” or “If you want a diamond ring, you will have to help me pay for it.” If she really wants these things, she will see that you get the money you need. (One warning: if she does give you this money, be sure that you buy what you promised; otherwise, you’re going to be dealing with a very angry lady.)

Although many people call Freda a “love goddess,” she is actually more closely connected to romance and “courtly love” than to fulfilling relationships. Asking Freda to bring you love may result in a long, drawn-out affair that features a lot of mutual attraction but ultimately goes nowhere. Alternately, you may find yourself entangled in a passionate but stormy tryst that ends painfully for all concerned, or falling hopelessly in love with someone who is sweet and beautiful but unable to commit and irresponsible about finances. When it comes to partners, Freda is a smart woman who often makes foolish choices—and who is likely to make foolish choices for you.

Instead of asking Freda to find you a lover, you should ask her to make you more beautiful. This will help to ensure that you gain the attention of a partner without becoming embroiled in the kind of romantic melodrama that often follows Freda. (You should also be sure to pay some tribute to Danto as well as to Freda. That will not only keep the two warring sisters from becoming jealous, but will also ensure that Freda’s romantic dreams are grounded with some practical realism.)

You will be most successful treating Freda the way courtiers treated ladies-in-waiting. If you lavish lots of praise on Freda and show the appropriate humility and respect, you will be richly rewarded for your efforts. Her good fortune and good looks will rub off on you . . . and you can be sure that others will notice!

Color Magic with Freda

Many believe that “dressing magically” means hubcap-sized pentagrams, clusters of crystals, and bad Renaissance Faire clothing. Alas, these “magical outfits” evoke nothing but scornful looks from the Fashion Police. True magical garb is far more subtle . . . and far more powerful. Magic doesn’t shout from the rooftops; instead, it whispers. The most powerful magical clothing is that which is not recognized by the masses. It manipulates their subconscious, causing them to be favorably disposed toward the magician.

One of the best ways to call on the energies of Freda is by using her favorite color, pink (a pale rose pink or “baby girl pink,” not a hot pink or magenta). Color therapists have long known that pink has a calming effect on people. Pink soothes tension and relaxes the muscles. A tint known as Baker-Miller Pink is known to law enforcement officials as “drunk tank pink,” since it is commonly used to calm violent prisoners in jails. Alexander Schauss, Ph.D., director of the American Institute for Biosocial Research in Tacoma, Washington, notes, “Even if a person tries to be angry or aggressive in the presence of pink, he can’t.”3

You don’t have to go overboard. A bright pink suit is not necessary and would even be counterproductive. (Freda is a subtle spirit, not a loud and vulgar one.) A pale pink shirt or a subtle pink blouse will do the trick; indeed, a pink-tinted white will work just fine. This will make you appear nonthreatening and likeable; without knowing why, people will think that you are “nice” and “friendly.” If you’re a man who believes “pink is for girls,” stop and think for a minute. If lots of girls like pink, and you’re wearing pink, doesn’t that mean they’d be inclined to like you?

To work with the power of Freda’s colors, get an article of clothing in the appropriate hue. You don’t have to break the bank, but make sure it looks good on you. You can wear other colors besides pink, but make sure they are light colors. Freda does not like the color black, and wearing black with pink will drive her away and spoil the effect. (You should also avoid wearing pink with red, navy blue, or blue denim, since those colors belong to Danto.) Get the nicest clothes you can find and afford. Before you go shopping, you may want to ask Freda to help you find something that looks nice and that will make you think of her.

Before you get dressed, put on a bathrobe. Now take the pink article of clothing. Hold it up and say something like, “Hello, Freda. I’m wearing this pink shirt because I want to be pretty like you.” As you put the clothing on, imagine Freda filling you with her beauty and her charisma. Feel the glowing pink light shining through you. It starts within your heart and expands to fill your entire body, then radiates outward until it shimmers around you. When you have buttoned, tied, or clasped the article, you will have bound that energy to yourself. It will remain with you throughout the day. People who are psychically sensitive or who can see auras might notice the color that shines around you. Those who are not will not see it, but they will feel its effects. It will be a powerful magnet, drawing people to you and making you more attractive.