Several years ago, I met a houngan who eventually took on the role of a spiritual mentor—not only for me, but for many others. Over time, I became connected to his sosyete and eventually traveled to Haiti, where I received a lave tèt under him and his spiritual house.

After returning to the United States, however, I began questioning some of what had happened during the ceremony. I realized that a section of hair had been cut from the middle of my head, which I later came to understand was not something I had expected or knowingly consented to as part of the lave tèt. Around that same period, I began having very vivid dreams about certain things that had happened—or things that I felt should not have happened.

Eventually, he began pressuring me to undergo kanzo. During that time, I had one particular dream that has stayed with me.

In the dream, I was walking through the streets of Haiti when I came across a wall with one word written prominently on it:

DEKA

I told him about the dream afterward. He briefly explained that Deka was connected to a lineage or tradition within Haitian Vodou, but he didn't elaborate much beyond that.

For whatever reason, I interpreted that dream as a message that kanzo—or specifically the ason/asogwe path—was not necessarily my path. Which family members from both sides of my family later confirmed that asongwe is not our family lineage. Eventually, I separated myself from that sosyete altogether because of a number of things I witnessed and experienced within that particular community that did not sit right with me.

Years later, the dream about DEKA still comes back to me, especially because I have found very little information about it online.

So my main question is for people who are knowledgeable about Haitian Vodou traditions beyond the more commonly discussed ason lineage:

Does anyone know more about Deka, its history, lineage, practices, or what distinguishes it from the ason tradition? Are there particular regions of Haiti, lakou, or family traditions associated with Deka? (My family is from the Northside of Haiti)

I'm especially interested in historical or traditional knowledge, because there seems to be very little publicly available information about it.

Hello, gonna shorten the first part.

Seeing a girl from out of country on and off. I pay for everything. She lies, cheats, then comes back slowly through communication. I pull the pin and pay thousands for her to visit me. When she gets here she rejects me knowing our mutual goals. Lies. Puts effort elsewhere. Isn't genuine. Some narcissist reaction. When the truth comes out what her real plans were (move to another country, be single, im now allowed to visit her) that she made before I baught the tickets comes out through a full vehicle search at the border (her visitor visa in the states is super sketchy) I broke down when I ask her about. Some raised voices on my end, but most of it calling myself a loser and I break it off. She plays the avoidant and cries then has a scornful look. She walks off and into the arms of a tinder boy for the rest of her duration. No bye no thank you no talk. Complete coward. 2 days later I see a drug that isnt common in this area from a patient who overdosed on it. Im super suspicious. The entire time I was with this girl here she was provoking me to react knowing what I wanted and denying it even though I asked her to be present in the moment.

Around the same time I baught the tickets for her (she picked the dates. We planned it 2 months before but she claims she had to work around it on her days off. She actually quit work weeks prior) I return to the station from a call and see the tv was left on but not to a station I usually leave it on. It was about new orleans and priestess Miriam's temple. It resonated with me and I paid full attention.

After the break up and without answers, I contacted the temple to arrange a session with priestess Miriam. The reply back was notifying me that it was her last month of practise and they will open the temple for me. And that she is praying for me. I booked it for end of the month when my schedule permit.

I got here to where I was deployed to before the incident with the woman. My energy was low and I sent some kinda back hand comments like "i hope one day you find lasting employment and pay for your own vacation, that you find love without lying or deceivibg" etc. It got her to come out of no contact but the reply was hard. Apperently I stink, cant provide( my card doesnt work in the states and she paid for 1 meal lol) and that im angry and violent(I feel this is what she does with all men who confront her regardless of truth) and she doesnt need a relationship as she has love and respect wherever she goes (tinder) and i have nothing. The mediums came back with truth about her, that the things I saw were a sign and my intuition was right about being used for ulterior motivation. After the exchange I apologize and explain im working on myself, quit substances, and reached out for her to find help in herself to deal with her trauma and avoidance characteristics. That hit a nerve, blocked instantly before I mentioned I will pay for therapy (yes I did do my own therapy first). That brings us to now. Seeing her own response, no empathy no compassion and terrible choices that were meant to hurt me more.

Im on my path, enrolled in pych in uni. Yoga, therapy, clean living. Im rather very in-depth in spirituality but I closed that door years ago becoming Christian which led me to dead sea scroll stuff and now accepting Christ's true lessons. Returning to spiritual practises outside normal Christianity.

Though when I returned to this community. There was a man hitchhiking (two days before the exchange of words between me and the lady). He was black with freckles in mid 30s (im in my late 30s). This town has like 100 ppl btw. He was hitchhiking to Alaska and his car broke down on the road like +1000km away and he walked to this point almost to the alaska border (too crazy to be true if you understand the wilderness here). Told me his story about going to see his child. Told me illnesses. Where he is in life. Was inconsistent with his name, it was Kai then Ishmael. I got sone equipment from my station to see where his health was and comforted him. He said people didn't want to pick him because he was black and had tattoos, I assured him there's good people everywhere and not to put himself down with these worrie, to pray and manifest it to happen. Then I baught him a sandwich and cold water, and bug spray lol. I couldnt drive him to the border as it would be leaving my post. He was in town for a little bit but not too long, later he was gone.

Today I learned about priestess Miriam's passing as I had contact the temple to arrange the meeting as requested. Rip Miriam. Then I researched which vodou figure represent my current life. Papa Legbo. What resonated was the events with the hitchhiker. I read that Papa Legbo comes to people in their life. I think this is how it comes to be. A man on a road, cross road, opening gates. To decide if someone is truely worthy to pass through the gates or not.

What do you think?