On the 17th of May, I bought a "7 African Powers" candle and entreated their aid in my endeavor to quit smoking. Immediately, though it had been MANY years since I invoked him directly, I could "hear" Papa Legba in my head. At 8:45 am, about 1 hour after I smoked my last cigarette, I wrote:

And Elegua rides me, and asks of me thrice:

1) Are you ready to give up your tobacco, as you have asked of our assistance to do?

I answered, "YES"

2) Are you ready to cease burning the bitter herb, your curse of recrimination on the iniquity of mankind? Are you ready to give over your valid and proper judgement (even though it is yours to give) back to Justo Juez?

I answered "Insofar as I may still, from this strange Sermon on Media Mount, declare counsel, prophecy and judgement...then yes, I am so willing."

3) Are you willing to choose life over death, with all of its joys, sorrows, evils and blessings, with only the hope that the rest of mankind may follow and choose the same?

I answered, "I will live for this."


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"When you want of tobacco, stop: Breathe deeply and say "Elegua". Your own strength will be there, as am I at any crossroads".

Later, after I had called him as instructed, Legba said to me:

"You, your addictive mind, want a cigarette when you have accomplished something, a reward. But THINK: What kind of a reward is SOMETHING THAT WILL KILL YOU? Forsake the sweet poison, reward yourself with something which brings LIFE instead....

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5/18/10 2:45 am

Mi Padre Elegua, grant me true sight to clearly see the strength of life on the path set before my feet.

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5/24/10

Teaching myself to draw Papa Legba's Veve, the one with the cane. I drew the cane in the wrong place. When I went to scratch it out, I heard him exclaim "NO"..."Por Que?" I asked..."You must leave it in, for you need your own cane as well, Maman..."

Later Legba said to me:

"a room should always have 2 chairs, so the Lwa have a place to sit".

5/29/10
I was restless and went wandering in this strange Dominican neighborhood. You can feel the Lwas being invoked all over this neighborhood. Evidently, I am flashing power as well. As I was hobbling down the side street from Broadway to my place 2 streets over, I passed 2 men enjoying the night's beauty of their stoop. As I walked by, one started tapping out the Legba rhythm. I turned and nodded acknowlegement, and walked along. I was only half myself in that moment, the other half was the Lwa riding me. The man must have seen this. I stayed awake until dawn, awaiting the finish of the 7 African Powers candle I first lit on the 17th


6/3/10

I have accepted Elegua as mi Padrone, while he laughs at me and says I have run from him for over 20 years, since I left Buffalo. He says that now that I, too, hobble along on a cane, he has finally been able to catch me.

I have asked La Sirene if she will be my patroness. I await some sign that she wishes me to serve her.