Gran Bwa

THE SAME LEAVES HEAL AND HARM, AND THE SOURCE SAYS SO OUTRIGHT; the record carries both and does not moralise either. His role in the Haitian secret societies is what places him among the master magicians, and it is recorded as the source states it.

Domains

• the forest
• herbs and roots
• healing
• sorcery
• initiation

Relations

• of the master magicians with: Mèt KalfouIn-batch and reciprocated.Reference treatment of Gran Bwa: Grand Bois, 'great wood', also Grans Bwa, Bran Bwa and Ganga-Bois, is an elemental, nature-oriented lwa closely associated with trees, plants and herbs in Haitian Vodou; he is master of the forest, especially the wilderness and the mysteries it holds, governs the leaves and roots used for both healing and harming, and is revered as a powerful healer and magician; he plays an important role in the kanzo initiatory cycle of asson-lineage Vodou, and along with Kalfou and Baron is often counted among the master magicians of the lwa, because of their role in the Haitian secret societies. (secondary)
• of the kanzo rite with: Manbo Ayizan VeleketeIn-batch. He plays an important role in the kanzo initiatory cycle.Reference treatment of Loko and Ayizan: Papa Loko Atisou and Manbo Ayizan Velekete are the prototypical priest and priestess of the tradition and confer the office of priesthood during initiation; Ayizan is a racine or root lwa associated with the rites of initiation called kanzo, and just as her husband Loko is the archetypal houngan, Ayizan is regarded as the first or archetypal manbo, associated with priestly knowledge and mysteries, particularly those of initiation and of the natural world; as the spiritual parents of the priesthood the two are among the lwa involved in the kanzo rites, in which the priest or priestess to be is given the asson, the sacred rattle and tool of the priesthood, at least in the asson or asogwe lineage, and both are powerful guardians of reglemen, the correct and appropriate form of service. (secondary)

Sources

• An elemental, nature-oriented lwa closely associated with trees, plants and herbs: master of the forest and especially of the wilderness and the mysteries it holds, who governs the leaves and roots used for both healing and harming, and is revered as a powerful healer and magician.: Reference treatment of Gran Bwa: Grand Bois, 'great wood', also Grans Bwa, Bran Bwa and Ganga-Bois, is an elemental, nature-oriented lwa closely associated with trees, plants and herbs in Haitian Vodou; he is master of the forest, especially the wilderness and the mysteries it holds, governs the leaves and roots used for both healing and harming, and is revered as a powerful healer and magician; he plays an important role in the kanzo initiatory cycle of asson-lineage Vodou, and along with Kalfou and Baron is often counted among the master magicians of the lwa, because of their role in the Haitian secret societies. (secondary)