The Canari: symbol of the Soul's journey
Posted by Tim Hartridge
The Canari and it's cousin the Govi, are borrowed names for ritual pots used in Haitian Vodoun practices; they are used as psychic-containers.
The Canari pot or jar is used especially in the Vodoun ceremonies of the magickal-birth of an Initiate. For our purposes the Canari pot will be used as the symbol of a container for the soul's journey of Initiation at the Witch Camp. A cousin to this soul-container is the Canopic jar of the Ancient Egyptians, which also hold a symbolic link to our central rite of the retreat. (Refer to comments posted in the second part of "Fate, Full Moons and the Vinum Sabbati" for some explanation.)
Traditionally both the Canari and Govi are pots made from red-clay. There's a subtle difference between their uses. The Canari pot/jar is used as a 'shelter' and becomes a 'house' for the image of the Initiate's soul. Whereas in contrast, the Govi is constructed as a magickal spirit-house for the Loa (Vodoun deities).
The Haitians call the soul 'ti bon ange' - your 'little good angel' (don't laugh!). Your Canari pot will be the symbolic representation of your soul-image on its journey through the rites at the Witch Camp.
First step:
Look around your home and see if you already have a pot or jar that might be suitable. I have several examples of Canari and Govi that I've used. Lately though I've been attracted to Chinese 'ginger jars'. They have a pleasing shape and make good canari pots. Don't worry if they have lids or not because we will be wrapping them in any case.
In the picture above you'll note the small mummy-wrapped Canari. I got this 'spice pot' from one of those $2 shops and it literally cost me $2! You'll also notice a couple of other pots more typical of 'Chinese ginger jars'; one of these was literally dug-up from a previous garden I had.
One practical note: try and find a pot which has an open neck because you'll need to put things into it easily.
Next:
While you are looking for a suitable Canari pot begin to ask yourself what things you would like to use to represent where you are now. These are best drawn in an abstract form on paper. It's not an artwork you will be creating because nobody else has to see it. It just needs to be in a simple and clear form for you to be able to recognise and read what it means.
You can use key words or phrases if you wish, but if you do, only use the words to underpin the symbolic illustrations you create; don't let them dominate. Make big or small images, but make them strong symbols for you.
If you want to incorporate other things such as objects that have personal significance that's fine, just make sure you can get them in and out of the Canari. These things don't have to stay in there permanently - we will be opening and closing the Canari at various stages over the retreat, or as you need to.
The main thing to keep in mind is that whatever goes into the Canari should not be a trivial decoration. Whatever goes in must be soulful and hold symbolic significance.
The next step:
You'll need to wrap the Canari so that the contents won't come out easily. I really wanted to match something like the mummification process used in Ancient Egypt and so I bought several meters of bandaging from a Chemist - it even came with a handy bandage-clip to hold the wrapped Canari securely.
Later, I added some hemp-string, wrapping it into a symbolic shape of the Marassa (the divine twins in Vodoun). For me the Marassa are an expression of 'me' and 'myself' ('my soul').
