End of the Year Ceremony for the Ancestors

Today four sisters in Vodou went to the bay to offer our prayers to the ancestors and lwa. We constructed a simple raft and sent our words and offerings out to sea. I didn't realize until later that most of my photos centered on Abena. I was simply drawn, perhaps, to her devotion--so deep, so open.

Abena: "TODAY at the OCEAN building a Raft . .. to send out my PRAYERS to MY/OUR ANCESTORS . . .
The Sun came out BRIGHTLY . . . WE SHINE! The CIRCLE became STRONGER for the Right Reasons . . .
AYIBOBO . . . AYIBOBO . . . AYIBOBO . . . ASHE"