Surviving a World of Feux-folets

I too, am a woman of my past. A past I cannot and should not escape. I was born to be a French traiteuse -- part spiritual visionary and sometimes a healer of the heart, but never a sorcerer, not believing in them. My ways are those of the old ones and the only things I know well, are those of long ago. I knew them even as a child.

All in a dream, the old man would fill my head with gibberish about my destiny as a traiteuse, as he whispered in Cadien -- "Many believe in them, many do not. They are the children of the long forgotten ones. I am one and so are you. Our traditions say that my knowledge can only be passed down from me to a younger person in the family. That person must be of the opposite sex. I learned it from Grandmere Julienne Marie Babin. You shall learn it from me. Someday, you will pass it on to a young man in the family who is suitable for this gift."

"I will instruct you how alligator grease relieves asthma, a buried potato cures warts, about the different kinds of wild teas, how to brew home-made cough syrup, how cactus cures sugar, and so much more. However, you must always remember that it is your prayers that contain the real power -- for they whisper in the very busy ears of God. It is He and He alone who can heal all that ails man."

"Someday you will travel to far away places and you will encounter many of our own kind. The may not be Cajun, however, do not be deceived. They might be old, young, rich or poor; they may be of other races. Never-the-less, you will know them when you see them and they will instantly recognize you, when they look back into your eyes. You have one very important job. It is your purpose and duty to use your gifts to restore to them what has been denied to them by others. Do not fail!"

Check out today's submission to Helium.com with the short family story handed down for generations, part Cajun French and part Wyandot at:

http://www.helium.com/items/1045142-woman-began-stories-people

Lagniappe -- Something Extra

2008-05-14T10:25:00.001-04:00

With me, there's always been something extra, usually a wildcard -- something extra that others didn't count on, couldn't count on, that took them by surprise.

As a Cajun-American, I’m aware that most people aren’t familiar with the word “lagniappe” (pronounced lắ́n̕ yãp̒). The concept applied in the most simple of terms, defines my ideal approach to anything in life.

To learn more, go to my Helium.com link: http://www.helium.com/items/1035620-cajun-american-aware-people

Today and everyday are "something extra days." Hope you make your day one too!

Surviving a World of Feux Folets

2008-05-12T17:07:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my blog, where you will see the world through the eyes of a Cajun. In case you don't know what feux-folets are -- they are false guiding lights. I know a lot about them, because I've followed a few.

In Cajun legends, feux-folets were once very bad men who had become possessed by the Devil. Their job on earth was to find other people who could be turned into feux-folets. They appeared as Devil lights on the swamp, and their sole purpose was to tricher -- trick you. If you were traveling in Louisiana, they would appear before you as a guiding light. They looked like balls of fire drifting up from the ground. They bounced off fence posts, sometimes lingering to play wih the airy arms of spanish moss hanging in the trees. Occasionally, they would even hurtle right at you. If you followed one, you could be sure it would purposely lose you in the swamp. Then, you would never be able to get to your destination.

Well, we're not in a swamp in Louisiana on this blog site, but you'll find the life of one woman whose seen more than most people can imagine.