How do you use a wassi?

Wassis are mainly known in Surinamese culture. A wassi or bath is an expulsion. It drives away ghosts, black magic, curses, family curses and much more. There are hebi watras (heavy wassis) that include this. But you also have switi watra: a wassi to attract good luck or to recharge after a difficult period. Some people also simply use the baths once in a while, out of habit or for maintenance. It is a beautiful connection with nature. As the name might suggest, a wassi is something to shower or bathe with. Then you and your aura are washed clean.

After all, that is what wassis consist of: different herbs. Especially from the interior of Suriname. Think of asafesida/asafoetida, which in itself is also known for its expelling effect. But also consider other ingredients such as garlic or like blue, which is also for sale in shops here.

Everything about wassis

De hebi watra, 'heavy bath', is in my opinion the most used and best known. If you suffer from being touched, see shadows, sleep poorly, have financial problems or are simply afraid that you are cursed, you go to someone to take a wash. Some go to Suriname especially for this. Fortunately, they often combine this with family visits. The herbs in the baths are a mixture of expelling or cleansing herbs. Earlier I mentioned blue and asafesida, but also consider jorkapesi which contains the word jorka, which is a kind of spirit. These herbs often have a dispelling effect on their own and the combination of them makes it a success. People can also make mistakes when making the wassi and accidentally forget a spice. Then the wassi doesn't work.

Switi watras are more likely to consist of cleansing or charging herbs such as Florida water. These are used for specific purposes such as better luck when applying for jobs, but more often they are used after a hebi watra to recharge from their fatigue.

What is a washi for?

Although intended respectfully, wassis are sometimes deployed too quickly. It works excellently on djinns, bakroes, withdrawals, curses and black magic, but sometimes there is something slightly different at play. A curse or magic in the house cannot be removed with a wassi. After all, the blockage is not on you, but in the house. This also applies to voodoo that is done to you through food and drink that makes you feel unwell.

Sometimes it is also forgotten that someone is not feeling well from a medical point of view. It is important to also pay attention to this or include it in a luku. Sometimes the earthly and spiritual have even more connection than you might think. Magic or voodoo, something negative sent from outside, comes to hang in your aura. It bites into you. Causes bad luck or misery. If you remove this voodoo, sometimes residues remain in your aura. That's because it bites harder into diseases. A wassi can't solve that. By removing earthly factors, voodoo complaints disappear.

Using a wassi

A bath often has specific instructions. This often means that you can shower with the bag for a specific number of times. Think of 2 times a day for 3 days. You usually also use a candle for this. Black or red for removing spirits or curses and white for charging or attracting. With the red and black candle, it is important that you do not light it while bathing because at those times you are vulnerable to attacks from spirits. It's actually a fairly harmless ritual if you keep the rules in mind.

At some point you're done with the number of days of bathing and it's time to throw the bag away. Everyone does this differently too. The candle can often be thrown in the trash. The bag is usually thrown away in running water. It is important not to look when you throw it away and you can assume that the ghost tries one last time to convince you to look back. This can result in allegedly hearing someone shout, tripping, feeling like your body is being turned around, or discovering that your car is facing the water.

Sometimes someone has to let you shower. That is the method they have learned and continue to use. You must then bathe at a special area of ​​water and you can often keep your clothes on.