Blues Men go to the Crossroads
There is a legend that lives among blues men about the crossroads. Perhaps you have heard of it or seen movies that tell of it. I want to explain my perspective on it and hopefully dispel some of the evil connotations that Hollywood and hearsay have perpetuated.
Let's Make a Deal
A musician does not sell his soul to the devil. First of all the guardian of the crossroads is not the devil. The whole legend has nothing to do with Satan.
The devil story only perpetuates because the average story-perpetuating type person finds that one easier to understand. It's the old pre-christian, devil's bondservant legend; "A person trades his immortal soul for some mundane thing he wants to get without working for it. Without his soul he ends up miserable anyway and the devil adds another soul to his tally." The real legend is much better. The roots of this legend are in Hoodoo, the African American traditional folk magic. The crossroads represent the place where the spirtual magic world meets the mundane. The keeper of the threshold between them is the man to deal with if one wants to obtain skills. He doesn't give a person wealth and power in exchange for his soul. He is a teacher, one who opens the way. Skills of manual or physical dexterity and knowledge are the prize. The price is simply a willingness and desire to attain them. It could be the skills of a musician, dancer, actor, gambler etc. Sounds easy huh?
Here's The Creepy Part
Simply show up at the crossroads at the right time and bring your instrument. Bring the instrument you desire to become proficient at; musical intrument, dice, shoes, voice whatever. I'm writing about blues men so let's say you want to become a blues entertainer. Bring your instrument to the crossroads. The crossroads can be any crossing of two traveled routes. It can be two roads, streets, paths, even game trails. Just so two of them cross and living things travel them. There are different teachings as to what time to be there. Some say midnight, some say dawn, all of them pertain to darkness. Some say to bring graveyard dirt with you, I guess it adds to the spookiness.
Start playing and the legend says a living thing will approach you or go past you. Usually it speaks of animals coming around first. Could be any animal but it will always be black. After that a black man will approach. Not a man of black race, a man who is the color black. This appearance is accompanied by wind, noise or other general spookiness and at this point it is important that you keep playing. If he does not show up the first night you must return again and again up to nine nights until he does. Now the legend says that the man will do one of several things; pass by at lightning speed, take your instrument and tune it, play it, or just inspect it or ask you questions. You are to co-operate and not run away no matter how scary it gets. Once this encounter is past you will have new-found skills. That's the story anyway.
Was it the devil?
The black man was the keeper of the threshold represented by the crossroads. African folk religions call him Legba. Voodoo calls him Ellegua. In ancient Rome he was Mercury. In India he is called Bhairava. In Mexico he is Maximon or Saint Simon. Many names but the role is the same he is the spirit who opens the way, guards the crossroads, and teaches wisdom.
Want to try it?
Now I want to talk to any blues men who may happen to be reading this. If you are not superstitious and it would never even occur to you to try something like this then glean what novelty you can from the information I have provided. If you are of the type that may think "Magic can't hurt. Might be something to it?" and you are curious about this legend...are you curious enough to try it? Just be sure you know what you are wishing for. And be sincere in your motives. Looking for an easy way to become a good musician without work is not going to turn out pleasant. If you want to be a blues musician you are going to have to work and practice at it. That's what good musicians do. And being a blues musician may mean you have to stop being what you were to become something that may not be so glamorous as you thought. One night when you are coming home from a gig and you stop at a remote crossroads and it happens to be around midnight. Take out your axe and start playing. A lot of times nothing will happen but sometimes... Did I ever try it myself you ask? Well that is one of the things about practicing Hoodoo; you can't tell anybody about it or you ruin it.
Want to know more?
If you want to research the crossroads ritual past my personal theories and get real information
on it go to the Crossroads page on Cat Yronwodes' Lucky Mojo site. Tell her The Dutchman sent ya.
0 comments:
Post a Comment