Oral hygiene, the mouth, divination and working with the dead

Spiritual hygiene such as cleansings was given an introduction in a previous blogpost.
As well another blogpost covered how the dead can affect a living persons physical health.

Looking at the liver of a sacrificed or animal killed to divine a physical illness, often the entrails or gut and liver of the animal was looked at. This often would show negative energy removed from a person or divinatory information. Likewise the gut, liver and intestines of a person are often affected by negative energy.
Bowels have been related metaphorically to lower realms or "hell" where there is the stench of sulfur, feces/excrement and to lower energetic frequency.

The other area is the bones and teeth related to saturnine aspects of the dead, the material and death...a skeleton.
Omens such as dreaming of teeth falling out is said to portend a death in the family.

The mouth and teeth are related to digestion and our ability to nourish ourself for health and life to eat to take in energy. If we do not eat we do not live and will waste away as if something was feeding on our energy. As well as to express and defend ourself "tooth and nail". We may not be literally biting people but if we look at symbolism and how that plays out on energetic realms such as with totems and the use of animal parts in folk magic such as horn and fang in protection and warrior traditions, it also relates to being a human/animal in warfare or fight and flight.

With divination in the ATRS (african religions) many refresh their shells used for divination with coconut water and cleanse the instruments with cigar smoke. The devices are instructed that the mouths of the shells, or tarot cards used speak truthfully and accurately. This is done in some Yoruban faiths because misfortune causes the divination devices to be inaccurate unless they are cleansed. One Espiritismo Cruzado prayer of tobacco, asks that may the spirits that speak through the sacred smoke of this tobacco... and through the spiritual fluids communicate as such with purity.

In Palo, a communal drink of chamba is used for several reasons. One being practical to decrease illness by cleansing the mouth, sickness believed to be caused by bad spirits. The drink contains antimicrobial substances like alcohol/rum steeped with ingredients such as hot peppers, ginger and garlic. Some recipes contain bone powder and sticks from different species and is made or human consumption or for feeding items and spirits only. It is buried in the earth, a tomb to absorb the energies of the universe and the ground. Chamba again has many applications, but it is believed the dead can cause cavities and residue from their energy can rot inside holes in the teeth. Coconut products were also possibly used as daily routine in personal care, such as with oil pulling in the mouth which is spat out after swishing for minutes.

Despite not having modern dentistry many areas of the world with tropical climates did not have as many dental problems as we see in modern cities. Natural products like these were used in traditional medicines and preventative remedies....
Still, it is a good idea to be up on your regular care and appointments.

Chamba drink is swallowed and is also a form of internal cleansing against witchcraft affecting the body, or if injested in our food that someone laced with witchcraft. In days of slavery poisons, insects, dirts etc were often put in rivals and slavemasters food and drink. Popular today is a love spell where women put heir menstral blood in their mens food like spaghetti sauce to try to dominate them and ensure fidelity. So be careful about who you accept food and gifts from! This is why some will not accept or have prohibitions on leaving drinks around especially dark drinks that can mask what people have put in.

My post on Mama Juana describes a Caribbean native medicinal drink made to also cleanse the body of witchcraft as well as detox the gut, liver and gallbladder area, and can help many disease process. Detox of the body is a good idea in general to help elevate your energy, increase spiritual faculties and health.

You can also do this with coffee fixed how you like or dandelion root tea sweetened with honey, as it is bitters and a digestive tract cleanse. It is dark in color and therefore is good for "banishing" or cleansing. Speak and pray over it to intend to cleanse your digestive intestinal organs and body, to remove any negativity, sorcery, witchcraft and stagnation before drinking. To make a ritual of it light a white tea light candle along with your beverage.

Myself I spray rum with my mouth to clean areas and feed and connect with spirits and use my energy, there is a great supply of personal power of Ashe upon the saliva. Often times sweat/scent or unbrushed mouth has a persons energy connected to it so spirits can find you faster with Vodou, or with bad spirits, which is why we change our clothes, linens and do spiritual breakings and cleansings with worn dirty clothing.

But also make a point to brush my teeth before misa or when I know I will be speaking during spiritual readings so that I too may speak via spirit and work cleanly and speak accurately to remove obstacles to our work with higher entities.

The mouth is a gateway or portal. The holy spirit and gift of tongues are mentioned many times in the bible, and about the mouth of God, and even in genesis how the spoken word leads to creation or manifestation from the spiritual to the physical world. The mouth is an opening and energy center of the body, blood circulation under the tongue supplies ready energy to the breath, along with the lungs during speech to create a vibrational current, and in the use of breath in spiritual works to charge and awaken such as blowing Vodou powders to the 4 winds.



For what is the language of the birds? It is not literally understanding a bird chirping..hahaha The birds carry our prayers to the spirits in our ceremony, the feathers and wings are metaphors of airy spirit flight.
It is to speak and communicate with spirit(s). And there are much deeper secrets than these.

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

John 20:22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them,and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

I will also wash my hands if a bath for some reason was not performed with florida water.
There are certain Lwa who will not touch earth in their horses, nor interact with the community unless strict cleanliness has been observed.

Hope that these words have been illuminating for you,
until next time,
Sancista Siete Enruzhiladas

The Caldero Espiritual in Espiritismo: congo spiritual pot

The Lucumi and Congo cauldrons, not Espiritismo or our caldero espiritual

There has been much misunderstanding of the caldero espiritual in espiritismo, which IS NOT an nganga nor an Ogun pot. They may look very similar, but they are made differently and serve completely different functions. People may laugh and say its an invention, but it has become part of Espiritismo occasionally in more recent times, even if it can be described as quasi "bootleg". Please I mean no offence to anybody.

Ogun is the Orisha spirit responsible for war, technology and smithcraft

taken from the seven worlds

photo Ogun fundamento above from Santeria Church of the Orishas

This is received with the warriors if I am not mistaken, before entering as a priest in kariocha ceremony for the beginners own usuage under a godparent. You cannot just make your own as I saw one well known wicca, hoodoo "Mama" do. Receiving the Ogun Orisha proper I think would be in the soup tureens as with other Orisha in Lucumi, Ocha, improperly called Santeria. Please speak to a Santero, Oriate or Santera to clarify. I can only properly speak to my traditions of Sanse and Espiritismo, but do so to compare the best I can.

Below basic as sold from botanica

Nganga: Belonging to Cuban Palo sects:

taken from annetrent.com

First I would like to say I am not in the beautiful, fierce religion of Palo. You should seek a priest out to verify anything I say about it. I do have Palo brothers and sisters, even my godparents are in Palo so I have much respect for the tradition.

Originally the Palero or the Tata was the nganga, the pacted spirit of the dead or nfumbe is placed within the priest during initiation or rayarse, rayamento, this is still done within certain Mayombe sects of nganguleros.  The priest was the pot. We do not have an nfumbe, and we do not work with their higher misterios (like Orisha or Lwa) called Mpungo. The nganga is also called a prenda "jewel" or kindembo. They will keep this usually in a shed or outbulding under lock, not a great idea in your house. Whereas we tend to keep our caldero next to the white table in front or on the left with the Congos.

Their pot is fed blood, tobacco, and rum infused chamba, and within is nfumbe also called kongome (human bone), who are somewhat chained, some is through agreement, education, elevation, for good and mutual benefit, some are soley as their dogs kept ignorant and earthbound. 

Nkisi nfuiri are a fetish made between the dead and an mpungo. Usually seen as nail driven to inform the will, or mark feats, not to torture a spirit or individual.

                                                                              Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Our spirits are free and are of light for the most part, and there is nothing to stop them from leaving, except if they are guides they have been contracted by God for the most part before birth. They would leave by our bad behavior and by not attending them. Spirits may stick around because they like their goodies, they like us, or do not have any other option for elevation, or like the work. Other dead we do not force them to work, we have no guardian Mpungo for it, so you must be strong in your spiritual frame or court, and as a spiritualist to control the portal. This is a point of ridicule, but if you send a nfumbe out its not in the pot any longer...well there are things there I do not understand. I am guessing because they are heavier more material yet immaterial capable of great and precise effects apon the world, and cannot leave the earth plane either, anchored by the blood. Elevated spirits are not chained to the earth realm like nfumbe. According to my reference at the end of this blog post the nfumbes who are most chosen" but instead can perceive, feel and meddle in the affairs of the living. They are spirits who are not yet ready to accept that their lives have ended, belonging to people who perished in dramatic, violent, unexpected, premature or unconscious. Often victims of accidents, crimes, fights and wars, sudden or early, suicidal diseases (although it seems contradictory, most suicides take their own lives to avoid suffering and humiliation, but do not really want to die), children and mentally disturbed. Sorcerers seek out this type of nfuiris to agree with them and support their nkisis, not because they like so, but because they are the easiest to convince and manipulate and stronger and more effective to work.."

Because our pot is not an nganga, we do not scratch over it/ initiate others into Palo because we have no license, and do not have the pact with the ancient Congo ancestors or Bakulu from which their religion and tools function. Repeat: we have no license to operate the same.

The function of the spiritual Caldero or Cardero

Through pots of the dead both espiritistas and Palero/as can mount the dead, so it is imperative that you have control of your boveda and can independantly hold misa first, as well as mounting spirits and exorcisms.  You must be strong in your spiritual faculties and spiritual frame and relationships. Mounting the dead can cause gradual wear and tear on your energy body resulting in poor physical health if mismanaged. You should in my opinion, be a baptised and crowned Espiritista for some protection, and the knowledge of how to create this, unless it is out of thin air. We don't just put whatever in pots and dolls in our house.

Taken from pintrest, author unknown

We may have another smaller empty 3 leg cauldren kept to Candelo Lwa in Sanse on the divsional table, but this is not prepared, usually for candles, placing objects temporarily for him to watch over, and offerings like candles. Sanse is heavily congo influenced, as all our beats in music are conga drum "palos". The drums were made from a trunk or tree hollow section with skin stretched over. Palo means stick, from a tree.

You may have a congo, or several verified congo spirit guides, some may be Myomberos from Lisa in Africa, or from Cuban Palo. They may ask you for their cauldron and suggest items to place within it. In this case it is no different than creating a spirit guide doll as a bench for the spirit. The spirit is free and of a high elevation of the commissions of guides. Because they practiced this religion in life, they still continue to do so. Some people who have madamas, they happen to be congo, or their Francisco or Francisca guides are congo. This is Espiritismo and not of Palo. I have a congo spear for my congo, and a guava stick garabato, but he has been extremely picky about the black ebony and ironwood busts I have been looking at to represent him, and they need to be culturally relevant.

They are able to use their pots in some capacity. It is also in my tradition a portal or house to the dead, but this is controversial and not in every lineage. This would be closer to Palo Monte, in which some use no bone nor are to harm (supposedly), but do animal sacrifice?.  "Both are natives educated, very "muerteros" or spiritual, but working without nfumbe or kongome (human bones), and therefore without nkisi, only with nfuiris, elementary mpungus (pure forces of nature, like fire, sea, the moon and stars) and saints, who are nfuiris very advanced spirits bright. That's why spiritual garments not serve to harm, such as palo monte, and are characterized by work with flowers, herbs, offal and rogaciones, to cleanse, heal, save, protect and provide prosperity to their owners and their godchildren, enriched with elements of Santeria, the Afro-Cuban Xianmalongo rule arises, also called Shamalongo or simply Malongo (nature)." For which the coconut discs used in divination in these systems are also called after chamalongos, originally from kola nuts in Yoruba religion.

 It is not really the connection to ancestors, but it could be, or to those who reject the boveda, but you must be very careful. We are not really muerteros or necromancers, unless it is a side venture, but we do have "necessary" spirits, or can go get some dead. Hopefully you have good spirit discernment and are not foolish enough to do this without knowing how to work safely, be protected and respectful, and to get them in the cemetery, and in many natural places. Taught by godparents, not by reading, watching videos, and internet searches. It is of benefit to be in Sanse and have a good relationship with the Baron chief of the Ghede, or whoever holds the gate for you in the cemetery. For us it is Ghede Limbo. Remember, Sanse and Espiritismo is a tradition of light, spiritual progress, elevation and truth for the incarnated and disincarnated human spirits. This influences very much how we treat people, our morals or ethics, and work with our dead. Call it weak because its not a tool of destruction for us, but not even every Palo priest works their nganga that way for bad, unless it is for protection. It is just a different tool and focus of our tradition.

The pot also is connected to nature, of the elements, animal spirits, and the stars as well as this world and the realm of the dead.

The offerings given to our caldero are rum (usually white), perfumes, tobacco, candles (red, black, white & depending on intention), plants and incense, to help them come forwards. We pray and sing our songs to it.

To "to give body to the spirits who come to your call and avoid physical wear that will produce the constant possessions, as happens to the classic pure spiritualists or only avail themselves of trance and do not mix their spiritual abilities with witchcraft. Their work will not be as violent and precise as those of a Nkisi Tata, but much more varied and effective than a classic spiritualist practically limited to contact the spirits to query and transmit messages to their loved ones."

According again to the reference, "The nfuiris can help alerting them alive dangers, telling them the good way, cleaning and harmonizing the spiritual energy of his aura to heal physical and mental illnesses of spiritual origin and protecting them against spiritual attacks of dark entities, such as nfumbes and ndokis, but they can do little against a disease of physical origin or against attacks that occur by accident, violence and social circumstances, as to influence the earthly plane for both attack and defense, a lot of energy source material is required, the nfuiris which lack.This is the reason why the nfuiris not serve to hurt and nfumbes yes; not because some are good and some bad, but because nfuiris are high and free spirits...based on family, affinity or kinship"

You need to know your spiritual frame will influence the components and the container:

wood/earth, water/clay, or fire/iron cauldron, 

some use a birds nest or hang them from the ceiling with feathers for air in Palo, they also used coconuts and gourds as vessels.

Originally they were made in cloth or burlap sacks, and in animal heads until Cuba, although some may still be done that way they are more biodegradable. They would sometimes bury this at the base of holy trees, as they were a nomadic and warrior hunter tribe, they could not always bring it on expeditions or if it was heavy or large. They used to be small, some still are smaller than the priests head, but have gotten huge in modern era. They would instead bring their mpaka which is linked to the nganaga, a horn filled with secrets, sealed with a mirror, which is also a scrying device of sight that can be linked to a certain Mpungo. They at times place this on top of their nganga. We do not have this either.

This is more witchcraft, such as the European and Greek necromantic cauldrons. One meaning of the froth coming out of the sterotypical halloween image of the encanting crone witches cauldron is the witches brew rising seething, the seizure of shaking spirit possesion, and as well the mist of the dead and spiritual fluids or gasses, like the bubbles in the water glass on the boveda white table.

But this is Congo witchcraft sorcery.

The closest thing our cauldron is, I have discovered to Palo is the free "nfuiri" dead of the branch of Palo Monte. 

referenced below Nkisio Nfuiri

What else goes in the Caldero espirituale:

Before you make this pot: You should already know how to make guide dolls, and be able to have practiced preparing different spiritual objects such as amulets or guards. We create things partly via spiritualism, what the spirits say to add, but also have a basic recipe and understanding of what goes in there, as well as with specially procured sticks, stones, plants and dirts. You should also already have a super solid regular spiritual hygiene and cleansing schedule of yourself and entire home.

The most common calderos in espiritsmo is a larger 3 legged iron cauldron for a cuadro of spirits that are mostly congo spirits. A clay pot for those who have a spiritual entourage that are mostly cooler spirits such as los indios, native americans. Even if you have a congo. Also depending on your major element, it will influence some of the material that goes within, such as relevant animal parts, a crucifix, tools, coins, things related to certain professions, charms, personal effects, mirrors, minerals and dirts (ntotos) of certain areas to give it identity.

This is also the same type of pot used to house or guardian angel Lwa or met tet, as well as if we have recieved or Indio cazuela in this same type. It would make more sense to receive this first unless your court is mainly Congo. Mine is in a painted clay vessel, because it cracked in postage from Florida to my home state, and is all placed within. I only took my head pot back on the plane with me. We only have possibly these three pots, all others are in dolls, or beside a doll if the statue cannot be hollowed for guides. Again, we do not make a pot for every Lwa like they do in Lucumi in the casserole pots for each Orisha.

Indio cazuelas, called a Tindjo in 21 divisions Dominican Vodou

There are secret ways to cleanse the container and prep it before you add in the order of ingredients. You then add in the foundation of dead. It is also buried a special place, then shown to the sun after a certain number of days. The priest must also prepare themself spiritually, observe taboos and make certain ritual observances.

Besides the things mentioned, various weapons can be placed within at the end after the sticks. You can even place a plastic or fake skull on top.

The pot is not usually marked, and we do not use firmas or, the petipembas of Palo spirit signatures. You can mess yourself up directionally, and have lineage behind them if you do. You can draw something else with cascarilla chalk if you wish on it, such as a cross. You can tie it with certain relevant color ribbon as your spirit directs in the flavor of the pot, it is usually not painted.

Things which are more controversial and not done in every espiritismo or Sanse lineage

With the pot you can make use of a line of directional low grade gunpowder (fula) beside on a cement floor, or on a tablet of cement, if you have the knowledge and guidance. You can do work over the pot after you have awoken it. You can add and take things out for specific purposes. Your congo spirit will direct you.

If you have Palo in your temple or spiritual house they can help with the construction but it is not necessary. This is very controversial but you can add human bone if you know what you are doing and is legally procured IF I was to do this. A Palero can also sacrifice a rooster into it when it is first awoken, and not usually ever again after. Animal sacrifice is not commonly required or trained to be done in Sanse and Espiritismo. However you must understand full the implications if it, and spirits can get very scary and hungry expecting more if they are not properly instructed and come after you and drain everyone around you including your pets.

I have not decided what I will do exactly for mine as I come into my maturity in my tradition, 

but I have been cleared and am confident to do so.

I expect this to be one of my more controversial posts which is not often a subject talked about from those who are Espiritistas. Please feel free to correct me constructively.

Please ask any questions if I can answer, and ask your godparents for guidance. If you want to know more about Palo, I encourage to ask a Palero or Palera.

Reference: Myself, my spirits, my godfather and brother. Any errors can only be my own.

The italic purple references above were taken and translated from:

 https://palomontenegro.blogspot.com/search/label/espiritismo

XOXO
1010
Sancista7crossroads

Care of the dying and newly passed over

While they are passing
Encompasses many things and dependent on their ability to participate such as counselling, cleansing baths, counselling for the family, organizing a will, palliative care team planning, and completion of a bucket list. Speak to them when you visit and hold their hand because hearing is one of the last sense to be lost. No one knows the last date we will be in our physical body in this incarnation. The prayer for the sick, and the medium who heals can be of benefit from Allan Kardec's book of selected prayers.
If you are knowledgable with psalms certain ones can be said or use Acts 19:11-12 in the bible for healing. Even if their death is imminent it can improve symptoms or help spiritual healing.
It gives peace and consolation to the person who is dying, and to process their suffering to be of benefit as they think on their life.
It can also help to pray for the wisdom and compassion of the health care team, to get the care and attention the patient needs.

A water glass is often placed at the bedside of the sick and dying to purify, and have a portal for the spirit to go through when they pass.

Some of the prayer can be found in the references and links below.

Act of prayer:
A white candle, a clear water glass is needed for this.
Cleansing and purifying the material and spiritual aspect to ease transition, assists to call their spirits to help them transition, and orient them, awaiting them on the other side of the door of mortality to decrease their confusion. Pray that the good ancestors will greet them when it is time. Purifying them will lessen the shock of transition and gain light spiritually by lighting them white candles. Lighting white candles also dedicated to their spirit guides and higher spirits will empower their spirits to be better able to assist them as well. It protects them from outside influences, and to help further elevate them for spiritual progress and healing spiritually. This will assist them also to have a better reincarnation when it is time. We have lived many lives and our soul is eternal. This will also help their ti bon ange, ghost self or personality to be maintained for ancestral veneration at a later date.

Speak from the heart or paraphrase: I light this candle and offer this water to (name) and thier spirit guides, good ancestors and higher spirits, cleansing and purifying the material and spiritual aspects to ease transition. Upon passing orient them, awaiting them on the other side of the door of mortality to decrease their confusion. Good ancestors greet them when it is time. May this light spiritually empower you to be better able to assist. Protect them from outside influences, and help further elevate them for spiritual progress and healing spiritually. Our soul is eternal, and I will continue to assist (name) on your journey, with love. May it be so.

After death
Mass for the dead is usually done in church funerary rites and funeral home services in western culture first. They usually will hang out around their body at the hospital, home or grave site around 9 days after they have passed. You can still speak to them here. Flowers are traditionally given to the dead and not to the Orisha, and will also help them spiritually. White is the best color. Otherwise just a white candle and water, holy water should be given at this time in a clean space, and on a white cloth if desired.

After burial or cremation you can preform an elevation, hopefully they have released emotional attachment to their body they have shed and start transitioning to spiritual realms if they have not already and depending on the type of life they lead and manner of death.

 9 night novena candle elevation
Fire, though divided, suffers no loss. It may pass from candle to candle and grow in number, while remaining one from the source.
This is done at least nine nights after they have passed and have had the funeral, done for 9 nights.
For 9 nights take a white novena candle which has been cleansed and dedicated to God, the persons spiritual court and ancestors to help the person along with the clean water glass each day. The water can be held up to the sun and visualise it taking on light. 

NEVER blow this candle out, it can be placed in a fireproof dish or on a baking sheet. Anoint the candle with a cleansing, olive oil, or protection oil from the bottom up. Lift this candle up and just state this general dedication, you may write their name if desired on it. You are going to need several because they will only last 2-3 days. Each night move up from the lowest to gradually the highest part of your house on a clean surface during your prayer session. You can perform the sign of the cross and imbue this with light to provide a spiritual crossroad or doorway for them, and begin to pray. You can state as I lift up this candle, I also elevate this spirit.

This is not crossing a spirit over, however this can be the end result. You should be clean and maintain pure thoughts, and any words that are heartfelt. Concentrate on the light, and giving light emanating from a higher source, and through yourself. You should be taking spiritual baths to assist this process, and keep your energy clean and together. Dress in white or light colors no brown or black. Describe the water you have given for purification and to quench their thirst, describe the candle to help them see, orient them and give them warmth and energy.

Crossing a spirit over can be dangerous if they are earthbound or angry who can turn into a standoff or battle, and began to take you over or attach to you and influence your life, so its better if you have support of a spiritualist. This is why their manner of death must be taken into consideration if they were extremely mentally ill or died of violence or suicide. What I am describing is a very simplified process. However most normal dead people are extremely grateful and accepting of the help, no matter what their religion was in life. and may not have other options. You should get a feeling of grace, triumph or exhaltation, clean energy and peace.

Prayer for the newly "fallen" who have died, or passed over

PREFACE:

Prayers for those who have just left the Earth are not for the exclusive purpose of showing our sympathy. They also have the effect of helping to release them from their Earthly ties, and in this manner shorten the period of perturbation which always follows the separation, so allowing a more peaceful awakening on the other side. Nevertheless, in this case, as in all other circumstances, the efficacy depends on the sincerity of the thought and not on the quantity of words offered with more or less solemnity in which very frequently the heart does not participate.

Prayers which truly come from the heart encounter a resonance in the Spirit to whom they are directed, whose ideas are still in a state of confusion, as if they were friendly voices come to awaken them from sleep (See The Gospel According To Spiritism, chapter 27, item 10).

PRAYER:

Almighty God, may Your mercy be shown to the soul of X . . . whom You have just called back from Earth. We beg and implore that the trials suffered here may be counted in their favor and that our prayers may soften and shorten the penalties still to be suffered in the Spirit form!

Good Spirits who came to fetch this soul, and most especially their Guardian Angel, help them to free themself from matter. Give them light and a consciousness of themself so that they may quickly leave the state of perturbation, inherent in the passing from the body back to the spiritual life. Inspire in their Spirit a repentance for all errors and faults committed and a desire to obtain permission to remedy them, so as to quicken their advancement in the direction of the life of those who are eternally blessed.

And you, … ., who have just entered into the World of the Spirits, we wish to say that despite this fact, you are still with us; you hear and see us, since you have merely left the perishable physical body, which will quickly be reduced to dust.

You have left the gross envelope which is subject to vicissitudes and death, now retaining only your etheric body which is imperishable and inaccessible to material suffering. If you no longer live through a physical body, you live instead through your Spirit, and the spiritual life is free from those miseries which afflict humanity.

You no longer have over your eyes the veil which hides the splendors of the future existence from us. Now you may contemplate new marvels, while we remain bathed in darkness.

You may travel through space and visit the worlds in all liberty, while we still painfully drag ourselves about here on Earth, prisoner in our material bodies, which are like heavy armor.

The infinite horizons stretch themselves before you, and on seeing their grandeur you will understand the vanity of terrestrial desires, of worldly aspirations and the futility of the so-called joys to which Man delivers himself.

For Man, death is nothing more than a separation from matter, lasting but a few instants. From this place of exile in which we continue to live according to the Will of God, and with the duties we still have to fulfill in this world, we will continue to follow you in thought till the moment when it is permitted for us to join you once again, just as now you are reunited with those who preceded you.

We cannot go to where you are, but you may come here. So come then to those who love you and whom you love; help them in the trials of life; watch over those who are dear to you; protect them as much as you are able; lessen the bitterness of absence by suggesting to them the thought that now you are happier and that one day, for certain, you will again be reunited in a better world.

In the place you are now, you must extinguish all earthly resentments. You must hold yourself inaccessible to them now, for the sake of your future happiness! Therefore forgive all those who may have incurred debts towards you, just as those against whom mistakes were committed now forgive you.

There are other prayers which can be recited such as the prayer for the suffering spirits

PRAYER:

God of clemency and mercy, may Your goodness extend to all the Spirits we have recommended to You in our prayers, especially the Spirit of X .

Good Spirits, whose only occupation is to do good, intercede together with me for their relief’. Make a ray of hope shine before their eyes and enlighten them as to the imperfections which maintain them distant from the homes of the blessed. Open their hearts to repentance and the desire to cleanse themselves, so they may accelerate their advancement Make them understand it is by their own efforts that they may shorten the duration of their trials.

May God, in all His goodness, give them the necessary strength to persevere with their good resolutions! May these words, infused with benevolence, soften their trials, so showing them that there are on Earth those who sympathize and wish them happiness.

A different version

For Suffering Souls Asking For Prayers
Kind and merciful God, may you extend your abundant mercy to include those who seek help from us.
Oh good and merciful spirits charged by God to instruct us, pray with us for the souls of those who would benefit from our positive thoughts. Make us vessels of Divine providence; enable us to share with the spirits of those who need light whatever light may have been granted us by that Great Spirit, the Creator of All. Amen

You can find these prayers in Allan Kardec's book of selected prayers, or the version by Candita Gual. 

No spiritist should be without a copy. It is of utmost utility.
There is within prayer for those facing imminent death.

There are some of the prayers linked here

and others here

I also suggest the books helping yourself with selected prayers by original publications.

After these 9 days then you need to let these spirits rest and have no further attempt at contact nor offerings for one full year. The spirits have their own journey, healing centers to go to and work and spirit lives to do. We do not want to keep them around here because it would be damaging to them and our grief process, until they are ready to visit which could take from 1 to 5 years or more for you to receive messages, and for them to be able to. They may even choose to reincarnate quickly if it is needed or their decision. However the person they were will remain as a spirit.

After one year, you can pay the Catholic church to preform a mass for the dead if you wish for a very nominal fee. This was traditionally done and sung because they believe most people go to a holding place or purgatory. This is a great charity we can do for a loved one. The church does this for those who are Catholics mostly, but also can be performed by those who know how in Espiritismo and Sanse, or by well versed spiritualists.

You can hold another elevation or have a Espiritismo misa seance as well or instead where you may receive messages and status update, then you can add them to boveda or ancestor altar if their status is good. A Palero or Santo can read them to see their disposition. 
The boveda or a white table can be placed in elevation for them using the water glass formation in a pyramid or the point of the ^ formation facing away like so on the table.
Otherwise experienced spiritualists mediums can guide you to further help them out.
There are other rites such as if they were a priest in the ATR's the casse canari: breaking of spiritual pot to seperate gros bon ange and met tet Lwa from the soul for rest. As well as taking care of their spiritual tools, other pots, and robes of office or spiritual clothing.
They can also call up the family member or priest into a govi clay pot for veneration.
A Haitian Vodou seance is done by some Mambos in a white tent on a streamlet or by the river and give trance messages to the person who enters.

Hopefully this will help alot of people out, and reassure them of life after death.
If you have any questions or need to clarify, just ask.

An end is just another beginning or chapter on your souls journey, 
light and progress,
Sancista Siete Encruzhiladas

The dead can feed off the living

Recently I have seen some pretty irresponsible "blood magic" in which individuals give their own blood to various spirits such as the random dead.

In one of these public cases their apprentice suffered organ failure and left as one of the reasons. In another case the person practicing hoodoo and supposedly Haitian family Voudou lineage doesn't believe that the dead can decrease your life force, but published conversations with their neopagan friend stating how they are an energy vampire feeding off others, and church functions. As well this person who works with the general dead had situations where a spirit held down their husband in bed. In another case, a well practiced individual does this responsibly with Goetic spirits and has a way to seal this connection off involved in contracts. So what is the mechanism for attack besides a malevolent dead slapping, tripping or scratching a person directly or just influencing their mind? If we believe a living human can take others energy why cannot the disincarnate.

It is generally well documented how ghosts can physically manifest and attack the living. Rarely deaths are attributed besides manipulating the victim. Some people claim they have white hairs at a young age from ghost fright. It is also a widely held belief that ghosts can feed off of negative energy or emotions and thus provoke fear in the individual. It has been evident that ghosts can use electrical equipment, or batteries as a power source to grow stronger and use this energy to manifest or communicate. So the dead can also use neutral or positive forms of energy such as a candle, or an excited crowd at the stadium.

While this post is not about blood offering, animals are given in african traditions and I have never seen or heard of people otherwise using their own blood. I have seen a video of a man who sung to a chicken in West Africa and it died as the spirit was taken. Personally I know that there is a song sung in Palo for the spirits to come and take the rooster without having to cut it in sacrifice over the nganga spiritual cauldren, also called a prenda. Pets that inadvertently touch it have been known to occasionally die. This is a taking of life and thus life force.When blood or food is offered to spirits, they eat the energy of it, not physically unless in physical mediumship of the body of the practitioner, but I have seen water glasses appear as if they have been drank from. The community then may eat the animal that was sacrificed if it has not been used for cleansing a person.The spirit does not necessarily drink blood like water, but the life energy on it, such as bringing life to or raising the dead.

Voudou is not for cursing as it is a religion of light, but there does exist an african practice of what can be considered folk magic of sending out the dead: known as envoi mort, expidition expedite to the Haitians. This can be done for any number of reasons both positive such as healing, somewhat neutral such as information gathering or negative. This is usually done under one of the Barons of the ghede, the more congo sorcery based Bokor traditions, the nfumbe in Palo or working with the anima sola or intraquil dead.

Taken from the bohemian blog

Oya/Yansa with Chango

As afro spiritualism such as Espiritismo combines the foundation of Kardecian euro spiritism, there are shared philosophies. It is believed that the soul can seperate from the personality. The spirit if earthbound is desperate and needs an energy source to maintain itself or face dissolution, and is unlikely to receive veneration. The energy field or peri-spirit envelope of the medium is used or some borrowed or siphoned by the dead to better come through and be able to communicate made up of spiritual fluids from the universal fluids of which the ghost and incarnate is made up from. Mediumship can be an exhaustive practice such as very active dreams or physical trance mediumship aka"possession". There is a saying of 3 drops of blood, that some of your life is taken by this practice. Healing hand passes also work on the principle of magnetism and adding or removing energy on ones body.

 Marefun Shango

Some people, especially physically active projective men have an abundance of virile magical life force or what they call in the Yoruban traditions "ashe" and may not notice this slow drain or as it becomes replaced or as some have an energy work practice of a way of storing and raising it in their spiritual bodies. Keeping the central channel strong, clean and centered or balanced also affords one some protection, as part of many cultures energy practices. The young, elderly, household animals or sick are thus more vulnerable.This could be partially why there are some taboos against working with certain spirits while woman are menstruating as the blood is attractive, a ready source, and prolonged bleeding or pain can result.

When one is said to have a spirit attachment what then is the mechanism of attack? Ill health is said to result from attacks such as diagnosable or especially undiagnosed or unimproved medical conditions as the underlying problem. The teeth have to be properly cared for, such as using good oral health care and coconut pulling to prevent this opening via cavities and gum bleeding. The teeth are symbolic as a mechanism of defense, and the ability of an organism to take in sustenance, feeding or nutrition for life. Any conditions such as mental problems can result or be aggravated impacting daily life.

The intestines or gallbladder and liver area may show signs of attack. The visceral organs of sacrificed animals were removed and divined as a seat of spirit after sacrifice by the Babylonians, Grecoromans, and Britons by reading the messages, energies and conditions. The Chinese also view this as an area symptomatic of spiritual attack. It is known to the Vedics as the solar plexus and point of distribution of life and spiritual energy. The Nahuatl in MesoAmerica view this energy as solar and linked to the parts of the soul, temperature and heat, life force in the blood, disease, aging and death called tonalli which resides and is divided into several areas of the body, such as the crown of the head, the heart and blood, the liver, and every living thing as well as ritual objects. Nicholas Frisvold on his blog serpent shed states, "and ihiyotl, the life force, resides in the liver, and is very much the province of La Negra", referring to an aspect of La Santisma Muerte. As the victim loses the ability to sustain themself, they lose energy, are lethargic, and further lose the ability to defend themself if the disease state and vampirism progresses. It can be difficult, especially for the lay person to remove a serious spiritual attachment.

The "aura" or energy shield around a person can indicate vitality, energy type and health of a person by those who have clairvoyance or the sight. It can be developed and strong, or weak. We actually have layers of energy bodies, but most people have heard of the astral body or dream body. This moon area is corresponded to the genital area. Although the dead are not strictly astral, some of them can hang out in the lower realm of it. Some cultures do associate the moon with the dead, as it is the heavenly representation at night, the opposite of life; the sun by day.

Sleep paralysis might just be part of a abnormal process of the sleep state. However many report presence of an entity or entities or implied malevolent spiritual source such as shadow people. This has been mythologically associated with succubus and incubus or witches sitting on the chest. It is viewed as spiritual attack and domination. The spirits can also feed off of sexual energy. Poltergeist activity is enhanced around sensitive people, repressed negativity, and teenagers when their hormones and sexual energy is potent and they are still relatively open and undeveloped. Life and life force is undeniably linked to sexual energy. The shape-shifting astral or dream attack can be symbolized as a bat, a vampiric, night flying creature. Some may say, these are not necessarily living or dead humans, but there is little spiritual difference. The dead can change their appearance at will. What some call demons are just different classes of spirits, including the dead who are misunderstood or angry, appearing and acting daemonic.

Some people have felt cold or hot energy spots or chills in the environment, and attribute this commonly to presence of the dead. Spirits actually show up as hot spots using heat readings of ghost hunting equipment. Like when you put on your jacket too long before going out in the winter, or coming out of a hot shower, the surrounding temperature feels colder than it is. The ghosts draw off energy and it feels cold as you lose energy like condensation of water of the outside of a cold glass in warmer ambient temperature like swamp coolers. When you feel hot or agitated the spirit is actually even more very close to you and overlapping your energy fluids and body.

When there is ritual tattoo, scarification or cutting, it impacts the spiritual body as a marking. There needs to be an opening or a carving or hollowing out of a space for something to be placed within. And such is also true on crowning or when the head is opened and then closed for spirit placement in initiations. The Yorubans have this Orisha and concept of the head and consciousness as Ori as a seat of luck and guidance, also connected to divination of the kola nut Obi. Later some people changed this to the coconut shell rounds instead.

By creating an open wound or cut upon the body, and then inviting and opening oneself up to the malevolent dead, disastrous consequences can result. Some people want to give their blood to their ancestors, but are often not informed to cleanse and dedicate the space to only the good elevated ones. Connecting to the ancestors I suppose can be done someway with blood safely, but as a continual practice of offering, I personally feel it is inappropriate. There needs to be a trained way to close the door to the random unelevated dead, and their access to you. Banishing pentagrams are seen as an astral practice as I was taught in ceremonial magick, and thus ineffective against the dead.

Malevolent dead can masquerade as other spirits, and even advanced mediums can be wrong. Giving your own blood to spirits is a European idea in terms of pacts, and would as offerings also historically sacrifice animals. Human blood is not given to the Lwa in Voudou, or our spiritually evolved disincarnate spirit guides in spiritualism or Espiritismo, such as La madama commission group of spirits. Traditions where this was possibly practiced in the past have now taken vows against this or evolved to now take animals or plant substances as sacrifice. I cannot speak for Palo Mayombe, but if this is done it is likely the very very extremely minuscule small minority, such as sporadically seen in South America with drug lords and not a standard practice. Like dogs that have to be put down once they have killed and tasted human blood uncommanded, why do you want to look like a tasty cheeseburger to the spirits? We bear responsibility to our spirits as well as ourself for elevation. In spiritualism we believe negative spirits are suffering and need charity and compassion as well as a firm hand and personal boundaries.

Intranquil dead, anima solas"lonely souls", zombie astral, or earthbound spirits can be increasingly demanding and cause harm to you and people around you, and working with them at all is very dangerous unless you are highly trained to work with them. They are the dead who likely died in violence or suicide, or cannot move on due to perceived wrongs or willful placement. Most highly trained people who do this will not do this work in their home lest they become a haunted person or have items or their house contaminated. Novices who dabble in such dirty work or neopagan authors who put out superficial information do not even know or teach how to cleanse themselves or teach safety about the cemetery or necromancy for prevention around these acts. Being baptised or initiated in these african traditions, and having the head sealed and connected to higher spirits affords us a measure of protection, or an understanding with the dead. We still take precautions and have our good spirits as protection. Some people are born or have anima solas in their spiritual court or frame that aren't necessarily evil, but they must be assisted and dealt with.

Note: I am not a Palera nor an initiate in the Lucumi faiths, I am trying to illustrate the spiritualist viewpoint, specifically afro spiritualism of Espiritismo and Sanse using my interpretations of these cultural expressions, so please ask a priest/ess in those aforementioned traditions for more religion specific questions or clarifications.

Until next time,
S7X