Mama Juana (or mamajuana) is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs.The specific herbs that make up Mamajuana were originally prepared as a herbal tea by the native Taino Indians; post-Columbus, alcohol was added to the recipe. Besides being rumored to be an aphrodisiac, with many natives of the Dominican Republic claiming that the drink has similar effects. The Taino live throughout the caribbean of Haiti into Cuba and Puerto rico, as well as Florida. Mamajuana is also consumed for its purported medicinal value. The alcohol is said to act as an extract base that pulls the herbs' curative properties, creating an herbal tincture often served as a shot. The reported positive effects on health vary, ranging from a flu remedy, to a digestion and circulation aid, blood cleanser, sexual potency, kidney, gallbladder and liver tonic. The tonic can be used to cleanse internally of any witchcraft and poisons. For arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and against cancer if anamu is added. Diabetes also with the cinnamon. It is warming, often used in winter and at Christmas, as well as an offering to the Taino indian spirits. Of course do not use when pregnant.
Method: soak bark/leaves in red wine for 5 days, and then pour it out. You can aso soak with rum or some do with hot water. Discard the liquid after a few days and then follow your rum, wine, and honey recipe. By doing this, the initial bitterness is released from the bark/roots, making for a more drinkable first batch.It also removes any mold, dirt or bacteria.Then, mix dark or white rum an wine(90%) and honey(10%) and pour that combo into the bottle. Let this sit in a dark place for 2 weeks to cure. Shake it up to get the bark/leaves taste, and then adjust to taste, as some prefer strong and some prefer sweet. The locals also said that it will last for years, even a decade...so not to worry about it going bad. You can refill with alcohol 15-20 times to make more batches.
I drink straight as a shot, but some sip with an iced cola soda.
Mamajuana is available in two ways:
prepackaged dry ingredients, or plants procured, which the customer prepares
dry batches are not allow through customs in different regions, bypass this by adding rum to it when travelling and place in checked bag.
ready to drink, filtered and bottled
I prepare mine spiritually, with rum, wine and honey, usually with these herbs: anamu, cinnamon, very small amount anise and clove (I hate the taste of licorice), cats claw, palo brazil, pega palo, milk wort, I may start adding a small amount basil as many spirits love it and it has many health benefits, and not to interfere with the taste.
Fill your bottle over 1/2 full with about 7 of the following herbs, roots and sticks:
In addition to the above standard recipe, it is common for individuals to add other ingredients such as; raisins, strawberry, molasses, and lemon or lime juice.
Another popular ingredient is the addition of mariscos (shellfish) such as conch, octopus snails and even the private parts or grated shell of a sea turtle! Undoubtedly the combination of these ingredients would provide mamajuana with its aphrodesic powers.
Sweet or Dulce is attracting of the good things that are desired in life and generally blessing.
Bitter, Amarga or Amine is cleansing and removes the negative energy that can block new good things in our life such as a job, romance or healing, and thus a bitter bath, is usually done for a consecutive number of days usually 3 or 7, followed by the drawing in or sweet for the same number of odd days.
Also in cleansing baths is sour ingredients such as vinegar or acids such as coffee and limes or lemons. Bitter herbs are usually naturally high in sulfur and ammonia.
What is bitter is often called strong, "forte" or hot but not always. For example cinnamon is hot and sweet, perfect for love and money work. The heat adds force and quickness. What is sweet also can be cleansing by exceptions, but in general condition or drawing baths are not for cleansing. As you can see almost all flowers are sweet, so perfumes like Florida water while mildly cleansing or more accurately refreshing and used for the alcohol content, is also an attractant to spirits (2 handed) such as with the dead and ylang ylang or Kanaga water, as the sensitive part of the plant, so you must be clear with your intent on using it. Florida water and other alcohol based waters can be added to the bitter as an exception. I am talking about not mixing bitter and sweet leaf in general.
A bitter bath is no rival to cleansing. Usually 7 bitter leafs are used, the number of the forest and celestial, but for more important preparations sometimes 21 are used.
With sweet herbs an odd number like 3, 7 or 5 as the number of the sweet waters of the river. You could just as easily mash up sweet fruits and use this. My apprentice for a time would do dry candy cleanses, wrapped candy passed over the body and then thrown in the trash. We are working with our spirits either emissarios or misterios associated with those areas along with the power in the plant, and our own energy.
An odd number of ingredients and often of sacred significance is used. Ocean water and salt are considered bitter. There is a whole philosophy on bitter water such as of the transatlantic slave trade, diasporic removal from the african homeland and tears. The ocean is a life source as well as a watery grave. It still can be used for finance work, as in trade and ships coming in, and associations with spirits such as Agwe and the riches of the sea. Some consider material such as bluing or minerals of salt, sulphur, and dirt inert and neither bitter nor sweet in themself.
Because bitter is hot and removing, we for the most part do these baths neck down only to not heat up the head, and create hot tempered imbalances, nor embitter the area and disposition for spirits that are beneficial to us, more importantly if you have been crowned with your spirit guides and higher spirits, but also the claimed ancestors. Likewise I personally will avoid salt unless there is a big problem, because our good dead do not like it, as it leaches their energy to the earth until they are of enough elevation or progress spiritually.
There are many technical concepts when it comes to bath preparation. For example in general we do not mix sweet with bitter, flower or fruit with leaf. Root and leaf is generally ok.
There are exceptions to these rules but are general guidelines. Each plant has a sentient spirit that lives in it that can be prayed to and honored. Remember to give an offering and wild harvest responsibly the plants you take. We almost always use fresh herbs for the vibrancy and potency of energy, but the bath can have white rum or alcohol, bay rum, added to preserve a larger amount for a short time kept in the fridge or for hand passes like Florida water.
Alot of people do use dried bay, rue and hyssop though.
There is the disposal of the bitter leaf material away from the house with a payment say of 3 coins to the crossroad, each place having a significance to spirit, energy and number associated. The sweet bath remains usually are kept around the house, such as a floor wash. The bitter wash can also be used to clean the house and spiritual tools.
Certain leaves which are more tropical, in spanish are named to their function such as quita maledicion is bitter to stop evil, same as espante muerte: chasing the dead. leaves and sticks/palo with the name rompe means break negativity, lies and spells on you. We are taught not to put espante muerte on the head nor abre camino due to opening up of this area in which spirits have been placed.
We do not boil the fresh leafs but we mash it with our hands and sing and use prayer into the warm water and speak our intention. We may leave it next to certain shrines or altars with a novena candle inside.
The most important herbs in Sanse are probably
Tobacco: messanger Lwa and Taino cemi spirit
Major plant spirits hold leaves such as Loases Gran Bwa, the biggest tree of the forest and Ogu Osain.
Whereas some cultivated herbs would also fall under the agricultural Lwa Azaka, yet both also relate to the land and certain natural areas.
Rompe Saraguay (spell breaker and removes negative dead), bitter along with garden sage and rue
Basil can be cleansing but also blessing and very important, it is also a major exception and can be mixed with bitter such as rue and sage. Ceiba tree, the silk cotton Mapou: our holy magic and world tree, bitter and blessing Abre Camino to open paths, bitter Copal as sacred to the Taino people and the dead, as well as Anamu bitter congo weed root a very useful medicine for many ailments such as arthritis and cancer. Anamu is taboo in some Ocha houses due to being poisonous to children of Obatala and toxic to children of Yemaya. It is one of the ingredients in our Taino Indio drink we infuse in alcohol.
Spirit-Blossom Ceiba Tree by Lisa Dunbar Solas
Below is a simple list that most people can find around that do not live in the tropics, which is much more extensive if you need to prepare certain objects and during initiations. Otherwise, there is not as much need to order from tropical botanicas, and you can use what is in your area following certain principles. There are certain plants that have to be used in those cases. Always follow your tradition and godparents guidelines. What is used in Palo is different than Lucumi. One list I saw had abre camino, avocado leaf, rosemary, altamisa and sage listed as sweet, I consider those all bitter personally. Another had mint as bitter and I consider that sweet. Of course there is alot to study about plants, medicinal use, safety and for magical use beyond these concepts. SWEET LEAFS
Mints
Mejoram Bee balm or Bergamot Stevia Parsley Angelica Lemon balm or verbena Lettuce and watercress (but not dark leafy bitter greens) Vervain SWEET FRAGRANT FLOWERS OR ALL SWEET FRUIT marigold, carnation, lily, lavender, chamomile, violet, rose, orange, jasmine perfumes etc attract mangos, oranges, apples, bananas, melon, tropical fruits: pineapple, papaya, guava
SWEET SPICES
Anise Cinnamon
Sasparilla Honey, molasses, cane sugar etc Goat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, dairy milk, rice milk or water
BITTER
plantain (not the vegetable, the ground leaf next to drainage areas or grass in wetter northern climates) white sauco elderflower/berry leaf fennnel purslane black tea leaf
tobacco
fern
rue
dandelion leaf
epasote or epazote mexican cooking herb
sage: usually fresh garden or cooking sage
artemisa: wormwood, mugwort, motherwort etc
white morning glory leaf, datura leaves, but also purple bell flower leafs: morado
Laurel bay
nettle
corn leaf husk
eucalptus
spanish broom
horseradish leaf (not traditional but found it works)
vencedor: lilac tree leaf wins battles, triumphs
most tree leaf
thistles: milk thistle, blessed thistle
garlic bulb root, onion, tumeric root
BITTER FRUIT
limes, lemons, bitter melon gourd, coffee
I am going to write more on a major magic concept of hot and cool But as I have been writing on spiritual baths of late, my next entry will be for the 2 Christmas and New Years Baths of Bain Noel and good luck Bon chance. This will be so those that want to make them can for Dec 24-26 or January 6th or 8th
I have a bunch of blog entries planned, such as for elevation after death, because I have alot of requests plus, it is that time of year for those to or who have travelled to the otherside of the veil. Contact me if you would like me to cover a topic you have not seen so far.
Spiritual cleansing is very important in our traditions, and underplayed in the rest of the occult world.
It also can be overemphasized as a cleansing may not solve all problems or issues.
It is the best way to be proactive in keeping negative energy and entities off you.
A reading may be required to look at the origin of the problem. A uncrossing, a road opening or larger work may be required. A regular cleansing regimen keeps the day to day negative and lower witchcraft away such as evil eye. It helps things not stick to you as easily.
To remove negativity in a spiritual bath, usually something bitter, acidic or sour is used such as bitter herbs like rue and sage, vinegar, lemons, lemongrass are used. Then after doing that a sweet bath to attract the good in is done with items like honey, oranges, mint. Condition baths also are not necessarily cleansing like a bath for money.
Like anointing a candle, baths are done by pouring neck or head down to decrease, and can be sponged up to increase. Originally this was done standing in a basin, although its called a bath, it can be done in a shower. There are certain items we do not place on the head such as abre camino (road opener), and espante muerte (false daisy or chasing the dead herb). Or even salt unless very haunted. This is because these chase away our good dead, or can open up our head where the spirits are placed, or have associated with our consciousness.
Part of preparation for house exorcism with 7 bitter herb wash
Always use fresh herbs if you can help it.
I already posted a white bath to connect with your spirits to the dead: ancestors and guides and to your head spirit or guardian angel that can be done 3, 7 or 9 days.
Removal baths should be done first for a number of days.
A good removal bath is done with 3 7 9 or 21 items and done for 1, 3, 7 or 9 days
You can use rue, hyssop and holy water or
Florida water, laundry bluing and a bitter herb such as garden sage, rue, dandelion leaf, mugwort or wormwood
A 7 or 21 bitter herb bath is also wonderful, you tear the leafs into the warm water, never boil your herbs.
Another common one is sage, basil and rue.
You are going to want to pray over the bath and put your intention and energy into it with your hands.
You are going to take a regular bath and shower and cleanse yourself in the normal way mundanely before doing the spiritual cleansing.
There are many other items you can use to cleanse yourself like egg limpia, bread or flowers in the river passed or sweeped off the body and then discarded. We use alot of water as a spiritualist tradition, and as important to african and native american cultures.
Egg Limpia:
After you cleanse you are going to want to do a sweet bath to attract love or good finances or peace for a number of days such as 3, 5 or 7
When you should cleanse yourself:
At least once a week, as a routine
During high energy times of the year, times of working with with spirit celebratory dates to cleanse and heal you.
Before and after most rituals especially when working with the dead or seances to also keep you balanced by all these incoming forces
Before and after performing healing on someone else
When you feel something negative is around you or in your life
Before or at least also after if unaware you are going into or wandering into a cemetery, haunted areas, negative ritual areas such as groups you are not 100% comfortable or familiar with, the hospital, areas where there are high crime or violence, ex jails.
After a magical attack
After or during purging negativity or disease or imbalances from your body
Before and after any black magick, if you throw mud don't be surprised if you get dirty
Before something new such as job interview or spells to increase positivity by decreasing any negativity and get you in the mindframe
Periodically cleanse your divination tools
Cleanse your home at least once a month, including door stop with incense such as copal or frankinsense and myrhh, and do your floor wash, especially before and after rituals, and your bath and shower area. Follow me also on facebook: Sancista7crossroads, as Sancista Siete Encruzhiladas
This is an important feast date for healing and protection, as well as honoring these Lwa. Beli Belcan is the Lwa who uses the saint image of St Michael. September 29 is Michaelmas. He chains up bad spirits and is a warrior. He has a sword and has the power of fiery lightening and of God.
Tindjo Alawe is the head of the Indio division of Lwa, and has domain of cleansing, healing and the water of rivers. We use the image of St Raphael who has a sometimes has a gourd staff and rod with fishes. He wears robes of green of the indian spirits, sometimes blue of the river, and pink as the colors other lineages use together.
If you do not know if you have these Lwa or have not received them, you can still work with the angels, in particular St Michael as revocations can be done to remove negativity and bad spirits from us, and for justice. Resguardos, like mojo bags can be prepared under him for protection, and prayers can be given with a novena saint candle, or a red candle. Do your prayers to God and St Michael over the bag each day. The recipe from my godfather for St Michael resguardo: enough red candles for 9 days or enought novenas, set one red candle beside a clear water glass and st michael image or prayer card if not using novena small red bag, tie with green or red string or ribbon when assembled cleanse items with rum, florida water and tobacco smoke cross charm or sword of cross 4 clove garlic st michael medallion seed of quita maledicion or stop evil piece of paper with persons name optional from others variations: anoint with st michael or protection oil thunderstone (pied de rayo) and stones of protection 3 peony seed against evil eye dried bay laurel leaf, angelica root or vencedor leaf (lilac) for success and higher spirits. Also from the book Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic comes this old-time conjuration of Saint Michael Archangel for protection from evil: Home Protection Packets: sew small cloth packets filled with grains of paradise seeds and glue or crochet a holy card of Michael the Archangel to them. Sold in pairs, one to be placed at the front door and one at the back door, for the protection of the home.
San Miguel Vencio! San Miguel Vencio! San Miguel Vencio su enemigo con el poder de Dios!
(St Michael vanquishes with the power of God) For the uninitiated you will not know your met tet until it is confirmed in your baptism and crowning or possibly at kanzo. You may have an idea who this is but it cannot be confirmed until then. However you can begin to strengthen this connection by using the image of the 4 archangels, but many also will use the image of the guardian angel to represent them as is in our lineage. September 29 is the day of all the archangels. The words guardian angel describes our met tet, the Lwa who rules our head, and is not a spirit guide. This is not the holy guardian angel or hga, the higher self.
You can either find a candle with this image, or print it off in color and tape it to a white novena, glass chimney candle you can find at the dollar store. Blow cigar smoke over it or frankincense and myrrh, and anoint it with olive oil, or some kind of protection oil bottom up. You can also get a guardian angel saint card, and use white candles. It is said that everyone has a tutelary met tet, a Lwa or Orisha at birth. I do not know if this is true, however one can step forwards for you and claim you. Following the directions below to perform a novena with or without the headwashing can help you on your spiritual journey into these traditions, along with starting ancestral veneration as the foundation. It is fortuitous that September 29 2016 is on a Thursday, the day of the Rada Lwa, however Saturdays are also used for most Lwa. In the Catholic dates they use October 2. If you missed September 29th to start, this can be done whenever you wish, and the headwash is usually done once a month to every two months, called a rogacion. The rogacion you will perform is not the same as receiving it from a priest or priestess of Lucumi, whose energy or ashe is in direct attunement. The recipe is similar to what I posted on ancestral connection bath. Do your prayers everyday until the candle has burn out, but if you can use several candles for 7 days. As 7 is the celestial number and of the number of chiefs and families of Lwa in Sanse. There are also 7 archangels, 1 for each day. Although a novena is traditionally done for 9 days. Speak from the heart, of prayers of protection, and what you need guidance with. Feel free to substitute the word God with the name of God of your understanding such as in Vodou as Papa Bonnye (Bon-yay), Bondye (Bon-dye), Or Papa Bon Dios, as we are a monotheist spirituality. Or use Odudumare (Oh-du-du, mar-eh) if you feel your path is more of the Orisha faiths such as Ifa or Lucumi. Or you can use the phrase Great Spirit. Here are some sample prayers for you to use, which you can find from several Catholic sites online: You may also want to use psalm 91. 1 Angel of God, my guardian dear,To whom God's lovecommits me here,Ever this day,be at my side,To light and guard,Rule and guide.
Amen.
2
Guardian Angel from heaven so bright, Watching beside me to lead me aright, Fold thy wings round me, and guard me with love, Softly sing songs to me of heaven above.
3
O angel of God, appointed by divine mercy to be my guardian, enlighten and protect, direct and govern me this day. Amen
4
GOOD NIGHT, my Guardian Angel,
The day has sped away; Well spent or ill, its story Is written down for aye. And now, of God's kind Providence, Thou image pure and bright, Watch o'er me while I'm sleeping----- My Angel dear, good night!
5
Novena Prayer
O most faithful companion, appointed by God to be my guardian, and who never leaves my side, how shall I thank you for your faithfulness and love and for the benefits which you have obtained for me!
You watch over me when I sleep; you comfort me when I am sad; you avert the dangers that threaten me and warn me of those to come; you withdraw me from sin and inspire me to good; you exhort me to penance when I fall and reconcile me to God.
I beg you not to leave me. Comfort me in adversity, restrain me in prosperity, defend me in danger, and assist me in temptations, lest at any time I fall beneath them.
Offer up in the sight of the Divine Majesty my prayers and petitions, and all my works of piety, and help me to persevere in grace until I come to everlasting life.
Amen.
Novena to Guardian Angel
O holy angels, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions, who supports me when I am discouraged and continually obtains for me new favors, I return thee profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech thee, O most amiable protector, to continue thy charitable care and defense of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully putting them into practice. In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the favor which I ask for by this novena.
[Here mention your need(s).]
Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life, but more especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou hast conducted me into the presence of my Creator in the mansions of everlasting happiness.
Amen.
The head wash recipe is as follows. Break open a coconut and use the water into a white basin, you cannot use coconut milk or water from a carton. You can mark the coconut white all over with cascarilla first on the outside if you desire. You can also take a second coconut marked in this way and roll it around on top of your head and behind your neck. This one should be kicked down the street or put in a grocery bag and disposed away from the home, off the property line. You will also need into the white basin: cool tap water or fresh river water Add cascarilla chalk or crushed white eggshells small amount shaved cocoa butter These items are traditionally put on a white plate and placed on the head first along with the whole coconut. Mix and mash these items with your hands, putting your energy and intentions into it as you repeat your prayers and call with your thoughts, as well as speak from the heart aloud to your guardian angel. Pray over this mixture the first night of the novena and perform this. Take the mixture into the bathroom into the shower area, and bend forwards, pouring the mixture over your head. Do not rinse. This can also be done with a clear or white cup over the basin in front of your altar. After you will need to wrap your head in white, wear white clean clothing and sleep like this. With the remains of the mixture, you can place your novena candle into the center of the bowl before your altar, or at your bedside if you have not constructed one yet. After your head is wrapped you can also mark your body with cascarilla for extra protection in x's or +'s on the back of the neck, belly, top of feet and on wrists. This can all be rinsed off with a regular shower in the morning. For 24 hours no sex, drugs, alcohol, swearing or bad behavior to get you in proper alignment and for clarity to strengthen the mind. It will help your faculties, and focus on goals, destiny, spiritual progress and path, as well as guidance, cooling, for peace, and calming the head. It is cleansing, away from bad influences, thoughts, illness and misfortune. It feeds your internal knowing, called Ori by the Yorubans.
The altar can be used for spiritually cleansing the self with florida water or smudged the self with incense, a cigar or sage, among other cleansings. The cigar is placed lit end in mouth to jet smoke over a person, or waved over self, this can also be used with a fan.
I also like to use the cross motion, as well as a back and forth motion dragged down to the ground. If the altar flowers or water glasses is used to cleanse the self it is not used further in a spiritual bath, or done instead into a bowl of bluing water on the ground. You can cross yourself with the flowers before setting them down which is a form of cleansing and bonding, or hold the food plate to your head lips and abdomen to add your energy. Cigar smoke can be blown over any offerings. Flowers can be crossed over the self or dragged lightly across the body and thrown in the river to also carry bad energies away from yourself.
A white egg can be kept on the altar or an altar to a spirit for at least 10 minutes, then passed over the body and rubbed like soap, pulled away from the body on heavy patches, and in a circular motion around and on areas of illness and the head. I do from the head down. This can be cracked in a spare clear glass of water and looked at for clues. This is a more South American or Mexican form of cleansing or limpia. The yolk should sink, it should not smell like the most awful smell ever. There should be no blood. These are all negative signs that more cleansing, divination and remedy is needed to make sure everything has been removed. If you just crack the egg white without the yolk in the glass it is more of a divination with or without a cleansing, more detailed information can be gleaned about many questions such as sources of injury and negative energy. dot or circle can indicate the evil eye. I will then flush it down the toilet and throw some salt in afterwards and close the lid and say something like, "never to return".
A piece of bread can even be used, and rubbed and passed the same way, like soap. This is the thrown outside away from the house, where a messenger animal can possibly take care of it and help you as well. A handful of dry beans can be used, passed over the body for health, and thrown at hospital grounds, or a place such as the crossroads or the cemetery gate with an offering to the healing spirits.
A fire safe bowl such as a stone mortar or coconut shell can be used to cleanse using lit florida water which is extremely flammable. It can be passed carefully over a person, crossed or stepped over, as well as the same movement done with the perfume water cleansing with bluing/florida water. Using the fire bowl method I like to set my machete beside it to cut any attachments. Homemade florida water and rum or even everclear is not as flammable as the high proof alcohol base of lanman and murray brand florida water for this purpose. See video for passing movements used to cleanse self. Energy can be scooped off a person and tapped on the rim of a water glass to dispose of it. It is then dumped away from the home. When cleansing or healing another person it is wise to be cleansed first yourself, and then after your work is done.
Fire cleanse:
water glass:
You can kick a coconut through your front door through all rooms including any closets and out the back door if possible, then down the street. It is probably better as a non initiate to use a broom, and do not pick it up with your hands once you have dropped it. A broom represents cleanliness, is an extension of the user and moves energy, and can be used with prepared floor sweeps such as herbs or powders.
Coconut is white inside and is viewed as a pure substance inside. As it is white is represents purity, and is a food served to ancestors and represents peace. The coconut can be used as a representation of a person's head, which is the microcosm that includes a persons spirits and universal conciousness. Coconut milk alone or in a spiritual bath can add clarity, or quiet down the head and decrease anxiety. Baths do not need to be rinsed off after your normal shower. Coconuts are often placed at front and/or back doors to collect bad energy so it does not enter the house. They can be set on the floor during misa to also collect any bad energy. A whole coconut can be used in various ways such as passing over the body, and can be set on fire after or down the street.
Video of coconut cleansing:
Cleansing before espiritismo work and misa
I keep a clear glass or white bowl with water and laundry bluing on the floor central to the right for the indios and to repel any negative spirits. You can find this made by squares as reckitts, or laundry bluing liquids such as mrs stewarts, bluette or blue balls in a hoodoo supplier. Although if using to bathe, I recommend the laundry formulas as the other may include toxic metals. Sometimes I will add different combinations of florida water, oils, petals, perfumes, holy water or cascarilla to it as well. I also like violeta or violet cologne sprayed on the white table or when a person is anxious or agitated by spirits. This is sold for perfuming babies after their bath in many botanica or hispanic stores and is very calming to spirits as well. There are many formulas and uses of spiritual colognes.
Here is a video i made how to do spiritual pass into the bowl of bluing usually kept on the floor in front to the side of a mesa blanca, or on a small table, etc or at the entrance for people before misa or working the white table and head wrapping. You do not have to do the shaking motion. The motion is third eye, over head on the back of neck arms crossed over front of neck down both arms to bowl.
Another example:
These passes can also be done over running water in a sink in an emergency.
There are many recipes, webpages and books dedicated to making a spiritual bath. Rue and hyssop are also popular cleansing agents. Psalms 51:7 - Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
I use essential oils as well as fresh bitter herbs. Lavender is popular for cleansing, coming from the french word to wash, lave. Dry herbs lack as much life plant spirit energy, but a bath tea or floor wash can be made and strained. They can be purchased, charged and prescribed from a practitioner who can make one for your more powerful with their energy and spirits and with better ingredients than commercially bought bottles. It is better to learn this skill from a godparent, to learn about plants and their spirits. Pray over them, to your spirits, sing, or recite psalms. Save the other half for after your work, which you can cover with a white cloth. Make sure to concentrate on your work and keep your thoughts focused. Florida water can be used for both good and bad spirits so you will need to focus on purification and your prayers. This is why some use Pompeya instead but I am partial to Florida water myself. Cascarilla, white ingredients are said to be one handed, or positive only for the most part. There are certain principles and ways followed to apply and make them in different traditions, to different spirits and reasons. One such principle is not mixing the sweet with the bitter, or flower and fruit with leaf. Bitter herbs removing herbs do not mix with flowers or sweet ingredients like fruit or honey, but basil is sweet and blessing.
Once initiated or if very connected and not infested with negative dead, there are certain plants you do not want to put on the head such as espanta muerte or chasing the dead, known as false daisy as it may chase your main spirit guide away, if but for a time. As well as the popular road opening herb abre camino or road opener for new opportunities and proper communication should not be placed on the head after initiation as the spirits have been formally placed. The head must be properly refreshed and kept sweet for your spirits.
If you are unsure pour your bath's neck down with the bitter or feet to neck to increase with sweet, much like anointing a candle. Many of the baths can be used as floor wash for protection, money, love, a peaceful home, to attract certain spirit influences, or for many uses. Singing, praying and music helps break up unwanted energies and move in and charge the positive ones.A cycle of baths usually are to do a bitter, then sweet then the white sensitive bath for mediumship and clarity. One may be prescribed for you or your situation in a reading from a priest/ess if that is the appropriate remedy. Certain baths can be made under or with certain spirits of the practitioner. You will find that one spirit or guide will be very useful for constructing certain items such as oils or baths in your cuadro, which can be inspired and constructed via mediumship.
A
bundle of fresh herbs with cleansing properties such as romerillo a
type of daisy growing wild in florida, rue or rosemary etc, can be used as a
broom to remove energy on a person or the floor, then burned after.
This is useful at the end of misa, especially if there was any
disruptive spirits. A bundle can be used to asperge perfumed waters.
Be very careful of used objects, such as antiques, auctions, used tarot cards etc, sale of deceased persons belongings or thrift stores as they may contain other peoples energy or spirits. Do not buy haunted dolls, objects, or spirit dolls made by unpracticed individuals or noninitiates. At most of the best of times it will be an empty shell. Be aware of mirrors as they can be doors or enchanted. Even when buying carven artworks or statues discern if there is any attachments, and get help if it does not seem peaceable to find a pact or solution. Cleanse divinatory tools often with smudge of at least 3 herbs, or a cigar, or any items in question.
Simple Ancestral bath:
A simple ancestral bath to cleanse yourself, increase your communication with them
boost psychism with your spirits guides as well as protect you:
Clear bubbly water from your ancestor altar, replace water on altar immediately.
white rum,
cascarilla chalk,
florida water and you can add coconut water or coconut milk.
I sometimes add one more item in here, but it is used for specific reasons not to be divulged.
The white items such as cascarilla is added to the water as it prevents negative spirits and is calming, you can add a few white flower petals if you have not also cleansed yourself with the flowers. If you cannot afford it or are desperate then just use the glass of water alone. Pour this over your head after showering, then towel off, no need to rinse. Do this for a minimum of once a week for at least 3 weeks and replace the water glass right away, but you can do it 3 times a week. In the beginning when there is too much spiritual contact or when people have been working with too many different systems and spirits, a straight coconut milk rinse can be used before bed.
Some people put cascarilla powder on their sheets, and go as far to dress in white use white sheets towels and headwrap. Very calming. Cascarilla is a spiritual layer of protection, I have seen some practitioners use all over their face. We use it to mark susceptible people and children from intense or unwanted spirit influence, such as during misa or in the cemetery. It can be used as protections in many ways, such as crosses marked on the body, on the feet, the wrists, back of neck, abdomen or forehead.
Cascarilla can be used for positive spirits to mark boundaries and symbols such as veves, although we have other specific mixes to use to draw them. We may keep a chunk of it on the altar (if you feel it does not muffle connection), or a bowl of crushed white eggshells. You can attempt to make your own out off a mix of finely ground white eggshells, white flour and water, holy water, florida water optional, and then dried after compacting in small paper condiment cups or wrapped tightly in saran wrap. If you buy it prepared you must pray over the chalk.
I do not recommend you use salt on your altar or around or even salt the food to your spirits as it repels the dead and can trap them. In an infestation it can be used as part of a floor sweep out the door and disposed out of the home. Ammonia or bleach can be used on the walls if there is a really bad problem, but can affect the paint. No good spiritist will work alone for larger spiritual problems, I recommend you get help if you have a persistent problem. Sage alone will not solve a serious problem. I recommend that all altars are taken down cleansed and reset. Bleach is used to cleanse the house and has a mundane and spiritual cleansing effect, as spirits can manipulate germ or virus to create disease.
An emergency spirit bath can be made with salt and lemons, scrubbing a cut lemon or lime halves over the body, until you can get help from a practiced individual. Citrus is acidic or has a cutting effect, such as in cooking with fats or richness. It is also a common household cleansing agent along with pine, a protective agent against the dead is to use pine tar on window sills, and a holy tree. You can buy hoodoo preparations of this or pine tar soap. these plants have helping spirits and properties, such as many herbs are shown to be antibacterial, and as natural remedies and medicines. There exists even dragons blood or florida water soaps. African black soap is also a nice protective agent and is sacred to Oshun.
Internally cleanses can be done, for good health or if one believes they have ingested something that an enemy has prepared or a negative spirit has gotten into, or affected the body or health. Coffee is a cleansing but also a cursing agent. In my tradition we have a dominican drink of the arawak speaking and Taino peoples called mamajuana. This is a rum based infusion of several roots and herbs, and offered to our Taino spirits. We prepare it specially, but commercial kits and bottles can be bought or imported. Some of the ingredients are known for cleansing the gut and liver area and is anticancer.
Cleansing is very important in Sanse, it is said to be a water tradition for many reasons. It is the number one way to deflect over 90 percent of negative spirits, energies, bad luck or curses and spiritual problems, especially in opening up yourself and dealing with spirits. If you are spiritually clean it repels negativity much more easily along with the help of your spirits. You should do these cleansings if you are around crime ridden areas, illness, jails, hospitals, death or cemeteries on occasion or as an occupation. There is no excuse for not doing it, it should be done frequently as a active spiritist, before and after misa,or working with especially unknown dead and cemetery work, for healing or energy work on people, and minimum once a week.
People who do dirty work aka destructive black magick need to do these cleansings before and after, which is not mentioned very often in spell books, who repeat each other and often leave out important information. People who do ill work unjustified to others will get spiritually dirty hands, and the proverb is “one hand cleanses the other” means being spiritually clean will be difficult for them, and lose some protections from their good spirits as we ignore their advices. That we help each other. We must have faith our spirits will protect us if well served and maintained and as we ask them, they might even go dole out their own justice for us. Cleansings and protection work is the best way, except for extreme cases in my opinion. Curses is not the tradition of Sanse or the religion of Ocha.
Thankyou for stopping by,
Sancista Siete Encruzhiladas
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