Folk magic uses of Green Pepper

Many know and use hot or red chiles in their workings. However one day a couple years ago a product caught my eye at a mexican botanica store, a Green Pepper Novena Candle. Peppers are called pimente or pimenta in spanish and closely in other languages, but they are not all spicy. An Anaheim, Ancho, or Poblano variety, are less spicy.

Hot pepper more aggressive, commanding and protective and add hasten or to quicken a spell, but can cause explosive relations: too much passion or quarrel, burning akin to needles or a thorn. As I have seen them added to love spells cinnamon might also be a better option as peppers are bitter, acidic fruit.

Peppers are part of the nightshade family of plants like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and the deadly often poisonous belladona herb. People used to beleive tomato was poisonous, and potato if green or gone bad can kill people.

Green or Red Bell peppers can be used in Desire work for love as they are sweet. Usually a persons object of affection or partners photo are placed between the two cut halves, then fixed shut. The vegetable is used as a spell container or jar.

I have on good authority in the area of southern Texas to Mexico they are fixed with chile, cinnamon, ant hill dirt, and honey to make them think of you. Then wax is used to seal them shut of the desired color.

Peppers cleanse and absorb negativity, undo jinx, used against evil, evil eye, witchcraft or spells.

I have also seen a green pepper floorwash or they can be placed at the doorstep to cleanse and maintain the home or business. To make your own you can boil a few sweet peppers, and then blend them or with a hand mixer diluted with the water, then strain.

I have also seen a green pepper bath!
Hot peppers are usually passed over the body as a more agressive form of cleansing in many native traditions.
They can be burnt in a mixture to dispel evil along with other herbs.
Of course other preperations such as oils, herb mixes in mojos are used.

I seen a lamp to the Lwa Dantor with sweet red pepper for love, money, to break obstacles. Giving her pork or hot peppers will make her "hotter" and more dangerous to work with, especially for the untrained or unassociated.
For bell or sweet peppers color is important, I seen green and red peppers floating in a lamp for her. Green is close to blue in spectrum. Some also use yellow, I assume this lamp was to sweeten the Lwa or was for love or green some use as a color intended for money. I have seen colored powders used for her veve in Haitian Vodou with blue yellow red and green colors.

                                                                                                              S7X

African & folk magic perspective of the Broom & Trees

The well known European aspects of the witch has the broom as an instrument of moving energy, performing marriage and the couple hopping over as a sign of fertility as an implement that contains both sexual polarities and some made of corn fiber. We should note flying ointments being placed on the handle and used internally for "shamanic" journeys, and the pole of the broom as an axis point or world tree.
Jumping the broom was also incorporated in African American folklore which has African roots of stick bundles and can be found in many cultures. It represented the home, change, and new beginnings. The broom represented being scattered and the handle represent God's hand that brings them together.

As the broom represents new beginnings, some buy a new broom for the new year as part of their new year or end of year house cleansings, for a more positive start to the new year, and to leave behind the bad energy

The broom could be made of several trees and plants such as birch for rebirth or cinnamon for love, good luck and prosperity, like a wand, different sacred woods could be used for various intentions as an extension and conduit of the practitioner.

 In neopagan aspects the broom could be used to open and close the threshold and portal of the magic circle depending on the direction and by raising or chasing away energy.

These aspects certainly did collide with other indigenous ideas in the new world. Sweeping and repetitive tasks do lend to a meditative state where the mind wanders or daydreams into a psychic or receptive state to receive messages. When cleaning the house spiritually some tie a white or red cloth around the waist with cascarilla and wear a head wrap as not to be carried away from the spiritual energies being kicked up using song and prayer. The energy or ashe deposited during ceremony in ritual area is also deposited around and blessings are picked up when the spirits see you tending to the area in service.

Floor sweeps of powders and dried herbs are used along with this action to increase intent and cleanse the house of negativity or maintain sacred space in preparation for ritual. Herbs like eucalyptus remove unwanted energy and people from visiting swept from the back door or farthest point out the front door. Some sweep from east to west as the sun sets to chase energy away. A sweep to draw things in for prosperity is done the front door to the back of the house after mundane cleaning so that all the luck isn't swept out. Although there is variations depending on purpose and if one has a backdoor. Special care is taken to the front step and where tricks and powders might be laid against the house occupants.

A broom can be placed upside down behind the front door on the inside of the house to discourage visitors and unwanted people to the house. Some say this encourages poverty and uncleanliness. A broom was hung over the door for protection to sweep away bad energy upon entering, and still to this day by neopagans.

There are many superstitions or folklore about the usage of brooms such as not to sweep against someones feet, under someone or place on a bed, or carry someone else's broom into your home. When you move you need to leave your old broom behind or throw it out because it carries the negative energies such as poverty  from the past you do not want to bring to your new residence. If you move to a new place and see a old broom dispose of it right away. You must upright a fallen broom and watch the way it falls. Superstition from different cultures about brooms can contradict each other, such as not burning a broom.

A broom gathers energy such as deposited at the crossroads to take bits of trash or dirt, to control an area, or gather spirits at the graveyard. Typically then the handle or staff would be tied with a red cloth as it indicated it is now empowered by the dead or "hot". You may see this in Rara band processions in Haiti or against certain altars. The items gathered are then used or the spirit employed. These marching and dancing military-like musical bands are known for activism, popular protest, celebration, warfare as seen with congo aspects. Kalfou is associated with the broom, whip and whistle. As Legba opens the way for Rada and are in divisions of Lwa families, so does the Baron open the way for Ghede, or Kalfou to the Petro nations of Loases, as well as djabs or evil spirits.

Saint image for Kalfu, some use the crucified Jesus

Rara 

 The broom can be used to sweep away the bad much like energy healing movements and the use of herb bundles or brooms on the energy body. After a bunch of herbs is used to say, cleanse the house, the stalks are broken to break the bad energy, sometimes as an asperger to sprinkle solutions. Sometimes also florida water is poured over them on cement and lit on fire. The broom can be sprayed with different spiritual waters before use.

The broom is linked to the dead and spirits as much as the cauldron.
Our palo or baston de muerto is used for calling the dead from the earth by tapping the ground 9 times. This egun stick can be tied with 9 different color cloths for the clothes of the dead ancestors such as egungun dancing masquerade outfits. Many in Sanse also keep a ritual broom to clear the space before misa tied with 9 colored ribbons to indicate the dead. This also indicates the winds of the dead or air. Much like some of the fly whisks of some of the Orisha such as Oya, or whips to keep away unhealthy influences or gather energies. This is also much like the royal fans I wrote about that remove "bad airs" or sheild and protect against spirits. Such as the use of birds or feathers to also sweep away bad energy.

                                                                           Egungun

Legba has the cane for opening to the other Lwa which is tapped 3 times at specific areas which is tied with 7 different color ribbon for the families of Lwa of the higher spirits.
Legba Avrada is pictured with a broom and one is sometimes kept behind the front door for ritual purposes only. He is linked to the Gran Chemin or big road that the Lwa come down on. For this purpose he can be seen as clearing the way. I keep a palm frond bundled one. Legba Avrada who some use the saint Lazarus to depict is said to be a wanderer (which Lebga isnt?) but likely said so because the broom touches many or all places on earth. Some use the image of St Martin de Porres.

We gather dirts from different power areas to make a world/tree or use its powers in folk magic or Palo said to be 21 for the roads and also herbs or sticks/branches as roads or branches that make all possibilities. In Palo the Mpungo would be Lucero the road opener, whose number is 21.

 The palm is sacred to Lwa Mambo Ayizan among other Lwa as one of the possible world trees as brooms had/have wooden handles and palms are used to sweep the streets. The palms for her are shredded and are used to filter energies and protect in the temple. The sweeping end of the broom thus is corresponded to earth/dirt and roots/the dead. Palm fronds can be hung over the door like a sweeping car wash and are often used to cover and protect the new initiates face and with the straw hat in Haitian Vodou. A broom likewise can be hung over the front door for protection. Ayizan is associate with the house temple or Hounfort, the priesthood and initiations. She is Loko's wife who has an aspect also dealing with priests and healing leaves of the tree some see as an path of Legba, and an aspect of Ayizan as Legba's wife.

When I visited Cuba, I saw men sweeping the street with long palm fronds. This is done many areas of the world such as Spain and India.

Trees are viewed as one natural repository of Lwa along with stones and other features. 2 are often planted as a doorway near the entrance of the temples. The potomitan or central pillar in the temple is just that an axis mundi like a tree to also the upper realms in which the spirits travel the trunk to our world or as the ghede come from the ground. Each Lwa also has their favorite trees or are associated with them for where they are located, and Dhambalah a snake Lwa hangs on them.

Trees were natural meeting places and groves for spiritual work, along the Loases of the forest and maroon escaping slaves to the mountains for revolution and the Indios. Trees such as palms or Ceiba/Mapou/Iroko/Kapok silk cotton were viewed as access to ancestral realms. Often the forest was used as burial grounds. Old broom handles could be used to beat drums, again made from tree trunks. The trees were necessary for survival of medicine and foods, as well as the sticks and leaves of magic usage. Winds that rustle the tree leaves is one voice of the Mpungo Osayin. The Lwa Gran Bwa is our like spirit who is a tree that rules over all wild plants. Some brooms are made from long grasses in Africa.

Many other spirits use brooms such as the Lwa Filomez, and some spirit guides like gypsies and madamas for spiritual cleansing and as a spiritual tool.

The vueltas of St Lazarus are also associated with the purifying broom, the dead, earth and sweeping of dirt floors. He uses it to spread sesame seeds of diseases, to clean and remove conditions, but the ajon-joli are also used in prosperity work.

Much like Babaluaye (the king-father of earth)'s sacred costumes or Omulu's figure besides skeleton was covered completely with sweeping palm raffia to hide his disfiguring scars from disease and smallpox. Their dance in spinning sweeps and kicks up dirt and the dead. This spirit also known in different tribes as Sak/gpata is viewed as one of the oldest and ancestral Vodoun.

I once had a dream of him a skinny scarred old dark black man was watching me from a thatched hut In Africa, and I was cleaning the dirt temple yard with a bundle of scratching sticks tied into a makeshift broom. An apprentice then showed me a saint statue of St Lazarus that she was cleaning. There were women working in a small garden where I could make out cabbages.

                                                                                                  Sancista 7 Crossroads

An Account of Curanderismo Healing

A family member and I have been doing a lot of physical labor at a property after a death in the family.

The spirits of this land are very active, and many people on facebook remarked the next day how overheated they got the day after the eclipse at night when it was cool. It was very hot in the house, even though it was cool outside in a northern climate and we had most of the windows open.

The family member was complaining of arthritis flareup in her shoulder, and it being so hot we were still awake at 2am. I heard her crying and moaning from the pain so I asked her if she was OK, she got up to my adjacent bedroom and had me fix her hair as it was so hot and she was not able to move her arms. She had put 2 ice packs on her arm and they had melted instantly.

I asked her if she wanted me to try some folk healing on her. It is not good to do spiritual work at night due to the more malevolent spirits being active. But sometimes this is done to deal with a bad spirit or do a healing if necessary. Apparently in Peru they do their San Pedro curandero ceremonies at night, and to also mimic the night blooming cactus.

She consented and I got up to get her some over the counter anti-inflammatory pills (advil-ibuprofen) as requested. She had taken 1 pill 4 hours prior, but it was not effective. I went to assemble what I needed. She was in so much pain she was unable to lay down so I had her seated on the side of the bed.

I got my Florida water, cascarilla, cotton pads, rubbing alcohol, cigar, books of prayers, and the basil cutting which had rooted in the water of my temporary consulta room with the crucifix and candle. I already had been wearing my white head wrap to bed.

Healing and Mediumship is a gift from God, and attributes of the holy spirit, the laying of hands and the work of the good spirits. Many do not like the idea of faith healing and want specific steps, explanations and recipes, when any curandero will tell you faith is the most important. However these abilities also seem to be inherited in families. Many do not like the idea of faith healing because of the televangelists. However it is only the assurity based on what we have seen as evidence, along with the personal light and ability to be a conduit. In the magnetism blog entry I posted a picture of the spiritual currents on the energy body, and I used this along with hand passes.

Many curanderos also use alternative systems of energy work, spiritual counselling, spiritual channeling, and herbal medicine not only from their culture such as acupuncture or reiki. Many are also yerberos herb workers, give spiritual massage or may be bonesetters found out in the country. Curandero at heart are healing or :sanacion" native practices throughout Latin America which became mixed with Catholicism. The leaf doctors are known as fe medicin in Haiti, who may or may not also be Houngan and Mambos or Voudousants.

                                          art by Mario Gonzalez Chavajay.

I began my session and opening prayers to set the protections and activate the energy needed. I put cotton soaked rounds with the alcohol on 3 points on her shoulder and she later said she almost fainted, that it was like a scream of pain that subsided and then went away. I put my left hand to the right shoulder to pull away ropes of energy, sensing the disruption around the area. I did the prayer of the sick, appealing to God for the curative ability needed and on behalf of the patient compassion and pity for relief. At the same time knowing that suffering may hold wisdom or purpose in one's life, it is given up to God.

The cotton is absorptive, like a cloud that holds rain or as a metaphor spiritual fluids or energy, It is often used to treat the sick in Santeria. The same cloth on an altar that holds energy, or the string in a spiritual necklace or eleke.

The alcohol is widely used in folk healing to bring down fevers and for sore joints and sprains, along with the Florida water. It is believed that illness is a result of trapped energy, or stagnation. It is also believed that illness has an energetic component, and that negative emotions can also be a cause and stored in the body. For this reason envy, evil eye or mal de ojo and witchraft is also seen to be causes, and often spiritual cleanings are commonly done such as with herbs or egg limpias.

I took the rounds off temporarily and lit the cigar. I did prayers of tobacco for purity and to dominate the spirit of arthritis and to take away pain and inflammation to the 4 winds. I blew smoke over her shoulder 3 times, the breath activated by life and oration. The breath often is used to add or remove energy. Tobacco is also used for joint inflammation and many other medical and spiritual usage.

                                 art by Manuel Pacaya

I called on the powers given to tobacco and a leaf I had taken off the basil plant that God had given them. I implored for light and elevation to these plants and to the guardians, ancestors and healing spirits of those present for their assistance. I took the basil leaf dipped in the water and crossed, tapped the leaf lightly and dragged it down her arm with orations. A conversation was taking place at a deeper level with the client, unspoken.
 I then put my right hand over the leaf laid on the shoulder to let the energy give what was needed to mend the energy body and re-balance the area. I did the prayer of the medium who heals.

I marked the shoulder all over with the cascarilla. What is that: she asked. Egg shell chalk I answered, its cooling and protective. I then marked a cross with Florida water on the area which I had prepared with holy water.

I then took the pads and let alcohol drip all over the shoulder and evaporate the heat as it quickly dried. She started to look more comfortable.
I closed the session and thanked the spirits.

I marked our bedrooms with crosses of the chalk and left the basil leaf at the bedside table. There were strange energy around as I could see a spirit standing in the darkness of the third bedroom. I opened another window for better airflow, and got her 2 new ice packs. The house was markedly cooler. She then laid down. I sprayed her bare arms and legs down with the Florida water to cool and relax her. And then she was asleep before I could even get back to my bed. And in the morning she was almost 100%  better, ready for another full day of renovation work. "You saved my bacon" she said with a smile. I told her I left my tumeric in the bathroom for her to take one capsule.

Basil is a very important plant of purity, healing and exorcism, and one I had at hand. However I could almost pick any leaf I found at any tree and had similar results.

Before I went back to bed I went to wash my hands.This is a practice in many systems so that you do not absorb too much of the patients illness by accident. As it is my left arm was very sore, and hip, as well as my fingers. I did not sleep well, and took some tumeric and other things in the morning and went back to sleep to let my body heal for the days work.

This was the first curandero session I have done.

I know a little of accupressure to treat a few things on myself and my partner mainly for nausea and migraines, relaxation and pain points, as well as have done laying of hands many times before. I always do get a very mild headache from his headache treatment which puts him to sleep. I also have a great interest in natural supplements and remedies for a variety of illness, mainly pain, mood, sleep, infections, cold & flu, autoimmune or inflammation and digestive problems, as well as natural beauty, household products and personal care. Funnily enough I do not consider myself a healer spiritually yet, even though I have worked in healthcare for over a decade. I suppose spiritual work in itself is healing to the spirit. I do enjoy getting qi-gong and reiki treatments, but I am extremely picky about who I let touch my energy body.

                                                                            S7X

The language of the fan: abebe & el abanico

There are records of fans from egypt, and likely used even before, made of plant, "fan" leaves or feathers, and were in Greece then Rome. Hand fans first arrived into Europe in the 15th century from Asia and became popular in the 16th century, especially in Spain and France into the Victorian era into the 1920's.

It was used as a shade against the aggressive hot sun. In Asia they were used to denote different rank, class, and around coronation and marriage. It was also used in the military as a way of sending signals on the field of battle, as well as a defensive weapon and stage or dance performances. They later came to the Americas, as could be seen in church in the south, or in stuffy theaters and opera houses. Several fan styles were common and many different and precious materials were used to create them. They may be painted with meaning such as symbols, scenery, folklore, mythology or words.

 Hand fans serve as a tool for cooling, for communication, art, social status and fashion. It is an instrument of privacy, modesty or choice revealing, grace, mystery, flirtation, and secrecy.

Known as an abebe from african ethiopian for the fan or kings insignia, or the spanish abanico, the female Orisha are often given fans, which they may ask for, that usually features feathers or made out of their respective wood or metal. The are usually flat fixed open, as the older type, and not the folding type. I have also seen fans made to Obatala as he is sometimes pictured as the saint our lady of mercy, and is associated with calm, clouds, coolness, and stories link him to the breath of life and air. Fans are also common to Oshun and Yemaya. Oshun, her metal mirror can also be translated as a metal fan, but is also partial to peacock fans, depending. Again these fans can be used by those who serve them, and the dead as sheilds and ways to cleanse a person. Some such as a gypsy may tie ribbons to their instruments.

Yemaya, fans ocean waves, and winds that fill the boats sails

fan made to Obatala by marthapatriciavazquez on ebay

The fan represents beauty, adornment, status as royalty who are fanned, luxury and riches, femininity of ruffles and lace. They may be used to cool or please a spirit, or when one gets spiritually hot, or to fan away negativity. They were also used to keep insects or bad smells away, which could be associated with illness and bad spirits.The fanning movement is waves, and transmits energy of their spectrum much like a whirled or waved colored bandana, fula or panuelo can be used as a ceremonial or ritual object. The word fan comes from latin vannus related to ventilate or ventus, ventos the winds, related to the sky which brings messages or increases energy current, as in fanning the flames. Feathers are a likely symbol to fan or open ones wings, and the connotation of bird to spirit.

                                          hand fan veils

The gypsy and hispaniola spirits in Sanse love their hand fans, and these as well will be made in their specific or personal colors. The female Lwa can be given them as gifts, or may ask for a fan that should be given in their color. The gypsies as well like them to be perfumed, with their scent offering.

Indio spirits may like a smudge fan or feather for cleansing with samhuerio such as tobacco, sweetgrass braids, sage or can be used with incense.

The fan can be used to talk in code, as there are 5 sets of 5 letters, it could be tapped the first time to alert you to the set, and then the taps the second time could be counted to get the letter in the sets position. Example the letter D would be one tap for the first set, then four taps for the letter position.

The spirits may not necessarily follow this old code, but if you pay attention some meanings may still be apparent, especially in Sanse since the spirits of the dead will be the ones present more often, who may retain this cultural knowledge, and since communication is largely nonverbal even among the incarnated in body language.
The main gestures and their respective meanings that together configured what it was known as “the language of the hand fan” that may still be relevant:

Generally left is no, right is yes, and then the body part used is tapped when necessary.


To hold it to the left ear.
I want you to leave me alone. do not want to hear, do not tell
 To let slide it on the forehead or open and close it
You have changed. change of the mind

To throw the fan or hold it closed in front.
hate or dislike, no affection

To let slide it on the eyes or left.
Go away, please. do not want to see you
right eye
I want to see you
To touch the edge of the hand fan with the fingers.
I want to talk to you.
To hold it on the right cheek.
Yes.
To hold it on the left cheek.
No.
To leave it hanging.
continue relationship
To fan slowly open in front.
I am married.
To fan quickly open in front.
I am engaged.
To hold it opened, covering the mouth.
I am single.
To semiclose it in the right and on the left.
I cant.
open 3/4 
maybe interested
To open it slowly.
Wait for me.
To open the hand fan with the left hand.
Come and talk to me.
Tap right hand closed
write me


The list can get quite extensive, but gives you an idea

Sancista 7 crossroads
(fan or follow me here or on facebook)

http://www.elabanico.com/language.php/language/en
http://www.ladanza.com/language.htm
http://education.asianart.org/explore-resources/artwork/military-leaders-fan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hand_fans_in_the_18th_century
http://www.angelpig.net/victorian/fanlanguage.html
https://mumptystyle.com/2015/04/29/the-secret-language-of-fans/

Ti et Gros bon ange, the soul, conciousness, astral dream body and shapshifting: loup garou part 1

There are different parts of the "soul" in Haitian cosmology. The incarnated human spirit containing what westerners think of as the soul, can be seen as one part of an overlapping or connected energy body/ies. This becomes easily misunderstood when one continues to use the word soul or life force to describe these parts instead of viewing the two "personalities" or energy fields as individual consciousnesses that function together, yet which separate upon death from the soul fed by life force or energy.

The higher self is the elevated and not the mundane personality which becomes perfected, and is slower or the last to change in a spiritual process. It is what follows the "soul" in many incarnations and associated with the magickal personality and met tet, master of the head or personal Lwa.

The Haitians call this the gros bon ange:(big good angel) as the holy guardian angel Hga in ceremonial magick, which has been greatly misunderstood into new age circles as the higher self. The saint image of the guardian angel is used for the secretive personal crowned met tet or unknown met tet Lwa, and not the main spirit guide of the elevated dead. A saint image can be used to cover either, but is more inconspicuous as the spirit guide, because the Lwa have known saint attributions in modern times.

Thus people call their guardian angel their met tet Lwa. The soul, nor Lwa is not the higher self, but what can also follow a soul into human incarnation, or remain in its own existence. But the higher self must be created or revamped to be effective or to have any power, needs an energy source or lasting existence, such as of veneration (less likely as more secret) or off storage, spiritual light, energy cultivation. In my tradition we do not use chakras, but can be viewed as the solar plexus as energy storage and generator and heart area combined. Life force is inherently male, expansive, projective and yang in correspondences. This feeds or trickles down into the lunar receptive feminine area of the astral body or lower self. Taking energy up from earth into the solar area will work but is a slower and lesser amperage than going straight planetary sun to your body's sun area.

Gran Solier, the Lwa associated with the sun, is a higher misterio, associated with spiritual progress and light. His saint image is the Sacred heart Jesus. The power of god is personified as the thorn crowned Jesus, for power of life over death of the soul, as well as both hinting to the solar life force of the corona/sun halo and as the sun is the center of our universe and human body. The promised sun/son in spring. The warrior might/thorn of mars, and justice as the sun sits in the center of the scale of mars and jupiter give and take exchange as the crucified Jesus on the skull mount. Some Sancistas use St Nicholas de sol (santa) as Gran Solier or as God Papa Bonnye or Dios as the higher, sometimes north star. But as god is faceless, mostly removed, and not understandable to us, most use no image for God.

Many mistake the sun, a manifestation of light, and giver of life on planet earth as closest to earth, for the concept of higher celestial star(s) or God. Many use the north navigational pole star polaris or sirius as seen from the south, as some of the brightest stars that can be seen, or the 7 sisters pleiades constellation as the physical manifestation of the higher star.

The soul is indestructible, infinite, and for the most part unchangeable except for purification or refinement.

Life force, and vital energy is linked to energy of the spirit bodies, but also physical life. This is known as the n'dame or nam. This is reabsorbed into the great spirit God and underlying nature or creation matrix, unless partly placed into the Gros Bon Ange (or reincarnated). The sun is a knowable face of a farther star, the starry heavens, planets, and thus z'etoile or star is linked. What is written in the stars is astrology, the zodiac, the planets. Life force is linked with: energy centers, and spiritual bodies, known as the Gros Bon Ange and Ti Bon Ange. Life force and our perfected lower self or ideal Higher self personality is related to the sun, but the sun is not the star, associated more with Gros Bon Ange and magickal personality in the western sense.

The star is connected to the head, destiny, luck, higher misterios spirits, God and consciousness, known as Ori to the Yorubans.

The lower self is the animal self, ghost self, ego or mundane personality and character. It is also the fluidic astral body, known as the Ti Bon Ange (little good angel) by the Haitians. This is normally temporary and does not follow incarnation unless the soul is very developed and purposeful. It is known as the perispirit to the spiritualists. Voudou does not have reincarnation per se, although it is not incompatible with these beliefs. I have read after the Ti Bon Ange is separated and then called up after a period of rest, placed and venerated in a govi jar, it is then possibly placed in nature. After a time it then goes through 16 incarnations, which is likely code for 7 colors light (1+6) planetary bodies and ladder rungs. I do not think this is a widespread belief, or was confused with the soul or Gros Bon Ange by the writer, which is separated from the Ti/little and can reincarnate when viewed in spiritist philosophy. Although there is the concept of veneration of the dead into elevation, becoming a Lwa. The Ti bon Ange or ancestor personality would require veneration to continue existence, and is not dependant on a soul, but its situation can be related to the quality of soul or persons life recently lived. Our mundane personality is changeable and temporal.

The Ti Bon Ange that we think of as myself or you as the person, is the target of the bokor, necromancer or sorcerer after death to make a zombi astral, or enslaved dead, or even during life. Younger, stronger people are targeted because they have more nam. Thus Haitian rituals are done to separate the Ti Bon Ange from this plane if it hasn't naturally after last rites within a certain time period. The Gros Bon Ange or Lwa is separated so the Ti Bon Ange can rest. During initiations the head pot and other rites are done to protect the incarnated from spiritual battle with these soul areas in mind. Priest/esses regularly work to protect their heads. Again the Ti Bon Ange or astral body is usually targeted, as it is harder to affect one's higher connection to the divine, even if this can somewhat be indirectly the result through the weaker point or bottleneck of the Ti Bon Ange which is more easily accessible. By protecting the Ti, you protect the life force or nam.

The mind is all, and shapes the self image. This self image or limited perception is reflected upon the mirror energy body to form its likeness in terms of sex, race, age, deformity etc. This may not look the same as yourself in actuality or life. It can be misshapen when first regarded as symptoms of spiritual or metaphoric physical problems, or as a muscle which has not been developed or clay molded.

The mirror is an astral tool, associated with the moon, as well as to the waters, as the mermaid La sirene's escoba or tool, along with her comb to bind her hair or, loosen, or smooth the waves. She is the Queen of cups to some, although several tarot cards might speak of her, such as the moon and as she has congo beginnings. The astral is not a watery place, actually it is airy in terms of elemental flavor. She is the elemental air intellect angel human ontop of the water fish/undine.

The blowing of wind in storm activates, singing and the words of magick. The air of mercurial/human intellect and structure upon the venusian emotional waters and romance in ritual. The bubbles of air within the water glass manifest the evocation. Scrying and the crystal ball, the triangle of art in which the mirror/water and incense/air is placed for ceremonial magick.

The astral realm is associated with the genitals or womb as a place of creation, and thus life force, but also illusion. The astral is a repository realm of many colors, thoughts, poetry, experiences, and forms, distracting as the illusory sirens call (as the 7 of cups). The ocean is our mother, and a sea of the dead kalunga, as womb and tomb as the triangle belonging to saturn of form, restriction/freedom of spirit into or out of matter.

The part of La Sirene's veve is the elemental sign for water, the downturned triangle, again representing the womb, with a star upon a fish on top, representing an eye of pyschism, dreams, scrying and visions.

The siren is an alchemical metaphor for grail, or cup, the knight seeks for his feminine receptive spiritual half and immortality. The water cup actually belongs to jupiter/neptune as the giving, knowable face of god as warrior priest king, or Agwe, and not the moon.The king of cups messenger the page of cups holds a fish, and more psychism.The astral is a mirror place or "reverse, upside down" place to our world, another dimension. When we die we lose who "we" are in this lifetime eventually dissipated into the sea, unless we have taken the appropriate magico-spiritual actions, or are venerated. Thus desperate dead seek energy sources.

In the tarot moon card we can see the wildness of the domesticated or socialized animal/human. The wolf is the ancestor to the dog. The magic time is historically night, of the subconscious when the moon is up. Navigation of the sea was done at night by the north star and moon by seafaring cultures until more modern sun cross devices although vikings had some sunstones. The mermaid often at the bow of the ship. On the card the moon can only be seen when it is illuminated by the sun.
 (rider-waite deck the most accurate in western esoteric symbolism and color). This astral body/ our ancestors (moon body) must be given energy (sun and sun body) to move and act, especially over time. The ancestors are not of the astral, but can visit in this dreamspace. The universe/world/earth/us as humans/the tree is a repository of all the realms and planets, and thus explains earthbound dead, and the underworld layers: pluto/hades.

 A crayfish or crab is often depicted for the motherly zodiac sign of Cancer (related to the tarot card the chariot and astral body, as the moon card is the twin pisces fish). The moon is the 18th card, 1 plus 8 being 9.

The concept of self in most cases and undeveloped, is a spiritual hindrance when it comes to formation of the astral body. We all have one, it just needs to be shaped. We all have different selves, this is not a multiple personality disorder, but developing each one/energy part for the realm or purpose needed, of which all eventually need to be worked on. Like stepping into a character and costume as an actor, but you are still the same at core. In western magick these bodies are 9 planetary plus earth physical body. Between the 6-sun and 9-moon on the tree of life is the rainbow of the tarot card of art/alchemy, magick or temperance of the 7 color classical planets. 7-venus planetary lights, 8-mercury, 9-moon make up the astral downturn triangle, "realm" of mercury, moon and venus above the 10-earth in order moving up the tree or in light back to an originality or higher state.The most important point is the astral moon body is the most fluidic its appearance can change with a moments thought.

The astral body need not exit from the lower abdomen when aware and utilized in projection and real time viewing. You will find where this is natural to you, often symbolized leaving by an umbilical electrical cord of life. I have yet to see this in actuality, think about the metaphor. Dominating religions are very literalistic, and this has contaminated our perceptions.

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me

Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you

Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
You gotta make me a promise, promise to me
You'll dream, dream a little of me

Ella Fitzgerald-lyrics to Dream A Little Dream of Me Lyrics  

Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all passed away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea,
Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelei;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
Even as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful Dreamer by composer Stephen Foster, published after his death...

The song tells of a lover serenading a "Beautiful Dreamer" who is oblivious to worldly cares and may actually be dead. (per wikipedia page)

Read on to part 2 where I now focus more on the Ti  Bon Ange, practical dream work, astral body and shape shifting.
-Sancista Siete Encruzhiladas+++++++

Exorcism and controlling unwanted spirit influence

It is believed in the Catholic church, which informs many beliefs in Kardecian spiritism, that an individual may not fall under possession unless they consent to it. Of course the church believes that we are all pitiful sinners, and lays on the guilt trip that we are culpable for all our sufferings, so that these bad spirits are just the agents of our choices. To remind the reader we do not use the word possession for when we are in physical mediumship of the good spirits, of which the Catholic church believes there is no such thing, unsanctified (unapproved), of these abilities without evil influence.

One day we went into our local Catholic store. It is conveniently located, beside a dollar store, liquor store, and coffee shop. We get incense, charcoal tabs, saint cards for Lwa and other supplies here as well as small local mexican botanicas. I also got a really cool glass bottle to put my holy water in.

Anyways, one day we went in, and a young man we had not seen before, or since, was working there. He had some kind of ability and reacted to a man I was with. He knew right away there were spirits there with us who fought bad spirits. He gave us a book free, called: Freedom from deliverance. although I am unsure of the author presently, about exorcism, and said that he recommended it to many people such as Buddhists who deal with the same thing.

I read this book and it was very eye opening about what the practices were, and some were similar. Of course they state a lay person can only do certain prayers etc, and matters better left of to the church.

From watching ghost paranormal shows, it is evident of the number of failed Catholic exorcisms, and how long the process must take to get help from their system. Of course there is a psychological and mental health component as well, if it is just psychopathy arising undealt with from the subconcious. It can be a lengthy process of even years in their teachings.

(The powah of christ compels you)....from the movie: The rite


Removing spirits, how to stop physical possession must be taught for safety, as we practice physical mediumship and traffick with the dead. As priests we are protected from this as we have a spirit seated on our head of our main guide as spiritualists, and our misterio Lwa as Sancistas. They are protective of this head space and will likely kick the bad spirit out or stop them. The same is true in other african traditions, with their spirits, connected to their head in initiation ritual. Since we provide and invite a environment where spirits come in misa, we have to protect the attendees, beyond properly setting up the session. And they may come with a spirit already attached.

It would be foolish to teach exorcism outside of temple environment. However I can give a few tips, because spirits will visit anyone, regardless of being called, paid attention to or not, they will try to use mediums.

Safety & Prevention is key and number 1
Keeping clean with your behavior and up to date with your spiritual baths, clean environment and having a good working relationship with your spirit guides and clear frame. They are called to protect us.We get to know our spirits and when they are coming on, and know how to identify them and good spirits. Do not try possession untrained and unassisted. Do not work with random dead or spirits or higher spirits you think you have like Lwa, but is never confirmed. Your spirit frame links must be solid. Your priest knows your centinela: the main spirit guide name to call and help you if incapacitated. Keep your altars clean and water cups refreshed. Do not be under the influence of substances, without adequate cultural usage and protection. This opens you up to influence and lowers our control. Getting drunk at misa or ritual is a bad idea, but we do use rum and cigars as a drink, or spiritually.
2
Consent can be implied or by silence.
having a strong will, and strong force of the word NO
ask them to provide their message another way and what their issue is, why have they come
they will try to make you consent, may try to provoke fear, disarm your guard, or make pain or discomfort to submit.

There are many warning signs of impending possession such as any psychic ability or mediumship is a spirit edging closer. Clearer examples would be: physical sensations of being touched, pressure, or pulled, dizziness, cloudiness or fuzziness, temperature changes, loss of physical function and control, strange thoughts and urges or fascination.

Coming to certain rituals like a voudou Lwa service implies consent, specifically called, and they are powerful good higher spirits, who can likely do as they please. We view possession as different than being mounted by our spirits.

One espiritista I talked to believes people can be possesed without their consent. It is true one might be weak or very unaware person. But on some level of passivity, self destructiveness, or negative personal traits, this is also how consent can be given. Some will even want to hold on to these spirits, and be conflicted about letting them off.

We do not believe in my house that people can be possesed without their consent. As humans we are very powerful in unrealized potential. We have physical bodies as an advantage point in the physical world over spirits. Children, the ill, and elderly are at greater risk because they do not have as much strength, or will. Personality development is more limited as an infant to know themself, have boundaries, and can be easily manipulated. Teenagers put off sexual energy and angst, emotional energy that can be used as spiritual fluids for spirits to manifest, which is why poltergeist activity is more common.
3
body positioning: cross arms,  cross legs, remove feet from floor if on chair, sit with back against the wall on the floor in this crossed position will stop the flow of energy from being as strong. This is why we ask people do not cross their limbs at misa to get spiritual energy flowing, but also can be inhibited.
If laying in bed position yourself in a cross, praying. Turn the light on. In Vodou we will cross and uncross the person to attempt and loosening off a spirit.
Lay also the best way to breath, if you are female lay on left side, male right side will decrease activity and dreams but also nightmares.
4 prayer raise vibrations, and assistance of higher beings, strong faith in your spirits and god
If you are alone putting on the light, playing music, ringing the bell, laughter can help to break up negative stagnant energy. Although the dead can bother you during the day, it is easier during the night, at 6am or pm, 12 am or pm and 12 pm to and at 3 am to 4am. These are crossroad times and hours of manifestation during darkness. A bubble of light alone is not enough to protect you. Close down the ritual or divination session if you must. Prayer is a powerful tool, such as kardecs prayer to the obsessed, the revocation of st michael, .......our father and hail mary if thats all you can do at the moment and/or spontaneous and heartfelt. However prayer alone is not enough always, which is all kardecian spiritists can do, besides calling the guides......and all the catholic church recommends the laiety to do. As folk espiritistas we have other tools in our toolbox.
5 physical agents of cleansing or exorcism: perfumes, holy water, crucifix, herbs such as espante muerte wash, also called chasing the dead or false daisy.
cascarilla chalk applied to the body, to the feet, back of the neck, head, around white cloth around waist etc This is also why we cleanse and wear white head wraps in misa and dealing with the unknown dead as a spiritual layer of protection.
6 physically restraining them, binding and dominating them. This I recommend only a group of trained priests or espiritistas attempt. We do not do this alone if it can be helped, it is foolhardy. It is easier to dominate and fool one espiritista than the combined force of a group of us with different strengths and weaknesses.

Of course again, there is much more that I cannot say here that training would provide.

Another thing I would like to add is that banishing the dead does not work. Meaning ceremonial magick of banishing pentagrams and a magickal circle alone. This is because that is a mental astral construct. The dead can go to the dream realm, and astral lunar world, but are not of there. There are backdoors into our world and from the moon realm to what can be understood as the underworld. Yes the astral also contains a mixture of emotional energy as well as mental, but the dead are much more physical, retaining a perispirit matrix body of personality of energetic matter, even if the soul has moved on. The banishing ritual also called the LBRP or lesser banshing ritual of the pentagram,in which the pentagram of earth is usually used, are designed against astral spirits such as the goetia, thoughtforms, rogue elementals etc and to balance energy for a neutral space, depending. These astral entities, which the common sorceror tends to overintellectualize and abuse or misuse, thus needs continual protection every 24 hours, and the worse if using yaweh godnames faithlessly (or faithfully in my opinion as the demiurge). To be trained how to have command of angels it need not be a judaic operation. It would be more so effective if calling in gods as a pagan that one actually has personal relations with, and not the elements. However when malevolent dead (who won't play by the rules) are present, a multipronged plan of attack needs to happen.

The sun and cross, in the lunar watery cup astral, fire and water is air, steam, alchemy.

The LBRP proper also contains the exercise of the qaballistic cross which is formalaic of the prayer Our Father but more energetic and internal, and is of use for balancing the energy in ones bodies. (In heaven....thy kingdom come, apon earth)( as vertical pole axis). (Give us this day our daily bread (right hand), forgive us ..who trespass against us (justice left hand)(the horizontal axis of the cross). An imbalance makes one more prone to polarized entities, but there are powerful negative spirits and adepts which can exist at the solar level and higher. There are many methods to do energy balance.

Your light will shine brighter, and is synonymous with the lighthouse of Sanse.

The cross (position of mercy) and central energy pillar is of use in balance, and connecting to deity, but I will leave this here, because as it is publicly or popularly known is of little use. The pillar or trunk of the world tree and palo mitan or majeur of the peristyle and temple or home is the microcosm of our world tree universe, as well as our body or as humans.

The daosits this is the dao or balance between the yin and yang polarity. They have the taiji pole of the navigational or celestial north star, running through the body into the earth through the 3 dan tien to anchor, as the in qigong, taichi and other practices.

Spirits will rely on getting an emotional reaction, such as fear or sadness/depression, which can throw you off kilter. Anger is largely viewed as a negative emotion, if blinding. But anger can also be protective of self/ego/personality, and be motivational, if calculated. Energy vampires can feed off of neutral energy, frenetic energy, positive energy, or excitement such as at a sports stadium or concert, often ritualized, or at a church as the congregation is unaware where their raised energy is going.

The underlying energetic truths of christianity and tarot is of ceremonial magic preserved/of the Jews, gypsys and egyptians from much older cultures. Christianity encorporated or overlayed many indigenous cultures beliefs and sites. Since christianity made its way into most new world african traditions, it is empowering to understand. Of course many espiritistas, hoodoo workers and christians do not understand. I am just adding my 2cents for the varied backgrounds of the reader.

A man makes a pentagram of earth or a cross, and also the proportions of a hexagram, another solar symbol. Spirit in matter of the 4 elements. There are 3 crosses and centers: one of earth, of the sun, and one of the pole star, linked to the head and destiny.

Well, I seem to be getting tangental, until next time,
S7X

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